Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1914)
Tjl 1 TN mi UIU.IHUIIU iiiiiii.im i" um ii i i in a An Ingenuous Criticism By F. A. M1TCHEL Three Liars A Story For Easter By F. k. MITCHEL Jlmson, nn author, having donomoro scribbling tban was good for bis health, wns ordered by his doctor to go Into iho poultry. Eto cboso a small town culled Holly wood "because there was n library there, and If ho was for bidden to wrlto bo conld ntenst road, which was not what his doctor Intend ed nt nil. He wished his patient to be out of doors-walking, driving, boating, and the lllcc. .Unison went Into the library as soon as be reached Hollywood. It was n small affair, and he had read most of tho books It contained, but there was that In tho ntmosphoro of the place which attracted him, and ho would nther read a book he didn't ll'co tban none at nil He had finished writing a novel before lonvlng home nnd bad brought n copy with him, which ho deposited In tho library. One day while he was sitting at n table Intended for those who wished to read In the library with n book be fore him tho silence of tho place was broken by tho entrance of a woman. She had a quick step nnd a piquant look about her. Going to tho shelves containing fiction, suo cast her eye rapidly over the books and nt once pounced upon .Unison's novel. Evi dently she had cxhnusted tho shelves and recognized n new book the mo ment she saw It Doing In u hurry to get at It, sho took u seat by n window and began Its perusal. This Interested Jlmson very much Indeed, more than the book ho was reading. An author Is hungry for criticism, and he wntched tho young lady as sho mado tho pages tly, satis fled that his production was making a profound impression on her. At times her brows would contract nt somo ac tion or sentiment It contained; nt oth ers her faco would take on a benign expression when perhaps n character was showing somo heroic trait. The book was a short one, and tho ludy read it at one sitting. When she had finished and was about replacing It on tho shelf Jlmson stepped up to her nnd. bowing, deferentially said: "Beg pardon! I am a stranger In tho town, with nothing to do. I am unfamiliar with the books in this li brary and would be greatly obliged to you If you would recommend me something to read." "Fiction, history, travel, philosophy or what?" "Fiction. 1 hnve noticed that you have been absorbed in n book you were rending. Could you recommend it?' "No." Jlmson was quite taken aback by this, but he recovered himself and said: "I um surprised, from tho interest you appeared to take in it, to hear you say that. What Is there about It yon don't like?" "Tho characters." "What's the matter with them?" . "Well, there's Margaret Loe. What did sho want to throw herself away on that country professor for when she could have made Donnld Kimball happy and saved him from drink? Then there's Edward Atkinson, tho most perfect fop I ever henrd of. It seems to me 1 can see him now prauc ing along, tho conceited puppy, think ing himself the most splendid fellow In tho world. Old Sirs. Perkins, who wns forever worrying over that boy of hers because he wouldn't wear an over coat or rubbers, was a fool. Sho would declare that he shouldn't have another cent of spending money for a week, then give him a five dollar bill for n football. She was spoiling the boy." "How did you like the hero?" "Tho hero! I would just like to get hold of that man! no aggravated me more than nny character in tho book. Why, ir he made love to me ns he did to Alice Lonsdale I'd-l'd"- "What would you do?" "I'd stick n pin In him!" "I suppose these persons will Imme diately pass out of your mind now that you have finished the book." -- "Not nt all. I shall remember them always." "What for their general cussed-ness?" "Oh, I don't know! I suppose so." "Thank you very much for your In formation. 