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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1897)
THE oarATTA DAILY iuKt- SUNDAY , JUNE c r \ THREE PARTNERS : The Big Strike on Heavy Tree Hill. - KY BKKT IIAUTB. CHAPTER VII. Continued. For n moment Mrs. Honicnutle was pecch- lew and vacllUtlng. She had often noticed before that It was part of the Irony of the creation of such a simple nature na Marker's that lie wo * not only open to deceit , but ab- Boltitcly Hccmed to Invite It. Instead of male- Ing o III cm franker , people wore Inclined to rebuke h ! credulity by restraint nnd equivo cation on their own part. Ilut the evasion thus offrred to her , although only temporary , wao a temptation she could not resist. And It prolonged an Interview that n ruthless revelation or the truth might have short ened. "She did not tell me why she was going there , " rhe replied , still evasively , "and , In deed , " one added , with a burst of candor still more dangerous , "I only learned It from the hotel clerk after elio was gono. Hut I want to talk to you about her relations to Van Lee , " she said , with a return of her former Intensity of gaze , "and I tlio\nlt ] wo would ba less subject to Interruption here than at the hotel. Only 1 suppose everybody known this place , and any of those flirting couples are likely to como hero. Ilesldcs , " ehe added , with a little half-hyfiterlcal laugh and a ellght flhlver , an she looked up ut the high Interlacing of the boughs above her head , "It'n as public as the aisles of a church , anil really one feels as If ono was 'speaking out" In meeting. Isn't thorn some other spot a llttlo more secluded where we could sit ilown , " the went on , as s ho poked her para- eql Into the usual black gunpowdery deposit of earth which mingled with the carpet of pine needles beneath her feet , "and not get all sticky and dlfty ? " Barker's ftycs sparkled. "I know oven foot of this bill , Mrs. llorncastlo , " he saM , "and If you will follow mo I'll t ko you to ono of the loveliest nooks you ever drcanml of. It's an old Indian spring now forgotten , and I think known only to mo nnd ths birds. It's not more than ten mlnutcH from hero ; only" lie hesitated as ho caught sight of the smart French bronze buckled Bhoo and silken ankle which .Mrs. HorncaH- tle's gathering up of her dainty skirts around her had disclosed "It may bo a llttlo rough and dusty going to your feet. " Hut Mrs. llorncastlo pointed out that she had already Irretrievably ruined her shoea nnd stockings In climbing up to him al though Ilarker could really distinguish no diminution of their freshness and that she might as well go on. Whereat they both passed down the long aisle of slope to n llttlo hollow of manznnlto , which again opened to a view of Black Spur , but left the liotrl hidden , "What tlmo did Kitty go ? " began Darker , eagerly , when they were half down tbu slope. Hut hero Mrs. ITorncastlo's foot slipped upon the glassy plno needles , and not only Btopped an answer but obliged Barker to glvo all his attention to keep his companion from falling again until they reached the open. Then came the plungu through walsl- dcep ferns , and then they emerged , holding each other's hand , breathless and panting before the spring. It did not bcllo his enthusiastic descrip tion. A triangular hollow , niched In a shelf of the mountain side , narrowed to a point from which the overflow of the spring percolated through a fringe of alder , to fall In what seemed from the valley to bo a green furrow down the whole length of the mountain side. Overhung by pines abovt > , which met and mingled with the willows that everywhere fringed It , It made the one cooling shade In the whole basking expanse of tbo mountain , and yet was penetrated throughout by the Intoxicating spice of the heated pines. Flowering reeds nnd long lush grasses drew a magic circle round an open bowl-llko pool In the center that was always replenished to the slow murmur of an unseen rivulet that trickled from a white quartz cavern In the mountain side like a vein opened In Its flank. Shadows of tlmU wings crossed It , quick rustlings disturbed the reeds , but nothing moro. It was silent , but breathing ; It was hidden to everything but t the sky and the Illimitable distance. They threaded their way around It , on the epongy carpet , covered by delicate lace-llko vines that seemed to caress rather tlian tram mel their moving feet , until they readied an open space before the pool. It was cushioned end matted with disintegrated plno bark , and hero they eat down. Mrs. IHorncastle furled licr parasol and laid It aside , ralst-d both hands to the back of lier head and took two hairpins out , which she placed In her smil ing mouth , removed her hat , stuck the hair- plus In It , and handed It to Barker , who gently place * ! It on the top of a tall reed , where , di.irlng the rest of that momentous : ' . . . . _ aim "I KNOW IT AU , , 1'Obn KITTY , " ' mooting. It syvupg and drooped like a flower , rcmovej her gloves' slowly , drank still emll- Ingly and gratefully nearly a wineglass full of the uator which Uarkcr brought her In the green twisted chalice of a Illy leaf , looked the picture of happiness , and then burtl Into tears , Barker was astounded , dismayed , oven ter ror stricken. Mm. Horncastle. crying ! Mrs. , llorncaatlu. the Imperious , the collected , the p X coldly critical , the cynical , mulling woman of the world , actually crying ! Other women