Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 August 1893 — Page 10

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THE IXDIAXA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 23, 1893-TWELYE PAGES

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AHESS I

A Novel: By Dr. T" CHAPTER XXIV. Sparkle In Daager. As Carl Brandon's strength was restored he naturally gravitated Into many of his old Ideas and lived his old life out again. Losing his property Jhad, his ambition. Like many a man, he had a tendency to giveT up and not renew the struggle. It Is a hard matter to live down inherited conditions and climb over adversities at the same time. The struggle was more than he had the ability for. As Sparkle was employed at her new found calling, that of dressmaking and caring for the baby, rue had but little time to give to the necessary moral teaching and personal influence Carl Brandon was so sadly in need of. He was wandering along on the very verge of desolation. There had already stolen Into his mind many a thought of suicide as the shortest and quickest way out of his troubles. His high and pure, regard for Sparkle Prooke wavered and weakened as his ambition for personal success and pride of character grew less. Late in the fall, after several weeks of half indifference, during which time Sparkle had scarcely received an endearing word from him. the care of the baby became a matter resting upon her as if It were her own, while she was struggling to meet the household expenses, feeling all the time that her health falling, her strength giving way, and approaching winter with a pinch of cold now and then, and a few feathery snowflakes flying in the air like little white- messengers, inquiring of the pale girl how she expected to live through the long cold spell. At times her young heart almost failed her, she felt like falling by the wayside, and to add to this, dire exasperation seemed to lurk at her very door. Almost nightly, through some pretext. Carl would knock at her door; though gently told that nothing was needed, again it would be repeated. In her wakefulnes3 one night, hearing the knock, and thinking it was her mother, she unbolted the door. Before she had time to reclose it Carl Brandon entered. For the first time in her life she saw him under the Influence of whisky. She begged and implored him to leave. Placed between two extremities she feared her mother would hear the intruder and she feared the intruder would not leave. What could she do? While trying to evolve some means of escape or of getting rid of the visitor, he quickly grasped and held her as if in a vise. While the girl, without making an attempt to release herself, was using all her mental machinery to evolve some plan by which to extricate herself from difficulties so threatening. - "Sparkle Brooke," sttid the man, "I want to know what is the matter that you treat me so coldly? What have I done thtit you avoid speaking to me? You make me desperate. I have reached that point where I believe myself capable of anything awful." The girl shuddered, being at loss for a reply. "You," he said, "have never seemed like yourself since the young minister came to town, that spindly-shank thing." Quickly throwing his arm about her he said: "I will kiss you anyhow," and did so before the girl could prevent it. Freeing herself in an instant, she commanded him in a low voice, determined, but audible, to leave. To this he paid no attention, quietly seating himself in the only chair in the room, and turning the lamp a little lower than it had been burning before, continued: "I will not leave this room until you forgive me for all my past villainy." This expression was almost as striking as the other occurrences. What could it mean? The very idea that she could stand In the way of his reformation, in any act or word, was the last thing she would permit. While she had treated him coldly, she had never ceased to love and pity him. "Answer this for me," he continued, "and my reformation will he complete. Without your love and guidance I will go to the devil by the shortest road possib'e." This touched the girl's sympathy. Her braver self threw off her timidity. Stepping by his side she said in a low voice; "Carl, you do not know me. you really talk simple when you drag that young minister Into this affair. It is mixed up enough without his creed of disci- t heard him preach one day about original sin. and that there were llttl infants in hell not a span long, and he actually made me shudder. Such a mild-eyed, inoffensive little being to carry in his bosorn such an awful theology. From what little I have seen of the world, so far, I am inclined to think If patan gts all the old ones that Justly belong to him there will be no room in that terrible plnce for bahlen. I always shudder at that form of demon worship. It reminds me very much of old Wendeok and hT pets in the cave." And hoping to change the subject, and his mind perhaps, which was not very clear to him. Sparkle continued: "I went to her cave yesterday to ronKult her about baby. She knows all about these things, it seerncs, and trll.H me so much that is strange and new, and, to my poor little pate. H wonderful. You Just ought to look in once and see where she lives. For a moment I was horrified, looking at her and the toads and s.rpents about her, but her kind, goM voice rippled like music In the dim darkness, or may I say In the pale, uncertain light that floated out through the gloom of the den In mysterious like folds, and where they came fnm I could not conjecture, but ufikient were they to show me, first her queer nnd hideous eyes and her un-enmt-ed. bristly red hair and the greut black wen dangling to h -r nec k, and the greasy cards that we saw when nhe first entered the town, her club feet and rags. What do you think was In her rap?" The man seemed fully absorbed In the girl's statement, and simply gave her an Inquiring look, as much as to Invite her to proceed. "In her lap was nothing more nor less than a larjre spotted snake that fcho fondled as gently a I raren my baby." The accent in mentioning my baby Invited Carl Brandon's eyes to the baby and his thoughts changed now; he was more gentle. "Yes, Carl, she would pet that awful inake, and It se rned to love her, for h wrappevl It about her arm and neck, and It would lay Its head upon her cheek hh gently as baby sleeps on mine, and its eyes looked like two little Kparks of fir, and It tongue would dart out and diaprear between Its closed Hps. and through the small elliptical opening he would slowly hls. but seemingly in klndne, and when hs snl! to Mm. 'Satan she called him Satan, you see, because Wendk any there la no devil, that the early and Ignorant people, being afraid of snakes wove a mythical story about them, and changed them Into various forms, and gave them mysterious life, and said they dwelt In fire. She said to him, Satan, lefa tell Sparkle's fortune, and pointed to the deck of cards in the pocket of her wen; he slowly and gracefully bent his neck and selected one card from the deck which he picked out 6S nicely with his fangs as you could pull a hair with

