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Show tf RASTUS THE THE LIONS ' fore she jumped up an said: Maw, you gotter help me cancel all dem invites, right quick, cause 4ey wont Do be no reception heah Author of hurry! De ole lady looked like shed drop in a faint. What on earth done ail you, Grace? she ax. Whats in dat letter? I.emme read it dis very minit. De young lady didnt pay no ten-tio- n a tall. She set down forQ. her desk an writ an writ faster den I evah see anybody chase a pen, an in jest about five minits she had a pile uv notes ready for me to stribute. Ill give you a dollar apiece to deliver dem letters, she says. Dont fergit a single one, cause de mattah is f Rs CHAPTER Well, suh, mebbe I didnt hustle. Dey was eighteen notes to deliver, an I done it all Inside uv two hours. When de folks axed questions I ay, like de lady told me, Miss Grace aint well. Dats all she say foh me to tell em. At 9 oclock I was back an she gimme eighteen dollars sure, enough in spite of her maws objections, which was ve'y strong, for de ole lady was still mad as a hornet. Now, says de young lady, I got one moah letter for you to take care uv, an. when I gits de answer youre goin to heah from me right off, so leave me your address so's I can write to you. Well, Suh, dat last letter was addressed to Mr. Jack Winters in Brazil de answer to de one I found in de coat. Long about, five weeks later, when Id begun to fink Mr. Jack Winters never got his letter after all, here come a rote from de young lady sayin she wanted me to call at a certain office down town, where Id find sum-pito intrest me. What you spose I found? Five nice new five dollar De bills, sure as youre bawTn, Suh. gent dat handed em to me said Mr. Jack Winters ordered de money to be delivered to me. He said he was Mr. Jacks brother, an de vey man what fergot to mail dat letter, not dat he actually plum fergot, but when he looked in his pocket an found it gone lowed hed done he jest natchully dropped it wid oder letters in the box, an never give it anoder thought. He said Miss Grace come mighty near bein persuaded into havin an Oder man dat she as well as promised her maw to take dat vey night I brung her de letter what broke up de pahty. He mentioned dat Miss Grace an Mr. Jack aimed to git married soon as he could git back from Brazil. dollars Well, Suh; dem forty-thre- e bought out de pahtner uv de man what uster run dis barber shop when It warnt what it am now.. I tented strictly to business for six months when I bought out de oder pahtner an set up' for myself. Dat warnt much moahn tw-- years ago. You see for yourself, Suh, how .well I done. It all come from findin" dat letter. If dat warnt luck what was it, Suh?V-Ne- w York Times. n e ' . The Bow of Orange Ribbon, I, Thou and th Other One,' The Maid of Malden Laro, Etc. (Copyright, vey impolitant. When I fust struck NYork I warnt wurth a dollar. All I could get was a ole close job goin round buyin iip ole close, you know. Suh, an hollerin Cash paid. De man I worked for larnt me how to clean and press close, which I done rainy days. Dat where luck struck me one day when I was brushin up a mighty nice black coat dat warnt hardly .worn none, but had got too li'l for de gent that owned it. I turned de pockets inside out an had started to press it when I felt sumpin rattle twixt de linin an de tail of de coat. It was a letter, done sealed an stamped an addressed to a l?ly over in Eighty-firs- t street. You know, Suh, de finder keeps. I didnt let my boss see dat letter, but made out to spell through it myself. It was a sure enough love letter tellin de lady dat Mr. Jack Winters had done make up his mind to go to Brazil de very next day an he jest couldnt go widout tellin her how much he love her. It sure was a purty letter. Peared like deys had a sort of fuss an Mr. Jack Winters was might anxious to make up, but was feared the lady warnt uv dat opinion. He didnt ax her ti write back. Stead of dat he tell her to be down at de warf de next afternoon to bid him good-bysos he know by dat whether she give him any hope for the future. De date was eight months old, so it look like a losin job to waste any time deliverin dat letter, but I jest fought Id 'try an see what come uv it, so I went ovah to dat address dat vey evenin. Well, suh, I found de young lady sure enough a powerful' purty girl she was, too, but she didnt look to say real happy, spite uv her good looks. She hadn't no moah den glanced at, it Cromwells Time . BY AMELIA E. BARR. ht Yes,' Suh, I suttenly does blieve in luck, Suh, said Rastus, wiping the lather out of .his victims eye and spreading a fresh layer on his bristly Some folks says dey aint no chjn. sech ting as luck. Huh! Dems de very folks dat aint nevah had no luck. Dats