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A Scourge of Doubt THE ERROR OF LADY BLUNDEN. CHAPTER settlo down Sir John, I through the I think I shall id marry Kitty," says ; voice coming lazily small silvery cloud of that curls upwards from his •■The idea is cliarmi cousin, with a half-your tncjdesty. Put Miss Kitty--art you quite sure she will accept you?" "One is nover quite sure of anything, dear boy, in these degenerate days, hut as nearly as possible I think I am sure of Kitty. She *~ not the sort to play fast and loose with any man. She is very honest and very reai, and--or--quite di ent from the usual run of worm winds up Sir John pleasantly, aware that his remark is paltry, asmuch as ad men say this-- think it--of the women they clu at the moment to lovo. "Yea, tho others are a poor 1< says Arthur, faint amusement in tono. "And you believe Miss Tre-maino likes you?" "I think so. I hope so. And all events I am utterly positiv. like her, and--that's all," finishes Sir John, rather abruptly, the ash of his cigar having grown beyond all bearing. lie shakes it off gently, and leaning back in his chair, awaits his cousin's answer. "I thought you were equally posi-tivo about Miss Lisle, the year before last.--Mrs. Charteris, I mean." "Was I?" Laughing slightly. ' hardly remember. My memory was never my strong point." "If I were in love with a woman I don't think I should get over it so easily," says Arthur, meditatively. "But was I in lovo with Fancy Charteris? I almost forget. No, I think not,--not really." "You were terribly epris, at all "Not even that. I confess I rather affected her society, because she was the most affording person I knew; but no more. For instance, I don't recollect the time I ever envied that elderly gentleman she called , I always ' liked what I m,--which was very lit- "Charteris tie." "So did I lie ; but- "There was a good deal of him, wasn't there?" says Sir John plaintively. -"He was'all oyer the place. I never met so aggressively thriving a person, except, perhaps, in the matter of hair; and he was bald! Kvon there, vou see, be excelled, because he was the baldest man I ever saw,---not a single hair on his head, I give you my word! And then I can't forget the buttons! Of course a fellow must make a fortune if he-hasn't one; but surely there is something wrong about buttons. I don't think I ever quite got over it." "I rather admire self-madi deal of her in the old days, I remember; and you were considerably cut up when she married Charteris; ant --I always thought there was some thing in it. I cannot altogether divest myself of that idea even now; and I certainly think it will be awkward if, when you meet her later on, you still find you feel sentimentally disposed towards her. She i widow now, you told me. Take advice and try it all over again with her first before saying anything serious to Kitty Tremaine." "1 had no idea you were such a careful man," returns Sir John, with an amused laugh. "And what an objectionable 'again!' I don't believe 1 ever tried anything with Faficy Charteris, and I know she ed in the very least for m< "In that case 1 wish you luck Willi. Miss Tremaine," says Arthui slowly. "She' is beyond doubt charming, and is almost the prettiest girl I over saw,--except, perhaps, sister Gretchen." "You are enthusiastic," says John. "What a pity it is they not hear you! They would r forget it to you. Yes, Gretchen is pretty,--a sort of being would compare to a flower, c • an angel, or some such poetic simile. Why don' . ' ir her. Arthur? She would just lit you." "Too good for me," says Blunden, carelessly. "I'm no much account, you know; and, sides, I'm not one of your marrying fellows." With this he rises, going over to the window, stands gazing out idly upon darkening landscape,--upon the soft green lawns, and swaying beeches, and little flickering sunbeams that m loath to die. Who is that coming aero grass?" he asks, presently;, and Sir John, thus accosted, gets up, Uso, and joins him at the window. Standing thus side by side with their backs to the room and only part of their faces to be seen, one be struck with the wonderful similarity between the two There is in each the same tall, straight figure, the chestnut hair, the same henutindly turned cheek and chin, of beard, and, from where they stand, just a suspicion of the T, drooping moustache, t is Jlrandy Tremaine, is it not?' Jryfin says, after short scrutiny, t us come out to meet him." fer brother!" returns Arthur, little shrug. Let t pay 1 5 Arthui rity. "There vith i l talent than in n fter all, is but an "I entirely agree ught to say who though