THE WAY
OF
A MAN
By Emerson Hough
Copyright, 1)7( by the Outlnj PubUhln
Company
PROLOGUE.
A young man and a beautiful
young woman, lost and alone in
a wilderness for months, half
starved and in daily peril of
death from wild beasts and still
mors savage Indtansr-thts is the
central theme of the most fasci
nating romance that has come
from Emerson Hough's pen.
Head and you will learn how
love came to them; how they
conducted themselves in this try
ing, unconventional situation;
how the man's chivalry and the
woman's purity held them stead
fast to the ideals of civilisation,
and how the strange episode
brought tragedies, estrangements
and happiness. '
CHAPTER XXV.
Ellen.
BY autumn I was one of the young
est colonels In the Federal
, army. Thus It was easy for me
to find a brief furlough when
we passed near Leesburg on our way
to the Blue Ridge Gap, and I then
ran down for a look at our valley.
I found Dr. Bond In his little brick
oQco at the top of the hill overlook
ing the village. It was he who first
showed me the Richmond popcrs with
lists of the Confederate dead. Colo
nel Sheraton's nnnie was among the
first I saw. He had been with Cuni
mlng's forces, closely opposed to my
own position at Bull Bun. Ills son
Harry, print icnlly at his side, was se
riously, possibly fatally, wounded and
was now In hospital at Richmond.
I showed Dr. Bond the last writing
of Gordon Ornie and put before hlra
the Bank of England notes that I bad
found ou Oruie's person, and which,
by the terms of his testament, 1
thought might perhaps belong to me.
"Could I use any of this money with
clean conscience?" I asked. "Could It
honorably be employed in the discharg
ing of the debt Ortne left on my fam
ily r
"A part of that debt you have al
ready caused him to discharge," the
old doctor answered slowly. "You
would be doing a wrong If you did no,
oblige him to discharge the rest."
I counted out and laid on the desk
before him the amount of the funds
which my father's memoranda showed
had been taken from him by Orme
that fatal night more than a year ago.
The balance of the notes I tossed Into
the little grate, and with no more ado
we burned them there.
Wo concluded our conference In re
gard to my business matters. I learn
ed that the coal lands had been re
deemed from foreclosure. Colonel Meri
wether having advanced the necessary
funds; and as this now left our debt
running to him, I Instructed Dr. Bond
to take steps to cancel It Immediately
and to have the property partitioned
as Colonel Meriwether Bhould deter
mine. "And now, Jack," Bald my wire hair
ed old friend, "here'a something yon
ought to see. I saved It for you over
there the morning yon threw it Into
the .fireplace." . .
lie spread' out on the top of the
desk a folded bit of hide. Familiar
enough It was to me.
'"You saved but half." I said. "The
other half Is gone."
lie pushed a flake of snuff far up
his long nose. "Yes." said he quietly.
"I sent it to her some three months
ago."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing, you fool. What did you
eipeet?
"Now, my son," he concluded sav
agely, "If you ever dreamed of marry
ing any other woman dash me If I
wouldn't come Into court and make
this Indenture witness for you both
for her as well as you! Go on away
now, and don't bother me any more."
Our forces passed up the valley of
Virginia and rolled through the old
Rocfcflsh gap. We overspread all the
Piedmont valley and passed down to
the old town of Charlottesville. It
was nearly deserted now. The gay
southern boys who In the past rode
there, with their ierro sen,fi"f, nv 1
set at naught good Thomas Jefferson's
Intent of simplicity In the narrow lit
tle chancers of the old University of
Virginia now were gone with their
horses and their servants. Today you
may sec their names In bronze on the
tablets at the university doors.
I had quartered my men about the
quiet old place when I heard the voice
of my sentry challenge and caught an
answering word of indignation In a
woman'R voice.
