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and meditated, bringing Peters up for a. mental review. Poor little whifl‘enl To be sure, he had money, some social stand- ing and a fair education. They had known him a. long, long time, and even felt for him a. sort of distant relatives’ afi'ection. They would do anything in the world for him. He often took Agatha. about, to places of amusement, to church, or riding. But he was at least fifteen years her senior, and they had never dreamed of his aspiring to marry her. His appearance was pitifully against him. Miss N ennie reviewed his bad build, his bowed legs. his ‘ wild eye,’ as she called Peters.’ ” M'ss Nannie and meditated, mental review. be sure. he had The room was still, utterly still. If Miss Nannie were surprised or shocked she gave no token. She only 53.1: quietly looking at the girl and taking time to collect her thoughts. Agatha. never lifted her eyes until, after some momenta. her cousin cleared her throat and tranquilly inquired : “ Well. dear. are you satisfied that you will be happy ’2" Then the girl rose and threw hat-Bel upon the mfa. “0, Nannie, I don't know ; I can’t tell." More silence. Then Miss Nannie asked if she had told the boys ? To these women George and Lewis would be “ the boys" as long as they lived. The girl dropped her eyes. "Nannie, I have some news for you,” nho said with an sfl‘orb. “ lâ€"Jash nightâ€"I promised Mr. Petersâ€"toâ€"to marry him.’ Then she sighed M if relieved of a. great but- den. “You look pale; aren't you well 1” asked Miss Nannie when they were seated But Agatha. could not respond to her staid humor. She helped put away the wraps, and inquired after the suburban friends. “ They get their ideas from the morn- ing papers,” said Nannie calmly. unclaap- ing her fur-lined circular. “The step- mother holding the child to the fire is a. favorite paragraph when news is scarce. Sometimes she heats the flat-iron. For my part, I would never go to that trouble." “I. thought you wouid nevu' come, Nannie," was the swift, unnerved reply. Then she lit the gas. “ Whv, what is the matter, my dear 2” “ I have just put Miss Fortescue and Mrs. Becker out of the room, and itsâ€"4!; has annoyed me." " Dear me 1 What had they done 2" “ The same 0113 sickening gossip. Miss Bruce flirts on the street ; Mix and Mrs. Brown have shown no marriage certifi- cate; Mrs. Gray holds her step-child to the furnace to burn it, and so on and so on " “G005 afternoon,” said Miss Fortes- cue savagely. “Good afternoon,” sneered Mrs. Becker. ' “ To-day of all days,” she said, as she walkeu to and fro in the dusk. Presently the door opened. “Allin the dark, Agatha. 2" asked a. “ Good riddance I" cried 1y 91-3 th_a doqr clogpd cheegy {mice Three ladies were seated in 3‘91 he Forester’s parlor ; Miss Fortetcuu, large, dark and of uncertain age, who mono- polized the most comfortable arm-chair ; Mrs Becker, shrunken and sandy, who was constantly sliding off the sofa and re- instating herself with a jerk, and Miss Agazha herself, who sat apart from the others, glancing uneasily out of the window. as if distressed by their garrulity. Miss Agatha was afair young women, with a noble head and a countenance ex- pressive of all grace and goodness. Yet at this moment she entertained feelings decidedly hostile to her callers, who had run in with the familiar freedom of fellow~ boarders in a family hotel, to chat away the afternoon. At heart they were im- mensely sorry that Miss Nannie Foster had not yet returned from a suburb,where she had gone the day before. Miss Nannie, Agatha’s cousin, companion and chaperonu in one, was far more to their taste ; she was more attentive, more easily impressed, more sympathetic, they thought. She never sat leoking out of the window when they were retailing their choicest bits of scandal for her especial benefit. But then she was a woman of years. However, they still lingered; it was a pleasant place. The Fosters had the handsomest sui‘e in the buildingâ€"and furnished with such taste l Such carpets 1 Such decorative art ! And the Fosters were tip-top people. There was four of them,7Mise Agatha, her two bachelor brothers, ten and a dozen years her senior, and Miss Nannie, who, since their parents’ death, had kept the children haether. The winter day drew to a close, the room grew dusky, and still the ladies lingered. “Oh, certainly,” faintly echoed Mrs. Becker, sliding from the sofa. for the last time and preparing to follow. Agatha’a impatience only increased. “ And allow me