Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 1901)
BmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmummmmammmmcaBmammmmmBmmmammmmaamammBmmam 75he Sco\jrge I A Story of I ^vv the East... q/Dam^scus bv SYLVANUS COBB. JR. > ___ Copyrighted 1891 by Robert Bonner’s Sons. CHAPTER VII.— (Continued.) When the princess was alone, she trembled beneath the weight of the new thought that had been wrought upon her. Flight was something that had not made its way to her mind be fore, but now that it had been present ed, she could not dismiss it. She had revealed her whole feeling, so far as the king was concerned, in her speech to Aibia. There may have been other springs within her soul which she did not then dare to touch; but in her own soul, unsupported and uninfluenced by other causes -than such as spring from reason and reflection, had grown a fear of Horam, and a terror of being hi3 wife. She had dreamed of poor Helena until the dead queen seemed almost an attendant spirit upon her, sent to warn her. The night passed, and the day came; and she had resolved that she would not marry with the old king if she could avoid it. When Aibia came, and asked her what she had de termined, such was the purport of her answer. ‘But,” said the bondmaiden. “there is but one way in which the sacrifice can be avoided. Are you ready to flee?” “Not yet—not yet. Aibia. Walt through the day.” In the afternoon the king made a visit to the house of his prime minis ter and spent a short time with Ulin. He never looked more repulsive. He was loud in his words of love, and made the announcement that fortune had turned full in his favor. It was evident enough that he had been tak ing more wine than usual. When he went away, Ulin sank down upon a low stool, and buried her face in her hands. “Aibia,” she said, when she felt like speaking, “I can bear no more. I would rather die than give myself to that man. If I should die, my father would lose me; but if I flee from Damascus, I may at some time return to him. If you can prepare for leaving the city, I will accompany you this very night." The bondmaiden promised that she would do all in her power; and without waiting to waste time in useless words, she went forth to search for the help she needed. Evening came, and Ulin had not shrunk back from the decision she had made. There were two reasons why her home had not power to win her back from her resolve. The death of her mother had taken away the brightest part of that home; and, fur thermore, its character of home was soon to be changed if she remained. It could not be her home any more. CHAPTER VIII. Hobaddan. Thus sat the princess, presenting herself with every available reason that could favor her in her resolution, when Albia came in, with a quick step and a flushed cheek. “My mistress,” she said, when she had assured herself that they were alone, “there is a man in the garden who wishes to speak with you.” “A man!” cried Ulin. “He says it is a case of life or death—of life or death to an individ ual, and of life or death to a city,” pursued the bondmaiden, without no ticing the interruption. “He gained entrance to the garden, and has been searching for the lady Ulin. He did not tell me his name; but I know that he was with the robbers at the Pal ace of the Valley, and he says he is a friend of Julian. If you will see him now, I can conduct him up without danger of discovery.” “In mercy’s name, Albia, what mean you?” The princess trembled like an aspen. “What can he want with me?” “I think he is an honest man, my lady; and I think you had better see him. I only speak my own feelings.” "Does he say that Julian sent him?” asked Ulin, trembling more violently as that name fell from her lips. “Julian did not send him,” replied Albia; “and yet he comes in behalf of Julian. I think the noble young chief tain is in danger, and this man hopes that you may be able to render some assistance.” “Indeed, Albia, I must not do such a thing. It would not be proper. I must not do it. What is the robber chieftain to me?” “I know not of a verity, my lady, that such Is the man's hope; but I do know that he prays mo3t earnestly to see you. Yet, if you will not see him, I will carry to him your word.” “What will he do if I refuse?" “He will go away, and trouble you no more.” “Are you sure of this, Albia?’ “I am, my lady. He bade me sax unto you that you should act your own pleasure. He urges no claim, and will take no offense at refusal, but he prayerfully asks that you will grant him audience.” The princess was not proof against the spirit which prompted to the re ception of the robber. It was not wholly curiosity which moved her. There were feelings working within her which she could not have ex plained, even to herself. She told Al bia that she might conduct the man to her apartment. “You will come with him, Albia; and you will remain with me while he is here.” The bondmaiden went away, and ere long returned, followed by a tall, stout, middle-aged man. As the rays of the lamp fell upon his face, reveal ing features that were far above the average in their stamp of manhood, XTlin recognized him as one whom she had seen with Julian in the Valley of I.ycanius. He bowed very low as he entered, and when he saw how the maiden was affected by his presence, he proceeded «t once to open his busi ness. "Noble lady,” he said, in a tone which might at once have banished all fear from the minds of his listeners, "I have come to you upon a most strange business, and I will use as few words as possible in presenting it to you. My young master is in danger.” ' Do you speak of Julian?” asked the princess, with a slight start. “Yes, my lady,” replied the man, standing respectfully before her, with his cap in his hand. "My name is Hobaddan, and I am Julian’s lieutenant. I have been with him from the period of his earliest childhood. Since he was large' enough to lift a lance, I have been his friend and companion. He was given into my care during his opening youth; and when he reached the estate of manhood I was content to serve him. I love him as a brother—aye, better than most brothers love. I love him tenderly and devotedly. And all his followers love him. A thousand stout men love and worship him.” What did all this mean? Why had Hobaddan come to tell her this? Ulin trembled, knowing not wherefore, and gazed anxiously into the speaker’s face. “Lady,” pursued the lieutenant, who had stopped a moment, as though he would assure himself that his lan guage gave no offense, “my master is in danger. He is in the hands of his deadliest enemy. He is in this city— cast into a dark, deep dungeon, and Horam means to kill him!” Ulin turned pale as death, and clasped her hands upon her bosom. Her look signified that she would ask how it happened. “I will explain,” continued Hobad dan, “how this misfortune befell my chieftain. Have you ever seen an Israelite named Judah?” “I know him well,” said Albia. “He is the king’s slave.” “And two black men, named Osmir and Selim?” “I know them also,” answered the bondmaiden. “They came to our camp,” said Ho baddan, “and told so fair a story that they were admitted to fellowship, and the blacks were placed as servants near the person of our chieftain. But the result proved that they were sent out by Horam, and that their mission was to capture the Scourge of Damas cus. And this work they have accom plished How they did it I cannot tell. I only know that we missed our leader, and that the three conspirators were missing with him. I came at once to this city, and have succeeded in dis covering what I have told you. Julian is in prison, and of course the fate of death awaits him.” “But sir, said Ulin, struggling to speak calmly, “what can this mean to me?” “Noble lady, I know that the thought of seeking you was a wild one: and perhaps you will say it was monstrous; but I could think of no other course. I know that your father was prime minister; and that you were in a position to wield some in fluence. There is not an officer in Damascus to whom I would dare to apply. Is there not some way in which you can help me?” “How, sir? Help you in what?” “In setting my young master free.” “Indeed, sir, you have taken a step most wild. How should I, the daugh ter of Aboul Cassem, dare to step in between justice and its victim?” “Ah, lady,” returned the lieutenant, “some of us think that others higher than Julian owe more to justice than does he.” “Still, sir,” pursued Ulin, “it is most absurd to think that I could help you in this.” Did Ulin appear like one offended? No. Did she treat the name of Julian as though she deemed him worthy of the fate which threatened him? No. She seemed rather to be struggling to put away some feeling of a very dif ferent character. The lieutenant evi dently read her nature, for he pro ceeded earnestly: “Do not misunderstand me, lady. Were the work simply to set Julian free, I should not have visited you. The work I would give into your hands is the salvation of Damascus. If our master is slain by the king, this city must suffer terribly. The vengeance of those who love the chieftain will be dreadful. If Julian falls beneath the sword of the king’s executioner, his followers will draw more blood from the life of this people than Polypses drew when he ravaged the city of the northern plain. To save all this, no ble princess, can you not help me? Is there not some way in which you can remove the bolt from the door of the chieftain’s prison-house?” Ulin w-as trembling more violently than before. “O, sir,” she cried, giving full scope now to her feelings, “you find me powerless to help you. I have not the influence which you ascribe to me. If I had the power, I would not hesi tate If I were the jailer, and held the keys of the prison door, T would set your master free; but, alas! I am more weak than you imagine. I am more like a prisoner than like a prin cess!” At this juncture the bondmaiden arose from