A low, single seated cart was halted
near the curb, and one of its occupants
was apparently much angered. I saw
her clutch the long brown rifle barrel
which extended out at the renr over
the top of the seat "You git out'n the
road, man." repeated she, "or I'll take
a shot at you for luck. We done come
this fur, and I reckon we c'n go the
rest the way."
That could be no one but old Mandy
McGovern. For the sako of amuse
ment I should have loft her to make
her own argument with the guard had
I not in the same glance caught sight
of her companion, a trim Ggure In close
fitting corduroy of golden brown, a
wide hat of russet straw shading he
face. It was Ellen!
Her face went rosy red as I has
tened to the side of the cart and put
down Mandy's arm. She stammered,
unable to speak more connectedly than
I myself. Mandy could not forget her
anger and Insisted that she wanted to
see the "boss."
"I am the colonel In command tight
here, Aunt Mandy," 1 said. "Won't I
do?"
"You a kunnel?" she retorted. "Looks
to me like kunnels Is mighty easy
made If you'll do. No; we're otter
Gtnral Meriwether, who's comln' here
to be the real boss of all you folks.
Say, man, you taken away my man
and my boy. Where they at?"
"With me here." I was glad to an
swer, "safe and somewhere not far
away. The boy Is wounded, but bis
arm la nearly well."
"Ain't got 'nuff flghtln ylt?"
"No; both he and Auberry seem to
be Just beginning."
"Ilumph! Reckon they're happy,
then. If a man's glttln' three squares
a day and plenty o' flghtln', don't see
whut more he kin ask."
"Corporal," I called to my sentry,
who was now pacing back and forth
before the door, hiding his mouth be
hind his hand, "put this woman un
der arrest and bold her until 1 return.
She's looking for Privates Auberry
and McGovern, O company, First Vir
ginia volunteers. Keep her In my of
fice while they're sent for. Bring me
my bag from the table."
It was really a pretty fight, that be
tween Mandy and the corporal. The
latter was obliged to call out the
guard for aid. "Sick 'em, Bete!" cried
Mandy when she .found ber arms pin
ioned, and at once there darted out
from under the cart a hairy little
demon of a dog, mute, mongrel Ish,
pink eared, which began silent bavoe
with the corporal's legs.
I looked again at that dog. I was
ready to take It In my arms and cry
out that It was my friend. It was the
little Indian dog that Ellen and I bad
tamed. Why, then, had she kept It?
Why had she brought it home with
her? I doubt which way tho contest
would have gono had not Mandy seen
me climb into her vacated scat and
take up tho reins. Pete then stolidly
took up his place under tho cart.
We turned and drove back up tho
shady street, Ellen and I. I saw her
fingers twisting together In her lap,
but as yet she had not spoken. The
flush on her cheek was deeper now.
She beat her hands together softly,
confused, half frightened, but she did
not beg me to leave her.
"If you could get away," she began
at last, "I would ask you to drive me
back home. Aunt Mandy and I ore
living there together. Kitty Steven
son's visiting me you'll you'll want
to call on Kitty. My father has been
In east Kentucky, but I understand
he's ordered here this week. Major
Stevenson Is with him. We thought
we might get word and so came on
through the lines."
"You had no right to do so. The
pickets should have stopped you," I
said. "At the same time, I am very
glad they didn't"
"So you are a colonel," she said sfter
a time, with an army girl's nice read
ing of insignia.
"Yes," I answered. "I am an officer.
Now If I could only be a gentleman!"
"Don't!" she whispered. "Don't talk
In that way, please."
"Do you think I could be?"
"I think you have been," the whis
pered, all ber face rosy now. Then she
pointed to a mansion bouse on a far
off hill such a bouse as can be found
nowhere In America but In this very
tAlley an old, family at, lying r
served and full of dignity at a hilltop
shielded with greHt oaks.
"That Is our home," she said. "We
have not often been here since grand
father died, and then my mother. But
this Is the place that we Meriwethers
all call home."
As we approached the gate I heard
behind us the sound of galloping horses.
