t
THE OLD
An old lane, an old gate, ,nu old house by n tree,
A wild wood, 11 wild brookthey will not let tne bi:
In my boyhood I knew them, nnd still they call to mo.
Down deep In my heart's core I hear them, and my eyes
Through tear mists behold them beneath the old-time sklc.
'Mid bee-boom and rose-bloom aud orchard lands arise.
1 hoar them; and heartsick with longing Is my soul,
To walk thcro, to dream there, beneath the sky's blue bowl;
Around me, within me, the weary world made whole.
vTo talk with the wild brook of all the long ago;
'"(To whisper the wood-wind of things we used to know
When we were old companions, before my hcarl knew woe,
To wall: with the mornlnir and watch Its rose unfold:
To drowse with the noontide lulled on Its heart of gold;
To He witli the nighttime and dream the d renins of old.
To tell to the old trees, and to each listening leaf.
The longing, the yearning, as in my boyhood brief.
The old hope, the old love, would ease my heart of grief.
The old Jane, the old gate, the old house by the tree.
The wild wood, the wild brook they will not let me be;
In boyhood 1 k new them, and still they call to me.
Criterion.
S 1 AlVlIiNu A
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CrpOWAltD noon of a June day
II seventeen years ago, there camo
riding Into the llttlo town of
ltlnuk, In Southern Colorado, n
stranger, sombreroed. red-kerchlefed,
blue-shlrted, high-booted, and wearing
nt each hip, In the holsters of a well
fllled cartridge-belt, n heavy six-shooter.
He halted before the principal
saloon, throw reins over his horse's
head, dismounted, and stalking in
roughly, proclaimed himself to be
"Wildcat Pete" and a "bad man," and
ordered drinks. Having Imbibed con
siderable liquor, he proceeded to ca
vort up and down the street, threat
ening and bullying, and in the recog
nized border way "shooting up the
town."
Although still without the civilizing
Influence of a railroad, Blank was not
apd never had been lawless, free for
All: that is to say "wide open," In the
measure of many a typical Western
row-town and mining camp. Blank
had begun quietly, and had continued
clong its peaceful way, with singular
:mrauulty from uny disturbing, all-re-f&rdless
element. Consequently the
idvont of "Wildcat Peto" was an un
Tolcomo surprise.
But while the presence of the dos
vrado was looked upon by the citizens
.if Blank with disfavor, still he stayed
and did about as ho pleased. To tell
the truth, the marshal was afraid of
him, and the public generally found It
necessary to take time to consider.
Therefore "Wildcat Peto" remained, a
thorn in the flesh of Blank's prosper
ity. lie was a blustering, domineering,
loud-voiced individual; and although
this is not the distinguishing trait of
the real "bail man," to back it up he
proved himself mighty quick with a
gun.
On a Saturday morning the proprie
tor of the general storo of Blank was
returning to it, after a rather late
breakfast. As ho walked up Main
street, he noted that ahead of him tho
thoroughfare Beemed oddly deserted.
.Pedestrians and horsemen and team
Jfcrs were showing a strange partial-
fi'cy for the side streets. One might
have thought that a portion of the
street was plague-stricken. It was.
As the morchant, wondering, ad
vanced, presently ho behold tho llguro
of a man Hquattlng tailor-fashion in
the middle of tho road. It was "Wild
cat rete. -mere tie was sitting calm
It ly, arms folded, but with a six-shooter
in each hand; and whenever anybody
walking or riding drew near he dlgnl
llcdly waved them back. They went.
He owned the street. They sought an
other. It was Juat a "bad man's fan
cy, but It had to bo respected.
