The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, June 19, 1900, Image 3

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    "A Silent Shy Divinity."
The eyes of Lena Scharff were of
tho color of ptirplo violet, but they
looked out upon tho world In such be
wilderment for the reason that their
observations wero supplemented
by no audible message. In
other words, tho little child
had no volco with which to speak her
thoughts and no hearing by which the
thoughts of others could reach her.
She was one of a big family, and all
of tho rest wero without physical or
menial defect. They were, Indeed, a
robustious fnmllly, Intelligent, frugal
and Industrious. Tho neighbors
thought well of thorn. Mrs. Scharff
had the reputation of being tho best
housekeeper on the block. Josepn
Scharff, a contractor for ornamental
8toe work, was accounted a success
ful and lino workman. Tho boys and
girls were bright at school; they wero
tent to tho turners for physical de
velopment at tho carUest possible age,
and they wero conspicuous among tho
pupils of a dancing school popular
among tho well-to-do Germans in their
community. Moreover, ovory ono of
them could mako music of ono sort
or another, and tho front room looked
uiore llko the musicians' praitice room
At a theater than tho purlor of a fam
ily. But while the Schnrffs appeared to
have n number of homely virtues and
to bo citizens of which any city might
well bo proud, tho fact remained that
ihero wa3 a certain hardness about
them. They found it impossible to
forgive incapability, which they
Beemed to confound with laziness. The
boys Invariably spoko with contempt
of a schoolmate of theirs who was
lame. Tho girls openly commlserato'l
any of their friends who wero plain.
Joseph Scharff never had much use for
any man who was out of work, .and
his wife was more apt to bo irritated
than sympathetic if ono of the girls
was found to be 111 In the morning and
not able to perform her sharo of tho
household duties.
So Lena, with tho purple eyes, and
the ears which would not hear, and
the sensitivo mouth which uttered no
nrtlculato word, camo aj au unspeak
able mortification to tho Scarrrs. She
had been such a pretty baby that at
flr3t she had been" made much of, but
when the discovery of hor mi3fortuno
was mado nothing moro was said about
her. Sho was kept in tho background
When callers camo che was hustled
into an upper room, and as she was a
singularly patient child, more and
moro she was left by herself In a room
at tho end of tho upstairs hall, which
had been cet apart for her. Tho place
was warm in winter nnd cool in sum
mer; bars were put across the win
dow that tho child might bo In
no danger from falling out, tho room
waa thoroughly cleaned onco a week,
and Lena was looked upon by tho fam
ily as being well enough treated. A
few toys were got for her, but she
seemed not much interested in them,
and after a timo her relatives ceased
to make additions to this stock. Sho
was dressed in sack-llko frocks of
dark blue calico, and her hair was kept
shaved closo to her head in order that
thore might not be troublo In comb
ing it. In short, no caresses were ever
given the llttlo one, no one held or
comforted or played with her. She
became, ub timo went on, almost as
solitary as a hermit. Much earlier than
any of tho rest ahc learned to caro for
herself, and s'ho instinctively hastened
to her bare, sunny llttlo room tho min
ute a meal was over. In time work
began to be required of her. Sho was
set to wiping dishes, to dusting rooms
and to sewing. Sho did whatever sho
was taught, patiently, without tears.
But the droop of tho sensitive mouth
grew greater, and thore was a look of
hopelessness in the purple eyes which
nothing over banished.
What thoughts wore struggling In
that Inarticulate being no one cared
to think. There was no curiosity felt
upon tho subject. Tho family wont its
prosperous and well satisfied way and
let tho soul,' silent amid sociability,
starve for lack of the food of human
love.
There wns, not far from the house of
the Scarffs, a certain college settle
ment, enthusiastically sustained by a
number of disinterested young men
and women. And ona of theso women
heard, by tho merest chance, of the ex
istence of Lena Scarft. But to reach
her was a task as difficult as that of
tho Prince Charming when ho went
to find tho Sleeping Beauty. Tho
Scarffs might easily have thought
themselves as fit persons to augment
tho working force of a settlement, but
they would never havo admitted that
they could bo its beneficiaries.
