THE NEBRASKA ADVERTISER W.'XV. HANUKKS I'ultlUlif r. NEMAHA, NEBBASKA. LOVE AND PET ME NOW. Take my withered hands In youra, Children of my soul, Mother's heart Is cravlnt; love, Mother's crowing old. Seo tho snows of many years Crown my furrowed brow. As I've loved and netted yon, I.ove and pot mo now. I.ny your linnds upon my head, Smooth my whitened hair, l'vo been crowing old tho while You've been growing Hilr. I havo tolled and prnye d for you Ask not why or how As l'vo loved und petted you, Love und pet mo now. Tako my withered hands In yours, Children of my heart, Mrithor'tu growing old. your lovo Makes of llfo sweet part. Touch with lovo my faded cheek. Kiss my anxious brow. As l'vo loved and petted you, I,ovo and pet mo now. Tako my withered hands In yours, Hold them closo and strong. Cheer mo with a fond caress, Twill not bo for long. Youth Immortal soon will crown "With Its wreath my brow. At I loved and petted you, I.ovo und pet mo now, Tako my wlthorcd hands In yours, Thin your heart will prove; It you owo mo anything, Pay tho debt In lovo. l'rcss mo In your strong, young arms, Ilreatho a loving vow, That as I loved and petted you, You'll lovo and pot mo now. -Mrs. It. A. Wlndos. In Chicago Standard. A,n Army Wife BY CAPTAIH CHAiiLES KING. iVW CopyrlchteJ, Eq6, by I:. Tennyson Nccly.J SYNOPSIS. Chai-ier I. Fannlo Mcl,nne, a young widow. Is invited to visit tho Oraftons at Fort Sedgwick. Her sister tries to dis suade her, as Itandolph Merrlam (whom oho had Jilted for old McLamOnnd his brido aro stationed there. Chapter II. Fannlo McLano's wedding causes family feeling. A fow months later Hhc, while travollng with her husband, moots Merrlam on his wedding trip. Chapter III. Somo time previous to this Merrlam had gono on a government sur vey, fallen ill, and had been nursed by Mrs. Tremalno and daughter Florence. A hasty noto from Mrs. McLano'B stepson takes him to tho plains. Chapter IV. Young McLano dictates to Merrlam a dying messago, which Li sent to I'arry (a young Chicago lawyer and brothor-ln-law of Mrs. MoLane). Reply causes Merrlam to swoon. He Is taken to tho Trcmalno's; calls for Florence. Chapter V. Engagement of Klorcneo Tromalne to Merrlam Is announced; wed ding shortly follows. Chapter VI. Mr. McLnno Is mysterious ly shot in San Francisco. Merrlam 1b greatly excited when he reads account In papers. Whllo still In mourning Mrs. Mo-l-uno proparos to visit Fort Sedgwick. Chapter All. Mrs. McUino arrives at tho fqrt. Morrlam is utnrtled at tho nows, and ho and his wife absent themselves from tho formal hop that ovenlng. Chaptor VIII. Mr. anil Mrs. Merrlam pay tholr respects to tho widow on an ovenlng when sho would bo suro to havo many other callers. When tho call In returned Merrlam Is away, and his wlfo pleads Illness as excuse for not seeing her. Mrs. McLano receives telegram: "Ar rested, Chicago. Your undo stricken par alysis. You will bo summoned. Sccuro papers, otherwise loso everything. C. M." Sho faints and is revived with dllllculty. Chapter IX. Mrs. Mcl.ane desires to seo Merrlam. Grafton persuades him to go, but tho widow postpones tho meeting till uoxt noon. Chapter X. Florence learns Merrlam has been to see Mrs. Mcl.ano, and in a storm of passion will not allow him to explain. Then comes a brief summons to him to relievo tho guard. - . CHAPTEB X. Continued. One o'clock came, nnd the call had gone from sentry to sentry, thanks to thu breathless stillness of the nlr, and the moon was climbing high, and Bux was still up and swearing. A "ylro" came out from the Junction that the "special" would not be there for two hours, so the Killers had stacked arms, unslung packs, and were snoozing or skylarking as suited their humor. The colonel had given permission for a dance at Miguel's. The band was play ing, and there was jollity in the wind. Bux said he wouldn't have the cavalry mixed up In any such tomfoolery, how over, nnd the patrol was saddled nnd ready to start. Grafton, coming back from his stable, where he had gone to personally see to the selection of the mounts required, stopped and drew Merriam to one side. "I'm borry for the needless trouble you took this evening, Merrinm. I had hoped that Mrs. MeLnne would sec you