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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1900)
HIS WORD OF HONOR. A Tale of the Blue and the Gray. l BYE. WERNER. Copyright. by Robert Bonner * Son*. 4 •• CHAPTER VI. Then, with this last thought, a burn ing sense of shame filled the young of ficer's soul. The face of his old com mander suddenly rose vividly before him. He saw his earnest gaze; heard the warning words: “If Lieutenant Ro land has not returned by eight o'clock this evening. I shall believe that he is either dead or dishonored." An<J at the same moment William felt that he could not stand In his presence with a lie or an evasion on his lips; that he must tell him the truth; and with this thought the struggle was over. He released himself so hastily, so abruptly, that the young girl almost tottered back. His lips quivered, but his voice was as firm as when he made the fateful promise. “I cannot be a dishonored man, Flor ence,’ not even for the prize of your hand. If you fear Edward more than you love me—If you have not the cour age to defend this love against him— why, I must lose you. I will not break ray word of honor.” Florence had shrunk back. Her dark eyes rested with a look of mingled sur prise and anger upon the man, whose rigid sense of duty she could not un derstand. But ere she could frame an answer, the door again opened, and a stranger appeared on the threshold. It was a young man in uniform, who paused a moment, scanning the pair with a hurried glance, then courteously approached the lady. “Pardon this intrusion. Miss Harri son. Allow me to request a brief pri vate interview with this gentleman. I have some important news for him." Florence recognized Captain Wilson, Edward's friend, whom she had seen several times. She knew only too well what had brought him to Springfield that day, but this sudden entrance into her drawing-room aroused the utmost astonishment. For the moment made with the greatest caution. Ed ward's revenge was swift and sure. "I do not know you, sir,” said the young officer slowly, without lower ing his weapon or averting his eyes from his enemy. ‘ You, on the con trary, seem to be very well informed concerning my personality. In that case, you probably arc also aware that I am in the house of my future father-in-law, and came solely to see my betrothed bride. By what right do you attack me?” Wilson shrugged his shoulders. “By the same right which you would exorcise if an officer of the hostile army should fall into your hands in disguise. I am a soldier and must discharge my duty; it is not my busi ness to inquire the motive that brought you here. Will you surren der?” “So long as I carry a weapon, no! However the struggle may end, the first man who touches me I will shoot down!” "Then you will force me to extreme measures. The consequences must be on your head." The captain turned toward the ter race, with the intention of spmmon ing the men who were waiting there, when Florence, who had stood trem bling and deadly pale, anticipated ! him. She rushed past him to Roland, threw herself on his breast, and cling ing to him frantically, exclaimed: “You must not, William! There are ten to one! You will be conquer ed in the struggle! They will kill you!” "Let me go, Florence! Let me go, 1 say!” William was vainly striving to re lease himself, when Captain Wilson, taking advantage of the favorable mo ment in which his enemy was defense loss in the arms that clasped him so closely, with a rapid movement WVWWWWWWNW/WWVWA/W SHE RUSHED PAST HIM TO ROLAND. she lacked the least comprehension jf the situation. But William understood It better. He saw the Confederate uniform, and * witti It the danger menacing him, and slowly thrusting his hand Into the breast-pocket of his coat, where he carried his pistol, he replied with cold .formality:. v|, “i shall be at your service, sir, as soon as my conversation with Miss * Harrison is over. We have some Ini " portant matters to discuss, so I _ beg—" . Glance and tone plainly requested the captain to retire. But instead of doing so, he advanced close to the young officer, saying in a low tone: “I wish to spare the lady, and hope you will aid me—Lieutenant William Roland.” William started. He perceived that lie was betrayed, and did not doubt a moment the author of the treachery. To deny his identity was impossible. Only prompt action could be of ser vice now. If he succeeded in reach ing his horse, which was fastened a few hundred paces from the house, % escape might yet be possible. Has tily retreating a few steps, at the same time drawing his revolver, he said in a loud, sharp tone: ' ‘ "Well, what do you want with Lieu - tenant Roland?" Florence uttered a cry of terror. She, too, now