ard--and I thought I'd come home. Abby tells me that she is
engaged to you--that she has given her solemn promise."

"That's what she has," said Andrew firmly. "That's what she has, and
Mis' Dobson has set her mind on it--and I never refuse her nothin'. I
don't want nothin' to reproach myself for. You went off and left that
girl--the finest girl in town--and near about broke her heart. You ought
to be ashamed to show yourself now."

"I am, Mr. Dobson," said the young man gravely, "and I deserve to lose
her. But when I heard that she was engaged to you--as it were--it
brought me to my senses, and, since you are my rival, I am going to ask
you to be magnanimous. She is so good and true that I believe she will
forgive me and take me back if you will release her--you and Mrs.
Dobson. You wouldn't hold her while Mrs. Dobson looks so smart as she
does to-night--"

"No, Andrew, we won't hold her. It wouldn't be right. She's
young--and--and real good lookin', and it would be a pity to spile a
good match for her. We oughtn't to hold her--here she is. We will
release you from your engagement to--to us, Abilonia--and may you be
happy! I'm feelin' a sight better lately; that last bitters you got for
me is a wonderful medicine, Andrew. I presume to say I'll be round on my
feet yet, before long, and be able to take as good care of you as you
have took of me all these years. It's a powerful medicine, that root
bitters. We better be goin', Andrew. They've got things to talk about.
Good night, Abilonia. Good night, Willy."

THE KAISER'S FAREWELL TO PRINCE HENRY

BY BERT LESTON TAYLOR

Auf wiedersehen, brother mine!
Farewells will soon be kissed;
And, ere you leave to breast the brine,
Give me once more your fist;

That mailed fist, clenched high in air
On many a foreign shore,
Enforcing coaling stations where
No stations were before;

That fist, which weaker nations view
As if 'twere Michael's own.
And which appals the heathen who
Bow down to wood and stone.

But this trip no brass knuckles. Glove
That heavy mailed hand;
Your mission now is one of Love
And Peace--you understand.

All that's American you'll praise;
The Yank can do no wrong.
To use his own expressive phrase,
Just "jolly him along."

Express surprise to find, the more
Of Roosevelt you see,
How much I am like Theodore,
And Theodore like me.

I am, in fact, (this might