nnd have done with it. Another dis patch came for her three hours ago, nnd it seems to have roused her to action. She wns up and dressed in time to see the regiment off, and now, I presume, she's ilirting wiUi Whittaker. There nre lights in the parlor. At all events the orderly hasn't found him, nnd Jinx mny send you after the stragglers in town." "Then I reckon I'll f-tnrt niui make the rour.ds nnd get out of the way," snid Knudy. "By the way, captain, I hope your private stable is well secured. Wo hnve only one sentry on that whole front now, and that matched team of yours is n powerful temptation to Bravo liorso fanciers. I menu to make two or three trips around tho row to-night." "Well, then I cnu save you sevcrnl hundr.cd .yards, Merrlam," rnid Graf ton, fumbling in his pocket, "Tnkc the short cut through my yard. There are no private horses between mo and the cast end of the line, you know. Here's the key to the rear gate." Merrhun took It and thanked him heurlily. "I'll go to the corrals first," snid he, "and then come over your way. Good night." The lights were still burning dimly In the parlor as Grafton reached his quarters, but tho slender fonn of n woman stood between him and the door. It was .Mrs. McLtinc, and she began at once. "I have been waiting anxiously for you, captain. Bear Harriet has gone to her room tired out, and I thought Mr. Whlttiikrr would never go I fairly had to send l.im. Mr. Merriam isofllcerof the guard. Could 1 see him could you take me to him for just n minute? If I can talk with him three minutes it will be ample, and I cannot rest now until rdo." Grafton was on the point of bidding her remember thnt she had refused a chance of talking with him earlier that night, but refrained. Be looked back across the sallow, moonlit surface of the parade to where the oil lumps were burning blenrily In the guardroom. "Be is not there," said he. "Be has gone down to the corrals. But" a happy thought striking him "in less thnn ten minutes he will be coming through here on his rounds. I gave him the key of our rear gate. It's warm and pleasant out here. You might hail and halt him as ho enters." Meantime there had been a sore, Fore hearted young wife farther up Hie row. As wrath and passion sobbed them selves away and the devil of jealousy wore itself out, and the thought of Bandy's patience nnd gentleness nnd of all that Mrs. Bnync had said of his unliagging tenderness and loe, poor Florence began to wonder if she had not n tigered him beyond repair. Bin last net bad been one of fond, thoughtful care. Be had spread the shawl over her nnd lingered over it as though he loved to touch her, mad, miserable, ugly, hateful ns she had been, and she had spitefully thrown it off. She picked it up now and strove to arrnuge it ns he had done, but could not. She arose nnd bathed her face and eyes, and gazed out over tile now deserted parade. She had not even stirred when the Hitlers inarched away.. She paced the iloor again and felt that she was weak, and becnnie conscious thnt she wns most unromantlcnlly hungry, and then Oh, heavensl how could she! how could she have forgotten? Bere was Bandy on guard, up all night, and never before since they came back from their wed ding tour had she failed when he was officer or the guard to have n delightful little chnflng dish supper nil ready for him at i'2 o'clock, and he used to come over from his duties for half an hour nnd eatwitli such nn appetite and prni.se her Welsh rarebit, or her oysters, und then take her in his arms with such love nnd delight in his fond eyes, nnd here nnd here it wns one o'clock and she'd utterly forgotten it. Oh, poor Bandy must be starving! In ten minutes Mrs. Merriam had bundled up her dishevelled hnir, donned somo more becoming gown than the tumbled wrapper, und had bustled downstairs nnd lighted the parlor lam) to signal Bandy to come home and be fed nnd forgiven, nnd then she ran sacked the cupboard nnd started her (Ire, and then peeped over toward the distant guardroom ami saw no sign of his coming. Sho trotted through the kitchen and banged lustily nt Bop Ling's door nnd bade him rise and go summon his master, but the menial an swered not. Be, too, had slipped away to