why dey dont believe in it.'Dats right, Suh. Aint I got a neat lil business heah? Dont I make moah in a week den most cullud folks makes in a month? Well, Suh, it all come from a stroke uv luck jest pure, plain, evey-da- y luck. Like to heah all about it, you say, Suh? Suttenly Ill tell you. A Story of . VIII. I'!, by Dodd, Mead & (Continued.) There was no use prolonging a conversation so hopeless. She was both angry and scornful, and she sought out her mother and found her, resting in her own room. I get tired soon in the day, Jane, she said, I think it is the London air, and the strange life, and the constant fear of some change. No one seems to know 'what a day will bring forth. Did you see Stephen? Yes. It cant be, I suppose? You know it . cant be, mother. She was hurt at the question. It was a wrong to Cluny, and she said with some temper, it could not be under any circumstances. The man is mean, he has just threatened me. If I had not been a woman I would have given him his threat back in his teeth. I would rather be Clunys wife, if Cluny had not a crown. The next day Cymlin went to Jev-er- y House and reported on his return, its forlorn emptiness. There were only two or three servants there, and they had no idea when the family would return. ADOut a week after Matildas departure Cluny called early one evening and asked Jane to go with him to Mr. Miltons house in Petty France. They sauntered through St. James park, and soon lost sight ' of all humanity, and were conscious only of each others presence. So much so, that they never noticed a figure which emerged from behind a clump of shrubs, and stood looking at them. It was the Lord General. His face was grave, but not unhappy, and when he saw Cluny and Jane lie stood still a moment, and then quietly withdrew into the shadow hc had left. A smile was round his mouth, and his lips, moved in words of blessing as he took another path to the gate he wished, and there was a feeling of pleasure yet in his heart when he entered the sombre apart- - Company. All right!, reserved ) things which makes spring so delightful. Early in the morning Janes friends called for her. and they went away together full of youths enthusiasm and anticipation. They took the road to the river, and to the sound of music and the failing and dipping of the oars they reached Richmond and soon spread the contents of their hampers upon the grass under some great oaks, in the seclud' ed park. After a happy, leisurely meal, they spent the rest of their holiday in wandering through the palace, until its melancholy, monastic grandeur subdued them almost to silence. It was like passing from death unto life to come out of these caverns into the light and glory of the westering sun, to feel its warmth, and see its brave colors, and hear the cuckoo, like a wandering voice among the trees. Soon they were at the river stairs, and as they passed through the city they were instantly aware of great excitement. It was i impossible not to feel that something of great moment had happened, or was going to happen; and when Jane entered the hall at Sandys and saw Doctor Veritys hat and cloak there, she expected that he had come with information. The next moment Mrs. Swaffham came hurriedly forward. Mother, cried Jane, "what is the matter? What has happened? And Mrs. Swaffham answered : The strangest thing that ever happened in England. Even while she spoke they heard Gen. Swaffham coming up the steps, the clatter of his arms emphasizing He had his perturbed feelings. scarcely entered the door ere Doctor Verity came into the hall crying: Is it true, Israel? Is it true? Quite true. And well done? Well done. I am sure of it. Men and women went into the parlor together, and a servant began to coun-snanc- e, It seems hardly credible ttyat not yre than thirty minutes from the ise and bustle of Paris there lies a lage that is so quiet, so peaceful, d so old fashioned that one would agine ones self at least a hundred les away from the gay capital. Here this village. La Frette by name, and out fifteen minutes walk from preparations for midday and ening repasts have to be made ery rly in the morning, for no such things a cafe is near, and the walk to is one which one considers ice before taking, for it is up steep So daily, butcher, d rough roads. ker and green, grocer pass this alnt place, and the villagers gather out the tradesmen and make their rchases. man-r- , They also buy clothes in this seen be trying on and may often nnets, dresses and boots in the mij-of the street. From a scenic point Cor-;ille- s, Cor-;ille- e . . 