The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917, July 31, 1903, Image 3
THAT GIRL c By JEA./1 K.A. Authiir a/ "At a < Snterefi According to Act of Congres In th« Office of the Librarian oi CHAPTER VI.—Continued. Instinctively she glanced down toward the shop. The doors were apen, hut no one was there. The hens pecking around the doors were the only visible signs of life to her anx ious eyes. Unconsciously she began hulling the strawberries with me chanical but steady fingers. “Times js dull ’nough, 'pears to me,” the w'oir.an proceeded. “First kem there want o’ rain with ther gyar din’ a-dryin’ up spite o’ the care we giv et; then as though thet warn’t 'nough, hyar koins ther acc’d’nt ter ther mare o’ ther ledge’s son, an’ any O’ us likely to be kctched ef ’twarn’t thot s’plcion rests In one direction special." It was coming. Dolores waited with bated breath. A heavy sense of guilt fell upon her; she could not meet the gaze of the eyes bent upon her, and she went on hulling the berries— waiting in silence for what she knew must come. “An’ them as knows says thyar’s a great feelin’ ower In ther town yan der ’bout ther mare,” the woman’s voice struck In on the girl’s thoughts, “an ’says et ’pears she were worth a deal o’ money, an’ now nobody’d gev a copper fer her, an’ they's workin’ steddy to fin’ out who done ther deed, an’ gettln’ every one theys ken ter prove thar s’picions c’rcct o’ a certain person." Dolores was waiting, u was com ing now, she felt certain. She crush ed some of the berries in her hand in a sudden frenzy. “Thoys holdin' court a'most every day. an’ workln’ as though 'twere some great thing thet a critter's gone lame. But thcys won’t do noth in’ with ther s’picior.cd feller tell thar's mo' ground, as theys calls et, though young Green do feel pretty sartin who is ther guilty one. But theys got cor.sid’rable proof, an’ there’s ter lie a great time ter-morrer, an’ they wants yer feyther ter go ter prov thar s’picions c’rect.” It was out at last. Dolores seemed turned to stone; she neither moved nor spoke; she dared not lift her eyes from the red berries with which her fingers were dyed. Her head was whirl ing; there was a din in her ears as though a legion of spirits repeated and shouted in wild horror: “Theys wants yer feyther ter go ter prove—theys wants yer feyther ter go—they wants yer feyther—yer fey ther—” Her eyes were like those of a hunt ed animal, half hidden beneath their long lashes; her mind was filled with a great longing to go—to get away from the tiny room out on the moun tain under the quiet heavens where the winds were free from the watch ing eyes. The woman at the other side of the table arose with an injured air. She had received scarcely a word of thanks for her berries, scarcely even a show of interest in her story. ‘'Thyars them as takes an int’rest in thyar feller critters, an’thyars them as don’t,” she said, tartly; "an’ thyars them as has thyar s'ptclon o’ things.” Dolores watched the woman’s tall, gaunt figure go down the worn path, her purple print dress brushing the scant grass with an indignant sweep, the cape of her sunbonnet limp and flapping over her shoulders. When she disappeared from view behind the shrubuery of the road side Dolores put away the dish of berries and put on hey gray sunbonnet to go out. It was early afternoon. The rocky road, like a yellow thread, wound in Waiting in Silence. and out among the scrubby- bushes nnd tall pines that murmured iu the breeze. To the ears of the girl they kept up their monotonous sobbing about her father as though they were (living things. She was listless no longer; she walked as one who had a purpose, as one who had far to go. Her eyes look ed straight before her, her lips were set in a straight, stern line. She met no one on her way; there was little travel -on the mountain; the thriving town over on the other side had connection with the world in an other direction. In all the twenty years of her life TVilores had never been over the mountain; what lay beyond it she did cot keow except from the rumors that drifted into them from the men who bad been there—men who had strayed f JOHNSON S TE tUDLVW, Mercy," Ctc. i in the Year by Street & Smith Con*rei», at Washincu*. D. C. in hunting, going around to the oppos ' ito mountain and returning across the town. Sometimes when the atmosphere was heavy and the wind in the right direction, the smoke from the tall fac tory chimneys drifted around to the settlement and tangled in the pines like gray specters waving their shad owy banners above the scattered houses down toward the valley. Many a time Dolores had watched these smoke wreaths, and her mind had gore to the place from whence they came, and she wove from them fan tastic shadows born of dreams, and she clothed them in garments of the living, and they brought her many many fancies cf the life pulsing just beyond the piny peaks. Now her mind was filled with the one subject so much discussed; she turned it over and over, viewing it on all sides; now reasoning with herself as to this or that possibility, this or that decision, but eventually return ing to the flr3t conclusion which was to her so convincing that It sent her over the mountain to the town to dis cover if possible the truth, and at the court was the place to learn