suddenly realized the I- full extent of the peril, but the cap . tain remained unmoved, though the ;pistol was aimed at him. #"Yield, Mr. Roland," he said, qutet %• Ijr. “Resistance would be vain. You Will not find your horse where you * left him: all the exits from the house , are, guarded; and the servants have It ’orders to prevent your departure by t^.torce. Convince yourself that flight hM become an impossibility.” He pointed toward the terrace and Sllliam’s eyes followed the gesture. e really did see several figures whose faces were unfamiliar to him, and who certainly would not fail to - carry out the orders which they had s. received. -■ The preparations had evidently been snatched the revolver. A cry of In dignation escaped the young man's lips. The next instant he had wrenched himself free, but it was too late. He stood defenseless. “Florence, what have you done?" he cried in a tone of sharp reproach. "Saved you!” she passionately ex claimed. “They would have killed you here before my eyes!” “Calm yourself, Miss Harrison," said the captain, gravely. “Lieuten ant Roland will not be so mad as to offer resistance now. Once more, sir, yield! Spare us useless bloodshed. It is no disgrace to a soldier if he sub mits to the inevitable, and I give you my word that you have no dishonor ing treatment to fear as a prisoner of the Confederacy you will be treated in an honorable manner. William bent his eyes gloomily on the floor. He perceived the truth of the words. Longer resistance would have been madness and, at the ut most, brought only degrading treat ment upon him. After a brief, un comfortable pause, he turned to the officer. "I am in your power. Dispose of me." “I will send news of your arrest to the city. Meanwhile, remain here; and, if you give me your word of honor to make no attempt to fly—" “No! I yield to force, but to that alone.” “Then I cannot leave you in Miss Harrison’s society, but must provide a more secure prison.” "Which you will doubtless find in Springfield,” said William, with an outburst of resentment. "I was pre pared for everything when I risked the ride here, except treachery in the house in which I was called son.” “You are right, Mr. Roland.” The captain raised his voice so loud that a person on the other side of the clos ed door could not fail to hear it. “But do not address your reproaches to me. I did what I was forced to do. I do not believe in treachery, and I regret that you have fallen a victim to it.” “My words do not apply to you. 1 know the traitor—and now I will ask only a moment longer.” He went to his fiance and bent over her, hut just at that moment a side door was hastily flung open and Ralph rushed in. Miss Florence, master is asking tor you. He has suddenly grown worse. We are afraid the end is near.” Florence had hitherto found it dif ficult to sustain herself. This last blow threatened to crush her. She tottered and would have fallen had not William clasped her in his arms. "I cannot go!” she murmured, des pairingly. ‘ Not at this moment! Wil liam! What will become of you?” ‘‘Lieutenant ltoland is my prisoner and under my protection,” said Wil son, with marked emphasis. “Have no anxiety for him. I will answer for his safety so long as he remains in Springfield.” "Go to your father,” said William, pushing the trembling girl with gen tle violence toward the door. “You hear? No harm will befall me, and your place is there. Courage, my poor Florence! I cannot be with you in this trying hour, but, at least, you know that I am near. So be reso lute.” He gave her to Ralph, who drew the half-senseless girl away with him, and then went back to the captain. “If you wish to go to the sick room,” said the latter, In a low tone, “I will not prevent you.” William made a gesture of refusal. “No. After what has passed be tween me and the sick man, my pres ence could not help exerting a bad in fluence upon him. He has no suspic ion that I am here; let him remain ignorant of it. I thank you for your consideration, sir. Let us go!” The servants, at the captain’s or der, had left their posts at the doors, but stood whispering together with troubled faces. Ralph had betrayed that the officer under arrest was Miss Florence's lover. And it had happen ed in her own house! True, the mas ter of the house had had no share in it; they all knew now that he was dying. Edward Harrison, pacing up and down the drawing-room alone, with a cloud upon his brow, knew it also. The end so long expected was coming more quickly than had been supposed. The physician had given the sick man days, and now, at the utmost, there were only hours. Yet Edward had not courage to enter the apartment where Florence was, and had Ralph bring him reports, which constantly grew more