1 don't think I'll read the book after your description of It." "I certainly wouldn't." Jlmson wrote his publishers that ho had got an Ingenuous criticism on his novel. lie didn't think the book would go. Persons who read It would not bo likely to recommend It to others. The nest day bo went to the library again nnd while reading looked up nt an entrance. "There's that little fool who criti cised my book." he said to himself. She nodded to hira ns sho passed, went to the fiction shelves nnd took down n book. Jlmson, who wns watch ing her, was astonished to see that It wns his novel. She Hnt down with It and was soon as much absorbed In It ns the day before. Jliruoa wmt "P to her nnd said: "Why, I thought you didn't llko that book!" "I don't." "Rut you nro reading It n second time. Why do you do that?" "I want to rend about all tho ridicu lous things those people did." Jlmson wrote n second letter to his publishers. It was this: You needn't send mo any more reviews of my novel. 1 think 1 have an inkling why people rend such stuff, and I don't be llete riltlrp htiv When our troops came homo from Cuba and, nearly all sick, were un loaded from transports on the eastern end of Long Island tho camps that held them were thronged with persons who had come to find relntives or friends. One of these, an old lady with an anxious look on her face, stop ped at a tent before which snt an ofll cor in n enmp chnir nnd nsked in a tremulous voice: "Can you tell me if my boy has lome?" The officer row, took off his hat ru npt fully mid said: "What rexluii'iit did your boy belong to, madam?" "Ho wns with the th Pennsylva nia." "Como with mo, and 1 will see if I can get the information you wish." Ho led the way lo u lent wherein nn ofthvr wub writing. "Alako your Inquiries hero." he said aod left her. "I'm trying to find my boy, Henry Ashurht," said "the old lady. The officer looked serious. lie ic niemheiod having the name of Ileury Ashurxt on n list of killed nnd wound ed. He hunted in his desk for n cer tain p.iper and when he found It ran his eye over the list of names. Ills cxpresi Ion became still more serious, but ho bent his face down so that It was concealed under the rim of his hat. Ho had found the name of Hen ry Ashurst, but had not the heart to tell the mother what list it was in. "Your son hasn't come up from Cuba yet, madam. He wasn't very well when the last transport sailed." "Do you know what bis trouble was?" nsked tho old lady, tears start ing into her eyes. . "Somo of those fevers they havo down there. I believe." "Is bo very ill?" "Well. I couldn't tell you about that. There's the regimental surgeon's tent over there; you might inquire of him." The old Indy walked feebly over to tho tent designated, found the surgeon nnd nsked the samo questions sho had asked the adjutant. The doctor looked down upon the nnxlous face and turn ed coward Just ns tho other had done. "Henry Ashurst!' bo said ns if try ing to recollect. "There wns n soldier In tho hospital of that name, I think, but I can't oxnetly recall his case." "Was he very sick?" "Ob, no; not very sick. I think it was a simple flesh wound in tho leg." "Do you think ho will come on tho next transport?" "No doubt of it," madam; no doubt of It." The old lady went away. The ad jutant saw her go nnd walked over to tho surgeon. "I couldn't do my duty by thnt old lady, could you? I found his name on a list of mortally wounded. I told bis mother lie had n fever." "I remembered him in tho hospital ns one for whom there was no hope of recovery. I lied about it too. I told his mother ho had n slight flesh wound. I only know what I havo told you, so I took tho benefit of tho doubt." Every day tho old lady visited tho camp, and every day tho adjutant nnd surgeon either told her more lies or re pented tho old ones. Tho ship bearing her son never camo to Montnuk Point, nnd when tho Inst tent wns struck she ceased her visits and her inquiries. Tho winter passed and no ono had the courage to tell the mother that her hoy would not como back to her. They all excused themselves on the ground thnt no record of the death nnd burial of Private Henry Ashurst had been found. But when tho war closed ev ery ono connected with the nrmy was hi n hurry to get away from tho heat, the sickness, tho death attending an nrmy in a tropical cllmato in summer. Until somo one would assure her that her son was dead tho poor mother hoped. Sho wns very religious and prayed fervently that her boy might bo restored to her. Ono morning In April when tho sun, shining warm. was opening tho leaves typifying tho resurrection shortly to bo celebrated at Easter tho old lady went to her rec tor nnd said she had a feeling that Henry would como homo on Enster Sunday. "Do you think," she said, "that this feeling has been