Miss Allport, tho young lady of tho
settlement, had need of much diplo
macy beforo sho could as much ns
catch a gllmp&o of the morbidly shy,
pale creature, only halt human In her
comprehension, who dung to the safe
solitude of her room. And when, after
much adroit persuasion, sho gained the
consent of Lena's mother to vislt'her,
she found a yet moro serious obstaclo
In the sullen suspicion of this timid,
wild creature, who hugged her prison
and feared all humanity. Miss Allport
brought flowers and put them In
Lena's room and wont away with a
smile. She left swjeta In the samo
way, and toys of a constructive naturo
blocks and pieces of bright cloth, or
pictures, or tho paper Japanese flowers
that open In water. Finally sho camo
to the room and sat there, sewing on
some pleco of gay embroidery, or
painting, or stringing beads. And at
last, confidence won, she persuaded the
child to go with her, and placed ber
whero sho could havo Instruction, such
as is given to tho deaf.
The Scarffs wero glHd to bo rid of
thlB mortifying Incumbrance. They
said now it would bo possible to in
vito guests to tho houso without con
stant fear that they would discover
that dreadful llttlo creature.
Tho family was given permission to
visit her onco in three months, but
they did not avail themselves of tho
opportunity. And L5na, when tho
brief vacations came, seemed unwill
ing to go homo. Neat clothes were
sent her by her mother and plenty of
pocket money, and with that It ap
peared that sho felt her full duty done.
At tho end of two yearn, however, Mrs.
Scarff, moved by somo belated mater
nal tenderness, or by curiosity, mado
a Journey of 200 miles to seo ber
daughter, and she returned with a
somewhat puzzled look upon her face.
Lena was growing rapidly, she tald,
and could read and write and do carv
ing In wood, bosldes Lowing and dan
cing nnd housework. The ScarffB
opened their eyes, but wero more or
less incredulous. Besides, it didn't
matter. Tho child wjs disagreeable to
them. They disliked oven to think of
her.
Flvo years went by, and ono day, in
company with an nttendnnt from tho
school, Lena made her appearanco at
her home. It was In the early even
ing, when tho family had Just finished
dinner, nnd were sitting In tho parlor
among their musical instruments.
"Sho was so anxious to glvo you a
surprise," said tho uttendant, "that I
could not deny her."
Tho Scarffs wero feeling distinctly
bewildered. Thero stood before them
a tall, graceful girl, with a face of In
describable refinement nnd appealing
pathos. Her purple blue eyes shono
with n tender light; her abundant
golden brown hair was colled upon
her head In smooth braids. Her com
plexion .had an exquisite dellcncy. Sho
was perfectly at ease. Indeed, though
11 seemed Impossible, It was actually a
fact that she seemed to bo surveying
her family with a critical eye, and hor
manner as she greeted them was any
thing but cringing. And while they
would not have used that word, yet In
reality a cringing attitude was what
tho Scarffs would havo expected of this
unfortunate.
Joseph Scarff wa3 moved to some
thing llko shame for his long neglect.
"I hope you havo como to stay,
Lena," ho wrote on a sheet of paper.
Sho thanked him with ,a kiss on his
cheek, so charmingly given that the
Scarffs stared In amazement. None of
them could have done anything so
spontaneous.
"I would like to havo my old room,
if you please,' sho wrote.
"That llttlo old room! You shall
have a larger one," her fathor replied.
But she insisted on tho old ono, and
made herself at homo thero. Tho fam
ily went to bed that night with mla
Bled feelings, chief among which was
that of the difficulty of tho situation.
