s
V"
thjerootopewl
BY
THOMAS DIXON
Copyright. 1011. by
CHAPTER XV.
The Dane of Death.
AI'I.USIl of excited pleasure
overspread Stuurt'a face as
he led bis beautiful bontetw to
the ditilns room. Apparently
on entering the bunquet hall they were
nteiplng outdoors Into nn eneliauted
jjiue forest. The walls were complete
ly hUMeu by painted scenery repre
Heating the mountains 'of western
North Carolina. The room bad been
transformed Into a forest, trees and
shrubbery meltlug Imperceptibly Into
tlie scenery on the walls and mock
ing birds were singing in cages hidden
blgb among the boughs of the trees.
"Why. Nan," Stuart gasped, "that's
a view of the river hills at home
where you and I used to roam."
"Well, If you hadn't recognized It. 1
should never have forgiven you. Are
you pleased with my fantasy?"
"Pleased Is not the word for It,"
he replied quickly. "I'm overwhelmed
I never thought you so sentimental."
"Perhaps I'm not; perhaps I've only
done this to please a friend. Do you
begin to feel at borne lu this little
pot I've brought back by magic to
night from our youth?"
v "I'm afraid I'll wake up and And
I'm dreaming."
Btnart gazed with increasing astonish,
meat at the magnificently set table.
Winding In and out among the solid
bUver candelabra a tiny stream of
crystal water flowed among miniature
trees and flowers on its banks. The
flowers were all blooming orchids of
rarest coloring and weirdly fantastic
shapes.
The service was all made for this
occasion, silver, cut glass and china.
Bach piece had stamped or etched on
It the cont of arms of his native state.
with the motto, "Peace and Plenty."
"And you've done all this In alz
weeks? It's Incredible."
"The world will say tomorrow morn.
tag that 1 have given this lavish en
tertainment for vulgar display. la a
sense It's true. I am trying to eclipse
In splendor anything New fork has
seen. ' But I count the fortune It cost
wellspent to have seen the smile on
yurfaco when you looked at that
painting of our eld hills. I would have
Siren five times as much at any mo
ment the past ten years to have known
that you didn't hate me."
"Von know it now." '
"Ves' she answered tenderly. "You
have said so with your lips before,
now you mean it You are your old
baudsome self tonight" '
Apart from the charm of Nau's pres
eace Stuart found the dinner Itself a
tnpld affair, so solemnly stupid It at
last became funny. In all tho rang
niacently dressed crowd he looked In
aln for a man or woman or real In
tellectual distinction. Ho sw only
money, money, money!
lu spite of tho low murmurs of Nan's
beautifully modulated voice in his Mrs
he found his nnger slowly rising, not
afatiist any one In particular, but
against the vulgar ostentation In which
thpso people moved, and the vapid as
sumption of superiority with which
they evidently looked out upon the
world. . ,
lint whatever might have beeu lack
tu; li) tbe wit and genius of the guests
who sat at Nan's tables, there could
be uo question about the quality of
the dinner set before them.
Wheu tho fenst euded at 10:30 Nan
led the way to the ballroom, where
tlw .entertainment by hired dancers,
skigers and professional entertainers
begin n on an improvised stage.
During this port of the program the
women and men of the buuquetlng
party who were to appear in. the fancy
dress ball at It Including Nan, retired
to the rooms above to dress for (heir
parti. . . '
Stuart noted with somo astonishment
tbe peculiar somber effects of the ball
room, ne had expected a acene ot
uplendor. Instead the Impression was
distinctly funereal. The lights were
dimmed like the Interior or a theater
daring the performance, and the lofty
gilded ceilings with their mural decora
tions seemed to bo draped In filmy
black crape.
The professional entertainment be
gao ou the little stnj;e amid a univer
sal gabble which made It impossible
for anything save pantomime to be In
telligible beyond ll"' foottlubt Htar
after star, whose mtvIccs hud cost
$1,000 each for one hour, appeared
without comuiiindlns the slightest in
tention Stuart turned t' the prouTuiu in III"
hand ntid bll hmI the next iiuinbci :
"A sum; I j v im ;t:i l.iiou n t ir "
ram
Thomas Dixon
De was wondering what Joke the
manager was about to perpetrate on
the crowd when his ear caught tho first
sweet notes of Harriet's voice singing
tbe old song he loved so well, the song
she bad first sung the day he came
from tbe south
Ills heart gave a throb of paiu. Who
could have prepared this humiliation
for his little pal? lie pushed his way
through the throng of chattering fools
until be stood nlone straight In front or
the slender little singer She saw hlii
at once, smiled and sang ns ho b:i
never heard her sing To his furthei
surprise Stuart saw the doctor stand
Ing In the shadows at the corner of the
stage looking over the gossiping, noisy
crowd with n look of anger nnd horror
When the Inst note of the song died
away, quivering with a supernatural
tenderness and passion, he brushed a
tear from his eyes, lifted his hands
high above his bend and made a mo
8he 8ang as He Had Never Heard Her
Sina.
tlon which said to her,
Tumultuouk
applause."