her seat and moved for ward. Her dark eyes sparkled with peculiar Are. and her fair brow worked as though the bain were revolving mighty thoughts. “Dear lady,” she said, addressing her mistress, “there is but one way in which we can render the assurance which this man seeks.” “Speak, Albia." said Ulin, betraying a suddenness of emotion which told very plainly how her desire ran. “Not now. my mistress,” returned the girl. “I must have time: If this man can come to our garden two hours past midnight, I can tell him more." “Is there help?” asked Hobaddan, eagerly. “I cannot tell you now.” replied Al bia. “I can only tell you this! If there is help, it is to be found only in one quarter. I will look for it there; and, at the time I have men tioned, you shall know the result. 1 will look for it if my lady is willing.” “And 1 am pardoned for my intru sion?” said Hobaddan. “Yes,” returned Ulin. She would have said more, but Albia was al-‘ ready at the door, and the robber had turned to follow her. CHAPTER IX. The Dark Hour. “It seemed like a dream to Illin. She closed her eyes—and opened them —and arose—and walked across the chamber—simply to assure herself that she was awake. Was it possible that a member of the robber band had been to see her—had been within her chamber—had come, and had gone? A friend and companion of Julian’s seeking her for aid in behalf of the chieftain? She was trying to make it appear real, when her bondmaiden returned. ' The door was closed, and Albia re marked, as she took a seat: “He will be in the garden two'hours past midnight, my lady; and if we can help him. we must do our work as speedily as possible.” “Help.” repeated Ulln, gazing Into her attendant’s face. “How can we help Julian?’ “The thing may be possible,” replied Albia, in a thoughtful mood. “If you would serve him, I think a way can be opened to the accomplishment.” 1 he princess reflected a few mo ments, and then said: "If the man who was here spoke the truth, it may become my duty to help him; and certainly his story seemed plausible. I can very easily see how the powerful robber band, moved to desperation by the death of their beloved leader, might wreak most terrible vengeance upon this city; -and surely, if we can be the means of averting so dire a calamity, it is our duty so to do.” “I think it is,” added Albia. “But,” continued IJlin, “if Julian is in the power of the king, he must be in one of the strongest dungeons; and a strict guard must be kept over him. How can we reach him?” “I can think of but one way,” re turned the bondmaiden, laying do’wn the plan with her Anger as she pro ceeded. “Osmir and Selim had a hand in capturing the young chieftain; and It is not impossible that they may have a hand in guarding him. I judge so from the fact that the capture of the robber has not yet become gen erally known in the city, which would certainly have been the case if the king’s officers had known it. Now we have some claim upon the gratitude of this Osmir, and I think he is, by na ture, grateful enough to repay us. He is the man whom we found faint and dying upon the shore of the lake, and who must have died if we had not nursed him. You remember the cir cumstance?” • « “He had almost been killed by some slaves of Aleppo,” explained Albia. (To be continued.) Even Family Secrets! The inquisitorial proceedings of in come-tax collectors in Austria are a source of great annoyance to self-re specting citizens. They pry into every family secret, however delicate. But now they do even more than that. They attempt to check the income of a man by finding out what is sent him by rail. The Inspector of taxes at Myslenice, in order to give the screw another turn, has applied to the rail way managers for permission to send an official to Makow station for p cer tain time in order to examine all par cels sent there or thence, and And out to whom or from whom they have been sent. Of course the purpose of such a demand is clear. Proof is re quired that certain persons spend more, and therefore have a greater in come than they have declared, thus ignoring the fact that a man may pos sibly live beyond his income. At the same time it must be confessed that there is a great difficulty in getting people to give truthful declarations. More I.au(fhter» L«M Suicide. The physiological benefits of laugh ter can not be overestimated. It shakes up the diaphragm, sets the pulses beating to a lively measure, stimulates the blood corpuscles, en livens the brain, and sometimes pro duces dislocation of the jaw when in dulged in too heartily by a man with a large mouth. Used with discretion laughter is as inspiring as a sea breeze, as refreshing as an August shower. Its moral effect is beyond computation. It has killed moiO ridic ulous superstitions by its rollicking roars of unbelief than any other agency, says the Literary Era. What can be more derisive than a laugh? The man who laughs never kills him self. That is the reason so few Irish men commit suicide. i JUBILANT UNCLE SAM AWFULLY BUSY, BUT FINDS TIME TO TALK. tirtnttj Pleated with Our Eiport Trade of 91,500,000,000, Treasury Ilalaure, 9175,000,000 and Trade Balance of Nearly 9700,000,000. I found Unde Sam yesterday deeply absorbed in a mass of fiscal reports. The old gentleman fairly beamed as he gave me a hearty hand grasp, but when I told him I had come for an other interview his manner seemed to relax a little. 