what she wished to knew—if there were any place to learn it ere the whole world should know. As she passed over the mountain and down on the other side the town lay out before her; a thriving town; smoke arose black from the towering chimneys, the whir of machinery, the rattle of wagons and din on every-day life were borne up to her as sounds of a strange land. The knowledge be gan to grow in her mind that the life in the slow little settlement beyond the mountain was too narrow, too shut into itself, too lacking in energy and growth. But this was a new world to her and she shrank from it, not from any foolish feeling of inferi ority; such a thought could hold no room in her mind, but as a wild ani mal instinctively shrinks hack to Its natural world. Then ttaeMeellng left her; the old thought drove every fear, every other feeling away; she had come for a purpose and as yet It was not accomplished. She passed steadily down the road looking neither to right nor left. The court house was at the farther end of the town; she had heard them say so. A long, low, white building with wide steps and a hell In the tower. At length she came to It; she knew she was right; a long, low, white building with wide steps and a bell in the tower. She walked up the steps and turned the handle of the door, but could not open it. This ending of her journey had not entered her head. For a mo ment she stood in doubt what to do. People passing on the street looked curiously at her. A boy who was sitting astride of the fence called to her that the door was locked; but if she wanted the lockup It was down around the corner. She did not know he was laughing at her; she walked down the steps and spoke to him. She asked him where she could find the judge. She was looking at him with her straight, level glance, and he was disconcerted. The judge, he said, lived in the house on the hm; if she came down the main street she must have passed it. Not a hit of her resolution was gone as she retraced her steps, but she walked swiftly, for it was grow ing late. She found it without trou ble; she mounted the steps and knock ed at. the big dcor. She did not know she should ring the bell. No one came. She knocked again and louder, then again she waited. No one came. If the judge were gone where should she find him? A step sounded on the gravel at the side of the house; she turned and faced the new-comer. “Dolores!” exclaimed young Green, In astonishment. A red flush crept in her face. “I want to see the judge,” she said, gravely, and there was a wist fulness in the large, dark eyes raised to his for an instant that caused his heart to throb strangely while a flush also arose in his own face. “My father? He is not at home. When the court adjourned at three ho took the train to N—. If you wish to see him I am sorry. Will not I do instead? Come in, Miss Johnson; my mother would be pleased to meet you.” She was unused to being called “Miss Johnson,” and scarcely heard the unfamiliar name. He opened the door, waiting'for her to pass in. “I won’t stay,” she said. ‘‘The judge is not at home. I came to see the judge. She turned down the steps, and he closed the door, following her. "If you will not go inside, may I walk with you, Miss Johnson?” She bowed her head, and they pass ed up the street together in silence. That the people they passed, and whom her companion greeted, turned and looked curiously after them she did not know; had she known it wo»ld have affected her little. She came on an errand, and could not accomplish it; that thought wa/J uppermost in her mind, blended as It always way in thinking of it. with the face and eyes of the young man beside her. ‘‘Dolores,” he said at last, when they were climbing the rough road bevend the town, unconsciously using the name. "Doleves, why did you wish to see my father to-day? It must he something special or yea would not hare come. Could iH>t I do aa well?" , Some way his kindly heart was aching for her with the remembrance of that swift, wistful glance of the brown eyes into his own, and he would comfort,her if he could. She did not look at him; her gaze was fixed on the pines away on the mountain behind which the sun was setting. But he knew she heard and would answer presently. "I came to see about the mare,’’ she said, slowly, her eyes still fastened on the pines upon the height. Then sud denly, with a swiftness that startled him, she added; “You know who did it? You have known from the first? Everybody knows who did it. It will be proved to-morrow lioyond a doubt.” He looked at her, amazed at her vehemence. “We hopo to ptc.ve it to-morrow,” Dolores watched the woman. he said. "We have had our suspic ions from the first. and*now we think them well founded. We are depend ing a good deal on your father; we have considerable evidence, but his will be conclusive." She knew nothing of law or its terms; the words held a terrible meaning for her. “It was a dastardly deed,'* ho went on. his face darkening. “The fellow shall suffer the full penalty of the law for it. My beautiful mare that was almost human in intelligence.” Her hands were clasped fiercely, her eyes burning when she turned toward him to make reply, and for the moment he forgot all else but her face. “And it is right!” she cried; “it is right! What if his people do suffer