MY LAPY F I
THE SUTM
A IFnlMottEn AimMvm&iry Wair Stony
COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY A. C McCLURG fic CO.
CHAPTER XVII.
TALKING TO JEAN.
SHE looked at nio In strange be
wilderment, her checks flushed,
her breath rapid.
"I I do not quite understand;
you you mean Calvert Dunn?"
Certainly not You forget I have
gjready overheard your opinion of the
nontenant My reference was to Col
cfljel Donald."
"Oh!" tho exclamation of surprise
came through her parted lips without
effort at restraint "To Colonel Don
ald? You mean"
"That I am not blind to your feeling
toward him Not only your actions,
bat your words as well, have convinc
ed me that he is more to you than
any of us. Am I not correct?"
"1 deny the right of Lieutenant King
tff question me."
rtBut not that of your husband.
Tffcis relationship, oddly as it came
about, disagreeable as it may bo to
you. surely entitles mo to know the
troth."
She hesitated, her lips tightly com
pressed, as though thus holding back
ber first Impulse to answer.
''Why do you ask this?"
"Because you are legally my wife,
because my heart also claims you, and
I cannot give you up without cause."
"With cause you will? With cause
you will renounce all claim upon me,
relinquish nil effort to hold me through
tola form of marriage?"
rtYes," I assented soberly. "I will
eilHeavor to act the part of a gentle
ntin." There was a moment of silence in
yblch I looked at her, leaning against
the dresser with eyes lowered to the
floor. Tllat"iilie- "War enaTfussea,
floubtful, was plainly evident. Sud
dtmly her eyes uplifted to mine.
"Ask me your question, and I will
answer."
"Do you love Colonel Donald?"
8ne drew a quick breath, but there
was no faltering In her steadfast
Raze.
"I do." she said quietly. "Is that
an?"
"That is surely enough," bitterly, "as
leaves me nothing further to hope
for."
"Is that not best? Would you wish
me to act less frankly?"
There was something in the depth
of those eyes I could not fathom;
gexnething that seemed to contradict
the speech of her lips and to lure mo
on In unreasoulng hopefulness. Per
baps it was a trnce of coquetry in
her nature she was unable wholly to
restrain. Certainly I was not Insen
nlo to It
"I accept your word, Miss Dens
tow," I answered quietly, "because 1
mist, as I am pledged to it, and yet
I feel you are not entirely Indifferent
toward mo that you do core."
Iler Hps wero compressed, her hands
clasping and unclasping nervously.
"nave I ever said otherwise?"
"No, but I wish you might feel jus
rtfed In confessing. You say I am
u&t a prisoner. I am strong enough
now to travel, and after what you
BUve already said there Is no reason
for me to delay departure. Tho de
mands of war art not likely to throw
us together again, yet I wish I might
bpnr away with me some knowledge
that you do care, although It be ever
ho little. The real love of any mnn
njwst have meaning to the memory
of the one woman."
And it has will ever have to me."
There was an impulsiveness to these
words which sent my heart throbbing.
IIow how could I be different?"
nho went on, almost indlgnautly. "1
mb young, scarcely more than a girl,
sad this is nil new to me; I hardly
btnprehend the mcaulng of it But
bat I cannot forget No tale of ro
nmace could be stranger than the
by tn which we have been thrown
together. You are a Yankee, an en
tay to all I have been taught to re
ViJl. warfare, against my. peoptej
your first net a grievous wrong against
myself, and and yet I can t hate you
I've tried, but 1 can't! Oh, it is the
strangest thing! 1 even believe I
dread to have you go away, and yet
you must, and I wish you to."
"Then I slinll go, but you tempt me
strongly."
"Tempt you? how? to what?"
"Tempt me to urge that tho war
will some time be over; tempt me to
hopo I may be welcome when that
time comes."
"Have I said that?-have I said
anything like that?"
"No; only that you are not ludlffer-'
ent; that you do care a little. It is
not your words, but your eyes, which
encourage me."
"My eyes!" They dropped an in
stant, theu opened wide, gazing Into
my own.
"Yes; I cannot explain, yet they
seem to say I shall be welcome, even
while your Hps deny." I caught her
clasped hands in mine and separated
them. "Which tell the truth?"
She made no effort to draw away
from me, but laughed lightly.
"Neither, would be the safer guess,
she responded, "for both are masks.