This beautiful girl could not bn hidden
as tho seemingly half-witted child had
been. But ub a fortnight passed this
feeling changed. So far from Intrud
ing upon tho family, she kept rather
exclusively to her own room, which
she had fitted up with a divan, which
sho made into a bed at night, nnd with
tho bench and tools of her wood-cutting
craft. On tho wall, with its fresh
tint of cool green, wero hung the put
terns Bho used, and many specimens it
her clever handicraft. There had been
cablnct-makors in tho Scarff family,
ono of whom was famous, and artists
were not unknown, either. Moreover,
In his way, Joseph Scarff was an artlBt,
too. So thore waB nblllty to glvo a
truo appreciation of this work, nnd
tho Scarffs began to wonder if they
had not n genius In their midst.
Later, when news had gono abroad
that this original young wood carver
had come to town, those who had taken
note of her work at certain exhibitions
began to call. Sho was asked to Join
a society of tho arts and crafts. Storlea
of hor beauty nnd spirituality and
talent went out. Artists of many sorts
camo to mako her acquaintance and to
compliment her upon the beauty of hor
work. A Bohcmlun circle was open to
her, and sho began to delight In tho
friendship of distinguished men and
women. The little hall room was often
crowded to overflowing.
Tho Scarffs began to talk much of
their sister and to make capital even of
tho difficulties under which sho
worked. They entered Into a plan
suggested by her father, to build a
studio on tho back of the houso, which
could be entered from tho street, and
whero sho could cntortaln In tho even
ing when she pleased. And they offered
to add to the pleasure of these even
ings by furnishing music on the piano,
or violin, or flute.
In brief, tho Scarffs found tho great
est cause for pride which they had
over known In tho girl whom they had
once dlsplsed and treated with cruel
neglect. But It sometimes puzzled
them and caused them honest chagrin
to discover that however courteous and
kind this silent slstors of theirs might
to, It was not to them but to others
that she gave glanceB of undisguised
affection. She remained, so far aa the
Scharffs were concerned, remote, alien
no satellite, but a beautiful star
moving proudly In its own orbit
Chicago Tribune.
The Incubator. It Is necessary for
most people to do some experimenting
In order to use nn Incubator success
fully. We read of peoplo that havo
wonderful results with Incubators the
first time trying, but we believe this
Is not the rule. Like till good things
the Incubator must be learned as to
what It will do.
A Just Sentence.
The groat desolate moor stretched
In all directions. On a dull autumn
afternon there Is scarcely a moro des
olate spot to bo found In all England
than tho moor that lies to the
north of Harton Fords Prison. Stand
ing two miles north, the eye wanders
over an apparently limitless waste of
flat lands overgrown with coarse,
reed-llko grass nnd sedges. They aro
only relieved hero and there by gray
pools of water where tho sedges nnd
reeds grow higher, and many of them
Ho broken nnd bruised, trailing In
darker threads over tho dark, still
water. Thero are always theso broken
reeds In tho gloomy pools, though
thero seems nothing to break them.
Thero nro rough and narrow roads
crossing Hnrton Fords In two or three
directions; but few Etrny beyond them,
for tho bleak desolation of the moors
Is not attractive, and the vegetation,
is too poor and coarso to give healthy
nourishment to even the least fastidi
ous or cattle.
At ono of the farthest points from
these roads stand somo of those mys
terious rutns which seem to havo
sprung up of themselves In the moBt
barren spots, so shrouded In mystery
Is their origin nnd date. Great rocks
und boulders He scattered and tossed
above and around each other, aa
though flung by Titan hands; somo of
them prostrate, some leaning against
others in rough squares and circles
that form rooms of a sort. Theso ru
ins, whatever they may be, stretch for
somo dlstanco; only at ono extremity
of them 1b their use known, or at least
tho uso to which men of later timo
havo turned them. At tho southern
end tho ground is known to be under
mined by largo caves communicated
with through a rougn trap door in ono
of tho crudely-formed rock-chambers.