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in J. A. Houser. tweezers, and held It up to h?r as much as to say, 'What Is" it, mistress?' and when Wendeck's eyes fell upon the card she raised her hand as if In fright and said: "Beware, poor cfclld, another serpent Is after you." I looked at it and' it was the Jack of clubs, as Wendeck called it, and she said. 'Sparkle, there Is a deep laid scheme for your ruin. It Is as secret as the trail of a serpent on a rock, and as binding as the coil of the boa. Ere you know it. it will steal In upon you, in the night time, and will grasp your young life, and all your calm hopes will go out, and your fair nanie will be forever black. " Carl Brandon listened, but did not seem to understand. Continuing, the girl said: "Just by old Wendeck's side was a great, grinning, hollow skull, and in it a poor toad took refuge and made the dry teeth chatter, and little bats, with firey eyes, sat in the sockets where human eyes once were, and snails dragged their slimy bodies slowly over the slick bones, and fieshless hands lay hardby; toying with those fingers I saw a chattering monkey, who would, handle them over and over and wave them at the snake, and step up nearer and touch Wendeck with that fleshless hand and withdraw. Wendeck said the monkey wanted to tell me of some danger. I heard a strange noise in the distant part of the cave, it seemed like a rumbling and then a moan. In the thick gloom, where there was not one ray of light. I cast my eyes in that direction, as I could not look any other way, something riveted my vision In the darkness. I could not even take notice of the monkey that had rolled a skull up against my feet and perched himself upon it and seemingly wanted to tell me something that I could not listen to. I could only hear the moaning and look at the darkness." As she proceeded, unconsciously, Carl Brandon had drawn her upon his knee where she sat, not seeming to realize her position, and even if she had she would have been incapable of escaping, as his great, strong arms pinioned her to him. "While I still looked Into the darkness, where, as yet, there was not one ray of light, not one form, not one outline, but the very groans peopled those shadows with a thousand phantoms. Looking at it, still I was too horrified to stay, and yet I could not go. The calm voice of Wendeck, raised with sweet music on the black wings of the gloom and echoed over the pendant stalactites that hang like keys from the rocky dome above and gave every word a little tinkling sound like the Jingling of tiny bells far o'er some hill where witches were sleighing. 'Look carefully. Sparkle, she said, 'and I will show you a vision of your fate.' She need not have told me to look, for I could not do otherwise. First the blackness showed Just one radiant but dim spot like the melting of some stray moonbeam that dissolved and spread out till it seemed like a globe of light in a universe of night, and in the center of this there appeared the Irregular form of sorne indescribable monster, such as belongs only to the world of demons. I could see at first but its great, long, crooked body. It was without shape or form, but soon took on a fixed appearance. Now eyes burned their way through the black, thornlike scales of the monster's head, but they were so dim. A cleft divided the parts below the eyes, and an nngrylooking, blood-stained mouth opened, as if by magic; great black teeth, one byone, rose, and on his dark, sheel-cov-ered belly, great clumsy feet seemed to drop out and extend themselves in iron hooks for claws on all four. lie had a monstrous tail that waved in the gloom slowly, and the monster advanced. We heard hisses and groans and deep gutteral sounds like brutes make, and as he advanced the darkness seemed to grow more black. "As this cloud came about us it chilled my very blood. I could not cry out, and I longed to know what the monster was and what were his designs. When I tried to retreat, the blackness, like a wall, pressed me forward to th very mouth of the monster. I became so weak when 1 looked at it I thought how welcome death wonld be Instead of his touch. Even ten thousand deaths better than one touch of the monster of darkness." The girl became so deeply absorbed to divert the designing man's attention she was scarcely conscious of the position he had put her In. Still continuing her talk: "And while I looked again upon the terrible monster jiktor Wendeck said. 'This is the monster of human passion that comes from the blackness of the human soul.' There came from the other part of the cave a dove, whose wings were the flame of the purest light, and whose eyes had a celestial luster and whose bright tiosora seemed to divide the darkness and It went directly to the monster's form, and as It touched It the light of the dove went out like a frail taper that had dropped Into a mllnlght sea. and with fright I shouted. 'Oh. Wendeck. save me!' " At that very Instant the outer door of Sparkle's room swung wide open, and In th dim light, advancing to the bedside where the helpless Kir! lay, was no less than the club-footed woman, whose face was lighted up with a strange fire that was unbearable to behold. "Yes. dear child. I have come to save you." ami so saying unwound the colls of the great spotted snake, and grabbing the frightened man, who trembh'd till his teeth chattered, she said: "Accursed devil. I have you now. Off you go to the hag's den." Colling the serpent alout his neck, she passed out of the door and down the dark street, towing Carl Brandon with a snake-rope, and dragging him Into the cave, leaving him In his drunken stupor till she returned to the frightened girl to tell her what mysterious presence had told her to come. The girl, who was still sitting on the bed. trembling with fright, though It had been a full half hour, could hardly realize that all was not a dream. Throwing her arms around the neck of the angelic monster, who carried in her deformed body the dl Inest soul and the purest love, kissed her face that now seemed beautiful, patted her cheek as a frightened girl would and said: "I have before this been able to save myself; this time I was helpless and you rescued me. I bless you a thousand times." IIAI'TF.K xxv. Curl In tbr Cave. When Carl Brandon had passed through the stupor of drunkenness and awoke In the cave, he found himself In an apartment dimly lighted by a little flame of gas that escaixd from a crevice. In a rock, giving light sufficient to show him his surrounding which were quite uncanny enough for an Inferno. The Irregular and lurid glare of the burning; flickering rind flaming, then Incoming steady and again flickering, blown by a current of cold air that came from the mouth of a still deeper MtVern beyond the one he occupied, gavo the- appearance of th long, slender stalactites and the thick, monumental stal agmite the near approach of an upper and lower graveyard. The dark alcoves opening between thi black itickn, through which bats came and went on their hurriM Journey, were not calculated to cheer a person of the franu of rnlndCarl Brandon wns at this time. As he gazed steadily in the gloom the dilating pupils beheld more and more of his unpleasant nurroundlngs. In thi

