their kind noble impulses and their unaffected 
friendliness toward all 
After ascending a somewhat steep eminence, 
another quaint evidence of German hospitality, or 
rather thoughtfulness for the tired root-sore pe¬ 
destrian, presented Itself to us In the sweet word 
“ Rube” (Rest), hewn In a long, moss-grown stone 
seat,. It was one of those rough but. welcome 
resting-places which give these provincial high¬ 
ways an air of antique quaintness suggestive of 
primitive pilgrims and images of saints long since 
crumbled into dust, surrounded as this seat was 
with a group of tall, slender poplars, whose sliver- 
spangled foliage glistened tremulously In the 
morning sun, we yielded to the mine Invitation 
to “ rest,” and gassed with silent admiration upon 
the broad highly cultivated Holds, stretching away 
to the east; the huge, vine-clad hlllseroWiied wii h 
some old ruin of historical or traditional Luteresl, 
and the blue waters of the lovely Neckar rolling 
through a checkered landscape of luxuriant Helds 
to join the Rhine. Over all tills fell t he soft Octo¬ 
ber light, so that the entire landscape left upon us 
an indescribable Impression of gentleness and 
peacefulness, and In the quiet scene around us we 
almost forgot that wc were In a land where sweet 
Liberty was held Imprisoned by the iron grip of 
Despotism whose galling yoke, had long bent the 
proud neck of poor Germany. 
Again me Held guard’s rattle, reverberating In a 
thousand echoes among the hills woke us from our 
revery and hastily resuming our journey we soon 
arrived in sight of the village churchyard with Its 
white headstones lying in mil view oi the morn¬ 
ing light. Passing the sclmolliouse surrounded 
with shady trees and filled with restless inmates 
as the shuffling of feet and low hum and murmur 
from within indicated, we wandered along the 
village street which, save for a mischievous urchin 
contesting, with a flock ot viciously hissing geese 
for the possession of a puddle of water in which 
he was lusLUy splashing Ills owu brown extremi¬ 
ties, was quiet and deserted. Farther on the 
stately lialftanse with Ins massive barred doors, 
and Lhe gray silent church with the kingly stork 
sailing around Us lofty steeple, alone asserted 
their importance among the long Irregular rows 
of queer quaint houses which stood directly upon 
the street, pavements or even narrow footwaiks 
being unknown conveniences In the smaller towns 
Of Germany. 
After rambling through a perfect labyrinth of 
streets, an old weather-beaten sign of a golden ox 
swinging over the entrance of a barn-like struc¬ 
ture arrested our attention. Doubtful, however, 
whether the sign advertised a slaughterhouse or 
the long looked for Inn, we hesitated to enter 
when a portly figure dressed In the well known 
garb of a jolly German Wlrth viz.: long white 
apron and ruund tussled sm king cap, appeared 
at, the door and Informing us with bows and smiles 
that the “ Golden Ox " could offer the best, of ac¬ 
commodations to Ills guests, hustled us without 
further ceremony into a large room full of tobacco 
smoko and beer drinking Uuuereleute. 
I need not say “ will,” for already Is the lea ven 
working, and although the circle has only begun 
Its second year's work Its good Influence is far- 
reaching. After the ‘'superficial" work of the. four 
years, If we*arc not able to make it more than that, 
we shall, at. least., have spent, our time with good 
reading, and shall have discovered what study wo 
prefer to make a specialty, aud many of us no 
doubt will continue to be students for lire, and may 
hope for some degree of thoroughness, 
if any one who lias not before known or this 
circle wishes to learn more about It, address. The 
President of the C. L s. c., Plainfield, New Jersey. 
Hoping many new uames mav be added to the list 
of students at home, and wishing the highest pos¬ 
sible success to <iH efforts for the encouragement 
of such work, l am very truly, 
Chautauqua Co., X. Y. Eunice E. Tctti.e. 
Inches In diameter. This kind of ball can be ob¬ 
tained of almost any gun dealer at the minimum 
cost or about, two cents a-piece. A tin flange Is 
put around the neck to separate the strings, which 
gives R a more elegant, appearance; but, of course, 
they can be obtained without this flange, If de¬ 
sired. Mr. C. P. Bauer ot Edwardsvllle, Illinois, 
sent us tne ball from which the drawing was 
made. 
“ Where Is he ? In his room ?” 
“ No. In the library." 
