"Not this hag, but yo' own true love, Brother Mayberry. Come, whut do you say?" The preacher dropped upon his knees. The woman advanced a few steps. The preacher heard some one at the door. Was it the justice of the peace whom the woman had under her control? A man stepped into the room. "What does this mean?" he asked "This horrible creature is going to kill me if I don't marry her," the preacher replied. "Are you the justice of the peace?" The man laughed. "No, I'm no 'squire. Goin' ter kill you, eh? But what with?" "That awful horse-pistol." "That's no pistol. It's simply a stick. W'y this is one of her favorite games. Kill you! Why she never hurt a thing in her life." "How about Patterson's boy?" the preacher asked. "He's all right. I seed him this mawnin'." "Yes, but she killed old Martin." "Did she? I saw him not more than three hours ago. Come, Tildy, go on away." She put the crooked stick under her apron, and, without saying a word, glided out into the darkness. The preacher lifted his hands and uttered a fervent prayer. NOTE.--Riders of MONARCH BICYCLES say they are the very "Poetry of Motion" and a never-ending delight. * * * * * THE SONG OF THE "No. 9." My dress is of fine polished oak, As rich as the finest fur cloak, And for handsome design You just should see mine-- No. 9, No. 9. I'm beloved by the poor and the rich, For both I impartially stitch; In the cabin I shine, In the mansion I'm fine-- No. 9, No. 9. I never get surly nor tired, With zeal I always am fired; To hard work I incline, For rest I ne'er pine-- No. 9, No. 9. I am easily purchased by all, With installments that monthly do fall, And when I am thine, Then life is benign-- No. 9, No. 9. To the Paris Exposition I went, Upon getting the Grand Prize intent; I left all behind, The Grand Prize was mine-- No. 9, No. 9. At the Universal Exposition of 1889, at Paris, France, the best sewing machines of the world, including those of America, were in competition. They were passed upon by a jury composed of the best foreign mechanical experts, two of whom were the leading sewing machine manufacturers of France. This jury, after exhaustive examination and tests, adjudged that the Wheeler & Wilson machines were the best of all, and awarded that company the highest prize offered--the GRAND PRIZE--giving other companies only gold, silver, and bronze medals. The French government, as a further recognition of superiority, decorated Mr. Nathaniel Wheeler, president of the company, with the Cross of the Legion of Honor--the most prized honor of France. The No. 9, for family use, and the No. 12, for manufacturing uses, are the best in the world to-day.