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About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 1906)
MARION'S By MAJOR J. H. CHAPTER XL (Continued.) "Prepare yourself, youngster," nnTH Cunningham. "Think nltotit your mother, nnd iiltout. your prayers." "Unfeeling man 1 dure you speak n mother's name In such a tone, nml with suoli nn expression?" Haiti Frank, indig nnntly. "Conic forward, three or four of the tnoBt cxjcrieiiccd of you, nnd truss him up. Lead tin- horse to tlw foot of the tree" continued Cunningham. This order was Instantly olcyed. For Mall's arms were tied behind him, and the fearful preparatloiiH went on rapidly. Frank Forstall looked toward the nun now in niid-heavvn and hade it adieu. The thought that, he should never again fH7.o upon the qiiet skies gave him a feel ing of inexpressible sadness. lit1 had been an admirer of nature. The green fleldH, the leafy forests, iImi hills, the streams, the valleys of earth were obj'iKrt which had a strong hold upon his affec tions, lie wondered whether he should contemplate the name objects when his Immortal part was enfranchised from the body. It was a singular thought to In trude, itself at such a moment, but It camo spontaneously. Other and more mourn fti I reflections crossed his mind friends parents, Hone, Huth ; he should look upon them no more in time. With n sigh he closed It 1h eyes iukI prayed prayed most fervently nnd humbly. Liu felt rough, unfriendly hands ujion his neck and shuddered. The thoughts How like waves of lightning when the kouI trembles on the brink of eternity, nnd innumerable conceptions were crowd ed Into miserable fleeting second. Frank's spirit secmd to shrink and con tract itself and (piiver with dvend ex pectation of something liorrible. CHAPTER XII. The hrigado had moved steadily for ward. Henderson was still entranced with the silvery tones of Knto Martin, nnd Joe Sawyer looked at him with n jealous eye. "Where is Mr. Forstall?" nsked Gen Marion, addressing dipt. Ixgnn. "lie asked permission to call at Brit ton's Neck, and I .couldn't very well re- iuse his request, he s such a gallant young fellow," replied the captain. "I lun sorry, for I just learned from a lad that Col. Cunningham is in that vicinity agaiu with quite n body of Tories. Forstall will bo likely to fall in with him, I am afraid," said the gen cral. "Perhaps wo had letter send n few of our men after him," suggested Logan. "I will send Capt. llawes and his 'tar nal critters,' " Raid Marion, good-humor edly, and immediately rode up to the per nonage referred to. He explained the cane to him in a few words, nnd ordered him to ride after Forstall us fast as possible witli his company. "I exject thu chap is galivantin' arter some femnle specimint,' said Capt. Nick. Hut I can t blame the youngster much for I kinder calkerlatc I shall do sonie- thln' in that jwrtlcorlar line as soon as 3 can get time, after finiBhin' the Rever hitlon." "Quite right, sir; the sex should be attended to and are certainly worthy of respect," replied Marion. "Now, captain nway with you and rejoin us soon as you possibly can." "I'm off like a streak of chalk, general.' With these words the captain fell back to his place in front of his company. "Attention, you 'tarnal critters! Rare up In your saddles stick out your eyes to the right, and look unshakable ! To the riidit-about-fnce, march !" And the " 'tarnal critters" retraced their steps to the spot where the road di verged which Forstall had taken. They galloped off in fine style, and the tall fig ure of Capt. Nick towered up like one of the famed giants of the olden time. There is a ripple upon the smoothest oca, and some inharmony in all human proceedings, as was illustrated by the fate of the unhappy Jones; for his colt became suddenly restive, wan guilty of all aorts pf antics, threw the sections into confus'on, and it was by the most desper ate exertions that the rider maintained his seat. "What's your brute tryin' to dew now V" inquired Capt. llawes. "lie kicks up for'ard," replied Jones. "Lean to'ard his neck, then, and keep him down," added the captain. The misguided Jones leaned toward the neck of the horse, according to orders, when instantly the hinder portion of the animal flew up nnd landed him on his head nnd shoulders in the road. "I knew 'twould be so!" he exclaimed, rather lugubriously. Natural philosophy would teach a person that If you hold down one end of that cretur, the other II fly up. If you dew that ngiu, Jones, I'll put you under rrest, I'll be blowed If I won't !" cried Capt. Nick. ' I didn't do It," answered Jones. "Don't contradict your superior ofll cera, Jones. You threw yourself over lils head because you's afeared he'd kick up. Juies, you'll disa'ppint the hopes of yer country it you don t conduct better. Don't be a settin' there on the. ground a Btudyiu geology, but up and ut him again. ' "I'm nfeared, cap'n," remoiiHtrnted Jones. "The crcetur's never been broke." "Corporal Higgins, prick that tarnal Jones with your