However, tho merchant frowned. Ho
was annoyed. Pete had stationed .him
"WILL YOU JES' JIEPEAT THATV"
HOME.
dAU MAIN.
self exactly in front of the store,
which possessed tho only piece of side
walk In town. When one has gone to
the expense of a sidewalk In the com
munity, he does not relish having its
attractive force rendered null and void
so that some freakish wight may pose
as a real estate czart
The morchant was amiably suffered
to enter his store; but if he was pre
pared to greet customers, he was pro
pared in vain. Custom was emphati
cally at low ebb. Several prospective
buyers hove In sight, as the merchant
knew; but Pete grandly waved them
to another street, whereupon they re
tired precipitately.
The merchant followed by his anx
ious clerk, went out to whore tho des
perado was sitting, cross-legged and
cross-armed, vigilantly guarding his
self-selected limits.
"You're 'Wildcat Pete,' are you?"
asked the merchant.
"Yes, sir, I'm 'Wildcat Pete,'" re
plied the other, not deigning to look
up at him.
The merchant was a new-comer
from the East, and Pete considered
him n minus quantity.
"Well, Pete," said the merchant,
briskly, "I'm paying good rent for this
property, and I've built a sidewalk,
and gone to other expense for im
provements, and I can't afford having
my customers driven off, llko you're
doing. Now, go over on'the other side
of the street, and sit in front of that
vacant lot; or there's a splendid place
In front of the blacksmith shop. It's
shady there. Don't sit here."
"I reckon I'll sit here Just as long
as I please," declared Pete, unaffect
ed. The merchant's color rose. He was
a tenderfoot, but he had spirit. "You
will, will you," ho retorted. Then ho
turned to his clerk, and said, In an
undertone: "George, go In and get tho
gun."
The "gun" was a 45-00 repeater,
heavy enough for bear.
The clerk brought It out.
"Now, Pete," addressed tho mer
chant, more briskly, "I want you to
move and move quick."
For the first time tho desperado
looked up, and It was Into the muzzle
of the rifle.
"I reckon I won't," ho announced,
obstinately.
"I reckon you will," announced tho
merchant with equal obstinacy. "I'll
give you Just one minute to get out, or
I'll blow you out!"
"I reckon you won't," persisted Pete,
apparently callous.
George, hold the watch on us," bade
the merchant.
George held tho watch. Tho desper
ado tldgeted, and seemed Inclined to
rise. He moved circumspectly, know
ing that the merchant had the drop
on him.
"Well," he said, "I guess I'll go and
sit on tho other side of tho street, by
the vacant lot. But I'll see you later,"
he added, meaningly.
"No, you won't!" snapped tho mer
chant. "If you want to see me, you
can see me right now-"
"I reckon I'll sit awhllo In front of
the blacksmith shop," drawled Pete;
and with an Injured air ho slouched
off toward the site proposed, and there
established headquarters, much to the
disgust of the blacksmith.
Tho morchant re-entered tho store,
aud received the congratulations of his
customers.
Meanwhile, at the blacksmith shop,
"Wildcat Pete" was voicing dire
threats, all of which conveyed the
same meaning: that he was going to
kill tho merchant on sight Tho mer
chant heard. He was advised by
friends right and left to arm hlniBolf
and be proparcd to shoot first; but he
sturdily refused. He simply sent
word:
"Tell that follow Peto that I don't
carry a gun, and that I shall contlnuo
to go back and forth along the street
Just as usual. I'm not afraid of him.
Only, If ho trios to Interfere with my
personal rights, or with my business,
lie's likely to get In trouble. He may
talk all he wants to, but he must leave
mo alone."
Howovor, the desperado's bluster be
gan to prove Irksome. It distressed
the merchant's wife exceedingly, and
kept her constantly wrought up lest
her husband should be murdored. It
had offect uion tho merchant himself,
naturally making him watchful and
nervous, and enforcing upon him pre
cautions, If not for his own sake, then
for the sake of his family. He stayed
In the back part of the store, and at
home was careful not to expose him
self at a window.
Finally tho strain became unendur
able. The merchant decided to put
an end to It.