for it? That the name will cling to them forever? It is only right that he should suffer. It is just. It was a dastardly deed. Only—only don’t come with me any farther. I—had— rather go alone.” He obeyed; but followed at a dis tance. The road was lonely; there were no houses till she reached tho settlement below. The sun had set; in the east above the opposite moun tain, the full moon rode. A soft haze arose from the valley far beneath, floated and wavered noiselessly up toward the moonlight. Up on the heights the young man stood motionless watching the girl passing from him in the. moonlight. The light was full In his face. It was an earnest face and good; one to he trusted; never to prove treacherous. He watched until tho girl, dimly dis cerned down among the shadows, paused a moment on the threshold of the bare little house, and then entered. And to him as he turned away, his thoughts ia a turn ill*, the mysterious mist and the moonlight seemed to have swallowed her up. (To be continued.) GIRLS MAKE THEIR CHOICE. Countries Where the Gentle Sex Does Its Share of Wooing. In England, leap year is supposed to confer upon the fair sex the privilege of choosing life partners for better or for worse, but the custom is more honored in the broach than in the observance. The gypsies, especially in Hungary, enjoy and make a very extensive use of the right at all times, in accordance with an ancient custom. Thus a marriageable young gypsy girl in the land of the Magyars, as soon as her heart is smitten, takes good care that the smiter shall hear of the havoc he has wrought and have a chance of consoling her. With this praiseworthy object in view, she has a love letter indited, places a coin in a piece of dough, hakes it, and throws the cake and the billet doux during the night into the bedchamber of her bridegroom-elect. Then she possesses her soul in patience and awaits developments. The Burmeso maiden begins her marriage cam paign at a much earlier stage. In order to get together a goodly gath ering of young men from whom to choose, she places a lamp In her win dow at night—it Is known as "the lamp of love”—and entices all those youths who are candidates for the order of benedict. In sunny Andalu sia, the peasant girl, whose heart has been stolen by a stalwart young hus bandman, prepares a tasty pumpkin cake and sends it to his home. If he eats It—and the Andalusian girls taka good care to make It highly edlbla— the pair are forthwith l rothsj.— London Telegraph. One factory has marketed 60,000 electrical flatirons this season. LEAVE TARIFF ALONE; REPUBLICANS CAN WELL AF FORD TO REST CONTENT. If Business Is to 3e Injured and Prosperity Checked by Needless Tariff Tinkering, Let the Demo crats Take All the Responsibility. The Republican convention of Ohio followed the lead of Senator Hanna In declaring for a policy of "hands off” the tariff. There is sound wis dom In this, however much it may discomfort the swarm of Inveterate tariff tinkers, always seeking to re open this question. The sense of the country has been tested on the question of protection against free trade several times, and there is no question that the Repub lican policy has the indorsement of the American people. Even those who are at the bottom of their hearts believe rs in absolute free trade rec ognize that the country wants none of It; therefore they call themselves tariff reformers now. No matter what the tariff may be, In their opinion it always will need reforming so long as there is protection in it. In all of the talk of tho necessity for tariff reform, there Is yet lacking a specific and distinct utterance as to the particulars in which it needs to i be reformed. The present law is ad mitted, even by the tariff reformers, to be a good working instrument. They claim in general terms that it has defects; but when It comes from generalities to particulars, there is no agreement among them. The prosperity of the country is based upon the protective tariff. Every suggestion for tariff reform is a suggestion for the withdrawal of protection in some degree from somo industry. Every reopening or threat ened reopening of the tariff question Is a disturbance to business. There Is no particular and specific change or reform in the present law for which any large number of people are clamoring. There is no industry or interest which can point to any considerable injury resulting to it is sore to say that he knows less about this same subject than any other. Bombastic demagogues of both parties have lied so much concerning the tariff, and their lies have been so faithfully stereotyped, printed and circulated from ocean to ocean and from border to gulf that It Is with difficulty one discerns the truth. Yet above the mass of contradicting statements and statistics the one fact stands out prominent and un challenged that this country has en joyed Its most abundant prosperity when protective duties have been the most rigorously maintained and that any actual or proposed “tinker ing” with existing tariff rates, with a view to abolish or lower the same, has Invariably brought about finan cial depression with its ever accom panying and consequent hardships foi the laboring class. The easiest way to bring about a panic is to remov6 the foundation of our prosperity protection. Iteciprocity advocates no matter what political party appel lation they lay claim to. are. in th« main, merely free traders disguised And the freo trade pill, though coated with reciprocity, will, if taken, have (ho same bad effect as if such coat ing were not there. This reciprocity covering which the free trade theory has assumed makes an excellent showing, but we should not forget the fact that It merely hides a skeleton.