! Senor Valentino.

Twelve o'clock mldol*ht. t'rom ffcr across the country «mas a dull, hollow. rvverberatio*: boom—the signal i:un of the Spanish forces. Slowly, almost painfully-, the Cuban patriot Buck back his Ucbt blanket, sated upward for a moment at the burning mass of stars la the heavens, then fell back again to dream of bloody charges made by the gray dragoons of Spaln.and of their repulse by the sturdy Cuban machete*rs. "Surely not /again. Senor CaptjdnT One must be cool to think so lightly of a task like ours." "VlT^-Cuba Libre! You are right, Pedro—we must be up and away." This time the young Cuban sprung to his feet and shook himself as thouga that vas a punishment for his momentary forgetfullness. As the two young men stand sld« by side In the soft mellow ligt of the moon It Is easy to see that they are not of the lower caste or guajlros. a party that comprises a large division of the patriot army, but of the Cuban planter, a gentleman of the highest degree. Both arc armed with small arms alone, though i^elr appearance Indicate* that they have seen military service. "Now Is the ume to read our general's Instmcv.ons, Pedro; the senor lays great stress tmpn our actions tonight, and knows %iat *t this very hour we are moving toward the forces of the enemy to accomplish a purpose, the penalty of which. If we are caught, la Instrnt death." As the speaker ceased he drew a sealed package from beneath the folds of his sash. "Inferno!" he continued a moment later; “the general Is terse and sends us out to do much against great odds. The spy, he ssys. Is a guarded prison er In the Spanish camp, but bis where abouts he knows not; and yet we are to liberate him at the riska of our own lives, and when we have accomplished this receive any reward we may ask for." "Carramba! Valentino, the term* are good. Two or three hundred dobloons will satisfy me; let us hasten." "In sooth you spesk right, the Job Is a profitable one, but tbe night is illomened. What care we for gold when the liberty of Cuba Is at stake T" "Do you forget, senor, that Spanish metal will purchase the American steel with which the Cuban patriots will win their freedom?” "No. Pedro; but does not tLe'general turn over all of his spare gold to the fllbusterlng expeditions?” "Ah, one forgets In his eagerness to aid his country, Greater though will be the fever sop urge, Valentino, thap all the "steel ant forces of Cuba. Gloria! Who can defeat os when God Is on our side?” —- "But this spy, Pedro—why should our leader take more than commonplace Intercat In him, when first he broached the subject to me he wept like a child, and Implored me In the name of Heaven to save him. Pedro, there Is a mystery here." "I doubt. It not, senor; and did he not mentitm a name?" "Ah. not once; nor did I question him. he was so wrought with grief." "See! The lights of the Spanish camp. Valentino; we will halt here; the moon Is disappearing, the stars are falling, and It will soon be dark." “A fortune for a hundred brave machetecrs now! Ton camp would not look so quiet and peaceful, Pedro, were my wish gratified." ‘There,-at last Palo hill has hidden the tell-tale orb! Take one more look

leave-wiour i te.*'"' *

perace game of chance.

The two men gazed for a moment eastward toward the Insurgent conntry. and then to the westward at the twinkling lights a mile or so off on the "Will they be thfcre—tbe horses?" whispered the one who had likened their task to a game ol chance. "He Is a true Cubaa, and will not fall us In tbe hour of need; if he does,

God plty the spy and us."

"Pardon me. senor, small need to wary now; It all hangs by a thread anyway, even the rebellion. The death of Marti weakened our end somewhat, but the dreaded fever combined with the patriots should yet more than

match the home tyrant."

"If one of us should fall tonight. Pedro, and be left behind with a piece of lead in bis heart, remember the duty of a comrade and friend and send the tidings .to the fallen one's home." "Condanacoin! Senor. do not talk so despondently, for God’s sake. It Is growing dark and the chills creep np my back like slimy reptiles. If any one dies toplght, it win be me, mark

It, Valentino.”

"Ughir shudered The other. "W* are both growing superstitious." ^ “Aye. superstitious, but not cowardly Never, as far back as the Ceapedes can trace their pedigree, has there been found a coward, and now "

"Hist, Pedro!

