Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 June 1893 — Page 12
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THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 14, 1893-TWELVE PAGES.
ELSBETH'S
LoBicman't "No escape this time! said ol d baron Pornenburg, fcl&ring somewhat savagely at an open letter ia his hand. It was a letter from an old schoolfellow, now the rep rescntative o! government in a distant province of Austria, and in it the baron was warmly appealed to on behalf of that Echoollellow's ton. At first sight there was nothing very appalling about this fact, and yet this was the moment which the widowed father of three daughters had been dreading for years. The men who make successful chaperons are extremely faw and far between. A male duenna is either overscrupulous or overlight in the fulfillment of his duties. The baron belonged to the former order to the extent oi making: life a burdea to himself perpetually, and not infrequently to others also. Younar girla were treated by him as a dangerous explosive, within a mile of which no match should be struck for fear of a catastrophe, and t-o faithful was he to thU theory that his friends frequently felt it their duty to reason with him. "13ut, Pornenbnrjr, how do you expect ever to eet rid of your daughters if you keep them shut up behind (ratings?" "lUess the man, bo's surely not going to have three old maids help him into his grave!" Such snd cuch-like remarks Hew past his ear, but left him unmoved. A re ale chaperon is in so far easier to satisfy than a female one, that the latter has no peace until her charge has made a brilliant marriage, whereas the former is content if ehe has not made a disgraceful one. When on thia September mornin Baron Pornenburjr had done jrlarin at his old comrade's letter he reached the fame conclusion he had bezun with "No escape this time!" After which he promptly lent for Mis. "Wilkins. Mies Wilkina was hia youngest daughter's eovernes3 for the baron etill had a daughter in the schoolroom aud she was likewise the English instructress of the elder baronpsaea. It had cost a hard light before she had been secured, and peace with her. lleing past eixty, and bM aud Kouty, the baron had foolishly supposed that he would bo unmolested by the fair sex. He very hoon recognized his mistake. Various tad been the frauleinsand mademoiselles who had passed in procession through the home of Jcrnenburp, each one of whom wcul'l have been ready to overlook both the Laid bead and the crippled joints for the pake of sharing with rum ihe crown of eeven points Misä Wilkina wa? not only the oldest and piinst governess he had been able to unearth for love or monev, but hai something distinctly puritanical ahout Lpr per?on, rea?!urin to any one with so hhakv an opinion of fera&le human aature aa tad thie particular baron. "Miss Wilkins." eaiJ lSaron Dornenurg. addressing the gaunt, middle-aed English woman a she entered, "I have aad Home very unpleaaant news. My old ,'riend. Count Kestler, writes to me here. Haying that hie son, Conrad, has juet returned froji hid American tour, and is very anxious for some ehooting. His own deer fore.-ts have not yet recovered from the disease which infected them two years ago, consequently he appeals to me. I fee no escape but to ask Conrad Keailer here for ten days. It is to consult with you as to the precautions to be taken that 1 have re-juested your presence here. In the lirat place " "I T1 resume the young man is unmarried?" aeked Mi-s "Wiiitic.s abruptly, and a epark of eome-juite uewlv born interest seemed to i.lumiuo her usually chilly gray eyes. "Of course Conrad ic unmarried," con. firmed the tarn, ia foam astonishment. "And the Kestler'e namo has a good sound, and the iortune id considerable." Mira YYfikius waj warming to her 6ubjct B3 fahe fpoko. "Oh, llaron iJornenburg, I do t.elievo that letter from your old ffiend is nothing but an interposition of Providence! Whv, don't you see as clearly as possible that this means a husband for one of vour daughters?" "Hold, there!" said the baron gruiily, flushing dark red from vexation. "If ever I believed that any woman could keep her fingers out of the match-making pie, 1 took you to be that woman, Müs W'ükins, but I do bo iove you're made of the eame etull" as the others. Husband, indeed! Marriage! Count Kestler of IVhreastem would lonz ago have fallen a prey to eome enterprising Vienna mamma if matrimony had been in his line. I hava not seen Conrad since be was a boy, but his fame as a mangeur de caurs has long since penetrated even-thfese woodland retreats. 1 understand him to rank as the most successful lady killer in Vienna society. In fact, his one vocation in life soem1? to be to go about turning heads and breaking hearts ; and this is the man who, for ten daye, is to dwell under the same roof with inv girls upon my word, it's letting the wolf into the aheepfold." "Very poeeibly the wolf ia not so black as be is'painteJ'Miaj Wilkina cautiously suggested. "lie is blacker, at any rate, far. than he ought to be, and it will require both your vigilance and nine to checkmate the empty-headed lovemakin wiih which he is sure to pa9 his time. 1 have been taming over the matter in my mind, and have come to the conclusion that during t'ueeo ten critical days you must be tie constant companion of my two eldest girls. It is the only possibility of avertinz the danger that threatens." "And Kiabeth?" "Let the child have a holiday. It will do her no harm to shut up her books and tun wild for ten days." Miss Wilkins shook her head, but so entirely were tl.o baron's thoughts taken up with his elder gir.a that he never even noticed the disapproving gesture. Elsbeth was a child, still fea'e in the schoolroom; the day when fche took to long ikirts trou'd be tune enough to worrving about her. hegia Wheu, at the end of half an hour's private consultation, the gaunt K; glishwoman lef tthe baron's presence el was primed with warnings, and yet for all that sjotstinato are some fibres in human nature the parle of match-making enthusiasm wm not utterly quenched in her eye. Silently, but the lees irrevocably, was the middle-aged Eng'ishwouian determined that this opportunity should not be lost. It was with an eye to the main object that he encouraged both Anna and Helene to pass their wardrobes in review, and made various wed-meant, but not over-eki.fui, attempts in the direction of freshening up tumbled flounces and procuring a new J.se of life lor Lats whicu had bornts the brunt of the summer. Paring this week of preparation tuch things as turned ribbons and halfcurled feathers belonged to Ha common features of the spartmeutd, though the approach of tho baron generally caused them todiappear. In their heart cf hearts both girls had et upon those ten prospective days horts which S3 yet they hd not acknowledged even "to themeiv. Even the domestic virtues, of whkh both pMf-scd a fiir phrtr-. could not blied t'itm to the fact thvt it was rather hard to be aged respectively twenty and twenty-two without ever having seen the insi le of a Vienna drawing room. Their own gentle resignation filled them with wonder, but, nevertheless, did not
