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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 24, 1913)
f ...I. HI A If UV.KKT Aff CHAPTER II. The Beginning of My Adventure. WIGGINS' strange conduct and Jewett's dark bints so dis turbed me that the very next afternoon 1 again nought the Asolando tea room, feeling that in its atmosphere 1 might best weigh the few facts I possessed touch ing my friend's love affairs. Those who care for details In these matters may be interested to know that the Asolando is tucked away among print shops and exclusive haber dashers, a stone's throw from Fifth avenue. The Asolando tea room Is sacred to wooers of the flute of Tan, secession photographers and confldent believers in an early revival of the poetic drama. There is about the little room a suggestion of tranquillity, of charming cloistral peace, with its arts end crafts chairs and tables, Its racks of books, its portraits of Browning, Rosscttl, Burne-Joncs and kindred spir its. I chose a table, sat down and sug gested (one does not order at the Aso lendo) a few articles from the card an attendant handed me. "We're out of the Paracelsus ginger cookies," she replied, "but I recom mend a Ruskin sandwich with our own special chocolate. The whipped cream Is unusually fine today." She eyed me with a severity to which I was not accustomed, and I acquiesced .without parley in her suggestion. Be fore leaving me she placed on my ta ble the latest minor poet in green and fold. It was nearly 3 o'clock, and I was alone in the Asolunda. The atteudlng deities in their snowy gowns bad van ished behind the screen at the rear of the room. The food and drink with which I had been promptly served proved excellent. Even the minor poet in green and gold bad held my atten tion, though imitations of Coventry Tatmore's odes bore me as a rule. Near tho street, half concealed behind a inosquclike grill, sat the cashier, reading. A bundle of joss sticks in a reeu Jar beside this young woniau (tent a thin sinoke Into the air. Iler head was bent above her book in quiet attention. The light from an electric Inmp made a glow of her golden hair. She was an lncldeut of the general picture, a part of a scene that contain ed no Jarring note. A man who could devise, In tho heart of the great city, a place so instinct with repose so lull ing to nil the senses was not less than a public benefactor. It was at this moment that the ad venturefor it shall have no meaner tame actually began. My eyes were "I beg your pardon, but this seeme to bo the seventh table." still enjoying the Rosscttllike vision In the cashier's tiny booth when a figure suddenly darkened the street door Just beyond her. The girl lifted her bead. On the Instant tho lump key clicked S she extinguished her light, and the aureoled bend ceased to bo. And com ing toward me down the shop I beheld a lady, a lady of years, who passed tho cashier's desk with her eyes In VY -', i 1 . : ' '.': ': . ;v:-. ': " : v$ j" 1 The Siege of the Seven Suitors By MEREDITH NICHOLSON Copyright, 1910. by Meredith Nicbolsos tent upon the room's Inner recesses. Iler gown, of a new fashionable gray, was of the severest tailor cut Iler hat was a modlQed fedora, gray like the gown, and adorned with a slugle gray feather. She was short, slight, erect, and moved with a quick bird like motion, pausing and glancing at the vacant tables that lay between me and the door. She appeared to be engaged in a calculation of some sort, and she raised a lorgnette to assist her in counting tbe tables. The cashier passed behind ber unseen and vanish ed. I heard the newcomer reciting: "One, two, three, four, five, six. sev en." And at seven ber eyes rested upon me with a look that mingled sur prise and annoyance. She took a step toward me. and I started to rise, but she said quickly: "I beg your pardon, but this seems to be the seventh table." "Now that you call my attention to It," I remarked, gaining my feet, "I am bound to concede the point If by any chance I am Intruding" "Not In tbe least On the other band, I beg that you remain where you are." And without further ado she sank Into a chair opposite my owu. I tinkled a tiny crystal bell that was among tho table furnishings, and a waitress appeared and handed tbe lady, who bad thus Introduced hers&lf to my acquaintance, a copy of the tiny card on which the articles of refresh ment offered by tbe Asolando were indicated within a border of band painted field daisies. . "Never mind that," said the lady in gray, ignoring the card. "You may bring mo a caviar sandwich and a locktnll, a pink one, provided-provided" and she held the waitress with her eye "yon have the Imported caviar and your barkeeper knows the proper frappe of the spirit lifter I have named." "Pardon me, madam," replied tbe waitress Icily, "but you have mistaken the place. The Asolando serves noth Ing stronger than the pure water of Its own fount of Castalia. Intoxicants arc not permitted here." "Intoxicants!" repented the old lady with asperity. "Do I look like a per son given to intoxication? I dure nay your Castalia water Is nothing but Cro ton whose flavor has been