It was Just n week after the encoun
ter whereby "Wildcat Pete" had been
made to move on. Ho was sitting,
moodily tilted back In a chair, outside
the doorway of tho saloon which ho
frequented, when the merchant, car
rying a pasteboard shoebox walked
directly up to where he sat.
Behind the merchant followed the
marshal and several other citizens.
"Wildcat l'eto" straightened up In his
chair, and his hand suggestively Jerk
ed his cartridge belt into a more con
venient position.
"I understand that you've said you
wero going to kill mo," spoke the mer
chant. "I sure am, ns soon as I get good
an' ready," growled the desperado.
"Well, I've got tired of waiting,"
declared tho merchant "We'll settle
our little dlfllculty right here." Ho
took tho cover from tho box. "Now In
this box I've brought two pistols; one
Is loaded with ball, and the other Is
a blank. Seo this handkerchief?" and
he unfolded a largo bandana. "You
choose which pistol you want; I'll take
tho other. Then we'll catch hold of op
posite corners of this handkerchief
and back away, and the minute that
the cloth Is tight we'll pop and find out
which gun has tho bullet In It."
"Will you Jos' please repeat that?
I didn't quite savvy," stammered the
desperado uncertainly.
Tho merchant repeated.
"You mean I'm to tako one gun, and
you the other an' go It blind; and then
shoot at each other across the hand
kerchief?" Inquired Peto, dazed.
"Exactly," atllrmed tho merchant
Peto stared at tho pistols. They
were the old-fashioned, powder-and-ball
variety, single shot and loading
at the muzzle. Whence tho merchant
had resurrected them none but himself
knew; however, they were perfect for
the purpose, for their contents could
not be ascertained by the eye.
The desperado rose xo the occasion.
"AH right," ho said. "I'm game.
But somebody's sure goln' to bo hurt."
Ho weighed the pistols carefully In
his hand, nnd selected one. The mer
chant took the other.
"Somebody sure Is," he replied grim
ly. Noting the Interview, a crowd had
collected.
The merchant extended a corner of
the bandana to the desperado. "Here,"
ho said, "take hold!"
With the Angers of a rather shaky
left hand "Wildcat Pete" grasped the
hnndkerchlef. The merchant cocked his
pistol. "Wildcat Pete" cocked his.
"When tho hnndkerchlef draws tight,
we shoot, remember," warned the mer
chant The crowd fell away from behind
each of tho duelists. The merchant
and the desperado slowly, gingerly,
backed apart; the handkerchief, held
at arm's length, was Just ceasing to
sag, when "Bang!" went the pistol of
"Wildcat Peto." An exclamation
leaped from tho peering crowd; but
the merchant stood up, smiling sarcas
tically, unharmed. Evidently tho des
perado's pistol was the blank; ho had
llred ahead of time, and he had llred
In vain.
Seeing the result, with an oath he
dropped the handkerchief and whipped
his hand to tho six-shooter at his right
hip.
"None of that!" cried a stern voice
in his ear and wisely refraining ho
glanced behind, to And the marshal, at
last emboldened, exactly covering him.
"Hands up!"
"I reckon Mr. Morchant there Is
about entitled to n shot," suggested the
marshal, coolly. "Go ahead, Mr. Mer
chant," ho said to him.
"Pete," snld tho merchant decisive
ly, "you aren't going to kill me, after
all. Turn around!"
Peter turned.
"Now march!" commanded the mer
chant "You'll And your horso straight
ahead. Get on him and keop going,
and don't come back."
"Wildcat Pete" obeyed.
"But wasn't that rather risky?" I In
quired of the merchant now no long
er merchant, but capitalist "Suppos
ing Peto had picked tho pistol having
the bullet "
"Well," said tho former storekeeper,
"I figured first that Pote would balk
nt tho contost, which he didn't; and
second, that he would Are ahead of
time, which ho did. Either would give
mo tho advnntngo over him." Ho
laughed. "And to toll the truth, In Jus
tlco to myself and family, neither pis
tol held a bullet. Bloodshed was elim
inated." Montreal Family Herald.
