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12 BOOKS OF THE HOUR A raW BOOK ABOUT BIRDS BY DR. CHARLES CONRAD ABBOTT. TWO BOOKS BY MARIA L POOL THE REVIVAL OP A RARE OLD VOLUME OX CARTO MAMCT. "THE FATAL GIFT OF BEAI TV." The Story of Extinct Civilization— A Primer of American Litera ture — A Book of Adventure. Buncombe County" is an amusing sketch of North Carolina mountain life thrown into book form by Maria Louise Pool. Why we should call it an "amus ing sketch," when everything about it is either sordid or pathetic, is a little difficult to tell, unless, perhaps, it is the effect of the sunshine on the moun tains and the author's manner of see ing things. Miss Pool has a keen sense of humor, bui very little of proportion, and allows the former to run away With her. She has enough material in this book to make a very good short Story of half its present length, and condensation would surely improve its quality. Nevertheless some of the sim ple incidents and sketches are charm ing in their sympathy and perception. The figure of "Ristus" is pathetic in the extreme; clothed only in an old army overcoat and draggled sunbon nefct, living In poverty amid the moral and physical squalor of the "poor white trash," his beautiful head and uncon sciously high ideals produce a contrast in light and shade that is the most striking thing in the book. His suffer ing is of the sensitive kind, and when he Is finally clothed as other boys, he touches the pathos of his past life when he says, "Folks as had always ha-d trousies didn't know nawthin' what he'd ben through er not havin' urn." ("In Buncombe County," by Maria Louise Pool. Herbert S. Stone & Co. New York. $1.25. For sale by the St. Paul Book and Stationery company.) 'Boss and Other Dogs" is the name of another little volume by Miss Pool. The important persons in these short sketches are all dogs, and only a very few intelligent and well behaved hu mans are allowed, by the appreciative author, to associate with them. Of course there is an occasional villain ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ _ x Tfye Vicar's Daughter, x Cyril Hardinge entered his West end chambers about 1 a. m. in a very self satisfied frame of mind. Previous to that evening fortune had treated him in none too generous a fashion, but now the fickle goddess, seemingly re pentant, had made amends by placing fa»ie and fortune well within his grasp. H.is three-act up-to-date society play had been received by a London.audl fettoe in a style never anticipated by the author, ani when, in response to the repeated calls of the enthusiastic the ater-gcers, he stepped before the cur tain and bowed his acknowledgments, he felt that the hour of triumph had arrived. AH recollections of his previous fnil tires faded from his memory, and his life seemed to date only from that mo ment. Being possessed of a moderate Income, he had never felt the pinch of being hard up, and had met his nu merous reverses with commendable fortitude. But now all the world was at his feet; his name was made, his future productions would be eagerly sought after and, consequently, the Slow of pride which suffused his whole frame was pardonable. After the play lie had received the congratulations of a number of men whose names were foremost in the literary world; men not actuated by any feelings of petty jeal ousy, but men who resolutely encour aged any promising aspirant to im mortal fame. On entering the room he turned up the lights and, not feeling any inclina tion to retire, he casually took dov.-n a large tobacco jar from the mantel piece and proceeded to load an old brier. Throwing himself into an easy chair, he lit his pipe, and, with extend ed limbs, puffed clouds of pale blue smoke toward the ceiling. He was a young fellow of about thirty and, not affecting the mannerism of others of $ porgotten American En)pire. % ♦ Work of s Dashing; Frenchman In the Oeorila Mountains— His £♦ \ Majesty of CHerokee an Emissary of France's King Few persons of today are probably aware that up among the Georgia mountains a daring French adventurer once founded an empire with a capital city, an emperor, a court, grand of- ficers of state, an army and thousands of subjects; that the imperial design of the founder only came to grief through an accident that checked the further growth of a power, which de veloped, might have changed the des tinies of the continent. The story of this purely American sovereignty, •which died a-borning is peculiarly in teresting and romantic. In 173G the French had settlements at Mobile, New Orleans, and a few scattered points along the Gulf coast and a short distance up the navigable livers in wnat is now Alabama, Flor j Ida, Louisiana and Mississippi. Simil arly, the English had their posts a.nd settlements on the coasts of the Caro lmas and Georgia. The colonies of both nations were few in number, weak, scattered and feeble. The vast country of the interior between these rivals was inhabited by a number '>f powerful and warlike Indian tribes. Principal among these were the Chero kees. the Creeks, the Choctaws and the Chickasaws. In 1700 the Cherokees ajim-e possessed sixty-four inhabited towns. Later, in 1771. the single Choc taw tribe mustered nearly 5.000 war riors. In 1777 the town population of the Creeks was 15,000. 