destroyed by distillation. Vou may bring me the sandwich I have mentioned and with It a pot of tea. Yes. thank you; lemon with tho tea." As the girl vanished with the light trend that marked the service of the place 1 again made as to rise, but the old lady lifted ber baud with a delay ing gesture. "Pray remain. It Is not unlikely that we have friends and ideas In com mon, and ns you were seated at the seventh table It is possible that some ordering of fate has brought us to gether." She took from me in tbe hand which she had now ungloved the copy of my minor poet, glauced at it scornfully and tossed it upon the floor with every mark of disdain. "What species of mental disorder does this place represent?" she de manded. "It Is sacred to the fine arts appar eutly; an endowed tea room where per sons of artistic Ideals muy come to re fresh body and soul. Such at least seems to bo the program. This Is only my second visit, but I have long heard It spoken of by artists, poets and oth ers of my friends." "1 am sixty-two years old, young man, and I beg to Inform you that I consider the Asolando the most pre posterous thing I have ever heard of In this most preposterous city. And from a casual glimpse of you I feel Justified In saying that a man in your apparent physical health might be in better business than frequenting in mldaftcrnoon a shop that seems to be a remarkably stupid expression of tweutleth century anaemia." "Attendance here is not compulsory," I remarked defensively. "If you imply that I must have sought the place voluntarily let me cor rect your false impression immediately. I dropped In here for the excellent rea son that this shop is the seventh In nu merical progression from Fifth nven nue." "You were not guided by any feeling of interest then, but rather by super stition?" "That remark Is unworthy of a man of your appnrent Intelligence. I was born on the 7th of November, and all the great events of my life have oc curred on tho 7th of the month." I was relieved to find that sho ac cepted the tea and sandwiches tbe waitress had brought without parley. It Is with shamo I confess that In the first moments of my encounter I be lleved her capable of quarreling with a. waitress, but. she thanked tho girl tentive. absorbed. As she smoothed ber gloves. Miss llollister continued to ppeuk In a low musical voice that was devoid of any of the quavers or ace. "On the day 1 reached my sixtieth year, Mr. Ames. I decided thai my humdrum life must cease. The strict est conventions had guided me from earliest childhood. My experience of life had been limited to iruc-e tilings which women of education and means enjoy or suffer, as you please to take it. Two years ugo I chartered u yaebt and cruised among the Lesser Antilles, enjoying many adventures. Later I crossed the Andes, and 1 have Just re turned from Switzerland, where I ac complished some of the most difficult ascents. 1 have a clipping bureau en gaged to Inform me of all rumors o! hidden treasure and sunken ships, and I hope that of this something may come, as 1 retain a marlno engineer and corps of divers and can leave at an hour's uotice for auy likely hunting ground. This may strike you ns tbe most whimsical self indulgence. Tell me candidly whether my remarks so affect you." "If it were not that your benefac tions of all kinds have given you noble emlneuco among American philanthro pists I might be less biased in favor or the sort of thing you describe, but your gifts to orphanages, colleges, hospl-tals"- "Ahl" she interrupted, "enough of that Philanthropy In these times is only selfish exploltntlon, the recreation of the conscience stricken. Hut you see no reason why," she pursud eager ly. "If 1 wished to dig up tho Caribbean sea in search of Spanish doubloons. 1 should not do so' Answer me frankly, without the slightest fear." "I assure you, Miss llollister, that such projects appeal to me strongly. I have often lamented that my own lot fell in theso eventless times. As an architect 1 proved something of a fail ure; us a chimney doctor 1 lead a use ful life, but the very usefulness of It bores me, and besides many people take me for a sweep." "I dare say they do, for unfortuuately many people are fools. But 1 am bent upon adventure. My physician pro nounces mo good for ten years more of active life, and. 1 intend to keep amused. If I were a young man like you I should crawl through chimneys no more, but take to tho opeu road. I resent the harsh clang of these mean ingless years. As I walked among the hills that lie behind tbe manor this morning 1 heard tbe bugles calling, i should like to ask you further ns to your unusual profession, but errands summon mo elsewhere. However, something tells me we shall meet again." She roso in her swift, birdlike fashion and passed lightly down tho room and through tbe door. She bad left a dol lar beside ber plato to pay her check, which I uoted called for only iO cents I glanced nt the cashier's desk. The aureoled bead hud not reappeared, but Immediately I heard n voice murmur ing beside me . I bad believed myself alone, and in m.v surprise 1 thought some wizardry had made