She nodded and smiled, and ho rush
ed behind the scenes to ask an expla
nation. lie grasped both her hands and
found tftem cold and trembling with
excitejient. .
"What on earth does this mean?"
"Simply that I was engaged to sing
tonight, nnd f wanted to surprise you.
Didn't you like my song?"
"it lifted nie t the gates of heaven,
dear."
"Then 1 don't care whether any oue
else heard it or not. But I did so much
wish that she might have heard it or
her husband becauso they nre from the
south."
"Hut 1 don't understand your father
bates Blvens so."
A big hand was laid on his shoulder,
he turned and faivd tho doctor smiling.
"Hut I don't hate him, my boy! I've
given up such foolishness. We've
buried the hatchet. I'm to see him In
few minute mid we are lo bo good
friends."
"Hi veus invited you here lo discuss
n business proposition tonight!" Stuart
exclaimed, blankly.
"No, no, no," the doctor answered.
"I cntno with Harriet, of course. Her
music teacher placed her on the pro
gram. Hut Mr. Illvens nnd I have had
some correspondence nnd I'm to see
blm in n little while and talk things
over quite Informally, of course, but
effectively."
"He has agreed to a conference
hore?" the young lawyer naked,
anxiously.
"Why, of course. Ills butler has Just
told ine ho would see me Immediately
after tho ball begins."
Stuart breathed easier and turned to
Harriet.
"You look Klorious tonight, little pal!
Funny that I never saw you In eveu
Ing dress before. You look so tall and
qneenly, so yrown, so mature. You're
beginning to make mu feel old, child.
I'll be thlpKtng of you ns n grown
woman next."
"I am twenty four, you know," plie
said, slmpl;'.
"I have never believed It until to i
nlht. I w".rdu't have l-:ii""'n mil ft I
ft!-t but fr your vote. I Iml to ru!i
my eyes the'i."
The light were suddenly turned
lower, approaching total darkness.
The attendants noiselessly removed
the temporary stage and cleared the
great room for the dancers.
As the chimes struck the hour of
midnight, skeleton heads slowly began
to appear hhpIur from the shadows
of the arched celling and from every
nook and corner of the huge cornice
nnd pillars. Draperies of filmy crape
flowing gently In the breeze vre
lighted by sulphurous lined electric
rays from tho balconies. Tiny electric
lights blinked In every skeleton's
sunken eyes and behind each grinning
row of teeth. Suddenly two white
figures drew aside the heavy curtains
in the archway and the dancers
marched Into the somber room.
The men were dressed ns shrouded
skeletons and the women as worms.
Tho men wore light flimsy gray robes
on which skillful artists had painted
on four sides in deep colors the pic
tures of human skeletons.
The women wore curious light robes
of cotton fiber which were drawn over
the entire lsdy and gave to each figure
the appearance of a hugo caterpillar.
Tho strange figures began to move
slowly across the polished tloor to the
strains of n ghostlike waltz.
From the corners of the high balco
nies strange lights flashed, developing
In hideous outlines and phosphor
escent colors of the skeletons and long,
fuzzy, exaggerated lines of tho ac
companying worms. Tho effect was
thrilling.
Suddenly the music stopped with a
crash. Fnch ghostly couple, skeleton
nnd worm, stood motionless. The
silvery note of a trumpet called from
the sky. Tho blinking eyes of the
death heads In the celling nnd on the
walls faded slowly. The trumpet
Itealed a second signal the darkness
tied and the great room suddenly
blazed with 10.000 electric lights. The
orchestra struck tho first notes of a
thrilling wultz, and, presto. In nn in
stant the women appeared In all the
splendor of the most gorgeous gowns,
their bare arms and nocks flashing
with prlcoles Jewels, nnd each man
bowed Imfore her In immaculate even
ing clothes.