Valentino bad suddenly thrown himself upon one knee and raised his' hand as a alga of warning. He listened at tea lively for fall a minute, then cautiously approached klw "A sentinel." be explained la a whisper. “I bate a plan; to « er this gnar^ and force him ti the position of the confined a "Good, here are/.the cbjp twice, ah. three times I go." Pedro crept away and disappeared

ted aerrea the waiting Valr orbed -upon the earth srtth t barred, ready at the I

to lend his comrade aslstancc. Slowly, almost with the tardiness of hours, the minutes passed by. "It Is accomplished." Valentino mattered. as a low whistle was .borne to his esrs. Stretching his limbs to give them their former strength and suppleness, the Insurgent hurried off In the direction of the sound. He had not advanced far before he discovered Pedro bending over the prostrate form of the sentinel. "Have you killed him, senor?'' he ssked. "No. the fellow Is only scared and has already given us the desired In formation. The one we are In search of Is confined In a tent Just outside the 1 general's headquarters up on the hill yonder where you see the three red lights; help me bind and gag him, senor." It took but a moment to make the prisoner secure, and the two were on their way again. The general's tent was loss than a quarter of a mile distant. but the greatest precaution was necessary In dodging the sentinels. 'There, at last I believe we are ly Inside the Ur lot yet, Pedro." 'Arto!'' (halt) cried a low firm voice of command. Both came to a dead stop, but tho quick wltted Valentino was equal to the emergency. The carablnero who had so suddenly changed the tide of events stood with his gun at his shoulder a dozen feet to the right. "We are friends, senor." "Give the countersign." "That we cannot Jo; but we must

have

the general tonight, as we i —,ortant information. Here is a permit that has passed us thus far—see for yourself, that it is not a fraud,” and tne Cuban held out tbe letter. Taken off his guard by tbe apparent frankness of the man before him. the unsuspecting carablnero allowed the but of his rifle to fall to the ground, and stretched forth his hand for tho paper. There was a bright Cash of steel as It passed through the air. "The night has Its victim." muttered Valentino as he wiped off and sheathed his blade." Tls some poor mother's son, hardly beyond the limits of boyhood yet. and still It had to bo done." '!Afid a masterly stroke that did It— right to the heart, senor, without a doubt." "Come." * The captain could say no more; tears were In his eyes and he wished that the hellish work was undone,

u-dly

thought of the aged mothi

could hardly suppress a sob as he _ id mother on the other side of the sea, waiting and praying for a son that would never return. Oh, the anguish of that mo-

ment!

Suddenly he halted, for ahead of him, not a dozen rods, was the tent for which ho was searching. Pedro remained a few steps behind to guarjl against surprise, and alone the brave rebel captain crept up to the canvas

flap.

There was a light Inside; he peered in—there upon a bundle of blankets, with hands and feet securely bound ley—not a man, but the form of a beautiful girl. For a moment he wuld hardly believe his eyes. Was roe the spy?

"Ah!”

Like a flash of lightening the truth dawned over him; he had solved tho

mystery.

"Senorita?" he called softly. There was a stir among the blankets. and a pale sweet face, with soft black curls clinging about It like a veil, was raised from Its hard pillow. "A friend to aid you; one who has your wellfare at heart." The girl raised heraelf still higher, but not a sound escaped her lips. It was not necessary, the soft eyes alone

told the story.

Swiftly Valentino crossed to the palt—swiftly he severed the cords that

bound her tender limbs—and swiftly he caught her lovely form In his arms

and dashed into the open air. ■ all over In a minute, for the Cubany had thrown caution to

only

convey'

charge to a place 01 safety. Alas! "tat hit haste was to prove so fatal. “Arto! Who goes there?" The sharp rattle of a carbine rang' out on the atill night air, and the camp was awake. • '“Courage, senorita, we will pass them yet. Pedro. Ho. Pedro!” “Here, senor. Haeten, the horaes are in the hollow >ut beyond the hill.” It was a race for life, and the patriots won. Hardly were they mount ed and off before a dozen or more carablnero* rushed Into the holkrw. “Caballo! Caballo!" they cried and discharged their weapons. “Can you hold your seat, senorita?" the captain asked as he rode up be-

sid* her.

"With ease,' she answered bravaly. smiling bravely through the gloom. "They are on horse* and la pursuit, "I fear we are lost." In tempted Pe-

dro. .

