The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

my-* £r772TASSOCZ42Z2> *SVm£r7Z4a4ZJ7»Z3) CHAPTER I. A Sleeping Nation. V Apathetic and unprepared the coun­ try stood, on the verge of war. The wheels of many closing factories bad droned a final protest, idleness wjys spreading, and throughout the land the subject of the impending con­ flict was gravely discussed- Distin­ guished orators In great cities pre­ dicted dire losses in prestige and honor, and every hamlet had . Its prophet of woe. The nation's position as a first-class power, even its very In­ tegrity, seemed at stake. And in all this ominous unrest, this elamor for action, the administration at Washington sat unmoved, smiling what seemed to the country and the world at large a fatuous smile of com­ placency. It was then endeavoring, CUB in previous crises, through the use of high-sounding words, to avert an Actual clash at arms. For some years there had been mooted questions between Japan and the great American republic, due in the first instance to troubles of a pure­ ly racial character. The Pacific coast, which for many decades had been com­ pelled by its geographical situation to face an economic invasion from the orient, wanted none of the small men from across the water. > Other complications followed. Ja­ pan by example and precept rejuv­ enated the sleeping giant which spoke lier sister tongue and had with her an offensive and defensive alliance that could be invoked in time of need, and by further adroit policy main­ tained a similar compact with Great Britain. She waxed prosperous, de­ manding trade concessions where once she had begged them. Nor had she neglected the perfecting of her navy, which from the time of her war with Russia "had been one of the most capable. Now it equaled in size and probably excelled In fighting efficiency that of the United States. In. the Philippines the racial war came to such an acute stage that Ja­ pan demanded Immediate adjustment, although following the same diplo­ matic methods which characterised her career as an advanced nation-- pitifully pleading to the world at large that she was a small power whose only wish was for peace; Invoking sympathy on the one hand and pre­ paring to strike before hostilities were anticipated on the other. ' And in the midst of all this turmoil of mind and passlveness of accom­ plishment, Guy Hillier, secretary of the British embassay in Washington, found other and more personal annoy­ ances. The particular vexation was a woman's perversity. 1 He brooded over his love affair more than the welfare of nations, as he stood in the great railway station of the capital on this night, watching forrthe .arrival of the Florida special which was to bring to him Norma Roberts, after an absence of nearly a month. With some bitterness he recalled that it was not the first time within six months that he had loitered in this station. To him it seemed that since he first had known the girl be al­ ways had been waiting and longing. She had held him in thrall since the night he met her more than a year "before, when half reluctantly he had •accepted an invitation to a reception Civen to her father; and yet In all that aftertime he had been in per­ petual suspense. The reception had been much like other receptions, and was given in honor of another inven­ tion by "Old Bill Roberts," as he styled himself and was known to his Inti­ mates. Guy had gone through mere curi­ osity, wishing to see at short range a m»n who only a few years before had been diibbed a "harebrained crank," but whose work had proved him other- Wise. He remembered the lights of the drawing room, the throng of guests, and that Roberts had forgot­ ten the event and kept some of the most distinguished men of the nation, including every member of the cabi-< net, waiting till he could be dragged from his laboratory at the end of the garden. Everyone had taken the remissness with American good humor, laughed and chatted till a search could be made, and then given way to the in­ ventor's entrance, which was not tri­ umphal. It was effected with something approaching a lack of proprieties. There had been the sound of a high- strung, snarling voice in protest from the lower end of the drawing room, which was luxuriously furnished and presided over by Norma. There had been a moment's silence, then an ex­ clamation loud enough to be heard by those who were curiously expectant. "Well, I couldn't help it," the petu­ lant words ^ame. "I got tired of wait­ ing around, and went back to work. Ton got me into this mess. You know I don't like dress affairs, and hate dress suits. Working clothes suit me Jbest. So there!" Everyone had looked at one another snderstandingly iuid smiled when the sminent scientist and inventor had been led into the room. Guy, craning bis neck in a sudden desire to see this sntry, had a confused picture of a m»n with a shock of white hair and long eyebrows, from beneath which glared eyes of great restlessness, and also remembered that the dress suit which had caused so much worry was Stained with freshly spilled chemicals, . and that even as he came the inventor 