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Show at a burst Into a fl f laughter so aa ural and so hearty that Clara had to OUfJftBsOfY; A STORYOffafMt 0Y A. CONAN CHAPTER VIIL SHADOWS BRFOKR. RS. Westmaoott's great ' meeting or enfranchisethe ment of woman had passed over, and It had been a trisuccess. umphant All the maids and of the matrons suburbs southern had rallied at her summons, there was ah Influential nlat-orwith Dr. Balthazar Walker In the chair, and Admiral Hay Denver among One his more prominent supporters. benighted male had come In from the outside darkness and had Jeered from the further end of the hall, but he had been called to order by the chair, petrl-tle- d by indignant glances from the around him, and finally escorted to the door by Charles Fiery resolutions were passed, to be forwarded to a large number of leading statesmen, and the meeting broke up with the conviction that a shrewd blow had been struck for the cause of woman. But thete was one woman at least to whom the meeting and all that was connected with It had brought anything but pleasure. Clara Walker watched with a heavy heart the friendship and close Intimacy which had sprung up between her father and the widow. From week to week It had Increased until no day ever passed without their being together. The coming meeting had been the excuse for these continual Interviews, but now the meeting was over, nd still the Doctor would refer every point which rose to the judgment of hls neighbor. He would talk, too, to hls two daughters of her strength of character, her decisive mind, and of the necessity ef their cultivating her acquaintance end following her example, until at last It had become hls most common toplo of conversation. All this might have passed as merely the natural pleasure which an elderly man might take In the society of an Intelligent end handsome woman, but here were' other points which seemed to Clara to give It a deeper meaning. She could not forget that when Charles Westmacott had spoken to her ons .might be bad alluded to the possibility of hls aunt marrying again. He must have known or noticed something before he could speak upon such a subject. And then again Mrs. Westmacott had herself said that she hoped to change her style of living shortly and take over completely new duties. Wnat ou!d that mean except that she expected to marry? And whom? She seemed to see few friends outside their own little circle. She must have alluded to her father. It was a hateful thought, and pet It must be faced. One evening the Doctor had been rather late at hls neighbors. He used to go Into the Admirals after dinner, hut now he turned more frequently In the other direction. When he returned 3ara was sitting alone In the drawing room reading a magazine. She sprang up as he entered, pushed forward hls ebatr, and ran to fetch hls slippers. You are looking a little pale, dear, he remarked. "Oh, no, papa, I am very well. ' "All well with Harold? "Yea. Hls partner. Mr. Peahson, Is tin away, and he is doing all the work." Well done. He Is sure to succeed. Where Is Ida?" In her room. I think. "She was with Charles Westmacott n the lawn not vety long ago. He eems very fond of her. He Is not very bright, but I think he will make her husband. Dam sure of lt. papa. Hie Is very ananly and reliable. "Yes, I should think that he is not the sort of man who goes wrong! There Is nothing hidden about him. As to hls brightness,. It really docs not matter, for hls aunt. Mr. Westmacott, la very rich, much richer than you would think from her style of living, and she has made him a handsome provision.' "I am glad of that, "It Is between ourselves. I am her trustee, and so I know' something of her arrangements. And when are you going to marry, Clara? "Oh, papa, not for some time yet We have not thought of a date. Well, reefy, I don't know that there a any reason for delay. He has a Itiacreases yearly,. As Jong that your mind as you ara quite certain ts made up Oh, papa! "WeH then, I really do not know why there should, be any delay. And Ida, too, must be married Within the next few months. Now, what I want to know Is what I am to do when my two UtUe me. He companions run away fromwere grave apoke lightly, but hls eyes as he looked questlonlngly at hls daughm West-snaco- tt. -- coro--ptnca-nd -- ter. "Dear papa, yd shall pot he alone. Harold, and I It win be years before think of marrying, and when we do you must come end Mve with us." "No,' ne. dear. 1 know that you mean what you bay, but I have seen somI know that ething of the world.