Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 December 1897 — Page 7

AGAINST DIFFERENTIALS - .. ■ NEW YORK I'RODI'CE EXCHANGE WAGING AN EARNEST FIGHT. The Illinois Central Reaching Ont— Northwestern Lines Have Twelve Months’ Business in Sight. r ♦ Several times in the last few months the Journal has noted the aggressive steps the New York Produce Exchange was taking to recover some of its lost export business, as a result of the prosperity of the lines which have differentials, the Chesapeake & Ohio, at Newport News especially, having led in this matter, and Baltimore and Philadelphia doing unusually well in the last few years by having such differentials. The New York Produce Exchange not being able to effect anything in its favor through the Joint Traffic Association, is now applying new tactics. The attorneys of the exchange have been taking evidence In Philadelphia. Baltimore and Newport News, and have filed their briefs with the Interstatecommerce Commission. The New York Produce Exchange, through its attorneys, ciaims that the export traffic referred to has been diverted from that port substantially by what are known as “differentials.” These are the lower freight rates given to Philadelphia (by 2 cents per 100 pounds) and to Baltimore and other Southern ports (by 3 cents per 100 pounds.) A part of the system of differentials is that transfer charges at the various ports shall be equalized, so that the full advantage of the lower rates shall be secured by the ports to which they are allowed. “The gist of the complaint of New York before the commission to-day is that the differentials are steadily taking away to rival Atlantic ports her fair and legitimate share of the reduced percentage of grain, flour and provisions now seeking outlet through Atlantic seaboard gateways.” It is acknowledged that ports like Galveston and New Orleans are taking an Increasing share of the total trade, but the share of New York in what is left is cut down by the lower freight rates given to her rivals. These differentials were originally granted for the avowed purpose of making the cost of transport from the Western grain fields to Liverpool the same without regard to the port through which the grain w r as shipped. The Produce Exchange claims that they have long since ceased to have this effect, and now have exactly the contrary. The other side will probably soon take some definite action, and will certainly do so if the Interstate-commerce Commission should see fit to consider the briefs filed before them. The New York Produce Exchange proposes that the whole coast line from Boston to Norfolk should be treated as a competing point, that the arbitrages and differentials should be entirely abolished as to export grain, flour and provisions, if not on other classes of freight, and that the rates to all Atlantic ports should be the same from Chicago and the usual proportions apply to Indianapolis, St. Louis, Peoria and other Western trade centers. Before the exchange accomplishes such a result it will doubtless experience some hard fighting, as Phialdelphia. Baltimore, Newport News and Norfolk will not quietly submit to being practically wiped out as export shipping points, unless it be at tinies like the present, when there is plenty Tor all export points to take care of.

Mellen Will Stay Where He I*. President C. S. Mellen returned to St, Paul yesterday from New York with the settled purpose of remaining at the head of the Northern Pacific. Mr. Mellen said in an interview yesterday: “The presidency of the Union Pacific system was not offered to me. I am not in a position to accept any position that leads to the place or any ether than the one I now hold. I am in honor bound to remain as president of the Northern Pacific until my w r ork has been accomplished or until Mr. Morgan and his associates, who placed me in this position, see tit to terminate the present arrangements with me and desire me to take up other work. It would not be consistent with r y past record nor my sense of nonor *.o vse the presidency of the Northern Pacific as n stepping stone to another position, even at an increased salary. The declaration of Colonel Lamont that 1 am to remair m my, present situation ought to have been sufficient to stop further goast.i relative to the matter. Colonel Laniont's friends are my friends and my friends are his, as far as the Northern Pacific is conceraed. There has never been the s.ightest frioa-i between us or our mutual friends. Our reiaticns have been very cordial.” Mr. Mellen admitted that lie hal met otl cr gentlemen interested in the t orguni/Vit n of the Union Pacific, and hid to some <xtent conversed over the future of that system, but declared that ue was not in a position to receive any proposition fioni tnem looking to his entering '•he s-eivfte cf that company. Mr. Mellen vus not in a position to indicate who was likely to be selected as president of the Uni jo Pacific. Two Interchangeable .Mileage Tickets. There will be two interchangeable mileage tickets hereafter in the territory of the Central Passenger Association. One of the tickets will be good for transportation on trains W'hen presented and the other will not be good when offered on trains. The meeting of the committee lines in Chicago yesterday to consider the interchangeable ticket matter w'as very warm and lasted all day. It was evident that no agreement could be reached, and the Vanderbilt lines accordingly gave notice that they would issue a ticket of their own which will be good for transportation when offered to the conductor. A number of the roads of the committee will follow the lead of the Vanderbilt lines, and, although the number is not yet assured, it is likely that the ticket of the Vanderbilt roads will be accepted by about ten of the lines in the committee, the rest of the lines continuing to use the old tickets. It is not certain at what date the Vanderbilt roads will be able to get out their tickets, but it is expected they will have them for sale by the first of the year or within a short time after that. The Vanderbilt roads are confident that in a short time the other roads of the organization will come round to their way of thinking. inasmuch as their ticket will be accepted for passage by the roads going through Buffalo, and they are of the opinion that the roads going through Pittsburg will also be compelled to accept it before long. Freight Hates Discussed. The freight officials of the Central Passenger Association met in Chicago yesterday to discuss the rate situation. It is generally agreed that the situation is very bad. and that there is a strong probability that it will be found necessary to reduce rates in the near future and keep