St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 19, Number 23, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 23 December 1893 — Page 7

AT IHIJffl JBSELF. The Story of a Woman's Atonement, by Charlotte M. Braeme. CHAPTER XXV—Continued. All preparations were completed then, and Crown Leighton had never looked so magnificent, never even in those days when kings and queens had held high revel in the vast apartments. Lady Charnleigh’s vivid imagination had been allowed to riot; every beautiful combination of Howers, lights, velvet hangings, and marble statuary which it was possible to imagine was there. Nothing was wanting. There were endless vistas of light and blossom; fountains, the silvery spray of which reflected manifold hues; perfume so sweet that it seemed to fill one with ecstasy; music so clear, so harmonious, all assiduous and attentive, rejoiced in this return of olden times. . All the elite of the country had been invited, and Lady Charnleigh remarked j with pleasure that scarcely one invita- ! tion had been declined. As she went up-stairs _to dress, satisfied with the tour of inspection she had made, she met Lady Fanshawe. “I must express my surprise, Leonie,” said that lady, with an amiable smile. “I have never seen anything in better ^ste; the decorations are superb. My dear child, where have learned to arraego all these things? I have no wish to flatter you, but you wore indeed ‘born to rank.’ It would have been a thousand pities if such talents as yours had been lost to the great world. And Lady Charnleigh, well pleased, passed on to her dressing-room, where her maid, with a most anxious face, awaited her. There lay the superb costumes ready for the charades and the ball; jewels gleamed from their velvet beds; satin, lace, velvet, and glistening silk lay in picturesque disorder. Lady Charnleigh glanced round with a smile of content. All this was hers. The proud feeling of possession swelled her heart as it never had before. All this was hers to give and to take, to do with as she would. This i brilliant festival had sprung from one I word of hers; these people, the aristocracy of the county, were all assembling at her bidding and to do her honor. Presently her eyes fell on the two bouquets, both placed on the toilet table, and a slight shade of perplexitycrossed her beautiful face. “Divide those flowers,” she said to her maid; “I shall wear some of each. If Bertram had brought me only a bunch of w-ild bluebells, ” she added to herself. “I would rather have them than exotics from a king's garden, but I cannot make Paul unhappy to-night.” A magnificent toilet, in which was to receive her guests, had been prepared; it could be changed afterward for the charade costumes. “I have never seen you look so well, my lady,” said the maid, when the arduous duties of the toilet were completed; and Lady Charnleigh, lookingin the glass, felt satisfied. Her dress was of fresh white, glistening silk, covered with silver n t, and trimmed with green leaves; with this she wore the Charnleigh diamonds, known by connoisseurs as the finest stones in England. She was a marvel of beauty, light and brightness. As she descends the stairs she saw Sir Bertram; he approached her very humbly. “Do not be angry because I have waylaid you,” he said, “1 could not rest until I had seen my queen. Oh, Leonie, how lovely you are.’ Your ; beauty dazzles me.” “If it pleases you, Bertram,” she said, gently, “I am pleased to be beautiful.” His response was one that brought a vivid flush to her face, and sent Lady- ' Charnleigh into the drawing-room looking more radiant than ever. CHAPTER XXVI. The festivities of that night were not soon forgotten. It was as though all the beauty and elite of the county were gathered together; and the queen of the brilliant assembly was Leonie, Countess of Charnleigh." It was perhaps the happiest, certainly the most brilliant, evening of her life. The golden glamour of first love was strong upon her. She knew that one g’.ance from her beautiful eyes would bring the man she best loved on earth to her feet; she saw the bravest and noblest in the land gathered at her bidding to do her homage. The charades were most effective; people were eloquent in their expressions of admiration. The lights and flowers, the gleaming jewels and shining dresses, the rippling fountains, the banks of brillant blossoms, rising one above the other, the superb hangings, ; the statues half hidden in the foliage, • all presented a scene of beauty as i ■dazzling as if it was a novel. The I