T Magazin. prevent occasional meditations being taken on the possibility of a husband dropping from the ekies. Count Conrad Kestler's proposed viit seemed exactly to answer to that description of event, aud was. therefore, duly prepared for. "Will he De a big or little man?" was the doubt which elunk in and out of the souls of both baronesses. The iiret eight of the stranger would help greatly to clear the situation, for the big Anna could place no hopes on a ecrap of a man, while the miniature Helene would never have the courage to fall in love with a giant. And yet, when the day came and the moment, and when from behind the window curtains two pairs of blue eyes peeped at the new arrival, nothing like a definite conclusion was come to. Upon an identical impulse Anna and Helene looked at each other and laughed. Not a word was said, but they understood each other perfectly. The glance exchanged between the two sisters said as much as: "I must have another look at him before I make up my mind, but he ia certain to do for one of us two." This was the conclusion which Miss Wilkins likewise had reached, though she would have greatly preferred if Count Keetler had not been one of those men of indescribable height whom it would be incorrect to describe as tall and who yet are unquestionably not short. So long as the prospective husband was not distinctly assigned to one of her charges she could not feel as though the campaign were opened. But the first evening passed without betraying to Miss Wilkins anything beyond the fact of Count Kestler being a lady's man in the fullest sense of tho word. When he was talking to Anna the watchful Englishwoman felt ready to stake her soul that he had succumbed to that young lady's massive charms, and vet the moment he approached Helene he appeared to have eyes for nothing but her fairy-iike grace. A; for the poor conscientious baron. he spent not only the evening, but moat of the night upon thorns, tosssinz about from side to side, and passing in review before his mind's eye all the symptom of love-sicknees which he was convinced of having noted in both hU daughters. Had not Anna forgotten to band round the pugar, and Helene twice dropped her handkerchief in the course of the evening? The author of all these cruel anxieties was meanwhile enjoying a perfectly unbroken night' rest. Owing to a belated butterlly wti:h came sailing in by the open window, having slept through the proper butterfly season anu being condemned to make the best of September weather. Count Kestler's morning slumbers came to a soiuewhat premaluro conclusion. Had it not been for this tardy butterlly much might have happened differently; aUo, whenever in future davs his thoughts traveled back to the little yellow-winged creature, Conrad Kestler saw in it a direct instrument of fate, or, at any rate, much mure than an ordinary butterlly. At the moment, however, it must be admitted that the instrument oi fate was not greeted by him with all the delight that would have been becoming. Having opened his eves to t-ee what it wus that was tickling his nose, his lips firet formed themselves to a mutter about which, perhaps, the lees said the better and then to a yawn. In tbe very act of turn ing over lor another enoc.e his eve was caught by the Hash of light upon water, and he rose on his elbow to nee the very first sunbeam eliding from between two pine-clad mountain flanks and striking rose-colored fire from the surface of a good-sized lake. Unquestionably it was a pretty prospect, and yet it was not eo much in the prospect it-elf as the meaning which it bore to hfin that caused Conrad Kepler to relinquish his idea of another snooze. "I didn't know they had water here." shot through his mind. "That means wild ducks." And half an hour later the newly-ar rived guest might have been observed sallying for from the atill-sleepiug house, with tne intention of having a closer look at that sheet of water which, seen from a distance, eeemed to contain such delicious promises of tport. This thought had been the motor of his actiou, but once having reached the open air, he was in danger of forgetting bis object, so surprised and pleased wad he with what he saw on all Hides. Not that the trees at Pornenburg were older or liner than these at hia own home, or tbe bower beds better kept, or the lawns better tended, but because lor yeurs past he had not seen any of those things with the first veil of morning still beautifying them, for which reason he appeared to himself to be discovering them over aain. There was something distinctly soothing about this consciousness of being tbe only member awake of a household ; why, the chances were that not even the kitchen fire was yet lit, nor was either rake or spade being plied anywhere within eyesizht. No privacy could have been more perfect, no promenade more ideally planned for the purposes of a quiet n.editatiou. So irresiotible, in fact, were the accessories that Conrad had scarcely reached the middle of the lime-tree avenue, which led from the door of t!ie house, when ho found himself drifting into a course of serious reflections. "Mr father had an object in sending me here beyond that of shooting wild ducks," thus ran the current of his thoughts. "I know ha thinks it time for me to settle, and nothing would please him better than for me to marry one of the daughters of his old comrade. Pear old Vater 1 I would please him if I could, but nothing would ever make me content with either a giantess or a pigmy. And it's a pity, too," he continued, "for I like gulden hair, and both the big and the little htce are very pleasantly pink and white, and I siiDoose it is about time for me to be getting settled." When he had paced down another bit of the avenue he seemnd to remember that his father had spoken about three Pornenburg girls. "And I have only seen two, as yet," he reflected, "which means, I suppose, that the third is in the nursery." So deep was he in fcra meditations that when, at the end of the avenue, he stepped out on the very shore of the lake, he stood still in as much astonishment as though this had not been tho object of his walk. At the rsme mon ent he became aware that he was. after all, not the only member of the household on his legs. In a boat chained to a pole at the edge of the water there stood a girl with a straw hat shading her face, and her back turned to him, while she buid herself with the fastening. Cou r ad's first impression was one of an noyance at the interruption of his privacy, his second was the question, "Who can this be?" Iioth the hair and what he could fee of the curve of tbe cheek seemed to be of the right color, and yet it did not appear to him to be either quite the big or quite the little Pornenburg girl. At this moment she htr.iigh'ened horse f and turned round, evi dent y despairing of tho chain. Perhaps it was owing to his thoughts having been occupied with the question of feminine stature that Conrad was now aware of a distinct feeling of satisfaction, for there could be no doubt about this apparition being of the "right
HOLIDAY