might cry Kitty had cried often but Mrs , Ilorncaatlo ! Vet , there sbo waa , sobbing ; actually sobbing llko a school girl , her beau tiful ihouldera rising ami falling with her grief ; crying unmistakably through her long , white llngera , through a lace pocket handker chief which ahf > had hurriedly produced anil ehakun from behind her llko a conjurer's trick ; crying through her beautiful eyca , a thousand times moro lustrous for the spark ling beads that brimmed her lashes ami welled over llko tbo pool before her. "Don't uiluil me , " she murmured behind her handkerchief. "It's very foolish , I know , I was nervous , worried , I suppose ; 111 be bettor hi a moment. Don't notlco me " , please , 1 But Barker had drawn beside her and waa trying , after the fashion of his sex , to take her handkerchief awsy la apparently the firm belief that Ibis action would atop her tl tears. "But tell mo what It 4s. Do , Mrs. It Horncastle. please , " he pleaded In bis boyish 4 * ' fashion. "Is it anything I can do ! Only fc ay the word ; only tell me something. " fcyi But he had succeeded In partially remov yi ing the handkerchief , and so caught a fc glimpse of her wet eyca luwhich a faint emllo struggled out llko sunshine through lo rain. ' But tbey clouded agaiu. although ahe loHi /didn't cry , and her breath came and went In 1 with the action of a Bob and her bands atlll Inw remained against her flushed face. w "I WM only solas to talk lot you of Kitty fr ( sob ) , but I BUpose I'm weak ( sob ) and auch a fool ( sob } , and 1 got to thinking of myself and my own sorrows when I ought to be thinking only of you and Kitty. " "Never mind , Kitty , " said Barker Im pulsively. "Tell mo about yourself your own Borrows. I am a brute to have both ered you about her at such a moment ; and now , till you have told me what Is paining you so I shall not let you speak of her. " He waa perfectly sincere. What wore Kitty's possible ) and easy tears over the loss of her money to the unknown agony that could wrench u sob from n woman llko this ? "DearMrs. . Horncaslle " - , ho went on as breathlessly , "think of mo now not as Kitty's husband , but as your true friend. Yes , an your best and truest ft lend , and speak tome mo as you would speak to him. " "You will ha my friend. " she said suddenly and passionately , grasping hl hand , "my best and trucflt ft lend 7 And If I tell you all everything you will not cast me from you and hate me ? " Barker felt the same thrill from her warm hand slowly pcss-cf.i his whole being a.s It had the evening before , but this time he was pre pared , and answered the grasp and her eyes him In your eyes , t could bare kissed you then , dearest , as I do now. " "And , " she said , when she had gained her smiling breath again , "you will always re member , George , that you told me this be fore I told you anything of her , " "Her ? Of whom , dearest ? " ho asked , leaning over her , tenderly. "Of Kitty , of your wife , " she said Impa tiently , as the drew back shyly , with her former Intense gaze. Ho did not seem to grasp her meaning , but said gravely : "Let us not talk of her now. Later < ve shall have much to say of her. For , " ho added , quietly , "you know I must tell her all. " The color faded from her check. "Tell her all ! " she repeated , vacantly ; then suddenly she turned upon him eagerly and said : "But what If she Is gone ? " "done ? " ho repeated , "Yes , gone. What If she ran away with Van Lee ? What If she has disgraced you and her child ? " "What do you mean ? " ho said , seizing both her bands and gazing at her fixedly. " 1 mean , " she said , with a half-frightened eagerness , "that she has already gjno with Van Loo. George ! Oeorgcl" she burst out suddenly and passionately , falling upon her knees before him , "do you think that .1 would have followed you here and told you what I did If I .thought she had now the slightest claim upon your love or honor ? Don'l jou understand me ? I came to tell you of her flight to Boomvlllo with that man ; bow I accidentally Intercepted them there ; how I tried to save her from him , and even lied to you to try to save her from your Indignation ; but how she deceived me as she has you , and oven escaped and joined her lover while you were with me. I came to tell you that and nothing more , George , I swear It , But when you were kind to me and pitied me , I was mad wild ! I wanted to win you first out of your own love. I wanted you to respond to mine before you know your wife was faithless. Yet I would have saved her If I could. Lls'sn , George. A moment more before you sp ftk ! " Then she hurriedly told him all : the whclo ' _ . -I _ ll\- " mofe > ' 'I _ ! _ / . ' " ( I1 f j "AND THEY EMEItGEp HOLDING EACH OTHERS' HANDS. " together as he eald breathlessly , "I > wlll be I am your friend. " She withdrew her hand and paased It over her oyca. After a moment she caught his hand again , and , holding It tightly as If she feared he might fly from her , bit her lip , and then slowly , without looking at him , said , "I lied to you about myself and Kitty that night ; I did not coma with her. I came alone and secretly to Boomvlllo to , see to eeej the man who Is my husband. " "Your husband ! " said Barker In ( surprise. He had believed , with the rest of the world , that there had been no communication be tween them for years. Yet ao Intense was his interest In her that ho did not notice that this revelation was leaving now no excuse for his wife's presence