You cannot understand me. Lieutenant
King, and It is useless to try. 1 do not
even understand ui.v3elf. I am a con
tinual contradiction. I dou't in the
least want to like you. but I do. I
know I wish you to go away, and and
yet It Is not so easy. You interest
i me; perhaps mat is wuy i nave bird
opposite moods. But really you ir.usl
not take rao too seriously either from
the eyes or the lips. I do not promise
that either tell all tho truth."
"Where, then, can I discover the
truth?"
"I am. sure. I do not know,)' innocent
ly. "Would yon expect to In a wo
mnn?"
"Yes. In a truo woman. But you
puzzle me. What are you a flirt?"
"Indeed no!"
"A coquette?"
"Certainly not, Lieutenant King."
"Then what?"
She was brenthlng heavily, her bands
still clasped tightly In mine.
"Only a rebel," she said softly, "an
uncompromising rebel."
"This would seem to imply that
politics alone Interfere."
"The spirit of rebellion might cover
much more; yet surely that is enough
to make anything further between us
impossible."
"But there will be an end to this
present conflict One side or tho other
must win."
"I I wish you would release my
hands, Lieutenant King," she said, ber
Hps trembling. "However this war
terminates It can make no difference
In our personal relations." Iler face
lit up with a quick smile, as she took
a step backward. "I am an uncom
promising rebel, you see; one of the
no surrender kind."
I stood erect gazing at her, unabio
to find any words for further argu
ment and thoroughly bewildered as to
her renl feeling toward me. I could
not determine whether the girl mocked
or Kioko In sincerity and could dis
cover nothing In the expression of her
face to yield me a clue. Perhaps sho
was better able to decipher my state
of niiud, for she said gravely;
"I wish you to go away beforo
either Colonel Donald or Lieutenant
Dunn returns. The latter will cer
tainly attempt to bold you prisoner,
and it will bo better for tho former
not to bo any further Involved in this
matter. If you depart now, I alone
am responsible for the escape, and 1
am perfectly willing to assume the
blame. You will find a horse waiting
for you In the front of the house."
"But do 1 leave you alone here?"
questioned, recalling the tragedies of
the past few nights.
"There is a guard of Dvo men about
the place, so you need have no fear
as to my safety. The others will
doubtless return before nightfall."
"This, then,, is to Jegoodbyr
asked, unable to refrain from one lasl
effort.
"Yes, Lieutenant King, it shall bo
a friendly parting, but good by never
theless." Sin; held out ber hand and I took it,
nh'iost uaconscious of the action, my
eyes looking Into hers.
"You will go? You will not make
this any Larder for me?" she asked, a
note of appeal In the soft voice.
"Yes. I will go."
I lifted the lurnd to my Hps. and she
drew back with flushed cheeks, hold
ing t'.ie door ajar to glance back at me.
"I thank you-goodby."
She was mine, and, feeling the re
action of weakness. 1 dropped ba U
aln li.to the chair, resting my head
upon one lianil.
It scmed to me that door, now
thditly closed, typlfled everything, and
I remalued staring at It. sitting mo
tionless, with hand shading my eyes.
It was nil over, then all over.
Iler heart belonged to another; she
had definitely told me so. and tuts
knowledge alone was sutliclent to de
cide tny action. 1 could no longer
trouble her and retain my self-respect.
I got up slowly, feeling greatw
weakness than 1 had been aware of
during the. rstW-r-rr or Hi
view, and advanced to where I could
survey myself In the mirror. Evidently
one of my nurses had bathed my face,
but my uniform Jacket was sadly
torn, and my appearance was not im
proved bv the cloth bound across my
forehead. I was gazing into the glass,
fascinated by its revelation, when, It
seemed to me, the door lending Into
tho hallway opened slightly. I could
perceive the movement within the
mirror, although it was noiseless.
Gazing into the mirror, 1 never moved.
waltinc motionless to discover who
this silent visitor might be. My hands
gripped the dresser, every nerve
throbbing, ns 1 saw that countenance
-tho haggard, ghostly lineaments of
the mad woman. Our eyes met in the
glass, met as If fascinated, each stand
Ing rigid from surprise, too greatly
startled to cry out. There was no
doubt as to the Insanity in those wild
orbs starinc at me. and for the In
stant I could not escape their power
They seemed to hold mo ns the snake
does the bird. Then my lingers grip
ped hard on the dresser, and I swung
around, desperately resolved to make
the creature captive. With my first
hostile move the door clicked shut,
and before I could touch tho latch
my foot caught the edge of a rug, and
I fell to my knees.