hight," just as there could be no doubt about its being the youngest Dornenburg girl. "Let me help you with that chain," said Conrad, stepping forward, much relieved by the discovery that the young boatwoman's skirts were not quite regulation length, which was enough, with one blow, to banish etiquette from the scene. "I fancy I know that sort of fastening. But first let me introduce myself. I am" "I know who you are quite as well as you know yourself," sho briskly interrupted him. "Why, the house has been positively alive with your name since this time last week. I never thought I could get so tired of any person before seeing nim." "You don't say so? I reallv was not prepared" stammered Conrad, whose habit it was not to be easily taken aback, but who, nevertheless, felt rather at a Ions for words wherewith to answer this unexpected address. "I was not aware of having catt so huge a shadow before me. There, the chain is undone, and now, unless yon have irrevocably made up your mind to solitude, perhaps you will allow me to row you out on the lake?" She looked at him critically, as though turning over tho proposition in her mind, but ended by acquiescing. "I want some of those bulrushes over there." she remarked, when they had pushed oil" from the shore. "And you can help me to gather them if you like; eo, perhaps, after all, it was a piece of good luck that brought you ont walking so early, though 1 didn't think so at lirat hight. I had been looking forward to having the whole lake to myself, and was greatly bothered by seeing you." "If I am to be quite honest," paid Conrad, showing his even, white teeth, "I must confess to having likewise felt far lrom delighted at the first moment of our meeting. After all, it is only human nature to bear a grudge ugainet the person whose uppearunce on the scene brings us down a peg in our own estimation, by proving to us that we are not the only individual about." "You are depcribin exactly what I felt," remarked the girl with grave approval. "1 do believe I hated you at first sight." "That sounds as if your virtue were as spasmodic as mine, and I wer mistaken in counting you among that chosen tribe known as early risers." "That depends upon what I have got to get up for. Surelv nobody in hid senses would hurry out of bed on account of lessoiid. while, again, it's a pity to waste a bit of a holiday asleep. l)y the bye, how many days aro you going toelay here?" "I believe the baron is going to let me stay tid the loth." "Couldn't you make it a little longer? I am euro you could manage to trail out your visit to the 2'Jth, at least, if you tried." "I renliy don't exactly snow," eaid Conrad, in renewed netcnishtuent. "You are surprised at my asking you tr etav, after having told you that I "hated you at firet eight. The explanation is really very bimpl. You 6e9," and heie tho childish face settled into an expression of preternatural seriousness, "as long ua you are here I a:n sure of my holidays; therefore it Hands to reaou thit I want you to stay as ion.r as you possibly can." "As long as I am htre !" Conrad smiled a emila of puzzled amusement. "This is really very interesting. I was not aware I had reached the stage of holidays being given in my honor." "As far aa I can make out, it's not in your honor exactly, but as a sort cd defense againut you. lv the bye, Jyou are sure to be able to tell me what a ladykiller is. I want very much to know." "Whv am I eo sure to be able to tell you?" ' "llecauso I hesrd papa saying to Mies Wilkins ho lias been having Ion talks
with her almost every day for the last week that ehe must keep her eyes well open, because th visitor lie expected whs a daugerous ladv'kilier. And it ism or der to lave her plenty of liberty for open ing her eyes that my lessons have been stopped, and thit tor the time of your stay ehe has transformed herself from a governess into a kind of "(iooseberry," completed Conrad with an amused chuckle. "Come, this raises mo enormous. y in my own estimation; I had no idea I was so irresistible as all thie." "Then being a ladv-kllcr means being irresistible, does it? It is one of those things I suppose I ouht to know by this time, considering that I was seventeen last month." "Were you. rea'ly?'' asked Conrad, in genuine astonishment. "I would never have guessed more than fifteen." "That's til thanks to thse ridiculous short skins," she retorted, flushing bcarlot from vexation. "It always cost papa a tremendous pang to acknowledge any of us grown up. That's one of the reasons why I've always got to take ray meuls in the school-room when there a a guest in tho house. Oh. not eo quick! Here we are at the bulrushes I "Do you thiuk it would make the boat sink if 1 took them nil?" she anked at the end of ten minutes, during which both the and Conrad had been hard at work. and in tho course of which she had grad ua'ly rid herself of hat, glowH and jacket. Her light golden hair was powdered with feathery morsels of reeds, aud her blue eyes were shining with intense enjoyment. "It looks rather like it; but must we have them all at once? Is there anv reas on why we should not return for a second or a third helping? "No; onlv that you will be going out ehootmg alter breakfast. "But there are other days before the loth." "So there are. And if pnpa should ask you to stay beyond tho liith, please re member what I told you about mv lessons. Let me see; how could you manage to convey to me that the matter is settled? It will be best, I think, if we invent some sort cf sign. "This is ripening into a conspiracy, eaid Conrad, in increasing amusement. " had no idea what I was letting myself in for when I turned out of bed this morn ing. Lut for fear you should indulge in emptv dreams of holidays to come, per haps 1 had better tell you at onco that my father expects me tome on the lUh. She heaved a High of disappointment. but added at once, philosophically : "Well, all I can do is to make the most of the ten days I have get before me. though I know quite well that I shall never be abl to get through ad the bram ble and bilberry hunts I have planned, nor to collect half the mushrooms I have got my eye upon. . This in the very best season for holidays, you see." "If you consider me worthy of the post," said Conrad, slipping, as ho spoke, almost unconsciously into the tone of gallantry be generally adopted toward women, "I should be most happy to act at adjutant; of course, only under the supposition," and here his eyes twinkled mischievously, "that you have no objections to the company of a lady-killer." "Why should I have an objection? I suppose a lady-killer ran omy become daugerous for a full-grown lady, and I am not that yet, as papa is never tired of telling me." Once more Conrad felt almost foolish. The straight gaze of those cloudless blue eyes was enough to make tbe practiced man of the world foel as though he had been attempting a sacrilage. It was jutd after they had parted on the shore of the lake that Count Kestler heard his name very earnestly pronounced and became aware that the young boatwoman was hurrying after him. "Po think of it again!" ahe eaid rather
breathlessly. "I mean about the 16th, and if it is possible, please please stay a little longer."
