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The Rival Magician. You must know 0 illustrious ntranger, that I was born in the city of Shirazan, my fatherâ€"peace to his ashes lâ€"being a merchant, whose fair, dealing raised him toa posit ion of high honor in the eyes of the Governor and‘ esteem in that of his fellow-citizens. AL‘ISI for my prospects, however, he was gathered to the arms of the I’ro~.‘ phet when I was but an infant, and I passed under the guardianship of an uncleâ€"a sage magician of the name' of Hassan ibn Afzul. Now, it happened that in the same! city where we dwelt, and where my; uncle practiced his exalted professton there lived another magician, called Afzul ibn I'lassan, between whom and my uncle there exist ed a rivalry so i itâ€" ter and far reaching in its conse- quences that the fame of it extended to the borders of Persia. It is said that even among the learn- ed at the Gioaurs professional jealousy at times loads to strange acts of retal- iation; but, illustrious sir, it can eas- ily be understood that when the con- tending parties for public favor are powerful magicians what peeks or trouble they may heap upon each oth~ er‘s head. During my childhood scarcely a day passed, but that we would suffer from the effects of some enchantment be- ing directed at our well being. and. doubtless, as my uncle had slightly the advantage in power and knowledge, of. his art, the household of Afzul ibn Hassan suffered even to a greater ex- tent. \Vithout entering too minutely into the details of the situation it Will suf- fice, as an example of what we en~ dutred, to say that our perfumes were often turned into the vilest of odors, our food into the most unpalatable dishes, our house filled with smoke, shoes with scorpions and beds with cockroaches. -\Vhat my uncle accomplished for Af- zul ibn Hassan I do not know; but doubtless he was bountifully supplied with those lesser vexations, which harass the soul beyond the limits of. patience. In general my uncle adopt-. ed a grave demeanor, as became one of his learned profession, so that. when his humor bubbled over, like the seethâ€" ing mess in one of his crucibles, then I judged that Afzul ibn Hassan was plucking the hairs out of his beard and petitioning Allah for vengeance. ; At the time, when I reached my six- teenth year, my uncle, considering that I had made sufficient progress in the study of astrolgoy, determined to ad- vance me to the higher branch of hisl workâ€"t he science of magicâ€"when two events Occurred, bearing directly upon one another, which changed the whole DOUI‘SG of my life. In the first place I fell passionately in love with the most. beautiful crea- ture in all Persia, whose name was Alzura, who finally reciprocated my sentiment, and who strangely enough, was the daughter of my uncle‘s bitter rival; and second, my uncle unravelled the grand secret of night metamor- phosiation, or the changing of the form of a creature at sundown, upon which both the magicians had assidu- ously labored for years. Considering the relations which exâ€" isted between Alzura's father and my uncle, neither of us had dared to make known our mutual affection, but we contrived to meet secretly in the rose garden of a friendly astrologer, who possesed sufficient power to screen our actions. At what length Icould di- late upon those blissful hours; the moon, that friend of lovers, peeping ind smiling upon our happiness :hrough sheltering foliage, the sweet- ast flowers perfuming the air upon which we exchanged vows of unalterm lble devotion, our way illuminated by“ those winged insect lanterns of the. East, myriads of which flitted in the? void and clung to every branch undi twig. Ah, what entrancing nights. were those, to be terminated by one of a most fearful description! ; Such being our position, it may be assumed that I strove my best to bring about a good understanding between determination, “ my choice is already.farm. bur would not finidr the bar-‘ my uncle and his rival, pointing out, in' so far as .I was able, how