A
m-nmm-nmmvtr sg J M,BMrTri; -Mll , M ,.,.;-.-jf; -j... -'-- , v --
ntpwM..ivAujaaBaam'i 'iimiiwii " 1 1;
-flB ADVERTISER.
THE ADVERTISER.
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FAIRBROTHER & EAGKER,
Proprietors.
: -;
No.74 IKd'hcrnon's niock, npStnlrf;
ace
EKOWNVILLE, NEBRASKA.
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ESTABLISHED 1856. l
Oldest Paper in the State. J
BROWNVILLE, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7. 1875.
tiiTT. MATTER ONETFJIYPAGE
VOL. 19 NO. 28.
OFFICIAL TAPER OF THE C0UXTY
SOCIAL DIRECTORY.
T.nnoKS.
""-'-' -
13. iw.i-.
. - c twr Mil? Invited. J-C McSAOOinrosf,
V 'Fljj irvsoN. K. R. h.
"""$ afeviJk l ?hSK
" TerLwnV"'tre Vlsltingbrotbers
t . ,e iijed. Hitxav Cons. G. B.
'. .- JP',v.secy.
- ' -:u.. DniMon No. ui, r ' r.T'"::
3ra
tfa ":,,,- o.-prv 1 rwiy evening "-""
J l . ..1r(lf.tArA Alftln
"" - ra-'ert oroar order visiting the city
: it" meet wlH us- A- G- Gates w-k
liter. -.iirt
,-v-nr 'innriiiuii o u. u.. .j.v. - -...
! . " filler Loilco Xo. 1, A. F. & A. M
e,rycn,V i third Thursday evening in each
A.M.-Stated
Ijrownulif -;,, y -n,g,lt m each month.
4. R.
,.nll NO. J' k
S. ifc S. E. HI.
p-nrm rol"!r.Vfou"tb Monday In each month.
f "r. m.l( 0mi.inn.lcryXo.:i, K.T.-Stated
felt f-"m,u" Monday in each month.
to.r an l " ! M .sonic Ilall on the fifth Mon-
&c,: , ...
,o-...,,r Ser2.-yjaKFvl ","- f . Zir ..it
rtrtain iF ,, third Moncay in wcu """"
CHI RCIIES.
I t utr niurrh.-SercIceseachfcaDiiaui
.MetbolI,"t. '" l"i :,m p. in. Sunday School at
j- ,r Meeting 'ruursuuy e cuius.
,XC . rtr.
,.. i. Cflnna nnrh nbbfttll
J I I-
PK-Iirieri.in J .- f Meet ed-
j'-j i Bfitu. Pastor.
PITY OFFICEUS.
-Mwts the First Monday in each
IfjtrConnpU
f, t. A. J. KW1CI, """;; -"
j::e J s.Stull.
C iPNTY OFFICERS.
j R2GKAI!5? DISEOTORY
Ofllrers or the ntionai i.rniiKu.
XT Ma. Master, Wankon, Iowa. O. II.
f r " " r iry, umiihs""'! -' -
OIIIcitm or the tnte i.rniiRc.
cr- !5 r.rter. Master; "Win McCaig. Secretary;
t - z
finaha County CeiitrnI Association.
r i-h II -xe President. Sherman: W.u "swan,
v- vt- ' t Howard; T. J. Majors. Secretary.
.j , v. iveimi-uj, r.-.., .
,,-,.-, i nntr Dev'itv, 1 'eru.
i-Vr-', Win KridBe. Peru: J. Marlatte
"r. s lt.bertson, Howard.
CUAXOES.
MASTEIt.
riiurch Howe
o p. Avery
J.Uilbert
SECnETAnY.
,Wm.P.Frls
11. II. Bailey.-
K. V. Ulack....
G. Wathan .
Wm
Ilannaford A.C L.eeser
N.J Hermes
i:il Wood .
X. P Meader
( (JlR'.SIOW
t, Lilly
J.H.Peery
H Childs
J Hiesins. .
Mrs-L.Schnyder
ItobU Skillou
( : Meadsr.
W.W. Smith
. AVebber.
V. II. Harris ,
1 Patrick i.
S. Bobcrtson
T. C. KImsey
W M Stokes
Wm. Watkins Thos. Hurross
A Waltz. ,H. V. teenior
T. J. Majors
r liimpbell
Win. Jones
I.eRoy Mason
John Strain
O. It. npwett
Perry Ruekels...
Wm. Hagley.
Oao. l"row ..
Wm. F.Paris
S Cochran
Chas. Blodgett
J.A-Olel
j. ji. i'euii..
Itobt. Coleman
J. Marlatte
X.. I. 5rason.
Barnes
J. B. Piper.
CBrTdge.
A. J.Skeen
II. O.MInlck
J. Maxwell
O.J Matthews...
C.M.GIel
yufju.n..
TIME SCHEDULES.
RAILROAD TUIE TABLES:
Burllugtnu & 3IlsourI River Railroad
lu Xclirnslta.
MAIN LTXn.
I!i-a.tn .save U Piattsmmith 1 2KB p.m.arrlvo
-tipr ...Lincoln 11:16a.m. leave
1 ; p.n. arrive 1 .Kearney June 1 5.15si.m leava
OMAHA BRANCH.
1 " p n leave I .Plattmouth... 1 12IS a.m. arrive
;i:; -a. arrive I Omaha i I0:a.in. leave
BEATRICE BRANCH.
iljrra
'pavei Crete I 7:t5 a.m. arrive
6 :jun.arne Beatrice..