them down if the roads running east from Chicago are to handle as large a percentage of the business as In the past. The greater part of the freight that has passed through Chicago to the East within the last year has been at cut rates. The officials of the roads have tried all sorts of things to maintain their rates, but they have not been successful in holding off the demoralization for any length of time, and now they have come to the conclusion that if they are going to keep the rates on a steady basis they will be compelled to put in new tariffs. Contracting agents say that it is impossible to maintain local rates us long as the through rates are demoralized. The meeting yesterday considered the practicability of separating the two classes of rates so that they would have no bearing upon each other. Very little progress was made. Survey for Black Diamond Branch. A dispatch last night from Vevay, Ind., •avs: “Fifteen railroad engineers to-day commenced surveying the route for the Indianapolis, Vevay & Tidewater Railroad, the main division of the Black Diamond system. The first stake was driven in the presence of an immense crowd. Bells were rung, steam whistles were blown, and there was great rejoicing among the people that they would soon be able to reach Indianapolis and the south Atlantic by rail. Mayor Simmons was master of ceremonies. Speeches were made by Congressman Griffith. C. . Tandy. George S. Pleasants. L. K Smith, J. P. Carter, Colonel Tutt and ethers.” The Receiver Dixctutrenl, A dispatch from Brazil, Ind.. says: "Attorney Harry Crawford, president of the Chicago & Southeastern Railroad, and Dr. XLoore. general manager of the road, were

in the city yesterday afternoon, endeavoring to wrest their road from the hands of a receiver. They argued the case before Judge McGregor in chambers, as Mr. Crawford insisted on allowing no reporters in the room. After considerable wrangling. Crawford paid off the claims, and Receiver Campbell was discharged. Personal, Local and General Notes. J. J. Turner, general manager of the Vandalia lines, is in the city. J. C. Davie, private secretary of President Ingalls, who has been at French Lick Springs for a few days, returned yesterday to Cincinnati. W. P. Elliott, who entered the service of the Pullman Company in 1875, yesterday completed his fourteenth year as agent at the Indianapolis Union Station. D. G. Edwards, passenger traffic manager of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, and Frank Reed, general passenger agent of the Monon, haWe gained an enviable record by the manner they accepted the interchangeable mileage and the strictness with which their lines abide by the agreement. Frederic Robinson will, on Jan. 1, become the traveling passenger agent of the Centra) road of Georgia, with headquarters at Chicago. Judge Field, of the Monon, states that the company is now the freest from litigation in the many years he has been its general solicitor. Professor Morley, of Purdue University, will present a paper at the annual meeting of the Indiana Engineering Society, to be held at Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jan. 4. The passenger department of the Wabash is distributing for the new year some handsome calendars, designed by Walter Evans, the general advertising agent of the road. C. B. Segar, for twenty years past a passenger conductor on the Panhandle, w’ho has been confined to the house for several weeks with sciatic rheumatism, is improving. It is practically settled that the Southern Railway will in the near future take control of the Memphis & Charleston, a consolidation which will do away with a number of officials. The earnings of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois increased the second week of De'cember over the corresponding week of 18% $10,256. The coal traffic of the road is again quite heavy. H. C. Graybill, traffic manager of the Indianapolis Belt Road and Stock Yards, returned last night from Cleveland, where he had an important conference with railway officials and stock-yard people. The commercial agent of the Illinois Central at Memphis on Monday closed a contract to carry thirteen thousand bales of cotton from Memphis to New Orleans for export. It will require 558 cars to transport it. H. Parker, traveling freight and livestock agent of the Missouri Pacific lines, is in the city. Indianapolis is now included in his territory. He says that, like other lines, their business is limited Vo cars to be placed for service. Asa result of the recent conference in New' York between the officers of the Ohio soft coal railroads it was announced yesterday that an aggreement regarding prices and rates of transportation had been reached. The agreement is said to be for two years, and is expected to put the trade on a better basis vhan for years past. Major T. J. Anderson has been transferred from the position of assistant general passenger agent of the Rock Island to the general agency of the road in Topeka, Kan. On Jan. 1 Eben C. McLeod, now Southeastern passenger agent of the road at Pittsburg, will become assistant general passenger agent, with headquarters in Topeka. An official of one of the Northwestern lines stated yesterday that the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy is now loading on its own lines 3,800 cars a day, and that the Chicago, Rock island & Pacific has not moved more than 4 per cent, of this year’s big crop of grain, live stock and produce, and has all the business in sight it can comfortably handle the coming year. W. R. Warwick, district passenger agent of the Missouri Pacific, will retire on Jan. 1 on account of poor health, and will be succeeded at Cincinnati by A. A. Gallaher, Southern passenger agent of the Missouri Pacific, now located at Chattanooga. Mr. Warwick ranks among the oldest passenger men in time of service on the Missouri Pacific system. On Jan. 1 the following appointments will become effective on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific: E. E. McLeod, assistant general passenger agent, with headquarters at Topeka, Kan., vice T. J. Anderson, assigned to other duties; E. W. Thompson, excursion agent, with headquarters at New York, and A. C. Turpin, traveling passenger agent, with headquarters at Boston. The directors of the Columbus (O.) Union Railway Company will to-day hold their annual meeting. It is expected that President Ingalls, of the Big Four, and James McCrea, first vice president of the Pennsylvania, will be present. At this meeting a secretary and treasurer of the Union Railway Company will be chosen. C. C. Corner, of the Union Line, has J>een suggested by the Pennsylvania Company, and it is said Mr. Ingalls will approve his appointment.