W ith the last words she had turned again, and in the eame moment disap peared among the bushes. Conrad could hear the twigs snapping to the right and to the left after he had lost sight of her. It was not until he had got back to the house that he had suddenly remembered the wild ducks, and very much to hid astonishment, realized that as far as know ing whether there were any to be hoped for on the lake, he had come back exactly as wise as he had started. Breakfast was scarcely over when the battered green hat of the old gamekeeper was seen to pass the window, whereupon Conrad became a sportsman again, and leaving his second cup of coffee untouched hurried away for his gun. As for tne second time that day be made his way down the limeavenue.be could cot help wondering why he had not mentioned his matutinal excursion in the boat, and the oniy conclusion he could come to was that a touch of mystery never fails to give a charm to the most com monplace adventure and that the idea of a plot between himself and the youngest baroness, whom he understood to be called Einbettl, had tickled his fancy. Meanwhile the old baron had estab lished himself in his armchair with a heartfelt sigh ot relief. Eor the next few hours, at leaet. he might relax his vigilance, seeing that the dreaded individual was safely disposed of. Hut a rude shock awaited the baron a peace of mind that evening, when the con versation at the supper table acquainted him with the fact that Anua and llelene's afternoon walk had, strangely enough, taken the same direction as Conrad Kestler's shooting excursion, whether through a provoking coincidence or owing to some culpable negligence of Miss Wilkins, who had been of the party, it was difficult to ascertain. Never before had the baron so acutely felt the inconvenience of being gouty. With the free uso of his joints half his anxieties would have been relieved, for as long as he could be the constant companion of his dangerous guest it was pretty certain that all serious peril could be averted, while, alas ! what incalculable harm milit not be brought about by a few undisturbed encounters in the romantic shadow of the pine woods? To add to his anxieties, the cloudless September weather seemed bent upon tempting the girls to extend their daily promenades far beyond their normal length. From breakfast to dinner and from dinner to supper the baron was generally alone at home for Elsbeth made the most of her holidays by running wild in her own company -and passed his time in fuming at his enforced inactivity and counting the days till Count Keitler'a departure. Gradually, however, he became aware, somewhat to hia own annoyance, that the feelings with vhich he was looking forward to the 10 were cot feelings cf unmixed plcneure. Conrad might bo a lady kihor of tho fir?t water, whom path was 6trewn w.th broken hearts much as the seashore ia strewn with broken shells, but that did not prevent his voico and his lauh and something in the irresistible gpurk'e of bis eye carrying back the baron very vividly in memory to the days when his old comrade had been young. It was with a p'.e.isant feeling of surprise, too, that he noted unother circumstance in connection with his guest. Conrad evidently was no lie-a-bed. Ou two different occasions the old gentleman had caught sight of Count Kestler sallying forth from tho house at an hour when the h-mioruaids should indeed had been astir, but were not. and he regularly appeared late lor breakfast, with hair wet by dew. and not infrequently wit 11 fragments of grat-s or a red or yellow leaf clinging to his coat. The baron begun to admit there must, after all, be somo good in the man. An individual who iounu pleasure in t-uch simple country enjoyments as a walk before breakfast could not Le entirely corrupted by the wickedness of country life. Mies Wilkins, on her side, was much pleased by the discovery that a point which for long haa been a rather sore one between herself and her pupil had shaped itcelf according to her own wishes. "Your cheeks are twice as pink as usual, and your eyes twice as blue," she said approvingly on meeting Elsbeth in the passago one morning laden with Autumn crocuses. That ia the result of early hours." Or of holidays," eaid Elsbeth promptly. "Ccn you explain to me how it comes about that you require so much less s eep during holidays than on lesson days? I don't know of any bribe by which 1 could havo got you out of bed before 7 o'clock, bo long as books and atlases were in sight." Elsbeth smiled happily and almost guiltily, but attempted no explanation, and listened with quite unusual patience to the wholesome remarks on the subject of early rising with which Mies Wiikins considered it her duty to improve the occasion. Neither did Anna and Helene entirely escape; but these two young ladies submitted quite passively to having their youngest fristsr held up to them as an example of good conduct, and got out of bed no earlier next day. As long as there w as a guest in the house it was obviously expedient to keep one's self fresh for the eveuiug hours by laying late in the morning. It was on the fifth day of Conrad's stay that the Baron, when parting with him for the night, remarked approvingly: "I see you are as faithful a cultivator of morning hours as vour father used to be, but I fear your walk tomorrow is likely to turn into a shower bath." Conrad looked coroewbat taken aback, and, having reached the privacy of his room, he flung himself into a chair and began to review the situation. "That looks like being watched" thus ran the course of his reflections. "The old man is just bristling