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_. “m' 41an K' v /‘.-AV‘.4-' Us, .' .v .‘\'.’“;2”'. “WW -' -" .A. - “~-‘ .2“- ‘; V‘.="‘cr‘" l 4 ‘ tween ' â€"-a rotund white mare. _._,~.,_ _~n -.â€"Wâ€"-;M:_ 34rs+++++++++++++ H++++ 4? 0 fl : Reconciled Page ‘ B ‘ 'l: as .. y , s++++++++++++++++++++e The local train, which had been speeding out, of town at the rate of twelve miles an hour, came sudden- ly to a standstill with a violent ro- coil at a level crossing in a country lane, and Reynolds, shaken out of his reverie, opened the window, quite prepared for an accident. But as the view from the window revealed only an impassive stretch of green, he settled back to conâ€" sider a more important question. She was a friend and neighbor of the Potters. There was a fairish uhfiance that she might be seen at their house, since an invitation to see her at her own home had not been forthcoming.’ That ten minâ€" utes’ tifi at the seaside at Easter where they met had not in the least detracted from her charm, though it held entirely demolished his welâ€" come, and he would do much to be near her for a Week â€" for that he could endure the Potters. lie was aroused again from his speculations a moment or two later by a perturbation» at the end of the .3. 4 4. + + + +++ train. Glanciug out, he found the guard in excited conference with some passengers a few compartâ€" ments lower down. A number of them were pointing to something or seiriecune in the brain. . It seemed to the young man that he himself was being indiâ€" cated, and he caught the words’ “Tall, slim/urish young fellow in the grey Suit,” a description of him-- self. ' A moment later the little guard came up to him. _, “I beg par-don, mister,"" he said, lowering his voice to a whisper, “but you have a bag there which looks as if it might have a. musical instrument in it.” “Why, yes,” the young fellow anâ€" swered in astonishment. “My ban.- 10-" “A banjo! t‘unes can you play? "Rule, Britannia’?” “Great Scott! Why, yes, I think so. But what in the name of pa- tienceâ€" “’llhen you’re the man we want. This way, sir, please, and as quick as you can, .if' you don’t mind. We can’t move the train an inch till she hears ‘ {111e, Britannia.’ ” "But whatâ€"â€"â€"” “It’s the only thing that will start her up. We’ve tried every- thing else. Pushing, pulling, every- thing. She sticks on the rails like a limpet to a rock. I wouldn’t bother you, but we’re five minutes late already. You’ll be doing every- boldy a great kindness if you’ll come along and grind out a good lilvely ‘Rule, Britannia.’ ” Reynolds caught up his banjo case and hurried afterthe official, wonâ€" dering, ashe went, which of them had gone insane, and whether the attack would prove to be a perma- nent softening of the brain or mereâ€" ly a temporary aberration. A number of passengers had left the train. They were gathered en masse around the portion of the level crossing which intersected the lane. “Now, then, amd his loot!" cried a voice in crowd. For a moment the young man star- e'd about him with ever-increasing fears for his own mental condition. Little by little at light broke in up- on his brain. A fe A yards only of line lay beâ€" 3the engine and the level crossâ€" ing. Squarer in the middle of the track at the crossing stood the obâ€" sti‘ugction, in full view. It was a small” antiquated pony-piliaeton, drawn by â€" or, rather, attached to That’s lucky! What Can you play 1; here comes Orpheus the The animal was neither standing, the usual and approved attitude of her kind, nor prostrate, as will oon'iietinres happen by accident! She was sitting upon her glossy haunches, a calm, almost blase exâ€" pression in her brown-green eyes. The carriage was occupied by two women. One of them, a stout, eldâ€" erly, maidenâ€"auntâ€"looking person, was engaged in making vol'wble exâ€" planations to a delighted crowd. The other, a girl, in white, who leaned back among the cushions and laughed, in evident enjoyment of the situation. ~ At sight of the girl Reynolds drew black, with a little cry of astonish- ment under his breath. Then he ran forward, lifting his hat. “Why, Miss Perry! I'm tremend- ously sorry to find you â€" ahem! â€" delayed in this way. What is the trouble? Can I be of any assist.