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The Girl in .thc Red Tam. As it was already one o'clock, it :will be seen he was in a hurry. My mother was easily persuaded. Uncle M. was her favorite brother, and she never tired of lamenting that he was allied in businessâ€"the City Road â€"with such a rough. unpresenlable persun as Matthew Barker. The two of ’them were Rowley, Limited, and Noel toys were their trade. He was decidedly unusual in the train. I couldn't get him to talk', though ordi- narily he chatted like any girl. "A Jheadachc, my boy. L 3 '03P," he said, at length. M'hether he really slept or not I fl‘on't know, but I do know that I smiled very much at him. His tawny wig had Shifted to one side, showing that ivoried old pate of his. ' When Uncle Morrison came down by the London express, and almost inâ€" Eflsted on my going off with! him that wruy afternoon to the Radnorshire mountains, "for a little fishing, Leo," I was not at all unwillingl to oblige Um and myself. "But why, my dear Richard,” asked my mother, "have you ink-on to such a very ugly-coloured wig Z” I also wanted to know. At the Forest Junction. where we changed for Greendale Station, he briskened considerably. So did I, for it was there I was privileged to do the girl with the red tam o'shan- ter some slight service. She had im- pressed me when she got into the train, and I was pleased to see her again. ' "Could you tell me,” she asked, with the sweetest little lisp and blush, "if I wait this Sid-e for Greendnlc?" "‘You do," said I. "We also areq goâ€" ing to Gl‘eenrlale‘, so you can, if you lik_e, ggt into our carriage." I srfiiled, and she smilEd, but we progressed no more than that just tlhgn._ She ithrew poor old Uncle M. a look which might have meant any- thing. I took it to mean that she had no intention of putting herself alone into a compartment with two strange men. To my astonishment, I notic- ed that the old chap had saddled his nose with blue glasses. AVhen we were in the train again I demanded an explanation. "My boy,” said the uncle, "I must ask you not to trouble me with idle questions. I am iwenty-five years your senior, and may-b3 supposed to have very 'gccd reasons for all I do." w "Never mind the wig, Mary," said Uncle M. "Get the boy's portmanteau packed. We can then catch the 2.5 train." Had Ilnot had compensation of a very fascinating kind, I should have been quite angry with Uncle M. But in the meantime, I had again mett the girl in the red tam o’ shanterâ€"twice in three days, to be correct; She, too, was fishing, and already her brown eyes, sunny smile, gentle speech, and capital handling of a rod had done for me. She was staying at the school- mistress’s cottage, half a mile from the inn. Our landlord knew nothing about ‘her, except that her name was Chesson, and that her landlady thought her a very bold creature to be amusing herself all alone in such a mannish way. She had. it‘ appear- ed. borrowed rod and flies from the schoolmistress's sonâ€"Bill Martinâ€"for .solid consideration. (1] \tht with the mystery of Uncle M's peculiarities and the ij I began to feel in seeing and thinking. of Miss Dhesson, I didn't do much good with the fish. On the fourth morning I went a step farther on the down- ward path. There she was, a couple of hundred yards or so belmxgthe inn, 'her cap like a red berry on the green- sward. I saw her land a nice one, and then stood opposite to her, with the stream between us. "How mean of you. Miss Chesson," I said, "to steal another march on me "Mean?" said .3113V as if startledmn'd away slipped her rod. It was one fish more. taking her unawares. I was in the water in a moment; recklessly, too, {or I turned turtle in a mole, and came up on her bank,:i pretty picture of u dripping idiot. But [secured (the rod all right; Her ro- grets on my behalf were simplv (li- vine. "If you talk liko that about such, _a trifle. my dear girl," I said impetu- ously, "I shall be compelled to tell you you can catch heans as cleverly as trout. Anyway, you've caught mine, so there!" She breathed fast. with a deeper blush than before. "Don't!" 5.110 whispered. “And you must run home and change." "Bother the change Marie !" said I. Let me havq But all the response she made to that audacious touch was to pick up her rod and basket, say, "Please go home at once," and turn her cherry- ripe cheeks another way. She march- ed 0-“, and so did I. However, I had taken theylunge, and really, on reâ€" flection. I was extremely glad of'it, and on the whole not dissatisfied with the resultâ€"as a start, you know. That was her other name, and I was getting feclfless. Uncle ML was ratlhcr mad when he heard about me and Marie. He did that through the schoolmistress'~ hatched-faced gossip! She looked in at the inn. and, chanoing to clash with the uncle in the