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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1911)
The Brute and the Man By GEORGE CARLING When James Schoflcld, farmer and 'dairyman, drove homo from Donton's Corners that night, ho was unques tionably drunk. Hilarious and musi cal when ho left his companions at tho village tavorn, ho becamo after tho first mllb 'Uarfully sentimental; muttering much to himself about a cortaln comrade of his boyhood days, long Blndo dccoased , During tho third and lust mtlo, his hungry and eager horso had plunged recklessly over tho muddy, unovon road, and Mr. Schoflold, after oxtrlcnt Ing himself several. times from among tho milk catis In tho wngon, had bo camo pugnacious and aggressive. When ho reached his door yard ho was fighting drunk. With many curses and kicks ho had ushorcd his tinlucky horso Into its ntull; had cursed his wlfo for tho door held readily open for him; had or dered her to pull off his boots, and had sworn with vigor and originality at tho suppor which had been hold In readiness for flvo hours Finally, exasperated at ending no avallablo fighting material, he had struck tho llttlo "woman a cruelly sav age blowfelling her to tho floor and had answered her one piteous moan with n comprehensive, though 'flomowhat Incoherent, lecture on tho duties of a wlfo and hor obligations to love, honor and oboy. Then ho stumbled Into tho side bed room and flung himself down without wasting nny precious moments In dis robing, ivo minutes later his heavy breathing Indicated his perfect pb illvlon of all matrimonial trials, Tho girl (she was scarcely moro) raised her bead. There wero no tears, nor sobs, but there was a tiny stream of blood trickling from a cruol cut in bcr chook arid a llttlo pool on tho floor where sho had. lain. She raised herself wearily to hor feet, and staggering to a chair burlod her faco In hor apron nnd so sat, thinking motionless and silent. Presently she arose took tho lamp from tho table, and stopping to tho looking glass by tho window, oxam lined. her wounded face. Three years boforo no sweeter, idalntler faco no moro bewltchlngly igentle eyoa no morrlor dimples around such a smiling mouth had been reflected from any mirror In the township. Even an hour before one 'would have had to search far for its equal the pathos of Buffering, of un 'told anguish, had an yot but changed the quality of Its prettlness. At this Instant, however, she, her self, was startled at the reflection. She had never seen that face bofore! those hard, set, resentful eyes itbosa tightly compressed tips that resolute mouth, Sho had never seen these, although, two or throo times bo fore she had looked upon a grievously scarred face, But she remembered now, almost with a little wonderment, that she had already decided how she should meet this next assault when It came. She had dismissed, with a bit ter laugh almost a sneer-tho thought of appealing to the law that abortfve, rusty engine of Justice and correction, wtilch fines a drunken slugger and then sends him back to his 'Wife, to exact blttor reprisal for tier complaint. Not her remedy was to be more directive and lasting; bringing com fort and safety to herself and fair punishment to the Brute, Lighting a lautem she went to the stable, hearing, as she expected, tho eager whinnying of the unfed horse, She threw the welcome oats Into the ' manger, speaking a few caressing words as she rubbed a rough clotti over the grateful animal's wet back. Then climbing to the loft sho threw 'iwn a liberal supply of hay leaned Jr cheek against his for a moment and "went back to the house, picking up st the weod pile a heavy hatchet. Cautiously entering the room where the Brute lay In hts drunken stupor. she put on a dark, .serviceable dress her beet collected a 'small quantity of extra clothing and some little trinkets, bringing them Into the kttch n, where she packed them into s xuaty traveling bag. Outside, a steady, drizzling rain was falling, and she thought of the .miles of muddy road before her. IPacking her shoes in the bag, she pulled on a pair of rubber boots knee-high and confidence-Inspiring. Then sho timcared the hutchot with blood from tho pool on tho floor, and clipptng off a faw ends of her bright brown hnlr she sprinkled them on the tool. Next sho rolled up hor blood stained apron Into a tight bundle, and attain taking tho lantern wont out und throw tho hatchet Into a thicket of brush near by, The apron sho stuffed behind n beam in tho woodhouso. Re-entering tho kitchen she