his repuâ€" goodness. for which 1 shall ever re- the. la-t place: so he said: , tation for generosity would be great- ly enhanced by permitting Afzul ibn, Hassan to share in the benefits of his. discovery, rather than by using it soldl ly as a weapon to do the latter fur-‘ ther injury. ‘ At the mere suggestion my uncle was1 In turn convulsed with laughter, and 5”” I’GTSlFleit t-O lbw-1 t‘t my Will- ltmkl yours. and I'm no' comin'. enraged almost to the point of aparâ€"; oxysm of madness. t "By the heard of the Prophet,“ hel exclaimed, " that is too good a jokel,‘ Indeed, thou art a simple youth to, suppose that [will endow with thee rand secret one who. on account of' uncle's house, determined nevertheless angling. ho similarity of our names, trades on, my reputation and entices away good paving clients.” I up such a lively croaking under the, latter‘s window that rest was as farI from. his pillow as the unbeliever isl from obtaining the joys of the Pro- phet's paradise. From this my uncle went on from accomplishing one annoyance “pull his rival to another, until he. (zoncvivcd thel most villainous piece of mischief of: all. It was the night of the sixth fulll Infill”), in tbe LUHEHb year of tho lIc-i gira, that I set. out for tho l‘ns‘u garâ€" den of our friend to Illl‘t’i Alzurzi as, uSII‘lI; not, llnIV‘W‘EF, \vilhiiul mis‘ivy ings, for my Ullt'lt' an-ivnd In to in exuberant spirits. rt-pcalid y slro' int.r his venerable llf"ll'll and cxrlaiining,‘ " Masbnllab! l'ut Af’xul il 11 Ilassan‘ will now lie at. my door as a suppli- (~ant." ,‘ ] entered the garden and quickly" mud - my way to our pl'l '.-‘ of I])"l‘llI},‘I, but for the first time for many nmons' Alzuri was not tin-re. to give me groutâ€" ing. For n \Vlllli‘ I pnwd l-ar-l; and forth, momentarily expecting bur ripâ€"i pearanme, and then I ventured to call her by Iiaml‘, softly at first, and then a little louderâ€""Allure, Alznra. .\l-j zurnl" but the only ri‘spnnsc thrill came to IIIE' \\'tI5 tho plaintive. meow of an ill favored looking, hungry visagcd’ vollnw out that had [vnreiuti-nllv futâ€"l lowad up and down in my Ivnlslnps. " IIiSbt l" 'l at last crii-d " Col. tbce gone. brute. Away. and fill thy stomach with mice. as from the sound of thy voice, it must be as hollow as a drun." Then I hit at it with a switch, but while eluding my blows the cat still kept close ‘IIC hand. Parisâ€": in? nnt its mournful wail. Then, as Islond for a moment reâ€" garding the creature with no little' surprise at the constancy with which it had attached itself to my person,‘ the. poor be-ist’ raised its eyes to mine‘ with n gaze so full of pathetic mean-i int! that at once. the conviction forc- ed itself upon my mind that my vinrlicfi tive uncle had changed the form of‘ the beautiful Alzura into that hideous bone protruding grimallfin. " Alas, Alzura l" I cried. " Surely thy ‘t-r and Muller I ‘sm-minvrlv gigantic paw at san might have discovered an aniidotel, to my uncle‘s spell and thus prcsr’rv-l ed his daughter from the hateful change. But alasl no sooner had I arrived at our [)l‘lt‘e of meeting than I was wet-i t‘Olllt‘d by the. same plaintive " Meow," and, with trlil erect, Alzura trottcdl out from uudu' a lush. ! AI lliui “Hum-Ill, I l‘i'mi‘nilwr, Ilia- came conscious of a curious shrinl'ing sensationthroughout my Limbs. Mn .11â€" seemed to llQ‘I'UIIII“,; \vbilc i'.‘.('ll instant Aluira :iHn-ari-d to grow laiirvr and Luigi-r until H'.i-\'t‘l‘â€" ily ion-Evil in it" a nmnstu-r the size of :i lmusw. 'l'lit-n an awful lt'l'l‘tll‘rll‘lZ-i cd my tones, and making: nnu despmu ate spring, Isrutllnd away on four liltl~~ lure-4 to a Slll'lll crevice in lbc‘ i: IIIUII w ‘l. “’l'l'l't’ Icndvavore-il to lllll" myself in its furtberea'l rct'rssJ 'l‘huuzb I reili/t'd it not at lhl' time, my inbum'iu url.‘ ll'lll. in the furthâ€" ('l‘lllt‘t‘ of lis animosity, changed im- into-i mouse, So that I might lil‘l'lllll“ n suipnr lI“ll't(l of a bush-ind for the. I:l'lll~llt‘ l Alzuru. Of the full horror of tbil night I am unable in find words In fillineg (ti-scrim the situation. (‘onucivu your- self 0 illustrious one. cramp-d at llxc innt'r extremity of a Kl"."il lmlc, with lw" (‘ntu‘iunus grown eyes, .