Could sho have gone down the stairs?
I sprang to tho railing and glanced
below. A guard, fully armed, stood
Just within the front door, leaning on
his rifle. No one could pass that way
unobserved. Then sho must bo biding
within one cf the rooms. So certain
OD1I MED MKT IN THB GLASS.
was I of this that I took time to the
search, opening door after door and
surveying each interior thus revealed
with a carefulness which convinced
uiejthey were absoluj:elx empty.
Thoroughly puzzled, I came out of
the last room, that In which the Irish
lad and I bad been Imprisoned, and,
scarcely knowing why, paused at the
head of the stairs to glance down once
again at the sentry stationed below.
Ho was apparently a young fellow,
roughly dressed In butternut, a wide
brimmed and rather disreputable hat
shading his face. He lifted bis eyes to
the stairs, and I nearly cried out In
startled amazement As I lived, it
was O'Brleul I would have believed
it merely a strange resemblance had
not the fellow Impudently grinned up
at me, making uso of a peculiar ges
ture, which left no doubt of his Iden
tity. O'Brien. In pretense of Confed
erate uniform, acting ns sentinel here
as one of Donald's guerrillas! What
had It to do with my escape with the
mystery of this house? And Jean
did she know? Could sho have passed
mid repassed without noticing the boy
and recognizing blm?
"For tho Lord's sake, sor," he whis
pered hoursely, "av ye'ro goln' to skip
now's the tolme, before the sergeant
gits here wld my relief."
"What do you mean? nave yon
been stationed there to let me slip
through V
"Sure, that's the program. It's the
girl that fixed it all up."
"Not Miss Denslow?"
"An who the dlvll else would It be?
Sure she picked me ont from the
whole buneh for the Job an' nlvcr
crackea a smonc.i)TrtTm?rn prettyotes
of hers was dancln. Just now whin
W Jt'vw
.BcP '
4&
""J5H3E
S3ew Cloods iknvins
must have room for them. A further reduction on all Winter Suits and Over
coats. You will need them yet this season and you'll be dollars ahead next
Fall. Just bring $10 in here and see what it will buy for you. now. A final
clearance in men's flannel shirts 95c see them in our west window. A few
pairs men's pants left at $1.99. Better get one. We are still selling ladies'
mannish shirts at $1 and $1.50.
sue catne down sue give me tne winu
nn' said 1 was to pass ye out an' ulver
say notliln'."
"But what arc you doing here?
What's the meaning of this masque
rade?" Tho fellow grinned, bringing his
hand to a salute.
"I'm Prlvato O'Brien, sor, of the
Confed army. I wus lift behind whin
me fellow sojers departed after the
late fracas. Sonietolmes I tell thlm I
belonged tu Dodd's sqund, sonietolmes
to Tlieilcn's, nn' thin agin I came over
here wld Llftenaut Dunn. Dlvll n
bit o' difference It makes so I belong
to some other out (It than the fellow
I'm talkln' to. It's an illlgaut liar I
am, begorra, an' that's how I hold tho
Job. Sure, thlm dlvlls shot the horso
undlier me, an' I came down In a bit
of bush, so shook up I dldu't know mo
own name for an hour. Thin there
was no glttln" away, an' I lay there
studylu it nil out on' watehiu' thlm
rebs lavin'. The way they bad fixed
me I couldn't see how I was lver go
in to git shut of thlm except by bein'
a reb myself for awholle. So I shtole
a coat-this beauty I've got on, sor
an a hat, nn afther tho most of thlm
had marched away 1 came out an'
reported to tho sergeant. He talked
to me loike hell, sor. till tho girl took
mo part, an' since thin he's bin civil
enough."
"Miss Denslow took your part?" I
questioned in surprise. "What did she
say?"
The Irish eyes twinkled merrily.
"Bedad. sho said sho knew me; that
I was wan of Llftenaut Dunu's caval
rymen." "She said that?"
"Begorra. sho did, sor, nn' 1 stood
lookln' nt her purty face wld nio
mouth open. It was a beautiful lol,
sor. an' she nlvcr cracked a sruolle
while she was glvlu' It to him. She'd
'a' fooled n belt her man than that ser
geant wld the honest way of her nn'
thlm eyes a lookln' sthrnlght at him
They're great devils, thlm girls."
"But why did sho do this? What
object could she have had?"
Ho rubbed his sleeve across his
mouth, leaning over the railing to
where ho could look the full length of
the hall. Then he straightened up. his
face solemn ns a preacher's.