- came?" The pleasure which emide'd the young man’s face was not flected in that of the girljs. “How do you do, Mr. Reynolds?" she said. "I'd no idea you were in this part of the country. No; so far as I am concerned, you can be of no assistance, I think. If the “(main people want to try any exâ€" periments, of course they are wel- come to do it for the sake of get- ting the train in motion- Aunt Milly," she added, turning to her companion, “you have heard me speak of Mr. Reynolds? My Aunt,_ Miss Blithe â€" Mr. Reynolds.” ‘Miss Milly grasped his hand with a. warmth which was in striking contrast. to the chilly demeanor of her niece. “So glad to make your from re- ' acquaintance, Mr. Reynolds, though I must say the circumstances are wt those I would. geneually like to meet people under. Such an emfbarâ€" rassing position! I wouldn’t have it happen for the world. I never thought of Elilza behaving this way on a railway, or I should have been afraid to drive her. You see, Eliza has not- sat down for years now, and we thought she'd quite forgotten it. She is an old circus horse, as you may imagine, though I’d no idea of that when I bought her. It isn’t Eliza’s fault, really. She thinks she’s doing perfectly right, you know. They taught her to sit down at the circus, and not to get up till she heard ‘Rule, Briâ€" tanni'al’ and she never will get up until she hears it.” “Lady,” cried the guard, elbowing up, “we are ten minutes late now!” “Ten minutes late? How sorry I am! It is most unfortunate in ev»- ery way that Eliza shoulid relapse just now, when she has not sat down for years. It is just like her remembering about sitting down this morning when I am on my way to the station to take the train to London to see my old friend Amelia Lewes, intending to let my niece drive the phaeton home. But now I slltall be afraid to let Barbara reâ€" turn alone; an-d Amelia, leaves Lonâ€" don for Liverpool at one, and I would give the world to see her, as I may never see her again for years.” “I am only going round the curve to the station,” Reynolds suggestâ€" ed. "I am on route for the Pot- ters.’ It would give me great pleasure to see your niece safely home." “There is no need in the world of anyone accompanying me!" said the young lady, with great decision. “Eliza would not hurt a fly. I real:â€" ly prefer driving alone.” “That is like you, Barbara. You are always so brave,” cried Miss Milly. “But remember, love, that I am older and more nervous, and since Mr. Reynolds so kindly offers, I accept for you, Barbara, and I inâ€" sist on you availing yourself of his kindness.” _“You‘ are perfectly right, Miss Blithe. It.w.-oul-d not be safe, to say the least, forlM'iss Perry to attempt to return ‘home alone. And, far from inconveniencing me, it would be a great pleasure,” urged the young man. He seated himself on a fallen .tree trunk and stripped the cover from his banjo, keeping his eyes fixed on a portion of the landâ€" scape where it was impossible for them to encounter the eyes of Miss Milly’s niece. A moment later a particularly vi- vacious “Rule, Britannia” enlivened the somnolent country atmosphere. Something in the exultant strains of the melody caused Miss Barbara to gather in her pretty broWs. Elisa, howover, was unfeignedly pleased. At the first notes her ears twitche-d, assuming an upright atti- tulde suggestive of earnest attention, At “Britons, never, never,” she turned her head and regartded' the player with what appeared to be unqualified approval. Slowly gath- ering her forces together, she rose in a dignified manner at the first chorus, and drew the pluaeton from the line. The spectators cheers. The guard shouted a, warning, a gen:- eral soramble for seats ensued, and Miss Milly had just time enough to ensconce the new protector in the pxhlaeton, while she took the vacant place in the train. When the last carriage had rouan- ed the curve and become lost to View, with Miss Milly’s handkerchief fluttering like a. white moth from one of the rear windows, Miss Perry gathered the reins. “Do you mean," she said, addressâ€" ing the empty air directly in front of the phaeton, “that you will conâ€" tinue