DACAIINh
IHOHLIIW
JIT
RED GATE
3ByC
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Illustrations by
RAY WALTERS
XL
oown the gauntlet as though she haff
countless battalions at her back. In
decision took flight before shame; It
was a privilege to know and to Berve
her!
"Miss Holbrook, won't you come out
to see the water fete? We can look
upon It In security and comfort from
the launch. The line of march Is from
Port Annandale past here and toward
the village, then back again. You can
Mian Helen mieht come. too.
but I beg that you will take compas
sion upon my loneliness.
I had flung oft my cap with the ex-
aceerated manner I sometimes used
with her: and she dropped me a cour
tesy with the prettiest grace in the
world.
"I shall be with you in a moment,
my lord!"
She reappeared quickly and re
marked, as I took her wraps, that
Helen was very sorry not to come.
The gardener was on duty, and I
called IJlma to help with the launch.
Brightly decorated boats were already
visible in the direction of Port Annan-
dale; even the tireless lake "tramps"
whistled, with a special flourish and
The Sole Occupant of the Canoe Waa
a Girl.
were radiant In varT-colored lanterns.
"This is an ampler Venice, but there
hould be music to make it complete,
observed Miss Tat, as we stole in ana
out among the gathering fleet. And
then, as though in answer, a launch
passed near, leaving a trail of mur-
muroug chords behind the mournful
throb of the guitar, the resonant beat
of banjo strings. Nothing can be so
soothing to the troubled spirit as music
over water, and I watched with delight
Miss Pat's deep absorption in all the
sights and sounds of the lake.
The assembling canoes flashed out
of the dark like fireflies. Not even the
spirits that tread the air come and go
more magically than the canoe that Is
wielded by a trained hand. The touch
of the skilled paddler becomes but a
caress of the water. To have stolen
across Saranac by moonlight; to have
paddled the devious course of the
York or Kennebunk when the sea
steals inland for rest, or to dip up
stars in lovely Annandale of such ex
periences is knowledge born!
I took care that we kept well to our
selves, for Miss Pat turned nervously
whenever a boat crept too near. IJlma,
understanding without being told, held
the power well in hand. I bad scanned
the lake at sundown for signs of the
Stiletto, but it had not ventured from
the lower lake all day, and there was
scarcely enough air stirring to ruffle
the water.
"We can award the prlie for our
selves here at the turn of the loop," I
remarked, as we swung Into place and
paused at a point about a mile off
Glenarro. "Here comes the flotllUj"
"The musle Is almost an lmperti
f nee, lovely as It Is. The real song
of the canoe Is 'dip and glide, dip and
glide,' " said Miss Pat.
The loop once maae, we now looked
npon a double line whose bright con
fusion added to the plcturs. The ca
noe offers, when you think of it, little
chance for the decorator, its lines are
to trim and so founded upon rigid sim
plicity; but many sealous hands had
labored for the magic of this hour.
Slim masts supported lanterns in
many and charming combinations, and
suddenly, as though the toy lamps had
taken wing, rockets flung up their
stars and Roman candles their golden
showers at a dozen points of the line
and broadened the scopo of the pic
ture. A scow placed midway of the
loop bow lighted the lake with red and
green fire. The bright, graceful ar
gosies slipped by, like beads upon n
rosary. When the last ranoe had
passed, Miss Pat turned to me, sighing
softly:
"It wjvj ln2 Tl-tl '5 J3!; 'l w5 a
page out of the book of lost youth."
I laughed back at her and signaled
IJlma to go ahead and then, as the
water churned and foamed and I took
the wheel, we were startled by an ex
clamation from some one In a row
boat near at hand. The last of the
peaceful armada had passed, but now
from the center of the lake, unobserved
and unheralded, stole a canoe fitted
with slim masts carried high from bow
to stern with delightful daring. The
lights were set in globes of green and
gold, and high over all, its support
quite invisible, shone a golden star
that seemed , to hover and follow the
shadowy canoe.