133 TO TRAINS f 1 $ "Is There Going to B« Any War?" was furtively wiping a pair of grimy hands on his handkerchief. But it was not the man nor the suppressed tit­ ters of laughter that he recollected best; it was the. girl who escorted him. She came leading her father by the arm, the daintiness of her costume enhanced by the marks of the work­ shop on his coat. She walked smiling­ ly forward, completely self-possessed, with head thrown back, and making no apologies. Had it not been for the conversation at the door, overheard within the room, none would have supposed that she wished a more cere­ monious appearance. She challenged with her eyes as she passed her guests, and to Hillier's surprise, bound in conventionality as he always had been, it suddenly seemed that In all of it there was nothing Inappropriate nor Incongruous. Then came that later hour when he was introduced to the savant, and the latter had looked him squarely in the eyes and given him a handshake that was surprisingly strong. And the girl! At the first word spoken by her his heart gave a great leap, Insistently demanding that he should know her better. It had been easy to yield to its call, and he made occasion to be as near her side throughout the even­ ing as was possible. He was to learn later that she always was with her fa­ ther, nearly always Inaccessible, and sometimes wrapped in such thought that he could scarcely probe her mind. The evening of their meeting had ended as do all evenings; but thence­ forth he had Bought her. Their ac­ quaintance grew to a more friendly basis, and went steadily forward until on his part at least It culminated in love. Sometimes he had the courage to believe it returned. At other times he grew despondent in his assault on the portals of her heart, but now that war and separation threatened, he was resolved to bring his siege to the Issue and gain an answer. A long-drawn whistle of increasing volume vibrated through the dusk; one headlight stared more steadily than the others which gleamed across the network of steel rails beyond and came swiftly, picking a trail to the great arched shed. With a final clang­ ing of Its bell, the big locomotive perspired past him, the whistling brakes gave a harsh grind and the train came to a halt. Guy hurried back with quick, im­ patient steps to the Pullman, where negroes dropped carpeted steps, in time to see the one for whom he waited emerge, calm and immaculate as usual, but with such a gladness of welcome in her eyes that he could barely resist taking her into his arms. Time might drag, but it always found her unchanged. In sudden awkward­ ness he took her lighter luggage and wrap and walked with her to the exit of the noisy station, finding all his carefully formulated sentences for­ gotten, and listening to her rather than saying anything himself. Almost the first question she asked Mm was of the war; and at this he felt a tinge of disappointment. It was too impersonal a topic for a man who had waited a month for an opportunity to speak of affection. He would rather she gave first thought to what be had been doing, what he was going to do and what he wished to do. Even when they reached a more quiet place away from the din of railway traffic and aside from the rush of outgoing pas­ sengers, she turned toward him with a grave face and asked for "the real latest news." 4 "Do tell me," she said, "pot what people say, or what the officials send out, but the real inside situation. Is there going to be any war?" "I am afraid so," he answered, gloomily. "The government is still In­ sisting that there is not much danger of a clash, and backs up its manifes­ toes by making no preparation what­ ever. There has been no attempt to mobilize a fleet in the Pacific, nor to assemble other vessels from foreign ports; but our own advices are that war Is inevitable and may come at any moment." She did not respond, but Beemed almost to have forgotten him in her reverie and contemplation of his words. Nor did she express surprise and interest when he>gave her a seat in the brougham which waited for them beside the station gates. Not till she heard him order the driver to take them to a fashionable cafe did she return from the land of abstrac­ tion and become vivacious again. "Where are you taking me?" she asked. "Did I understand it that we are going to an old friend? I'm half starved, and am going to drop all this war subject for a while." When he told her their destination she clapped her hands and showed her approval by saying: "That's good. Do you remember the little balcony overhanging the street where green things grow and we used to sit last summer when we wanted to be alone and talk? May we have the balcony table?" His smiling assurance that he remembered and that it was to that very spot he was conducting her brought forth her applause at his se­ lection. She leaned out to look ahead as they approached it, looked con­ tented when they alighted before it, and eagerly stepped within when the attendant swung open the doors. They walked across the carpeted floors and between tables where oth­ ers were dining, and everywhere as they went