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Husband loq ui tm' It’s the strangest thing that ever I knew, And the most provoking, 'twix me and you, For a woman who’s got a man like me, A good provider, and steady and tree. With all her folks with funds salted down, And as fine a house as any in town, To be lamenting ’cause one child in ten Ain’t quite so good as he might have been. " It’s a pretty good showing, it seems to me, That onlv a tenth of the lot should be A little off color, and that’s what I say To their mother twenty times in a. day, But I can’t make her see it in that light, And she listens and waits night after night For the sound of his step, till I grow so Wild That I almost curse both mother and child. “ She ought to live for the others, you know, And let the tormenting vagabond go And follow his ways and take the painâ€" But I turn him out and she calls him again, This makes a hardness between her and me, And the worst of it is, the children agree That I’m in the right. You‘d pity her then, Such times I think I’m the meanest of men. “I’ve argued and scolded and coaxed without end ; Ber answer is always : ‘My boy has one friend As long as I live, and your charge is untrue That my heart holds not equal love (or you And all the rest. But the one gone astray Needs me the most. and you'll find ’tis the way Of all mothers to hold close to the one Who hurts her the most. So love's work is done.’ ” Now what can I say to such words as those ? I‘m not convinced, as the history shows, But I often wonder which one is right, As I hear her light step night after night, Here and there, to the window and door, As she waits with eheart that is heavy and sors.’ I wish the boy dead. While she gives her life To savefhi’m from sin. There‘s husband and W1 e.‘ Presently a sudden, fierce longing to be out of doors came over me. It was night --very few people would be about. There was a. broad pavement in front of the row 0! houses in one of which I lodged. Up and down this I might walk in perfect safety. Even if I only set on the doorâ€" step it would be better than lying in this close. but room, tossing from side to side unable to sleep. The desire -took full possession of me that I was on the point of calling old Pris- cilla and making her aware of it; but knowing she was sleeping soundly. I hesi- tated. I had been unusually restless, cross and exacting during the day, and my old nurseâ€"Heaven reward her lâ€"was serv- ing me for love, not for money. Why should I disturb her? Let me begin to learn to help myself like others in my wretched plight. I had already acquired th ] imnch, to dress without assistance. It I could now do this and leave the room unheard, I could, I felt sure, grope my way to the front door, let myself out. and, whenever I chose, return by the aid of the latch-key. The thought of even a tempo- rary independence was attractive, and my spirits rose as I resolved to make the attempt. I crept softly from my bed and slowly, but easily dressed myself, hearing all the while the sleeper’s regular breathing. Then, cautious as a. thief, I stole to the door which led from my bed-room to the land- ing. I opened it without noise and stood on the thick carpet outside, smiling as I thought of the sleeper’s dismay if she awoke anddrecovered my absence. Iclosed the door. then, guiding myself by the belustrade, passed lightly down the stairs and reached the street door without accident. There were other lodgers in the house, among them young men who came in at all hours. so, the door being always left on the latch, I had no bolts to contend with. In 3. moment I was on the doorstep, with the door behind me closed. I stood for a short time irresolute, almost trembling at my temerity. This was the first time I had ventured beyond the house without a guiding hand to trust to. Yet I knew there was nothing to fear. The streetâ€"a quiet oneâ€"was deserted. The pavement was broad, I could walk up and down without let or hindrance, guiding myself, after the manner of other blind persons, by tapping my stick against the curbstone or the railings. Still I must takes. few precautions to enable me to ascertain my latitude and longitude at will. It was no use attempting to find my way back unaided. Not having brought my repeater with me I could not even say how long I had been walking. It might have been ten minutes, it might have been an hour since I gave up counting my steps. Judging by the number of things I had thought of since that rapturous exaltation of mind commenced It seemed more likely to be the latter. Now that I had come back to the earth I must be content to remain on this particular spot of it until I heard the step of a policeman or some one else who might happen to be abroad at this unusual hourâ€"unusual, at least in this quiet part of London. I leaned my back against the wall and waited_patiently. I came down the four steps which led from the front door, turned myself to the right, and, by aid of the line of railings, set my face toward the end of the street. There I began to walk and to count my steps, sixty-two of which brought my right foot on to aroad. which told me I had reached my limit. I turned, counted back the sixty-two paces, and then sixty-five more in the same direction before I found myself again ofl’ the pavement. My calcu. lations were verified by my knowmg that my house was very near the centre of the row. I was now quite at my ease ; I had determined the length of my tether ; I could walk up and down the deserted street, yet, at any time I wished to do so, could by counting from either end, arrest my steps in front of my abode. So, xfiightily proud of my success, for a. while I went up and down â€"up and down. I heard one or two cabs pass me, and also one or two persons Moot. As these latter seemed to pay no attention to me, I felt glad to think that my appearance and gait were not such as to attract notlce. Most men like to conceal their infirmities. The night excursion did me a great deal of good. Perhaps it was finding that I was not altogether so helpless and dependent that changed in a few minutes my whole frame of mind. The mental rebound took place. I went from despondency to hopeâ€" extravagant hope-even to certainty. Like a revelation it came to me that my malady was curable ; that, in spite of my presenti- ment, what friends had been assuring me would prove to be the truth. So elated I grew that I throw my head back and walked with a firm, quick step, almost