to say," she exclaimed, wiLh no compunction, “ that I think Iadies might be better employed than with their neighbors’ affairs.” “ Ladies,” she said, with an indignant quiver in her sweet contralto voice, “ you must excuse me. I cannot listen to such coversation l” Agatha. couId endure it no of all days, she was with She yosg quickly. There was silence a moment ;'then Miss Fortescue lifted her cumbxous frame. “ Oh, certainly. I quite understand. We will withdraw. We do not Wish to nfl‘end.” $01V AGATHA. what did George say only said, ‘ I < ieorge at noon, votce heavy w [on here. I wish . dureit no longer ; this was without: patience ’ cried Agatha. sharp t; in the oha ’eteys up for ion, ” replied with tears. eh you would congratulat‘ late 8.1!: geon: v crogs-eye‘ She Bprang up in a. rage: “Lewis, you have said quite_enough. Never speak so again to me; I forbid it I” iThen she bought her own chamber and threw herself upon the bed. Nannie came to her after awhile. “My She smiled. He went on recklessly: “I don’t believe you knew what you were doing. You don't love Peters. you only pity him just: as you used to pity the Senator and all the rest. This crooked little curmud- geon! Why,he is older than George,and "1 can’t help it if 1 don't," he answer- ed half-impatiently. “You know how proud we are of you. Gath, and we can’t be expected to think any man good “Then do wit speak against Mr. Peters,” she said in a way than seemed so dismiss the subject. George bebook himself to his own room and Lewis took his place by Agatha. “I suppose I am to congratulate," he said with a. careless disregard of Nannle’s in- junctions. “You do not seem very enthusiastic,” responded his sitar cslmly. recalling his secre tiy-heard exclamation uponfirst nest- ing the news. ing to stratghten his crooked limbs, and control his recreant orb. But with day- light they dawned upon her as uncom- promising as ever. But George would not stoop to person- alities. “Nothing,” he answered quiet- ly. “Only we have looked very high for you. We want you to be happy." “What-is there against him? ' she ank- ed, unflinchingly. She was not blind to her lover’s bodily imperfections. She had lain awake all night, mentally eugleavor- Up in their own pirlor, George sat down by his sister. "Agatha," he said slowly and with an evident dislike to the subjec‘, “do you think you did well to engage yourself to Mr. Peters before consulting your family?" “I was of age three years ago,” she said. regarding him with 031m dignity. “Yesfyea, of course. But there is such a. thing as advice. Mr. Peters is cur good friend, but is he a Suitable hus- band for you?” outwardly manifest. Of her family, George was a shade more dignified than usual; and Lewis appeared annoyed,while Nannie put on a. regretful look and 0c- casioually sighed. \Vheu they left the dining-room Agatha swept haughtin by the table at which eat the Fortescue and the Becker. She was done with the twain. and intended they nhould see it. Agatha came down to dinner with her face composed and her manner gracious as ever. He: inward defiance was not Qntwardly mapifgst. Ofrherr family, “ If there were only some way to dis- pose of him.” exclaimed Lewis grimly; “ If we could send him out with the next Arctic exposition"â€" Nannie rose. “You will be very care- ful what you say, Lewis 7" “ Oh, of course.” She lingered at the door. “ Agatha has not a lorceless nature by any means,” she said ; “ she can get angry if she cares to. She tells me she put; Miss Fortescue and Mrs. Becker out of our parlor bo-day, because of their vile gossip. I have no doubt she did” “ Humph !” But Miss Nannie remained awhile in her cousin’s chamber. “Lewis.” she said quietly. “ I sup- pose we all feel the same over this-â€" matte: ? Agatha says when she told George he remarked that he ‘congratu- lated Peters.’ ” “ Well, this is too bad,” said Lewis in- dignantly. “ It is a. shame if a. girl with her face and brains can’t do better. She is altogether too soft-hearted. She would have married all the men who ever pro- posed, if we had let her, and out of sheer pity. not because she csred for them. That is why she accepted Peters ; couldn’t bear to hurt his feelingsâ€"didn’t want his strait eye to sufl‘use with tears I We must do something to prevent.” Nannie smiled deprecstingly : “ We must be vsry careful. Agatha has a. curi- ous disposition, and if she thought we were all against him, she would pity him the more.” it, asuepicioue eye that seemed to skir- mish about the room while its mate re- garded