the Junction not so much to see the Killers off ns to have a shy at fan-tan, nnd Florence was alone. Never mind. She had been born nnd reared in garri son. No one could teach her the ins and outs of post' life. Why shouldn't she run across the wide, dimly-lighted flat and surprise her darling at his desk, nnd bid him enme home with her nnd let her twine herself about him, and htive n happier cry ns she told him how weak and wieked'aud cruel and hateful she had been, nnd beg to be taken back into his love imdxtniHt. Yes, yes, well she knew that he was too nuble, too grand to trcnt her sternly, coldly, be cause of her tempestuous outbreak. It wns nil because she loved him so loved him so that it was torture to think any ether womnn could claim or hold or even attract him. With brightening eyes, villi bounding heart, she threw over her head nnd shoulders a light wrnp and stepped out on the piazza. Somebody was coining across the pa rade from the guardhouse even now. Ho wns still too far away to be recog nized, but us he halted one minute nnd turned as though to listen to the sen tries just beginning to call half-past one, the moonlight glinted on the stee'I scabbard, and she knew it must be Bandy. Then hu was coming to her after nil, and she need not have to reek him and be the first to "make "!" as she used to say In girlish days. The tall went round with echoing ring, und then on came her loving husband again. Bow she loved thnt martial htride of his! Bow erect and strong and sol dierly he seemed! Bow why he wasn't coming straight toher. Be had reached the flagstaff. There lay t lie benten pathway right before his eyes nnd hers, Be must see the bright lights of his home bidding him come und find love nnd welcome. But he had turned nwny wag walking, not toward the west end, but strnight for the middle of the row, straight to where the Oraftons lived where that woman lived. But thnt meant nothing. Oh, no! Florence well knew that meant noth ing. Bad he not said only a little while belorc thai never would he see or speak with her without coming first to his wife, liis Florence, nnd letting her know? Yet, why should he go thither, at this hour of the night? That was not the way to the sentry posts. Uncon sciously she nppronclied the edge of tho piazza she saw him reach the road waj saw him cross it saw him mer ciful God! could she believe her eyes? saw him enter whnt must be the Oraftons' gate nnd then become lost in Hie shadows of Hie row. Hardly know ing what she did, Florence sped madly down tho steps, out through the gate nnd, almost running, down enstwnrd nlong the walk. Nenring the Graftons', she pressed her hand to her heart to Blill its mad pounding, nnd as she came opposite the parlor window she noted that the lamps were burning dimly, late ns It wns. Could he have entered? Brenthless, dazed, sho clung to Hie picket fence for support, not knowing what to do next, and then the blood seemed to turn to ice in her veins, for somewhere, close nt linnd, just beyond those sheltering vines she heard voices, his voice and hers, low-toned, earnest, nil! passionate for she heard her mur mur: "Oil, Bandy, Kandyl" and, stepping quickly forward, saw her just around the corner of the trellis, appar ently clinging to his arm, the two dim figures seemingly linked together, blending in one vague, indistinguish able, yet damning shape, and then all grew dark to her, as though n pall had been dropped from the starry heavens, hiding from sight the sin und woe of a reeling world. CHATTEIl XI. "Mrs. MeLsihe," Merrlam was saying nt Hie moment, interrupting the plead ing, weeping woman who wns clinging to his arm, "it is useless to talk of it. Bad you let mo know why you wished to sec me, nil the pain of this meeting could have been avoided. Every paper I had was given to Mr. Parry, your law yer, months ago. 1 know less about the matter, probably, than you do; and now, forgive me, but 1 must go nt once.j' Almost forcibly he drew her clasping linnds from his arm, and turningshnrp ly nnd without another word to the cringing woman, hastened on through the narrow pathway that led between , '.'-.MS - 1-. ."