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|AS~T1DE. thro* th« eart& ?V' "-V *1 X?: *V ! rioialblrtl* '1;jy wve. • : i- i -tide a4*-nder thoughtv/p - , through the soul of mm, V| P the Master taught » •,,, to*«wp-rld®s the wordly baa. Jkl Christmas-tide alt selflshnafc ' t In dust, deserted lies V&£ $ With spirits purified we bloas V i . Christ's pat cm sacrifice. S\ ' i > Christnsas-tld© with gratotul tea**?•-•I ;A'#« torn to olden times, • >'*'•• see thro' mists of vanished yoaia •The martyr of our crimes. • ' •<-- -%tf. 4;||t ChrSstmns-tide the nationf^lt •• $». ^l«d chants and carolings & • paLses to the God whose gift ^ \ Sv jjA. world redemption brings. %r \ . *&' T H E P R I Z E R A I S I N . <A Christmas Story of the Seven­ teenth Century. • V.*\ V^f.; ;fisr AGWIS CABB BAOtt f* J,'"\ < ' A. mb £'<0i ' •t.r tS; LESS vour dear heart, Mistress Mar­ gery, and thank ye kindly for bringing this heavy basket <lown to me your­ self, * exclaimed Dame Creamly. her round, apple face expanding into a broad, beaming smile, as she drew forth the savory articles of Christ mas cheer sent her from the great house. "Pray bear my humble thanks and respects to your aunt, for sorely would we poor folks fare these troublous times were it not for Sir Humphrey and his good lady." •And you and your son are to come up to the Hall to-morrow night, at early candle-light, and join in the merry-mak­ ing in the big kitchen," said Mistress Margery. r >;<f. ; "Never fear, we will be on hand, pf" ^ though verily I misdoubt Sir Humphrey V i Is as lightsome of heart as in years agone. But haw is your sister, Mistress Elizabeth, this misty weather?" i*;»- "Not so well as I could wish,** sighed .-*4' ' Margery, the happy glow fading from ' 4 her face. "She dec'ares that nothing ' >ails her, yet every day sha gets thinner 4 and whiter, and seems to care not a » whit for Christmas mu minings, in which ;* -she used to so delight." ' "Alack, poor lady! No doubt she pines for Master Harry. Such a bonny young gentleman as he was, and so fond f <«.• of her, too! Ah, weil-a-day! The king , v" ' Is secure on his throne, but at a heavy cost, I trow! Marry, Mistress Margery, is it true that you hr-ve never heard + "' v ' aught of the young master and know not whether he be on earth or in heaven?" fv '/ "Never a word, and his name is never -mentioned at Green Court. Sir Hum- fevfcfr. phrey disowned him when he joined the .* V Duke of Monmouth's army, and says it is as though he never had a son." sl'V" C "Alaek, a'ack! And my lady?" >•»}.'- "Outwardly she agrees . with hel* hm- fK r • band, but sometimes I fancy her heart A™ cries nay. though she be as stanch a v • royalist as any of us." ! \ "Lack-a-mercy! But was the not a P/:r; another first?" "True, Goody, and much I wish my nt" ' Cousin Hal had not been so hot- ' headed and so foolish in his attachment 5^* t ' to that wily pretender. But, bless me! ~ the shadows arc falling and I must away ^ at once; so good-night to ye, and a very *' '» merry Yule." , It was a clear, crisp Christmas Eve, in the year of our Lord 1685, and the "peace and good-will" of the happy, holy season 'came with peculiar significance after the turbulent waves of strife, dissension, and direst cruelty which during the past twelve-month had swept over the land and through which James Stuart had passed to the throne of England, which he now held, as it were, at the point of the sword. But winsome, 13-year-old Margery Dalrymple bothered her pretty head lit­ tle about affairs of state, as she skipped lightly over the frozen ground in the direction of the Hall, for her brain was busy with things nearer home. "Ho, ho," she thought, "can Dame Creamlybe fight and it be Hal Penderill that Bess is wearying her dear heart ont for! Faith, and he was a merry lad, and I loved him dearly myself! 1 wish I could learn some tidings of him with which to bring back the J^ses to my sweet sister's cheek, but alas! I fear he is dead, or if not, 8ir *"* Humphrey would never allow him to , enter Green Court. He is such a stern man and cares for scarce anything but i his dogs and the King." | These thoughts had hardly flashed be- *eath the brown curls hidden in the blue, '< "wadded hood, when the little maid was brought to a startled standstill, and •nttered an exclamation of terror, as a 5 dark figure suddenly stepped from be- v nind a tree and stood directly before her In the lonely woodland path, saying in a low whisper, "Hist, Margery! For it is Margery, I swear! Dost thou not know me, little one?" "It is--yes, it must be Hal!" gasped "the girl, as soon as she found voice to speak "But, laek-a-mercy! how you frightened me, and why do you come here 'In this secret fashion and that rustical dress?5* and the little lady glanced with ~some disdain at the young man's coarse breeches and leather jerkin. "Because a fugitive dare not be seen ^ ̂ ^ ftpd lace ruffles; but, sweet- '0b m M - aw have I ventured back to drawn by the longing I felt all. SQVteU me oTMrfstfefttiand moth­ e r . T f a a y i f c r e w e l l , I ' * f "Aye, hut Sir Ifumphray has forbidden that your name be spoken In the house uuder pain of his severest displeasure, and would have you turned Iron the gates should you appear there. Oh, dear Hal, how could you go against his wishes and side with that impostor?" "Because, forsooth, I never bntioved him one until after his own confession to King James; nor would you, Margery, could you have seen him and heard .his voice. Nover was there so fair-spoken a man, or one better fitted to lead men by the nose! You know the Taunton maids were all carried away by his comely countenance.* "Yes, alack! and suffered sorely for their devotion, poor wenches! Bat happy am I, Hal, to hear you acknowledge your folly." . "Yes, I see now that' it was all a gi­ gantic mistake; but, verily, we thought we wore upholding the Protestant religion by fighting for Monmouth, and now I come all this way to confess^, my error and beg my father's pardon." "He will never grant It--will never even see you." "What! Not if thou plead my cause, faircoz? Try what you can do for me 'twist now and wassail time to-morrow, and, faith, you shall never regret it." "I would indeed I could help you!" cried Margery, "but I see not how, for Sir Humphrey always overcomes me with awe, and I scarce venture to open my lips before him." . "Courage, faint heart! Be brave for once," urged Hal. "Gain me but an au­ dience and the rest will I do myself." The girl shook her head doubtfully, but, as the pleading eyes lookod implor­ ingly into hers, "I--will--try," at length dropped slowly from her lips. "That's mry own, true little kins­ woman!" "But mind, meanwhile yon must stay snug at Dame Creamly's. If all goes well will meet you at the side door of the Hall just after nightfall, to-morrow. If not, you must away again at once." "We will see; and now, one more kiss for good-by, and one for my sister Bess, who, I hope, has not forgotted scape­ grace Hal." Nay, I think she would be glad to welcome you;" and then Margery darted away, while her heart beat-painfully when she realized to what she had . 'fWMtif duty and spending the holidays at his father's house, in a neighboring county. Very confidential, • too, they seemed, for they had long been the beat of friends, and to the young courtier alone had the little maid confided the scheme she had planned for helping her cousin, but which she was almost afraid to carry out. "A brave little couple, forsooth, and graceful withal!" quoth Sir Humphrey, who stood in the doorway; while Bessie turned away with a sigh, thinking, "Can he forget that it was Hal and I who won his praise in years gone by!" Just then a servant entered with a huge, flaming bowl of snap-dragon, which was received with shrieks of de­ light by the merry children, who hast­ ened to join hands and dance gayly around the dish of fire, chanting In chorus: Here he comes with flaming bo Doosn't he mean to tako his to Snip! Snap! Drafton! Take care you don't take too Be not greedy In your clutch, Snip! Snap! Dragon! ^ r - s With his blue and lapping tongtilv* \ Many of you will be stung, , 'k. Snip! Snap! Dragon! ,J», For he snaps at each that comesif'®;?-: 8natchin? at his feast of plums^^i Snip! Snap! Dragon! v But old Christmas makes him Though he looks so fe, fa, fum! t , Snip! Snap! Dragon! *•'[ ] Don't *ee fear him, but be boldslj®/i? Out he goes, his flames are cold,;*1 *•> v Snip! Snap! Dragon! At the same time, with frightened little screams and' much laughter, they snatched gingerly at the burning raisins. "God speed to ye all!" called Sir Humphrey, as he turned away, with some of his particular friends and cronies, to seek the wassail-bowl in the withdrawing room. "And remember,- whoever gets the prize raisin--the one with the gold button in it--may ask of me whatever he or she most desires, and 'twill be granted If in my power, even should the lucky one demand my favor­ ite spaniel or best falcon. That is Christmas law at Green Court," "Huzza!" and "Thank ye, thank yo, Sir Humphrey!" burst from the delight­ ed youngsters, while only Bernard ob- uXABQUtr VkBCOT I* HXft HASlil pin, 1 to _ . k 'tis Christmas law at Greea gossip, th® lass has yon there!" chuckled Colonel Bead, "and I ENl Bow 1 I "IT IS WOK. BAL. I FILE AD." IV aTABTLKD AND SURPRISED. ' all the welcome you have * "lless kinsman and old it be they have turned me?" half sobbed Margery, wlMgjPp|ifPlip|ind loyalty were strug- < glin<rM»lM jMstery. "I am glad, truly throwing her arms |j| neck, she kissed him Where have you tar- sart. There were of Sedgmoor, ;h<at just escaped falling "l lpiafches by tbe skin of Si *way .to the Low ttey for three months wound In my leg. Only pledged herself, for she spoke truly