There came up the road a mounted of
ficer, with his personal escort, nn or
derly, several troopers unJ a grinning
body servant.
"Look, there he comes! It is my fa
ther!" exclaimed Ellen. And in a mo
ment she was out of the cart and run
ning down tho road to meet him, tak
ing his baud, resting her cheek against
his duaU- Uili. ;rx .tSTsut lu saddle.
The oflVjer. iitiiicit i-c Aiiruij. Tivu
are outside the lines," said he. "Have
you leave V"
I salt'.ted also und caught the twinkle
In his eye.
"Ou detached service this morning,
general." 1 said. "If you please, I
slnll report to you within the hour."
He wheeled his horse and spurred
on up along tils own grounds, fit mas
ter for their statoUuess. A wldu
seat lay beneath one of the oaks. We
wandered thither. Ellen and I. The
little doir, mute, wutchful, kept close
at her side.
"El'eu." sai l I to ber, "the time has
come now. I am not going to wait
any lonrer. Road this." I put Into
Iter hand Gordon Orme's confession.
She read. v.Ph horror starring on
her faiv. "What a scoundrel what
a criminal!" she said. "The man was
a demon. He killed your father!"
"Yes, and In turn I killed him." I
said slowly. Her eyes flashed. She
was savage ngalu us 1 had seen her.
My soul leaped out to see her fierce,
relentless, exulting that I had fought
and won. careless that I had slain.
"Orme did all he could to ruin me
In every way," I ndded. "Read on."
Then I saw her face change to pity as
she came to the next clause. So now
she knew the truth about Grace Sher
aton and. I hoped, the truth about
John Cowles.
"Can you forgive me?" she said
brokenly, her dark eyes swimming In
tears as she tvrned toward me.
"That is not the question." I an
swered slowly. "It Is. Can you for
give me?" Her hand fell on my arm
Imploringly.
"1 have no doubt that I was much
to blame for that poor girl's act" I
continued: "The question only la,
Has my punishment been enough or
can It be enough? Do you forgive
me? We all make mistakes. Am I
good enough for you, Ellen? Answer
me."
But she would not yet answer. So
I went on.
"1 killed Gordon Orme myself in
fair fight, but be wrote this of hla
own free will. He himself told me It
would be proof. Is It proof?"
She put the paper gently to one side
of her on the long seat "1 do not
need it." she said. "If it came to
question of proof we have learned
much of these matters, my father and
I, since we last met you. But I have
never needed It; not even that night
we said goodby. Ah, how 1 wanted
you back after you had gone!"
"And your fnther?" I asked her, my
hand falling on hers.
"He knows as muoh as I. Lately
he has heard from your friend. Dr.
Bond. We have both learned a great
many things. We are sorry. I am
sorry. I have always been sorry."
"But what more?" I asked. "Ellen!"
She put out her bands In a sort of
terror. "Don't," she said. "I have put
all this away for so long that now I
can't begin again. I can't! I can't! I
am afraid. Do not ask me. Do not
No, no!"
She started from the seat as though
she would have fled In a swift panic.
But now I caught her.
"Stop!" I exclaimed, rage In all my
heart "I've been a fool long enough,
and now I will have no more of fool
ishness. I will try no more to figure
niceties. I'll not try to understand a
WoUiuu. Hut. gentleman" oT not, I
swear that If we wero alone again, we
two out there, you should do as I said,
as I desired. And I say now you must
you shall."
She sank bnck against the rail with
a little sigh as of content, a little smile
as of a child cnught in mischief and
barred from escape. Oh, though I
lived a thousand years, never would I
say I understood a woman!
"Now we will end all this." I said,
frowning. I caught her by tho arm
and led her to the gallery, where I
picked up the bag I bad left at the
driveway. I myself rang at tho door,
not allowing ber to load me In. Tho
orderly came.
