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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1902)
il The Bow of Orange Ribbon f i; A ROMANCE OF NEW YORK $ < > _ * ; > By AMELIA E. BARR. | ' > Author of "Friend Olivia..’’ "I. Thou end tho Othor One,” Etc. + * • Copyright, 1886, by Dodd, Mead and Company. X +_ __ + TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT1n CHAPTER II.—(Continued. “Of all earthly things!" said Mrs. Gordon. “A letter from that poor child, Katherine Van Heemskirk. She has more wit than I expected. So her father won't let her come to me. Why, then, upon my word, I will go to her.” Capt. Hyde was interested at once. “You will go to-morrow?” he asked; “and would it be beyond good breeding to accompany you?” “Indeed, nephew, I think it would. Be patient; to-morrow morning I will call upon our fair neighbor.” The next morning was damp, for there had been heavy rain during the night; but Capt. Hyde would not let his aunt forget or forego her promise. A negro woman was polishing the brass ornaments of the door, and over its spotless threshold she passed with out question or delay. A few minutes she waited alone in the best parlor, charmed with its far off air and Eastern scents, and then Madam Van Heemskirk welcomed her. In her heart she was pleased at the visit. She thought privately that her Joris had been a little too strict. And Mrs. Gordon’s praise of Katherine and her declaration that “she was incon solable without the dear creature’s so ciety,’ seemed to the fond mother the most proper and natural of feelings. “Do but let me see her an hour, madam,” she said. “You know my sincere admiration. Is not that her voice? I vow, she sings to perfection! And what a singular melody! Please to set wide the door madan.” “It is the brave song of the brave men of Zealand, when from the walls of Leyden they drove away the Span iards;” and madam stood in the open door, and called to her daughtel, “Well, then, Katherine, begin again the song of ‘The Beggars of the Sea.’ ” At the second verse, Mrs. Gordon rose and said, “Indeed, madam, I find my good Dreedlng no match against such singing. And the tune is won derful; it has the ring of trumpets, and the roar of the waves in it. Pray let us go at once to your daughter’s.” “At work are they; but, if you mind not that, you are welcome indeed.” Then she led the way to the large liv ing, or dining, room, where Katherine stood at the table cleaning the silver flagons and cups and plates that adorned the great oak sideboard. Joanna, who was darning some fine linen, rose and made her respects with perfect composure. She had very little liking, either for Mrs. Gordon or her nephew; and many of their ways appeared to her utterly foolish and not devoid of sin. But Katherine trembled and blushed with pleasure and excitement, and Mrs. Gordon watched her with a certain kind of curious delight. Her hair was combed backword, plaited, and tied with a rib bon; her arms bare to the shoulders, her black bodice and crimson petti coat neatly shielded with a linen apron; and poised in one hand she held a beautiful silver flagon covered with raised figures, which with patient labor she had brought into shining re lief. Conversation was easily maintained. Madam Van Heemskirk knew the pedi gree or the history of every tray or cup, and in reminiscence and story an hour passed away very pleasantly in deed. Then Mrs. Gordon, after bid ding madam an effusive good-by, turned suddenly and said, “Pray allow yoru daughter to show me the many ornaments in your parlor. The glimpse I had has made me very impatient to see them more particularly.” The moment the parlor door had been shut, Mrs. Gordon lifted Kath arine’s face between her palms, and said: “Faith, child, I am almost run off my head with all the fine things I have listened to for your sake. Do you know who sent me here?” “I think, madam, Capt. Hyde.” “Psha! Why don you blush, and stammer, and lie about it? Now, Capt. Hyde wishes to see you; when can you oblige him so much?” “I know not. To come to Madam Semple’s is forbidden me by my father.” “Oh, indeed! Has your father for bidden you to walk down your garden to the river bank?” “No, madam.” “Then, if Capt. Hyde pass about 3 ■o’clock, he might see you there?” “Three?” The word was a question more than an assent, but Mrs. Gordon assumed the assent, and did not allow Kath erine to contradict it. “And I prom ised to bring him a token from you— he was exceedingly anxious about that matter.” Katherine looked thoughtfully around. There was a small Chinese cabinet on the table. She went to it and took from a drawer a bow of orange ribbon. Holding it doubtfully in her hand, she said, “My St. Nicho las ribbon.” "There, there! I can really wait no longer. Some one is already in a fever of