she was recalled to the sterner things of life by a conversa­ tion which had no other topic than war. Here and there she recognized men occupying more or less respon­ sible positions in the government, and a few whose uniforms proclaimed them to be officers of the' army and ILLUSTRATED jkw ~~~* navy. These latter seemed discussing the situation from a more confidential viewpoint, and held their heads close together now and then as if fearful that others might overbear their whispered comments. "All criticising the government,** Guy muttered, indicating one group with a slight nod oi his head. "They can't understand it any more than we can." Shej looked at him sharply as if about to speak, and then after an in­ stant's hesitation closed her half- parted lips and advanced to the seat she desired. A white-clad waiter served them and deferentially brought a newspaper still wet from the press "Thought you'd like to see the latest extra, sir," he explained, as he left them; and Hillier, with a look of weariness, glanced at the headlines and laid it aside. "Same old thing," he commented, in reply to her look of inquiry. "The Gazette has just learned that not even coaling orders have been issued, and this from no less a person than the secretary of the navy, who has been goaded into free speech by the con­ stant pricks of criticism. I wonder if these people are insane?" "Guy," she retorted, "I don't think it altogether fair to speak of the men at the head of the government as in­ sane until they have been proved in error. Let's talk of something else." And he, worried and tired of the topic, was glad to lead into more per­ sonal subjects. He thought of the old inventor whom ho had not seen for months. "How is your father now?" hs asked. "Is he Improving in health, and where is he?" For the first time she showed some embarrassment He watched her, and as she hesitated before answering be­ gan to wonder if there was not some­ thing concerning Roberts which she was endeavoring to conceal from him. "Oh, he is well, but very overworked and tired," she replied finally. "But you haven't answered all my question," he insisted. "You haven't told me where he is." She remained silent, toying with one of the rings upon her hand and looking out through the vines to where the lights of the city gleamed below and stretched out into the blackness beyond. "Norm," he said, leaning toward her, "is there anything wrong with him? All your letters come from Miami. There's a sanatorium there. It can't be that your father is--" "No--no--no; it isn't that!" she re­ plied, but with a look of such appre­ hension that he almost doubted her for the first time in all their friend­ ship. "Father is all right, only he has worked very hard, and-- Oh, please don't insist on my telling you any more! Believe me, I should be frank with you, of all persons in the world, if I could; but I can't be--quite." Impulsively he stretched his hands across the table and seized hers. The hum of conversation had died out in the room back of them, most, of the diners having departed. It had grown so quiet that they could hear the strains of a band from one of the parks, playing as gayly as if war was an unknown contingency. "Norm," he said pleadingly, "take me into your full confidence! Tell me what it is that troubles you! Something does, I'm sure. I have read it in your letters, and in your eyes when you come to me. Let me share it with you! You know I love you, and a part of love is to share each other's troubles." He tried to hold her hands; but she withdrew them tremblingly. She turned her face away toward the lights of the night, without looking at him. For what seemed a long time he waited. "Oh, I wish you had not said that to me--just yet," she an­ swered at length. "You make it very hard for both of us now. I want to be honest with you, want to give you my confidence and my--but I can't. 1 can't tell you anything. You must wait." (TO BE CONTIfTU ED.) LITTLE WORLD OF THEIR OWN Inhabitants of Ascension Island Live in State of Socialism. Now and then one hears of out of the way places where the conventions of life, as they are understood, do not exist. One of these is where money is useless. This is Ascension island; in the Atlantic. This island is the property of the British admiralty, and Is governed by a captain of the royal navy. There Is no private property in land; so there are no rents, taxes, etc. The flocks and herds are public property, and the meat killed is issued in rations. So are the vegetables grown on the farms. Here, ft would seem, 1s real social­ ism. When a fisherman makeB a catch he brings it to the guard room, where it la Issued by the sergeant major. The only private property is fowls aad pigeons. Even the wild donkeys are under government control. They are listed on the books of the paymaster, and are handed over at stock taking. The population consists of a few bluejackets, a company of marines and some Kroos from Sierra Leone. There a marine can do anything. The muleteer is a marine; so are the gardeners, the shepherds, the stock­ men, the grooms, the masons, the car­ penters, and the plumbers. Even the island trapper, who gets rewards for the tails of rats, is a marine.