theater, with its pretty stage, was ' much admired. Lady Charnleigh was surrounded bv admirers; her guests seemed never to weary of praising her tact and graceful management. Several times Sir Bertram tried to approach her, but she held up a white finger as though to warn him away. Captain Flemyng looked around on the scene of magnificence and splendor. ^Rady Charnleigh was standing where the light from one of the large chan- I deliers fell full upon her; there was a I smile on her radiant face, for the chief ■ magnate of the county, the Duke of , Burdon, was complimenting her, and i Leonie was young enough to enjoy flattery from a duke. “She looks like a queen among her courtiers,” said the young soldier to himself. “I say from my heart that she reigns here far better than I should.” Some softening thought had evidently passed through her mind, for she smilingly invited him to join her, and ; he thought she preferred his society to that of Sir Bertram Gordon. Then the brilliant company went in j long procession through the broad, fragrant corridor to the theater, where j everything was prepared for them. A ■ pretty little greenroom had been fitted up for those who were to join in the I tableaux and charades. One after the other each beautiful picture was re- i ceived with great eclat, the two favor- ; ites being Miss Dacre as Elaine and ; Lady Charnleigh as Marie Stuart. There was a general demand before the tableaux came to an end that the la- ' dies should wear the same picturesque । costumes for the ball. [ The music was well chosen. The band ' had been sent from London, and the ; first strains of a dreamy German waltz ieemed to float away from the flowers j

and lights. The procession from the j theater to the ballroom was even more I i brilliant than the former one, owing to 1 the picturesque dresses of the ladies. ! “My costume is not complete,” said Lord Holdene to the young countess; “I want a pair of silver shoe-buckles—-those of the regular old-fashioned type.” Lord Holdene had been one of the most efficient actors in the charades, and Lady Charnleigh was very desirous to please him. 'T must dance this first waltz,” she i said; “then I will see that some are found for you.” The first waltz was with the Duke, i j and before she could attend to Lord i Holdene’s request she had to dance with Sir Bertram. Never while the j sun shone and the flowers bloomed did j Lady Charnleigh forget the happiness jof that hour. The lights, the flowers, ; the fragrance, all seemed to bewilder her. His arm was around her, his eyes were lingering on her sweet face. He was thinking to himself, “She will be mine; to-morrow she will promise to be my wife.” When the dance was ! i ended, and the last sweet strains had ! i died, Lady Charnleigh turned to him. | “I am going to the housekeeper’s ; rocm.” she said, “to send Mrs. Fearon ; in search of some silver shoe-buckles.” He was pleased to linger a few minutes longer at her side. “I will accompany you,” he said; and they left the ball-room together. She gathered up the sweeping train of purple velvet and threw it over her white arm. “I wonder if queens ever feel inclined to run,” she said; “it is to ba hoped that they are not always en reine. One of my childish delusions was that they sat all day with crown and scepter. How many more of my girlish fancies ' are but delusions, I wonder?” Befoie he could reply they had reached the housekeeper’s room, and Mrs. Fearon was made acquainted with the difficulty about the shoebuckles. “There are sure to be plenty of them, my lady,” she replied, “in the large wardrobe in the oak room.” “Then let one of the maids go for some at once,” said Lady Charnleigh. j Mrs. Fearon smiled. “I do not think, my lady, with all due submission, that any of them will dare to go; I will go myself the instant I have finished here."" “I cannot wait, Why will no one dare to go, Mrs. Fearon?” “There is a belief, my lady, that the cak chamber is haunted; none of the servants will entei- it. lam obliged to attend to it myself.” Patience was certainly not one of Lady Charnleigh’s virtues. The color flushed in her beautiful face, and the white, jeweled fingers flung back the violet velvet train. “I will go myself. If I wait until you find a sensible maid-servant, or until : you havo finished, Lord Holdene will not have his buckles to-night—that is certain.” The housekeeper was far too wise 1 ever to contradict her imperious young mistress. “As you please, my lady. Shall some one carry a taper for you?” “No, I will carry it myself. The