impatience. Good-by again, child; my service once more to your mother and sister,” and so, with many compliments, she passed chatting and laughing out of the house. Katherine closed the best parlor, and lingered a moment in the act. She felt that she had permitted Mrs. Gor don to make an appointment for her lover, and a guilty sense of disobedl TTTTTTTTTTTVTTTTTTl'TTi'TTTT ence made bitter the joy of expecta tion. But she kept her own counsel, and doubted and debated the matter in her heart until the hands of the great clock were rising quickly to the hour of fate. Then she laid down her fine sewing and said, “Mother, I want to walk in the garden. When I come back, my task I will finish.” "That is well. Joanna, too, has let her work fall down to her lap. Go, both of you, and get the fine air from the river.” This was not what Katherine wished, but nothing but assent was possible, and the girls strolled slowly down the box-bordered walks together. When they reached the river bank a boat rowed by with two English sol diers, stopped just below them, and lay rocking on her oars. Then an offi cer in the stern rose and Katherine saw Capt. Hyde fling back from his left shoulder his cloak, in order to dis play the bow of orange ribbon on his breast. Katherine went back to the house as merry as a bird. She chatted of this and of that and sang snatches of songs, old and new. And all the time her heart beat out its own glad re frain, “My bow of orange ribbon, my bow of orange ribbon!” CHAPTER III. Joy in the House. “Honored gentleman, when will you pay me my money?” The speaker was an old man, dressed in r. black coat buttoned to the ankles, and a cap of silk and fur, from beneath which fell a fringe of gray hair. The inquiry was addressed to Capt. Hyde. He paid no attention whatever to it, but, gayly humming a stave of “Marlbrook,” watched the crush of wagons and pedestrians, in order to find a suitable moment to cross the narrow street. “Honored gentleman, when will you pay me my moneys?” me second inquiry elicited sun less attention. “I do not wish to make you more expenses, captain,” and Cohen, follow ing the impulse of his anxiety, laid his hand upon his debtor’s arm. Hyde turned in a rage, and flung off the touch with a passionate oath. Then the Jew left him and walked slowly towards his store and home. He soon recovered the calmness which had been lost during his unsat isfactory interview with Capt. Hyde. “A wise man frets not himself, for the folly of a fool;” and, having come to this decision, he entered his house with the invocation for its peace and prosperity on his lips. Soon there was a little stir in the street—that peculiar sense of some thing more than usual, which can make itself felt in the busiest thor oughfare—and Cohlen went to the door and looked out. “The Great Christopher" had come to anchor—Capt. Batavius de Vries. There was quite a crowd on the wharf. Some were attracted by curi osity; others, by the hope of a good job on the cargo; others, again, not averse to a little private bargaining for any curious or valuable goods the captain of the “Great Christopher" had for sale. Joanna Van Heemskirk had had a message from her lover, Capt. de Vries, and she was watching for his arrival. There was no secrecy in her love affairs, and it was amid the joy and smiles of the whole household that she met her affianced husband. They were one of those loving, sen sible couples, for whom it is natural to predict a placid and happy life, and the first words of Batavius seemed to assure it; "My affairs have gone well, Joanna, as they generally do; and now I shall build the house, and we shall be mar ried.” Joanna laughed. “I shall just say a word or two, also, about that, Bata vius.” “Come, come, the word or two was said so long ago. Katrijiutje, mijn meisje, what’s the matter now, that you never come once?” Katherine was standing at the open window, apparently watching the honey-bees among the locust blooms, but really perceiving something far be yond them—a boat on the river at the end of the garden. So the question of Batavius touched very lightly her physical consciousness. A far sweet er, a far more peremptory voice called her; but she answered; "There is nothing the matter, Bata vius. I am well, I am happy. And now I will go into the garden to make me a fine nosegay,” and she walked slowly out of the door and stopped or stooped at every flowerbed, while Jo anna watched her. Out of sight of the window, Kath erine ran rapidly to the end of the garden, and, parting the lilac bushes, stood flushed and panting on the river bank. Capt. Hyde’s pretty craft shot into sight, and a few strokes put it at the landing stair. In a moment he was at her side. He took her in his arms, and in spite of the small hands covering her blushing face, he kissed