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* .Shell [aromanceJ g A A WaZ A A UrrTVwrrvwvvTwri | Wilden. | CHAI’TER I. It was a glorious spring day. The old oak hall in the spacious hall o£ the WHderness has just announced slow ly to all those whom it may concern that noon is past. Again the house has sank into stillness, save for the distant echo cf a fresh young voice singing, frorp very gladness of heart, at broken Intervals. Going down a long passage covered with frayed cocoanut matting and opening the thick oak door one comes upon what seems to be the only in habited room in the house. Here again is space- ample space, and a lofty ceil ing though certainly, as regards any modern luxuries in the way of furni ture, the apartment is bare enough. A faded drugget covers the center of the floor, eked out round the edge by oil-cloth which has long since failed to boast more than faint visions of pattern. An old square piano with a short yellow keyboard stands open at one end of the room littered with music; some half-dozen chairs of no particular pattern, and mest of them of an uncompromising nature, are hid den under snippings of dark blue print, and mysteriously-shaped pieces of lin ing-; the shabby old sofa is also piled with various articles of feminine at tire. Both wjndowa are thrown as high •is the sashes will permit, so admitting the genial sunshine and sweet flower scented air—before one stands a very practical-looking sewing machine, be fore the other is an old wicker table strewed with fashion-plates and paper patterns. Bending over the solid table which stands in the middle of the room Is Shell Wilden. She is at present mak ing a determined onslaught with a pair of formidable scissors on a section of the blue print before mentioned. She has ceased singing for the moment; her brows are slightly puckered, whilst her keen grey-green eyes follow anx iously the line to be taken by her shears. There is a decision and energy in every curve of her girlish rounded figure as she leans over the work; the right sleeve of her dark dress Is pushed up nearly to the elbow to allow of free play, bo disclosing a plump, rounded arm of almost snowy w'hlteness. Shell's fire pure white skin is her one personal attraction; but, as her sis ter Ruby often remarks, she pays for It dearly, for Shell’s complexion is ac companied by a wealth of wavy shim mering red hair, faintly marked eye brows. and a pair of eyes which are positively pale green in certain strong lights, though they deepen almost to purple under strong emotion or in the dreamy gloaming of a summer evening. She is a little below the middle height, possessing a round, childish face, with eyes that speak so often when her tongue is wisely silent that her sister Ruby many a time takes umbrage at her expressive looks. She has just finished her critical piece of work, and is again breaking into unconscious song, when the door opens quickly, admitting a tall, grace ful woman of some thirty summers, whose light spring costume sets off her • dark clas-dcal beauty to advantage. Ruby, for she it is. differs from her sister as much in temperament and disposition as in form and expression. No stranger at first sight would have taken these two young women to be re lated, yet such of their acquaintance-? who were addicted to the pursuit of psychological Inquiry were fond of pointing out that behind the widely different manifestations of the person ality of each there was the same orig inal force and insistence. “Did you get it?” questions Shell, pausing at her work, and looking a lit tle blankly at her sister’s empty itands. “Get it! Get what?” asks Ruby, clearing a space upon the sofa, and sinking down upon it languidly. “Why, the tape, of course? I haven’t bii inch left; and how can I get on with the killings without tape?” cries Shell, with a pathetic ring in her voice. “Dear me, your mind never seems able to soar above dress-making!” says Ruby, slightly shrugging her shoulders. “We got the tape all right—fortunately Violet remembered It.” “Hao Vi got it. then?” asks Shell, in no way affected by her sister's low opinion of her intellect. “Got it!” sneers Ruby. “You surely don’t imagine, child, that we are go ing to burdens ourselves with parcels on such a broiling day as this?” “I surely did not imagine that even you would make any poor errand-boy tramp a whole mile to bring a few pieces of tape that would have fitted Into your pocket if you were ashamed of carrying them openly,” responds Shell with spirit. Then there is a period of silence, dur ing w’hich Shell looks quite stern and even haughty, while Ruby docs not ap pear to be altogether as self-satisfied as she would wish to