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MY HERITAGE.
I
*
I into life HO full of lore was sent
: That all the shadows which fall in the way
Of every human being could not stay ,
But fled before the light my spirit lent.
E saw the world through gold and crimson
dyes ;
Hen sighed , and said : "Those rosy hues
will fade
' into life's shade. "
As'you pass on glare or
Still beautiful the way seems to mine eyes.
They said : "You are too Jubilant and
glad ;
The world in full of sorrow and of wrong ;
Full soon your Hps shall breathe forth sighs ,
not song. ' '
The day wears on , and still I am not sad ;
said ' 'You love too and
They : largely ; you
must ,
Through wound on wound , grow bitter to
your kind. "
Then were false prophets. Day by day I
find
More cause for love , and less cause for dis
trust.
They said : ' 'Too free you give your soul's
rare wine ;
The world Will quaff , but it will not re
pay. "
Yet into the emptied flagons , day.by day.
True hearts pour back a nectar as divine.
Thy heritage ! Is it not love's estate ?
Look to * it then , and keep its soil well
tilled.
I hold that my best wishes are fulfilled
Because I love so much , and cannot hate.
-rElla Wheeler.
MASQUERADING.
Mrs. Symes Symington'was engaged
in smoothing down the nap of her jetty
velvet polonaise with her pretty white ,
plump hand , on the fore finger of
which sparkled a cluster diamond ring ,
on the third finger clung a plain , heavy
wedding ring.
She was a plump , rosy little lady ,
not as tall by a head as the handsome
young fellow who called her "mother , "
and in whom her whole heart's affec
tions were centered , and to whom she
was at this present time administering
as severe a reproof as stie ever had
found occasion to do. ,
Naughty , headstrong Cleve listened
very respectfully , as he leaned his head
on his hand and his elbow on the man
tle-piece , with an air that demonstrated
the perfect uselessness of the argu
ments his lady mother advanced. Then
when she paused in triumphant breathlessness -
lessness breathless because of her
long sentences , and triumphant be
cause she certainly accepted Cleve's
silence as the consent she aspired to se
curing.
After this Cleve smiled so * sweetly ,
. coolly , right in her face.
"But I shall marry little Birdie Lome ,
mamma that is , if she will have me.
Now , don't frown so , you look so much
prettier when you sinile and blush , lit
tle mother. Tell me to propose to myt
pretty little sunny-haired girl and
bring her here for the maternal bless
ing. "
He leaned his handsome head toward
Mrs. Symington and looked at her in
such a proudly coaxing way that in her
fond heart she woudered-how any wo
man ceuld resist him. Then she'shook
her head until the diamonds in her
ears sent their brilliant coruscations
both far and near.
"How can I , Cleve , when I am mor
ally sure Miss Lome wants your money
only ? A hundred thousand isn'.t to be
secured every day ; and to many for
money is too perfectly miserable. I
married for money , Cleve , and you
know the life I led until your father
died. You are my only comfort. Don't
pain me by bringing home a wife \r ho
will only endure us for the sake of
what we can give her. "
Evidently she had forgotten her men
tal decision that no girl with a human
heart could resist her boy's handsome
face. Certainly it was very unlike the
proud , self-assured Mrs. Symes Sym
ington to understand her own import
ance so tremendously , as she had just
done.
But then evea the richest , proudest
.and haughtiest people have their other
cside that only a few friends know ; and
ihis was Mrs. Symington's other side.
She watched Cleve's face anxiously ,
* but there was no sign of change of
views in the gay , debonair face , with
the contradicting eyes so grave and
sternly decided.
-"You mistake Birdie altogether ,
molKSf dear. How can it be possible
she wants me for my money when lots
of other fellows are after hers ? She is
an heiress in her own right forty or
fifty thousand. "
"Oh ! is that the case ? Well "
Her altered tone , her hesitating
words so delightfully emphasized were
enough for Cleve. He caught her up
in his arms , regardless of her elegant
toilet , and kissed her until her face was
as scarlet as a girl's.