5:4 j a.m. leave
Chicago &. NortU AV'cuterit Railway.
Tra's it C juncii BlufT. arrive and depart as follows
'VI WEST AlinlVnlHOXSOKAST DEl'AIlT
Tivl xnress lOp.m. IlayKxpreaa C:Ja.m.
gU Lsprcsb.- 9.15a.m. I Nlglit Express- -ISbp-ni.
I Ev. Freight lOa.m.
W.ILSTBNNETT.Oen.Pas.Agt.
Kansas City, St. .Tor. &. C. B. Railroad.
Trains leave Phelps Station as follows :
" - Xirth, 5:30 a. m. 1 Going South, 0: a. m.
G rj Xarth 4:05 p. in. I Going South. Ulo p. m.
A. C. DAWES, Gen. Pass. Agent.
.Midland Pacific Railway.
t 1 a m STipm
I.: pa s "ipm
;n sjijim
Skpni 1 i-.Upjn
i Nebraska City 1 2;00 p m -10 p m
I 1 t . , i 10SB am 12:00 p m
I t -Lincoln.. I jiitsi am 10:10 m
Seward I 9.-00am SJOam
J. N. CONVERSE, Sup't.
OS.
BUSINESS CARDS.
ATTORNEYS.
II. C. Earlier,
ATTTRXEY AT LAW, LAND AND TAN
A Paving Apent, Howard. Neb. Will give dilll-f-t
attention toany legal businessentrusted to his
care. 16mG
E. E. Elirlglit,
TT0UXi:Y AT LAW. Notary public and Real
V Ebtate Acent. OlHce m Court House Build--?
Bnwnvilte Xeb.
T. L. Sclilclc,
A TT01XEY AT LAW.-MAY BE CONSULT
f- ei !n the German language. Office next
fl"r to Conatr C lerk's Office. Court House Bulld-
ag,Brownaie.Xebraska. lS-Cy
J: S. Stttll,
4 TT0RNTY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW.
u-ace.Xo.TO
Main street,(upstairs.) Brown-
T-He.Xeb.
J. II.
BroadVf
A TT0UXEY AND COUNSELOR AT LA
n Office over Stata Bank. Brownville.N
W.
eb.
E. "V. Thomas,
V TnifVEY AT LAW. OKice, front room over
-V Svenson & Cross's Hardware Store, Brown
e,Xtb. "W. T. Rogers,
TTORVPV A-vn rnnXSKLOR AT LAW.
-li- W.li Kive diligent attention to any legal
-' sessentrustedtohlscare. Office In Court House
El- 1 "g.Brownville.Neb.
PHYSICIANS.
A.
S nOLLADAY, M. D., Physician. Surgeon
a-: 1 Obstetrician. Graduated in 1951. Loca-
;"1 i Brownville 1KJ5. Office, Lett fc Creich's
-"? Store, McPhcrsonlBlock. Special attention
. 'i to Obstetrics and diseases of Women and
-i Idren 10-Cm
HL. MATHEWS. Th vsiclan and Surgeon. Office
. In C.ty Drug Store, No. 32 Main street, Brown
TIe, Xeb.
NOTARIES fc COLLECTION AGENTS
L. A. Berginnnxi,
VOTARY PUBLIC AND CONVEYANCER.
-' 0:3ce. Xo. 41 Main street, Brownville, Neb.
LAND AGENTS.
riLLIAM: H. HOOVER, Real Estate and Tax
' Paying Agent. Office in District Court Room,
win give prompt attention to the sale or Real Es
tate and Payment of Taxes throughoutthe Nemaha
Land District.
BLACKSMITHS.
J. IV. Gibson,
"DVCKSMITII AND HORSE SHOER. First
streotjetweenMaln and Atlantic, Brownville,
cm Wor,c dne to order.and satisfaction guaran-
IIOTELS.
A ERICAN HOUSE. I D. Roblson. Proprietor.
t: ro"t street, between Main and College. Good
HoaSancl Llver? Stable In connection with this
;,rJ"-- a W A. Judklns: Third Ward
f ws-I " rredrick Farker. Marshal.I).Camp
JV, ,'j u. Docker. Treausrer.J Blake.
-s -r"-rcr . H. Gilmore. Purveyor. J.
r f i"-ity Superlntedent. D.W.Pierson.
ETTER heads,
BILL HEADi
Noatlyprlntodat this office.
Written for the'Advertlser.
FILL. YOUR'STATIOX.
BY PLIXX FOllD.
Fill your station ! fill It gladly !
Though ltcauseyou earnest strife.
In this motto lies the secret
Of success In human life
Let your deeds be good and noblo;
Slake your life-work ono of love,
And your work shall be rewarded,
"When your spirit rests above.
Fill your station . haughty rich man,
Though your paths be paved with gold,
Yet how uselcps are your riches,
When your life bhall lose its hold,
Think how many starving children
Ueg from day to day their bread ;
And how many, poor and needy.
By your bounty might be fed.
Fill your station ! humble poor man,
Tho' your life be fraught with care,
Yet your trials are recorded
By ah angel bright and fair.
"Willie your labors seem quite fruitless,
Strive however hard you may,
'Try at all times to bo cheerful,
While you work and hope and pray.
Fill your station! honored father
On thy brow are marks of care;
And we count thy years of journey,
By thy silv'ry locks ofhalr.
Hast thou not fond sons and daughters,
Which riie guided by thy will ?
Then direct them by thy counsels,
That their stations they may fill.
Fill your station! gentle mother.