be—possibly be cause it irritates her to see Shell more at ease than herself. Shell meanwhile sews steadily on, and -.ae conversation threatens to come to a sudden termi nation, when a somewhat sarcastic glance from Shell causes it to revive. “There is no greater mistake than bringing parcels one-self," pursues Ruby in an injured tone —“parcels are such a nuisance! and why should one do errand-boy’s work —they are paid for it?” Shell makes no Answer, but, bend ing over the table, begins to fit a tissue paper pattern on her stuff, making a scornful and expressive grimace of contempt at her sister’s affectation. “I know you dote on carrying par cels; but then you do so many things purposely to annoy that it is no use at tempting to stop yon,” continued Ruby, sighing gently. Shell still keeps silent, only smiling knowingly at her pattern as Ghc twists it from side to side. “You were very wise not to go down into the town this morning.” Ruby goes on after a short pause. “Not that there was much sense in the ex cuse that you hadn’t time, for I see you have been wasting it in the grounds”— pointing with her sunshade to a large vase full of lilac which stands in the center cf the chimney piece. "It is so absurd to put flowers in this horrid old room.” Shell turns her head sharply and smiles at the mauve and white plumes behind her. "I just couldn’t resist them.” she says softly. "I took a rush round the grounds before setting to work, and I felt I must bring a bit of sweetness back with me.” Ruby is not listening to the explana tion; her eyes are gazing absently through one of the open windows. "We h°ard some news in the town.” she observes wtth a deliberate sudden ness. "D!d you?” returns Shell carelessly, as she continues to adjust her pins. “Yes—Robert Champley is expected home next week.” “Is he?" says Shell, pausing sudden ly in her work and opening her green eyes to their fullest extent. Then she continues musingly—" Poor fellow!” “Your pity seems rather ridiculous,” observes Ruby impatiently. "A man with over two thousand a year is not to be pitied.” "Not even when he has lost the only person who could make that twb thou sand a year worth having?” queries Shell, with a curl of her lip. "Absurd! He must have got over his wife's death by this time,” says Ruby, tapping her sunshade restlessly on the carpet; “besides, he has his children." “Poor little things!" muses Shell, with a abort sigh. “Why poor? Of course he will marry again; and they will be well looked after.” “Will they?” says Shell dubiously. “I am sure I hope so; besides, it re mains to be proved that Robert Champ ley will marry again—l think it very doubtful myself.” “As if you, a child of nineteen, could possibly form an opinion!” ex claims Ruby. "Why, you were a per fect baby when his wife died—l won der that you can even remember her.” “Let me see—l must have been six teen,” remarks Shell, with provoking accuracy, “because I know it happened four years since; and I shall be twenty the day after to-morrow*.” “Of course you would remember him —I didn’t exactly mean that.” owni Ruby—“only at that age you could not possibly understand much of his char acter. Now poor Clara used to say that I comprehended him so thorough ly—nearly as well as she did. You know Clara and I were close friends.” ”1 always thought Mrs. Champley was Garnet’s great friend,” observes Shell, with just a shade of unbelief In her tone. “At one time,” admits Ruby in some confusion; “only after Garnet married and went to India I took her place.” “No one person can take another’s place.” says Shell decidedly. “I know Garnet corresponded with Mrs. Champ ley up to the time of her death—l have often heard mamma say so.” "I am very glad that he is coming home,” pursues Ruby, Ignoring this laat allusion of her sister’s Intimacy with Mrs. Champley. “I have often felt It a weight on my mind that I have not been able to carry out dear Clara’s wish, and look after her chil dren.” Shell has straightened her back, and now stands staring full at Ruby with such a quizzical glance that her sister says with an impatient flush — “Well—have I flaid anything so very extraordinary? You look as if you were going to eat me.” “Well, it certainly sounded odd, to say the least of it," replies Shell, re suming her work,” to hear that you were going to look after Robert Champley's children. I should imag ine that he is pretty well able to look after them himself.” “As if a man could possibly know’ anything about the training of chil dren!” answers Ruby contemptuously. "Of course he can’t. I promised their poor mother that I would do my best to look after them, and I shall allow no conventional scruples to prevent my fulfilling that