distanca he could her the , roar of waters, steadily and unchanged, except

occasionally broken by a splash and again a continuous roar. From the direction the roar came there would be an occasional flash of light and a deep sound, not unlike thunder, and again the steady roar was all he heard. As he lay upon the cold stone floor, -the bats would pass and repass so near they would fan him with their wings. Now and - then he would see the form of a black animal draw near and recede In the darkness. Again It would appear and disappear. Sometimes two or three of these creatures would approach and withdraw and finally pass on. Fear so oppressed him he felt scarcely brave enough to move a hand or foot or utter a word. He simply beheld and meditated. In the darkness his imagination soon enlarged the bats into vampires with wings many yards long and mouths large enough to swallow him. The little cave-dwellers that trotted past him now became monsters In his imagination and towered over him like mammoth beasts, showing threatening teeth and savage eyes. Wendeck's monkey, that was awaiting her return, now came out, chattering and rolling the skull which he always perched upon, hoping to give the visitor as good a welcome as he was able to. The debauchee imagined the monkey much taller than a man. and seeing him perched upon a skull, gazed upon the spectacle overpowered with fright. Feeling something cold pass over his half naked breast, he ventured to move his hand and it fell upon the spotted snake, and, meditatively, he said: "Yes, I am dead and in hell. I have finally reaped what I have been sowing. 1 have gathered the fruits from the tree I planted. My nest has hatched scorpions. I remember now when I died In a wild fit of passion, when I was about to commit an awful crime and black the life of the only friend I ever had, and a monster entered and killed me. I re member how .all seemed black and how ray soul ,wasl hurried on through the night. It seemed to me I was dragged by chains made out of serpents, on and on for everlasting ages, and while I was making this Journey in darkness every act of my life passed before me. I noticed they wer nearly all bad. and finally when wearied and exhausted, suffering all the agony, such as I never knew on earth, I remember I entered the great mouth of hell, the monster threw me upon this stone floor with such force I lost all consciousness, all power to move, yet I know it has been ages and ages since I fell here. At one time there came before my vision a view of a far off beautiful world, and something told me it was called "Peace." It had sunlit valleys and starlit hills, trees were ladened with flowers and fruits, ripe and blushing together. Fountains sent their sparkling jets on every hand and birds sang such enchanting songs and chariots came and went on great bright wings, passing, coming and gMng through a balmy, purple tinted golden atmosphere where all echoes .Inally came back and whispered "peace" to the lips that sent them, and there I saw in this paradise the beautiful, spotless being whom I last saw bending ove my child and kissing it. She still bore it in her arms and both seemed so Ineffable and divinely lovely I could not look at them steadily without putting my hands over my wicked face, as the sight was so oppressive and made me experience a wretchedness of which earth knows nothing. I heard from the Hps of her. in whose arms rested the Infant, a half sad wall, 'I tried to redeem him. but he escaped me.' All ' this I now know. Time has come and gone, each followed hi path, each reached his Journey's end. She has gone to peace, I have come to perdition. Here this monstrous devil, seated upon his throne of skulls. Is chattering and waiting to drag me yonder to the burning flame and the bottom of the pit, 'where the worm dleth not and the fire is never quenched.' Serpents now crawl over my body, vampires pass and turn their fiery eyes upon nu imps talk out of the blackness and open their mouths at me. Truly this is hell. This is a drunkard's hell. But even here I am nM so wretched as I would be in the bright world where she Is. I am even glad I am in hell, rather than to torment her with my presence." Finishing this medltntlon and looking toward the monkey he said: "I know, satan, you are waiting for me, I know I must pass from this horrible presence into that pit. I know my doom and accept my fate. Io your worst." h said, rising, "let hell come.' Flnlrhing his oral revery he walked toward the dark op nlng where wef seen the flashes of the light and whence came the muttering thunders.' As he advanced the stone floor declined at a very considerable angle and was smooth and slippery from the presence of moisture. Beaching this acute incline, being still unsteady from thf effects of his drunkenness, a misguided step caused both feet to slip from tinder him nnd he fll flat upon be smooth, stone-decllnlng plane. The r 'nt was commenced nnd Increased w'- irful npldlty. His body, feet foremo- t darted like an arrow down through the narrow rockway with suh velocity that for a few seconds he lost consciousness, that he did not regain until he was plunged Into a pool of cold water, from which he manar-ed to extr'cate h'mself by cl'mb'nr unon a rok at the edgi of the basin there to contemplate the fasnes of light above him and the muttering thunder, mingled with the roar of n cataract thnt poured down st one side and form the acquaintance of the rtrange creatures that seemed to give him welcome. CHtl'TF.n XXVI. A Fori ii nr. After Wendck had calmed the fears of the nervous girl, who had escaped such a fate, she thought it proper time to give the girl a full detail of hT father's denth and present the papers that gave her the rlsrht to the fortune, of which she had not even th slightest dream. Her surprise was as great as her horror had been but a short time before. She remembered that hf-r father used to speak about the fortune that would some lime come to him, but as he had not mentioned It for so long before he left home, she thought jorhnps his hopes had not been well founded, and It had not entered Sparkle Brooke's mind for many a day. In taking up dressmaking she did It as a last resort for support. Now, hearing this, receiving the papers nnd looking at their great seals, was truly a surprise to her, "Anil now poor baby will not starve," said Sparkle, "even if my health does fall." and In a hysterical way she laughed, cried and danced about the room like a puppet at a curtain show, throwing herself upon Wendeck, who was then sitting upon the chair vacatM so abruptly by Carl Brandon at the forcible request of herself. The ulrl hugged ami kissed the woman, repeating, "It Is you that I must thank for -all this, bless your beautiful, noble soul." The woman could not suppress an audible laugh to be culled beautiful. The girl, observing the mistake, said: "A beautiful mail hlden the deformities rif the body and the Irregularities, of the face." Mrs. Brooke, hearing laughing and talking In Sparkle's room, could not conjecture what It meant, and, like a mother, noon found herself in her dauhtrr's incsiMico und to h?r horror ulso whom die wan wont l e.i the rimttMrous hag. But upon full explan itl m of what h id occurred, th.it I. no far os related about the pni-N und i he long Journey, and h'-r wound, when he vva knocked off the crag by the beast, und the trial and vicissitudes she hud en ditre! to curry th paper to their propr owner, whs enough to overflow the responslve heart of Mrs. Mrooke, nnd tho mother, like her d.uuM'T. fell to k!s. Ing and hugging th ugly woman und heaping every benediction upon ncr. To nil of th" blessings heaped umu Vii,dock nhe had no response except to sny: "In this world there are certain duties that present thcmgclvc to us, which, If

