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About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1906)
MARION'S BRIGADE By MAJOR J. H. ROBINSON OIIAPTBH IX.- (Continued.) Knto had nvcrtcd tier fnec, and thr colonel hml not yet. obtained n full view of hor feature, although lie hnd been udmlring her figure from tho first. "Excuse me," flnld Kate, "I h"V but nn Indifferent face." "Swords ntul pistols, whnt a silvcrj Villi! t" (.vplnhncd tlio cnllnnt colonel. "Gome, no suss, cap'til" cried .foe, warning', riding nearer to Kate. "Ho a little careful," retorted Cunning- liam. Miss Marrln turned lier face toward tlio Tory leader, and the brigni moon shining upon It rendered Hk fair fea tures trrfccl.ly viable. "What, loveliness!" exclaimed tin' colo nel, Involuntarily, nnd at tbe wmiic time laid bis band on the bridle rein of it tor. "Hands off, cap'n," wild Joe. "Hack, fellow!" tbundered Cunning- 1...... In rx t.niifllltl. lllllll, 111 l . "1 Khnll protect ber with my lire, until f rf "Rn unlet, or I'll firel" exclaimed IhjJ colonel, leveling his piHtol at Sawyc.r breast. , , . "I see you nro nn ollleor," Bald IvnU, nri,.iv "n.ut 1 trust yon nre a gallant Kcntleman. It uh piihs on without fur- "If I bad not wen that exquisite face, ilnn. von tniidit have none on as fast and an far as you pleased ; but the sight of ho much beauty ban made hk- a Ulll.. irlil.lv." Joe spurred his horse, and be reared and pressed hnrd against the colonel, which greatly enraged blm, and bo dirt M.nn.n.J Ida nhitol at Kntc'fi defender. The ball took effect In his right side, nml tuflirHnif n hIIkIU wound, chine! off Itl.rvnl lrwtntr nnv serious Injury. Joo ttiBtfintlv drew a heavy bone pistol from tho breast iockot of his cont, and bend ing forward, gave Cunningham a nttin nlng blow upon tlo liend, which knocked blm scuselcw. "Sour on. Queen Kato 1" cried Joe. Victor, feeling himself at liberty onco more, sprang over tho body of tho colo nel and awe.pt onward at his best speed- "It's no time, to let tho grans grow under our feet. Cunningham will be up and nftcr ns with his fellows," added Sawver. They had galloped forward for ten or fiftocn minutes, when .loo stopped and said be bellcvod they bad taken tho wrong rnml. I In examined the locality as well as bo could, and was still in doubt In regard to tho matter. This circumstance porplexcd Kate greatly, for slw felt that overv moment was precious. "Decide oulckly." she exclaimed, "for this delay makes mo exceedingly nervous." "I'll oley you. Quuen Kato, as soon nn nosslhle. It ntrikes me that It would bo better to stay where we are than to co In tho wrong direction. Joe now dismounted, and requesting Kato to hold bin horse, surveyed tbe lo cality more minutely. In a short time ho returned and Informed ber that they bad left tho main and direct road, but that the one they were now in would lead them into it ngain. They proceeded with less speed and some uncertainty; ami tho latter feoling became ho strong in the minds of both that they were induced to halt for the second time. While Joe wit lrresoluto about going forward, an omin ous sound reached his ears, and not his only, but Kate's. "Tba tramp of many horses 1" exclaim ed the latter, In a suppressed tone of voice. "Cunningham's cutthroats,' said Saw yer. "What Is to be done?" asked Kate, promptly. "Think fast, Joe." "Remain where we are and twist to luck. Perhaps they'll take tbe other road, and In that case we shall stand a pretty fair chance of getting clear of them." "And If wo should not elude them, what then?" asked Kate, earnestly. "The case is very plain, w far nn I am concerned. I shall be shot down on tbo spot, because 1 struck tho villain, Cunningham." Kato for the first time felt something analogous to fear. She beard the clatter of hoofs, and felt but too kwenly that bor enterprise was in peril, lint slf? was far too unselfish to forget poor Joe Saw yer; his genuine gratitude and rough Jdndness hnd already bad tbe effect to make her regard him with feelings of friendship. "I'm thinking of