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/, iii e lllllllillll There is an old German retrain that runs somewhat as follows: " The paradise of earth Is found on horseback." That morning it returned to me, why I know not. for I had heard no German for years. Anyway, as Isay. it recurred to me as I walked along in the spring sunshine, clad in faultless riding attire. toward a well-known riding stable. where I intended tollm‘ cure a mount for a long ride. It was still quite early and Ifound the groom lazily pillowed against the stable door whistling softly to him- self. He glanced at my high boots. which reflected the morning sun, and smiled, while I explained my in- tention. I chose a beautiful roan called Darling. “ A horse that was as gentle as a lamb," pertinently add- ed the groom. I had intended to ride along the drives, where the shade was thick and the young ladies wandered up and down during the morning hours, but Darling held other views, and car- ried the day with gentle persistence. \Vhat could I do with the beast? And, after all, what difference does it make where one rides so long as one does ride? So we hastened to the out- skirts of the town where the sun was hottest. That was Darling's choice. Darling paused before the first inn and absolutely refused to budge, so to give myself a countenance, I or- dered a glass of ale from the waiter who hurried out and found it as poor as I had expected. "\Vonderful what them beasts do know sir,” he commented patting Darling’s glossy neck. "Now, this one alllus lgets sugar here, and he knows it sir, he do.” So Darling munched his lump of su- gar and then consented to trot along. This earthly paradise presented many pitfalls for me. At first Darling skirt- ed a neverâ€"ending wall so closely that the polish vanished from my left boot and my leg felt as if it had been plunged in an electric bath. Then he carried me under a row of low-spread- ing apple trees that coquetted with my hat, which I saved only at the risk of my life and limb, and rumpled my well-brushed hair. I breathed with relief as we entered into a grove where the trees arched high above me, and walls were a thing unknown. But alas! there was a pond, and Darling paused dreamin beside its reedy, swampy shores. I was terrified. Sup- pose the horse should suddenly decide to take a bath; I patted, coaxed, twitched at the bridle, all in vain. Darling refused to advance. At last my patience giving out. lplunged my rowels into him, setting the springs of his rear legs in violent disorder. The turf flew around my ears, but always in the same spot. Fortunate- ly I had thoughtfully provided myself with sugar at the inn, and with its aid succeeded in calming Darling so far that he consentedQ to stand still. I soon discovered a slender figure in the distance, approaching at a swift gallop. I tugged at the reinsâ€"un- availingly, of course; then, to make the best of my sorry lot and lend some shadow of reality to the ridicuâ€" lous figure I must cut stationed be- fore the swamp pond, I fastened my eyes upon the swaying branches, ap- parently lost in meditation. Trot, trot, echoed behind me; the lady was close at hand; in an instant she would have passed me. But Darling whirled suddenly almost flinging me over his head into the water, and flew along after the other horse I con- soled myself that at this pace we should soon outdistance her, but as we came neck to neck, my mount slowed up, and trotted along. con- tentedly suiting himself to the nth- er‘s pace. I knew the young lady by sight, and felt forced to bow. She nodded stiffly, and urged her horse on, while I endeavored to check Darling. As well try to curb the thunderbolts. I was powerless. She dashed on, I folâ€" lowing always, at infinite peril of my life and limb, for I was not accustom- ed to this rapid pace. Besides, I am a man who dislikes to appear forward. I was mortally ashamed of myself, but no power on earth could check the beast I was riding. Darling neighed soornfully as I tugged at the bit, and kept on in his mad career. Miss Van Deemen glanced contemptâ€" uously at me and turned down a sideâ€" path. Darling clung to her skirts with deplorable fidelity. And I had no- ticed a placard warning all trespass- ers off under penalty of the law! The law was, then, to