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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1912)
MY LA1Y f 7 ALL COPYRIGHT. 1909. BY A. CHAPTER XIX. DAXIKI.S AM) DONALD MEET. AM glad you came, she said simply, her voice trembling slightly. "I I have wanted to talk with you alone for three years ever since I began to be a woman. Rut I have been afraid of yon. Ever since I was a child I have been taught that, and It is hard to tweak away. You are only like the rest of us like Colonel Donald', like Judge Dunn you were born Into this feud, find have fought and hated be cause you know nothing else. I want yu to see this ns 1 do. You have to Ubink of mo as a friend. I want you feel the same toward my friends" "Who do yer tnean, miss?" "Those you have fought all your life Jem Donald" "Not in n thousan' years!" Daniels interrupted hotly, dropping her hand an If it were a coal of fire and rais ing his gauut form from the chair. "e're a woman, an' somehow yer ame at me jlst right: but it's goin' tor take flzhtin'. and plenty of it. irfore Jem Donald an' mo settle our , trouble. Thar's toi many dead folks i jun' burned houses atwecn us fer any . lch foolishness. Yu'vc got us about j wiped out; what was left afore ther j war has been finished by these yere , guerrillas Jem Donald has turned lose in ther hills. I come back yere, j 11 everywhar I go it s a dena lmn Ma, an' yer ask me ter be peaceful!" lie straightened up, his eyes hard. ' tell ye I want my wife an' kids first I ain't got nuthiu special agin you, Miss Jean. I reckon 'tain't your fault ye're what yer are; but fer Jem Donald an' thet young calf of a Dunn, I'm layln' till I either git 'em er they Kit me. Leftenant, I'm a-goin' ter git miio yere. i ieei uite i was cuugiu iu , K-trap." lie took one step toward the door, Ifccn leaped backward, his knife out, mid gleaming in his hand. Standing with back to the entrance. I neither Haw nor heard anything, but Jean's face went instantly white, and her fingers convulsively gripped the drcss OT. Then the knife dropped to the floor and Daniels' arms were elevated. "I reckou yer got me," he said, the words sounding odd in the silence. Donald stood In the doorway, his face tike that of a statue, the black muz ate of a revolver covering the moun taineer. Donald alone seemed cool, 4f possessed and capable of action. 1 hardly understand the nature of this little gathering," he said slowly, "and it may be I am not welcome, but I am clad to see you, Bill Daniels, and I advise you to keep those hand up until I say otherwise. Jean, what arc you doing here?" 'These questions nronsed ber Instant iS, the color flooding back to her fheeks. II er first feeling was evident ly thut of Indignation. "I refuse to answer," she exclaimed, Hfcanding erect before him, "until you lower that revolver. Daniels Is unarm 1 and here to meet nm upon a mis Klon of peace." Donald's face pictured his surprise, ut ho made no attempt to question hur word. 1 saw bis eyes wander from ber face to that of the mountaineer. "HlK'n ho shoved the gun back Into his belt. "Very well, little girl," hia tone enre lassly good humored. "You can drop yor hands, Daniels, only 1 advise you trot to reach for the knife. Now, Jean, da you mind explaining the meaning all this?" "Then first answer me one question: 4d you know Daniels' cabin on Lost reck had been destroyed?" . The colonel's face sobered. I did not." "nave any of your men been that w lately?" Not for several weeks under any wflers from me. There may have town foraging parties covering that "iCTi but no report has reached -r -mw J )tary C McCLURG & ca mo of any trouble." "You' have heard, nothing regarding the disappearance of this man's wife and children?" "I certainly have not, Jean," now replying with-the earnestness of con viction. "Surely you do not suspect me of maklug war on the helpless?" "No," gravely, "but our mountain feuds are heartless, nnd mercy has never been part of the code. Know ing what I do of tho past, I cannot blanio Daniels for his suspicions. Daniels discovered last night that his home had been burned to the ground aud could gain no Information rela tive to the whereabouts of his wife and children. In despair and, nat urally enough, believing some of our faction must have been concerned iu tho outrage, ho came here, stealing in through the tunnel. He chanced to meet first with Lieutenant King