when she said she stood sadly in ffread of her uncle and guardian, whom she only saw when home from school for the holidays. Indeed, in those days young people, in the presence of their elders, rarely ventured to speak until spoken to. But when she came upon her oldest sister in the great hall at Green Court, and noted how different she Was now from the blithe, rosy Bess of the Christmas be­ fore, she felt ready to brave a dozen Sir Humphrey Penderills if she could but bring joy to the one creature who, since her parents' death, she loved best of all the world. That night little Margery Dalrymple tossed restlessly on her couch in her small, bare turret chamber, until, just as the Christmas bells rang out from a neighboring village, an idea came to her like an inspiration, and with a smile upon her lips, she sank into a sweet, dream­ less sleep. Sir Humphrey Penderill was truly a royalist of the royalists, as had been his father and grandfather before him. None had chafed more sorely than he beneath the dreary rule of the Protector, while he was oqe of the first to welcome the Stuarts to their own again, and bend in joyful allegiance to Charles II. when he landed at Dover. He was a devout'be­ liever in the "divine right of kings," and It was the severest blow the worthy bar­ onet had ever received when, shortly after James II. Succeeded his broth­ er, his only child Harry ventured to question the lawful right of the reigning sovereign and joined in a rebellion which had broken out, headed by the Duke of Monmouth, who also aspired to the throne. Without flinching, however, Sir Humphrey at once de­ nounced his boy as a "rebel, and a dis­ grace to the Penderill name," and dis­ owned him from that day. As months glided by after the rising had been sup pressed, and the leader, with many of his followers, had paid the penalty of his rashness at the hands of the executioner, and still no word of the gallant young fellow had come to the quiet, country home, he became more stern and more wedded to the ways of his ancestors than ever, and would not deign to try and learn aught of the fate of his son and heir. Despising the Boundheads from the bottom of his soul, he scorned their plain attire and wore the richest of vel­ vet clothes and lace ruffles, and no one affected a longer flowing wig of curled hair, or bigger, brighter shoe buckles, while he was always surrounded by a troop of the pretty, little black-and-tan dogs made fashionable by Charles IL, and which have ever since been known as "King Charles' spaniels." Christmas, too, a day never observed by the Puri­ tans, was kept with peculiar honor at Green Court Hall, with fun and feasting for high and low. This 26th of Decem­ ber, 1685, was no exception to the rule. The tables groaned beneath their weight of roast beef, boar's head, plum pudding and mince pies, and in the afternoon large parties of young folks came, from fAr and near, to join with the baronet's mrds in the gay, holiday festivities held fn the great hall, while the servants and tenants made merry in the kitchen be­ neath. Cheerily the holly and mistletoe gleamed on the stately walls, and se renely the portraits of dead-and-gone Penderills and Dairy in pies beamed down upon the joyous groups that danced on the polished floor, where, however, none of the maidens were fairer than bright- sparkling Margery, as, iwa oretty, seeded that Margery turned pale and trembled from head to foot. Now is your time, Margery," he whispered. "Don't look so woeful, but plunge in boldly. Such happiness to Lady Penderill and pretty Bess is sure worth a few blisters. * Thus urged, the girl marched bravely up to the bowl of snap-dragon, thrust In her hand among the red and yellow flames, and kept it there! A little cry escaped her, while Bessie exclaimed: "Child, what are you doing? You will be sadly burned." But not until her fingers touched the raisin containing the gold button did Margery withdraw her hand, while she also brought out a number of burns on her soft, smooth palm and taper lingers. "She has it! Margery has the button!" shouted the boys and girls. "But it was not fair to feel round the bowl so long," growled one little chap, who had set his heart on possessing Chloe. the handsomest of the spaniels, but the others quickly stopped his grum­ bling by retorting, "A pretty notion, for­ sooth! Faith, we all could have done the same, and if you had chosen to blis­ ter your fingers as Margery has, you might have gained your wish as well. She must want something very much. " "Poor little fingers!" murmured Ber­ nard, bending over his little friend's hand. "But the worst Is to come," she groan­ ed, "for the burns are nothing compared to facing my guardian and mentioning the name he has forbidden us to utter." "Odds-fish, girll He is not an ogre to gobble you up, and I warrant he would give his wig for a chance to