performed, wjll raise us morally higher: from this elevated position we can perform other duties and. be raised Btill higher, thus, through a changing gradation, by keeping that one star duty before our minds as we rise. Duties performed give, others faith in us, as we have more confidence in ourselves. The consciousness or having done a duty Is a plaudit that sa-Vfies : the longing of the soul and. brings it Into correspondence with wider environments. These -on-ditions bring, to a person the first and most Important element, happiness, contentment, and the-person thus escapes that most unpleasant of all human sufferings, self-condemnation. ' ' "This duty presented itself first, and I said I would carry the wounded man, who proved to be- your father, off the boat. Failing in this we both fell into the water., WTien I thought he was not drowned the next thought was to find him that I might aid him, which I did, and there-- got the revelation in regard to the papers. The . next duty at that moment was for me to care for myself, the Journey seemed to end at his death. In endeavoring to get some men's clothing to wear I unearthed your friend who was buried alive; found the papers; then a new duty presented Itself the taking of them to you. In doing this I encountered that which in overcoming I have carried the anticipation of my longing spirit so far above my deformed find unfortunate body I no longer realize that I am not a" perfect Venus. In filling the cup of Joy for another mine has run over. I now see my duties drawing to a close. In this, nature seems to be very kind, as the work is nearly done. I know the silver cord is soon to be loosed. The last duty remaining for me is to aid you. poor child, In carrying a misguided creature above the blackness of his own created night, refining that harsh spirit as gold in the crucible. When this is done, when that selfish heart has laid aside its dross and has been filled with such a pure love that no trace of bitterness will ever again touch It, and I realize that I can trust you to his care and keeping. I will go to sleep like some weary child who looks with longing upon the playthings and toys and lays them down, one by one, and folds Its little hands and seeks a longed-for rest. Then I shall thus wait till the Infinite sees fit to wake my spirit again and cloth? it with whatever form may please His divine taste, and I will take another journey as I have taken many before. Duty may be clothed with a thousand different garments, but its spirit is always the same,"