P. A. Bonebreak, superintendent of the Louisville division of the Pennsylvania lines, has just completed a careful inspection of the track, roadbed, bridges, etc., on the main line between Indianapolis and the Ohio river, and says there is not one foot of the track that it would not be perfectly safe to run a train over at seventy miles an hour. He claims that no division west of Pittsburg Is In better condition than the J., M. & I. Charles Parker, chief clerk of Frank Campbell, trainmaster of the Peoria division of the Vandalia, has issued a book of twenty-four pages which will be of value to trainmen for two years to come, each page representing a month. Each page has eight columns for engine number, train number, engineer’s and conductor’s name, terminals, hours, dates, etc., so arranged that it will be convenient for the use of trainmen and a perfect memorandum. E. B. Taylor, general superintendent of transportation of the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg, and A. M. Schoyer, superintendent of telegraph, were in the city yesterday, going to Chicago by the afternoon train. Mr. Taylor states that there is not a division of the company west of Pittsburg that is not crowded with business, and this means that the Pennsylvania road proper will make the largest December earnings In its history. The board of managers of the Union Railway Company held their regular monthly meeting yesterday, and after disposing of some routine matters, the paper sent by the city authorities regarding enlarging the stone atvhes under the Union Station train sheds wiis taken up and after some discussion action was deferred until there was a fuller meeting of the board; meantime, further information on the matter from the city engineer will be sought for. George Foster, the engineer of the freight engine which collided with a fast passenger train last week at Lyford, on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, is not dead, as reported. He is at the St. Elizabeth Hospital, Danville. 111., and some hopes are entertained of his recovery. The three dead are: J. B. Basueh, engineer of the fast passenger train; his fireman. George W. Brewer, and the fireman of the freight engine, F. S. Deeter. The two first mentioned were buried at Danville, and the remains of Mr. Deeter were brought to Indianapolis for interment. T. F. Sweat, representing the freight department of the Illinois Central, is in the city. He states that the seventeen miles of new road the Cotton Belt Company is constructing from Delta to the Mississippi river is practically completed, and the Illinois Central is now building six miles of new road on the east side, striking the river on the opposite side from the Cotton Belt Terminal, where the river will be bridged, making a good connection with the Cotton Belt and giving the Illinois Central the short line to the territory reached by the Cotton Belt lines. An official of the Pennsylvania states that nt no time in the history of the lines has the power been so taxed as at present. So great is the demand for power that when passsenger engines are in for a few hours it is not unusual to take them out to help out in the yards, so much switching does the immense traffic require. All over the system there is a shortage of cars and power. In years past when traffic has been heavy on one division it might be light on others, and engines were transferred, but now every division has work for every locomotive assigned to it. It is definitely known that s he Lake Shore management has decided to rearrange its divisions, reducing them from four to three. The western division will extend from Englewood (Chicago) to Butler. Ind., 157 miles; the Air-line division from Butler to Conneaut, between Cleveland and Erie, and the third division from Conneaut to West Seneca, a suburb of Buffalo, where a large system of tracks has just been completed. The Lake Shore will early next year commence constructing extensive yards at Butler. Ind.. preparatory to making the division changes. The New York Board of Railroad Commissioners gave a hearing yesterday on the applications of various railroads of the State for an extension of time in which to comply with the law compelling the equipment of al! freight cars operated in the State, after Jan. 1, 1898, with automatic couplers. It was stated that about 70 per cent, of all the freight cars operated at present in the State were equipped with automatic couplers. It was urged that if no extension of time was granted the state railroads would be denied the right of handling the cars of companies of the West whose cars are not equipped with couplers. The decision of the commissioners will be announced this week.

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY,

THE FAMILY GOLD PIECE. The coin w T as a double-eagle, the date 1872; in one corner were the initials L. F., with a cross below, and its shining surface was marked with small dents; it lay at the moment on a nursery table beside which a beautiful woman sat sewing. She paused in her work as her glance fell on it. It was w’orth looking at, indeed, not only as the peripatetic birthday and Christmas gift of the whole family, but as the sole outward and visible sign of a yet undiscounted future. It represented the entire savings of thirteen years of wedded life. When John Ferguson married he was a young man with prospects, and Lenore Smith was thought to have made a very good match. It had taken all his ready money to furnish the little home for his bride and start in housekeeping, but they had made up their minds to be wise in economy and not trust altogether to his prospects as a provision for the future. She remembered now, as if it were yesterday, the night he had brought home that shining double-eagle and laid it in her hand. “Yes, dear,” he said in answer to her glad look of questioning. “Here are our savings for last month, yours and mine. If we can iay aside S2O every four weeks we shall be millionaires before long.” They both broke into happy laughter, for it seemed so easy a thing to do. Next month there was an unexpected plumber’s bill, after that a visit from John’s aunt, and after that a heavy assessment for life insurance, and when Christmas came around John found the goldpiece in the toe of his stocking. “It's ridiculous to save it when you need an overcoat so much,” said Lenore, with her arms around his neck. John vowed that there was to be a mild winter, and that he would wait for a blizzard before sacrificing their fortune. The blizzard did not come, and the fortune remained intact to be bestowed later, temporarily, on baby Nora, who laughed as she held the golden coin, and dented it with her little white teeth. From that time forth saving proved an impossibility, but though even practised muscles found it difficult as years went by to perform the time-honored athletic feat called making both ends meet, the wings of the double-eagle had never been clipped. A look at the gold piece always seemed to make practicable w'hat had been achieved once, and it was easy to go without a needed article when S2O was there for the spending. More children were born to them, the new cheap furniture became shabby with the ugly shabbiness which age brings to such articles; “times” w r ere proverbially bad, but John and Lenore still lived in a land of love whose light cast a glamour over all things. To their own eyes they were still young married people beginning life with “prospects”— prospects only temporarily obscured even now by an immediate loss of John’s position; it w’as only an accident of each passing month that success still remained intangible, and the sordid wearing economies of life were but slight incidents in the grand triumphal march that led to fortune.

