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Show murmured: “What isi? Oh, heaven, what is it!” “Does ze light hurt you, Ma’mzelle?” asked the professor. “No, no. It is net that?” she said. “Continue, zen, to gaze, Ma’mzelle,” safety, however, and was received courteously by the officer in charge, who made answer that ment. set out upon his return.. Once more she fixed her eyes upon the picture in her hand. Presently the panion color crept from her face, her bosom heaved, her breath came and wentin gasps, and she trembled like a leaf. Then, as the professor, sweeping the curtain entirely from before the window, floating ice which rendered a passage ex- with Alleghany him he now He had a com- and River, on found reaching the it filled with tremely precarious. It wasnecessary to build a raft, and to do it they had but a|sorry oldhatchet. They worked atit all one day, until after the sun then embarked for the had set, and other shore. allowed the strong light to fall full upon the picture in her hand, she recoiled with Washington worked his way with a pole a wild ery of fear among as horror, and plac- And then she sank fainting and sense- less to the floo:. * * ! Ke * An hour later a carriage was driven up to the gate at the Hal], and Kugene alighted and walked rapidly through the grounds. At last, with an oath, he entered the house, meeting Miss Hubbard at the entrance. “Where is Lucille?” he asked. “In her room—ill.” “Til or well,” he replied, “I must see her at once.” - “That you cannot do,” she replied. happened. has—has “Mor something Something that—that—” “What?” he cried, seizing her - fiercely added, ‘“‘or me,” he “Tell by the wrist. by heaven—” “She has seen—something—I know what, and her into a fever.” with alook Then blocks full best turn he wasthrown headlong rushing water, which was not he into the less than ten feet deep. Fortunately he succeeded in catching hold of the raft, thus narrowly escaping what almost seemed to be certain death. They now made their way toasmall island where they remained all night, and where they had the utmost difficulty to keep from freezing. It was just eleven weeks after his departure from home when he again returned and laid his report before Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie. He had thoroughly sustained the eonfidence reposed inhis sagacity and vigilance, and the manner in which he performed his mission tended to raise the estimation in which he was held by the people of “The stars come nightly to the sky: The tidal wave unto the sea; Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high, Can keep my own away from me.”’ BURROUGHS. deadly hate and passion that Miss Hub- bard shrunk from before it in horror, he released her wrist and strode away. <> — A sleepy land, shut in by purple hills, two years of age he was entrusted with and important mission, a very delicate which strikingly shows the reputation he had for among those sagacity him. was It reliability and already won France when contending were region the vast England and i2 supremacy the west of tains. The time a at knew who for to Mounfounded the Alleghany French had and my. of it is the world no one young. here, and yet it seemed remembered that she was ever She was only Rachel, with her gentle, care-worn and quiet ways. face, her busy hands and the life. And at the grave of her mother she had taken up her life’s burden. There were many little ones in the 150 in the not to confine the English colonies to the Atlantic seaboard. The English claim rested on the discoveries of the Cabots, a basis of flimsy character, but sufficient, perhaps. The French were disposed to laugh atthe absur lity of such a claim, and based their own on the discoveries and actual explorations of La Salle, Marquette, and others, which were of a much time more substantial nature. of which I speak, the the Engish were rapidly open rupture. At the French and approaching an Among other forts the French had established was one at *he head of the Ohio River, near the confluence of the Alleghany and Monongahela, and not far from where Pittsburg now stands, which wasa source of vexation to the English, who were beginning to pene- trate into the neighborhood for the purposes of trade and settlement. This post was called Fort Du Quesne. but to one man for miles and he oc- had of unbroken several wilderness when he hundred to tra- verse. His course lay through a country filled with hostile savages,in which there were many lurking dangers, calling for Andas She usel to take them over to Lu Brown’s. uu is literary herself. Jennie repeat about girl to cinate get her to talk about the books, it to Algy in theevening. It was the meanest thing Tever knew a do, because Lu was trying to fasthe poet