CHAPTER XXVII. The Tool, (""art Brandon sat upon the rock a time that seemed to him like many ages, believing firmly that I.? was In hell. At least, it was a place of awful torment, nor could he bring himself to realize that he was still In possession of his natural body. Sometimes he would lelieve it was all a nightmare; that he was asleep, and he .would pinch his flesh, bite his lips, pull his hair to awaken himself, and finally, resort to that only way known by which a. person In that psychological condition, called nightmare, can awaken himself, and that is by winking rapidly. Doing this he perceived no change in his consciousness. Ills reason seemed as clear as ever. His feet were still in the water. The splashing he still heard. He put his hand in the water and It was natural. Could he walk? An attempt at which might pitch him into another and worse place than the one he now occupied. Looking up he saw an explosion; all was light, then all darkness, except a small light that was burning., At a regular time there would be another explosion, a flash of light, a rumbling and things would resume their, former quiet with a small light burning in the darkness. This seemed strange. The flash of light appeared -to be several feet from where the explosion took, place. An lnvesttga tlon would have proven the presence of an inverted bowl-like cavity in the rock, that filled with a combustible gas, which being lighter than the atmosphere, retained its position in the vessel; when the vessel was filled the gas crowded out. run over coming In contact with a little flame of the same material would explode. 1 giving rise to the rumbling noise. The explosion would extinguish what otherwise would have remained as a burning Jet in the bottom of the bowl. The bowl would again fill and run over, come in contact with the flame and explode, to repeat the same operation continually. It was like his own nature. A running over of his spirit, li, tally lgnlnd, followed by an explosion, after which all was dark. In his case, as in the escspe of the fluid, there seemed always to te a flame near by to contribute to the cfl'n strophe. Turning his attention to his neighbors he founu tle.rn to be without eye.-;. The body is like the soul, there are no eyes In darkness! Examining the crawfishes that came up on the rock to pinch his bare foet, he discovered . them, to be soft, white and blind, but the sense of touch made amends for the lots of sight and dike blind children have eyes In their fingers. The crawfishes had them In their pinchers. The little fishes that drifted attout were frail, thin and like the crawfishes were eyeless. The denizens of the world of night re always frail and pale, less Intelligent than their kind in the light, be they human or brute. He looked at these, he looked nt hlmsHf. he looked nt . the dirk opening through which he ha I shot downward to Ins pii'Mid position, and he thought "what doc it all mean?" While looking at the. long, rocky-walled toboggan slide by which means he had icxdied this, to htm the infernal region, he saw a black object with shining eyes dart down Into the water followed by another nnd another, coming up from beneath the water and swimming by him. Next thing that came tumbling down the shoot with a rattle nnd a bang that sent It clear across ihe pool falling right nt Carl Brandon's feet, was the skull which the monkey, by accident or on purpose, had sent rolling öfter the Intruder. A skull Is always suggestive and generally horrible. In the gloom of a cave undr the glare of irregulir light It is both. What should ho do? Must the rest of his existence Im spent here? He could not say days, for there were neither day nor nights, it wus one after another returning glare, crash nnd returning darkness. While to contemplate what course to pursue, for nn escape seemed impossible, all of a sudden the water In the pool became rndlnnt, and looking downwnrd. he saw the ple, phosphorescent lights that emanated from the bodies of some water creatures, such tis nre found In the tropical ocean. The darkness dispelled front the pool th water proved to be clear as crystal Lying within It wen not only the si ranglooking creatures that belonged th'Te, but a number of human skulls anil other bones us well, pouhtlcs, If they could have spoken, they would have told the history of early times and when they were murdered, which was common in that locality. The bod leu of the victims were dragged Into the cave and then thrown Into the trough that swept them Into the pool. However, this last horrible aspect whs more than he could stand and from the fright he simply atnrtcd into the darkness that soon ho perfectly enveloped him and shut out the light from the burning gas and tho noise an well. He soon found that he was alone In a gri-at, Muck, nolxclcss grnvo, itfectly burled from all the earth. Hxtendlng his hnnds upon either side, he felt nothing, could touch nothing; beneath hin feet was a coll.'d.inip stone floor. When standing still, the beating of his own heart gave forth a imislcul sound, suggestive of Ids funeral march. In his great nnmilih h cried out In a loud halloo and heard the call nn If embodied nnd rolling away from one- sld of the cavern to tho other, bounding backward again then dying away In a far, faint echo thnt would always say "lost." No difference what, ho sul 1,

even If he would cough, no other sound Intervening, each sound took the same course and finally molded Into the same echo "lost." When standing listening to the beating of his own heart he would sometimes feel the moving of air, as If fanned by great wings; again all was still. Some largi being of some description would seem to come near him, though whether It made any noise or not 'he could not say, but he felt a presence near that oppressed him; again it was withdrawn. Tue unnatural conditions came and went as his nervous system was affected by the darkness, until his weakness so overcame him that he could not stagger in the darkness, wandering about aimlessly, and carelessly. The step from fear to Indifference Is not great. Finally a noise aroused his drooping spirits, the sound of footfalls approaching, stopping; when he moved it came toward him. Finally it came so near he thought he could almost touch it. Feeling a hand upon him, grasping him tightly and drawing him, he followed.