picked up hor bag. turned out tho light, nnd then paused. Onco moro, by tho light of the lantern, sho wont Into tho bedroom, a.nd after somo llttlo search emerged again with a well-worn wal let. Sho counted tho contents onto .the tablo, and. stood, considering. Thorn woro ?74 and somo odd cents; tho result of a collection of monthly milk bills. -fltlH she heqltaled. For three years ing, she had tolled hard and had rnod in, honest work fully ono-hnlf of what bad com In but no money M " . I " ' h fl given ner, Ifis cHt4 the money Into two VUi pirn placed 0H9 of these back in tho Wallet and taking tho other, sho stepped out Into tho night. Wearied -almost to exhaustion, sho climbed Into tho early" mail train at Dursbro, and In two hours sho was In Buffalo. Then on again, without a break, to Cleveland. In two days sho hnd answered an advertisement and secured employment ns servant to a suburban family. It was lata when tho Bruto nwoko nnd struggled to bin feet, cursing his wlfo for not having called him. Ho stumbled out into tho kitchen hnd noted, with rising rago, tho disorder of tho night boforo tho uncleared ta blo an overturned chair tho unllght ed flro. Then his oyo fell upon the red stnin in tho floor. "Gone to thoso d d Watson's again I" hq growled viciously, as ho ro memborod hor rcfugo on provlous sim ilar occasions. "I'll teach her aforo night, cuss her!" But beforo night, Mr. Schoflold was under arrost, and In Bursbro Jail, on chargo of murdering his wlfo. Hor disappearance and bis known abuse of her led to quick suspicion, and a search of tho premises easily revealed tho blood-stained floor nnd apron, and tho damning hatchet. In time, tho grand Jury sustained tho chargo and ho was held for trial at tho next ses- Ion to be held two or three months later. An exhaustive search for tho body of his, wlfo revealed nothing. With tho sharper Instinct of womnn, sho had ovaded detection ns effectively as tho most experienced criminal could havo done. So tho Bruto, in tho seclusion of his coll, sobered off. As his mind cleared and his hot blood cooled, perhaps hts thoughts ran moro on hts wife's fato than on his own Jeopardy. In his dreams and In his waking moments, ho felt an cvor-lncrcanlng dread of hearing of hor fearing tho worst. Ho grew strangoly npathetio about himself, and when, a week boforo his trial, word was brought to him that ho was a frco man that his wlfo had made- known her existence nnd whore- abouts, ho wafted trov tho Jail with out commentwent to hts farm and plckod up tho thread of hts life, alono nnd soon unnoticed. Over in Cleveland tho suburban family wero congratulating them selves on tho cheorful, never-falling industry-tho quiet, thoughtful deft ness of their servant. Often they won dorcd at the tlncturo of sadness which seemed to overshadow hor; and won by tholr sympathetic kindness, sho had told hor story. ' Then camo sickness sovoro, but not lasting and aftor that a letter from Kitty, her bosom frlond. With what delight -sho tore it opont How hungry sho was for news from her old friends and neighbors perhaps also, sho was hungry for news of htm. Ono paragraph of tho letter read: 'Ho fyou know who I mean) Is back on the farm, doing nis own houso work. Ho has sold tho cows, so ho novor comes to tho vtllngo with milk, and he keeps out of sight when any one goes along tho road, so you soo. Molly dear, I can't tell you much of anything about him and you don't caro, I guess I Thon as she rend n big, pearly tear drop rolled down tho pretty chook, nnd splashed out tho "don't caro." Presently camo another letter from Kitty, plentifully embellished, ns usual, with paronthoses and quotation marks, and with a paragraph which brought moro toars and a long porlod of gazing at nothing. "Bob (tho gooao still comos to see mo) says that ho calls in to boo Jim (your Jim, I mean) whenever he passes the farm, (you know they used to be great chums beforo). He says that Jim seemB sad nnd talks very little. But he works llko a Trojan I (whatever that is) and he hasn't drank anything slnco thoy took hlra to Bursbro." A week later tho little wife alight ed from the stagp which Journoyed between Bursbro and Donton'a Cor ners, Much to the driver's surprise, she had Insisted upon getting oft a quarter of a mile boforo reaching the Schoileld farm. It was after dark, but she trudged along tho well known road, carrying her bundle, while tho stage disap peared In the gloom, When sho came in sight of tho house, thoro was a light In tho kitchen, hut around the dooryard all was