for- getting that I was eightless. I began to think of many things. and my thoughts were happier ones than I had known for months. I gave up counting my paces, I walked on and on, planning what I should do ; where I should go when my darkness was removed. I do not know whether I may have at times guided myself by the wall or the pavement edge ; but if so I did it mechanically and instinctively, without noticing the action or remembering it afterward. I cannot say whether it may be possible for a blind man, who can divest himself of the tear of encountering unseen obstacles, to walk as straightly and accurately as one who can see. I only know that, in my preoccupied and elevated state of mind, I must have done so. Intoxicated and car- ried away by the return of hope, I may have walked as a somnambulist or as one in a trance. Any way, forgetful of all save my brighter thoughts, I went on and on, headless of the missing sense, until coming full against a person walking in the oppo- site direction recalled me from my visions and brought me back to my misery. I felt the man I had encountered shake himself free; I heard him mutter “Stupid fool!” and go swiftly on his way, leaving me motionless on the spot where the collision had occurred, wondering where I was and what I should do. “I soon heard an approaofiing stab; but such a staggering, uncertain, lurchng kind PAULINE. Husband and Wlte. â€"'.Youth’a Companion. of step, that from the sound of the feet alone I was able to determine the condition of their owner, and I was obliged to decide that he was not the men I wanted. I must let him pass and wait for another. But the feet staggered up to me and stopped near me, whilst a voice. jolly. but like the feet unsteedy, criedâ€" . .. . a “ ’Nother teller worah than me! Can’t get on at allâ€"eh, old chap? Comfort t’ think some one’s head'll ache worsh than mine to-morrow I” " Can yofi iall me the way to Walpole street ?" I asked, standing erect to snow him I was sober. " Wéiéalvéiéfireetâ€"oourse I canâ€"clash by â€"third to left I think.” ‘TIâ€"i‘yo'fi age? going that way would you lead me to the corner of it. Unhappily I am blindiand hqve lost my way.” “ Bhnd, poor beggarâ€"not screwed then. Guess I’m In a. nice state to lead any one. Blind leading blindâ€"both tumble into ditch. I shay, though.” he added with drunken gravity, “ make a bargainâ€"I lend you eyes, you land me legah. Good idea. Gonna ’long." 7 He mokhy arm and we went yawning up file gin-9911.. Pgegqntl‘y'he stopped. .. nL,u "H’Waiébié'étréébk’ he’ Eiooougfie‘d. " Shall I $11159 yqu to_ your boll-86 I" _ .‘Vifiodfihiafikuiou. Please put my hand on the railing at the corner house. I shall be all fight cyan." 7‘7Wirarhrl Were right. Wish I could bor- row your legs to take me home,” said my bibuhstic conductor. " Good nightâ€" Bleah yojltu -.. . . n .,,,:.A d VI'rheard him tack away, then turned to oopplete my jottl‘rney.‘ . ‘-,‘ ,, 3| I was not quite certain as to which end of Walpole street I was starting from ; that mattered little. Either sixty-two or sixty-five paces would leave me in front of my door. I counted sixty-two, and‘ then felt for the entrance between the railings ; not finding it, I went on a step or two until I came to it. I was glad to have reached home without accident, and, to tell the truth, was beginning to feel a little ashamed of my eacapade. I hoped that Priscilla had not discovered my absence and alarmed the house, and I trusted I should be able to regain my room as quietly as I had quitted it. With all my elaborate calcula- tions. I was not quite sure that I had hit upon the right house; but if they were incorrect I could only be a door or two away from it, and the key in my hand would be a certain test. I went up the doorstepsâ€"was it four or five I had counted as I came out ?â€"I tum-' bled for the keyhole and inserted the latch- key. It turned easily and the door opened. 1 had not made a mistaks. I felt an inward glow of satisfaction at having hit upon the house at the first attempt. " It must have been a. blind man who first discovered that necessity is the mother of invention,” I said, as I softly closed the door behind me and prepared to creep pp to my own room. I wondered what the time was. All I knew was that it must be still night, for I was able to distinguish light from darkness. As I had found myself so close to Walpole street I could not have walked for any length of time in my ecstatic state, so I fancied it must be somewhere about 2 o’clock. Even more anxious than when I started to make no noise which might awaken peo. ple, I found the bottom of the staircase and began my stealthy ascent. Somehow, blind as I was, the place seemed unfamiliar to me. The balustrade I was touching dld not seem the same. The very texture of the carpet under my feet seemed different. Could it be possible that I had entered the wrong house? There are plenty of instances on record of a key hav- ing opened a strange look. Could I, through such a circumstance, have strayed into a neighbor’s house? I paused ; the perspi- ration rising on my brow as I thought of the awkward situation in which I should be placed it it were so. For a moment I resolved to retrace my steps and try the next house ; but I could not be quite sure I was wrong. Then I remembered that in my own house a bracket, with a plaster figure upon it, hung near the top of the stairs. I knew the exact place, having been cautioned many times to keep my head from knocking against it. I could settle all my doubts by going on and feeling for this landmark; so onAI went. The singer had now commenced the second verse. I placed my ear close to the door to catch every note. I was curious to know what she would make of the efiective but trying finale, whenâ€"oh horrible con- trast to the soft sweet liquid notes and subdued words of passionate love lâ€"â€"I beards gasp, a spasmodic. fearfulgasp. that could convey but one meaning. heard it succeeded by a long deep groan, which terminated in a gurgling sound which froze my blood. I heard the music stop suddenly, and the cry, the piercing cry of a woman ring out like a frightful change from melody to discord, and then I heard a dull, heavy thud on the floor! _ I waited to hear no more. I knew that some dreadful deed had been perpetrated within afew feet of where I stood. My heart beat wildly and fiercely. In the excitement of the moment I forgot that I waited and listened to the song. It was taken from an opera recently produced on