aud learned of the mysterious woman who has been doing such horrible things in this house. Ills first thought was that it might be his wife, crazed by her sufferings and seeking vengeance. Discovering that 1 had seen this strange woman's face and kuowing that I had nlso met his wife, be was ! persuaded to come here and talk to me in hone of learning the truth. It was n brave act and proves loyalty of tho man's heart. I have given hiiu no pledge of safety, but I d now. He Is going from here unbanned, on my word of honor." Donald stepped aside, leaving the door partially open and unruarchd. Ills eves were no longer on the mo in- tiiineer. but upon the face of the girl. "I respect his purpose and your Im plied pledge." he said gravely. "Was the wonmu Mrs. Dnnlels?" "No," her eyes falling before his gate and the whole expression of her face softening. "It was u face I had never seen before." perceive the' doubt In 1 t on Id Daniels's face, the vague suspicion of treachery. Defore he could move, how ever, the girl, excited under the strain, broke forth impulsively. "I-I don't want this to go od' There has been blood enough shed in these mountains over a forgotten quarrel. Won't you meu stop it? For the sake of that woman, those children, home less, won't you forget the past and unite together In one cause? I ask If as a woman." The thought was utterly beyond Daniels. I could see this in the steely glint of the eyes fastened on Donald, but the latter said: "I am not a brute, Jean, and I have fought because I was born into It rather than from choice. If Daniels will meet me halfway it shall bo truce between us." He turned his head to look at the other standing gaunt nnd grim, a bit of sunshine touching the grizzled hair. "What shall it be. Daniels, peace or war?" Tho silence of the mountaineer burst under the stress of pentup passion, ns If some dam had given away, his words tumbling over one another In torrent. "Ye want me ter Ho down now, do ye? I didn't come yere ter talk ter ye, Jem Donnld. I'll fight ye any day yo ever saw. but I'm goin ter die hatln' ye." I saw Donald take one step back ward. Jean swept between us, and then Daniels walked it. Jean clung to Douald, her pleading face upturned. "All I ask is that you let him go and that you make no effort to do further injury. As he says, you have won; there is hardly a Dnnlels left to continue the feud. Now we can afford to forgive nnd forget. And you will. I know you will!" There was a moment's silence, his hands clasping her lingers, his grave eyes upon her face. "Will it mako you glad to have my promise, little girl?" "It surely will." "Then I give it to you; no act of mine shall ever perpetuate the feud. I 17, m, M..,l t.in-inl "sitnrnllv ' i -l l" ' - i suppeseil I.it'iiW'iutK King h:nl gouej before this." "I appreciate ymir generosity," i! said. Ih:i not so heartily :'.s I intended.! t ' s.v- J -: the suspicion coming to me that per hap he wan only too delighted to get me away from Hi f.irl so easily, "and 1 should lis re disappeared more promptly but fer the reappearance of that crazy creature aud my fear of leaving Miss Jean unprotected. If the sumo arrangements exist 1 will now say good by to you both." , "Not quite so swiftly," his voice pleasant, yet with a touch of command in it. "You forget I atu In the Con federate service, an Irregular, It Is true, nnd ye. amenable to discipline. I like you, King, and you have served both myself and the lass well on several occasions. I wish to repay her debt, as well as my own, but at the name time feel no desire to face n court martial. Give me ten minutes first, anil then the coast will be clear." He bent down, kissed her tenderly and faced mo with extended hand. There was a lump in my throat which would not permit speech, yet I re turned his Urn clasp. He was n fine fellow. I could envy him. hut I could lu'Ijii'.'r dislike nor quarrel. Had It beci Dunn 1 t-hould have refusckl to .i"-ept free-lorn from him. but I un der toiv.l Donald's motives nnd re spected the man. "Lloutcmuit King, yon may watch with me." gt'id Joan when Donald I ":;1 ;:in?. I came slo'.vly across the im ;.!. r ::'.r e!y realizing why I should ! tove oke'nt nnd yet unable to resist tier hivif.'.;' "j. .lust before he disap-p-'.red !-,;,:! isd gla;j-ed back aud v. . red h:i i. :::;!. Then the girl turned T.d '-nilel la my face. y.". li'.: ?!lvi, lieutenant?" she tit '.! "pd i: l.v. "ile Ins icrtglnly shea me every !: ien fi.r respect, 't v.e hud met i im'e;' !'