you, Joe," said Kate, rently. "Bless you, Miss Maptin, don't trouble yourself to think of me; 1 couldn't die In a better cause. I've got some pretty Jittle Instruments about me, which imt iiapa you'd better take. Here they are. )lou perceive they are a brace of small and beautifully linished pocket pistols; and they nre ho neat and diminutive with al, they seem to bo made on purpose for lady. It's very evident to me that ibero's considerable real spirit and cour age about you, notwithtsanding your sex ; and if worst should come to worst, what could hinder you from using one of those cunning little follows r "I thank you very much 1" exclaimed Kato. taking tlio pirtols eagerly. "Don't fear 1 know howlo use them ns well as you do. I'm not such n poor belplcBS creature as thoso of my sex ate generally imposed to be." "Hear the blackguards! They Bhake tbo ground with their hard rldlu." "Have tlwy taken tbe other road, do you think V" inquired Kate, hi n whls per. "I boliuve they have. How lucky ! Hear them thunder along." "What if they should divide, and some of them come this wnyr asnei rune, hurriedly. They have!" exclaimed .lor. I tils i . . . I I..t.t.. ...,tnl, way, unto- wits way, iiuimj mu""''" behind yonder clump of trees." Sawyer caught hold or Kate's norse ny the bridle and hurried blm from tbe road toward a small growth of wood, i tiey bad scarcely nwide this change, when some of the horsemen came in sight, urg ing their titccds by a free application oi Keep your horse quiet noni mm firmly the least nob' will betray us i whlspred Sawyer. "Tiicre goes un- ningham." . , "Dash on, mrn !" cried Ounnmgnam. 1 . "Ton dollars to tlx- man who uikcs ner unharmed, und ten more to tno man who shoots the rascal that is witn tier. Av. iiv. coUnel!" shouted the men. and prevised on with redoubled zeal. In a few moments they had paww-d on. nnd Kate and Sawyer remained undiscovered. We'll clvo thorn the mitten tins time, Queen Kate!" exclaimed Joe, joyfully. We'll retrace our steps a nine aim mite another road, less direct to Marions ,K,,nti. Cnnn nirhnm will waste norse - - . . .... , .. ...... flesh in vain; and woe to tne nigs umi fall into his hands before he gets over liln riinnnolntmcut. W i. if.ii rle nv. . oe led tne way in ui ... - t direction indicatld, followed closely ny his fair companion. In a few minutes they reached tbe spot where tlio oincr road diverged to the right of those taken bv Cunningham and his dragoons, and gallopid aw.iy in Iwttcr spirits, over a miiooihcr nortion of country. "Now you can test tho speed ot tinu hors." wild Sawyer. Hark. Joe! 1 can bear the clatter oi hoofs anain." "Some of them are coming Hack to iry rhim. 1'hev seem to lie in earnest. That's it put him to his best; now you do it in superb style, do it, my queen 1 In ten minutes tno tramp oi running ham's dragoons had ceased to reach the cars of Kate Martin; and Joe Sawyer was in ecstasies on account of her splen did riding, and tho remarkable progress they were making. CHAPTER X. The dnv was just breaking, and the "tarnal critters" were "straightened up "Omit' tbev make a heavenly appwir id Cantain Nick to Forstall "Tbev look very well Indeed, replied the latter. "Hold m eves right I" said llawes. "All mounted at last," remarked Hen ilnrHOii. Yes. and It does my eyes good to look . . i 1 ta 'em. Lieut. Anderson, ouu nnu even 'em: and let tbe even numbers fall buck . i !1 h x ouces to the rear, .loan nmiui, .vu look as If you was a settin' on a stone wall; let down your stirrup, straighten V(.rm.lf and try to look unspeakable. "It's no use to put It off." said Ren Rowan to Frank, "I'm going to pulverize him." "It wouldn't be right, Ren," returned Frank. "Rut it's my duty, sir; and my tender conscience won't let me procrastinate no Ionizer." rejoined Rowan. "lie's settin' out yonder under a tree; and there'll be a good chance to pitch into mm. it you want to see iniquity rewurded, just keep your eye on me." "Jones, what's your horse tryin' to do?" asked Captain llawes. He's a colt, cap'n, as hasn't been weaned long," replied Jones, grasping tbe animal's mane to keep himself steady. 