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About The Plattsmouth daily herald. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1883-19?? | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1888)
TUB UAILX HERAL& rLAri'SMUuTII, NEBRASKA, TUFSDAV. APRIL 10, 18IS. FOR THE LAST TIME. Within thia room shaMuvu her still ilyi! I pauM upon tbe thrmliold, whiln toy eyes wbrt fully around, for memories Of her nwn't face. Lor thoughts, lier word aM way. Shall make tho sunithine that through life' dark maze May Rild the jwithwny with It k,M. ii dypg; And when I walk fur off "n.-ath alii-n kIcm Vy hnart tthall Ht ill ho Kladl-nvl by ItM ray. for the last time I look around. I hear No sound save lettering Ivy Valimt the pane Ahl how my hrart xrowu chilled with Hulden fear Lit thU last hojm that I have held he vain IiWrt I iihould nevf r nee your fair faoe, dear, Or clottD once more your Laud iu mine again I But no; I hear your fooUtep at tlie door. Love, you can uitwt me thus with smiling face. While I I do but long for Itreut hing space To give these cold, atiff lips the iwwer once more To greet you calmly, aa they could before I knew the truth. And yet, would I retrace The path that I have trod, and leave thiit place With the heart quiet and free that once I Ix.reT I cannot tell. Thoughts wander through my brain Like dream that come and go beyond our will. You Heak; I know; I answer back a'aiu; But uaughtjtf all aeein.s real to me, until We come to say good by. Then bitter pain Gives me sure proof 1 aut not dreaming still! ' Chambers' Journal. A CASE OF CONSCIENCE. On a certain dark night in October, two gentlemen might have teen seen standing under a gaslight, at tho junction of two business streets, engaged in close conversa tion. They spoke in low, cautious tones, and Jheir faces, lieneath the flickering light, were grave unto solemnity. In the tall, slim young man, who leaned against tho lamp iost in such a tragical atti tude, and who seemed to be doing all the talking, almoKt any one might bave recog nised the cashier of the First National bank, Mr. Cleveland B. Street, while the broad shouldered, pleasant fared gentluiiyui, stand ing with folded arms and head bent forward to listen, was equally well known as Mr. George Lamoreaux, real estate agent and chosen friend of Mr. Street. Past them in gay procession filed the people returning from the theatre over the way; and more than one turned to comment curi ously upon the untimely conference. But the two men heeded them not; and the pleas ure seekers, a they passed on to their homes, and straightway forgot all about the occur rence, little dreamed of the dark secret that was being unfolded beneath the gaslight. For it was a dark secret. Jfo wonder Mr. Street's voice'grew deep and impressive as he proceeded to lay it liefore Lis friend. 'SiJ ears ago," began Mr. Street, "I was teller in the Kerriu Savings bank. Oe night it was broken into and robbed of $15,000. I slept in the bank at the time, and, of course, I tried to defend the property. I bad an encounter with a burglar, but he was stronger than I, and I might have fared badly if the police hadn't come to my rescue. The roblier hoard them and made his escape, and he has never been heard of since." Here Mr. Street paused for breath. "Welir said the other, looking mystified. "But," continued the cashier, "in tho struggle I got a good sight of the man's face, and I've always declared I should know that face if I ever saw it again." "Well," from his friend, still more mysti fied. "Two months ago I saw that face; I met that man and talked with him. I meet him very day." At length Mr. Lamoreaux was interested. "Ami you know him, too," pursued Mr. Btreet. "IT "Yes, you; everybody knows him; he" 'Oh! come;" interrupted Mr. Lamoreaux, im;at:ently, "what's the man's uaiuef "He is known here as Walter Hammond." 'Not the new partner in the spring works." "The same." Mr. Lamoreaux uttered a low whistle. "Well, that beats me!" he ejaculated. "The high toned Mr. Hammond, that everybody's running after! Why, Street, you must be mistaken." "Mistaken! I know that face as if I had seen it but yesterday. Why, man alive, if you had lain on your back and looked up into that face bending over j-ou, knowing that it might be the last face you would ever look upon in this world if you had seen it under the circumstances I did I think you would remember that face!" There was a painful silence, broken by Mr. Lamoreaux. "Well," be said, "what are you going to do about itf" "Goodness knows, I don't," returned Mr. Btreet, helplessly. "What would you doT Mr. Lamoreaux gazed reflectively