For If you fulfill your trust,
We shall cherish your remembranco
Till our dust return to dust.
For from childhood's happy hours,
Till our voices are not heard.
We are guarded by thy prayers,
And are guided by thy word.
Fill your station! sturdy farmer,
Yours Is one of hardest toll ;
Yet the typo of Independence,
Is the tiller of the soil.
While many fain would scorn thee,
They forget by whom they're fed.
And that "Heaven gives the power
To the hand that holds the bread."
Fill yotir station ! zealous christian
Leave no deed of love undone.
Which will serve to help a brother,
While the race of life you run.
Then again bhall speak the Master,
Unto you, when freed from sin,
" Well done good and faithful 5-ervant,
To thy joy now enter In."
Written for the Advertiser.
A CHRISTMAS STOEY.
A True Talc Revised and Enlarged.
by. u. K
Texnn steera wero scattered on nil
sided. In some directions they were
huddled close together, while in oth
ers those of more ndventursome turn
had stalked out some distance from
the herd. The cornfield continued
literally covered with them. This
was the situation at the home of Mrs.
Blaze, a small farm in the timber on
the South side of a blntr of tho Mis
souri river, in Nemaha count', near
the Otoe line in Nebraska, one black
December day. Mrs. Blaze stepped
to the foad a few rods in front of the
house, to take the final view, before
grappling with tho difficulty. Just
then came galloping around the turn
of the hill ibwards her, a young man
on a finelj' curried, spirited horse. He
wore a plug hat, a flashy colored cal
ico ehlrt, with standing collar, and
ready made pants, checkered black
and green, just from the store. A
moment more and face to face we find
Mrs. Bluze and Fredrick Spell. The
one ft woman of light, erect form,
scarce the medium height, florid com
plexion, straight light brown hair,
and dark gray eyes of withering ex
pression ; and the other a thick set
young mau, with large, short neck,
beefy face, expressionless blue' eyes,
dark skin, tinged with muddy red
from the fullness of blood, and stub
by brown hair inclined to curl. With
tho woman everything succumbed to
her will ; with the man, the will suc
cumbed to everything, The woman
regardless of tho opinion of others ;
the man's whole desire to acquire
their approbation, and while tho wo
man had more head, tho man had
more heart. The woman was moved
by the passions of the mind ; tho man
by the passions of tho body ; tho lat
ter like burning oil under a stream of
water, and the former like prairie fire
before a steady increasing gale.
"Do you know, sir, whose cattle
these are?" said Mrs. Blnze.
"Good morning," Baid Fred, tip
ping his hat. "No, madam; I have
onry been in Nebraska three days, but
I am .at your service if anything is to
be done about it ; buton the old man's
farm wo wouldn't call such critters
cattle. They look more like horns
skutin' around on stilts. Are you a
lone widow woman?"
"Sir," replied Mrs. Blaze, "my hus
band died a year ago, leaving this lit- i
tie farm, nothing coming, and as I
honestly believe, nothing owing, and
four children, from Lucy, seventeen
years old, down to Harry, eighteen
months old, and myself his widow.
He was a Baptist, and the Rev. eld
Uncle Solomon Bunn and Aunt Rach
el, his wife, were at our house for a
week, singing, haranguing and pray
ing until I was almost distracted, and
I dare say, actually prayed Mr. Blazo
to death. But they did not stop at
that, but kept coming to comfort me
and the children, and blessing and
eating my victuals all winter. Iu the
spring I had little to live on and noth
ing to hire help with, so I took the
team, and .with the help of Lucy and
sometimes old Aunt Betty Lump
kins yonder in the house, I managed
to get the field planted in corn, and
when "finishing. Lucy and I came iu
about eleven o'clock in the morning
and found aunt Rachel at the house
I waiting for her dinner, and so put
out because of no prospect in that
direction. She told ras' tliat this
would never do, that Lucy and I
should not work in the field any more.
She would send her boys over to plow
my corn, (and she has six greatstrap
plug lazy fellows) but I heard no
more about it till one day in June. I
came from the field, tired and drip
ping in sweat, when auut Rachel
broke out, telling me that I would
kill myself if I kept on, and I must
j'ustquit. Says I, 'aunt Rachel, tho
empty barrel makes the most noise,
you have bored me all I will stand,
dear out and never darken my door
again!'"
"And you fell out with your aunt?"
said Fred.
"No," said Mrs Blaze, "she is not
ray aunt, nor ia Aunt Betty, but that
Is what they are called. A kind of
way we have of showing intimacy
and respect."
Said Fred, "It's lucky there are no
debts, so you have all yoti make to
keep you."
"My dear sir," said Mrs. Blnze,
"they prove up dobts anyhow."
"How Is that," said Fred, "I tho't
a party was not allowed to swear
against a dead man."
"Well sir, o note, they say, proves
itself, where you prove the signature,
and Mr. Grind has a note of Beventy
five dollars against Mr. Blaze, that ho
fully settled andpaid in their mutual
transaction, for he told me so before
he died, and I know it just as well as
as I know I am stauding here,
for I know he would not tell n false
hood about it. Grind filed his note
against the estate and when the day
of hearing came on, I weftt up to
Brownvillo thinking It would be
no trouble to throw out that claim.
When my time came I told the
judge I wanted to prove that that note
was paid. So I was sworn. I com
menced: "Mr. Blaze told" "Stop!
stop!" said the lawyer on the other
side, "we don't want to know what
anybody said," Hud looked very wise
at the judge. The judge then told me
that I was not allowed to tell what
any one said, only what I knew of
my own knowledge. When the law
j'er who told me to stop, asked mo
whose handwriting the signature to
the note was, I answered, Mr. Blaze's.