We all watched the canoe intently;
and my eyes now fell upon the figure
of the skipper of this fairy craft, who
was set forth in clear relief against
the red fire beyond. The sole occupant
of the canoe was a girl there was no
debating it; she flashed by within
paddle's length of us, and I heard the
low bubble of water under her blade
She paddled kneeling, Indian fashion,
and was lessening the breach between
herself and the last canoe of the or
derly line, which now swept on toward
the casino.
"That's the prettiest one of all"
began Miss Pat, then ceased abruptly.
She bent forward, halt rising and
gazing intently at the canoe. What she
saw and what I saw was Helen Hol
brook plying the paddle with practiced
stroke; and as she passed she glanced
aloft to make sure that her slender
mast of lights was unshaken; and then
she was gone, her star twinkling upon
us bewllderingly. I waited for Miss
Pat to speak, but she did not turn her
head until the canoe itself had van
ished and only its gliding star marked
it from the starry sisterhood above.
An exclamation faltered on my lips.
"It was It was like It was "
"I believe we had better go now,"
said Miss Pat, softly, and, I thought, a
little brokenly.
But we still followed the star with
our eyes, and we saw it gain the end
of the procession, sweep on at its own
pace, past the casino, and then turn
abruptly and drive straight for Glen-
arm pier. It was now between us ana
our own snore, u snone a rairaieai
against our pier lights; the the star
and the fairy lanterns beneath it van
ished one after another and the canoe
disappeared as utterly as though it
had never been.
I purposely steered a zigzag course
back to St. Agatha's. Since Helen had
seen fit to play this trick upon her
aunt I wished to give her ample time
to dispose of her canoe and return to
the school. If we had been struck by
a mere resemblance, why did the ca-
noest not go on to the casino and en
Joy the fruits of her victory T I tried
to imagine Gillespie a party to the es
capade, but I could not fit him into It.
Meanwhile I babbled on with Miss
Fat. Her plirHaes weie, luftever, a
trifle stiff and not In her usual man
ner.
I. walked with her from the pier to
St. Agatha's.
Sister Margaret, who had observed
the procession from an upper window,
threw open the door for us.
"How is Helen?" asked Miss Pat at
once.
"She is very comfortable," replied
the sister. "I went up only a moment
ago to see if she wanted anything."
Miss Tat lurneH and gave "nie her
hand In her pretty fashion.
"You see, It could not have been It
was not Helen; our eyes deceived
us! Thank you very much, Mr. Dono
van!" There was no mistaking her relief;
she smiled upon me beamingly as I
stood before at the door.
"Of course! On a fete night one
can never trust ono's eyes!"
'But It was all be wllderlngly beau
tiful. You are most compassionate to
ward a poor old woman In exile, Mr.
Donovan. I must go up to Helen and
make her sorry for all she has
missed."
I went back to the launch and
sought far and near upon the lake foi
the canoe with the single star.
wanted to see again the face that waa
uplifted In the flood of colored light
the head, the erect shoulders, the
arms that drove the blade so easily
and certainly; for It It was not Helen
Holbrook it was her shadow that the
gods had sent to mock me upon the
face of the waters.
CHAPTER Xli.
The Melancholy of Mr. Gillespie.
I laughed a moment ago whon, In
looking over my notes of these affairs,
I marked the swift transition from
those peaceful days to others of re
newed suspicions and strange events.
I had begun to yield myself to blan
dishments and to feel that there could
be no further Interruption of the Idyllic
hours I was spending In Helen Hoi-
brook's company. I still maintained,
to be sure, the guard as It had been
established; and many pipes I smoked
on St. Agatha's pier, In the fond belief
that I was merely fulfilling my office
as protector of Miss Pat, whereas
naa reached a point where the very
walls that held Helen Holbrook wer
f such stuff as dreams" are made of.