the continent, an opera not yet popu- larly known in England, and the song was one that few amateurs would dare to attempt. The singer, whoever she might he, sang it softly and under her voice, as though tearing to throw it out with full force. The lateness of the hour might well account for this restraint. Nevertheless, any one capable of judgment must have known he was listening to no ordinary singer. It was easy to recognize the trained skill and dormant power, and imagine what, under favorable circumstances, that voice might accomplish. I was enchanted. My idea was that I had stumbled into a nest of professionalsâ€"people whose duties ended so late, that to enjoy any evening at all, night must be greatly encroached upon. All the better for me! Bohemians them- selves, my unexpected nocturnal intrusion might not frighten them out of their wits. I ran my fingers softly along the well, but no bracket could I find. My hand touched the lmtel of a. door instead. Then I knew, for certain, I was in the wrong house. The only thing to be done was to creep out as quietly as I had entered and try my luck next door. As I turned to grape my way back I heard the murmur of valuesâ€"late as it was, there were people talking in the room, the door of which my fingers had so lightly touched. I could not distinguish words, but I was sure the voices were those of men. I stood irresolute. Would it not be better to knock at the door and throw myself upon the mercy of the inmates of the room? I could apologize and explain. My blind- ness would account for the mistake. Some one would, no doubt, be kind enough to put me on the right road home. Yes, this was the best to do. Icould not go on creepinginto strange houses like a midnight thief. Per- haps each house in the row had an equally common lock and my key might open all. If so, the and would be that some alarmed householder would put a bullet into me before I had time to assert my innocence. I hsve been so occupied with complaining of the hardships of my lot I have not told you I had one solace to my misery ; that mer- ciful gift, so often bestowed on the blind, music. Had it not been for this I believe those weeks of darkness and uncertainty would have driven me mad. Had it not been that I could pass many weary hours away playing to myself, that I could be taken to concerts and hear others play and sing, my days would be unbearable. and I shudder to think of what aid I might have called in to render them less burden- someâ€" Just as I raised my fingers to tap at the door I heard another voiceâ€"a woman‘s voiee. It seemed to come from the back room and was singing to an accompaniment played softly on the piano. I paused and listenedâ€" I was not like othersâ€"forgot that strength and courage could avail me noth- ingâ€"torgot everything save a. desire to prevent the accomplishment of crimeâ€"the wish to do a. man’s duty in saving lite and suoeoring the ones in peril. I threw open the door and rushed headlong into the room. Then. as I became aware of the presence of strong light, but light which revealed nothing to me, the folly and mahâ€" nees o! my proceedings came fully home to me, and like a flash it crossed my mind that unarmed, blind and helpless. I had rushed into that room to meet my death. I heard an oathâ€"an exclamation of sur- priee. In the distance I heard the cry of the woman, but it sounded mufiled and taint; it seemed to me that a. struggle was going on in that part of the room. Power- less though I was to aid, I turned impul- sively and took a couple of steps in the direction whence the cry come; my foot caught in soxn thing and I fell prostrate on the body of a. man. Even in the midst of the horror the: awaited me I shuddered as I felt my hand. lying on the fallen man, grow wet with some warm fluid which slowly trickled over it. Before I could rise strong muscular liv- ing hands were upon my throat, holding me down, while a short distance ofl I heard the sharp click of a pistol lock. Oh, for a light for a second I If only to see those who were about to take my life, if onlyâ€"strange fancyâ€"to know in what part of me to expect the fatal bullet. And I. who some hour or two ago lay and dated to wish for death, felt at this moment that life, even my darkened life, was as dear to me as to any creature under the sun. So I cried aloud, and my voice sounded to me like the vows of a stranger: CHAPTER II. DRUNK on DREAMINGI The hands pinning me down did not for an instant relex their grasp ; yet they might safely have done so. Situated as I wee I felt that my only chance of life was to lie still and convince, if I could, the per- sons in the room of the truth of my asser- tion. Nothing could be gained, but every- thing would be lost by resistance. I was strong, but, even if all the senses had been mine, I doubt if I could compete with the men who held me down. I could feel the nervous power of his hands and arms. Ger- tainly. now that I was blind and helpless, the struggle would be a. short one. Besides he had companions, how many I knew not, ready to help him. The first movement I made would be the end of everything so tar as I was concerned. I made no further attempt {in lay as still and unreaiating a trate form across which I h Egry I_nox:_nent seemed an hour! Think of my situation. A blind man in a. strange too in in a. strange houseâ€"held down on the body of a. man whose last groan he had just heardâ€"held down and at the mercy of those who it was certain had just taken part in a. black and cow- ardly crime 1 Unable to look into the faces of the murderers around him and learn whether their looks meant life or death to him I Expecting every moment to lee] the sharp stab of a. knife or the fiery sting of e bulletl Seeing nothing and feeling nothing save the hands upon his throat and the dead body beneath himl Even hearing nothing save that stifled moaning in the distance! Can the wildest flights of fiction show a parallel to my case? All the while I was speaking I heard that distressing sound at the other end of the room. It drove me nearly mad. I believe could I have made sure of reaching through my darkness and catching one of those men by the throat, with the certainty of crushing life out of him, I should have done so, even had such an not sealed my own fate. When my explanation was over another whxspered consultation took place. Then the spokesman demanded the kay which had so nearly cost me my life. I suppose they tried it and found it acted as I