?l tf4-- !,-& ti. -Ifrln.' . r- -- J Elio lioara hor murmur: "Oh, Iluudy, ltnucly." Grafton's cottage and that to the east ward, and presently emerged again into the moonlight at the back of the house., going straight to the cuptain's stable. For a moment his late companion stood there at the trellis, staring after him in mingled misery and incredulity. She hnd planned it well. She had marked his coining just as Grafton had said, had hurried down to the shady aisle be tween the quarters and halted him there astonished at her daring. lie would have walked a dozen miles that night rather than see her at all, but to meet her this way, to feel that he was trapped, made Merriam's blood boil with wrath. Bis voice, though, was stern nnd cold as lie bade her say why she wished to see him. But her aim was to detain, to soften, to charm und then to plead, and she had a dreadful, dread ful story to tell and none to tell it. to but him. Even then she was balked, for Merrlam bluntly bade her omit the story, ns he knew all he needed to know, und come to the point at once. What could she want of him? Advice sym pathy, she cried; nnd for advice he re ferred her to her lawyer for sympathy she must not come to him. She must have, some purpose in cnlling on him what was it? And then it proved to be the packet with certain papers, given him by the. young miner in the Mes ealero. "It was turned over to your lawyer long- ago," said Bandy; nnd then she burst, into tears nnd said she. was undone, and walled: "Oh, Bandy, Bin dy! what can I what ami to do?" And he suggested gravely, courteously, but positively, that she should nt once go indoors, while he went on his way. His heart wit's bltt- nirninst her as he sj rode out beyond the fence line, and. nft ercnrefully inspecting the doors of Graf ton's stable, he closed and locked the gate. Be wished now moiv than ever to hurry on westward und enter his own little home and surprise- Florence With grateful eyes he had noted the parlor lights and Interpreted-them ns indicating that she must be well over the unreasoning stage of this liw first, und, he prayed God. her last, jealous troubl. lie turned toward his own gate,' intending: only to ginnee nt the,' -, ' r ilPkxfc wj- . i v jl j rkn ffrYiTi i r 5 J is l' vM t r ' TTTlTTr feK4'!vF -IM.-""! J-r 'UiAV J other stnbles on the way nnd give the sentry additional orders; but when he got so far toward the western end of the row as to enable him to distinguish any object ns big as a innn he found to his vexation Hint there was no sentry there at all, and that lie must retrace his steps and look for hint toward tlicothcr end. It wns a backward tramp of over .100 yards, and lie wns irritated enough to feel like scoring Hie sentry when finally he came upon him. "You shouldn't be here, sir," lie be gan, uftcr the ctistomnry challenge nnd reply. "Where you nrc most needed is along toward the other end, where there nre private horses in flimsy stables." "I know, sir," snid the soldier, prompt ly, "but there's pomething amiss out there on the road toward town. I heard a scuilie and cries for help, and then n running down into the creek bottom. The corporal's gone out to see. I'm afraid there's been blood spilt, sir." And even ns they stood and listened, the still night nir was split by the loud report of a carbine, echoed back from the opposite wall of the shallow, nnr row canyon. It nvas followed nlmost instantly by n cry for nid. "Come right along," shouted Merriam to the sentry, nnd he sprang away in the direction of the nlarm. "Nevermind your post!" A run of nearly 100 yards, crossing diagonally the Junction road ns they ran, brought the licutennnt to the edge of the chasm, at n point where one could seo some distance down the stream, the sentry panting several rods behind. The moonlight was faint, but still sufficient to enable him to make out the form of a man apparently crawl ing on hands nnd knees up the bank, while another lay motionless close to the. water's edge. Over this latter Corp oral Mahoncy wns bending, imploringin grief-stricken tones. Bandy went bounding down the abrupt slope, sure footed as a goat. "What's the matter, corporal? What is It?" "Brady, sir stabbed to death, I'm 'fraid. There was three of 'em on him, nnd more at poor Corcoran yonder