"Cleve ! Are you not ashamed of
yourself ? . Put me down this minute ,
or or of yea shant marry Bird "
He dropped her instantly.
"You're down , mother ; "and in just
one hour prepare to see my little dar
ling all blushes , dimples , , smiles and
sweetness. " ,
He went out hurriedly , caught up his
uat from the rack and hailed a passing
cab that would speed him on his mis-
Mrs. Symington watched himbetween
the plumb-colored damask curtains , her
' eyes kindlingwith pleasurable , pardon-
"The dear boy ! he-wants me to think
I settled the matter he arranged long
. Of course he would have married -
ago. but to think how
, just
ried her , anyway
splendidly he has behaved to me. "
And something like the diamonds in
her ears glittered in her fond mother
eyes as she turned away.
A delightful little octagonal room ,
hung with the exact shade of dainty
pink'silk that was most becomiug to
Birdie Lome's fair complexion. A pink
carpet that covered the floor in an un *
broken expanse of velvet. Chairs , ot
tomans and. cushions upholstered in
pink and ebony. With little lace tidies ,
and snowy , zephyi matts scattered
gracefully around ; with elegantly-de
signed and executed affghans on the ot
tomans and sofas. Lace curtains and
pink satin drapery , with the white
walls hung with small , rare paintings ,
with statuettes on pedestals in every
available nich. A charming , girlishly-
ordere'd room , that opened from the
door-and into the
drawing-room by one -
beautiful conservatory by another. A
place where tears and trouble ought
never to have come , and the sight of
both of which uncanny visitants made
Cleve Symington paused a second on the
threshold as no caught a glimpse of a
golden head buried in two tiny fair
hands and heard the unmistakable sobs
that shook the little white-robed figure
crouching in a heap beside a low nas-
sock. He only hesitated a second , then
with a look of tenderest love , pity and
svmpathy , crossed the room to her
side.
side."Birdie
"Birdie , why crying so piteously ?
Can I sympathize , or do I intrude ? "
She sprang up in a4 sweet , shy sur
prise , her face all tear-flushed , her eyes
as bright as dewdrops. She was one of
those Heaven-favored mortals that
weeping beautifies. She only looked
fresher , fairer , and so pitiful , and
Cleve's arms fairly ached to take her
to his heart and kiss her tears away.
And he would , he vowed rapturously ,
in , another five minutes.
She took her handkerchief from her
pocket a little lace affair , white and
fragrant and essayed to smile as she
wiped the tears from her lashes.
"I am afraid I appsar very childish ,
Mr. Symington but when "I think
when it is all gone "
Her exquisite lips quivered again ,
but she checked the rebellious tears
bravely.
"I am as poor as a chuich-mouse
that is all. A letter from my guardian
says everything was invested in a min
ing company , and the shares are not
worth the paper they are printed on. "
Cleve fairly worshiped her then , as
she honestly explained her position ,
with the quiet , lady-like way so natural
to her.
"It is a misfortune , I admit ; and yet ,
Birdie , there will inevitably come some
good of it you will learn who are your
real iriends. "
Somehow he said it so earnestly that
Birdie glanced curiously at him , then
drooped her eyes under the blue-veined ,
long-lashed lids.
Cleve was close by'her side the next
instant , with her hands imprisoned in
his and his impassioned eyes fairly
scorching her face.
"You surely understand me , darling ?
You will let me prove my friendship ,
my love , my adoration ? Little girl ,
say you will be my own. Tell me you
love me , and promise me the great
privilege of caring for you forever'my
little wife. "
It was so sweet , this manly , honest ,
eager avowal , and , coming as it did ,
on the very heels of her misfortune ,
and from the lips of the only lover she
ever had prayed to hear the words
from
And yet oh , woman's foolish pride !
all her perverse little heart rose in re
bellion at accepting everything and giv
ing nothing. '
It never should' be said of Birdie
Lome that she took the first offer she
received after her misfortune simply
because there was money in it.