at Boomvlllo , Mrs. HorncJstle went on with dogged bitterness. "Yes , my husband. I went to him to beg and bribe him to let me see my child. Yes , my child , " she said frantically , tightening her hold upon his hand , "for I lied ta you when I once told you I had none. I bad a child , and moro than that , a child who at his birth I did not dare to openly claim. " She stopped breathlessly , stared at his face with her former Intensity as If shq would pluck the thought that followed from his brain. But he only moved closer to her , passed his arm over her shoulders with a movpment BO natural and protecting that It , had a certain dignity In It , and , looking down on her bent head with eyes brimming with sympathy , whl.ipered , "Poor , poor child ! " Whereat Mrs. Homcat > tle again burst Into tears , And then , with hrr head half drawn toward bis shoulder , eho told him all all t that had passed between her and her bus band-r-ovcn all tbal they had then but hlntcc at. It was as If she felt she could now , for the first time , volco all these terrible mem ories of the past which had como back to her last night when her husband had lef lier. She concealed nothing , she veiled noth Ing ; there were Intervals when her tears no longer flowed , and a cruel hardness and rc < turn to her old Impcrlausness of voice anil manner took their place , as If she was doing rigid penance and took a bitter satisfac tion In laying bare her whole soul to him , "I never had a friend , " she whispered ; "thero were women who persecuted mo with their jealous sneers ; there were men who persecuted me with their selfish affections. When I first saw jou , you seemed some- hlng so apart and different .from all other ncn that , although I scarcely know you , I vantod to tell you , oven then , all that I have old you now. I wanted you to bo my 'rlend ; something told mo that you could .hat you could separata mo from my past ; .hat you could tell mo what to do ; that you : ould make mo think , as you thought , , see Ifo as you saw It , and trust always to some sooJness In people as you did. And'In this 'alth I thought that you would understand no now , and even forgive ma all. " She made a slight movement ! as If to dls- mgago her arm , and possibly to look Into bis lyea , which she knew Instinctively were lent-upon her downcast head. But bo only leld her tbo moro tightly until her cheek vaa close against his breast. "What could I o ? " ebo murmured. "A man In sorrow nd trouble may go to a woman for eym- athy and support and the world will not alnsay or misunderstand him. But a woman -weaker , more helpless , credulous. Ignorant , nd craving for light must not In her agony 0 to a man for auccor and sympathy. " "Why should she not ? " burst out Barker asslonatcly , releasing her In his attempt 1 gaze Into her faco. "What man dare re use her ! " "Not that , " she eald slowly , but with still verted eyes , "but because the world would ly she loved him. " "And what should she care for the opinion f a world that stands aside-and lets her ufferT Why should she heed Its wretched Abblo ? " bo went on in flashing Indignation. "Because , " aho laid faintly , lifting her lolut eyes and moist and parted lips to- ard him , "because It would be true I" There was a silence no profound that even 10 spring seemed to withhold Its murmur i their eyes and lips met. When the spring commenced Its murmur , and they could ear the droning of a bee above them and 10 rustling of the reeds , ihe- was murmur- ig , too , with Iter face against hli breast. You did not think It strange that I should dlow you that I should risk everything to ill you what I have told you before I told > u anything else ? You will ntver bate me ir It , George ? " Tl"-p was another silence still more pro- mged , and when ho looked again Into the ashed face and glistening eyes ho was Bay- El "I have alwaya loved you. I know now loved you from the first , from the day ben I leaned over you to take little 'Sta' am your lap < md caw your tenderness for i story of his wife's dishonor , from her en trance Into the sitting room with Van Lee , her later appeal for concealment from her husband's unexpected presence , to the use she mailo of that concealment to fly with her lover. She spared no detail , an.l ovm repeated the Insult Mrs. Barker had ' 'ast ' upon her with the triumphant repioach that her husband would not believe her. "Pv- ! haps , " she added bitterly , "you may not believe me now. I could oven stand thqt from you. George , If it could make jou happier ; but you would still have to l > c- llovo It from others. The pecple at the Boomvllle hotel saw them leavp I' , togit'ie- . " "I do bcllevo you , " he said blowly , but with downcast eyes , "and If I did not love you before you told me this , I could love you now for the part _ you have taken ; but " ' Ho stopped. , "You love her still , " slio burst out , "and 1 might have known , It. Perhaps , " she went on distractedly , "you love her the more that you have lost her. It la the way ofmen and women. ' "If I had loved her truly , " said Barker , lifting his frank eyes to hers. "I could not oven have wlphed to as I did three jeum ago aa I did lest night. Then I feared it was my weakness , now I know It was my love. I have thought of It ever since , even while waiting my wife's return here- , knowing that I did not and never could have loved her. But for that very reason I miMt try tc > save her for her own sake If I cannot save her for mine , and If I fail , dearest , it .ihall not be said that we climbed to hipplncaa over her back bent with the burden of her shame. If , . I loved you and told you so , thinking her etlll guiltless and Innocent , how could I profit now by her fault ? " : ' Mrs. Horncastle saw too late her mistake. 