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z" -¢ lion zc libertee I have take to . O ,. 00 is“ ,3. . fi?’ I . I.‘ E 0.0 0’. O a 0'0 ‘1' L : 9 O o? l 3. 0‘0 3 v, 0.0 t 0’. .o.o o o o o : oooooqooooo’oo o b.0050...509.»;0.00.0o.».u.».w.u.u.co.oo°«.oo°vo:n.¢ ' I. My brief visit to the Russian capi- tal was over, and I had taken my seat in the train that was to conâ€" Vey me to Berlin. So far as I could judge there Were but few passengers. My compartâ€" ment had but two besides myself â€" a goodâ€"looking, well-dressed young lady, with white teeth and large dark eyes. who sat opposite me, and a tall. gaunt man with a long, strong face. This gentleman alighted at Pskov, the first station we stopped at, and as no one took his place the young lady and I had the compartment to ourselves. Pulling my traveling cap over my eyes, I composed myself for a. nap. I had no idea how long I had been sleeping, when a. long, shrill scream from the engine, awoke me and made me half open my eyes. What I saw made me open them wide. My fair companion, who occupied the corner opposite to mine, was holding in her hand my silk hat, which I had care- fully placed on the seat by .my side’ when I had donned my traveling cap. The girl did not seem in the least disconcerth by being caught in the very act. On the contrary, 's'he smilâ€" ed bewitchingly as she noted my amazement, and said, with perfect selfâ€"possession: “Zr:- hat drop from 20 seat, Miss tare Tollcmache. Monsieur will, par- pick him up." “Don’t mention it," I stannnercd, for the fact that she had addressed me by name increased my bewilderâ€" ment. “It's very kind of you to take the trouble, but â€" I don’t re- member ever having had the pleasure of seeing you before â€"â€" and yet you seem to know me!" “Only by name. Is not inonsieur’s name on his portmanteau?" she queried. “Ah, yes! Of course," I jerked out. I had quite forgotten that my name was inscribed in large letters on this part of my impedimenta. As my address was also written in full on the label which was attached to it. my traveling companion, who had evidently been making g00d use of her eyes, most likely knew that also. At Vilna I left the compartment and repaired to the refreshment buf- fet. As I emerged from the latter three minutes later I noticed a small group of people at. one end of the platform. l-Iaving plenty of time, I strolled, leisurely towards it. As I approached the group I was surpris-- ed to see that my late visâ€"aâ€"vis was not only the center of attraction, but that she was also the object of special attention on the part of the three policemen who formed as im- portant part of the group. Evidently she was under arrest. At this juncture the porter called upon the passengers to resume their seats. "What is her ol‘fcnce‘." Do you know?” I asked the porter who clos- ed the carriage door after me. “Who knows? Nihilist, I expect!” was the laconic reply as he hurried on. _ No incident worth mentioning marked the remainder of my journey to London. I was met at Holborn Viaduct Stat-ion by my younger brother, who had formerly lived for a couple of years in Russia, and who on that account took a special in- terest in my visit thither and .was anxious ,to hear how I had fared. I remained in the house, all next day, leaving my locum tenens to at- tend to my patients, for I was a Westâ€"uni practitioner. On the secâ€" ond day after my return I was conâ€" sulted amongst others, by a clergyâ€" man. As soon as I had got rid of him my caretaker entered and reâ€" spectfully informed me. that my visâ€" itor's ‘ conduct was “very susâ€" plcious.” “While Jane was taking you his card, sir,” she said, “I happened to cross the hall. I could scarcely be- lieve my eyes; the man had had the impertinencc to take your hat off the stand.” I thanked the good old creature, but thought no more about the inâ€" cident until a few hours later, when, having occasion to go out, I found that my brother had left his hat on one of the pegs of the hatâ€"stand. As my own was missing I concluded he had taken mine by mistake (we both were the same sized hat). II. Alber-t called on me, Almost My brother again that same evening. his first words were: “I find I took your hat by take the night before last.” "So I perceived, but it’s of no consequence,” I returned. “I sup- pose you've brought mine back?” mis- “No. It’s a perfect wreck. Not fit to put on." I “Why, what have you been up to?” "1‘? Nothing. A semi-lunatic knocked it off my head yesterday.” “Indeed! There seems to be a, dead set on your hats," I cried. “Where did this happen?” “in Regent’s Park.” "En Regent’s Park?” -" Yes. There were very few peo- ple about, and the place seemed iniâ€" , , sup-nu". . usually quiet. This just suited my mood, for I wanted to think over something I had been reading. I walked on, cscarcely noticing where I was going, until I found