said, ' Shortly and simply as I could, I told them what had brought me into such straits. The only thing I concealed was my true name. Why should these assas- sins know it? If I revealed it they might set a. watch upon me and at any moment their safety demanded it I might share the fate of him who lay within a few feet of my chair. So I gave a fictitious name, but everything else I told them was true. Since that night I have quite disbelieved in the possibility of people's hair turning suddenly gray. It such a. thing can be I must have lett that room with the looks of an old man. I Qvell knew they had no time to spare. They had much to doâ€"muoh to hide. Oh, for the gift of sight for one moment! I would purchase it even if the price were years of darkgess! I can only say that even now as, after the lapse of years, I write this ; even as I see everything around me safe. still and at peace; even nhongh I know the ones I love are close at hand, my pen trembles, my blood feels chilled and a faiutneee steals over me as the recollection of the most terrible moments in my life comes to me with a vividneee I cannot describe. -A hand was placed upon my shoulder and I was gulded to a. chair. “ Now, sir,” said the speaker who had before addressed me, “ tell us. in as few words as possible, who you areâ€"how and why you came here. Be quick, we have no tigne to spare.” “ Walk this wayâ€"straight onâ€" four paces,” said the voice. I obeyed. The third step brought me in collision with the wall. No doubt this was an extra. test as to the truth of my statement. It was well for me that I could keep still and cry again and again, “ I am blindâ€" look and see I" My quiescence. the tone of my voice, may have turned the balance on which my life hungâ€"may have carried convmtion to my hearers. Presently the strong light of a lamp was perceptible to my obscured vision; a lump placed so close to me that I could feel its hot glow upon my face; and I was aware that some one was steeping or kneeling down and peering into my eyes. His breath struck against my {cheeln a short, quick, excited breathâ€"how could it be otherwise after the deed in which he had just taken part? A foot touched me. ” You may stand up," I heard some one say. When I burst so recklessly into the room I fancied the exclamation with whieh I was greeted came from foreign lips. but the man who now addressed me spoke in pure English. By this time I was beginning to recover self-possession and was able to make a mental note of these facts. Thankful for being allowed to quit my ghastly couch, I rose. As I could mink of nothigg yettqrfio do I stogd pgqtionleaa: At last he rose; a. moment afterwards the restraining hands moved from me. and then, for the first time. I began to hope that; my life {night-I be spared: _ ‘ As yet none of those around me had spoken. Now I heard voices; but whis- pering so softly that even my sharpened ears could not catch the purport of a single word, although I could gather that three persons at least were engaged in that hushed consultation. All the while. like a. dreary and fitting accompaniment. I could hear that stifled moaningâ€"a. woman’s moaning. I would have given all I possessedâ€"all save life in exchange for a. minute’s sight, that I might have been able to comprehend what had passed and whey was passing around me. Still the whispers continued. They came thick and fast, running into and interrupting each other, as from men in hot but guarded discussion. It needed little intelligence to guess the subject 0! that debate! Presently they died; away altogether, and, for a. time, the only sound I heurd was that terrible. muffled moanâ€" eontinued with s. dreary mgnotony. 3" Siir’e‘ifiéi I am bufidl blind! blind I" to rise, but as the pros- had fallen. It was not returned to me, but I heard the voice once more. " Fortunately for you we have decided to believe your tale. Stand up.” I did so and was led to another part of the room and again placed in a chair. Ae, after the manner of the blind, I stretched out my hands, I found I was in a. corner of the room, my face turned to the angle of the wells. " " If you move or look around," said the voice, “our belief in your blindness wnl vanish.” It was impossible to misunderstand the grim threat conveyed by the last words. I could only sit quiet and listen with all my ears. Yes, they had much to do. They moved about busily and rapidly. 1 heard eup- boards and drawers opened. I detected the sound of papers being torn and the smell of papers burning. I heard them raise some dead weight from the floorâ€" heard a sound as of rent cloth and linen â€"â€"heard the jingle of money, even the tick of awatoh as it was drawn from some- where and lald on the table near me. Then I felt a breath of air and knew that the door had been opened. I heard heavy foot- steps on the stairsâ€"the steps of men bear- ing a weighty burden, and I shuddered as I thought what_that burden must be. Before the last task was completed the woman’s moan had ceased. For some time it had been growing fainter and only sounding at recurring intervals. Now I heard it no longer. This cessation was a great relief to my overwrought nerves, but my heart grew sick as I thought it may be there were two victims instead of one. Although at least two men must have borne that weight away, I knew I was not left alone. I heard some one throw him- self into a. chair with a. halt weary sigh and guessed he had been left to guard me. I was longing to make my escapeâ€"longing to wake and find I had been dreaming. The suspense or the nightmare was grow- ing gnbearable. I said, without turning my es. : I heard the then move in his chair, but he made no answer. “ May I not go ?" I pleaded, “ I have seen nothing put me out into the streetâ€"any where. I shall go mad if I stay here longer.” . Still no answer. I said no more. By-snd-by the absent men returned to their companion. I heard the door close after them. Then came more whispers. and I heard the drawing of a. cork and e jingle of glasses. They were refreshing them- aelfes after the night’s dark work. “ How long am I to be kept amid these horrors ?" It must have been about an hour after my stealthy exit that she awoke. She put her ear to the door to make certain that I was asleep and wanting nothing. Hearing no sound of hte in my room she entered it, and found tho bed untenanted and me gone. Probe.ny she was even more fright- ened than she owned to being. She knew all about my deepondenoy and complain- Presently a. curious odor â€"tha.t of same drug was perceptible. A hand was laid on my shoulder and a. glass full of some liquid wasgldcgdfietyeep my fingers. “Drink.” said the €oioe-V-the only voice I had heard. “ I will not," Itoried, “ it may be poi- son." I heard a short harsh laugh and felt a. cold _m_eta.llip ring laid {against my froreheadrr. It was not until she saw I was getting quite angry that her tongue would consentto run pretty straight, and when I heard her account of what had occurred my head was whirling. This is what she told “ It is not poison; it is an opiate and will do you no harm. But this,” and as he spokeIfelti the pressure of alittle iron oirolet, "this is another afiair. Choose 1” I drained the glass and was glad to feel the pistol moved from my head. “ Now,” said the spokesman, taking the empty glass from my hand, “it you are a. wise man, when you awake to-morrow you will say, ‘I have been drunk or dreaming.’ You have heard as but not seen us, but. remember we know you.” â€""“.â€"Yoâ€"uâ€"’;e a. kriinrd Vold £001,15risoilla. Tell me all about last yiglgt.” He left me, and in a short time, do what I would to struggle against it, heavy drow- siness came over me. Thoughts grew incoherent and reason seemed leaving me. My head fell first on one side, then on the other. The last thing I can remember is a strong arm encircling me and keeping me from tumbling out of my chair. What- ever the drug was, its action was strong and swift. She had not quite aired her grievance. " If you wanted to get tipsy or to take any of them stuffs to send you asleep and make you inaensible, you might have done it at home, Master Gilbert. I shouldn’t have minded it once in 9. way? 7“ Sii dbwn and tell me whats §ou mean-â€" wh_a_.t bps yappeneq I?" For hours and hours it held me senseless, and when at last its power faded and my mind, strug- gling back to a clouded sort of conscious- ness, made, after many attempts, the fact apparent to me that I was lying on a bed, and, moreover, as I found, by stretching out my arms and feeling around, my own bed, is it to be wondered at that I said to myself, “ I have dreamed the most fright- ful dream that ever came to a tormented mind." After this effort of mind I sank back once more into a semi-conscious state, but fully persuaded I had never quitted my bad. My relief at this discovery was immense. WWEEIZI éheriahvw the empthedI I trem- bled. The horrors of the‘ yigbt W;_BI:'_6 real!» " How could you do in, Master Gllbfil‘h ?" continued Priscilla. “ To go out; Without a word, and wnnder half over London, all alone and notable to see a. gluing l" The old servant was weeping. Icould hear her. She made no answer, so I repeats“! any guest?!» ,‘ , “4“..3 “0h, Mania: Gilbert!” aha sobbed, “ how could you do it? When Ioa.me into the room and saw the empty bed I thought I should have droppadz’: Yet it my mind grew easy, I cannot say the same for the body. My head seemed preparing to split in two, my tongue was dry and parched. These unpleasunfi facts became more and more noticeable as con- sciousnese gradually returned. I sat up in bed and pressed my hands to my throbuing brown. Doctor Deane was shown out, and old Priscilla returning to my bedside patted and punched the pillows to make me more oomtorimble. By this time I was wide awake, and the experiences of the night were coming back no me with a. distinct.- ness and demil for above those of is recalled dream, ” What is the time ?" I asked. “ Nigh upon noon. Master Gilbert.” Priscilla spoke in a sorrowful, injured manner. , " Noon 1 what has been the matter with me ‘1’" “Oh. dear heart!" I heard my old nurse say, “ He is coming round at. last." Then another voiceâ€"a man’s voice. not!) and bland. " Yes, your master W1" soon be well again. Kindly let me feel your pulse, Mr. Vaughan," A soft finger was laid upon my wrist. “ Who is it ‘2" I asked. “ I am Doctor Deane, at your service,” said the stranger. “ A tavir'hours only. There is nothing to be alarmed at. Lie down again and keep qu‘i‘e't’for'a while: Are ypu ‘n‘h'ire‘ty They did so, I drank greedily, and felt somewhat relieved. " Now, nurse,” I heard the doctor Buy, “ make him some weak tea. and when he wants anything to eat, let him have it. I will look in again later op.” “ Have I bEen ill? How long? How many 98.515?" r “ I93, I am dying with thirstlgive me water." ings of the last few days, and I have no doubt but her first fear was that I had destroyed myself. She started in search of me, and at once recognizing the impos- sibility of finding me without assistance, turned to that first and last resource of an Englishwoman in such a diflicultyâ€"the police. Having told her tale at the nearest station, and by entreaties, and by enlarging on my infirmity, made known the urgency of the case, and secured sympathy. tele- graphic messages were sent to other police stations asking it any one answering to my description had been found. Priscilla waited upon thorns until about 5 o’clock in the morning, when a reply came from the other end of the town. It stated that a young man who appeared to be blind, and who was certainly drunk and incap- ble. had just been brought in. Her Evenflul Idle Apparently Drawing Rapidly lo a Close. The Queen has invited the Empress Eugenie to pay another visit to Scotland this autumn, and it is probable that she Will occupy Aber- ‘ geldie Castle for a shor ttime in Octo- ber, after the Prince and Princess of Wales have left for the south, says a London paper. According to the European gossips the life of the eLEmpress Eugenie is drawing very near to unless. Were it otherwise there would be still greater grounds for surprise. If the ex Empress’ life has not been' a. long one, at least it has been crowded with events exciting and sorrowful after a manner unparalleled in modern history. Such writers as Irving and Merimee have presented to us the little ohildin frocks, and as well the gracefu| girl in her teens, unconscious of the fate which the future held in store for herâ€" grand and gloomy. Splendid as was her career during the second empireâ€"so fair and so familiar in all its features that the sewing girls of Paris put aside their braziers of charcoal and resolved to live and become empressesâ€"it was by no means one of unalloyed enjoyment. Her life was spent under the aim of the assas- sin, or she was made the target of loss still more mercilessâ€"of parsgraphers and of polemics, who did not shrink from libelling with impartial malignity the