He thanked me for my evidence, and
the court allowed the whole claim.
Then there is old man Meaner who
holds a note of $100againstMr. Blaze,
made about five years ago, and about
the same time he contracted an ac
count for-work and other chores, to
the amount of one hundred and forty
dollars, owing from old Meaner to
Mr. Blaze. So, when the claims
were about five years old, old Meaner
filed his note against the estate, and I
filed the account to offset it, and offer
ed to prove that Mr. Blase told me
jt he and old Meaner had agreed
that the note 6hould be considered
paid by the account, and have a bal
ance due Mr. Blaze, of $40. But you
see the same objection as in the other
case stood in tho way of my proving
the agreement, and the court held
that the account being four years old,
was outlawed, and the noto not being
quite five years old was good, so the
claim was allowed against the estate.
Now old Meaner boasts that he will
have It sold to pay tho debts, and buy
it in for a song, because in such sales
the land does not have to sell for two
thirds of tho appraisement, as in
other cases. I was so worried about
it, that as eoon as torn plowing was,
over, I sold one of tho horses to Mr.
Kane for $100, in ten days, to pay off
old Meaner, and save myself, but
when the ten dayB "were up, he failed
to pay, and had sold the horse to Mr.
Meatier. The whole thing was con
cocted by Meaner to force the farm to
sale. And Kane tells mo to sue, and
he will stay it &c. And old Meaner
intends in that way to get the farm
yet. Mr. Rlaze willed his whole
property to me, and I am determined
that tho land shall not be sold. I
have deprived my whole family of
the necessaries of life to have all the
proceds of this years corn to pajT off
the debt? with, and now where has
it nil gone ? It was worth at least$350,
enough to pay all claims, but the
owner of these cattle now lias it all,
and I have none. They have con
tinually pashnedhere until theyhavo
finished it, and torn down the lot
fence and let my onl' horse out. A
person dare not go near them on foot,
so that we are hedged in with what
you might call wild beasts. Nothing
but Watch, our dog, has saved that
little stack of sheaf oats, and if I mis
take not, all these cattle belong to
that rich old bachelor, Wiley, who
has grown rich by robbing widows
mid omhaus. But I will show him
that he has his match for ones, that
there is one widow he will not rob."
"Now you're talkin', now you're
talkin'", said Fred.
Just then out stepped Lucy, a little
slim, nervous girl, with full forehead,
finely shaped features, straight raven
hair and two black eyes that
danced like meteors. She went
to the wood pile for wood, and there
being hone cut, she commenced pull
ing the bark from the old logs, and
breaking the rotten limbs. Fred was
struck with her appearance. He
threw his bridle relu over a post1
rushed up to where Lucy was and
seized tho axe to cut her somo wood,
and said :
"Do you have no one to out your
wood for you ?"
Lncy laughed with her eyes, for she
she' was apt to give things a facetious
turn, and see the ludicrous side first.
"No." said she, "Ido it myself, and
not only that, but often haul it from
the woods."
Fred looked at her, and looked, and
tho more he looked, the more he ad
mired, till he concluded that she was
by all odds the prettiest thing the
creator ever made, and determined on
the spot that ho would bo a valiant
knight, at her servico, and said :
"Well I will put a stop to that."
Says Lucy, pointing to a Texan
steer coming through the corn stocks
toward the sheaf oats, "Will you stop
that?" and laughed in her sleeve, for
she was certain that Fred would not
consider prudence the better part of
valor.
Fred seized a limb and rushed for
the steer, which, on noticing him,
promptly reciprocated the rush, when
Fred, recollecting what Mrs. Blaze
had said, turned to run, but too late.
The steer caught hla horn In the leg
of his pants, and tore it open almost
full length. Watch had rallied to the
rescue, and by his barking and snap
ing drew the attention of the steer.
Out come Aunt Betty with a "La
me! what will this world come to
anyhow? what in creation is the mat
ter? be you hurt? Well! Well! these
miserable cattle."
Fred promptly arose to his feet,
somewhat amazed, and annodnced
that he was not hurt.
"Dear me," said Aunt Betty, "just
think, to have brand new breeches
like that ruined."
Saj'sFred, "nevermind that."
"But what a good thing it is they
were rotten, shoddy goods, or you
would have been killed."
"Blame the goods."
"But mau alive, you will catoh oold
that W'ay."
"Confound tho cold."
"Why dear me, mriii, you alntgot
no darwers, neither."
"Blast the drawers" said Fred, with
great vehemence, suffering tho tor
ment of the damned, for fear Lucy,
whose face was turned convulsed with
laughter, would turn toward him.
Fred, when raised by the steer, had
fallen backward on the shivered
stump of a corn-stock, and received a
slight flesh wound. Aunt Betty now
for the first time noticing blood on
the mangled shoody goods, had all
of her motherly nature aroused, and
said :
"Why, dear mo ! poor man, see
the blood we iluist do something.
Lucy bring a tallered rag, we can put
that on with no doctor."
"D n the tallered rag, and you
too," said Fred to Aunt Betty. "I'm
gittin' out of this just as quick as the
devil will let me. Where is my horse ?
My horse! in such excitement that
ho failed to hear Lucy eChd back "A
horse! a horse! my kingdom for a
horse!"
But there wns nd hdree. Mrs.
