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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1896)
: - - - _ _ _ _ IT ( ) MAJIA - - - - - - - - - - - ii _ : , - . ) I t , . - ' \ \ ( % , I. . Tfl CONAtJDOYLC. RiNG I CJITAI'TER 1-ContlnuciL It wn the pride of Boy JIn which to an adventure which makes me ahhrer now when I think of It. I It hnppencd In the August o ' 9 , or It _ I naY have heen In the early days of Septem- r ber , but I remember that we heard the cuckoo In Patcham woo& and that Jim Ffl that porhap It WaR the last of him. I wa Y atIlI at zchoo1 , but JIm had left , he beIng \ _ nIgh 16 and I 13. It na my Faturday half . iohIdny , anti we pcnt It , as we often dtd out upon the downs. Our favorite place was . beyond Woistonbury. where wo could stretch ourselves upon the soft , springy chalk grass among the plump lIttle southdown sheep , chatting wIth the shepherds as they leaned upon theIr queer old I'3CConbO crooks , made $ n the days when Sussex turned out more Iron than all the countrice of En1and. It was there that we lay upon that glorious afternoon. If ve choo to roll upon our right side the whole weald would lay in front of us , with the north downs curvIng away In olive green folds , with hero and there the snow white rift at a chalk pit. If we turned upon our left we overlooked the huge blue stretch of tim channel. A convoy , as I can , vehl remember , was coming up It. that day , the timid flock of inerchiantmon In front , the ; ' frigate , like well-traIned dogs , upon the skirts , and two burly drover line-of-battle t ships roiling along behind them , MY fancy i , was soaring out to my father upon the waters , when a word from Jim brought. it back onto the graes lko ! a broken-winged gull. J "Roddy , " itid he , "have you beard that ' Cilffo Royal I. haunted ? " . . had I heard it ? Of course I had heard it. I' % Vlio' was there in all the Down country who ' bad not heard of the Walker of Cliffo Royal ? " ' : "Do you know the story of it , iloddy ? " : "Why , " iuid I. with some pride , "I ought to know it , seeing that my mother's brother. 131r Charles Trogehils , was the nearest friend of Lord Avcn , and was down at this card party whui the thing happened. I heard the vicar and my mother talking about it last week , and it was nil so clear to me that I . might hiavo been there when the murder woo done. " "It is a. trango story , " said Jim , thoughtfully - fully , "but when I asked my aunt about it she wouH give ma no anower , and , as to my uncle , ho cut me short at the very mention of it , " ° There is a good reason for that , " said I , "for Lord Avon was , as I have heard , your % lncIo's best frknd , and It is but natural that ho would not wish to speak of his disgrace , " "Tell me the story , Roddy. " f % . 1 l an old ono now-fourteen years old- and yet they have not got to tile end of It. rf \ 'riiero wore tour of them who had como down t' . rom London to spand a few days In Lord Avon's old houre. One was his own young brother , Captain Barrington. Another was his cousin , Sir Lothian Ilume. Sir Charles ' ' Tregdllis , my uncle , was the thlrd , and Lord ; 'Avon the fourth. They svero fond of playing I cards.for money , these great people , and they laycd and played for two dayb and a night. Lord Avon lost and Sir Lothiati Ioat , and my uncle lost , and Captain Ba .ington won vntil r ho could win no more. Ito won their money , but above all ho won the papers from hi. , elder brother , which meant a great deal to him , It was late on a Monday night that J they stopped playing. On the Tuesday mornIng - Ing Captain Barrlngtcsi was found dead be- aide his bed with his throat cut , " "And Lord Avon did it ? " I "Iii papers were found burned in the 1 grate. His wristband was clutched in the dead man's baud , and his knife lay beside _ 1 . _ . . ' the body , " - - "Did they hang him then ? " "They were too slow in laying hands upon - him , They waited until ho saw that they had brought it home to him , and then he fled. Ho ha never been seen since , but it is sold I that. ho reached America. " "And the ghost walks ? " ' I "Thero are a hundred who have seen it. " "Why Is the house still empty ? " "I3ecauso it is in the keeping of the law , Lord Avon had no children , and Sir Lothiian t Hume , the same who was at the card party , r Is his nephew and heir. But ho can touch i iothing until ho can prove Lord Avon to be . dead. " Jim lay silent for a bit , plucking at the short grass with lila fIngers , - "Roddy , " said he at last , "will you come 'with sno tonight and look for the ghosts ? " It took mo aback , the very thought of it. "MY mother would not let me , " - "Slip out when sho' abed. I'll wait for - Qu at the smithy. " - "CiliTo Royal is locked , " - ( "I'll open a window easy' enough. " - "I'm afraid , Jim , " ' "But you are not afraid if you are with me , , Itoddy , I'll promise you that no ghost shall . . burt you. " So I gave him my word that I would come , and then all the rest of tlitf day I wont about , the most sod-faced lad in Sussex. It. was all very well foi' Boy Jlmi It. was that pride of his which was taking him there , lIe would go because there was no one else on the coun- . try.sldo that would dare. But I had no ; , :1 : . : . 