toad sticker!' contln tied the impnclfled llawes. Joins tried to remount; but the colt continued to kick nnd rear moat IndiiH triously, nnd the thing could not easily be accomplished. BRIGADE ROBINSON him down," said Capt. Nick. "What on arth did you give the critter for his breakfast?" "A pint of onts, and n little new rum and molasses," replied the culprit. "Well, to-morrow mornin' give him a bundle of shavin's and two lengths of stone wall,' said the captain. "Now hnng to him, ami no more pitchin' about under loot, if yon don't want to Ih made an example of. Attention the whole tm panyi straighten up- put her through go nhead !" After tills little episode, the Fire Hai rs prcceeded at a very rapid wce until hey reached the main road where yViing Forstijtf had concealed himself to evade the Tories. Capt. llawes was in atl vantv of Ills company, u adnsit SIIRDL vtnee of his company, nnd instantly or dered n halt. "I perceive," lie said, "that there's a grat ninny horse tracks in the road here, ns Miough a considerable body of mounted men had just passed over it. Now this looks ratber suspicious, for if Lainning- tain ban been really recruiting in these p.irts, them tracks most probably was made by his band. If 1 nm right, young Fnrstall, I reckon, is by this time a pris oner, ami perhaps worse than that. Jones, try to hold that critter down, while I finish what I've got to say. The enemy can't be far from here, judging by these l racks, and perhaps we shall have an nll-sulliclent tussle afore we git biu-k to I lie brigade; so follow me and obey or- oeis. Jjieui.. Anderson, gaiiup aneiui ami itvonnuitcr a little. If you see anything suspicious, ride back without giviu' nny alarm." I'lie eaptnin and his company moved en at a slow pace, while the lieutenant proceeded to do ns had been ordered, lie had gone but a short distance In advnnce vhen he was seen to stop suddenly, turn nix ut and retrace his steps with nil sjoed. "Hornet bin's in the wind!" mnttcp'd llawes to himself. "And I hope there is, for I want somethin' to do," he added, in a louder voice. 'What's the row, lieutenant?" asked llawes. "We re just in time, cap'n. That road is full of Tories, and some mischief is goin' on, you may depend on't," replied Andersen earnestly. "I believe they're going to hang somebody." "You don't say so?" exclaimed Capt. Nick, his eyes lighting up witli the pros peel ot n "tussle." "How many do you suppose there are?" "All of thirty; they're all up in a heap a:.d terrible busy about something, which, ns I told you, I believe is an execution." "Is there time to make an all-fired patriotic speech, lieutenant?" asked llawes eagerly. "You might, cap'n, but it ought to be short under the circumstances, because ii'.- kinder delercate work to straighten n feller up nrtcr he's been hanging by the neck during one of your speeches. Rile it down to a few words." "Feller soldiers!" cried Capt. Nick, wavini; his sword, "glory is afore us, disgrace behind us. Now is the time for heroic deeds and gullant achievements, Half n dozen of you help Jones hold down that colt. The road is full of Tories nnd we're nlnjut to bust u)on 'em like an earthquake. I want every man that wears a saber to swing it ! (live it to 'm hard; cut right and left and remember that you are fight in for life, love and liberty. Let's up and show the worm wnat we can do. l in goin to harge on 'em, and I'll die on the ground afore YA knock under. When I say halt stop in though It was physically onpos Bible to go any further, and when I say charge, bust like some mighty convulsion of natur. t oiler mo and keep still till we get n view of 'em." The horsemen rode on nt nn ensy pace until they had nearly renched the turn in the road, when the captain motioned them to stop and, riding on a few yards further, came in view of CunniiiKham and his men. "Keep back out of sight," said llawes. I wait, to see what they're about. You were right, Anderson, the wretches are goin to string up n human being, and I lielieve it's that young Forstall. Now if that isn't a scene to make a man's Idood feel hot I never saw one. I don't think I can contain my feeliu's of out raged humanity much longer. We'll break upon 'em, sir, like a thunderclap ! U-t's go back and lead on our Bengal tigers, for you see they're ready to murder him." When llawes stood once more before his company his features were unusually stern and he was biting his lips with n re. He unsheathed his sword with a jerk, iK-nt forward in his saddle, nnd ex claimed in a distinct though suppressed oice : "They're doin' Satan's own work out there, my brave fellers; they're going to Strang)-: a human specie and one of Ma rion's brigade! Straighten up, you tarnal critters, give your horses the spurs till they sweat with pain, bear down on the miscreants as though you were nil slftl from the mouth of n mammoth mortar ii; a body. Strike as if you mennt to cut through mnu and horse at a single blow. Steel your hearts, I tell you, to deeds of blood, nnd don't think of anything