myself standing on the edge of the orna- mental water near the western gate. “I was roused from my reverie by the approach of tWO men, who were talking very 'loudly and gesticulating like lunatics. One of them, who seemed the more excited of the two, was a short, strongly built man, with broad chest, long arms, ..a.nd somewhat short legs‘. I-Iis swarthy skin, black ringlets, rough black beard and mustache bespoke him a southerner. The other man was taller and fairer, and looked like a Pole or a Russian Jew. “They halted quite close to me, but as they spoke in an unknown tongue I could not follow the disâ€" cussion. So excited and absorbed were they in their argument that they seemed scarcely conscious of my presence, and they came so close to me that by stretching out my hand I could have touched one of them. “In fact, their proximity was too close to be pleasant, and I was on the point of moving when my hat Was suddenly knocked off my head and sent rolling down the bank to the water’s edge. The more excited of the two disputants had caught it with his cane, which he had been flourishing by way of emphasizing his words. “A voluble outpouring of Words, which I supposed was a, profuse apology, accompanied by expressive gestures, followed. Then, ere I had time to speak, the short, dark man rushed down the slope after my hat. Thereupon the other man -- the tall~ er and fairer one â€" planted himself in front of me and, taking up his parable, poured forth a torrent of apologies in broken English, of which only the following was intelligible: “ ‘A tousand pardons, monsieur. . r. . . Mine fi‘icnt is desolated at 7:0 catastroph. Pity he get so ,exâ€" cited, for zen he know not vhat he do.‘ “‘ 'So it appears, I remarked, coldly, for I felt annoyed. “ ‘I fear mine frient wrong here,’ continued stranger, touching his forehead nif‘icantly. “I accepted his apology, though not with a very good grace, I fear. Next minute the other man came up with my headgear -â€" or yours, 'aâ€" ther â€"- which presented a‘woeful ap- pearance. It was not only out of shape, but was wet and limp, owing Itoits having touched the water. The ‘two men exchanged a hurried con- fabulation. Then the taller turned to me and said: " ‘Monsieur vill Densatc him.’ “At the same time he handed me a sovereign. The little dark man exâ€" pressed, by many nods and gesticuâ€" lations, ' his approval of his com- radc’s proceeding. I hesitated, but they were importunatc and would not be denied. So I yielded. A few minutes later we parted.” I then told my brother of the spe- cial interest my clerical visitor of the previous day had taken in the hat which 'he had left in my hall. He seemed amused, and made some humâ€" orous remarks on the strange adven- tures of the two s‘ilk hats. Then we dropped the subject, and fell to dish cussing politics. III. One evening, about three weeks later, I was preparing to retire for the night when I was startled by a loud ring of my door bell. As all the servants had gone to bed I an- swered the summons myself. My sisterâ€"inâ€"law, Albert’s young wife, .v is a lcetlc the tall sigâ€" allow us to comâ€" ncarly fell fainting into my arms. She was pale, breathless, and ex- cited. “Is Albert here?” she gasped, anxâ€" iously. “No. I haven’t seen him since Tuesday,” I replied, as I led her inâ€" to the library. ' “I wonder where he's got to? I hope nothing’s happened to him,” she said, apprehensively, as she sank ‘ into a seat. “W'hy, whatever should make you think anything has happened to him?" I asked. “It’s such an unusual thing for him to stay out all 'day without sending a wire or a message to say where he’s going. And then he nevâ€" er stops out late except when he comes here.” I tried to reassure her, but in vain. I- returned with my sister-in- law to her home, and we sat up all night anxiously awaiting Albert’s return. But he came not, and the young wife was nearly distracted. I had gathered fro-in her that my brother had started soon after break- _ fast for the British Museum, saying he Would be home. to lunch. I acâ€" ‘ cordineg made inquiries at the Mn- seum, where he was well known, as he was a frequent visitor there. He had spent all the forenoon in the reading-room, and had left about one o’clock. I tried to trace his subsequent movements but in vain. Where he had gone on leaving the Museum, and what had- become of him, was an inscrutable mystery which baflled all my efforts to solve. Of course, we called in the aid of the police and offered a large reward for information. Hopes were raised once and again, only to be dashed. The police seemed as helpless as our- selves. . The long, weary days lengthened into weeks; the weeks, interminable as they seemed, grew to months, unâ€" til it whole year passed by. It. seemed a century. It. made my heart bleed to see the awful effect the sick- ..c...wâ€"-W__mmc_._ mefiâ€"wâ€"W , . sisterâ€"inâ€"law. She was but a shadow of her former self, with scarcely suf- ficient strength to go from one room to another. One day, about fifteen months after Albert’s strange disappearance, my {effing suspense was having on my I servant informed me that. a. lady wished to see me privately. The name On the card the maid handed me was unknown to me, but as the words “of the utmost importance” were added in pencil I decided to see the stranger. “Monsieur does not remember me, I fear,” said the lady in English, but with a. decided foreign accent, as I placed a chair for her. As I gazed into her large black eyes I beheld her smile, I fancied I had seen her before. “Monsieur will perhaps remember traveling with a lady from St. Pet- .ersvburg to Vilma, about fifteen lmonths ago?” she added, without W'fliltilllg for me to reply to her former query. Fifteen months ago! I recalled the journey perfectly well. Yes. It was my fair vis-aâ€"vis who was before me. “Yes. plied. “Monsieur no doubt. also rememâ€" bers zat I was detained â€" what you call it? â€"â€" arrested at Vilna?" she continued. “Yes, I remember that too.” “And monsieur will perhaps re- member falling asleep, and when he wake I had his hat. ‘in my hand?" “Yes, I do. What has this to do with your visit?” I queried, rather impatiently, for her garrulity was beâ€" ginning to bore me. “Everything,” she returned. “Zat affair of ze hat has been zc means of bringing all this misfortune on monâ€" sieur. Yes, mons-iIeur, I am ze cause â€"ze innocent cause of all your trouâ€" ble.” "I don't understand, selle,” 1 said. “But if monsieur will bear with me and listen to my explanation he will understand all.” I nodded assent, not knowing exâ€" actly what to say. “Monsieur thinks, doubtless, zat I am a revolutionary. It is true zat I was a member of ze brotherhood. But I was not a free agent. My fa- ther forced me to join when I was young â€" before I understood what it means. I was his tool, his blind, willing tool at first, but afterwardsâ€"- What have I not H I remember now, I reâ€" mailemoiâ€" ah, goo-'d heavens! suffered! ’ ' I was moved. s-ion I had at first experienced away. “But I have not come to talk about myself, but about monsieur’s brother," she went. on, after a. pause, during which she had masterâ€" ed her emotion. “My brother!” I exclaimed. “You know something about him? Good heavens-l You don’t mean to say he's got into the clutches of your diabolical society?” "Yes and no. Yes to your question. No to your seconc .” “Then for Heaven’s sake tell me what you know.” “llfonsieur’s brother is in the pri- son of St. Peter and St. Paul, at St. I’etersburg.” . I stared. at my visitor in speechless amazement. “My brother in a Russian pri~ son?" I gasped. “Surely, niademoi~ sellc, you arcâ€"-â€"" “Alas, no. I am not mistook. Let nionsieur listen. Then he can judge for himself if I am mistook or not. My arrest at Vilna, which monsieur witnessed, Was because I was sus- pected of being the bearer of some important secret desp-atches to the fraternity at Berlin. I had the dos patches in my possession when I left St. Peters‘burg, but I had a â€" what you call it? â€"â€" a. sort of presentiment that I Was being watched â€"â€"- shadowâ€" ed, in fact. Fearing ze consequences if ze despatches should be-found on my person, I put them between 20 silk lining and outer covering of your hat while you were dozing. That accounts for your seeing your hat in my ham .” . “Yes, yes. Please go on." The feeling of aver- faded first "Well. as monsieur knows, I was detained at Vilna and searched; but as nothing was found on me I was soon liberated. On my arrival at Berlin I made known to ze branch there what I had done with 20 des- patchcs. As I had Carefully noted your name and address, 20 recovery of ze papers seemed to us an easy task. But in this We were disap- pointed. Word was sent to ze friends in London, and one of our society, disguised as a parson, paid you a call, and while waiting in ze hall exâ€" amined, as he supposed, ze inside of your hat. To his dismay 20 papers were not there.” “Go on, please,” I said, eager to hear the rest. “At first it was feared that you had extracted ze papers and sent them to ze police," she continued. “Accordingly, you were carefully watched and all precautions taken. But a second attempt to get a. temâ€" porary possession of your hat Was made, for as 20 selfâ€"styled parson had been interrupted it was thought 'he might in his haste have overlook- ed ze despatches. This time it was noticed that ze initials ‘A.M.T.' inâ€" side ze hat were not identical with yours. “This helped us to solve the rid- dle. It then dawned upon us that there had been an exchange of hats. Someone -â€" A.M.T., doubtless â€"â€" had most likely taken your hat in mis-_ take for his own. It was our busi- ness to find out Who A.M.T. was. We scan found out â€" it, is not nocossary for me to say howâ€"that it was monsieur's brother, ' «a. . 