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Show M STRAIGHTENED. Lasso left his borne one frame of mind of a ecided to jump oft the ere wa3 no luck In life the tenth time in less e had that morning re in h's mail that dealt a letter ..bat hopes refusal to his offer the week" before. not think that this letter tenth time from the same No, indeed: beauty. liasse .was not capable of liitiea. j&il'truth, of the matter not a woman he bo ar t fas 'f hid for, it wad a home and ajppiness. Ho dreamed of vlje head of his own table. hlng would ever be served possibly suggest the menu of ouse. Aud he longed for which ' he migr-.fefo're peace and listen to a pretty wife, ois Barbasse was by no s.ble to feminine charms. len desneratelv In love Witn rJ,ythose beauty had for long torn the perfection of carta- - f -a -- t n long time he suffered in at last he ventured to pro- all-he- r Francois! His request was mat i Ciear and firm refusal, a ""No" :.ed in polite excuses, but never-- s a No." a for s.x months he was miserAt the end of that time again. i.la. (J was no kinder than bad been. alas! for disappointment, - ndeed. .3 Bai basse. nth later, to a third young lady, a third proposal. The result e ill the came. thus it went From one "No" we silken r of grace and beauty that led to c iiC?te.,uescenaea iage. nseq-uentl- d recognize voices. But It was still perfectly, for his bead was yet swathed ln'bandages and the light of day was denied him. At last, however, he was completely cured, and the good old doctor wb had taken care of him said gruffly; ' "Well, you are on your feet again, Barbasse, my man. You may well bo thankful to get off as you did. That was a brick and a half! You hadn't many ideas after that struck you. Hum! Hum!" The doctor stopped and seemed at a loss how to go on. "Well, I'm glad I'm out of it," said Francois, "but I'll bo even gladder when you take off thi3 old bandage. Why do you keep It on any longer? Is there anything "more the matter with my eyes?" "The the truth Is, my dear Barbasse," began the doctor, hesitatingly, "there have been complications and " "And what? Speak out, man," the letter he had ro wounded only his that morning Jibs heart was not affected. iHy, do I hear you ask, did poor ;c get so regularly and sadly down on his proposals? Why? eading on delicate ground. is Barbasse was the best of dlowe, always attentive to thj les, as well as to the youDg ones, rich and a good dancer. What crdcr-ecTFrancol- s. "Very well. One eye has been very much Injured and you will lose the use of it in a very short time." "An eye? Which? Doctor, which one?" "The left eye, my poor friend," the doctor answered sadly. Francois Barbasse sprang out of his chair and did a Cakewalk then and there. 'Are you perfectly sure, my dear doc tor?" he cried. "You are not mistaken as to which eye? Oh, it Is too good to be true! I shall be happy now ail my life." For a moment, the good doctor thought that half his patient's reasou had gone with half of his vision. Ttua Francois explained. The first time he went out ofter the accident, Barbasse hastened to the She had been his house of Mhe. first and only love, despite his later matrimonial attempts. He fell at her feet la an esctacy of passion, Imploring her to listen favorably to a second request of her hand m marriage. The young lady listened, looked at her kneeling lover,' wavered and was lost. She whispered a soft "Yes," and Francois, fathoms deep In bliss, clasp ed her In his arms. And In spite of the Joy of his emotion, both eyes wtie steady and well behaved. His left eye, once so Impish and so damaging, beamed with a perpetual smile. It was made of glass! From the French. The Eminent Novelist was in a dull mood. For some minutes now he had been regarding rather blankly the equally blank sheets of paper lying before him on his desk. It was a June morning and, somehow, memories cf another June morning, far off in thu long ago, obtruded. Mayhap it was the bright sunshine streaming in through tho open Londo' window, filling the air- with ;dancia thoughts, that made our novelist retrospective a nd idle. He had i. his mind vaguely a vision of that Jul morning it! a Devon cider orchjr. when, In the, eternal egotism of youti4 he had talked and sho had lihtoueu. When, half fearfully, he had pouched the mysteries of love. Long ago oh, very long ago! Bless me what was the girl's name? Eha had had ridiculous ideas Incompatible with a merry, round face, and such impertinent red hair the Eminent Novel ist recollected. Her father had owned the cider orchard, and many others. What was the name? Sampford, of Widdecombo, or Debbyhouse? ' Not any of them a bit like it She was a memory nothing more. Tha Eminent Novelist sighed. Times had changed since