corridor. dived in with an "Excuse mo. sir, the lib erty I'm taking," which ended in a calm. impudont inquiry if he could tell her anything about Miss Chos- son. After that it .was straight sailing for the worthy woman to men- tion our meetings by the streamâ€"my. and in the worn-out old forest also. "I only wanted to make sure she was respectable." she explained. All this Uncle M". related to me in the evening. He rose to heights on the subject. ' “\Vhatever you do, don't make an ass of yourself, Leo!” he said. Then he sighed. "There‘s quite enough of that in the family as. it is.” "You’re a nice old man to talk in that prudent, way," I said. "How about your wig. your spam, and your sticking to the house here, when you came down, (you said, express-1y to fish ?” That hit him. "You’re right, my boy," he said wearilyâ€""yoau’re right. {But I can't explain things. It’s a miserable businessk That’s all I can say.” Of course them I had him on the grill. I (lid my best tol dynamite the mystery out of him. No good. The only benefit I gained was his apparent licence of our goings-on. A deal it would have mattered otherwise, for by the end of the week we were, engag- ed. I let fly at him with this sweet news. Then. indeed, he threw off his lethargy, shoved an old deersvtalker on the top of that sandy shag of his. and took up his rod. Well, I knew where she might be, fast enough; but somehow I pitied her, and did not take him straight be her. “'0 juggled among mossy boulders and trickles of water, with thickish birch and bully-scrub by the waterside. But, 1-0 and behold! sudâ€" denly Uncl: M. yelled out as: if he had a thron in his foot, and lherm was his wig dangling in thvu air! at the end OLf M135 Maria’s line. The shy, clever, dear little minx! "'My future must be subordinated to yourskmy boy," he said, as solemn- ly as if he were in a pulpit, and the wards were his text. "Leaf. me see And tell her I did that evening, un- der the moon. which looked splendid, balanced on the crest of our parti- cular hill 01f the forest. “'48, met by the old churchyard, with absolute contempt for ghosts. She‘d thrown from the steep bunk right above us. It was quite afun- ny introduction after that. Uncle M. did bhe most sensible thing possible in treating it as a huge joke. “Odd that this should happen in\ my very first fortnight’s dcclemion to fals: hairi” he, said gaily. Marie was disappointing. She had little to nay. and her looks) of ,sorrow seemed to ‘be absurdly overdone. SLhe even answered Uncle M.'s cool ques- tions about her parentage much as! if she were a dull little maid at school. "What r-oti” said I’ll tell her that.” “He'says you have a. motherly eye, pet." I said, drawing her to men But she wouldn’t be drawn. "Leo," uhe whispered, "I must con- fess scun'ething to you.” “All right," said I. "Overrun the constable ?" "Leo," she said, very earnestly in- deed, "can‘t you see that my being hem and all isn't an accident? \Vhat dear, dense, simple creatures men are! And your uncle is one, too, and I .want you to get him out of the country immediatelyâ€"toâ€"night, or the first thing to-morrow morn- ing." "\Vhy?" said I. "Because-because he must. Tell him the writ is issued for his arrest. I don’t believe for :13 instant he is guilty of any crim , but that Mr. Barker is; and your uncle is jointly responsible. Promise you will per- suade him to run away." .It. was the first time she had shown passion: Ac- tually. too, there was the shine of tears in her pretty eyes. she were a dull litL But he liked her. “My boy,” he said a good girl, though her Spurting about Something motherly in her looks!” "th until you promise to persuade him.” "What's the figure?” She whispered something preposter- ous. “All fraudulently appropriat- ed by Mr. Barker," she added. "Now promise. It will m too late this time ‘oâ€"morrow.” Of course, I under-’ stood now. ' “Go on!" I isaidi "Tell me every- thing.” “You are employed by Lhe prosecut- ing solicitors. I suppose"? I said. Then if [she didn't burst into sobs. "Iâ€"I thought I should like it," she stuttered. “I wanted to earn myown living, and Ralph and father said I had a good enough head on myâ€"my shoulders." ~ "They told no lie there," said I. "They have the case in hand." she went on. "But don‘t wait. Go to him. and tell him what I say. I'll hunt down that Mr. Barker: if I die doing it." I meditated rapidly, then just took her head between my'hands and kissed her. "Truitcrous little hussyi“ I said. "And to-morrow?" he said afterwards, "she‘s ause he must. Tell issued for his arrest. for a“ instant he is crim , but that Mr. your uncle is jointly romise you will per- It’s a miser s all loan say. it's mighty‘ queer here by herself. , don't you know, with a. roar. "There is no time for to-morrows. Go! And goâ€"ood-night, dear.” Away she whisked. and