1 thought. “I'll tell you how it is,"TJncle Sam," said I. "The people enjoyed your Fourth of July talk so much that there are requests from all over the country ^ a small weekly chat. Now you won't refuse the people, will you?” I pleaded. “No, I won't exactly refuse.” he re plied; "but, really, I’m awfully busy all the time. I thought I was busy in | 1892, when the McKinley law was in ! such perfect order, but it didn’t com pare with what, this Dingley law is do ing. Why, I'm breaking the records all along the line. Just look at this total of foreign bills of sale—$1,500, 000,000. There ain't another country on earth that can show such a total." “But.” I remarked, “there seems to be a falling off in exports of manu factures.” "Don't you worry about that a min ute," he replied. "The falling off is in ngures, not in fact. For instance, I sold nearly $20,000,000 of goods, most ly manufactures, to Porto Rico and Hawaii in 1900. Well, I’ve sold them considerable more this year, and yet not a dollar's worth appears in the re ports. Then the whr in China has cut off enough to make up the rest of the difference between this year and last. And besides all that, there has been a reduction in prices; so, really, exports of manufactures have increased. “But that ain’t the whole point, either. I’ve sold fully $2,000,000,000 worth more of manufactures at home this last year; so don’t worry, my boy, about an apparent loss of a few mil lions in foreign sales.” “Does the surplus please you?" I asked. “It’s great, isn’t it? Kept right up to the mark and the estimates. And now I have reduced taxation by $40, 000,000 a year, and my friend John Bull is taxing his people right and left and wondering how he is going to foot the bills. I reckon he looks at my $240,000,000 of customs receipts a little enviously; but he is too stubborn to change his fiscal policy, though I ex pect to see him putting up the bars before long. “Then look at this treasury balance, $175,000,000, besides the $150,000,000 reserve fund. I’m buying bonds all the time, too. Quite different from what my last manager, Cleveland, did when he ran me into debt to the tune of about $262,000,000, to say nothing of the interest on the bonds he sold. I tell you the people did me a mighty good turn when they gave me McKinley for a manager and a Republican Protec tion Congress to back him up.” The old gentleman rubbed his hands gleefully and seemed as jubilant as a boy in swimming. “You have not said anything about the big balance of trade,” I remarked. “Don’t need to; it speaks for Itself," tersely responded the happy man. “But,” he added, “I’m prouder of those figures than I can tell you. It isn’t so much the six hundred and thirty odd millions to my credit, but it shows that the people are expanding at home as well as abroad. We are buying more home-made goods and getting more and more independent of the rest of the world every year. We can afford to buy a few hundred mil lions’ worth of luxuries abroad, but '{ want my people to buy all they can at home, and I guess they all see the point." And the old gentleman gave me a merry wink as he went off with his pockets crammed *o overflowing with coupons. F. C. TARIFF AND RECIPROCITY. Second Declaration by the Ohio Reimb llcan Convention. The declaration of the Ohio Repub licans In their State convention on the subject of the tariff and reciprocity has evidently had a good effect In check ing the nonsensical agitation in favor of tariff revision. It is well understood that the Ohio Republicans represent in their declaration the convictions of the President on this subject. Hence, when they declared that the tariff schedules to protect American labor against the low wages paid foreign la bor “must be maintained,” they made it entirely clear that the President does not want any tariff revision. Mr. Hanna put the matter effectively when he declared that the party "will not permit an abridgement of the tar iff that will interfere with the labor of one man for one day.” There could be no revision, in the sense that word is generally used, without throwing thou sands of men out of work, owing to the uncertainty that would be created as to what might be the final outcome. On the subject of reciprocity the platform declares in favor of it, only stipulating that it must be "purely a reciprocity, not for the sake of encour aging any nation in closer commercial relations, with a profit on one side.” Reciprocity, in the sense the word is used in the Republican national plat form, which is the