For some distance the path seemed to be level nnd then there was an ascent, laborious, tiresome. Not a word was sp Tho rrnn inon his wrist was never loosened. Though firm, yet It was gentle. Still he struggled upward, following the guidance of his leader. lie had not even dared to touch the hand that grasped him, but in making a misstep, as he was about to fall, he threw out his free hand to grasp the one that held his other and found resting beneath his fingersa soft, small hand and on it a ring. A slight examination of the ring convinced him that he knew the hand. Was It a dream or death, and a hand taking him back to life? He could not speak. He sank for a moment, however, powerless to move. A disguised voice said: "On, or we are lost." Pressing the hand to his lips he struggled up and still upward. He was faint. A cup was pressed to his lips, a sip and he was revived. The air now became denser and more oppressive. Could he survive? His guide seemed to falter as he thought by the unsteadiness of the grasp, the hand seemed to be growing weaker. Whatever it was, whoever it was. that was leading him had fallen and was moaning. This nerved him. Stooping he fet the garments of a woman. Picking her up his arms he heard another step, he took another hand that led him while he carried his burden into the light at the mouth of the cave, where on a rude cot, supported at one end by a 'willow basket, he laid the form of Sparkle Brooke. The light fell full upon her beautiful pale face, and their golden hair, wet from the nvisturo of th- cave, flowed backward like sunlight from the pale brow of the morning. He knew all now, how he had been taken to the cave and tumbled down into the otter pool. A few steps further would have thrown him down into the black abyss that had never been explored. Sparkle in her anxiety had followed Wendeck to the cave; the monkey showed them where the stranger had gone. The condition of Wendeck's feet made the descent to the pool impossible, but the light trip of love passss over obstacles that restrain the advance of armies, mocks science and defies genius. Sparkle went. She followed as the monkey dileeted. fearing to call, lest her voice should frighten him, believing If she coe'd but grnsn his han he would yield and be led. as he did. Hearing his footf 11:'. she ought hint out in the darkness of the gloom and retraced her steps by a silk thread one end nt which was in the faithful Wendeck's hand. As the morning licht fell upon the pal upturned face of Sparkle Brooke to Carl Brandon she was divine. Kneeling at the side of the rude cot, he kissed the marble brow and in the presence of the deformed fortune teller, consecrated his life to the devoted girl and his child. The last lesson proved effectual. He had finally passed from all darkness Into light. Coming from the gloom of the cave, the loving hand of the girl had not onlyled the body back to safety. It had led the soul to the matchless triumph of redemption. As the girl slowly revived from her exhaustion nnd stupor hn was still kneelinir at her slile kissing hr hind. She looked nt him with a smOe that said, "all Is well." and then ho remembered all his vision. She had reclaimed him. Wendeck rnzinc upon Ctrl Brandon, said: "All the evil has now fnded out: you cr.n trut him. his soul is purified." Trial" and traditions meke ftl'h. F-Hh his no creed Fnlth never knows itself. It is the hltrhest nnd dlvinest love that seeks the welfare of another. cinrTrn xxvui. After Xlglit Cometh Morning1. Thft doom and d-r'ni'ss r th cave fold plainly on Wendeck's health her vigorous strength wns plainly declining; her robust health f.howed slrn f weakening; a hectl" fever rose every sfterrmon, to be followed bv some exhaustion, and rot Infreo'iently profuse preplratlon at night. Though Sparkle Brooke nnd Carl Brand in visited her every day, carrying the nicest dlsn-s of food, her apntlte refused to be tempted; nor could any persuasion on their pirt Induce ner to go to the Brocke home; she preferred the tave. One day while at 'he cave alone with Wendeck. Sparkle begged her with more persuasion than usual to return to tie house with her and share all the comforts, both her mother and self would only too gladly bcsto.v, nut she was mit with the same cal-n. kind rep'.', that Wendeck would rather remain in the cave, she did not want bother anyone. Sparkle and Carl were present with her ulrnost day and night, bringing the best medl.Ml attention the country afforded, but the von-jneror, with tha pale flag, steadily advanced toward the citadel of life. , '1 hough Sparkle's wedding day ivns near at hand. Wendeck was never neglected was beKg..d daily to come to the Brooke home, but always gave the same kind answer and remained in the cave. In deference to the sickness of the fortune-toiler the wedding was a private affair, there being present only a few friends on the Sunday afternoon when th" ceremony took place, affr which Carl and Sparkle, now Mr. and Mrs. Brandon, hurried to the cave to minister to the crippled sufferer.. They found her upon the cot as usual, her hands resting uxn her breast, the semblance of a faint smile lingering upon her face, but the heart was still nnd the kindest nnd purest spirit that shone forth in the darkness of a cold and "selfish world had gone to rest. Written above her head, on the dark stone wnll of the cave, in a phosphorescent glow were the words: "My work is done." Beside the cot were the monkey and the spotted snake, motionless. Bike their strange mistress, their Journey wu ended. When the hand of duty hns swept the harp-strings of the noul for the last time, rest is Nervana. thi: knd.