‘!|r[)"'ll‘lllL‘,' as the size of two full muons, glaring in with llilll’Il‘V \\~ilt'b:‘ulncss. Imagâ€" ine, if you ’ll‘l‘ able. I‘m but l‘l‘t"llll of a It‘l'l‘ll‘ll‘ niun<trr,,cvcry nrw and tin-n filling: th' tiny rt‘llr’“l and a intervals thrust within "lllltl‘il a lair‘s l wadtb of four sliivnriur',’ form in strenuous t‘l"l"‘l1't)l‘ to blink y4u out. Ru 'u \VIS my Iwitinu for seven un- ending: toursâ€"bouts that seemed li' e, seven due-ides. Tow-Tl morning my‘ senses must have tier-mun so ('tuwainrl with terror lll’VI I lost consciousness, until I surlrlnnly found that daylight. had corn~-, [bit I had resumed my ori-l Elll‘ll form and that Alznra \V’IS no- where to be seen. l paused. regarding my surround- ings as a man that has awakened frmn‘ a horrible 'lrram. Then. as the realâ€"‘ l l I 1 sweet nature cannot be embodied iniily of it'all was lll'Hl" plain, and n such an ungainly shape. Alas, nla<l", mighty dread of lorrimirig the toy of and takingr the poor creature into my arms, Iwepl bitterly. Far into the night I caressed and soothed my transformed Al7ura, strnk-t I encountered out friendly astrologer lnR‘ her unkempt cn-il, so that the fur. of the garden. flew into my nostrils: permitting her, without a protest, to sharpen her tal- ons in my limbs, so that they were. covered with Scratches, and allowing her to crawl all over me, for which I suffered torments on account-of the parasites with not omitted to provide her nlenlifully, In deep grief I finally parted from my enchanted lady. determined. howâ€" ever, to lay the whole case before my uncle on the marrow, and out real him, lwith all the eloquence of a desperate lover, to withdraw the spell from one who was completely innocent of any share in her father‘s offence. This intention I sought the earliest opportunity to carry out, but if Ianâ€" tlt‘imt'ed any sympathy or deviatinni in his cruel purpose I was quickly unâ€" deceived. \Vhen I made known tohim my passion for his rival‘s daughter, and that we had already exchanged vows of fidelity his distress and sub- sequent rage were First of all, he charged me with the basest ingratitude, pointing out tha when he took me under his protection as an orphan little did he imaginethat. I would grow up to make common cause with his enemy. It was of no avail that Itriedt toar- gue the injustice of holding Alzure reâ€" sponsible for her father‘s actions. At the mere mention of Afzul ibn H213- san‘s name my uncle’s muntenant'e beâ€" came distorted with fury as he shout- ed. at me, "Choose, thou cobra that I have taken into my bosom, between- Hasssn ibn Afzul, thy benefactor,and Afzul ibn Hassau, my enemy." I truthfully answered that I naturâ€" ally preferred to choose the one from’ whom Ihad received so much kindâ€" ness and from whom I anticipated no harm. "’l‘hen thou wilt swear by the holy Kaolin,” said he sternly, “never more to speak, or by sign communicate, with! that jade of Afzul ibn I‘Inssan‘s whomt thou callest Alzura." “Sir,” Iprotested, with such calm- ness and decision, as I was able to summon to command, “ that I cannot. do, for she is no jade, but verily the light of my existence." l My uncle threw back his head and laughed derisively, "Light: of thy ex- istence, forsooth!" he cried, "Thou shalt, in truth, make fuel for her ex?E istence, if thou dost not pay heed to. my word: " Look you. boy," and he placed a five minute timeglass upon‘ the table between us, " If before the: sand best run out thou hast change". thy pigheaded obstinacy it will bet well: if not, then thou hadst better get thee with all speed out of the land of Shirazan." " Sir," said I, respectfully. but with: made. I thank you for all your past‘ main grateful. but to renounce Atxura. is mil of tho question " My uncle gazed at me inquiringly' for a moment, as if be yet doubled my resolution, than re.pliedtâ€"“Listen,i I‘ will yet glve thee until sundown tut with you? repent of thy purpose, when, if thnui to thy safety boy. or I may remember! thee in a manner of which thou dost. not even dream." Then, avith emotionl of his hand, he waved me from his presence. Much depressed in spirits I left in)‘ that come what ill fate might [would remain faithful to Alzura. During the remainder of that day‘ l wbi"h my uncle had: f . l t l .