promise.” "I am quite sure you won't,” says Shell in a low tone to her work. Then suddenly a happy thought strikes her. "Perhaps he won’t have the children home.” she says, with a hopeful laugh —"he can’t do better than leave them w’here they are, at his sister’s.” "Ah, but she Is gothg abroad for her health; and it is solely because he must now take charge of the children himeelf that, he is coming home!” re joins Ruby, with a triumphant gleam in her fine brown eyes. “Well, I suppose it is easy enough to get competent nurses wheft one has plenty of money," says Shell; and then, dismissing the subject with an impa tient shrug of her shoulders, she asks, holding up a long narrow piece of tis sue paper, “Will you have your back cut in four parts or six?” Ruby’s mind -soon descends to the practical, advancing to the table, she at once enters into the most minute instructions for the cutting out of her dress. "I think this pale sateen such a sweet shade,” flh*» says, holding up a bit of the material admiringly. "I have half a mind to get a pale pink, too.” "If so, please look sharp!” remarks Shell, In a tone of anything but keen delight. "I like to get all the summer dresses over in one batch and not keep on at it for months.” "But, my dear Shell,” expostulates Ruby, "I thought you liked cutting out and Atting. I am sure you always tell mamma so; besides, you are so clever at it.” “Oh, I don’t mind!” admits Shell, rather crossly. "Of course one of us must play at being fond of it, since we can’t afford a maid. Only it does rath er annoy me for any one to be so insane as really to imagine that I prefer work ing on a morning like this to being out of doors;” and she heaves a sharp lit tle sigh as she glance.? out at the wav ing tender-green boughs of the newdy budded trees. “Why that heart-rending sigh, my sweet sea-Shell?" asks a tall, willowy girl with blue eyes, who has just en tered the room. As she speaks she lays her arm caressingly around the girl’s firm shouldc-rs. “She is quite overcome at the pros- pect of cutting me out a second wash ing dress,” answers Ruby, in a tone which implies, "Hasn’t she an unfor tunate temper?” "Oh, dear —and I was just going to ask her to fix my buff print, because she is so clever at that sort of thing!” flays Violet, tn a tone of consternation. "All right, Vi dear—l adore cutting out,” laughs Shell. "Bring your buff print by all means—and any other ma terial that you can lay your hands on. ‘tn for a penny, in for a pound.” It is a pity that we are not all three the same figure—in that case I could cut out half-a-dozen at the same time.” "Do you seriously mean you wcpld be kind enough to do more than one— because there is my new flannel tennis frock to arrange?” asks Violet coax ingly. “I’ll do it,” answers Shell rather shortly—“only, if I do all the cutting and fixing and trimming, I must bar gain that you and Ruby help with the machine work.” “Yea, dear, of course—only that stu pid old machine will never work for me,” responds Ruby, with a vicious look at that useful but inartistic piece of furniture. “I’ll make it work for me, or I’ll know the reason why!” laughs VI, seating herself before the machine and commencing to arrange her cottous. “Now, Shell, toss me over your skirt, child!” “How can you be so energetic, VI, after our long walk?” says Ruby, ris ing from the sofa with a slight yawn. “I have quite a headache with the heat and must rest till lunch, or I shall be fit for nothing during the remainder of the day;” and then she leaves the room with a languid step, and the “click, click” of the old sewing machine echoing pleasantly in her ears. (To be Continued.) Gaust is the smallest republic in the world. It has an area of one mile and a population of 140. It has existed since 1648, and is recognized by both Spain and France. It is situated on a flat top of a mountain in the Pyrenees, and has a president who is elected, by the council of twelve. . ~4 .* ■ ' A MEXICAN BEAN CLOCK. Exceptionally Clever Fraud Perpetrated by an Ingenious Jeweler. A few years ago public curiosity was excited by the curious beans called the “devil beans of Mexico,” which shopkeepers placed in their windows. They somewhat resembled roasted coffee beans in shape and color. They were also known as the “Jumping beans,” owing to the fact that from time to time they made spasmodic movements which propelled them quite a little distance. The beans grew on a small bush in the Mexican mountains, and it is con jectured that they belonged to the or der euphorblaccae. The bean really consisted of three similar pods which formed a single bean. It is usually a third of the bean which was exhibited as a curiosity. On opening the pod