swallow his pride with dignity, and welcome gallant Hal home again." "Nay, nay, nay, I misdoubt that," said Margerys Nevertheless, cast­ ing one loving glance at Bessie, she walked with a firm step, though a beating heart, to the withdrawing room, where she found the baronet looking less stern than usual, as he quaffed a wassail with Colonel Bead and Admiral Seaton; but how could she know of the longing that was tearing at his heart-strings? "Ah, Mistress Margery, so you are the lucky wench to-night," said genial old Colonel Bead, as the little maiden appe*~Ml holding out the golden button. "Ar d pray what is your petition to be? A new heart-breaker to wear In your bonny curls, I venture to say, or some other gew-gaw such as you silly giglets love." Yes, Margery, what Is It yon desira?" asked Sir Humphrey, his features-re­ laxing into the ghost of a smiie. It was a favorable moment, and the girl seized it. "Nay, uncle," she said, "it is neither heart-breaker nor gew­ gaws that I wish; but--but forgiveness for " "For whom, pray? I» it Chloe? Sure­ ly the beast has not been In mischief again?" "Nay, 'tis not the spahiel, hut one much dearer. It---is--even for my cousin-- Hal--that I plead." The name was out, and Margery wait­ ed trembling, while an awkward silence fell on the group, and Sir Humphrey turned white to the very lips. "Girl!" he thundered at length, "dost thou not know that that rebel's name is tabooed in this houso?" "Yes, yes," sobbed the suppliant, fall­ ing on her knees, "but he has come back sick and wounded, and is ready to con­ fess that he was wrong, and beg pardon of both you and tfee King! Oh. dear uncle, pray see hta once, at least! As for one would be rarely glad to greet the young rascal once more." "Did you say, Margery, that he ac­ knowledges that the Duke tn in the wrong?" . ."Yes, sir.* • r '• *And he will ask my pardon?" £ i ' /.fYes, yes, uncle." ••• b/r "Humph! Well, never yet has iJNi- derill denied the request of the winner of the gold button, and I, forsooth, can­ not do less than my forefathers. Where Is the fellow?" "Just without, dear uncle," and Mar­ gery, joyfully springing up and darting from the room, presently returned, lead­ ing the shame-faced young soldier by the hand. "Father!" "Marry. my son!" And, as the two men looked into eaeh other's faces and marked the change the last six months had wrought in each, their hearts melted, their palms met, and the Colonel and Admiral drank a "was­ sail" to the long-desired peace and the reunion of the Penderills. Never was so happy a Christmas night known at Green Court! Bessie bloomed out like a rose in the sun; the servants and tenants, led by Jack Creamly, cheered themselves hoarse for the "return of the young Squire;" while Lady Pen­ derill clasped Margery in her arms with such a loving kiss and grateful words of thanksgiving, that the girl almost forgot her smarting fingers and danced and sang for very joy. So well wa9 Sir Humphrey known as the stanchest of royalists, that he had little difficulty in procuring for his recreant son a full and free pardon from "his most gracious majesty," and before King James' short reign wa3over and he had been displaced by William and Mary of Orange, Hal and Bessie were married In the pretty village church, and Margery, in silver and white, figured a3 the daintiest of dainty bricle-maidens; while she assured the gallant little page, Bernard, that she had heen repaid a thousand-fold for the pain she suffered plucking the prize raisin from the bowl of snap-dragon. -- American AgricuU- urlet. H< I queitioa I.NCB. may bear,and y*t»ot ib may suffer, yet not die I any pain or acbs ail Of Boul or body bringg'our «ad iuore High: v Death chooses hi* own time; till that U swocfe, All evils may be oorjue. We >brf&k find shudder at the Burgeon's knife, _Eaeh B«r*G recoiling from the cruel steel whOMMgv aeemo searching for the quivering lfl«t /fet to our sense the bitter pangs reveal That still, although the trembling fiesh be torn. This also can be borne. We SM a Ronmrvlatng In our way, And try to BWftem the ajiproa.-hing ill, We seek souie small PFcape, we weep and pray; But when the bio w full:*, then our hearts are •till; .. -v.. Not «ia£ the pain Is of its sharpness shoni. But that it can be borne, . ^ r WejVtod oar lite abou t another's life. We hold itelosw, dearer than our own; Anon it faints and falls in deathly Ktrife, _ uMTuig ni stunned, and stricken and clone; "w™!** a° not die with those we mourn; Tnis alone can be borne. Behold 1! we 'live through all things--famine, thirst, ... 