- hold. mrfu 0 “1 imisfortune. awaited without fear the 'end. i light into enormous frogs, that kept faintly hoping Then he swore with deep and fearfull I WflfldGI‘Ed Willle DUTDOSR Ul! “It'll oaths that Afzul ibn Hassan should'down the bazaars, so preoccupied with. realize the full penalty of having call- the dismal outlook that 1 Passed by ,d him a oheapand pitiful trickster; friends and acquaintances willlnul re.â€" Ha would quickly prove to the world turning their salutations and stared which of the two was the greater mag.â€" aimlessly at objects which left no im- cian. print upon my mind. So he commenced by transforming So toward evening I took my way all Afzul ibn Hassan's chickens each In the diret‘ilon “I the. “759 gar/it’ll. that Afzul ibn Flas- Alzura‘s paws. took possession of Thy living, I turned to flee l‘y the first road from mv uncle‘s vengeance when “ \Vhitbor in such haste?" he askedi arresting me in a l'irdly tone. ‘ I told him brivfly of my experience of the previous nirrbt, saying thit no ironsidcratinn would induv-c me to chance a repetition. "Farewell!" I cried, “and may Allah protect you, I desire to make all haste to a place seâ€" cure. from my uncle‘s malicious influ- ence. l "Stay," said he, "You wrll not sufâ€" ifer a repetition of the last night‘s en- ‘cbantment, for I can see that Afzult ilnn Hassan is even now successfully: twmrking a spell to counteract your unâ€" cle's. designs In any case, I will give you a talisman to render you proof against his charm." and he handed m9 ‘a dark. transparent stone, upon which i was engraved a verse from the Koran " I have given Alzure a similar charm to protect her also,” he concluded. I thanked him profusely, and, feeling aSSured by his assertion that the stone Would protect us both from further events of the night to come. Now it happened that Afzul ibn Hassan, work- ing upon the. same problem. which my ’uncle had solved. himself that (lay dis- covored the secret of night metamorâ€" phosis and resolved to change my uns cle into a rat at the same time that my uncle. determined to transform his lrival into an animal of the same spe- cies, so that when night tell but it m'uri- clans found themselves suddenly (‘nn- fronting each other in the shapes of two vermin with all their hater retained. Apparently a mutual recognition took place simultaneously, and. their brute instincts gaining the mastery over their running and diSi-retinn, they at once set upon M'Ol) other with a firry born of years of jealousy and re- criminalion. Ah, Allahl how those beasts foguht! \I'ith their sharp teeth they tore he flesh from e‘ml’i other‘s bones, they ‘squealed in their rage. and fixed their jaws in each other‘s throats, until, in a short space, the lives of both were extv-‘rminated. \Vhy dilate further? The story is finâ€" ished. Alzura. when her grief for her father‘s death had subsided and the required period of mourning underâ€" gone, yielded to my entreaties, to perâ€" mit me to fill his place as her protecâ€" tor. Iestablished myself in a business in the principal bazaar of Sbirazan, where we together enjoyed many years of great happiness and prosperity. lieâ€"i ing often visited by the friendly as- trologer who had asmsred us to that -â€" â€"-_4»â€"- “A 5 WHY H1“. DIDN'T (:0. Ar .1 Scottish fair a farmer was try- j ing to engage alad to a sist on the gum until he bro-ugh! :I x‘hara ‘tv'r frorn Run and get it and meet me. 31 the It lore-«4m is at four o‘clock. The youth was there in good! time, and the farmer said: \Vell. have you gm your character Na, repli-‘d the youth. but I've got BOFIRF GOOD I’ISHI‘lllflIICN. The Boer is no mean fi--hernrin. Given a pipe and a goodly ~um>ly of hi, ,1”. FL? wme he will sit. for hours Very fine ~1.