The Sioux County journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1888-1899, May 06, 1897, Image 4
AN UN FORGOTTEN KIS& The rain in rattling on the pain, the bid in BWeepillg by. Now with diwordunt wbii-k. auou with melancholy cry. A lowly man, 1 sit ami rttd beside ihe dying fire The daily tale of love ami crime, of greed sdJ vain desire. The letters blur and fade, the room grows dim and disappears. And in its stead old si-enes come back across the waste of years; And set in the frame of golden hair a fair young face I see. Whose, two soft eyes of deepest blue look wistfully on me. Once, on a memorable eve, when heart and hope were young, Those luminous eyes upon my life a sud den glory flung; As she was then I see her now, my young, my only choice. The brightness on her sunny brow, the music in her voice. One question, and but one I ask, then for an answer wait; My very heart is motionless, expectant of its fate! A wondrous light the light of love glows in the tender eyes Her breath is warm upon my face oh, sweetest of replies! But bless my heart! The driving rain is coming in, I fear Or is that shining little drop upon the page a tear? Well, who would think an old grayhead could be as soft as this, When more than thirty years have fled since that fond, foolish kiss? Chambers' Journal. INNOCENT OFFENDER. The doctor, being young and enthu siastic, had a theory which he believed he could illustrate and support by mak ing olrvatious of pupils and the methods of teaching them. According ly much of his spare time was spent at the public school opposite his of fice. There the neat, blonde doctor, his eye-glasses often falling and as often being replaced, would wander, silent and observant, from room to roani. with note-book and pencil in hand. The teachers allowed him to come and go without remark, and some few aid ed him intelligently in his work in par ticular Ms Hintou. a teacher in the Intermediate department. In her room he had spent sufficient time to become somewhat acquainted with the pupils, so that she, quite naturally, included him in the conversation which he found her holding, one midwinter day at recess, with a slender, sweet-faced visitor. "Dortor," said Miss Ilinton, "I must j Introduce you to Mrs. Hamilton. Mrs. Hamilton its Richard Hamilton's moth er." Now Richard was well known to the doctor as a very trying pupil. "You will be Interested, I know," con tinued small, quick, gray-haired, alcrt i;ed Mis Hintou, "you will be inter t led in what Mrs. Hamilton tells me. !..t is willing I shall tell you. I'm sure. Perhaps you can throw some light on the case, doctor; I confess I am puz zled. Mm. Hamilton assures me that Richard, in preparing his lessons with her, shows loth quickness and intelli gence, lie Ls her only child, and is her companion in her botanizing and in a course of history readings. And yet Richard is ranked among the low est in the class because hi recitations are vague and unsatisfactory. Besides that he te daily marked down in de portment for inattention." Mrs. Hamilton's fine, sensitive face flushed, and she spoke in a clear, bell like voice: "I am quite sure It is not motherly blindness on my part At home Richard is both quick in under standing and In learning Ms lessons. His father has been so mortified about the bad school reports that I always go over the next day's lessons with Ricbard, and he seldom fails in a reci tation. And yet he tells me himself, for he is a very honest boy, that his recitations at school are all poor. He eays, too, that he dily fails In deport ment because of seeming inattention, though he fries to be attentive." "That's queer," said the doctor. "Another thing" said' Mrs. Hamil ton. " I have noticed that when the lesson turns on any rule explained at school, bis memory of It ls always so fauRy that we have to turn back to the rule and go over If together." Miss Mln ton showed much concern. "What he tells you of his class stand ing is true," she said, "yet he does not always seem wilfully inattentive. I have sometimes noticed him sudden ly awake from his dreaminess, and give a reply that startles me by Its clear ness and accuracy. I cannot account for it." "Perhaps It may be diffidence," said Mrs. Hamilton. "He has been so much alone with me " But here the ring ing of a bell Interrupted. "Ant recess Is over," said Miss Ilin ton. "Mrs. Hamilton, won't you stay during a recitation and Judge for your self r "Thank yon, I think I will," said lira. Hamilton, whereupon the doctor nodded approval, and taking the third Chair upon the platform, prepared him self to listen also. Aa