then. Now he was well, famous, in a sort of way. That Is, he had no world.y, sordid troubles. A discreet tap at the door disturbed these more comfortable reflections. It was the page boy. ' , "Please, sir, a lady. Married Courtship. However well assorted a married couple may be, it still behooves them both to take as much pains to plea?e each other after marriage as before. "To have and to hold," Is the old formula which no one can afford to forget, says the Chicago Tribune. Many precious t'ccswe has been lost b?careyond recovery, let slip through a counts a.i One ining less fingerR. . . . . -i ones own, ana leaves n uasuaiuiu to come back and find It gone. When the lover Is metamorphosed into tho Inattentlvo spouse; when the dainty, Into charming sweetheart changes marwhat wife, and fretful untidy the vel that tho affection which was lav ished upon the original refuses it tribute to the changeling. Many a woman has hardened and grown cold s blrusclf. und- inui.Terencfi, which wrj ler-hapfairAnd the pjor ladies were scarcely lu unintentional; many a man, blaiue if at Francois' first word of ly fond of his wife to begin with, ha love and long.ng tiny buret Into a peel fiund his devotion strang.ea oy eu laughter lhat wrecked thtir would- - Jbcks or rraolhercd In me wnnx-e- i te tor's hopes. of a soiled wrapper. Home, It shouM tiit basse had consulted every oculist always be remembered, Is the shrin la trance. L!ut each and all had said: of love; !ts lights should be kept A mere uck of nervousness, taf trimmed and burning. It shonjd bo aldear r. It will pisa away w.Ui ed ways a haven of rest and peace. If, tfio lampi carelessness, vanir, a.;e." through winliut what goid would it do Franco! grow dim. If dnst gathers on Its re no CO? finds He wuuid dow panes, and love to hare a normal eye at blamf shall who t8 fitter for his grave man lor a .lu within IU lhrrhold, luetic fireside by that time. the little god If he remembers that bs 'J hen-foreyou may understand the has wings, and use them? oor a,aa feelings us he t his rcue that cold, gray morning. A Western Mayor. it was in February and a high wind From the mayor's office to th was b. owing, a wind that scattered pa wrestling mat Is the record of Jaroe and tore the slatea out of p pte'i M. Brenton, former chief executive of rc fi. li. e did Franco! reck of Des Moines. Brenton entered th w ... tii? btcrm only satico his professional arena a few evenings agi tuifcery. by mating Jim Parr, the English ex au'KlciiIy a woman's cry reached Iilm, pert, in a match that attracted wld then confusedly he was conscious ,( a attention. The poUtelan threw his In nine minutes. The twa terrific blow. Then darkness nmwitiftit v r A heavy brick from a neighboring next falls went to Farr, but the for Lira cli.nmey had struck sqaircly on mer mayor felt satisfied with his- per 291 . Kide of head. Brenton the tii? weighs formance. a was circus was a one time lie at carried to hospital and potifid. He cf tnre lay for a week, tanconwSmis aud clown. lat?r superintendent eon for a candidate a removed from world, where schools and then lilfu!'y woman smiled forhlm. gress. At present be is a- saloon v Herald. Record memory ard keeper. Chicago son-in-law- ? . . , k-f- s Jt k. It t'.-- .! undertaker. . - , Yes?" "Won't give her name, sir. Wants to see you very particular. Has called twic-alreadj " "Ask her to be good enough to come In," interrupted the Eminent Novelist, with a faint hopo of copy rising within him. Those blank sheets were reproachful ! A moment later a girl rustled Into the panctum. She was dressed in violet voile, made in the extreme of fashion, with a great black feathery hat on her head. Sho appeared very much at ease, and Emlled affably enough toward the Eminent Novelist. "You must forgive my 'boarding' you like this, she began graciously. "I haven't sent the carriage away, so you can imagine that I won t, really detaia you." The Novelist Indicated a scat and bowed. "Thanks, awfully. I see I have disturbed you. Weil, to the point, then, at once. I have come to talk about your books. Your last cne Is a dUtinct fa.llng away." Tho Novelist sank into his round-bache- d chair, and waited In silence "Oh, I know it's unusual and all tha., for one to speak one's opinion fa the epen, the girl went on, airily. She had a perfume of violets about her, and a rre-tttrick of dimpling her cheeks. The Noveik--t seemed to have remem bered having teen fometh'.ng like it before. Very frank eyes she had, aud gleaming hair, and a nice sense of Altogether the Novelist found It in him to overlook her Impudence. 