~\rt. indeed, may he hill in any of the streams ,‘north of the Orange River, . TOUT) DO THE SABIE. Al 8 p.m.. the gaslighi's gleam Reveah young (“holly Smart, He's: calling on his lady fairâ€".1 They sit. this far apart. 3 At 10 o'clock the question’s popped, Their souls are filled with hll=S. If we. covll peep we'd see that they Are sit t ingclowelikethis. i Hartlaud about a quarter of a mile from 1 t the house, v where the soil near the stream was soft i turf. l 1 0' I %i‘.!~;~'~;~lt~iwr=..;. ":‘389â€"‘1‘5131'5'. ac <‘1 ' l.- A c ' r c OhV‘lC s ress Elf 37: A Lady Entertaim-d Him I’nnwnres, 3 but Dill Bot ( urn In Visit um: ,‘g’; 'D and His \Vifo Afterward. i‘ an BY 13. F. CRISS’WELL. “u’fl’u’t'flL’t! ‘ l v) "‘2 5.3 (“inn/right.1509,1/7/Brdfrice F. Lfrcsa‘u'z‘ll. Eu ‘2 a},wry”,.yy:,,.:.yyy:.y=-va=.. w: 'I‘ you. homuimmuu.vacuum! immmflmdomain!“ml I thought my cousin. Annie lligwt‘ll. would have Illllllt‘ me more \Vl‘l('tllllt' whcu' I came to stay with lll‘l' :it her I)ill‘IIIlllt)l' farm. '0‘ I't‘('t)lllllll‘lltlt‘tl. so I oll'vrt-d myself in my cousin, in that fashionable manner. as a “paying guest." and l llltlrxl admit Ill'll after a lung, billy tll'l\'l‘ In liravlnvurtliy I thought she sui't‘ly would be glad of $0- cicty in st) I\'t\l:ll(‘tl :1 spot. int her welcome was not of tliz- lit-arty. kind I I‘Xlu‘t'li‘tl from n \H‘st country woman. bin- unwind me without (‘lllllll‘ stasm. l nhsvrnd that we were aim-th Sililll;!(‘l'.\‘ (a nun .‘lllulill‘l'. mitl >ll(’ made llu professions of \\’I.\lll|.°g we might be Ilt'lll‘l' urquainlml. l “You'll Iiuil us very dull and lonely lll‘l't‘, Florian" she said. “You Won't want to slay ltuiL'." lluriizs llu‘ days that fullowml she lifton n~kml mo if I \vvrt- not gi'tliit': tired Hf, the |il.'l('t'. lit a style suL‘It‘sliu'.’ that she1 Would not be sorry if I tuft. ()no ultu'n-i in: she ubwi'vml to mo: “l mu ¢‘\|)w'llll;.‘,' a vi~itor llt'lI‘. l-‘Iui'i'iu. He may coun- all; day. I'm u.>t sure of u [iziltit‘ulai' time. It â€"it is a gi-izl‘wmau who is cumin: to see the farm. Ynu know I am selling the' place. I intend going’ to America." It was the first time 1 had heard of any, of her plans. and I observed with what‘ dillivulty she now spoke of them. I One morning, a few d:in aftcl'wurd,t she said slw must drive into thr- town fol“ l)li.\ll‘lt‘s.\‘ and would be absent all day. I might be Inuvly. added she. Would I not conu- witl) hm") “Oh. I've plenty to amuse myself with."‘ I answered. “I sbau‘t feel dull. and who, knows‘fâ€"your [inssllilf‘ purchaser may ‘ turn up. and I can show him the farm. “'bat's his name. in case he should turn, up?" said I, just to tease her. I “His name? ilartland," she answered! l llilll lH't‘lI ill: t'llili of air was in a suppressed tone. I watched her drive away, our mnid beside her. Eliza Could not understand I was staying at home for my own pleas- ure and tried to cater for my amusement before she left. “One 0' they convicts from I'rince'S' Town's escaped," she said to me. when Annie was out of the way. “'Tis all here in the paper. I'll leave it for you to read. since you're not able to come with us. Miss Harrie." I She thrust a dirty local paper, some two days old. into my hand. and then run after Annie, who was calling her. After they left I read the coconut of; the convitt's escape with no particular. interest. It was written in a sensational style, giving a graphic description of the man, Jim Phipps, who was under sentence of 25 years for manslaughter. under such doubtful circumstances that, it seemed almost like murder. I Later in the morning some one opened the gate. I saw a tall. good looking man. clean shaved. with something in his ap- pearance that suggested an actorâ€"l knew not wliy~currying a knapsack over his shoulders. “Miss Rigwell at home?" he asked, when I opened the door. “No. My cousin has gone to Ashburton and won't be home till late." ’l‘ln-u sud- denly remembering who this must be. 1-‘ added, “Are you not Mr. Hui-(land? “'9 i were