'These tribes were far in advance of the wild Indians who lived In tem porary wigwams and depended on the chase for subsistence. Their towns «%r» collections of well-built log to relieve the monotony, but yon need never look for him In dog's clothing! In truth Miss Pool is a lover of dogs, and she has sketched the lives of her canine friends in a way to appeal to the many who share this taste. Dog stories are always sad— indeed, there are tragic possibilities in every dog's eyes — and Miss Pool's are not excep tions to the rule; so there is almost too much pathos in the combined stories to crush between the covers of one book. This is a natural falling, but nevertheless a failing; every story is good in itself, but would be more artistic were it the only one of its kind in the book. ("Boss and Other Dogs," by Maria Louise Pool. Stone & Kimball. New York. $1.25. For sale by the St. Paul Book and Stationery company.) It would be impossible for Dr. Charles Conrad Abbott to write other than clearly and entertainingly of a subject which he understands so thor oughly and loves so well as his feather ed neighbors. "'I love all birds, whether they are commorrplace or rare, stupid or entertaining, gentle or vicious, large or small." Rarely is a statement made in an introduction to a book so con sistently confirmed by the book itself as this first sentence by Dr. Abbott in the preface to "Bird-land Echoes." Having so much sympathy with his subject, the writer manages to arouse a corresponding enthusiasm in the minds of his readers, and it hardly needs the spirited and truthful illus trations by William Everett Crane to bring us into the very presence of the feathered folk. To the bird lover Dr. Abbott's books are always a welcome feast, and to the bird neglector they may well be a revelation and a judg ment. ("Bird-land Echoes." by Charles Conrad Abbott, M. D. J. B. Lippincott company. Philadelphia. $2. For sale by the St. Paul Book and Stationery company.) In quaint, archaic style is published by Harper & Brothers "The Square of Sevens." There is something mystic and weird about this strange little volume — so mystic and weird that the very covers subtlt suggest the presence of necromancy and the black art. In the early part of the eighteenth century fortune-telling with cards was as popular as a means of entertain ment with modish society as any method of character reading or future Folving is with the samp class today, and "The Square of Sevens and the Parallelogram" is reprinted from a very curious little volume of that period, a took even then so rare that Horace Walpole longed to get a hold n.f the "queer old woman's fortune-telling book by Bob Antrobus." The art of cartomancy, as here given, has a very authoritative air. and the solemn faith in its mysteries and quaint phrases and sly observations maVes it very amus ing apart from its value as o-eeult wis dnm. The introduction by K. Irenaeus Stevenson Is of many passes an-d by no means the least interesting ones in the book. This "now forth-setting of an old mystery" is well done in every way. and the publishers are to be con gratulated upon the art with which they have resurrected this book of the post. ("The Square of Sevens, an Authoritative his cult, wore a dark beard trimmed in the style immortalized by the genius of Van Dyke, a fact which made him look considerably older than he really was. A mass of thick black hair accentu ated the pallor of his clearly cut face — a face coldl, reserved and dignified, and one which.revealed to the close observ er muW' of its possessor's life story, It showed that .its owner -had seen times of trouble, times when the very heart seemed to be knocked out of the man — times when his only companion was gloomy despair; but the shape of the mouth revealed the man who by sheer force of character had risen supe rior to the trials which fate had im posed on him. As he sat there, consoled by the soothing charms of the Goddess Nic | otine, his thoughts were of a decidedly pleasant nature. He had achieved suc cess — achieved when young. And yet, a look of intense and pas sionate longing occasionally crept across his face. Did past memories trouble him, or did he vainly endeavor to look into the future? He sat and smoked for some time, and then his eye rested on the table by his side, on which lay an envelope addressed to him. He took it up and in a listles.s fashion and lazily scrutinized it. He saw that it had been written by a fe male hand and had not been through the post, and he therefore concluded that it had been left by a caller. He broke it open and read the following epistle: Dear Sir: Please pardon the liberty I take in writing to you. I have just witnessed the ■ great success of ynur play. You have now made your name and will be much sought after. Will you grant me the privilege of interviewing you? I am endeavoring to set my toot upon the first rung of the literary ladder, but so far have not met with suc cess. I aiii not connected with any pap?r, but feel confident that the report of an in terview with you would be accepted. I shall boufgs, fpriip^d with palisades or walls of logs placed end to end and encircled by deep die? hes v They cultivated the soil and raised /peas, beans, squashes, corn and frulf. In the autumn they stored away their crops in granaries and put up cured meat for the win ter. From a mixture of the inner bark of trees and flax they made cloth. They made also garments of the dressed skins of wild animals which they orna mented with feathers, shells and bead