— Minnesota (Minn.) Mascot. How Canada Suffers. A freo trade Journal attributes the prosperity of this country chiefly to the freedom of trade between all of its parts, but It does not explain why that prosperity was not maintained under the last Democratic adminis tration with its Wilson tarlfT bill. The object of that statement was to en courage free trade with Canada, as tho Journal goes on to say: “The samo effect would be produced on a still larger scale if there were no commercial barrier on our northern frontier; if it could be obliterated altogether the result would be in creased prosperity for both.” If the word “both” were stricken out and “Canada" inserted the state ment would be correct. It would be A PROPHET OF EVIL. Iowa Progressive—“Reware, misguided animal, ere it ia too late. Youi headlong career of extravagance can only lead the country to everlasting destruction." from any particular clause, para graph or schedule of the present law. What clear and understandable rea sons do the tariff reformers give why the business of the country should bo disturbed by the reopening of thi3 question? Certainly none has yet seen the light. There has been much phrase-mongering about the “tariff sheltering monopolies” and the like, but this Is all. The Ohio idea of “hands off," other wise given as “stand pat,” is ns good a policy for the country to follow in connection with the tariff as can readily be conceived. It is the pol icy which has the warm approval of the business interests of the country; naid by the business interests is meant every one whose income is drawn directly or indirectly from the production, manufacture or sale of American products, whether of the factory or the farm. We know times are good now. We know that to "monkey" with the tarilt is the readi est, simplest and most certain method of disturbing business, limiting pro duction and postponing contemplated improvements. There is no particu lar advantage to be obtained by re opening the tarMT question, to com pensate for these certain disadvan tages. The law certainly does not need to be changed cn account of any necessity of the government itself; for the present law is nicely adjusted to meet the government’s needs. The demand for change is put forward purely from political sources and for the sole purpose of raising a political issue. Republicans are urged to raise the cry merely to forestall the action of the Democrats, who are cer tain to raise it. Let them do so. Republicans may well be content to bo judged by the results accomplish ed under the tariff law for which they are responsible, rather than to Join with their enemies in discrediting their own good work.—Seattle Post Intelllgencer. It Hides a Skeleton. There is little doubt but what the tariff will be the main issue in the coming campaign. It is the old standby, the ever remaining differ-^ ence when all others have been ad justed. The average citizen of this country has heard more about the tariff than any other topic which has engroased the public mind and yet it I of enormous advantage to Canada 11 her 0,000,000 Inhabitants could have I free access to the markets of the 80,• 000,000 Inhabitants of the United States without contributing one cent toward the support of the government of this country. Freedom of trade be tween the people of or.e country can not be compared with freedom of trade between the people of different countries. If Canada became a part of the Union, subject to its laws, the same as all other parts of the Union, It would enjoy that freedom of trade which would double its population in ten years, whereas there has hardly been any increase in Its population in the last ten years, as showing Its census. Canada will not give products from the United States any preference over similar products from Great Hritain, and as long as she holds to that position a reciprocity treaty is out of the Question,—Philadelphia Press. Railroad Employe* and Wages. The report of the Interstate Com merce Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902, is at hand, and coutaira some very significant fig ures. It will be remembered that the railroad business of the country was seriously affected in 1895, 1896 and 1897 as a result of free trade legisla tion. In 1898 it began to show im provement under the Dingley law and has broken records every year since. The number of employes in 1902 was 1,189,315 as against 785,034 in 1895. The wages paid last year wore 676,028,592, as compared with $145,508,261 in 1895. The freight car ried in 1895 was ipss than 700,000,000 tons, while now the amount is near 1,200,000,000 tons annually. We are now building about 5.000 miles of new reads yearly, while in 1895 we averaged only about 1,700 miles. Thus labor reaps the benefit at every turn in road building and car and locomo tive building, and in every part of the passenger and freight service. Prosperity and Plenty. “Four years more of Grover,’’ is the song of the “trusts” and the Im porters. But the song of the wage workers, the small and large Invest ors, tho savings hank depositors and the farmers is "Protection, Prosperity and Plenty.”