'Then you would take her back ? " she said frcnzlodly. "To my homo which la hers yes. To my ' heart no. She never was there. " "And I , " said Mrs. Hotncastle , with a quivering lip , "where do I go when you have nettled this ? Back to my past again ? Back to my husbandless , childless life ? " She was turning away , but Barker caught her In his anna again. "No , " he said , hu ! whole face suddenly tadlatlng with hope and youthful enthusiasm. "No ! Kitty will help iw ; we will tell her all. You do not know her , dearest , as I do how good and kind she la , In spite of all. We will appeal to her ; she will devise some means by which , with out tbo scandal of a divorce , she and I may be separated. She will take dear little 'Sta' with her It la only right , poor girl ; but she will let mo come and see him. She will ha a sister to us , deirest. Courage ! All will corao right yet. Trust to me. " A hynterlcal laugh came tc * Mrs. Horn-1 castle's lips , and then stopped. For as eho looked up at him lu-.hls . supreme hopefulness , hla divine confidence In himself and others at bis handsome face , beaming with love and happinrcs , and hls'cleor , gray eyea , glittering with an almost spiritual prescience she , woman of the world and bitter experience , and perfectly cognizant of her own and Kitty's possibilities , was , nevertheless , com pletely carried away by her lover's optimism. For of all optimism that of love la the mo.it convincing. Dear boy ! for he was but a boy In experience only his love for her could work this magic. So she gave him kiss for kiss , largely believing , largely hoping that Mrs. Barker was In love with Van Lee and v , would not return. And la this hope an In Sai vincible hope In the folly of her own sex ai soothed and sustained her. in "Wo must go now , dearest , " said Barker , dlPI indl pointing1 to the sun , already In the meridian. PI Three hours had fled , ; hey know not bow , tl "I will bring you back to the bill again , tlw but there wo had better separate , you taking w your way alone to the hotel , as you came , Jtct and I will go a llttlo way on the road to the cty divide' and return later. Keep your own ctai < counsel about Kitty for her ai , eako and ours ; aiPi perhaps no one else may know the truth Piw yet. " With a farewell kiss they plunged Piat again , hand In hand , through the cool atre bracken and again through the hot manzanlto re fo bushes , and so parted on tbo hilltop , as they had never parted before , leaving their whole ecui world b hlnd them. Darker walked slowly alon''he road under 8 lo : tbo flickering anade of wayside sycamore , cl ills sensitive face also alternating with bio cloc oc Ihoughta In lights and shadows. Presently ocpc tliero crept toward him out of the distance he pc i halting' , vacillating , deviating buggy , trall- ng a cloud of dust after It like a broken wings , ke ui \s U came nearer ho could see that the aoreo was spent and exhausted , and that- the ' Of lUggy'a sole occupant a woman was eiually re exhausted In bcr monotonous attempt to dt urge It forward with whip and reins that pc rose mid ftll At Interval * with feeble relt- cratlon. Then he stepped out of the shadow and stood In the nilddlof .the sunlit road to await It. For he redpgnfced his wife. The buggr came netriT. ' And then the most exquisite pang ho Jiad j \er felt before at his wife's hands shot IhiJuiRh him. For as she recognized him slid madea wild but Impotent attempt to dasn past him , and then aa suddenly pulled up In the ditch. Ho went to her. She was dirty , eho woe dishevelled , slio was haggard , she was plain There were rings of dust-dtlcd persplratlor. over her fair check , lib thought of the beauty , freshness and elogand * of the woman ho had just left , and an ! Infinite pity swept the soul of this \\eakmlmleil gentleman. Ho ran toward her , amf , fenderly lifting her In her shame-otalncd garments from the biifgy. Raid hurriedly , "I know It all , poor Kilty ! You heard the news of Van Loo's flight , and you ran over lo the 'Divide' to try and save some of jour money. Why didn't you wall ? Why didn't you tell mo ? " There was no mistaking the reality of his words , the genuine pity and tenderness of his action , but the woman saw before her only the familiar dupe of her life , and felt an Infinite relief , mingled with a certain con tempt for his weakness and anger , at her precious fear of him , "You might hive driven over then your self , " eho eald In a high , querulous volco , "If you knew It so well , and have , pared me this lion Id , dirty , filthy , hopeless expedition , for I have not saved anything there ! And I have had all this disgusting botherl" For an liMtant ho was sorely tempted to lift Lls eyes to bcr flee , but he checked him self , then he gently took her dust coat from her shoulders and shook It out , wiped the dust from her face and eyes with his own handkerchief , held her hat and blew the dust from It with a vivid memory of performing the same service for Mrs. Horncastle only an hour before , while she- arranged her hair and then , lifting her again Into the buggy , said quietly us he took his ceat beside her and grasped the reins : "I will drive- you