"My compliments to General Meri
wether," I said, "and" Colonel Cowlea
would llko to speak with him."
lie enme, that tall man, master of
the mansion, dusty with bis travel,
stern of face, innned llko a gray bear
of the bills. But he smiled and reach
ed out his band. "Come In, sir," he
said. And now we entered..
"It seems you have brought back
my girl again. I hope my welcome
will be warmer than It was at Lara
mie." lie looked at us, from one to
tho other, the brown skin about hla
keen eyes wrinkling.
"I have certain things to say, gen
eral," I began. We were walking Into
the ball. As soon as I might I band
ed to him the confession of Gordon
Orme. Ho read It wltli shut Hps.
"Part of this I know already," he
said finally, "but not this as to your
father. You have my sympathy, and,
sir, my congratulations on your ac
counting for such a fiend. There at
least Justice bos been served. " n
hesitated before continuing.
"As to some details, I regret that
my daughter has been brought into
SllLffifiitoaJie. said slowly, ri re
gret i dlso'tfi.iVl ha'v'e maae"uT.iny 'oili
er matters worse, but I am very clad
that they have now been made plal.i
Dr. Samuel Bond of Walllnsfonl. your
father's frleud. has cleared up much
of nil this. I Infer that he has n,t
Used you of the condition of our Joint
business matters?"
"Our estnte Is In your deb, general."
I Kaid. "lmt I ran now adjust that.
We shall pay our share. After that
the laails sIiMl diviiW or held
Jointly, as yourself shall s;y."
"Why co'iM they "no? remain as th"y
ore?" He Hniiied at tue. "Let i:ie
hope so "
I turned to El Ten. "Please." I said,
"bring me th other half of tnls."
I ftun? open my bag and spread upon
the nearest table my half of the record
of cur covenant, dune, as It hid seem
ed to me. long years nirn. Colonel Mer
iwether ami I bent over the Inilf Held
parchment. I saw that Ellen had
gone, but presently she caine asatn.
hesitating, flushing red. and put Into
my hands the other half of our Inden
ture. She carried Pete, the little dog.
under ber arm.
1 placed the pieces tdge to edge upon
the table. The old familiar words
looked up at me again solemnly.
Again I felt my heart choke my throat
as I read; "I. John Cowles 1, Ellen
Meriwether take thee take thee uu
til death do us part."
I handed her a pencil. She wrote
slowly, freakishly, having her maiden
will; and it seemed to me still a week
to a letter as Bbe signed. But at last
her name stood in full E-l-l-e-n M-e-r-i-w-e-t-h-e-r.
"General." I said, "this indenture wit
nesseth! We two are bound by it. We
have.,.'consentfid toccther in holy wed
luck.' We have 'witnessed tho
same before fiotl.' We have 'pledg
ed our faith, either to oilier.' "
He dashed 'A hand across his eyes
then, with a swift motion, he placed
our hands together. "My boy," said
he, "I've always wanted my girl to be
taken by an army man an officer und
a gentleman. Dash It, sir! I beg your
pardon, Ellen give me that pencil. I'll
sign my own name. I'll witness this
myself. There's a regimental chaplain
with our command If we can't flud a
preacher left In Charlottesville."
"Orderly!" I called, with a gesture
asking permission of my superior.
"Yes. orderly," he finished for me,
"get ready to ride to town. We have
an errand there." He turned to us
and motioned us as though to owner
ship, bowing with grave courtesy as
he himself left the room. I heard the
chutter of Mrs. Kitty greet him. I was
conscious of a grinning black face peer
ing In at a window Annie, perhaps.
They all loved Ellen.
Rut F.llen and I, as though hv
instinct, stepped toward I he open
door, so that we might again see
the mountain tops.
. I admit I kissed tierl
' THE END.