his fortui should look--self on earth couldn't never could Vniag attempt at se-l truer nobility ere birth--which, with you. That s well-born him-know, .and that, as there true no-s's nose? And vas,- surely thero thy his clothes de. And why try Mrs. Allen, vcr his head? I what Fancy saw i Ar- tha His money, I suppose, r. rout em'pl tiously. ir John regards him reflectively, seldom troubles himself to think just now it does occur to him t his cousin's tone is unpleasant. "What did Mrs. Charteris do to you?" he asks, presently. Blunden smiles. "You think me severe," he says; "but the fact is, I never saw Mrs. Charteris, and only knew her husband very slightly before his marriage. So I am not . speaking through personal pique; but, from all I have ever heard of her, I should not imagine her a very est.ima.ble "Ned,°a bit of'it/'1 says Sir John. on in our power Sir John laughs and as they both irn to move towards the door there comes an opportunity to mark the groat difference between them. About Arthur's mouth there is a superciliousness, and in his blue eyes expression keen and penetrating, te foreign to Sir John's whose uth is always more prone to laughter than to contempt, and whose eyes rarely ever trouble themselves to look beyond the surface. To be Continued. ********************** I MARINA, f CHAPTER XXII. i slight shade of fear passed acr< "For that purpose wc came." "And surely you will not deny phat good Ludim had promised?' "Look ye, Strato; when you sou* ho hand of that fair girl y hought her of gentle blood. N hat she proves to be the daugh I a poor armorer, will you si us--we were twins, and so nearly did we resemble each other that ever our parents were at times mistaken I had a wife whom I loved as the apple of my eye--one in whom was centered the whole of my heart's fection, but in an evil moment I became maddened by the thought that she was false to me. What should have put such a fancy into my head I know not--but it came: and it made me mad. My wife protested her innocence--she swore she had not wronged me--but I believed her not. At length she bore me a child, and then--oh, horrors, the frenzy came! I looked upon the little innocent, and I swore that it was no child of mine. No tears, no entreaties could change my stubborn will--tho worm was cankering in my heart, and I resolved to kill tho gentle offspring. My heart was kindly moved for once, for I resolved that my wife should not know of her infant's fate, so I stole away by night and carried it to the river bank. The moon shone down brightly upon "The smile of i the nobler thought came to me. tl however my wife might have bei that gentle being was not guilt Then I resolved that I would r kill it, but that I would give it chance for life. I wont back to t city and had a strong box mai and so arranged that the infa might live withiif it for some tin and thus I took the child t • upc i the knelt at her fee iml stepped down He took the his head, and brow of Marina. I then wished never to see her again, but yet I secretly prayed that kind hand might save her and "I returned to my home sad and morose. My wife asked for her child, and then I told her what I had done. She did not rave, she did not upbraid me, nor yet did she blame me for what I had done; but she sank, body and soul, into the dark gulf of deep elespair! Gradually I became iware of my wife's innocence, and I cnew that it was my own child I had :onsigned to the sea! Another child vas' born to me--the gentle Esther, )ut even that could not make me happy; but I grew more morose and more miserable; and at length, to cap the climax of my folly, quarrel-led with my brother, Gio Balbec. Our dissentions ran so high that he resolved to banish himself from the country; and, as I have since learned i own lips, he came to Tyre. He sought first the high priest of Hercules, with whom he made a compact; such a one as I cannot explain yet the purpose of it I know. Balbec was to let himself to Strato--your father, sire--and when the priest died be was to follow to the office. Both my brother and myself possessed strong vehtriloquial powers, and whether that peculiar deception of voice served him in the temple you must judge for Hirselves; I know I once deceived ie king by my own powers, and he lought the oracle had spoken. -j* "Balbec became the priest of Her des long before he threw off his laborer's dress, and still he worked at the forge for his master and at stated seasons he would repair 3 temple and assume the priestly iguise. With me time sped on, but brought me no joy. The dart of -row was firmly fixed in my heart, and the last smile that I