The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917, February 06, 1903, Image 3
. 4444+44 : 4v4v4+4444444v44444>44444444v4444444+4444444>* ! The Bow of Orange Ribbon | | A ROMANCE OF NEW YORK | 1 -— . ' X J * Bv AMELIA E, BARR. ♦ 4 Author of "Friend Olivier," "I, Thou end the Other One," Eto. + i. Copyright, 146. by Dodd, Meed and Company. X T e «. l. e e » t d..t. t. t J. t. t_»«»-»«« a J. e. e e e e t t .t. # e a « e « a T CHAPTER XI.—(Continued.) And it was during this hour of trial to Miriam, that .Joris was talking to Lysbet of her. It did him good to put * ! his fears into words, for Lysbet’s assurances were com tori able: and as It had been a day full of feeling, he was weary and went earlier to his room than usual. On the contrary, Lysbet was very wakeful. She car ried her sewing to the candle aud sat down to think. In the midst of her reflections. Bram returned. She had not expect ed him so early, but the sound of his feet was pleasant. He came in slowly, and, after some pottering, irritating delays, he pushed his lather’s chair back from the light and witli a heavy sigh sat down in it. "Why sigh you so ncavy, Bram? Every sigh still lower sinks the heart." "A light heart I shall never have again, mother. For me there is no hope. So quiet and shy was my love.” “Oh, indeed! Of all the coquettes, the quiet, shy ones are the worst.” "No coquette is Miriam Cohen. My love life Is at an end, mother.” "When began it, Bram?” "It was at the time of the duel. I lcved her from the first moment. O mother, mother!” "Does she not love you?” "I think so; many sweet hours we have had together. My heart was full of hone.” "Well, then, my son, be not easy to lose thy heart. Try once more.” “Useless it would be. Miriam Is not one of those who say ‘no’ and then ‘yes.’ ” "Nearly two years you have known her. That was long to keep you In hope and doubt. I think she Is a coquette.” "You know her not, mother. Very few words of love have I dared to say. We have been friends. I feared to lose all by asking too much.” "Then, why did you ask her to night? It would have been better had your father spoken first to Mr. Co hen.” “I did not ask Miriam to-night. She spared me all she could. This is what she said to me, ‘Bram, dear Bram, I fear that you begin to love me, be cause I think of you very often. And my grandfather has just told me that I am promised to Judah Belasco of London. In the summer he will come here and I shall marry him.’ ” "What said you then?” "Oh, I scarce know’! But I told her how dearly 1 loved her and I asked her to be my wife.” "And she said what to thee?” “‘My father I must obey. Though he told me to slay myself, I must obey him. By the God of Israel, 1 have promised it often.’ ” "She is a good girl. I wish that you had won her, Bram.” And Lysbet put down her work and went to her son’s side; and with a great sob Bram laid his head against her breast. "As one w'hom his mother eomfort eth!” Oh. tender and wonderful con solation! It is the mother that turns tie hitter waters of life into wine. Bram talked his sorrow over to his mother’s love and pity and sympathy; and when she parted with him, long after the midnight, she said cheer fully. “Thou hast a brave soul, mijn zoon, mijn Bram; and this trouble is not all for thy loss and grief. A sweet memory wUl this beautiful Miriam be as long as thou livest; and to have loved well a good woman, will make thee always a better man for it.” CHAPTER XII. London Life. The trusting, generous letter which Joris had written to his son-in-law ai rived a few days before Hyde's de parture for London. Hyde knew well the importance of Katherine’s fortune. It enabled him to face his relatives and friends on a nery much better footing than he bad anticipated. So he was no longer averse to meeting his former compan ions; even to them, a rich wife would excuse matrinmor.y. His first social visit was paid to his maternal grandmother, the dowager Lady Capel. He found her in the most careless dishabille, wigless and iirpalnted, and rolled up comfortably in an old wadded morning gown that had seen years of snuffy service. Gut she had outlived her vanity. Hyde had chosen the very hour in which she had nothing whatever to amuse her. and he was a very welcome interruption. And. upon the whole, she liked her So she heard the rattle of Hyde’s sword and the clatter of liis feet on the polished stairs, with a good deal ol satisfaction. have him here and I shall do my best to keep him here,” she thought. "'Why should a proper young fellow like Dick bury himself alive in the fens for a Dutch woman? In short, the has had enough, and too much, of him. His grandmother has a prior claim, I hope, and then Ara bella Suffolk will help me. I foresee mischief and amusement. Weil Dick, you rascal, so you have had to leave America! I expected it. Oh, sir, I have heard all about you from Ade laide! You are not to be trusted, either among men or women. And pray where is the wife you made such a fracas about? Is she in London „ with you?” "No, madam; she preferred to re main at Hyde, and I have no happi ress beyond her desire.” "Here's flame! Here’s constancy! And you have been married a whole year! I am struck with admiration.” "A whole year—a year of divine happiness. 