1 "Well, stick to him for the sake of your country and humanity generally," added Captain Nick, encouragingly. I'n- fortunately, however, for "humanity at that crisis tbe colt made an airy and highly original evolution not laid down in any military work then extant, and poor Jones was cast like an untimely fig. "Up, and at him again," said I laws. He'll be a Rueephalns as soon as you're an Alexander. Hear rank close up. Front, ditto; leave about twelve inches between you. Music by the band. Com puny forward inarch !" While these exercises were transpiring Reu Rowan had walked to the sjot where Job Dawson was sitting quietly beneath n tree. Wishing to see what the result of that movement might be, Frank For stall and Henderson slowly followed him Job Dawson, said Rowan, deliber ately pulling off liis coat. "I have come to do n duty which I owe to my coun try." 'Whnt Is It, good Renjamin?" asked Dawson, 'Don't 'good Renjamin' me! I've told you about It often enough," retorted Ren sullenly. Whnt Is thy business, friend?" inquir ed .lob, patiently, the second time. "It's my painful duty to pulverize you," nnswered Rowan. "So take off that ridiculous wenjKm and try to defend yourself like n man." "Dost thou intend me personal vio lence, good Renjamin 7" resumed Dawson, calmly. "I intend to give you an all-fired drub bin," exclaimed Rowan. "What evil hast thou found in me?" asked Job. "You're a humbug generally,' remind ed Rowan. "Ixxik out 1 I'm going to hit you in mo jett eye '." ,I"1 Al.t. I. - ... . .... ouunui una tuMip ue jnii ou till a more convenient soason?" interrogated Dawson. " 'Twould be sinful to nut It off half a minute kmgor. 8o lie careful of your lookers.' And Rownn made a pubs at Job's race, which he parried. "Ve,rHy, If I must defend myaeU, have no power to gainsay thee; but my soul abhorreth contention, for I am n man of pence," he said quietly, turning aside Rowan's rapidly dealt blowij with out any apparent exertion. "I Is-nr thee no malice, good ncnjnmin, . . . I. I. . .A ..f ... vet I Will o!-e tliee lo I lie oesi oi iiij bumble abilities." While Dawson was uttering these in his usual mild manner he raised his great fist and gave Rownn a blow under tno ... 1.1 tl ..,.lf..l t .tlkt.fi!! ear tlutl mane mm n-nm m-inii. j..--and fall heavily at Forst nil's feet. "Verilv. I am a peaivmnker, and naro no nleasure in contention," added Job, seating himself calmly upon the grass. Frank anil Henderson lifted up nen Rownn: lie opened bis eyes, and in a tew si'conds aplM-ared perfectly conscious of what had taken place. I have come to see 'iniquity reward ed,' and have 'kept my eye on you, re marked Forstall, Ironicavy. "I Inst thou pulverized inn enough, goo.1 Renjamin?" asked Dawson, witli great simplicity. Rowan sprang quickly to bis feet ami walked away without any reply. For stall and Henderson returned to the pa rade Kroiind. and presently the entire brigade, now numbering over one hun dred, turned to drill. All fell into the ranks, and Job and Ren were wen side by Hide as usual; hut Ukj latter, it was observed, had a swollen head and fnce. Nick llawes rode up to tk'n. Marion and remarked, for the HCond time, that the "Independent Fire-Haters made a most heavenly appearance now they were straightened up on horses," and the gen eral Hinilingly replied that "they certain ly did." It was at this narticular period that Kate Martin and Joe Sawyer rode Info camp with foaming and panting steeds. "The divine Kate!" exclaimed Homier- son, Involuntarily. I'here's that traitor feller," said Hawkes. "Th it's den. Marion," said tbe ser geant of the guard, who had conducted Kate ou to tho field. Kate turned toward the general, and the latter, brave ns he was, nptKareU somewhat bewildered and confused by her dazzling beauty. He gallantly doffed his 'eather cap nnd begged to have the pleas ure of knowing how far he could sene so fnlr a maiden. With n L-lowini: cheek Knto related in detail the object of her visit, describing us