So , while Cleve waited , smiling pa
tiently at her bowed head , never doubt
ing that his whole earthly happinesst
was just at hand , dreaming such rapid , '
blissful dreams of the future , Birdie de
liberately made up her stubborn will ,
through horrid pangs of pain. Then
she lifted her head in a quick , haughty
way that it had often delighted in be
fore.
fore."You
"You are so kind , Mr. Symington ,
and I appreciate every word you say ,
and will remember ougratefully to my
dying day. But I will marry no man
to whom I would have to leel under
such obligations as I would feel to you. "
She spoke gently , but with a proud
ring to her voice. Cleve reeled under
the sharp , sudden blow. He clinched
her hands so tightly that her rings cut
in the tender flesh , but she only com
pressed her lips and made no sign of
how he hurt her.
"But , Birdie , " and there was such
agony in his voice that her own. heart
quailed a second "Birdie , don't speak
of obligation ! ) to a man -who loves you
as I do ; speak as if you knew you
would grace a queen's throne , as you
would. Birdie , Birdie , don't be so
cruel to me. "
Her lips quivered , and her eyes sud
denly overflowed.
"You mean what you say , my dear
friend , I know. Or , rather , you think
you mean it , which is the same to me ,
since I cannot accept it But you are
only pitiful , kind , and sympathetic , and
the sight of my" tears and grief has
touched your great heart. That is
all. "
She drew her hands away fiom his ,
softly.
"It is not all. I love you V
Then something in her imperious
face made him suddenly desist , and by
the way she looked and acted Cleve
Symington knew she was desperately
in earnest ; she would not marry him
because she was so proud. And he
went sadly away , feeling numb and stu
pefied as he walked home in ajstrange ,
dazed way that his fond mother saw
.from'her peeping place betWeen -the
curtains ; and her own face lost all its
matronly bloom as Cleve came in
whiter than death itself , * and threw
himself on the sofa. Then , when he
had told her , between spasms of pain
that forced him to lie speechless , the
rosy flush crept softly back and into
the eyes fairly radiated a happy , hope
ful light.
"Trytobebrit , my dear boy , " she
said gently. "You have proved what
a noble woman she.is . , if nothing
more. "
Then she went out , smiling to her
self.
* * * * *
A plain , large room , on the second
story tKat bore evidences of very recent
furnishing in the new , cheap carpet on
the floor , iu the homely "chairs and
table. Before the small , nmhogany-
framed looking-glass thathungbetween
the windows Mrs. Symington was tying
her bonnet-strings narrow black
strings to a black straw bonnet , trim
med with Quaker plainness that com
pared suitably with her bhfck alpaca
dress and dull plaid shawl. She smiled
at her reflection and , then glanced down
at her unaccustomed toilet.
"I think I shall bo successful I will
be successful for my boy's sake. The
sight of his patient , pale face will in
spire me to any. degree , and if Miss
Lome is the woman I take her to be
she will prove it before an hour passes
over our heads. Since her descent into
poverty genteel , lady-like poverty I
learn she passes this house every day
at twelve o'clock , and takes her -dinner
at the restaurant several doors below ;
so if I intend to meet her 1 had better
be going. "
She locked the door , put the key in
her pocket , and went down the stairs
into the street exactly in time , for a
slight , graceful figure , clad in gray
twill , passed quietly by and into the
restaurant. She knew it was Birdie
Lome as well as Cleve would have
known it although she had never seen
her before. She walked calmly into
the restaurant and took a seat at the
same table with the pretty , high-bred
girl.The
The place was nearly full , and Mrs.
Symington was glad it was.
All at once , as if suddenly impressed
with the idea , Mrs. Symington looked
curiously at Birdie's face.
"I beg pardon , but are you not Miss
Lome ? 1 am quite sure yeu must be
the young lady my son speaks about so
often. "
There was something so kindly genial
in the air that Birdie did not resent it.
"Your son ? I certainly am Miss
Lome ; but you certainly have the ad
vantage of me. "
"I am Cleve Symington's mother ,
dear , There , forgive me , but you see
I know all about it. I am thankful to
have met you. quite providentially.