be added to my other miseries; but I consoled myself with the thought that its represen- control horse. since I myself had failed in the attempt. But Miss Van Deemen had reached scarcely my tatives could the limit; she reined in her horse, and Darling stood immovable! "Sir," she said, auger and fear in every line Of her pretty face. "I must ask you to leave me at once." Heavens, if 1 only could! I would even have climbed a tree, but D'irling was not to be persuaded. m , Sirâ€"J " Pardon me; it really is not my fault; it. is purely that our path lie in the same direction,” I replied. li_\'po<:ritical|y. "Then I return," Said she, glancing at the placard in silent com- ment upon But Darling Whirled, (on, knocking me heedlcssly against the nearest tree, thereby barking my knee in painful fashion; trotted determil‘icdly on bythe out on to the broad high- accidental \xill IIIY EXCUSP. then lady’s side way that was equally forbidden tome , at that instant. Miss Van Dcemen hit her lips in sil- ence growing alternately white and red and I kept on in overpower- ing shame, but helpless as the infant in its cradle. At last she turned to me with tears in her eyes. "I beg you, sir, to leave me. You cannot imagine how dreadfully you will embarrass me if you persist in this unwarranted pursu't I appeal to your chivalry for Iâ€"«I expect my fiance here with whom I am secretly engaged. He is dreadfully jealous, so I beg of you to leave me!” She almost sobbed as she spoke, and IJII the distance I could hear echoing hoofbeats, which she, too, must have distinguished. I knew the gentleman to wth she referred, at least by sight; and I confess I had no desire for closer acquaintance under such circulmstances. I used my whip unsparingly, but to no purpose. Darling would not budge. In the meantime the rider appeared at the turning and greeted the young lady pleasantly enough, though he glanced at me disapprovingly. "Pray introduce your companion,” he said sharply. Miss Van Deemen turned purple and looked reproach- fully at me. "I don’t know the gentleman,” she stammered. He happened to be riding in the same direction as I.” “ Purely accidental,” 1 repeated, bowing, inwardly praying that the earth would open and swallow me up. " Indeed 1" said the gentleman, and turned his back deliberately on me. " Permit me to accompany you, Miss Van Deemen," I heard as .I bent low over Darling‘s neck, apparently ab- sorbed in a saddle buckle, I heard them trot off, and then felt myself carried along at a furious pace, and an instant later I landed beside Miss Van Deemen, breathless, but still in my saddle. Mr. Courtneyâ€"so she had styled her escort,â€"glared at me, mutâ€" tering something between his teeth. “Sir,” I ventured, overcoming my embarrassment. "Will you have the leave us i” he shrieked. " The road is free to all," I replied, annoyed by his manner, for I had started upon an explanation. "But yours is not beside this lady, whom you are insulting,” he raged. "I regret it exceedingly, butâ€"” " I forbid you to ride beside her " he snapped, angrily. " You can forbid me nothing. not your servant." “ Sir,” he shrieked, " you are an inâ€" sollent puppy, and I must insist upon goodness to Iam an explanation for yourâ€"" Herel Miss Van Deemen interfered. "For mercy‘s sake. no violence! There must be a mistake somewhere. but I am sure it is not intentional.” “ Nothing could be farther from my thoughts." I aseured her truthfully, " Then prove it by leaving us," she implored. I bowed. Then overcome with rage at the brute that had led me into this pitfall, I lashed Darling unmerâ€" oifully. But Darling merely whirled around in a bewildering tarentella un- til I could scarcely see or hear, then finally flew across country in awild gallop. And behind me came a steady trample, trample. \Vas Mr. Courtney determined to punish what he called my insolence, orâ€" Darling stopped as suddenly as he had started, and a tear-stained face appeared at my elbow, and behind her, like an avenging angel, stormed her furiOus'admirer, and then we three halted once more. " So this was prearranged,” he snapped. "I thought so. You have simply been leading me on, to make a fool of me at last, forgetful of ev- ery womanlyâ€""” "Jack, Jackm" cried Miss Van Dee- men, Imploringly. " Confess it," he shouted furiously. “But I don‘t even know him," she sobbed. ” Then, answer like he said. turning to me. " Confess that you know this lady.