with suspicions. Is there any way, I wonder, to put him olf the scent?" He sat for some minutes gnawing his muetache and frowning at the carpet, but presently his brow cleared and he laughed aloud in the way a man laughs whose fancy is tickled by eome especially good joke. "That will do it," be decided as he rose to eo to bed. The baron's prophecy concerning the weather proved correct, and it was with a somewhat rueful face that Conrad looked through the streaming pane next morning. And yet, upon reflection, he had to admit that in one way a rainy day httted into his plans almost better than a fair one would have done. Breakfast being over, be promptly pro posed a game ef billiards, which was entbusiasically accepted by the young ladies, and for the perils of whirh the baron saw no remedy but to take a cue himself. The forenoon hours were fraught with severe trial for this conscientious father. While hobbling around the table as well as his gouty knees would allow him, it was little short of agony to note the soft glances which Conrad Kestler distributed pretty equally between the two girls, and to have to listen to the playtul remarks full of veiled meauings, as it seemed to him of which Conrad's conversation was chiefly composed. It must be the ennui of a rainy day which was inducing the ladvkiller to bring out all lis resources, for the baron had never seen him in such force as today. Nor was the afternoon an improvement on the forenoon, except for a couple of hours, during which the host succeeded in luring his guest into the smoking-room. The rules of hospitality would not allow of his being kept them by main force, and thus it case about that on each, of tbe
MANLY PURITY
To clfsaae the blood, lUn, and icalp of errry emotion, impurity, and dliwa-, whether aiinpic, eroiuiou, nereuiuirj-, ur ulcerative, no carHicy In the world ia eo aiH'edVt economical, and unfailing aa the CUTICURA Remedies, conplpüny of fiTHi'K, tho prent ekln cure, t't Ticciu Hoap, an exquisite kin nurifiiT and beuuiilu'r. 7 T and Cctictka Repolvent, the new Hood p'lriiic r and grcatewt of humor remedies. In word, tin1 are tho greater akin cure, blood purillrrc, and liumcr remotiica of modern time, and may be u-d in the treatment of every litiiuor and dis use, from eczema to aorofulu, n iih the mot gratifying aud nnfailinn upvh. told everywhere. IVttsb lneo ani Chemical 'ocp., IWton. How to Cure Ülood Humor " mailed free. JPLn?, Mackhend.rrd, rouüh hanua and fall, ill ing hair cured ly CtTlci KA fcOAP. RHEUMATIC PAINS in sin m Imi M Cut lr ura AntU 1'ain l'lMtr rclieve rhcumaüe. KcifeA utie, hip, kidney, chest, u'ut muscular V !uln and weaknuaftea. l'riee. UOc. visits of inspection he paid to the drawingroom the baron eu lie red great distress. The brat time it was the iftht of Conrad Bitting on a footstool and holding a skein of sky blue wool that was being wound by Anna which give Pirn a shock, while the second time this same Conrad turning over the pages of llelene'a music considerable aggravated his state of mind. Fine weather was, alter all, greatly preferable to raiuy weather, waa the conclusion with which he went to bed. Next day was not much better. The sportsman, indeed, went out after breakfast, the barometer having risen, but a heavy ehower brought him back in tho middle of the forenoon, and, though it cleared oil soon, he showed no inclination to sahy forth a second time. Something was aid about a twisted ankle, and as here, again, main force could not be called to aid, there watt nothinir for it hut to stand at the window and grind his teeth as he watched Conrad pacing tbegjrdxn path beside his eldest daughter. lie stood it fitirly well until a pau?e was madebtsid a buhoflate rosea, but when Conrad, in full eight of hid window, broke o.! a pink rone and, tvith an exquisite bow handed it to ni companion, th baron tent for Miss Wilkins and commanded her to invent some excuse for eucimoning Anna to the house. .Miss Wiikit a obeyed with the repult that when next the baron looked out of the window Helene wag hitting on a garden beLch straight opposite in lively conversation with Count Kttsler and with one of the same late rosea blooming in her waistband. "Only three more days till the 10th!" was the only thought to which the poor, harassed father could turn for comfort. U lien ia due course uf time the loth arrived, the sun roe onco more dazzling and cloudless, exactly a it had done on tho lirtt days of Conrad's visit, aud exactly as on the first days ho stolo down the stAirca--! of the Biteping hcuso and along the lime avenue which led to tho fehores of lake. Ilia portmanteau waa packed and his wraps strapped up. for the carriage hud bepii ordered directly after breakiast. To judtiefrom the expression of perplexity aud indecision which eat on his fitce. his impending journey did not iill him with anv special delight. Exactly aa on that firnt day he was plunged eo deeply in meditation that he came to an uatoniehed etauddtill on finding himself on the edge of the water, and exactly as on that first day the boat was chained to the shore, onlv that at this time Elsbeth Fat in it with hands lying inactive in her lap, and blue eyes that tseemod to have been impatiently watching the avenue. A now and happy smile brightened Conrad's face; instinctively h raised his head. The sight of that childish figure seemed to have solved eome doubt that had been pursuing him. It was not until thev were eome distance from the shore that K sbeth said, a little unsteadily: "So this is really the end of my holiday?" Conrad looked straight into her face.itill with mat shadow of a happy