1 v DEAD .I3BSIDII Ills IIBO 'WIT ! ! IllS 1 TIII1OATCUT. , pride of that sort , I was quite of the same I . way of thinking as the others , and would : IL \ as soon' have thought of passing my night . , at Jacob's gibbet on Iitchllng conunon as in 1 the haunted house of ChUTe Royal. Still , I I could not bring myself to desert Jim , and 1 so. as I say , I slunk about the house with so 1mb and Pesky a face that my dear another would have it that I had boon at the green Aiples ) and sent me to Icd early with a dish of chamomIle tea for illy supper , 1 England went to rest betimes in those days , fo there were few who could afford tb price of candles , Vhen I looked out of my window 'ust after the clock had gone 10 , there was * ot a light in the village , save only at the . inn. It was but a few feet from the ground , v ' so I slipped out , tInit there vas Jim waiting n for mu at smithy corner , We crossed the t lit. John's common together , and so imat I Hidden's farm , meeting only one or two ridIng - . Ing offIcers upon the way , There was a a 4' brisk wind blowing , and the moon kept peeping through the rifts of the scud , so that a our road was sopeinlc ' silver-clear and b sonietitnes so black that we found ourselves h " among the bnunbles and gooaebush8 which ' hued it. We came at last to the wooden ) late with the hilh stoii pillars by the roachy . .lda , and , looking through between the nub , ol we saw the long avenue of oak. , and at the end of this ill-bodIng tunnel the pale face of the house ghitnmorlng In the moonshine. 'mat would have been enough for . me , that one glimpse of it , and the sound of the night wind sighing and groaning among the branches. But Jim swung the gate open , and up wo went , the gravel squeaking beneath our tread. It towered high , the old. house , with many little windows In which the moon glinted , 811(1 with a strip of water running round three lde of it. The arched ( hoar stood right in the face of us , and on one side a lattice hung open upon its hinge. "We're in luck , ltoddy , " whispered Jim. "Hero's one of the windows open. " "Don't you think we've gone far enough , Jim ? " eald I , with my teeth chattering. ' 'Phi lift you In first. ' ' "No , no : I'll not go first. " "Then I will. " lie gripped the sill and had tils knees on it in an instant. "Now , Itoddy , give mo your hands. " With a puli ho had mo up bjido him , and a moment later we Were both in the haunted house , hlow''isollow it sounded when we jumped down onti the wooden floor ! There was such a. sudden booni and reverberation that we both stood s'ilent for a moment. Then Jim burst out laughing , "What an old drum of a place it Isi" ho crieI. "We'll strike a light , floldy , and see where are. " Ibo had brought a candle and a tinder box in his pocket , When the flame burned ip we saw an arched stone roof above our heads and broad deal shelves all round us , covered with dusty dishes. It was the pantry. "I'll show you round , " said Jim , merrily , and pushing thlo door open , he led the way into the hall. I remembered the high oak- paneled walls with the 'heads of deer jutting out and a ssigle white bust which sent my heart into my mouth , In the corner. Many rooms opened out of this , and we wandered from ono to the other , the kitchens , the still room , the morning room , the dining room , all filled with the same choking smell of dust and of mildew. "This Is where they played the cards. Jim , " said I in a hushed voice. "It was on that very table. " "Why , here are the cards themselves , " cried he , and he pulled a. brown towel from something in the center of the sideboard. Sure enough It was a pile of playing cards'- forty packs , I should think , at the least- which had lain there ever since that magic game which was played before I was born. "I wonder whore that stair leads , " said Jim. Jim."Don't "Don't go up there , Jim ! " I cried , clutching at his arm. "That must lead to the room of the murder. " " 110w do you know that ? " "The vicar said that they saw on the coiling-Oh , Jim , you can see it oven now Ho held up his candle , and there was a great dark smudge upon the white plaster above us. "I believe you are right , " said ho , "but , anyhow , I'm going up to have a look at it , " "Don't Jim , don't ! " I cried , "Tnt , floddy , you can stay hero if you are afraid. I won't be more 'than a minute. There's no use going on a ghost hunt unless -my God , there's somethIng coming down the stairs ! " I heard it , too , a shuffling footstep in the room above , a d then a creak from the stops , and then another creak , and another. I sav Jim'i face as If it had been carved out of ivory , with his parted lips and lie , staring eyes fixed upon the black square or the stair opening. Ito still held tim light , but his flngem twitched , and with every twitch the shadows sprang from the walls to the ceiling. As to myself , my knees gave way under me , and I found myself on tIm floor crouching down behind JIm with a scream frozen in my 'throat. And still the steps came slowly from stair to stair , Then , harJly daring to look and yet unable - able to turn away my eyes , I saw a figure dimly outlined in the corner upon whIch the stair openeI. There was a silence in which T could hear my poor heart thumping , and then when I looked again the fIgure was gone , an.I 'the low creak , creak was heard once snore upon the stairs. Jim sprang after it , and I was left half fainting In the moonlight. But it WS not for long , Ito was down again In a minute , and , passIng his hand Un- tIer my arm , ho half led and half carried me out of the house. It. was not until we were in the fresh night air again that ho opened his mouth. "Can you stand , Ttochly ? " "Yes , but I'm shaking. " " " said he his hand "So am I , , passing Dyer his forehead , "I ask your pardon , ROldy , I was a fool to bring you on such Sn errand , But I never believed ip such things , I know better now. " "Could it have been a man , Jim ? " I asked , Iucking up my cou ago , now that I could , oar the dogu barking on the farms. "It Was A spirit , Roddy. " " 110w (10 you know ? " "Becauso I followed It and eaw it vanish nto a vail no easily as an eel into sand. Why , Roddy , what's amiss now ? " My tears were all back upon me , and wery nerve creeping with horror , "Take no away , Jimi Take me wny ! " I cried , I was glaring down the avenue , and his yes followed mine. Amid the gloom of lie oak trees something was coming toward Is. "Quiot , floddyl" whispered Jim , "By , eavezi , come what may , my arms are going ound it this timo. " We crouched as motionless as the trunks ) ehind us , heavy stops ploughed their way hrough the soft gravel , and a broad figure oomed ULOfl Us in ( ho darkness. Jim sprang ipon it