her with passionate affection, vowing with every kiss that she was the most adorable of women, and protesting "on his honor as a soldier” that he would make her his wife, or die a bachelor for her sake. And who can blame a young girl if she listens and believes, when listen Ing and believing mean to her perfect happiness? Not women who have ever stood, trembling with love and joy, close to the dear one’s heart. If they be gray-haired, and on the very shoal of life, they must remember still those moments of delight—the little lane, the fire-lit room, the drifting boat, that is linked with them. If they be young and lovely, and have but to say, “It was yesterday,” or, “It was last week,” still better they will understand the temptation that was too great for Katherine to overcome. And, as yet, nothing definite had been said to her about Neil Semple, and the arrangement made for her fu ture, so that in effect, she was still free, since Neil had not spoken. On the night of De Vries’ return there was a great gathering at Van Heemskik’s house. Conspicuous in the happy, chattering company, Lysbet Van Heemskikrk bustled about, in the very whitest and stiffest of lace caps. Very soon after sundown, Elder Sem ple and madam his wife arrived; and the elder, as usual, made a decided stir among the group whlcn he joined. “No, no, councillor,” he said, in an swer to the Invitation of Joris to come outside. “No, no, I’ll not risk my health, maybe my vera life, oot on the stoop after sunset.” “Well, then, neighbors, we’ll go in side,” said Joris. “Clean pipes, and a snowball (gin mixed stiff with su gar), or a glass of Hollands, will not, I think, be amiss.” The movement was made among sol.j jokes and laughter, and they gathered near the hearthstone. Katherine came and stood behind her father’s chair. She let her head fall down over his shoulder, and he raised his own to clasp it. “What is it then, mijn, Katrijntje klelntje?” “It is to dance. Mother says ‘yes,’ if thou art willing.” “Then I say ‘yes,’ also. For a moment she laid her cheek against him, and the happy tears came into his eyes, and he stroked her face and half-reluctantly let Batavius lead her away. Liiui uuj wiivi v n vi c uui IV »» imu ilies of any wealth who did not own one black man who could play well upon the violin. Joris possessed two, and they were both on hand, putting their own gay spirits into the fiddle and the bow. And oh, how happy were the beating feet and the beating hearts that went to the stirring strains! It was joy and love and youth in melo dious motion. The old looked on with gleaming, sympathetic eyes; the young forgot that they were mortal. Miss Katern Van Heemskirk and Mr. Neil Semple will now hab de honor of ’bilging de company wid de French minuet.” At this announcement, made by the first negro violin, there was a sudden silence; and Neil rose, and with a low bow offered the tips of his fingers to the beautiful girl, who rose blushing to take them. Neil’s dark, stately beauty was well set off by his black velvet suit and powdered hair and gold buckles. And no lovelier contrast could have faced him than Katherine Van Heemskirk; so delicately fresh, so radiantly fair, she looked in her light blue robe and white lace stomacher, with a pink rose at her breast. Neil had a natural majesty in his carriage; Katherine supplemented it with a natural grace. As she was in the very act of making Neil a profound courtesy, the door opened and Mrs. Gordon and Capt. Hyde entered. The latter took in the exquisite picture in a moment, and there was a fire of jeal ousy in his heart when he saw Neil lead his partner to her seat, and with the deepest respect kiss her pretty fingers ere he resigned them. But he was compelled to control himself, as he was ceremoniously in troduced to Councillor and Madam Van Heemskirk by his aunt, who with a charming effusiveness declared “sho was very uneasy to intrude so far, but, in faith, councillor,” she pleaded, “I am but a woman, and I find the news of a wedding beyond my nature to re sist.” (To be continued.) DEPEW TELLS SOMETHING NEW. Latest Story Put Forth by the New York Senator. Senator Chauncey M. Depew says that this is his latest, and he guaran tees it to be new. He told it to a group of friends at the Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday night. “I was walking down Wall street to day,” he said, “hastening to keep an important business engagement, when I was stopped by a man who said: “ ‘Pardon me, senator, but I see you have been taking an active part in this state election, and I am anxious to learn what you think of the result.’ “ 'I am naturally much pleased by the election of Gov. Odell,’ I replied. “ ‘But there was a big slump in the Republican vote in the city and Odell’s plurality was very small. I was afraid that this might have a serious signifi cance for the future of our great par ty.’ “I replied that I did not think so, and, remembering my appointment, sought to get rid of my questioner, but he persisted: “ ‘You greatly relieve my mind,’ he said. ‘So you are sure you are pleased with the result of the election!’ “ ‘Quite so,’ I responded. “ ‘Then you will be glad, I know, to lend me fifty cents.’ “I said that there had been a slump in the stock market that day and I could only let him have a quarter.”— New York Times. In the endless race for wealth men are too prone'to forget the ordinary claims of humanity. It is always better to concede something than to insist on a demand that is both just and merciless. HUMBUG AND MENACE WHY THE TARIFF COMMISSION IS NOT DESIRABLE. It Would Involve an Extended Period of Tariff Agitation and Uncertainty, Thus Caueing Uneasiness and Alarm in all Lines of Commercial Activity. There has recently been some ap proval In high quarters of a proposal to appoint a “bi-partisan” tariff com mission to wrestle with the tariff problem for an indefinite period and wind up with making “recommenda tions” to Congress. The New York Commercial, which has been a con sistent supporter of the protective policy, has taken the matter up in a sensational way, sending out broad sides and blank petitions all over the country, with the evident intent, if a commission should be appointed, ol claiming that the “Commercial did It,” after the established custom ol the sensational press. A “bi-partisan tariff commission" would be an utter humbug, and Its performances would be a roaring farce. It would be absolutely known in advance that the three or five members who would constitute the protectionist majority would "recom mend” the maintenance of the present protective system, and that the two or four free traders of the minority would object to every recommenda tion made by the majority and "rec ommend” exactly the opposite. It would also be known that the two reports would be printed in many thick volumes of "testimony,” argu ment and speculation containing little or nothing new and comprising an enormous mass which nobody would ever read or even look at except for the purpose of digging out short ex tracts calculated to support a policy which the scarcer was predetermined to favor. Finally it would be known in advance that Congress would pay no more attention to the "recommen dations" of the commission than it pays to the winds which whistle about the dome of the capitol. If the commission were only a farce the nation could, perhaps, af ford to pay the cost for the sake of quieting the yells of the disgruntled and restless, just as a nurse diverts a Equalling baby with a rattle. But it would not be merely a farce; it would be disastrous. From the mo ment it was resolved to appoint such a commission every business interest in the country would take alarm, for It. would be known that we had enter ed upon a long period of tariff agita tion, whose outcome as to any par ticular interest could not be even guessed at There would be intrigues to learn in advance and modify the recommendations” of the commis sion, and when that was through the whole fight would be transferred tc Congress. We had one such commis sion a tew years ago, and the coun try never wants another. The place to discuss matters is in the open forum of the House of Representa tives and Senate, as contemplated by the constitution. There is no objection to securing official information aB to the workings of the present tariff or the probable w-orkings of any proposed modifica tion. On the contrary, it is highly desirable. But the government is already provided with machinery nec essary for that purpose in all respects better than any partisan, non-parti san or bi-partisan commission. It is only necessary for congress to direct that the actuary of the treasury de partment should report in words and figures precisely what would happen in respect to revenue and to imports and exports of commodities in case certain named changes in the tariff were made. These official estimates could be made upon request of any organized party in Congress, any national political convention or any other Influential body making definite inquiries in good faith. That is all we want to know. We need no "rec ommendations” from anybody. A few pages of figures would tell the whole story. It would be businesslike and sensible. A bi-partlsan commission would be a humbug and a menace to prosperity.