From tho four corners of the vast room
were released thousands of gorgeous
ly tinted butterflies, imported from
tho tropics for the occasion. As the
dancers glided through the dazzling
scene those wonderfully colored crea
tures fluttered about them in myriads.
darting and circling in every direction
among the flowers and lights until the
room seemed a veritable fairyland.
A burst of applause swept the crowd
as Nans radiant figure pnssed. eiieir
cled by the urm of the leader.
Stuart nodded and dapped his hands
with enthusiasm.
A more marvelous transformation
sceuo could scarcely be imagined.
When Nan had passed he turned to
speak to Harriet, but she had g4n
A soft hand was suddenly laid on Ids
arm. and be turned to confront Nan.
her eyes flashing witli triumph, her
cheeks flushed and her lips parted in a
tender smile.
"Come. I'm going to honor you by
sitting out the next two ilauees."
When she bad sea bid herself by his
side under a bower of roses he was
very still for a moment. She looked
up with a (lul.l. nl expression and
said:
"A penny for your thoughts. Am I
so very wicked after nil'?'"
"I don't think I have ever seen nny
thing nmr- ilazzllngly benutlful than
your ban-.;et and ball, except the wo
man who oun-lved anil oxwuted It. I
was luwf woiii.Vrlnc whether vonr
imagination was vivid enough to havo
3 rem i ied haf the splendors of such a
life when you turned from the little
cottage I built for you."
A look of imln clouded the fair face,
and she lifted her Jeweled band.
"Please. Jim, I'd like to forget some
things."
"And you haven't forgotten?"
She looked straight into his eyes and
answered in even tones:
"No."
Both were silent for a long while.
and then they began to talk lu low
tones of the life they had lived as boy
and girl in the old south and forgot
the flight of time.
(To Be Continued.)
Before Time.
Nelson said once: "I owe all
my success in life lo having been
always a quarter of an hour be
fore my lime." It is a great les
son for those who love to post
pone things. Maybe some of you
have had the experience that, in
case of sickness, a few minutes
saved the patient. Thi3 . shows
that even the smallest indisposi
tion should be treated at once. If
it is from tho stomach or from
the intestines, use Triner's
American Elixir of Bitter Wine
without delay. This remedy is
very good in all maladies of tho
digestive organs, because it
cleans them out, strengthening
them at the same time. Many at
tacks of grave diseases have been
averted by using this remedy in
time. At drug stores. Jos
Triner, 1333-39 So. Ashland Ave.,
Chicago. Triner's Liniment-will
always satisfy everybody.
For Sale or Trade.
One vacant lot, between D and
F., on 24th street, in South Omaha.
VMress Nettle Cnnnally, Box 133,
Murray, Nob.
l-23-iwk-d&w.
ur Store is Always penE
We leave town for a few days to attend the
Retail Hardware Convention, and on our re
turn will be able to make manufacturers'
prices on all Builders' Hardware.
All Mechanic's Tools I will give 10 per cent discount till March 15th
I will make a rate on Nails at $2.60 per keg
Strap Hinges 4-inch 10c per pair; 6-inch 15c per pair; 8-inch 20c
per pair -all with screws
And all other goods in proportion. Yours for a good, square deal
p.
Local News
From Tuesday's Dally.
Mrs. Wolcott of Weeping
Water is in the city today making
a short visit at the home of Mrs.
M. A. Street.
Attorney C. S. Aldrich of Elm-
wood was in the city today at-
lending to some matters of busi
ness in I he county court.
Carl Kunsmann was a passeng
er fins morning on ). i: lor
Omaha to look after some matters
of business for a few hours.
It. H. Nickels of near Murray
came in this afternoon from
Omaha on No. -"i, where he was
called to look after business mat
ters.
Attorney C. A. Hawls was a
business visitor in the metropolis
today, being a passenger on the
early Hurlington train for that
city.
I. W. Teegarden, one of the
prominent residents of Weeping
Water, came in today lo look af
ttr some business mailers for a
time.
Miss Dora (ilenn came in this
morning from Rock Island, 111.,
and will visit here with her par
Mits, T. W. (ilenn and wife, for a
time.
Mrs. Mary Roberts of Thur
man, Iowa, who has been visiting
here for a few days with friends,
departed this morning for her
home.
fieorgc N. I.aRue of Union was
in the city yesterday attending
the meeting of the soldiers' relief
commission, of which he is a
member.
1'. A. Meisingcr, one of the
rustling young farmers of the
county, was in the city today at
tending to some trading with the
merchants.