herself, and was working dodge for all it was worth. I wouldn’t stand any such tricks as that, how the matter whispered stood, and the next day she filled Jennie But the years went by, and somebody up with the ever heard. funniest lot of nonsense I Jennie didn’t know that grew tired of waiting. ‘“He’ll come back some day,” she said; but her eyes were misty, and the turninthe road from which he had waved farewell was blurred there was anything the matter with it, and when the poet called she gave him the usual dose. I was under the piano that evening, and I thought that there through her tears. The children grew up about her. many little mouths to feed, so many would be a row, but So lit-— Jennie to weigh her complained. down. But ‘sister’ never her first there were crows’ feet about her eyes and sad lines around the pitifully shaped mouth. In her coming and going I grew to watch for the frail, womanly little figure, with her patient, wistful face, but there came a day when I missed her. i “Not sick,” she told him, “but tired, —so tired.” “Not sick,” repeated the children. in those deepened that years. Finished. death the well as decided that that poem Besides, I don’t like had got to be to be entirely left out of it myself; so I sat down and wrote a revised edition of it. Ihad to hurry up,for Algy wasn’t going to stay long that night, because he was coming on the next. SoIstirred up the muse, as Algy would say, as lively as I could, and this is what I put down: prolid..- | his hair was | murmured, “Johnny, get the gun!” - down stairs,and it. put it back I wasn’t any too where soon, Algy came out in two orthree and put on his coat. I for minntes He took the letter out of his pocket, andstruck an attitude while he looked at it. Jennie wanted to see the address, but he wouldn’t let her. “Not yet,” he said, and then he sighed, “Ah, itis a fragment of my soul.” Then she giggled, because she knew it was the valentine, but I simply gazed over the bannisters soul those and smiled lines were to think whose really chopped Ol Ob = day I month or two before Valentine’s hinting that he was going to write Jennie a valentine with poetry init. He didn’t say so right out, but heintimated that it depended on the museor the spirit, cr some other thing, which he said was moving round inside of him. Jennie was all in a flutter about it. The night before Valentine’s day, Algy called. Jennie had been reading Brown- ing’s poems in the parlor. stood them about as an account book in Théy were too much ing, and she went to She under- well as she would a Chinese laundry. for her that evensleep with her head over the back of achair. I saw her there, and then When he ing any into the I kept asharp lookout for Algy. came I let himin without maknoise, and 1 showed him right parlor. I told Jennie afterward that she had her mouth open so that he madeit a point to get for the family and I gave Jennie the valentine Algy rang the door bell. just as She putit into her pocket and I ran and crawled under the sofa in the parlor where I could see the fun. It’s easy enough to hide in that parlor, because they never have light.enough to see a fellow with. At first they didn’t say anything himself loose.- aged her a dozen While he was toil-worn hands which had grasped only the thorns of life, lay clasping a white rose. Finished, for “He giveth His beloved sleep.”— Detroit Free Press. ulster on the hat rack. It’s about the worst I ever saw. It’s so one wordin it? That was the question she was thinking of so hard that I could almost hear her brain go. I didn’t wonder that she was in doubt, because Algy is capable of anything when he gets started. “It was a—a—very—soulful—word,” shestammered, finally, “th soulfullest word I almost ever knew.” It was getting too warm for her, and she had toexcuse herself for a minute. I knew what she was after. She went out and read my soulful poem under the hall There wasn’t much light, and muddled in her mind, so that she didn’t notice that anything was the matter with the verses. She got‘an idea how long they were and that there was a poet mentioned in the first part of it, and a gun in the last. “T thought my idea of Cupid’s arrow and the fateful shot was very clever,” said Algy, as soon as she got back. “Yes, it was clever, awfully clever; so like you,” said Jennie, more confused than ever. “I noticed right. off that somebody got shot, but Ithought it was with a gun.” “No, it was bow. a bow,” he said: Venus calls to “Cupid’s Cupid, ‘Was his other name Jennie, who don’t you Johnny?” asked isn’t very well up in my- thology. “I thought she called him Johnny.” “No, his name isn’t Johnny. After a with your brother, I can’t imagine how you could think anything nice could be called Johnny. I am afraid you