the class of boys filed In, rosy and breathless from play, Richard Hamil ton, a slender little lad, with a aensl tlvs mouth and worried brown eyes, fare a quick smile of recognition to ward his mother, and his . usually dreamy, abaent faoa lighted up with positive animation. "He Is not diffident, anyway," thought the doctor, who had often no ticed the cpriacioiwDCM and embarrass mast displayed by children on the oc ngjm of parental "-"arts to , their Klqi Etat&la bef quick, alert r " u4i tit claw tor a lesson i . " 'yjtk n talked a - - , rrir. and nr rouncia J r ZZM, kt ate gave the le..n wit1! a Itui'i jro-'s enthusiasm that Inspired tlo- pupil to (.leasing at tention. K ii- a while Richard Hamilton sat erect, with aa air of attention so tense that It seemed strained, smiling In a forced, mirthless kind of fashion when the class smiled. But soon his mother and the doctor saw his erect form grad ually relax. His eyes, while still lised upon Mis Hinton's face, grew absent, his manner listless. "And yet," continued Miss Huron, briskly, "Cornwallis must have had a reason for his delay in crossing the Delaware when so much depended on it. What was it, Richard?" As, raising her voice at the name. Miss Ilinton uttered it with decided emphasis, the little fellow started, stumbled to his feet, and gave a dazed look around. Then, meeting his moth er's anxious gaze, a burning flush spread over his face. "I I ," he stammered. "That blush shows sensitiveness," thought the doctor. "The boy is not stupid nor doltish." Now Mrs. Hamilton, turning impuls ively to Miss Ilinton, spoke out iu her clear, sweet voice: "I am quite sure that he knows. Miss Hintou, if you will let him try again. Richard, 1 am sure you. can tell Miss Ilinton why it was that Cornwallis delayed In crossing the Delaware." The harassed, worried little face in stantly changed, and was lit up by beaming intelligence. He turned to ward his teacher. "Why, yes, I beg your pardon. Miss Ilinton. You see, our soldiers Washington ami his forc es, I should say had taken every boat they could find at Trenton, and had moved them up out of the water after crossing, and Cornwallis, instead of constructing others at Howe's sugges tion, waited for the river to freeze, that his men might cross over oil the Ice. Meanwhile Washington " "Very good," said Miss Ilinton, in her rapid way; "but why did you not an swer me at first?" Richard made no reply. His eyes were fixed on his mother's face, as If awaiting her glance of approval. "Answer Miss Ilinton, Richard," said his mother. "Did you not hear?" and she repeated the question. The br TUt. look fj.:-d. the hunted, harassed look, that promised shortly to change to sullen, returned. "I -I did not know she was talking to me I didn't quite seem to to under stand" he faltered, with an appeal ing hs)k. The doctor, feeling for his dangling glasses, nodded his immaculate blonde head, and fancied he was beginning to understand. He listened attentively throughout the history lesson and the dictated lesson in spelling and senten ces which followed. After the written exercises were col lected and brought up to the desk, the doctor was seeking Richard's, when the sound of ihe small boy's worried voice arrested him. The dot-tor, elevating his glasses, gazed at the hopeless little face anew. "But I did not know you gave us any written work in grammar to prepare at home." the boy was explaining. "I knew you did in composition, and I heard you say, 'Study the next two pages in grammar ' " The doctor, leaning toward Mrs. Hamilton, pointed to the column of words down Richard's paper. "The 'order as dictated here from the book," he explained, "was 'constrict, consist, eonstringo, constitute,' and he has just reversed their order here on his iaper. Again here, below, where the words read were 'infallible. Indelible, intelli gible,' he has done the same thing again. He has written them from a memory of their order on the page, not from the dictation " A bell again Interrupted, and Miss Ilinton announced: "As this is the day for oral review by Professor Strong, no boy is to take his arith metic with him." She tapped her bell for the class to pass out. then turned to Mrs. Hamilton and said: "The principal, Professor Strong, as sembles all the pupils of each grade In the chapel several times a month to drill and review them In their work in numbers." Richard was among the last in the line, and as he passed by the platform his arithmetic wan plaJuly to be seen tucked under his arm. So Miss Hin ton's voice rose stern: "Richard Ham ilton, remain behind the class!" The boy, tnrning