1 assue you.” "Lord, sir! You will be the laugh ing stock of the town if you talk in such fashion. They will have you in the playhouses. Pray let us forget our domestic joys a little. You can make a good figure in the world; and as your cousin, Arabella Suffolk Is staying with me, you will be the properest gallant for her when Sir Thomas is at the House. Here comes Arabella, and I am anxious you should make a figure in her eyes.” Arabella came in very quietly, but she seemed to take possession of the room as she entered it. She had a bright, piquant face, a tall, graceful form, and that air of high fashion which is perqaps quite as captivating. Arabella made Hyde a pretty, mock ing courtesy, and he could not help looking with some Interest at the wo man who might have been his wife. Katherine was ignored in the con versation that followed, and Hyde did not feel any desire to bring even her name into such a mocking, jeering, perfectly heartless conversation. He was content to laugh and let the hour go past in flim-flams of criticism and persiflage. A couple of hoilrs passed; and then it became evident, from the pawing and snorting outside, that Ills horse's patience was quite exhausted. Hyde went away in an excitement of hope and gay anticipations. A momentary glance upward showed him Lady Capel and Lady Suffolk at the window', watching him; the withered old wo man in her soiled wrappings, the youthful beauty in all the bravery of her white and gold poudesoy. He made them a salute, and then, in a clamor of clattering hoofs, he dashed through the square. During the next six months society made an idol of Capt. Hyde, and, if he was not at Lady Arabella's feet, he was certainly very constantly at her side. Hyde loved his wife, loved her ten derly and constantly; he felt himself to be a better man whenever he thought of her and his little son, and he thought of them very frequently; and yet his eyes, his actions, the tones of his voice daily led his cousin. Lady Suffolk, to imagine herself the em press of his heart and life. Unfortun ately, his military duties were only on very rare occasions any restraint to him. His days were mainly spent in dangling after Lady Suffolk and other fair dames. And it must be remembered that the English women of that day were such as England may well hope never to see again. In the higher classes they married for money or position, and gave them selves up to intrigue. They drank deeply; they played high; they very seldom went to church, for Sunday was the fashionable day for all kinds of frivolity and amusement. And as trie men of any generation are just what the women make them, Eng land never had sens so profligate, so profane aid drunken. The clubs, especially Brooke’s, were the nightly scenes of indescribable orgies. Gam bling w*as tneir serious occupation; duels were of constant occurrence. Such a life could not he lived ex ec pt at frightful and generally ruinous expense. Hyde was soon embarrass ed. Towards Christmas bills began to pour in. creditors became impor tui ate. and, for (he first time in his life, creditors really troubled him. The income from Hyde Manor had never been more than was required for the expenses of the place; and the inter est on Katherine's money had gone, ♦hough be could not tell how. He was destitute of ready cash, and he foresaw that he would have to borrow some from Lady Capel or some other accommodating friend. He returned to barracks one Sun day afternoon, and was moodily think ing over these things, when his order ly brought him a letter which had ar rived during his absence. It was from Katherine. His face flushed with delight as he read it, so sweet and tender and pure was the neat epistle. "She wants to see me. Oh, the dear one! Not more than I want to see her. Fool, villain, that 1 am; I will go to her. Katherine! Kate! My dear little Kate!” So he ejaculated as he paced his narrow quarters, and tried to arrange his plans for a Christ mas visit ot his wife and child.. He had determined to ask Lady Capel for a hundred pounds; and he thought it would be the best plan to make his request when she was sur rounded by company, and under the plcasureable excitement of a winning rubber. And if the circumstances pioved adverse, then he could try his fortune in the hours of her morning retirement. The mansion in Berkeley Square was brilliantly lighted when he ap proached it. Sunday night was Lady C'apel's great card night, and the rooms were full of tables surounded by powdered and painted beauties Intent upon the game and the gold. The odor of musk w’as everywhere, and the sound of the tapping of gold <tuis, and the sharp, technical calls of the gamesiers, and the hollow laughter of ho'low hearts. Not very lit pefully he approached Lady Capel. t he had been unfortun ate all the eve xing and was not ami able. •'Dick, I am angry at you. I have a mind to banish you for a mouth.” “I am going to Norfolk for twc weeks, madam.” “That will do. It is a worse punish ment than I should have given you. Norfolk! There is only one word between it and the plantations. Give me your arm, Dick; I shall play nc more until my luck turns. Losing cards ore dull company.” “I am yery sorry that you have been losing. 