saw by the soft moonlight upon my infant's face haunted me by day and by night. At length I heard from my brother and he sent me the startling intelligence that from the lips of a dying man he ned the fact that, years before, a box, such as I set adrift, was picked up by a citiz m of Tyre. At ;e I arranged my affairs and came this city, determined not to re-n till I had found my child: For : first time in long years a smile ne to the face of my wife, and beneath the influence of that bright ,m my whole soul was changed to ea of swelling hope. I came to Tyre. My brother still ?mbled me so nearly that none ild tell us one from the other, and seizing upon that circumstance I made my way for immediate settlement in this city. Balbec had ji left your father's service, and assu ing his humble armorer's dress took his place at the forge, while he devoted all his time at the temple Knowing the quick wit of Esther, brought her with me, and during th last year I have worked at the hum ble calling I have assumed, and at the same time diligently prosecuted my search. I soon saw tha ~ was badly governed, that fou were festering upon her social tution, and that wickedne stalking abroad On all hands may wonder that I, who bad been guilty of the crime for which I suffered should have looked upon the the fault of mine was th.: a madness, and that all of suffering had been mine the people has accomplished that which I intended, and the circumstance has made my daughter queen of Tyre. It was I who gave to Strato the directions concerning tho looking for the rising sun, for I felt assured that when the people found that he had instructed Alzac in this particular, they would give to Strato the preference, even though he was a noble. Marina, come onco more to thy father's embrace." "And my mother?" murmured the fair girl, as she sprang to her father's bosom. "She yet lives," returned Gio, while his eyes sparkled with swim-All those who stood around were yet lost in mystery. Who is Gio? was a eiuestion that dwelt upon every lip,' and a hundred tongues might, have given it utterance, but for tho entrance of a sweat-streaming, panting messenger. "Sire," he cried, "wo are lost! The coast opposite to the cit swarming with armed men, and many of them have taken boats to cross over. We cannot oppose them for our forces are not organized." To be Continued. AJSf flOUE WITH UNCLE SAM From His Doings. The Oklahoma salt fields pro to become an important industry within a short time. Imports into Spain and expor from the United States to that country last year showed a large Camping in the Rocky is to be one of the inducements offered Colorado and Utah this year. Lord Sholto Douglas, broth< the Marquis of Queensberry, has purchased a saloem and lodging-house in Spokane, Wash. An estimate of the real estate value of the fifty principal places of amusement in New York city places it at over $20,000,000. Under the will of Mrs. Susan Cornelia Warren, widow of Samuel Downes Warren, a paper manufactur-of Boston, nearly 8150,000 is set lido for educational and charitable purposes. Isaac S. Taylor, of St. Louis, proposes to make midair observations in baloon of the construction work a the world's fair site in that city. The United States produce thirty er cent, of the grain and thirty-three per cent, of the meat of the In 1800 less than two per Wis., Henja Still Mill eightieth \\ isconsin though he celebrated birthday only a short been a resident 1846. A monument to Robert Fulton, erected by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in the churchyard of Trinity church, was lately unveiled with appropriate ceremonies". The Chicago drainage canal has a permanent life line, consisting o" strong wire cubic stretched along entire distance of 34 miles. It there for use and safety in case accident. John Wallace, a well-known bandmaster in New York years ago, died in Jersey City the other day, at the age of 82 years. He believed that he was a lineal descendant of Sir Wil-bam Wallace. The Westerley, Rhode Island, branch of the granite firm of D. H, & J. Newall, Dalbeattie, has secured the contract for supplying the pedes-he McKinb PREPARING SOIL. The best way by far to seed any small grain is with tho drill. One-fifth less grain will suffice to produce a given stand, and the plants have their crowns down lower in the ground, so they will be less affected by any period of drouth that may overtake the crop. Where the drill is used the land should oe thoroughly prepared beforehand, so as not to disturb it after drilling is done. The grass or clover seed should be sown before tho final harrowing, so it