like a tiger. "You're not a spirit , Lily way. " ho cried , Tue man gave a shout of surprise , and i lien a growl of rage. "What the deuce-I" (0 roared and then , "I'll break your neck if I ou don't lot go. " Tim threat might not have loosened Jlna I rip , but tb voice did. "Vhy , unciol" he I nod , "Well , I'm blest it it isn't Boy Jimi And htat'a this ? Why , it's young Ma.qter Rod- oy Stone , as I'm a living sinner ! What In ho world are you two doing up at ditto i loyal at ttis tine of night ? " 'w'o had all moved out into the moonlight , ml there was Champion harrison with a C ii ; bundle on his arm , and such a look pt mazement upon his taco as would iavo I rought a smile back onto mine had my earl notetill been cramped with tear , " 'o'ro exploring , " bald Jim. "Exploring , are you7Vell , I don't think ) U Worn Iieant , to be Captain Cooks , either you , for I uever saw such & pair of peeled- turnip faces. Why , Jim , what are you afraid dtl "I'm not afraid , uncle. I never was afraid , Ihut spirits are new to me , and- " "Spirits ? " "I've been. in ditto Royal , and we've seen the gtior't , " The champion gave a whiintlc. "That's , the game , is it ? " said he , "Did 1'Ol have speech with it ? " "It vanished first. " The champion whistled once more. "I've heard Ihero is something of the sort up yap- dot , " said he , "but it's not a thing as I would IUI'Ise you to meddle with , There's enough trouble with the folk of this world , Boy Jim , without going out of your way to mix up with those of another. As to young Master Rod- fey Stone , it his good mother saw that white face of his she'd never let him come to the smithy more' .S'nlk slowly on , and I'll see you back to Iriar's Oak. ' We had gene half a mile , perhaps , when the champion overtook us , and I could not but observe that the bundle was no longer under his arm. Wo were nearly at the smithy before Jim asked the question which was already in my mind. "What took you up to ChUte Royal , uncle ? " "Well , as a man gets on in yearo , " seth ! the champion , "There's many a duty turns up that the lIkes of you have no Idea of , When you're near 40 yoursclf you'll maybe know ( ho truth of what I say , ' So that was all that we could draw from him , but young as I wan I had heard of coast smuggling and of packages cnrried to lonely places at night , so that from that titno on if I had heard that the Irovcntivos had made a capture I was. never eay until I saw the jolly taco of Champion Harrison looking out of his emithy door. ChAPTER III , TIlE PLAY ACTRESS OF ANSTB % tROSS. I have told you something abOut Ir1ar , Oak and about the life which we led ih re , Now that my memory goes baCk to the old place It would gladly linger , for , ' verythoad which I draw from the skiin bf , th past brings out halt a dozbn othhrs that vere en. tangled with it. I was In two. mInds whbn I began whether I had enough in nn to mko \ \ . . . . "I HOPE-I IIOPl YOU'RE WELL. " - a book , and now I know that I could write One about Friar's Oak alone , antI the folk whom I knew in my childhood. They were hard and uncouth , , some of them , I doubt not , and yet , seen through the golden hiazo of time , they all seem sweet and lovable. There was our good vicar , Mr. Jefferson , who loved the whole world. save only Mr Slaclc : the Baphist minister ofClayton , and there was kindly Mr. Slack , who was all men's brother , save only of Mr. Jefferson , the vicar , of Friar's Oak. Then there was Monsieur' Rudin , the French royalist refugee , who llvel over on the Pangdean road , and who , when the news of a victory came in , was convulsed - vulsed with Joy 'beeauso.whad'beztcn * Ilona. , parts , and shaken. wlth.rage because. wqIad. beaten the French , , so that otter the Nile ho wept for a whole day out' f delight , and then for another'one out of fury , alternately clapping - , ping his hands and stamping his feet.Vell : I remember his thin , upright figure and the. way in which he Jauntily twirled his little , cane , trw cold apd hunger co'tI not cast , him down , though we knew thia ( he had his share of both. Yet he was so proud and had such a grand manner of talking that no one dared to offer him a cloak or a meal. I can see his fare now , with a flush over each , craggy cheek bone , when the butcher made him the present of some ribs of beef. lIe could not take it , and yet whillo he was stalking off he threw a proud glance over his shoulder at the butcher , and he said : "Monsieur , I have a dog ! " Yet it was Mon. sieur Rudin , and not hi dog , who looked plumper for a week to come. TI'en l remember Mr. Paterson , th farmer , who was what you would now call a radical , though at that time some called him a Priestly-ito , and some a Fox-ite , and nearly everybody a traitor. It certainly seemed to me at the time to be very wicked that a man should look glum when he heard of a British victory , and when they burned his straw image at the gab of his ( arm , Boy Jim and I were among those who lent a hand. But we were hound. to confess that he had game , though he might be a traitor , for down he came striding into the midst of us , with his brown coat and his buckled slices , and the fire heating Upon lila grim schcolmaster face. My word , how ho rated us. and how glad we were at last to sneak quietly away ! "You livers of a lie , " said he. "You and those like you have been Ireoching peace for nigh , 2.000 years , and cutting throats tue whiole time ! If the money that is lost in taking French , lives were spent in saving RngIisj ones , you would hiavo lflOro right to burn candies in your windows , Who are. you that ( lore to come hero to insult a law.abldlng men ? " I "We are tlo , people of England , cried young Master Ovington , the son of the tory squire , " "You-you horse-racing , cock-fIghting oe'or- I do-wohh , do you presume to talk for tile people - plo of England ? They are a deep , strong , I silent stream , and' you ore the scum , the. bubbles , the pear silly froth that flu.its upon' I