.!:- eiivuir.-fgir v 1 should kr o valued his irieadsmp nigniy. "I am sn glad to hear you say that. To me he l.i the noblest man living, and I want you to think so." "Purely." I protested, a little sur prise.!, "you did not suppose I would dkslike him because ho had come hit? your heart In advance of me?" "Oh, no!" the blood flooding her cheeks. "You are not one to harbor such prejudice, but I am going to think of you as n friend, and I want you really to care for those whom I care for. I have already emerged that far from sectional narrowness, lieutenant. I can call a Yankee 'friend.' Isn't It almost a miracle? You can never know how bitter I have been, how In tensely I have despised everything northern. Somehow you have taken that away from me, and I can never again feel tho same toward thoso on the other side. I I always will re member yon." It was not that tho words of con fession meant eo much, but the girl's manner, coupled with this unexpected change In sentiment, seemed Instantly to alter our entire relationship. "Don't" she Bald, almost pleading ly, yet making no effort to draw away; "you must not misunderstand. You are going away now; you must go at once. It is not probable we shall ever meet ngain, only we are never to he enemies any more, not even In thought. 1 do want you to know that." "I thank you for that little. Miss Jean." "It is not little." And she lifted her eyes to mine almost Indignantly. "It Is a great deal. I would not say to many even what I have said to you, and my life has been Uved under con dliJons which enable me to trust few, I trust you. I 1 even think I care for you. 1 I wish to recall you In mem ory as a friend; hut, of course, you understand, that i. all." "All?" "Yes; you are going away now. It is best so. I do not know, Lieutenant King, whether I am legnlly your wife or not, but if I am these courts will divorce me. I shall endeavor to get notice to you, so you will also realize your complete freedom. You expect mo to do this?" "I suppose I do," regretfully, "but I would mako any sacrifice to have it otherwise.' hnptrlon" She was looking directly at me, her hand still in mine, her eyes gravely iM'i "I'M I01N' TFlt DTK IIATIN' VE." Mues.ionici,. i'OU redly meau that really mean all you said to me before?" As God Is my witness. Jean." I in sisted soberly. "I do mean every word o. it I love you earnestly, devotedly. There can b" no evil in my saj log this, ; even aHhoii: It I know the impossibility of your making any return. I can take no tidvauCife of the relation be tween us. I claim no right to you, but I do coi.i'es my love, and 1 w.mt you to know the truth. Yon camlet think less kindly of me for that?" "No," the blue ray of ber eyes misty, her lips tremulous. "1 I am afraid I situ so se':i::h as to be almost glad. Not not that I wish you to love me, but -l.nl it is some way n pleasure to know you care." "Do you re liy mean" Oh. no! Don't take it that way. I ought not to have v-a'd this, 1 hardly know what I have si id. All our ac quaintance has been so strange as to leeve me c'M'.fused. 1 do like you. Lieutenant Ming, and I find it hard to part, yet nothing else is possible. You must ,co. ami go at once, bet ore the guard Is changed. I pray you do not delay, do not linger here longer. I can say no more than I have said al ready, and your safety depends on de parture nt once." It required all my power of will to comply, yet there was no doubting tho earnestness of ber plea, and 1 released the hand, feeling a last slight pressure of the fingers. Iler eyes uplifted to mine, a yearning in their depths. The next Instant she waff fairly crushed in my arms, and my lips pressed against hers. It was over almost as quickly, and she had pressed mo back from her, sinking into the nearest chair, her hands pressed against her cheeks. "Oh, how could you? Now, now, you must go." , ' "Rut you forgive me, Jean? ion forgive me?" 