"Why eo. comrade?” “Becaose. l-I-Valeatino. tbe girl s Lane Is dying!” The captale lurched la his saddle as tbcmgh stnR . by a Wow. For tho

windaf his only thought—his 6 pose was to convey hls ' i

the hills. The wounded hone wai fast losing strength, but still the nobl< animal plunged on till Its heart buret; and with an agonising groan It stum bled and fel dead. In a moment Valentino had the girl on his own mount, and was dashing away in pursuit of Pedro. "Courage, senorita," be murmered softly, and pressed her closer to hli breast, nestling her face among bet beautiful waving curls.

P-I-n-ggg!

That fatal bullet sipped close to tht captain's head, and was Instantly fol lowed by a heavy fall. "Great God, la Heaven, comurada are yon hurtf" No answer.

"Dead!"

That one solemn word was uttered with a pathos that boded 111 for the perpetrators of the deed. "Oh. ye tramplers of human rights may your bone decay In every bidder swamp and recess of Cubs, and maj the power of despotic Spain sink be neath the billows of the sea, carryln* with it every village of the accursed nation. Dios. Oh. Pedro, my com rade—my friend." The carablneroa were close upon tht fugitives now. and with a last loo! at his beloved comrade the captain sthick his spurs deep In his horse'i flank and sped eastward. "Courage, senorita, courage." he whispered over and over ngaln. "Tel there remains one other final resort If all others fall. I will save you— have you faith in me?" And In answer the girl would lift her face and say,— “Faith unbounded. You are a Cu ban patriot." Never before had the young Cubar been placed in such a critical position If It had not been for his beautifui charge, he would have turned -back and died bravely, fighting over th< body of his slain comrade. But this

>ody

gjri with the lovely waving hair anf the glorious eyes, had cast a spell ovei him which was not easily thrown off; she was more than life to him now. "Oh. my God, they are gaining or ns. senor! See! They level theli

Is down! Cling to me senorita." The quarry was run to earth; Valen lino's last resolve was shattered; h« could not now forfeit his own life foi that of his companion. But blooc should flowwai free as water in thal dark, gloomy pass before he would al low himself to be taken captive. What was that? A terrific explosion, a stream o! quivering flame shooting out from thal impenetrable mass of darkness, and the foremost dragoon tumbles fron bis horse, as lifeless as the weather beaten rocks about him. Cr-r-a-a-ack! , •Viva Cuba Libre!" And they are saved. • • • «« The next day the insurgent banf carried the general's daughter and hei •brave, rescurer In triumpn back to tb« rebel camp; and with his darling—thi doomed spy clasped close to hU breast, the old man Implored God tc pour forth the blessings'of heaver upon the heads of the two heroes both living and death And Valentino, at the head of hli machetecrs. led them on to victor} and freedom, while in a peaceful vill* back In the hills a beantiful girl, a spy waited and watched for him, her loved one to return—Waverly Maglzln*.

lb* UUUty of urso* Cat Stooo. Poflltrymcn generally admit not only the value of It, but the nee easily of Us use to secure the greatest profit Is the production of inoat or eggs. It contains a large amount of protein, the moat costly element to buy, and the one so necessary to make growth or eggs. Chicks and fowls of all ages It la a concenti b fad carefully.

QUAINT AND CURIOUS. A fly will survive long Immersion in water and will sustain the odor* of sulphur and other disinfectant* without apparent Injury. Only turpentine, chloroform and ammonia can get the better of a fly. The uniform of the postman of Nor way is dark green In color, though it Is said many of the men want it changed to blue. Tbe facings of the coat are ol sliver braid, and there 1* a small cockade of tho Norwegian colors on the band .round the cap. Some months before the outbreak of the war In South Africa a consign ment of twenty thousand tumbler* waa sent to Cape Town. They were engraved with the motto of tbe South African Republic, and meant fot drinking the health of the bnrghers in when they took Cape Town. A Russian nobleman of immens* wealth has hit upon a curious method of celling decoration. Every celling In his mansion contains a fresco deal ing with an episode In the career ol his ancestors, and the whoUr forms what Is. perhaps, a unique example of Irnner-roof ornamentation. Nearly *«K).000 has .been expended upon thl* extraordinary work. - The soldier In the German army It now taught how to put together a novel form of military boat. The materials consist simply of sixteen lancet: In ordinary use and an outer cover ol strong sail cloth supplied with loops, through whlfch the weapons are placed. A handful of soldiers only put It together In a very fe utes. but are able to pun It to