next , time you engage any maids, Mrs. Fearon, take care they have no absurd fancies.” Sir Bertram had stood by, an amused spectator of the little scene; he admired manner, ■ and tnoughf her more beautiful than ever when she was impatient. Mrs. Fearon provided a silver candlestick and a wax taper. “Pray, let me go with you, my lady, i to carry this,” she said. “No, I will not take you from your employment. Is this the key?” ' For the housekeeper with groat s ilemnity had unit eked a small iron chest and taken from it an antique key. “This will open the wardrobe, my 1 lady. It used to be a rule of the house that no one should ever open it except the mistress of the house.” “What does it contain —anything very precious?” asked the countess. “Old-fashioned court dresses and ornaments, antique jewelry, valuable point lace, and other things.” “I wonder that I never thought of looking in it before. Make haste. Mrs. Fearon.” Then, with the lighted taper in her hand, she walked quickly through the corridor with Sir Bertram by her side. “I am very much afraid,” she said, laughingly, “that my manners have not that repose which stamps the class of Vere de Vere. How impetuous I am! I could have carried that good Mrs. Fearon off in a whirlwind because she was not quick enough.” “Let me carry the light to the room,” ' he said; but she. in her graceful, imperious way, refused. “Then let me wait here until you re- | turn,” he begged; and to that she , agreed. Suddenly Sir Bertram took the taper ' from her hand, set it down on one of the broad window seats, and took both her white jeweled hands in his. “Leonie,” he said, “you look beauti- I ful enough to-night to bewilder any ' man. You ought to have been a queen; i that diamond crown and these royal ; robes suit you well. Oh, my queen, my queen, do you not know that I have loved you so long, and have never even ; dared to touch those soft sweet lips? Your beauty has bewildered me; blame , that—not me.” He stooped down and kissed the fair white brow. She was not angry, but she drew back with a quick, sudden movement that made the light, in her jewels shine like scattered flames all round her. “When shall I find those buckles, Sir Bertram? Let me go now, and wait here until my return.” She gathered up her violet train, | threw it over her arm, and went up the । stairs. When she reached the top, she turned round and smiled on him, the light gleaming in her jeweled ■ crown and < n her fair face: and then ' I she passed from his sight, leaving him j more deeply in love than ever. As he ; saw her then, he never saw her after- ! ; ward, for the same light and brighti ness never’ shone upon her face again, j CHAPTER XXVII. i Lady Charnleigh walked on quickly ■ i until she reached the door of the oaken 1 i chamber. She did not remember ever j i to have entered this room, which in ■ । olden days had been the sleeping-cham- ' I ber of the mistress of Crown Leighton, I The last Lady Charnleigh had died I ■ there, and for some untold reason a ; ' rumor had arisen that her spirit was ' : not at rest, and that at night she might ■ be seen wringing her hands and weep- . ing bitter tears. None of the servants : cared to go near the place after sun-' j set. ' '

Lady Charnleigh looked round with ; some curiosity; she placed the silver candlestick on the toilet-table, and i glanced with wonder at the beautiful ■ ancient room; and while she stood ! there quite silently the sound of the distant music seemed to float nearer j and nearer. There were four large, lofty windows • in the room, and they were hung with dark velvet, bordered with golden ' fringe. The bedstead resembled a huge hearse more than anything else; 1 the furniture, all made of solid oak, I was heavy, massive and magnificent; I ' the great wardrobe reached all across ! the room. This last was wondrously I carved and had huge wings; and near it stood a large mirror in an antique silver frame. She went to the wardrobe, but stood for a few minutes before the mirror; she still wore the royal dress of Marie Stuart, a robe of violet with a long train, and the famous Charnleigh diamonds, which had been formed into a crown. As she stood before the mirror, the light seemed to center on her; the dark, gio any oaken room lay all in deepest shade. She was like a vision of light and radiance, “every inch a queen.” She looked at her image shining there so fair and brightJand a pleased smile at her own lo^^ nesa rippled over her lips. . “It is good to be fair,” she--sa2b a . n s her fancy amused itself by pic) urin