ENTERTAIN THE Ell-
TERPEAN GLEE CLUB
From Wuilnesilnv'ii ltnllv
Misses Zelma, Alice and Hazel
Tuey entertained the Euterpean
(.ilee club and a few of their
friends, to t tie number of about
thirty, yesterday afternoon in
honor of Miss Etna Crahiil, at a
sewing circle for Miss Crahiil
The young ladies plied the busj
needle and enjoyed each other's
society from 2:30 to 5 o'clock
During the afternoon the party
iiemniod a dozen towels and i
dozen dishcloths for Miss Crahiil
adding the proper initials. He.
freshments were served, consist
ing of ice cream and cake. Piano
selections were furnished by Miss
Violet Freese and Miss Crahiil,
and Miss Ferris York sang a
pretty solo. The out-of-town
guests who were present were:
Misses (irace and Hulh Smith of
Kansas City and Mrs. II. 0. Killers
of Omaha.
Entertained at. Wohlfarth Home.
From Wc.lneHday's lially.
Miss Mallie Larson and her
class of hoys of the Sunday school
of the Presbyterian church held n
most enjoyable class parly last
evening, at. which time they were
entertained at the home of one of
I lie members of the class, Carl
Wohlfarth. The hoys had come
prepared to have a good time and
we are reliably informed that they
sure did. They played all sorts of
games and indulged in various
pranks and amusements until a
late hour. At that time light re
freshments, consisting of ico
cream and wafers, was served.
"I was cured of diarrhoea by
one dose of Chamberlain's Colic,
Cholera and Diarrhoe Remedy,"
writes M. E. Oebhardt, Oriole, Pa.
There is nothing better. For sale
by I'. O. Fricke & Co.
Fop Sale.
Team of 4-year-old "Coach
Horse" colts, broken, fine lookers.
Will make a splendid driving
team.
T. II. Pollock, Plattsmouth, Neb.
80 Acres for Sale.
Extra fine laying land, 2 Mi miles
from Murray. Priced right for
quick sale.
C. F. Harris, Union,' Neb.
Local News
From Tuesday1! Dally.
W. T. Hk-hard sou of Mynard
was called to Omaha on business
for his store this morning.
J. C. H. Todd of Murrav was a
Plattsmouth visitor last, evening
ami registered at the Riley.
H. I. Clements of Elmwood was
in the city today transacting busi
ness with the county court.
Attorney C. L. (leaves, editor of
Hie Union Ledger, was a PlaUs
mouth visitor this morning.
Oeorge Kaffenberger drove in
from his farm today and looked
after business in the county seat.
Marriage license was issued
yesterday for Ted Cordner and
Miss Lucy Minford. both of (ilen-
wood.
Mrs. Luke Wiles and Miss
Elizabeth Spangler were Omaha
passengers on the morning train
today.
Fred Wagner of near Louisville
was a Plattsmouth visitor today,
looking after business matters in
the county seat.
H. A. Schneider returned from
Cedar Creek on No. I this morn
ing, where he had been on busi
ness for a short time.
Mrs. Charles Mcduire and sons.
Tom and Con, left this morning
for (iretna. where Ihey will visit
relatives for a few davs.
Mrs. Cromwell and children,
who have been visiting friends at
La Platte for a short time, return
ed last evening on No. 2.
S. F. (iiraitlel and Thomas
Murtey, two of Weeping Water's
leading business men, were in the
city with the Boosters yesterday.
C. T. Kydd, the state deputy for
the W. O. W., who has been look
ing afler the interests of the
order hero, left for his home this
morning.
H. D. Goldsberry of Waverly,
Neb., arrived today and will talk
real estate in the 1 Horn basin.
He will be a guest of J. V, Davis
while in the city.
J. M. Meisinger and wife of near
Cedar Creek drove in from the
farm this morning and boarded
the early train for Omaha on
business of importance. ,
Hen Beckman and two grand
sons were in the city today. Mr.
Beckman to look after business
matters for a short time, while the
boys took in the sights.
Mrs. Rose Kendall and children
of Union changed cars here this
morning, en route home from
Monmouth, Illinois, where they
have been visiting relatives for a
time.