—Tionesta (Pa.) Repub lican. BIT LITTLE CHANGED OLD GRADUATE REVISITS SCENES OF EARLY TRIUMPHS. Happening* Bring to His Recollection the Time When He Seized the Sheepskin and Started Out to Fight Life's Battles. “This is the season of the ypar when we get vivid reminders of the time when, armed with the formidable sheepskin, we courageously set forth to take a fail out of the world,” re marked a Washington man whose name has a part of the alphabet tack ed onto the end of it whenever he appears on a public program, hut v/ho on other occasions is known only as a steady, level-headed business man. "I went out with my wife and the youthful progeny who bear our name to a commencement exercise the other evening,” continued the old graduate in a reflective mood, “and 1 found that human nature and commencements have changed but very little Since my own earlier experience as a diploma fiend. I had a sort of mania for grad uating, and it was one of my chief sources of enjoyment. I finished a high school, a business college, a prep, school and a university before I was cured of the habit, but when I at tended the commencement program the other night it sent the old sensa tions tingling through my veins and I felt like getting up on the platform again in a brand new suit, with rib bons pinned onto the lapel of my coat, and tearing off one of those oratorical vibrations that used to make the earth tremble (I thought) with its rumb lings. “A young man stepped to the front of the platform, just as I used to amble out, and turning on a bias, launched forth on his speech. He, at least, was carried away with it, for ho had but proceeded but a short dis tance In the ‘magnum opus' when he threw out a bunch of fingers to the right side and then gave the left arm a comprehensive swoop in the oppo site direction. Presently he came up with both hands to the front aud the absent-minded musician In the orches tra grabbed his horn and was appar ently about to start off on 'Hiawatha,' at the 'all together' sign of the speaker. “The ‘reaching outward and upward for higher things’ was duly empha sized with realistic gestures and the ‘floating billows of time' were played up with proper wavings. It was like an old story. “And then a young lady came out with a Polly Varden courtesy and be gan a pantomime of 'Rock of Ages,’ or something else, w hile she got off the usual ‘Tennyson has truly said,’ and the ‘to you, dear teachers,’ and all those familiar phrases that originated with the first commencement on record. Then came the words of ‘an revoir, but not farewell, to our dear classmates,’ and the expressions of loyalty to the beloved alma mater, and I dropped off into such deep re flection that I began to get nervous, thinking it war my turn next to speak and gesture. “At about this point in the proceed ings my youngster gave a little awak ening snort and a wiggle and my wife gave me a punch under the arm, with the whispered admonition that I wasn't attending a church service, and I came to. I must confess to a little sigh escaping me as I realized that the proceedings on the stage were all over for me, so far as my participation in them was concerned. Nothing but memory left for the old man, now. and in a few years the young folks who the other night spoke so cheerfully and hopefully of entering the battle against the world will be occupying seats in the audience and dreaming, as I was, of the days of diplomas and ribbons and bouquets, when every thing lay at their feet and all seemed bright down the little lane that led to real life."—Washington Star. Horses Scarce and High. “I have not known a period when horses were so scarce or so high,” said T. E. Gilbert of Cincinnati at the Hotel Barton. "I am in the busi ness and have of late been scouring Kentucky and Ohio with a view of purchasing a good sized bunch, but had very poor success. More people want to buy than sell, and prices are at a point where it is impossible for dealers to make any profits. The country was drained of horse flesh during our war with Spain, and fur ther depletion was caused by the Boer war. It will take several years to make up the deficiency, and high prices will continue. The automobile craze uas had no perceptible effect on the demand lor high-class animals, and I do not believe that it will ever get so violent as to make people in different to the delight of sitting be hind a pair of high steppers.”—Wash ington Post. Friendship. A fihare of Joy and pain. A watch o'er land and sea. A faithful, brooding tenderness, t'ntll Eternity. A meeting and a parting. A handclasp—a farewell— A loving nearness, grieving tears, A la'ace—for all is well. —Alice P. Sargent In Boston Transcript. Not Much Fuel. An English army officer, concluding a visit to Ireland, was bidding fare well to an attendant. “Good-bye, Pat.” “Good-bye, yer honor. May hiven sless ye, and may every hair in yer nead be a candle to light ye to glory." “Well, Pat,” replied the officer, showing him a bald pate, "when that Jay comes there won’t be much of a torchlight procession.