dvctloas of

••mat .OlaMBC **•••». Make a dibble of a piece of fork handle about one foot long sharpened at one end. Mark the beds in rows both ways six Inches apart. With the sharp stick make a hole where the marks cross each other and put In tho root two Inches below the surface. Hold It against tho ulde of tbe hole with the forefinger of the left hanl and crowd tbe stick Into the ground, pressing the dirt against the root. By this method the planter can set roots rapidly and the work Is well done.

100 or 120

cres, fenced so as to save a* much farming land as possible. One field of sod should be plowed each year for corn, putting on It ^1 the manure made luring tbe winter, plowing the coarse under, and putting the fine on top of the plowed ground before harrowing. The greater part shonld be seeded to wheat In the fall, by harrowing and drilling as soon aa the corn is In shock, anl using some fertilizer. From two to four acres should be kept for oats In the spring, the best of all feed for poultry and horses. The following year the entire field should be seeded to wheat, putting at least 200 pounis of some good fertilizer to each acre, sowing one peck of timothy per acre, and resowing in the spring with Utpothy and one gallon of red clover per acre. This field should be kept for meadow two years, possibly longer. This plan of farming should be continued In rotation from year to year. From one-half to one acre of potatoes should be raise 1. There should be a large truck-patch of all kinds of vegetables for family use. with possibly some to sell. A farm of this size should have an orchard of three or four acres, -of apples, peaches, pears, plums and cherries with all the smaller fruits in abundance for home use. The stock that sboull be kept on this slse and kind of farm should be three good work horses, three or four good cows, several head of growing cattle, about forty good brood ewes, several heads of hogs, and poultry of all kin Is. Ewes are specially profitable on a ■mall farm, since they may raise lambs for early market, quickly enrich the land, and keep down briars and ahrubs. As far as possible good shelter .abonld be provided for all stock, as protection eaves feeding, time and labor.

Match far Small Garden. As early in spring as possible, or better still In the fall, put the garden plot In good condltioa by deep plowing lengthwise and crosswise and follow by harrowing. When planting time comes lay off in rows two feet apart, manure wall with scrapings from the barnyard, poultry house and cow pens. Hill up the manure, making sharp, high ridges which will Insure good germination and quick growth; plant In the usual way. When the plants are up. stir the ground once a week orfcftener with hoe or plow. When everything Is growing well, and up a few Inches from the ground, give a thorough final

a light covering of straw, and leavu, from the woods over the entire plot, taking ?gre not to cover the young vegetables. In a few days they will grow enough to allow another coax put on as before. Keep adding more as the plants grow above it, until the ground Is covered three or four Inches deep, when you can consider your garden work done for the Ma-

in a garden treated of heat or drouth. Tbe mulch bolls moisture and keeps the burning rays of the sun from the tender roots and prevents damage from heavy beating rains. There Is nothing so cheap and yet so valuable to the garden as a deep covering of pine needles and leaves. Potatoes should be on large, high beds, and covered with three or four Inches of mulch at once. They will come up through It as If It were not there. With this treatment vegetables of all kinds will flourish and grow, hut weeds * chance at alt . In straw in between the rows and ridge the earth over It. In Uie spring yon

Scratching sheds were brought to the notice of poultrymen some years aga. and there are many poultry house* that are not provided with this convenience or necessity even at this late date. There has been an erroneous Idea about the ■cre.tchlng *h#4 that should be brought to view. A scratching ahed In Minnesota ahould

une kind of a shed as that

hot bed, bst there is a reason Ibr Its | being constructed so as to be comfor-

ihed 1 .

LANGUAGE.

SO I

table for tbe hens. A scratching shed should be made light and roomy,

should be made with a great deal of Which Umcbra empty air to fran floor space, and that space should be | hero-making word ol fame,

covered with litter in which an Industrious hen delights to scratch. Bbi

, . Lssgnog*. whoa* mighty ipeU could n < Uauklod from doll aud bruiuti ways, 1 Of Which teaches empty air to framu

^ Laognags, which formed ambitious plan,

. e* When Ceassr ruled hie fellow-mao.

of oats will make a very good Uttar "hjoh the paaeloh end the woe

for this purpose. The hens will scratch | 01 Uue - "*•

the wtravr about for the oats and *

a great deal of healthful i

obtaining tbe same.