—San Francisco Chronicle. ONE THING AT A TIME. Let the Tariff Alone and Attend to the Trusts. The decision reached by the Presi dent and the leading Republican sena tors with whom he has conferred, not to attempt tariff revision at the next session of congress is the only one expedient at this time. The industrial situation in this coun try is not an abstract mathematical problem to be solved upon general principles. In the great field of Ameri can prosperity the wheat and the tares are so intermingled that to adopt any sweeping method for removing the tares is to run a great risk of de stroying the wheat as well. The question is: Which do the peo ple desire the more—that the over weening abuses of the trusts be curbed or that the incidental hard ships of the tariff be removed? To that question sober and practical men have but one answer. Protection benefits millions who neither gain nor lose by the trusts. Therefore let the tariff alone and attend to the trusts. The first step toward curbing trust evils is plainly indicated by the facts »nd practically agreed upon by all concerned. It is that these great cor porations shall give a wholesome pub licity to their doings. That step can injure no legitimate enterprise, and will be opposed by no man whose in tentions are really honest. When that step is taken—when the .results of publicity are seen—then other steps may be necessary. One of these stops may have to be a revision of the tariff. But to Insist upon taking that possible step now is both unnec essary and reckless. For we cannot, without endangering prosperity, curb the trusts and revise the tariff at the same time. Our in dustrial situation is too complex thus to be dealt with on all sides at once. To take up both these questions would call in question the whole foundation upon which our industrial system is built. All lines of industry would halt un til the uncertainty as to their future should bo ended. The mill would work upon positive orders only. The mer chant would buy only what he felt sure he could sell at once. Consumers would purchase for immediate needs only. Producers would have to wail until the terms upon which they should hereafter produce were deter mined. And such conditions are what we call “hard times." When confronted with such a situ ation, in which the welfare of all the people is bound up. It evidently be hooves the nation and Its chosen lead1 ers to move cautiously. Complete sue* cess in the whole task can be achleveo only by doing one thing at a time.— Chicago Inter Ocean. He Like* to See the Chip* Fly. W/* IHII 111 BS The Consequences. They Hate Tariff, Not Trusts. The men who are the most vigorous in their demand for tariff reductions because of the trusts have always been opposed to the principle of pro tection. They are making the trusts an excuse to attack the tariff with the secret but ultimate aim of entirely breaking down the tariff wall and sub jecting the country and its industries to the ruinous principles and policy ol free trade. If there were no trusts their attacks upon the tariff would be just as vigorous as they are to day. These free traders at heart make nti distinction between trusts. They do not admit that some of them, like th« railroad merger, for instance, or the smelter trust, have no connection whatever with the tariff. Of course they never acknowledge that trusts exist in free trade countries as well as In the United States, and that hence the establishment of free trade would not prevent great combinations of caj ital. »* *»* »w«. tunv lukontgoui, nuict lean public long to see what the sltua tlon really Is. Rejoicing in the pros perity they have, the people will not be deluded by an attack on the trust! into opening the gates to the free traders. When it comes to a mattei of making changes in the tariff they will intrust the work not to the ene mies but to the friends of the policy of protection to American labor and industries who have demonstrated their capacity for the work by the most extraordinary development and expansion in these United States thal the world has seen in its whole his tory.—Denver Republican. Superior to Facts. That facts are directly contrary to theories does not affect the Democrat ic free-traders. The showing that when a Democratic tariff was in ef fect our foreign trade declined as rap idly as did our domestic trade, and that under the present protective tar iff the export trade of the country has expanded to undreamed of fig ures, counts for nothing. Parrot-like they repeat the stale cry, “Reduce the tariff duties and trade will expand." Is not one experiment in that direction a sufficient lesson for a few years?— Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Money Coming to Us. Under the last Democratic adminis tration we sent our money abroad to pay for goods produced by the pauper labor of Europe. Under the succeed ing Republican administrations we have been shipping our home made goods abroad, and foreign money has been coming to us.