to the hotel by 'way of the stables , and you can go at once to your room nnd change your clothes. You are tired , you are nervouo and worried , and want rest. Don't tell mo anything now until you feel qulto yourself again. " Ho whipped up the horse , which , recogniz ing anothci hand at the reins , lunged for ward In a final effort , and In a few minutes they were at the hotel. AB Mrs. HorncBstlo sat at luncheon In the great dining room , a little pale and ab stracted , she saw Mrs. Barker sweep confi dently Into the room , fresh , rosy , on In a new and ravishing toilet. With a swift glance of conscious power toward the other guests she walked toward Mrs. Horncastle. "Ah , hero you are. dear , " she said In a voice that could easily reach all cars ; "and you've arrived only a little before me , after all ! \nd I've hid such an awful drive to the 'Di vide ! ' And only think ! poor George tele graphed to me at Boomvllle not to 'worry , and his dispatch has only just come back here. " And with a glance of triumph slip laid Barker's gentle and forgiving dispatch baforc the astonished Mrs. llorncastlo. CHATTER VIII. As the day advanced Uie excitement over the llnr.nclal crisis Increased at Hymettus until , In spiteof Its remote nnd peaceful isolation , It Boomed to throb through all Its rciandas nnd corridors with some pulsation Irom the outer world. nepJdes the letters and dcupatchcs brought by hurried niCEiacn- gers by ccach from the 'Dlylde , " there was a crowd of guests aud 'ervants mound the branch telegraph at the , new Heavy Tree postolllcc , which was constantly augmenting. Added to the natural auxlety of thu deeply ' latertsted was' the simulated fever of the few who wished to be * ln the fashion. " It waa early' rumored thata heavy operator , a gurat of the hotel , who Was also u director In the telegraph company'had bought up the wires for his sole list } , thBt the dlspatchru were doctored In his In tercels as , i bear , and there was wild talk of ( 'lynching" by the indignant mob. Passengers ffom Sacramento , San Francisco and Malysvillc brought In- crodlblo news and the'Wildest aensatlons. Firm after firm had faildd In/the great cities. Old-established houaes that dated back to the "spring of " 49. " ami bail weathered the fires and Inundations of their perilous Cal- Ifcrnlant Infancy , collapaed before this mys terious , Invisible , Impalpable breath of panic. Companies rooted In respectability and cneered at for old-fashioned ways were discovered to hav < ; shamefully speculated with trustfl ! An eminent deacon and pillar Ci the church was found dead In his room with a bullet In his heart and a damning urnfcssion on the desk before him ! Foreign bankers were sending tlidlr gold out of the jouutrj ; the government would bo appealed to to open the vaults of the mint ; there Would bo an embaigo on all bullion bhlpment1 Nothing was too wild or preposterous to be repeated or credited. And with thla fever of sordid passion the temperature had Incrca&ed. For the laet two \oko the thermometer hid s > teed abnormally - normally high during the day-long sunshine ; and the metallic du,5t In the roads over min eral rangto pricked the akin like red-hot ' needlcc. In the deepest woods the aromatic . sap flood In heads on felled logs and splin . tered tre-3 shafts ; even the mountain night breeze failed to cool three baked and heated faa'.imsbca. There were ominous clouds of imoke by dJy that were pillars of fire by night along the distant valleys. Some of the nearer create were etched ugalnot the mid night sky by dull red creeping lines like a , Jylng firework. The great hotel Itself : ieaked and crackled and warped through ill Its painted , blistered , and veneered ex- ; ianse , and wen filled with the stifling broith ) f desiccation. The stucco cricked and srumblcd away from the cornices ; there were 'awnlng gaps in the boarded floors beneath .he Turkish carpets , Plate glcas windows > ccame hopelessly fixed in their warped and wlstcd tallies and added to. the heat ; there , vas a warm IncciMe of pine sap lu the dining oem that flavored all the cuUine. And yet ho babble ot stocks and shares went LII , and leoplo pricked their earn over their ooup to 'atch the goiulp of the last arrival. DemorciU , loathing .It all In hU new-found iltterntaa , waa iievertheleDS Impatient In his nactlon and visa eagerly awaiting a tele- ; ram from Stacy ; Darker bad disappeared 4nco luncheon. Suddenly there was a com- uotlon on the veranda as a carriage drove ip with a handsome , grayhalred woman. In ha buzzing of volcca around him Demoreat ieard the name of Mrs. Van Loo. In further omments , made In moro smothered accents , 10 hcar'i that Van .Loo had been stopped at ! anon station , but that no warrant had yet icon Issued against him ; that It WUB gener- lly believed that the bank dared not hold s < ilm ; that others openly averred that he had een used , as a scapegoat to. avert suspicion rom higher guilt. 