1 have read all your bonks, don't you know," continued the girl, sudden ly becoming serious. "And, In a, manner, I have -- athcr gone In for them. A woman's Hi t enUiutlasm sort of thing 'fal itig la love with a portrait Idea. You understand?" "I think so." (He rather flatterca himoflf on comprehending the sex!) ou'ra Well, hor.cstly, you know I won't not dclng yourself justice. taf you're pot toiling exactly; but. at any rale, you're lighting the fire preparaare tory to It Now, I'm eorry and whothe heapn jf people, who care, don't you know." "It's very good of you." -Not at 1L As I said, one baa lda t and things in one's youth." (The Nov. elist admitted that) "You're rather r you were. 1 can prove U my Ideal to you that you are filling away. Taka your first b,.k, for Instance " "Crude, a d very young; suggested well-pulse- te , l X. could have been required for a y model of a lover or tut, alas- - all these advantages were iered as naught by a small but tcr- e infirmity. u his calm moments Barbasse mlgLt on have been called fairly gjod look emo- S, but at the approach of any on, however slight, he would begin to ink with one eye In such a ridiculous, iex nected way that the most serious )t)..co the face of the earth could ot keep from laughing. Whenever one eye was wet witlj motion or fcLlniag with tenderness tc other would begin Its infernal ance. Lie main toe winking, bunking Id. the eyeball would rush back and orth. dilath..: and contracting, as if or kid by the very master of mischief 1 - -- It was really clever how she caught his earlier method. "Ideals are the Unattainable," she man will wrote, "and every decent strive after them." "Time smooths away the epochs in wrinour lives, so that presently only scars." kles are left to mark their all margin. "My text book wili $a the public will But I don't suppos. the delicate irony of it." Satrllcal, eh? Another phrase of to his work, his while I ",. youth! He returned of a Girl." "Heart new daring novel, '"Yes?" Inquired' he, rising. faim fragranoa with her She came, "I don't seem to be able to sell my The Eminent memories. tories as it is, don't you see?" ah of violets and of tolerattitude an ontlnued, with the first sighs of los- Novelist took up and strove to lessen ing her nerve. Her dimple had vanish; able toward her, the blow. She put that aside. "Well, ed temporarily. "And I'm sure " did you Bign it?" "I'm profoundly obliged to you," re- afiout the story did." "I marked the Eminent Novelist very "And send it off?" coldly "but I fear that such an ar"Yes: I was weak enough to dare so rangement would bo scarcely fair."' much.". He laughed a little as he turn"Not fair!" she echoed, with a toucn ed ud tho agent's letter. "I sent it of 6corn. "Not fair? To whom? To away without a word and the secret your publisher? He doesn't even read still remains between the two of us. I your manuscript now, of course. It's was Diaued into being unfairly fair. just your name, and his Imprint To Now, please read my agent's reply, re your public? They'll gobble anything turning the story the very next night. signed by you because it's the 'thing,' He handed her the letter. don't you know! Not fair to yourse.f? She read it, standing, her own exI maintain that I shall do more than nresslon unreadable. She sat dowa Here's a short piece " suddenly in the chair he silently offer justice. She produced from a little bag hanging ed, and read the note a second time. at her waist a folded paper, in a con- He perceived, as she bent her pretty juring trick kind of way. "Read that; head, that her hair was of a very sign it and do me the honor of mak- charming color red gold, and shining. ing the attempt Good morning." He fancied, as she did not look up, that "She dropped the paper in the hand perhaps she was crying. outstretched in dismissal, courtesiud He maSe the effort then to break an charmingly, Bmiled and dimpled once awkward silence; but she interrupted more, and then rustled herself to tha him on his first words, in a strange, door and disappeared from his view, Btifled manner: leaving a perfume of violets and for"I don't think I quite" In gotten things behind her. said that if I could really a little while the Eminent Novelist prove your work to be falling away heard the sound of departing carriage you would give " wheels. He laughed then heartily ut"Oh, yes! a hundred guineas to any terly. "Well, I'm" charity you cared to name," he remark He stopped short and returned to his ed stiffly. "I had not forgotten. The desk. There he unfolded the paper, offer is still open." and glanced casually at It. "H'm She raised her eyes. They gleamed rather like my style," he admitted. He maliciously at him, as her cheeks be looked at the end. "Clever girl that gan to dimple. "Perhaps you will ba I wonder if there's anything dn what good enough to get out your check Bhe says? I would like to know " He book," she remarked, calmly returning seized bis pen; signed the manuscript him the agent's note. In his neat, small handwriting, then "What do you mean?" pushed the paper haatiy into' an envel "The story is your own.