tile surface , " Wo thought him very s'icked then , but , looking back , I am not sure that 1 % e were not very wicked ourselves , And then there were the'smIigglera l'he dawns swarmed with them , for' since there might ho no lawful trade betwixt France nnd I Bngland it had all to run in that channel. I have boon up on St. John's common upon a dark night , and , lying among the bracken , I Iave seen as many as seventy mules and a man at the bead of each go flitting past me , as silently as fish in a stream , Not one of them but bore its two azikera of the , rjght S French , cognac , or its bale of silk of Lyons 0 and lace of Valenciennes , I know Dan LI Scales , tile head of theti , , and I kdew Tom S Iiishop , tim riding officer , and. I rolnonlber tile night they Illet. "Do you fight , Dan ? " C asked Tom , "Yes , Torn , thou snua fight ii for It. " On which Tom drew his pistol and C blow Dan's brains out , "ft was a sad thing , to do , " he said afterward , "but I knew Dan was too good a maio for me , for we tried J it out before , " It was Tom yho paid 'a jloet I ) from Brighton to write the lInq , for tiio tombstone , which we all tliough were very Y rue antI good , beginning : a Alasi Swift new the fatal lead ti Which , lllerced the young ( nan's hleadi y lIe instant fell , roslgned hits breath , , T And closed his languid eyes in death , r Tjiere was no more of it , and I dare say It Ia all still to be read in l'atciam , churchyard - yard , One day about the time of our Clirfe Royal p odventurs , I was seated in the cottage hook- ng around at the curios which my father tad fastened onto tile walls , and wislliig , , Ike tue lazy lad that T was , that Mr. Lilly ad died before ever 1e wrote h ! Latin iranunar. wiiei my mother , who Was sitting nittIng in the WlfldOWf gave a little cry of rurprzo. "aood graciousi" shio cried , "What a tula , looking woman ! " It wa so fare to iar my' mother say a 'ard word against anybody ( unless it were leneral Bonaparte ) that I was across the oem and at the window in a jump , A pony b liaise was COUIIOg slowly dow , , the village 'trod ' , and in it was the queerest looking ) o5fl that I had ever seen , She was very tout , with a face that was so dark a red hat it shaded away into purple over 1140 lose and cheeks , She wore a great list , vltti a white curling ostrich feather , and rum under its brlx ; her two bold black eyes tared out with a look 0 ! anger and defiance as if to tell the folk that she thought less of them than they could of hcr She had some Port of scariet pe:1F9 : , w.th white ssansdown , about her neaJ , an she hell the reins slack in her hiad1 , while the pony wanderel frim side to alil of the road as the fancy took hIm. Iach ( Itoh ( lie pony swayed her head the great hst lwnyel also , sa that sometmca ; w saw therown of it and sometimes the brIm , , " \Vhat a dreadful slghtP' 1rieJ my mother , "What is amias with her'thothcr ? " "heaven forgive me 'It 1 misjudge her , Rodney , but I think t4 ( lie unfortunate woman has been drinig ? , , "Why , " I cried , "she baa' spIlled the chaise up at the smithy , I'll qtfut ( all tie , news for you , " and catching ap ny cap , away I scampered , ; - 3- Champion harrison had , een shoeing a horse at the forge door. , antjr when I got into the street I could see hin with the creature's hoot still tinder his arm hind ( lie rasp in his hand , kneeling down amid the white pargs. : The woman was beckoning him frono the chaise , and lie staring at her with the queer- oct expression upon hiI. ' face. I'resently lie threw down his rasp and went across to her , standing by the wheel and slinking his hiemi as ho talked to her , Fur my part I slipped into the smithy where Boy Jim was f.iiishing the shoe , and I watched the neatness of his work and the deft way in which ho turned tip the caulkens. When ho hind ( lone with it ho carried It out and there wan the strange woman still talking with his uncle. "To that ho ? " I heard her ask , ChampIon Iharrison nodded , .ho Iooked'at Jim , and I never saw audi eyes h a human bend , eo large and black and wonderful , Boy as I wa I know that in opite of that bloated face ( lila woman had once been very beaUtiful , She put out a hand , with all the fibgers going , as if shio were playing on the harpsichord , and alto touched Jhji on the shoulder , ' "I hope-I hope you're , well , " she otam. sacred. , ' "Very well , marn , " raid Jim , staring from ' her to his uncle. "And happy , too ? " , "Yes , main , I thank you. " "Nothing that yOu crave for ? " "Why , no , nam ; I have all that I lack , " "That will do , Jim , ' ' said his uncle iii a stern voice , "Blow up the forgo again , for that. shoe wants reheating. " lint it seemed as if the woman had something - thing else that she would say , for ohio was , angry that he should ho sent away. TIer eyes gleamed and her head tossed , while the loilithi , , withi lila two big hands oit'tspread , senied to be sotlilng her as best lie could. For a long time they whispered until at last 1io seemed to be satisfied , "Tomorrow , then ? " she cried loud otit , "Tomorrow , " be answered. "You kecp yctir word , P01(1 I'll keep mine , " l'ail she , nfll dropped tue lash on the pony's back , Thio smith stood with , the rasp iii his hand , looking after her until she wau just a little rail spot on the white road , Then lie turned , and I never saw hi ! face so grave. "Jim , " saIl lie , "that's Miss limb , , , who hia comb to live at tle Maples out Anstey Cross way. She's taken kind of a fancy to you , Jim , anti' maybe she can help you on a bit. r promised her that you would go over anti see liar tomorrow. " "I ( lOfl't want her help , uticle , and I don't want to sea liar. " "But I've promised , JIm and you wouldn't make mo out a liar , She doei , but want to talk with you , for it is a lonely life eho leads. " "What would shio want to talk with suca as me about ? " , , "Why , I cannot , sytiiiv' but seemed very set up'on It , anpsmen hiavo their fancies. There's ' Stone here , who wouldn't refuse 1o' g and see a good lady , I'll vat'rant , if htetTipught ho might better his fortune by qolng so. " "Well , uncle , I'll goI&floddy , Stone will go wit ) ' . me , " said Jim1 "Of course , he'll on't you , Master Rodney ? " . So II ended. in my sayingi yes , and back I wc'n vit1 . .ahi ny neyetji.ny mother , 'who dearly loved a little 1411 , o1gossip. She ehook her head when eheiiOzLi4ihore I was going , but ho did , Snot shy.tpa.nd so it. was settled. : , 'It was a good four , niles of walk , but when Ave reached' ' it i au would' not wish to see a more cosy lip.leIiouse , all honey- aucklo and creepers , 4wJfh a wooden porch. " .and lattice wlndows. A" 'cornmon.lkiiig' rornan ppened tbeoor'ffpo. - . ' ' "Miss Hinton cannot , cE&you , " said she. "But she aked us 'totcome , " said Jim , "I casI't help that"crled the woman 'In a rude voice. "I teh1yOutbat she can't see you , " We stood irresouterfpr a minute. "Maybe you would just tell her I am here , " said Jim at last. "Tell liar ! 110w am I to tell her wheo lie couldn't so much as hear a pistol in her ears ? Try and tell her yourself , If you have a mind to. " She threw open a door as she spoke and there , in a reclining chair at the further end of the room , we caught a glimpse of a.figure , all lumpeJ together , huge and shapeless , with tails of black hair hanging - ing down , The Sound of dreadful , wino'.like breathing foil upn our ears. It was hut a glance , and then we vere off hotfoot for home. As for me , I vat' so young that I was not sure whether'this , was funny or tori- ribie , but when I looked at Jim to see how he took it ho was looking quite white and ill. "You'll not toil any one , Roddy , " said he. "Not unless it's my mother. " "I won't even tojI my uncle. I'll say she was ill , the poor lady. It'zi enough that we should have seen her III liar shame , without it's being the gosrip of the village. It makes me feel sick and heavy at heart. " "She was so yesterday , Jim. " " \sas she ? I never marked it. But I know that she 11115 kInJ cyes and a good heart , for I sav the one in 'the other when she looked at , me. Maybe , It's the , want of a friend that 11011 driven her to this , " I blighted his spirits for ( lays , and when it lied. all gone from my mind it was brought back to me by his manner. But it was not to be our last memory of the lady will , the carlet. pelisse , for before the week was out Jim caine rounil to ask nie if I would again 10 U with hint. "My uncle ha had a letter , " said he. 'Site would speak with me , and I would DO easier If you came with me , lied , " For me it was only a pleasure outing , but [ could see , as we drew iear the house , that tim was troubling in his mind lest we should lad that things were amiss. Ills fears yore soon set at rest , however , for we hail iad scarce chiekeL the garden gate before the voman was out of the door of the cottage isal running down the path to meet us , Site ii ma so strange a figure , with some sort of a and her flushed face c mrple wrapper oii , big sailing out of it , that I might , if I had been a lone , have taken to IIIy heels at the sight f her. Even Jim stopped for a moment ° 5 If ho were not very sure of himself , but icr hearty ways soon set us at our ease , C "It is , indeed , good of you to come and ii 00 flU old lonely woman , " atd site , "and I 11 we you an apology that I should give yo'i ° ' fruitless Journey on Tuesday , but in a a eno you wore yourseive the cause of ! t , Ii lx'co the thought of ' yU F coming had cx- 1. ited me , auth any e'kclt ment thrown jio Ito a nervous ( over , 'M' poor nerves ! You an see yourselves hio'tiey ) serve me. " , Site ijohil out her twltcbjng hands as aho 01 poke. Then lie passid o'llb of thteii through isa's arm , and walke l "with , him up the ath. ii , 45'LJ ' I IL "You must let me lh6 * you , and know tc ou well , " said she. "Ydfr undo and aunt fl To quite old acquaInsicia of mine , and , f otigi , you cannot reineiiiber me , I have held ct ou iii fly arms when you were an infant , SI all ma , iittie mai' , " pdded , turning to Lt te , " , wiiat do you tail you.r friend ? " in "Boy Jim , ma'am , " aidti. d "Then it you will ndt' ' llpnk me forward I P1 'ill call you Boy Jim We elderly pee- al ie have our privihegeB ydu know , Am ! now ci * 1115 you will come In wth me and we will take a dish of teit toeet"er " She led the way to a cory room , the same which we had caught a glimpse of when first we conic. anil there In the nIlikIlo was a table with white napery sail ph ning glass an' ' ! gleaming ehiltia , nfld red.cheeked apples piled up on a center lush , 011(1 a great plate. fui of smoking mtiflins which the crosa.faccd mall hail just cnrricl in , You can think we' ( liii justice to all the good things , and Miss lBnton would ever keep lireasing us to pass our cue and fill our plato , Twice dur'nrt our meal she rose from her chair and wit ! , ' drew lnt a cupboard at the enl of thio room , and each time I saw Jim's face cloud , for we heard a gentle click of class against glass , "ConIc , now , little man , " said she to me when the , table 11511 been cleared. "Why are you looking round so much ? " "Because tliero are so many pretty things upon the walls. " "Anti which do OU thitilt the prettiest ct them ? " "Why , tliatl" said I , pointing to a picture which hung opposite to me , It was a tail and slender girl , with the rosiest cheeks and the 'tenderest eyes-so daintily dressed , too , that I had ncver seen anything more perfect , She hail a posy of flowers in her hand , and another one was lying tIPOIl the planks of wood upon which she was standing. "Oh , that's the prettiest. is it ? " Sail she. laughing , "Well , now , walk up to it and let us liens vhiat is writ beneath It. " I did as alto asked and read out : "Miss Pohly Ilinton as Peggy in the 'Country'ifo , ' played for her benefit at thio Ilayinurket thic- flIer September 14 , 17801" "It's a play actress , " said 1. "Oh , youi'rudo little boy , to y it In stick a tone , " hi said , "As If a PlaY actress wasn't its 'good 'as onyt oiio else , Why , 'twos but the other tlhy that the ( lithe of Clarence , whio may caine to call himself king of England - land , married' Mrs. Jordan , who wal : herself only a play actrea. And whom do you think this one i"I She istood .untler , the picture with her arms folded across her great boils' and liart big black , tyes looking from oi.i to the 'other of ua. ' , I " \Vhy , where are 'your ' eyes ? " she cried at last. " 1 waulMiLu Polly Ilintonlof the hay- nlarke theater. And perhaps you never heard the iiaino before , " We were compelled to confess that we nov ir hind , And thet very name of play actiess had filled us both with a kind of vague horror like tile country-bred folk that we were. Ius they verc a class apart , to be hinted at rather than named , with the wrath of the Almighty hanging over thorn hihie a thunder cloud , Indeed , Ills judgments serned to be in visible operation before us when we looked upon what this woman was and what she hind been. " \Vell , " said she , laughing like one viio is hurt , "You have no cause to say any. tI irg , for I road on your faces what you have been taught to thlink of me. So this I thin upbringing you have had. Jim , to think evil of that which you do not understand. I 'isht you had beau In the theater that vary night s ith Prince Florizel and four dukes in thm boxes , and ll tile vits and maccaronis of London risiimg at me in the pIt. If Lord Avon had not given me a seat In his earriago I 115(1 never got the flowers back to my lodg- lags iii Yorie street , Westminster. AmId now two little country lads are sitting in judg- mInt upon moo. " ( To 130 Continued , ) FIRsP IHtltN TO StiflE. . ' Chicago Chronicle. In the spring a livelier interest Every 'politician feels , In the spring the young man's fancy Llghty : turns to thioughlts of wheels , Rubber tires become hi hobby And he longs for checkered hose , " , VlliCh , with knickerb1clCers nobby , All his charms of form disclose. 'Over maps of country highways Long ho burns the midnight oil ; Anxiously the heavens scanning Lest n. storm the road might spoii. Wheels of various graIes and prices He examines with much care Learns of all the new devices For a bicycle's repair , Then some morning bright and early , Illes Jim to the. boulevard , Clean and smooth and quite inviting , Alsovery 'very hard. With his wheel so new and shining lie essays to' take a wioIr , ' , gnowledgoua and wise , repining ' 'JhatUq , dId , iot bringhis girl , - aitit with. hi first 'mov&imnsteady ' ' Thisyoung man of'grat renown Finds himself not yet quite ready And the cycle throws him down. Bruised amId dazed , he finds a pedal Firmly jabbed into his side And remembers. of a sudden , He forgot to learn to ride. Ccok's Extra Dry Imperial Champagne 'has a 'delicioua aroma of tile grapes. Its purity is undoubted , ItELIGIOUS. Ex-Governer McKinley will deliver arm address - dress at the quadrennial general conference of the Methodiat church , which will be held in Cleveland In May. _ _ _ _ _ _ A bronze tablet is to be placed In the I'arI Street church , Boston , bearing the 'names of [ 1ev , Dr. S. F. Smith and Lowell Mason. The latter w'ae one of the founders of the Handel and Haydn society of Boston. The hebrews of both Boston and Phila- fielpltia make serious ciiarges of proselyting against the Christians of these cities , and are very much distressed over what they consider improper methods , of carrying on their religious work , The golden jubilee of Archbishop William Fer.ry Elder of Cincinnati will be celebrated In June. The exact date is the 10th , but the jubilee will continue all of that week. It ie expected that many of the highl priests md dignitaries of the Catholic church in the united. States will be present. There are inoro Latter-Day Saints in this ountry , outside of utah , than many people suppose. There are 'no ' baa than eighteen Irgonizatiolls in Now York state , fourteen in Pennsylvania , eighteen in Ohio , eight in tiassachusetta , forty-two in Missouri and : welve in Texas. The interesting fact is stated that the ociety for the Propagation of the Gospel in ? oreign I'amts , which was established as a ociety for extending the Church of England. n the colonies of the United Kingdom , lies' iourished more since than before the with- Ii'swal of the patronage of the state , , whIch 'ears ago it enjoyed , Tiio total income for 895 was 501,200. Bishiop Hendrix of thio Metho'dist church , outii , who recently returned from a tour of nspection of the misaion fields of his church n Corea , Japan and China , brings this inca- ago from Li hung Chasig to the American hurches : "Say to the American people for 110 to send over more men for the schiois ad hospitals , and I hope to be in a position oth to aid ami4 protect them. " Prof. Max Muller in one of hia lectures re- entiy called attention to the largest boolc ii the world , the wonderful "Kutiio Daw , " L consisto of 729 parts in the shape of whiito iarblo plates , covered with inscriptions , ach plat ? built over with a temple of brick. L is found near the old priest city of Manda- ty , in Ilurmab , and this temple city of mnore ian 700 pagodas virtually makes up this tonster book , the religious codex of the Buil- lists. ' It. is written in I'ail , amid was reeled In this century by command of ICing lindomin of Burmahm , The members of the Second street Method- It church of New York City wete treated I a mild anrl.ploasing sensation last Sunday orning , It baa just paid off its debt of ; ,00o , for wbtich a mortgage existed , To iebrato the event the pastor prepared the ) ectacio of burning the mortglgo , With silver plato in lila hand ho stepped out to the gaze of the congregation , placed thio cument in it and touched a snatch to the tper , Tue fIre blazed up In the sight of I , and then the congregation , led by the toir , sang the Doxology , - - L : 'II , ' Itcii eround 11110K for your advantage , X XGuarnnteecj years HAMMAR PAINTS Se RI he CI a TWO gallons of like ! Paiat , that is ou gallon of Oil sad sat gahioc of Faint l'igmect , Vu'b eli Dy this gaiioa at Oil , it fitS , $1 IIED Pill ! flltEi , shin on cia Lay i'are Dusted Oil lreia $ 5 om hs dater at less than ant.huli th * ioit I I gauss ef Fare Oil sat a gauss .1 best Faint i'igumeat } Uaminu l'alnt ) , soaks hG ' ' . . . . 