'Forgive you! It was more my fault than yours. Why do you make it all so bard for me? Don't you understand I cannot, cannot permit this? You are risking vour life here. Go go nt once, for my sake if you will not for your own." I do not clearly remember what 1 did, for I seemed dazed, my brain In operative, but 1 know I knelt nnd kissed her hand and then backed from the room, my eyes upon her to tho last, I slipped down the stairs, aroused nnd alert, determined to make of value every remaining moment. O'Rrlen, his carbine grasped in one hand, open ed the door silently, and I took one quick glance without. The porch and the walk below appeared deserted "Win .' are the horses?" "Toled to tho rail at the north end of the porch." "Good choice. There are but few windows on that side. Give me your revolver. Have you cartridges?" "Half a pocketful, sor." We crept forth, closbg the door be hind us, nnd stole along under. cover of the rail to the north steps, which led down to the carriage way. The two horses snorted and drew bad startled by our sudden appearance. had my grip oa the rein of the big roan, when O'I'.rien. who had stepped farther out t unfasten the other nul mill, uttered n sudden exclamation o alar.a. I sprang back to where I could :tee whit V.? .v;s staring at down the roiu:w,r. . f.o. p or horsemen wero emerging from a ravine to the tort and trottinp: ie.vrd the open gate. glance told nie Ukv were Confederates uud that they v;r; spreading out. fan fashion, so r.s ;o surround the house We were not thirty feet in advance of those spurring troopers. The Urst two rounding the house corner saw us but before they lould throw forward their carbine? we hud plunged Into the shadow of the vines, running reckless ly. A shot or two, fired without nim. only served to In reuse our puce, our only hope being to cross the orchard before others attained the rear of the house. Iteyond that point the weeds offered concealment. Had we been given a minute more we would have made It. Running al most shoulder to shoulder, recklessly, not evening pausing to glance back ward, wo were within 100 feet of the weeds, when horsemen swept about the end of the big tobacco barn, firing as they came and spurring their mounts desperately In an attempt to head us off. "The first cabin. O'Brien! We can make that before they turn." (To Be Continued.) Recalls Freighting Days. From Saturday's Dally. E. V. Illine of Mills county was in the city this morning, and be ing in a reminicent mood, recalled that just fifty years ago this coin ing May he crossed the Hig Muddy on a steam ferry with two wagon loads of flour, each drawn by Ave yoke of callle, landing at the foot of Main street. He loaded his wagons at Silver Cily, Iowa, with Hour at $2.50 per hundred and freighted it lo Denver, where lie sold it at $5 per hundred. Each wagon had on six tons of flour. The journey across (he plains re quired from Ihirty-flve lo forty days, and about thirty days to re turn. Mr. Hline freighted corn to Fort Laramie for I he government, lor which he received 110 per hundred for carrying it. At a meeting of the class of ML' yesterday Ilev. V. L. Austin was elected lo deliver the class sermon on Sunday night, May 19. The service will occur in Iho Methodist church and will be a union service, Ilev. L. V. Clade GREAT WRESTLING CONTESTS ST TIE NHELE THEATER Smarderer, of Louisville, Defeate Jack Daily, of Omaha, While Joe Spence, of Louisville, Defeats Jack Tolliver, of Omaha Special Train Brings Large Crowd of Boosters. From ,s;it m. lay's Unity. The priiiiepal spoiling event for I lit- cily fiif Hi (nine ailil gone, illlil lias gained (lie championship of II and relaias the championship of 1 1 1 winler lias Cass county hcavvwcigliL o norl Invest welterw eight county in Hie wri'slliii:. St'lniint'ilorer, heavyweight, i I'' rank Louisville Spem i', l lit the d Joe welterweight champions of Cass ounly, retain their hells, Schiiiarilerer, by llii'owing- Jack Daily, lakes the holt for the eavyweighls of the norlhwest. Sclimanlerei' won by an Knlish Kirlock in the llrsl and a crotch tini leg hold in the second. Snetice oft his tlrst fall, his opponent sminng: the iiarlock on nun; in the next two rounds Spenco won with the leg ami crotch hohl ami the hai'lock. The special from Louisville brought, in about 100 enthusiastic Spence and Si'lunai'tlerer adher- nls, although the train was later Ihan expected, having gotten in ichiiiil No. 30, which hail seven-y-llve cars ami came in slow, yet the delay seemed to add to the zest and eagerness of the Louis- lie sports for tho fray. They lost no time in reaching' the opera house, and within half an hour tho curtain went up to a fairly pood house. Lee Fickler introduced Fanner Hums, who made a short talk on the good to be derived