work. They were great canoe build ers and navigated the numerous water y. ays in huge camoes, some even with cabins and awnings. The government of the tribes was Democratic, and of the very essence of home rule. In the center of each town was a large open square, in. some cases mx to nine hundred feet long 1 and of proportionate width. This area was j excavated to the depth of two or three | feet and was perfectly level. Around It rose a terrace, sometimes two, one above the other, built from the dirt of the excavation. Around the square J were the houses of the chiefs and biff I men of the town, and also In every j instance, a large building for the use i of strangers. In this square the lead | ing: men met every day to drink black | tea made from the cacina plant, to smoke, to talk news, to discuss public and domestic affairs. Here all com plaints were entered, heard and all wrongs redressed. Once a year in the month of May all national affairs were settled in a grand legislative assembly in the council square at the principal town of the nation. The delegates were the wise men. the chief and great war riors of the tribe. In war these Indians were bra^'e and * resourceful. In peace, they were kind- THIS SAIUTT JPAUT, GI,OBE: SUNDAY, MAKCH 7, 1897, The Young Japanese Poet, Whose Poems Have Been Published Lately by Gellett Burgess, of San Francisco. System of Cartomancy," with a prefatory no tice by E. Irenaeus Stevenson. Harper & Brothers. $1.50. For sale by the St. Paul Book and Stationery company.) "We all know people who get through life creditably enough on the strength of some preposterous illusion," is the stntence with which C. E. Raimond begins "The Fatal Gift of Beauty." This suggestion is the only excuse we can find for the existence of the greater part of the volume in question. It author is certainly writing on tru strength of as p-repm-iei-ons an illu sion as it would be possible to find if he believes that he is benefiting any body or anything by publishing "Thi Fatal Gift of Beauty" arid "The Port mail Memoir?." A weH-balaaced read er could not be induced to read the title story through if not held to it by a sense of critical duty. The second is like unto it. The advance notices of these stories announced them as "in lighter vein!" We have heard of shim ming in large cities spoken of as being a "great lark," and nerhaps in tho same way "The Fatal Gift of Beauly" and "The Portman Memoirs" are "in lighter vein," but slumming in either cities or literature undertaken in such a spirit is dreidedly vulgar. If we must study moral degradation and dirt let it be as physicians study rMsea?- call tomorrow in order to learn your decision. Yours, very truly, — Annie Kaleigh. Hardings read this communication with much interest, but never looked at the signature. He put the letter on one side, pressed down the tobacco vi his pipe and beiween the whiffs mui ttered: "Poor girl, no success — well, surely in the hour of my triumph — I can do some one a gojd turn — ca.il tom-crrow — umph, persevering i<jo — well, well — I hate to be bored — and by a woman too — however, 1 think I'll see her — i won der who she is?" and he took up the letter again. "Annie Raleigh!" he cried. "Good heavens! surely 'tis not — no it cannot be — she is married long ago, and veg etating somewhere in the country long vr^ this, but what a curious coinci dence." ■ T^ie name seemed to have brought a '-'flood of reminiscences, and with dreamy eyes he conjured up a scene of many years back when he was the happy lover of a young girl of 18. His mind ramtoled for some time among those days of long ago, and at length he rose and opened a cabinet standing on his dressing table. He rooted out a bundle of old letters, and from among them took a slightly faded photograph. It was a picture of a young lady attired in a pure white dress. It was a dainty little rigurt-, slim and neat, with a pair of laughing eyes, surmounted by a mass of beauti ful hair. He held it in his hand for some time, and gazed on it as though spellbound. At length his lips parted, and in a voi-ee of agony he groaned: "Oh, Annie, Annie, why were you not true? Oh, heaven, how I loved you, loved you with a love wfaich was my very existence. I thought— fool that I was — you loved me too. but no, no, no, you did not. I was simply a toy — a toy to be played with — ai*d when tired of thrown ruthlessly aside. Ah. well, I was foolish to be entangled by a pretty face, and yet — no — I was not. A man loves but once in his life, and truly I loved then. It was destiny, destiny, and shaped to a curious end. But surely it is time I had got over that feeling, and yet, Annie, my Wood rises at this cold picture of you. and I love with Hie same intensity as of yore. Those were inde-rd happy days — days when I lived in a fool's para dise." He laid the photograph down and pondered. "I wonder where s;he is now — does she ever think of me — doe? she feel any pangs of regret? Possibly slie thinks me dead, perhaps it would be l>etter if I were so. She would not recognize me now." ana Tie carelessly ly, hospitable and had the commercial spirit strongly developed. At all times they we:e quick to perceive and adopt the methods and appliances of the whke men where they promised oon \ enience or benefit. Although very similar in customs. these Indian tribes had no cohesion and no common impulse. They were frequently at war with each ot±ier. Very