“Mrs. Ferguson, are you dreaming? May I come in and wake you up?” Lenore turned with a dimpling smile. “Is that you, Alice? You must have left the Cooper rather early to-day.” “I had a headache,”- said the newcomer, a young girl, exceedingly tall and thin, but with a willowy, graceful figure, a great deal of reddish hair and large melancholy brown eyes. She perched herself on the edge of the table, in a dejected a.ttitude, laying her portfolio down beside her, and looked at Lenore appealingly. There was a sort of sweet forlornness in her aspect that suggested a ioving and neglected ch.ld. “It’s so good to be with you,” she said, impulsively. "I couldn’t draw another stroke to-diy. I’m perfectly wretched.” “What is the matter?” asked Lenore, sympathetically. “Well, for one thing, I upset the tea over my new gown last night, and had to wear this old green skirt to-day. Oh, if you knew how tired I am of wearing ugly clothes and living with Henry’s wife! How could my brother ever have fancied her? And—and nor friend, Mr. Wells, has asked me to marry him.” ‘’Alice!" “It is a disgrace!” she cried, vehemently. “What have I done that I should be subjected to the attentions of such people—that I should even have to know them? He has grown-up children, older than I, and he—Oh, it makes me ashamed to think of him.” “Don’t cry, dear.” said Lenore. “I can’t help it,” replied the girl, searching desperately for her pocket handkerchief. “Nobody ever takes care of me or loves me but you. I’m too tall, that’s the reason. You know it’s the reason—it is—it is!” She swayed backward and forward, her face hidden in the handkerchief. “Alice,” said Lenore, “if you keep on like this I shall laugh, and I really am sorry for you—sorry that you have been so annoyed.” “I never, never mean to get married,” pursued Alice, still swaying and sobbing; “but I would sometimes like to be loved and cared for and admired, like other girls, who are pretty and—little. You don’t know what it is to be thrown on your own resources and have to live with Emma. It’s no wonder I’m deteriorating every day. If it were not for art, which I adore, and you, you darling thing, I don’t know what T should do.” She raised her head and smiled brilliantly, the tears still hanging in her long lashes. “It’s so blessedly good of vou to let me come here and tell you everything. 1 feel ever so much better already. Oh, there’s the dear old gold piece to remind me that it’s Herbert’s birthday!” She tcok the coin in her slim hand, and began tossing it deftly up in the air and catching it again. “I must Luy Herbert a present.” “You must do nothing of the kind,” said Lenore, putting on her hat. “Give me that money, reckless girl. Come, I am going with you, Alice. I have an errand before dinner.” The girl looked at her critically. “You are such an ideal wife for a poor man! 1 know you have had that hat three yettrs. and your dress has been made over twice, but you are just too beautiful and serene. I always feel it an honor to go out with you; it’s like walking with royalty.” It was nearly dark when Lenore returned to find Herbert clamoring for iiis “gold money,” which he had missed from the table. She racked, her brains vainly to remember whether she had put it in her poeketbook before leaving the house; she was almost sure that she had, but it was not there now. There was a pa lie of questions and answers, and Lenore hurried off to question Alice, who was certain that she had taken the money with her before. The two women hastily retraced their steps to the few- shops where they had made purchases, bvit without avail. Then Alice bade her friend adieu again, and Lenore returned home alone She went to her own room to regain her usual calm. It was strange to think that the fortune was gone, that it could not be found anywhere—the poor little fortune whidh represented all the dreams and ambition f 6f early life, but back of this loss there was something which had been haunting her all the afternoon; those words of Alice, that she was “an ideal wife for a poor man.” A poor man! Was her husband that? The words grated on her conscience roughly. They had seemed so rich in youth, in hope, in love! Her eyes roved about the room with its worn furnishings, and saw as plainly the rest of the house, her husband’s attire, his hair touched with gray, his face with its lines of care, their scanty provision for the future. thei r young children, meanly clothed, clamorous l’or opportunities. YvS. she was the wife of a poor man—and proud to be it! She rose unconsciously with the thought and stretched her arms upward. “What are you advertising?” asked her husband’s voice behind her. “Happiness!” she cried and flung her arms around him. John Ferguson was usually a quiet man. who allowed his family to do the talking for him. but that evening he was almost gay. His fancy pursued the recalcitrant gold piece to hidden and unexpected recesses, and brought forth to be spent on an endless list of absurd articles, enrapturing to the children: but he went up stairs afterward when Ignore was rocking little Arthur to sleep in the dimly lighted nursery, and dropped down wearily in the chair beside her. He watched her as she bent over the child, softly crooning to it. the droop of her head and the curve of her body instinct with the enfolding, protecting mother-love. When John Ferguson looked at his wife with her baby in her arms he felt as if in the very presence of the beauty of holiness, and yet the sight uuickencd not only his spiritual, but his earthly love of her. She was too divine for him to come near, but she was infinitely dear, and his own. As Lenore Smith she had been a fairly pretty girl, but Lenore Ferguson was a beautiful woman. She looked a goddess amid her poor surroundings, and she was so simply unconscious of it. He had fondly dreamed of buying her silks and laces some