Blaze, perceiving the danger to the
oats, had mounted the horse, and as
she rode by the oats seized a bundle,
touched a burning match to' one
end, and charged onto tile cattle, and
threw tho blazing sheaf, which
lodged in the horns of one, scattering
over its back, the blaze increasing un
til he wa3 enveloped in flames, and
ran snorting, and bellowing and
burning through the herd, striking
terror, and stampede through tho
whole, until the earth seemed to
shako with the soundings and re
soundings of thousands of hoofs. A
moment more and the cattle, the wo
man and the horse had disappeared
around tho turn of the hill.
Language cannot describe the hor
rid feelings of Aunt Betty at this mo
ment, nor the astounding amazement
of Fied. When Aunt Betty had
given vent to her first flood of feeling,
she asked Fred to go into the east
room and take off his pants and let
Lucy mend them, which Fred sullen
ly declined, until Aunt Betty made
thi3 stronger appeal :
"You can't do nothing this way ;
and would you see a parcel of women
in such a fix without doiu' nothin'
for 'em ? No ; not such a good look,
ing man as you. Get yonr breeches
mended, and get back your horse, and
follow up them dreadful Texas cattle
men."
"Now you're talkin'," said Fred,
now you're talkin'."
"And tar and feather 'em," added
Aunt Betty.
Aunt Betty proceeded at once to
prepare the "tallered rag," and Lucy
took tho maimed pants to mend, and
as she threaded her needle, sang
aloud :
"Tho needle's eye will I supply
With thread that runs eo true,
A many a beau have I let go,
Because I wanted you."
Fred, mistaking this for an outburst
of affection, said softly to himself,
"This is a right good place after all,
if it was not for that son-of-a-gun of a
Texan steer, and that old blizzard of
an Aunt Betty, that aiut got as much
sense as a last year's bird's nest, and
I reckon never will get that d d
"tallered rag out of her head."
Just then Aunt Betty's motherly
hand reached the "tallered" rag thro'
the door to Fred, as she said, "Poor
feller, this may do you a power of
good."
"Ugh! Ugh!! get out I" said Fred,
as he stamped viciously, and slam
med the door shut.
Mr. Wiley, with his hired man, was
fast approaching the scene of action
In search of the missing herd, when
met by the frightened oattle, reined
their horses to one side to avoid a col
lision with such fearful odds. With
the rear guard'of the flying herd they
saw the mounted lady marshalling on
the scattering steers ; and the firm
ness with which she maintained her
position on what they knew must be
a man's saddle bv the lone stirruD
.dangling loose on the offside, and the
facility with which shd handled the
horse, as she reined him over the
down brush and ditches, struck Mr.
Wibley with surprise and admiration.
Said he to his man while still ho gaz
ed, "A fair queen ! look at her majes
ty, nnother Joan D'Aro. She rides
Mike one born to rule the storm.' "
On meeting her Mr. Wiley politely
informed her that he was the owner
of tho herd, his name, and asked if
she could tell him who was responsi
ble for the stampede.
"Yes, sir," said she, "I can tell you.
Thou aft tlio than. You permitted
them to trespass on me, and, in self
defense, I frightened them off; but
since you have obliged me by telling
the name of the owner, I will recip
rocate your self Introduction. I am
the one who sent you those messages
telling you of tho damage done to me
by these cattle, and the condition of
my affairs, and demanding redress of
the owner, whoever he was ; which
you treated with tho utmost silence
Further explanation is unnecessary.
Your cattle, sir, have eaten my corn.
It was worth three hundred and fifty
dollars. Now I demand the money."
"Madam," says he, "it strikes me
that you are out of your proper
sphere. You may be sure that I will
do whatever is right, but before I do
anything I must learn how many of
my cattle will be lo3t by reason of
this stampede, and whether that
burned steer dies, and the damage
done to those we recover ; the cost of
recovering, and seo my lawyer and
learn my legal rights. I would now
estimate the damage at $500, which,
taking you at your word, would leave
you in my debt $150."
"Pay me," she said, "or say you
won't."
"Sue for it," said he, "and I will
use my money to beat j'ou."
"I will never sue."
'Nor I pay
ii
"You will, and that too by Christ
mas day, or I will make it hotter for
you than I did for that steer with the
burning sheaf," and with these words
she turned towards home.
Fred, having his pants mended and
dinner for himself and horse, started
in search of Mr. Wiley for redress of
grievances, first those of Mrs. Blaze,
and then his own. He overtook him
on the road to Nebraska City, and
stated that ho was the agent and
trusted friend of Mrs. Blase, (which
the identity of his horse confirmed,)
relating the injuries done to Mrs.
Blaze and himself by the cattle, ond
said the matter must be fixed upright
then. Mr. Wiley, who was a tall,
slender man, of light complexion and
blue eyes of that cast alwaj's occom
panied with superior intelligence,
dreaded to face a person in dispute;
he equivocated as he had done before,
stating that he was going to consult
his lawyer at Nebraska City in whose
hands he should leave the whole mat
ter, to whom ho referred Fred for all
future dealings, and paseed on to oth
er topics, leading Fred's mind with
him.