you with steadfast respect. Then she turned her thoughts to Agathaâ€"â€" Agatha, perfect in face and figure and en- nobled by education and advantagesâ€" Agathe. for whom a Senator had proposed and a Congressman languished, to say nothing of her lesser adorersâ€"Agetha, who had rejected the Senator because he lacked principle, and the Congressman because he was a. widower. Nannie remembered that the girl had suffered and shed -teara over refusing these and others, She had a curious dia- position, as the: boys had said. 1 ,,1, ‘4‘ I am going at once to tell him, before George comes,” said Nannie, rising. “ Yes, do," sighed Agatha. And when her causin had gone out, across the corri- dor, and her tap had been welcomed by a careless “ Come in !” the young girl stole after and listened at the crack of her brother’s door. “Lewis, I have news for you,” said Nannie gently, and there was a hidden sob in her fond voice. “Agatha has promised. .to marry Mr. Peters.” “ O Lord 1" cried Lewis in open- mouthed disgust. Agatha. crept away from the door ; her hard : At length Nannie roused and spoke. ” I will tell Lewis ; and now, dear, you had better dress; it is near dinner-time. A little Florida-water will cool your cheeks”â€" “ Hark I" cried Agatha, “ there he is nowâ€"gone into his room." Nannie recognized the clumsy step. Lewis has never yet come up thone steps without tripping at the top ; the rushing. impetuous way of his boyhood would al- ways cling to him. “ I am going at once to tell him, before George comes,” said Nannie, rising. was burnin t help it? if I dog’t," he answer y xr. and m the door ; her her heart. beat In the next block an old building had been born away to give place to a new one. Careless workmen had left the side walk unguarded in one place, a. step from which would have landed one in a deep cellar, where lay a number of loose found- ation stones. The yelpa died away in the distance,and the ladies went on. A blind man, crying,“Coughlozenges!” upon the corner detained them for a. mo- ment. “Your outfit”â€"ventured Nannie, and stopped. Agatha. sighed but her sigh was lost in the noise of the street. A poorlittle yellowdog limped out from under a passing vehicle, holding up one paw and yelping pitifully. “0h. seal" criod Agatha. with her eyes wef. “Poor. poor doggy! I am so sor- Agatha said they would not be hamper- ed with a. carriage,and they cook a car for a. mile 01 no, alighting to walk a. few squares or so to another line. The storm had abated, and the min was buta listless drizzle. “My oversfioes are useless," said the girl carelessly. “I must soon have an- other pair. I have a good deal of shop- pingfito do soon.” ryl_ 'N one but Nannie know the terrible tremor in which the girl existedi She was ever moving about}, her hands con- stantly occupied. Day after day, rain or shine. the two women were out of doors. They had always an errand. usually one of mercy. Nannie, however disinclined, would have felt it a sin to oppose. and so Agatha. dragged her ofl" through the flit» ting sunshine, the moodiuess, the chill or storm of the springtime, until one last momin . It hag been raining for three days, and so steadily that; the sidewalk flags were cleaned and whitened. Agatha. slipped and slid once, and Nan- nie gava a. frightened exclamation. “I can tell you, madame, that you must discontinue your talk of my Slater,” he cried angrily. “Lewis, if you have the least particle of love or respect; for me, you will never speak so again I do love Norman, and it. would kill me If anything should break the engagement!" “If,” thought Nannie, with a softened regret, “if he were only a half-inch tall- er, to be of even height with Agatha!” Meanwhile poor Agatha was fretting herself to death. A thousand little heart- less sarcasms and glances of ridicule, to which Peters. in his great happiness, was utterly oblivious, were constantly stab- bing her. Night after night she passed in wakeful agony, the idea of breaking the engagement never once occuring to her. She was sure she loved him, and she realized the depth of his devotion. She endeavored to rise above morbid sen- sitiveness, telling herself that people would cease their cruel ways when they saw that she was determined to stand by him. But she grew thin, and her fsce wore a hunted expression. Mesdames Becker and Fortescue now began to cir~ culate pretty little stories about herâ€"in- geniously constructed but untruthiul ro- mam-e- Nothing very bad, for Agatha. was a woman to whom no doubtful mist could cling