1 a gooi

the scratching shed, and It will be sur-

wUl also be found i

prising how the bens will scratch for the small seed* of millet. When obtained In this way they will do no

barm, but a great deal of good.

Tbe scratching shed may not only be termed th* dining room, but It may be named the living room. Hens are fed some good mess once a day, in the morning or the evening, and what grain they get should be fed through the scratching sbed route. The hens are kept busy obtaining It because their appetites are sharp aud they wish a grain to appease It. The r-.ore they scratch the better the appetite and the better the food is assimilated. The better the assimilation of the food the more healthy the hens and the greater their aptitude to lay

eggs and become profitable.

We are of tho opinion that scratching sheds should be entirely Inclosed In some manner. The south side may be made of a combination for the best results. Poultry netting should com-

the south side of the shed, anl

Ing stormy weather a large curtain of muslin or some other goods may be let down to keep ont the snow. This wiU admit of light, and the room wUl be found airy. When-

pose durt*

i sun s ty of ai

way

No roosting places should be provided in this room for iszy hens to occupy. Keep up the temptation to scratch and keep it comfortable. By comfortable we mean that It should be built s ln whatever plan that will make them comfortable. In some localities It may be necessary to make the scratching shed very warm, and the south should be for the most part constructed of glass. Even then It must be made roomy and airy so as to not Impair the health of the hen.—Poultr* Farmer.

I'artlllsara and Maanra.

The management of the farm should

HUMOROUS.

Wlggs—Is baldnett s sign of genius? Wagg—Well, the bald-headed man seem to be coming out on top. Mother—No. Georgle, 1 think you must not have any pineapple. It might give pou pain. Georgle (after a pause) —Mother. It s worth 1L "Poverty Is no disgrace," remarked tbe Wise Guy. "No, not so long as you can borrow from your neighbors/’ added the Simple Mug. "And you say he is an old flame of yours?" "He used to be. but he Is no longer." "How la that?" "Papa cam* In one day and i^it him out,” Monkey—So the hyena Is dead, «h? Giraffe—Yes. something started him laughing, and be couldn't stop. Monkey—Ah! Simply tlckel him to

death, eh?

Kelly—Ol read a folne book last nolgbu 'Twas full of foigbtin'. A man named Cooper wrote It. Relll/—Sure, Ol know that book. It's called "The Last of Thlm O Hlgglna." "What color would you like your sign?" asked i^e painter. "Oh." replied the advertiser, Indifferently, "any color so It's read." "I suppose that's Intended to be hue-morous." Lady—Ye*, you carry tales. You come here and tell me what my neighbor says, then go over and tell her what I say. Tramp—You're wrong, lady. How could I be a busybody^ “1 am always thinking of you. Barker. Today I passed a big building and I thought how I would like to see you working in It” "You are very kind. What building was It?" “The penitentiary." Wlgwsg—Here i« s very interesting article called "The Last Words of Famous Men." Henpeckke — Great Scot! I didn't know that even famous

be with the view of maintaining Its j men could ever get in the last word.

la tills c

fertility. The foundatiom of farmlag is the riches In the soil and any system of agriculture that Increases the wealth of the farmer without reduc-

ing the productive capacity of the soil

will be tbe correct one. Tho average

of cereals, potatoes and grass country are very low. yet tne

American farmer has more opportunities for securing fertilisers for his land than In any other country. In onr gas works there Is saved a large amount of sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda .is Imported in great ■hip loads, the mmmoniates of the packing houses amount to a large proportion, and the cottonseed meal supply Is almost alone'sufficient for our needs, and yet the materials mentioned are those for providing nitrogen only. This country also has large phosphate mine*, and but for the fact that the required potash must be Imported there would be no lack of the plant foods right at the doors of American farmers for their use. In the past the farmer has not assisted himself in the employment of fertilize rs as he should, which accounts for

the low crop averages.