to force yourself upon me the entire distance home?” “I promised Miss Blithe to take "you home in safety, and, of course, I mean to fulfiill my promise." “But my aunt is gone now with a perfectly easy min-d. A child of two could drive Eliza, and I really Irreâ€" fer going alone.” “I couldn’t reconcile it with my conscience. You might meet with some accident, and then how could I face Miss Blithe? One never knows what will happen â€"â€" especialâ€" ly in driving exâ€"circus horses.” “If you are determined to be so horrid, the best thing I can do is to get home as soon as ppssible,” re- marked the young lady. For some moments they drove on in silence. When the voice came again from the left hand of the pilraeton it had undergone a change. It was positively humble. “Please don’t be so. hard on me,” it pleaded. “The temptation. was really too much -,-â€" a whole ride with you when I’d been trying for weeks to see you and couldn’t.” As the whipâ€"hand side had appar- ently nothing to add.' the leftâ€"hand resumed: .“You don’t know how sorry I was about that affair at the seaside, and thW I suffered after I cooled down. I admit it was allmy fault, and I wrote to you begging you to forgive me. But you sent the letter back unopened. Isn’t there something I can do to win back your good opinâ€" ion? I‘d do anything you say, no matter wha .” ' “You might get out of the carâ€" riage and allow me to go on alone. I should really appreciate that," said the whip-hand with instant readiness. "Whatever the left-hand intended to say in reply was left unsai’d, for at this point the phaeton stopped sud- denly. Eliza was sitting down again! Reynolds fell back upon the seat and howled. The situation soon proved too much for his companion also. They laUghed together until Eliza cocked her ears in astonishâ€" ment. “Good old Eliza!” cried the young man when he had partially recoverâ€" ed. “She knows a thing or two. She won’t budge a. step until I play ‘Rule, Britannia,’ and 1 will never play a note of it until you invite me to accompany you the rest of the way.” “You won’t take a_mean advantâ€" age like that, sutrely‘?” ' “Won’t I, though?" “But that is most unfair." “All is fair in war and»â€"â€"” “Please play,” she interrupted quickly. "‘â€" “Not a note. Are you going to invite me?” “I am not. without you." The attempt to set Eliza in moâ€" tion by alternate kindness and disâ€" cipline was a failure. ' At the end of fiftcen minutes Miss Barbara returned to her seat exâ€" lrausted. , “I suppose I must accede to your demands,” she said, "or I shall be here permanently.” “Do you invite me of your own free will to accompany you home?” “Yes, I suppose so.” “Cordially?” “You never said it must be dial.” “It must certainly be cordial." “Well, cordially, then.” "I am entirely at your service,” he answered, opening the banjoâ€"case. Five minutes afterwards a rotuan vfhil'e mare jogged easily along a charming country lane drawing a nh'aetoln which contained a man who laughed and a girl who protest-ed, albeit not wrathfully, that someâ€" thing or other Was a mean advantâ€" age and detestany unfairn-London Ans war 5 . I shall start Elicia C 01'- '.__._+_-._;_ CATCHING WILD, .ELEPHANTS. Sometimes Fifty Are Captured at One Time. From the time when the world was made, (lusty elephant herds may have come in winter to the Chitta- gong jungles. Ancient kings of I-lind, writes Stephen French "Whitman in Everybody’s Magazine, todk them' in pitfalls, and used them in war, or as symbols of their rank and powor in peace. The English, lookâ€" ing with Western eyes at the great, powerful, docile beasts, saw that they were good to bear the guns and stores of their army into places where men alone could not take theni ; so they, too, began to trap them in stockades. The Indian Government made an elephant department that grew with the years. Men were well paid to study the ways of elephants, the best methods of taking and keeping them. India was dotted with depots for training them, headquarters for men like I’etcrsen Sahib. This man, the first great elephant catcher, reâ€" duced the process of capturing them to a science, taking not one or two but fifty at a coupâ€"a herd comâ€" plete. ' After