THOMAS DIXON
Copyright. 1911. by
PROLOGUE.
This remarkable tale, in which
each character is sketched from
life by a master hand, goes be
neath the surface of modern o
eiety and lays bare the canker at
the root. Like alt Mr. Dixon's
work, it is a tale of American
It fe, essentially true in the picture
it draws and done with a swing
ing power which brings its dra
matic scenes home to us. The
splendid strength of the tale lies
in the conflict between James
Stuart and Nan, in which love
and greed of wealth struggle for
mastery.
CHAPTER VI.
Despair.
TO the very dawn of Nan's wed
ding day Stuart bad refused to
give up hope.
The little financier bad sent
.him an Invitation, and. worst of all,
had caned to ask that he act as bis
beat man. He refused bo curtly that
ravens was deeply wounded
."But I say, Jim, that's all rot 1
want you to stand by me. I've always
taken as much of your friendship as
.'you would give and been grateful for
.It- I don't make new friends easily.
J want you, and you're Just got to do
,,8tuurt shook bis bead and firmly set
bis Jaws. A. grim temptation flashed
through bis Imagination. If be should
accept It might be the one thing which
would prevent Nan's betrayal of her
- th.. .It. ll.kt h nn K th.
Iff? n l IUD ItUII. UAAgUl Uf UV, V UIK
power of his personality, the hypnotic
farce of bis yearning passion and will,
stop-the ceremony In the moment of
deathlike silence which should follow
the minister's words asking If there
were, any canse known why these two
should not be made one, might not a
single movement of bis body at that
moment a groan of pain, a sob, a cry
of agony In a supreme act of his will,
cause the white figure to reel and fall
at his feet? It was possible Out it
would be too cheap. It would be n
worthless victory, a victory of the flesh
without the spirit, and he refused to
tike the body without the soul
With a frown he turned to Blvens:
"It's no use talking. Cal., I've mnde
up my mind. I won't do It."
"Well, if you won't you won't" the
little nan said with n slch "At least
you'll rome to the church For God's
sake. let me net a glimpse of one friend
ly fueel I'll be seared to deuth. You
know, I'm hot used to this "
Ntuart smiled:
"All right. I'll he there."
But when the fiitoful morning rnme
Stunrt wns stunned by the feeling of
Incredible despair which crept Into his
benrt The day was chill and damp
Itnll. grayish, half black clouds rolled
over the city from the sen clouds that
httng low and wet over the cold pave
menu without breaking Into rain
He knew that Nan was as superstl
rious as the old black mammy of the
ninth who had nursed her Aunt Sal
He had come to New York for the wed
ding of her "baby." Stuart thought of
the old saying, "Happy Is the bride the
sun shines on." As the hour of uoon
approached despair slowly settled over
Bin heiirt
Flow could tie reconcile himself to
the horrible reality! A marriage sor
did, cold, vulgar to such a man this
llt.tl- tobneco stained, bead eyed wea
el.
He rime, breathing hard and brushed
a tHr from his eye a tear that hud
com" unbidden in spite of his Iron
will
lienrt fairly shrieked Its cry of
dpnlr. He moved mechanically to
ward the church and wiiki-d from his
reverie to find himself Jammed In a !
solid mass of Immunity Never before '
had he realized the utter vulgarity of i
public wedding He forced bis way
Into the side ibsir and stood waiting
the arrival of the bride nnd groom
When Hivens came the sight of him
n)M1 the slumbering devil In Stuart
The excitement of his triumph had
evId-Mitly stendieil the little man's
nerves. Never had his shrlmplike fig
nre looked so slippery and plausible
lie extended his slender hand nnd
tivicli'-d Stuart's in passing To save
his life the lawyer could not repress a
sh'Kl'b'r In tint moment he could
hav nninltte.l murder with Joy. The
Sgony of defeat was on lilin. lie felt
In tint moment his kinship wilh nil the
rebels .v, disinherited of the earth
if
Thomas Dixon
At last the bride came and the aur-
pllced choir moved slowly and solemn
ly down the aisles through a sea of
eager faces as the great organ pealed
forth the first bars of the wedding
march from "Lohengrin."