0. II. Olive, postmaster nt
Weeping Water; I. W. Teegarden,
E. E. Day, John W. Colbert and
Harry D. Reed were among the
chautauqua boosters that dined nt
the Riley yesterday.
Mrs. W. F. Chalfant nnd her
sister, Miss Maude McCulloch, of
near Union, were Omaha pas
sengers on the morning train to
day, where Ihey looked after busi
ness mailers for the day.
In the county court this morn
ing a dual hearing was had in I he
estate of Peter Van Huron, de
ceased. C. S. AM rich of Elmwood
was in the city looking after the
legal mailers in the case,
ing held at those poinls this week.
m y ri u r&
iruiruu D U LTUUUU
yipaiLJKi
I 9m 9m 9 t Mm m mm ww
frontier Days
wsjdnacfurdni
$13,000
VAflRTMAM fi
E- m m 'msr
JSyutt YGfrAACS Fibevvorks
Plac? Cards, Score and Tally
Cards of eery description at the
Journal office.
J. W. Holmes and wife and V".
Smith and wife and A. M.
Holmes motored to Plattsmouth
from their home at Murray last
veiling and visited the C. A. Rawls
home for a time.
Mrs. Fred Howland and daugh
ters, Marguerite, Catherine and
Virginia, who have been guests of
Mr. and Mrs. William Howland
for a week, returned to their
homes Saturday afternoon.
Mrs. Fred Rezner of Edgmont,
S. I)., and Mrs. Carson of Wall
Lake, Iowa, arrived last night to
visit their parents, Mr. and Mrs.
J. If. Tarns. Mrs. Tarns is verv
sick and her daughters came on
this account.
R. D. Sline, one of the leading
fanners of Liberty precinct, was
in tlie city this morning and ad
ded his name to the Journal list of
subscribers. Mr. Stine was born
in Cass county and could not be
otherwise than a good citizen.
From Wednesday's Pally.
Walter Scott returned last night
from near Union, where ho has
been doing some work for the
M. P.,
J. A. Watson of Louisville was
in the city between trains today,
looking after important business
matters.
J. H. Ynllery and wife, who have
been spending a few weeks in Den
ver and Salt Lake City, returned
on the morning train today.
Mrs. John McNtirlin returned
from Cedar Creek on the morning
I l ain today, where she has been
visiting friends for a few days.
Mrs. Ray Heaver ami children
returned from Louisville on the
morning train today, where they
have been guests of tier parents.
Mrs. Dr. T. J. Todd and chil.
dren, who have been visiting hep
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Mauzy, for a few days, left for
their home at Wahoo yesterday.
Dr. Brendcl of Murray came up
this afternoon and boarded the
fast mail for Omaha, where he
was called on professional busi
ness. W. A. Sturtz of South Dakota,
was a guest of his mother-in-law.
Mrs. Handley. yesterday, but left
for Omaha on the afternoon train..
Tonight Mr. Sturtz and wife will
go to Kansas City to spend Sunday
with his parents. - ij
; ''t
Frank Smith was up from Union
this morning and the doctor re
moved the cast from his arm,,
which is now almost recovered
from the break received four
weeks ago. His stepfather, Claude
Everett, drove up with him this
morning. .. . ., v
Rennet I Criswisser left for Ne
hawka Ibis morning, whero he
will visit his son, Dick, for a few
days while the threshing is going"
on. Dennett has gotten I he idea
that he always gets more lo eat
when I he threshers are there. Mrs.
Criswisser is different nnd she will
not go until about the last of the
week.
VACANT LOTS FOR SALE
Lots 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, in Block ii,
Duke's Addition; 5) and 10, Rloclc
7; 5 and fi, block 12; 1 and 2, Rlock
13; 1, 2, 3 and , in Block 7,
Townsend's Addition. We have
other nice laying lots. As lots are
advancing in value, now is the
time to purchase. Brick house,
two lots, monthly payments,
$325.00.
Windham Investment & Loan Co.
0 00
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