day; they had been so sure of wealth as their ultimate portion, but now— She laid the child gently down in the crib, and then came back to him. “Sweet mother.” he said, taking her soft hand in his. “So the family goldpiece Is gone; I wish it had bought something for you before it vanished.” “Oh, we shall have plenty without it, by and by,” she smiled, encouragingly. “Shall we?” He shook his head. “Perhaps! All our illusions are vanishing. Since the old firm dissolved I can’t get a situation anywhere, in spite of all that were promised me. There may be a chance away off in Montana, if Herkimer succeeds, but most of the chances are for young men. I think—” He glanced at her apologetically. “I am afraid, Lenore, that I am growing old.” “And I am quite sure that I am!” she retorted quickly. “Sometimes I feel as if I had done you a wrong by marrying you—l seem to be such a failure; think of all you might have had but for me.” For all answer she laughted softly and kissed him. “You are the dearest, the bravest, the most successful of men,” she said. “What more do I want than I have? I am the richest woman in the whole world.” Lenore often wondered afterward that she was not really depressed or unhappy in the toil and struggle of the dark days that followed—days best left unchronicled. From the abounding spring of love in her heart she drew a glad vitality. They had to move soon from their little house to a third-rate fiat, and John remained out of a situation, but she had such intense faith in her husband that, no matter how despondent he came home at night, she sent him forth bright-panoplied with hope in the morning. No amount of failure could lessen her belief in his high qualities, infinitely superior to those of the men who distanced him in the race. How they lived was one of those secrets which such poverty keeps to itself. They still at least bore the outward marks of respectability, but there was a corroding care in the husband’s heart that was almost physically sickening at times and made him harsh and unjust to the children. To Lenore he was always gentleness itself. The mere speaking of her name semed a comfort and rest. The quick tears came to her eyes many a time at the note of his voice. She sympathized with him in all the Intuition of her divining love, and yet, O Irony of fate, she could hot touch the deepest hurt of his soul. No woman guarded and shielded in the struggle can comprehend the burden a man carries who is the visible providence of his family the merest chance acquaintance in like case could give him more comprehending sympathy than she. They had searched the house over when they moved to find the bright luck penny, but without avail. Every week Alice appeared with a fresh theory of its loss, which was always proved It was astonishing what a difference its absence made in the daily economies, and Nora sulked for a whole week because there was no double eagle to add to the slender store of gifts on her birthday. Even Lenore wept a little to think that she could not drop it ir.to John’s stocking at Christmas. It had been associated hitherto with every festal anniversary of joint lives. “We shall find it some day,” said Alice, dauntlessly, on Christmas eve. “You mark my words, Mrs. Ferguson, we’ll find it yet, and when we do the luck w’ill turn.” “It Is lime,” said Lenore, in a low voice. “John said his last chance went yesterday.” Nora looked at Alice with scorn. “You don’t know what you’re talking of,” said she. “It’s going to be a horrid Christmas, and we never have new clothes any more, and there isn’t any money to buy coal, for I heard papa say so.” “Yes,” chimed in little Jack, “and Nora says we’ll freeze, and freeze, and first my toes will drop off and then my fingers will drop off, and then ” Alice swooped down upon the child and shook him. “I am going to take your mother for a walk to get rid of you.” she said. “Mrs. Ferguson, I haven’t had you all to myself for months; I hope you don’t mind my being reduced to this old green gown again.” “It is a rather poverty-stricken garment,” said Lenore, smiling. “It seems to be changing its spots.” Alice regarded it critically. “I think I shall be obliged to paint it over.” she said. “But do hurry and come out before the sunlight goes away.” It was a bright winter afternoon. Lenore was very glad to be out; she did not often get away from her home now, and the air felt deliciously good to her. It was crisp and clear, sleigh bells went jingling by, fresh snow crunched under their feet, and the two women laughed and chatted merrily, although the shops, filled with all the festive paraphernalia of Christmas eve brought a pang to Lenore’s heart. Alice had been to a dance the night before. “An<t I never will go again,” she said decidedly. “It was all as nice as could be, and I was glad to b,e but, dearest, I am too tall for < strangers to like me, and it’s no use your denying it.” “You dance beautifully,” said Lenore, warmly, “and you grow prettier every day.” Alice shook her head with a whimsical smile. “You are my only admirer. I sat in the corner all the evening, and (you need not look so pityingly) I really did not care at all. I had other things to think of. my picture, for instance. I’ve worked so hard on it, and I begin to dream that it will be a success. And then I thought of you. Do you mind riding a little while in this car with me?” It was a cross-town car, and crowded. The women took seats where they could find them, separated by a tall young fellow ' in an ulster, who was occupied in getting out his fare. They glanced across him at each other, but the look stopped midway, riveted on a coin which lay in his open poeketbook. It was a S2O gold piece, with the initials L. F. on it. a little cross below, and small dents marking the surface irregularly. The eyes of- Lenore and Alice met in speechless inquiry and assent, then Alice changed her. place to her friend’s side and whispered.