back to the inn J hustled. And then. sure enough, my old sim- pletan of arelative let his cat out. He had been done brown by that old brute Barker. who had cleared off with the proceeds, and left poor Uncle M. to face the music. After long argument I got him definitely to preâ€" pare for the Southampton-Havre route to Paris the next evening. In- nocent though he was, he could not be allowed to consign himself to a prison. One. thing more. - A mysteriousintuition got up up at the unholy hour of five the next morning. There was a train from ‘urecndale at 5.50. She mightâ€"ay. and slim was on the platform. with a morning. There was a train from ‘urecndale at 5.59. She mightâ€"513', and skim was on the platform. will) a white. net, self-sacrificial face, which, hotwevoo, speedily matched her 1am for colour when she 5’1\V me. I just took her by the arm. lifted her bag, and led her back to the; hamlet. And, believe me. II scarcely let her out, of my sight again till wo’d fixed things to such a point that then: was no opening oven [or :1 young lady-detec- tiw. (amateur) to give me the slip. Professor Langley .Vlnkcs a Very Important Sclemllic Discovery. The discovery by Professor 5. P. Langley. secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, at \Vashingtnn, of 700 lines. in the invisible spectrum of the sun‘ is likely to b: of incstimnlfle value in forecastim: the weather. He a knowledge which has hitherto been hidden from us of the way in which the sun maintains every form of life upon the éarth. - Charts down at[ the Smithsonian Institution indicated dis- tinctly the Spectrum's progressive changes through spring, summer, autumn, and winter and Prof. Langley. believed it not impossiblo that preâ€" dictions would yet be made as to fu- ture changes in the character of com- ing seasons, and their effects upon the crops somewhat similar to those now made from day to day by! the \Veather Bureau, but infinitely more far-reach- mg. lines in the invisible spectrum of the sun. is likely to be of incstimnble value in forecasting the weather. He came upon them quite unexpectedly while investigating some phenomena on {he summit of Mt. \Vhitney. He has since mapped out 700 lines in the new spectrum and has stated that with this as a, basis; we are! coming to Mr. Langley is one of the most widely known of the astronomers and physicists of the world. He began his career in science as an assistant in the Harvard observatory, but soon afterward became professor of matheâ€" matics in the United States Naval Academy. He left that chair to ac- cept the directorship of the/Allegh- eny Observatory, and while filling that post wrote most of his well- knonvn works on astronomical sub- jects. In January, 1887, he was ap- pointed assistant secretary of the Smithsonian, and in November of that year full secretary. Mr. Langley has devoted himself to many scientific in- vestigations other than those of as- troâ€"physics. His most favored la- bors have been in his experiments with the flying machine, in which he has succeeded in building an aeroplane which gives; a very creditable per- formunce. Uncle M. got to France. and I saw Mario back to tdwn. She was by then stcoled to bear (ho. prodigious blowing-up which her fuLher and bro- ther were blarund to have, and had, ready for her. It was her first and last flutter as a “’tec.”â€"London Ans- were. An officer, who had been recently transferred to a new garrison town, was, highly displeased to find that the grass-plots on the exercising ground of the troops were largely utilized by the inhabitants of the little towm for the purpose of bleaching their linen. He at once issued peremptory orders that all certificates of leave for this privilege were to be withdrawu. LIVELY Iâ€"XVHEN HE ch-ertheless, a few days later, as he marched his troops on the ground for exercise, he found the whole grassâ€"grown surface completely cov- ered with every de‘scriplloln of newly-. washed linen. Intenser mortified at this contemptuous treatment of his o-rders, he commanded his troops to go through every species of evo- luticn-â€"mu.rc.h, counter-march, right- about-face, etaâ€"over the innocent bed~sheets, shirts, etc., etc., until sud- denly, pale as death, and with loose flying hair. the commanding officer's own servant-maid rushed on to the scene and, wringing her hands, broke forth into the lament:â€" “Gracious me, master, sir! what will the missis say?” “"hut the "missis" had to say i0 the ruthless destroyer of his‘ own linen has, we regret to inform the reader, not been communicated to M.P.