'
«T • —•> « * 4)
;v
■*
I. —
Jamie looked at nor with round,
wondering eyes, and his paternal
frown grey. Ho did not like to have
his thrilling story spoiled by being
told it was not tree, but then, his new
aunt had pretty eyes and a smile that
was good. Besides, slie had promisod
to tell him a story, so, with mental
reservations, he said:
"Aw right, I won t!" and sighed to
relinquish this 'Choice bit of gossip,
even during the period of his auut's
stay.
It was a relief to Jean that her sis
ter came just then and sent the chil
dren off to play, sitting down for a
real visit about home and their dear
ones.
Finally there came a pause in their
conversation about home and the two
sisters looked at each other content
edly, glad to be together again after
tho long separation.
"Jean, dear,” said Eleanor eagerly,
“I hope you’re going to have a lovely
time while you’re here. I’ve told ev
ery man in the region about you and
they are dying to call on you. I don't
know how many hav tried to bribe me
to let them be first. There are no
end ot charming young fellows here.
The Post being so near brings some
of them, you know, and they love to
come over to our house and get a real
homo meal and a glimpse of something
like what they are used to. There's
Charlie Evans, you’ll like him l know.
He's quite serious- thought of study
ing for the ministry at one tirae, but
1 understand he began to be rather
skeptical and gave It up. You’ll be
Just the one to do a little missionary
work on him. You have great talents
in that direction 1 remember. Mother
hus been telling mo what wonders
you’ve worked In your Sunday school
class at the mission. And there’s
Freeman Thorne, he’s grave and seri
ous enough to suit your solemnest
mood ; and there are scores of others.
You'll have flowers and Invitations,
more than you can attend to, pretty
soon. We’ve lota of plans made already
to hely you have a good timed But 1
want to give you a little warning
dear." A hind of constraint came i
her voice. "Don’t speak about Jas
per Holt unless you have to, and then
tbi very briefest word. Ho Isn’t in
.good repute at all. Indeed, he isn!t I
understand how grateful you feel, of
course; you weren’t In a position to
Judge what hind of a fellow he was. 1
don’t suppose one's manners would
s how up veTy badly 111 the woods when
two, people had been drowning url
barely escaped with their lives. Poo
dle don’t think of manners at such a
time-*”
'.Eleanor, he was * perfect gentle
man,”' put in Jean indignantly. Thera
were lots of char cos to i '’o* unre
ftnement, and ho was a perfect gentle
man every time. You don't understand.
Eleanor."
‘Well, now dear, you'll have to trust
inc a little. I know just what he is,
a bad man--* really bad young man!
Papa wouldn't have your name mixed
up with his for anything in the world!
1 know yon can’t be convinced, just
now, because yon o come through an
unusual eaperiei together, and I’m
sure I’m glad if L. was half descent—
It wasn’t to be expected—though It’s
what I’ve always claimed, that a really
nice girl always has the upper hand
of a man, even a bad man and he dare
not bo rudo to her. Then, of course, it
was quite thoughtful of him to leave
these rosea the way he did and go
away without any message. I’ll give
h!m credit tor that.. Put it was most
u > fortunate that he should have been
the one to save you! Papa w'ould not
n! all approve of your having anything
more to do with him whatever.”
•"That hi Just what he said!" said
Jena quietly.
"What he said!" exclaimed her sis
ter. Really! Then ho does realize a
little what people think of him! Well,
that is a commendable attitude, oi
course, and if you think it necessary,
you might write a formal little note,
very brief, and thunk h’ni for bring
lag you but make hop un ’ •
stand that he im not to presume—01, u
you prefer. 1 might do it for you. On
second thought 1 think mamma would
prefer that I-"
"It is not in the least necessary
Eleanor; I have thanked Mr. Holt al
ready, and he understand perfectly
that it would not be agreeable to yon
to have him come here. You said yon
hud sewing to do, don’t you want mr
to help you with something? I'd love
i to."..
There was a dignity in the set of the
head and tbs tins curve of lip tha!
made Mr*. Harrington survey hoi
young stater vptll wondor and silence
as they arose *r.3 went toward th;
house. The way can had sat asid<
the topic of young Holt was masterly
lira. Harrington had not said near!)
all she mean to ray on the subject
bat somehow she did not see the wu)
clear to open the sifbject again a
present. She looked at elan uneijail)
from time to tone as they sat u>
get her ia the bowse, or went abou
jfotr -~vxbi v* roes*, flydng toeni *»n<
—-.-.— .- I
i io~
topic to another ae people will do who
have been long separated. Three dis
\ tinct time did Mrs. Harrington essay |
to give an extended dissertation on the |
evil deeds and > putation of Jasper
Holt, and each t.,.ie the subject was
aB summarily closed, and quletiy set
aside by Jean as it she bad no inter
est whatever in the young man. It
gave the woman almost an uncanny
feeling, and actually disturbed her
seriously, so that she was threatened
with one of her nervous headaches;
and after lunch, having bad to confess
to her husband that she had made
no headway in doing his bidding about
enlightening her sister with regard to
his enemy, she retired to her dark
ened room to sleep. Jean, glad to es
cape to quiet, fled to her roses.