Mexicans all of 'em, nnd they lit out straight for that monte Clinch across the mesa. Their horses are there, I reckon. Look up, Brady, man, for God's sake! Here's the lieutenant come to help." Merriam knelt, threw open the blue blouse and placed his hand over the ncari, watteu a moment and snooic ins head. Bis hand was dripping with blood ns he drew it out. "All over witDi poor Brady. I fear," said he. "Kim quick. No. 2 followed me out. Tell him to hurry for the surgeon and send the litter from the hospital. Who fired?" "I did, sir. I hoped to bring down one of the gang, but they were too far off," answered the corporal, as he was pulling himself up the bank. Turning away from the stricken sol dier and dabbling for a moment his hand in the stream, Bandy called to Cor coran, tlhe other victim, who was groan ing nnd cursing alternately, and who presently burst into maudlin tears, de manding to be given a chance to stand up against the d d greasers again, that he might annihilate the entire party. It was evident that a subtler enemy had downed him even before the Mexican took hold. He was only slight ly injured physically, but his money was gone. All Bandy could extract from him was that there had been a game and he wouldn't pay up because the greasers were cheating, and they chased him and Brady, und overtook them nnd used their knives. Buxton was still up and full of his project of sending the patrol of ab sentees and the band justnssoon aslhe Bifiers' train should hnve stnrted. lie heard the call for the surgeon, nnd promptly turned out in person. The sleepy horses of the patrol were stand ing meekly nnd wonderingly at the guardhouse when the distant shot was fired, and, borrowing one, the sergeant galloped out. When Bux appeared he borrowed another, and one for the sur geon. Then, after hearing Merriam's brief recital, he ordered him to mount, forthwith, take the entire patrol and gallop in chase of the greasers. to in: CONTINUED. Only One TIiIjuv Lacking. A number of traveling men were talk ing about the singular experiences they havo at various smnll hotels throughout tho northwest. Somebody referred to Dennis Foley, whose hotel nt Meuno, in Hutchinson county, S. D is very popular with the boys becauso of its genial landlord. One of tho tour ists remarked: "You would know, of course, that Dennis is n thorough Irishman, nl tliough ho hasn't n very broad brogue. Hutchinson county is settled almost ex clusively by Bussians, and the town of Meuno is named nfter the great re ligious reformer who founded the Men nonite church to which so many of the Bussians belong. One day 1 was talk ing to Dennis about his experiences in the town and county, nnd I said to him: "Why is it, Dennis, that you haven't tried for some oilleu hen! where you have lived mi muny yeurs, nnd where you hae such influence?" " '1 did try for an oillee once,' ho re plied. 'I ran for sheriff and lacked only one thing of winning.' "'Whnt wu that?' 1 asked. "'All that I lucked of being sheriff wu tho Russian vote.'" Sioux City Journal. MISSING VACANCIES. There Yvn a flox of Them run! They "Were Held hy the Acnt for ClinrucM. A short time since quite a discussion arose ntiiong the officials ot one of our prominent Eoutliern railroads as to the reason of the many vexatious delnys and troubles in tho transmission of local treit;lit. It wns claimed by some of the putties interested that it was. cuuscd almost entirely by the stupidity or inefficiency of the local njjenls, and ns there was 60ine difference of opinion on this point, it was decided that the matter should be tested. . To this end a tracer was prepared in duo nnd formal shape, calling for the where abouts of "One liox of Post-holes," which it. alleged was missing from a prior shipment. This wns sent out in the regular order ol business, with nothing except its "intcrnnh nothingness" to draw nttention to its un usual chnrncter, and passed agent nfter agent without eliciting comment or informa tion save the stereotyped indorsement: "Not hero." Sonic 15 or 18 local agents were actually passed in this way, until the tracer fell. into the hands of a bright young follow who wns accustomed to looking into the business passing through his