5-,'<v Bereavement, pain; all grief and misery; %>iJ Allwoe and sorrow; life inflicts its worst y On sonl and body, but we cannot die, Tbpogh *e be sick, and tired, and faint, and worn, ! all things can be borne. --Florence Percy. | - * Christmas Eve. When the voice of the fish-horn Is heard In the land, and the cook sports a sprig of holly in her cap; When the elevator-man and the dis­ trict-messenger wear smiles that button In the back; When the children's eyes are very big and bright, and they hold muffled con­ ferences in their cribs; When you see the stockings hung at the fireside, and bitterly realize that opera lengths are preferable to socks; When you know that your wife has made you a pair of slippers with forget- me-nots on the toes; r When you feel an inward conviction that she expects a sealskin jacket in re­ turn; When she ties the branch of green un­ der the chandelier, and a happy girlish look comes into her eyes that reminds you of that snowy night, not so many years ago, when you listened to the bells together and ybu told her that you loved her; When you take her hands in yours be­ neath the mistlotjoe, and kiss her gal­ lantly upon the lips; Then you may know that Phrlstmas- tide Is here.--Judge. Th* Art of Making In selecting an arm-chair for papa seek one that will match his temper rather than his complexion. Girls over twenty are likely to feel In­ sulted if presented with wax dolls. If your husband smokes, insist that he shall use the box of cigars which you gave him at Christmas. This may cure him of the habit. If you have a neighbor whose love of music keeps you awake o' nights it will be a polite tribute to his taste if you send his small boy a drum. Your mother-in-law will be intensely gratified if you give her--her own way. A few sheets of postage stamps. may be gracefully offered to struggling genius. Ybur sweetheart will probably be as much pleased with an engagement ring as anything else you can give her.-- Life. 4- Christmas Mystery. Soon after dark the other evening a policeman saw a man with something hidden under his coat enter an alley as if anxious to escape observation, and after being tratjod a short distance he attempted to eqper a barn. The officer rushed upon him and gave him tho.pplr lar, but the prisoner coolly said: - ' , "Come, no.w, don't give it away." ' . "Who are you, sir?" . "Mr. , and this is my barn. " " "Oh! so you are! Well, you were act­ ing very queer. You don't generally come this way." "No, I don't, but I don't generally have a Christmas present for my .wife which I have to keep hidden for the next ten days."--Detroit Free Press. i*. - A Pretty Christmas Surprise- One of the prettiest Christmas sur­ prises is to have one-half of a double parlor fitted out as a bazar, the presents disposed so as to* make as attractive an interior as possrole, and then to have the tiniest child in the family for a Christ­ mas fairy to distribute gifts. If to this one can add an invisible choir boy--who may be stationed behind a screen--to greet the audience with a Christmas carol, the effect of the whole arrange­ ment will be a most delightful one. Glva Presents with Your Whole Heart. Let people give presents when they can do so with all their hearts or not at all. Even the gifts prompted by affection should be regulated by common sense. The child that is surfeited by gifts despises them; the young lady who re­ ceives a superabundance of jewelry for­ gets the givers in the vanity of posses­ sion. The poor we have always with us. "He that glveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord." FX -"-c $ A J Woodsa Ihoos Walt far Kris All over Germany Christmas Is cele­ brated with much ceremony, and hun­ dreds of little woodeu shoes wait for Kris Kringle's coming. There is noth­ ing that clings so tenaciously to the childish mind as the advent ot Christ- A DIAMOND merchant may apeak o THE CLERK'S STORY. HERE was a small general store at a cross-roads in In­ diana, where I was employed as a clerk in the fall of 1886. The store, a church, and a blacksmith shop, with two resi­ dences, made up the buildings, and families of the mer­ chant and the blacksmith wore *.he only residents. The country about was thickly settled, however, and trade was always good. Before the merchant en­ gaged me he announced that I would have to sleep in the store o' nights, and that unless I had pluck enough to de­ fend the place against marauders he did not want me at any price. He showed me a shotgun, a revolver, and a spring gun, which were used, or on hand to be used, to defend the place, and the windows were protected with stout blinds, and the doors by double locks. The close of the war had drifted a bad population into Indiana. The highways were full of tramps, and there were hundreds of men who had determined to make a living by some other means than labor. Several at­ tempts had been made to rob the store, and it had come to pass that no clerk wanted to sleep there alone. The merchant seemed satisfied with answers I gave him, and on a certain Monday morning I went to work. The same night a store about four miles away was broken into and robbed, and the clerk seriously wounded. Two nights