bloody and destructive were these wars also. Could these nations bp united into a single nation, lie given a common resp-fcted government, nation al character and feeling, be somewhat instructed in the art? and sciences of more advanced civilizations, which their peculiar receptivity rendered pos sible, their numbers and bravery would make them irresistible. They could overwhelm e!th?r the F,ngll^h on the Fast or the French to the SuuCwMtnt. Combined with etrner they wr.uld ruin the other. The brain of one man crm ceived this idea of consolidation and. for the benefit of his beloved France, he went to work with unMrinc natienee. and undaunted courage to cfl.rrv it out. Traders. explorers an-fl adventurer? from the Knell<=h and French colonies were continually coming" anyone the Indians. Englishman an.l Frenchman alike strove to obtain influence and intrisrued with <lie tribes with a view tr evnel the other. This was the corsf^Hon of affairs when the Kiner of France sent one Mnn«'<Mir Prfbtti — his Are* name ha=s been lo?t — an officer in his majesty's army and a man of mil «a.eaclty. to proceed throue-h South Carolina, to' give an account of tfhat fniopv and thence to journey to the C*hernVf^=; and se fluce them from the British to the French interest*. Without moleetaHrm Pribns went thmuerh fSonth Carolina a^d arrived among th? Indians. He profes-?«l to be charmed with his new acquaintances tttat though possessing all the miaM flcations of an accomplished g*entl^ man. having neswd bis lifp amiA the •vfnemects of the most ooli«h*>^ ra tion in Europe, be exchanged hie cloths for th#> Indian o*re=*<. pivp •♦way all he hreocfet with. Mto . say« bis writing- materials and weapon* irrode friends with the warriors an.l became a member of the tribe. He YOKE NIGUCHI, germs, for the world's good, and net for the flippant passing of an hour! "The Confessions of a Cruel Mis tress" is extremely good, and quite enough to prove that C. E. Raimond can use his natural powers of obser vation to srood and artistic effect if h f will. ("The Fstal Gift of Beauty and Other Stories," by c. F. fTi'nrmil Herbert S. Stone & Co. Chicago. $1.25. For sale by the St. Paul Book and Siaci >nery company.) "Captain Gore's Courtship." by T. J( nl;i.n.s Harris.Sfi a seafaring story that !s rather less interesting than the same nvanbtf of adventures with storas, pi rates and gunboats should be. The ves sel dv which Ife. Qore is mate is bnard i ; during a ciim 1 y over a hundred I-.^arlsh convict"?', who having overpow (i ed the force.jon their transport ship, have lf-ft her -fn fjofrh, while they seek a dieffuise in -tfc,? Yankee merchant man. Mr. Grcje,-, to snve, if possible, the nUce of tne •. antain. pretends to join with the pirr. t*.-, and finally runs the ship, flying th> "Black Roger," right into the embrace of a British gunboat! Such is the story. The writ er has little conception of can struct ion, and there is n«i;-h in the tale that does not conic to »tiyth4ng, and so takes from the Interest of. the book. ("Captain Gore"* Counship." by T. Jenkins stroked his Jb^Strd. He put the -pJiotoferaph back in the cabinet and threw himself into his chair again. Rut the gules of mem < ry had been opened, and in that night he lived ac-.xin th > life of years ago. He reveled in the self-torture, and whipped with nnsjarinpr hand the cruel sores which tiir-e could never heal, and the d^ep groans which occasionally burst from bis compressed lips revealed the asrony of the ?tr*ul within. When he rose from his chair and went to bed it' was 4 a. m. * • * » "A lady wishes to see you. sir." Hardinge was soared at his table with a pile of "dailies" before h!m. studying with immovable fa.cc the preSfc not f e>s of his play. Lifting Itfw^esj far a moment, he bri-fiy ex claimed: "Alj, what name?" H$ tpok the pieca.<)f -pasteboard handed to . Mm; qajd ibe rotorSrose to his pa!e face as he rend the old familiar na.nie. "Very well, tall the lady I'll see her. Show hrr up." "Curious," he saJilonulsed. "flone or these criticisms can raise the slightest emotion, but that name — " and he stopped. A few moments later the lady entered and as he turned to greet her he caught sight of her fpee. "Good heavens!" he gasped. " 'tis Annie!" And then he became cool again. He offered her a chair, and. seeing that she -was nt a loss as to Jiow she should begin, opened thp conversation. "So, Miss Raleigh, you wish to interview mo?" "I am afraid I cannot adeguatelv express my sense of gratitud*." she replied, with a swc«?t sml'e, which caus-ed h ! s h°art to bound again; "you are irdoed too kind." "Well, I am afraid you have chosen rather a poor subject." said Hardfnge. "You see. I am hardly yet a celebrity, but if I can assiat you in any way T shall only be too pleased. Cross-examine me as you like. for. as you know, it will be quite a novel experience," as far as I am concftTßed.* "Thank you. But tyr. Hardinge, I really don't know how to befcin. I suppose I had better jot down a few particulars about your surroundings, et cetFraj* She too4^ cut a notebook and a nenc'l. and as she bent forward torwrite Hardinge care fully scrutinized her. Sjhe was still the same swe't fir', he had 2™'^- True, she l^Ved older and a grpat'-'SeaK-more serious, giving him the ImpreMfon-tfeaCTiKr life had not alto gether been cast in pleasant places. "I wonder how sheV canl* to thte?" he thought. "Her husbartd m-ust either be a wastrel or he must be (j|Pad, and in taking up literature she has :fcond ( back to her maiden nar.i". Ah. well: I suj};-ose I ought to feel highly delighted to see/, one who scorned me brought to this state. >t>ut upon my word I don't. My heart goes din to her aga'n. How I should like to know what has happened during the last eight n(r nine years, and, as Providence has placed;* the opportunity in my power, 1 will make 4 bold effort to fathom all before she leaves."