but victory and vengeance. Itare up in your saddles and follow me like so many links of chain llghtnln' I" Capt. llawes stnick his Hpurs deep into the sides of his horse; every man of the company followed his example, and with drawn sabers nnd brows contrncted with 'owns of deadly hate, thundered forth with inesistible Impetuosity. They swept round the bend, their foes were in eight, nnd the next moment they charged thrmirh. (htm with ft dreadful aliock. ff .1 .....I .twit yfilAPCI ' crushed beneath them, while heavy sabers flashed like living fires over their heads, utthiK down their comrades with strokes lint steel armor could not have resisted. So furious was th onset and ho headlong heir siM-ed that they were carried some yards beyond the spot where the murder was being enacted, but, checking their maddened horses, they turned, olwdlent to the order of llnwes, whose voice was heard like the blast of n bugle, and charg cd back upon the scattered and terrified wretches. 'Ktrikc hard. I tell you," shouted the aptaiii, nnd set the exnmplo himself. The paralysed senses of the Tories be gan to nrovcr their activity; they drove heir rowels into their horse' flanks, and !ed in every direction, Cunningham and Ji'ney being among the foremost. ""orstull was instantly freed from his mtMoub position; 1 he Bharp wilier of C:ipt. Nick cut his bands, and seizing a wvajKin, he Joined in the pursuit of the flying dragoons. A sense of the outrage which hnd been offered him nerved his mud, and gave additional energy to pur- nit. His horse sped on like an arrow shot from the bow of on nncknt High lander. Frank pressed hard ujon n In gitive; he swung his saber but liefore i descended, the Tory turned back upon dm a face pallid witli terror, and he recognized In the ashy features one of the miscreants who hnd been most active in arranging the preliminaries of execution. Forstall b heart swelled with a sense ot indignity that he had experience! ; ho struck home, and the mnn fell, iwrietratcd by a wound which the combined powers of all earthly surgery could never repair. CHAPTER XIII. The Tories were gathered at the place of rendezvous; they came riding to the spot b' twos and threes, and in squads of half a dozen. Tlve locale was a judicioiiH one fjr the purpose, being unfrequented and marly surrounded by large forests. Cyrus Dix was first on the ground, wait ing impatiently for the coming of his comrades nnd brethren in the Koynl cause. The idea of n captain's coinmis- ion was still uppermost among many thoughts that crowded upon him. His mind aspired nfter nnthority, power and emolument. He felt that he wns already a leader, and was and would be acknowl edged as such, although be hnd yet re ceived no formal appointment from the legitimate source. Col. Ferguson had promised to be nt their gathering, nnd was punctual to the time. While the Roynlists were troop ing to the rendezvous, Dix was engaged in earnest conversation with the colonel. The conditiou of the country, tlwj speedy termination of the war, the best policy to be pursued, and kindred topics, were am ply discussed. While the parties wore thus engaged a large nnd awkward young man was ob served by them walking from place to place, staring at every new comer with dilnted eyes. "Hather a verdant youth," remarked Ferguson, with a smile. "I have just been watching his move ments," replied Dix. "He's fresh from the bush, probably. I saw him when ho came, and he rode n very fine-looking horse." "His dress don't appear to be of the most recent style," said the colonel. At that moment tlie individual alluded to approached within a few yards of the parties. "Mv good fellow," said Ferguson, "na ture, it would seem, has gifted you with an inquiring mind." "Vei)y, I am not one that loveth the sound of the trumpet, and the lifting up of the sjear," replied the person ad dressed. "My excellent but rather puritanical friend," added the colonel, "I perceive j on belong to the sect called Quakers." "By the grace of heaven, I am num bered with the salt of the earth," re turned the young man, piously, elevating his eyes toward the ethereal region whence that particular unction which he had mentioned was supjKised to flow. "Fortunate youth !" exclaimed the colo nel, w.th mock solemnity. "I hid thought that lie looked too fresh to have any connection with any of the salts, except the neutral salts, perhaps," ol)erv-(l Uix, looKing signiiicantfy nt the colonel. "I know nothing of tho different sects you Inve alluded to, for I regard all book learning, except that of the llible, ns vanitj, and as something that will not abide 'lie test of the great day," returned Job Dawson, twirling his thumbs relig iously, and sighing profoundly. "What's the matter?" asked the colonel, with apparent solicitude for his health. "I was thinking of the nations that set in darkness," said Job. with a nasal twang. "A great multitude which no man can number." "I should think you'd sink under it, really.' said Ferguson. "At times I nm pressed like