later three horses were stolen in our neighborhood. At the end of the week a farmer who was on his way home from our store was robbed on the highway. if I had not been a light sleeper from habit these occurrences would have tended to prevent too lengthy dreams as I lay in my little bedroom at the front of the second story. The revolver was always placed under'my pillow, and the shotgun stood within reach. The spring gun was set about midway of the lower floor. It was a double barreled shotgun, each barrel containing a big charge of buckshot, and the man who kicked the string and discharged the weapon would never know what hurt liim. It did not seem possible that any one eould break into the store without arous­ ing me. There was no door to my room, and after the people in the neighbor­ hood had gone to bed I could hear the slightest noise in the store. I had looked the place over for a weak spot and had failed to find it, but my own confidence came near proving my de­ struction. I should have told you in describing the store that just over the spot where we set the spring gun was an opening through which we hoisted and lowered such goods as were stored for a time on the second floor. When not in use this opening was covered by a trap door. Toward evening on the tenth day of my clerkship I hoisted up a lot of pails and tubs, and had just finished when trade became so bribk that I was called to wait upon caetomers. Later on I saw that I had left the trap door open, and I said to myself that I would let it go un­ til I went to bed. The store had tbe only burglar proof safe for miles around, and it was customary for the farmer who had a hundred dollars or so to leave it with us. He received an en­ velope in which to enolose it, and he could take out or put in an be liked. On this evening four or five farmers came in to deposit, and as I afterward figured up we had about $1,500 in the saie. wain wasati a*tT I could see tfaii tite sky j£i kened and was very black. I did not wait for the noise to be repeated. 1 sure that some one W#i> In the store as if I had already seen him, ilml 1 crept softly out of bed, drew on my trouserg and moved out into the big room, having the revolver in my hand. There was 40 door at the head of the stair. I intended to go there and lipten down the stairway. As I was moving across the rojm, which was then pretty clear of goods as |ar m the trap door, 1 suddenly recol­ lected this opening and changed my course to reach it. It was terribly dark in the room, and one unfamiliar with the place would not have dared to move a foot. Half way to the trap I got down on hands and knees, and as I reached the opening I nettled down on my stomach. There was a dim light down stairs. That settled the fact that some one was in the store. After a minute I heard whispers, then the movement of feetj then a certain sound which located the intruders to a foot. They were at the safe in the front of the store. I drew myself forward and looked down the opening. I could &ee a lighted caudle and two or three dark figures at the safe, and I could hear the combina­ tion being worked. My first thought was to drop my hand down and open fire in their direction, but I remem­ bered that we had so many articles hanging up that no bullet had a chance of hittiug the men, I was wondering what to do, when I heard one of the men whisper: "It's all nonsense. We miglit work here a week and not hit it." "But I told you to bring the tools anil you wouldn't," protested another. k "Oh, dry up!" put in a third voice. "What we want to do is to go up and bring that counter hopper down, and make him open the box." There were two strange faces in the crowd that evening. One belonged to a roughly dressed,evil eyed man, who an­ nounced himself as a drover, and the other as a professional tramp. 1 gave the latter a piece of tobacco and some trackers and cheese, and he soon went away, and we were so busy up to 9 o'clock that I did not give the drover much attention. When we came to shut up the store he had gone from my mind altogether. We counted up the cash, made some charges in the day book, and it was about 10 o'clock when the mer­ chant left. I was tired, and I took a candle and made the circnit of the store, set the spring gun and, went to bed. I had to pass within six feet of the trap door as I went to my room, but I did net see it It was a rather chilly night in October, and we had no fires yet, ind as I got nnder the blankets the warmth was so grateful that I soon fell asleep. It was the first night I had gone to bed without thinking of *obbers and wondering how I should act in case they came in. I did not know when I fell asleep. I suddenly foupd myself upright in bed, and there w in the store, as if the fall of had aroused me. It was 1 I had been asleep almost Leaning on my elbow I ears to oatoh the slightest •ftar * minute I