alarming. Then Captain Wilson entered, but the cordiality with which he usually treated young Harrison had given place to cold formality; he bowed as if he were saluting a stranger. “I wished to inforip you that I am going to the city to report the cap ture,” he said, distantly. “An escort will be sent for the prisoner; until then he must remain at Springfield.” Edward did not appear to notice the icy coldness in the tone and manner of his former friend, and answered quietly, as if the point in question were a matter of the utmost indiffer ence: “Have no anxiety. I’ll see that the spy doesn't escape us.” “I am positive that Lieutenant Ro land is not a spy,” replied Wilson, with marked emphasis. “What brought him here is perfectly apparent, and I shall make my opinion as emphatic ns possible at the court-martial.” (To be continued.) THE MEMORY OF FISH. Sometimes Keeps Them from Biting a Second Time. Fisherman believe that a fish al most caught a first time does not easily let Itself be caught a second time, that he remembers the pain he suffered, and that he even lets his companions know his cruel experience. This is easily accounted for by their memory and M. Semon gives an incident charac teristic of the subject which shows that certain fish have their memory seconded by a particular gift of ob servation. He had seen around a ship in which he was sailing a number of those curious fish called echinels re mora, one of the peculiarities of which Is that on the top of the head they have a kind of hook, which permits them to attach themselves to a vessel or to the belly of fish larger than themselves. M. Semon wished to pro cure some specimens and threw into the water a hook baited with a piece of crab. A first remora was soon taken, but the others, having evidently seen the capture, allowed the line to be thrown into the water many times without even touching it. They re mained attached to the vessel, regard ing with an indifferent eye the most succulent bits that could be offered them. M. Semon renewed the experi ment, and in no case could he capture two remoras belonging to the same band. These fish have evidently pow ers of observation and a well-developed memory. DDheveled. From Judge: Beth was deeply in- j terested In a weeping willow that her tather had planted the night before on the lawn. “Come, mamma, hurry!” she called, as she looked from the sit ting room window, “and see this cun ning little tree with its hair all down." Somewhat Different. The Maid—A man who has too many wives is a bigamist, isn't he? The Bachelor—Not necessarily. A bigamist is a man who has two or more wives. —Chicago News. Bodily labor alleviates the pains of the mind; and hence arises the happi ness of the poor.—La Rochefoucauld WOftTH Y OF HIS HIEE PROSPERITY BRINGS A BIG BOON TO LABOR. One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Oper ative* Receive Increase of Wage* in Ibe Textile Factories of New England and the South. The wage-earner's share in the gen eral prosperity is coming to him in liberal allotments. On (op of the vast increase in wages paid, as shown by the recent industrial census of the American Protective Tariff league, cov ering conditions as they existed in March, 1899, have come additional in creases since that time which affect millions of men who work for wages and other millions dependent upon them. Last week some 60,000 opera tives in the great cotton manufacturing centers of New England were granted a liDeral advance in wages. Next come the 26,000 workers in the mills con trolled by the American Woolen com pany, who have Just secured an in crease of 10 per cent. Last, and most significant of all, since it shows how irresistibly con tagious is the epidemic of higher wages in prosperous times, and be cause it brings the wage rate of that section more nearly to a parity with the wage rate of competing localities in the north, comes the announcement from Augusta, Ga., that the cotton manufacturers of that city are to raise the wages of their 8,000 employes on Jan. 1. This is regarded as an indica tion that other mill men of the south will also take action on the question. Manufacturers in the north, with very few excepions, now have granted an advance, and the step has been taken in spite of the knowledge that if wages in the south remained unchanged, New England manufactur ers would be placed at a decided dis advantage. The news from Georgia, therefore, is welcome intelligence to northern manufacturers. It is estimated that by Jan. 1 from a hundred and forty to a hundred and fifty thousand cotton mill operatives in the north will be working under an advance of wages, and that the ad vance in the south will bring the total in the United States to above a hun dred and