audible one of the verses on the wall , What of liaf.iol'g sonnets, Dante's pic tu re It was she whose aureoled bead 1 had marked earlier in the receipt or eux torn, the girl who had vanished ns Miss llollister appeared. She was not tall, and her eyes, lusiw. were brown. She had clearly lint limbed lar (he s'nir way of her years, but her seivuit.v whs the least tilt disconcerting. "Pardon me." I began, "bur I am an Ignorant Philistine, and cannot cap the verse you have quoted." "There is no reason why you should do so. It Is the rule of the Asolando that we shall attract the attention ut The Asolando la denied to outsiders." customers when necessary by speaking, of a line of verse. We are not allowod to opeq a conversation, no matter how imperative, with 'Listen.' or tht even more vulgar 'Say.' " "A capital Idea, of which I heartily approve, but now that I am n waiting auditor, eager" "It's merely tho check, If you please," she Interrupted coldly. "My desk is closed, and the room will refuse fur ther patrons for the next hour, as the executive committee of the Shelley so ciety meets here at 4 o'clock, and tbe Asolando Is denied to outsiders." "This. then. Is my dismissal? The lady who Joined ma here for a time '.eft dollar, which yon will see, Is som pleasantly, lifting her head with a smile th.it Illumined her face attrac tively. Her demand for a cocktail had not boon wholly convincing as to ber sincerity, nnd I wondered whether she were not playing n part of some kind. She suggested pleasant and wholesome tbiugs. In any event the impression win wholly agreeable. I bad to do with a lady and a lady of no mean degree The marks of breeding were upon ber, aud sho spoke with that quiet author ity that is the despair of the vain nnd vulgar. Iler features were small and delicate, her rlngless hands were per fectly formed nud both face and bands belled the nge to which she bad so frankly confessed. She was more than twice my age. and there was not the slightest reason why sho should not address me if it pleased her to do so, and her obsession as to the potency of the numeral seven was not in Itself proof of an 111 balanced mind. Musing thus, I reached tho conclusion that this encounter was very likely the sort of thing that happened to patrons of the Asolando. My time has. however, a certain value, nnd I began to won der Just how I should escape. I was about to excuse myself when my com panion suddenly put down her cup and addressed me with a directness that 6eeraed habitual In her. "I have formed an excellent opinion of your bringing up from tho manner in which you have suffered my ad vances. If I may so call them. You act and speak like a gentleman of edu cation. Will you kindly tell me the nature of your occupation?" I produced one of my professional cards. ARNOLD AMES, Consultant In Chimneys, 6ult 92, Landon Building. She read it aloud without glasses and mused n moment "This Is very curious," sho remark ed, placing my caVd In a silver case sho drew from her pocket "This is very curious indeed. It was only yes terday that my friend General G leu denning was speaking of you. He told me that you had rendered hlra tho greatest service in adjusting several flues In his country houso at Shin necock. My own fireplaces doubtless require attention, and you may consid er yourself retained. I shall make an early appointment with you. Tou will find my name and residence snfllclont ly described on this card." MISS HOI.LISTER Ilopeflold Manor. "Ohl" I exclaimed, bowing. "Any further introduction Is unnecessary. Miss Llollister." "Tbe name Is familiar? 1 recall that General Glendennlng mentioned that you were related to the Ames family of Hartford, and your mother was a Farquhnr of Charlottesville. V'a. If you bear your father's name. I dare say It was he whom I met ten years ago In Paris There Is no reason therefore why we should not be the best of friends." It was ti kind fate Indeed that had led me back In I lie Asolando. and Introduced me to (lie mint of Wiggins' inamoiata It may well be believed that I wus inuiied lately Interested, at what in excess of her check. My owu charge of M) cents is so moderate that I cannot do less than leave $1 nlso." "Thank you." she replied, unshaken by my generosity. "The tips nt the Asolando all go to the Sweetness nnd Light club, wlih-li is Just now engaged in circulating Matthew Arnold's poems In leaflet form in the jobbing district." I bowed and had turned away when she arrested ine with the line My good blade carves the casques of men. I turned toward her. "Permit me to Inquire," she asked, "whether tho lady who Joined you here expressed any interest in the life beautiful ns It Is exemplified In the Asolando?" "I am constrained to say that she did not. She spoke of the Asolando In the most contumelious terms." Tho golden head bowed slightly, and a smie hovered about her lips. But her amusement at my answer was more eloquently slated In her eyes. "1 must explain that my sole excuse for addressing you Is that we are re quired to learn, where possible, Just why strangers seek tiie Asolando." "In the case of the lady to whom you refer It was a matter