quiet and dosorted. She crept to tho cornor window and pooped beneath the shade, Sho noted tho cheery flro In tho woll-cloaned stovo. and tho tldlnoss of tho room. By the tablo sat tho man her Jim holding a big needle up boforo the lamp; nnd tho tears wollod In hor oyes and n groat sou cnoKoa tier, as sho Bnw tho big hand clumsily jab bing a thread at tho oyo. Climbing softly onto tho rjorch, aho lifted tho latch ana stood ueiora ninv Tho man stood up, amazed and doubt ing. Ho stretched put his arms an poallngly. His eyes woro llllod with unspeakable pleading with trombllng. expectant Joy. "Mollyl my llt-tlo Molly! I know you'd como again, "somo day my Molly l" 8ho stopped eloso to him, and pine InR tho bundle In his outstretched arms, pulled asldo tho wrappings. "Careful, Jlml Bo very careful! My dear old Jim!" And tho wondering Jim looked down, into a tiny llttlo fnco-r-saw two llttlo blue oyas looking curiously Into JiiB folt a woo hand clutch his groat linger and saw. bis Molly's dimples In tho daintiest, awoetost, prottlost llt tlo counterpart while hla Molly wound her arms tondorly around them both, nnd her happy tears mingled with roguish Einllos nt his clumsy awkwjUduosa at hla transfigured fae as ho slowly grasped tho full BAMBOOZLING GRANDMA. "There nover was a grandma half so good!" Ho whispered, while beside her chair he stood. And laid his, rosy cheek. With manner very meek, .Against her dear old faco In loving- mood. t "Thero never vtaji a nicer grandma born: I know somn little boys 'must bo forlorn, Because they've Mono llko you: I wonder what I'd do Without a grandma' Uloscs night and morn?" "There never wu a dearer grandma there I" Ho kleied; tier and he smoothed Iter snow white hnlr! 'Then fixed her ruffled cap And nestled In her lap. While grandma, smiling, rocked her old armchulr. " , "When I'm a man what lota to you I'll bring: A horse and carriage and a watch and ring; All grandmas nre so nice! (Just here he kissed her twice) And grandmns give a boy most any thing." Ilefore hln dear old grandma could reply. This boy looked up, and' with a roguish eye Then whlsperrd In her ear That nobody might hear, "Say, grandma, havo you any more mince pleT" New Moon. OPTICAL ILLUSION IS QUEER Nineteen Out of Twenty Persons Would Say Depth Was Greater Than the Width of Cross. Look at this peculiar cross, and ask your frlenda which of tho two dotted lines Is tho longer the ono showing, tho breadth of tho cross or that do- An Optical Illusion. i . ' ' monstratlng tho dopth. Ntnotoon out of (overy twenty would roply that tho cross Is deopor than it Is wldo. As a matter of fact, both dotted lines aro of equal longth, . TO MAKE REALISTIC THUNDER Trick May Be Performed by Vibrating Piece of String Drawn Around Person's. Head. Place a piece of string round tho hoad of n frlond, as shown In tho Il lustration, taking caro that his hands How to Make Realistic Thunder. covor tho ears, as shown in the drawing. Then cause tho string to vibrato by drawing tho flngor and thumb ftlong It, previously moisten ing them or touching them with resin. Tho offoct will bo that a sound ex actly llko a rolling poal of thunder will reach tho ears of tho person opcratod upon. Try It. Looking Aftor the Eggs. Lady Bojty, who Is 4 years old, and novor misses a trick, was taken tho other evening to n restaurant for her suppor, aud with nil tho lmportanco and sprightly dignity of hor years, calmly ordored poached eggs on toast. While tho llttlo family group was awaiting its service, tho "klddlo" moused horsolf by looking out of tho window, profiting against a ocroon to got n closor view of something below. Sho was wnrnod by hor mother that tho screen might glvo way and lot hor fall to tho Bldownlk, perhaps Injuring hor terribly. Sho drew nway, thought a mlnuto, nnd thon snld naively, "Woutd I fall If tho screen went out?" "You certainly would," wns hor moth er's ropMy, "And would I get awful hurtod?" "Very likely." "Then what tvould tho man do with tho eggs?" Little Boy 8ays Grace. A little Hartford boy of rather thoughtful and Inquiring turn of mil asked hla dignified father onoday, aft er tho sltont grace nt dinner. "Pnna. why don't you say it aloud?" "You may Bay It aloud If. you wish, my son," ro- pllod the futhor, and bowing hts hend tho llttlo fellow solemnly originated this unique grace: "Gad havo mercy ou tnese victuals." FOUR O'CLOCK TEA. When the old sun dial by the garden wait Tells us the hour Is 4 o'clock. Then children nnd dollies both one nnd all To the garden tea-tnblo gladly flock! For