Nan was leaning on the arm of a
stranger he had never seen before, an
uncle from the west. She was pale,
deathly pale, and walked with a hesi
tating movement as though weak from
illness. Suddenly his heart went out
to her In a flood of pity and tenderness.
He tried to make her feel this, but she
passed without a glance. She had not
seen him.
Stuart listened to the ceremony with
a vague impersonal Interest as if It
were something going on In another
world. A single questlou was burning
itself into his brain the price of a
woman! "Have we all our price?" he
asked, searching deen Into bis own
soul. Something pathetic In the white
face of the bride had touched the deep
est sources of his being.
"Have I, too, ray price, oh, boastful
soul?" he cried. "Would I sell my
honor for a million? No. For ten.
fifty, a hundred millions? No not In
the market place, no but would I sell
by ft compromise of principle in the
secret conclave of my party at a sale
the world could never know would I
ell for the presidency of the republic?
Or would 1 sell now to win this wom
an? Would I? If so, 1 should bold
her blameless. Have all men and all
women ft price If we but name It?
Answer! Answerr And then from
the depths of his being came the burn
ing words:
"No! I swear It Nor
lie looked np with ft start, wonder
Ing vaguely tf the crowd hod heard
this cry.
No: tbey were intent on the drams
at the altar. The minister was say
Ing:
"What Ood hath Joined together let
not rami put asunder."
"'GodT Surely he didn't hh.v mI.'"
Stuart brooded "Does God. the sn
gust, mysterious, awful creator of the
nnlverse. work like this? Did not the
God of heaven and enrth give this wo
mnn to him lienentb the sunny skies
of the south while their souls snng for
Joy?"
They were moving again down the j
aisle, the organ throbbing the reoe j
alonnl from Mendelssohn. A wove of j
emotion swept the crowd Inside, and
they beenme a mob of vulgar, chntter
Ing. gossiping fools, swarming over
the church as If It were the grand
stand of a rneecourse. without hesltn
tlon tearing down and stealing Its dee
orations for souvenirs.
Rv a curious law of rcnrtlon all re
sentnient and anger were gone, and
only n grent pity for Nun began to (111
Stuart's heart
That night Stuart entered one of the
more dignified and serious theaters Just
off Broadway. The play was a serious
effort bv ti brllllaut young dramatist
of the modern school of realism. In
two minutes from the rising of the cur
tain the play hud gripped him with re
lentless power. Slowly, remorseless as
fate, he saw the purpose of the author
unfold Itself in a series of tense and
terrible scenes. The comedy over which
the crowd laughed with such conta
gious merriment was even more sinis
ter than the serious parts. No matter
what the situation whether set to
! laughter to terror or to tears beneath
it all throhlied oue Insistent question
I "Has the woman who sells herself
j for money a soul?"
I With breathless Interest he watched
the cruel carving of her body Into tiny
pieces Without snitlllug. whining or
apology, with arms bared and gleam
: Ing scalpel tlrmly gripped in a hand
I that never quivered once, the author
dissected her. Always he could hear
i this white Invisible figure bending over
each scene talking to the audience In
i his quiet, terrible way:
I "Well. If be she has a soul we shall
find It. Perhaps It's here."
With a llrm, strong hand the last
secret of muscle und nerve and bone
was laid bare, und the white face look
ed into the eyes of the audience through
a mist of tears.
"I'm sorry, my friends. But we must
face the '.ruth. It's better to know the
truth, however bitter, than to believe a
lie."
With a soft rush the big curtain came
down In n silence that could be felt
The dazed crowd waked from the spell
slid poured into the nlsles. while Stn
art still snt gripping the arms of his
seat with strangling emotion.