Fred went to Nebraska City, think
ing he would Pee Wiley's law3er that
evening, but, stopping at a saloon at
the outskirts of town, he took one
drink, and waB decoyed by the bar
keeper into playing euchre for ths
drinks until past navigation, when
the proprietor laid him, with some
others, in a back room, where the vo
taries of the saloon frequently resort
ed. While Fred was sound asleep
the bar keeper had a man to relieve
him of the cash in his pocket, which
was one hundred dollars, and take his
horse to a stable in a remote part of
the city. He did not wake until two
o'clock in Ihe afternoon of next day,
for he had caroused until two o'clock
in the morning. When he found ho
wa9 penniless and horseless his spir
its sank within him, and tears and
vows of reform came simultaneously
gushing forth. The bar keeper deep
ly sympathizing with him, thought
the scoundrels who slept with him"
had done it all, and offered to help
catch the rascals, and asked him if he
bad any more money to bear expens
es. Fred said he had another hun
dred dollars in the bank in that place
which was every cent in the world he
had left. The bar keeper offered to
make an effort on his own expense to
recover the horse if Fred would pay
fifty dollars if he succeeded, to which
proposition Fred agreed with many
Avriressions of cratitude. The bar
keeper drew a check on the bank, en
dorsed with the condition of finding
tho horso. nnd Fred sicrned it. The
bar keeper magnanimously gave Fred
bis dinner. Fred then thbughtof his
mission, and with a heavy heart start
ed to the lawyer's office.
The next morning after Mrs. Blaze
met Mr. Wiley, she started early to
Nebraska City, for she relied solely
on herself from the force of habit,
hence paid no regard to the part Fred
was playing. On the way she con
cluded to stop at the house of Judge
-, who lived on the road, near the
city. Stopping, accordingly, she met
the Judge at the gate, and after re-,
hearsing tho story of her grievances,
said :
"I come to you, sir, because I think
you the greatest lawyer in this coun
try, and will give an honest opinion.
Now, what shall I do?"
'I should not express an opinion,
consult, nor advise, in the matter, for
the reason that the same questions
may yet come before m'e as judge, and
I must refer you to some attorney."
"But," she said, "is it necessary
that I employ a lawyer at all ?"
"Yes, If you sue."
"Is there no other way?"
"None, unless you and Mr. Wiley
can agree.''
"How long will it take to get my
money by suit?"
"That depends upon circumstances.
There may be circumstances that will
delay it for years before judgment,
and after judgment It may be delayed
one year.'
"Will it ever come?"
"O, yes; the law Intends that the
Btay shall make It sure.'
"What if he appeals?"
"Now you approach questions un
settled." "What if he neither appeals nor
staj's, but puts the case off until he
puts all his wealth In a quarter sec
tion farm and improvements, and
moves on with r, family before judg
ment?" "In such a case you may be unable
to collect anything."
"Judge," said she, "stop right
there. I have heard all I want to
know about suing, and it recalls to
my mind the case when Smith sued
Brown before a justioe, of the peace,
and got judgment. Brown appealed,
and the case went over, under the
rule (or something they call it) for a
year, and after that was continued for
witnesses for another j'ear before
judgment. Brown had no land, and
gave his brother, Peter Brown, for se
curity for stay, and before the stay
was out, both Browns sold out, and
went to Arizona. After that Smith
died, and his administrator spent half
the amount of the judgment in suing
on the stay bond, and at last finds
that both Browns are totally insolv
ent, and wants to sell the'land Smith
left to pay himself back-the expenses
he Is out. I know you recollect this
yourself. Now, sir, Ido not propose
to leave any such inheritance to my
children. It also reminds me of my
Meaner-Kane horse sale. If tho mon
ey at tho end of the stay was as sure
as death or taxes', I would have noth
ing to do with it. Kane has mj
horse and Wile3' has my corn, and I
ask you, sir, by what right the law
tells them they may keep them,
while my children go half fed, and
half clad, my property sacrificed and
my hopes blasted."
"Over these thing3,"sald tho judge,
"I have no control. Make your ap
peal to the legislature, and may God
speed your petition."
"Good da3 Judge," said she; "jus
tice ha3 gone to the dogs. I will be a
law unto m3'self. I'll have my pay
b3 Christmas da3'' and sho rode on.
She saw Mr. Wile3's attorne3', who
informed her that Mr. Wiley had
gone into the country where his herd
was the evening before, and, with this
exception, obtained no satisfaction
from her interview with him. She
then went to a friend and relotive in
the cit3T of whom she borrowed a re
volver, on pretext that she wished to
shoot rats that wero bothering her,
and started to where Mr. Wiley kept
his herd. On her wa3r she stopped
for dinner at the house of a lady
cousin of hers, and was Informed by
her cousin that Mr. Wiley would
dine there that day, and was expect
ed within an hour.
The arrangement of the house was
such (hat the room originally intend
ed for o sitting room was used for a
dining room, and a large room in
tended for a double bed room, enter
ed by one door onl3r from the dining
room, was now used for asitting room,
where Mr. Wile3' was to be received.
Mrs. Blaze briefly explained to her
cousin, and requested that her horse
be stabled thatWiley might not sus
pect her presence, and then concealed
herself in a bed room, awaiting the
time when Mr. Wiley should be alone
in tho sitting room. During that
time she loaded her revolver, seeing
that the cap3 were sure and the prim
ing good. In a few minutes Mr. Wil
ey arrived and was conducted to the
sitting room, to remain to himself for
the immediate present. Ho seated
himself and took up the "Journal of
Commerce" to look at the markets,
when there came a tappiug at his
door, which he answered by an invi
tation to "come," scarcely taking his
eyes off the paper. In stepped Mrs.
Blaze and closed the door behind her.
"Mrs. Blaze, I believe," eald Mr.
Wiley, confusedly, rising from his
seat. "Will you be seated ?"
"Sir, Mr. Wiley, I came here for
no ceremonies of etiquette, nor for
pleasure. I mean business, which I
see 3Tou alread3 begin to understand.
Pa3 me, sir, right here and now, what
you owe me."