Grandma has finished her dally nap And there will sho serve ia with cake and milk, Darling she looks In her lace-trlmmnd cap And second-best gown of the finest silk. Dollies nnd all have n btte and sup, ,. Jfungry are we from our hearty play; 'Daintily fine la each ploto and cup TiOr Grandma was always brought up that way! - When ti We la; hen we've had as much as we all can V ourselves down on tlic soft, cool grass, And then the dear ladles for tales entreat Until the long shadows begin to pass. COUNTESS AS. STREET SWEEP Young German Noblewoman Inspired Her Countrymen to Freedom by display of Fortitude, Julio M. Lippmnnn tells a story of the Thirty Years' war In St Nicholas, under tho title of "The Street Sweep er," Tho author uayB: Now Mainz is one of the strongest fortresses In Germany; but, neverthe less, during tho Thirty Years' war It was occupied by tho French, who laid the country waste and ruled over tho land with nil tho harshness of In vaders. Thoro seemed no hopo of es caping from their tyranny, for tho men who had fought and lost woro dis couraged, and had no further heart for resistance. So matters went from bad to worse- until, ono day, tho beautiful young countess of Stein summoned all tho sweetest and best maidens of tho cltj Into hor presence, and urged them to mako a solemn vow that they would neither wed nor listen to a word of wooing until their country wbb en tirely freo, As you may believe, tho tnows of this loaguo made n great stir; for men who havo lost tholr courage In war, nnd men who havo lost their hearts In love, aro very different helhgs. Tho Frenchmen saw very Boon that tho young Germans woro showing signs pf rebellion, and bo they determined to wreak their vengeance on tho countoss. Thoy took her prisoner, dragged her through tho city, and at last thrust a broom into her hand, and bndo her swoop tho principal street of tho town a 'terrible humiliation, they thought, for a high-bred lady as sho was. But do. you think she faltered? No, indeed.. Sho ralsod her oyes, and, praying aloud bo nil could hear: "God of my fathorland, bless my Bweoplng, and as I, sweop tho highway, grant that tho enemy may bo swept from our laud!" grasped the broom firmly (llko tho truo young noblewoman Bho was) and swept bo clean that not a Frenchman of them all (and French men pride themselves on being nblo to boo vory flno points) could dlscovor a speck of dUBt They stood about, and twirled their mustaches, and tried to look supercilious, aud to raise tho people's mirth against her. But they did not Buccoed; and the townsfolk, Instead of Jeorlng, took off their caps, and echoed her prayer "God bless tho Bweoplug!" And God did bless It; for the sight of their noblo young countoss at her task put tho men on their mottle, and they turned on tho Frenchmen and fought with such a will that it was not long beforo there was not one left In the land, and they had Indeed swept tho country quite clear of. every foe. CORRECTED. Willie Do people go to somo snnf tarlums to get In trim? 1 Father No, to got trimmed. Couldn't Eat Much. "No, dear," said mamma to llttlo Carrie, who had Just received n box or Bwootmeats, "you must ask ono of your llttlo friends In to aharo your candy." "Woll," roplled tho llttlo lady, oft- er n row momonis Tiiougm, "i i guess I'll invito Fannie, 'causa candy makes hor tooths ache an' she can't et much. m&& ARMY COMMANDER RETIRES Ill I south, and for soveral years, during tho reconstruction porlod, I served In various Bouthern states. Then I was sont west, to that great, primitive coun try boyond tho Mississippi which nt that timo seemed llko another nation, and i gained great picasuro from my experlcnco during tho thirty years 1 lived In (that western land and watched tho development of tho cduntry. l una many exciting encounters ties between tho federal troops and "When the Spanish-American war und was placod In command of a battalion of the Twontv-flfth lnfnntrv ' Wn fought through tho Santiago campaign, l navo tougnt mucn ana long; now in tho glory of tho past. But I shall army, nnd my heart will bo with It." IS ONLY LIVING later '70's and '80s, served to inure Goneral Kelfer the hardships of victory and tho blessings of defeat In civil! as well ns in military strlfo. The Spanish war ngaln called him Into military; action, nnd ho was next heard of leading the victorious Americans into tho captured Cuban capital. After 20 yea'ra' absence General Keifor returned to tho scenes of his civil triumphs and defeats, and now, nt tho ago of seventy-five, this