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Show I ! I E-iic Eoue-eJ up ber pair of Mexican ponies aad tiit bou:.tioi over the road. "Papa 1 rr.udt: th.s c i: t," vi:d lirvaii.1! "I i i u ; ill-, is deJ.btiuI,- said Gertrude, ' "yt I oread ty ove tamer." " on wl.i not wbeu you have hwird ium," remrOid bryan. , i It iv;i- iinit-cl. sumethjoj miraeuloua how i Jo:ia rielwyn bore hLi tullictiou. Tho bitter rel-.iiuu wnL which at lirst be had accepted I ti;t; dec ret; had been sueet.-ai by a rwsi"iia- ! which II1U-.C have bei-n heaveti inspired, ' ; and Grrtrudti felt as thou-h Bhe had been i sinning in her cryiuij out aguiiLSt the de- ! I privation alter she had listened to hu calm ! ' s;x.-h. How much the ktiowRyi-w that his ' i dear ones, ulthoiigh struglin, were bevoud j want couifurted hiui, it would bo impoilble I to tell. j "1 think I must be a very selfish body," ! said Mrs. Selwyii, with a smile, as bhe poured i I out tea the ueil morning, and regarded tier- 1 j trude with the indescribable leudurnead a mother always fuels fur her first bom. "I I am never so happy as when 1 huve every one j of my children in sight. I don't want to I have even a day's journey between us." I "Yes, mamma," cried Frank, eagerly, "tell ' Gertie you won't have here go away and be seal j ied by Indians." "If you star, Gertrude," said Elsie, gravely, "I will give you an interest in my silk worms." Gertrude glanced keenly at father and mother, while she hesitated to accept Bryau's invitation U) ride over to her stock pen- "It will take all the morning," said her mother; "wo have a wonderful domain, and then in tho afternoon papa and I must have you." fx she set off with Bryan, and listened in ever increasing awe to that wonderful young woman's explanations, and admired the stock and praised tho form and promised to survey a field tho following morning. The two girls came in to diunor so fresh mid radiant radi-ant that their mother felt a pong that then-father then-father should be deprived of so fair a vision. Gertrude had learned from Bryan something some-thing of what her father wanted her to do, so it was not quite a surprise to hor when ho asked her to give up the expedition and take an oihi'e in I he nest town, "I know it is something of sacrifice, for there is honor to bo won by the expedition, but this is a surer, bettor thing. You will grow with the growth of tho town, and, dear, I want you near me," That settled it. Gertrude would have sacrificed sac-rificed anything for her father's sake. Bryan and tho other were delighted. "You won't regret it, Gertrude. You'll have a monopoly of trade. You'll succeed, because you must," concluding with a kiss her burst of gladness. Her prediction was fulfilled. They have an ever increasing meed of success, and solely because they have worked so bard to obtain it. "Why, I worked like a beaver for that money," said Elsio Selwyu, when a friend congratulated her upon a crisp $10 bilk the llrst yielded her by silk culture. "Any girl can bo Belf supporting if sho tries tremendously tre-mendously hard," she added, conscientiously. Springfield Republican. SELWiTS DACGim-US. John Kelwyn was a strong man, but he had miscalculated his strength, lie reeled and caught at the chair, ami for the moment! there was no light in his eyes. Ho had a-k' d ! for the truth, but merciful Father! For a spaco ho coven 1 his race with his hands, and the silence in the room was as the bilenco of death. When be rnibed his head, there was 1 no resignation in the agonized tones. "How long U-fore" the voice died In the parchod throat. The great man looked at him pityingly, even his professional callousness penetrated. "I am horry to say, Mr. Selwyn, that I think the utmost limit is two years, but there is imminent danger within that period. Yes," he continued, profession trampling pity, "it is more than possible that work would bring on a crisis in less than a twelvemonth. I shall recommend an absoluto cessation from labor as an imperative necessity." John Helwyn's torturl heart forced on$ terrible cry, and hu aroso and tottered toward to-ward tho man who had told him his fate, with hniiits outsirei'-hed, iu a helpless, imploring im-ploring fiu-hiou, as though the doom were already al-ready upon him. "Doctor, doctor," he cried out, "you hnve made a mistake. Say there was ono hopeful symptom you have overlooked. Oh, God of merer 1 I cannot have it true, Kay you have only hetn trying my boasted endurance. I know it is bad, but I beseech you remember I have a wife uud cbildreu waiting for bread. Oh, I cannot have it true!" This surgeon put his cool, steady hand upon r?el yn's tshoulders. "1 am very sorry, sorry from my heart," he said, with genuine feeling, feel-ing, "but it is God alone who can help you. He a man, Selwyn, and try to endure the