a. herd is trapped, tamed elephants have their part to play in tying up their wild brethren. The attack by the tame beasts is sudden, rough and disconcerting. They have been trained in many a dusty com- bat, and have learned how to conâ€" quer unscientific frenzy by 'system. Working in pairs, they drive at the huddled ‘ herd to break it up, to single out solitary victims and hold them until they are tied. Here are two tame elephants that have got one big, terrified beast be- tween them. They shunt him dex- terously from his fellows and wedge him against a tree, one on each side of him. The noosers slip down over the tame elephants’ tails, and while the beasts with blunted tusks jolt the breath out of their captive, the men with trailing ropes dodge bravel‘yhmong the massive, scuffling feet. While one may write it, loops are about the wild one’s hind legs and fast to the tree trunk. At once the trained beasts draw apart, their drivers dashing dust derisively into the amazed, enraged prisoner’s weep- ing eyes. Leaving him to strain and bellow uselessly, the noosers mount; the drivers turn back into the melee for another. The clamorous Work goes on and the herd is fettered, beast by beast, in the heart of its own jungle. When the sun has set and the last great knot is tied, order comes from chaos with the clearing of the battle- cloud. They are all safe, fettered and shamed, jungle kings naked and in bonds before these little folks with the master minds. The s-ahibs gather under the swing- ing gunâ€"case's and the lighted lamp in the tent. Smoking sleepily, they listen to the report of Nur Ali, who says : .. "The tethered herd is in the best shape. The koomeriahs, the king's beasts, have all but stopped fighting against fate already. Because they are kingly beasts they may be taken to the river between the tame ones to bathe. Then men may be set be- side them to fan them With palms all day, and sing to them and break them to_ the presence of men. All of the captives have had sugar-cane, as was ordered. In five days, then, when all the elephants have worn themselves out, it will be possible, Allah willing, to tie the new ones to our own beasts and start the march back.‘s BET WlZlRD. ._._ f 'TiRTA ST THE SHADIIv’IAN IS A. VJONDER- FUL PERFORIVIERK "‘nc Which Simple Minded Ad- n35” mirers Regard as Incom- prehensible. 9! "Shannnan Na, Shamman Na â€"- “t-he Shamman is coming, the Sham- man is coming” â€"â€" is the exclama- tion I hear flying from one flatâ€" roofed housetop to another, where the Tar-tar residents are taking the air and idling away the cool au'tâ€" umn afternoon, writes a correspondâ€"- out. It is a Singular little procesâ€" sion in the main thoroughfare below which has evoked the cry, and promises to monotony of the Minisinsk townth on which far Siberian mountains look down. Swag-gerin-g along in front are a couple of dwarfed men, four-feetâ€"ten now break the stulpifying post-prandial life in the or thereabouts in height, garbed in a few dirty cotton rags, the refuse bf some local Mongolian tolchok. Each has a rag knotted round the bins, leaving back and breast bare, cotton rags crossaied around ankles and feet, leaving the legs uncovered, and a third rag twisted about the head, with the tatters hanging low onto the shoulders. One carries a side drum something like a big gin- ger jar, on which he bangs away as he marches along; the other has a trumpet certainly not less than eight feet long, with which he con- trives to imitate the braying of a donkey, to the intense delight of the tagâ€"rag and bobtail of the neighborâ€" ing villages and tchifliks who are Following dwarfs comes a nondescript seemingly all head and no body or trunx beâ€" strmngely garbc'd being, It is hurrying up beside him. the creature, legs, with tween, 8. scarcely human in appearance. difficult, indeed, to believe at first that it can be a man at all. The head, shoulders, and'half of the up- per body have been wrapped in a long roll of cloth to look like enormous turban. The has been left naked, and the skin painted to resemble a human face, with eyes the size of saucers and a mouth stretching wide from side to side. A cmmnerband round the waist completes the getâ€"up. The