S life as it must be for a queen. F^ihaps that was the crowning moment ®f her life; she never again knew one so cloudlessly happy. She could hear the sound of music floating around her; her lover, impatiently waiting for her, was not far off. She was pleased with the charm of her own loveliness, and she turned from the mirror with a sense o perfect content. She unlocked the wardrobe. It was i one of unusual size, and on the shelves ’ lay wonders of dress, antique jewelry ; and ornaments. “On the very first wet day that comes | I will look at ail these things,' .nought the y< ung counte s to herself. She saw dresses of damask, silk velvet trains, ostrich feathers, all the grandeur that had delighted the dead Ladies Charnleigh, and then her attention was attracted to what seemed | to be old-fashioned court suits, such as gentlemen might have worn. “I shall find some buckles here,” she thought, lifting up a velvet coat richly embroidered. She was right; there were several pairs of silver shoe buckles of great value, and she chose the prettiest. When she had done so, she replaced some of the velvet garments, ' and there fell from amongst them an old dressing-gown made of quilted crimson satin. It fell to the ground, and Lady Charnleigh, with a little , murmur of impatience, stooped to pick it up. She held it carelessly in her hand, and as she did so there dropped out of one of the capacious pockets a i large parchment carefully folded and seak d. There was no warning, no foreboding of the truth as she bent her fair face ; wonderingly over the document. Pres- . ently her eyes grew dim with an untold horror, her face grew white even to the lips, as she read what was written ; there. She tore open tho parchment her lips trembled—her hands shook. This ‘ was the missing will —the will to find I which that old mansion had been searched and searched in vain. With * dim eyes, full of horror, she read: • “I, Ulric, Earl of Charnleigh, being of sound mind, make this my last will'' and testament. I give and bequeath to I Captain Patil Flemyng, son of Charles and Alice Flemync, my estates and fortune. I bequeath to him all the property of which lam p '-sessed- the mansion and estates oi Crown Leighton, together with all the other estates be- I longing to me, furniture, p'ate, jewel- • ry, carriages, horses, b oks, without • reserve; and this I do, not because he . is nearest <>f kin. but because he is the | son of the only woman 1 ever loved; : and 1 wish him to give suitable lega- ' cies to all my servants, but I absolutely forbid any division of the moneys or lands left to him.” The witnesses to the will were liar- I riet Simmons and .lames McCarthy. The parchm nt fell from her trembling hands to the ib or. It was a scene that would have attracted the notice of an artist—the grand, gloomy room, ; with its magnificent carvings and fur- j niture, lying in d ep Bambrandt-like ' shadows: the silvery light of that one taper falling on the jewels and the shining queenly robes. The will had fallen from her hands, and she was half crouching, half bending over it, a wail of unutterable misery issuing from her white lips. |TO BE CONTINUED. I Royalty and Life Insurance. The reigning families of Europe are large customers of the various life insurance offices. The late prince consort's life was insured for close upon ?5,000,000, which Victoria has now in ' her possession, and her life, again, is largely insured for the benefit of her younger children, notalfly for Princess Beatrice. The late Emperor Frederick of Germany was also insured for a very large amount —in the neighborhood of $4,000,0CX) —and he was regarded as a splendid risk until the sudden and 1 startling discovery, only two years ■ prior to his death, that he was afflicted i with cancer. The reigning families ofd Denmark and Sweden, as well as those ; of Saxony, AVurtemburg and Italy, are likewise good customers of the insurance companies: and so, too, is the Queen regent of Spain, who has her life insured for a very large amount in behalf of her two little daughters. Oil as a Fuel. The use of oil as fuel at the World’s i Fair de'monstrated its superiority to ; coal in many ways. The heat which it furnishes is absolutely uniform; there is no smoke and no ashes. Fewer men ; are necessary about boilers fired with i oil, and the services of firemen or । stokers and men to handle ashes is unnecessary. The ratio between coal and oil was found at the Fair to be 1331 ' gallons of oil to the ton of coal; that is, ' 60,000 gallons of oil consumed daily in ! furnishing power and heat to the Fair j was equivalent to 450 tons of good i lump coal. Averaging coal at 15 tons I to the car-load, the Exposition managei ment would have had to handle 30 cari loads of coal per day. There would ! have been, besides, about 10 car-loads I of ashes to handle. Some men are never more possessed | of a devil than when they are self-pos- ; sessed. ! The first arktic expedition on record I was Noah’s.