inevitable." in-evitable." Mr. ticlwya struggled to regain his composure. com-posure. At length he uplifted a gray face, held by an iron will in tho semblance of calm. "I thank you," ho said; the two men tihook hands, and placing the fey upon the table, he strodo out. How joyous, how core free, how heartlessly heart-lessly beautiful was tho world without I The calm, smiling sky with its serene loveliness, tho generous golden glory of tho sunlight, the raro lieaiity of the flowers sent a thrill of repugnant despair to his heart, and it cried out: "Torture yourself not by gazing upon what you are about to lose, for yet a few mouths and the world w-ill bo a wast to i you." A few months, a few months, and he 1 had counted upon years! Merciful father, what wero a few months! All the long journey to his homo he sat 1 with unseeing eyes nnd bowed head, and when the cars stopped mechanically he arose and started for home, but as ho hurried into the street ho stopped. Ho could not carry bis news to the loving hearts who had sent him away with such fond hopes but yester-moru. yester-moru. How could ho face his wife, his children, chil-dren, knowing ho must stand helplessly and let them starve. He wandered around the streets, passing his acquaintances unheed-ingly, unheed-ingly, till the darkness fell. Then manhood said: "Be a man. Face tho inevitable. He-member He-member you are driving them wild with anx.ct." Ho entered his gate. Tho wmdowrt were uncurtained, tho bright light displayed the sheen of silver and china. He saw his wife's fair face bent over Elsie nnd Frank, his sweet lambs; Gertrude and Bryan wore standing at the window watching for hira. How ho was to wring their hearts! As he entered thoro was a joyous cry of relief, and they all rushed upon him with eager inquiries. in-quiries. But his wife and Gertrude and Bryan, after ono swift glance at his face, drawn and aged in spite of himself, turned palo with fear. Then tho mother said: "Come, little ones, let papa have supper now; ho is very tired." It was a pretense with all save Elsie and PriTik. As soon as the little ones were robed ro-bed Mrs. Selwyn returned to the sitting room, Gertrude was standing by her fathers chair and Bryan had her curly head upon his knee. No one was speaking. They hod not dared to questiou him. Tho wife cams over to him. "TTelirshe said in a voice she vainly tried to steady. John Selwyn looked upon the eager faces; he hated to give the death wound to their hopes, yet it was cruel to keep them in suspense. sus-pense. He rose and put his arm about his wife's shoulders. "Ellen," he answered, "it is the very worst I am to be hopelessly blind." Thoy had steeled themselves, but it was not In nature to repress that cry. Then there was silence while they Btrov to realize it Blind! helpless! her husband whoso eagle eye bad foreseen every difficulty, whose strength had been her pride and glory. Blind! helpless! that man rejoicing in the fulness of strong manhood, made oven more dependent than an infant Blind! hclplessl their father, who had been to them as an un-conquernblo un-conquernblo giant Blind! help'ssl when thoy had reckoned upon him ason invincible bulwark. Blind! terrible fate worse toon death. Thoy would not believe it. But John Selwyn assured them sadly that it was true, and they turned to look upon the future. "John," said tho wife, "I will be eyes and hands and ears to you; when the worst comes wo will face it" "Howf Why it wt-u.d be the best thing pfjaniijie. You know, papa to;d mamma, teat aomnbody p.'a a iot of land out in Texas once foradi-t. Weil, let us go out tin-re, bu.i'i a Lou; on our land thulk of owning a house of our own and farm. I colli raise .-.tix-k, n'id pupa nn-lit not" Sue il.ila't like to utter teat terrible word. Ka:.3 tt'-el;," said tne mother, "why, puis, what do you know of htuck rai::i)" ynite a g.-l deal. I know I could pick out cuttle. V'by, mamma, yuu needn't look so d:tres.-i-d. iJun'i you liimk a woman could do it? That's becau. you've never 1 heard ot M.ddy Morgan.-"' Jorjn Selwyn thrust his handout to her. "Your id-.'i about the farm in capital at any rale, Bryan. You see, Ei.eii, we could not stay in-re, paying such p-ut, and if you thought you could rough it, the land is a maj-mliciait tract, and we could do very well." "Certainly, John," sho assented, "it would be in every way beat. 1 a. ways had a penchant pen-chant for a country place, though I suppose country Texas is for ditlerent from country .New England." Gertrude looked up thoughtfully. "Papa," bhe said, timidly, "I believe Bryan could ruiio stock, as she say n, and for me, I want you to ULke mo for an assistant. I'veower-eomo I'veower-eomo mother's objection, and 1 mean to be a first clii. surveyor," "Noiiwiise, child," said the father. "It was very well when I wan