There has been a war between thoee who favor manure and those who advocate the use of fertilizers, tho one class claiming barnyard manure to be a “complete'' ration for plants, while the other class contends that It is absolutely necessary to bring plant foods on the farm In orler to recompense the farmer for the loss of fertility through the removal of the products of the farm that are marketed. The fact remains, however, that this country has made buVlittle progress In the matter of Increasing the average yields, and the matter de-. Eervej consideration on the part of Investigators. One error that has not yet been overthrown Is that of supposing barnyard manure to be "complete pUnt food." There la nothing on the farm that varies so much In qaullty as manure, for, while some manures may be aa nearly complete as may be desired, yet the large majority of the accumulated heaps on farms are not at all complete. It Is not altogether Is the management of the manure that Ita value is retained, but In the foods from which it'is obtained anl the amount of absorbent material used lr. Ita preservation. It may safely be claimed that every year thousands of tons of barnyard manure are spread on land which is really not equal In value to the labor required In the work of applying R to the soli. Whether In the form of crude chemicals In the fertiliser bags, or In the form of bulky manure, the plant foods are the same, and the farmer cannot realire therefrom more than exists In the materials used.—Philadelphia Record.

Boat Hallo City.

San Francisco seems to be the best telephoned city In the world. With s population of S4I.7S2. there are 21 telephones.' or (2 per 1000. In Europe, Copenhagen Is probably the best telephoned cRy, with 16,311 telephone# to 1U 212.85® of population, equal to 49 per 1000. In Copenhagen, too. the beat conditions lor the public exist, although the ratea are relatively as high as thoae In American cltiee. London compares very ua figure*. At the b

there were 41.111

taitkm of more than 6.500.000. or a proportiua of T to every MM people. New

Yus*, with a had 84.047 toe

But. hold on; maybe they weren't’mar-

ried.

"I’m thinking of sending my little girl to the conservatory." said the woman next door; "all those tunes you hear her playing she picked up by ear." "Tben she ought to be," replied Mrs. Kostique. "Ought to be sent, you mean?" "No; picked up by the ear.” Hobo—Hare youse got any kind uv a Job youse want -one. lady? Housekeeper—No. poor man; I'm sorry to have to disappoint you. Hobo—Dot's all right, lady 1 Jest wanted to find out If I could take a sleep In de next lot here widout bein' worried by offer# of work. .

MAKING A CKjCK THINK.

ments with young chicks, testing their ability to learn a variety of performances. such as getting out of a box by pecking at a certain spot on a door or by jumping upon a little platform or by polling down, a string with their necks, escaping from a pen by going up a ladder or following an intricate 'path through a maze, etc., writes Prof. Edward L. Thorndike of Columbia uni- ' versity in the International Monthly. They learn readily to abandon thoae acts which bring discomfort and to emphasize those which are successful In securing them food, shelter, warmth tnd the companionship of their fellows. Their learning, like that of the fishes. Is essentially a process of selection. For Instance, a chick Is confined In a cage from which it can escape only by pecking at a certain spot, and so opening the door. It sees the other chicks and food outside and reacts to the situation (confinement) according to ita inborn organization by running about.

peeping. Jumping at tbe walls, trying

to aq

The chick feels a score or more

squeexe through any small openings :d pecking at the barriers confining

lek ft *

of Impulses to a score or more i If Its reactions include one particular act. namely, a pqck at a certain spot. It of coarse escapes. Thli.one act la followed by freedom, food and general comfort. The other acta resulted only In a continuance of the unpleasant solitary confinement. . If. after the chick has enjoyed freedom a while, we put It into the r again, we have a repetition of the first event except that the chick la likely to run and peep and Jump and squ< Uss and to peck at the door sooi If we continue this process, so that tho chick Is again and again confronted by the sltuatlor—• confinement'’ In a box of such and such appearance— It constantly decreases the useless acts ■nd performs the suitable one soomt and sooner, until finally It pecks at the spot Immediately whenever put Into that box. It has learned, we say. to get out of the box by pecking at a car-

via spot.

Haw Mae at Torwaa Wa* Ham A very comprehensive history to Mount Vernon Is prreented in the re- * port of the Virginia board if vh ~ Just printed. It to written by Judgn ta a Seuer of this city. The Otto of the lUaatratioas is a portrait of Bd-

HrRtoh aumtrsL ben

whom Lawto th* Bett-

wsrd Vernon, the la 104. dwd ta U

• » to MM. rZT