10
IxcimMritaSairijgjtglcrmtTaijPtotmirg. dobtv 12. 1890.
1 want siaiply to Bay that you are unjust to me
if you tli ink so. I know that from the standard
of the novel writers of fifty years o;jo my pro
Iposal was not tto bo beard o But I thiakthe
ctandord -of .America is higher and better. Iiopo
the standard of Tamworth is higher and better.
1 think men nud women meet each other with
mutual respect and inutail confldonce. It is not
In vain that we go to the samo schools, work in
tho same causes, etudy in tho Kami) circles, and
in a word live In tho cams life
If you and I were "Ileary and Emma" or "Paul
and Virginia" or "Silly and BUly" or "Fergus
and Evelyn" or any other absurd people in a novel
of course yon would not wish to have mo help you
I in any sensible way, and I should never think of
i proposing to. But seeing wo arc plain Tamworth
people, members of tho same church and officers
ia tbo same circle, I boo no liarm in what I havo
done, and I will not say I do. Truly yoars,
Aotoj.t Uiakc
When. Edith came homo late from a long
drive which sho had taken in the country
this note- was waiting for .her.
Sho road it mora than half through with
approval of tho young man's pluck and
pride. But when she came to "Fergus and
Evelyn" the words seemed to stand out of
the paper.
Or wa3 she crazy herself? Did she see
words that were not there?
Or were there over two other people in
lovowith each other with those two names?
Sho read the note through and then went
to her father's den. Sho looked in the
Telophon Directory, and then asked for
IS7.
"Hello!
"Does Mr. Antony Blake live in tho St
Clair?
"Ask Mr. Antony Blake if he can come
to No. 09 Carwon street."
In ten minutes Mr. Antony Blako was
there, though it was half-past 10 at night.
"Mr. Blake, pardon me for troubling
yon, but who are Fergus and Evelyn?"
"I am wire I do not know. I wish I did,"
ho said ruefully.
Poor Edith! She could have dropped on
tho floor for hor disappointment.
"What did yon mean then, Mr. Blake,
when you said Silly aud Billy, Evelyn and
Fergus?"
She had read the words forty times while
he was coming.
Now it was his turn to blush and stam
mor. Nor did ha see how near was the
crisis.
"Oh only wall, you see well, I onco
had somo lottora I thought tbey were love
letters addressed to Evelyn Somebody and
Fergus Somebody. I do not know who
tbo Somebodys were. The letters were not
mine. I put them away."
"Where did you put them? Where are
they now?"
"Where? They are in my safe at tho
Amicablo. 1 wish I know where they
ought to be."
And Edith was herself again. "Mr.
Blake, I think it is for mo to turn over to
you somo property of yours I have here.
Indeed, I did not steal it. But are not
these Cattaraugus bonds yours, and this
hundred dollars, perhaps, too?" And she
handed him tho well known parcel.
CHAPTER IX
"I liavc so much to tell you, papa.'"
Mr. Lane's absence in Pngland was pro
longed, and it was September before he re
turned. Edith met him at tho Tamworth
j.tation with the carriage to bring him
home.
"I have so much to tell you, papa, and I
do not know how to begin."
"It is clear that it is good news," said he;
"you look so well. And you arc a good
woman of business that has appeared all
through from your letters."
"That you will have to judge of, papa."
At that moment tm they crossed the station
her father saw Antony Blake, pressed his
hand warmly aud asked him to uomu and
sco them, which Antony said he would
gladly do.
"That young man," said Mr. Lane as
they entered tne carriage, "is one of tbo
most suooe6ful young men in this state.
"WhyncliflTo has been talking to me about
him half tho time as we came on from New
York. Why, Edith, he has an invention
which will save thousands of lives aud
must 1)0 usod ou every railroad, lie has
established a new machine shop hero to
make his coupling, and Whynoliffe and all
of them are crazy about him.
"But, Edith, he is no straoirer to you;
you used to ktiow him. He is the same
man who was in your reading club."
"Yos, papa aud, papa, ho has asked mo
to marry him, and I have told him 1 would
ask you. But really, paps, he is the best
man in tho world, and I shall cover marry
anyone else."
Thus it was that Edith made her rev
elation. It wa not until the wedding
day, however, that she uld ht r father that
the new machine t.liap was built with the
proceeds of the sale of her governments
and C, B. and Q.'s.
the r.si).
Vlco X'ri-fttdont Motion's WIr.
There is u great deal of doubt about a.
number of things iu this world, but it
feetus to be acoepted as a fact in Wash
ington that the vice president hsa thseo
beautiful and complicated wigs with
which he poos forth into the world to de
ceivo inaukind. Tho wigs are a source
rf profound study and earnest thought
on the part of both Mr. Morton and his
valet. Tho first wig ia short, the second
is of an average length aud the third
vrus made with cunning and deceptive
tagonuity by a schemer. This last wig
gives uu absolutely triumphant illustra
tion of hair which has been allowed to
grow too long. It is said that the surest
way to lir. Morton's heart is to remind
Uim. that lria hair needs cutting.
One should always be careful, how
ever, to inako this remark when the
vice-prosident is wearing wig Xo. 3.
After poveral people liave told him that
his hair needs cutfcug he alludes to it
himself in a careless way, aad then
makes some mysterious allndon about
having the barber in tho morning. The
following day he appears ia wig No. 1,
presenting the appearanco of a close
cropped and thoroughly well groomed
statesman. Those tilings are eagerly
discussed in Washington, where the af
fairs of 6tate are of uo importance com
pared to the swall talk of the dv. New
York World.
The girl students from Jnlien's studio in
Paris still keep up the habit of visiting the
tomb of Marie BashkirUeif in the Russian
cemetery ou tho anniversary of her death,
and of laying upwi it wreaths of flowers.