will bo well covered and down in the ground in better shape to withstand drouth. It will not only be more suro of getting a start in this way, but will also be less liable killed when the grain is t If you have no drill and feel that you cannot afford next best way is to disk in the grain as thoroughly as you can. T~ land is loose disk in the gn clover seed with the grain. If and heavy and inclined to n gether it will not be best to these small seeds down too fi it will be best to sow ther.i after the disking but before the harrowing Do not leave rough places bunches of stalks to be in the v of harvesting the grain, or, later harvesting tho hay Early varieties will be most favorable to obtaining a good catch of grass. They also be less liable to be destroyed, or partly so, by storms and to damaged by the hot weather w filling. PREPARATION FOR CORN. The directions which follow \ also apply quito generally to cultivated crops. If the ground has been fall-plowed, go onto it as early in spring as it is dry enough to work without sticking, and with the disk and smoothing harrow work up into a nice seed bed just though you were going to pla right away. This is for tin purpose of getting the seed bed v> irmed up as early as possible for :ho reason above given, and for the additional reason in this caso of conserving the soil moisture for the future use of tho plant. Evaporation frequently takes place very rapidly at this time. Another very important item that may be accomplished by this operation is tho destruction of weeds. This preparation of the seed bed will induce most of the seed near the surface to germinate and they may thus be killed before the Refined kerosene 10 gallons; whale oil soap 8 pounds; water 40 gallons. I am sure this is more effective tha» an emulsion of 20 per cent, 'terosene with laundry soap. With wiiale oil soap, the oil and water mtE much better than vith bard soap. I believe 15 per cent, crude petroleum will kill as many or more scale than 20 per cent, kerosene, but the petroleum is more apt to kill or injure the tree. Petroleum is harder to mix with the water in an emuleion, a good point in favor of kerosene. I believe a tree will stand twice as much oil when there is sap in it as when perfectly dormant. Decidedly the safest and best time to spray is when the sap is circulating, about the time tho buds begin to swell in the spring. It may be applied in late summer or early fall; this last spraying is very effective. The scale is very easily killed then and it stops the gnat breeding in progress , this this plov is doi should be taken allowed to become dry before being harrowed. Freshly ploweel ground loses its moisture. very rapidly, ilo in that condition. If the und should be already dry, this 9 may be sufficient to prevent tho proper germination of the crop, ,-hile. i this l the otner ni it i ill mder it nsequent- i the seed ected t Work « North Adi • Iludse , Mas been. Thoroughly brer/a bed but do not be in a hurry to put ground. The observation of these two points may often ake the difference between a good op and an almost total failure, ora is a tropical plant, and it irive in. There never wis a first- The best depth to plow will varj somewhat according to the soil am also its condition at time of plow ing. But on tho average farm then will not be many times when 4 to ( inches for sod and 6 to 8 inches ir depth for stubble land will not give as good results as any other depth Too much stress cannot be put upor sit tire the i HENS AND CHICKS. should have tho hen £ paper, on wh killer. This i c e^ggs and lie est. Two hens should be set at the same time and when they hatch give one the chicks and reset the otlur. The chicks must be removed as soem as hatched and taken out of hearing or she may refuse to sit again. The sitting hen should have a daily dust bath in the sun if possible, plenty of eharp grit, clean footl arei pure water, says Mr. S. N. Walcott. The young chicks must be keot drj and warm The coops should be put under a dry shed if you have no house, and the hens confined in coops on damp, windy days. Hav« a feeding coop handy and the chickf will run out until cold and then go back to cover. There are mor< chicks lost by being dragged arounj through the cold and damp than any other cause except damp coops. Th< food may be the best, but without dry warmth the mortality will b« great. I cook but little food except to scald meal and bran together and then add enough dry to make it crumbly. I always have good success if I can keep the chicks dry and CHEMISTRY OF TEARS. "At length, so vividly came picture of Tyrian suffering to mind, I resolved that if I found my .lost child she should be queen of ere Tyre. Then, oh happy moment! I ! discovered her in the supposed -h. j daughter of Kison Ludim. 