Broodingly, as a mother would touch
her little child while It sleeps, Jean
hovered over those flowers. The door
was locked safe from Intrusion, and
the children sent to a neighbor's that
the house might be quiet. She drew
the little table near the great window
chair, and placed the bowl of roses
upon it.
They filled the bowl, lying heavy
headed In great sheaves over its rim
on their cool, luscious leaves, those
leaves of that peculiar green touched
with burnt sienna on tips and veins,
that speak of a high state of cultiva
tion, and rare stock. She laid hpr
cheek against the cool yellow of the
flowers, then her lips, then her closed
eyelids, while she let her thoughts rove
back to the yesterday and the time
when their giver had been at her side;
the words he had spoken, the way he
had looked, the sou id of his voice, and !
the firm clasp of his hand. It all!
rushed over her in a tumult of joy and i
sorrow. This was the man she knew,1
so kind, so tender, so strong, so true;
and that other was the one they
thought he was! She could never feel
that way about him no matter what
people told*her, for she had seen what
they had not. If they had been there
in her place and he had been that
strong companion and friend they i
■tight have understood. She would.!
course, respect their wishes, and j
ot do anything to trouble those who :
loved her; but she would trust him al-1
ways.
And now there stirred in her mind !
the remembrance of that paper, the
disposition of which she must decide
at once. How should she get it to
him? It would not do to send for
him. He could not, probably would
not. come if she had. Even a letter
which did not explain too much would
be a difficult thing to manage, at least
until she knew the way to the post
office and could mail it herself. If it
were carried by a servant or a member
of the family it might be subject to in
spection. Yet the paper ought to go to
him at once. Still, of course, in her
keeping it was at least out of his ene
mies’ hands, if enemies they were,
these dear people of her own family.
Oh, why were things at once so bitter
and so sweet in this hard, bright
world? She burled heir face in the
roses again and let their sweetness
rush over her. As she did so a slight
rustling sound startled her, anil whon
she lifted up her face and then pressed
it close again she heard it once more.
Curious, with a floating hope floating
through her brain, she sat up end be
gan to touch the buds and blossoms
softly, eagerly, searchingly with her
fingers. Yes, there it was, that f.ouud
of crackling paper!
She folded back the petals of '.he
| largest bud, and there, laid deaftiy in
; like another flower leaT, she found a
I tiny bit of folded paper. Eagerly she
'took it out and opened it, for it was
very thin and folded close, and there
was writing, small and fine, hut boidly,
distinctly clear:
“I have to go away. For how long
I do not know. I shall not forget my
promise. You may trust me. I hope
yo uhave a happy time.”
The tears were in her eyes as she
read the brief message over and over
i again, and laid her lips upon it. Bright
1 drops fell upon the roses and sioou
like dew drops.
Sho searched the other b lossoms
carefully, but there were no more mes
sages, and she had known there would
not be. He would not think it “square”
to write more of the things that were
in his heart, and she loved him the
more for his sense of honor toward
her.
Then she remembered the water
contract.
Now, what should she do with the
paper? She could not give it to him
while he was away. It might await
his return and be lost if she trusted it
to the mail. She must wait dor a few
days and see if he came back; and
i meantime she would listen and watch
I as far as lay In her power, that no
! harm came near his rights- If worst
| came to worst she would confide in her
i father. He was wise, and he would
' understand. He would fael as she did
| about this matter if he kurv: all. The
•(difficulty would bo to make him know
. all through the medium of a mere .Iet
■ | ter. But for the preaent she wnold
wait.
A sense of desolation settled down j
upon her when she realized that Holtj
was gone away; yet she was at peace!
about it. At least she need no! always J
fearing lest her relatives should
u unpleasant to him, or that em- j
barrassing circumstances might arise;
where she would be obliged to choose;
between her sense of loyalty to her j
lever and her sense of loyalty to her .
relatives in whose home she was a
guest. But for a little time she put!
away thesj thoughts and let her happy j
lioart <1 "<;! on u.e fact taa* ho had;
sent these glorious roses with their,
secret message; ad finally she lay j
down for a rest and slept, with one
great, yellow bud nestled against her
cheek.