'And certainly Mrs. Van Ma'a calm , confident air ueemed to corrob- rate these assertions. Ho was atlll wondering- ! : the strange coin- . Uloaco which had brought both mother and rm Into his own'llfo was not merely a fancy 3 far as she waa concerned when a waiter rought n message from iMra. Van Lee that he would bo glad to see'him for a few rno- lontH In her room. Lust night ho could uarcely have restrained i his eagerness to icct her and elucidate thai mystery of the holograph ; now he waa conscious of an iiually strong revulsion of feeling and a dull remonltlon of evil , However , It wan no oubt possible that the man had told her of la previous Inquiries , and 'she ' had merely cknowledgtxl them by'tlmt message. Demorret found Mra.lVan'Loo ' In the prl- ate sitting room on 'the' ' preceding night , ' he received him with rinmlstakablo courtesy net even a certain dignity1 that might or light not have been assumed. He had no Itliculty In recognlzlng'Vho ' ton's mechanical Dlltenesa In the flrat , biit'hb waa puzzled at 10 second. ' ' 'Tho manager of UiB1 Tiotel , " she began , Ith a foreigner's preclsjqn'of English , hau ist told me that you were at present oc- jpylng my rooms at lite Invitation , but that JU wished to see mo at once t > u ray return , id I believe that I was not wrongIn ap- rohendlng ttat you preferred to hear my Ishes from my own lips rather than from l Innkeeper. I had Intended to keep these for sorao weeks , but unfortunately r me , though fortunately for you , the prea- ot it terrible financial crisis which boa most tjustly brought ray son Into such ecanda- ua prominence , will oblige mo to return to in Francisco until hla reputation la fully pr th eared of thcao foul aspersions. I shall ily ask you to allow me tha undisturbed usesalon of theee rooms for a couple of lura until I can pack ray trunks and gather > a few souvenirs that I almost alwaya sir ep with me. " lee : "Pray consider that your wishes are my n > In respect to that , my dear madam " wl turned Demorest gravely , "and that , In- ei ] d , I protested against oven this tern- hi ! irary Intrusion upon your apartments ; but chi coufew that now that ygu have apokeu of ba Four Days Four Days Tuesday. Uoslnnlng Tuesday. TUESDAY , WEDNESDAY , THURSDAY , PUIDAY , Juno 8 , It , 10 , 11 , Now State Fair Grounds , TWO BIG ATTRACTIONS Secured at n big expctuo by the- Omaha Fair and Speed Association tor additional ontortalnmcnl of patrons. The celebrated LONE PACES , The moat Intelligent horse that ever lived will startle visitors with bis wonderful In telligence , lie goes on tbo track without sulky or driver , goes to the judges stand , scores , jocklcs , conies back at call of bell and gets away at the word "go. " Conducts bis own race entirety and beats the fastest bicy cle riders In nine ci es out ot ten. The latest novelty , a Will also glvo dally exhibitions , nnd while JllDt ! S , 0 , ' 10 , 11. It Is becoming nil cvery-day occurreiico tp June 3 , 0 , 10 , 11.1 New Yorkers , no ono In the west has ever before been given the chance to see this most novel vehicle , 2 BIOYOLE RAGES Each day by amateurs and professionals. 4 Big Horse Races Each Day D. T. MOUNT , Scc'y. 20iS. ) Kith St. , Ornnhu. don't mean half the labor and exhaustion if made on a Monarch Bicycle. Constructed equally for swiftness and for strength. Catalogue free. Write us. OMAHA AOUNT : A. B. HUBORMANN , I3th and Douglas Sts. MONA UGH CYCLE SIFO. CO. , CHICAGO. NEW YOUK. LONDON. your Bouvenlrs I have the greatest curiosity about ono of them , and that oven my object In seeking this interview was to gratify It. It la In regard' ' to a photograph which I saw on the chimney piece of your bedroom , which I think I recognized as that of some DUO whom I formerly knew. " There was a sudden look of sharp suspicion that quite and even hard aggressiveness changed , the lady's face as he mentioned the word "souvenir , " but It quickly changed to p. smllo as oho put up her fan with a gesture 3f arch deprecation , and said : ' "Ah ! I see. Ot course , a lady's photo graph. The " reply Irritated Demorest. More than sudden sense ot the absolute that , ho felt a sentimentality of his request , and the con- iclousneEO that ho was about to Invite the 'amlllar confidence of this strange woman .Uioso son had forged his name In regard .0 her. "It was a Venetian picture , " he began , and itopped , a singular disgust keeping him from rolcing the name. But Mrs. Van Lee was less reticent. * " 0 , rou mean my dearest friend's lovely picture ; md you know her ? Why , yes. surely. You ro the Mr. Demorest who . Of course , that Id love affair. Well , you are a marvel ! Five ears ago , nt least , and you have not for- ottcn ! I really must write and tell her. " "Wrlto and tell her ! " Then It was all ale lo about her death ! He felt not only his alth , his hope , his future leaving him , but von his self-control. With an effort he said- "I think you have already satisfied my cu loslty. I was told five years ago that she ras dead. It was because of the date ot the holograph two years later that I ven- ured to Intrude upon you. I was anxious nly to know the truth. " "She certainly was very much living and f the world when I saw her last , two years go , " sail Mrs. Van Lee with an easy smile. I daresay that was a ruseof her relatives very stupid one to break off the affair , for think they had other plans. Dut , dear me ! ow I remember , waa there not some little uorrel between you before ? Some letter kind ? My im- rom you that was not very rcssion Is that there was something of the irt , and that the young lady was Indignant , iut only for a tlmo , you know. She very ion forgot U. I daresay If you wrote Bome- ilng very charming to her1 It might not bo > o late. We women are very forgiving , Mr. lemorest , and , although nbe Is very much lught after , as are all young American girls hose fathers can give them a comfortable ot , her parents might be persuaded to throw ver a poor prince for h. rich countryman In 