1;...W “Ze third attempt to get 2e des- patches was successful.-” “You refer to the incident in Reâ€" gent's Park?” “Yes. Well, about a month later, we heard of ze disappearance of mon- sieur’s brother. Ilenski, ze coni- panion of ze man who knocked Mon- sieur Tollemache’s hat off in 20 park, disappeared ze same day. Though we were struck by the coinâ€" cidence, -we did not think zere was any real connection between ze : two disappearances. ' ’ “And was there?” “Yes. llcns-ki, who effected his es- cape, has just bl‘ought'us ze ' news that inonsieur’s brother was kid- napped by Russian spies at ze same time as himself.” "Kidnapped! â€"â€" in London! Imâ€" possible!” I cried. “In Russia such things may be. But here, in Engâ€" land, in the twentieth.century, such things are impossible. No man dareâ€"-â€"” “Monsieur does not know these Russian spies. They dare anyâ€" thing.” “But my brother has committed no crime â€" nothing that they couldâ€"" "I have heard that Monsieur Tolie- macho joined a debating society in Moscow for ze purpose of perfecting his Russian,” interposed my interâ€" 10cutrice. "Also that he openly ex- pressed his sympathy w‘ith ze Stun- dists. Add to this that he appeared to be on friendly terms with Ilenski; zatis quite enough.” "I never heard my brother men- tion the name,” I protested. “Zat may well be. Ilenski met monsieur’s brother twice accidental- ly subsequent to ze hat affair. Ze second occasion was in one of your parks. It was then they were kidâ€" napped. Ze spot was little freâ€" quented. Ze spies had a carriage waiting. No time was lost in get- ting Monsieur Tollemaclie and llenski on board a. Russian ship ly~ ing in ze Taniise. ,Ah! It was not necessaire for Ilenski‘to tell us how it was done. We know their me- thods.” “Good heavens! Can this be true?" I cried to myself rather than to my visitor. “I am sorry monsieur doubt it, but I am not surprised. Monsieur can, however, put me to ze test. He can find out through ze British Am- bassador whether Monsieur Albert is in ze prison at St. Peters-burg or no.” I reflected that. such was the case, and I decided that I would accept the girl’s challenge. I set to work at once and found, after considerable delay, caused by red tapism, that my brother Albert was really incarâ€" cerated in the celebrated St. Peters- burg prison. How to effect his release new beâ€" came my one supreme object. For- tunately Lady Agard, the Foreign Secretary’s daughter, was one of my patients. I was sure, therefore. of having the powerful coâ€"operation of the Foreign Secretary. When he promised to do his utmost; for me I knew that all that could possibly be done, short of actually going to War with Russia, would be done. ‘ I was not disappointed. A nicntli later I received the joyful intelligence" famous cricketer, that my brother Albert had been liberated. â€" London Tit-Bits. “aw... SOME PITHY SAYINGS . Some Apt Observations of the Late R. M. Kerr. In a sketch of the career of the late cxâ€"Commissioner R. M. Kerr, for many years Judge of the City of London Court, the Daily Graphic says :â€"â€"The learned Commissioner had not been long in office before he began to make his mark. He laid down a few guiding principles, and to thoSe he stuck from first to last. His decisions were based on common sense and good judgment, and although his manner was someâ€" times a little harsh, he was greatly appreciated by the people who had recourse to his court, realizing, as they did, that he quickly grasped the point which had to, be adjudicated upon. His Scotch accent added a piquancy to his obiter dicta, which greatly increased his popularity. Among his well remembered phrases are the following law under any circumstances. had much better lose your money than go to law. As a rule it only puts money into the pockets of the lawyersâ€"the very worst possible form in which money can be spent.” “The moment that you, a foreigner, land at Dover, you are supposed to You know the whole law of Englandâ€"â€" which nobody I knew ever knew." “King David said in his haste, ‘All men are liars.’ If he had-been sit- ting here for forty years, as I have done, he would have said it in his leisure." “Never give credit. Al- ways deal for cash. I do." “Always put your bargains into writing. Pens are cheap, ink is cheap, and paper is cheap. People contradict each other so much that byâ€"andâ€"bye every commercial transaction will have to be reduced to writing. When you go to buy a. penny loaf, even, you will have to take an order for it in writing to prevent a cont‘adic~ tion arising.” Mr. Kerr retired from the City of London Court. on September 21st of last year, after nearly fifty years of service. It was reported at the time that he was offered a. Knighthood, but that he declined to accept the honor. ..