The remains of this young girl at goains
lie in a beautiful sarcophagus of white
warblevbuilt in adarge chapel of the By
rm.' - J-i- X cr.ihitw:rn.
TEE KISS 0J? DEATH.
The year 1S27 was called tho "evil year"
that year in whicli the Eternal City lay
bleeding under the pikes of a brutal for
eign soldiery, tho pope sat imprisoned in
the castle of Sunt Angolo, and tho plague
mowed down counties victims through
out the whole of Italy. The people of
Florence alone retained a gleam of hope,
for without spilling a drop of blood they
had sot the two nephews of the pope with
out their gates and again established their
independence. At the pious thanksgiving
feast, however, which was to celebrate
their bloodies victory, the slumbering
enemy, the plague, raised its head afresh,
and feeding on tho crowds gathered to at
tend tho celebration, took hold again with
tho force of a conflagration raging through
dry wood.
Tho well-to-do portion of the community
fled to the country or tho neighboring
villas; thoso who were forced to remain iu
tho city through poverty or business of
state locked themselves in their houses and
saw neither friends nor relatives. Others
sought oblivion in drunken orgies. The
most thickly settled streets and squares
wero deserted, the neglected palaces be
camo tho dens of thieves, bands of danger
ous characters roamed the streets during
the night and plundered the unguarded
houses, while tho authorities, unable to
prevent this robbery, preferred to lend a
hand and share the booty.
It was near the beginning of August
that the plague reached its worst stage,
and the daily number of victims within
tho walls was as high COO. No one left
his house before evening, and then com
pletely muffled, holding in his hand a ball
of spices or a sponge soaked in strong
essences, wliich he held pressed to his face,
"to strengthen tho brain," as tho people
had called it since Boccaccio's time, but in
reality to prevent drawing the pestilent air
into the lungs. When a friend met a friend
or a brother n brother they would pass
quickly on, as far apart as possible, or
hurry by with a short nod of tho head.
Most of tho shops were closed: only tho
fruit and food dealers, tho bakers and tho
butchers, carried on business, and they
had surrounded their shops with iron
railings, so that the buyers were forced to
receive their goods in the street. So great
was tho fear of infection that they feared
to handle money, and the merchant would
pass out to his customers a small wooden
or iron shovel, on which the coins were
placed and then thrown into a vessel of water
instead of into the money box. There were
soon but few houses which did not havo a
white cloth at the door, notifying the peo
ple that some one lay plague stricken with
in. Notaries, with their clerks, could Ixi
seen on the streets lwfore the houses, or on
the roof, making out wills, while priests
received confessions in the public squares,
so eager was each citizen, of whatever ago
or condition, to prepare for death.
On a sultry August evening, while the
heated earth was still steaming from a
short aud therefore net refreshing rain, a
young man sauntered slowly from the
Arco de Pecori across the Piazza San Gio
vanni. He was of medium size, and his
faco, his careless deportment and his ef
feminate though supple form showed him
to be a man of tho world. His light hair
was not combed smoothly over the fore
head in the Florentine style, but waved
short and free about his temples. Dressed
in costly Spanish clothing he strolled
along as coolly as if tho scenes of misery
and destruction at every corner had not
the slightest interest for him. He carried
neither spices nor essences in his hand,
only a large white gardenia, which ho
pressed to his lips from time to time with
an absent smile, as if he carried the flower,
not for protection, but because its odor
conjured up pleasant pictures before him.
Those whom he passe! gazed wonderingly
at him, but rank and rirhes had not yet
so completely lost their charm that ono
could pass by the only son of tho rich Mar
co Vettori without greeting him with,
"Good evening, Ser Filippo."
As he was about to turn tho corner of
the Bigallo a baud of mufilcd Brothers of
the Misericordia carrying an empty coffin
met him; he moved aside, but instead of
saluting them by lifting his hat, as was
the custom, he turned from them with re
puguanco. While passing on, his faco
turned away, he came in contact with au
othor person dressed iu a dark traveling
clonk, who was hurriedly turning tho cor
ner; they struck violently together, and
each sprang back, startled.
"You here, lessandio!'' cried the first,
after looking into the other's bronzed face,
which was half covered by his traveling
hat; "what brings you to Florence. Well,
no matter, you come at a good time."
"Yes," answered he in the traveling
cloak, as he grasped his friend heartily by
tho band, "in times like these every man
belongs in his native town. So you see,
hero 1 am, ready to offer my services to
the Fignorin. But, I may well ask, how
comes an epicurean like you in this city of
sorrow? I thought you had long since fled
to the Mugello to carry out there, in ono
of your villas, a new version of the 'De
cameron.' "
"What would you?" answered Filippo;
"for twenty-five years I have worked at
tho art of living, now I wish to die, if
necessary, artistically and with enjoyment.
I havo ordered the plague to leave, and
shall seo whether it will give way first or
I. But toll me, is it true that you think of
marrying one of the sisters of tho Strozzis?"
"Madonna Clarice is already my wife,"
answered Alessandro, "and I lelieve this
marriage will aid me to reach the highest
offices."
"1 bog of you not to talk politics to me,"
interrupted the other quickly; "it is not
worthy of the ambition of such a brilliant
fellow, let alone a drop of your heart's
blood. Whether the pope or the emporor
sticks us in his pocket is all one, he will
find an empty city, for the grave digger is
now king in Florence."