sovereign, the wife and the mother. Even about the days when the second empire was crumbling into the abyss, history has twined agar- land of dishonoring invention, and we have the Empress declaring: “ This is my little war l” or dismissing the faithful oi the Tuileries with the flippant adieu: "My friends, we have played out the fares I" when, all the time, she was engaged with the crowding affairs of a disorganized state, or trembling for her husband and son, or flying for her life from a. fate worse than that of the Princess Lsmballe. The big stone tower of the Philadelphia. public building, now in process of construc- tion, will be finiehed by the end of 1886, and will then be 340 feet high. From that elevation the iron work commences and goes 195 feet higher, until the orown of William Penn’s hat, the height of 535 feet, is reached. The crowning piece in the circle forming the lower part of the tower is a single stone weighing 32 tons. A 114 pound squash ie one of the gttraotions of Walla. Walla, Washington The life of the ex-E mpress Eugenie since i the disaster of Sedan has been mournful in the extreme. The crumbling of the fabric of the second empire was followed by the death of her husband, and to this sue- cseded closely the death of her mother and the taking off of her only child, the gallant and ill-fated Prince Louis. Since he fell, thrust through with Zulu spears, and the hopes of a Bonapartist restoration were smitten by the shock, she has remained a mother of sorrow, mourning for her dead with a sincerity that malignity could not impeach, and that has acquired for her the respect and pity of the world. Rarely, it ever, in the world’s history, has so fair a noonday been followed by so black 9. night. That the end of her days is near at hand no one who has noted the condi- tion of the ex Empress’ health can doubt. She will go down to the grave a woman misunderstood and misrepresented, to her generation a flirt, a fanatic and a dictator o! foolish fashions, and to the few who have read the lines of her strong character a woman of. real talent, of fervid afiections, and of virtues beyond the reach alike of denial and of detraction. New York Star: A Grand street dentist was recently asked by one of his lady patients it he would make a set of false teeth for her dog, who, being old, had lost his own. She said she was willing to have the experiment made on her darling, whose digestion was now greatly impaired. and that many other people she knew would be glad to have their pet's absent teeth replaced it her dog’s set was a success. The dentist declined to try. Characteristics of Clever Impromptu 'l‘nlkerl, at Home and Abroad. Lord Coleridge, at the Irvine banquet at St. James' Hall, before our p)pu1ar trage: dian went to America, intimated that an after-dinner speech ” consisted of platitudes and anecdotes ;" and I remember hearing Mr. James R. Lowell. poet, humorist, and American Minister at the Court of St. James, say that it suddenly called upon after dinner to speak, his mind was more or less a blank, but that on the way home from the feast he thought of ever so many good things he would like to have said. This implied slack of ready wit, but fancy Mr. James B. LOWell did himself an injustice by this confession, as his speeches usually have an impromptu air and abound in point and interest. Charles Dickens was an admirable after dinner speaker, but I have no doubt he knew telerably well before-hand what he was to talk about, and since the lamented death of “ Boz " I fancy George Augustus Sala bears away the palm. When this notabie journalist rises, poises his chin in the air, rolls his dark eyes upward and sends out his clear metallic chest notes, one feels an assurance that a clever speech is forthcom- ing, delivered with fluent ease and felicity of expression. 1 once heard a noble lord, who very frequently makes excellent speeches in the Upper House, declare that he would part with half of his worldly possessions if he could roll off a speech with the facility of G. S. This may have been a facon de parler, but it certainly implies a large measure of admiration for the oratorial ability of our prince of jour- nalists. To my mind the most wonderful speaker in the world is Henry Ward Beecher, the celebrated Brooklyn divine. He can speak at any time, at any place and on any sub- ject. His pyrotechnic brain, incessantly whizzing and whirling, shoots out thou- sands ot bright thoughts, which he readin clothes in most musical and expressive lan- guage, The worst speaker I ever heard is " Dying ” Boucicault, who, though a capable Irisheomedian and adapter of French plays, boggles and stammers, hesitates and trips when he “ rises to respond,” and resumes his seat without having produced the slightest effect, except that of disappoint- ment, On the whole I think the Americans are more tellln attendinner speakers than the English. here is Daniel Daugherty, the eminent advocate of Philadelphia; Sunset Cox, Oakley Hall, Ben Butler and Chauncey M. Depew, whose names are well known on this side of the ocean, and who. when they get on their legs, usually corruscate to the edifloation of their hearers.â€"Howard Paul in Hotel Mail. 'erria’my. POSI‘PRAN DIAL SPEAKE Rs." THE EMPRESS EUGE N] E. (To be continued.) Not a Dog Demist, THE HUMOROUS JOURNALISTS OF AMERICA. Who Thev Are and What They Do. The only two old newspaper humoriete who have held their own before the public are C. B. Lewis. of the Detroit Free Press, and Robert J. Burdette, of the Burlington Hawkaye. Lewis is a. veritable prodigy. He has wrinten constantly for ten years, and he has not weakened in the least. Burdette does not write as much, but he has improved, and he has yet to do the best work of his life. We believe Burdette ie drifting toward verse-making ; if this be true we may look for some exquisite work at his hands after he has learned the dif- ference between a. epondee and dectyl, and is brave enough to put his thoughts into rhyme. The foolish tear of being laughed at has aborted many abeautitul poem Of the more recent humorists, the best l are Joel 0. Harris, E. W. Nye and Opie ‘ Reed. Nye is the most popular, but Read is undoubtedly the most versatile. Harris’ work is simply perfect in its way, but the fact that it is largely confined to dialect sketches prescribes the extent of its popu- larity, and this extent of popularity will, we believe. diminish year by year. James Whitcomb Riley is beyond all question the .best of