/. The interviewer looked up and in rather a beseeching tone sa.(l: •'Mr. Hardings. I have very crude ideas as ate, slept, danced, dressed and painted himself as an Indian and looked like one. He married an Indian girl and took her to his house. His retentive memory and strong understanding en abled him shortly to master the dia lect. A pleasant picture it must have been, the gentleman of France, sitting by the open fire, learning from his young wife the language of her people. It is a soft, melodious talk, the Chero kee, with accent* So many and varied that in ordinary discourse, they seem ed to be singing to one another. Never hastily, but by gradual advances he Impressed the tribesmen with a bad opinion of the English colonists, rep resenting them as avaricious, fraudu lent and encroaching; then having in stilled a proper dislike of them among the Cherofcees he impressed the red men with a high opinion of their own im portance in Amertea, the situation of their country, th«ir martial disposi tion, the great nnrnber of their war riors. It lay wfcthii| their power to check all efforts Of the ambitious Brit ish, but they must have organization, be taught the ptßrpdr development of their possibilixieS|j. : TJie Indians listen ed and approved. He formed a gfl'ternment. a. kind of cnj-.stitutional monarchy. He was care ful not to shock* oia traditions. The head chief he crowned as emperor of the Cherokee nation* with ceremonies and forms invent**' *y -himself, pleas ing to the savage mind and eye. A court was established with high-sound ing- titles. A couiyrfl of state organized and his majestyjs cabinet appointed. Monsieur Pribus his imperial majesty's secreta&^of state. The gov ernment formed began to or ganize its power. Tn the mountain caves he discovered nitre in vast de posits. He knew of iron ore ready for the smelter; of great resources that time and patience would develop. Meanwhile the Cherokee nation be gan to look up. smaller tribes, scat tered bands of harassed Indians came in to take refuge "Under the imperial aegis. The empire, was beginning to form. Word of JJwse things reached the English colonists. Angry letters of re roc nstruae* w*« (»nt up into th* mountains to all of -wfrlch Pribus sent answers that the business of the Cher- Harris. J. B. Ljppincott company. Philadel phia. 75 cent*. For sale by tit* St. Paul Book and Stationery company.) The revised edition of "A Primer of American Literature," by Charles F. Richardacm, professor of English in Dartmouth college, comes to us with many well-thought-of additions. This little primer has been so well spoken of and so widely used that it is not at this time necessary to point out ita many merits. That it is in its seventy third thousand speaks plainly enough in its commendation. This edition is enriched by a number of pictures of the homes of the authors, besides a carefully arranged course of reading in American masterpieces and other helps to a broader study of our litera ture. ("A Primer of American Literature," by Charles F. Richardson. Houghton, Mlfflin & Co. 35 cents. For sale by the St. Paul Book and Stationery company.) In "The Story of Extinct Civiliza tion," Robert E. Anderson has given us.in a highly interesting but condensed form, the results of his extensive study of the earliest civilized races of man kind. He writes, in this small book, of Chaldea and Babylonia, ancient Egypt and of the Phoenicians and Hebrews, the Arabs and ancient Persians, and, although only a short chapter is al lowed to each of these divisions, the grasp of the subjects is good, for Ju dicious deference to the essentials has marked his treatment throughout. ("The Story of Extinct Civilization," by Robert E. Anderson. D. Appleton & Co. 40 cents. For sale by the St. Paul Book and Stationery company.) Jiotem. "The American-British Arbitration Treaty" is discussed by John Fiske in the Atlantic Monthly. Mr. Flske writes on this subject with his usual force and grasp. Other papers of present interest are "Mr, Cleveland as President," by Woodrow Wilson, and "The Good and Evil of Industrial Combination," by Arthur T. Hadley. "The Story of an Un told Love," by Paul Leisiter Ford, is con tinued, and Blanche Willis Howard contrib utes a short rtory called "Marigold Michel." It is some little time since Miss Howard has appeared in the magazines and we welcome her back. Outing for March is an attractive number. It opens with an article on "Quick Photog raphy Afield," by Dr. John Nicol. There is the usual amount of space devoted to fiction and articles on sport and adventure by well known authors. The frontispiece of McClure's Magazine for March is a fine portrait of Mark Twain painted by Charles Noel Flagg, and never before reproduced. It introduces an extremely interesting number. There is the opening in stallment of a new novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, the last novel we shall ever have from that most charming of romancem There is a brief