A Modul rrrnall)', "Now, Mabel, shall I write that we're ever so awfully sorry that we have a previous engagement, or that we deplore that we shall be out of town on that date, nnd so ennnot accept with a thousand regrets r what? Do help me, dear." "Oh, anything will do for those people anything hut the truth. "Vogue. T improve on "llnmlrt," "How was the audience nt your rendering of 'Hamlet' last nlKht?" was uslv-d of a barn stormer. "Very, very poor." "Why. what was the mutter -with It?" I don't know, but I suppose ht)l have to rewrite the play before the people up tum will u!vt It." London T1JBits. - Ministers, Lawyers, Teachers nnd editors whose occupation kIvc little exercise, dr-tild use Carter's Bltlle Liver 1111 fvr torpid liver and bllllousncss.

THE VEGETARIAN CREED.

WHY ITS PROFESSORS BELIEVE IX A BILL OF FARE WITHOUT MEAT. The Xamerons DUeaaea of the Stomach Are Often Dne to Oar Appetite for Meat and Other Stimulants Man Ja tt Is Made to Grind Grnln and FruttM, and His Hands Are Made to Gather Them. One of the causes which have led people to reject the'doctrine of vegetarianism is the idea that it is Inspired by pietism, religious convictions and monastic mortification. But this is a grave error, for the rational vegetarianism of today is entirely scientific and dictated by the sole desire to follow a system conforming to the laws of nature. It has science on its side, and only the force of habit is opposed io It. The muscles become soft, the size diminishes, humanity degenerates, and is kept in working order only by sedatives and tonics. The numerous maladies of the stomach and the intestines, from simple catarrh to the most serious diseases of the organs, are often due to our appetite for meat and other stimulants. Vegetarianism, we are told by Dr. Bonnejoy, does not consist solely in vegetable food, but Is based on three dietetic axioms: (1) The general rebuilding power lies In cereals, seeds, vegetables, tubers, fruits. eg-, r.ilk and the'r derivatives; (2) the food, the air. and. in general, everything that is introduced into the body should show absolute purity, freshness and entire absence of falsifications, mixture and adulterations, even in the smallest quantities; (3) it is necessary, as far as may be possible, for each one to manufacture his foods and drinks at home, in order to reach the desired results. These are the principal dogmas of the vegetarians. Man is not intended to eat meat. His jaw is made to grind grain and fruits. His hands are made to gather them. The Darwinian theorydoes not permit us for an instant to doubt the frugivorous nature of man. His intestinal canal is also a proof. In the lion this is three times as long aa the body; in man, seven or eight times as long. . The human body Is a machine which, to be kept in good working order, should be nourished according to scientific rules and not at the desire of our fancies. Four classes of substances are necessary for the maintenance of life the albuminoids, the carbohydrates, the fats, the minerals. Now, meat contains but three of these, while the vegetables contain all four. Vegetable food is also necessary for our intellectual life; for, as Moleschott has said, without phosphorus there is no thought. The phosphorus contained In veKetable food is almost double the quantity contained in animal food. But these are not all the advantages of vegetarianism . Those who believe that meat gives the rose color to the cheeks and Hps must be shown their error. For, as Prof. Mussa has shown, the amount of iron oxide contained In the vegetables is much greater than that found in meat. However, vegetarianism is not too presumptuous with regard to its wonderful powers. Its doctrines demand, at the same time, the constant and intelligent practice of all sorts of hygenie rules. It calls to its aid pure air, light, heat or cold, water, exercise, and, commencing with alcohol, the condemnation of all stimulants. In these conditions it is difficult to say which would prove more beneficial, the renunciation cf meat or the application of a well-understood hygiene. It Is, however, indisputable that vegetarianism, at its best, comprises in its necesories many things which make It worthy of general sympathy. Review of Reviews. ArtlfU-lnl SHU from Wood. Two methods ha e become kunvtii of late In Fringe for mamifncturintr Filk from wood that of Chardonn?: nt d r. nother of Du Vi vier, ltth of which In reality are baso.l upon the Fame contrivances. Tf one :xur.-i nitrk and sulphuric add, not p trticul trly coiuviitrated and In a limi'ed quantity, upr n cotton conpi-tlntr of cellulose wordy substance), one rev-I ra a kind of weak pun cotton thnt pU?ei Into a mixture of ether and alcohol becomes a i.Miiron mass known ts collodio.j. Exposed, to the air this mass become solid attain b.' volatilization t.f rh 'ether and the a'cohol. The two I r'uli cimvists n.i?d prepare of wonj o mans sinni&r to collodion that pi ic-d !n water becomes solid nearly insrantan-ttisly. From this mass under water threads are spun that are called artificial Ilk. Hut, pay the New York Herald, it is a wellknown fact that artificial products always are inferior to natural products. This Is also the case wltlt the artificial silk Just described. It is glossy. It is true, but It differs in some desrree from natural or genuine silk, particularly by its combustibility. It burns with a brighter flame than Fllk proper, wool or even cotton. S r rl n ir Ohjert Over firent DUtances. Among possibilities opened up by modern science Is that of being able to see over as great distances as we now hear by telephone. From a lecture delivered by Mr. Le Tontols before the Pittsburg eloctrlc club it appears that sufficient iidv.n ha been toad tpon an Instrument of this character to give color to the belief that its perfection Is only a mutter of a short time. The operation of the instrument described 13 ha soil upon the property of selenium by virtue of which its resistance is affected by light, and by submitting a selenium cell successively to the various degrees of light reflected from the object to be pictured a current of a pulsating nature Is produced, whose pulsations respond to the various light waves reflected and are transmitted over the line nnd reproduced at the receiving instrument. The imitge Is reflected as in a looking glass and transmitted over a wire without the use of photography or tiny permanent recording of the picture. Cooling: the Dlnlntr Hon tu. A clever notion for cooling the atmosphere at large dinners Is the use of blocks of Ice. Formerly they were put on the table. Thin Is a mistake, as the ice does not then come In contact with the current of Hlr neccssury to spread the frcuhness through the room. The best place is In the window, where a certain amount of draft can be arranged. The apparatus destined to hold the hug Mock may consist of a square or oblong box filled near the top with a perforated tray to carry away the constant dripping. The Ice could not stund on tha tray ns the metal would work loto the block. 1'or this reason it Is placed on a wooden tray. The receptacle, when hidden by a suitable arrangement of grasses ar.J foliage merely looks like a decoration. rklnfx Vernacular. Wo Hunday-school Teacher '"Now, Tommy, describe the combat that took place between David and flnllutli." Tommy (full of enthusiasm at a fluht) "dollar, h canto out and talked awhllf throujrh Iii hat. DavM, he chinned him a little, an then he upnd ami pegged lilm In the cokeinttt with a brick, and tSollar croaked." Drake's Mugur.lne. Monte I.lltle l'.iirrlrnee. Hhe "Von are the first one who ever khned mo thut way." He "You mean you never felt a lover's kiss." Hhe "No, I mean that no one ever before missed my mouth, und bit my nose three times out of five." Street & Hmlth'a (Jood New, .

3 fun

15)