Birdie blushed now as much in sur
prise as anything else ; and involuntarily
she glanced at the plain , unfashionable
attire.
"You understand ? We have been as
unfortunate as yourself , Miss Lome.
Everything is gone and Cleve goes out
actually goes out every day. "
"Poor fellow. Is is he well ? "
"Oh , yes , perfectly well , and as brave
as a lion ; only forgive me , dear-
only hopelessly cast down , on your ac
count. I am his -mother , and to you ,
the only girl he ever loved , I say he
loves yon with an affection that will
never abate. "
"And I love him , dear Mrs. Syming
ton I did then , only somehow I could
not say so. "
' And Birdie poured out .her whole
he'art , completely conquered , and wrote
a letter to Cleve Symington. Then she
kissed the mother.
"I am so thankful we met strangely ,
and I am glad you live in this poor ,
plain little place I love you better for
it , I know. And when my bills are all
p"aid for the music I teach at the end of
'
a'quarter , why why , if Cleve will want
me so soon , we'll gee pleasanter rooms
and we'll be so happy. "
* * * *
"My darling , you don't regret mar
rying a poor man , and having to live
in a suit of rooms ? Look up , Birdie ,
and tell me , little wife. "
She looked merrily up into his eyes ,
the wife of six hours , as the two sat in
the sunny little room after they had
been married , and where Birdie had
lived since the shares failed her.
"Sorry ? Oh , Cleve , when f "think
how thankful I am , and'how nobly you
have endured your sudden loss of for
tune , and how happy we will be why ,
where has mother gone ? "
Cleve laughed as he drew her head
to his shoulder and kissed her hair.
"I am inclined" to bo jealous of
mother , who I think has gone to the
gone back home , to prepare a homely
little dinner for us. "
"Let us go now , dear. Don't scold
because I ordered a carriage , will you ?
'Mrs. Estler paid me in full this morn
ing. "
Cleve bit his lip to hide a laugh , then
gravely escorted his bride down to the
single-horsed vehicle in waiting. The
man knew his route and dashed off
rapidly , only stopping when he reached
the curb in front of a large house.
Cleve looked at Birdie in astonishment.
She laughed nervously , then began to
cry.
cry."You're not angry , dear ? I didn't
know until a month ago that it was all
right. I only lost a thousand after all.
Cleve , for your sake and. mother's , I
am so happy. "
He kissed her almost solemnly as
they sat in the little carriage.
"My own true , unselfish little darl
ing ! "
. They entered , found a delicious little
dinner in readiness , and no one to mar
the sweetness of the surprise.
Late in the evening , towards ten
o'clock , Birdie rung for her wraps.
"Mother will be waitingforus. Come ,
Cleve , let's go after her and bring her
here , her home. "
So they drove off through so many
streets that Birdie wondered where in
the world they were going to.
"Darling , " Cleve said , abruptly ,
"shall I confess ? Shall I tell you I
have a surprise for you equal to your's ?
Lookout ! "
She looked out , as the carriage stop
ped at the Symington mansion. An
awning was stretched from the door to
the carriage mount , and a velvet carpet
was spread for her feet. The joyous
music of the band , the flitting of ele
gantly dressed ladies past the windows
it rushed over her like a flood. Cleve
had been masquerading for very love.of
her.
her."You
"You forgive me ? "
He looked at her with his splendid
eyes all alight.
"Oh , Cleve , how could I help it ? How
you must have loved me ! "
He escorted her in proudly ; and Mrs.
Symington in velvet and diamonds met
them at the entrance.
'Birdie daughter ! ' '
And all went marry as a marriage
tn .
BETTNION.
*
A Family Brought Together After a Sepa
ration of Twenty Years.
Chicago Tribune.
Quite an affecting .scene was wit
nessed a few days ago at No. 91 South
Halsted street , Chicago , where Henry
Schoen resides and Keeps a saloon ,
what took place there being the finale
of a story dating back nearly twenty
years. In 1866 a Hungarian named
Henry-Friedman came to this country
with his two sons , Jacob , aged 15 , and
Josephj aged 13. Two years later he
returned to his wife in the old country ,
their daughter having died there , but
left his boys with a friend in Chicago.