hands, nnd' who speedily came to the conclusion thnt the tracer find gone far enough. At any rate tho document went speedily hnck to the general office with the following in dorsement: "liox of Post-holes, as per in closed, held nt this stntion for ioenl chnrges to nmount of $2..r0. Will be forwarded on receipt of same." Under this indorsement wns written: "N. B. The price of beer at this station is $2..r() per hog." It is said that the charges went forward. Harper's Mag czine. i CHEAP LEGAL ADVICE. A 3Iiui "Who llcllwcd In lnyIiB - Lair yur for His Opinion. The other day an old fellow slouched into Attorney Oscar Kahn's office, on Legal row, and introduced hiniielf as Mr. biuith, Jones, Brown, or something, of a neighboring coun ty. Ho said lie wanted to coiiMilt a lawyer,, and was accorded a seat and one of the at torney's sweetest smiles. He then explained that while he was away -from home the sheriff or some deputy hnd. attached his wife's sewing machine and bureau for taxes. He didn't propose to tolerate such imposition, lie declared, nnd came to Faducah to consult a lawyer about it. "What is the amount of taxes?" inquired! tho lawyer. "Lcmnic see a dollar and 23 cents," was. the reply. The lawyer could not conceal a smile, hut hastened to say: "Well, Mr. Smith, if you. want my advice, it is to go back and scttle thnt small amount. It looks like the easiest mid best way out of it." The old fellow thought a moment, and re- Elicd that he believed lie would. Answering e naked: "How much do 1 owe you?" "Oh, nothing, sir," was the reply. "I won't charge you anything for a little advice, like that." "But I alius pays fcr whut I git, nnd want ter pay ycr ies' the same." "Oil, that s all right; come in again some time when you need advice on something: more important, and we'll square it then." "Naw, but I want ter pay it now. Jes" squeal out. Ef it's 25 cents, I'll pay it. Kf ye want 50, there it is!" And he threw down a half-dollar and left. Paducah (Ky.) Sun. llnrd Man to Get At. The manager is a hard man to see. Shut in ins private office and with a well-trained boy in the ante-room, he is inaccessible to. anyone whom that boy does not know. You cannot even get your card sent to him; the boy always says he is not in. You will get tho same answer at the box olliec. I leinember hearing nn old manager once say to his office boy: "My son, if you don't, lenrn to speak other people's lines you will not succeed in this business. I have writ ten n part for you. Whenever anyone you don't know says: 'Is Mr. l'.rown in?' that's, your cue to answer: 'No, sir.' 1 wisli you to be dead Tetter-perfect in that line from this time on." Scribner's. I'liciioiiiviiully Common. Visitor So this is some of thnt weather thnt you brag so much about? It seems to me to be about like the average for this timo of the year over the countrv generally. Oldest Inhabitant About like the aver age? oung feller, I've lived in this same place for nigh onto 72 years, an this hero wenther is more like the average than any we ve had in all that time Judge. There is only one thing more important than to learn- patience, and that is to Jcarn. when not to use it. Town Topics. "Peace Hath Her Victories' cNs less renowned than war," said Milton, and now, in the Spring, is the time to get a peaceful victory over the impurities which have been accumulating in the Blood during Winter's hearty eating. The Ban ner of peace is Borne aloft By Hood's Sarsaparilla. It brings rest and comfort to the. weary body racked by pains of all sorts, nud kinds. Its beneficial effects prove it to be the great specific to lie relied upon for victory. Hood's never disappoints. Salt Rhoum "My mother was Borl ously mulcted with salt rheum and pniuful ruiiniinr sores. No niodiciuo helped hor until Hood's Kavsaparllla wns used, which tniido her entirely well." K.si: E. Mai'le oroxB, :V)S Dearborn Street, Chicago, HI. Tjrod Foollnj?-uI find that tired, dull feeling, dyspi'psi.i, headaehes and smlilnc spells, but Hood's Harsaparilla made me a now man. 1 never was better than uow." John Mack, Oskaloosu.Iowa. cfQ0du& SaUahai'dia llooJ l'tiib (.iu-m Itvur iu.. u.h iwn miutiii K a nb I "'? uutt"ir"' tiw with Uoo.ru kwiviiii. T '1X