Theso caves In the heyday of smug
gling wero found very convenient
storage places for property which had
failed to pay tho legal duty; but, now
that smuggling 1b an nlmoBt extinct
industry, the sandstone caves aro de
clared unsafe, nnd the authorities
have long ago closed the chamber that
leads to them with a wooden door bar
red with Iron, so that visitors aro al
lowed no chanco of breaking their
necks or their limbs.
One bright day In June a man and a
girl were walking across Harton Fords
towards the ruins, and it was easy to
seo from the interest sho showed in
the desolate scene that the girl at least
was a stranger to tho neighborhood.
As they reached a turn In the winding
path sho paused nnd glanced back.
"How gloomy that place looks!"
she said, with a llttlo gesture towards
tho frowning pllo of tho great prison
that loomed In tho far distance. "I
don't wonder Horton Fords is so hor
ribly dismal; nothing could bo cheer
ful overlooked by that."
Her companion, a man of about slx-and-thlrty,
stared back at It thought
fully. "I feel pretty much tho sume,"
he said with a short laugh; "but with
a good deal more reason. I helped
somo of the unlucky beggars that In
habit it to their fate, you know."
Helen Carden put her hand Inside
her husband's arm and turned away
with a shiver. "Let's forget It, dear.
Do you know, I'm as proud as I can
be that you're ono of tho most skillful
counsel at the bar, and yet " Sho
hesitated, and Carden looked at her
with a smile In his dark eyes.
"And yet ?"
"Well, since I've seen the gangs of
convicts from Harton Fords, I almost
wish sometimes not quite, dear, but
almost that you were anything else.
They do look so miserable."
"Most of them deserve to bo miser
able," replied Carden practically.
"They're precious scoundrels. Don't
trouble your pretty head about them,
Nell, and don't stop being proud of
me. I'm a conceited fellow, and I
like you to share in my self-conceit."
Ho laughed lightly, his eyes on the
girl's face. The cloud vanished, and
sho looked up with an answering laugh
and a great deal of loving admiration
very openly and Innocently expressed.
Sho was a wife of four weeks' stand
ing, and had not yet recovered from
her astonishment thnt tho man who,
at tho legally Infnntlno ago of slx-and-thlrty,
stood among tho highest of his
profession, loved her with nil his heart.
"I never shall," she replied "Never.
There aro the ruins, Lewis. I wonder
who tho workmen were who first built
them."
The two stood looking nt tho great
gray stones a minute, nnd then enter
ed them nnd explored their fantastic
groves with many speculations bucIi
ns every tourist makes on visiting
such a place. Helen Carden had heurd
of the underground caveo and their
closed entrance.
"I wish wo could see them," she said
Immediately. "I always love caves.
Ono can conjure up rather eerie fan
cies there that don't como elsewhere."
"And you llko such fancies? it's
tho attraction of opposites."
Carden Inughed aa ho spoke, and
looked across at a door some llttlo dis
tance from them. "That's the en
trance to them; barred across do you
eee?"
"Is that It? Ah, but the trap-door
lies behind. I wonder "
Sho went across and began to exam
ine tho fastenings with small Inquis
itive hands. Carden leant his back
against tho ruins and watched her.
He was a man who, brilliantly Intel
lectual, had In him the strain of hard
ness that often goes with the steel
like Intellect that is keenly IncUlvo
and polished, but not brjad. Partly
from this temperament, partly from
the necessity of bis profession, he bad
hardened his heart against that por
tion of tho human rare which Is given
to marked wrongdoing, nnd had cer
tainly never, until his marriage, felt
anything approaching pity for tho
men whom he pleaded for or against.
With tho entrance of Helen Into his
life had come a change; and, because
his love had taught him gentleness
with her, he had almost unconclous
ly taken a kindlier outlook on man
kind In general.
After a few minutes, hla wife looked
back nt him. "I wish you'd try to
open It," she Bald eagerly. "It gives
even as I push It. These old bolts aro
quite worn out."