"Too true, Filippo," sfiid Alessandro; "I
no longer recognize my home: in the streets,
all is silont and dead; uo gaping or noisy
crowds, no young people showing off their
line clothev aad their lwmty, no merchants
crying their wares. Even on the Mercato,
no sound save the ringing of tho plague
bell. At the Porta al Prato I saw a single
vehicle coming toward me; two black
horses were harnessed iu front. 1 thought
it was the litter of some matron. It was a
horrid sort of carnival which represented
the triumphant march of tho plague: grave
diggers in fancy costumes danced alongside
the cart, clinking their gold and crying,
'I-ong live the plague!' I went through the
Laxaretto city and tried to count the num
ber of huts which seem to have sprung up
out of the ground, oue alongside of the
other: I had reached 603 before I was tired
of counting."'
The other shook his head and said fret
fully: "I have ordered my srraats, under pen
alty of diMnUoM. not to speak to me of
sickaee or of death. Oa the street I turn
my head aside when I hear the bell of the
corpse wagon, and would even if my father
lay ia It. What devil drives you to hunt
up all these horrors?"
"My sleter's huebend is dead." continued
Alessandro. "and my sitter has disappeared.
Perhaps eh? is in the Laaaretto who
knows? The Ricci, with whom I had the
herieage mm, are dead, even to the last
member of the family, and have left me
not only what was mine, but their own as
well. Perhspe the plague baa smoothed
over many an ad quarrel in that way. My
errant, Pagolo. is dead; the beautiful Xfc- I
colosa is dead. Alas. Filippo, I haTe come
to a city of death. As I go about I ffed of
myself and ask myself if 1 also am living."
"Even the hancaome Ceceo had to die:
be, the giaat, who looked a if he would
live to be a hcaldred.,, ajd FlSlao. Bt
nuv ao westana here ana wail like oiq
women? That one is dead and this one is
dying; let the dead bury their dead, and
let us keep our last drop of blood for pleas
ure. Well for him who need not reproach
himself with a single wasted hour. Do
you know how sweet kisses are when sea
soned by death? How the primmest lips
thirst for a single drop from the cup which
soon will be drained? No more need for
sighing and yearning, no parading before
the window of your inamorata, one word
opens all doors: 'Madonna, it is perhaps
the last night that we shall live.' This
magic formula drives into your arms the
nun from the altar, the widow from the
corpse of the husband. Uot to exist to
morrow! It is a drop in the chalice
of enjoyment without which, hereafter,
every draught will be fiat and insipid.
I believed myself a master in tho art
of living, and find that I have enjoyed
nothing until now. Come, Alessandro,
we will found a society which will be tho
talk of Florence a hundred years hence.
My descendants will say: 'When pleasure
was driven out of the world, she found a
refuge in the house of Filippo Vettori.' I
will place on my dooniep a statue of Pes
tilenco leading bliiid Cupid by the hand,
and it shall bo executed by the greatest
artist in Florence. Then we will go about,
another and a cleverer Misericordia, and
pick our comrades for the feast. Whoso
ever is young, handsome, and spirited,
if only ono spark of life glows in his
veins, will be welcomed by us. I will
season my board with tho finest wines,
the choicest music shall flatter our ears,
and we will hold such converse as Socrates
and Alcibiades might envy us. Should
fate overtake one of us, let no one ask after
him; let us have no talk of funerals!
Should the most beautiful woman in our
circlo die, to-morrow we will embrace ono
still more beautiful. Euthanasia shall be
the name of our society, and our greeting
shall be, 'A merry death I' Aro you with us.
Alessandro, or does the Madonna Clarico
hold you too fast?"
The other made a motion with his hand
as if shaking a wisp of straw from his
sleeve. "As for the nights I am yours, but
the days I must have free. To-morrow,
early, I shall present myself before tho
head of the corporation. You know my
life lwlongs to the state"
"Good; I give you the whole day in which
to save your country," cried Filippo,'
merrily, "but to-night you must be mine.
You will always find a pair of friends at
my house. So may old Florence go to her
last moment, with the noisu of our feast
ing and tho bawling of tho Dominicans!
To-morrow is late; better come today.
My heart tells me that you should come to
day." Ho tried to drag his friend along,
but the latter kept him off and promised
faithfully to be with him on the morrow.
Finally Filippo gave it up, and turning to
go, cried out to his friend, "Be sure and
come; good night; a merry death!"
"I will surely come; good-night," was
the answer.
Alessandro di Francesco della Stufa be
longed to an ancient and honorable Floren
tine family. He was young, handsome nnd
rich, and stood below none of his contem
poraries iu cultivation. The earliest hu
manists of Ituly hud been his teachers, and
he had learned political wisdom in tho
school of Francesco Guicciardini. Ho had
passed the last few years on foreign mis
sions nnd had only paid a short visit to
his native city. He knew the courts of
Rome and Paris; had been honorably re
ceived in Veuico by the Sarenissima; had
lived everywhere in tho society of tho
greatest politicians, learned men and dis
tinguished artists, and had been involved
with somo of tho most beautiful and most
celebrated women of his time. He had
lately married in Lucea a countrywoman
of his, the proud Clarice degti Strozzi.
Onco iMjfore, in Florence, he had promised
his heart and hand to another, but that
was long ago.
After Filippo left him he passed thought
fully through the entrance of San Giovanni,
where, twenty-six years ago, ho had re
ceived tho sacrament of baptism. At tho
door he dipped his finger into the vessel of
consecrated water, for although a follower
of tho Platonic doctrine, he had always re
mained ason of tho church in all his habits.