It could only be, it must only be, the coin they sought. Had it been lost or stolen on that fateful day when they had gone out together before? If he would only show' it again. Lenore trembled in her,seat: she felt it almost absurd to be so agitated. They murmured all sorts of conjectures to each other, excitedly. “You must speak to him,” said Alice. At that moment the young man rose, and pulled the strap, the car stopped and he got out, but Alice had rushed after him. He ran up the steps of a dwelling bouse, opened the door and disappeared, with Alice close behind; another second and she'had disappeared also. A Half an hour later she entered the little flat with glowing cheeks and mien triumphant. “Oh, tell me!” cried Lenore. “I rushed after him—you saw' me. When I was inside the door I said, ‘Will you kindly allow me to took at a twenty-dollar gold piece I observed in your poeketbook just now'? It is like one that a friend of mine lost lately.’ He looked at me so peculiarly that I felt in a moment that he had stolen it. but for all answer he opened the purse and hold the money out between his thumb and finger, and I did not say a word, but snatched it and slammed the door behind me, and ran, and I’ve run nearly every inch of the way here. O Mrs. Ferguson, I’ve been just praying that l might do something for you. and I am so glad. Here it Is at last!” She threw the gold piece into Lenore’s lap. The children raised a shout of rejoicing. “Oh. mamma! what will you buy for us?” and she forbore to quiet them. The tears came in her eyes; she could hardly see the coin, but it felt heavy in her hand, it rang true, it was like money out of the sky; she passed it to her lips and kissed it. “You are a brave girl,” she said to Alice; “a brave girl, and I love you. Perhaps this is the beginning of good fortune, who knows? See. Herbert, it was yours last, dear.” She smiled divinely with a trembling lip. “Here is where Nora bit it first, such cunning little teeth as she had, and—” She stopped short, and her eyes dilated. “Alice!” “Yes. dear.” “Tt isn’t my gold piece at all.” “What?” “The date, the date! It is all wrong. Mire was 1872. this is 187 P.” “You must be mistaken.” “Mistaken!" Lenore exclaimed imnatiently. “You know' that is nonsense. Alice. I do believe that this is a T instead of an F. Oh. Alice, Al ; ee. what have you done! You have stolen S2O from that poor young man.” The girl paled; then she burst into a peal of laughter, in which the children joined. “I never, never heard of anvthinar so dreadful!” she gasped faintly. “Oh, Mrs. Ferguson. what shall I do?” At that moment there was heard a loud and peremptory knocking at the door of the flat, and then a man’s step in the little hallway. “Run!” whispered Lenore. She swept Aliee and the children into the adjoining room, and turned to receive the stranger whom Jack was ushering in, a tall gentleman, much excited. "I beg your pardon." he said abruptly, "is there a young lady here?” "A young lady?” repeated Lenore. “Yes.” said her visitor. “Something very unpleasant lias happened to me. I have iven robbed in broad dayhvM. and in ♦* ♦ extraordinary way. I lost some seconds In fol’owing the thief, but I 'racked mi io this house and have inquired in every apartment but this, and I am certain that she is here. I am a stranger in the city, and expected to leave to-morrow morning, but I will not submit to being robbed with impunity." “You are sure that it was a young lady?” murmured Lenore again, trying to fhink what she should say next. “Yes. a tall, beautiful girl, with magnificent eyes.” The door of the adjoining room gave a sudden creak, and Lenore could divine Alice's surprised start. “She had the most touching expression; it completely deceived me. and under a pretense

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ahe snatched S2O from me and ran off. She may have been in need; she wis shabbily clothed”—both women thought Instantly ot the faded green gown. “I would have given her what was necessary, but the robbery was so barefaced. I am, however, willing not to have her arrested if she will refund the money; the coin was one. which I especially prize. I have kept it for a sort of luck-penny; I would pay its full value to have it again Madam, were you not in the car from which she followed me. She is here, and I must and will see her!” “Is this your money?” asked Lenore. She held out the gold piece to him. “I can assure you that it was all a mistake. My friend thought it to be mine.” She spoke with dignity. ‘‘You must believe me, and go,” He scanned the coin, then took up his hat, uncertainly. , . “Os course, if you say so-I should like to leave a reward.” “No, no; only go.” “Well, then!” he shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave. Lenore’s heart gave a throb of relief as she heard her husband’s footsteps approach; the stranger stopped short as he entered. “Why, Ferguson!” “Telford!” “I have been looking all over the city for you.” , , ~ “I heard that you had gone back to MonThe two men shook hands as if they would never stop. “Nobody seemed to know where you were and my time was very limited. Herkimer lost your address, and your old firm is no longer in existence. I looked up your number in the directory only to find that the house had been pulled down. I was going on to Rochester to-morrow to get Nevins in your place.” , , . “I onlv knew vesterday that you had been in town,” said John. “I thank God that I have found you now. You know my wife, Telford?” . „ . little,” the stranger bowed and smiled. The t\yo men talked in low tones for a few minutes! and then they both went out. John came back to kiss his wife hastily, tend tell her not to wait dinner for him. “What, must you go on Christmas eve? she said. Her eyes were moist; she felt shaken and bewildered. . , „ As they departed, the prisoners burst from their hiding place. “Oh, oh. oh!” cried Alice. She flung herself into her friend’s arms, blushes enveloping her. “Wasn’t he splendid, perfectly, delightfully