sent rao by Provi dence?" "Quite likely," was tho reply. "I be lieve that Providence often sends us forecasts of what is about to happen." no had no more doubt that Henry Ashurst's limes wero molderlng In Cuba than that the earth turned on Its nxis. "I'm so glad you think so!" added tho mother, moving away, while the clergyman looked after her, not know ing whether to consider himself a liar or ono who bad done n kindness. At dawn on Easter morning there was a loud rapping on tho door of Mr. Ashurst's house. "Ho's como!" sho said, getting out of bed, and without stopping to put on a wrapper sho went downstairs, opened tho door and was clasped in the arms of her son." "Oh, Harry, where havo you been all this time?" "I wns left In Cuba. When I got well I had forgotten who I was. Since then I hnve beeu going about as nn other person. Somo time ngo n surgeon removed n piece of my skull, nnd hero I nm." 1 The Greatest (rade ever known in (lie history of North Platte, Nebraska, will start At 7:30 P. M. f.1,.jtif3Wj.1J ti.Wi . Mujq.iKwtaaTwirtirmt!-7KrwEanis 3E3 eordanization e entire stock of Clinton Jewelry Store, same invoicing over $259000.Q05 will be sold at Public Auction regardless o cost or value. The stock consists of the very finest Diamonds, Watches, Sterling Silver, Cut Glass, Handpainted China, solid gold Jewelry of every description, Clocks, etc Nothing held in reserve and every article sold will have the personal guarT antee of the firm. SEATS RESERVED FOR LADIES 3 Beautiful Presents Free- BBiT5BBHiWffHsHWHWWLMyWnW?lrr on't forget Auction Sale starts Thursday will continue daily thereafter at 2s30 7:30 p. m. an p. ni. ewey Street Nothing sold at Private Sale yWfiW?ti iU. -rll p.!! f wish we ia gooa waier in hg&vA otir house" vjgSjjss?! liWT, ,-io flW-NKT-'nfcftL. .ft I ESW.3, .JMl5?e vw, ', , t(BrP'Y .' 'I- i tf, W Hfn;: ((. Automatic 1 Give your Children access to Safe DrmMn Water 77ie picture is taken from life, ft illustrates ) ca actual occurrence. If vou are buvina ice for a jjrigerator, why not J:avs that ice do double dut - at no extra cost- Jceep Loth food ami vater 3 perfect in an Mnftratar For Sale By DERRYBERRY & FORBES. Bralt & Goodman offer to the careful investor soitc choice first mortgage real estate loars netting 7 to 8 per cent semi-annual interest, not taxable. These mort gages range from $300 and upwardr. They collect interest and principal end remit same without charge to the iti vester. Nothing better or safer for your idle money. Sheriff's Sale. By virtue of on order of tale Issued from tho district court of Lincoln county, Nebraska, upon a decree of foreclosure rendered In said court wherein Robert I llurnett ', plaintiff and Samu el A. Thomas Ii defendant, nnd to mo illrccti-d, I will on the 13th day of June, 1014, at 2 o'clock p.m. at tho cast front door of Iho court houBe In North I'latte, Lincoln county, Nebraska, sell nt public miction to the highest bidder for caih, to satisfy aid decree. Interest nnd costs, the following de scribed, properly, to-wlt: Southwest quarter of Section Koiir In Township Twelve, Kange T'llrty-four west of tho Sixth J M., Lincoln county, Nebraska, Dated North I'latte, Nebr., May 11th, 19H. A. J.SALISUUUY, Sheriff, CHATTEL MORTGAGE SALE Notice is hereby Riven, thnt by vir tue of n chattel mortgage dated on the 2nd day of May, 1913, nnd duly filed, nnd recorded in tho oflice of the county rlork of Lincoln county. Nebraska, 611 tho Gth day of May, 1918, and executed by G. S. linll nnd II. E. Utterbnck to International Harvester Company of America (a coiporation) to secure pay ment of the mm of $IG;i 10, and there is now duo tho nun of ?1C3 00 and in terest, nnd default having boon mado in payment of anld Bum, therefore. Wp will sell tho property therein described, to-wit: Ono hay press with G h. p. gasoline engine attached, Inter notional Harvester Companv mnko, ono 2-wheel hay 6weep, ono 5-fbot Deer ing mowor, one 10 foot Deering rake, one 14-inch stirring plow, one set of work harness, nt public nuction, for cash at the livery barn of lion E. Lay ton, in the town of Maxwell, Lincoln county, NebinBka, on the Gth day of Juno, 1914, at 1 o'clock, p. m. of said day. D.tted this Glli day of May, 1914. INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER n n COMPANY OP AMERICA, By O. R. Chase, Agent. m!2