sixty thousand. All this la in perfect accord with the claim that protection tends to increase wages by increasing the sum total of employment. The cotton and woolen manufacturers of the United States have a stronger grip than ever before upon the great home market, with its 75,000,000 of liberal buyers. Hence the rise in wages. The connec tion is obvious and indisputable. Not Coro, but ‘‘Money to Burn.” The free traders think that they are kicking the high beam of humor when they say that protectionists take to themselves and to the policy which they support the credit for the blessing of abundant crops. By their so-called “Joking” along this line they hope to distract attention from the very plain and important fact that, although the protective tariff does no take the place of Providence and cause abundant crops to grow, it does make the gifts of Providence of some value by fur nishing a market and a fair price for the farmers’ crops, however abundant. In free trade days many western farm ers, for lack of an opportunity to sell their corn at even a decent price, were forced to burn it as firewood in order to get any benefit from it. They had corn to burn. Today, as always in protective times, they sell their prod ucts at a fair price, and have “money to burn.” Good crops and no market for them means tantalizing diasppoint ment. That is what free trade brings to the farmer. Good crops with a good market, a ready sale and fair prices mean prosperity. That is what pro tection gives the farmer. He may choose between the two. The choice ought to be an easy one, and there is little chance that the western farmers will have any hesitation in making their decision. They have given con siderable evidence that they think that McKinleylsm is good enough for them. Small Cau»o for Comfort. It is said that Mr. Bryan is over joyed at the election figures in Ne braska. We don't begrudge whatever comfort he is able to get out of the re sult. If the number of votes cast in the state election for the fusion ticket seems to suggest a compliment to Bryan, the prosperity of the state un der the McKinley policy of protection, as compared with the depression and misery which existed there under the Bryan policy of free trade, certainly re flects the utmost discredit on Mr. Bryan’s pet policy. And it is not like ly that the people of Nebraska will for get from whence their prosperity came when they comd to vote on a national policy in a national election. A state can afford to compliment a popular son at a state election. But Nebraska may sing a different song in 1900. Whether she does or not, though, will make little difference. The rest of the country will put a quietus on Mr. Bryan and on the policy of free trade, in which he believes. President McKinley can take plenty of comfort from the returns from the rest of the country, and the business men of the country can settle back in the assur ance of continued prosperity and the surety that the country as a whole will lot contemplate the possibility of mother free trade experience. They Tell a Cheering Story. A. recent issue of the South Bend Tribune, a newspaper which is thor oughly representative of Republican | sentiment in that garden spot region Df prosperity and enlightenment, north I ira Indiana, contains an interesting budget of expressions by local business men concerning the remarkable de gree of business health which prevails in that thriving city. The Tribune says: "Besides business houses which have come here many people have been drawn In the general need of more workmen of a good class in some of the factories. This has swelled the population, which is variously es timated at from 33,000 to nearly 40, 000. It is stated that the new city di rectory presents enough names to make the estimate of population over 39,000. Few people are out of work if they really desire to labor. Some factories are running overtime with the largest forces in their history, which, coupled with the splendid state of commercial interest, speaks volumes for South Bend as an active, growing and pro gressive business center.’’ Uniform testimony to improved con ditions and an increased volume of business are given in these interviews with the wholesale and retail mer chants of South Bend. They all tell a cheering story of the changes wrought by "McKinley prosperity.” THREE DEMOCRATS Thoroughly I)lsgu*t«<l with UryanDm and Tammany Dm. Living in the same block in New York city are three men who voted for Bryan in 1896, but who now unite in declaring that they have had their fill of Bryanism and Tammanyism, and will no longer train with a crowd that seeks to belittle the country’s grand record of expansion, progress and pros perity. These converts to Republican ism write to the New York Sun as fol lows: “To the Editor of the Sen.