ONLY WORKERS WANTED.
Too Many Drouca In South Now, With
out Iuvttltiu Worthier One.
Desirable as tho right sort of Immi
gration to tho South may be, It Is woll
for everybody Interested In tho per
manent welfare of that section not to
permit enthusiasm in the cause of Ail
ing up its waste places to outrun dis
cretion in the selection of material,
says tho Southern Farm Magazine.
Just at present It looks ns though
special Interests of one kind or another
were taking advantage of the South's
dtvilfc for Immigrants and the public
discussion of that question to work an
imposition or to make mistakes In
Judgment For example, a recent dls
pntch from New York said that a
steamer of ono of the coast lines had
sailed for Norfolk crowded to Its full
capacity with Immigrants from the
south of Europe who would settle
along tho rich truck farms of tho
Chesapeake and that dally shiploads
would follow. The dispatch further
stated that this was but a feature of
the most remarkable movement in Im
migration that has developed In years.
A telegram to the president of tho
steamship company brought tho Infor
mation that while there was consider
able Immigration business going South
and West, there was nothing unusual
about It for this time of the year, and
that the destinations of immigrants
were generally beyond Virginia.
The telegram pricks a sensation at
tho right time. Opportunities for Im
migrants are unsurpassed, to bo sure
and It Is undoubted that the persistent
work of many years Is now having Hie
desired offect. The wish for general
results howovor, must not be permit
ted to bo marred by sensationalism In
furthering the cause of Immigration or
by heedlessness in sending to tho South
undesirable classes. Tho South has
already too many drones and Is seek
ing means either of turning them Into
productive ngents or to be rid of them.
Tho most effective means Is to bring in
industrious men, working men, thrifty
men, men who propose to live In and
for the community nnd not off the com
munity, men prepared to mnko their
pormnnent homo in the South and to
develop with It. Tt ls4 possible to ob
talu such men even from among tho
horde of Immigrants now pouring Into
New York and other centers without
misleading statements and without the
aid of yellow Journalism.
EASIE8T THING TO FIND.
Wc Arc Only Too Quick to Seo Our
Ncliihhoru' Faults.
The' only thing that can easily be
found where It does not exist Is fault,
says the Atlanta Journal. That Is,
you can easily And it In others. But
In yourself, though you be blackened
with it, you can't seo it so easily.
If the other fellow has a fault und
sometimes If ho hasn't you are quick
to perceive It.
You incessantly And fault with tho
weather. It Is either too warm or too
cold, too wet or too dry, too sunny or
too cloudy, and you have a good deal
to say about It.
And tho times never suit you. It'H
either hard times or else some other
people nre making too much money by
the methods you don't know anything
about nnd so don't approve. Deep In
your subconsciousness you are qui to
sure that money-making which you
enn't comprehend nnd can't imitate
can't bo honest.
And the government is all wrong,
too, In your opinion. As a matter of
fact, you may confess to yourself that
you are unnblo to vote with real dis
crimination for county sheriff, but you
do think you know all about running
the national government nnd settling
all International differences.
You may bo loudly preaching for
world-wide pence, when you can't get
along amicably with your own wife.
You mny not bo ablo successfully to
run a little corner grocery, but you
think you know all about regulating
the big trusts. You don't know what
are tho elements of fnlluro in your
own business affairs, but you think
you know Just exactly what are tho
faults of the great railroads.
Tho troublo with you is easily diag
nosed. It is ono of the most common
disorders under tho sun. You nre
"farslghted" In your mental vision.
You see only tho things that are be
yond tho rench of your hands nnd nro
blind to thoso that Ho about you. You
seo tho faults of tho other fellow, but
not your own.
World Gobs Around.
Yeast Do you believe that tho
world moves?