"Why did they send for Dr. Mackenzie?” said 
Jean, angrily, meeting Mrs. Brett on her way to 
the library. “ Mr. Powle Is a much abler man.” 
“Themaster preferred Dr. Mackenzie."said the 
housekeeper, detlautly, and Jean was passing on, 
when she detained her. 
“If you please, madam, Mr. Blair gave orders 
that, no one was to disturb him,” she said. 
“ I presume that such orders do not apply to 
me!" said his wife, haughtily, as she went on. 
“ Pardofi me, madam,” said Emily, coldly. 
“ Me hogged you would not trouble yourself to go 
to him.” 
Jean's face flushed; she turned away slowly, 
and went back to her apartments with the angry 
feeling In her heart again. 
Dr. Mackenzie cr nc and went, without giving 
the patient any llet, or giving any opinion as to 
his Indisposition; and In the evening Jean’s anx¬ 
iety grew unbearable, and she went, to the library, 
notwithstanding the Injunction against her. 
To her surprise, she round that, not, only had Dr. 
Mackenzie returned, but that Mr. Powle was with 
him, and the two doctors were standing In the 
embrasure of the window In grave consultation. 
Her husband was lying on the sofa, ghastly pale, 
with his face drawn and shrunken with pain, his 
hands clenched. The housekeeper was standing 
beside him, holding a glass, but his head was 
averted from her. ills own servant and the stew¬ 
ard were standing near, looking anxious and dis¬ 
turbed. 
At Jean’s entrance, her husband Lifted hts heavy 
eyelids, and looked at her with reproach lu his 
dim eyes. 
“Why would you not come to me?” he said, 
faint ly. 
•• I did not know you wanted me,” she answered, 
kneeling down at his side. 
“ I told Brett to tell you,” he murmured, putting 
his heavy hand on her trembling fingers. 
“ The doctors said you w ere not 10 be disturbed,” 
spoke up Mrs. Brett. 
He turned away with weary Indifference. 
“ Mr. Blair will not drink this, ma’am,” went on 
the housekeeper. “ Perhaps you can prevail upon 
him to do so.” 
“ It Is no use,” he said, angrily. “ It does me no 
good. You torture me. Jean, tell them to leave 
me alone.” 
“ It Is for your good," Jean said, softly, feeling 
terribly distressed as she bent over him. “Give 
me the glass, Brett,” 
She gave it at once, and as his wife held It to his 
unwilling lips, he smiled faintly. 
“Some wretched poison or other,” he muttered ; 
and Jean Uttered a little cry of alarm, which 
brought the doctors to the side of the couch. 
“You do not. like thow r ord?” said Mrs. Brett, 
coolly. “ How your hand shakes, madam 1” 
" Shall T send to Edinburgh for further advice?” 
Jean said, softly, as she saw her husband sink 
back heavily on his pillow, and a bluelsh-violet 
tinge come round his lips through the ghastly pal¬ 
lor of his face. 
He lifted his heavy eyelids once more. 
“Do you wane me to live?” he sold, feebly. 
“Will not, my death set you tree?” 
She shivered. 
“ Hush!” she said, pitifully, “1 cannot bear that 
now,” 
“Now, because 1 am dying," ho said, bitterly. 
“ Does your hatred die with me, Jeau7” 
The doctors glanced at each other with a signifi¬ 
cant look, which Mrs. Brett caught as It passed 
from one to the other, 
“()h, hush!" said Jean, with a sob, and, unable 
to meet the grave, cold displeasure in his glance, 
she dropped her head on the pillow by his side, 
and hid her race. 
Slowly the night hours wore on. Mr. Powle went 
away, but Dr. Mackenzie kept watch by Hie sola; 
the breathing or the sick man grew thick aud slow 
—beseemed unconscious of what was going on 
around him; Jean, white and shivering with ter¬ 
ror at the sight before her, crouched by the sola, 
her large eyes fixed with horror on the drawn, dis¬ 
colored lace. From ills chair by her side Dr. Mac¬ 
kenzie watched her closely, aud the housekeeper's 
dark eyes never left, her master's face, except to 
go to hts wife’s. 
Once the heavy eyelids unclosed as ir with an 
elTori, and the dark eyes went thirstily to a carafe 
ot water on the table The doctor rose and poured 
out a glass, giving It to Jean; but Mr. Blair made 
a feeble movement of Impatience 
“Not from her—not from her!" he said, in a 
slow, thick, stilled voice; and his wife shrank back 
with a faint cry of terror. 