well as she could the place of rendez vous, and making such remarks as her in formation would justify in regard to tne numbers of the Royalists. Joe Sawyer did not leave Kate's side for a moment, and seemed to consider it a iKst of lion or: and the jrallunt Mr. Henderson would hnvn roLMinli'il It In the same light. Ho envied Joe his situation, and as soon a she had finished speaking with the reii' era! he advanced to address her. "Stand back, nnd you can see just ns well,' said Joe, evidently deeming his iniiiroarhps an intrusion. Miss Martin smiled, nnd gracefully acknowledged Hen derson's salutation. The latter then for tnallv nresented her to the general. "The brigade will have the honor oi escorting you to Rocky Creek, Miss Mar tin," said Marion. "As you nre so for tunate ns to know Mr. Henderson, I will confide you to his care until the brigade is in readiness to move forward. I re gret that you cannot find among us they comforts which you must necessarily need after so much exertion; we live as we can, and not as we would. Our ene mies, should yhu visit them, could con duct you to n marquee, comfortable and even luxurious; but the friends of lilwrty are obliged to sleep on the ground, with no other canopy than that of the arching heavens. To my rough tent, Mr. Hender son will now conduct you, and no one will intrude upon you while there. Such courtesy well befits a brave chieftain and n gallant gentleman," re plied Kate. "A cause so just makes any place endurable, and the post of danger honorable. I shall be as happy in your lent as tbe proudest Royalist in his lux urious marquee. Now, Mr. Henderson, I gladly accept you ns my cicerone to the tent." "I can assure you that he is well con tent," remarked the general, pleasantly. "I confess to the charge," rejoined Henderson, and touching his cap, turned from the general nnd conducted Kato to the place designated ; while Joe Sawyer followed with a sullen brow, jealous that another should occupy the plilce which he had aasunied. leaving the brigade to march to Rocky Creek at their leisure, we will look after some of our other characters. Mary Adair and Ruth Strickland we're on inti mate terms. This being the case, that they should visit each other would be a natural result. we find Miss Adair at Mr. Strickland's. The capture of (iaincy and Cunningham had given the former great pleasure, inasmuch as that event effected the liberation of ber brotli vr. and bhu hoiied freed her from fur ther impertinence from the colonel. As consequence, she exjs'rienced consul erable uneasiness when she heard of tliu escape of the latter. This feeling of anx iety was considerably increased by cer tain rumors, which had reached her ears, in regard to various remarks, relating jt ) herself, which he hud made in the presence of severa. iversous. Those who had overltcnrd the; observations bad re lcntcd them ngain to others, and so they finally reached the oars of Miss Adair. (To be continued.) WIT Of THE YOUNGSTERS. MARY'S HAT. Teacher Elmer, can you tell tno what tbo largest diamond In the wor! I is callvtlV Elmer Yes, ma'am. Tlio aw. Teacher -Johnny Can you tell tne what a hypocrite Is? Joliunj Yes, nia'aiu. It's a boy whnt comes to sclvooi with n smile on bis face. Mnmma Rut, dear, the good book tells us to love our neighbors as our selves. IJttle Ethel Yen, limiiiina, but Iieople didn't live in Hnta then. Mamma Are you asleep, Hobby? Robby Why do you ask, inanuna? Mamma Rceauw! If you are awake you must take your medicine. Hobby Oh, I'm asleep. Small Tommy The teacher wanted to box my ears this nmridiig. Crandma How do you know ho did? Small rummy 'Cause be wouldn't have IxjxciI em If lie hadn't wanted to. Some one asked Gale, aged nine, whnt slie wanted for Christmas. "Noth ing," replied Gale, " 'cauw; I don't like anything but dolls and I've got two or three of them, and another otic would just Ik; another child to sew for." Ofllee Roy Hoo-oo! hoo-oo-oo! The Rush What's the matter, Jitntnle? Of Hoc Hoy My g-gnituliua'H d-dead. The Ross Well, don't cry. We've