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THE CHERRY By OWLN Tliat k .r? You non only the end of it. Fortunately by wearing a high ol!.;r I run junt conceal II; bit It ex tends (torn I lie neck (clow by the Jugu lar cin, too. my hoy) down over tho f hoiildi r quite to tlio breastbone. A tiger did that u royal Bengal and a beauty he w;i;i, I tell yon. You can see II , (.'nin any day In tny married hihtcr'H HittioK room. lint it's a ftory quite worth th tell ing, ami It has a funny Bide, too, that was thought quite worm repetition nt the time in the Englic.h jiapi'rn, though they did not get at the iiihldo facta of tho adventure. It was the period of the hot mason r.tagnatiun when we were in the con sular h rvice at Madras, you know. The English society (including the few Americans there) were doing little else than to sleep and yawn to pass the time. Hut e verybody, the men especially, were galvanized into excitement when the news amo that a tiger had car ried off first a woman and then a child during the previous week from a sta tion about fifteen ruilen in the interior at thejoot of the mountains. . Time was when this wotdd have been a sort of every-day announcement in India; but of late years these monsters had been killed off except far in the interior wilderness, and It had already become a rare event for one of these royal fellows to issue from his jungle kingdom. At any rate, things bad got to such a pass of mental torpidity that, we need ed only the slightest straw to grasp at for the sake of excitement. In half an hour a hunt had been agreed upon, and servants were flying everywhere about the town to arrange the details and secure accessories, such as teams and wagons, native porters and beaters, and in the cool of the evening fifteen or twenty gentlemen sportsmen were engaged in oiling gun locks, swabbing out rifle barrels and preparing generally for the morrow's expedition. It was just dawn the following morn ing when we started a curious caval cade of fifty or more, in which the white faces were largely in the minor ity. Some were on horseback, some In carts drawn by bullocks, which, in that country, were very different from what are known as such at home. About a mile from Madras there was a little bungalow, commanding a view of the sea, which had become a sort of house of public entertainment, popu lar with the better class of residents as a resort for tiffins aud such little ex cursions as we would call picnics. We had hardly entered the grove when a silvery feminine laugh entered our ears, coming from the direction of the native house. The major, beside whom I was rid ing, perceptibly started at the sound and glanced at me. I in turn looked inquiringly at him. "Don't you recognize the voice?" he asked. "No, I can't say I' do," I answered "Whose is it? Surely non9 of mine host Singh's family have such a sweet thrill." "I should say not, decidedly!" as sented the major. "But I must be wrong if you don't recognize it I thought it for all the world like Miss Bradford's voice." I could not help looking quickly and keenly at the major. Miss Bradford was my sister and the major had cer tainly been very attentive to her dur ing the few months of their acquaint ance. If he could recognize her voice in an Indian jungle when her brother failed to do so there must be something ser ious on the carpet. I therefore had a peculiar interest in the development-of the next few mo ments. "It is positively cruel of you!" said another and petulant voice. "You make no allowance for my extremely sensitive organization. But I simply cannot go back over that road; the, mere thought of it is. killing! Hark don't you hear something creeping on from the grove?" and there arose shrill scream which became hysterical as it seemed to diminish as if the ferni nine speaker had flown into the cot tage. She had doubtless heard us breaking through the thicket, and in an instant the head of our calvacade came in full view of the place, and there sitting calmly on a seat before the door under the overhanging boughs and looking expectantly but undismayed towards us was my sister. "You here!" I exclaimed, really sur prised. "And Miss Biithedale, too; I need not ask that," I said, glancing at an open parasol of flaming. cherry that lay a few feet away on the ground where the fair and nervous owner had dropped it in her flight. Ti.rt parasoi: In defiance of all the scientists from tferi Franklin down, Miss Biithedale must needs import from the west a sunshade of th-? color of which above ail others r-llvted least the rays of that very orb. This she impc rtudubly carried, a V7 PARASOL. IIACKLTT. 