10 end. Of course , you know , to you re- uhllcans there Is always something : fascl- atlng In titles and blooa , and our dear lend Is llko other girls. Still , It U worth 10 risk. And five years ot waiting and dc- atlon really ought to tell. It's qulto a ro- lance ! Shall I wrlto to her and tell her I ave seen you , looking well and prosperous , othlng more ? Do let me ! I should be de- ghted. ' ' "I think It hardly \vorth while for youl to Ivo yourself that trouble , " aald Demorest latotly , looking In Mrs. Van Loo's smiling ret ) , "now that I know the story of tbo aung lady's death was a forgery. And I 111 not Intrude further on your tlmo , I'ray Ivo yourself no needless hurry over your icklng. I may go to San Francisco this 'ternoon , and not even require the rooms might. " "At least let me make you a present of the luvonlr as on acknowledgment of your cour- ay , " said Mrs. Van Lee , passing Into her tdroom and returning with the photograph , I feel that with your five years of con- ancy It la more yours than mine. " As a -ntleman. Demorest knew that ho could not fuse , and , taking the photograph from her Ith a low bow , with another final saluta- DH ha withdrew , ( To Ho Continued. ) CONMI1HAMTIU * An old bachelor In Wllllamsport , Pa. , the her day wa lined J1S and costs for hug- UK a widow. It baa been noticed that tbo experienced etty girl seldom faints dead away unless uro la a desirable young man around to tea her , When the married man gets home un- irrantably at 3 a. ra. there Isn't even a iglo letter's difference between a curtain ture and a certain lecture. J. St. Louis man who la now In a hospital th , a bad case of perforation of the lunga plains to the police that his wife found S "j' glove to another woreaa and at him , "You eee. " be adda , "eho muet ve b eu very deeply In love wltli tno or , &i& & S ! K i This Elegant $60.00 Business Wheel With up-to-dato constructionohoico of equipment throughout , ( or This is a bicycle that stands the work andi s liberally guaranteed. 1896 Geiidroii or Eldredge I I Never before was it possible to buy such wheels as these for so little money. Children's wheels from $10 to $30. Second hand wheels at your own prico. Wo rent wheels by the day , week or month. NEBRASKA CYCLE CO. , CEO. E. MICKEL , Mgr. 15th and Harney. = : SWvigPiSW : W KSP WW'Ss she never would have shot me to pieces like this. " The queen regent of Spain has a marriage able daughter on her hands. Mercedes princess of the Asturias , Is now 17 , am propositions for her hand have already beer considered at the Spanish court. For slj months before the birth of the king , Mer cedes , who was named for the first wife ol her father , was ijucen of Spain. Du ( Alphonse XIII. appeared on the scene ant she wan given a back seat. To celebrate his silver wedding thi marquis of Bute bus given $5,000 to the Town of Cardiff , the Income to be given tc poor girls who need the money to gel married. Whenever the dowry Is hande < ! over the mayor of tbo town must read tc the bride and groom the first cloven versef of the second chapter of the gospel according to St. John , tbo description of the miracle of turning water Into wlno nt Cana. Miss Etta Messncr , who married Thomas Alford , a Shawnee Indian , Is a daughter of William Meaner , a well-to-do and highly respected farmer living four miles east of Albany , Mo , She vlalted the Indian Terri tory and made a run at the opening ot the strip. She got a claim and taught school. Alford Is half or three-fourths Indian , hand- oome , Intelligent , educated and wealthy. There was no objection to the marriage. A Detroit preacher told his congregation on Sunday that people should not be ile- terrcd by poverty from marrying. "If a man has $3 left after buying his marriage license , " ho said , "and is fortunate enough to sccurk a gccd , economical wife , one who knows how to warm over cold meals , and Is satisfied with ordinary hats and dresses , ho Is destined to live a pleasant married life ; Indeed , eternity Is too short for such a couple. " A New York paper has opened Its columns to a discussion of the old mibjcct of matri mony us a practical problem. Ono new sug gestion Is that widows make the best wives , because they avoid the Illusions of court ship. Therefore , It la argued , "tho solution of the marriage question la. Increase the supply of widows. " This Involves a dccreiflo In the number of husbands. The proposed remedy somehow Is not satisfactory to the masculine mind. A nov.elty In weddings Is to bo attempted In one of the smaller towns of Alabama. It Is to be a surprise wedding. No one but tbo parties themselves knows anything of tbo de tails. At the appointed hour the preacher It to begin the service , and when he reached the port requiring the presence of the bride and groom these worthies are expected to rlso from .the midst of the congregation and approach tbo altar , where thpy will bo made one. TOL.IJ OUT OIC COURT. Lawyer I am afraid I can't do much for you. They seem to have conclusive evidence that you committed the burglary , Client Can't you object to the evidence as Immaterial and Irrelevant ? Judge Randolph of Kansas was hearing a divorce case last fall. The wltnc&a wan the plaintiff , a white-haired man , broken In health and In spirit , and wearing a bronze button on hla lapel , The examination wan eovore and the seenlon monotonous. "You say your wife abused you ; toll ua Just how ? " thundered the attorney. The wltnoifl looked