—Sir: We. the undersigned, take great pleasure in reading the brief but brave statement of J. Maginnis in the Sun of Nov. 23 regarding the level head of our pres ident, William McKinley, through all the country’s troubles since the begin ning of the war with Spain and up to the present time. ‘‘We are three Democrats, living in the one block, and we all voted for Bryan In 1896. But listening to the Tammany snarling at our system of government, at our progression, at our successes during our late two years' wars and at our expansion, so nobly acquired, and the doctrine of these same Tammany masqueraders, dis guised in the robes of independence, liberty and freedom, are in our estima tion not safe for the country at large to follow. “This country is now in the highest condition of prosperity ever known, and why not let it continue on that same road and keep the same good en gineer at the throttle? “But the cry is. the workingman doesn’t prosper. We are workingmen, and we say they do, in spite of all the great hordes of Italians and other cheap imported labor. We will vote for Mac next fall, and let well enough alone. H. Nolan, “M. Hart. “S. Cassidy. “New York, Nov. 30.’’ The signers of this declaration rep resent a type of the average shrewd, level-headed American citizen, who can be fooled sometimes, as he was in 1892, but not all the time, and who finally sets his thinking apparatus to work and figures things out for himself. It was inevitable that as a result of this mental activity a change of political predilection should occur. .Such a change has taken place, and is still go ing on all over the country. The year 1899 has been a wonderful eye-opener. There are many thousands of men who in 1900 will follow the program out lined by l^lessrs. Nolan, Hart and Cas sidy: “Vote for Mac next year and let well enough alone.” Golden Days In the West. The recent new discoveries of zinc and lead in southern Missouri, which have given a spur to industry all over the state, is only one of the factors which are giving an impetus to the business and social development of this section. The gold discoveries of Colo rado, Montana and other mining states, which are frequently chronicled, do not attract much attention, but they are contributing to the immense in crease in the production of that metal in the United States which is taking place every year, and which is likely to score a bigger gain this year than in any previous time since the Cali fornia and Pike’s Peak gold fields were first opened. These are particularly halcyon days for the western states. The great grain crops are contributing their quota to the sum of the factors which are mak ing 1899 the most prosperous year which the west has ever known. The gains of this region are reflected in the table of bank clearances published every week, the returns of the earn ings of the railroads centering in this section, which are given to the public occasionally, and the total of the trans actions of the postofflces, which are given out by the government every month or two. The figures from the pcstoffices, which have just been fur nished from Washington, show a gain in every western city, the increase in some cases being almost without ex ample in its extent.—St. Louis Globe Democrat. Difference Between flood and Had. Out of these evidences of prosperity can be drawn added reasons why in telligent business and working men of the country should give their support to the party of sound money and pro tection in every contest whit<i arises, whether in city, or state, or nation. The difference between good and bad legislation can be estimated by the difference between the good years we are now enjoying and the bad years of the Democratic regime.—San Francisco Call. NEW WAY TO PRESERVE CIDER. tabnllistt of Bismuth and Citric Add Will Keep It Sweet and Clear. This year's large apple crop has made cider abundant and cheap, and by reason of processes discovered in re cent years cider made early In the fall when apples are cheapest remains pal atable all winter. With this improve ment in the method of preserving cider has come a change of theory as to the wholesoraeness of the beverage. Twen ty years ago cider was denounced as a dangerous drink; now It is recom mended especially to persons suffering from some stomach disorders, and to those of a rheumatic or gouty ten dency. The French have made a med ical study of cider, doubtless partly ber cause it takes the place of wine in parts of France, and the result of such study has led the French experts to the conclusion that the presence of malic acid and of tannin in cider makes it of great hygienic value. Some dys peptics cannot drink