our humorous poets. Thomas B. Chrystal, ot the New York Morning Journal, is the most promising of the young verseâ€" writers, and he is undeniably the most prolific and most fashionable; it is hard to determine as to the versatility of his humor, as his verses have hitherto been wholly confined within the limits of comi- cality. When we come to consider the demand for humor which exists in this country, we are amazed to find that there are so few writers capable of answering that demand. It is complained that the humorist writes him- self out, butwe do not believe it necessarily followe that because one has a talent he must exhaust that talent in two, five or ten years. We do not see why that talent should not endure a life-time. But it must be nursed and fostered and cultivated and improved. The trouble with the average writerâ€"be he humorously inclined or notâ€"is that he spends the principal of his ability instead of huebanding that principal and subsisting upon the interest. The graveyards of jourâ€" nalism are full of intellectual paupereâ€" those who had all that genius muld give a man, but who foolishly and extravagantly lavished their wealth of brilliancy, with no thought of the professional to-morrow, till they found themselves suddenly bankrupt and benighted and objects of universal compassion.â€"-Eugene Field. QNone genuine without a bunch of green Hons on the white label. Shun all the vile, poisonous stufl‘ with “ Hop" or "Hops" in their Henry 1". Stanley’s Servant. Mr. Stanley has with him his favorite servant, Dualla, a slim Somali cf 23. picked up at Aden, who has acted as his confidential attendant for the last five or six years, says the Pall Mall Gazette. No one could fail to be attracted by his bright, intelligent face, his genial smile and his answers to some pleasant badinage which his master exchanged with him at luncheon showed a surprising readiness and grasp. ‘ With the various points of the Congo ques- tion he is thoroughly conversant, express- ing his opinions with much decision; of De Btazza, of the missionaries, of the Portuguese and so on. The length of the Congo, from Leopoldville to Banana Point, he is known, and when he appears at a station he is at once recognized as the repre- sentative of Mr. Stanley, as whose ambas- sador in advance he often acts. In fact Dualla is a diplomatist of consummate tact, which does credit to his teaching. Bis English is wonderfully good, and at present he is acquiring the art of writing. “ Dualla is getting whiter every day. Do you use Pear’s soap, Dualla? ” asked Mr. Stanley, laughing out. Dualla had not tried its virtues. This is not his first visit to London; though it possesses great attraotions for him, I am airaid he prefers the gayetxes of Paris. Dualla is getting homesick. and is going back to Aden, for a time at least, to friends. “ Dualla thinks the white girls very pretty, but I know there is a dusky Somali maiden in the case. eh, Dualli ? " Dualla blushed, laughed and beat a hasty retreat. That he has faith in England is evident from the fact that out of the £350 he has saved out of his wages of £80 a year he has invested £250 in con- sole. The odd £100 he has spent in pre- sents for his friends, like the thoughtful fellow he is. 7 3 And we are so glad that he uaed your Bitters.”â€"A LADY of Uhioa, N. Y. “ Eleven years our daughter suffered on bed of misery. “ From a. complication of kidney, liver, rehumatio trouble and Nervous debility, " Uunder the care of the best physicians, “ Who gave her disease various names, “ But no relief, H And now she is restored to us in good health by as simple a remedy as Hop Bit.~ ters. that we had shunned for years before using it.”â€"Tss: PARENTs. Father is Getting Well. “ My daughters say : . “ How much better father is since he used Hop Bitters.” “ He is getting well after his long suffer- ing iron: a disease dealer-ed incurable.“ “ There 13 no denying the virtues of the Hop plant, and the pro rietors of 1:10p Bitters have shpyvn great shrgw uess 8.1351 'ability: 77* * * " No I ‘-‘ She lingered and suffered long, pining away all the time for years," “ The doctors doing her no good 5” “ And at last was cured by this Hop Bitters the papers say so much about.” “ Indeed! Indeed! ” “ How thankful we shouldjgbe for that msdig‘ine." “ And simply call “tension to the meyita of Hop Bitters in as plain, honest terms as possible. ' “ To induce peop‘e “ To give them one trial, which so proves their value that they will never use any- thing else." papers,“ Religloua and secular, is “Having Marge sale, and is supplantiug all other medicines. “ [tinglingoimdinéifi medicine Whose virtues are so palpable to everv one‘s observation." " It has become so Gammon to begin an artigg, in an elgggnt, interesbipg sfiyle, “ Then run iiintb some &d€ertfsemant that _wg_ ayoidn all qpoh, M. Arago, Dr. Cholet and M. Victor Meunier are reepmsible for the following extraordinary aeeount of an electric girl. The girl, a peasant of 13, called Angelique Cottin, was, M. Mennier tells us in his weekly scientific article, working in a fan- tory, when a small table next to her was violently upset without ostensible cause. Subsequently, in the presence of M. Msuuier, she sat on a chair held by several people, when the chair was hurled from their hands. This was tried mute than once, with like results, the chair being in one case broken when its holders were strong enough not to let it go. When isola- tion from the ground was produced by glass none of these effects occurred. The only discomfort which the girl ever feels is a. pain in the hollow of the elbow. Before aoommission 0t engineers none of these experiments succeeded, but itis alleged in explanation that the eleetrie properties of her system have through repeated dis- charges lost their foree‘and finally become exhausted.â€"Pall Mall Gazette. F‘ Tm; REMEDY so favorably noticed in all the An Electric French Girl. Aflverlislng Cheats ! ! ! A Daughwr’s Miser” Did She Die ? Moves incessantly-the most buoyant (50-day may be loaded down by adversity to- morrow. One peculiarity of that famous alleviator of human sufferingâ€"Putnam’s Painless Corn Excraotor, is the fact that. in spite of hundreds of imitafiions and substi~ flutes in has retained its place in the very front rank as a. remedy for corns.