of this be ing tho seventh shop from tho corner, and my own appearance was due to the idlest curiosity, Inspired by cnthu elastic descriptions of the Asolando's atmosphere nnd rumors of the cheap ness of its food." "Tho reasons are quite ample," was her only comment, nnd her manner did not encourage further conversation. "May I ask," I persisted, "whether the Asolando's staff is permanent and whether, If I return another day" "I take It that you do not mean to be impertinent, so I will answer that my servlco here is limited to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On tho oth er days Tlppa is in tho cash booth. My name at tho Asolando is Frances ca. Kindly write your uamo in the visitors' book at the door as you pass out" There was no ignoring this hint. 1 thought she smiled as I left her. t'J'o Bo Continued.) Theft! are a few boxes of sta tionery on our bargain counter. You will Imvo to hurry if you want Mime- wliilo llm prieu is so low. Paul Sladelman takes subscrip tions for any magazine) or club of magazines at special rates. FRANCO-GERMAN WAR PREDICTED Teutons Fear Revenge ol France. PAPER GIVES GRIM WARNING Astertt Two Natione Must Clash When European Trouble Occure Kaiaer'e Subjects Hoarding Millions French Writer Points to Great Injury to Art by War Scare. Tho semloilicial Cologne (Germany) Gazette published recently nn extraor dinary leading article headed "The Mlchlof Maker," in which It says: "it will not be dilllcult for tho Ger man government to Justify tho neces sity for tho army lncrealso if it will only speak out plainly and, without mincing words, Indicate the point from which danger is threatened as all the world realizes, from France." Tho paper says nobody underesti mates the gravity of the new condi tions in Uio Balkans, but when tho country is nsked to make such heavy sacrifices chapter and verse must be given, and tho government's finger must point to the precise spot from which there is Immediate peril that Is, France. It ndds: "Never were our relations with our western neighbor so strained ns to day. Never has tho Idea of revenge been so openly flaunted. Never has it been so apparent that tho French rnado their Russian alliance and their English friendship for the sole object of recapturing Alsace-Lorraine. Franco-German War Certain. "One thing Is absolutely sure. When ever tho world catches fire the Ger mans will have to cross swords with tho French. When that will happen nobody can tell." Wholesale realizations of foreign se curities, notably Canadian Pacific railway shares, are taking place in Germany iu or3ir to relievo the un precedented famine of gold and mon ey. The stock exchanges In Berlin and elsewhere in Prussia were closed on the centenary of the nation's rlso against tho Napoleonic oppressor. To procure money investors are sac rificing their foreign holdings. This condition has been brought ntiout pri marily by tho hoarding craze which has obsessed Genmans since the out break of tho war In the Balkans. It has not been lessened by tho nervous ness of their own government, as mani fested by tho gigantic army Increase. Tho sum now hoarded by timid Ger mans is estimated at between $112, 500,000 and $125,000,000.' Merchants and manufacturers report that it Is be coming increasingly dilllcult to obtain tho payment of bills even from custom ers who hnve never before been delin quent. Deficit In Banks. Another aggravating factor is the deficit caused by tho withdrawal of tho immense balance which foreign banks formerly kept on loan in Ger many. A money famine can only bo relieved from abroad. Gold must be Imported. England was drawn on one week to tho extent of $1,500,000. and still heav ler Importations are in process of ar rangement with tho United States. "It is the end of French culture," Is cited ns (he opinion of Anntolo France on the new French conscription bill In an Interview sent to tho Loudon Dally News by Harold Spender from Pnrls. M. France Is further quoted ns follows: "This addition to the yearly conscrip tion comes on us Just when France Is moving forward with new energy both in science nnd industry. It will bo a grave blow to all our higher life. Medi cine espcclnlly will bo Injured, for the medicine of the urmy Is not Ihe medi cine of the civil state. French science requires the time of Its young students, and that will be gravely curtailed. Tho demand for another barrack year from all young Frenchmen Imposed without exemptions will draw off the best from every field of life. Is Heavy Blow to Art. "It conies at h moment of grent In dustrial development. It will check that development. It comes at a mo ment of expansion In our arts, espe cially In sculpture, und It will be a heavy blow. Sculpture Is not practiced on the battlefield." Mr. Spender declnres that the mili tarist spirit Is at present supremo In France and that other voices are not likely to bo heard, for tho present at least. Tho ordinary attitude of the Frenchman, he says. Is one of resigna tion rather than aggression, but the cry "n Berlin," which resounded through the streets of Paris before 1870, has been raised again. GIRLS TO WAR ON