-an- d vuch arrangements never answer. There (and cannot be two masters in a house, neces-war- y yet at my age freedom I very to me." "But you would be completely free, "Ne, dear, you cannot be that tf ye arc a guest In another man's house. yon suggest no other alternative f "That w remain with you." - iii In It. she gasped at last, Poor papa' What a time he will have! But it all for Ills own good, as he used to sa when we had to be punished when We were little. Oh, Clara, f do hnja your heart won't fall ou 1 would do an thing to save him, dear " Thai's it You must steel yourself by that thought But what is your plan? "Oh. I am so proud of It We will tire him forever of the widow, and of ail emancipated women. Iat me see, what ure Mrs. Westmacott s ideas? You have listened to her more than I Women should attend less to household duties. That Is one, is it not" "Yes. If they feel they have capabilities for higher things. Then she thinks that every woman who has leisure should take up the study of some branch of science, and that, aa far as possible, every woman should qualify herself for some trade or profession, beautiful' "Oh, It Is DOYLCt No. no That la out of the question, her-e- if that a woman s Hint duty is to marry. Marriage. howe er should la an equal partnership, as she points out. I should wish ou both to iparry, but still I should like a suggest ion from ou, tiara, as to a hat 1 should do Hut there is no hurry, papa Iat us wait 1 do not intend to marry et Doctor Walker looked disappointed. Well. Clara. If you can suggest nothing, I suppose that I must take the Initiative myself, said he Then a hat do you propose, papa?" She braced herself as one who sees the blow which is about to fall. He looked at her and hesitated. How like your poor dear mother you are, Clara he cried As I looked at you then It as if she had come back from the grave He stooped toward her and kissed her. There, run aa-ato your sister, my dear, and do not trouble yourself about me. Nothing Is settled yet. but you will find that all will come right sas lira Westmacott INTERNATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION. forget her troubles and. to Join a-a-s Clara upstairs sad at heart, for she was sure now that a hat she had feared was Indeed about to come to pass, and that her father a'as going to take Mrs. Westmacott to lie hls wife. In her pure and earnest mind her mother's memory enshrined as that of a saint, and the thought that any one should take her place seemed a terrible desecration. Even worse, however, did this marriage appear when looked at from the point of view of her fathers future. The widow might fascinate him by her knowledge of the world, her dash, her strength, her unconventlon-allt- y all these qualities Clara willing to allow her but she was convinced that Bhe would be tinendurahle as a life companion. She had come-- to an age when habits are not lightly to be changed, nor was she a woman who waa at all likely to attempt to change them. How would a sensitive man like her father stahd the constant strain of such a wife, a woman who was all decision, with no softness, and nothing soothing In her nature? It passed as a mere eccentricity when they heard of her stout d tanking, her cigarette smoking, her occasional whlfg at a long clay pipe, her of a horsewhipping drunken servant, and her companionship with-th- e snake whom Eliza, she was in the habit of bearing aboyt In her pocket. All this would become unendurable to her father when hls first infatuation was past. For hls own Bake, then, as well as for her mother's memory, this match must be prevented. And yet how powerless she was tq prevent It! What could the tlo? Could Harold aid her? Perhaps. Or Ida? At least she would tell her sister and eee what she could suggest. Ida waa In her boudoir, a tiny little tapestried room, as neat and dainty as herself, with iow walls hung with Imarl plaquea and with pretty little Bwiss brackets bearing blue Kaga ware, or the pure white Coalport china. In a low chair, beneath a stand-in- g lamp, aat Ida. In a diaphanous evening dress of mousseline de sole, the ruddy light tinging her sweet, child-lik- e face, and glowing on her golden curl Bhe sprang up as her sister