nn oxcart under sheaves," was the emphatic re sponse. "Poor fellow, how drendfnl it must be! I shouldn't suppose nil your salt would save j ui from premature decay," rejoined the v tlonel. "A little leaven leaveneth tho whole lump," said Dawson. "Wl.at induced you to come hero, my good friend?" nsked the colonel. "Verily, I wns invited up hither by some friends of the king. So I thought I would come to see If nnything could be done to favor the Qunker sect in particu lar, and the spread of righteousness in general," answered Dawson. "Quite right; nnd I am happy to say that His Majesty is the particular friend of the Quakers, and as soon ns pence is secifed in this country, intends to pond over shiploads of them, that this unhnnnv land may be plentifully sprinkled with the 'salt of the earth,'" responded Fergu son. (To bo continued.) One way to keep out of the divorce courts 1b to remain single. TOPICS OF THE TIMES. A CHOICE 8EI.ECTION OF INTER- ESTINQ ITEMS. ConimcritH unit Criticisms Based Upon the IlnppentfiUH of tho Dny UtHtorl- cal nml Nctvh Notes. England Is not lightening the big Bt.'ck, but merely shifting the weight Rut n pnragraph may bo pert with out being iiertlnejit In fact, a great tunny are Impertinent HouPCwlvoH awjert that tho govern ment never did send out nny good varie ties of canary seed, unywaj. Tho millionaire socialist usually Is careful to confine his Interests to the academic phases of the question. Tho puckenless persimmon is the lat est Science, In time, may evolve a mild and delightful Indian turnip. It would take a great denl more than a vote of n lack of confidence to pry the average American statesman loose from his Jot). Count Honi do Castollane's pa has written a play. A good title for it would lie: "Tho Cruel Wife; or, The Lost Pay Roll." Ouo of the faith healers offers to cure poverty for $5 a treatment Here is another splendid chance for poor peo ple to get rich quick. According to Mrs. Cralgle, "the very faces of Americans belong to the sev enteenth and eighteenth centuries." American faces are not worn so long as that Col. W. D. Mann disposal of Town Topics $10 shares at $1,000 a share. The Steel Trust could afford to pay such a stockseller as that about $1,000,000 a year. An English society lady has had her et spaniel supplied with a set of false teeth. The dog, In order to make ieo ple think they are natural, should now Insist on having a muzzle. It has been discovered that George QJsslng, the celebrated English novel ist, who died not long ago, once worked in America as a gas litter. Evidently he didn't go into literature merely to make money. Mr. Lopffu-orth comes from nn old and aristocratic lino of ancestors, hence there Is no likelihood that he will cause trouble by referring to the ex cellence of the doughnuts his mother used to mni:e. "Why," asks the Grand Itaplds (Mich.) Herald, "should not the peo ple have a direct voice In tho election of the next United States Senator?" Down at Washington there are some eminent gentlemen who will rogard this as another piece of direct import! nence. Count Donl says he would rather beg bis bread than suffer nn Injury to his pride. What sort of pride is It that would rather leg, even under great stress, than to earn u livelihood by honest toil? Why should tho count beg so long as he has health and strength? The large increase In the demand for rubber has led to a more careful exploration of tho tropics for rubber producing trees, as welf ns to the de velopment of rublKJi-tree groves In fa vorable districts. In Java, Ceylon and the Malay Peninsula large tracts are being planted to rubber, nnd it has lieen found that Liberia produces an excel lant quality of gum. The extension of the rubber Industry In Mexico and in South America Is progressing rapidly, and it has been discovered that tho rub ber-tree adapts Itself readily to various climatic conditions in different parts of the world. Our neighbors nre contrasting the King's speech with tho President's mes sage, says the Toronto Mail and Em pire, and some of them conclude that under his majesty there Is less of the monarchical principle than under Mr. Roosevelt Certainly, In England it Is tho executive, sustained by Parliament, and therefore by tho people, that rules. In tho United SUites tho head of tho State exerclBes tho greater degree of power nnd seems to bo free from popu lar supervision. A British ministry has gono out because the people want ed a change. How could such a thing possibly occur next door? Tho origin of tho so-called, San Jose scale Is not certainly known, but It is reasonably sure that It was brought from China about 1870 on some plants Imported by James Lick and placed on his property in the Santa Clara val ley. By 18S0 it had como to be recog nlzed ns a serious pest, and in that year was found near San Joso and de scribed by Prof. Comstoclc, who named It "aspldlotus peruiciosus." That name being too hard for most of us, the pest haa "become known the world over as tU. "Jjjnn Jose scale," from