1 knew that I was not mistaken, for the in'same bright smile that had foi long lain upon my heart played < her features and she looked the • counterpart of the mother who bore her. I sought the priest, my brother, and told him all, and then he made the oracle speak the determination I had made, and the mysterious decree was conveyed to Mapen. That very day the king asked Ludim for Marina's hand, and he was refused. 1 shoidd have then claimed my child, but I gained an inkling of a. plot among the people, and I waited for the denouement, and though that procrastination came nigh proving fatal to my hopes, yet all has turned out happily, with the single exception that I have lost my brother; but the great God called nd I am content. At Blunden, se ion, propos woufa see 1 is- I ha' the wh while (,:, Bal- the task of compl accomplish the months thereat" er, ter of 1903-1. In the Pennsyl- nia field there wells completed last, and there are .no wells drilling. >c of 127 wells, a 1 SKILI Milking is a living near Painesville, O.. holds'ihe distinct ion of having initiated John Rockefeller into' the oil busim'ss This was in 1362, and Mr. Breed takes delight in telling of the first immersion tin; Standard Oil magnate had in bayou near Titusville. Pa., that year. Professor Edward North, Wvho has occupied the chair of Greek language at Hamilton College for fifty-seven years, has concluded his labors in the college. Professor North is affectionately known among Hamil graduates as "Old Gn personally knows every uate of Hamilton, inch mtl he jrad- "It is a positive delight to m marked the individual with the forehead. "Oh, I don't know prefer a man who pays cash," plied the man who keeps a gr OUR NEW SERIAL UflTH this issue we enter upon a story " which sets forth the well-known blindness of those who have been wounded by little Dan Cupid. The story is written with all the crisp breeziness of a bright spring morning. Begin it now and it will give you many a pleasant half-hour's relaxation. Weeping Improve* the Sight Instead Bt tv-iikeniiig It. Tears have their functional duty to. accomplish, like every other fluid of the body, and the lachrymal gland Is not placed behind the eye simply to fill space or to give expression to emotion, says an exchange. The chemical properties of tears consist of phosphate of lime and soda, making them very salty, but never bitter. Their action on the eye is very beneficial, and here consists their prescribed duty of the body, washing thoroughly that sensitive organ, which allows no foreign fluid to do the same -work. Nothing cleanses the eye like a good salty shower bath, and medical art has followed nature's law in this respect, advocating the invigorating solution for any distressed condition of the optics. Tears do-not weaken the sight, but Improve it. They act as a tonic on the muscular vision, keeping the eye soft and limpid, and It will be noticed that women in whose eyes sympathetic tears gather quickly have brighter, tenderer orbs than others. When the pupils are hard and cold, the world attributes it to one's disposition, which is a mere figure of speech, implying the lack of balmy tears that are to the cornea what salve is to the skin or nourishment to the blood. Savage Legend*. The savage islanders of the south Pacific believe that the world is a co-coanut shell of enormous dimensions, at the top of which is a single aperture communicating with the upper air, where human beings dwell. At the very bottom of this Imaginary shell la a stem gradually tapering to a point which represents the beginning of all things. This point is a spirit or demon without human form, whose name is Root of All Existence. By him the entire fabric of creation is sustained. In the interior of the cocoanut shell, at its very bottom, lives a female demon. So narrow Is the space Into which she is crowded that she is obliged to sit forever with knee and chin touching. Her name is Tho Very Beginning, and from her are sprung numerous spirits. They Inhabit five different floors. Into which the great cocoanut is divided. Prom certain of these spirits mankind Is descended. The islanders, regarding themselves as the only real men and women, were formerly accustomed to regard strangers as evil spirits in the guise of humanity, whom they killed when they could, offering them as sacrifices. I'R V ITC HEM 1ST UY San Jose scale. v, that, we need a mor than these. Tho lie yet found is an enr position of which