heard "1*11 give the enssed thing a few more trials," said the first man, and i heard him working away again. My eyes could not have told me the number of robbers, but my ears had. There were three of them, and they were no boubt desperate and determined men. They spoke of bringing me down to open the safe, as if no resistance was anticipated or taken into account Indeed, they might well reason that they had me at their mercy. The rain was now falling, the night was very dark, and a pistol shot the store could not have been heard in either of the dwellings. If they had reflected that I might be armed they would have offset it with the fact that I was a boy of 18, with a girl's face and probably a girl's nerve. I don't deny that I was a bit rattled, and that my lip would quiver in spite of me, but I was at the same time fully determined to protect the store if it cost me my life. How to get at the fellows was what bothered me, but that trouble was soon solved. "There," whispered the man at the combination as he let go of it, "I won't fool here another minute. That kid knows the combination, and we can make him work it Come on." They were coming up stairs. The best place for me would be at the head of the stairway. The stairs bad a half turn in them, and I would fire upon the first man who came within range. I heard the men coming back to the stair* way and my nerve gave way. It wasn't from cowardice, but the knowledge that I was to kill a human being upset me. I decided to retreat to my room, and if they persisted in coming that far I would shoot. The trio had rubbers on their feet, bnt they came up stairs with­ out trying very hard to prevent making a noise. The one who came first had the can­ dle, and as he got to the head of the stairs I saw a knife iu his other hand. They made no delay in approaching my room, and with a great effort I braced myself for what I saw must happen. They could not see me until within three or four feet of the door, and their first intimation that I was out, of bed Was when they heard me oall out: "Stop, or I'll shoot!" I had them covered with the weapon, And for fiftten seconds there was a dead silence. Then they got a plan. The man with the candle dashed it on the floor, and I suppose they meant to rush in on me in the dark, but I checkmated it by opening fire. They then either meant to retreat down stairs or toward the rear of the floor, for I saw the* three together moving off, and fired at their dim figures. Three seconds later there was a great shout of horror, followed by the tremendous report of the double- barrelled spring gun, and then there was absolute silence. I think I stood in the door shaking like a leaf for fully three minutes be­ fore the silence was broken by a groan. Then it came to me that the robbers had fallen through the open door upon the cord leading to my gun. I struck a match, lighted my own candle, and going to the openining saw three bodies lying below. Sunning back to the bed-room to recharge my revolver. I then went down-stairs to investigate. It was as I suspected. The three had pitched down together. The top of one's head had been blown off by the shot, a second had a hole in his chest as big as your fist, while the third, who who was responsible for the groans, was severely wounded in both legs. It was three months before he oould be put on trial, and he then got four years in prison. The whole thing was a put 1 up job. The "drover" was a Chicago ' burglar called "Clawhammer Dick," and he had hidden himself in the store that night, and then let his pals in by the back door. They had a horse ana wagon in the roar of the building, and the plan was to rob the store of goods as well as to get at the money in the safe. A bit of carefulness on my part Oft only saved the store and probably dQr life, but wiped out a very desperate situation in an eating- tends the business. A Ohio, November' WS THE wb«rln» ^?,MinneM»otis, hifl̂ lowered the gtalt' twenty-five-mile soad record to one hour thirty-six minutes and thirteen seconds. BOB GARDEN, of Chioago, is accom­ panying Gol. Pope from that city to the Pacific coast' THE Arlington Club, of Washington, D. C*„ is tMnMag of building a biwyta* track on the outskirts of the city. IN an Irish parish tricycles have been purchased for the dust superintendents* on which to go their roands. GEORGE HART has applied to tbe racing board for reinstatement as an amateur. THE Pennsylvania Railroad Company will in the future check bicycles accom­ panied by their owners if the latter have no other baggage. CONNECTICUT has passed Illinois in thj> , brush for precedence in League men? ' fcership. The Nutmeg State now leads by six members, with a total of 1,335. THE most curious case is in the En­ glish courts. A man has brought suit against a cyclist on the ground that the wheelman frightened him and developed a case of heart