for a moment; but whispers of “co- quetry,” “blighted hopes,” “girlish folly” and “ last resort," which, blown from lip to lip on the dubious breath of friend» ship. came at last to vex the ears of the Fosters. Agatha only grew more pale. Stormy Lewis. however, one day con- fronted Miss Fortescue in the hall before his sister’s room. Agatfia came on dear.” He took her by the arm. “Go back, Gabh. I‘ve a, matter to settle with this lady. She knows what mischief she has been trying to work. and I intend the talk shall cease. or I will take measures she may not. admire." With'out a. word Miss Fortescue turned and fled. “I declare I haven’tmuch patience'with you," exclaimed her brother, “to think that you would defend her. and she every day assailing your good name. But all your way-I of late are provoking. You are going to marry a. man you don't love because you pity him. For God's sake, why didn't you pity some one suitable"â€" Lewisâ€"quit her presence quite crest- fallen. The days slipped by. There had been no date fixed for the wedding, [101' was the subject disscussed by the fam- fly; She trembledfiivth excitement and pas- slon. p091- darling ‘. Bad? “ I was sorry for her.” said Agatha, “shglpoked 29 guilt-Strand helplgsnlfi _ _ “Lewis has been saying such fiwful things!" “And are you quite hureyou havumade no mistake?" “Quite sure.” She rose and arranged her toilet ; Mr. Peter» was to come that evening. He arrived early. Nannie endeavored to be gracious, but soon excused herself, leaving Agatha to her lover. theboys hav- ing zone out. And Agatha, with Lewis’ cruel criticiSm still ringing in her ears, felt as if in a. dream. Fortunately Peters made no inquiries as to her brothers’ opinion of the marriage. Miss Nannie had congratulated him as though all were satisfactory. Agatha accepted his adoration quite passively, and, at last, when he was gone, retired to her room to pity him and weep for him, mad tell herself how much she loved him. But as the winter slipped away the en- gagement was announced, and basing re- mained unbroken, Agatha's brothers be- gun to feel resigned. U The dfiieb, inutense devotion of Norman Peter: was touching. He worshipped his betrothed; to him she was a. very god- dens. Why are you feeling so 011 Lewis, They are fastened so securely to the rocks upon which they grow that the most furious dauhinga hrrdly ever tear them off. Spongos grow in many different; forms. Some grow like shrubs, some like tubes, vases and trumpets. In some parts of the Pacific Ocean it: grows like the most beautiful branches of trees. After the sponge has grown to a pretty good size a great many fine spikes are seen to shoot out of the side of the sponge tubes ; it is thought that these are to pre- vent the weight of the growing spong from pressing too heavily upon the jelly As the sponge grows on the rocks it throws up many round heads with large holes in them. The water from which the sponge obtains its nourishment is sucked in through the little holes or pores in the sldes, and after running through the whole structure, is thrown out through these large holes with consider- able force. egg: without head, feet, arms, eyes or ears. This young sponge floats about for three days; it moves by means of a. large number of fine threads, Called cilia, which cover its body ; these are whirled about rapidly. making quitea. commotion in the water, and with the roundest part of the body loremost oil the little thing goes. These cilia. are not used to pro- duce motion wholly, but by them the food is drawn into the body. After about three days it becomes tired of wander- ing and prepares to settle down upon some shell or rock, from which it never moves. The narrow end is attached to the substance they have found. Their cilia. continue to mom for some hours after it becomes fixed. but then they grow quiet and lay down flat on the rock and quietly suck in their food. After a. short time dark spots are seen in the sponge; these are the sponge fibres be- ginning to grow in the live jelly and are what the cilia have drawn into the body 011: of the sea. water. These little spots of sponge soon grow together and form a sort of framework for the live jolly to rest on, and as this frame grows the jelly grows too, and fills up the tubes and pores in the sponge. J ast as they had reached this spot they were brought to a sudden halt; by loud cries and confuaion. Down the street and directly toward them. came a run- away team dynggigg a gplendid carriage. To understand this subject you