emile hovering about hit lips. "That depends upon whether or cot you are anxious to prolong it." "How can it depend upon myself?" she asked, as defiantly as she could. "Do you not remember once before asking me to stay beyond the 10th ? You said, 'Please, please' then, and I 6aid 'No;' but if you were to say, 'Please, please' a second' time, I would have no choice but to say 'Yen.' and after that don't you think that your holidays would begin for good and all?" "I don't beJevo I Raid it," retorted Elabeth, growing furiouslv scarlet. "Think again." She thought again, and the eyes which had been attempting to stare defiance sunk suddenly before his gaze. Well," eaid Conrad, "is my visit to be prolonged or not?" "No." she answered, breathlessly, while her pulses throbbed in expectation of something which ehe both longed for and dreaded without quite understanding what it was, "I cannot eav it a second time'" "And if I stay without being aeked? Tell me, Elsbeth," and, letting slip one of the oars, Conrad bent forward and poeneseed himself instead of one of the email ungloved hands that lay in her lap. It was exactly at this most unfortunate juncture that Mies Wilkins, who had happened to select today for putting into practice her theory of early rising, stepped out from a side path on to tho ehore of the lake. Neither of the occupants of the boat observed her, but for a lull minute the English woman, who was not ehort-sighted, etood rooted to the spot; then she rubbed her eyes and looked again, nnd finally she turned decisively on her heel, like ft person who has come to a resolution, and hurried back toward the house. Though Miss Wiikins was both an Englishwoman and a governess, ehe was not a prude, but the scene she had juet witnessed bad played the part of that wellknown last straw to which the camel's back is so apt to euccumb. So long as she had peen in Conrad a prospective husband for one of her marriageable charges she had had eyes for none but his good qualities; but now that he had proved a failure from the matrimonial point of view, she had suddenly become aiive to his defects. It so happened that during the early part of her promenade thoughts of bitter disappointment had already been busying her with the departing guest, and then had come that vision on the lake. Evidently the baron was quite right. Thus she told herself as she hastened toward the house. A man who indulged in Buch objectionable pastimes as this could be no more than a heartless libertine. The baron was in hia dressing gown when he was told that Miss Wilkins wished to epeak to him immediately. It was with a hairbrush in the hand and a razor in the other that he came forth to grant the interview. lie listened in silence to the governess' tale, but she knew by the look that came over his only partially-shaved face that this was the limit of his patience more decisively even than of hers. "i am almost aorry the young scamp ia going today," he remarked between his teeth, "bo that I shall not havo the satisfaction of turning him out of doors." i Five minutes iater the dressing gown I had been exchanged for a morning coat, I the more pressing defects of toilet reine j died, and the baron, still with a halfj shaved chin and with a look of ill-sup-; pressed fury, making him alarming to bo-
hold, hobbled out once more into the passage. Scarcely two paces from his door he barely saved himself from running against Conrad Ketdler, who seemed in as great a hurry as himself. "The very man I want:" he buret out, glaring at his gue.t, "Will you please step in here. Count Kestler; I have a word to eay to you 1" "Now then," he began, when Conrad h&J followed him into tho room, "I know that you are leaving my house today fortunately, I cannot help adding but nevertheless I consider it my duty as a father to demand an explanation of vour conduct. It is bad enough to llirt barefacedly with grown-up women, but let me tell you, a man who takes pleasure in turning the heads of children in short frocks should keep clear of respectable houses." He paused, almost snorting with indignation, but no answer ca ne. The young man stood looking past him at the window, with' a light on his face which the baron did not remember having seen there before, and apparently not listening. "Have yon anything to eay in excuse?" aeked the old gentleman in a more subdued tone, struck, in 6pite of himself, by the other's look. "I have only this to say, that when you met me in the passage just now I was on inv wav to propose for your daughter's hand."' The baron's jaw dropped. "My daughter?" he stammered after a moment of stupefaction. "Her hand? I dou't understand, llo you mean Anna or Helene? You cannot have them both, you know," he added primly. "Thanks; 1 don't want either. It is your youngest daughter whom I hope to make my wife." "Hut my youngest daughter is Elsbeth." "And it is Elsbeth whom I want to marry." This time tho baron required a longer paue. Without taking Lis eyes from Conrad's face, he put out his hand and felt hit way backward to the armchair, where he Eat staring for a full miuute. "Young man, ia this a joko?" bo Pternly inquired at lest, and being told that it whs tho most unimpeachable earnest, he added: "Put Eldbetu is in the school- . -l ; . : v . . . v...