CHAPTER in.
The days which followed fulfilled'
all Mrs. Harrington’s prophecies so j
far as faiety was concerned. One:
round of pleasure succeeded another.
The days wore filled with picnics and
rides and the evenings with mery mak
ings of all descriptions at all the
houses In the region rqpnd about Hawk
valley. There were not wanting many
young officers and others who were
eager to teach the sweet young strang
er from the east to ride. Horses espe
cially trained and gentled for her use
were brought as offerings at her
shrine, and fuowers from near and wsr
were sent to her. The Harrington chil
dren were in danger of becoming
chronic dyspeptics on the surplus of
the confections with which she was
constantly supplied ; and there was no
opportuityq for her to become lonely
or morbid as the summer days sped
by in a round of pleasure.
Yet through it all Jean moved, lovely
and serene as a summer morning.
“She acts as If sho had been in
society for years," complained^Eleanor
to her husband. “Nothing moves he?
out of lit :• quiet Mgnity. She doesn't
gush or tecom- enth isiostic at any
body. The sky and flowers and the
children please her more than all the
adulation she receives. One would al
most Judge her engaged or married al
ready. I wonder if !t can be there is
a sweetheart t home we don’t know
about. I must write and ask mamma.
I can't make it out. I thought Cap
tain Hawthorne would surely make an
Impression, he has such charming man
ner, and is so deferent!-.! ro women;
but she looked at him today with that
sweet far away expression exactly as
she might have looked at her grand
father. Of course it made him desper
ately determined to get nsr attention
but she never seemed to know or care.
One \v old Utmost thina it was a
studied poso to get as many at ner
feet as possible, if one dull) t know
Jean bel ter.”
"Did you ever thing xti-.t perhaps
her thoughts ui e fith that scoundrel
Holt?’ her m.sband asked
wonder where the deuce he Is. I'll bo
“Nonsense!" said his wife sharply.
“She never mentions him. She has for
gotten all about him. I think she was
extremely annoyed at our making so
much of his bringing her home.” ,
“Well, don’t you be too sure. I won
der where the deuce he is. I’ll he will
ing to bet he’s up to some mischief.”
“Don’t worry.” said his wife. “I’m
only too glad he’s taken himself away.
1 hope he’ll keep hidden until Jean is
safely home againfl so we won t be
annoyed.”
“I hope he'll come hack ana let us
nee what he’s up to,” growled her hus
band as she left the room.
And at last one dy shortly before
Jean was to return to her father’s
houso, Holt time back
With him appeard Scathlin, riding
inti town daily, side by side ki'.’i the
younged man, on one of Holt's horses;
looking older, with a sheeptnsh ex
pression and a shift eye that failed to
meet men’s gaze. It was rumored
tha* Holt had found him with a brok-1
en led. nursed him Into strength again
and brought him home. Thoso who
knew Satchlln felt that Holt's power
over him was more than that of grati
tude.
It happened that Jean was riding
with the Captaiu one morning when i
they came down to the post office to- j
gather, and the glad smile with which
she greeted Holt was followed by a
frightened expression as she recog-1
nizod Scathlin. Her escort was so as
touUhcd at havlioj to lift his hat to |
Holt Hint he fail > 1 to notice her star
tied glam e.
No one could have lohl by Holt’s
grave l>ow that he v.’ag_r.teetln*Jhe_,
one of all the each to him. Oily the
c’.i In his eyes to’d of his joy in
seeing her once more, aid reasured j
the girl as she glanced from Scathlin j
back to his own face. It was Captain
Hawthorne’s annoyed drawl that re
called her to the present ' of the
wtrU-l of joy that the o.gm of H '.*
brought.
“Where in the world did yo* ever
meet that scoundrel that be should
presume to speak to you?”
A flush of indignation rose to her
cheeks, her chin tilted just the slight-;
est bit hapghtily and her ewes held
a dangerous light in them.
“Excuse me, Captain Huwtvone. Mr.
Holt is my friend. He did me the j
greatest service ohe can do for an-,
other. Ho saved my life.”
“I beg your pardon, Miss Grayson, I
didn't mean to offend you. That alters
the case of course. One is always
grateful for one’s life, and may thank
even a dog. '-You can afford to be gen
erous, sometimes, but have a care!
You do not know Holt! It’e the c i y
good thing I ever heard of him, hat
■ he saved your life. I wou.d it had
been my privilege Instead of his.”