entered, and threw her arms around her. "Dear old Clara! Come and sit down here beside me. I have not had a chat for days. But, oh, what a troubled face! What Is it then V Bhe put up her forefinger and smoothed her Bister's brow s a-a-s . Clara pulled up a stool, and sitting down beside her sister, passed her arm round her waist. L am , so sorry to trouble you, dear Ida,, she said. But I do not know what to do," There's nothing the matter with Harold r Oh. no, Ida. "Nor with my Charles?" "No, no. Ida gave a sigh of relief. "You quite frightened me. dear, said she. You cant think how solemn you look. What 1s It, then? I believe that papa Intends to ask Mr. Westmacott to marry him. Ida burst out laughing. "What can have put such a notion Into your head, Clara? "It Is only too true, Ida. I suspected It before, and he himself almost told me ss much with hls own tips I dont thick that It Is a laughing mat-ter- ." "Really, I could nothelp It If you had told me that those two dear, eld ladles opposite, the Misses Williams, were both engaged, you would not have surprised me more. It - is really too funny. "Funny, Ida! Think of anyone taking the place of dear mother. But her sister was of a more practical and less aentlmental nature. Tam sure, said she, "that dear mother would like papa to do whatever would make him most harry- - We shall both be away, and why should papa not please himself?" "But think bow unhappy he will be. You know how quiet he hls In hls ways, .will upset axid how .even a .Hj.tle-thi- ng him. How could he live with a wife who would make hls whole life a series of surprises? Fancy what a whirlwind she must be In a bouse. A Bah at hls age cannot change hls ways. I am sure he would be miserable. Idas face grew graver, and she pondered over the matter for a few minutes. "I really .think that you are right as usual. said she at last "I admire Charlie's aunt very much, you know, and I think she is a. very useful and good person, Jut I dont think she would do aa a wife for poor, quiet , papa. "But he Will certainly ask her, and I really thtnk that she Intends to' accept him. Then It would be too late to Interfere. We have only few days at we do? How the most And what-ca- n can wa hope to make him change hls 1 mind?" - v Again Ida pondered. "He has never 'tried what it is. to live with a strong-minde- d woman, said she. "If we could only get him to realise H in time. Oh, Oars, I have It; I have it! Such a lovely plan! She leaned back In her chair , r curry thinks well OF LIPTONS NEW SHAMROCK Uncan -- etfra-joblae- "To-morro- w -- ' TO BE OOXTIKCED.) I A B1Q BATTLE WITH RATS. They Swarm Over Walter Tarter aad He Kills 109 ef Them. Walter Carter of Camden, N. J won a hard-earn- victory over an army of ed rats the other morning. When the battle was finished and he counted the heap of tilr fallen enemies he found 102 of them. Carter la a member of the firm of Roberts A Carter, provision dealers. For a long time the firm has suffered serious damage from the depredations of rats. It was Mr. Carters habit to open the store In the morning, and he invariably heard a great scampering over the place as he entered. He concluded at last to have It out with the little beasts, and began an Investigation to find their rendezvous. As he opened the door of a small brick smokehouse tar the rear Of the store, now little used, he saw at least a dozen rata run Into holes in the floor and walls. They quickly recovered from their fright, however, and soon emerged and glared viciously at him out of their UtUe black eyes. Carter went out and got a short thick club and a lantern, and then the smokehouse. This time he closed the door behind him. The dim light of the lantern served to. daze the rats, and Carter ha A no difficulty Tn killing three big fellows. As they gave vent to dying squeaks scores of - other rats emerged from the holes and swarmed around the young man on all sides. The rats leaped at his hands and face and crawled over hls feet, all the while keeping up a horrible din of squealing. One after another of the soft. Ugly things struck "him as he stood dealing blows right and'left. Still their numbers multiplied, and the fighter began to fear that the rats would get the better of him. He bad been bitten several times on the hands, but had managed to keep the rats from hie head and face. Thus the fight kept up for fully fifteen minutes, and