critical paper, a.pt and comprehen sive in its interpretation and full and cor dial in itr praise of Rudyard Kipling as a poet, by W. D. Howells, and Kipling's story of "Captains Courageous" is drawing to a close. Two notable articles under the caption of "Thp> Railway Problem" are published In the North American Review for March, discussing this momentous question from two distinct and vital standpoints. "The Legislative So lution" is treated by the Hon. Lloyd Bryee, the former editor of the Review, who clearly emphasizes the elaimg of the railways against unjust legal restrictions and unfair taxation, while in "A Mercantile View" Mr. James to how I should go about this interview. I wish you would give me a few details about yourself, your work and methods, and then perhaps I could jot down a few particulars, which I could weave togther afterward." He smiled sadly and then gave her the In formation required. She made some notes and then at the conclusion put away her hook, and, after thanking h/rn again, made a movement as if preparing to depart. Hardinge noted this and, at his wits' end, blurted out, in a desperate fashion: "So you are endeavoring t6 adopt litera ture as your profession. Miss Raleigh?" "Yes," she replied, "but I find it very diffi cult indeed to get a foothold." "Do you write stories? Excuse the lib erty I take, but 1 fey) quite an interest in you." "Oh, thank you. Yes, I do try my hand occasionally at a short story." "Well, Miss Raleigh, what do you think of this for a plot? Do you think it could be woven into a story? I can only «i** .you the incidents as far as I know them, so you wou'd have to make your own conclusion. Above all, it has the merit of being true. j Shall I give you the incidents?" "If you would be so kind, I should be ex tremely grateful." 1 ■ "Then here they are. Uy a curious coin cidence your name is that of the heroine, and it is that fact which has recalled every thing in my mind." Hardinge proceeded with his tale. He dared not look at his visitor as he remorse | lessly went on; perhaps .t was well he did ; not do so, as the indescribable agony which : overspread her features would have acted upon his chivalrous instincts and forced him to stop. But as he did not look in her direc tion he did not notice this, and cruelly be ! gar.: "Some years ago — I forged how many — a young fellow who was my chum at Oxford I spent Ms vacation at Milficld. a little village in the north. While there Fred -Fred Gow j er was his name — met and fell in love with the Vicar's daughter, Annie Raleigh. They became engaged, and shortly afterwards he went out to India, in order to represent his father's business home in Calcutta. "For some months a correspondence passed between the two, but at length Fred received word from some friend in the village that the squire's son was paying clo?e attentions to Miss Raleigh, and it was rumored that they were c-ngagod to be married. In a fit of passion Fred wroLe breaking off the en gagement, even before he received any cor roborative evidence. The lady was cither stung by the letter, or the rumor was cor rect, as she did not reply, and from that day he has never Si^en or hf-ard of her. He d d not. make any inquiries, he did no> write to his informant, but simply waited at Cal cutta until he had evt ;h>- business affairs ta order. He then went off into the hills, Intending to lose himself there, and cut Ivm j self off from all things which would bring I to hi.s mind his unfortunate love. "Poor fellow! I ofton wondtT what has j become of him. He has not written to any | of his old frlend-s, and is. I suppose, almost forgotten by all. Bat really. Mi a Raleigh." hf added, turning to her and noticing her agJlatvd countenance, ''you don't look well. I Cm I get anything for you?" I "No, thank you, Mr. Hardinge. But— no <>ktts was no business of the English, ever subscribing nimself as the secre tary of state to the new empire. This seemed to forebode so much of danger that the colonists followed up the let ters by sending a commissioner. Col. Fox, to demand Pribus from the In dians as an enemy to public peace. Upmolested the commissioner made his way to the capital of the empire. He was escorted to the great council square. There was Pribus surrounded by all the dignitaries of the nation. Col. Fox was a brave man, for he walked straight up to the Frenchman informed him he was under arrest and !n a short orati-m he detailed the rea sons thereof to the Indians. Before he had finished a warrior arose an i interrupted him, bade him at once to desist and go his own way, because the man whom be was seeking to en slave was the best beloved of the na tion, one of their own. people, whose heart was honest and who never Med. History has it tnat Fox desisted then and there. Then the secretary made a speech in the Cherokee riiaiect which was translated to the impotent com missioner a« it was delivered. The secretary f?aid that he had come among the Indians a stranger and in a peace able manner; that he had grown to love them even as a brother; that see ing their poverty and insecurity and to prt«erve their liberty he had consoli dated their power and intended to fur ther seek their advancement; that he also intended in pursuance of this pur pose to open a waterway to New Or leans; that the distance proved his mo tive good and he intended to return with a number of skilled artisans, who would teach the Indians