"At lirst I thought It was me manly
beauty that did It. But aftlier awholle
I woke up from mo dhramc. You was
the wan the loldy was tblnUliV about
all the tolme. Bedad. she about the
s..ine as tonlil me so wld her own rosy
lips not tin minutes ago."
The know ledge of Jean's Interest In
me quickened my pulses.
"Did she tell you to pass me?"
"She did. sor. an' there's two horsci
outside an' a clear field for the both
of us."
"Well. O'Brien, I am not going," and
my voice tuui tne lone or ueienuina
tlou, "not now nt least not until I
can leave things in better shape here.
I haven't any right to Interfere with
your escape, my boy, but I am going
to clear up the mystery of this place
before 1 leave three women unguarded.
I have Just seen that crazy woman
again. Keep Miss Denslow dowu bo
low, if possible, and don't take your
eyes off these stairs."
(To Bo Continued.)
Good Prospects for Wheat.
Prospects for a big wheat crop
are good thus far, says the Lin
coln News. The fall conditions
were favorable. Winter wheat
made a fair start nnd there has
been sufficient precipitation dur
ing the winter to start the spring
growth, is the report of the state
experimental station. No signs
that tho crop has been harmed by
winter weather have been report
ed with the exception of certain
limited localities in tho southeast
ern part of the slate. Professor
Pugsley, who has visited many
farmers over the state during the
winter, stales that Hie reports
from them are nearly all favor
able. Elevator men give out Hie
same reports. It is too early yet
to make forecasts, but conditions
through the fall and winter could
hardly have been more favorable.
It will bo impossible to tell exact
ly how the winter wheat has
fared until spring opens up.
Social Dance at Murray.
The Murray Dancing club will
give another one of their social
dances at Jenkins' hall on Satur
day evening, February 24. The
music will be furnished by the
popular Jacobs' orchestra of
Omaha and a good time is as
surred all who attend.
Wesc'
3,1!, S
Always the Home of Satisfaction
A Birthday Surprise
from Saturday's Dally.
Leslie Marousek was made the
recipient of a most complete, sur
prise, when a large number of his
friends gallien-il at his homo last
evening'. The occasion was in
honor of his twelfth hirl Inlay an
niversary, ami his friends, think
ing' this too important an event
to lets lip by without (he proper
celebration, planned this happy
event without saying a word about
it to Leslie. Consequently, when
they arrived at his home last
evening he was some shocked, but
he joined in the fun and frolic, and
entertained his guest. s in a most
enjoyable manner. They played
all sorts and kinds of games and
participated in many amusements
calculated to make llie occasion
one thai wouh'i not, soon he for
gotten. At Hie proper lime a line
luncheon was served, but it was
a late horn when all dispersed,
wishing Leslie many more happy
birthdays and pronouncing him a
splendid entertainer. Those in
allemlance were: Silvia Green,
Mela Jennings, Gladys Rcinhaucr,
Klsie and Gertrude Hoessler, Kdna
Warren, Laura Gravilt, Janet
Forbes, Knna Covert, Violet and
Gladys lligley, Huth and Mary
llelherington, Glen Thompson,
Orlo Phehus, Hoy and George
Lamphear, Verdun and Ktigene
Vroman, Joe and Kd lUilin, Fred
Warren, Silas Green.
A Good Shot With Rifle.
Mrs. Harry Smith, residing west
of the cily, is an expert with a
rille and winged nn n'possom nt
l'jr yards last Wednesday after
noon, putting live shots in rapid
succession into the animal with
her repealing rifle. She did not
know what kind of an animal she
had slain, ami when her husband
relumed from town Mrs. Smith
had her Irophy lying on the porch
ami was anxious to know what it
was. Mrs. Smith has had nine
teen years' experience with a rifle
ami I here are few marksmen that
can beat her when it comes to
shooting al a mark, or al game,
cither.
In County Court.
From Saturdny'B Dally.
The will of Henry C. McMaken
was probated before Judge Hee
son Ibis morning. One of the
provisions of Hie Colonel s will
is that the museum of Indian and
war relics, wmcli lie spent much
time and money in gathering, will
be given to I he city of Plaits-
mouth, provided a fire-proof
building is constructed in which
to house the valuable collection.
Final settlemen was made in the
estates of Isaac N. and Leroy Ap-
plegate. F. P. Sheldon of Nc
hawka, administrator of the same,
was in court with his final report.