A blind beggar, in ragged clothes, was
kneeling at tho entrance. A pair of candles
burned dimly at the nn.in altar; the rest of
the church was in gloom. The crowd of
believers, who usually filled tho tomplo in
the evening, had disappeared. Alessandro
advanced a few steps through the resound
ing space, then turned buck toward tho
main altar, where ho noticed a kneeling
form which he had at first overlooked, so
near was she to the door by which ho had
entered. Of her face, which was turned
toward the high altar, ho suw nothing but
a pale, oval shape, while her form was
hidden in a long, black mourning gown;
btill something whi&pered to him that this
lonely devotee was young and beautiful.
As the young mau became nware of thi3
feeling, the earnest look left hi3 face; he
assumed a more jaunty air and throw back
his cloak so jus to show the Spanish doublet
underneath, while his steps sounded louder
through the empty church, and his sword
jingled lightly along the mosaic pavement.
The lady shrank back startled, and turned
toward him a beautiful face, but pale as
marble, and to which tho uncertain light
from the altar lent a peculiar charm.
Alessandro stepped up to hor and said
modestly: "Madonna. I see that you are
alone; tho church will soon be closed, and
the streets swarm with suspicious charac
ters. Will you allow mo to protect you and
escort you to your home?"
The lady trembled so at his words that
she was forced.to support herself with her
arm on the stone step near which she knelt.
She answered hositatinglyand with bowed
hoad: "Sir, I have no louger any home.
The house of God is now my house."
Tho young mau leaned down toward her
and with sympathy asked: "Did I startle
you, madonna? You seem to be suffering
from some heavy sorrow."'
She raised her bend and said to him in a
tonder tone; "Yes, I was startled at hear
ing the voice which I thought never to
hear again. Do you no longer know poor
Bianco, whom you once taught to believe
that she was tho nearest to your heart?"
"Bianca."' stammered the young man;
"you, and alone at t ':.-. hour!"
"I have been praying to God to deliver
this poor people aad myself aiso."
"Oh! He has certaiuiy heard yon will
live!" cried Alessanur. no longer knowing
what he said, and helping her to rise.
The blacV eyes glowed feverishly in her
rale face; a&e clasped his ami tightly, aad
her breath swppt Lis ci.eek, while his eyes
rested ou her as if ftxei, seeking the well
known features in til pale but glorious
creature who ttood before him in the full
development oZ hor charms.
"My home L deal-tc," she whispered;
"my husband dead, tie servants fled; hor
ror drove mc out. I $eraed to see ghosts
staring at me from every corner."
Her knees gave way beneath her and she
sank forward, as if about to fall, so that he
was forced to ciwrh her in hi arms.
"My Bianca," he said, overcome by pity
and tenderness, "you art tot alone. I have
found vm; agsia nad will net forsake you."
A gleam of joyand triumph flashed from
her eyes, bat he dnl net notice it. Lower
ing her face she sked timidly, "Where
will you take me"
He wa silet for a moment, aad con
science whispered him that he was about
to betray once mere ore whom he had for
merlvljved aasstoaaifclv. But the presence
Of this beantifel creature, whose heart he
could feel fceatias agaiat hl own. the al- j
luring darkaets and tomaiice&i, all com
bined t-i throw bi whole being iBt a
taautit in which ovarguer ieettag tank.
Fuippo's taUtJfrucctag In Ms mind.
Rein bans; so cteo above their heads and
life wassoenticingly beautiful! He thought
of the nights through which he had sighed
before her window, when her brothers had
locked her in and they could only exchange
greetings across the street; of ber beau
ty, which had been his for so short a time,
before the signoria intrusted him with a
mission to France.
"Come to me to my home," he said, in
a tender voice; "your own is desolate and
bare; mine, also, is empty; no household
fire burns there; I am all alone. Bianca,
come with me Bianca, I have never for
gotten you it was a higher force that tore
us apart. How often I havo thought of
you through all tho long years! Your
picture was woven into every thought of
my native city. And now, Bianca, we
may, perhaps, be dying; shall we not make
this last hour a joyous one?"
"Yes," she answered quickly, and pressed
his arm; "I will go with you."
An evil smile crossed his face; but to
hide it, he leaned down to her and kissed
her quickly.
She tore herself from his arms and
pointed, with averted face, toward the
altar. The motion revealed a white cloth,
which she had fastened to her belt like a
scarf.
His face blanched and he shrank back,
as he asked, anxiously: "What does that
cloth mean?"
She laughed aloud and the sound rang
dismally through the vaulted space.
"Does this symbol frighten you?" she
said; and then continued: "I put it on so
as to come here unhindered. As you your
self said, the streets are swarming with
suspicious characters. With this token one
can pass as safely as if in an angel's garb."
He felt his warm blood grow cold, a shud
der ran through him, while her actions
seemed to him strange and peculiarly agi
tated; still he was ashamed to give way to
the feeling, and, in a sort of frenzy, he tore
tho white cloth from her. "I will protect
you," he said.
The sharp jerk with which he had torn
away the cloth had also caused her belt to
come off in his hand. Her wide black over
dress fell apart and showed beneath a misty
linen undergarment, embroidered with gold
on the bosom and falling to the ankles. He
clasped her again in his arms whilo she
submitted, and laid her face on hisshoulder
so that her long, loosened hair fell over his
arm, to which she held tightly with both
hands, a3 if in fear that he might again
leave ber.
"Come, let us leave this place," she
whispered in his ear.
He lifted her in his arms as he would a
child and carried her out of the church.
This time he forgot to dip his hand in the
holy water and almost stumbled over the
blind beggar, who had fallen asleep in the
doorway. When they reached the open
air it was she who hurried him on, as if she
feared that with every minuto they would
lose some happiness. The sky had grown
dark and threatening, tho wind swept
down to Via Calzajouli and whirled a cloud
of dust into their faces. Madonna Bianca
suddenly stood still, laid her hand on her
heart, and sighed deeply and painfully.