‘S \VHO PREACH. MEI. Horace R. Mansfield, the Badâ€" ical member for Spald'mg, England, who preached thfi times. in his con- stituency on a recent Sunday, is not the only member of the present Briâ€" tish House of Commons, who has ocâ€" cupied the rpulpit. Mr. George Har- wood, M.A., the Liberal member of Bolton, and one of the founders of the Church Reform Unicn, was for three years curate of St. Ann’s Church Manchester; whilst Mr. Cumming Maodona was t‘he holder of three or four livings in days gone by, one of which was the rectorship of Cheville Cheslin. FORECASTING THE WEATHER. THE PROFESSOR MEETS HER! ABOUT SOILING CROPS. An old adage hath it that closing the barn .after the theft of the horse is not the best method of preventing burglary. Yet it is held to be worth while as a discourager of further pil- fering. The dairyman who this past summer has seen his cows shrinking, feels inclined to shut the barn door. How may he do his best? If he has planted soiling crops like peas and oats, Hungarian millet, and the like, and has been supplanting the dy- ing pastures with green feed in the ham or yard, he has closed the door before rather than after the theft. Moreover, the necessity for the sum- mer feeding of grain is greatly less- ened. H he has no recourse to soil- img crops, nothing ‘but buying grain can lessen the shrinkage. The Verâ€" momt experiment station has for many years experimented with soiling crops and recommends to dairymen the large use of summer ensilage and of oats and peas sown at weekly inter- vals, and fed during July and Aug- u’st. 'Ensitage is [probably the cheap- est food; oats and peas somewhat the better. If the former is contemplated as a steady summer diet for years. it would be well to consider the erection of a special summerr silo, preferably round, with a small diameter and a relatively greater depth. Ensilage spread over a large surface in sum- mer spoils rapidly and loses largely in feeding value. If oats and peas be chosen, they must be sewn in succes- sive lots at weekly intervals, the two sown Separately, the peas first rath- er deeply and harrowed in; the cats two or three days later and hushed in. A better catch' is likely to be seâ€" cured in this way than if sown to- gether. The crop may 'be either fed green, hayed, or put in the silo. Let those whose 'July and August milk yields prove disappointing try ensilage or cats and peas next year. It is no longer a question of whe- theu‘ or not it pays to spray, for this has long been settled in the affirm- ative. Nearly all experiments show that it does, although some seasons it pays better than others. The time and method of upplication,and the maâ€" terials to be used are important. For fruit trees one (spraying before the buds open, using bcll‘deaux mixture, is‘advisable to prevent seal) and. rust. Then give another, to which is add- ed paIis green for the codling moth, as soon as tho. blossoms are nearly all off. One or two applications there- after at intervals. of 10 days to two weeks of the same mixtu’re will generâ€" ally be all that is necessary. SPRAYING POTATOES AND FRUIT TREES. For potatoes the same materials are usedâ€"«the bordeaux to prevent blight and rot and the paris green to kill the bugs. The pumps must be startâ€" ed early; in fact, much earlier than is the common practice. As soon as the vines are nicely up give them an ap- plicdtion of weak bordeaux and reâ€" peat this from five to seven times at intervals of 10 days each. This will prevent the spores from getting a foothold and it is. only in prevention that any good is accomplished. The paris green may 'be added as needed. \Vith the improved Sprayers, which cover four or six rows at once, from :30 to 60 acres may be gone over in a day of 10 hours, so that the expense of labor is slight. The spray must be fine and evenly distributed. A heavy application of big drops runs off and does not ac- complish as much as a fine light mist. Paris green is commonly used at the rate of 1 1b to 150 or 200 gals water for both potatoes and apple trees. Bordeaux is made by slaking 6 lbs fresh stone lime in water, then strain and dilute to '25 gals. Dissolve 4 lbs Sulphate of Copper in 25 gals water and when ready ‘to spray mix the two. Several firms, have undertaken to make prepared mixtures similar to the borvdeaux or to this and paris green combined. They are called by various names and their ’use is quite satisfac- tou'y. They need only to be added to water before applying. PRUNING CURRANT BUSHES. I am not certain as to the best way, wlrites ML'A.