must have a sponge before you. You will see that it is of a. brownish color, is soft and will absorb water very readily. It is made up of fine fibres which easily bend and are very elastic, or will spring back when pressed, and is pierced. with many holes or pores These fishes are made of three different substancesâ€"silex, which is an earth of which flint is formed, lime and a. horny substance, (horn is compos- ed of glue. phosphate of lime and albu- men). The home of the sponge is the ocean,but it grows to its greatest perfect- ion in the tropical waters. It originates from the mother sponge, and first ap- pears as spear-shaped jelly-like body ab- out as large as a. small pea. This is called a. gemmule. from gamma, 8. bud ; it looks very much like aclrop of the white of an Agatha took 3h ifi'eaolâ€"ute step forwaEd, and then sprang back as the horses dash- ed up ngainut the sidewalk. And as Agatha la} watching she raised a feeble hand to stay the tears that cours- ed her cheeks. “I never thought:" aha sobbed aloud, “I never dreamed I could be made so happy!‘ Tfie {701mm were thus separated, and in a second hanme was reaching forward, cold with horror. She would live, ssdly crippled and helpless; the spine had been injured and one hip dislocated. S0 said the best of surgeons. She would henceforth require all care and tenderness. “Thank God. she is not poor!" cried Nannie. As for the boys, George was completely crushed, and Lewis paced the floor for hours, crying for “his poor,poor, sister!” ' Agatha insisted upon hearing the worst, and, when it was made known was very silent. By-and-by Nannie could see great tears trembling under the long, dark eyelashes. “I would not mind.” faltered the suf- ferer. “but for him. Who will love and care for him now?” Then she asked that he he sent for at once. When he arr-ind, Nannie and the boys were in the room, but they with- drew to the window. Peters face was pale as Agatha’s qwn. “Peters,” he aid, “we havu’t done right by you. I, myself, have acted de- spicably. But if you will forgive and forget, it will be very different in the fuâ€" ture." Then Peters, who had risen, stood si- lent and bewildered til], through the mist, the room grew suddenly bright, for they had encircled him and were clasping his hands with loving warmth. "Agatha!" she cried, but too late. The girl had lost her balance, and had fallen backward from the unguarded sidewalk down into the deep cellar, and there lay upon the stones limp and uncon. ccmus. By the window three persons heard it all. They looked in silence at each other, then Lewis strode swiftly across the room. “Norman dear," she saii without pre- face. “I am a. cripple for life I may never walk again. I sent for youâ€"to give you buck your freedom.” A frightened expression overspread his countenance; his lip quivered, and he sank on his knees by the bed and buried his face. “Agatha. darling!” he cried with real pathos, “don’t, don’t; cast me 031 You are a. thousand times dearer to me now. All I ask is the right to care for you"â€" hia voice brokg, and he fell to weeping. The Sponge. The female base bail club of Philadel- phia is now in New Orleans, and the girls are receiving so many ofi'urs of marriage that the orgauiz ition will probably fall to pieces. How They do it So-called respectable people would hesitate considerable before pilfering your pockets Ill is crowded thoroughfare. I‘hat would be too too. The same dis- crimination is not indicated by the so- called respectable druggist when that wonderful corn euro, PUTNAM'S PAINLEss CORN Exmm‘ron, is asked for. He will pilfer your pockets in the most genteel manner by substituting cheap and danger- ous substltutee for the genuine Putnam’s Corn Extractor. Watch for these gentle- men, and take none o;her than Putnam's Corn Extractor. Sold by druggisfs everywhere. N. 0. Poison & 00., K.ug- ston, proprs. The Raw Cutting Winds. Of winter bring to the surface every lstten pain. It is one of the strange thigs as~ nociated with our physical well being that the very nir, without which we could not exist, is heavily laden with the germs of disease. Rheumstism, neuralgia. lum- bago, and, other complaints of a similar character hold revel at this season of the year amongst human nerves and human muscles. There was a. time when forti- tude alone could make life tolerable, but new with the advent of powerful, pene- trating and nerve soothing remedies pain becomes a. thing of a. moment. The best, the most powerful and most certain pain cure is Polson’s