The only lingering blot in the bright
calendar of those days was her meet
ing with Gillespie on the pier, and the
fact that she had accepted money
from him for her rascally father. But
even mis i excused, it was no easy
thing for a girl of her high spirits to
be placed In a position of antagonism
to her own father; and as for Gllles
pie, he was at least a friend, abundant
ly able to help her In her oifflcult po
sltlon; and If. through his aid. she had
been able to get rid of her father, the
end had certainly Justified the means
I reasoned that an educated man o
good antecedents who was desperate
enough to attempt murder for profit
In this enllghteped twentieth century
was cheaply got rid of at any price, xi;K
and It w-.is extremely decent of Gilles
pie so 1 argued to have taken him
self away after providing the means
of the girl's release. I persuaded my
self eloquently on those lines while 1
exhausted the resources of Glenarm
in providing entertainment for both
ladles. There had been other break
fasts on the terrace at Glenarm. and
tea almost every day In the shadow of
St Agatha's, and one dinner of state
in the great Glenarm dining room; but
o ore blessed were those hours In
which we rode, Helen and I, through
the sunset into dusk, or drove a canoe
over the quiet lake by night. Miss
Pat. I felt sure, in so often leaving m.
alone with Helen, was favoring my at
tentlons; and thus the days passed,
like bubbles on flowing water.
She was In my thoughts as I rode
lato Annandale to post some letters,
and I was about to remount at the
post-office door when I saw a crowd
gathered in front of the village inn
and walked along the street to learn
the cause of It. And there, calmly
seated on a soap box was Gillespie,
clad In amazing checks, engaged In the
delectable occupation of teaching a
stray village mongrel to Jump a stick.
The loungers seemed highly enter
tained, and testified their appreciation
In loud guffaws. I watched the per
formance for several minutes, Gilles
pie meanwhile laboring patiently with
the dull dog, until finally it leaped the
stick amid the applause of the crowd.
Gillespie patted the dog and rose,
bowing with exaggerated gravity.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I thank you
for your kind attention. Let my slight
success with that poor cur teach you
the lesson that we may turn the idlest
moment to some noble use. The edu-
cation of the lower animals is some
thing "to which too little attention Is
paid by those who, through the pro
cesses of evolution, have risen to a
higher species. I am grateful, gentle
men, for your forbearance, and trust
we may meet again under circum
stances more creditable to us all In
cluding the dog."
The crowd turned away mystified,
while Gillespie, feeling in his pocket
for his pipe, caught my eye and
winked.
"Ah. Donovan." he said, coolly, "and
so you were among the admiring spec
tators. I hope you have formed a high
opinion of my skill as a dog trainer.
Once, I would have you know, I taught
n Plvmnnth Rock rooster to turn a
summersault. Are you quite alone?'
"You seem to be as big a fool as
ever !" I crumbled in disgust, vexed
at finding him In the neighborhood.
"Gallantly spoken, my dear fellow!
You are an honor to the Irish race jj.nd
mankln d. Our meeting, however, Is
not inopportune, as they say in books;
and I would have speech with you,
gentle knlpht. The Inn, though hum
h'.e. la still net without decent com
forts. Will you honor me?"
He turned abruptly and led the way
through the office and up the stairway,
babbling nonsense less for my enter
talnmcnt. I Imagined, than for the be-
fuddlenient of the landlord, who leaned
heavilv upon his scant desk and
watched our ascent.
He opened a door and lighted sev
eral oil lamps, which disclosed three
connecting rooms.
"You see, I got tired of living in the
woods, and the farmer I boarded with
did not understand my complex char
acter. The absurd fellow thought mo
Insane can you imagine It?"
'It's a pity he didn't turn you over
to the sheriff," I growled.
"Generously spoken! But I came
here and hired most of this inn to be
near the telegraph office. Though as
big a tool as you care to call me I
nevertheless look to my buttons. The
hook-and-eye people are formidable
competitors, and the button may In
time become obsolete--stranger things
have happened. I keep in touch with
our main office, and when I don't feel
very good I Are somebody. Only this
morning I bounced our general man
ager by wire for sending me a letter
in purple type-writing; I had warned
him, you understand, that he was to
write to me In black. But it was only
a matter of time with that fellow. He
entered a bull pup against mine In the
Westchester bench show last spring
and took the rlbboa away from me. I
really ceuldn't stand for that. In splto
of my glassy splash In the asparagus
bed, I'm a man who looks to his dig
nity, Donovan. Will you smoke?"