Dr. Mackenzie s face changed, and he looked up 
at the steward With A very meaning glance. lie 
took the glass from Jean's shaking hand, and held 
It to the dying man’s Ups. 
“ Why not from her he said, lu a low tone. 
“She—she hates me!’’ muttered Mr. Blair; then 
his eyelids fell again, and the shadow on ills face 
deepened. 
“This Is terrible! ’ said Jean, staggering to her 
reet. “ 1 cannot bear it—Let me go!” 
“Your place la here, Mrs. Blair,” said the doctor, 
gravely. 
“ But I cannot bear It!" she said, In Irrepressible 
terror. “ Let me go!" 
“ No, stay!" said her husband's voice, with sud¬ 
den energy; and she sank on her knees again, 
with her hands clasped convulsively In her terror 
and distress. 
“ it is cruel to keep me here I” she said, passion¬ 
ately. “ You will kill me!” 
Again the doctor and the steward exchanged sig¬ 
nificant glances, but said nothing. 
The silence grew terribly oppressive; the watch¬ 
ers seemed to hold their breath its they waited, and 
the awful stillness had such an effect on Jean’s 
nerves that she had a difficulty to keep from 
screaming aloud. 
The long winter night passed on, aud just before 
the day broke, the dying man opened his eyes, 
staring before him with a look of unutterable hor- 
IN FOLLY’S NET 
(Continued from pa^e 750.) 
CHAPTER XXI. 
niKI) PROM THE KPPKCTS Ol r POISON. 
The ball at Glossln Castle on New Year’s night 
took place in due course, and was a brilliant affair, 
but ungraced by the presence of Mr, or Mrs. Blair. 
Lady Sholto. who was looking forward anxiously 
to seeing Jean, was disappointed; and in answer 
to her inquiries, her Grace said she had received a 
few lines from Mrs. Blair, excusing their non- 
attendance on the plea of Indisposition on the part 
of the owner of Blair Gates himself. 
“ I do not think It. is anything serious," said the 
Duchess, carelessly. “ Mrs. Blair speaks of slight 
Indisposition; she would hardly do t hat If he were 
seriously 111.” 
But although at Glossln Castle they could speak 
so carelessly of Mr. Blair s Indisposition, the house¬ 
hold at Blair Gates were by no means easy on his 
account. 
Me had been taken suddenly in in the morning, 
and there was something strange and mysterious 
in the Illness, which made Jean anxious and un¬ 
easy In the highest degree. 
They had had hard words the. night, before about 
a party at Sholto Hall, to which Mrs. Blair refused 
to go. and which her husband Insisted on her at¬ 
tending. one or two of t he servants had hoard 
voices raised In vlolcul altercation his, cold, 
stern, menacing; hers, at. first entreating, then 
passionate aud menacing also Nay, both Bransby 
the butler and Mi's. Brett had heard words of the 
bitterest anger, and, drawn to the door by the un¬ 
usual discussion, they had both heard the young 
wife’s last words spoken wit h cold, distinct menace 
In her tones: 
“ I am weary of this bondage! I will submit to 
It no longer! If you will not give me freedom, I 
will make myself free! 1 do not care for Ignominy I 
It you will not liberate me, I will liberate myself 
without your help or any man’s! I am not natural¬ 
ly a patient woman—you have made me a desper¬ 
ate one. to beware l” 
And she had come out ot lhe room with a 
strauge, fierce glitter In her eyes, passed lhe 
frightened servants as If she had not seen them, 
and had gone Up to her room with a slow, proud 
step, and her cheeks I n a blaze of anger; and M r. 
Blair had driven over to sholto //all alone. 
IV hen the carriage had driven away, Jean came 
down, white and trembling now, her passion gone; 
and she had gone Into a little room where Mr. lilalr 
kept a family medicine-chest, and which he used 
as a kind of laboratory, lor he was fond of chem¬ 
ical pursuits. 
“ I am faint,” she said, quietly, to Emily Brett, 
who met her at, the door. “ I am going to get 
something to take away the raininess.” 
She was not many rntnules in the laboratory, 
aud when she came out the bright, hectic flush 
was burning again on her face, aud she went 
straight to her own room, locked herself in, and 
was seen no more until the morning-not even 
by Collins, who looked anxious arid distressed at 
this unusual proceeding on the part oi her mis¬ 
tress. 