MINUTE REMEDY. Oa'y rqn're mlnv'.M, not hour, to reiiart pais knd eon scute diaeaoM. ADVAY'S READY RELIEF. The Cheapest and Best Medicine For Family Use in the World. In from on to twenty m'nat, never fa'.la to ral'ova PIN with one thorough sipl canon. so mat tar how vlomt or xerutiat:ng tl pa;u, the heumaUo, Bedridden, Infirm, r.pp'et Nervous Neural mo or prostrated w:th d. - may sutler, tADWlY'S MEA.OT KliUEF aflord isaum easa. Inflammation of the Kidneys, Inflam nation of the Illadder, Inflammatln of the Iloel, Congestion ot the Longs, Sore Tlirujit, Difficult DrealhiiiK, Palpitation of the Heart Hysterics, Croup, Diphtheria, Ca tarrh, Influenca, llendnche, Tooth ehe, earal(ia, HhramalUm, Col J Chills, Aicue Chills, Chilblalnes, Trost Bites, Bruises, ervouaness, Sleeplessness, Coughs. Colds. Sprnins, Palni in the Chest, Kaclc or Limbs, nre Instantly relieved In Its Various Forma. FEVER AND AGUE cured for 6J oanta. Thar ta not s remedial a' at in th a world that will cura Payer and Ague and ether Ma'&rioua, Bilioun. Scarlet and other fevers (a ded by UADA'AY's FILL) as quiokly sa RiUWiY'S KEAUV UELIHP. BOWEL COfilPlilNTS. It will In a few momenta, when taken according ts direct ona, cure tramps, bpaama oar Stomach, Heartburn, Slca Headache, Oiarrhea. yaentery. Cholera Morbua. Cohc, Wind .n tba Bowe.e sud all internal paina. Traveler ihou'd a war carry s bott of Rad way's Ready ..elie witn them. A tew drops in water will prevent eicknese or paina 'rom change of water. It la better than French brandy or bitter sa s atimalant. Miners and lumberman ahouid iway ba provided with tt. o-XJTioisr. All remedial amenta oapable of deotroyina life by aa overdoee ahould be voided. Morphine, oplvm, strjcha ne, arnica, hjoac autua and other powerful rented es do, at certain timee. In veryama I doaea. relieve tha patient during theli action in the aya'.enu But perhaps the aecond dost, if repeated, may aggravate and Increase tho aulTertnc aod another lo eauae death. I her i no neceeaity for uiing thea uncertain agents whan a pos tiv remedy like tadway's Keady . ellef wlil atop the most eicratiatin? pain quicker, without entailing the leaat difficulty Is either iniant or adult. THE TRUE RELI'F. RADWAT'9 P.BADY KELT. F is the only remedial agent in vogae that will Instantly atop pa n. FIFTY CENTS TER BOTTLB. SOLD BY CRUCCIiTS. nn a t n fir, "Tlnrl TTTrtTT l II m mg iu büi iiiiuwiiy ü. 223 ÜVÄY'S 1 Sarsaparillinn Resolvent. The Great Blood Torlfler. Pure blood makes sound flrah. atrong bone and a clear skiu. If von won d have your flesh firm, your bones sound, vinliout cartas, ami yuur complexion Jair, u.e KAU WAX'S bAlWAfAUlLLlAN MoOL-V-NT. We eitraet from fr. Uadway's "Treatise on Dlaeaaa and tta Cure," aa .mlow: LIST OF DISEASES CUBED BT DR. RADWAY'S SARSAPARILLIAN RESOLVENT. Chron e akin d'easea. earlas of the bona, homora la the ulood, aoro ul usdiaeaae, fever, aorea. chrooio or o.d ulcere, sail I h um riokeU. wh te sw-lliug, soald fetal. caner. r - ana decay O Un bojy. pinip.ee and b.utches. tamora, ! dy.p.p.ia. kidney and bidder disea es chronle rneuaiai id an auufc - - cu.u. depoat a, and var.eliea o ibe above eonpleinta, to wh cu eouietiines are g ven apocifio name. In eaaee wher-tha extern has ben salivated, an merenry baa accumulated and become deposited ta the bonee. Jo nta. etc, cauaiag cades 01 the bonea, rickets, eoioet eurratarea, eontorliooa, white aa.tlug, vancoae ve na, s.o., the haraapard.a will resolve away those aepoe.ta aud eatertnlnete lbs troa of tns aiaaaae Irora the eyelenv. A Great Couatltulional Remedy Skin Diaeaaea, Tumor, Vlcere and Borea of all klnda. particu arly Chronio Liaea-a of the akin, are curoU with great certa nty bv a course of -a! r.areapar.lltan. We nn-an obstinate cases thai bar ree.eted alt other treatment. SCROFULA, Whether tranamltted rora perenta. or aequtre4. ta w.tu.n the curative range 01 the oaraaparn.iaa teit poases the same wonderful power In curing Iba wor.t toruia of etrurnuu and eruptive diacaare. . . .. ., , h m w ! . .r, nort. anoulo. I iipgiiiou uii,""" j . - throat, E anas, enertnmatiug tha y.rua o. these . . ' i...m ihm tili.nl. bonea. Chrouio urine u. ,.-.- . . 10 nta anJ in evrry purl of th human body where there eaiate ui.eu.ed depoe t. ulcerali .a. tnmora. bar4 lumpa or ecroiu.oua intlamiiiat on. I hla great and power ul remedy w 11 eitrminate rapidly and ne'oott.'e'contalns more of the a live pr.ncplee af med.c.nes than any other preparat.on, taken poo.nu! doaea. while othera requ.re Ove or si Uutee mUCU' ONE DOIXAU TSR IIOTTLB. SOLD DY DRUGGISTS. i we J.MK W PILL The Great Liver ani Stomacli Remeäy rurrly vegetable, mil l and re. 'able. Cauae perfect d'.gxatioa, cemplne aha'irtloi and bra ih'uf regalurily. or the cure o-all dlenrdere el the Stomach, l.ieer. Ilowein, K l.lnry, ...la liter. Nervoua li.eaea. Female Irregu arlties, Low Spirits, Mental Depression, eld. Loss of Appotito. Sick Headacho. Indigestion. Dizzy Feelings. Biliousness. Constipation. Dyspepsia. Obeerve the lollowln srmptotna re.a'llng froea dlaessas o' the uVgc.live organ.: Conatlpeiinn, laward piles, ullnesso blood io tha bond, ar'Jnr of tlie alo ut.-h naueea h-arthura. di.gu.l of ood, fallneea or weicht ol the tom. b, eour raet tin. i nt. Ina or flu. trina ul the heart, ehoklng or aaifoeat ag ensatlona thn -a a !yi'g posture limine-, of y aina, dot. or weha heAire ths ghl, lever and dull pan la the head, deficiency o, perav ration, (I oshh the akin nil eya, paia In lue ante, rhr.i, limt aad sadden flu.hee o: heat biirn.n t in the tl-.ti. A c rinse of mil A' iV'H Iii. will free lbs rate m o all the above-named ll.ord -r, fr re Dcrnli per ts. "ni l by Ururfgl.le. Mend a IrtK-r I mp to I'll. -A' A A CO. SI Warren at.. York, Information worth thou sand, will he -ent to yu. 't Tritt riJ Hi.lO- He euro and a.k for HAD WAY'M. aad eee that lUa name "rtAUWAY" M aa what buy.

MALARIA.

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