1 lighted my pipe and encouraged
htm to go on.
"How long have you been la this
bake-oven?"
"I moved In this morning you're
my. first pilgrim. I have spent the
long hot day In getting settled. I had
to throw out the furniture and buy
new stuff of the local emporium,
where, It depressed me to learn, furni
ture for the dead is supplied even as
for the living. That chair, wMch I
beg you to accept, stood next In the
shop to a coffin suitable for a carcass
of about your build, old man. Rut
don't let the suggestion annoy you! I
read your book on tiger hunting a few
years ago with pleasure,' and I'm sure
you enjoy a charmed life.
"I, myself, he continued, taking a
chair near me and placing his feet In
an open window, "am cursed with
lugged health. I bave quite recovered
from those unkind cuts at the nunnery
-thanks to your ministrations and
am willing to put on the gloves with
yci at any time."
"You do me great honor; but the
ffalr must wait fer a lower tempera
ture." "As you will! It Is not like my
great and gracious ways to force a
fight. Pardon mo, but may I Inquire
for the health nf the ladles at Saint
What's-her-name's?"
"They are quite well, thank you."
"I am glad to know It;" and his
lone lost for the moment Its JaunM-
ncss. Henry Holbrook has Bono to
New York,"
KK1TBUCAX
CITY
COXVKXTIOX
tiujr, Hule Forces Member to Accep
"CitUeas" Ticket.
The child has been adopted. It's
god-fathers found it out last night
and clasped it to their several bos
oms with every manifestation of
fatherly pride. The infant "Citizens"
ticket was formally baptised "Repub
lican" at the convention held by that
party at the council chamber. It is
ture that some of those present seem
ed to doubt the paternity of the in
fant owing to the strong democratic
resemblance of its main features, but
the putative fatherss were generally
pleased with its appearance and little
they wot of what the men who vote
thought.
The convention which stands forth
as rostcr-iatner or the inrant, vias
not so large nor were the specta
tors as curious as at either the dem
ocratic or the so-called citizens meet
ing of the two nights previous.
Those who attended and took part In
the adoption stunt, were nearly all
present and participating in the
mournful event of tho evening be
fore., The signs of the inte-nso anx-
itey during the period of travail were
still evident in many cases but as
time wore on ad the evening waxed
old and one after the other, the
fathers of the weakling came In calm
reassurance took the place of anx
iety and soon all were smiling with
Joyful anticipation of tho event in
prospect.
Anon came others of sombre mien
and ferocious aspect. These were
those who doubted the authenticity
of the child's certificate of birth and
who preferred to ralso an infant of
their own. Some of them it was said
were not averse to being on the
ticket and made a part of the infant.
Others had dear and well beloved
friends whom they hoped to see
shine forth as candidates for public
favor. All these, alas, and alack,
were doomed to be disappointed. In
fact, they were ruthlessly thrust un
der the steam ro'ler and ground up
thinner than the proverbal mincemeat.
This crushing out process was not
accomplished however, without con
siderable violent protest from tho un
fortunate victims who were outside
the pale of the klan. Their protes
tations, however, were wasted on the
desert air and tho proverbal two
spot was a largo sized figure com
pared with w hat thoy cut.
There were very few democrats
present even as spectators. The few
who were there however, had a
thoroughly enjoyable and edifying
evening and the occasion will re
main In their memories for ninny
years as one cf the brightest in their
lives. They were In the role of In
norent bystanders but had better for
tune than the usual character of that
kind has and escaped without harm.
The meeting was called to order by
A. L. Tldd who explained to the con
vention that Tom Murphy was chair
man of the city central committee but
ho was out of tho city and could not
bo present, therefore tho speaker had
been asked to call the meeting to
order. He then asked for nomina
tions for chairman. . T. H. Pollock
then named James M. Robertson as
chairman and he was nominated by
acclamation. Mounting the rostrum
amid a scilence so deep as to bo loud,
Mr. Robertson asked for the nomina
tion for secretary. George Farley
was named but manfully stood up
and declared the honor could not
be his. Ho had been a member of
the "citizens" convention and could
not participate In this one. His brave
.-
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Back of these 500 suits is our
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Copyright 1909
The How of KuppenhttiMt
Chicago
C. E.
WEscorrs
SONS.