lines.” would make mock of my Jennie was almost in tears. Oh, no; indeed I am not,” she said. “It was ever so sweet, and I’ll keep it always. It was so fine saw anything that apology needn’t have in its sentiment. I never so delicately worded as for your ulster. But you said a word about it. I think it’s a pretty one.” “My ulster,’ said Algy, his eyes very wide; “excuse, but if the poet’s cloak of dreams is going to be called an ulster, and if the poet is expected to apologize for wearing it, perhaps we had better part even thus.” ‘No, no;” don’t go, pleaded Jennie. “I’m sure you said something about your ulster. Please let me read it to went off and had a rested on his shirt bosom. snowball battlo. Jim Hewitt gave mea part of his supper, according to an arrangement we have in case one of us is afraid something is. waiting for him at home, and I did’t show up at the house till after.7 o’clock. any of the joke. up, I hung The shell like ear tickled Jennie nearly to death, but she didn’t understand about the one word. Could it be possible that Algy had written a poem with only before anybody you.” else and get the mail. I had begun to The poet subsided into a chair and Jenhave some suspicions. Jennie might nie took out her little valentine and know my handwriting in spite of all the sprung it on him. Icould see his face pains I’d taken with it, and if she did, I all-the time, At the first line he started was afraidI might not live to see the to say something, but he couldn’t; his fun in the evening. So I took the mail ‘jaw dropped lower and lower, until it meager her “The muse, the muse,” said Algy, “she postoffice could see clear down her throat. That was a lie, but I didn’t want her to lose waking hadn’t bade me whisper only one soft word into your shell like ear.” _ little experience This struck me as being more true to nature, and besides,it gave me a show, so I folded it up nicely, put it into the envelope andsealed it up. Then I slid found she remember?” His old plaid ulster was a trifle loud. Anon, gadzooks, he was a holy show! - He sat with Jennie till the rising sun, And when it seemed as if he’d never go Theold man that - The poet evidently took this for a bashful maiden’s joke, and he smiled a weird, sad smile. : It was so pretty that it made’ him thin; afraid to confess lamp. thing a little more definite about his personal appearance and that coat of his. The next Fora see She better I Jennie was pretty well fixed. It didn’t seem to me to breathe the spirit of the writer. It needed some- down to the his long, yellow And very about the valentine; they just talked nonsense, .Algy appeared to think that it was a special occasion and he must let linesin her had feel Algy forgave her. day the poet kept When I knew lucky I took the I don’t cried, and tle garments to mend,so many little cares face It was the middle of winter set out, the to her own heart yearnings had —-wait. The government of Virginia resolved Death might smite other households— even—but it seemed as if to warn the French away from the themselves country, and to send “a person of dis- “sister” must always be there. But there came a day when the wintinction to the commander of the French forces to know his reasons for invading dows of the-little cottage were darkened the British dominions.” The person and ahush seemed fallen upon the village. The weary heart was done with chosen for this mission was young George Washington. In his surveying expedi- its throbbing and aching—the tired feet tions Washington had gained considera- had strayed into a restful haven. _As they stood over the dead _ sisterable knowledge of the country to the west and his qualities had so won upon mother they wondered that there should those who knew him, that he was be gray upon her temples, and it seemed thought to'2 the casion. brings her for literary! It makes me laugh to see her try to read the books that Algy tells her are so full of soul. They put her to sleep. so I went and told ‘Lu dreams spoke tremulous “Rats! said I; “It’s peppermint. shade, intellectual enough together. She had her voice were A light broke round him like the cheery sun, And Venus murmured: “Cupid, bring your bow!” intellectual to think portant points throughout the contested nerve was and low, and remember what shesaid. Then she’d resurrection way he saw a face, and dreams done, ' When Jennie’s would the lone, the The poet’s form was long; and she’s just tuo country, and were straining every more im- Anon, tor preached the paths of The mists clung round him coldly as a shroud. Years before she had sat in a pew of the old church, and the gray-haired pas- had among cloud; And yet the way was long, ‘Tennyson know what’s the matter with it. She was born strayed song, . Enwrapped