At last be said to hlniclf with chok
ing emphasis;
'Jle wns cruel, inhuman, unjust. 1
refu.se to be!iee It'' SlV h.is'n soul'
She tun 3 s.uil!"
Next dH.v Stuart went to his ..ffi.-e
with h!s ii'ind k.ved to n tiUtier piteh
of power He felt that be was on ti'x
mettle The fli'f was not vet won.
but tliN illuming he was wlnn l'e
nluiiL-ed I'lM Ms work wt!h tire'ess
zeal Kvervthlne he torched seenel
: Illumined with ;i new livtit j
' At the close of the day's work h was I
'still cons.-toiis of im exbnustless I'ltv
I wht h had found no adequate expres'
! slon In his labor on his clients' cases
His mini wandered to the dark sl'ent
I millions Into whose world the' doctor
had led him that i;i:!it-millions who
have no voice in courts localise they
have no money to sustain a fight for
the enforcement of Justice. He had
never thought about these people 1h
fore They were calling now for Ids
help Why? P.ecause he had been en
dowed with powers of head and heart
which they did not possess. The pos
session of these gifts carried a respon
sll.lllty
On reaching his club in Grnmercy
park he saw Hint the rrimrose bouse
was closed Nan's mother had gone
with the br'clnl party on Hlvens' big
yncht for n cruise which would last
through the summer Somehow, for
all Lis brave talk he didn't feel equal
to Hie task of seeing that window ol
Nun's old home from his club. He was
about to btmt a retreat when he stop
ped abruptly and the lines of his mouth
tightened.
"What's the use of being a coward?
I've trot to get used to It I'd as well
begin at once."
He deliberately took Ids neat ou the
little pillared bnlcony of the clubhouse
and watched the darkened window
through the gathering twilight For
the moment be gave i the light the
devil had him by the throat He let
the tears come without protest. II1
was alone and the shadows were
friendly.
He stepped inside, touched a bell ami
ordered a cocktail. He placed the glass
on the little table by his side and
looked at It. What an asinine act, this
pouring or poison Into the stoma rh to
cure a malady of the soul: lie smiled
cynically and suddenly recalled some
thing th doctor was fund ot repe-atrft-jj.
"My boy, I'm rich so 'on ss there
are millions of people In the world
poorer than I am." .
Perhaps there was sn antidote bet
ter than this polsou. If h could lift j
the curtain for ft single moment In an
other life more hopeless and wrtche3
than his? It was worth trying.
He rose, left th liquor untouched'
and In a few minutes was treading his
way through the throngs of the lower
east side. When he reached the houst
on Washington square be found Har
riet reading In the library.
"Oh. Jim. dear! Where on earth
have you been for nearly two days?"
she cried. "I haven't seen you since
the wedding"-
"Won't you sing for meV" he broke In.
"AH right"- She paused -and sud
denly claped her hands "I II gpt my
mandolin. You've net or herd me
play that, have you? I'v learned
'Way Down on the 8wanee KIMer'
on It. I know vou'll like It "
Stuart listened to her, entranced
He had heard that old wtng of the
I !
Tall me what you ars thinking about,
Jim."
south a hundred times. But she was
singing It tonight with a stange, new
power. The girl leaned forward at
last and laid her friendly band on his.
Sho had a trick of leaning forward like
Unit when talking to him that bad al
ways amused Stuart
"Tell me what you are thinking
about, Jim," she said, a smile flitting
around her tender, expressive eyes.
"I was swing a vision, llttlo pal,"
he began slowly, "the vision of a gala
night of graud opera. Broadway
blazed with light, and I was fighting
my way through the throng at the en
trance to hear a great singer whose
voice had licgun to thrill the world.
At last, amid a bush of Intense silence,
she came before the footlights, saw
and conquered. The crowd went mnd
with enthusiasm. I lifted my hat and
waved It on high until she saw. A
lieantiful smile lighted ber faco, and
straight over the hrnds of the people
Rhe blew mo a kiss."