out into the darkness. "I'll tell you. Street, he said, slowly, "I wouldn't do anything. I'd keep an eye on the man and say nothing. You see, he's so prominent here, t would make a terrible sen sation. And if you have no evidence but your memory you couldn't prove anything, .anyhow." "Yes, and his accomplices might assassi naie me, or something, too." "That's so," promptly assented his friend. It's clearly your duty to keep still." At that instant a light flashed across the street. A man emerged from a doorway op posite, stopped a moment to light a cigar, then walked rapidly down the street. He yr&m a little above medium height and slender. A heavy black mustache and square cut chin were all that was visible beneath the soft cap he wore well down over bis syes. He carried his head slightly forward and walked rap- idly, with a light, noiseless step, ... ivfcjUaJer, "do you taink a man couiq success- The two meu under the gaslight eJacuJatclr-rrtilly Simultaneously: ".Hammond I" Tmre is something queer about him," ob served Hr, Lamoreaux. "It's .the shadow of a crime," said Mr. Street, solemn". The town -clock struck 11. And the two friends, by common .consent, abandoned the. Jaxsp post and turned their faces homeward. Mr. Cleveland B. Street was conceded by rery one to be a most estimable young man. Th president of the bank spoke highly of bint on all ot-casions, and occasionally in creased his salary. The old ladies approved of him, and the young ladies said he was nice." He was a member of the Shooting Stars Dramatic club, the East End Dancing club and 'Musical union. lie sang tenor in the Presbyterian church. He lel uneventful life of the Average business man, and was reasonably -contented and happy. There was, beside all this, another circum stance which conspired to make Mr. Street, ia anticipation, a most enviable man. Miss Alice Wilson was a handsome, vivacious fcrunette, who, by her thousand winning vrays, had completely ensnared the heart of the voun x cashier. Of late she had been per- rvtil.lv mrr nivura?illZ. and be felt SO- Knlf confident that when he urged his suit t -v- u Mm nav. Some such thoughts as these were flitting through Mr. Street's mind, as bo stood behind the bank counter, a few days after the disclosure beneath tho gaa light And now, as bis thoughts reverted to Mr. Haauuond, If could not sappms a feelln;; of pfty for that unhappy man for he nnat be unhappy carrying about with him such a memory of hidden crime. His ill gotten gains might bring him Influence, but they never could purchase him happiness. Mr. Stm t thought of Alice Wilson, and said to himself that he was sorry for the fellow. Ono ilay a dashing equipage drew up in front of tho bank, and a lady leaned out to Icuk to another on the walk. Mr. Street's quickened sight at onco woprnized, in the occupuut of the carriage, Miss Alice Wilson. But who was it sitting beside her and smiling down un her with such confident gallan try? The cashier's eyes followed them far up the street, but that first look had been enough it was Walter Hammond! "It's queer, isn't itr said the teller at his elbow, "how that Hammond got right Into society hero. He shot right up like a rocket, and nobody knows anything about him, either, lWore he came here. Well, money 'II take a body anywhere nowadays." But the cashier was not listening. Ho banged the book together and went home to his tea, locking the door with such a forbid ding face that a man who mot him said ho shouldn't wonder if tho First National had sustained a loss; hu met C. B. Street coining away from there with a face as long as your arm. That was only tho beginning. Mr. Ham mond legan to attend Miss Wilson like a shallow. Ho escorted her to jwirties, tho theatre and church, lie he ever so assiduous, Mr. Street nearly alwuys found his atten tions to the young lady anticipated by Mr. Hammond. There was no pleasure in calling there any more. Mr. Hammond was sure to le there. Did he aspire to take her to a place of amusement ho only had the mortification of hearing that she was "so sorry," but had "just accepted an invitation." And ho would see her there with Mr. Hammond. Meanwhile the cashier's face grew graver and still morn grave. The worried lines in his forehead settled into an habitual frown. That one little cloud which had sailed so un expectedly across his sky had grown till it threatened to obscure the whole horizon of his happiness. Sometimes, when he saw his mysterious rival hovering about Miss Wilson, he could not repress a feeling of exultation at the thought that, with one word, he could banish him forever from her presence. He tried