"Aro they?" Carden pulled himself
up nnd tested the fastening with his
hand. "I'll write to the authorities;
that's dangerous. Open it for you?
Certainly not. 1'vo no wish for you
to come to grief, Nell."
"3hould you care much?" She spoko
laughingly, nnd looked back at him
with dancing eyes.
Carden, with a quick contraction of
the brows, caught her hand in his nnd
kissed her. "No one to see," ho said,
with a half-shamefaced laugh. "Don't
talk of such things, Nell. I'm a fool
where you nro concerned, and talking
seeraa to make them possible."
He turned away, her hand still in
his, and led her round to tho other end
of the ruins to tho ono point whero n
view could be obtained of something
besides tho bleak moor and prison.
Here tho silver stream of tho Harton
could bo scon winding across distant
meadows, and Carden arranged a
couple of flat stones so ns to form a
comfortable seat for his wife, and
threw himself down at her feet
"I certainly nm a fool, Nell. Till I
knew you, I should havo folt no par
ticular sorrow If halt my acquaint
ances had smashed through trap-doors,
but with you !"
"You can't even bear a hint that I
might smash, too, you foolish fellow."
"No, I can't."
He turned quickly and looked up at
his wife. Words of endearment wero
rare with him; but Nell Carden met
hla look and was satisfied.
"Do you know you hnvo dropped
your atlck somewhere, dear?" sho
asked presently. "You brought it
with you, I know."
Carden pulled himself Into a sitting
posture nnd looked around. "So I
have. I put It down when I wob try
ing thoBo bolts by tho underground
entrance. I'll Just' go back; It won't
take mo ten minutes."
"Well, don't try exploring on your
own account, dear. You're not so
careful as I could wish, Lewis, when
I'm not by to look after you."
Sho nodded gaily, and sat watching
the tall figure us Carden went rather
heavily towards the other end of tho
ruins. Ho was too largo physically,
and of too strong n nature, to move
lightly even when ho had been a boy.
He glnnced back as ho reached an an
gle which would hide hla wife from
his view, nnd gavo a minute's keen
scrutiny to her surroundings. Ho had
heard a piece of news tho day before,
which, as It recurred to his mind,
mado him hnlf-sorry ho had loft her
alone. However, ho waB closo to tho
subterranean entrance now, and he
need not lose sight of her for moro
than threo minutes; It would Indeed
hardly take tho timo to reach tho
barred door near which hlc lost prop
erty was probably lying nnd return to
his present position.
Ho walked on with long strides. Ho
was not mistaken; the cano ho had
been cnrrylng lay on a rough rock
pedestal close to tho door. He picked
It up and turned to go, when his eye
was caught by a bar near tho top of
the door. He had tested the fasten
ings at his wifo's remark half an hour
before, but ho waa certain they had all
been in their place. He had felt them
yield somewhat to his fingers, but ho
had not exerted sufficient strength to
force them. Of that he felt absolute
ly sure. Yet now the two bars at the
top wero displaced, and only tho two
lower ones prevented entrance. -
Cardcn's keen eyes examined thorn
curiously a moment, then he laid
dawn his stick. He was a little excit
ed In his calm fashion. Ho felt cer
tain that in tho half-hour since ho had
left tho spot no visitor could havo ar
rived without his having seen his ap
proach over tho moor; on tho other
hand, bars do not quit their place
without hands. He drew back a couplo
of paces, and then sent tho full Impact
of his strong shoulder against the door.
It shook violently, then the rusted
hinges gave way, and Carden, recover
ing himself from tho Impetus of his
spring, walked in. Three steps ho
took, then there wns a rush behind
him, tho door wna Hung Into its place
again by strong hands, and Carden
turned sharply. A man was standing
in an angle of the broken masonry; u
man as tall nnd strong as himself, but
with his great shoulders bowed as If
by heavy labor, and his head stooping
forward between them. Ho was look
ing at Carden with furious anger In
his eyes, and his breath cumc In sharp
pants.