from wrestling. He slated that be had icon following (lie game for forty- two years, and that, he was 51 years old; that, he had toured the United Stales with Frank (iolch and had seen some of (ho prent contests. He staled thai, he would referee Ibis match, and then in troduced Joe Spenco, as a Cass county young man; then Jack Tolliver of Omaha. The men shook hands and went at. the game. Tolliver appeared to be several pounds lighter than Spenco, but, went at, bis antagonist, with a whirlwind style. Spence was caul ions and through the, first round acted on the defensive most of the time, and appeared to be studying the movements of his opponent. After wrestling about the mat, with Tolliver apparently working his opponent hard to prevent a fall, and with the agility of a cat, while Spenco worked slow and careful. Tolliver got an F,ng lish barlock hold on bis antagon ist, and forced bis shoulders In the mat. There were no cheers for Tolliver from the Louisville boosters; a few hand-claps from I ho Plallsnioulh sports was all of the approval the Omaha athlete got for his clever work. Some of the Louisville men were heard to remark that that was the first lime Jot; was ever put on his back. The next two rounds were closely contested, hut, the con tinual active crowding of the game in the llrsl. round by Tol liver seemed to have exhausted his wind and Spenco had nrqquir ed some knowledge of his oppon- FINAL CLEAN UP THIS WEEK all Suits and Overcoats selling reg ularly from $15.00 to $30.00, now 10,fl4fcil. A SMALL LINEOFSILK LISLE Hose famous Gordon full fashioned quality, regular price 50c, this week 25c; shades navy, tan, gray, wine and green. New Spring goods arriving every day. Slctnon Hats 8815 B cut's tactics. Tolliver, apparent ly weakened by his former strug gles, gave Sponee an opportunity to get a harlock, and he slowly forced Tolliver's shoulders to tho mat. There was wild demon stration on the pari of the Louis ville sports al the end of each of Spence's successful rounds. Frank Sclnuanlerer was I heu introduced, followed by Daily from the opposite wing, who was also introduced by Farmer Hums. Tho big fellows lost, no lime, hut wero soon tugging away at each other for dear life. In this go tho Louisville man was on the ag gressive all of the lime, and al though Daily was much stronger looking and apparently heavier by thirty pounds, yet Schmarderer seemed to have the game all his own way through both rounds. The interest, of the spectators was intense as the bulky fellows hounded about, Hie mat, with. Fanner Hums in the background part of the lime on tip-toe, and again low on his hands and knees with his face close to tho mat to descent if Daily's should ers were touching. On one oc casion Daily secured a crotch and leg hold on Schmarderer and spun him around on his ear, but, could not, force tho Louisville boy's shoulders to the floor. Within the next minute Schmarderer sc oured the same sort of hold on Daily and Hie big fellow's neck would not, stand the pressure and his shoulders were slowly brought lo the mat. When Schmarderer was announced as victor the ex citement, was high for a time, and the ceiling of the opera house was loo low for some of tho hats which went up from the Louisville sports. Some of them remarked, "We come for it, and we got it." Daily showed much skill and clever work, but was not as quick and clever ns Schmarderer, who demonRl ruled I hat he is all thut his friends claim that he is a very cleevr wrestler and one who is capable of going with the best there is to be found in the slate. Farmer Burns, after the match, slated to a few bystanders that Schinai'derer was a deueedly clever fellow and it would take, one of the best to throw him. Spenco was also complimented by the Farmer as a young man who was training beautifully and get ting better all the time, and what he wanted was to gather speed. After the llrst round of tho heavyweights, Farmer Hums slated from the stage that Tol liver said he had been thrown fairly, but that he had a bad leg, which troubled him through tho match, but that he believed ho could throw Spenco and would like a match with him later and would divide the gate receipts, fiO per rent to the winner and 40 to Iho loser. Charles (icrlack and Henry Urish and Herman Wolfarth of Mauley were in the city last even ing and al tended Hie wrestling match. Manhattan Shirt 8 assisting.