expecting you. My cousin was so sure you would not come while she wast away. But I can show you the farm." I offered to dispose of his kuapsark. but he would not part with it. All my impor- tunitics only served to make him slip it . from his shoulders, lay it on the table and lean one elbow on it. while he ate the luncheon I had prepared for him. Hail Dartmoor the effect of making peo- ple tacituru? thought I. . “I'm sure you must be busy," he pres- ently said. “Don‘t let me hinder you. I'll take a walk round the farm and have u look at the place." Evidently he did not care for my so- ciety. l reflected. He was very willing to leave me. Some men would have invited me for a stroll, or have staid to enter- tain me since he knew I was alone. Mr. Hurtlaud's behavior did not prepossess me in his favor. I finished same letters, made some do- mestic preparations and thou thought of looking for my guest. Out of the back door I glanced over the moor, where no tree or obstruction IllllIlL‘lk‘LI the view for miles. I saw Mr. Where a brawlng stream, flushed down the hill. But what was he doing? Evidently he had found a spade. i for he seemed to be digging a big piti and deep. tot-nuance! I crept up to him, sing) by stop. my foott'alls matting no sound on the soft He neither heard nor saw my up- plum-h. ’l‘hc inseparable knapsack was beside him 0pm], and it did not take long to dis- cm‘er that Mr. Hartlnud was burying something. It was a mm'ict's dress! The stranger was no man of business. but an escaped criminal! ‘ In an instant I remembered the news- paper description. Jim I‘bipps was toll, of gentleiuuuly appearance and a man of good education. An involuntary ex- clamation escade me. The man turned round and saw me there. Never have I st-en anything like the expression of his , face. ‘ "\Vhat brought you here?” he fiercely ‘ l . I What an extraordinary pcr- . cried. seizing me by the wrist. “I came to seeâ€"to see"â€" I gasped. "What I was doing. Fatal curiosity. of course. The curse of mother Eve to l on all you Women.” “'as it fatal curiosity? .VVoul-j he mur- der me and bury me with the clothes? I trr~n:l.'v~il like a leaf and dared say not!)- lug. "Will you hold you! cousue'l” it til- mended. - of that :llli‘l'lltHIll. . pose. if possible. to help him. «manta. Indeed I will." i cried. “I will 5.x, Hulk] to any one." “You can help me," he grimly remark- ed. “Is Illl‘l‘t‘ no quivklinie on the farm?" "I think so," I replied. “'l‘hvn fetch the some as soon as you can." I returned to the farm yard, found “but was required and brought it in a basket. llo shook it over the clothes that Ill‘ liziil liltltt‘ll in the pit. “You understand that you have helped me?" he said. “If those clothes are found, you are l‘t‘>[11)1l.\'ll»lt‘.IllllLl you will ban- to answer any inquiries the notice may make." Slu-uhlm-iug the spade, he trudged into thi- ll-‘llM‘. I shall never forget the strange horror I sat pretending to work: my \'l.\llnr dmcwl over :1 magazine in [he bark ot' the parlor. “'0 made no utu-uipi lu warm-so. New and then he loulmtl up. usualy uhcu the clock struck. I think be found the time as long as I did. llix- lllll "\'l' was not yet passed: be 2 must have chart-d ut the sunshine of tho i long summer day. Wheels sounded on the road at last. “My cousin is mining back." said I. “\\'t-ll. you know who I am." replied my companion, without moving. "Go and tell lll'l' .\lr. IIaI‘Iluud is here." I wont llltu tlu' pussug‘i- and told Am nii~_ She slmuk. sw.“ ’. caught the wall With “('1‘ hand. I l,- -I not comprehend her agitation. "IIt‘l‘v. and I away!" she cried. “I guessed rightly that he iuiglit‘cmuc," I said. “Do you know him by sight. Alllllitlf" "Of course I do." Tin-u she would know this man was not llarlland. I wondered why he had had ilw audacity to stay. . lint Annie had i'lltm'vtl the parlor an grcctvd the man with three words. “You are ('tuuv," she said. “I have come." llt' answered, adding- and I thought he looked significantly at me as be spokeâ€""your cousin has taken good Hire of me." I don't know whatAnnie replied. She soon lclt the room. and .