Show 6 THE PEEP boM 'that Kccno comes back from the memory of thn past like reality repeated niftlit was full of poetry liigli 1 hunghfs and generous sentiments' The poft of sunny Italy was eloquent with nature’s tenderness and the gentle zephyrs that fanned tlu uncovered heads of two yoallis wore heard in the mins of that cid monastery like? a vocal chorus sanctioning the vows of love and friendship! Together the youths enter those stately ruins as reverently as though they had ’been sons of the Church of Koine Slowly and solemnly they approach the broken altar where they vowed a which ' nothing should sever and solemnly promised that should the fortunes of either become as that noble edifice — a ruin — they would fores wear all false pride and share as brothers That condition' nu proposed dear Dick and 1 am now assured you half foresaw the future” “I remembered the threat of your enemy Fred and strange on that night I felt a presentiment perhaps conjured up by the ruin of the grand historic pile in which w stood 1 knew the sensitive pride of the D’Lacys which makes them liberal in conferring favors but most poor and unwilling" in receiving and by the holy relation of friendship which to us stands ns the and divines! relationship ' between highest nnn and nran I claimed a communism in each others future good or ill” “ 1 am hero to fulfill that compact of our youth in all its bearings Tor myself I come to claim d part of the inheri' tance of my brother —your family" vault dear Dick! Let mo rent 'awhile’ in that solemn mansion of your v race to deep with your ancestors” ‘‘Would to God if were to live with their descendant until old age had ripened us both before being borne there Hat why this strange request ? My ancestors would welcome a D’Lacy to their last home ’hut what would yours say Fred ?” “Listen Dick for my time is measured and my departing near My ancestral home and estates have fallen into the hands of my enemy who since I humbled him at school lias with his father made our ruin the plot of his life” “ I will avenge you' Fred !” “Not so Dick Fate willed to iium-- ' llc my race perhaps for their pride for their pride was their greatest sin My enemy and his father were hut instruments to the end and my good old grnnd-fciF- e and Lord Keginaldmy father opened the door for the supplanting of my house hut I luve a prophetic whispering within me that by some means the D’Ltiey os- fates will be recovered You know they are redeemable mid though the mortgage and tlm interest inner them yet the debt paid and they return to my son or his children Nominally the D’Lacys still liold their inheritance” “ I will sen the debt wiped off if Providence spares me” said Sir Richard “And now for the union of our children for in that much of the future lies Avhich may restore your house united with mine On that night we fondly vowed as a part of our solemn compile! that should Ileaven bless us with children we would unite our races providing our purpose did not outrage their own free choice if out of the' association which we would form tlicdr young hearts taught them mutual love nothing on earth should be our dearer The aim” “ What more likely now that their young days will be entwined? Heaven grant the consummation !” earnestly exclaimed Lord Frederick “Amen my brother!” responded liis “I thall die aT least with tho blessed DAT— A LITERARY MA0AZIK5 prospect that you will bn tho father indeed of my orphaned boy rind that our friendship will be perpetuated in tho love of our children My darling Fred and as lie named her — yes your angel-bab- y should they love our compact in that old monastery will be fulfilled !” “ In the awful presence of Death bo it renewed between us m v brother!” silent- ly said Sir Kichml withuplifled hands “ As I nciur the other world the future ’Twill be fulfilled dear Dick brightens The compact of our youth will The D’Lacy house and our common offspring be its future lords” The flickering lamp of life was burning low again no inure to be revived which admonished Lord Frederick to dispatch the remaining business of this World and commit his soul to the care of his Maker “One master more Kichard and then one last embrace of liiv darling son uni " blessing for your family” “ Name your last request and It shall be answered if your friend has the pow er dear Fred’h L “Should llie D’Lacy estates be redeemed then remove me from the last of your race and lay me beresting-plac- e side my ancestors” Sir Kichard promised and then summoned his family He returned to the chamber of death leading the orphan “ Ireddy ” and “ baby Alice” now a year older than when the boy last saw her Following' was youngV alter Templar a daik intellectual youth of about seven years of age witlrliD emu: in of a similar type Eleanor Courtney' Lady Eat up the rear of the family one unbidden entered that chamber of death It was old George— the faithful lust'remaining servant of tKe D’Lacys No one questioned the old man’s right in that death chamber as he stood just inside the room like a faithful watch dog longing yet fearing' to approach to lick its master’s hand his dying master hear- ing his sobs called him by the familiar name of old Fidelity and bid him to' his Templar-brough- -- bed-sid- e The last affecting chapter of man’s relationship with this world was passed and Til Kichard was again alone with his dying friend No High Fries! was in t hat chamber of death do support the D’Lacy in mortality’s last moments but one was there who had received the consecration of a holier unction than that which Cnu-tMiry’s priestly head could give — Friendship had consecrated him for the service No Divine of England’s Church to which of they both belonged knelt bv that bed s deatli to' read its prayers for departing souls hut one knelt there who as the soul of Lord Frederick departed sent up to the Receiver of the spirits of the just a petition eloquent and powerful from friendship’s inspiration (TO RLE IUI COXTIMTD) MOOSES BIRTHDAY A STORY FOUNDED UPON TIIS PACTS CP REAL LITE CHAPTER I UNCLE JACO IV 8 PRESENTIMENT “Truth is stranger than fiction” i friend s O’ It is Uncle Jacob’s birtli-da- y considers himself a passable chap not more than perhaps still passable when' allowed to pass along- without hi3 Unde Jacob tol-loli- friends throwing too many rotten eggs at him He is a leetle hump-is- li it must be admitted audit? con- sidered by some to be a leetle crooked in his notions hut he is also a leetle King Dickish in satirizing his figure in his own lookingThat privilege of course -glass we will allow him hut he holds the horrid notion that the majority of your good looking folks have as many humps on their backs' as himself only he- suggests they do an awful lot of padding Uncle Jacob lives on the bench in the Twentieth Ward and lie has an excellent opinion and the most brotherly feelings for the many good members of the Sharp pro- fessional family rapidly springing up in his Ward lie don't claim to be a too good member himself of the Sharp family still he hopes his heart is not altogether in the In fact an ill ustrious wrong place and' highly valued friend of his suggests that lie lias not a heart' disease at "all hut simply ' fever on the brain He recommends Uncles Jacob to apply ’a poultice’ to his head to draw out the fever doubtless also calculating that it will “pitch” the swelling as well Uncle Jacob thinks the advice very-gooand in turn recommends if to y a vast number of other people j It was the birth-da- y then of Uncle Jacob and a few of his friends had gathered: to celebrate-day which had ever been eventful in his A history In the' centre of the room is a table and on it two jugs In the one is homemade wine and in the d other frothed beer His friends had just' drank to of Uncle Jacob and the birth-daa speech was looked for with' breathless attention He arose to his feet he opened his mouth to speak and his friends and relations opened their mouths to drink down hiiWwords Uncle Jacob could talk a bit when wanned up and now he was full of matter aiul liquid eloquence A pin could have been heard drop — heard distinctly so distinct was the silence which reigned as Uncle 'Jacob began in language prophetic: “ I know there’s something going to lmpi ci! I feel it here—rand here — and here!” and he placed his handtirst to his heart with exquisite dramatic emotion then to his head with frantic action of a romantic young man which strongly illustrated the soundness of his esteemed friend’s advice about the poultice and lastly he clutched his throat as though something too big ' ' ‘ ll home-brewe- y |