efâ€" fect of the whole is that of a huge hea-d borne along upon a couple of lanky legs without a body to unite them. By a peculiar twitching of the rib muscles the painted features are made to play in a most groâ€" tesque fashion, and the man ambles along in a sort of dancing measure, something between t W'ostern jig and the Eastern cutc’hiâ€"cutclii wriggle, which is distinctly funny. This singular figure is followed by an ass, attired in Tartar kaftan and k-halat, who walks upright on his hind legs and how‘s at intervals to right and left with all the gravity of a Turkâ€" ish Mollah. Then come a couple of boys, from 12 to 13 years of lithe au'd brownâ€"skinned, with glis- tening, cleanâ€"shaven crowns, and bare feet, absolutely naked save for a threeâ€"inch band taken round the loins. They have intelligent, goodâ€" n-atured faces, but segm sedate and quiet beyond their years. an abd omen age, THE SHAM’MAN. Behind the lads stalks a figure enâ€" velope-d in a long fur robe, the Shamman himself â€" a, wizard of re- nown, it seems, among the Minis- insk Tartars, who are still votaries of the strange Old World cult which by the name of Shammanâ€" ism. The features of the Shamman are covered, and he wears on his head a flat, round fur cap, above which is perched an eagle’s with the wings extended on either side. On each ,shoulder is the head of a sacred Kissil Issik, or red fox, the fur cap and the upâ€" per part of, his fur robe depend scores of long narrow cloth strips, reaching below the waist. To these are attached a number of small bright metal knobs, buttons, rings, tiny bells, ran-d similar ornaments. If there is one, there are 200 of these, dangling and clink-ing as the Shamman stalks along. He holds the Tiur, or sacred tambourine, in one hand, and the Orba, a leather- covered mallet for beating it, in the other. The rear of the procession is brought up by a sort of four-wheel- ed Arba, cart of good size, complete- 1y covered, and in change of a couple of semiâ€"nude attendants. passes skin, and from The party, dwarfs, ass, Shamman, and boys, march on to the open space in front of the Ak Serai, or public hostlery, where strangers find shelter. Here the drummer, trump- eter, clown, and donkey, enter the Serai; the Arba, with its contents, is pushed up against the wall; the Shaman-an squats upon a little hilâ€" lock of sand conveniently near, with his boy assistants on either side of him. The Tartar crowd who have followed form a. half circle around, seated upon the bare earth, leaving a clear space in the center. The numbers increase rapidly as the eag- er townsfolk come up and join the throng, so that by the time it is dUSk there are quite 500 to 600 people present, young and old, men, women and children. There are oldâ€" cars in fur-lined caps and silk robes, much the worse for wear, worl' ‘cm and traders in felt and home lm garments. The Shamman rises .nd with a pointed stick traces in the sand a circle about thirty feet in di- ameter. The attendants in charge of the cart lake from it six large humps, light them and place them at regular intervals on the. circumâ€" finance. In the center they then put. a heap of kindling wood, to whit-:1; they set fire? and upon this theyi plant a big iron cauldron half full of water. The Shamman throws: off his robes and headgear and" stamls revealed in the flare of the: crackling wood fire, thin, brown? skinned figure, nude save for the usâ€" ual loin~cloth, and with a smooth? shaven crown. Thin is scarcely the word to apply to the wizard, for he; looks a real living nuummy. His, dark, leathery skin is shrunk andl shrivelc‘d, and folded, and paunched about him, and the shape of his bones is clearly seen under the corvâ€"i ering in'tegiumcnt. His eyes seem fixed in his head, and his seamed and worn face is apparently devoid, of all expression whatever. Naked as he is, and without the possibility of concealing anything about or, near him, he stalks to the center of the lighted circle and begins a low, long chant in a subdued minor key.