1 came to ask for the loan ol a hundred pounds, grandmother.” “No, sir, I will not lend you a hun dred pounds; nor am 1 in the humoi to do anything else you desire.” “I make my apology for the request I ought to have asked Katherine.” “No, sir, you ought not to have ask ed Katherine. You ought to take what you want. Jack Capel took every shilling of my fortune and neither said, ‘by your leave,’ nor ‘thank you.’ Did the Dutchman tie the bag toe close?" “Councillor Van Heemskirk left it open, in my honor. When I am scoundrel enough to touch it, 1 shall not come and see you at all, grand mother.” “Upon my word, a very pretty com pliment! Well, sir. I'll pay you a hun dred pounds for it. When do you start?’’ "To-morrow morning.” "Make it afternoon, and take care ol me as far as your aunt Julia's. And 1 daresay you want money to-night Here are the keys of my desk. In the right hand drawer are some rouleaus of fifty pounds each. Take two.” The weather, as Lady Capel said was "so very Decemberlsh" that the roads were passably good, being fra zen dry and hard, and on the evening of the third day Hyde came in sight of his homo. His heart warmed tc the lonely place; and the few lights in its windows beckoned him far. more pleasantly than the brilliant Minimi nations of Vauxhall or Alinacks. oi even the cold splendors of royal re ceptions. He had given Katherine nc vaming of his visit. He wanted tc see with his own eyes, and hear with his own ears, the glad tokens of hei happy wonder. The kitchen fire threw great lustrer across the brick-paved yard; and the blinds in Katherine's parlor were un drawn, and Its fire and candle light shone on the freshly laid tea table, and the dark walls gleaming with bunches of holly and mistletoe. But she was not there. He only glanced inside the room and then, with a smile on his face, went swiftly up stairs. He had noticed the light in the upper wdndows, and he knew where he would find his wife. Before he reached the nursery he heard Katherine's voice. The door was a little open, and he could see every part of the charming domestic scene within the room. A middle-aged woman was quietly putting to rights the sweet disorder incident to the undressing of the baby. Katherine had played with if until they were both a little flushed and weary and she was softly singing to the drowsy child at her breast. Over and over, softer and slower went the melody. It was evident tha the boy was asleep and that leatherin' was going to lay him in his cradle He watched her do it; watched hei gently tuck in the cover and stand for a moment to look down at the child. Then with a face full of love she turned away, smiling, and quite unconsciously came toward him or tiptoes. With his face beaming, with his arms opened, he entered; bni with such a sympathetic understand ing of the sweet need of silence and restraint, that there was no alarm no outcry, no fuss or amazement Only a whispered "Katherine," and the swift rapture of meeting hearti and lips. (To be continued.) BROUGHT THEM TO TIME. Why Criticism of New York’s Fines! Hotels Suddenly Stopped. “Some years ago 1 was dining with a party of wealthy Westerners In New York City,” said Mr. Benjamin T. Leslie, of Montana, to a Washington Post reporter. “Among them were Marcus Daly, Charlie Broadwater, ex Gov. Hauser, Hon. Tom Carter, Sena tor W. A. Clark, John W. Mackay, “Lucky” Baldwin and E. E. Bonner. “It seems that no two of them were stopping at the same hotel, and each had a grievance against the hostelry where he put up. One said he meant to quit the Fifth Avenue; another in veighed against the Waldorf; a third thought that Dclmonico’s was terribly overrated, and so on. Not one had a good word to say of any of the taverns or eating houses of Gotham, and there was special criticism of the food. “Finally, after there was a little lull in the choruses of adverse criticism old man Bonner burst into a loud laugh. When asked the cause of his merriment, Bonner said; ‘I’ve beer listening to you fellows talk, and 1 tell you frankly, you give me a pain To hear such as you run down these swell establishments in New York Is enough to make the angels weep. Why it hasn't been so many years sine* I’vg seen every one of you squatted or the grass of the prairie, eating beans out of a frying pan with your fingers.’ “It was the everlasting truth, and the knocking of the hotels cease* right there.” It may as well be admitted that there are some automobilisls who dc pot try to run over people. N. Has a Prosperous Look. Farmer Peavine—By jings. four dif ferent fellers stopped me on the street to-day and axed me if i didn't want to put a thousand in an investment that paid 500 per cent a month. Gosh, l guess I must look like Jay Gqnld or Jay Cooke, or some of them feenan cors. City Nephew—Oh. they undoubted ly took you for one of the jays, uncle. He Was It. Aseum—So you didn’t make out well In that western town? Pr. Kallow—No. All the time I was there there was only one case of sick ness in the town. Aseum—And you didn't even have thet? Dr. Kallow—Oh. yes, I had that good ami hard. It was a case of homesick ness. It Annoyed Her. “Yes, the widow is perplexed." “How is that?” “She doesn’t know whether it means that her husband was a good man or she is a vixen.” “I don’t understard.” “When he died the papers said that he had gone to a happier home." Domestic Bliss. Husband—I think I’ll run up to St. Paul for a couple of days for a change. Wife—Will you take me with you? Husband—Of course not. I said I was going for a change. A POKER GAME. Miss Slowgirl—(lame is pretty c heap ut this time of year. Colonel de Sport—Oh, I don’t know! I found a game last night that was pretty expensive. SHE HAD CAUGHT ’EM. The Maid (who has been discharged)—I demand to know why you dis charge me. What is there you don’t like about me? Mrs. Cutting Hintz—My husband’s arm. Inherited. “And now,” said Prof. I.onghunger, as he greeted Mr. Henry Peck, “what shall we make of your little boy—a lecturer? He lias a sincere taste for * it.” “I know he has," replied the male parent; “he inherits it from his mother.” Why He Disagreed. Foreman of the locked-in jury (Im putiently)—The rest of us are agreed, and you would see the case as we do if you had an ounce of brains. Obstinate juror (reflectively)—But that's Just the trouble. I’ve got mors than an ounce. Real Thing. City Sportsman—“Any good hunt ing In this part of the country?” Native—“Lots of it.” City Sportsman—“What kind ot game?” Native—“No game at all. Just hunt ing.” His Argument. . He thought the mothers of the day were inclined to shirk their proper responsibility, and he was arguing against the employment of a maid for the children. “Eve," he said, “had no nurse girl.” “And Cain went wrong,” she replied promptly. Those Women. Miss Van Der Whoop—Yes, Miss Rinns, I am the youngest member of one of the oldest families in New York. Miss Blnns (enviously)—I don't doubt that it’s the oldest family—if you’re the youngest member. Strategy. Daughter—Papa did not take the paper to the office with him this morning. Mother—He didn’t? I’ll bet it's got a lot of stuff showing how women can trim their own bonnets.—New York Weekly. As Explained. Pat—Oi congratulate yez, Moik; it’s a father Oi hear yez do be. Moik—Sure, an’ it’s two fathers Ol’m afther bein'. It’s twins, b'gorry. CHANCE TO DO BU8INE8S. Doctor—I’ll examine you carefully for ten dollars. Weary Dreary—All right, an’ if you find it, give me half. RIGHT IN LINE FOR THAT JOB. His Mamma—I don’t know what we are going to make of little Bobby. He raid to day that when he grew up he was going to be a robber, and despoil honest people of their gold, His I’apa—Let him alone; lie’s destined to become the head of a huge corporation. A Possible Insinuation. Naggsby—It's funny how women will change their minds. When 1 first met the girl who eventually became Mrs. N., she was one of those who declared that she wouldn't marry the best man in the world. Within a year she married me. Waggsby—But what makes you think she has changed ner mind? His Looks Belie Him. “There's a vast difference between a man's looks and his real worth.” “Yes?” “Yes; there's Blobbinson. He’s worth $300,000, but no board of ap praisers, judging by his looks, would value him at more than 20 cents!" Husband and Wife. Swob—My dear, do you know that you have one of the best voices in the world? Mrs. Swob (delighted)—Do you real ly think so, William? Swob—Certainly I do; otherwise it wrould have been worn out long ago. Why the Preacher Failed. “So the Rev. Mr. Goodley was a failure at that church, eh?" “Yes, he tried to bring the congre gation into harmony with his ideas instead of bringing his ideas Into har mony with the congregation.” Real Trouble. Caller—Why didn't you print my ' contribution on the Venezuelan squab ble? Was It too long? Editor—No; the length was satis factory, but it wasn’t broad enough. Already Learned a Trick or Two. Mother—Yos, Rupert, the baby was a Christmas present from the angels. Rupert (aged 4)—Well, mama, if we lay him away carefully and don’t use him, we can give him to some body else next Christmas. The Voice of the Stricken. Mrs. Henpeck—‘‘Ah, those sad, sad words, ‘It might have been.’ ’’ Mr. Henpeck (feebly)—“That's all right, my dear, but they're not in it with those sad, sad words, ‘it was.’ ” Discouraging. “Time is money, you know,” re marked the industrious man. “Yes,’ rejoined the shiftless individ ual, “but the fact that it takes three months to amount to a quarter is enough to discourage a saint." Manager Realizes It. “There is something elevating in music,” said the artist. “Yes,” answered the manager. “Music certainly has the effect of stimulating lofty ideas as to salary.”