Crlmsonbeak I certnlnly do. Why,
I can't find tho keyholo In the same
place two nights In succession. Yonk
ers Statesman.
Tho Arecrackers don't cost much for
celebrating our glorious freedom, but
the doctors afterward swell tho bill.
PERSONALITY OF NOQI.
Ilia Reninrknhlc Bnirlt When He I,ot
Hons lu llnttlo.
Consider Nogl's career. Ho was
commissioned by tho Emperor to re
tako Port Arthur, tho "impregnable','
fortress which ho had taken by storm
from the Chinese ten years before, says
the Now York Tribune. He wont
thither, to work and to light, largely
unobserved by the world, for the lime
light of publicity was turned upon the
fleets nnd upon Kurokl and Kuropat
kin .In their desperate duel at the
north, rather than upon him nnd his
sappers and miners and forlorn hopes.
Ho wont Into tho campaign with his
two sons and his nephews tho only
men In the world who could Inherit
his nnme and title. Ono son was kill
ed at Nanshnn. Tho other died at
High hill. In a third conflict tho
nephew was killed. They say that
Nogl smiled when he heard tho nows
and, Instead of lamenting his own loss,
congratulated his soldiers upon tho vic
tories they had won.
"God took my sons," ho said .to a
friend ono day, "In order that'l might'
be better able to sympathize with my
countrymen who nro likewise bereft,
GUN. 1IA110N NOW.
and so that I may the hotter answer
to the souls of the many bravo men
whom I am sending to their graves."
But now and then, when ho supposed
he was entirely unobserved, tho white
haired veteran would bow his head and
sob as if from a broken heart
The Emperor meant to pay him tho
beautiful compliment of making him
tho gunrdlau of tho prince Imperial's
three little sons. But flrst there was
other work to do. So with his war
worn veterans Nogl was hurried from
Port Arthur up to Mukden, where we
are told ho hurled himself like n thun
derbolt upon tho Russians. Beyond
question It ,wns he and his men, with
their cry of "Make way for us! We
are from Port Arthur!" that more thnn
any others staggered and shattered the
Russian legions.
Tho world has heard a great deal of
late about the Jnpaueso spirit. Exploit
ers of tho "yellow, peril" havo rung
tho chnnges upon tho "essential bar
barism" of that amazing people. It
may bo so. But there are those who
will say that If such men as Nogl are
exemplars of barbarism, that is the.
sort of barbarism wo want To most'
his career looks like that of a hero
who would bo an adornment and an
honor to any race, and of whom the
world may learn much in both tender
ness and terrlbleness; as It may also
learn great lessons from the whole
Japanese establishment In military
sanitation and lu the art of scientific
war.
Etirlolilng Experience.
Why has art so largo a place in the
lives of the Japanese? Porhnps be
causo they begin to teach art early in
life.
In a recent trip round the world the
eminent English surgeon, Sir Freder
ick Troves, spent considerable time In
Japan. On tho occasion of his visit
to a famous temple the only living
creature mot with in tho temple
grounds was an old woman carrying a
golden-faced baby her grandson.
"Why havo you come to a place so
solitary?" Sir Frederick asked.
"I thought It would do the baby good
to see the plum blossom," the old wom
an replied, with the soft urbanity of
her race.
Manors Easily Arranged.
"The lady ain't got tho money now,"
said Bridget, "but ye kin l'ave tho lco
an' sho'll pay on Saturday."
"But," protested tho now lcemnn,
"s'posln' she nln't got tho money
then?"
"Well, If she ain't ye kin take yer
ice back." Philadelphia Press.
Explaining It.
Maude And why do the Jockeys
wear those funny little enps?
Claude Why or those aro the
handicaps, y' know." Cleveland Lea
der. When a man has a plcturo token for
the flrst live weeks afterward U
spends a great deal of time lu taking
surreptitious looks nt It, nnd wonder
ing If every ono else sees tho good
points lu It so plain to his eyes.