guide to the party, means the admission into this country at low rates of duty, or without any duty, of products that we do not pro duce In this country in return for sim ilxr favors from the nation with which the treaty Is negotiated. It does not mean cutting down the tariff to a dangerous extent on any Industry established in this country by the pro tective tariff, which course might throw many men out of employment, to help some other industry. There is nothing inconsistent, its the O'g'T platform shows, between the pro tective tariff and reciprocity. For that reason the Republican party t3 in fa vor of reciprocity, and we have no doubt that Congress at its next ses sion will assist the President in carry ing into effect, to as large an extent as possible, his ideas on that subject. Those people who affect to believe that the President has changed his ideas to any extent on the tariff question need only to read carefully the platform adopted by tho Ohio Republicans.— Philadelphia Press. RADICAL TREATMENT RE QUIRED. r --rrr Uncle Sam: “Those bugs are get ting thick again. Guess I'd better clean 'em out once tor all.” Wool Price*. “The price of Indiana wool is Just what is was in July 1897, the price having fallen from 29% cents in Janu ary, 1900, to 20% cents in May of the present year. The §ame movement is shown in all wools.”—Indianapolis News. Exactly bo. The price of Indiana wool Is juBt where it was in July, 1897, when the enactment of the Dingley Tariff saved the farmers of Indiana from the legislation so loved by the Indianapolis News. Incidentally it may be remarked that the price, 29% cents, received for Indiana wool in 1889, is the highest on record. The price secured for Indiana wool by the tariff advocated by Mr. Bryan and the News in the happy summer of 1896 was 14% cents. As South Amer ican quarter-blood,shrinking less than Indiana, can now be landed in bond at 10 cents a pound, the adoption of the tariff policy of the News would mean that Indiana wool would be sell ing for just half the price it brings in Boston to-day. Prices on wool are low as compared with 1900, thanks to the drop in wool all over the world, but, thank God, they are not at the ruinous level that would exist if the Dingley tariff were not' in force with wool abroad break ing all records for cheapness, nor have they even dropped in the United States to the low level secured for American wool in 1896 by the Indianapolis News and its allies.—Boston Commercial Bulletin. In Bnliatf of Bnalneu, Speaking for the business interests of the entire country in deprecation of any and all attempts to reopen the tar iff question, the New York Commer cial wisely says: “It would be extremely unfortunate to precipitate a national agitation that would call a halt on the country’s bus iness just at a time when popular feel ing over the outlook is most hopeful and confident. But if there really ex ist two wings in the Republican party —one demanding a lowering of duties or their repeal in some Instances, and the other determined to stand by the policy that has built up American in dustry, and, incidentally, the party— why, the sooner the thing is fought out to a finish the better, perhaps. But no American business man wants to see the next session of Congress given over to an acrimonious debate that would imperil the passage of needed legislation that the business of the country is crying for—on the isthmian canal, for instance.” if there is one thing more than an other which business does not want it is tariff tinkering. No I^onsror Hate the Octopnn. If Bryan wants to know how much "more power the trusts have in the Democratic party today than in 1896,” he may take a run down to Texas and make a thorough inspection of the Standard Oil Company’s late acquisi tions there both of statesmen and real estate. Only a year ago the Texas legislature buckefl and gagged the oc topus and stored him in a barb wire cage.—Little Rock (Ark.) Republican. Railroad Work and Wages. Five years ago many of the rail roads of the country were in the hands of receivers. Today <>very railroad of the country is ir>:«dc taxed to its ut most resources. There will be nearly 10,000 miles of track laid this year, against 1,600 in 1895. and the railroad employes will get $100,000,000 more wages than during the Gorman Wilson tariff. Clover Ex ha nation. From the Farmers’ Review: The fa mous clover sub-soil pump has been spoken of so much In farm papers and fhstitute lectures that It seems to have gotten beyond the stage of a mere fig ure of speech. As a matter of act. clovers have no more power to draw plant food from the sub-soil than every other crop of an equal root area; furthermore, there Is always a great deal more plant foqd In available form In the top soil than in the sub-soil. In many cases the penetration of roots Into the sub-soil Is of very doubtful value to the plant. Plants take up moisture through their roots and draw moisture from depth Just as a