—Davenport (la.) Republican. How Germ* Enter the Udder. In healthy animals the only possible channel of bacterial invasion is the teat. The teat is a canal surrounded by muscular walls and closed at the extremity by an involuntary sphincter muscle, which varies much in con tractility in different animals. Often It is so lax that the pressure of a small amount of milk in the canal is suffi cient to open it and the animal leaks her milk. In other animals, it re quires a strong effort on the part of the milker to draw the milk. This canal, with a temperature of the ani mal body, and containing, always, even after the most complete milking, a small amount of milk, offers ideal conditions for bacterial growth. When the animal lies down, be it on the pasture or in the stable, the udder and teats come in contact with dust and dirt, which are teeming with bac teria. It seems, then, reasonable to conclude that in case of leaky udders the bacteria adhering to the exterior of the teat have easy access to the interior, where they meet most favor able conditions for rapid development. This assumption is borne out by the results of many investigations, which invariably show that cows with leaky udders harbor a very large number of bacteria in the milk. For this reason, such cowb are discarded from the herd in some sanitary dairies. On the oth er hand, where the sphincter muscles close the teat firmly, the bacterial in vasion is greatly checked. From what has been said above it may clearly be seen that, if cows are allowed to wade in swamps covered with stagnant water, or lie down on dirty, filthy stable floors which are covered with excreta, etc., the chances are that a comparatively large num ber of bacteria will be able to enter the udder through the teats, a fact which is especially true in the case ot cows that leak their milk. It is ob vious, therefore, that the discarding of animals which suffer from disease and of cows that have leaky udders, the use of drained pastures, and ot clean bedding on the stall floor, con stitute the first step towards improv ing the hygienic and keeping quality of milk.—Cornell University Experi ment Station. Some Milk Adulterations In Penn ■ylvania. Robert Simmers, the food Inspector of the Pennsylvania agricultural de partment, stopped some 40 milkmen In Allentown, from whom he secured specimens of cream, milk and skim milk. By Immediate tests he found that some of the specimens were adulter ated with formaldehyde. While this Is a powerful disinfectant, It is Inju rious to the system. It Is supposed some of the other specimens are adul terated with boric acid, salicylic acid and bichloride mercury, all of which are undoubted poisons and very detri mental to health through prolonged use. All dealers found to have adul terated milk will be prosecuted, as well as the producers who are guilty of adulteration. Mr. Simmers says that as a rule the farmers producing the milk are more guilty of adulteration than the milkmen who sell it on the streets. Mr. Simmers just, came from Easton, where he found many adulterations. The most flagrant case there was one where glue was mixed with sklmmllk and colored to give It the appearance of cream, the mixture being Bold as pure rich cream and used In the man ufacture of Ice cream.—Allentown Leader. Cleanliness In Milking. E. C. Jacobs: It would seem as It It should be unnecessary to say that milking should be done in a cleanly manner, but when we consider the amount of tilth introduced into milk at this operation and the amount ot milk that is ruined in this way, from being converted into a really first class product, it would seem that there was great need of reform in this oper ation and that “line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little,” was not out of place od this subject. Nothing short of thor ough brushing and wiping the udder and flank of the cow with a damp cloth, and dry milking with clean hands should be allowed. Then, by thorough straining and separating im mediately, we shall not have very much use for patent aerators for re moving that cowy flavor, believed by many to be inseparable from milk, Neither will pasteurizing be necessary to insure its keeping a reasonable length of time, if properly handled. An Old Story. The Tonawanda Review says that a number of farmers in Wyoming county, New York, have bought “ball bearing” churns at $7 each; others paid $200 for territorial rights. The agents introduced a chemical into the cream and made in two minutes what looked like butter. The pur chasers of the churns can't make but ter in them in two hours. The film Hammers are said to have taken $2,500 out of the county. How long will it take dairy farmers to find out that cheap “short cuts” tc wealth are not profitable? As muct as the pepsin fraud has been ex posed in the agricultural press, on« would think that the farmers had been pretty well Informed on the mat ter.