0 inning mark lur derisive jokes, or erha'm ai an incentive to well-born ubaltern bachelors In the arena of ove, she the matador und they (ho quarry. "How penetrating you are!" wan my ister's ironical reply. "Ma lor. von e Just in time. - Miss Biithedale has uxt declared that she will not return o tovs n without the escort of the whole garrison or of Major Gallanton, ncr- iaps." Tin major looked almost pained at his allusion in the dead set that Mlna llithedale had been making at him to every one's amusement. "And so," my sister continued brisk ly, "you have all your hunt for noth- ng! The royal quarry seems to know something about flank movements and strategy as well a3 your own gallant selves." "Really, I don't understand. Miss Bradford," said the nuzzled soldier. What is all this about escorts and flank movements! Ah, Miss Blithe dale," as that lady appeared, apparent- y nerved again to a welcome encoun r with the major; "this is a most harming coincidence. But explain, please, Miss Bradford." Then my sister narrated as follows: The two ladles la question, bored to death at the absence of the only ob ject of interest the men had decided on a littlo expedition of their own. They had hired one of the native 'jaunting cars," as we call them, with its zebu team and native driver, and stowing a luncheon hamper in the 'boot," had driven out before the noon day heat for the "park." Already in sight of the grove, they had hon horrified to see the sudden appearance of a great tiger, who step ped out from the undergrowth beside the road, disclosing his superb propor tions and brilliant coloring as he first gazed curiously towards them and then lowered his head and began to stalk after them in long strides. Miss Biitlkedale uttered a terrified shriek, the driver, turning, saw the beast, and wild with fear, first whipped up his bullocks and then incontinently fled into th jungle. Meanwhile in the same moments, my sister had been equally appalled. But Belle is a girl of pretty strong nerves, as you may know, and though white with fear, she uttered no cry but silent ly if wildly looked around for a wea pon. There was none, of course but stay! the cherry parasol! She snatched it from the nerveless hand3 of her com panion, opened it witn a vicious snap, and thrust it sheer into the face of the beast, who was not four feet away At the same time she closed her eyes from sudden fainlness but recoverin instantly she looked again and he was gone! She could just see the tail dis appearing rapidly as he crawled among the leaves in dire fright. vvitnout an instant s hesitation my sister sprang to the "box," whipped up the slow bullocks, drove the few rods to the bungalow with Miss Biithedale clinging to her and alternately moan ing and screeching, as we learned in private. That was five hours before; Miss Biithedale had absolutely refused to return with the cowardly native driver, who had arrived before them, and my sister had laughingly vowed that in that case she would go back alone, ask ing no better protection than the cherry parasol. "You have revolutionized the tiger hunt for the future, Miss Bradford," said the major, with his eyes full of ad miration at the tale which my sister told so lightly and laughingly as to rob it of any trace of egotism. "Here after we may expect to see long lines of beaters file through the jungle armed with red umbrellas, and flaming cot ton stockades about the villages. There was some discussion as to the identity of this particular beast, but it was generally allowed to be the same we had been hunting, if for na other reason than to turn the joke against ourselves, the empty-handed nimrods. We started back to town and joking ly made a great show of surrounding the car as a protection on every side. But it turned out to be no joke. When half way back (the major, and myself riding beside the ear, there arose frightened cries ahead, and the leaders of the calvacade came tumbling back upon us in the wildest fear. The major and I dashed to the front There in the middle of the road stood his kingship, glaring at the procession with blazing eyes. We flung ourselves from our horses, unslung our rifles and he had been creeping slowly towards us; now he sprang at mo just a3 the major's rifle cracked. The bullet could not stop his advance. I felt a terrible shock as the tiger fell at my feet with outstretched claws. 