ruom , fob ia iu suon uiwria , ?ue "Will be eighteen ou her next birthday," completed Conrad. Paron Dorennburg went through a rapid mental calculation. "Ples.9 my htatt! So sho will." "Aud do you know ot" any vaiid reason why a woman of eighteen should not either wear long ekirta or marry a man of twenty-eight?" "Well, no, I suppose not," eaid the baron, stiil in a tone of helpless bewilderment. "And in considerction of my being the eon of vour old friend, do you not think" " "1 I think nothing aS all juet now; I know nothing. Tbe matter must to coneidered. I mast talk to Mi3 Wükins." Mic3 Wiikins wm talked f, with the recu'.t that Anna and Helene, while gtauding at the drawing-room window alter Lreakfat, were greatly eurprit-ed to see tne carriage that hid come round to the door s.nt buck again to the stables. They did not know whether to be pleased or provoked. Without either of them having gene through the process known as losing one's heart, they had for the last few days been feeling puzzled and vaguely jealous of each other, which was an uncomfortable sensation. On the whole they had been gla 1 that the guest was going. And now this delay wüat could it mean? Py the evening of this same day they knew what the delay meant, having learned, with as much astonishment as genuine delight, that, though at present no huaband was in store for either of them, Providence had assigned to them a prospective brother. And that was the end of Eisbeth's holiday. THEN THEY WALKED. A Story of Two Women, a Dimo and an Obliging Tramp. fX. Y. Telegram. "Sunday, I know, ia not a very proper day for joke,' eaid a well-known bank c!erk yesterday, "but one of the funniest things happened this morning the sort that is just too good to keep. And this was the way of it: "Two ladies of my acquaintance, living somewhere within the neighborhood of (jrand-ave., started downtown to attend service at tbe cathedral. They had the usual squabble between themselves as to who should pay car fare for the other, in tbe midat of which they discovered that one had in her purse two nickels and the other a dime. The lady with the two nickels paid the fare fur both, with tbe understanding that the other should pay the return fare. "They thought this a very clever interchange" of courtesies, and they fairly beamed with mutual satisfaction. "Well, when the services were over the lady who had no money decided she would go by another l.ne of cars, in order to take dinner with a friend, and suggested that the other's dime be changed, so that ehe miizht have a nickel of it, as agreed upon. "'Why. certainly, my dear,' eaid the other; 'we can walk a block or two and get the change at some drug store or cigar shop.' "Put, alas, they forgot it was Sunday and after 12 o'clock at that. However, they walked and walked, only to lind the cigar chops closed and no drug Ptore in Bight. They were at last growing nervous and discouraged. They were atraid to accost the well-dreeed gentlemen who passed them, lest they might be misunderstood, and yet nothing but saloons appeared to be in waiting. "Eiually, after much debate, they de termined to atk for change of the first man they met who looked as though he might be honest and good natured. This personage seemed to be a sort of William Tatters or Tommy Tired. Of course. Tommy was anxious to oblige the lad.es and explained, with a prolusion of apologies, that he hadn't anything less than a fivedollar bill, but if the ladies would wait on the corner, he would enter a saloon in the neighborhood and secure the coveted two nickels from the bartender. "They watched him shuttle down street and saw him disappear between the swinging doors of the saloon. Then they w aited. The Lord only knows how long they did wait, but eventually Tommy Tired stepped out upon the pavement and what do you think? held up two fingers. Then he ran around tbe corner and was gone. "The ladies didn't understand that Tommy meant to telegraph them that their dime had gone for two beers, but it did gradually dawn upon them that their money had taken unto itself wings. "There was only one thing left to do walk home. And they walked." A IHplomatlat. (Chicago Uaeord. J Wanderer Wiügins "No. mum, I do not want no money or food, or a place to sleep. Goodness kcows, mum. I'm no beggar. I merely want fx inquire if that beautiful little baby in the front yard is yourn, nam. It's the prettiest young 'un I eter seen an " Mr. Youngwed "Do come right in, my good man, and sit down in the parlor while I send to the grocer's. Do you prefer apple pie or ice cream with your dessert ?" The handiest book for ready reference on political, statistical and miscellaneous questions ever issued is The Sentiskl Almanao for Price 25 cents.
R. R. R RADWAY'3
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The Cheapest and Itet Mediciu lor Family l b in the "World. Sore Throat, Colda, Coavha. Pneumonia. Broochitif, Indtinuiklione, Conization!, lurlueni. Dillicult llreathinj cured aoJ prerenUi by RADWAY'3 READY RELIEF Inflammation of tb- KiinT, In flamraatl in ot tl.a bladder, IolUm-natl n ot lH rwwM, Jiatioa of ttii l.un, I':d talioo of taa H itrl. IlfalTles, t np, Pt:iliiatria. Ctiarrh. IiJj una, Cll, Chili, An ia C!i:ll, CVltjlai.u, Fr.Jt-biia, Xdrf ovsQOfi, loaao ja. Theapp.ical -n ot tu RZ VDY ßSUif t1 part or i'trt wlire ih difficult? or paia eiiit viU a'ord '' n I f ra;'ort. R VDWaY'8 KÜ.VOIT IÜILIEK i thaalf r al:al a-ol :n t ia that will in;Uy gtjj ptia. U ibalaullr ralietef aud oji curse Rheumatism. Neuralgia, N latira, H-Klii-h, lout Ii, i( h, , Ii;;.'!.iufiljn, A atlllllit, Innu uli itreathinc. Lumbago, Swelling uf the Joint, Pnitia la ltU' h, i llf.t f.r LitUDj. lUttlrnya KBH-ly ltt-1 ii f I n ur- for l'verj l'uin, jritMi, iii-uie. It Uui tU 1 iit soil la l Liu Only PAIN REMEDY Tliat tntantlf ftop Ui et. r ii iliiif j.aia. Ha 71 Juc'.aia oi ai.ua anJ cura Co.-i.-ti; 1, irujtjer ! la .Lungi, Moiuaeh, ikU or mar wli'id or grjiu Alt'. ix iT , I; . Pr. n.