"I am surprised that one so fair and
so attractive, should so far forget her
sex, as to conduct herself in such a
way. I must decline your request for
many reasons, enough of which jou
already know."
'.Once more I make the demand."
"Once more I decline."
Vengeance sparkled from her fiery
eyes as she drew the pistol from its
hiding place In her clothes and said,
"Hogarth Wiley, the third and last
time I say pay me my money," and
leveled the pistol at his heart and
drew back the lock.
"Ugh ! Ugb ! My God"
"Silence, or I pull the trigger."
"But"
"Hush! The time to talk' is past.
Thisla the time to do. I em a wo
man, but do I faint? My finger rests
on this trigger, but does It tremble?
I hold your life in my hand, but does
It weaken? Speak to mj- demand."
"I have no money with mo.''
"I see on j'our finger a ring studded
with diamonds."
"But that is m3T engagement ring
of twenty years ago, which I sealed
on that finger for life in my vow of
celibacy and fidelity to her at the
tomb of my betrothed.''
"How much is It worth?"
"Five hundred dollars."
"Let mo have it and j'ou ma3 re
deem it."
"When and how?"
"By paying me to-morrow."
"I cannot give it, but I" will not op
pose what you may do."
"Then I will take it," which she
did with one hand, keeping the pis
tol in its position with the other, and
then stepped back to her former posi
tion and added, "Now, promise me
that y.ou will never allege duress in
thistransaction ; and that, if jou do
not pay me to-morrow, this shall be
my property."
"I do most cheerfully, on condition
that you never divulge what this da3'
has brought forth between us; fori
would not have the world to know
that I have so cowered before a wo
man for'asmany thousands as3'ouask
dollars."
"We are agreed," she said and left
the room and ordered her horse and
started home. But her cou3lu, who
watched through the key hole, was
not bound by the promise.
Mr. Wiley stood in a day dream.
"He scarce believed the witness that
his eyes received." Was it a witch or
a woman? An angel or a fiend?
Whoever it was ho had told a lie.
That ring was given in engagement
to o fair young heiress of the East,
but it had been returned by her to
him nineteen 3ears ago, in this note:
"Mr. Hogarth Wiley Sir .- I
know all, and bless God thatthotruth
was revealed to me before it was for
ever too late. I revoke my engage
ment, and return your ring, and in
the day j'ou shall offer It to another
lady mav 4 thunderbolt strike 3011.
"A. R."
Mr. Wilej had no appetite for din
ner, but for the sake of appearance at
tempted a cup of coffee, but his stom
ach, revolted. He mounted his horse
anu started towards thecit3. He had
been unwell for several daj's. His
nerves wero of that fine strung kind
that are easil3r Wounded'. His head
was alread3r aching. The subject of
death, uncommanded, came into his
thoughts. Ho fell into a soliloquiz
ing, retrospective view: "Wonderful,
wonderful woman. Yet more attrac
tive than wonderful. Would that I
had a son mothered b3' such an one.
But my life has been a fitful waste. I
am fift3-elght and I think I already
feel the truth of eternity in every
member of m3T body. Going down,
unwept, unhonoredand unsung, leav
ing nothing but dollar's worth, for
distant kin tosnarl over like dogs ov
er a swine's oarcass. Oh! for a con
tinuation of my own name and blood
in the next generation ! A 6on of a
heroine mother to developo mo a
Ceasar iu tho future, when this sickl3'
frame is mingled in the dust. Is
filthy lucre all that I have lived for?
Ye3, it is filthy lucre. Alas! it is too
true ! Never before have I seen it so.
But better late than never. I will yet
regain lost ground, from tins mo
ment I change my course. I will
marr3 Mrs. Blaze if but there's tho
rub. No ; she must accept. She will
accept. I have that which she most
needs, and for the necesaits of which
she toils with such endurauce and
surprising fortitude. But I tremble
to approach tho subject. I know not
how to deal In such matters'. I have
thought of it now. I will first show
my regard for her, and magnanimity
equal to nerindomitablewill. I shall
will all my property to her and con
trive to have her see tho will before I
see her. Then if sho rejects my offer
I will revoke the will yea, revoke it
an3how. I will lose nothing. This
is a chance to show magnanimit3
without danger of loss. Yes, this is
the plan. I will execute it with a ra
pidity worthy of the theme"
He went straight to his lawyer ond
had the will drawn, at the same time
directing his attorney to have a revo
cation drawn ready to sign by noon
day after Christmas.
"Is the will read to sign ?" said he
to his attorney.
"Yes," was the reply.
"Would that her friend, Mr. Spell,
was hero to witness it; that would
show a guaranty Of good faith."
Just then Fred stepped in on his er
rand to tho lawyer's office.
"Mr. Spell, you are the man of all
the world I most wished to see. I
have settled the claim of Mrs. Blaze.
Yes, I have done more; I have no
children, so leave my kingdom, like
Alexander of old, to the most wor
thy. I have willed all ray property
to Mrs. Blaze, and wish 3ou to sign
as a witness to the will."
"Now 3ou're talkin', by Jupiter
now 'ou're talkin1 ," wa3 Fred's reply-
The will wa3 properly executed,
witnessed by Frederick Spell, the at
torney; aud a young man Btud3ing in
the office. Fred went to hi3 saloon
friend, who had found the horse, and
the hundred dollars was drawn from
the bank and divided equally be
tween them. Fred weut home, on
the whole, happy, and that night had
pleasant dreams of the morrow, for
he found awaiting him an invitation
from Lucy to a Christmas dinner.