tho place where It was first found by Prof. Corn stock, very much to tho disgust of the people of that city and vicinity, who do not suffer from it in any appreciable degree. Something more than new laws Is neededto ivstore a social consclenco to those seats of finance and commerce from which it seems to have been driven. The significance of the pre vailing ferment in American llfo is that it is no longer deemed enough to bo "law honest." To rely on laws alone Is to reduce the plane of soclnl life to the level of the lowest common denominator. There nre latencies in public opinion large enough to restrain tho tempted man from profitable com mercial weakness, to hold back, tho rapacious man from his piracies, to reward the man who under difficulties Is true to himself. One of the hopeful signs of the times Is that these poten cies are being organized. It is going to be easier than it has been for men to be as square lu their business of fices ns they are outside of them. Miss Anthony has passed away with out seeing women admitted to perfect political equality with men, and yet she must have taken satisfaction in her bust days in seeing how far tho world had moved since she stood up In a teacher's meeting in 3853 awl demand ed tho right to speak. At that time it was an unheard of thing for n woman to speak in public, even in a gathering like that one, composed mainly of women. Now women aro successful In all the professions at tho bar, In the pulpit, nnd in the prac tice of medicine, lu some of the states women hold public olllce on equal terms with men. In all states the influence of woman is deeply felt In public life. The achievement of the franchise was only n small part of the reform In the relutlon of woman to the law contem plated by Miss Anthony. Sixty yenra ago a woman had no control over her property, her earnings, or her children, except so far as secured by aute nupllal agreement. Now In almost all the states, and evn in England, a woman has a right to her own. Lib eral divorce laws free- women from legal bondage, and, -while laxity of tho marriage tie has goue too frir, Miss Anthony would probably say bad said In effect that It Js better for a love less marriage to be terminated rather than that the woman should be the vic tim of cruelty or drunkenness. A few years ago nho took exception to Presi dent Roosevelt's remarks on race sui cide, and defended the right of women A- 1, .. II 1 1.1 T ! . to Jive as sue iivuu, a iiiiiiuuii wit; iu .Irnn n.ul T 4- t t t . 1 fW !- I.n. . 11 . 1 t 1 M J will probably have little effect; in fact, she could not dissuade her own secre tary from marriage; but her words will bo quoted with admiration by those who felt the same but could not give as good reasons for their belief. Women have secured so many rights today that they miss less than beforo the formal endowment with the fran chise. The right of aglt'ition is theirs, and It is the conviction of many that tho Influence of women is even greater in the states where they have not tho franchise than in tlrose states where they vote the same as men. On the wliole there was little left for Miss Anthony to desire. She retired front active command of the army of woman suffniglsts a few years ago, but futuro victories ns well as present status will be closely associated with her name. She Is a brilliant example of the suc cess to be attained by holding reso- lutelv to one standard through a long life, never discouraged, never ready to give up, ncceptlng such partial conces sions as the enemy might yield, not ns bribes to desist but as encouragement to fight on. FiiHNliteMH About llCllKll. When one thinks of the newfangled Ideas about health and sees people on every hand hunting for disease germs In water, milk, heat fruit, and the at mosphere, analyzing everything, dread ing swallowing a mouthful of fear wltti everything they eat one almost wonders whether or not life is worth living. If we are liable to be made the victims of tens of thousands of enemies which ara in and around everything, in all liquids and all s.ollds alike, we nre in just about tho same condition to enjoy llfo is was one of the olden kings, who lived in mortal terr that everybody vras trying to poison him. All his foods and drinks, his wines, everything, had to be tasted and tested by some trusted i. a 1. I., l.n..,il,,if1 Imfmri lift niCUllHil OI His nuiiBi-iium uiMwiu On red to touch it himself. If there is a pitiful object in m world, it Is a person who has become finical about his health, who Jives in terror of germs nnd must examine and ftimlyzo everything he eats or dtinka looking for lnfectlou. It is an Insult to one's Creator to go through life whining, complaining, nnd fearing, in morbid terror that n thou- nnnd enemies aro combined to rob ono of comfort, of happiness, mtd of health. Man was mado to hold up his head, tc walk erect, with boldness, fearlessness, nnd confidence. Success Magazine. . Six yenrs out of seven father's ne overcoat is the result of cleaning ujj his old ona.