“ A silvery laugh startled us boih at this juncture. " \Ve don‘t know each other, cried )Iiss Van Deemen, but out horses ap- parently do.“ And, indeed, in the midst of this anâ€" ger and strife our two limses pl‘csonl~ sir," a man l“ n zed an idyllic picture as they stood gently rubbing noses. "Yes, so it seems, But how could v, it happen ‘?, Isn‘t that your own i" ask- ‘ed Mr. Courtney. " Why, Jack. how could I ever have gotten away '3 Of course, I had to hire a horse. You know papa me ride without the groom. one at Tattorsall‘s." i "So did I,” I exclaimed ; "that‘s why the lirutes stick so close." And then we all laughed together. After which, as we couldn‘t separate we continued our ride together, and at the close had cemented a friendship so firm that when Miss Van Daemon finally married Jack Courtney I was asked to officiate as best man. But In spite of this happy conclu- sion, I determined to take no more ,morning rides until I knew a little ,more about the art. It doesn’t do to tempt fate too often. never lets Igot this ._._._â€" .ENU LAN D’b‘ NE\V SUBMARlNE BOAT. The latest stories of a submarine boat, which is to blow opposing batâ€" tleâ€"ships out of the water and reâ€" volutionize naval warfare, come from England, where the authorities hitherto have exhibited much indif- ference on the subject. It is said the machine (lives with facility, travels well under water, and is perfectly .capable of attaching amine of 500 pounds of gunâ€"cotton to the bottom {of the largest ironâ€"clad and getting ,out of danger before the explosion vwhich is to dissipate her enemy in unappreciable particles. The boat further is able to discharge torpedOes above and below water, and is armed with quickâ€"firing and machine guns, with which she can give a good ac- icount of herself upon the surface. It is noteworthy that nothing is said about either of the two vital quali- fications, equilibrium and vjsjon; and, also that the vessel has not yet been accepted or tested by the Admiralty. Her true value, therefore, is still pro- hlematical. Meanwhile the French profess to be satisfied completely with l the behavior of the Gustave Zede, the Narval and the Gymnote, and are pre- paring to construct a flotilla of forty of these travelling submarine torpeâ€" does. It does not appear that they are to be equipped for fighting above water as well as below it. â€"â€"â€"â€"+â€"_ ROYAL ALTRUISM. Here is a little anecdote regarding the bereaved Qyueien Marguerite of Italy. Her Majesty, whose kindly thoughtfulness is porverbial, became interested in the condition of apoor girl who had, in simple kindness, knit- ted a pair of stoekings, and them to her on her birthday. Majesty often ways of showing her generosity, and :on this occasion she sent the little girl a pair of stockings in return for those she had received. One of these istuckings was filled with coin and the .othcr with candies. \Vith the gift the kindly Queen sent a letter, with her own hand, which contained 1the following words: sent Her written ; “ \Vrite and tell me, my child, which “you like the better of these two stockâ€" iugsâ€"which one giVes you the more pleasure I“ 1 Next day Queen Marguerite received this disappointing reply: ; "Dear Madame Queenâ€"About the ‘slorkings 1 have had just sorrow,and nolhing more, for my father took the ‘onc with the money, and my brother ,Ithe one with the honâ€"Lame."â€" i â€"â€".â€"._.â€" | MUSHROOM CROP. I The annual crop of mushrooms in France is valued at $2,000,000, and there are 60 whlolesale firms in Paris 'dealiug exclusively in them. In the lDopartment. of the Seine, it appears, there are some 3,000 caves in which mushrooms are grown, and about 300 persons are employed in their culâ€" ture. THE FIVE TOES. This little cow eats grass, This little cow eats hay, This cow drinks water, This little cow runs away. This little cow does nothing But just lie down all dayâ€" \Ve’ll whip her. resorts to ingenious PERSONAL. “Hort-sling llcnn ("um-rum: Nobles and Tin-Ir [lumen On September l31h, Lord Paunce- the English Ambassador at \Vilsliiugmn, (ti-li-brated h's seventy- second birthday. lIis lurdshipslaiids six feet. two in lu-ighi. his-.1 massive lmll llt‘:tll, h ‘.L\')' bl icl; eyebrows. and .l’hc. dale I010, ma inked fed l urea. I':illll('1'lkii Us strongly are supposed to back some SUI] years, they being pos- St‘SSt‘d of lands in the time of William the. Conqueror. The name was ori- ginally I’auncefort, deriwd from the l’ronch “l’i-nsvsfnrt.' Lord Pounceâ€" {(itc, in spite of his age, is a vigorous and enthusiastic cyclist. 