how to 'make their own guns and powder, how to improve their appliances for living and to develop the raw material with which the land abounded. He concluded by saying that the tyrannical purpose of the English was plainly leveled at th*< Cherokees, because before he had com* among them he was never accused of having done any til against the Brit ish, hence his offending must be the? things he h&d done for his red brothers and his crime of loving the Chero kees. The secretary's position was lmpreg- THE LEADER ™'"' m ROBERT IOEL, PROPRIETOR. jfifkL AST C A L L iß^S^^' i^«VH^ 50 Ladies' Jackets, for- Cf\ J[f\ #A^ A'V^i < v«K%Y ( v mer P ric e $6.00 and 0 JifO #f>A^V\'W/^^m 40 Beaver Cl oth Double (a fIQ &W®ffflßkK CHOICE z #^>sv^<^«>^^»^> 20 ° new Dress Skirts - Our Skirts 4^^As^4Vjßvi»3O^ are all made 4 * y a 'ds wide, well made and fi t perfect. Prices, "* <s «-^^a^^»^^ 32.50, $3.50, $5, $6, $10. J. Wait practically sets forth the relations existing today between the railways and the merchants and shippers. The competition announced by the Century company ought to sharpen the wits of a good many persons who find the winter evenings hang heavily on their hand's. The 150 ques tions, for the answers to which money prizes of $1,000 are offered, call for information on subjects with which most of us are less fa miliar than we Imagine ourselves to be. The contest seema to be ingeniously arranged, and if it is followed by other competitions of the same sort, there will be a general rat tling erf the dry bones which lie useless and forgotten in the corners of one's mind. The Macmillan company having caught the attention of "The Jolly Sailor Man," and alt who love the sea, by publishing "On Many Seas," the best sea story published for many a year past, or, we fear, to come, chooses thi's favorable moment to issue a book of short stories entitled "The Port of Missing Ships and Other Stories of the Sea." "In 1593 The Studio was founded in London by Mr. Charles Holme, its present editor. Ow ing to the unique success and far-reaching influence of this magazine during the past four years, it is thought that the time has arrived for issuing an American edition. For this the title of The International Studio has been chosen, and it will be issued simultan eously with the London edition, from the office of Mr. John Lane, 140 Fifth avenue." Such Is the very modest announcement the publishers of The International Studio have sent out. The Studio has been one of the few really successful English art papers and we congratulate the art lovers of Amer ica upon having this magazine thus brought within easy reach. Harper's Weekly for March 3 contains an important review of the administration of President Cleveland by the editor, Henry Loomis Nelson. The double-page illustration of W. T. Peters gives a bird's-eye view of Washington as it appeared on the oc casion of the inauguration of President-elect McKinley. In "The Wel!-Beloved," soon to be pub lished by the Harpers, Thomas Hardy is re ported to have turned from the problem novel to his earlier method and to have produced an idyllic love story. Charles Reade once gave a recipe for writ ing novels to a young novelist now well doubt you will think me foolish— your story has quite upset me." "I'm awfully sorry. I would not have re lated it had I knowft. But why should lit upset yoH?" "Well," said the lady, her pale lips trem bling. "I am the Annie Raleigh you have been speaking of. Fred Gower was my lover. Poor Fred." she added, meditatively, "and all through a misunderstanding." "A misunderstanding!" said Hardlnge In an incredulous tome. "How was that? Par don my curiosity, but no doubt you will un derstand why I should be curious." "Well, as you are a friend of his, and know one part of the story, perhaps it would be as we!l If you were acquainted with Lhe other part." She sighed deeply and went on: "It is true that the squire's son did pay ma attentions. We were busily engaged in organizing seme amateur theatricals at the time, and as we were both taking pTOiuinent parts, we were thrown into each other's so ei<-<y a great deal. Rut I was entirely fdlth ful to Fred, and when Hintnn did make love to me I promptly gave him his answer. "Hut I axa sorry to Fay the idle tongues of the villagers had already begun wagging, and I heard some of the rumors. Then Fred's petulant letter came, and I felt so piqued and offended at his suspecting me that I did not answer. At length the feeling wore off, and I wrote explaining all. But the letter never re-ached Its destination, and was re- THOSE DAAGEROTS I HOGS. Marinda— Sakes alive! Jonas, them mus' be mighty big frogs out ii Kansas! Jonas- flow's thtt? Marinda — 'CWiee a man got his foot in one and wuz killed. sable. Col Fox was in danger. The man whom he sought to arrest could have had his head had he desired it but Pribus had him kindly and politely treated, gave him a passport insuring a safe return, furnished an escort front the emperor's own guard, aad when h^ was about to leave wished him a saf; return home. The English coloni?ts i( be|oa,me more fceriously alarmed as they began to comprehend what the fc&motion of this new power meant. It naPsitt a wall in the West that would forever hem them in. The wisdom of Indians was clearly apparent In their trust In such a man as Pribui=, whose sagacity had directed him to choose a proper spot, a position Is the mountains impregnable to at