a startled face to ward the group on the platform, drop ped out of the line. "Why have you your book?" she con tinued; "did you not hear what I said?" Richard nodded in a hopeless way. The doctor spoke up quickly: "What did she say?" The child swallowed hard several times before answering,"I I beard her say 'Professor Strong and arith metic, and sometimes some of us forget to take them. and so I thought she ws reminding us " the sensitive mouth was trembling, the little chin quivering. Hoping to help him recover himself, his mother laid her hand on his arm, but that gentle, sympathetic touch end ed the child's forlorn effort at self control. He turned and hid his face on his mother's shoulder and gave way to the pent-up emotions of months of failure, punishment and mortification. With a nod toward mother and teach er, the doctor laid his finger on his lips, and drew out his watch. He stepped behind the boy as he grew quieter, and gradually advanced the watch nearer and nearer Richard's ear. Even when the ticking thing was almost touching the lobe of the ear, the child gave no sign of hearing it. The doctor nodded toward Mrs. Ham ilton add touched hla own ear signif icantly. Then, aa Richard's bead mov ed rWtleasty, exposing the ear until bow hidden against hM mother's shoul der, Ale doctor, moving arotrod.brooght tbt wmti gradnalry mat that ear. Wfcto M wii at aboat sight tnebaf distance the b y raised his head hast i!y. "What are you doing that for?" he ad;ed, tirvi'ng. "I am thinking." said the doctor, "that I shall have to take you over to my o.'tice ami have a look at you. Cet your overcoat, my boy, provided Miss Ilinton will permit." "By all means-poor little boy," said Miss Ilinton, sympathetically, and Richard went out to get his overcoat. "Mrs. Hamilton, I am convinced your bright lioy's hearing is defective," said the doctor, placing his glasses astride his nose. "He is partially deaf and perfectly unconscious that he hears less than those around him. He has been following just about one-half that you say. Miss Ilinton, and guessing at the rest." , "But he hears me perfectly," said Mrs. Hamilton. "Madam, your voice is peculiarly res onant and distinct. You also enunciate more slowly than Miss Ilinton. And the difference iu your, estimates of the little fellow's abilities lies in the fact that he hears his mother perfectly and his teacher Imperfectly." "Why this shocks me." said Mis Ilinton. "I feel that I've been greatly t blame. I should have discovered this. Poor Richard all his school lift he has been contending against my seeming injustice as well as his own partial comprehension of his duties. No wonder he passed for backward and inattentive. Strange that he should Dot have known of his deafness." "Well, perhaps so," said the doctor, "but such cases are not unusual. 1 think that a large number of the so called dull and backward children are the victims of some unrecognized phys ical imperfection. I know of a girl who was thought backward, slow, fret ful anil peevish she was always com plaining of headache, too. She turns out to have been near-sighted and no one suspected It. Taney the nervous strain that child has been under all her school life, trying to see the black board, for instance. If you will per mit me, Mrs. Hamilton. I will take Richard over to my office and have a look at his ears for my own satisfac tion; but I advise you to take him to a first-class specialist at once." "I will go with him." said Mrs. Ham ilton, as Richard came in the door. "Are you ready, Richard?" asked the doctor, in a conversational tone. The lad paid no attention, but walked on to his desk to put his books away. "Are you ready?" the doctor walked toward Richard as he spoke. No answer. "Ready, Richard?" at about three feet. "Yes. sir," and the lad, looking up in quick response, smiled a good-by toward Miss Ilinton, then joined the doctor and his mother, and the three went out together. The doctor was right. Richard was found to be quite deaf, and yet from so simple a cause that a few weeks of treatment from a good uurist restored his hearing to a normal condition. After that the boy quickly recovered his cheerful, boyish spirit and fearless iM'aring. Indeed, within a few weeks he was telling his father, whose displeasure had been one of his hardest trials: "And. father, it is just wonderful how easy it all seems to me now, and how interesting school can le. I won der why I did not know what the, trou ble was myself. I can foilow every word Miss Ilinton says now, and as for the lecture on 'The Five Senses' the doctor gave the school