‘ It is supposed to be in the sacred jargon of the Shamm-an initiates. BIRDS TURNED IN ‘0 SERPENTS As he concludes his singâ€"song one of the boysrâ€"also, be it noted, naked, and incapable of hiding anything about himâ€"takes a small basket to the wizard, who receives it without turning, just holding out his right hand behind his back. From the basket he takes, one after the oth~ er, seven eggs, counting them as he takes them, and drops them into the cauldron, from which a light steam is already beginning to rise» The second boy brings him a small box, not more than four inches square, I should judge, from which the Shammran takes something, which he throws into the cauldron; ' Instantly there rises a strong mist,E the sound of a cock crowing'is heard, and there fly out of the steaming pot over the fire seven fowls, one after another, flapping their wings and alighvting on the ground by the Wizard‘s side. The two boys bring stout bani-boos that fit together. The Shamunan takes four and inserts one in the other till he has a pole about twenty feet: long, the lower end of which he' sticks into the ground graSping it' with one hand to hold it erect. With the other he grips the fowls one by one and flings them back into the cauldron. I can distinctly hear the; splash in the water_ as the birds seem to fall into the pot. Then a, steam rises, the Shamman begins a gentle hissing bethen his closed teeth, and there glide out of the cauldron and on to the pole he holds' seven snakes, which wriggle to the top and ’hang and twine and SWay about there‘, keeping lime to .the Wizard‘s gentle sihiliatio'n. They look like animath ribbons flapping about against the dusky back- ground of sky. But the two naked lads come forward again, each with a pistol in his hand. They fire them at the serpents, and before the Smoke has cleared away the snakes are gone, and no trace of them is anywhere to be seen. The space all round the Shamman is open, nothâ€" ing can be hidden or concealed there. The disappearance of the snakes is as absolute as the appear- ance of the fowls. The lads take the bamlboos from their master, poke them into the cauldron and stir the water round and round to show that there is absolutely nothv- ing in it. They turn the cauldron over, so that the liquid falls hissing on to the fire beneath, which it ex- tinguisbes. The cauldron is ,cer-tainv 1y quite empty. ___.____+.___._.__. TRAINED ’I‘O POLITENESS. A woman tells of a monkey which she saw while in Paris, which was so well trained in gen}! manners that it was almost impossible to believe that he did not understand that was said. to him The Japan Weekly Mail deScribes the animal’s accomplish- ments 2-â€" When the Woman met the monkey suddenly on the stairs one day, the creature stood in the corner to al« low her to pass, and when she said “Good morning 1” he took‘of‘f his cap and bowed. , "Are you going away ?" she ask- ed. “Where is your passport ?": I’ullin-g ofl‘ his cap, he took from the crown a paper, opened it, and showâ€" ed it to her. When some one obâ€" served that her dress was dusty, the courteous monkey took a brush from: the table, and carefully brdshed her dress and then 'her shoes. ‘ 3 When any one gave him food he al- ways made a low bow before taking it, and then ate it slowly and daintily. He had been taught to eat eggs with a spoon, and to use a knife and fork. He could lock and unlock a drawer, thread a needle, uncork a bottle, and polish his mas- ter’s shoes. {He seemed to take great pleasure in gay company, and paid close attention to the conver- sation, -\looking in turn at each speaker as if he understood what was said. This remarkable monkey was never, placed on exhibition. He died at an early age, of pneumonia'. .___.4..______._ MIDG ET S CREWS. Here are some interesting facts about the minuteness of some of the screws made in a watch factory. It: takes nearly 130,000 of a certain' kind t0' weigh a pound. Under a5 microscope they appear in their trud' character -â€"â€" perfectly finished bolts; The pivot of the balance wheel is’ only one two-hundredth part of an' inch in diameter, and the gauge withl which pivots are classified measures: to the tenâ€"thousandth part of an‘ inch. w n. -‘ y. )1‘ :1‘..‘â€"‘".:9.;W‘$~i‘ie£<:-li:%‘g.vi 1""7‘.) r" ‘ ' ‘ In .-.,-'( , my.“ .,...:. ,.. "a? a? snag-3.13.2, , v.74 ;._- "x432. v; ‘ a. ‘. ' .t .TMVVV.