-tdwaj: I he uel your II aljr it i;.t 1111 and Har.g; ari.liau laagoireul. a il turnt t,at t!iif ar tu mari'lur 1 rauicdiea ot lua worii. ftsf cira when a l otheri til. Aug. 1J, It.L rHZl iL MTCübiED. . itJil, Ii!. Dt. Radirar: I har uaa 1 your uiJu.nei tor 11 yearn, aud tiaa curel all d.sojiai I hart rr trtauj. I baft jrvd raei vu- oi'iar dooijr aal fii-n m ? aa b 'los, i bat a thd beat aueoea wllft lndaiD&istcry rbeuuaUaiu. Ma-eh 8. IS.!. MRj. S. M. BCHELL. IN TEH-SALLY, 6 ba'.f tu a iji'0jbf il ia üalf 1 turutirr of tur will, i.i a f-f laiu itei, etira raiuv, fa; anoia, ß ur üiomaoti. Nwm, Votuii' aif, llr-artiiurn, üarr uuen, .i.ek-u , Siek it -a 1arh, Diarrtiea, Colic, i iatuU-aey, aai all iniaraal lain. Malaria In If Various Form Curf4 aiul 1'reventeJ. Tt.ar Ii cot a rarat a-iut in liie wori l '.UM will car favt-r and aue aa 1 all iwir :a ! rimi , !j:1iousanl oihar Ur r aiial r. ltA.!'AY 4 i'ILL, ociuickty aa K .Vi WAV's lit: AU V li-ULf. A .Sur ur- lor 1 -vcr uJ Ataa. KiLiWAY o iiLADY Ui.LJ.Lt' la a urj ojra weil as a pr jveutno of r'er r aui A4 ja, ilr i rutuedy lor J oaul tttat .11 ouri tau dla aia aulively, aud ooa'jl para iB 1 v t ia taa jrUi üulrict, .rae Iron aiuofcs. Tai 1 b U r taao. t Jt legion of a?ue cur, juiulo ctn.o ia , a.a. 1t baaourad tu iuianda. Tarauty dr p ia a Uli t lul, lu a glaaa of waler, ttu tun flrat ttiiarf Vtintf o-it ot bod la ha morula, will pr jl-ol tf a-tt-m lrom attaoka. Una 5i-oent b .tla will aar aa entire family, and have enough U.'t to tut alt aiaii oi rain that may troabla you, aittiar traut aaallaal or diaaaaa. 50c per Bottle. Sold by Drupgiets. üd SarsapariHian RasGivent. nz3 Th Oraat nioort FwrlfWr, For the Cure cf Chronic Disease. Chronlo Khaumat.atu, Pororu'.a, Haoktn Dry CjuU, tanoroua Atl.etion.. il eedln of to Langt, Wtuta ewolliog Tum .. Hip Uiaaaae, Uroaotutia. WotODiy doea tb Saraaparllia klTn aaaal all rtmadlal wen la Id tbe cura ot Chrono, Brotal4A lonititatloual aud Bain inaoaaoa, but la tüa oaiy poaitiva cura for KIDNEY AND BLADDER COMFLAINU OraTal. Diabotaa, lropy, Stoor. of Watr, laeontineüoao! Urine, Br.tfhfi IM. AlbauUouri, aud In all eaaea whu thara r brtoa-daat dapoaita, ar tba iittr U thick, cloudy, uil yitb aubiuioa lika tbe wblta ot -n a, or thraada hk white at. k. or there U a morbid, dsrk. buioua appea'aaaa, aal wblta bona dual depoaiu. and when thore It a prlokllna. barntni aonartion when paas.u tbe pain is tba email of the baok and alonj ta loiaa. li-idiiey Troublua. ATHBKS, O. PrarSlr: Ithongbtl woali write you and tell you what wonderful work your Harae;arl.lien üeiolrcBt baa d.n for ma. Six weas aa 1 could bo! moe without tbe (freat.t f ain wllU d aceae of Ihm kidneys. I bare tried Tery kind of liuliuent and diflerant m.d.cloo. and bad my doctor to P;": but notbmK d,dJ euy rod until I ;d 1 , lUaoleent. 1 loom, inre uom-" '" , " niore). Your F.11 are a Go 1-avni. I LTe rec-om-mnded them to ocr a hundred r-fraon, who all ear Eouad a. Ä l00fc TOM KAUL1. Yard Xeatet. Athene, M. A C Depoia. Kldneya Ueturtilujf to a Healthy Stat. R.dway ACo.-OentKnien: lam row tekinj the filth botlW- of your liaao rent aud 1 am roirlu Ml benefit from U wben all oth.r ic'nfailed. and y KU jy. ar- VeuTartoS condition, aud would recommend it t a.l au-lerln from any diaoaie whether lrom their Kidueye. a pecUullr rors& puitBl0lllU lUibeta. Loci!! a, Ma Pr Itadwar-IVer t?!r: I hae uaed a 1 your re a-,dT.wXrI.t-uec...lnrr'cllc; aal tbe way I folnd ...r with your Keaolr-ut. il cured aa of D abVe afUT tbree t hyaiciau. had .a me up. I ducted TchlnVe in my urineio two hr after the CratÄi bottle, cared -r friend. Dr. toap Sarsipariiiiw Resolvent. Atem, ly eoaoowi of mrej:. of eitra, rliaar, medical pro., rtiea. aa-.eutta.ly p .rtfy . haal. Te,,.ir.ndl.riKora .tti. bro.an d- aa wtad body. Uuica, p.eaant. .ate P1"""1 .v2 treatment andere. Sid by all dr.UM. ONal lAiLLAK A JJOTTLE. PILLS, The) Great IJrer anl Sfomarh rtemedy. Aa Kxrellont and Mil'i Cathartic Perfect I'urrnttTea. S'wthlmr Aperltita, Act Without Tain, Alwaji lteliabla ana NaU ural In Their Operatloua. Pertectir taatolM el aallr coated with awael I um. purtfn, regelate, purify, eUaaee and alrearlhea. RAD WAY'S PILLS For the rnra of all iltaordere of the htoraaeh, Liver, ltouela, IvMiiey, Hlawlder, Nt-rroue Hiaeaaee, Loeeof Appetite, lleaditche. Con. ati-aliou, toatlvenraa. Indication, Itilioua. lies, 1 ever, Intlamtnation of tho Hovtvla, l'tlea. and all deraiiKrinente of tha Internal iacera. furely V-;etn.Me, outaiuuiic am mercury, mineral, or Ucleterioue drtt(e. PKKFtCT ll;lTIt)S wilt ba accompllened. bj taking lUdway'e iilla. y eo doiaf DYSPEPSIA. Sick Hradach. Foul btomarh, Biliou-neaa, will b oid-d, aa the food that ia ealeu contribute ita courlihing protert;ee for the eupport ol the natural waale ot the bo Jr. av)utere taa following eymptoint retailing from diaeaaee el tüdd.geatlte Organa: Constipation, Inward plla. falloeea ot blood In the Band, aoidlty of the etomaah, naaaea, baarlbura. d.aurl ef food, fulineaior weUtt of the eteaiaei, eiur eraotatioaa, inkiag or fluttering of the heart, chokioc eraaXoeaiiotf aenaationa when In a lytog povture, dinaneat ctTiaion. dota or wata before the eiht, fever ant dull pain in the ha I, de.ic.eney of paripireUoa, ya.luwneaa of the akia and area, pain la th aid a, cheat, Iitutiaal auddea fluane of boat, burning ia th fleeh Afawdoeeeot RADVYAY FILLS will Ire tba f yiteui el all the above named diaordera. 1'ricw 25c per Box. Bold by all Drutrguta. Dil ltAIWAY A CO.. No. S2 Warren at, Kmf York, iU wall Book of Advieeoa application Da buro to tiet "HaawajV
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