“Thank you. Captain Hawthorne,”
Jen spoke frigidly, “but you misunder
stand me. 1 am not speaking to Mr.
Holt beci'se I am grateful or generous,
but because I honor and trust him as a
irtanfl."
"You do not know him. Miss Gray
son. He Is not a man who anyone
trusts.”
"II ir you who f’a net know ! im,
Captain Hawthorne. I know him let
ter than you, and I trust him entirely.
During our terrible experience togeth
er at the time of the wreck I 1 ad
ample opportuity to test Mr. Holt,
and 1 found him a gentleman and a
true friend In every trying situation.”
And now indeed Jean’s tone was
unmistakable, and the alarmed cap
lain, who had congratulated himself
I hat he was making pretty good head
way with the fair lady, made hasty
apologies.
"1 beg your pardon, of course,” he
said humbly. “I’m sure I’m glad to
hear that he behaved decently. To
tell you the truth I don’t know much
personally about Holt. I’ve only taken
what, others say; and I’ve always
thought his reckless appearance bore
sut their insinuations. Forgive me if
[ have annoyed you, and try to forget
what I’ve said. This day is perfect
ud the road is particularly fine. Shall
we try a gallop?”
Jean was glad of the relief from
;onversatiou, and kept her horse on a
wild gait the most ot the way; for
ler mind was in a tumult. How was
ihe to ge that paper to Holt and what
should she say in explanation of its
jeing In her possession? The question
lad been much in her mind during
Holt’s absence, and she had been un
ible to decide just what she should
lo when he returned, but now it mast
ae decided at once, for there ought to
se no delay about the paper. The sin
ister look in the faded blue eye ot
Scathlin as he looked at her nwde her
ter to keep It In her possession any
longer.
The ride at last was ended. It had
ao't been avevy great success from the
*ap£amts point of view and he went
tway dejected, while Jean hurried to
iier room and tried to plan what to do.
rhe sight of Scathlin worried her. If
:he old man knew what papers the
wallet had contained he probably knew
;he significance of each. The conver
sation she had overheard seemed to
mclud him in the plot, if plot there
was, against Holt. Of course, since
le had returned, he would seek out
;he other two men and explain why he
lad sent the wallet; and perhaps he
lad the other missing paper himself,
;he one that contained valuable infor
nation about the location of ore. It
was even possible that he Knew al
ready that she, his unwilling messen
;er, had the water contract. He must
lave known it was in the wallet when
le gave it to her and it would be en
irely natural for him to think she 1 ad
aken it out. Something in the gleam
)f his eye as he looked at her had
nade her tremble; and she long to
Hy straight to Holt and give him the
saper . nkly and openly, but it was a
natter could not be handled open
y, anr was not a diplomat, there
ore sh .nbled.
Final after careful thought, and
nuch wi dug and tearing up of what
ilie had written she framed a brief
lote to Holt.
iContinued Next Week.)
Behalf of Sonslnlaw.
From Judge.
“After all. despite everything that h is
>een said against him. a sonlnlaw has ids
idmirable side," admitted Farmer Grimm.
'If you free your mind in full to the hin d
•nan and tell him what you think of him
tnd liken him to what he Is, he will puff
ip and demand his pay and quit. If you
joss and bully your son too systematic
illy, he will run away. But, just as long
la you feed your sonlnlaw and do not
ictually beat and maul him, you can day
what you please to him, and he will re
nain faithful."
Would See It Through.
From the San Francisco Argonaut.
Representative Julius Kahn said at a
llnner: “What we call a desert' the Eng
ish call a 'sweet.' Offer an Englishman
i de.-sert and he wouldn't understand you.
[ remember a dinner last year at which
we entertained a number of Ergltsli Tom
'll.es. At the end of the 11th course the
waiter approached one of them with a
huge dish of apple pudding. ‘Dessert,
3.r?‘ he asked. Desert? Not me! Not
when I get a feed like tills for nothing*' ”
Hi* Choice.
From the Dallas News.
Ragged Rogers—If yer had to work for
a livin’ what would yer do?
Tired Tim—I’d look fer a Job makln'
spectacles fer eye teeth.
Three First Aeronauts.
From the Christian Science Monitor.