in dreams of beauty like a name could aboutit. “Why didn’t you make ’em longer?” | Algy, but she weighs is good, and into poet feel easy “They were so sweet,” said Jennie, “‘so like you; sofull of soul.” “Ah, yes,” murmured the poet, ‘that is it; brief but full of soul. How sweet is appreciation!” _ “They were sort of brief,” said Jennie, catching at this scrap of information. opened it witha The poet wrote his girl a little song: that the 25 cent candy Algy on—out kind way herself-—reading poetry and all that sort of thing—but it’s no use. Jennie isa nice, pretty girl, too good for a dude like the literary posts and forts at the “The poet with Algernon was sister, so and read this: hair on a calles who comes to see her every Sunday evening is called Algy. humble household. She did what her hands found to do and kept the home trading sister’s the long, thin and again. When George Washington was twenty- My nameis Johny; A white road creeps down the valley, ford, crosses the river at the brawling winds what it is.” When I began to feel a little is Jennie, andI read them. The poet hoveasigh with a question mark after it. I took it up stairs and Valentine. Jennie, nie’s name on it, and I knew that it must be the valentine he’d .been talking so little warm water and a lead pencil. Before reading I asked mother fora little peppermint, because I knew what Algy’s poems are like, and I wanted to be prepared. Then I went ‘back to my room ye a> >t The | Poet’s “Yes,” said that she didn’t of poetry he was sending to my intellectual! And she’s trying to be that RACHEL. (£0 BE CONTINUED.) Washington as an Envoy. |. and forget to take itin with him. This night I didn’t find anything but a letter. It had Jen- much about. I thought I ought to know Smith. He amounts to less than the inside of a large zero. The hardest work I ever knew him to do was to watch a man play solitaire. Afterwards he said he wag real tired. Jennie thinks he is just too lovely for anything. She says he is so literary and ia —— of thought Little Cupid, sprightly elf, At this season shows himself. There are signs of him alway, But we catch a glimpse today Of the little fellow’s work— And, indeed, he is no shirk. At all other times we know He is always ‘‘on the go;”’ But today, ’tis plain to see, Little Cupid’s on a spree. Weeks ago, in his spare time, He began composing rhyme; Then before an easel staid Till his valentines were made. And today, when they are done, Little Cupid has his fun. He distributes with great care Valentines for maiden fair. Little one, perhaps you ask: ‘Is this not a dreadful task For poor Cupid all alone? It would turn a heart of stone.” Ah, but let me tell you. dear, A little bird breathed in my ear That young cupid, in his plight, Blows a horn with all his might, And from every sylvan glen Come a-host of little men. Each one to the task is bent, Thus the valentines arejsent. Tom MAson. The rest Virginia. thrown wild,so so floating do not ‘has the shock the could, and while trying to save the raft from becoming wedged in, by a sudden box of candy or something How a valentine is wrought? he was there by order he said again.his voice husky with excite- and Have you ever stopped and of hisgeneral, Du Quesne, Governor of Canada, and it wastohim that the British must go-for satisfaction. Having performed his mission ing her hand before her eyes moaned: “Rather! Father! Oh,my God!” HOW A VALENTINE IS WROUGHT, the extremest caution and circumspecHe reached the French fort in| tion. He talked sentimental stuff and quoted poetry till our cat got up off the rug, crawled out to the medicine closet and pulled the stopper out of a bottle of Jamaica ginger with her loud I can hear it when he turns the corner of the street. After] had hung teeth. Finally Algy said: “Did the post bring it up I went through the pockets. I usually do this because he might bringa you my lines?” At the end he shut it with a snap, and started up. “Who has tampered with my verse— who, who?” he howled; and then his tone changed to the sarcastic. “So these the soulful lines that were ‘so like are ma, Go, woman, we are apart.” “Why, Jennie. “Mine? aren’t Oh, they yours?” horrors! sobbed Come, let me see them under a brighter light,” and he turned up the gas. I regret to state that all this light on the subject revealed the author, Algy , saw my feet sticking out from under the sofa. I donot propose to humiliate my- self by relating what followed. Heisa good deal bigger than I am, anyway, but I’m growing all the time, and some day I will break a certain low down poet know of right square in two. Idon’t care, anyway, Jennie’s I ats done ern placing WEEKLY. ea i Suddenly Lucille started, and her hand to her head closed her eyes and WESTERN .. THE |