all got to die Montetlme. flllice Roy H but she s g-goln' t' be b-hurlcd on a lHiulldny. Roo-boc-oo ! "Mnmma," said little ElsU as sin looked up from her book of Hlbh ftorlos, "I don't believe Solomon was as rich as people think." "Why not, my dear?" asked her mother. "Reeause. replied tbe small Investigator, "this book tays 'he slept wltJi his fathers,' Mid If he was so awfully rich I guess he would have had a bed of his own." CAT'S ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE. Its Honl ISIYort to Drown Itself In a llncl.cl of Wntor. Do animals ever commit suicide? The point is raised by a eorresiHmdent who vouches for the following facts: "A small tabby esit In our iHissession recently developed nn affectum of the eyes, which evidently caused It great pain. We did what we could for the cat. which 1 a great favorite with the lunlor memlors of the family. Pussy's eyes, however, continued to give ber trouble, and she wandered about the Ikhiso In a peevish, irritable frame of mind, rejecting all affectionate over tures. One day last wcck one ot tne maid5' left a pail of water at the foot of some steps leading to the garden Two members of the family saw pussy deliler:itely walk down the steps Ftralgbt into the-bucket, and to all ap nominees calmlv reslsin herself to t - drowning. She was rescued, dried and set In her basket by the fireside, to be warmed back to a more reasonable view of life. "So long as a watch was kept uikhi her pussy stayed by the fire. The tno meat it was relaxed she again walked into the bucket of water, which was still in its original position. Tills time the cat would certainly have drowned had she not been observed In time. The fact that she deliberately went twice to the water would seem to indicate that even tabbies can tire of life and wish to put an end to an existence which has become more of a burden than a pleas ure." London Mall. It Ilroniclit About n Great Change In tlic Wn-fl tit a Household. It was such l pretty house; yet tho visitor, a flchool friend long absent from the town, wondered a little. Every- . thing was m simple, bo cheap frankly, V daintily, unpretentious and charmingly cheap; but still, cheap. She had sup posed her hostess could afford about the same kind of furnishings her oth er friends had. Her expression be trayed her. "No, we haven't lost money lately, and Frank Isn't parsimonious," said the mistress of the house, pleasantly, glancing nlKiut her. "I fee what you're thinking of, Ixniise, and I can CM'?!" It In two words : Mary's luit." CfF '.Mary's hat!" echoed Iiuise. "Why, v hat on earth " 'FiVorytlilng. Mary was my maid two years ago; a capable, neat, pretty gin Mid, I thought,' a sensible one, for I knew she was saving money. Then she bought a hat a large velvet hat, really handsome, and loaded with lovely Ions ostrich plumes. It was becoming to her. too. as far as looks went ; she was a picture in It, but it took all her sav ings. 'Well, I spoke to her about It cau tiously, for, after all, it was her per sonal all'alr but I sioke. She answer ed ine respectfully, hut quick as a flash: " es'm, I suppose It was a bit ex travagant; but then I've been wanting a bat like It ever since I was a girl, and I've earned It fair. Most of us are a hit extravagant for our fancies onco In a while, 1 supiKise, ma'am, but If wo pay for 'em, I don't see but we're In our rights.' " 'Our rights,' said I. 'Oh, yes. Rut some things may be suited to our scalo of living and some not. That's a really beautiful hat, Mary, but ' Well 1 stopped there. One maid in a small house can't help hearing and knowing a good deal, and Mary's eyo bad wandered expressively to a new eight-logged mahogany table we'd Just bought. We'd been pinching and plan ning and scrouging for months to buy it, too, and it was a beauty, but but but "Mary's look was a revelation. Ma hogany is permanent and velvet isn't; Frank's salary is more than Mary's wages; but, after all, does old mahog any furnitvre since we're not lucky enough to Inherit any suit our scalo of living? The incongruity was less flagrant, the extravagance less extreme, but, after all, wasn't It the same folly In essence? I couldn't lecture Mary on her hat ! "I told Frank how I felt, and ho was delighted. And that was another rev elation, because he'd been planning and pinching with me so willingly for tho table we'd bought and tho other t!'