0:i'? paw dug Into my neck a3 he de- scenaeii, ana tore down over my ureast deep through my clothing and into the flesh, pulling me down with terrific force upon his own body. I Fpinnn to my fft and haw that ho !ny dead. The major's idiot true to the mark, between the eyes had caught him in midair. An he lay there the tj p" of fcrociom lei;-ity und brute power, we all mar veled that such a magnlflclent beast should have been frightened off by a mere parasol, even though It flamed like the tires af Aetna. We were met at the edge of town by a pieie of news that went far to ex plain this improbability. He had satis- fled his hunger on a low caste Brahmin only an hour previous to the rondsldo encounter with the ladies. The major claimed the skin, and no one thought of denying It to him. But he only wanted it to present it to Belle. and as they married the following year, he got it hack again. My sister, however, backed by all her friends, made a demand on Miss Biithedale for the cherry parasol, and she has it yet as her peculiar trophy. Indeed, Miss B. was quite resigned to parting with it, as she at the same time procured a gray scarlet jacket that covered the noble form of Lieuten ant the Honorable Algernon Binks, H. M. Ninety-seventh Fusiliers. St.Louis Star. COSTLY INDIAN BASKETS. In Elicit Damiitiil TliHt f quaw Crt Orders for 1.1 r to Make Tliem. There has been of late an extraordi nary "boom" in Indian baskets, for the collecuns of which a fad has sprung up. Some specimens have been sold for more than $1000 apiece baskets made by certain tribes in Nevada, Ari zona and New Mexico being chiefly in demand and speculators are actually buying up expert workers at unheard of rates, and contracting for their ser vices for life. In this way one squaw at Carson City has disposed of her en tire future output in return for a guarantee of maintenance for herself and husband in easy circumstances so long as they may live. Meanwhile she is to do nothing but make basketB for one concern. To persons uninstructed In such mat ters the prices asked and paid for the baskets are amazing. A specimen worth $1000 In the present state of the market does-not look as if it had a value of that many cents. But if peo ple will Indulge in the luxury of a fad, it is reasonable that they should pay accordingly. It is true that these baskets are often very beautifully made, and the skill shown in the weaving of them is re markable. Quality and prices are de termined mainly by the fineness of tex ture and the character of the design. Exclusiveness of design is also impor tant. If a particular squaw ha-s a pat tern of her own, not successfully or commonly imitated by others, it counts for a good deal, cne of her baskets pos sessing the same sort of value as a rare postage stamp. The fad is- useful, inasmuch' as it gives profitable employment to many poor persons. In the finer grade of baskets the maidenhair fern furnishes material for the black design on white. Another plant used is the "devil's claw," plentiful in Arizona, the stem of it serving the basket maker's pur pose. Willow and "squaw root" are utilized largely for the coarser parts of the white baskets. The Indians of the southwest know how to make baskets that will hold water, and in the deserts of that part of the country the aborigines use such materials in the manufacture of water bottles, which are so shaped that their contents canrfot be spilled. In. the des ert, water is life; when it is gone the traveler dies. Hence every precaution must be taken against losing it, and the non-spilling receptacle for liquid refreshment is a utensil of the highest practical usefulness. Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post. Care of the Watch. Always wind up a watch as nearly as possible at tue same time every day and do it as smoothly as possible to avoid sudden jerks. Most watches are now made keyless, but if a key has to be used it should be kept perfectly clean and free from grit or flue, says an exchange. If a watch is hung up it must have some support at the back and if laid horizontally it is well to place some soft substance under it for more general support, otherwise the action of the balance will cause a pen dulous motion of the watch and cause much variation in time. The watch pocket must be kept as free from dust and nap as possible. Knnrktd Into u Cocked Hat. The expression "knocked into a cock ed hat" is familiar to every one, but perhaps its origin is not so generally known. Cocked-hat was a variety of the game of bowls, in which only three pins were used, set up at the angles of a triangle. When, in bowling ten pins, all were knocked down, except the three at the corners, the set was said to be knocked into cocked-hat," whence the popular expression for de priving anything of Us main body, character, or purpose. Liverpool Post, The vine will not grow at a greater height than 2000 feet above the sea, nor the oak above 3230 feet. The hr. however, fiouirshes up to nearly 70oO i feet. r rf-oi 11 lave.m V ii nr. I'vo four littlo puppies! I emmt them, too, As they play ou tint iiuixery tloor! And l'vij four pretty dollies with curly hair It sooms to mo ev'rytlilng's four! Perhaps It's becaiiMB I Bin (our yearn old And my birthday's tuo fourth of Boptem- hi't ! I have four bltf brothers who go to school, And that's all tlio fours I reniiubr. YoutU'H Companion. What tlia Hoy Mi on 1,1 Know. Every boy at pome time or other of his life has probably collected birds' eggs, but a collection of wishbones or "merry thoughts" is unique. Did our yourg readers ever see such a collection, or think of It, or that there Is a connection between birds' eggs and the wishbones or the skulls of the birds that laid the eggs, and that it is interesting to Etir.'