to rid himself of this feeling, which he knew was unworthy of him, but it would come at times in spite of himself. It seemed as is lie was at a sensational play, in which the deep dyed villain stalks about in safe disguise, only the whole com munity were the ready dupes, and he alone was the enlightened audience. The baleful secret began to haunt him liko a nightmare. Like an avenging spirit it rose between him and the recreations of his leisure hours. It confronted him from the face of his ledger at tho bank. It walked the streets with him, and sat down to dinner with him. It whis pered to him In his dreams. Every morning he awoke with the inquiry: "What ought I to do about itf and every night he went to bed with the question still unanswered. And the cashier knew how could he help knowing? that he was not himself of late; that he was growing moody and preoccupied in company. He could not help noticing the surprised looks of his friends at his changed demeanor. Still, ho restrained himself. He recognized that fate had commissioned him au emissary of justice. In his fingers he held the fatal noose which, some day, would drop over the head of his victim. He could afford to bide his time. But, whatever his duty to the community at largo, he owed it to Alice Wilson's happi ness to protect her from this impostor. Aud so it came to pass that he found himself, one evening, pulling the Wilsons' front doorbell, with a fixed resolve to warn Alice before bo left the house. Fortune favored him; she was alone, and, intent upon his puriose, he soon drew Mr. Hammond's name into the con versation. "He's a peculiar man, isn't hef 6aid Mr. Street. "I'm sure he's a very nice man," responded Miss Wilson, warmly. "Yes?"' said Mr. Street, with an interroga tion of dissent. "Why, of course, he is! I don't see what you can possibly have against him," she added, reproachfully. "I! Oh! nothing, nothing," hastily dis claimed tho cashier. "Then, if you have nothing against him, what makes you inrinuate things about himf urged the young lady, logically. This was not just the idea he wished to con- vey, so he made another venture. "Have n't you observed something mysteri ous about Mr, Hammond P he asked. "He does look like a man who might have a history," admitted the young lady. Now sho was helping him on. "Yes," he struck in eagerly; "some dark page in his life, some epoch of trouble, or crime." She caught at the last word. "What do you ineaa by thatf she de manded. Now tho time had come, the cashier hardly dared divulge his secret. He coughed, hesi tated, and finally stammered: "Why! I that is Mr. Hammond In fact six years ago, I was teller" Tho parlor door opened, and who should be ushered in but Mr. Hammond ! The gentle man insisted on shaking hands with Mr. Street, although tho cashier frowned darkly upon him. Mr. Street, disregarding Mis Wilson's warning look, opened upon Mr. Hammond with the remark: "We were speaking, just now, of some ons who had a mystery connected with his life. 'Indeed!'' returned Mr. Hammond, in differently. How is it. Mr, Hammond," asked the hide from the world a dark secret. rome terrible crime ne naa commiiiea, ior instance, and go on living just as if it had never been donef Mr. Hammond shifted his dark eyes un easily from the fire to Mr. Street, and back again to the fire. "It would depend a great deal upon the man," he said briefly. "Well, take any man, take yourself, for instance." Mr. Sfreet tried to speak in a careless, theoretical tone. "Since you insist on taking me as an illus tration," said Mr. Hammond, with a forced laugh, "why, I should think there was noth ing else for a man to do. - If ha hadnt nerve enough to live it through, he'd better keep out of it." "But might not the memory of the crime prey upon his mind until he felt compelled to tell it to some oneP persisted Mr. Street. "He'd be a fool if he did," retorted Mr. Hammond. And the cashier was stunned into silence st the remorseless practicality of this bold adventurer. A few minutes later Mr. Street took his leave, with a baffled sense that Mr. Ham mond still had the field. But events were hastening to a close, inde pendent of Mr. Street's intervention. Ono moruiaz came the following dispatch: "BARRVTLXX. "There is here on trial a man who is sus pected of being the robber of the Kerrin Savings bank, in TO. Could you identify the mau? If so, come at once. "Sheriff or Bars villi Couatv." Mr. Street reached far a Cms table. His hand shook so that he could scarcely see the figures. Tho first train for Earrville left at 1 1 AS. It was now 10:.'