They swore to him. that they would al
ways remain together , but this oath was
forgotten as they grew older , and finally
Joe went to Detroit and Jacob to Ala
bama. Then the former went west and
wrote to his brother , advising him of
the fact , but Jacob also changed his
residence at that time , and the two
brothers lost track of each other. Joe
wandered over the west and ultimately
located in Dakota , where he
is in business now. Last week it oc
curred to him to visit Chicago in search
of his brother , whom he had endeavor
ed in vain to find by letter. He came
and began a tour among the Hun
garians , and a few night's ago found
himself in Schoen's place. There he
related his story , and Schoen's son
promised to join in the search the fol
lowing day. The two went to the
theater during the evening , and while
they were there a young man who had
heard the story in the saloon posted off
to a little candy-store on West Chicago
avenue , and returned to Schoen's place
with an aged couple who appeared "to
be anxiously expecting something.
Then the young man sent to the theater
for Friedman , and it was when the'
whole party had been gathered
together that .the affecting scene took
place. Of course , the old couple were
the parents of the wanderer from the
west. They had long supposed him
dead. The aged mother's joy so over
came her that she fainted then and
there. The brother for whom Joseph
searched is engaged as a traveling
salesman for a Chicago jewelry house ,
and it was he who brought the old folks
to America after the supposed death of
Joseph.
* i
A "Water-Fowl.
Atlantic monthly.
I wish to describe a beautiful form
of aquatic life lately seen upon one of
our western rivers. To my eye , it
was the most conspicuous object in
sight ; with its presence it honored
and idealized the stream , and made
the mbment in which it was seen wor
thy of remembrance. A figure all
curved and grace , as befits whatever
lives in the sauve communion of waters ;
pure white like a drift of new-fallen
snow kept by enchantment from melt ,
ing , it moved without starting a ripple
or leaving the slightest wake , while
itself and its mirrored image "floated
double " I may have wished it would
rise from the water , that 1 might see
the spread of its wings and the manner
of its flight , but in this I was not to be
gratified. It had the appearance of
sleep ; and as neither head nor neck
could be seen , these were , doubtless ,
folded under its wing. If it had come
as a migrant from distant regions , it.
was now resting oblivious of its long
voyage. Fancy suggested that the
poetry of its motion be set to the music
of a swan-song. To what island of
rushes , or to what bare sandy margin
would it come at last to die , to dis
solve hi the sun and the wind , leaving
only a pinch of yellow-white dust ,
which the least breath might scatter
away ? Was I perhaps mistaken as to
the species of this water-fowl ? I look
ed again , and saw that it was one of
the brood fledged in sjtprm at the foot
of the mill-dam. Air and water were
its parents , and its whole substance
but a drift of foam. A wild , white
swan it was ( such as no fowler ever
snared or shot ) , sailing solitary and
beautiful down the amber-colored river.
The Vatican gardens in their great
est extent are only 350 yards by 400 ,
less than thirty acres , and are much
smaller than that if reduced to a rec
tangular form However , by doubling
and twisting , the pope can get a drive
out of these gardens , hidden away un
der the northern walls of St. Peter's
and the western side of the Vatican.
BLOODHOUNDS TO CATCH
COHVICTS.
How They are Trained at a Texan Prison.
Houston Post.
"Yea , they are the famous blood
hounds that is , as much .bloodhounds
as are /ound in Texas. They are sim
ply foxhounds trained 'to hunt men. "
"Do you keep them shut up all the
time ? "
"Yes ; they would make it lively for
the boys if they got out. "
"How often do you have occasion to
use them during the year ? "
"Not more than two or three times.
Convicts will not leave when they know
good hounds are on hand to catch
them. "
"Could you not dispense with the
hounds and depend upon your guns ? "
"No , indeed ; you cannot hold con
victs with shotguns. It is the fear.of
the hounds which keeps them quiet.