"Where Quality Counts."
man In the audience leaped to his
feet, his face glowing with the magic
of the speaker's electric power and
seconded the motion. Chairman Bob
ertson, also aglow with wild and
almost childish enthusiasm put the
motion and declared it adopted with
a whoop and a yell
Forthwith came doings, Bundry
and varied. Former councilman But
trey demanded a poll of the house
which II. N. Dovey seconded. Protest
on protest against the action of the
meeting was hurled forth but all In
vain. Chairman Robertson repeated
his declaration that the motion had
carried and the resolutions had been
adopted. Dovey demanded that every
republican be allowed to vote. II. A.
Schneider thought this was the prop
er caper while Tidd sought to sooth
the waves by suggesting tho dlscub
slon of tho resolutions. Tho cussing
of the resolutions was already In pro
gress among tho fifteen or twenty re
publicans In the room.
Judge Newell then proposed a
method of settling the riot which was
in progress and suggested that all
who favored tho resolutions come to
tho front and vote and every man
Harry of the citizens present did,
leaving a mournful relic of the once
great republican party of Platts
mouth sucking their thumbs in the
rear of the room. These fifteen or
twenty declined to vote ' with the
exception of Sam Archer who de
clared ho would vote against tho res
olutlons It he was the only one to
do so and he stepped up and so re
corded his vote. Several voices
spoke up in affirmation when he
told the chairman there were "more
here."
Judge Newell then moved that a
chairman of the central committee
and a committee from each ward be
selected which was done, II . A.
Schneider being chosen as chairman.
A. L. Tldd was elected secretary
and a recess was then taken for the
different wards to elect committee
men. Ev-Councllman Buttery llven-
the history of the crucifixion In mu
sic which has wondrous power. Yes
terday's portion was the "Mockery
On the Cross." This portion contains
a magnificent bass solo which Prof.
II. S. Austin rendered in his own
masterly manner making It brilliant
and effective. There Is also a tenor
solo which Glenn Scott gave excellent
rendition of while the soprano solo
of Miss Edna Petersen was also sup-,
erb. Miss Marie Donnelly also had a
contralto solo which was a marvelous
number. Miss Kittle Cummins at
the organ had several instrumental
numbers which were given with the
full power and effect which Miss
Cummins Is capable of and which
make genuine heavy and brilliant
music. In addition the work of the
choir was especially fine at this por
tion of the music and their consclen-
ciouB and painstaking work was
very evident in the rendition they
gave of their parts. Tho different
fugue movements which this portion
is full of were superbly handled.
When It Is known that the larget
ci.oiiei of the great churches Invnit
ab'y cut out one fugue In this pict
cm account of Its difficult passages,
nnd that St. Luke's under Prof. Aus
tin f.nve the part in lw entirety In
cluding this fugue, the work of tho
choir can bo appreciated. Indeed,
the people of Plattsmoulh have luiir
I."" nt St. Luke's which they should
appreciate as It Is something which
a liu-fccr city would go wild over. It
Is u ;reat thing for this city to have
so able an Instructor as Prof. A vAi
pud his great abilities deserve an ap-pmiclatlon.
ed the thickening gloom by a few per-
act In admitting that he had been In tlnent remarks about no republican
could be expected to support such a
the "citizens" convention brought
forth deafening applauso and, a pe
tition was started at once asking
a Carnegie medal for him. His with
drawal brought Deputy Sheriff Man
speaker to his feet with the namo of
A. L. Tldd, whose nomination electri
fied the vast audience and salvo after
salvo of applause busted through the
smoke surcharged atmosphere. Mr.
Tldd assembled tho platform and
with the ennulcd air of the man of
affairs, took up his duties, designed
to be all too brief.