'l'hv Marquess of liute. whose fiftyâ€" lhird birthday occurred a few 3:20. has br-lil his title since he was six llmllllis old. Nearly all Cardiff belongs in him, the. additional income derived from mines makes tho Marquess a million- .He owns six ilu- finest of, which is Mountsluarl, llothesuy. lmlvml, this place is said to b) the costliest, private residence in the. contains 150 rooms, and the noble own- er bas spent over one million pounds sterling on it. da and immense coal :iire several times over. mansions. world. it A romance of the peerage is re- called by the. recent birthday of the younger Earl Poulett. He is the only son of the late Earl by histhird wife. The elder Earl [’oulett, the claimant, is also a son of the earl by his first wife, and the story of his career as Viscount Hinton, the organ- grinider, is well known. The Poulctt peerage, pronounced Paulett, dales from 1627. and tlhe estate of 11,000 acres is said to bring in ’an income of £30,000 a year. Notwithstanding this. however, the late peer Went through the The Duke of Buccleuch. owns near- ly 500,000 acres of land and seven palatial mansions. while his revenue amounts to nearly £100,000 :1 year. In 1455 one of the Duke’s Sir \Valt‘cr Scott, not the novelist, of fought for King James 11. Bankruptcy Court. ancestors. course, lagainst the Douglases, and as a reâ€" ward received a very large share of the forfi-iierl Douglas estates. This was the beignning of the Buccleuch luck. ily Possesses twelve, viz., two duke- doms, one marquisate, four earldoms, one viscounty, and four baronies. It is not generally known that the United States possesses a real live peerâ€"all its very own! Lorri Fair- fax, however, is practically an Am- erican citizen. The sixth baron went across the Atlantic in the time of George \Vashington, whose frien'l he was, and all his descendants have liv- ed and married in the Republic. The present Loud Fairfax is a properly qualified medical man in Maryland, where he is simply known as "Mr, John Contee Fairfax." The Fair- fax family lost all ‘their Yorkshire es-J rate in the Civil War of 1642.. _,__ NOISELESS POWDER. 'l‘llc lnvomlon or n (il'l'lllilll “ho Expert menu-d In AYIIPI'IC‘I. The success of smokeless powder in modern Warfare has been such as to prompt a man of an inventive turn of mind to manufacture a powder which is said to be also noiseless. It is the invention of a German work- man who studied the chemistry of explosives in this country. lle has alâ€" ready given a private exhibition of the practicability of his discovery with considerable success. A shell loaded with his powder was fired at a tar- ,get 50 yards away and the only sound indicating the explosion was the. fallâ€" ing of the plunger of the shell, Bohin- engal, which is the, name of the in- ventor, has not, it is said, yet sold the scclret of the process, but is still in treaty with different Governments for its purchase. +â€"â€"â€" IIALLOWEEN LOVE TESTS. The most common and most pecu- liar ways of making matrimonial forecast -is by means of roasting nuts. Two nuts are placed side by side, and named for the person trying and the preferred lover or “loveress.” If they burn quickly and brightly it means sincerity and affection; crackâ€" ing and jumping away means inâ€" consiancy; if they burn together a happy marriage is indicated. Another trial is to name two nuts and then throw them into the fire; if one of the nuts should burst the person for whom it is named is not sincerely af- fectionate; but if it is reduced to ashes awarm feeling is betokened. says the Home Companion. Perpiexâ€" ity comes to the poor maiden whose two nuts both burn to ashes, unless her feelings help hen to give the pre ference. ilcgénd 01’ In the way of titles, the film-i fl-W‘W. _'â€"â€"-‘"‘, If. ,,_.