But the. next morning Jean had come down to 
breakfast with the usual set, still expression on her 
face—the dull calmness habitual to her—and which 
did not change until, looking up suddenly at her 
husband, she saw his face contracted as If with 
pain, and that, the usually bright, dark eyes were 
heavy and dull. 
“Is anything the matter? Are you 111?” she 
said, hastily. 
lie made no answer, but rose from the table, 
growing very pale. Jean rose, too, in alarm, and 
crossed over to his side. 
“Can I get you anything?" she said, gently. She 
was too much a woman not to be pitiful at the 
sight of suffering, even though she did not love the 
sufferer. 
He put Ills hand heavily on her shoulder. 
“ No!” he said, faintly. “ Stay here—by me 1" 
He sank heavily on a chair again, and his head 
fell against her shoulder. Jean stood still, support- 
lng him, and In this moment of his weakness and 
suffering she felt her anger against her husband 
fade away, and pity stole Into her heart. 
In a few minutes he fitted his beau. 
“ I am belter,” he said, slowly; “but I reel faint 
and stupid still. No, don’t ring tor Bransby—I hate 
men about me Can you And me some cognac In 
the sideboard ?” 
Sbe brought him some; he drained the glass 
feverish 1)’, and in a few moments his color came 
back, and he rose, shaking himself like a huge 
Newfoundland that has been in the river. 
11 right again he said, cheerily. “ I hope I 
did not startle you, Jean?” 
She forced a smile, but made no answer; and a 
few minutes after he went away to have an inter¬ 
view with his steward; and Jean, going up to her 
boudoir, lost herself In one of those day-dreams 
which are half sad, half happy, and wholly useless 
and unwholesome. 
Believe rne, gentle reader, It Is far wlsor, far 
better, to make the best of what is, than to waste 
time over regrets for what might have been. 
At luncheon-lime Collins came up to her. 
“ If you please, ma’am,” she said, “ t he steward 
has sent a groom to Glossln for Dr. Mackenzie, 
Mr. Blair Is not well.” 
Jean started up. 
Dear Miss Ripley ;—Thanks for Mrs. T. J. B.’s 
profession of friendship, wdilch I assure her Is duly 
appreciated, for are not the readers aud contribu¬ 
tors of the Rural congenial friends, belonging to 
the same family circle ? 
Having rare vines on movable frames Is a new 
and improved way of keeping them In a conserva¬ 
tory, and It would be well always to follow this 
plan. 
In reply to E. II., on Hygienic Food-under Miss 
Maple's department—1 agree with her that it 
would be well If we paid more attention to a sub¬ 
ject that so closely affects our health and comfort. 
We are a nation or dyspeptics, the result of the 
over-indulgence of our appetites, ot fast living and 
of our not taking sufficient time to masticate our 
food. I consider eggs, when baked in custards aud 
pies, as Indigestible as when, hard boiled or baked 
i give below some recipes tor pics and puddings, 
which arc boih healthful and digestible. 
I consider the use of aaloratus objectionable in 
all kinds of cookery, while at the hygiene insti¬ 
tutions they discard the use or salt, and consider 
It a poison — I claim that It Is w hen used to 
excess but, I would give tbc preference to it 
rather than to saleratus. cannot some of our 
Rural readers give us a substitute tor the use of 
sale ruins, and thereby help make our food more 
healthful and still as palatable? 
I consider apple pudding one of the most simple 
and substantial or puddings, and it may be made 
in various ways, viz: Pare, and core nice, tart 
apples and put them In a deep dish, make a batter 
same as lor griddle cakes, pour over the apples 
aud bake. This Is to be eaten with cream or syrup, 
according to taste, or fine a deep dish with crust, 
made as lor biscuit, fill with apples, place on a top 
crust same as tor pie; or take bread-crumbs 
soaked In milk as A substitute for a crust; pour 
this on top or stewed apples and eat with sauce. 
Next l w’ould place 
TAl’JOCA, OR SAOO PUDDING. 
Put one teacup of tapioca or sago In three pints 
of water, let It stand where it, will be quite warm, 
but not. warm enough to cook; slice half a dozen 
good-sized, tart apples, then take one teacup of 
sugar, sprinkle In cinnamon aud bake until It be¬ 
comes a jolly. 
