The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-06-28

ed the duration of his visit and would by
general request deliver his famous lee
ture. Up the Orinoco." at the Presby-
terrain church parlors the next Saturday
evening, whereat there was hearty ap-
plause.
After the Trenhomcs and Joe reached
home and just before they separated for
the ni.,ht Mabel turned to Joe and said:
Pardon me, Mr. Brtton, but I'm sure
there must be something interesting
about that scar on your forehead. How
did Won get it,
Prem cat replied Joe with faint
smile. Good night
Mabel felt for moment as if she had
been rudely rebut(cd. Then she smiled.
He must have guessed that Professor
Pelton told me 10 ask him., she muir
INJURED TO herself.
The Saturday evening Of the lecture
Joe seemed unusually quiet and preoccu-
I pied and to Mabcl's great surprise when
he joined them in the hall prepared TO
start for the church he was in evening
clothes.
II suppose he doesn't know any bet
4 ter" thought Mabel. Papa ought TO tell
/ him"
/ 1t was n fine audience The culture of
! -hHtAA was AN4lN represented. anu AudlI
was town of unusual literary acquire
ments. At just $ o'clock Judge Graham
/ stepped on the platform. He was alone.
You will all deeply regret to hear" he
said, that Professor pclton cannot ad-
/ dress us this evening. He was called
away late this afternoon by a telegraph
message informing him Of the serious i'll
ness of member of his family. 1t was
I TOO llfa a puupup1n a ,,,1f,,,,,v,,,+ %
/ the lecture, and, besides. the professor
arranged for a substitute 1t appears
that the Youngest member of that Orino-
co expedition is Il guest in our town. At
the urgent request of the professor he
4 has consented to tell the audience the
story of that i'll fatcd quest. take unu-
sual pleasure in Introducing one who
starved and thirsted with that devoted
little band of scientists and who was
to quote the professors own words-the
bright particular hero of the whole affair
Let me introduce Mr.. Joseph Britton."
Then Joe arose from beside Mabel and
went forward to the PLATFORM He was
pale but self possessed. and he looked re-
markably well in his evening clothes At
least that was Mabel'S inward comment
Somehow her heart suddenly warmed in
her cold little bosom ut the thought that
/ this tall young fellow was their guest
they could even claim a distant relation
ship.
Joe began by saying that he was labor
ing under double handicap, the profess
/ sor'S request and now the judges words
of Introduction. He would do the best he
could. however. though it would he but a
| substitute at the best. Then he told
simple, matter of fact talk. and a poor
about the formation of the expedition. of
! the university men who composed il. of
the scientific facts they hoped to prove.
lie told of the voyage from San Fran.
cisco, of the landing. of the start for the
interior. Then came the story of their
hardShips and their sufferings The sun
burned them, the fever wrenched them.
the natives harasSed them at every turn.
But they persevercd. Higher and higher
they assembled the mighty stream. At
last their purpose was accomplished. and
they started on the return journey. He
told how jaguar had leaped upon Pro.
fcsSor Pelton and how it was beaten off.
lie told of the stealing of the boat and
how 1t became necessary for a man of
| the party to@swim the river under fire
from the natives arrows and recover the
craft. He told of the final wreck of the
boat in the rapids and how they strug.
gled ashore. He told of the death of
Brown and of his lonely burial in the
twilight in a little clearing in the midst
of that tropical verdure. He told of the
building of the raft and of the long drift.
ing Journey down the stream.
He told how there was but one man
left in the stricken little band with sufIi.
clent strength to steer the raft clear Of
distractions and to minister to the wants
and cheer the failing spirits of his fever
rackcd comr p. Then he told how they
finally reached the prayed for sea and
| friends.
And somehow, though he said naught
of himself. the audience seemed to know
that Joe was the man who fought the
| jaguar, and who swan the river. and
who steered the raft to final safety.
1t was the simple story of heroic de-
votion to the cause of science that has
been told so many times, and yet when he
finished his recital the audience was very
still for moment or two. Then every
body seemed determined to 90 forward
and shake hands with the young fellow
When Joe was finally permitted to es
cape, he found Mabel waiting for him at
the door. Her eyes were very bright and
shining. and she greeted him with
charming smile.
Papa and mamma have gone on
ahead" she explained, "and | said ]
would wait for you"
THAT was very good of you" said Joe. |
with heightened color.
Mabel took his arm, and they walked |
on in silence.
81 want to say" murmured Mabel |
presently, that II think | have mis-. |
understood you. and-and I'm sorry"
81 don't think ! quite understand"
said honest Joe.
I'm glad if you don't" said Mabel.
Anyway, feel better now I've told I
you And then with delightful feminine |
inconsequence she added, Besides. you ;
know you haven't treated me in Il really |
friendly way"
Joe laughed in pleasant fashion.
Il was only carrying out my dear old |
aunty's oft repeated advice" he said.
And what was thatY'
ITO resolutcly turn away from tcmpta.
ton" quoth Master Joe.
That's very nice OF you" said Mabel
softly.
1t seemed like an entirely irrelevant re
mark, and yet Joe appeared to under.
stand it.
And they walked still slower.-Cleve.
land Plain Dealer.
Disrneii's Answer.
at always gave her royal highncss
great pleasure to meet Mr.. Disraeli She