"You've hunted mo down again,"
ho cried; "but I swear you shan't send
mo In a second time, Mr. Carden."
He took a firmer grip of a thick club
ho held, his face despairing despite Its
fury.
The barrister put ono hand into his
pocket, and surveyed the man stolidly.
"I heard you had escaped," ho said
coolly. "As to hunting you down, I
did not do that; but now I bavo como
across you I shall certainly lose no
time in trying to send you in a second
time, uh you express It. Let mo pass."
The barrister mude a slight, imperious
gesture with his band.
The other moved half aside as If by
a blind Instinct of obedience; then,
recollecting himself, he sprang for
ward und flung himself in Garden's
path, his club threateningly raised.
"I nm desperate," ho cried. "Do
you think you nro going to stop my
way now. I nm frco nt last. It's to
you I owe such years of death In Ufa
as no happiness would ever blot from
my mind; nnd now, when they He bo
hind, beforo heaven, I'll kill you rath
er than re-enter" them." Aa ho spoko
it was easy to sec that he was, as ho
said, desperate, nnd In the mood when
men will tnkc human lito in sheer
reckless despair with as llttlo realism
of what they aro doing aa the veriest
madman.
Cardcn's even tones fell llko lco on
flro. "I bellovo you would." ho anld.
"Wben a gentleman, such ns you once
were, Dr. Boyd, takes to crime, he Is
n far greater danger to socloty than
tho ordinary criminal. Howover, you
aro talking nonsense now. Knowing
you had escaped, I made preparations
for a possible interview." Tho barris
ter drow his hand quickly from his
pocket; thero was n flash of sunlight
glinting on steel, and tho muzzlo of a
revolver pointed straight nt tho escap
ed convict.
Tho man gnzed at. It motionless a
minute; then the light died from his
eyes, nnd ho sank down Into an abject
heap, with nn Inarticulate cry. But
tho next mlnuto ho leaped to his feet,
shaking clcucbed hands.
"Ib thero no pit In heaven or
earth?" ho cried. "My God, I can't
bear it again! I can't!" Ho turned to
Carden. "If you'vo any mercy, shoot
mo outright. I've bad three years of
torture hopeless torturo, with every
bit of tniBt I ever had In God or mnn
dying out, every lingering faith In Jus
tlco human or lvlno killed by fncts.
At first I used to think that tho world
waB looked aftor by Somebody, but af
torwards J learned how absurd such it
creed is; and if the idea camo back,
nnd my cscapo seemed a mercy
straight from heaven, I see now It'a
all a part of tho huge Joko that has
been played with mo. Shoot mo, Mr.
Carden, and put tho revolver by mo.
They'll bring It In suicide, and you'll
know that at last you Bhotfod mercy."
Tho barrister listened quietly. He
had heard such nppcals too many
tlmca to bo easily moved, and ho recol
lected very clearly tho clrcumstnnceu
under which ho hud pro:urcd this
man's condemnation. "What nbout tho
poor young fellow you murdered?" ho
asked sternly. "It's .i Jlngr.int absurd
ity for you to talk of want of Juatlco,
when you yourself confessed your
crime."
Tho man hesitated. Tho passlonnto
yearning for freedom was so strong In
him. Ho looked at the stern eyes of
tho barrlstor, whoso cloqienco had
turned a wavering Jury against him,
and felt himself helpless In his hands.
Ho looked round at tho wide moor und
tho bluo sky with hopeless, hunted
longing in his eyes, and back to tho
unyielding face opposite, and tho
steady hand thnt held tho revolver.
"I saw you nn hour ago, sir," ho
said abruptly. "Was that your wifo
with you?"
Carden took a step forward. "Kind
ly refrain from mentioning her," ho
said sharply. "Now, walk out In
front of me."
"Ono moment," Boyd'B eyes Bought
his engerly. "Whoever alio was, I
saw you loved, her. I know tho look
In a man's face and a woman's too.