AIGRETS. Philadelphia Students Pledge Them elves to Protect Heron. Agreeing not to wear nlgrets and to do all In their power to persuade others not to wear them, tho Nature Study club of tho girls' high school of Philadelphia recently prepared a peti tion urging that tho salo of plumago of tho snowy heron bo prohibited In Pennsylvania. Tho action was taken nfter tho read ing of a paper on the sufferings of tho heron at a meeting of the club. The paper was prepared by Miss Ireno El drldge. teacher of English, and read by Ruth Gerhard, an officer of the club. DUTCH WOMEN TO HAVt CELEBRATION IN MAY. Their Progress From 1813 to 1913 to Be Shown at Amsterdam. When the statesmen nud the cap talus of Industry In Holland were de vising ways of -aflebrutlng this year the one hundredth anniversary of Hol land's casting off the French yoke and tegnlnlng her Independence It occurred to some of tho other sex that they ought to have a show in both senses of tho word. So there was organized an exhibition to be held at Amsterdam. It was la beled "Womnn-1813-1013." This exhibition, to bo open from May to October, will present a comparison of the Dutch women of a ceutury ago with those of the present day ami por tray the progress made. There will be an old time middle class house, with Its enormous kitchen and all the do niestlc accessories. Elsewhere will be n presentation of the accomplishments of the women of thnt day in art, mu sic, sports und literature, their spe cial work among the poor and the sick and us guardians of almshouses, or phanages and similar institutions. To give nn Idea of the women of the working classes In the country as well ns In the towns the home Industries will be displayed, and It will be shown how women were overworked as seam stresses nnd as diamond workers nnd how some trudged in a treadmill like horses. GAMECOCK THRASHES A MAN. Rooster Thoroughly Disables Its Owner In a Battle. Benjamin Sherman, a farmer liv lug near Gleu Gardner, N. J., came out second best In a battle with a game rooster recently. Tho farmer early lu tho morning gathered three dozen eggs In a basket. As ho came out of tho coop Redney, a gamecock with a reputntion as n fight er, flew at his face and inflicted a deep gash Just under tho right eye with a spur. Before ho could recover Sher man was spurred again on tho rlgkt side of the faco near the mouth. Ho attempted to catch the bird, bnl It sank a spur in his right wrist In making a swing with tho basket of eggs ho lost his balance aud fell to the ground. The bird then spurred him In tho right leg several times. A farm hand who heard Sherman'! cries ran to the poultry yard and knocked the bird over with a spade Sherman took to his bed. CHINESE HONOR FOR WILSON. Pair of Celestial Twine Named After Him and Marshall. Friends of Low Fat Yuen, a promi nent member of tbe Chineso Six com panies, were summoned to Low's home, Oakland, Cal., recently to celebrate the arrival of two "honored ones." The "honored ones" nre Wood row Wilson Low and Thomas Riley Marshall Low. Woodrow weighs six pounds and Thomas five. Tho twins were preceded by Alice Roosevelt Low, aged five; Helen Taft Low, nged three; Governor Pardee Low, aged eight, and Mabel low. aged ten. "What nbout William Jennings Bry an Low?" tho father was asked. "Maybe some tlnio yet." ho replied, smiling. At tho christening tho guests all shouted "Man suey! Wey lo sun gong mar shew I" which means "Long live Wilson and Marshall!" HOUSTON HAD JOKE ON HIM. Why His Old School Chum Fell "Cheap." "No man ever felt cheaper than I did inauguration day," said Representa tive J. W. Ragsdalo of South Caro lina to a party of friends iu Washing ton recently. "I was in school with David Franklin Houston, the new sec retary of agriculture, but had not seen him In years until I rau upon him lit tho senate chamber. " 'Hello. Frank.' I said. 'What are you doing in the senate chamber?' " T was Invited here. said Houston. "'That's strange,' I replied. "I'm a congressman anil can't get a ticket for this place before I'm sworn in.' "I went over to mnko a row with Senator Tillman nbout It. " 'Why, that U ono of the new cabi net members, said Senator Tillman." QUEER WATER AFFECTS HAIR. Florists Assert City Supply Has Tend ency to Change Flowers' Color. Florists of Evanston. III., assert that tho city water, which Is purified with hypochlorlde of lime, Is changing yel low chrysanthemums to an ashen col or, white roses to pink and carnations to almost every shade but the one they should be. The commissioner of public works, with whom the florists took up the matter, said the water bad nothing to do with changing the colors of the flowers. Tho florists will make an effort to keep the city from placing lime In the wator and assert they will havo the aid of the women, who somo time ago complained thnt tho water was bleach ing their luilr. Lew Passed to Curb Hatpins. Women In Massac husetts who do not their hatpins with ill protect tho pub and after April 7 cover the points of somo device that w lie from Injury on will be liable to n than $100. An act Hgocd by Governor fine of not more to this effect was Foss recently. n 1 1 i