disease. •> WINDLE and several other good American riders may go to England to compote in the 1891N. C. U. champion** ships. '< E. J. KEELER, a well-fenown bicyclist, rode over a trestle over a mile and half in length at Birmingham, Conn., on a safety bicycle, the wheels of the ma* chine running on the ties of tbe trestfil and the ties being nearly a foot apart. It was a dangerous feat and caused much comment. THE Chicago cycling clubs NUMBER nineteen all told, and their Combined membership is fully 1,800. Thirteett of these clubs are well housed, two ot tbem admit ladies as auxiliary mem­ bers, and all have days set apart og| : which the ladies are allowed all tha privileges of the clubhouse. C THE Rhode Island wheelmen bavfr appointed a committee to arrange tor • billiard and pool tournament THE Treasury Department has de­ cided that bycicles can not be regarded as personal effects, and in cases whetf^ they are regarded as household effect* they are entitled to free entry only when it is shown that they have been in use abroad for not less thah one year. WHEN Mr. Gladstone recently spok# at Dalkeith the Edinburgh evening p£» pers made great effort to "beat" each other. The News, by using a corps of ovclists to rush the stenographic notes # from Dalkeith to its printing offic^.'** eight miles from where the speech -was delivered, published the earliest and most complete reports. The notes were dispatched every few mi mites,' The copy was rushed over the eight miles in thirty-three minutes. MEN, women and children ride bi­ cycles in Washington, and even the letter carriers are being mounted o& them, writes a correspondent Nearly all of the collections and suburban do* liveries are now made by mounted car1* riers and, owing to the smooth asphalt streets, much valuable time is saved by ^ their ure. It is probable that at no ' distant day the messengers of the vari- ; ous Government departments who now fly about the city on horseback will bfc:,,' * mounted, like the letter carriers, oil bicycles. Secretary Proctor has taken the initiative in the new movement, and the well-known War Department metf**7 senger, who has been for many years dashing about the city on a coal-black charger, now rides on one of the silent steeds that neither sleeps nor eat& The Cabinet- officers themselves wilt probably stick to the old-fashioned style, as they think that coupes ara good enough for them.' , i > 4! >?• Measuring the Agt of Tre««. t ; The counting of the rings addict by ' oxogenous trees every year to their cir­ cumferences can only, without risk ot great error, be applied to trees cut y\': down in their prime, and hence is us^; ' - less for the older trees which are ho)*- ; low and decayed. Trees, moreover, often develop themselves so unequally from their center that, as in the case a specimen in the museum at Ke^T there may be about two hundred an< fifty rings on one side to fifty on th other. Perhaps the largest numb of rings that has ever been connted was in the case of an oak felled in 1812, where they amounted to 710; but I)e Candolle, who mentions this, adds that 300 years were added to this number aa probably covering the remaining ring* which it was no longer postible to count. This instance may be taken t<| . illustrate how unsatisfactory this mod* of reckoning rea l ly i s for a l l but tree i -> of comparatively youthful age. # The external girth measurement if ; for these reasons the best we can havej^t being especially applicable where th# date of a tree's introduction into oountry or of its planting is definite!; fixed, since it enables us to argue fro; the individual specimen, or from number of specimens, not with tainty, but within certain limits opr. . variability, to the rate of growth of tha^. , tree as a species. In these measure* I meats of trees of a century or more iiji, i ; age, such as are given abundantly ' London's "Arbortum," lies our "best.... guide, though even then the growth in.**.?.",,, subsequent ages must remain matter of conjecture. The difficulty is to reduo»4 "C* < this conjectural quantity to the limits of probability; for, given the ascertained growth of the first century, how shall we estimate the diminished growth of later centuries? The best way would, seem to be to take the ascertained!" 'jv growth of the first century, and theav to make, say, the third of it the aver» . r 'f age growth of every century. Thus, if- „ we were to tako twelve feet as the aw xained growth of an oak in it* first i'J century; four feet would be its constants. 'I average rate, and we might conjeetnro^" that an oak of forty feet was about # v! thousand years old. But clearly if. '• y might be much less; for the reason for,» , taking the third is not so much thsf it is a more probable average than th#| half, as that it is obviously less lik*|y ̂ to err on the side of exees* oi: --j; A. Monthly < t id