BAKED INDIAN PUDDING. 
Eight tablespoonfnls of Indian meal stirred Into 
three plots of scalding mlllc; add one pint of cold 
milk, a large handful of wheat Hour-; when cold, 
add one egg. half a cup ot molasses, or more It 
liked, and sliced sweet apples. Bake slowly for 
three hours, 
COHN STARCH PUDDING. 
Six tablespoonfuls of corn starch to one quart 
of milk, scald the mlllc and add the cornstarch 
dissolved In cold milk; boll a few minutes, stirring 
briskly. This same may be cooled In molds. 
SNOW pudding. 
Make boiled custard of two eggs; use only the 
yolks in a quart of milk. Skin and core baked 
apples, beat thoroughly with tin* whites or eggs to 
a suit foam, add sugar and lemon ; pour tins upon 
the custard when cool. 
Any kind of pie will be hygienic if made of plain 
crust, as heretofore described under my signature 
In past numbers of the Rural. Will give recipe 
for very nice gems, if desired. M akion. 
[We shall be very happy to receive the “gem” 
recipe,— Eds.] 
A DEFENSE OF THE C. L S, C 
In an article “For Women”—In the Rural of 
October 25— headed, “ His Method vs. Her Method,” 
there is, perhaps unintentionally, a wrong impres¬ 
sion given of the Chautauqua Literary and Scien¬ 
tific Circle, and Hs work. I have the good fortune 
to be one of several thousands who are engaged In 
that course of reading. The list of books given for 
this year’s work looks more formidable to one who 
knows nothing of them, than the books ttumoselves 
on our tables. 
To make the matter clear to those who know 
nothing or Chautauqua methods, it should be 
explained that the “ Text nooks* Instead of “ con- 
htlmtiiig” other studies, are admirableIItile books 
with the most “systematic” arrangement of lead¬ 
ing racts, review outlines, etc., which afford the 
best, possible aids to the memory. They are the 
best representations 1 have ever seen of *• mutt inn 
f n parvo ” and are arranged especially for Lhe 
Chautauqua work. Any one who has examl: ed 
no more than TexL Books Nos. 4 and 5, prepared 
by the honored president or the C. L. a. c , would 
know that “want Of system" could only be at¬ 
tributed to him with the greatest Injustice, even 
though they were Ignorant of the greal work in 
which he is engaged and its system of systems. 
We count literature a part of the history of every 
people, so the first three books named lorm one 
study. Tbe others are grouped lu like manner. 
Three of the studios are continuations and a review 
of last year’s reading, so there are but three new 
subjects for those who read Bust year’s course. 
Those who commence this year will later on read 
what we had last year, and those subjects will 
then only be new in part to them. The “ postal 
cards" comprise but a small part or our *■ reports,” 
as those of us realize who have filled out last year’s 
“memorauda,” 
The quotation given from the ** official circular," 
like many a quotation taken apart from its sur¬ 
roundings, and what calls it forth, might produce 
unfair judgment, while In reality the words were 
“words fitly spoken ” to cheer and encourage many 
a one unaccustomed to Habits oi study who would 
have otherwise been discouraged. I do not wish 
In the least to retlect upon the Boston society for 
the Encouragement of Studies at Home; but If 1 
understand the matter the C. L. S. C. with Its 
broader platform and less rigorous requirements, 
reaches many thousands In our country w ho would 
otherwise not pursue any systematic, or even 
profitable course of reading, aud who would not as 
yet select any one study for a specialty, it Is not. 
expected that forty minutes per day will enable 
“ the student to perfect himself in the fist of studies 
given,” but It Is expected It will provide for the 
careful reading of the books, and those who can 
give more Ume can, of course, do more thorough 
work. The tour year.-, course of reading will give 
a wider range of thought, a taste for better liter¬ 
ature, and an Incentive to higher attainments, to 
many a grateful member of the circle. 
A NOVEL BOUQUET HOLDER 
We present herew ith, an engraving of a very 
pretty little bouquet holder that may be effec¬ 
tively used In the window's of parlor and sitting- 
room, or before a toilet glass. It Is designed to 
bold a small bouquet 01 choice flowers, and should 
behlled with water to keep them fresh. It Is a ball 
of brown glass, of the kind used by sportsmen to 
shoot at for practice, and measures about tlire e 