"Shut your eyes," he said; "I will lead
you."
He wrapped half his cloak about her,
placed his arm around her waist, and sup
ported her in such a manner that ho seem
ed to be carrying some burden. On tho
Ponte Vecchio they stopped awhile to catch
their breath. Tho heavy clouds were sud
denly torn apart, showing for a moment
an immense mass of yellow, sulphurous
fire. The valley of tho Arno seemed for
an instant to stand in flames; then all was
darker than before.
"Is this the end of the world, which Fra
Ambrogio preaches of every day?" whis
pered Bianca, cowering in the young man's
arms.
They passed on, grazing the railing, when
suddenly Alessandro struck a lump of
something soft and drew back his foot in
horror. Ho knew at once that he had
stepped upon a corpse, for the human body
impresses one with an instinctive dread,
even in tho darkest nights; and dead bodies
were only too plentiful in the streets of
Florence in those days.
"An astrologer told me, not long ago,
that on my way to love I would find death,"
said the young man, with a forced laugh;
"I am now on the road to love and here lies
death."
As they approached the Via di Bardi,
where Alessaudro's house was, Bianca
asked, suddenly: "Where is tho Madonna
Clarice?"
Alessandro was embarrassed. "Do not
speak of her; do not think of her," was his
answer; "she is far away."
"Then sho does not love you, since she
refuses to share danger with you?"
"It is not necessary for her to love, sho
has only to obey," he answered, shortly.
From that time on, Madonna Bianca did
not say another word.
ri
When morning dawned, Messcr Alessan
dro awoke from a restless sleep; his temples
throbbed, his lips wero parched, and he
felt an intolerable burning and tearing in
his armpits.
"I shall send for the doctor," he said,
anxiously, and raised up his head.
"You would do better to call the priest,"
said Madonna Bianca coldly, without mov
ing from the seat where she had been for
hours, pala and motionless, gazing at the
sleeper.
He stared at her with wide opened eyes.
She threw back her white linen gown and,
by the pale morning light, he saw, above
her marble bosom, three fiery red spots sur
rounded by a small bluish circle.
"Look," she cried. "I forgot to show
jou this last night."
An ice cold hand seemed laid upon his
heart. Before him he saw the dread
specter of destruction. The next moment
ho felt as if on fire, and, tearing off his
shirt, he saw on his own breast tho same
fiery red symbols, the most severe form of
the peat then known and a sign of certain
death.
He snran from the bed as if he rncaat
to strangle the woman, but remained
standing before her with clinched flats,
and said, in a hollow voice: "You you
have done this to me"
"Yes," she said quietly, with a smile like
the smile of a mad woman; "I, the unhap
py Bianca, whose yoattfui bloom you stole,
and whom you then turned over to the
scorn of her relatives and drove into the
arms of a man she did not love; I, whom
yesterday again you lei away from the
altar thinking to betray me once more it
is I wlro have poisoued your life and have
forfeited my eternal salvation through the
most horrible and detestable deed the
world has ever known. But I do not regret
it. When rr.jsfortuse attacked our city,
and all were- prayine on their knees to God
to save them, my heart alone rejoiced ia
this destruction. But I did not suspect
what vengeance, wlut b!is, was rew;rved
forme. Never e-saia wiil the fair haired
Clarice enjoy your love: Oh! what are al.
the powders of the BorriM and the Medici
compared with the delightof presenting to
your enemy your own Up like a poison
chalice, saying, Dnnk:' Was not the cup
enticinc? Was net the drink sweet?"
He broke ":it into wQd cureing; he over
whelmed her with the most dreadful
threats; bat, whether it w :he force of
the eicknes that weakened him or the
devilish nature of the woman brfore him,
he dred not raise a finder ac;jdrst her
She tet hba rave, arid at quietly before
him. Suddenly she raised her hand and
interrupted him. "Listen." the said, with
a peculiar smile; "do you Lear the bells
ringing brlow in the street That is the
srt from which all who have life left em-p
shudderingiy away. Ia a few hours they
will lay as together on this cart, they wW
throw both of as iato a disck. And the fir
of djuaaatioz wHi receive oar wuk"
i "Hell bac! Jeaefceir he cried in deeptst
tmrmn "ah rr. qjj four COWJLrdl'i .7.
But you will at least lose your triumph, I
shall not die in your company, I shall call
my servants." He started to rush out, but
she held him back forcibly by the arm.
"Stay," she said in a tone in which hate
and tenderness battled; "if you call your
servants they will send you to tha Lazar
etto, whence only the grave digger will
carry you away. Stay here, my vengeance
is satisfied. You shall receive every atten
tion from my hands that will relieve your
dying pains; a wouderf ul force seems to
sustain me."
He no longer heard, but stared before
him with vacant gaze and allowed her to
lead him to the bed, upon which he sank
down heavily. Rage seemed to have con
sumed all his strength, and to have left the
fever in full control.
Once he moved his head, for he thought
he could hear the great bell which, in
times of need, summoned the citizens of
Florence to the Parlamento. "The Sig
noria expects me," ho murmured with
heavy tongue; but there was a roaring in
his brain, a heavy stupor overcame him,
and his eyes became glassy. After awhile
his lips opened again and ho murmured
fragmentary, indistinguishable words.
The patient watcher at his side bent over
him, and listened intently. From the dying
man there came, with his last breath, the
words:
' 'Forgive Bianca. "
And Madonna Bianca with her pale lips
imprinted on his bloodless ones the kiss of
death. Translated for tho Argonaut by
F. A. W. from the German of Itoldo Kurz.
Fircmeu at Checkers.