yesterday, I followed him so closely I believe I can almost repeat It for you. And, oh, mummy," with a rub of his cheek against his gentle mother's shoulder, "it's so good not to be groping in the dark, any more." Now the pity of it ls, there are chil dren in our schools, everywhere, to day, just as handicapped as Richard wa.s. How is it with youor yours? Oeorge Madden Martin, in Youth's Companion. Vanity's Penalty. In a well-known New York hostelry there is a certain ebon-hued waiter whose favorite recreation Iu leisure hours consists of promenading the "Avenue," attired in as close an imi- j tation of the prevailing fashion as his means and state of enlightenment per mit. A cigar and a smart walking stick are indispensable adjuncts of his street toilette. A guest of the hotel, having become possessed of a box of perhaps the most execrable cigars to which match was ever applied, bestowed them by way of a "tip" upon the delighted darky. A few days later, in response to the donor's friendly inquiry as to their mer it, the colored dandy replied, with a du bious shrug: "Well, sah. you see, sah, dey Is pooty bad cigars for a fac' but den, sah," he added more cheerfully, "I on'v smokes 'em In de street day looks mighty swell an' I hopes dey ain't no lKxly but rrfe s'pects Just how bad dey is, sah!" The Very Reaaoo. Fuddy So Kommuter wants to sell Ms place out in Switehvllle? Duddy That cannot lie. He la for ever cracking It up and telling every body what a beautiful place It Is; Fuddy Yes; that la the reason why I know be wa'nts to dispose of It Boa-, ton Transcript. Feasible to the Laat. Nurse (preparing medicine for le banker) Will you take thla draught, air? i Cashier (feebly) H'm. Can yon be Identified?-Detroit Free Press. F.very one needs to be told the plain truth occasionally, regardleaa of the hurt, to save him from being ridicu lous. ; There are few men wbo can look Im pressed wben tbafr wives talk a boat tbtlf economy. THE CAPTAIN'S LOVE. NO. I've never been shipwreck ed, nor been In collision all the time I've been to eea-a matter of over forty years. But I've carried some queer passengers in my time. I'll tell you about two who exercised a powerful influence over me; but whether for good or evil you shall hear presently. It was in the fall of lS7- just when on the eve of failing, that an old gen tleman stepped on board, and hurried ly approached inc. He was a tali, spare man, with iron gray hair, and had a slight stoop at the shoulders. "Good day. Captain," said lie. "I only heard this morning that you were sailing for the United States, and I hurried down to ascertain if you could find accommodation for myself and daughter at so short notice." "Certainly," I replied. "I shall be only too pleased to take you. As it happens there are only three passen gers booked this trip, and they are second-class, so you can have the saloon pretty much to yourselves." He thanked me effusively and disap peared into the saloon. I marveled at his precipitancy, and wondered where the daughter was to come from, as she was not visible anywhere. 1 gave Instructions to the apprentices to have their luggage conveyed on board, and myself superintended the stowing away of their trunks in the two best appointed cabins iu the ship. While so engaged I heard ft light foot full behind me, and, turning round, I beheld the fairest vision of loveliness that ever brightened my saloon. "My daughter Captain Harnott," said Mr. Brandon, Introducing us. I was so taken aback by her exceed ing beauty that I awkwardly touched my cap, and. with the wind clean takMi out of my sails, stammered: "Clad to see you. Miss." She placed her soft little white hand in my big. sun-browned paw, and, look ing me squarely in the face out of her laughing blue eyes, said: Tm sure we shall be good friends, Captain, during the voyage." She spoke with a charming coloninl accent: from that moment I was her most devoted, humble servant, slave, anything you like. I went head over ears Su love with her at first sight. You may smile, but recollect I was i com paratively young man then. Leaving them to arrange their cabins to their own satisfaction, I ascended the companion steps and went on deck. It certainly occupied them a considera ble time, for neither father nor daugh ter appeared on deck until the ship was well outside the "Heads." and the tug had returned to port. That voyage I look back upon as the happiest and saddest I ever made. Miss Brandon was a splendid sailor. In fair weather or foul she'd be on deck, de lighting me with the admiration she ex pressed for my handsome three-masted