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL THOUGHTS WORTHY OF CALM REFLECTION. I A Pleasant, Interesting, and Instructive J^esson, and Where It May Be Found— A Learned and Concise Review of tho ; Same. I The lesson for Sunday, Dec. 24, is found in Matt 2: 1-11. INTRODUCTORY. We have come to the center and core of it all: Jesus the Savior of the world. Why do we have Sunday schools? Why do we teach, why do we read the Bible? —for this paramount purpose: that we may find Jesus the world’s redeemer, and ours. A little while ago we we e studying James’ words about the hearer of the word, not a doer, who sees his face in a glass and goes his way forgetting what man- ; of man he is. Now a mirror is primarily and properly to show us our defects, not how well we look (that is its debasement) but how illy we look. No man loaks int > the word of truth but sees him elf a sinner. That is the “manner of man” he ii by nature. Now after such apprkal what shall he do? What does the man do when the mirror tells him his face is smutted or his garments awry? He cleanse ; from deiikment; he sets right what is wrong. What shall the sinner do who sees his wretched condition. He will come to the Fountain so • : in and uncleanness. Hence our feet, at the close of the quarter’s lessons, are turned toward Jesus. POINTS IN THE LESSON. “When Jesus was born” —a new test, , the world’s touchstone. Here men I meet and divide. Herod and the wise ; men. To the right the sheep; to the j left the goats. “Behold, there came wise men.” How much is omitted! Matthew is writing for Jewish readers. He indicates this in what he leaves out as well as in what he puts in. This is an incii dent of special intere t to the Hebrew. “Born king.” Every true king is a . born king. The realm is his by right of birth and lineage. Whose right is it to rule our hearts? “Yet I have set my king upon my holy hill Zion ” And what follows? —“Th u art my Son.” Aye, the Son may rule—“b >rn king.” Let us go to find our King. Wnere is he? Not here in lordly Rome, in proud Athens, in beautiful C rinth. ; But here among the Jews that people : who are of him that was called the friend < f Ged. . Here is tiie real heart ।of the race. When we seek the soul's monarch we ^hall go with the wise ■ men of the Fast asking, “Where is he । that is born King of the Jews?” j Under the star. What do we see? ■ A flash light of the world. Worshipful wise men. Treache ous, truculent ■ Herod: th ■ meek Mary and the pious ! Joseph. Sword an i b ittle axes: gold. ; frankincense and myrrh. Yes. and an । innumerable company of angels: else , had the sword of cruelty prevailed, ; rather than the scepter of gentleness. All have to do with this child of the ■ manger. Ali must acknowledge him , heie wi h spite or in esp< usal: and up I there all shall be brought to face him Birftin and do him homage. Alas, for j<eome, t>o lat ■. Herod -poke better than he kr.ow. “\\ h« nye have found l him bring me word again, that I may Ic. me and worship him also.” Yes. I Herod, you shall y< t doit with ineffectual tears. HINTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. Hold up Jesus to-day. There are many other go d tiieaie- in the lesson; this is supreme. For once confine tho I thought to the Savior of sinners. Use ■ the precious half hour for thi be.it of instruction and indi ctrination. Ask I the simple question, Who is Jesus? Why did he come t > earth? The answer is in the Golden Text and in the । very name of the Christ: “Thou shalt , call his name Jesus: for lie shall save ■ his people from their sins,” prove mail's I deliverance. Thou sha t call his name I deliverer because he -hall deliver, SaI vior, because he shall -ave. Is it so i with you? Or is he named in your (life? The equivalent of the name Jei sus is this: he shall save his people from their sirs. Hi- peopl? are involve! then in his naming. Y"ou and I ! area part of his divine title—as we । trust in him. Wh ? can say, now, that 1 he is too great a smner? Why. he I shall save his people from their sins. Interpret the language of Scripture to the b >ys ;nd girls. There are