__.__....._+___ The raccoon has the peculiar habit of plunging all its food into water before eating it. :~â€"‘ ‘cher go to Linn SERVANT llllDS. SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN WED TO PRINCES. * Girls Whose ness Have Won Them Titles. The transition from a lowly 0i even menial position to a place among the crowned heads ‘is a flight taken quite often outside of fairy tales, and instances in which a pretty face has been a fortune for its possessor are comparatively runner- ous. The stories of those who began with nothing but their personal charms to recommend them and rose to high estates are more frequent in Europe than elsewhere, for the obvious reason that there are more members of royalty there either at home or visiting. Florence Maharance of Patialu is one notable example of a sudden rise from an obscure place to the posiâ€" tion of a reigning sovereign. She was at one time a nursery governess in an English home, and while tra~ velling with the family became acâ€" quainted with the Rajah of- I’atiala, who was absolute monarch over 6,â€" 000 square miles of the richest terâ€" ritory in the world. She has now absolute sway over the domain, and is the possessor of a collection of jewels calculated to arouse the envy of even 'the most contented women. THE SIIEREEFA OF WAZAN Another notable instance is that of her royal highness tho Shercel’a of Wazan. She was at one time a hired dependent in the household- of which she is now the mistress. She. had some positive opinions on many subjects and a spirit of independ- ence that captivated the shereefa. I-Iis admiration for her was such that he married her according to her ideas on the subject, and his first. wedding gift to her was the unconditional freedom of fifty slaves of his household. She had not been married long before she instituted reforms of many kinds in the land of Wazan. Two thousand slaves were liberated by one edict at her direction, and the treatment of the rest was radically softened. Her wealth is said to be something to be wondered at and, like the princes of I’aliala, she has jewels in unlimited profusion. MARRIED TO MAIIARAJAH. Miss Bamba Muller, who became the wife of the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, was a poor girl, but wonder- fully attractive. She did not have a penny, and her marriage to the ll a- harajah created a sensation at; the time, especially when it was gen- erally known that her royal husband ‘had presented her with $250,000 on their wedding day, in addition to furnishing her with a bridal outfit entirely in keeping w-ilih his regal ideas of splendor. The Son of this pair, Prince Victor DhuIeep Singh, is known all o‘ver England as a and won renown for himself upon the polo field while at college. "He profited by the cx~ ample of his royal father, so far as choosing an English bride was con- cerned, but she was not of lowly origin. ‘ The stage has also furnished its share of poor girls who have be- come the brides of royalty, a notable case being that of her serene higlr ness the Princess Basetchitkol‘l'. who began life as a servant maid, at wages amounting to about $15 a year and her lodging. From serving maid she graduated to the stage as a dancer, and from an ordinary dancer rose to be prim-a ballerina of the Eden theatre in Paris. IIer hus- band was captivated by her (lanCing, and shortly afler there followed a wedding, which caused a stir in the. French capital. The bride received over 2,000 presents, and among them wore 120 silver drinking cups. [all fashioned like dancing slippers of different sizes. The wedding has nol turned out Unhappily, and her royal highness is popular and resfmcled ii: her domain. ~I’llill‘.lA DONNA WED TO PluNCE One of these marriages that turn- ed out unhappily “'115 that of Prin- lcess George of Saxc-Meiiiingen, who {was before her marriage Mlle. Helena il’l‘anz, prime. donna of the Iloyal theatre at Dresden. An equally unhappy marriage was that of the Princess '(‘hiniay, vho was Miss Clara Ward. The story of :that union was one that promised [well at the outset. It was romantic enough to suit even a fairy story, 'but it ended badly. Instances might be multiplied of girls of humble origin gaining high stations, but unhappin the number of cases where the matches proved disastrous are equally as numerous. 4 .. ....._..¢ “'AX FROM THIS ES. The wax palm of the Andes is ‘a vegetable wonder. It grows to a height of nearly ~ 200 feet, and thrives not only on the plains, but the mountains. The wood is tough and durable, and‘is employed in car- pentry. The wax comes from the pits between the trunk and fronds. It is yellow or greyish white, is as. pure as beeswax, and is used for making candles. A “peon” climb- ing the trees Can gather from 20 to 30 pounds from each. Beauty and Cleverc, “s&m\\" . - ~ «2.9..» ‘ VI..I,‘. v .-~«\...« ’