The call was then read for this
vast outpouring of the elements of
the city and then ensued a pause
while tho line of procedure was map
ped out. At last a call for nomin
ations was made and forthwith rose
Tldd In all the majestic dignity of
his onerous task and drawing from
the inside pocket of his coat a vol
uminous roll of printed matter ho
launched forth to explain to the con
vention he had had the misfortune
to have edited a paper for the past
two months and ho had made plain
tho position he would advocate in
this campaign. lie favored better
city government, so forth and so on
ad libitum,, ad seratlm, winding up
his remarks by reading tho resolution
which after many whereases and al-
sos, and then-fores, declared that the
convention endorso and nominate tho
citizens ticket. Rolling the resolu
Hons together he proclaimed In
thunder tones: "Mr. Chairman, I
move you the adoption of the resolu
tions." No sooner had the words
leaped forth from his lips like a bean
from a nigger shooter, than a littl
ticket and further that tho meeting
ought to wait until the rest of the
citizens committee J. P. Falter, ar
rived to get their orders. His unscem
Ing levity Jarred 'upon Borne of tho
nerves of the moro sensitive who
seemed to think that Frank was not
exhibiting a Christian spirit.
When tho meeting reassembled (lie
ollowlng committeemen were chosen:
First ward, B. A. McElwaln, second
ward, Wm. Weber, third ward. 0. C.
Hudson, fourth ward, H. DarthoM,
fifth ward. C. C. Desplaln.
The usual resolutions to allow tho
imnmlttee to fill vacancies were
adopted after which the citizens per
mitted the republicans to march forth
from tho hall secure In their Journey
ms they had been looted of even tlielr
virtue.
Give Fourth Number.
At St. Luke's church yesterdoy the
fourth part of tho "Passion" music
was. given by Prof. Austin and St.
Luke's choir and this portion was
even better that that which had been
given before. Popular Interest In the
magnificent religious music has
grown steadily and yesterday tho
spacious auditorium of St. Luke's
was filled to overflowing. This music
Is beyond all question the greatest
religious music ever given here.
Handel's "Messiah" Is considered as
a masterpleco of religious melody
but It pales beside tho stupendous
music of tho "Passion." Few people
really appreciate tho tremendous
depth of religious sentiment which
tho noble music conveys. It depicts
"Lena Klvers"
When Nixon & Co. decided to put
out a production of "Lena Rivers"
dramatized from Mrs. Mary J. Holmes
novel, they Immediately engaged Miss
Beulah Poynter to make the book In
to play form. Miss Poynter made a
careful study of tho book, as the story
Is a true one In a great many respects.
Belching that she could get so much
better conception by actually know
Ing tho "locale" of the play and see. '
Ing the class of people which the story
Is written around, she spent one halt
her summer at the little village ot
Slocumvllle, Mass., and the balance
near Frankfort, Ky., where Lena
grew up and spent the balance of her
life afterloavlng Slocumvllle.
Although conditions had changed.
I somewhat In the years since the book
was written, there was a great many
of the characteristics of each place
that were still unchanged. A num
ber of the people whom Mrs. Holmes
took as models were to be found In
each place and were very much flat
tered by the Interest that they arous
ed. The little cottage of Granny
Nichols Is still standing and not far
away the old lady rests beside her
helpmate. Nancy Scovendyke died
an old maid, always thankful that Bh
didn't marry John Livingston. After
a few weeks visit among these peo
ple Miss Poynter made the same Jour
that Granny and Lena made so many
years before, and at the old Living
stone home near Frankfort, Ky., stud-
led the home of Letra and Durward
and all the other friends. Poynter
seemed to wrlto the play with almost
reverence, and tho fact that she so
thoroughly understood the characters
Is tho cause of much favorable crltl
clsw. At the Parmle next Wednesday
evening, March 26.
Mrs. Hans Pansh who was called
here by tho death of Mrs. William
Wohlfarth, departed on the mall
(rain at noon for her home. Her
man Wohlfarth accompanied her for
a visit.