'V of view, all artists have agreed that there is no place to equal La Frette. To the left of the village is the park of Maisous Laffitte, and facing the park is Cartrouviile, while opposite lies the forest 'of St Germain, in all its splendor. To the right is Herblay, an important place, whose qffite church is visible for miles along the Seine. Ea Frette itself has the quaintest villagers possible. Many of them ' speak worse French than those of the Midi,1 and it is an event when one makes a journey to the capital. They are thriftiest of the thrifty. Only a. short time ago one of the peasants gave his daughter 250,000 francs on her wedding day, and another Is to receive the, same amount on her apAnd yet this proaching marriage. man, who must be worth 4,000,000 or 5,000,000 francs, lives in a patched-u- p house and digs in the fields from early morning till late at night. self-seekin- g e ur Savior Looked In the Vatican, at Rome, is carefully hair, after the manner of the Nazar-ites- ; his forehead very plain and reserved an epistle to the senate and His face without a spot or Publius written smooth, of by Rome, eople .entulius, who was a ruler in Judea wrinkle, beautiful with a comely red; bout the time of Christ. The docu-len-t His nose and mouth so formed as His There ap- - nothing can be reprehended; reads as follows: eared in these our days a man of beard somewhat thick, agreeable in reat virtue, named Jesus Christ, who color to the hair of His head, not of any great length, in the midst of an i yet living amongst us, and by the innocent and mature look; His eyes of a for is prophet (entiles accepted ruth, but His own disciples call Him grey, clear, and quick. In reproving he Son of God. He raiseth the dead He is terrible, in admonishing cournd cureth all manner of diseases. A teous and fair spoken, pleasant in lan of stature somewhat tall and speech, mixed with gravity. It cannot be remembered that any have omely, with a very reverend such as beholders may both ever seen Him laugh, but many have seen Him, weep. In proportion of body, yve and fear; His hair is of the color f the philibert full ripe; and plain well shaped and straight; His hands lmost down to His ears; but from and arms right and delectable to behe ears downward somewhat curled, hold; in speaking, very temperate, nd more orient of color, waving on modest, and wise a Man for singulis shoulders. In the midst of His lar beauty surpassing the children of ead goeth a seam or partition of His men. I stood at the door watching him Ht my men being in the lobby. went to his usual seat, but in very great and majestic manner, and for a little while he listened to the debate. Then he beckoned Majoi General Harrison and told him he judged it was high time to dissolve And Harrison told this Parliament. me this af.orroon, that he advised Cromwell to c r wbat he would do, for it was a work great and dangerous. ard who. he asked, is sufll eient for it? And Cromwell answered, The Sonant of the Lord, he is sufficient, yet he sat down again looking at me as he did so, and I looked back straight into his eyes that I and mine could be depended on. "In a few minutes the question for passing the bill was put. and the man could be restrained no longer. He stood up, took off his hat, and looked around the House, and jt quailed under his eyes, every man in it shift ed on his seat and was uneasy. He began to speak, and it was with 8 He reproached tongue of flame. them for their and theii hypocrisy and oppression, and as he went on, there was the roar of a lion in his voice, and the members, being condemned of their own consciences, cowered before him. Did no one open their mouth against him? No one but Sir Peter Wentworth. He said, My Lord General, this Parliament has done great things for and Cromwell answered, England, The spoke in the wheel that creaks most does not bear the burden in the cart! Then Sir Peter told Cromwell his abuse of the Parliament was the more horrid because it came from the servant of the Parliament, the man they had trusted and obliged. At these words Dr. Verity laughed Cromwell, the servant of loudly Not such a Parliament! he cried. he; what then, Israel? He told Wentworth to he quiet. He said he had heard enough of such talk, and putting on his hat, he took the floor of the House. I watched him as he did so. He breathed inward, like one who has a business of life and death in baud. I could see on his face that he was going to do the deed that had been the secret of his breast for many days; and his walk was that quick stride with w hich he ever went to meet an enemy. He stood in the middle of the House, and began to accuse the members His wo:ds personally. were swords. He flung them at the men as if they javelins; shot them in their faces ,as Jf trom a pistol. He told them that the Lord had done with them. He said they were no Parliament, and that he had been sent to put an end to their sitting