1 cc ( lnhiu gallons of l'iiro Faint , giisriattet utisfachrj'for ytari , for . . at Jtctnii. phi CLI ) TItIt000hl ( iNC lXEBl'o8IUU PgALEU IN iviuv 'rowN , vs WILL IIEEUNI ) 510EY Li ? aLoy 8 ILSi'OLE8aIITED , 8pccI ( luauccizisets . hi local lIowsp&per , AdvcrtItng , iJchiyric , , Lc , , to latsr , - - - - . - SamieCard-- " - : - ' _ _ 4. _ _ _ . - Zz'4JCL& y ETLOUISM 'I'OlI ) OtT Oh ( ' 01 lIT , "That a bed is ; * h dangerous Instrunierit Is ot rio moment in ( lila case , " Miii the court , in hoblitig that the seller of a folding bed falsely' represented to be safe Is liable to alt , person whip may be injureil while using t. In , this ease it was warranted to "stand upright nalnst the cahl tiuring thitf daytinic' , ' ' nail t''ia , It si' pears , It would (10 , lImit the trouble arose over a further warranty that itt night when the front hart 'val lowered "the lege of the narno 'would nutornaticaliy descend slId ctmrely lock theniselves , " 'rho complaint of an injured lad ) ' ahlegeil "that being about to retire for the night , and the legs thereof being - ing apparently secure , plie , in 1110 course , ot liar vreparations for retiring , lennei with her left arm upon the iilo of 'the ' bed , aini while sIte vits In lhls attitude the heavy framework of the bed fell forward and dawnwaril upon the botiz.ontal part anti tipomi the plaintiff , breaking her arm and otherwise - wise injuring her to her damage , " Consequently - quently the e'oller of this trap was hell ha- blo to be mulcteil in damages because of its vicious propensities , A quotation Irene "The Case of lic'resy , " 7 Coke , f.G , says : "The nrchibishiop anti other bishops , and other the clergy , at is general synod or convocation , mighit convict an heretic by the common law , But for tiIs , that It was troublesome to cali'n , eon- vocation of the whiola province , it was ordained - dainod by the titatuto of L lIeu , IV , , chap. 35 , that every bishop in lila diocese might convict , heretics. And if tiio sheriff was present hio might deliver ( ho party convict to be burnt without an' writ tIe haerc'tico comnburcnlo : hut it thic sheriff be absent , or if he be to be burnt In another county , then there ought to ho a writ the haeroiico coin- burendo , " This revered coiuinoii law authority - thority should not , ho disregarded. Nothing less than the formality of a writ do heeretico comburenilo will satisfy a heretic vhien 'ho is to be taken to another county to ho burned , S In a life insurance case a federal judge recently - cently charged the jury as follows : "Now , gentlemen of the jury , I try to chose my eyes , as well as I cmi , to the fact that a woman and child have any interest whatever in the result of a controversy when it is brought Into court , I cannot always do it. I don't atipposa you can , It is not expected. If a man can do that , Ito is no better ( lien a brute. lb is as had as tIme Iieatheim is supposed - posed to be , and verse than time liorsethilef is thought to be , It he close lila eyes to that fact , lose all seilso of decency and self- respect , he would not be fit for a juror. But , so far as it Is IOl'CiblC for you to do that , you do so , and decide the case precisely as you would if it Wflt , between man amId mIlan , or between - tween a woman aild a woman , " And yet the illstmraflce coimlpany tools an exception to the charge. The Century , Standard , International and Encyclopaedic dictionaries are steadily falling behind time courts. One recent decisicil es- tabhishes that rhten a man Is lurng by a mob it i an "accident , " A child whose paralts aria living lieu also been declared by an call- neat judge to ho an "orphan , " and when life innmrance was taken by a man whiiie unmar- ned , it was judicially declared to have been "eftec'ted 'by a husband. " In addition to these , 'an talmarried woman has been do- dared by our highest court to ho a "olimgie man , " Some years ago a court , speaking about a deceased canvasser for insurance , said there was proof "that in an interview with the president , the deceased remarked that lie could procure a grert number of applications in Newark , . J. , to which the president in oubstance replied that he must be cautious , as the company (11(1 not wish to insure insaiis persons , or persons of habits of intoxication. " Kirk's EOS ( In Powder Form. ) The Great Universal Washing and Scru b bin Corn pound l2asno equal , AT ALL GROCER S. K/at/ham Wa/ches Made by theAmerican Waltham Watch Company are the bestand most reliable timekeepers made in thisor any other country. Ash to sco the name 'Biver- 8dC " or " Royal " engraved on ilze plates , and always Uze " I. word Wa111iarn. For sale by all retail jowelera. c J2 - ' 1.1 is A BLESSINC TO IANKIND. The receipe AIISOLUTEI4Y FREPI TO rn EN OF ALL AGEf3. A WONDERFUL , EMIdDY , quickly restores and completely - rca the effects of all sinful hiahiite In 1' DUTIL nhisl later excesses in MANHOOD , DLD are made YOUI'G , WJdAIC are made 0 rItONG , The vital force quickly restored , ! ipe returns to every breast. Will gladly g , nd FREE TillS WONDERFUL RH- EiPE. IT cured rue after everythIng so hind failed , Don't delay , but write at Ice' Will send RECEIPE securely sealed in , sin envelopes , Address , it. J. A. KOENER , Box 1569 , J , Kalamazoo , Mich. MIJNYON'S GRAND WORK WORKFOR FOR HUMANITY More Pcopo Ciiredlly 1unyon's llcm dies DarIng the Past \Vok \ Thin by the Whole EedfoaI Profession In Six Months . l'liiilnr W'Ith llc i'eoile , fleennue 'i'it' Fiirisl , a ltciitcI- for 1lvcr lisemii'e ' , Cure 1'roiiitly nail i'ermna- mlcntly iimil Are only 2 Ccitt. a not- t