‘ This must ever be the case as every person who has used it testifies-that in is prompt, pain- less and certain_ three grand essentials which. when combined, as is the case with Putnam’s Painless Corn Extractor, insures a. sure pop corn cure. Sold everywhere. A Paris novelty is a. magnifying fan. Two sticks are bored and the holes filled with small lenses of the finest crystal. The wearer covers her eyes with the inn and uses the sticks as an opera glass. Read this carefully. If you or any friend are suffering from any kind of pain, internal, local or external, try Poleon’a NERVILINE, the sure pop pain cure. Nervi. k line is one of the most elegant combinations ever offered to: the public for the relief of pain. Pleasant to take, powerful in eflect, sure 1n results, and cheap because the strongest. purerm and meet certain pain remedy in the world. You can test; this great remedy by going to a drug store and buying a. 10 cent sample bottle. Try it at once. Another danger is added to modern housekeeping. Dr. Austen has discovered that water containing organic matter will, when under pressure, dissolve compounds of lead, zinc and copper more rapidly and in much larger quantities than when pure and under ordinary conditions. He claims that many cases or dysentery result from drinking such water that has stood all night in lead or zinc pipes. EnifiéiiiWaf 'ihe 'SP'Efid 'E = I IAN B SINEBE oonnna Balm Mich Circulars Ire! â€"Dr. S. B. Brittan says: “As a rule physicians do not by their professional methods build up the female constitution , and they seldom cure the diseases to which it is always liable in our variable climate and under our imperfect oivilizstion. Special remedies are often required to restore organic harmony and to strengthen the enfeebled powers of womanhood, and for most of these we are indebted to persons outside of the medical profession. Among the very best of these remedies I assign a prominent place to Mrs.Pinkhs-m’s Vegetable Compound. J} 8. EL, Lecturer on the Eye, Eat and Throat Trinity Medical College, Toronto. Oculistnn Auriat to the Toronto General Hospital; H Clinical Assistant Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorefleld's and Gentml Londlu Throat and Ear Hospital. 317 Church ammo Tomato. Artificial Human Wyattâ€"i AMONG the interesting exhibitions prom- ised for the year 1885, that of Russian historical furniture, which is to be held at St. Petersburg.will be much appreciated by antiquerians and artists. The primitive chairs and tables of the ancient Slave, as well as the costly furniture which at present adorns the reeidencee ct the rich, and the bright-colored deal goods in the moujlk's cottage, will be exhibited, and appeals are at present being madeto furniture dealers and others possessing antique furniture to send their goods to the committee. TgE Vouumo BELT 00., of Marshall. Mich. offer to send their celebrated ELEOTBO-VOLTALIQ BELT and other ELECTRIC APPLIANCES on tn for thirty days. to men (young or old) afllicte with nervous debility, loss of vitality and man. hood, and all kindred troubles. Also for rhea matiam, neuralgia, paralysis and many other diseases. Complete restoration to health, vigor and manhood guaranteed. No risk is incurred as thirty days trial is allowed. Wnte them once for illustrated pamphlet free. Marion Crawford, the American novelist, will marry 8. daughtar of CA]. Berdan, the inventor, In October. IT WILL CURE E‘NTIRELY TIIE WORST FORM or FE- MALE COMPLAINTS, ALI. OvAnIAN TROUBLES, In. FLAMMATION AND UImEIIATIoN. FALLING AND D“. PLACEMENTS, AND THE CONSEQUENT SPINAL WEAK: mass, AND IS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED To THE‘ CHANGE OF LIFE. * g '* * * «f f; ‘é‘ * IT WILL DIFFOIIVE AND EXPEL TUMORS FROM Tuxf UTEst IN AN EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT. TH]: TENDENCY To CANCEROUS IIUIIORS THERE IS CHECKED VERY SPEEDILY BY ITS USE. * * .1. * * ’3‘ * IT REMOVES FAINTNESS, FLATIILENCY, DESTROYI ALL CRAVING Iron NTI MULANTS, AND RELIEVES WEAK» mass 0)? THE STOMAC‘H. IT CURES BLo ATING, HEM»! ACHE, NERVOUS PROSTRA’I‘ION, GENERAL DEEILITi’, DEI-BESSION ANJ) INDIGESTION. * * 4, * . * TIIAT FEELING 0F BEARING DOWN, CAUSING PAIN, WEIGHT AND BACKACHE, IS ALWAYS PERMANENan 01mm; BY ITS USE. * * * * * * * ' ? IT WILL AT ALL TIMES AND UNDER ALL cmcmy STANQES ACT IN HARMONY ‘WITH THE ‘LAws THAT QOVEEN THE FEMALE SYSTEM. * * {1, it . '19 RITS PURPOSE IS SOLELY FOR THE LEGITIMATI HEALING 0F DISEASE AND THE RELIEF OF PAIN, AND THAT IT DOES ALL IT CLAIMS To Do, THOUSANDS or LADIES CAN GLADLY TEEN-FY.“ * * * ll * ,, My L , . .-.. 3: ‘ ' 9' LYQEA E. PINKHAM’S { * VEGETABLE COMPOUND :7, ***LS.ALOS,LTLHflL*£* u? For a“ of those Painful Complaints and. * * \Veaknesses so common to our best *‘1‘ i * * * *FEMALE POPULA’1‘ION.* * * ff] 7 - -- â€" .â€" When I say cure I do not mean merely to stop mâ€"em TB! 8 umg :md then have them return again, I mean a. midi. 'cal'tmm. I ma mndo me disease of FITS, EPILEPSY m- FALLIN SICKNESS n lira lung study. Iwarruntmy remedy to cure the wars: r Because others'hiw failed a no reason for 11' mo Giving a cure. Sends; once for a treatise an n I )9 nnle of my Infampr remedy. Give Express am: just, onice. It costs, you nothing for a. trial, and I win cure you. - . “ w 1 nnl‘m 3., cm.“ :4 “any Vnrk. I SURE FITS! Whpn I saw cure 1 do nut mean merely to stop I em to: * * FOR THE CURE or KIDNEY COMPLAINTS m. EITHER SEX nus REMEDY Is UNSURPASSED. " 4' * LYDIA E. PINKHAM’S VEGETABLE COMPOUND ll prepared at Lynn, M959. Price $1. Six bottles tor {5. Sold by all druggiets. Sent by mil, postage paid; in form of Pills or Lozenges on receipt of price as above. him, Pinkham’s “Guide to Health" will be mailed free to In! Lady sending stump. Letters confidentially answered. " ‘ No mmll should be without LYDIA E; PINKHAM’! LIVER PI LS. They cure Constipation, Biliousness and 'l‘orpnllty of the. Liver- 95 Cents Dvl‘ l’OX- " r ’ q (12' mm ) (Am 1:.) {‘LELI‘ROâ€"VOLTAIC BELT and other ELECTRIC . J Al’PLlANCluS aw sent on 30 Days‘ Trial ’10 MEN ONLY, YOUNG 0R OLD, who are sufferâ€" ing from NERVOI‘S DEBILITY LOST VITATJI'H, \VASTISG menrssgs. and all those diseases of PERSOHAL NATURE rosnltlng 1mm ABUSES 1111‘ OTHER CAUSES. Speedy relief and complete rnsmratlon to FEALTII. VIGOR and MANHOOD GUARANTEED. 80nd at once tor Illustrated Pamphlet free. Address magic; 3351906." ." Marshall. Mich. 39? EAYS? TRIAL ham ‘T’ BR. ‘7! v EYE, EAR AND THROAT. R. G. s. RYEEQON, L. R. o. P. IIIUNG MEN Xâ€"BEAD THIS, firm a. trial, and 1 wm cure you. ddress Dr. K. J. ROOT -33 Pearl 512.. New York. The Wheel of Fortune. Everybody Ho! [10! PLACE so seems a. Businel Eduoaolun or Bpengglfilqgj‘en