Carter wa growing weary. At last, however, he felt that the numwere .gradually, thinning bers jf.thej-atout, and he had less trouble In keeping them off him. - When no more rata appeared Carter got out Into the open air and gathered, himself together. In a few minutes he recovered, and, piling up the dead rats, found that he had killed 102 of them, CSmden Correspondence New York Sun, -- -- s Th lerry-Bsl- lt Hot. n A certain lady novelist recently took possession of new villa In a popular metropolitan suburb, says a London exchange. To her dismay the found that the walls, staggering under the weight of the paper on them, refused to support any pictures or other adornments and that she had to study. If not a "concrete" social problem, at any rate a mortar domestic crisis. In revenge she wrote to the landlord and asked If she might bestow any name she liked on the house, and, as he replied giving his sanction, she promptly had the title of "The Jerry-bui- lt Hut painted upon the portal. And now the landlord says she has taken a much to liberal slew of hls consent. well-know- l write anything that occurs to you. Well, now, do you ever write up th proceedings of courts? I have done so occasionally." Can you state to the Judge and jury what particular kind of a court proceeding you would deem worthy of your pen?" Yes. If I saw a young lawyer treating a respectable witness in a very rude and disrespectful manner and making an ass of himself generally I should think that possibly worth writing up." The court and jury smiled audibly. The judge took the wltnese lu bend for a moment How much do you think a scene like this, for Instance, ought to bring. If It were well written up? "It would depend upon the actors. If the lawyer were a person of eny note or character, possibly fS or flO," "What would you expect to receive, should you write the facta of this par" ticular instance? "About 75 cents, your honor." Counsel for the defense had no more questions to ask. Just "Yes. We must get In some cloth. Why? "We must make ourselves a dress . brand-neA each. emancipated dress, dear. Don't you see my. plan? We shall act up to all Mrs. Westmaoott's views In every respect, and Improve them when we can. Then papa will know what it Is to live with a woman who claims all her rigbta. Oh, Clara, It will be splendid. Her milder sister sat speechless before so daring a scheme. "But it would be wrong, Ida! she cried at last. Not a bit. It Is to save him. "I sliuuld not dare. Oh. yes, you would. Harold will belp. Besides, what other plan have you? "I have none." Then you must take mine. Yes, perhaps you are right Well, we do It for a good motive. "You will do It? "I do not see any other way. You dear, good Clara! Now I will show you what you are to do. W must not begin too suddenly. It might excite suspicion." What would you do, then?" we must go to Mrs. Westmacott and sit at her feet and learn all her views." What hypocrites we shall feel!" We shall be her newest and most enthusiastic converts. Oh, It will be such fun, Clara! Then we shall make our plana and send for what we want, and begin our new life," "I do hope that we shall not have to keep it up long. It seems so cruel to dear papa. "Cruel! To save him!" ' "I wish I was sure that we were doing right. And yet what else can we do? Well, then, Ida, the die lit cast, and we will call upon Mrs. - Westmacott SUBSIDED. Newspaper Man Won Hla Tilt with Bumptious Lawyer. A Philadelphia newspaper writer, being a witness tn a neighboring county recently, was harried by a bumptious couuty lawyer, who asked: So you are a writer, are you? Well, sir, with what great paper or magazine are you connected? Wl'h none. waa the modest r ply Then why do you call youraelf a writer? What do you write novels, scientific works, histories, or what? 1 write anything and everything that occurs to me as likely to be worth reading or to sell, whether It is worth reading or not Well, then, for whom or for what You Bay you are not do you write? connected with any paper or maga- sine." 