--Sunday Magazine. Vain Man. A man cannot show his vanity in a tight skirt which forces him to walk sideways down the staircase; but let the match be between the respective* vanities of the largest beard and tight» est skirt, and here, too, the battle would be to the strong.--George Eliot CHRISTMAS CHEER As Ever It Calls on the Housewife for Sweets, Pies, and All the Rest of the Good Things of the Holidays. HRISTMAS without candy would not seem like Christ­ mas at all, especially in homes where there are children; so it is at this season of the year that the housewife who has little ones who must be supplied with sweets begins to make her plans for wholesale candy- making, for, cheap as candies are to­ day, and easily as they may be ob­ tained, there are still many women who prefer to supply their households with home-made dainties instead of buying them at the stor$, even though the latter may be quite as pure and wholesome. Of course, in candy-making, as In everything else, each year brings forth new formulas; the old candies, once considered so delectable, get out of fashion, and new sweets come to take their place. Thus, for example, though taffy, fudge, caramels, choco­ late creams, etc., are still as palatable as ever, the mother who would be up- to-date in her production of Christmas candies must prepare some of the newer delicacies. "Ocean Foam" is another novel candy that is now being widebsrtfttro- duced among lovers of hoflhnade sweetmeats. To make iti tafejfthree cupfuls of light brown sug&r JSMpujt It over the fire with a cupful offresN boiling water. Stir It ceaselessly until all the sugar has dissolved; then let it cook undisturbed until it will spin a thread. Remove, and when it stops bubbling pour the mixture, little by little, over the stiffly beaten whites of two eggs. Beat with a wire egg beater until the texture is soft and creamy, and while beating flavor to taste with vanilla extract. At the last moment add a cupful of chopped meat nuts, and drop from the spoon on waxed paper. In place of the time-honored "fudge," she may make the new "Divinity Fudge," a sweet that is no more ex­ pensive, that takes but little more time, but that is far more delicious. Melt a cupful of sugar in a saucepan; when melted, pour It Into another saucepan In which there is already a cupful of cold milk. Put this pan on the fire and cook slowly until the two have blended; then add two more cup­ fuls of granulated sugar, and one more cupful of cold milk, and reheat, cook­ ing slowly until it is of proper con­ sistency to remove from the stove. At this time add a heaping teaspoonful of butter and a cupful of finely chopped nut meats; beat the mixture with a large spoon until almost cold, then spread it over-buttered pans, and line for cutting, like fudge. For those who like cocoanut candles the following recipe for what is knoWn aB "Cocoanut Strips" is productive of an Inexpensive and palatable dainty: Cook two pounds of light brown sugar with a cup of water and a tablespoon- ful of butter until the mixture boils. Cut the meat from a fresh cocoanut into .shreds, and add it to the syrup, cooking until it threads. Whip with the egg beater until it is creamy; then spread it in buttered pans and mark in strips for cutting. Another cheap candy, called "Nut Creams," is made by boiling three cup­ fuls of granulated sugar with one cup­ ful of rich cream. When of proper consistency remove from the fire, whip briskly with the egg beater, and add one cupful of chopped nut meats. Spread over buttered tins and cut in squares. An excellent imitation of one of the newest of store candies may be made at little cost. These are the peanut creams and chocolates that are now in such high favor. To attain this mas­ terpiece take some peanut butter, and, after salting it slightly, shape it into the forms desired. Some of these may be rolled in fondant and served plain; others may be covered with chopped nut meats; some may be dipped into melted chocolate, or they may be treated in any manner that the in­ genuity of the amateur candymaker may suggest In any form, however, they are quite as delicious as the can­ dies that are sold in stores. A fruit and nut delicacy that cannot fail to appeal to the housewife at Christmas time is made by chopping a cup of nut meats with two cupfuls of dates, half a, cupful of figs, and half- a cupful of Maraschino cherries that have been drained free from liquor. When chopped, and they should not be chopped too fine, mold into the shapes desired, and dip each piece into a syrup made by boiling half a pound of sugar with half a pint of water until tt will harden like candy. Slices of grange or pineapple, and dates, figs or any kind of nuts may be coated in the same manner. Now that maple sugar may be ob­ tained without great difficulty, an ex­ cellent candy may be made by boiling three cupfuls with a cupful and a half of sweet milk and half a tablespoon- fui of butter for about ten minutes. At the expiration of this time beat with a spoon until the mixture is both creamy and thick. It