with you, but you never could get along alone, never. Besides, you've no idea of the tremendous physical endurance- required." "Gertrude has a magnificent physique, John," said Mrs. Selwyn, answering her daughter's mute appeal. "You have told her ropeatodly, you know, that she was nearly as good a surveyor as you. Altogether, I see no reason since she will persist in her desire for refusing it." They talked to the wee sma' hoars that night, and somehow John Selwyn was wonderfully won-derfully calmed and strengthened by his women folk's plans. They determined to put them into execution execu-tion at once. "It would bo better, Gertrude," said her father, "to have a regular diploma. One year's study would (jive you that, and it would be of incalculable lienelit to you. I will try to nee urn your admission to It required all his pleading, although Daniel Davenport, the president, was an old friend, and two or three of the professors had been his classmates. "Of course, Selwyn, wo would do anything for you personally, but you see this would be an eutiro innovation innovations should be discouraged it would be establishing the precedent for tho admission of a class whom this college was never calculated to bonelit. Pardon mo, but I really think it wouldn't be wise at all, considering the inevitable conse-qinmccs. conse-qinmccs. In tho first place, the boys would be seriously embarrassed, and so would Miss Selwyn, when she found herself ono woman among 40 men. Then other women would wnnt to come hi, and we couldn't refuse them." "Why should you want to refuse thomf demanded Selwyn, indignantly, even though ho recollected tlint ho himself had thought tho same. "Because they never follow anything steadily. stead-ily. No pursuit is permanent with a woman; it is only a makeshift till thoy reach matrimony." matri-mony." "Not with all," said Solwyn, quietlyr "You should reflect a little." "I can't seo why Miss Gertrude has chosen such a profession. I will bring her application applica-tion lie fore tho faculty, however." Gertrudo barely got in. "Now," she said, after they had all congratulated her, "you must not imagine that is tho end of my difficulties." diffi-culties." "Tho very first," said hor mother, "is how you can pay for boarding." Gertrude and Bryan smiled triumphantly. "The fact is, mamma," said the first, "Mrs. Dalkirkadver-tised Dalkirkadver-tised for a housemaid. I went to her; and when sho heard my story she agreed to give my board for my services and companionship companion-ship given after class hours." It did not require a very long time for the Selwyus to get started for their new home. Indeed, the girls and their mother purposely hurried their preparations when they saw how haggard and aged father was growing; arguing that once where his mind could not havo leisure to brood over his affliction he would be more content. When they were gone, Gertrudo set resolutely reso-lutely to work. Sho was not what is called a strong minded woman, but she hod thought and read far beyond her seventeen years. Sho had thought a grunt deal of woman's work. All her life she had been obliged to plan out overy little detail of her dress in order to bring it within her allowance, and it had early occurred to her that sho would not waste her life in such petty, wearing work, siie would choose some labor wnich would allow her to command on income which would lift her and hers beyond makeshifts and enable her to help others. She had a strong sympathy with tho great army of workers whose fllo is composed mainly of women, and she had long ago thought it out to her own satisfaction, that women worked harder, more steadily, and for less compensation compen-sation than men, with tho difference that their labor was not of the right sort They did not display much judgment in selecting their vocations, or else circumstances circum-stances compelled them to fit themselves into any kind of holes. Sho made up her mind that, sho would try to do something that would raisi up a way for every one who might choose to follow her. She and Bryan had sat up lato at night when their mother imagined they were fast asleep, planning out carters for themselves. Fiuolly, they had settled upon surveying and stock raising. It had been the amusement of the butchers to hear Bryan inquire about stock aud to see how she opened her eyes when sho learned how little they knew about her hobby and the business like way she requested to be put in communication communica-tion with th proper means ot obtaining kuowledge, Gertrude, she declared, would havo a very easy time compared with her. Gertrudo remembered the saying often with a little Blgh. At the beginning of her course she met with scrupulous politeness that was rather embarrassing; in fact, it would have been much better if they would treat hor