and their prating. And at these words Cluny Neville spoke to tue Sergeant, and he opened the doors, and some musketeers entered the House. Then Sir Harry Vane cried out, This is not honest, and Cromwell reminded him of his own broken promise and they began to go out, at first slowly, and then in a hurry, treading on the heels of each other. What of Lenthall? He has a stubborn will. He sat still in the Speakers chair, until Cromwell ordered him to come down. For a moment he hesitated, but Gen. Harrison said, I will lend you my hand, sir; and so he also went out. But was there no attempt to stay such dismissals? I am amazed, dumbfounded! said Doctor Verity. Alderman Allen, the Treasurer of the Army, as he went out said something to Cromwell which angered him very much; and he then and theie charged Allen with a shortage of one hundred thousand pounds, and committed him to the care of a musketeer for examination. I tell you, taere was no gainsaying the Cromwell of this hour. He was more than mortal man; and Vane and the others knew, if they had not known before, in batwhy he was never defeated Take that bauble awayl ment where Israel Swaffham, with a remove the Generals cavalry boots guard of soldiers, was in attendance. and spurs. I told you, Doctor, this He then entered a lofty, royally morning, that a settlement of some furnished room, where the council kind must come to day. When I were waiting his arrival officers of reached Whitehall I found the Lord the army, and members of Parlia- General waiting tor Sir Harry Vane ment. and the members who had promised Cromwell opened the discussion by to come and continue the conference reminding the members that he had 'relating to the bill early in the day. already held more than a dozen meet- The General was occupying himself ings, in order to induce Parliament to with a book, but as the hours went issue an Act for the election of a new by he grew restless and laid it down. Parliament, and then discharge itself. Then he turned to me and said, This is what the people want in Truly these men are long in coming; every corner of the nation, he said, are you ready, General? and before and they are laying at oirr doors I could answer he asked again ready of this duty and and willing? I told the him a word of their wishes. would move my troop as one man, Hazelrig reminded him that Parlia- if that word came from himself, and ment had determined to dissolve on he waited silently a little longer. the 3d of the ensuing November, Then Lord Cluny Neville came in after .calling for a hew election. very hastily, and said a few words. 1 It is now only the 19th of April," know not what they were, and he had answered Cromwell, sharply. 'Give scarce gone when Col. Ingoldsby' enme leave to tell you that the 3d of tered, and there was no secrecy then. f November will not do. Such a My lord! he cried, Parliament promise is but words for children. I is sitting at this moment, and Sir will better it. I will say Harry Vane, Sidney and Henry MarThis speech had a marked effect ten are urging the immediate passThe Parliamentary members agreed age of the bill so hateful to the to let the bill for perpetuating them- wrhole nation. Then Cromwell roused himself selves live over until after another conference to be held, the following like an angry lion. His passion at day, and with this understanding, the this perfidious conduct leaped into members of the Council separated. flame, be shouted to Lambert and his far-of- CHAPTER IX. Cromwell Interferes. Daylight came with that soft radiance of sunshine over fresh green tle. After the Speaker had left, what then? "His eye fell upon the Mace, and ha said scornfully to some of the Ironsides, Take that bauble away! Then he ordered the musketeers to clear the House, he himself walking up to its Clerk and taking from under his arm the bill which had caused the trouble, and Whioh was ready to pass. He ordered the man to go home, and he slipped away without a question. Cromwell was the Iasi soul to leave the Chamber, and as he went out of it he locked the door and put the key in his pocket. He then walked quietly back to his rooms in the Cockpit." He will need God on his right hand and on his left, said Doctor More than we can tell will Verity. come of this- implacable hostility, rancorous jealousy, everlasting envy and spite. The members The members, interrupted Gen. own troop of Ironsides. He gave me Swaffham, have tied themselves, the signal I understood, and we went hands and feet, with cords of their quickly to the Parliament house. own spinning, and Oliver Cromwell But w'hat . then? asked Doctor holds the ends of them. They will yerity, his face burning with the not dare to open their mouths. eafr soul behind it. (To he continued.) |