\Ir. I‘Iartlaud followed her. It' be had gone with the in- tention of murdering her. I Ilfltl no power to stop llllu. My nerves were utterly shaken. “'lu-thr-r she was gone a lung or short time I could not say. but Annie Cami- back alone. “Where's .\lr. Ilgrtland?" I said. “He left." she carelessly replied. The oversll'uiu was too much for me and I burst intu tears, “It lzas been so lonely," I sobbod in ex~ cuse. “and I don‘t like strangers." Annie was very kindâ€"~kinder than I had yet known herâ€"and when I Went to bed she came and brought me mulled Cider. I drank the stuff. but I (lid not like it. It tasted funny. and. though I slept. it was with feverish dreams. and presently I awoke hot and restless and could sleep no more. A farmhouse stirs early. but the sounds that morning SOPIIH‘I] earlier than usual. I rose and looked out of my window. It was neither dark nor dawn, and on the road below stood a cart and horse. Two people left the form. I watched them get into the cart and drive away. They were Annie and Mr. Hartland. it t a a t t o More than 18 months after I had left Brackwurthy I heard from my cousin Annie, then in America: Dear Norrisâ€"«l and my husband feel that WI owe you some explanation for an afl'sir you can- not have forgotten. The man whose convict clothes you helped to bury was my husband. Never mind about his so called crime. In my eyes he is innm-vnt, for never was a man killed who deserved dt'lllll more than he who met his death at my husband‘s hands. When I knew Jim‘s sentence, I took Brackworthy farm on pur- Our marriage h.- in; secret. I was the better able to do lhls. Othev clothes were placed where Jim could find them on the moat, a hidingr place provided It Bracki- * worthy whenever he should be able to get there. The rest you know. Pardon my lnbospitnllty. I had no thoughts while you were with we save to! Jim. Pray forgive him also the fright be caused you. It was necessary for his safety to intimidate you Into silence. Come and see us here, where we are safe and happy. and we will promise you A warm welcome. I was glad, to learn the truth of that trying experience, but I have not cared to avail myself of Cousin Annie's invita- tion. Sleeping Hi» Life Away. “There goes the happiest man in the borough,” said a Norristuwn barber, pointing out of the window to a little, elderly man, dressed gayly. who walked with his eyes fixed complacvutly on his new but old fashioned yellow shoes. “That follow," continued the harbor, “became rich suddenly, after a life of hard, uninterrupted work. Now that he has money, he knows of nothing betlel to do than sleep. IIE sleeps all the time, and it is ruining bin health. In the morn- ing he comes down to breakfast at his boarding house, messes with the food a little. and then, as soon as his bed I. made. skates up stairs for n snooze. At . dinner he tries hard to eat, but his appe- tite is bad. He plays with his food and blows to the othm' boarders ubeul the fine naps he takes while they are work- ing hard, and it {lay pretend to be en- vious he shows that ho is delighted. Of course he sleeps all the afternoon. but at night, although he litmus this, it I. well known that he rests poorly. “I suppose it in better if you are rich to ruin your health liy Slt't’.'lllg too much rather than by drinking or dissipating in the other ways, but jiiwt to Slt't’p seems to me a foolish thing to it», because when you sleep all the [lllw you might as well be dead." ‘Vrougcd. “You bust exruse be this cvedig, Blss Billigad." said .‘-!r. .-\d(llethwaii;e, “If by spt wli is a little thick, for I have n. teri'l bit) Itulti l'l l)_V llt‘url. ‘ “I see _\’utl hnvc,‘ Bliss .‘ililligan re- plied. "and that I‘i'lllillil-l nu; that you, ought by allIDCXIUSIUCIIIIOIIT5U‘211rllllllg- ton while you are in your present; (“mull lilolJ.H "Why 50, Birds Iiilligud? "She told Lu.- ihe other day thatshe vim sure you had nothing in your head. Now you can prove that she Liadr u mistake." ~â€"Clo\'eland Leader.