; Harry Smith, the hustling
farmer from west of the city, was
a passenger this morning for
Omaha to attend to some matters
of business.
Mrs. Mary Owens of Ashland,
who was in Hit city visiting at the
home of W. R. Bryan and family,
departed yesterday afternoon on
No. 23 for her home.
Michael Martin was a passeng
er on the early Burlington train
this morning for South Omaha to
attend to some business mailers
and visit with relatives.
Fred Ebinger was a passenger
this morning for Omaha, where
he will attend the convention of
the hardware dealers, which is
meeting there this week.
Mrs. C. H. Peterson and Mrs.
Herman Gartleman were pas
sengers this morning for Pacific
Junction, where they will visit for
a short time with friends.
Joseph Mullen, the democratic
war horse from Stove Creek pre
cinct, was in the city yesterday
attending the meeting of
solditrs' relief commission.
the
G. V. Eastwood, the hardwaro
man, was a passenger this morn
ing' for Omaha, where he will at
tend tho Harflwaro Men's conven
fimi w Inch is meeting in that
citv.
Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Schneider of
Cedar Creek were visitors in this
city yesterday and called at this
oillce for the purpose of renew
ing their subscription to this
paper.
Mrs. John Wiles and son, John,
and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Wiles
returned from Malvern, Iowa, yes
terday afternoon, where they have
been visiting for a few days with
Mrs. Wiles' sister, Mrs. Robert
Knight.
(Successor to John Bauer)
Ben llcckman and his son-in-law,
Louie Rheinackle, drove up
this morning from the farm near
Murray lo look after some busi
ness matters for a lime.
Joseph Kuntz and wife of Oma
ha arrived last evening on No. 2
and will visit for a short time at
the home of Mrs. Kuntz's parents,
Charles Miller and wife, south of
this city.
C. C. Tucker and wife of near
Murray drove up this morning
from their home and were pas
sengers on the early Burlington
train for Omaha to attend to
business matters for a time.
Harry Henton of Mynard, who
has been quite sick for tho past
two weeks, departed this after
noon for Missouri Valley, Iowa,
where he wil lvisit relatives for a
short time.
Mrs. Jacob Stenner and her
guests, Mr. ami Mrs. William
Hurton, of Hartley, Neb., were
passengers this morning for
Omaha, where I hey spent the day
taking in the sights.
Mr. and Mrs. . lies, residing
south.of this city, were attending
to the week-end shopping here
Saturday, and while here Mrs. lies
called at this oillce and renewed
her subscription to this paper.
Mrs. Ellen Durkee of Ashland,
a sister of County Assesoor W. R.
Bryan, is in the city for a few
days visiting her brother and
family, while her husband is in
Kansas City taking treatment at
a hospital there.
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Gardner
and son, Albert, returned from
Omaha Sunday evening, where
they spent the day with Mr.
Gardner's mother, who is 1)7
years old. She survives all of her
nine children with tho exception
of two sons, W. R. of .this city,
and Sam of Washington.
Theodore D. Todd of Los An
geles, California, has been mak
ing a visit at Stockton, New York,
and stopped in this vicinity ou
his way back to his western home
for a week's visit with his cousins,
L. C. Todd of Nehawka, L. (i. and
Miss Jessie Todd of Union and H.
G. Todd of Murray and A. L. Todd
of I'lallsmouth precinct.
Ve are Ready!
with our 1913 Stock of New
Wall Paper.
A bigger line than ever before.
A new plan too.
We will sell borders at the same
prpcoirlelre ns the wall and ceil
ing. Weyrich & Hadraba,
DRUGGISTS
and Kodak Dealers
Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Todd of Ne
hawka, Miss Jessie Todd of Union
and T. D. Todd of Los Angeles,
California, motored lo the homo
of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Todd, in
I'lattsmoulh precinct, yesterday
and spent the day with tho Todd)
family. During tho afternoon they
motored to this city and did some
shopping and attended to somo
business matters at the court
house.
ROBERT WILKINSON
DUNBAR
L.J. HALL
UNION
Wilkinson & Hall
-AUCTIONEERS-
The holding of successful sales is
our line. Our interests are with the
seller when it comes to getting every
dollar your property is worth. For
open dates address or call either of
us at our expense by phone. Dates
can be made at the Journal offica
WILKINSON & HALL-
Dhn! f$nn
I ltiu! I
Bought and Sold
ON COMMISSION!
Insurance Placed in Best
Companies!
Farm Loans and Rental Agency
Virgil Mullis
S ) ;
(