- It appearel ope. Without permitting himself to in 'Young l'eople,' in August, 1899. ? pause to relent, he addressed the euvelr cut it out then, and a week ago had It ope to his agent; then stamped it; typed. I brought It with me the other then rang for the page boy. morning for two reasons " "Fost that at once, will you?" he "One of which I know," murmured ordered coolly. the Eminent Novelist commanding himself most surprisingly. A sudden Within three posts the manuscript suspicion had helped him to parry an was returned with an incredulous otherwise deadly thrust He reachei note from the aent for his checkbook, opened it and took "My dear chap," it began somewhat up his pen. "Pay one hundred guineas, famllialy, "what are you about? Is it he wrote rapidly, "to?" You a joke, or' midsummer madness? "Muriel Courtenay," the violet girl send me a queer little piece; thoughtanswered demurely. ful, analytical, and done with mere He filled out the check, signed It, than your usual style? So much I'll tore It out cf the book without betray freely admit But where Is the story? ing his agit Jon. He rose and crossed Don't you know, by now that the tale's to her with the paper fluttering feeb!y the thing? Haven't 1 drummed it into In his hand. "And how Is the cider you ever since wo started together; orchard now, Muriel?" he questioned. and with the best results for both rf in a would-bdry voice. "Do you play us? I can soil your stuff like hot cakes there ftill?" in the ordinary course; and I can find "Not far many years," she told him. a market for the last if you Insist In her valiant manner. As her frarrk 'But! Fi;3tly, the public hate analy eyes held his repentant glance, sh.i sis. They liAven't the leisure for It of made full confession "but I do not the patience or the understanding forget" Bhe added, in a gentle, almost Secondly, they can only appreciati motherly tone. Paul Creswick, in The thought so long as it keeps on tha Bystander. copybook piatltuds level. Hang it, man books sell! remember how Lastly, as regards style, the public honestly don't care one way or t'other. Forgive my brutality, and let me know what I'm to do. Yours- -. ," perplexed. The Eminent Novelist pacified tl agent by withdrawing the obnoxloui piece, and sending Mm two shor! ftorle, in his (the E. N.'s) later man ner. Then the Eminent Novelist wait ed for the return of the violet girl, wltb outward calm. : Inwardly he wae disturbed a litt'e He felt some tears of triumph that her 1 TNT Impudent notion of fooling the publ! should have failed so dismally st th ly like to spoak of your books genera". ' ly, with a view to helping you an myself. You know that now it's youi name that sells." Tie Novelist shrugged his shoulders and glanced toward the clock. . "It's so, I'm afraid," said the girl smoothing her skirts deprecatingly. J won't keep you a minute longer. Thif is my notion. I'll write your stories for you, and you'll Bign them. It will U.e a good deal less work for you, Question of Memory. A im- d - y grs-tur- e. e - the Novelist "Crude an very !ncre," corrected the girl swiftly. "I begin U Wllcr that with age and experience one's eyes grow dim. t understand It's physiologically fo in the fifties; but. as r gards the soul, decay appears to set la I'm not keep much earlier. Ing you?" "Fle-afgo on." "Well, do Just read some of your early work again. I'm sure " "If you can really prove b-- me thM my staff Is beoming worse Instead c l the Novelist check4 allchtly belit-r- , her, "I will very willingly give achftlfor one hundred guineas to any charity ' you like to earne. The violet girl laughed again, and dimpled hT round checks. "Wei, that business, certainly, and I'd dear 1 - Very outset AM n ir, i ? ;C J ! Moreover, cn reflection, he decided that the agent bsd fought to soften Lia rejection of the MS.; and so had In genlously Implied It to be "too good." This teemed a reasonable view of h man's letter. On the whole, the vloX girl had n't actually scored a point. Having thus entirely disposed of nor the Eminent Novelist glanced a second time at her story, lie smiled as he noted the construction, the the "yourrne tg" of the thing. He shrugged Indulgently toward the quaint rounding of her sentences, so Intel! gently reproducing his own style. One or two phrases stirred him; indeed, he allowed reluctantly tnat there was merit In the piece. anti-clima- x All! THESE CLUB3. Kuter Bltt We took op Shakespeare at our literary club toMrs. day. Mr. Ruyter subject? Bitt was tha Which was costume, Rosalind's Mrs. Ruyter Bitt becoming or Juliet's. What |