Ic. J , A. ilishiop , dealer in paints , varniahice etc. " , 203 N. Main street , Wichita , Man , says : "I have been is great sufferer troims rhietima- tisni ' for over tWO yeRm'u. One bottle of Mun- yon's lthiotintatiamn Cure has entirely relieved mile from all P5111.5 antI soreness , and I be- iieve hiss entirely cured me , The results have beem , woiitlerfimh , ' ' Ii. Oliver Strilalnl of 2207 Gamble street , St. Louis , Mo. , says : "I had kidnell 4is ease for abotit seven years and it has r. duceil me iii flesh very miiueh , l.iy Urinu tvan hieavy and cloudy and left a thick sedi' iiient , I tried macny different kinds bt Medicine without gaining any relief , Fl- sadly I hogan tising Munyomi's Kidney Cure , anil it completely cured rae in a very' short tiimie. " Mun'on's lthmeurnatisnm Cure seldom fails to relieve in one to three houra , and cures iii a fes' days , Price 2&c. Munyoim'im Dyspepsia Cure positively cure. all forms of indigestioni and stomach trouble , I'rice , 2&c. MUII'oit's Cold Cure wcvents pneumonia and breako tip a cold iii a few hours. Price , 21e. ? tttlfl'Oil'S Cough Cure stops coughs , night ) sweats , allays soreness and sped.ly hoal. thio lungs. I'rice , 21c. Mtmnyoii's Kidney Cure speedily cure. pains in the back , loins anti groins and alt ! forms of kidney diseac'e. Price , 2&c. ' ' ittuimyou's headache Cure stops headache in three iiiiiiutes , Price , 2ic. Mtin.yon's h'ite Ointment positively cures all fornis of piles. Price , 25c. Mtinyon's Blood Cure eradicates nil impurities - ities of the blood , Price , 25c. Munyoti's Feiiialo Itemedies are a boon to all womneii. Munyon's Asthma Cure with Herbs , $1.00. Munyon's Catarrit Remedies never fail , The Catarrim Cure-price 2dc-eradicatos the disease front the system , and the Catarrh Tablets-price 26c-clcanse and heal the parts. Munyon's Vitalizer' ' restores lest powers to weak men , Price , $1.00. Ititinyon's Itemiledies at all drugieta , mostly 25 cents a vial , Personal letters to Prof. Munyon , 1505 Arc'hii street , Phiiladelpiiia , I'a , , answered vith free lileilical advice for any disease , M ' i'rimnsry , 800. I' 5EC'ALTY ondarorTor. ttarytfyphiiitupormauontly cured 114 1610 854ay. You car. botreatedat iome fqe thesutneprice'nfiereamoguaramity. ot youpofcrto coals here wo will contract to pa5 railroad fare nod hotel I , iIan no cbargeIf 'ye fail to cure. If you have taken liter. cury , lodido potash , and still linvO nch0 an Vain. , IlIucoUsPtlto'aes in mouth , Sore Tlno Hmphos , o iper Oolored Spots , Uicey n' miT part of tho1body , Stair or Eyebrows faitmn B-it , It Is this Syphiilttio BLOOD I'OISON that , r _ iruaroatco to curo. We eoitctttho moaobutI- nato cases .inih'chahlengo thto won , for a caNe vo cannot cure , 'Ibis 51.05.0 haN ahway5 bathed the skill of the moat otidnont phyaL cinna , 8OOOOO cit Ital bshttnd dur uneond.i. bonsi guaranty. Abotmtojproors soni "ntton. Address VOOi 1SEMEJ Ou , , $07 MlIMomtic Tcmnjile , ChICAGO , ILL WEAK MEN CURED AS IF' BY MAGIC , . Victims of Lost Manhood. should aend at once for' is book' , i , that explains how' full manly vigor is easily , quiokl .4 , and pcrnrnnentl . restored , No map , ufturtng froip , , p , weakness can at. I ford to ignore this , timely advice. Book tells how' ' full strength , d - . veiopmont and tone are Imparted to every portion of the body , Soot with ppsitiy ' proofs ( sealodfres ) toanymanonappThatlO , ERIE MEDICALOOP , BUFFALON.Y. OPIUM OR MORPHINE HABI1' ' I'ABTLEIILT & PEB.IL1TZTTLT C3tDI DR. - B. , COLLII'JS PAINLESS OPIUM ANTIDOTE ORIOIHAL AND OIILY GENUINE REMEDY. Discoseredin 1863. "THERIAKI"iiook Free , , Oftice 312 , 78 Monroe Street , flUlPAflfl ii' . Awf N 653. U I I 11414 : _ Wo .snil the marvelous - - ' , - - - French - Remedy CAL.THO8 frsc , nail a , M E leash yuaranteotbatCAiirito5 sill (4' TOI'DI.ehnrgo.&EmiuIoni BE - ' unn erleoceho I r. k1 uAd UESTOILE IM.t Vigor. tI 'l ' - Use ila'uftayij'.catifted. I Ill I A4dre.VOil MOth. CO. , I ' _ _ ) Bole M.trIea. h5IlU , ( .ladn.&U , OSti I D &HEAO NOISES EAFNESS ID 7 IU ( C.I.A. a pec.IWITaIMLST ili. , sylatbie , comCortbIeBSLF ADJUST. too. Wbip.r , L14rd , FREE TFST &n CONSULTATIOII&lour aS , . , 5 , ULtCOCo , 803 Dro.SwayK.wyork , Bend for BOOK EREt. wIJAo ; ; ; UoMrohjItp TANSY.PILLS Safesod SUItE. Aiwysmehlabka. Take flceubmtituie , For sale by all draugmi. StOO. Pen 40 , for JI'oman'g &iIepiar,1. , WILCoX MPRClgI Co. , ES SOUTh EIUILT1L STi'flhZADAPA , Patronize home Industries ly purchasing good. made at the fol. uwli , ; Nelriukzi fn000riea , If yams imsinot tutu iitsst a'ou want colnmtmuui uSe withi ( .10 munmiufacturera au t vltnt , Ii'nleru handle their goods. HAUS , IIEIILAI' AND TWINJO. BEMIS OMAhA BAG CO. Manufacturer. of all kln'ia of tton sad bur- Lp bags , cotton flour sacks sad twins a apse- ilty. G14 61Gt15 8 , 11th St. 1IILEViCIIIldS , OM1tIIA JIRE'tVING ASS'N. Car loAd .hipment.u mails in our own refrig. 'ator car. . Blue Ribbon , Elite Export , Vienna xport , and Family hixpoia , delivered to all parts. city , FLOUR. S. F , GILMAN , Manufacturer of aols Meda Flour , ' B , Black , i4anaxer , Omaha. 111015 VOJtlCS. tAXIS & COWGII L IRON WORKS . irian gtmd ilraus , Founders , Manufacturers and Jobber. of Machinery , rnerai repairing a specialty , 1IOL 1503 and 1505. ickson street , Omaha , Neb. INDUSTRLtL IRON WORKS unufacturing and Itepairing of all kinda of aciilmiery , engine. , numsa , iieyaiom'a , printin sues , hiangera , shafting aniS couplings 1(05 an )5 lfuwsrd St. , Omaha , tX'i'ON& VIERLING IRON V'RKs Msnufactureim of , Arcitiioctural Iron Work , nersi Foundry , Machine and hliackamith V.'crk , glneeri and Conirselora for Fire Proof' jildingu. Ornce .me work. ; U. 1' , Sty. amid' . lilt , atreet , Omaha , NIGUT WATOII.FIRI0 NJdRViOifl. AMERICAN DISTRICT TELE. GRAI'lI. is only perfect protection to property , Examin lOcal thing on earth , Reduce. inaurgoc tee. 1304 flougiaa fit. SUulIT FACTORIES , ' 11 , EVANS-NEBRASKA ShIRT' COMPANY , icIuiitf. custom .hhc sa15cs. W Faaaa , .