it was found that it contained a small larva, something like that frequently found in chestnuts. It is this little occupant which gives motion to the bean by its jerks and thumps against the side of its home. If the bean is slightly warmed it begins to turn from side to side, and perhaps with a sudden thump turns completely over and stands on one end. and then by successive jumps moves quite a dis tance. Those who are not in the se cret are often greatly puzzled by this strange bean. An enterprising jew eler devised a scheme of utilizing them to make a magic clock. He ac complished this by imitating the shape of two of the beans, making the dummy beans out of soft iron. One he gilded and the other he silvered. The prepared Iron beans were placed with the ordinary jumping beans on a thin white piece of pasteboard, out lined and numbered like the dial of a clock, but devoid of hands. The dial was located over the works of a large clock, which was placed face upward on the floor of the store win dow. He fastened small magnets to the ends of the hands. The works were of course carefully hidden from view. All that was in evidence was the cardboard clock dial and the jumping beans, among which were the gold and silver painted iron beans. These were placed on the cardboard over the concealed hands with the magnets attached. The magnets were moved by the hands of the clock sc that they were almost in contact with the cardboard. As they moved around they carried the iron beans with them thus telling the time of day, and the public was greatly interested by the intelligence shown by the two beans, which distinguished them from their lively associates.—Scientific Ameri can. Slaug la Boston. Young society people In Boston hav< formed a “slang club,” which has foi Its purpose the cultivation of artistic slang, and the society already num bers Its members by the score. Thfl more sedate of Boston’s citizens wring their hands in alarm at the new idea, for anybody who can Introduce a good slang word is eligible for membership As a considerable number of the elit« of Boston’s society have already been proposed it seems that the new so ciety has made a very fair start in in troducing new slang words. A com mittee is at work on the formation ol a slang dictionary, and it has discov ered that New York’s Bowery does not contain half as much warped and twisted English as lurks in and around Boston. Members of the slang clut argue that slang is an art, and that s real good slangy word expresses far more than any conceivable sentence. As far as lies in their power they will promulgate slang in the society Id which they move, and once society geti permeated—well, then "we shall spec,’ as one of the slang club members ob serves. A member of the slang duh is known as a "slanger.” A man li more definitely known as a "canary,’ while a woman is known, if she if pretty, as a "fairy,” otherwise ai "rice.” Every week "yellups” are held at which everybody talks slang, and "breker,” or food, is served to every body who has the "dough.” Linen Lookers Aboard Ship. There are no laundries on board ship; they take up too much room. S< the chief steward lays in thousands o! pillow slips, sheets and towels. Thesi come on board tied up in bales of i dozen each, and are stored in the lines locker, a cubby-hole of a place on th< main deck; the ventilator pipes from the engine-room run through it and keep it hot. There Is no danger ol linen getting mildewed there. Th< linen which has been used is thrown into another room provided with th< same atmosphere, and is kept thor oughly dry. Where there are clean napkins every day, frequent change! of stateroom linen and an everlasting replenishing of towel racks, the de mands upon the linen locker are verj extensive. Bad Beginning with a Moth*>r-in-l4i w> From Fun: Mrs. Hen pecker—l must tell you, Mr. Blunt, that if you tnarrj, my daughter, you will find that she hat a temper of her own. Mr, Blunt —1 don’t mind that, madam, gq long m she hasn’t any of yours. AMERICAJAYS So| The Entire Country jl on the Move. ■ Cascarets Candy Cathartic Did It. and a Phenomenal Victory. Five Mil ion loxcs Sold Last Year. S From every part of America cotnea ihß news that sufferers from constii> a ti have found relief tn Casca ret a (’an.ly thartic, the wonderful modern scientisß laxative anti intestinal tonic. are figuratively and literally in ~V e, W bodv’s mouth. Thousands have tried eJM carets with the most pleasant and JW fective results, and voluntarily testify their experiences. Here are a few tracts from some of the letters; ’•I have been using Cascarets for ache and constipation and have recelyJß great benefit from them." Mrs. M CUuM lor, 512 Larrabee St., Chicago. 