!0. He applied to tho president of the bank for leave of absence. He showed tho president the outside of the ditatch. That gentleman inferred, from tho cashier's pale face, that it was prolmMy a death in the family; and, as he always associated such events in his mind with tiequestii of projierty, he said, readily, that ho guessed they could get along without him for a few days. Half an hour later, Mr. Street was on the train speeding along toward Barrvillo. Iu that six hours' rido Mr. Street lived a month of suspense. The cars were no sooner in motion than he wished he had never started. If Mr. Hammond was convicted, let it bo upon other evidence than his. He would never have resting upon him the responsibility of sealing tho doom of a man who might, for all he knew, be honestly try ing to blot out the past and lead au upright life. He called to mind every little act of kindness that Mr. Hammond had ever ex tended to him. His excited imagination magnified them to boundless obligations. And this was his return for them! Mr. Street would have given a year's salary to be back at his desk. At every station he went out and stood on the platform with a wild desire to get off and go anywhere! away from Barrville. The leoplo in the car began to look at him strangely and suspiciously. And in the midst of his agonizing reflections the brake man dashed open the door and sang out "Barrville." How he got off from the train and over the distance from the dejot to tho court house, Mr. Street never knew. He spoke to several ersons on the way, but he couldn't have told, for his life, what he said to them. The first realization of his surroundings was when ho found himself ascending the broad steps of the court house with a green baize door iu front of him and all hope behind him. He hesitated a moment. That moment was decisive. The green baize door was sud denly opened from within, and he had no choice but to enter. The room into which he came was the court room. Court was in ses sion, and the room was filled to overflowing. Mr. Street's entrance was scarcely noted; every eye was strained toward the witness stand. A man near the door made room for Mr. Street on tho bench beside him. The cashier sank into the proffered seat. The buzz of voices in the court room came to him in in distinct murmurs, like sounds a great dis tance away. And, all the time, the mau at his side kept talking on in a desultory fashion. "The fellow's up for larceny," he said. "Queer you hadn't heard about it. "You're a stranger here, ain't you? He's the same one that robbed the Kerrin Savings bank in '76. P'raps you recollect? He owned up to it when he found they knowed it. He's been on the stand all the morning. They're a-waiting for him now." The loquacious stranger craned his neck around to get a better view. Mr. Street felt that he should faint or shriek if something didn't happen. Something did happen. "There he is!" exclaimed the stranger; "that's him on the witness stand. He's a holding up his hand to be sworn. I guess you'll have to stand up to see him." The cashier staggered to his feet. He looked at the people, the ceiling, the clock it was just 5:13 tho jury, the lawyers, the judge. Then, with an effort, he raised his eyes to the prisoner and saw Not Mr. Hammond but a man as like him as his reflection in a glass. Like him, but not he. There were the same piercing eyes, the same strongly marked features; but this man's face boro the impress of a hard and reckless life. It needed nut his confession of the crime; for Mr. Street knew, now, beyond porad venture, that this was the man with whom he had grappled on that eventful night, six years ago, aud that Mr. Hammond was as innocent of the crime as the cashier himself. For ono moment Mr. Street stood staring blankly at tho prisoner. Then as the whole force of the revelation dawned upon him, with an indescribable look of horror and re morse, he seized his hat and dashed frantic ally from the building. The night train bore away from Barrville a man who sat bolt upright in the corner of the seat, with his hat crushed down over his eyes. He neither spoke nor stirred. He had seen the phantom which had pursued him for the past year, until it had come to seem a living reality, dissolve and vanish before his very eyes. And it had loft him dazed and bewildered. He no longer tried to reason it out. He doubted his very senses, and grasped the arm of the seat firmly, to make gure be was not dreaming. The romance of his life had departed. He was no longer the mys- ! terious emissary who carried in his breast a consuming secret, but a commonplace busi ness man, whose thoughts any one might read. But commonplace