splendid! Oh, Mrs. Ferguson, I never was so ashamed of myself in my whole life, actually listening there. There was something so noble about him. and he pitied me so! Well, if 1 didn’t bring you the gold piece.! brought you luck, anyway, you dear soul.” , She dived down into her pocket with an impetuous movement for her handkerchief; she drew it fortii with so much energy that the pocket came with it. and from its folds dropped a shining disk that rolled over towards the fender, and then stopped. It was a twentv-dollar goUl piece. The children shrieked as usual, and ran for it It was the right one this time, and no delusion. It brought with it visions of Christmas cheer, showers of toys, a table full of good things, evergreens for the walls, sweet comfort, and jollity, and dear hope for the future. “Alice”’ said Lenore, solemnly, “I believe that you did it all on purpose.” It was late that night when John Ferguson came home; his step was light and quick as it had not been for months: his eves were smiling and tender as they fell oh his wife. In his hand he carried a parcel. He sat down by her on the lounge, and drew her to him, her long chestnut hair failing over his shoulder, her soft cheek flushed. Neither spoke for a few minutes. Then he said, very ger.tly: "Swen mother! “Is it all settled with Mr. Telford?” ‘she asked presently. “Yes. all; that is. if you consent—if you are willing to live away out in Montana.” “With you?” She gave a low, sweet laugh for answer. ”1 am to have charge of the works, the salary is beyond my expectations, and he gave me an advance at once.” * Did you buv anything for the children?” “Yes; Telford and I made a round of the shops afterwards. He insisted on contributing bis share to them. He's an awfully good fellow. I have the package outside, and we’ll fill the babies’ stockings soon. By the way. Lenore. he has fallen head over ears in love with Alice. He will marry her some dav. and they will set up a family gold piece of their own, I do believe. His rhapsodies were amusing.” “Yes; don’t talk about them now. Ob, mv dear, my dear! I am so thankful for you.” They sat without speaking again for a time in that silence which is the heart’s deepest voice. Presently he said: “Do you want to see what 1 have In this parcel for you?* "For me!” i “Yus.” He unfolded It alowly. “I have

been buying Christmas presents for my beautiful wife. Now you can look!” In the paper lay folds of shining blue silk, and a shimmer of white laee. “John, dearest!” she gave a laugh that was a sob. “Why, I have hardly any plain gowns to wear.” “I know, T know; you shall buy all you need now. But I have longed to give you these for years. I wanted to make sure of them first. Let me see how you look!” He threw the lace scarf over her. “I always thought to buy them for you with the luck-money that is gone.” “It has come back.” she said, and rising, she took the gold piece, and put it in his hand as the church bell in the square near by rang out the hour of twelve, and it was the blessed Christmas day. —Mary Stewart Cutting, in New York Evening Post. NEW YORK’S TRUANT SCHOOL. A Place ot MIUI Detention, but Not ot Pnnisliment. New York Evening Post. Truancy is often the first step in crime. Stealing lead pipe and “pinching” off the corner grocery are the next stages, and then follow the bigger crimes that make the full-fledged felon. In fact, the incorrigible truant is really the criminal born, and bears in his face the strongest testimony against himself—the eriminal conformation. At the truant sehool on East Twenty-first street this faet becomes plainly apparent, though its pupils are probationers only, not tried and tested incorrig*b!es by any means. About 50 per cent of them, however, become so. The other 50 per cent, are discharged back into the common schools or into life as cured. At present there are eighty-six boys in this establishment, which was onened last Mav. New York’s first truant sehool. though Brooklyn had one twenty years ago. Tt is a cross between a eor"‘■vinn inetitntlon and an ungraded school. Most of the mi pi Is are detained in m*'d onnrivitv. hut day punils are taken also, and some of these come long distances to attend the ungraded classes. The truant, however, is a great traveler, so this part of his ouriiohment is not a punishment at all. The hoys who live in the house do the housework, and a certain amount of class work Is done bv all; redfng. writing, drawing and the like, and sewing, too. for the manual training that it gives. These boys are markedly awkward in anything that requires delicate or complicated mental or muscular action. Thev are primitives, inant and laggard behind the race, dull pun'ls a’waye, averse to. often utterly incanable of. mental effort, and alwnvs far behind the average common school child in the matter of mental attainments. To be; sure, the truant’s truancy mav account in nart for this, hut then, on the other hand it is more often due to it. to the rieiicule which his dull wits bring down unon him from his more intelligent schoolmates, till he is driven out of school. For this reason. Mr. Locke, who has charge of the truant school, favors the establishment in every school district of ungraded classes, where the merely dull truant could he sent to receive the special attention which his special ease requires, and which the common school cannot give him. and where he would vet be deprived of his lihertv. made a semi-prisoner of. hence to one of his associations a semi-criminal at once. Confinement in the truant school Is not, however always an obiectlon to the truant, himself. A good story is told by Officer Morris of a hoy he “put away” there, who. on returning, said to him: “That warn’t no punishment, fer fair. De bed was fine, and de food was out er sight. Dcy give me bread an’ coffee an’ oatmeal fer me breakfast, while ter hum I gets bread wifirut oatmeal an’ coffee, an’ I sleeps on de floor.” The flag tb it flies over every school building dorieg school hours is no empty embl-m. Patriotism as