NEBVILINz. Nothing equals Nerviline for penetrating power. N erviline is beyond comparison the grand- est discovery for the relief of pain oflered to the public. Druggists sell a sample bottle for 10 cents ; large bottles only 25 cents at any drug store. An Indiana husband who is seeking divorce claims that his wife scalded him with the teapot on eighty-four different occaeions. There are some [patient men in this country. Opium and sawdust enter largely into the mgredients of the cigarette, and these things were never known to have any bad effect on the soft-headed class who suck c‘garettes. When you visit or leave New York City. save Baggage exprosaage and Carma Hire. and stop at the GRAND UNION HOTEL, opposite Grand Central Depot 600 el ant rooms fitted up at. aooatotone million do , $1 and up wards per day. European plan. Elevator. Reagan-rm. supplied with the beat. Horse cars. stages and sievde railroads to all depota Families can live bemu- fox-lose money at the Grand Union Hotel than st no: other film:- class hotel in the cnv. The bread bah ed at Naples is the same size and weight and shape as was baked 6,000 years ago, but we are glad to learn that street beggars are a new genera- 151011. An Italian Count has offered to marry an Ohio girl, if her father will come down with $50,000 in cash, but the old man thinks that he will wait; for a cheaper bid from an American “Hon.” Yes you can get something to stop that cough. “Pee coma. will do n in no MmeV Try Peotorin. it never fails. The great. 5 cent Cough and Cold Cure Addxson, who wrote a good~d [about female fashion: in tho “Spocta at," very much ridiculed the hoop-petticoab, which was so large that a woman wearing one occupied the space uf six men. In President Lincoln’s last inaugural address occurs the following instance of involuntary rhyme : And here the rhyme ceases. Cicero's prose shows. in places, simllar instances of involuntary rhyme. Perhaps the meet extraordinary success that has been achieved in modern science has been attained by the Dixon Treatment of Cetarrh. Out of 2.0m.) patients treated durin the past six months, fully ninety per cent. eve been cured of this etnbborn malady. This ia none the less startling when it is remembered that not five per cent. of the patients presenting themselves to the regular practitioner ere beneflttech while the patent medicines and other advertised cures never record e cure at all. Starting with the claim now generally believed by the most adenan men that the disease is due to the presence of My lug parasites in the tiesuee, Mr. Dixon at once adopted his ears to their exten- mination; this accomplished the oetarrh is practically cured. and the pennenency iaun- questioned, as cures eifected by bun four years ago are cures still. No one else has ever at- tempted to cure calm-r): in this manner, and no other treatment has ever cured onterrh. The application at the remedy is simple and can be done at home, and the resent season of the year 18 the moat lnvore le for e speedwnd permanent cure. the majority of cases 1: cured at one treatment. Suflerem should cor- respond Tnit}: Maseru. A. H, DIXON &SON 305 King-street West. Toronto. Canada, and enclose etamp for their treetiae on oome â€" Montreal Anne Boleyn wan remarkably dainty about her gloves. She had a. nail which turned up at the sides, and it wee the de- light of Queen Catherine to make her play at cards without her gloves, in order than the deformity might disgust King Henry VIII. Buahrah is the name of a noble for- tress in Syria. once a. great stronghold, but; now abandoned, but: occupied only by roving bands of Arabs. It contains within its enclosure 21 great theatre, por- tions of which are still perfect, and which dates, without doubt. from Roman times. It may be of interest to those who make the subject a. study, to know that there are only five genulne signatures of Shakespeare known to be in existenze. One is in the London Libraly, the other in the British Museum, one attached to his will at Doctor's Commons, and two in possession of private collectors. It in not generally known that the cus- tom of keeping birthdays iz. many thous- and. yea-rs old. It is recorded in the for- tieth chapter of Genesis, twentieth v: rse : “And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a. feast unto all his servants.” Gammaâ€"A New Treatment F‘ondly do we hope. Fervcutly do we pray, Than [DIS mighty scourlze of war Mav speedi‘y pas: away; Yet If It be God's Wi\l That it continue untilâ€" HISTORICAL. moortant.