people sleep soundly. That night not a dream disturbed his slum bers, and the next morning he went to bis desk, a matter of fact cashier. Mr. Hammond married Miss Wilson. Mr. Street never told her his secret. She asked bim about it, once, but he evaded her ques tion. When Mr. Street congratulated Mr. Hammond, the latter said: "Do you know, Street, I used to fancy you had something against me. You seemed al most suspicious of me. It made me posi tively uneasy at times." But the cashier drew himself up with dig nity, and said: "Do you take me for a fool, sir?" Hermin ius Cobb in The Epoch. A Biff Price for a Tree. Curly walnut is highly valued by veneer makers, if it contain the right kind of figure. A curious story comes from West Virginia about a curly walnut log. A woodsman found a tree somewhere in the region about Kan awha Falls that he concluded was very valu able. He secured a sample and forwarded it to a handler of such wood in Baltimore. The result was that the discoverer received an offer for the tree, probably amounting to $2,000. Subsequently the Baltimore man sold a share of the chance to an Indianapolis dealer, who opened negotiations with the woodsman for possession of the prize, at length going to West Virginia to prosecute the enterprise. When the affair had reached this stage the woodsman concluded that the tree was worth (3,000, and demanded that sum for it, or he would not yield up his knowledge. Seeing that the Indianapolis man was bound to find the tree, if possible, the discoverer cut it down and buried it in the earth. A thorough search has, as yet, failed to reveal the hiding place of the log, and the man who holds the secret declares that nothing but $3,000 will bring it to the surface. Detroit Free Press. Not at All Unlikely. Omaha Dame (reading) H. J. Bonfleld, an Englishman, claims to have penetrated fur ther into the dangerous and secluded parts of India than any other white man. For his personal safety he was several times espoused to royal women, from whom he escaped when opportunity offered. The British govern ment has offered him an enormous salary if he will return to India on a secret mission, but be has declined. Husband I suppose bis wives are living yet. Oman Wbttd. Jjnrm of the Kltensa. 1 Pig-foot jelly dat's good ole time eat in'. Young pig's slimy eatln', but de grown tip shoat makes sweet meat. Cut off de pig's tail en he'll fatten s' fast. Hit takes ez much co'n ter fill out de tail ez bit takes fer all res' uv ee btnly. Hut bog klllin' time do fat er do ro:is' pigtail crocks mighty good twlxt yer teef. White lard fer do great bouse; leaf lard fer de quarter. Kill de meat on de wax er de moon so ez hit'll swell in do pot kill hit on de wane hit'll sho swink in de cookin'. IJig lye hommy, hoecakes en sassages dee fits ter Christmas times. Who dat ax fer better feedin' dan er fat 'possum roas' wid Haters all roun' hit all er swimmin' in grease? White folks drinks de top er de demijon nigger lick he chops en smack he jaws over de bottom. Dar ain't nobody strong 'nough fer ter turn dat jug ups'downarda en give de nigger fust taste. Hake er nigger good "John Constant" on the bread-hoe, en fry him "Olo Ned" ef yer want ter see him work. ("John Constant" is corn meal. "Ole Ned" is salt pork.) "Billy Seldom" is good fer Sunday, but de nigger wants "John Constant" for ev'ry day. ("Hilly Seldom" is wheat flour.) School Is mighty good fer de slim nig ger, but I'll lift de oven lids fer de white folks twel I And a school whar dee 'gin yer som'at ter fill yer belly th'eo timea a day. Plant dem garden sas wha' bears dey vegetables on top er de groun' ou do wax er do moon. 1'iant yer cio 'truer en na trr .rp ; r:: ; root crape on ie wane er uo moon er yer 'sires good yield. Make lye soap on de wax er de moon. Stir hit all time wid er sass'fras stick, en stir frum do right ter de left always. Detroit Free Press. He Didn't Strike Dark. There is a good story told of a Wesleyan student, ono of the boat's crew that fin ished second in a flotilla of nix at Sara toga some years ago. He was a slim, good looking fellow, without a trace of a pedant in his makeup. He became en amored of the daughter of a well to do farmer, who lived not far from the lake. The farmer objected to hiin on general principles, and tried to break off the ac quaintanceship; he did not want a minis ter for a son-in-law, and the young mau seemed too light wai3ted for a rough bat tle with the world. Returning early one night he found the pair of lovers seated on the sofa, and at once proceeded to take off his coat. "If your father raises his hand against nie, I shall not strike