a good many haid words in the Bible. "Superfluity of naughtiness”—what does the casual reader know of its meaning? Possibly some boy may fancy that it signifies just naughtv enough, n t cver-naughty. The real meaning, as we recall fr< m a recent lessen, is overflow < f naughtiness, as from a fountain of evil within. If the ' fountain be bad so will the waters that ’ flow but. If the heart be wrong, so will the hand, the tongue. Naughtiness in the heart will flow oat to naughtiness on the lip, at the finger tips. Out of the heart are the issues of life. What a striking illustration of ithis in Herod’s c nluct! Bad heart, bld thought, bad < i deavor. Here is, T tot last, the ‘ siipenhiity,” the vverflow naughtiness. I i The early traveler to Eldorado, it is । raid, found the boys playing with gold marbles. He at fir t took them to ba I young princes or members of the king’s I household, but found them to be only | ordinary j easants' children. And they ■ had no idea of the precious things with I which they toyed. In our Sunday school it is often so. The boys and girls, the old and young, are dealing । with that which, is more precious than . gold, yea, than much fine gold. And : in to-day's less< n is the very gold of ; Ophir. Cherish it as such. The church in an inn, Christianity in a manger. Despise not the day of small ! things. Trust him who can make a | throne out of a manger and lift princes out of the dunghill. Dr. Peck, of New i York, has been recently turning the 1 thought of his brethren to the time when ■ all there was of Christianity wa- afloat in an open boat upon the storm-tost i sea of Galilee. The God that preserved i then, still watches over his church. We can understand now why this <ame Dr. Peck heroically and hopefully abandons his projected trip abroad and gives himself thi - year to the new era of Methodist missions in America. I What cannot God do with faith? Next Lesson —Review. Armed thieves forced the station agent at Howard, Ka-., to open the Santa Fe safe. They secured S4O. i THREE more opium smugglers haye been arrested at Portland, Oro.

LABOR MEN MEET. thirteenth Annual Convention of the American Federation. The American Federation of Labor aeld its thirteenth annual convention in Chicago. The convention was called

f 4 PRESIDENT GOMPERS.

It is made of iron and steel bands wrought from the metal of one of the guns the Pinkerton men used at Homestead, a bit of the Homestead workp fence at the spot where one of the fiercest battles there was fought, and a button from the coat of a Pinkerton f:uard. The mallet and handle are rom the wood of the tree beneath which Major Andre was captured. Mr. McGrath assured the visiting delegates that the organizations of Chicago were glad to have them in the city, and then gave way to Chairman William C. Pomeroy, of the local committee, who delivered the formal address of welc. me in behalf of the unions of Chicago. The address was a remarkable one. The speaker said he would have like l to welcome the convention to a prosperous city, but could not. He welcomed them to a city where “the palace shines bright in the anteChristmastide and the hovel holds not a fagot to warm its freezing tenants,” and in “the name of those edifices erected to the glory of God, but whose doors at night are tightly cksed to the freezing poor; of those ministers who fatten from the vineyards of G d, meanwhile forgetting that God's children are hungry and have no place to lay their heads; of the pillars of the sweating system, millionaires and deacons, whose souls are endangered by avarice for gold, 1 lid you welcome.” He then wont on to suggest remedies for the situati »n. Secretary Chris Evans’ report for the year shows a 1 eivy increase in active membership and pait’.cular growth um ng the cigarmakers, the garment-cutters and tailors, and the mechanical trades. Treasurer John B. Lennon has also now practically completed his report. The federation’s finances are much improved, owing to increase of revenues and the readiness of affiliated bodies t > meet calls. FARMERS IN SESSION. Hard Times and the Cold Weather Keep 31any Away. The annual session of the National Farmers' Congress convened at Savannah, Ga., with less than fifty delegates {iresent. Many more were expected, mt the cold weather in the West, hard times, and the grip are causes of the small attendance of the congress. The object of this meeting was to influence such legislation, State and national, as the agricultural and productive interI ests of tho country demand from a nonpolitical