About as hard a customer as one m3y
wish to tackle in a game of checkers is the
average fireman. The game is a popular
one in all the stations, and the long hours
of "waiting for something to turn up"
give ample opportunities for indulgence iu
it. Somo wonderfully scientific games
are played, and some of tho Ore laddies
have great records. The game of checkers
as played by firemen has one distinct draw
back. A player may have an elaborate
plan of campaign worked out. Ho is
gradually working up to his climax. His
adversary is making just the moves ho
wishes him to. The final moment arrives.
The would-be victor is lifting his finger to
make the initial move of the series that
will bring him his triumph when bang!
goes the alarm, and in a jiffy the board
and the "men" upon it are jerked seven
ways for Sunday as the players fly to their
posts. The alarm' turns out to be from a
distant part of the city, however, and the
destruction of the game unnecessary. A
new one must bo started of course, and
thus another triumph is nipped in the bud.
The only comfort the sufferer has is in
knowing that it's ull the same for every
body and that his adversary may be tho
victim und himself tho beneficiary of tho
interruption next time. Chicago Journal.
Practical Training for tho Eujjlnecr.
A well known engineering expert give3
some excellent directions to those just be
ginning the study of engineering. Ho rec
ommends the study of working model, or
even strips of wood on cardboard represent
ing the slido valve and its ports and seats.
The rtudent should be shown how to lay
out on the engine floor, with a piece of
string aud a two-foot rule, the valvo nic
tion diagram, so that he can definitely as
certain for any amount of inside und outsido
lap, any amount of lead, and any given pis
ton stroke or valve travel, and any conuect
ing rod and eccentric rod length, just whero
admission cutoff, exhaust release and ex
haust closure takes placo on either the for
ward or backward stroke: or wishing any
of the occurrences to take place at nuy
given points, under any stated llxed con
ditions, he can determine the other ele
ments beyond all doubt. He can bo made
to keep liis eyes and ears open, and not to
keep his mouth shut, ile can be encour
aged to ask questions and made to answer
them, giving the reasons for his answers.
New York Commercial Advertiser.
Curiosities of Sleep.
Jenny Lind was the moat celebrated
singer of her time. No one could rival her
powers except a factory girl. The girl
could notattempt any difficult pieces when
awake, but when sleeping she sung so cor
rectly, so like the renowned Jenny, that it
was difficult to distinguish between their
voices. On ono occasion Jenny heard the
girl and even tested her marvelous powers
by giving her a long and elaborate chro
matic exercise. This the sleeping girl per
formed, much to the wonder of thefamous
prima donna. Reporters of public debates
must often exercise themselves to their ut
most to keep from sleeping. A few years
ago one of tho reporters of the house of
commons took down a speech while he was
sleeping. Ilis statement rests on his oath.
St. Louis Kepublic.
A Woman' Big; Smoke.
The other morning a Lewiaton lady
called at one of the Lisbon street stores
and gathered a stock of 'J40 cigarettes for a
week's outing by the shore, ana after she
had purchased twelve boxes of Richmond
Straight Cuts, asked the clerk if he
thought she had enough to last, 'for,"
said she, "where I'm going they don't keep
anything but five cent cigars." Lewistou
Journal.
A Bit of Advice from no Old Flulierman.
Get to a drag ntore as soon as you can,
and buy two onuces of the best olive oil
mixed with one ounce of lime water,
and a drop or two of rose water just to
scent it. Then rub it on your burned
face, and it will take all the inflamma
tion out in next to no time. Exchango.
It ia estimated that nearly 200,000 psr
Eons visit the White mountain annual
ly, and the income from th mountain
houses is about $5,000,000, of which
Sl.,000,000 in cfrzrrrr 'it.
Telllny Time bjr Flower.
There is not an hour of the day that Is
not the beloved hour of some blossom.
Linnteus, the celebrated botanist, con
ceived the pleasant notion of a flower
clock. Instead of a rude metal bell to
thump the hour there it a little flower bell
ready to open at S o'clock, a flower Rtar
that will shine forth at 4, aad a
flower cup, perhaps, will appear at 5
o'clock to remind old fashioned folk tht
it is near tea time. Claude Lorraine, al
though ha did, set, like Linmras, make a
clock of four and twectr flowers in hu
garden, was a landscape painter most fa
miliar with nature, and when he was
abroad he could at any time know what
o'clock it was by at king the time oi the
flowers of the fleld. Detroit Free Prs.
TioTtl Scftilo Rffrct.
An insvnkrag dertc has twt adopted at
the Hippodrome, in Paris, for the produc
tion of scraic fctTectft in the central ovl
rpace, without the spectators oppo4t t-iagM-taat
the mjb time. An elliptical
tcreB of floe tei netting is i down ia
comparative daricce, w k-s to be about
twelve feet ia f root of ths teach. Tail
b- paistd on the inner tide with any kr
idrvd scene, aad u it b stroagiy Uitual-
nated at a given moment from ths cevter a i
spectator from say point ha aa exoeueot
new of the csd wjtsoat t-tias asytara;?
of the crowd beyond. Sevf I'ork Cota
mercial Advertiier.
Coald Only Half See. .
Pareat-Caa I est this bey fasSe the cir- j
ens at half price j
Ticket Sdler-Of course yon can't. The
bay i over 14, ain't bei
Pares Ym,: bet he's bBsd ia one eje.
What is
I iff m
iMi4W,iLWtff,lt iiifflTJIiTTMrrrliM
Castoria is Dr. Samuel Pitcher's prescription for Infanta
and Children. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor
other Sarcotic substance. Ifc is a harmless substitute
for Paregoric, Drops, Soothing Syrups, and Castor Oil.