clipper, and the childlike naivete of her questions. I used to pace the quarter deck in the morning, Impatient for her first appearance. On the dull est or dirtiest day It was like a ray of sunshine suddenly bursting forth from a lowering sky to see her emerge from the companion hatch, looking as fresh ns a daisy, and a thousand times more lovely. Of course, it was only natural that my mates should fall In love with her also, but she treated them with mark ed indifference, if not absolute cold ness. Her smiles were all reserved for me, and she lavished them upon me In no niggardly manner. There was a piano In the saloon, and often in the long evenings she would sing and play for my sole delectation, while I would sit on a settee alongside and gaze rapturously Into her pretty face. The song 1 liked best was 'Tom Bowling," and she Infused such an amount of pathos Into her expression that the tears would sometimes trickle down my weather-beaten cheeks as she sang. Ah! those were happy days; it was heaven while it lasted. I have scarcely mentioned her father yet. The fact Is, I was so engrossed with his beautiful daughter that I didn't pay so much attention to him as perhaps I ought. At the best he was an unsociable sort of person, who seemed to prefer his own company to other people's. When not In bis own cabin, where hen)ent most of his time, he was walking with his hands clasped behind him, apparently deepln thought, In the waist of the ship. Sometimes, when standing Idly at the break of the poop, I have caught myself wondering If he had ever committed a crime, the remembrance of which was weighing on his conscience. I was destined soon to learn more about blm. One evening, when about nine weeks out, I was sitting In the cbartbouse alone with my-ldol. The second mate was stepping the plank outside, old Jotiaon was at the wheel away behind us, and the watch on deck tm loung ing about forward. Home daya pre vious to thla I had had. the temerity to confess my love for her, and asked her to he my wife. Mia had mad me In expressibly happy by promising, sub ject to my obtaining her father's con sent. Thla, after some demur, ha had granted, and that nlgr k tha future ap peared very bright fr me. . We bad been sitting silent for some Mm, too happy lor words, faring, on the setting sua as it disappeared Into a glowing mass of foUaavrlmssd clouds on the horizon, when, to my infinite amazement, she suddenly burst into tears. "Darling, what the matter?" 1 ex claimed n an agony of apprehension. "Oh, Alfred, I have Jut.t heard such a dreadful-story from my father. I shall never lie happy again. We can never be married now." "Never be married'." I ejaculated, aghast. "Why?" "Because my father is a a criminal, oh. I feel so miserable. I think I shall throw myself overboard." "Alice, for heaven's sake don't talk like that, or you'll drive me mad. What lias he done?" "Something dreadful. Oh, don't speak to nie any more," and she sobbed violently. At that moment I was so mad I felt half Inclined to go down and tear the old scarecrow out of his berth by the scuff of his neck and demand what the deuce he hail done to cause my darling such poignant grief. But I didn't. In stead, I drew her to tny side and kissed her tears away. "Tell me all about It," I said, sooth ingly. "Well, my father, as you are aware, was an agent in one of the banks In Arlington, Victoria, and it seems he embezzled large sums of money belong ing to the bank to speculate with. Of course, he meant to replace it before the audit, when the deficit would have lieen discovered. But he lost It all, and that it why he fled the country." "Is that nil?" said I, with a sigh of relief. "It's bad enough, certainly, but I fail to see that In Itself it forms a sufficient barrier to our union." "But that Is not the worst. My fath er is convinced that the polien may have traced him to Melbourne and to this ship. He declares he will be ar rested on landing." "Nothing more likely," I thought. SHAM FUNERAL OF But I asked: "Has he any plan to sug gest?" "Yes, oh, yes, if you will only assist him. But It seems too horrible to con template. He says It Is bis only chance to escape." "What Is it. then?" "That he should die and be burled at sea !" she responded, with a perceptible shiver. f "I don't understand." "He proposes to feign death. Then, after he had been sewed up for burial we must find the means to liberate him and substitute something else." The daring audacity of the proposal fairly took my breath away. If discov- 'IN FAIR WE ATIIKB OB roi'L sna'n na OX DECK. ered, the consequences to me In aiding and