800 Acres.
Over 400 acres under plow, all
of the finest Platte river alfalfa
land; level as n floor; balance pas
ture. Two sets of improvements
of the finest kind. Close to town.
School on the land. Telephone
and It. F. D. ?30,000; $10,000
cash, balance long time at 0 per
cent. This can be cut up, as it is
square. Write to C. H. Schleicher,
Brady, Neb. 2-12-2t-wkly.
A Strong Man.
Lieutenant Governor Morehead
of Falls Cily, who is aspiring for
the nomination for governor on
the democratic ticket, is forging
lo the front at a rapid rate, and
were the election to be held to
morrow he would bo the nominee.
He is a strong man, free from any
entangling alliances and we be
lieve could defeat Aldrich. Ne
braska Cily News.
For Salel
Team of mules, harness and
wagon for sale, flood mules and
harness and wagon new. Address
Alex Campbell,
Route 1, Plattsmouth, Neb.
Frank Houghton and son, Je9so,
of Union, wero in the city today
trading with the stores.
im
Oil
Herewith the Fiddlers.
From Suturduy'R Dally.
The soul heiii part of Cass
county was pretty well represent
ed at the Fiddlers' Contest given
by the Red Men last evening at
I he Parmele. The following peo
ple came in on the M. P. train last
evening: William Ualfour of Ne
hawka; Reuben, Syl and Al Hath
away, James llainey, Forest and
Moss Barkhurst, W. II. Mark,
Fdgar Morton, Ralph Davis, Sher
man Austin, Rose O'Donnell, Lot
tie Wunderlieh, Charles L. Graves
and daughters, Misses Vernico
and Leola, all from . and near
Union.
LOCAL HEWS
From Saturday's Dally.
L. J. Terryberry and wife visit
ed lie metropolis tins allernoon.
Phil Becker and wife were Oma
ha passengers this afternoon lo
spend Sunday with friends.
A. L. and S. C. Hathaway of
Union came up last evening lo en
joy an evening with the fiddlers.
John Whiteinan of Nehawka
was in the city lasl night, a pleas
ed spectator of the fiddling con
test. Miss Kdna Propsl came from
Omaha on No. 2i today and was
met at the station by her parents,
R. L. Propsl and wife.
Julius Pitz and W. T. Adams
were passengers to Council Bluffs
this morning, where they wero
called on business. '
John Gorder of Eight Mile
Grove precinct was a Platlsmouth
visitor yesterday afternoon look
ing after business matters.
G. W. Goodman and wife left
for Lincoln on the morning train
today, where they will visit Mrs.
Goodman's parents .over Sunday.
Charles L. Graves and two
(laughters of Union were in tho
city last evening and witnessed
the entertainment at tho Parmele.
W. II. Pool of Weeping Water
was a Platlsmouth visitor yester
day afternoon and was a guest of
the Riley while in the county
seat.
F. P. Sheldon, iiierc.liant prince
of Nehawka, was in the cily last
evening and occupied a box at tho
Paremle during the musical con
test. Alex Campbell drove up from
his farm near Murray this morn
ing and boarded the early train
for Omaha to look after an item
of business.
Miss Mary A. Moore nnd Miss
Lena Young came down from
their school work at Cedar Creek
yesterday and were spectators at
the fiddling contest last night.
Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Foster and
little daughter catne up from
Union last evening to attend the
Fiddlers' Contest, and were over
night guests at the Larson homo.
C. II. Lewis went to St. Joseph's
hospital on the morning train to
day, where he visited his daughter
for the day. Mr. Lewis received
a card yesterday that his daughter
was not so well.
mm
i-
Insure your farm property 4
! in Hie Farmers' Mutal Fire 4
I and Live Stock Insurance 4
J Company of Cass County, 4
J Nebraska. Limited lo Cass
I county only. Incorporated
in 18!) I. Only one as- $
J scssmcnt of 2 mills made 4
j during the entire time.
j Amount of Insurance In 4
I force $1,303,955.00. Amount 4
4 of money in treasury. $4,- 4
4 857.69. Membership fee 50 4
J cents per hundred for 5 4
4 years. For particulars 4
4 writo 4
I J. P. FALTER, Secretary, 4
I ' Plattsmouth, Neb. 4
4444 444I4- 444444 444
Mrs. Alice Hipp and Vie f
Lyons, who have been visiting
Mrs. Hipp's parents, A. Dill anfl
wife, for two weeks, departed for
their homo this morning.