Mr. Wilej ate no supper and at
night his rest was broken and disturb
ed. Towards morning he awoko in
fright. "Humph!" said he, "how
glad I am that it was but a dream'. I
thought it was to-morrow, and I was'
at Mrs. Blaze's and offered her tha
ring in engagement when a whirl-'
wind in storm came on and carried
me to an immense ijelgbt, where 1
caught the top of a hiokory tree and;
the wind passed on leaving me hang
ing to the bending limb, eighty feet
from the grout 3. It broke ; my head
reeled dizzy and I awoke." Ho re
joiced that it was but a dreari- Still'
his mind was deepty impressed with
a kind of superstition In regard to
that ring. He felt that it must bere
oovered at once, and never again of
fered to lad3'. Ho rested' little the re
mainder of the night and. arose and!
dressed long before day. When, how
ever, the day came and he had taken
brand' several times and breakfasted
slightly, he conjured his desponden
cy aud rebuked his foolishness andi
determed at once tor pay Mrs. Blaze
aud have the will shown her and of
fer her tho ring in betrothal. He dis
patched a man to Mrs. Biozo early
Christmas morning with the will and
money to pay her. As thio solemn)
testament of his all almost his God:
was carried awa3', his e3e3 fondly
followed as he muttered: "Go, swift
messenger, on thy mission. Go like'
a meteor streaming to please and be'
snuffed out. But, after all, how llko
th3 author ; man born of woman is
of few daj-a and full of trouble ; ho
groweth up like a mullen stock an
goeth out like a liollj-hook."
In justice to Mr. Wiley bo it said,
that ho was not given to such con
torted quotations. But high fever
was alread3 on him and delirium1
seized tho unocchplee?moments of hla
mind, bringing wild oats remlnlsen
ces, wholly, without premeditation,
and almost unbidden.
Mr, WiIe3T determined to see Mrs J
Blnze by threo o'clock in the' after
noon and bring to a crisis that all-important
Idea which now seemed to
have full sway dver'his mind already
fevered into a an abnormal state. Ho
concluded that to leave tho most fa
vorable Impression as to hiango and
vivacit3, he should go in the saddle ;
so he made hia arrangements according'-
Mr. Wile3's man arrived at tho
house of Mrs. Blaze about eleven in
the afternoon and paid her claim. '
Sho offered him the rlnto return to
its owner, but he refused, saying ho
was under special' Instructions to re
ceive nothing. He then showed her
the will.
Said she " I do' not understand this.
It must be 0 machine of cunnlug, oc
a timber of an air castlo that I am to'
blow away at a breath. Return it
aud let its author burn it when ho 1
sober.
Tho man answered that he was In
structed to leave it with Frederick
Spell, and after learning the course to
Fred's house, started In thot direc
tion. He left tho will with Fred and
wont on. Fred had an Idea that if ho
could 011I3' get the will deposited In
probate court at Nebraska City before
it was revoked, It becamcVirrevocable,
and was afraid that it was ono of Wi
le3's tricks and would bo revoked.
He stopped his horse at right angles
with the road and thus discoursed to
Frederick Spell ;
"If ever I nm going id do an3'thing,
now is the time. I am a fool, or else
I act like a fool. Just see how I ker
flumixed at Nebraska City ! This is
a big thing for such a chap as me, but
what is the difference? I'd rather bo
a h 1 of a fellow than no fellow at all:
I just see how todo'it. I've got tho
world b' the throat now. I say, I
swear, 3'es, I vow, on a stack of bibles
as big as a skinned horse, I'll putHhis
will in probate court before the sweat
dries on this nag. When Wiley kicks
the bucket I'll have the will opened'
and prove it up m3'self ; for if I know
myself, aud I think I do, this Bamo
Frederick Spell Esquire, Is a witness
to that document. Then Mrs. Blaze
gets tho propert3 and ma3 be I get
Lucy. O, ducats! come into my arms,
my darling ! No, Lucy is enough,
more than enough. That pretty little
piece. Lucy! Luc3l all mine raino
in the week da3, mine of a Sunday,
miue for life. All mine and us alone!
Mone3 aud property, phaw ! Scat!
don't bodderme !"
The Christmas dinner at the house
of Mrs. Blaze was attended with no
very extraordinary event, except the
unaccountable absence of Fred. Tho
morning had been foggy and the day
cloud3, and it was now near the mid-'
die of tbe afternoon.
" It looks," 3a!d Mrs. Blaze, just
like a thunder storm at hand.'"
"La, me," said aurtt Betty, '"a
thunder storm in the winter? You
don't say so !"
" Why' says Mrs. Blgelow, "I re
collect thirty 3'ears ugo in Illinois,
one Christmas da3 we jist had tho
awfulest thunder and lightning, that
struck the locust tree at old uucl6
Sammy Bamblei, and tore the boards,
offthe pig pen, and -turned over tho
hen house, and I alwaj's have tho't,
and told 'em so, that it brought on
old uncle Sanfmy's death five years
too soon, ond this bids fait tobejlst
such another time. I declare it 'peers
to me that when it does thunder in
winter, it's more dreadful tha.n any.
other time.'
t
Mrs. Blaze hurried to gee a pitcher
of water before the storm came, down
to the spring, which was near the Ne
braska City road, under a sycamore
tree just at the turn of the hill, about
fifty 3'ards from the house. Just un
der the P3camore a mounted man.
with sweated horse appeared before
her. I was Mr. Wiley, who kuew
thathe had company that day, and
fCbnclnded on forth page.1
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