It, but in some forms of intestinal trouble it is help ful. It is recommended especially to gouty persons. To be wholesome, however, cider must be in good condi tion, and especially it must not be too hard. The old method of putting up cider in a strong and securely corked bottle, along with three or four raisins and a tablespoonful of sugar to a pint is still practiced in this country, and the result is a delightful beverage with all the effervescence of champagne; but this method of preserving cider is ex pensive and troublesome. The French have discovered a cheaper method, and that is to place in cider that is to be preserved from hardening a small quantity of the subnitrate of bismuth. It is found that a partly consumed bar rel of rapidly hardening cider may thus be preserved for many months. The hardening process is not altogether ar rested, but in goes on very slowly. The French have also discovered a method of preserving the bright transparency of cider. Most cider when exposed to the light becomes clouded and brown. This change is due to the chemical ac tion of tannin and sometimes of iron contained in the cider. Save in appear ance the beverage is none the worse for the change, and indeed a cider that quickly turns brown is regarded as especially wholesome for some persons because of its being rich in tannin. To preserve the clear beauty of color, how ever, the French use citric acid in quantities varying with the natural acidity of the cider, usually about 60 grains to the gallon. With citric acid and subnitrate of bismuth cider may thus be kept indefinitely not only fine in color but almost at a uniform con dition of fermentation. NOT FISH STORIES. Rut Tales of a Hardened Mountain Climber. Fish stories are all very well in their way, observes the New York Commer cial Advertiser, but when it comes to an out and out "yarn” the man of the woods can outdo any fisherman who ever pulled a sea serpent aboard while fishing for black bass. Bear, deer and wildcat yarns enliven the cool evenings in the Adirondacks just now, but the other day an Englishman who has a passion for climbing added his mite to the fund of romance. He is climbing all the mountains of America system atically. Pike’s peak, Mount Wash ington and Whiteface, he considered worthy of his skill. But Blue moun tain is an ant hill. He went up on its crest one morning to see the sun rise, and after trotting home to breakfast and spending the day fishing he went up again to see the sun set (most peo ple start at 5 in the morning and come home at 7 in the evening when they climb Blue mountain. "Of course, I’m a hardened climber,” said this ener getic Briton, as he stirred the fire of pine boughs, “and I’ve had some funny experiences. Climbing isn’t dangerous out here, that's why I get about so quickly. I remember once, years ago, when I was quite a young fellow, my two brothers and I were clambering about the Gorner glacier with an elder ly uncle of ours. He was a roly-poly old chap, and he slipped and got wedged up to his waist in a crack in the ice, so firmly that we almost dis paired of ever geting him out again. We pulled and tugged and nearly dragged all his clothes off; then we gave him our flasks to drain. He Baid he didn’t know what was the use of writing and talking so much about the St. Bernards when a fellow could get in such a plight as his and not be able to get any assistance. Then he called the whole party together and began to dictate a codicil to his will, cutting out any legatees ‘who might happen to be present on the occasion of any accident resulting in his de mise.” I remember the wording of it to this day—it made such an im pression on me at the time!” “How terrible! And then I suppose he per ished miserably?” broke in an awed voice. “Oh, dear, no,” said the bold Briton, cheerily. “My brothers and I made a super-human effort and hauled him to the surface just in time.” Bailer DlsmUied the Gaeet. Sir Redvers Buller is credited with being of that type of officers whose “butcher’s bill” is rather more likely than not to be large. That he is not a person who will allow any ordinary considerations to swerve him from what he thinks is his duty was 3hown at a dinner in his house not long ago. A certain well-known man was present, and told an anecdote which was so “off-color’' that the ladies were ex cessively displeased and distressed. When the dinner was over Sir Red vers rang the bell “Mr. A.’s carriage,” he ordered when the butler appeared. “I do not expect my brougham so e. 1 ly,” said Mr. A., and and there was a gleam of defiance in his eyes. Sir Redvers did not reply, but he took Mr. A. by the arm, and led him gently Into the hall. “It is time for you to go," he said quietly and his gujeat went.