It's strange Isn't it, Mr. Carden?
but murderer as 1 am, I've loved a
woman In the days when I was n mnn
with u man'8 rights." Ho laughed
bitterly. "Whnt would you do, Mr.
Carden, If some scoundrel were to take
her from you? What would you not
do?" Ho looked at Cnrdcn'B Impassive
face, and saw it suddenly flash Into
flro.
Tho barrister answered roughly.
"Hold your tongue," ho said, "or I
shall know how to stop it."
But Boyd had seen and had noted
the Involuntary clench of tho broad
hand. "JuBt so," ho aald grimly.
"Well, I loved her like that, and Lane,
tho man I murdered I confess it
again, you see took hor from me.
I'd havo forgiven him that maybo;
but ho dragged her down to tho mlro.
I needn't sny more."
Tho convict's gaunt frnmo was shak
ing nil over as ho went on. "I thought
she loved mo till I found this out; and
then when I taxed him, ho luughed
and exulted In It; nnd I had seen hor
face whlto with despair only nn hour
before tho faco I loved and I struck
him, not knowing or caring what I
did, so that I could kill the laugh on
his Hps tho laugh at her despair. I.
did not mean to kill him, though I'm
not sorry I did. Sho wns tho sweetest
and purest woman God over mado till
he touched her."
HIb volco broke Into a sob and ho
brushed his hand across Ills eyes. Ho
had for a moment forgotten his enemy,
und started violently as a hand drop
pod on his shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell mo this at the
trial?" asked Carden hnsklly.
"Don't you understand, man? I lov
ed her and I thought when I got frco,
threo days ago, that I could still find
her alio went back to her old home
and marry her If sho would, and mako
things better for her. I meant fo, I
thought, llko a fool, thnt Whoever
rules tho world meant that I and sho
should both havo another chanco."
Boyd paused, looking straight be
fore him, his hands dropping idly at
his aides, blank misery In his face.
Then he turned abruptly nnd looked
up at tho other. "Do you understand
a llttlo now?" ho Bald roughly. "You
would not have understood once; but
you lovo now I saw it. Wouldn't
you havo done tho same?"
Carden drew hla hand over his eyea
as If to clear their vision. "I don't
know. I might have, I bellovo It
Nell I believe I should."
Boyd nodded and sat silent
Presently Carden touched him.
"Dr. Boyd," ho said gravely, I nm
not your Judge. I shall not hinder you.
As far ob I nm concerned you aro
frco."
The convict stared at him a moment,
then he stretched out n doubtful hand.
"Do you mean It? Do you really mean
It? I thought It was nil up this time."
"I did not know. I did not under
stand. You did wrong; but I'll havo
no hand In sending you back thero. I
think you nro to havo that other
chanco you and she."
Tho convict nnd tho man to whom
ho owed his conviction gripped, hands,
each of them moved out of tho usual
selt-commnnd. Then Carden effected
n "loan" of all tho cash bo had nbout
him.
After that tho famous Queen's
counsel went back to his wife. Ho
had compounded a felony, nnd did not
regret it When, somo timo later, ho
rocclvcd a short noto which contained
information of a wedding, ho put it in
tho flro with n queer feeling of satis
faction thnt ho had successfully aided
and evasion of tho law, of which ho
was ono of tho most brilliant support
ers. Chambers' Journal.
To Treat Equine Distemper.
Bulletin 89, Virginia Experiment Sta
tion: Tho typlcnl attack of distemper
requires very llttlo treatment outside
of easily digested food, good ventila
tion, absence of drafts, rest nnd quiet.