may then be spread in buttered tins to cool, or, for the sake of variety, the candy may be divided into three equal portions, one part to be served plain, another mixed with nuts, and the third with chopped candied cherries. Salted nuts are now so great a favorite that no elabqrfte dinner would seem coihplete without them. As ordinarily prepared, however, the salting of nuts 1b quite a serious task, but if the cook desires to save time in cooking them she may attain the same result more easily by dropping them into a kettle of. deep fat--lard by preference--and letting them remain from 10 to 16 minutes. When done, they must be drained thoroughly be­ fore being salted to taste, and they will be found to be just as palatable as the nuts that have been prepared by the far more laborious process. if you are in search of a novelty, in­ stead of salting all the nuts for the Christmas dinner, try the experiment of "brandying" some of them. To do this, soak the nuts for about 38 hours in brandy--French brandy, peach brandy or applejack will do--then cover them* with a thin fondant, or merely roll them in powdered sugar. The result will be hailed with delight AFFECTING 8K3HT. * ^ 7 ~z~* From Cornfield to Table. The very lateBt cornfleld-to-table record was made the other day at Walla Walla a town in the state of Washington. Wheat growing in the field has been cut, threshed, ground into flour, mixed into dough, and made into rolls within twenty-two minutes. The methods seem to have differed from the ordinary mainly in the em­ ployment of a swift motor car to carry the wheat to the mill. Christmas Suggestions s) i v J \ \ , Cook (to her friend)--The proposal that the widower made me was realist very moving. He brought his fottf children with him, and they all knell before me. How It Happened. Jack--How did Spylow get the bwa eye--football? Jake--No, sir. Sprained it last sum­ mer at der bathing peach.--Wisconsin 8phinx. ' *.# ."*< 1 M1J5. SOPHIA , KTOXESEfC HEALTH VERY POOR-- RESTORED BY PE-RU-Wi. Catarrh Iwentj-fiYe Years- * Had a Bad Congt Miss Sophia Kittleaen, Bvaoston, 111, writes: • ; "I have been troubled with catart|rJ for nearly twenty-five years and have tried many cures for it, but obtained very little help. "Then my brother advised me to ttjr Peruna, and I did. "My hea lth was very poor at the time 1 began. taking Ponma. My throat was very sore and I had bad cougli. ; "Peruna has cured me. The clrroajp catarrh is gone aad my health Is rwy much improved. "I recommend Peruna to all ' friends who are troubled as I was." j PERUNA TABLETS s--Some people pra* . fer tablets, rather than medicine m fluid-form. Such people can obtain Peru» Iia tablets, which represent the medic&* nal ingredients of Peruna. Each tablet equals one average dose of Peruna. .'•> Man-a-lin the Ideal Laxative. * .4 sir your Druggist tor a Free Perut0-'y Almanac tor 1909. * 'iV3 •Mb If You Work Outdoors Any cold you contract Bhoidd be cured without delay, and driven entirely out of the sys­ tem--unless you wish to in­ vite an attack of Pleurisy or Pneumonia. Dr.D.Jayne's Expectorant is known as the most success­ ful preparation ever discovered tor Colds, Coughs, Bronchitis, Inflammation of the Lungs or Chest, Pleurisy, Asthma and diseases of similar nature. This famous remedy has been dispensed for over 78 yean, and is sold by all druggists, ia three size bottles, $1.00, 50e and 25c. Dr. D. Jutm'I T*aic Viral faS* is a splendid building-op tonic for systems weakened ky Coughs or Colds. SICK HEADACHE Fwsiti % *»!> c tired bjf LAill*» Pills. • ' They also relieve Di% tress from Dyspepsia. fl i pest ion and Too Hearty 1 > iMting. A perfect rente. : dy for Dizisiness, Na*« :»ea, Drowsiness, Bad Taste in liie Mouth, Co&fc* ed Tongue, Paia in thO Side, TORPID LIVE®*, They reflate the Bow«!is. Ptuvir Veg«Mbi|4:> SMALL PILL. SMALL DOSE. SMALL Witt, CARTERS! V CARTER'S llTTLE IVER PILLS. Genuine Must Bear ^ ̂5, Ftc-Simile Signature REFUSE SUBSTITUTED Suggestions for Christmas presents are always gladly received by those who prefer to make their gifts. Here are a few, some of which may prove ac­ ceptable for your friends. The first is a magazine cover which may be made of ecru linen and embroidered in oriental colors. It may also be made of plain brown leather band decorated or a design suitable for cut leather may be made with little study. The second is a traveling case of linen for toilet article*, a very useful aad Inexpensive Christmas gift. The third is a needle case with emery attached in the shape of a bell. The fourth is a fancy workbag with flower design on linen. The fifth is a book for telephone numbers and calls and is mado up of linen nnd embroidered in outline. The sixth is an embroidered napkin ring on pure white linen. The seventh is an embroidered sofa cushion. The eighth is a case for a pack of playing cards, and may be mad* of eat leather or silk. ... BET MONEY QUICK Br vour rOCLTKf.TKAl,. EtHiS»«>dBlTlKKto COYNE BROS-, So. Water St. CHICAGO. Writ# for auO sag*- Men or WontfD -11^) Monttely soiling our iNtieutwl ladies' . AGENTS Bend for frw siwvial vrviuiut* f .A.MIULKK* CO., Av«\.l hie. •