abetting a felon to escape would he disastrous. I resolved to have noth ing to do with such a criminal proceed ing, bat a look of entreaty from those tearful eyes made me falter In my res olution. , "For my sake," she murmured, plead ingly, placing her fair whits hand on mi arm. . Her tonch thrilled me, I baa- Ibit. d i;o I. n :-r. bi.t ut " mi llling coiiM'iit, .h. wlai folly Vil ""' ' "'aa jti : i i l W hell ill love! N! diy it wan rein ed thai Bran don ua wrloiisly led! .,io...ed. 1 took om the medicine chest, as In duty iHiuiid, and ordered the cabin stewart to attend him. Tbr... .lays later Mr. Brandon was reported dead. W hen 1 was informed or this I en tered his cabin. He us lying on thrt under Ik t tit, pale and motionless as death. I felt the body; It was cold and rigid. If this were not death, he simu lated it to -rfe tion. I sent for the sailmnkcr. who sewed the lody up In my presence. When Ids task was com pleted 1 dismissed him, and. seen ring the cabin door Inside, with a sharp knife ripped open the stitches. My hand shook painfully. What if ho were really dead? I confess to experiencing a singular feeling of relief when the man opened his eyes, and the resusi itatiil Brandon sat up. I administered some brandy, which bellied to revive him. Then he produced from nn American trunk a dummy figure whic.l he had previously prepare! and welg.Ved, and Inclosed It in the shroud. This he sewed up with his own hands. Not a word was spoken by either of us. When all was com pleted I stepped out to recomioiter. In the first dog watch of the same afternoon the bell commenced to toll Its solemn knell for the funeral of An thony Brandon. Officers and men and passengers stood round me with heads uncovered as I read from the Book of Common Prayer the beautiful and im pressive burial service. After the funeral Brandon returned to his own cabin, which was kept con stantly locked, and the key of which I retn.liM'd in my pirsscwdon. With my conivanee. Aliv sinughHl food to him from day to day. Several win-ks after ward, while proceeding up the Atlantic coast under all sail, we wen- hailed by a tug. Anticipating danger. I slijqs'd down the companion way and convey ed Brandon to my own cabin for con cealment. When I went on deck again I was just In time to see a stout, well groomed party clambering over the ves xol's side. Without any preliinina ties he brusquely demanded: "Cot a passenger of the name of Brandon on tswtrd?" "I had, stranger; I liad." He gazed at me inquiringly. "Come Isdow, sir," said I. As we di'scemh'd he explained that he was a detective sent In pursuit of Brandon, who had absconded from ANTHONY Bit AX DON. Austral la with a considerable sum of money and valuable negotiable securi ties. When he had produced his war rant, 1 ordered the mate to fetch the loglxtok. Under date of Jan. 15 lie read this entry: "Burled at sea In latitude 3o dTees 49 minutes north, longitude M degrees 10 minutes west, Anthony Brandon, cabin passenger. Cause of death un known." When we arrived at the docks at New York I smuggled Mr. Brandon ashore In one of his daughter's trunks after they had been wirched by the customs officer. No one in the whip ever suspected the trl.li. Their scciet remained alone with me. It was arranged that Alice and I should be married quietly before set ting wit on my next voyage, and our honeymoon was to lie spent on the bosom of the deep. When we parted that fright she promised to communi cate with me when her father had se cured some quWrt retreat In the coun try. She kept her promUe. Here la the letter. I have preserved It all these yeirs. It has neither superscription nor signature: "Dear Old Captain Many, many thanks for ail your kindnesses. My husband and I for Mr. Brandon Is my husband, though It was not known In the Arlington will never forget them, Pray forgive the deceit we found It expedient to practice on you In order to carry out our plans. We are In fairly affluent circumstances, for my husband did not lose the money In speculation, as I thought It neceasary to tell you., Dear Captain, I know I can rely on you, for your own sake, not to Inform the authorities about my husband. As he died st sea, we expect to live secure ly, unmolested by the bank officials or the police. Oood-by forever." And that was the end of my ro mance. No, I never beard anything more about them. Whether they lived to enjoy their Ill-gotten gains or wheth er they didn't, I annot toll. But this I do know, aba was the first woman that ever' footed me, and, by heaven, she wis tha but I nsrsr gave anotbar tbs cbanca. 4 j 4V ' V4 Ci S lib. A '"'