wick draws up oil in a lamp. This moisture flowing as It does over and around soli particles, dissolves a very small quan tity or mineral matter, and In this manner In the aggregate, a great deal of plant food is brought to the plants, but this supply is too scanty and too Irregular to be depended on for profit able culture. If such plant food sup plies seems all that Is needed, there never would have been any need of what Is called modern agriculture. Clover makes growth where such crops as corn, wheat and timothy fall because clovers have the power of sup plying their own plant food nitrogen, taking it from the atr. Of course, they must have potash and phosporlc acid to do this. Solis after many years un der cultivation lose a great deal of plant food which they contained as natural soil, and are apt to be short of at least one of the three elements of plant food. As nitrogen is subject to more losses in the soil than potash and phosphate, soils are most com monly short of nitrogen, hence clovers which supply their own nitrogen will make a good growth when non-le gumes fall. They are the potash and phosphate and add to their own nltro gefi. This la about all there Is to the famous clover "sub-soil pump.” We have often read that quick act ing chemicals fertilizers are injurious to the soil because they stimulate the soil to the quick use of all the availa ble plant food "In sight.” Really, the clovers are much worse than chem icals. Chemicals can go no further than an equal balance to the plant food they contain, while clovers supply all the nitrogen needed to draw out of the soil every bit of its soluble potash and phosphates. As 100 pounds of nitro gen acting through clovers takes out about 106 pounds of potash and 25 pounds of phosphoric acid, the speed of this exhaustion becomes apparent. If a soil contains say 400 pounds of soluble potash per acre, the clover will furnish nitrogen to take up all of it, and no more, just as It will do if there are but 100 pounds of soluble potash present. Hence the exhausting nature of clovers is very severe and lasting' in Its effects. We are all pretty famil iar with clover sickness and know that ltjneans nine times out of ten simply soil exhaustion. This exhaustion should be guarded against by liberal applications of pot ash and phosphate fertilization, where clovers are used In rotation, and the best time to use this is for winter wheat. The corn has drawn heavily upon the plant food stocked up In tho clover, roots and stubble, so that there Is little available mineral plant food left for the wheat, and conse quently It Is In no shape for spring stooling. In this way clover exhaus tion becomes a very serious menace to profitable farming. It Is useless to try heavier seeding, deeper plowing, roll ing, etc., when the whole trouble lie3 in a soil exhausted of its soluble min eral plant food by a rank growth of clover. Of course the clover may be returned to the soli as manure, but It never pays to grow a crop simply for manure, at least not in cereal farming. —Geo. K. Wilson. , - -- 1 i Rape and Tarolpi a» Green Manure. A Pennsylvania farmer recommends a combination of rape and cowborn turnips as a green manure crop for the renovation of soils deficient in humus. He sows it broadcast in his corn field the last time he cultivates the corn, scattering the seed in ad vance of the cultivator. When sowing on an unoccupied field he harrows in the seed. The rape and turnips ma ture in the fall and may be plowed under then or in the spring, at the con venience of the farmer. By this plan he Incorporates with his soil several tons of matter that is immediately available as plant food. Pruning Old Apple Trees.—Prof. Taft of the Michigan Agrlcaltural Col lege says it is well to go slow before sawing off the lower limbs in a neglect ed orchard sufficiently high to permit of cultivation. The injury might be greater than the benefits that could be secured from cultivation. Ordinarily the best time to prune old trees is just before growth starts In the spring, but, as this is generally a busy time on the farm, the work may be done in the late fall or win ter. If the branches are not frozen when the pruning is done the injury will be slight. If the trees are making a rank growth and are unfruitful, it will often be found advisable to delay the pruning until the last of May when, the trees being in leaf, they will be subjected to a check and the for mation of fruit buds will be promoted. Mucks vary greatly in the organic matter they contain. Occasionally a peaty muck will have as high as 95 pounds of organic matter for each 100 pounds of dry matter, while others will have little more than half that amount. Since the value of the muck as an absorbent depends upon its or ganic matter, it follows that for litter a peaty muck is better than one that is clayey or sandy. Cerritos, Cal., claims to have the largest artesian well in the world. It is 14 inches in diameter and 684 deep.