Desertion is useless when recapture is
a moral certainty , as. is the case when
good hounds are t-uiDloyed. "
"Do you have difficulty in properly
training your hounds ? "
"Oh" , no ; that is about the only
sport there is. Here comes the pup-
pies. We will give them a run and let
you see how it is done. "
. A trusty was sent dewn the lane and
over the fence , through a large field , on
a run for dear life. When he had ac
complished about half a mile , or half
his circuit , the puppies , three six
months old hounds , were put on his
track , and they started , nosing the
ground and yelping as they ran. On
they kept , over fences and through
stubbles and ditches , never ceasing
their noise. Sometimes they would
run over the trail where the trusty had
made an abrupt turn , but soon they
would return to the spot where they
had lost the scent and cautiously feel
their way until certain they had the
trail , when they would be off again.
The trusty was a long distance runner ,
but the soft ground made his im
promptu track heavy , and he lagged as
he approached the end of his run , evi
dently fatigued.
The dogs gained on him rapidly ,
and were yelping close upon him. He
was ordered to run to a tree or fence
and get out of their way , so that they
would have to find him by the scent.
He first tried to climb a high gate post ,
but the dogs , with their noses
to the ground , were upon him
almost , and forced him to take shelter
in a wagon which was standing in the
yard , where he hid himself in the bed
just as the dogs came to. the gate. They
looked up the gate post and smelled
around a little , then without delay fol
lowed the trail to the wagon and dis , i
covered their prey , lying panting like a iai
tugboat. I looked at the perspiring ai
convict , and my heart smote me for
Deing the cause of bis race , but I soon
found out that it was a great privilege ,
enjoyed by but few , and giving the
puppies a race was considered by them
the very essence of pleasure. The con
vict took an old blanket in his hand
and alighted on the ground , where the
dogs fought him fiercely , making
vicious springs for him. He repulsea
them by buffeting them with the
blanket , jumping away and thwarting
them in any manner without hurting-
them. Finally one of the dogs fastened
his teeth in the convict's coarse pants ,
and , holding on with unyielding
tenacity , was swung round and round
with vigor until tired. The dogs were
then taken by a guard , and the convict
went away highly pleased with his
sport.
i
How Nebraska Stands.
Lincoln Journal.
Nebraska takes no backseat in the
crop reports of 1883. She stands.fifth
in the list of great corn producing
states in the union. Illinois comes
first with 203,786,500 bushels. Then
comes Iowa , Missouri and Kansas , pret
ty close together. Then Nebraska
closes the column with . 101,287,900
bushels , being half as much as was
raised by the empire corn state of the
west.
It has been generally supposed that
Nebraska did not do much in the
wheat line last year , so much of her
energies being of late given to corn ,
hogs and cattle. But her farmers put
in a fe"w acres here and there , and the
result is that we are according to an
estimate going the rounds of the press ,
the fourth state in the union in the
size of the wheat crop. California leads
with thirty-six million bushels , Minn
esota follows with thirty.three millions.
Then comes Indiana and Nebraska ,
almost neck and > neck , the former with
twenty-eight millions four hundred and
forty-seven thousand , and the latter
with twenty-seven millions eight hun
dred forty one thousand bushels.
According to this estimate we beat
Iowa on wheat two hundred thousand
bushels , and Kansas four hundred
thousand.
But chowever flattering this wheat
estimate is to our pride it is
probably erroneous. The Journal fig
ures from the data within its possesr
sion that the wheat crop'in this state
last year was about seventeen million
bushels. We stand the tenth state in the
union in production of the cereal.
Considering the showing we made
in corn while in our swaddling clothes ,
thatis glory enough in one year.
Howard Owen , of Augusta , Me. , will
read a poem at the annual meeting of
the Maine press association , entitled ,
"An Editor in Hell. " Wouldn't it be
better for Howard to leave Augusta
and come up to Gorham ? Gorham
Mountaineer.
The difference between men when
despondent is that some take heart and
some take whisky.