It is Pleasant. Its guarantee is thirty years uso by
Millions of Mothers. Castoria destroys TVorm3 and allays
feverishness. Castoria prevents vomiting Sour Curd,
cures Diarrhoea and "Wind Colic. Castoria relieves
teething troubles, cures constipation and flatulency,
Castoria assimilates tho food, regulates tho stomach,
and bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. Cas
toria is tho Children's Panacea tho Mother's Friend.
Castoria.
" Castoria is an excellent medicine for chil
dren. Mothers have repeatedly told mo of its
good effect upon their children."
Da. G. C. Oaoeoo,
Lowe!!, JIuns.
" Castoria Is the best remedy for children of
irhich I am acquainted. I hope the day is sot
far distant when mothers vil I consider the real
Interest of their children, and use Castoria In
stead of the various quack nostrums which are
destroying their loved ones, by forcing opium,
morphine, soothing syrup and other hurtful
agents down their throats, thereby seeding
them to premature graves."
Da. J. F. Ki.schelob,
Conway, Ark.
Tho Centaur Company, T7
Cljjarn for th Seaside.
The time haa coino for tho summer n
Eort joko and summer resort gossip, so
tho following oxperienco of a Yt'oohing
toa druggist may be considered season
able. He eaid he had been going to the
seashore overy summer, and Iiad fallen
into the habit of taking with him a box
of the best cigars that his case in th
store afforded, being a moderate smoker,
with a taste 1 i-r a good weed. But up
to a cerium time he found it difficult to
obtain any enjoyment oat of hia etstly
tobacco, finding that as uxn as he got
near the air of the ocean the cigars be
gan to droop and wilt, as the smoker's
phrase goes, and their draught became
difficult, and the process of pulling them
became an altogether tedious operation.
One day he was smoking one of them
with a good uVal of difficulty on a chair
on the beach when a gentleman sitting
near accosted him, saying that he had
noticed tho trouble lie w having with
his cigars, and that they were probably
of an imported brand. To th the drug
gist aepented, and the other, pulling a
couple of cigars from his pockft, handed
them to tho rathfr astonished smoker
with the remark tihat he thought they
would go better. So the drngrut lit ono
of them, and in a minute wa enjoying
ono of tho moat delightful mnoxes bo had
had since he left horne. The cigar drew
finely and did not wilt as the others had
done.
He aeked his nev .friend why it was,
and was told that it seemed imported ci
gars are so affected by the halt air as to
lose their shape and their drawing qual
ities, whilo cheap cigars or "two-fere,"
lie, thy are called, seem to be at their
best iu such an atmosphere, absorbing
just enough of the salt nir to take on a
delicious flavor. Thenceforth the drug
gist saved money by smoking nothing
but cheap cigars while ho was at the
seashore, and every time he uw a man
trying to smoko a good cigar with the
same luck which he Itad encountered ho
played the "good Samaritan'' and offered
him a bad one, together with the adrice
to smoko none other within reach of the
air from tho s-ea. He also found that
when he returned to town the good ci
gars would regain their shape and qual
ity ami were as enjoyable as ever, while
the others were a dvtestabW as he had
always found them to U Washington
Star.
'o Gordon Sn-liw on the ExrbiMtgQ.
The masculine sash appears this sum
mer to be a proper subject for discus
sion, as well as a popular adjunct to the
toilet of gentlemen. The time has gone
by when decorum demands that the
waistcoat shall be worn with the ther
mometer marking the nineties. If one
may judge from th3 samples dirplayed
in the windows of the furo'sbTO shorn.
the sash which is worn at the neaaidn
and in the tennis coort is unlimited as
to color. Brit an shew of a ao4at hoe are
creeping into as in the streets of Boston,
especially since Speaker Bead and Mr.
Lodge popularized them upon the floor
of congHnA
But there is one piart in Boston where
the cosh may fit enter. One daring
member of th Boston Stock Exchange
ventured upon the floor with his waist
enveloped in the silken adornment. Be
was at onco aad aofereaioauraely tat
tled out and warned nerer to appear
again nposi toe noor of the oxdMag ia
inch a goif. The wngreM of to Uai
d States mar raffer its members Vo ar
ray tbemseirs in such a inattoer, bt
the Boston Stock Exchange, nererJ
Boston Adrertaser.
The SHrfa CatTerttty.
The medical faculty of the sew asi
remty of Tom wetorn Siberia.) is be
ing rapidly organized. Eight chains
hare r-oently been filled up, Profeseor
Albitxki having boen apporsted to the
oi seoer&I patkology. Professor Wiao
grdow to that of pabrkicsJ anatomy.
ProfWor SstM&kow to Uax of hygteno.
Professors Kmzmw and Kortast to
these vt wdtA patbology and tbera
penacs aad iBtesmal nssdtose, aad Pro
fjwor Eogmntnch and Ur. Sfchetcbew to
ibaief rtrgrry. Tb- cbestr of pbarasa
colcgy, which was offered to Dr. Paw
low, is still TAc&at, owing to tna gw
tiecstn hav.g aoo?pod a msaHzr ap
pok&aea: atWarsaw. Tne w4ioa of
the T&rioc ctoeae s nhg prMdod
witfe. asd n as hoped tb7 -31 bo ready
lor lib roccjrao ymnimU a'cant tlsc
bezsshsg of nor: tscxv Ctnesso Har
Castoria.
" Castoria fc so well adopted to children that
I recommend it as superior to any prescription
known to ree."
IL A. AccHint, JL D.,
Ill So. Orford St., Brooklyn, Jf. T.
" Our pkysdcfauift in UV children's depart
ment havo spoken hHraly of thtr expert
eace ia their otitnido practice with Castoria,
and although we only buro amon oar
medical supplies trfcat is know a as regular
jtroJucU, yt wo are free to eoafo&i that tho
merits of CaMoria has woo us to look with
favor upon it."