standpoint: to discuss and formulate measures of importance, and ti lay them before tho legislative b dies. vice [’resident D P. Purse of Geon gia presided Hon. P. W. Meldrim of Savannah, in behalf of the Governor of Georgia, welcomed the delegates. Judge C. B. Rounds of Maine responded. Tho address of welcome for the State Agricultural Society was made • bv T. J. Wade. Hon. Daniel Needham I of the New England Agricultural Society responded. The Mayor of SaI vannah welcomed the delegat 'S to the ! city. Hon. B. F. Clayton, Secretary of the Congress, in his response, outlined the work before it. MATRIMONIAL SUPERSTITIONS. Si^ns that Are Ilelieved to Predict llappi* piuess or Misery to a Pride. On the day of the marriage so many superstitions enter into every detail that it is a very wise bride indeed who remembers all those little acts that are so sentient with meaning in regard to the future, says the Philadelphia Times. If by chance she should happen to put on her left shoe first, her married life will prove unhappy; therefore it behooves her to look carefully to this portion of her toilet, and be certain to select the right foot as the first to be attended to. No bridal guest should wear a co.stumeentirely black,assuch a choice will bring sorrow to the bride. If the best man stumbles on his way to the altar it is regarded as a most ominous proceeding, and at any rate is awkward enough to merit rebuke. The wedding-ring should be a circlet of gold unbroken by any jewel, as the significance of the ring demands that its form shall be typical of the endless 1 love which prompts its bestowal. To trv on the ring before marriage is certain t > bring on lUie misfortune, and many there are who would regard taking it off as an actual sin, holding fast to the belief that it was placed on the finger for all time, and not merely as the symbol of an evanescent affection. When the bride leaves the assembled company to change her gown she throws her bouquet among i the group, and the fortunate one who catches it is promised a husband within a year, providing always that he or she is single at the time. It is the duty of every bride who pretends to be at all versed in these superstitions to throw away’ every pin that was used in her bridal attire. The bridesmaids, as a rule, are willing to go down on their hands and knees on the carpet in order to secure one of these luck emblems, and each one fortunate enough to possess herself of even a bent and decrepit specimen feels blest in the thought that good fortune will attend her from henceforth. Notes of Current Events. Congressman Henderson, of lowa, is slowly regaining his health. Deputies destroyed four illicit stills in Jackson County, Kentucky. The largest dynamo ever built has just been completed at Pittsburg. Nebraska chiefs of police met at Omaha to organize a State association. Bishop Coxe, of Buffalo, publishes a third letter denouncing Mgr. Satolli. The cut in wages of employes of the Carnegie Company’ Jan. 1 will be 40 per cent.

INDIANA STATE NEWS. OCCURRENCES DURING THE PAST WEEK. An Interesting- Summary of the More Important Doings of Our Neighbors—Weddings and Deaths—Crimes, Casualtiesand General News Notes of the State. Hoosier Happenings It is claimed to be a mistake that many families in Brazil are suffering from destitution. The widow of Patrick Tuhey at Muncie, fell down stairs, receiving injuries that proved fatal. It has been estimated that the cost of the recent smallpox scourge to the city of Muncie was $21,000. Os this sum the State paid $3,400. Frank Reece, a boy driving a delivery wagon for his father, a Marion grocer, was kicked in the head by the horse and is thought to be fatally hurt. Charles M. Smith, a brakeman on the Panhandle at Marion, was killed. He was coupling cars loaded with lumber, and his head was caught between -- " the timbers. At Anderson James Maloney, of Peru, went to sleep on the tracks at the round house and was run ovefi. His legs were badly crushed and death relieved him of his sufferings. John Badgley, a prosperous farmer, living west of Pendleton, was caught under a tree, which he had cut to secure a coon. Before the tree could be removed life was extinct. Mr. Harman Heitman, a prominent grocer of Seymour, aged 46 years, died of typhoid malarial fever and derangement of the brain. He leaves a widow and three daughters. George C. McConnell, aged 40 years, a member of the firm of McConnell & Parrish, which owned and operated the Shelbyville Chair Factory, died of consumption. He leaves a