'Yes, sir. I so stated. I am an .unattached writer, for the general mar-ke- t choosing for preference those which have been hitherto monopolized by men. To enter the others Would only he to Intensify the present competition." "Quite so. That is glorious! Her blue eyes were dancing with mischief, and she clapped her hands In her deWhat else? She thinks that light. whatever a man can do a woman should be allowed to do also does she not? She says so. , And about dress? The short skirt, and the divided skirt are what she believes In? red-shad- ed With It. AND THE LAWYER sor. wYoo COME FROM SMALL the Chicago American Curry, the yachting expert, Irltlng Oi$can In 4 Sh Thomas Lip ton's new challenger for! the America cup. Shamrock III, says the hope of Britain and the apple of DeAgner Fifes eye, was dry docked Erie basin June 10. For the first time her graceful hull and powerful lines were revealed to American at tie all theirstreogth and beaky. T he nay challenger made a favorable lmptession to everyone, and the morf you look at her the more certain becomes the conviction that she U go Ifcg V tyi a hardboat to beat wader Any and almost at conditions, When the waters of Gowanue Bay fell away from her syjw white enameled steel hull. It was tg though someone had pulled n dirty brown curtain in aa art gallery and repealed some ancient Grecian marble statue. As the dock slowly emptied its feul water through the sluiceways, expodpg her beautiful linea to view, there was n general murmur of admiration; and. as one designer put it, "she Is a yon derfuily modeled boat of absolutely fair Hues and beautifully finished. . This does not mean that the cup V lost by any means, but that our yachtsmen will have to be up and .doing to beat this new challenger is certain; and If the Reliance can beat this boat very much in going to windward the writer and several other people will be surprised. But to get back to the boat Shamrock HI Is a beautiful creation and le well put together. She shows beautiful deck lines, looking from her AaffallJorward. She has n nice sheer and t view of her sheer plan would probably bear a strong resemblance tq that of 8bamrock II, although her lateral plane baa not been cut away p puch. Her lateral plane appears to be eut away to about the same ex yachtsmet-i- n . ROMANCE OF ' A tent as the Reliance's, but Its area 1 Politicians ef Highest Ability Not Ralood In the Cities. It Is an Interesting fact that polltlt clans of the highest ability are often produced by the struggles forced upon them from th restricted environment of e country town, eays the Portland Oregonian. Platt, of New York, Utc St Owego, Quay at Beaver, Gorman at Laurel. When one reflect upon the acumen necessary to offset th disadvantages of a small local delegation In State and district conventions, It becomes apparent h,ow much credit these powerful bosses deserve for raising up and maintaining themselve In the face of opposition from rival situated In the great cl tic of New Baltimore. end York, Philadelphia Other .eminent Senators whose homes are outside the metropolis of their states ere Spooner, of Madison; Proctor, of Proctor; Elkina, of Elkins; Morgan of Selma; Teller, of Central City; Platt, of Meriden, Conn.; Dolll-ve- r, of Fort Dodge; Blackburn, of Versailles; Hale, of Ellsworth; Bacon, of Macon; Lodge, of Nahant; Hoar, of Worcester; Nelson, of Alexandria? Cockrell, of Warrensburg; Depew, of Peeksklll; Daniel, of Lynchburg. There le hardly n greet city of the country with a representative of any prominence in the Senate. Philadelphia and SL Louis have men there of Inferior power and n few places Ilka Omaha, Detroit, Milwaukee and Portland have one. Indianapolis has both the Indiana Senator, and Ohios seats are divided between Cincinnati and Cleveland. greater. The beam of the challenger la much farther forward than In Shamrock L and her run has been carried out to n wider taffrail than waa shown In Shamrock II. v d bow, fairly She ha a harp, although there is n outward curve all the way down. Her entrance mnst be good and aha Is not likely to be stopped up by n head sea In a light air. This curving of her sides 1 carried clear to the end of the counter. Her bilge nr very easy and at the midship section the curve seems very moderate. Tbs depth to the rabbet is greater than In any challenger alnce Valkyrie III, giving considerable more dead rise than might be expected in a modern Wrought Into Gold. cup challenger. With this quick rise a smile to a poor man 'twas gives. there Is flatness of floor, n soft curve I sawAnd B-vold. being carried to the turn of the bilge, The eun broke forth; I saw tbat amlle la adheaven la all she le a yacht to be greatly Into gold. . mired, even more so, perhaps than our (told Wrought never waa vouchsafed of luster such their with American modern racers, to us; , bodies constantly approaching the It made the vefy light of day more ! luminous. scow form. . well-turne- u out-and-o- a tolling woman, sinking down Footsore and cold, ' A soft hand covered her the ' bumble 1 saw GOLO CAMP Original nf BretHarte's Famous Story Placed in Sanitarium. J. A. Chaffee, famous as the original of Bret Hartes pathetic story, Tennessees Pardner, has been placed In n sanitarium at Oakland,- - Cal. Chaffee e has lived since 1849 In n small county mining camp with hla In the early partner, Chamberlain. days he saved Chamberlain from the vigilance committee by a plea to Judge Lyach when the vigilantes hd a rope arosnd the victim's throat. It was the onlx case on record in the county where the vigilantes gave way In such a ease, Chamberlain waa accused of stealing the miners gold, but Chaffee cleared hltrna everyone believed Cheffee. Tb two men then settled doM to Uve where they have remained ever slnce, washing enough plartr gold to maintain them. Both V. arf over 80. HIS SANITY SL LeuIt Man OF VALUE NOW His Rssson to Want Ban Removed. An unusual, procedure is being taken by Siegfried Pariser, of SL Louie, to have people know .t is not crasy, at he was adjudged twelve years ago by th German court of Berlin. He, through hls attorney, Slg. C. Gelbart, makes application to be Judged sane by law, so be can carry on hie affairs according to American laws end customs. Back of this phase of the case therrf sleeps a story which Is told of how Partner had trouble with a young woman of Berlin, and to escape punishment for an indiscretion, had himself declja.ce.d fit u wound jnlndU Now he wishes, to be restored legally to the right senses that never left him at all, it appears. Still another motive seems to be an Important factor in' the euppllant'e ar1 gument, but which Is not made public in the petition. - It Is tall that.a porFriend of Dumb Animals. Proof an estate belongs to Pariser, tion of Jw members of the Society ves lion of Cruelty to Animal are as but the 85,000 or more that may come energetic and faithful to the cause aa to him is tied up because the German Mrs Florence C. Bethune, a society edict as to hla sanity still etands. won an and wife, of the Politicians and Children. Tttt' Mrs, Bethune has When Senator Arthur pue Gorman within a few months caused the arrest of (Hght men for cruelty to horse and was at the Fifth' Avenue hotel. New In tach case appeared In court to tes- York, just before sailing for Europe tify against the accused, - After secur- recenUy,newgpaper.man,presumlng ing the .conviction of a driver recently upon Jong acquaintance, pressed the inMiy. Bethune announced that she will political sphinx Insistently tot an not direct her energies against mall terview. "Cant do It, my boy, replied contractors for Inhuman the senator. "Politicians, you know, delvery How so? "They trmtment of horse. In the last year are like children. should be seen, not heard." And the Mi. Bethune has turned over thlc slk tick and homeless dogs to the $ senator resumed hls promenade . np and down tha hotel corridor. cVf.y. Too-lumt- well-know- n er. PLACES. - into gold. Grew straight Imperishable gown, '"wrought and will be , shown , To smiting angels gathered round tha throne. Judgment ' Wrought, into gold! We that pees dowa i life's hours Bo carelessly, , Might make the dusty way a path ef - - V flowers " If we would try. Then every gentle deed weve done or kind word given. Wrought Into gold, would make us wo droua rich la heaven. Anonymous. - Pessimistic View. remarked Mrs. This - paper, Crowells, "says that half the poopla dia-betbora they: reach the age of 18." "I guess thats right," rejoined, GrowellSr "and I know a number of; others that would not be missed very. ! much." , into-Lhe-worl- or. Uee Steam In Fishing. Fishing in the mouth of the Susquehanna in the spring ts done with nets' operated from floats, by steam engines. The record catch is 1,000 barrels of herring and shad at one haul.' York-lawy- ' . Speed of Esklmo Qoga. Eskimo dogs have been driven forty-fiv- e miles over Ice In five hours. A pieked team of these dogs once traveled six miles In twenty-eight- , minutes. , " Used Bogus Labels. A Milwaukee (Wla.) tobacconist, has been fined $35 and costs for using the union label os cigars not made by uuloyr labor. t |