The tiniest frown clouded the girl's
brow.
"Who wns she, Jim?"
"One who slinll yet sing lfore kings
and princes. I call her 'Sunshine.'
I7er inline is Harriet Woodman."
"But. J.ltn, foijjrmsp I'm not amlil
rv
S r&
(3k imm
tlous? Suppose Tin Just s silly little
homebody, who only wishes to te
loved? How old do yon think a girl
must l to renlly and deeply and truly
love. Jim 7'
Stuart's brow contracted, and be took
her hand in his. stroked It tenderly and
studied the beautiful lines as they
melted from the firmly shaped wrist
into the rounded sru and gracefully
molded body
"I'm nfraid you've asked a bigger
question than I can answer, dear," he
aid, with serious accent. "I've been
wondering lately whether the world
hasn't lo.U the secret of happy mating
and marrying. A more beautiful even
life 1 have never seen than the one In
the home of my childhood. Yet my
mother was only fourteen and my fa
ther twenty-one when they wer mar
ried Now folks only allow themselves
to marry In cold blood, cslru'fitlng with
accuracy their bank account My
mother had been married six months
at your age, and yet here 1 sit en a
pedestal and have the Impudence to
talk to you as a child"
"But you're not Impudent Jim." she
broke in eagerly, "and I understand."
I'm beginning to woodsr," Btuart
contlnnM, "whether n stars made a
mistake when she made woman as she
Is. I once knew gjn of flf to
whom I believe life was the deepest
tragedy or the highest Joy of which her
heart will ever be capable. Else why
did the blood come and go so quickly
In her cheeks?"
A sudden flush mantled Harriet's
face, and she turned away that he
might not see. Stuart's bead bent low
and rested between bis hands.
"1 loved such a little girl once,
dear"-
Harrlet's face suddenly flushed with
joy. U wns too wonderful to be true,
but It was true: And he had chosen
this curious way to tell ber. Her voice
sank to the softest whisper as sho bent
closer:
"And you love her still, ,11m?"
nis bead drooped lower ns he sighed:
"I loved and lost ber, little pal! She
was tnurried two days ago. She came
to the great city, learned its ways and
sold herself for gold."
The color had slowly returned to the
little freckled face with Its crown of
golden hair, and the deep browu eyes
overflowed with tears for Just a mo
ment She brushed them away before
he raised bis head, so that he never
knew.
"I'm so sorry. Jiui." she said simply.
"I understutid now "
"It's very sweet to have yon sliHre
this ugly secret of my life, little pal
It will help inc."
"And you are sorry yon ever knew
her. Jlmr
"No, I'm not sorry I've grown to
see that there's Just one tiling In the
world that's really lilg big ss God is
big the man who has attained a char
acter I haven't lived at all yet. I'm
Just Itegtnuliig to see what It menus to
live ('mil now I've thought only of
m.velf A new light has illumined the
way Now - I'm going to live for nth
ers From today I shall ask nothing
tor myself, and I can never be disap
pointed again "
Harriet looked up quickly
"Would It pleMM. yoll. Jim. If I should
make n gre;il singer.'
".More Hian I chii tell you. dear
our voice is i divine gift. I envy you
Its power. '
Her eves ! shining with a great
purpose
i
I know that it menus
years and
I II do It."
years of patient work, but
she cried.
When the lust echo of his footstep
in the hall nt.o.e died away and bis
door bad closed the little golden head
bowed low In a passionate tender
prayer:
"God help me to keep my secret snl
yet to love and help him always'"
(To He Continued.
Entertains Social Workers.
From Friday's Iinlly.