ono surviving major gonoral of the Civil war resigns htB chair In tho houso of ropresenta-' tlves to his Democratic succossor. General Kolfer is only ono of a legion of busy young-old American men, nnd tho fact that he 1b president of a national bank, a collogo trustee and nti author of recognized merit would to men of less ability seem enough to en gage his enorgy after his retirement from congressional duties. DU PONT TO A J io uuuu un eiecinc railway lino or other public utility upon it. Ho says his object Is to mako tho road a monu mont to tho Du Pont family and nlso to improvo tho stnte by assuring a method of gottlng trolloy linos nnd other improvements down tho peninsula. CZAR'S COUSIN IS POPULAR J Jiomanon or wnom the average Rus Blan apenks with respect, An inspector of military schools, ho Is obliged to travel constantly , and thus he Is bettor known than the czar's other relatives. 'I A veteran of two wars and many, Indian skirmishes,, -n man of' pio strong, vital traits that have , made heroes in life nnd literature, war scarred, weather-beaten, Brig, Gen.1' Charles L. Hodges has ended hts sorv Ico in tho United States army. . Gen.' Hodges, who succeeded Gen. Freder ick Dent Grant as' commander of Iho department of tho lakes, onllsted as n private in 1861, and reluctantly tor sakos tho old soldier leaves hla post only because he must. "I'm Just a plain Boldlor man," ho said, modestly, when asked to tell of exploits of his career. "I havo fought In battles, many of them, but all sol diers do that." Tho veteran stroked his gray mtis tacho, smiled good humoredly, and hla visitors thought of him in his younger years as tho picturesque typo of sol dlor described "by Kipling as a "fust class flghtln' man." "After tho war I was sent t6 tho with Indians and foutrht In manv hat. rampaging redskins. broke out in 1898 I was aent to Cuhn and It was lively fighting, too. I shall retlro to nrlvato life and llvn always feel tho deonost Interest In th EX-SPEAKER Ono of tho notable events nt tho passing Of tho Sixty-first congress wbb" tho retirement from active political Ufa of ono of tho country's best known statesman, Gen. Josoph War ren Keifef of Ohio, whoso political career hna extended throughout many years. General Kelfor holds tho unique position today of being tho only living ex-speaker of tho houso of representatives. Ho hold this im portant placo In the Forty-soventh congross, and slnco the death of John; G. Carllslo this honor has been htsi alono. General Kolfer took part In tfto very . first Bklrmtshes of the Civil war, and ;whon General Leo laid down hts arms; at Appomattox tho commander of tho Oho Hundred and Tenth Ohio volun teer" infantry was thoro to 'wltucss that memorable event. Eight years In congress, during tho BUILD HIGHWAY Gen. T. Colemnn Du Pont is going to build at his own expense tho first link In tho great highway from Now York to Washington. A boulevard is an unusual form for a wealthy man's public gifts tp tnko. Dolawaro Id tho Btato which is to bo made the beno flclary of such a gift. Gen. Du Pont, has offered to give to that stato a highway, running from ond to ond of thq commonwealth, a dtatanco of 103 miles. It 1b to bo 150 foot wldo and will cost from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. In his offer of tho highway Con. Du Pont stipulated that ho would re tain tho sldos of tho road and re quested public utilities franchises up on them. This feature of hts offor camo In for much criticism and led Mr. Du Pont to modify It consider ably. Ho now offers to 'build tho road, retain tho sections on tho side, hut turn thpm nvnr r,. nf vuui6o iu any concern which will obligate jltsolf Tho most popular member of tho Romanoff family of Russia is tho Grand Duke Constantino Constnntlno vltch, cotiflln of tho czar, who beside holding tho important post of lnBpoc tor of military schools of tho omplro, Is a plnywright, on actor and a poet. Bettor perhaps thnn all of these, ho la a man of good morals and exalted Ideals, Tho grand duke has translated Shakespeare into Russian, ha8 writ ton sovornl pjnys and acted thorn and has published Bomo valuable critical studies of now Russian poets. It is, ns a poet that ho Is best known. One of hs works haB gone through ten editions nnd his songs nre sung In every penbarit cabin. Two of his songs nre rendored at ovory Russian con cert and mnny have been sot to music. Apart from his merits as a poet, tho grand duko Is an attractive per sonality. Ho Is about tho only living tto of his great benediction