symbolized in the stars and stripes would seem to be almost a cult in the schools, and within them, as without, the co’ors are conspicuously visible, sometimes in such profusion as fairly to offend with a suggestion of spread-eagleism. In one school, indeed, the spread eagle itself Is actually visible in propria persona—a fine, big bird, with out unread wings and defiant beak, and in his hooked talons the two striped and starry flags. In another school, at assembly time, the room fairly bristles with banners. Two big ones flank the principal's desk: each class has its banner; pictures thereof are on the walls, and behind the principal’s desk hangs the framed diploma of the "League of the Red, White and Blue.” an order established in the school, admission to which requires that candidates should know by heart the six following patriotic songs: “America,” “The Star-spangled Banner,” “The Flower of Liberty," “The Red. White and Blue.” “Hall, Columbia,” “The American Flag.” This Is a girls' school, too. Every principal of a sehool is required to give once r month in assembly the “Salute to the Flag,” which consists in a presentation of the colors, the whole school standing and saluting in military fashion and declaiming a brief pled*® of allegiance, it

may, of course, be given oftener, if desired. In the school of the League of the Red, White and Blue it is given every week. It is an impress.ve and picturesque sight to see this salute given by one of these big school assemblies, especially when, as is often the case, the saluting children are almost exclusively foreigners. For instance, there is grammar sehool No. 23 at the corner of Mulberry and Bayard streets. Hardly 3 per cent, of the 2,500 pupils on its roll call are of American parentage, and few even of these are more than one remove from immigration. Italians, Russians and Polish Jews, with all their allied varieties, make up the population of the East Side school, and the principal’s desk at assembly time looks down on an almost unbroken sea of foreign faces; dark, aquiline, emotional and sensitively resiionslve to the spectacular and dramatic character of the ceremony. It waa last Thanksgiving eve when the writer saw them go through it—the eve of Evacuation day, as well—and a long programme approprite to the combined occasion had preceded this final act of patriotism—a programme made up of exclusively American subject* on the one hand and of the exclusively foreign performers on the other, for the only name that waS riot Russian or German or Italian was Irish—Kate Kelly. Yet, though there were patriotic songs galore, the music that came away with one as the final refrain was not “Yankee Doodle” or even “God Save the Queen;” it was Wagner. For the final chorus, “Flag of the Free,” was sung to the tune of the Brautlied in "Lohengrin.” WILL IT PAY t Two Sides to the Question of Cheap Railroad Hate*. Washington Post. Last week the retail merchants of Boston enjoyed a flood of prosperity unexampled in magnitude. It surged in upon them from every part of New England, and it furnished them bn abounding felicity that will last many days. It came to them in th® plethoric pocketbooks of the farmers, th® fishermen and the mechanics of six State* and their wives and sons and daughters. Never before was there such an influx of money to be expended for holiday goods and for family and personal supplies. For several days the streets of Boston were thronged and the retail stores crowded with masses of country folk, and a harvest was reaped, the like of which was never dreamed of in the holiday time of any preceding year. All this was the product of enterprise. The retail merchants secured concessions from the railroads in the shape of very cheap excursion rates, and. by shrewdly managed advertising, worked up excitement throughout that section to such a degree that homes were - almost deserted for the grand rush to Boston. This week the retail merchants all over New England outside of Boston are not happy, and there is little prospect that their cup of bliss will run over for many a week to come. Their holiday trade, the cream of the year’s business. Is practically killed. Instead of depleted stocks and large deposits when the new year opens they will have their goods on hand, their bills maturing and a slim chance of being able to meet them promptly. They went to Boston some weeks ago and purchased large stocks at the wholesale houses of that city In anticlpation of an exceptionally heavy holiday business. . The wholesale trade of the New England metropolis is far in excess of it* retailing. Its best customers are those country merchants who have been so severely hit by the Boston retailers, Collections will be slow, for the goods are on the shelves and depreciating In value. Will It pay the city of Boston, as a whole, to Inflict this Injury on the men who have been the chief contributors to Its wealth? Will these men. when they wish to buy more goods, be sure to buy In Boston? Will they not be tempted to try their luck In New York? Is it profitable to derange the retail trade of a vast section of contributory territory in order that the retailer* of Boston may. in effect, duplicate the sales that her wholesale houses have already made? Os course, this matter does not especially concern the Post. but. since it is being uaraded as a tine illustration of Yanke® shrewdness, we deem it proper to look it both sides of It. There would be a better foundation for the felicity of those Boston retail traders if their great gains of last week had done less damage to the wholesale business of then city. - Too Tillu • Judge. Miss Flypp—All we girls got somethin* In our stockings Christmas morning except a Boston girl who was staying at our house. She was O.eadfully dlsappivnted. Miss Fosdlck—How did Santa Claus happen to miss her? Miss Flvpp—The general opinion Is that he mistook her stocking for a section of gurden hose. Musical Toy* Cheaper At than any place el**

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