The pleasant home of Mrs. F
C. Hill was the scene of a most
delight ful meeting of the Social
Workers of the M. K. church yes
terday afternoon. The ladies held
a very interesting business ses
sion, after which the hours were
while away in a most enjoyable
social time, The hostess served
very delicious refreshments, and
at about the hour of 5 the ladies
dispersed, declaring Mrs. Hill a
most excellent enterlainer.
Card of Thanks.
We, Ihe undersigned, take this
method of expressing our most
sincere thanks to the neighbors
and friends for their expressions
of sympathy in our hour of sorrow
and grief in the death of our he
loved wife and mother. Also for
Ihe beautiful floral tributes from
the Columbian school, Order of
F.agles, Degree of Honor, the
machine shop hoys, tho Ttauer
garage nnd friends and neighbors.
William Wynn and Children.
$1.00 Per Plate
was paid at a banquet to Henry
Clay in New Orleans in 1812.
Mighly costly for those with stom
ach trouble or indigestion. To
day plo everywhere use Dr.
King's New Life Hills for these
troubles, ns well ns liver, kidney
and bowel disorders. F.asy, safe,
sure. Only '.Tie at F. ('. Fricke
.v. Co.
The Journal
supplies.
for typewriter
Local News
Kioni l-'iiduv's I'uily.
Miss (loldie Hale of (Iresham,
Neb.,
is in the city making a visit
Willi
Wli ili-
her friend. Miss Adclia
for a few day s.
Henry Horn of Cedar Greek was
in tlie city yesterday afternoon at
tending Hi some matters of busi
ness willi tin- meivliants.
George I'. Meisinger of t'.cdar
Greek was in I lie city loday at
tending In some matters of busi
ness.
Henry Horn was in the city ttiis
morning looking; after some trad-
ing with the merchants for a few
hours.
George Sheldon, the Lincoln
capitalist, was in the city today
at tending to some matters ol
business.
Hoy Casey of Hloomlngton, II
linois, is in the city for a short
visit with his friend, Stanley
Kuhns.
C. E. Teflt, the Weeping Water
attorney, was in the city today aU
tending to some business matters
at the court house.
Mrs. Georgia Creamer, from
mini) Mnppnv ivnu in thn ritv Irwlnv
attending to some matters of
ImuinaQQ frvp o f n wlinnrQ
iu.tiii.oo ivt iv " vvi o i
Emmons Richey returned tins
artcrnoon from St. Joseph, Mis-
souri, where he had been attend-
ing to business matters for a few
days
Mrs. Fred Stewart, who has
been visiting hero with her par-
ents, W. P. Cook and wife, has
returned to her home in Atchison,
Kansas.
Superintendent W. G. Brooks
and wife arrived this morning
from Caldwell, Idaho, and will
take up their residence in this
city at once.
Miss Marv Foster returned this
afternoon from Lincoln, where
she had been attending a meet,
ing of the county superintendents
of the state.
From Saturday' Dally.
Ilyron Read, from south of this
city, was in town today attending
to some business matters.
Miss Lottie Kopiskie was a pas.
senger tins morning for the me
tropolis to spend the day seeing
the sights.
I.. A. Meisinger came in this
afternoon from his farm and look.
ed after some trading with the
merchants.
Mrs. Jennie Fillers came in this
morning front Omaha to visit over
Sunday with her parents, William
Tuey and wife.
Philip II. Meisinger drove in
this morning from his home west
of this cilv and attended to the
week-end shopping.
S. (). I'll man of .Murray was in
Ihe cily last evening, coming up
to attend a session of Ihe Masonic
lodge of this city.
Chris K. Melzger drove in today
from his farm near Mynard and
spent a few hours here looking af
ter business matters.
Misses Edna nnd Mayola J'ropsl
came down this afternoon from
Omaha In visit over Sunday with
their parents at Mynard.
Miss Hculalt Sans returned to
her home near Murray last even
ing to visit over Sunday with her
mother and lake a rest from her
school duties.
Alex Cumpbell of near Murray
came tip this morning from his
home and was a passenger on No.