Unitkd Rwnni. axd DtsrsaiRT,
Bo:oa, Haas.
Au.nx C. Surra, iVw.,
Murray Street, Now York City.
ramKKmgsa i i i
TUrt-f Kinds of Amrlran Xejrmes.
Dr. Brondun, in a lecture on tho colored
people at Chautauqua, said that there ware
in this country three distinct iees Just
as distinct aa Mexicans aud Yankee.
First, there wero the brown negroee, not
very numerous. Mot people Huppo- that
they have white blood in their vain, "but
I am told," said he, "that in the Niger coun
try there are brown negrooH who nrpn.vi
their black brothers In strength ami intelli
gence, and there in race prejudice among
them against tho black negroes, n preju
dice that I have frequently noticed in tho
Fouth. 'I ain't gwino to marry no black
niggah' is a frequent txproMtion among
the brown negroes. Then there are the
black negroes with good feature, alo com
paratively few iu unmoors. They hare
thin noses and lip and high foruhwwln. and
are superior physically and mentally to
the other blacks. 1-atly ara the . grout
mass of negroes of a lower order physical
ly and mentally."
Dr. Broadus said it might be suppoxed
that the slave traders would have tried to
get the better men in preferoucn to the
lower grades. But the reason why they did
not wan obvious. The rtrongor nail more In
telligent negrue lirsd in the interior of
Africa and were not ey to got at. Then,
too, they had nnbducd the weaker triDe.
and in bartering for slaves naturally theso
weaker people would be sold. The- weak
er tribes rame from the Guinea and Congo
coastH. Dr. Broadus said he had Invaria
bly found that when a negro manifwited
Gnrorurnon Intelligence and rose superior
to the ordinary plana of his raee he wan
either a mulatto or a brown nearo, or n
black negro with good features. Bnlfalo
Courier.
ltrls-a-Itrue Hnnnlr.
The annals of auctions would foraUh
come hwtrtjetivtj laMancen of the marvel
ous Chang In valtu brou(ht about by
higher artktie Uxte or the varying aprl
of fashion. Few, perhaps, are more atrlk
ins; than the following: When Pruaeia wrm
in the throen of her life ami death strug
gle with France early in the pre-ont cent
ury the ladies of Berlin threw tk-Hr orna
ments of gold into tlwir eotintry's treas
ury, receiving in return trinket of Iron.
It wm long before the artwttte merit at thli
Berlin Ironwork wan recognised by eellert
ors. At a Male many yearn mho a IjowUn
dealer strolled iato an nwtiom root jot
aa some epecimene of tbht work were
thrown on the table. Knowing nothing nt
ic history, but admiring ita bwty, he
ventured to bid something leas tana thirty
hillings, and bought, mm he bslieeed, a
bracelet. Next day be heat abi man to
bring home his purehaee. To Ma Moaih
ment the ser-eant ftbortly retamwl for n
track, ami hta uwuter learned that a had
bought about two hundred weight ef ttxt
iron ornaments, el which what he aod r"-n
produced was but a eampi. For many
years this dealer waw ccutnwei W makt
presents of his Berlin Iron to a fcnst eu
tomerx. How much of kht stack K bud
still on band when the ey- of eoUeetor
were opened has n t ba rtwonied. but
there is no doubt that what be besjicfct
caeaaily would now be worth several taon
saad poanda iJ.ck wood's Magwiao,
"Un QwtrM Alt it."
Jodge Irwin, one of tae early jmtSe Is
Wisconsin, wax more remarkable for his
baatmx advestneer than for bin legal
knowledge, Tbt lawyers who argued th-tr
oases before him were often eonspeUed t:
put ever their worn while tne jndas l
cmred cotrt ia order to su sting. Thi
following charge wsj cea ay Mm to a
jury in 1M1
"It appears tmrnth eeldeaee tiuA ta
plaintiff and defends) t In tat aotwa are
brotaer-ia-Uw tin the Wabaa rteer, la
the state af h ..-, tfcey aefleUW tb'ia
selrea tojrexner for tas jmrpe-. of swin
dltag their rwrhbwra Xot eontnt with
taat, thrf got u ewiadUag roe other, sad
I am like tiue womss who saw bee aoebaad
and toe Ovar fight: 'Plt, bowfeaasi, fight,
bear; I don't rare wnick beat.'
"And, sttlnen of tae Jury, n. is a mat
ter of iadilToreaco to me now y brtaic in
your Terdjct, oaiy be qtrick sbont .
Flee miaatOM lw tae jury bad retired
tbo saonff was tartroctea WmU tbey
fcsus agreed. A negative aoewer wjui r
larneo. waeewaooa the jmty wm bans
Clateiy ordered tu sad euimarged, ksh tat
'"tae m4 rwutr lor a bant.
An alrafcs fKrmmun boa bona buvU
try tbo majcatracr of BraXati -m
will bad in zooro wtryslbaa ceo to tte
inrprorwaent of poJix m tho pablio
fcchcohs. A bstanicai ftuoccLgsz&n ha
ba iasittutexl for u5 reolarsappfy ef
plant t tho ecbboboX t&ojgasen. aad
far fenabltc te&cber to tta&oobaerr-'
tioas wi Ujeepc with tiuarpoial.
A rosrpJo fjoaq Fccs&strtas. W. Ya..
who wont to Oraibearisad, ild.. to bo
sbsxtW, .wo 4biya4 1trfrt7-kr Hoers
tn kar to reoocy prsfurmed bo-
gKKttft w nft H enoegb by
Stst nesubrr of iasa us& Boas.
I