.y the two to gether? One learns from them a good deal about elementary anatomy. In many museums collections of birds' skeletons He beside the eggs. A d"al box, varnished, and about 15 by 18 inches and six inches deep, is a very suitable tlze. and will hold at least 100 oggs and as many wishbones. It must b fitted with a glass, sloping downward from the back, so as to give greater depth for the larger eggs. The egs may he arranged in rows, marked out by wooden partitions, with trays one above the other. If the collec tion grows to any size a mahogany cabinet may be provided; and If such a ca'se, with its ivory white wishbones or skulls and eggs, systematically and neatly arranged, each with its apper taining eggs, were sent to the county fair, it would certainly carry off a pre mium. New York News. Nannie and the Clock. Don't you Just hato to go to bed? I do. Nursie says, "Come, Nannie," and it don't do any good to cry or kick or scold, or anything, 'cause I've tried it, and I know. It used to be that old clock that was to blame, 'cause every night it pointed one finger straight up and the other finger straight dewn and eaid: "One-free-six; time for little girls to go to bed." And then I had to go. I just knew it was that naughty old clock, and I wanted to make it sorry for being so naughty. So yes 'erday, when Nursie went out for a walk, I pulled a chair under the nian tedpiece and climbed up. It was aw ful hard work climbing up, and enco I thought that chair was going to tumble over, but it didn't. So I climbed up, and there was the naughty old clock sitting on the man telpiece pointing one finger up and the other down, and I just knew it want ed to say: "Or.e-free-six; time for lit tle girls to go to bed." And it was swinging it? foot and saying, "tick, tock" all the time. And then I pulled real hard, and pulled the little door open in front of the old clock's face. And then I took nold of its foot and made it stop swing ing, and I pulied its fingers and they broke right off, both of them. They did break, thouse naughty old fingers. "Bad old clock," I said, "now I can't never go to bed any more. 'Cause you haven't got any more fingers to point." And I was glad, but the colck never said a word. But Nursie came back and said it was naughty to break the clock's lin gers off, and put me to bed! She said it was most 6 o'clock any way, but I don't see sow, 'cause I listened hard and the clock never said: "One-free-six; time for little girls to go to bed." Brooklyn Eagle. An Object-Ipson. Both cf Robbie's examples in long division were wrong, and mamma sent him upstairs to his room to work them over again. , The little boy w as not in a very good humor, for he wanted tc play, and mamma would not allow him to go out until his lessons should be learned. "I don't like 'rithmetic," he said to himself, impatiently, as he sat down at the study table in the back room. "I ha.te long division. It's such a poky thing trying and trying, and mu ti pljing over and over again, only to r.nri out that your quotient figure is ilher too big or too iittle. I wish one could find out at once how often one number went into another." , Frowning, Robbie rested his chin in his hand. His slate lay before him. but he felt in no hurry to begin work. He was discouraged, and almost ready to cry. It seemed to him that he could never learn long division. Suddenly his thoughts were divitod by a noise that sounded as if something heavy had oeen heaved against the back fence. The bang was accompan ied by a peculiar sound as of scratch ing. Robbie had heard this kind of no.se frequently of late. Suppo.-hig that some big boys were claying in the Lack street, he rose ar.d went to the window which overlooked the yard. Clos" wood m fners divided the yard, and separated it from the street. , I r j-hakiin? from the f IT i t of the hh' I., but he i-aw no bojK and heard iio vib es. He went back to th: table and op Tied the arithmetic, "i vvi.-h long division wii" hh .ivy as addition," t was thinking, when "iking! Whatk!" sounded ogalnnt the feiuc once moro. 