15 for Omaha to look after some
business matters.
Homer Shrader drove up this
morning from his home near Mur
ray and was a passenger on No.
15 for Ihe metropolis to look after
business matters.
Harry Cummings of Seward is
in the city, a guest at the II. N.
Dovey home, having accompanied
his friend, 0. O. Dovey, home
from the university for a visit
over Sundav,
Thomas Salmon, wife -and little
son arrived this morning from
(i.ilesburg, Illinois, to attend the
weddintr of Miss Florence Dovey
this evening nnd to visit wilh Ihe
parents of Mrs. Salmon, W. K.
V. F. (iillespie, (he whole-soul
ed grain dealer of Mynard, was ia
the city todav looking after busi
ness matters aiul visiting friei.ds.
Visiting carets, invitations, pro
grams, and all otner kinds '
fancy printing done at the Jour
nal office
Mrs. II. S. Hendricks came up
this morning from the farm, south
of this city, and spent (tie day
looking after some trading at the
stores.
Mrs. Georgia ('.reamer, Miss
Vera Yardloy and Miss Anna Hys
were passengers this morning on
No. 15 for Omaha, where they will
visit for the day.
Chris Parkeninp came in this
morning iroin Ins farm west of
tli is city and attended to some
matters of business, as well ns
v'siting with his friends.
The finest mask ball of the sea
son will be given Saturday even
ing, January 18, at the T. J. Sokol
hall. Five big prizes will be given
for costumes, and a royal good
time assumed all.
Mrs. John Hanson of Irwin,
Iowa, who has been here visiting
her parents, Frank Grauf and
wife, of near Murray, departed
this afternoon for her homo. Her
sister, Miss Amy Grauf, accom.
I .... ...... 1 I. n I. V r. n W n r h nt ,rlttil
j .
rine new rtesiaoneo.
SVntn Prlil n v'm Tatl v
Attorney William A. Robertson
anj wjf(. j,avc iK.lM, V(.ry i,ugy the
ast week fc'etUn? their new home
on North Sixth street in shape.
and aro almost ready to begin to
enjoy the delights of the hand
some house. Their new homo is
one of the neatest and prettiest
little houses in the city and has
been erected with a view of com
fort, as well as beauty, and it
certainly will make an ideal home.
(Jetting Along Nloely.
From Friday's Dally. '
Mrs. 1 , 11. Pollock, who was
taken to Immanuel hospital in
Omaha the latter part of Dccem-
her, was compelled to undergo a
second operation Wednesday,
from the effects of which she is
recovering nicely. The fact that
she has come out from the ef
fects of the operation so well will
bo tho sourco of gratification to
her friends here.
Frightful Polar Winds
blow with terrific force at tho far
north and play havoc with the
skin, causing red. rough or sore
chopped hands and lips, that need
Mucklcn's Arnica Salve to heal
them. It makes the skin soft and
smooth. Unrivaled for cold
sores, also burns, boils, sores,
ulcers, cuts, bruises and piles.
Only 2.ri cents at F. G. Kricko
& Co.
Eagles' Mask Ball.
The annual Mask Hall under
the auspices of the Order of
Fugles, will he given at Coales'
hall on Saturday evening, Feb
ruary l.r. The popular M. W. A.
orchestra will furnish the music.
Bought and Sold
ON COMMISSION!
Insurance Placed in Best
Companies!
Farm Loans and Rental Agency
- Virgil Hullis
ROBERT WILKINSON
DUNBAR
L.J. HALL
UNION
Wilkinson & Hall
-AUCTIONEERS-
The holding of successful sales is
our line. Our interests are with the
seller when it comes to getting every
dollar your property is worth. For
open dates address or call either of
us at our expense by phone. Dates
can 1k made at Mie Journal office.
-VILKMSOH & HALL-
r 1 1 I
I Real Estate
1 1'ux nnd wife.
o