___7. the Arbutus. I Many moons ago there lived an old 1man alone in his lodge beside afl‘ozen stream in the forest. His looks and heard were long and white with age. Ilc was heavily clad in furs, for snow and ice were everywhere. The winds blow wildly through the forest, and the old mun went about searching in the deep snow for pieces of wood to keep up the fire in his lodge. In des- pair he returned to the lodge, and, sitting down by the last few dying coals, he cried to Mannaboosho that) he might not perish. And the wind blew aside the door and there came in in beautiful maiden. Her cheeks were ,red and made of wild roses; her eyes Iwere large, and her hair touched the ground as she walked. Her hands were covered with willow buds, and her clothing was of sweet grasses and ferns. Her moccasins were of white jlilles, and when she breathed the air of like lodge became warm. The old man said; “My daugliltier, I am glad to see you. My lodge is cold and cheer- less, but it will shield you from! this ‘tempests. Tell me who you are. I am Manito. I blow my breath and the waters of the rivers stand still.” The imaiden said: "I breathe and the ifloiwevl‘s spring up in all the plains." 3Thle old man said: "\VhiemI walk about the leaves fall fmm the trees at my command, the animals hide in their holes in the ground and the birds fly away." The maiden said: “When I ‘walk about the plants lift up their heads, the trees cover their nakedness 'with leaves, the birds come back and ,all who see me sing.” Thus they talked jand the air became warm in the lodge. The old man's head dropped upon his ,breast and he slept. Then the sun ‘cam-e out, and u bluebird came to the jtop of the lodge and called, "b'uyâ€"ee, isziy-ee! I am thirsty 1" And the river “called back, "I am free, come and drink." And as thle old man slept the muffin passed her hands above his head and hie began to grow small. Streams of water run out of his mouth, and soon he was a small mass upon the ground. His clothes turned to green leaves, and the maiden, leaning upon the ground, took from her bosom the most precious flowers and hid them all about under the leaves. Then she breathed upon them and said, “I give all my virtues and my sweetest breath, and all who would pick thee Imusb do so on bended knee." Then ‘the maiden moved away through the lwoods and over the plains. All the ‘birds sang to her, and wherever she stepped, and nowhere else, grows the "arbu.tus. â€"â€"â€"H PliEHISI‘ORIC RUINS IN MEXICO. All can Counted Thesi- .‘llllluns. l’upulallon It] I Prehistoric ruins were found on all the ridges of Guerrero and at apoint Icailed Cacahuatla two columns of 'ti‘uchyte, 4 1â€"2 feet long by 18 inches in diameter, lay side by side. They were completely covered with hiero- glyphics, with afiveâ€"pointed star on one end. Each of them must weigh About three hundred metres up the hill were ruins of a building over a hundred feet long. It is difficult to imagine what these columns have been used for, un- less as altars of a temple. Several blooks of diori-te, fourteen inches Square, were scattered about, so it is evident that the edifice was of more than ordinary importance The ground for hundreds of yards was completely strewn with fragments of broken pottery, but the brush and undergrowth was so dense that only asmall part of the locality was ex- plored. Regarding these Guerrero ruins, there is sufficient evidence, to prove that the country has been inhabited by some millions of people. \Yhat such avast population could have subsisted on in this wild, broken up country on the hill summits and sides of deep barrancas, is impossible to conceive, unless agreat seismic dis- turbance has changed the topography of the Land. That corn was one of their chief articles of food is proven by the mortars and pestles which are found in nearly every ruin, but where this cereal was grown is amyslery as there does not appear to be more than sufficient soil to raise corn for the present Indian inhabitants. Then there is the question of water. Al- though Guerrero is a. very well water- ed State, it is often miles from these prehistoric dwellings and in almost inaccessible canons. w-” EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM. between 400 and 500 pounds. Shrewd Deaconâ€"Go ahead, I guess you'll not catch me napping. Traderâ€"I don't know about that, if I'm to judge of whatI saw in church last Sunday.