'There it i again!" raid Bobble, jumping to his feet and flying to the window. That was not th- way he men and grocery hoys announced themselves at tho back gates. "What do you want?" (ailed Hobble; but there was no answer. He saw his dog, Brindle, slowly pac ing from tiio gate to the porch, wherehtr rested for a moment, tlnn arose ami stood as If measuring distance in dog fashion for a spring. Hirectly Brindle was oft on a swift gallop, which ended in a resounding bang as the cog at tempted to leap over the fence. Bobbie was so much amused by this strange solution of the mystery that he broke out laughing. "Well, if this isn't the jolliest fun!" he said. "To think of a dog practicing like that trying over and over again as If he were half human! I never supposed dogs had so much patience." Bobbie leaned out of the window, calling, "Hello, Brindle!" The big dog looked up in a shy way, wagging his tall, as if to say, "You caught me at it!" "Hard work, ain't it Brindle?" said Bobbie, laughing. But go ahead; keep at it old fellow, and you'll jump the fence yet!" And then after a mo ment's thought, he said, "I guess Brin dle has given me a pointer. A boy oughtn't to let a dog get ahead of him in patience. I believe will make a run and a high jump at long division." Looking up at the window, Brindle wrinkled his nose in a, self conscious way, as if he understood. Robbie went back to his lesson. This time he did not get up until his examples were all correctly worked. Youth's Companion. The Story of th Wasp. A wasp comes into an out-house through a bit of a hole in a cracked pane of glass. He goes straight to a a place on the wall where he has started his house. He has brought mud, and directly there is a hum as from a spinning wheel as he spins a section on a fresh layer. The wall of the out-house is the foundation he builds upon. He starts hi3 house from the peak of his roof and builds down ward with layer after layer of finely moulded, waxy mud. There is a pair I of them. As soon a3 one has laid on the plaster he has brought, the other is there with more. They bring and spin so busily that the wall of their house is finished late in the morning of the third day. The house now has a gal lery that runs its length from peak of root to open door at bottom. Some wasp3 make short, stubby, homely houses, of coarse, dark mud. But this earthen house that rests' high up on the wall of the out-house, like a long, slender finger, is beautiful. It is made of fine clay. Its color is light and delicate. It is grooved through all its length as each cordlike layer of plaster has left its ridge. Early on the morning of the fourth day the wall of the wasp's house is dry, and the busy pair are at work. The long gallery must be stocked with food and divided into rooms. First, each wasp brings a spider. The spid ers are either dead of stunned. They are carried to the upper end of the gal lery. Now, cne wasp must remain .within the house to keep the spiders in place, while the other goes for more. He brings another, and another, until there are six plump spiders packed away. The next trip is for plaster. He brings it; enters his house and you hear him spin. The spinning stops. Out pops the mother wasp long enough to let the spinner pass, then pops in again. The spinner goes and comes and spins, goes and comes and-spins, until his strand of plaster has become a double coil. This coil forms a close partition, except a small hole left in the middle. Now, through this hole, the mother sends up in the cnamber one tiny, slender, white egg, she is careful to fasten the egg to the body of a spider. The spinner seals the hole in the partition with a stopple of plaster, and the first room is furnished and fin ished. Two more days, two more rooms, and this house is full and the door is closed. But more houses are to be added to this one. Day after day, week after week, the wasps are busy. When all is done there rests on the wall a beautiful cluster of six slen der earthen houses. Each house is of three rooms. In each room six spiders have been packed more than six if not full grown. In each room one egg has been, laid from which the grub is hatched. The grub eats and grows, eats and grows until the last spider is eaten and he is big and fat. He winds himself into a soft silken web some say winding sheet but he is not dead. He sleeps until hi3 form is changed and wings are grown. He breaks through the earthen wall ot his room and out he comes into the light, a beautiful, shining, bronzy black wasp a good wasp that hurts no one so long as he i 3 free; he cannot be crowded. Farmers' Guide. Close friends are seldom the ones who spend their money on you. Bobbie not hid t he "lc " n