back, but I will pull his nose," whispered the Lothario. Now, medical men pronounce the nose a most delicate and sensitive organ, and anything beyond gentle dallianco with it is provocative of great pain. But the old gentleman sailed in, and dragging tii" student lover to the doorsill he deposite-1 several pounds of kicking power under his coat tails. This was too much, and true to his word the young athlete seized the old man's nose twixt his fingers and wrung it heartily. In this unexpected turn of affairs the theologian was revealed in a new light. "Let go! let go! slie's yours!" yelled the pained but discreet father, "You shall marry her at the earliest opportu nity." And he did. Alfred Trumble in New York News. Prond Savages of Patagonia. The Patagonian Indians are a high grade of savages, have more intelligence than the natives of the tropical latitudes, are more honorable and less cruel. It is said that the Patagonian will never keep an agreement with a Spaniard, for the Spaniard has never kept faith with him. But he can be relied upon by every other nationality. A German trader who has had much to do with them during several years' experience at Puenta Arenas, told me that when a Tehuelches chief agreed to bring hira skins and feath ers, he brought them if they were to be found in the country. If the same chief agreed to bring the same things to a Chili trader across the way he was cer tain not to do it. If the Chili trader called him to account he would answer. "Manana" (to-morrow), the word the Spaniard always uses to excuse himself from carrying out a bargain. This prac tice is so universal that the Spaniards have been driven out of the trading busi ness. The Indians would not sell to them till all the other traders were supplied, e-'en when they offered higher prices. Philadelphia Times. Greasing a l'atient. Here is a case that happened out west a few years since. The graduating class in one of our medical colleges was. advised at the last by the old professor never to acknowledge ignorance, but always, when called, to give some treatment. One of the class settled in a western town, and after some years the old professor, ia traveling, got a piece of bone in his throat iu this same town, and the young doctor being called, failed b.y every means in his power to dislodge the obstruction, and then having recognized the old professor, stripped him and rubbed him with lard. This so amused the old professor thr.t he could not restrain a hearty laugh, which dislodged the bone, and he asked the doc tor, "Why iu thunder did you grease me?" The reply was, "You told me when I was about to graduate always to do some; thing, so I greased yon, not knowing Hpiat else to do." Williamsport Sun and Banner. Tears of " Schweitzer Kase," Next in popularity with all classes of people is the ordinary Swiss cheese, more familiarly known as "bchweitzer fciise. " Wherever there is Swiss or Germans there is also Schweitzer kase and lager beer. No free lunch counter is fully equipped without its slices of rye bread and Swiss cheese. This cheese is very compact ex cept for the numerous cavities scattered throughout it, varying in size front an eighth of an inch to a full inch iu diime? ter. When the cheese is of the best qual ity a drop of water, sparkling and as clear as crystal, will be found in each cavity. The Germans call these drops of water "tears," and in giving their order to the waiter thev UBually say: "Bring me some Schweitzer and a tear." Chicago News. The Date Was Correct. She My darling, it seems such a little while since we entered this bouse to begin life together. The glad spring time had just begun, the air was vocal with birds and fragrant with flowers; yet, just think, it's almost a year. He That's so. I received notice from the landlord this morning that if I wanted to Btay in this house I'd better come around and renew the lease. He's going to raise the rent on me, too. Yes. It's nearly a year. Omaha World. The Plattsmouth Herald Ts enjoying aBoominboth its EDITIONS. The Tear 1888 Will be one during which the fubjectts of national interest and importance will le strongly agitated and the election of a President will take place. Hie people of Caes County who would like, to learn of Political, Commercial and Social Transactions of this? year and would keep apace w ith the times should SUBSO K.IBBi -FOR Daily or Weekly Herald. Now while we have the subject before the people we will venture to speak ot our Which is first-class in all respects and from which our job printers are turning out much satisfactory work. PLATTSMOUTH, EITIIKK THE- per iiiyou Ud NEBRASKA.