appcallngly at the Judge , "Answer the question , sir , " waa the order from tbo bench. "Well , she said I was an old hypocrlto to bo proud of my war record , Slio eald all the bravo men who went to the war were killed and that only the cowards and de- eorters lived to come back , and " "Stop ! " commanded the aroused Judgo. "Thin dlvorco Is granted. The court spent four years In that war and the court came back. " The monotony was broken for that day. Long before tha digging of the drainage canal had turned Lemon t into a refreshment station for the diggers , relates the Chicago Post , Ua Judiciary was represented by Judge Klynu , who held 'court In the back of the grocery , and was renowned far and near for tbo soundness of hU decisions. The itono Interest , which controlled the town , divided its employment pretty evenly be tween the Swedes aud the Irlah , and national Feeling at times ran rath or high. Now , before his elevation to the bench , ludgo Flynn had bad an Intimate acqualnt- inco with the- towpath , and thoroughly ihared bla follow countrymen's antipathy to the opposing nationality. Bo one day when OhlcheiUr1 * Kn Uih Plomonil Hr P ENNYROYAL PILLS Original onil Onlj Genuine. Arc , * lw ji rtlUble. LADIE * tck . irunlit for CAtckeitcr Kmgliih flln-f land Brand In Jtcd and Cold tnalallioV boici , ifdlod with blue ribtion Take Snoot her. Rrftunlangtrou * tttbttitU' f tiont antt imitation * * A t DrOf jlm , or tend 4 * . ' lo RtKmpi for ti&rilcuUri , tmtlnanntt. ! ) ftoi "Itcllcf for lttilloa.'MnMferb7 return Mall. 1 .OOI ) TcHtltuoDlHli Ifmcte raptr. , . tchc torChcmIrulCo.MAilUr nHa nrO Bold by all Loc l DrusaliU. l'JHLAlA. , i'A. | CURE YOURSELFI U1IEB Umi Ilu ) for unnatural rlDlU&l 7 > < dlicliarsos , Inflomnmlloni , OoirkotccJ Irrltalluui or ulcorntlonj not to nrlstor * . of mucoui nieiubranes. PritiDU coattjlOD. 1'a'alnti , and not atlrla * : iHN > TI.0.1 | Sold * 7 rn8 n tA Ki or MU * 'n ' P'1 * ' " wr rp r , ' ' M by ezprttii , prepaid , for Amrf Vli } I-'X ' > > ° r 3 kottlH , J2.73. kjiiii * i\ ' Circular unt n reacMk an Irishman 'was arraigned before him charged with ansaultlng a Swede with a deadly weapon It rather staggered his sense of the fitnces of things. The evidence proved beyond a doubt that tbo Irishman had Inflicted , with a pitchfork , conslderablo Injury ou his brother from the land of Eilck- 6011. Justice clearly demanded thp conviction of the Irishman , the national fellowship aa clearly forbade It. Long and carefully Jila honor pondered the knotty question , and finally , with countenance drawn Into the stoniest stare of judicial Impartiality , ho de livered himself of the long-waltcd-for do- clslon : "Gentlemen , I find no evidence on which , to hold the prisoner on the charge of as- Hault with a deadly weapon , for a pitchfork Is not a deadly weapon , but an agrlcultooral tool. " The case of John H. Vetto against John C. Obort was on trial In Judge Haughton'a court yesterday , says the St. Louis Globe- Democrat. During the process of the suit tlie lawyers had a. tilt over the admkulon of certain evidence , and the following dialogue ensued : "Your honor , the asucrllon that was Just made by the ec-cachoo on my cc-cacboo Is absolutely ec-cachoo1 ! "Your honor , I ec-cachoo sir , to the ( statement made by my cc-cachoo ! " Judge Haughton admitted the testimony and the witness proceeded , "Well , It was Just thlfl eo-cachoo I said to Mr. ec-cachoo-cachoo and he eald to me ec-cachoo-cacboo-cachoo " - ! > , At this point nearly every ona In court was sneezing. Lawyero , clients , Jurors'"and wltiienutB joined In a sneezing chorus In which eneezes of various quality and a wldo range of tone and discord wera mingled. The pompous , ponderous sneeze of Constabla Hand was a rno.it effective basso that gave fitretigth to tbo chorus , while the beautiful treble of Count Kredick von Oereko rose clear and shrill above the minor notra. The jurors formed a perfect Acale of noti , ex tending over an octave and 3 half and formIng - Ing a melodious accompaniment to the gen eral Ijurdcn of the grand , sweet uong. Naturally , during this outburst of Wag- nerlan solemnity court waft Interrupted , Judge Haughton rapped for order , but tba only reply was from a big German butcher , ono of the jury , who , with hU magnificent tenor , sent his volco upward In a scrlcfl of trills , runn and cadenzas In what way prob * ably one of the moat beautiful collections of Hneczcii over heard. Then dropping , with a series of grace notes to tbo lower register , ho ended with a movement In rng tlmo , In a flvo-flat flnalo that would have done credit to Sousa'a band , At this moment Judge Haugbton looked through the open door Into the back room , where Tom MacAlrnvy was unconcernedly rolling and breaking In front ct an open window the lupply of tobacco which ho In tends to toke on his fishing trip. The flno dual from the dry leif and Tom la said to Btnoko the fitrongeat tobacco In town waa being wafted Into the court room on tha gentle breezo. The door waa shut , all the wlndowa opened , and the court proceeded. Hut , dcaplto the comedy which had just been enacted , there was scarcely a dry eye In th * room , I)03tori ) Dulldlng Trades council Insists that the fund left by Ilcnjamlu Franklin for the benefit of mechanics be employed In estab lishing a labor forum , The fund uow amounts to f 100,000. That feeling of deprecation BO common In hot weather Is overcome by strengthening the blood with Till Aneoiulo I'iuU.