tack, where he was forming an empire by sure and slow degrees. The Cherokee empire was beginning to attract the attention of the Alabanr-t tribes, the Creeks, the Choctaws anJ the Chtekaeaws. The influence of Prl bus was beginning to work for th-: amalgamation of ail into one powerful ration. The sted h.ad been planted and was ready to grow into the plant, when an accident happened. In the fifth ' year of the empire the secretary «* out for New Orleans es corted by a few Cherokeee. He trav eled by land until he reached an In dian town on the Tallapoosa named Tookabatctie, which was at the heel of navigation. Now this Tookabatcht waa outside the sphere of Cherokee in fluence, and there were several English traders there who had gained prestige with the inhabitants. These traders had heard of Pribus, and telling their Indian friends that the newcomer wa.s a dangerous man, they overpowered the Cherokee escort and took monsieur prisoner. By forced marches they a', once took htm to Frederica, in Georgia, and delivered him to the governor there. That official placed him in close confinement, not with felons, however, as he was a foreigner and a gentleman For nearly a year Pribus bore his im prisonment with great fortitude and constancy, but confinement began to tell or. him, he was taken sick and died. The Cherokees, way up in the Georgia mountains, never again saw their bekw&l brother who had never told them a lie. So perished the nmn who might have known. It ran thus: "Make 'em laugh make 'em cry; make 'em wait."—Kroni "Chronicle and Comment," in The Bookman. There is nothing that Richard Harding Davis describes with more skiil than a gorgeous pageant, and "The Banderium of Hungary," which leads the March Scribner's is one of the brightest exhibitions of his pictorial ability. In Mr. Davis 1 "Soldiers of Fortune" the love story shows an unexpected diversion of affection into a new channel, and the great political revolution is smoulder ing, ready for the outburst. On Our Book Table. ; From the Publishers- Bruno Hessling, New York: "Handb'drik <rf Ornament." by Franz Sales Meyer. $3,60. J. B. Lipplneott company. Philadelphia: "A Bachelor's Bridal," by Mrs. Lovett Cam eron. Laird and Lee, Chicago: "Practical Palm istry/ by Comte de Saint-Germain. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York: "In the Crucible," by Grace Denlo Litchfleld. Paper. 50 cents. American Book Company, New York: "Our Little Book for Little Folks." 30 cents. "The Story of the Chosen People," by 11. A. Guer ber, 60 cents. Peter Collier, Pulisher, New York: Dr. Darch's Wife," by Florence Warden. 35 cents. From the St. Paul Book and Stationery- Company — Harpers & Bros., New York: "Bound In Shallows," by Eva Wilder Broadhead. 5i. 25. "In the O'.d Herrick House," by Ellen Doug las Peland. $1.50. "The Last Recruit of Clare's," by S. R. Keightly. $1.50. "Beauty and Hygiene." 75 cents. "Literary Land marks of Florence." by Lawrence Iluttoo. $1. "A Previous Engagement," by W. D. Howells. 50 cents. "Six Cups of Chocolate," by Edith Y. B. Matthews. 50 cents. Stone & Kimball, New York: John Ga briel Borkman," by Henrlck Ibsen; trans lated by William Archer. $1.50. "Grip," by John Strange Winter. $1.25. "With tha Band," by Robert W. Chambers. $1.23. "Miss Armstrong's and Other Clcumslances," by John Davidson. $1.23. "A Woman's Courier," by WHMam Joseph Yeoman. $1.50. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston: "Tha Spoils of Poynton," by Henry James. $1.50. Sennonlnar Wood for Pianos. Wood for pianos requires to be kept forty years to be in perfect condition. turned to me. Twelve months later ray fath er died, and gradually I was forced to adopt some means of obtaining a living, and al ways having a taste for literature I have tried to make my way in the literary world. Poor Fred, his petulance and my pride rulnett two lives, I am afraid. But, Mr. Hardingc," she said, raising her sweet blue eyes, now suffdfed with tears, "I have remained faith ful to my lover's memory." "For heaven's sake, Annie, look at me," cried Hardinpe, springing to his feet and seizing h< r hand. "Do you not recognize me? ik> you not know my voice?" Startled and surprised, the lady rose, and prompted by a RUdden impulse, gazed into his eyes. She paled, drew back, and th«n In a voice of mingled agony and delight, cried: "It Is— are my eyes deeelviag me-^-no, t£ cannot be— Fred Gower Is dead — and yet— oh, merciful heaven— it is!" and in a fit of pas sionate tears she threw herself upon his breast. Harding? — or rather Oowcr- pi'PMed hsr closer to him. and in a swuet, low voice consoled her, begging her forgiveness for all ' he had done. "My life, my love, my all. Fate strangely parted us. Fate has strangely united ua*, You are mine now forever." "F'lrevpr," was the almost inaudible rf% ply. as she raised her glistening eyes to hlfc . — Tit-liits. • changed history. He was evidently capable of great ideas. He labored unceasingly towards the accomplish ment of his imperial dream. When h j was gone the keystone of the arch way taken away and the Cherokee empira fell to pieces. / Northwestern- people-prefer \ 1 soothe and- mildly- stim-\\ji/ \ u late • and ' are - more -W \ digestible -tnajrvmilK^j \ 'Telephone 935'2y U?i«. JarlihUA. cMr.r<inat>)«.£ZLV "' '""*' JT .ISj iJ »O. U-^icjMtn 2>r»rd. FR£e TEST »^OS|>JSA/# OOSSTn.TiTIOStIour offl«a. r! SCfCOI C'.YnmtmiSM «33 H«»dxmf , X«w T«k. Sud for BOOKFftgf.^