Rectal injections of cold water tend to
lower tho temperature and nt tho same
time to regulate tho bowels. But good
nursing is tho principal treatment. It
la when complications present them
boIvcs that treatment becomes nocca
sary. When pyogenic distemper com
plicates tho attack, tho enlarged sub
maxillary glands should bo poulticed
with a hot, clean poultlcc.so aa to favor
suporatlon. When this awolllng be
comes soft it should bo lanced and al
lowed to drain. When respiration be
comes difficult, allowing tho animal to
Inhalo tho steam of boiling wa'.or, into
which a llttlo tnr or turpont.no haa
beon poured, will generally relievo tho
troublesomo breathing to a g.'eat ex
tent When pneumonia compllcntcB tho
disease, blankets should bo wrung out
In hot water and applied to tho chest.
If, howover, tho lnllammatory process
contluucB to extend, stimulating blU
tera aro of service; among those, mus
tard is about the beet Tho heart
should bo carefully watched, and If
seen to grow weak stimulants should
bo administered, na nlcohol ono to two
ounces, with tlncturo of mix vomica
one to two drachms, given by tho
mouth, threo times a day In two or
three times as much water, either ub
a drench or by means of a syringe.
When tho extremities arc swollen very
much, or when founder Is present, hot
applications nro very bonetlcial. Tho
feot Bhould be plncod In a tub of hot
water nnd allowed to remain during
the day, nnd hot poultices applied dur
ing tho night. Oil meal makes tho
best poultice, but when thla can not bo
obtnlned, bran answers tho purpose
very nicely. Tho object Is to mnln
taln an even heat over tho lnllamed
parts.
When tho oyco becomo much in
flamed, they should bo bathed every
fow hours with a solution containing
ono drachm of boraclc acid to tho pint
of water. When tho deeper structures
of tho eyo appear inflamed, a fow dropa
of belladonna should bo dropped Into
tho eyo night and morning for threo
or four days. When the nervous symp
toms aro very sovoro, cold applications
to tho head and Bplno are of benefit
Tho bowels should bo kept open with
laxative diet or linseed oil. Iodide of
potassium two drachma, with powdered
mix vomica one-half drachm threo
times n day as a tonic, stimulant and
nlterntlvo, often gives very happy ro
sults. If tho animal 1b very plethoric,
bleodlng is otton advantageous. When
excitement la marked, bromldo of po
tassium two drachms, with cannabis
Indlca (tincture) one-hnlf ounce, given
overy three hours until animal be
comes moro quiet should bo tried. In
all cases, the object ahoud be to main
tain tho strength of the patient, re
llovo tho Bovcro symptoms and com
bat complications. With those objects
in view and strict attention to details
of nursing, most often happy results
aro gotten, and but few cases provo
fatal. It should always bo borne In
mind that distemper 1b a contagious
and Infectious disease, nnd that ani
mals not affected should not bo ex
posed to affected animals or left In sta
bles which have been occupied by dis
tempered horsca. Charles McCullocb,
Assistant Veterinarian,
Nutionnl Crop It i port.
The April report of tho statistician
of tho department of agriculture shows
tho average condition of winter wheat
on April 1 to have beon 82.1, against
77.0 on April 1, 18!9, and n ten-year
average of 82.8. Whllo tho ravages of
tho HesBlan (ly In Ohio, Michigan, and
Indlnnn will probably result In not ono
of theso threo states producing moro
than halt n crop, an exceptionally
high condition la reported from tho
winter wheat states west of tho Mis
sissippi river and from tho Pacific
coast. Tho principal averages in tho
middle west nre as follows; Ohio, 47;
Michigan, 57; Indiana, 51; Illinois, 88;
Missouri, 01; Kansas, 99, and Wash
ington ,100.
Tho avcrnge condition of winter ryo
Is 84.8, against 81.9 on April 1, 1899.
Tho percentago of mortality among
tho animals during tho year ending
March 31, 1900, was not only below
thnt of last year, but was also below
the ten and fifteen year averages of
horses, 1,8 per cent; of cnttle, 3.1; of
sheep, 3.8; of hogs, no estimate. As
regards tho condition on April 1, horses
are reported at 97; cattle at 97.2 and
sheep ut 99.9.