‘ G. Sharp. My practice has been to begin with the bush at two years. old and cut back at least one-third to one-half of the new growth each year, at any time when the bush is dormant, either late in fall or very early in the lspring. Also cut out all {the Buckelrs that may have started witth the plant. In this man- ner there is no great shock to the plant and it makes a. stocky, stiff, up- right plant, taking less space and giv- ing a chance to get more plants on an acre. It keeps the 'bush more compact and fruit shaded. It extemds the season of picking, increases. size and helps to keep the fruit 'up and out of the dirt. A plant left to itself will grow long stems and arms that when loaded with fruit and dripping with rain will bend down to that much of the fruit lies flat upon the ground, to be spat- tered with mud. Some branches will be broken With the winds, besides beâ€" ing much in way of cultivation“ . firs. mam In regard to tnmming or renewing RMFOBE \Vhonever the Boll crumbles it. can be worked for the greatest benefit to plant growth. How often we see the plow started when every furrow looks as if it had been run in amold, the soil particles sticking to each othâ€" er because of a surplus of moisture, Too often such work is termed scien- tific, because of the handsome even appearance. Land thus managed, though it may be a sandy loam which would be much less damaged than clay, will not gain that fine garden tilth, which is so desirable, perhaps. for the whole season. Fur the double purpnu n" forward- ing spring work and plowmg when the land is in its most favowrable con- dition, and also taking into account that frost and air are very import- ant factors. in our farm'mg opera.- tiocna we believe that a large proporâ€" tion of the plowing should be done in the fall, commencing as. soon as haying is over. Then the following spring the burrow, spring-tooth if possible, will do all that is necessarv. for the forthcoming crop. LAWS OF SUCCESGIONI; Many people have been confused V! the various laws of succession which prevail in Europe. There are three different systems, the most genera/I Perhaps it might 'be as well to treat half the bush at’ a time, taking two years to renew the plantation, and at the same time growing some fruit on the plants while renewing. In this case the plants will require more [or- tilizcr as well its cultivation, to make both fruit and a good growth the Same season. Currants will stand a good topâ€"dressing every year if fruiting heavily. IMPORTANCE OF GOOD CULTIVA- TION. being that known as the Salic sys- tem, under which women are com- pletely excluded. This is the rule in Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Italy,Den- mark and Germany. Then there is the German-Dutch system, under which males in all degrees of relation- ship take precedence of females, the thrones passing to the female line only in case of the extinction of all the male lines, however remote. This if; the rule; in Hollandâ€"«from which it takes its nameâ€"Russia, and some of the minor Germ-(1n States. The third system is our own, under which fe- males are excluded when there are males in the same degree of relation- ship, but take precedence of males whose degree of relationship is not so close as their own. Thus an elder daughter of the ruling Sovereign gives. way to all her younger brothers and their issue, but takes precedence of male cousin or a. nephew. This sys- tem is the rule in Spain and Portu- gal as well as in England. old plants long neglected, iknow of no better way than to cut the whole brush off near the ground, when if the root is worth savimg it will send up plenty of shoots the first year. These can be trealgd in the same man< ncr thereafter as a two-yearâ€"old plant simply by Belevlimg a few of the best shoots and trimming as at first described. Keep all slender, weak stems cut out or pinched out as they. appear. Two young men drew up in; a four- wheeler opposite a famous exhibition in London. One, having alighted, timidly approached the Eabman, and tendered him one shilling and six pen- nies as his fare, whilst the. other col- lected their laticks and parcels. pre- paratory to following his companion. Gabby, descrying a halfâ€"sovereign amongst the coppers, whipped up his horses. and drove frantically up Bak- er Street. Hearing cries from the man. who ran after the cab, he had an attack of deafness, unLiJ, nearing Oxford Street. he was stopped by a. policeman. The man. much out of breath, soon came up with the cab, and cabby mentally bade good-bye to the half-sovereign. I ain't got noihin‘ of his! cried the driver, turning appealingly to the policeman. A traveller riding in a wild part of Cuithness came to the edge of a morass. Seeing a peasantâ€"boy near, he inquired whether the bog were hard at the bottom. Oh. 21y, replied the ladâ€"quite hard. Reassured. the traveller spurred forward, but, to his, dismay, the horse and its rider sank rapidly into the bog. 5 Ye ‘hev! gasped the man. Ye ran away wi' me feyther! Sure enough, there was the old gen- tleman still in the cab. and staring, pole with fright, at the crowd and policeman. , Ay, sir! was the calm‘ reply. But ye hav'na got there yeti flare. you young rascal! shouted the aifrighmd horseman. you said it was hard at the bottom? A QUESTION OF DISTANCE. BUT HE KEPT THE GOLD: par! of a. near, were