exactly as they would treat each other. When sho looked back over that year nnd remembered the other trials, the insults, gibes and parodies sho had been forced to endure en-dure she felt that it was a year whoso unwritten un-written record attested fully as much to her as tho diploma which was awarded in a crowded balk She did not Immediately jin her family. Professor Dalkirk had become a stanch friond of hers and interested himself him-self in recommending her to gentlemen, who, afu-r the first start of surprise, had prejudice overcome by proficiency. But she grew tired 1 of this, and resolved to go out to the west ! with an expedition which was to start in a few mouths. There would be much hardship hard-ship and danger, but tho work was one which would bring recognition to its performers, and that was much. "Come to us, Gertrude," wrote her mother on the very day that sho received her appointment; ap-pointment; "the worst has come to father, and he would liko to have yon here." "Why, Gertrude," exclaimed Bryan, who had come to the station for her after she had hugged her a half dozen times, "I never imagined im-agined you would have such a very grown up look," "Of course I have to look as sedate and experienced as possible In order to have any one behove me capable of estimating the distance dis-tance between two lines. But you, Bryan; mercy, what a self poised person you are1) But father, Bryan f11 "It came without pain. He had so grown to endure the thought that it did not seem half so bad to him w hen it really come. He was very auxious to have you come, Gertrudo. Ger-trudo. I think he doesn't quite favor your joining that expedition." "And yourself, Bryan P' "Well, when we came out here, and saw such an everlasting expanse of land without a solitary houe withm miles, we were rather d i. -ecu raged. We had purchased one of those houses from the company that sends theiu all ready to be put up if you have the nails. When it was up, however, and in roii ma and 1 had done everything to make it look homey, you cant think how we all fell in love with it. Then papa did surveying survey-ing for a groat many farmers, and they gave him points about farming. verThing wo planted throve; my little stockyard is praised by old growers. Of course," modestly, "I have begun on a very small scale, but I mean to lo one of the largest growers in Texas yet. I like the business, too, only I can't quite bear the thought of branding ihe joor creatures. Then, we had 100 acres that I've set out in timber. That's bound to bring a fortune at no distant day. Btsidcs, I have set Elsie and Frank to growing sdk worms. Oh, we are all busy bees." "And you ueed not trouble about money, ; par.a." said Gertrude stauchly. "Bryan aud j 1 will earn all we wnnt." i Ho smiled sadly. Poor, inexperienced children, they knew little how hard it was to earn a dollar. "I must fulfill my contract with Whit comb," he said steadily, "whatever betides. Tiiere is not 1,000 we can call our own. Wo haven't been wasteful, but this job will give me SToO, which will keep tho wolf away a little while. I ouht to have laid up something, some-thing, but I thought I had plenty of time. I muxt see you suffer from my neglect n hilo I am a burden to you.'' "Oh, John," said the wife, "do not say that-" ' Papa ! " cried the girls in t n d i irn ant loving disclaim, "dear, dearest nnd best of paas. You know you always did the very best.'' So he had. John Selwyn wasa well known surveyor whose services were always in requisition. The eldest of a largo family, he had supi"orted mother and sisters until tho first had been called homo and the latter had married. His wife had managed well w ith the residue of his income; his girls had a kneck of m:ikiug a little go very far not i often possessed by girls of lb' and 17, They J had received excellent educations, but j neither had displayed more than ordinary proficiency. In short, they were admirable' tyis of tho ordinary American girl, quick ; wit ted. generous, clever, but not too clever. I Sirs, tieiwyji h;id noted with eoinc regret that Gertrudo and Bryau were rather iudiuVri-ut to what are usually termed feminine accomplishments, accom-plishments, although fairly wed skilled in them. Oertrudo devoted herself to ber father, and openly declared her intention of becoming a surveyor, and, indeed, was an invaluable as- ; si taut to him. Bryan had never evinced a dt-sire to do more than help her mother, play with the babies and kittens, and read stories. But sho sat very rigidly erect now, a perpendicular perpen-dicular lino between her brows. "I tell you what it is, papa and mamma; I have an idea," running her fingers through her short curls; "we will go west!" Bryan's ideas, when she indulged in them, 1 woreu't at all bad. j "But how would that remedy thing! T I |