(Jfis we meant to buy, that I'd never dreMn ed what a relief it. would be to him to drop it all, and le contented with " she laughed again, and glanced about her again "Just this." '"Just this!'" cried Louise, enthusi astically, from the depths of a deep basket easy chair. "I should think you might be contented witli 'just this!' Your house Is charming!" 'We like It, and we are contented; and If once In a while we're tempted to buy anything too expensive to bo sensible, it's quite enough for either to admonish the other, 'Mary's hat!' " Youth's Companion. Kn in II In r. A large touring automobile contain ing a man ami his wife In a narrow road met a hay wagon fully loaded. Tbo woman declared that the farmer must back out, but her Husband con tended that she was unreasonable. 'Rut you can't back the automobile so far," she said, 'and I don t Intend to move for anybody, lie should have seen us." The husband pointed out that this was ImjKissible, owing to an abrupt turn In the road. "I don't care," she Insisted. "I won't move if we have to say here all night." The man In the automobile was start ing to argue the matter when the farmer, who had been sitting quietly on the hay, interrupted. "Never mind, sir," he exclaimed, "ni try to back out, I ve got one just like her at home." Philadelphia Ledger. Nol So lUlnd. "Dls here Cupid chile may be blind," said Uncle Kben, "but It do oeem to me dat he kin manage to spy out a heap o' beauty an' lovableness dnt aln' visible to de disinterested by stunder." Washington Star Sen I men t of tlio ScliooliiuiMcr. it Is difficult for tbo master of 11 nance and the politician to look each other In the eye without winking. A man may not be as bad as he Is painted, but he looks bad painted that way. Prosperity throws the fool into fits: adversity makes him melancholy. There are some things even the pros ldent of a university may not know. Bargain counters are for the blind. American Illustrated Magazine. vrlth Bide- Habit. Rrown What is the matter Jonts? He is goVng .around ways. Smith- He's living In a flat now and got that habit from clipping between the. furniture. -Puck. lie Wim AVine. Youg Raclielor You itMide a funny error In congratulating tin? bride's father Instead of the bridegroom. Old Benedict No, I didn't. I've daughter of my own, and 1 know what jthey coot IHuBtruted Bits. St for StmiiKtirn. "What in the world does that mean?" asked the traveler through a sparsely settled region on the Cape. "There's no such place on my road-map." The man whom he addressed first took a leisurely survey of the traveler ind his horse, and then turned his eyes toward tne weatner-neaieii sign which bore the single word, "TOL- PIM." "That lift a name," he said, with dig nity; "It's Jest an indication. It means, I'o long Pond one mile. "It's plain enough to folks from near by that's hunting for the ixmrt, and wo don't reckon on strangers taking much interest." OsttMltlltioll. "I understand that Mr. Flayneboy carries home a market basket with beef and eggs and all the rest of tho day's dinner In full view !" "Yes," replied Mr. Cunirox. "Ho seems to take great pleasure in a vul gar display of wealth." Washington Star. Tin; m-iiNon Why. The flattered minor poet was fishing for compliments. "Hut I can't see," he murmured, with affected modesty, "why you should ask 111' IVU HtJ kit! IVl 'at "you are the only one who can write it." Cleveland leader. A lnree. Bacon I pee they are playing a piece called 'The Duol" hi Nw York. Do you know what It Is like? Egbert No ; but If It repiwouts one of those French duels I guess It's a farce. Yonkers Statesman. Pay a man of fifty a compliment, and when ho wains away he will car ry himself as If he were ten years younger.