widow. William Stiffler of Muncie, has brought suit against the Common Sense Engine Company, asking SIO,OOO for the loss of an eye. An emery wheel which he was working with burst, causing the accident. Mr. Dan Reibold of Terre Haute, and his grown daughter narrowly escaped being asphyxiated- They’ were both discovered unconscious in the cellar where they had gone to look for I a gas leak. Mrs. Rieboid pulled them out into the open air. The number of the unemployed at Terre Haute is now placed at 3,000. In several instances employes have agreed to set aside a fixed amount of their wages for the relief of the unemployed. . The G. A. R. post and the relief corps have taken measures to raise funds for the relief of destitute soldiers and their families. The Taylor malstone. at Terre Haute, has been in possession of one family for seventy years, and applied to wounds caused by’ dog bites several thousand times, with a record of not a death when the stone had adhered to the flesh. Is has just been sue essfully applied to the little son of B. H. Whitlock of Humrick. Vermilton County, 111. The stone adhered five hours. While Clara Wilhoyte. the 5-vear-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Wilhoyte. who reside near Jeffersonville, was standing before the grate her dress caught fire, and she was terribly burned before the flames could be extinguished. She lingered in terribly agony a lew hours, when she expired. This is the third case of the kind in that county the last month.It is stated on reliable authority that a scheme is on foot to pipe Indiana natural gas across the State line connecting with the piplines that supply Dayton. Springfield. Lima. Piqua and other Ohio cities, with a view of supplying those cities. The parties have already secured a large block of leases in Jay County. If this is done it will be a factor in shortening the life of the Indiana field. When the Air-line train pulled in Princeton the other night a child that had been deserted by its mother was turned over to the police. It was a babe of two weeks, a bright little fellow who had been placed in one of the real- seats and left tied up in a bundle. It is not known where the mother got on or off the train. The little one's linen is of the finest quality, and it is a mystery how a mother could desert so sweet a child. The infant cooed contentedly while officer Kerr carried it to his home, where it still remains. Policeman Kerr will adopt the child if not claimed. James E. Stone, the Wratten murderer. in the prison south awaiting execution. received a letter from his wife announcing the death of his 16-year-old daughter, who was a victim of consumption. At the time of the wholesale butchery of the Wrattens it was thought that she could not live but a feW days. Stone wrote a long letter to his dying daughter a few days ago, tcUilU£-iuu- not- to fear deathand to prepare to meet him in Heaven on February hi. the time set for his execution. He expressed himself as glad that there would lie some one to meet him there on that day. Several weeks ago Gas City was visited by oil prospectors from Pennsyli vania, and indications were so strong that it was decided to put down a test well. The result of this well has been looked ahead to with much interest. The other day oil was found, and visitors were excluded, the derrick being inclosed. The projectors of the scheme are close mouthed as clams as to the amount of oil found. It is only known that oil has been found and some has been tanked. The prospectors have been quietly letting contracts for more wells in the vicinity and are buying up all the oil leases which can ‘be obtained hereabouts. It is thought by everybody that a big well has been struck and that an oil boom is imminent. At New Albany Abner Phelps, aged 35. attempted to board an electric street car and fell under the wheels, sustaining injuries which resulted in death several hours later. He was terribly mangled, and the left leg was almost severed from tiie bodssHe leaves a wife and three children ■ While inspecting an empty cas/ the fermenting cellar at the Sej/ brewery. Indianapolis. George aged 45. was seriously J The cellar was dark and h • if match, which was followed by explosion of gas. It is thr internal injuries may result

to order in the Council Chamber by Preside n t Samuel Gompers, who introduced John J. McGrath, President of the Chicago Trade and Labor Assem'i bly. In calling I, the 100 deleI, gates to the / convention to L order Gompers £ used a gavel that is one of the treasures of the order.