Reviewing t..e story of aeronautics,
S mcbody has raised a rather absurd ques
, r. and at the same time given honor
where- honor is due. to the three first
aeronauts. The absurd question is wheth
er tlie modern aviator Is as brave as were
Pllatre do Roller and the Marquts
il'Arlandes when they ascended at Paris,
November 21. 1783. in Montfolfier’s
flimsy bag filled with hot air from a
straw fire.” One may answer the ques
tion without much hesitation: conditions
have changed, but the men involved were
l are equally brave. Historically, more
over, Pilatre de Rosier and the Marquis
d'Arlendes were not. In a sense, the
original aeronauts. These were the sheep,
the rooster, and the duck which had
ascended earlier, the king and queen of
Fiance and a great multitude of their sub
jects breathlessly watching, and descend
ed two miles away in the wood of Vau
eresaon. The rooster, says history, began
to crow, and the sheep to graze: but
what the duck did is apparently lost to
human knowledge.
The Belgi i government has decided to
be officially represented on the mission
when will go to America in September
cc lp-.rislng men prominent in commerce
and industry in various of the European
allied nalione.
a The American battleship Idaho, carry
ing President-elect Pessoa, of Brasil,
from New York to Rio Janeiro, stooped
yesterday off the coast of the state of
Parahyba, while Ur. Pessoa Brent the
day at Cabedelo, his birth place.
Adenoids are handicapping more than
10 per cent of the American children in
attaining normal, healthful development
l manhood, according to a recent exten
i *jrvew hi population centers con
i u ,«vl by in*.United States public health
1st A* ' »* •'
Such tender bits of fine meat—such careful season*
ing! One taste of Libby’s Vienna Sausage, served
piping hot, will tell you it was prepared by master
chefs! Ask your grocer for a package today.
Contents will serve two.
Libby, McNeill & Libby, Chicago
She Hesitated.
“And so you proposed to Etliel last
night?” asked the young man’s sister.
“Yes, I did,” replied her brother,
sadly.
“And did she give you any encour
agement?’’
“Oh, yes 1”
“Then have I to congratulate you?”
‘No; she refused me!”
“But I thought you said she gave
you some encouragement?”
“Well,” said the youth reluctantly,
"she looked at me three times before
she refused me I”
Its Class.
"Do you believe In metempsycho
sis?" “Never heard of it. Is it a new
mind cure?”
Stamps for Fiume.
The Hungarian stamps which the
Italian forces seized in Flume and
overprinted with the word Flume
apparently were in use only a
short time; for now we learn
the Italians have Issued special ad
hesives for tills occupied Hungarian
port. These Flume stamps of Ital
ian pripting bear §aeli a scene frog;
a street In the city, with whut is
apparently the Italian flag flying from
one of Flume’s publie buildings.
Some fellows seem satisfied to be
to the world what tartar is to a
horse’s teeth.
Wise is the married man who keeps
private affairs to himself.
I Delicate Mechanism 1
' Despite its scope Swift & I 1 \
f Company is a business of in- I jjjj '
finite details, requiring infinite
attention.
Experienced men must know 5
livestock buying with a knowl- ||| <
edge of weight, price, the amount
| j and quality of meat the live
; k; animals will yield. 8 H
I Bach manufacturing operation must
be done with expert skill and scientific 111
; precision. A highly perishable product ||| **
j must be handled with speed and care
| .to avoid loss. ||||
Chemists, engineers, accountants, 111 ^ *
and other specialists are required to ||H^
take care of our intricate problems.
Alert wisdom and judgment must 1 |J
be used in getting stocks of goods into V;
j the open channels of demand through ^
oiu four hundred branch houses,
j Branch house organizations must :
show activity and energy to sell at the
market in the face of acute competi
tion from other large packers, and 1 j
hundreds of small ones. |{ j
All these requirements of intelligence, 11||
loyalty, devotion to the task, are met SI j| |
in the personnel of Swift & Company. 11 j
Yet the profit is only a fraction of a cent || ||
| per pound with costs at minimum.
How can the workings of this deli- |j|j| _ < ^
cate human mechanism be improved ||||j
upon ?
Do you believe that Government |j |J
direction would add to our efficiency
111: or improve the service rendered the ji;jj j
I producer an ■ consumer ? • ™
Let us send you a Swift “Dollar”.
It will interest you.
Address Swift & Company,
Ur.ton Stock Yards, Chicago, 111.
Jwift Sc Company, U. S. A.
// wi-aY becomes OF X
f THE AVERAGE DOLL AO \
I RECEIVED BY \
SWIFT & company!
rMM THE SAIF Of MEAT »
AND«Y PAOOUCfS 5
E5 CENTS »S *MO FOR THE 8
* , UVE ANIMAL
"> |f.A# CENTS FOR LABOR 9
C&CNsf* A«(f FRClOtfl a
i.Q* UtNT$ REMAINS JB
VYITM J7
X 5*!FrL»M»NIY