9 “1 have been taking Cascarets for oj n month and find them just the thing constipation.” Albert B. Burt, 70 Mvlal St.. Andover. Mass. '.3 “I ain using Cascarets and have nuj found anything so satisfactory.” Mr*. W. Durrant. Emerson St., Buffalo Y. ’ ‘X ”1 have taken Cascarets cheerfunX recommend them to all my .riends,” m'JH G. J. Gradwell, Frugality, Pa. •‘Cascarets are line for biliousness anil malaiia and are so pleasant to take.” M<| Mary Cummings, Maud, Oklahoma. "I use Cascarets in my family and fi n X them all you recommend them to be.” r| 1. Irvin. Cor. Mead and Railroad m vllle. Pa. ' •‘’X "You can safely add appendicitis to t»X list of diseases that Cascarets will benefitß or cure." Eunice J. Smith, Rich Valleyfl Ohio. 'X •;1 have used Cascarets; there Is noth.® Ing better for const! % Ion." I’enj, p a LB sage. Knightstown, Inu. 31 "Cascarets are al) right. They harX cured me of constipation, and I never i-x-l pectcd anything would.” Charles 11. \’.,B Lock Eox 205, Cincinnati, Ohio. "I nm so thankful for your Cascaretil They ate better than any mede cine 1 ever! used.” Mrs. M. Rew, I.acelic. lowa. "I do not hesitate to say that rets Is the very best medicine ever placedl before the people." Andrew Woodruff I Daysville, N. Y. | "Cascarets aie the best cathartic I ,- Vv .E used.” Torn Holt. Well wood, Manitoba I "1 have tried your Cascarets and 1 war! to tell you they are just splendid." J o h»l Wiegmink. Box 9t»l, Allegan. Mich j We could r.ll the whole paper with ex-1 pressions like the above. T housands of I similar recognitions of the merits of <’ ag .| carets have been volunteered and prowl that this delightful laxative, so ple;*santl of taste, so mild and yet effective, in s | recured n firmly established place in th»| hearts of the people. Go buy and try Cascarets yourself to-l flay. All druggists, 10c. 25c, 50c. Booklet] and sample free. Addioss Sterling Item-1 edy Company, Chicago or New York ] j- This is the CASCARET tab.! faeal ,et Every tablet of the only] ‘ K If genuine Cascarets bears thkl kb lb O magic letters "C C C.” Loot I _/I at the tablet before you buy I >l_ , y and beware of frauds, inilta-l lions and substitutes. Before marriage a woman worried because she in single, and after mar riage she worries because she isn’t. THE GRIP CUKE THAT DOES Cl’Bl. Laxative Hromo Quinine Tablets removes the cause that produces La Grippe. E. W Grove’s signature is on each box.' 25c. S'me men give according to their] means, and others according to their | nieanncM. FITS Permsnently Cured. No fits or nervonsneßn sftw first day's u»e of Pr. Kline’s <«rrat JCerve Kertoiw. SV-nd for FLEE 02.00 trial bottle and trraTisa !«. R. n. K .IMX, J td.. 931 Arch St, 1 hiladdpiua, IX A woman seldom objects to a sell made husband unless he Insists upon her wearing self-made dresses. Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, '/crcbtldren teething, softeut the gnma, reduce* itr Summation, allay* pain,curea wind colic. 2icabotua Patent medicine men fill their alma nacs with ancient jokes to show theii skill in prolonging life. I believe Pino's Cure intheenly medicine that will cure can^tuaptian.—Anna M. Row, Williamsport, Pa., Wav. 19, '95 Affection Is the broadest basis of & good life.—George Eliot. Nothing is profitable which Is dishon est.—Cicero. Acts gently on the Kidneys, Liver and Bowels X.EANSES THE OVERCOMES 1 . Buy THE GtNVINt-MAN'F O e>y (AUfcRNIAjIG,SYRVP(©. rot UU vr AU MUMW Kt rw wmu Th** !'<4 world . s bib (he kicker, so uform* ' V,J| Lid never pay M<»r a blot upon «v vcrninental H lvs would act i j mat h Bitters hi, or dyspepsl restore healtl L( what the B tin const it lit ioi. k string by « HouMiehs. lie first step it you can't ti Reliabli thers-x.) Ti>e Hi him to r Invalid* n L,i send 1 eln sta t,. J. U. TelUebau M. A good counit diunendation.- Lnger begins (th r« pen I a net $25-00 P introduce cur •Jre*s w th sth icturcr, Ctatflt J fy' return this one cent sti Ayer Co., will receive the 20th C This is no but a hands illustrated, i lon all news allow you spend in p< Great tm the Year Be up the pro} turv. In e; work and 1 living spec the events past centur what wc tm Among ksur contnl Secretary c Lgriculture; )epew, on P inance; Ti Lricity; Dr. ugion; Genei tare; Adm'u IVarfare; “A making a cor held of liurna Each art appropriate ' hole mak >f rcfcrci here for ddress J. C Seat, wiuci rketa of the icned for n I without a d iaod secure He the Supe fa. or odd test I utlaMca, pt toner*. vVut stood the U is stall the Jiedy Hold, tr enaedie* p: children U 1 druggists HALL Sioui SE ms 'Success jet*PrinciDi lyr« in civil u ROP I. hixik of t L l>N. H. 11. with I » eyes, usei D » u Hast . Anu In tti