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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1897)
THE RED CLOUD CHIEF. N ..r:;3x COiHT OUT OP .TW-SSMi 1 -j INTERNATIONAL PRIS3 ASSOCIATION. CHAPTER I. T was In the sweet it. , . s -v I mount oi acpium- o Va I tier, the soft nfter- -' I noon of u day thut liml been hot even on the borders of the North Sea, which sends its breezes flying over the part of Essex whleh is not Hat and marshy, hut rich nnd undulating, and fair and pleasant to look upon. In Iondon the peoplu were gasp ing for breath, but hero, though tho day had been fairly hot, It wa3 now at bIx o'clock soft and balmy, and by nightfall tho air would be sharp and fresh. It was such a fair day and such a fair view! Rohlnd on the higher ground stood a rambling old house, halt hall, half farm-house a house with a long rcd-brlck front, and a sort of terrace garden from which you might look across tho fields and the long green stretches of land over which the bold sea camo and went at ebb and How of tho tides. It was a quaint old garden, with turf like velvet, and raised beds cut In It hero and there, gay with blazing scarlet geraniums nnd blue lobelias, and kept neat and tidy by a quaint bordering of red tiles set edge ways Into the ground. There were tall trees, too, about this domain, whleh hid tho farm-bulldlngs from sight, and also helped to shield tho house from tho fierce winter blasts, and In front thero lay a rich and verdant meadow sloping gently down to tho high-road, whero Just then a man and a young irl had stopped for a moment as they walked along together. "Mayn't I come in?" tho man said, Imploringly. "No, I don't think you must," tho girl answered. "You see, nuntio has gono to Colchester, nnd she wouldn't llko mo to ask jou in when I knew sho wasn't thero. No, I don't think you must come In this time." "Perhaps sho will bo bnck by this time," ho urged; but the girl shook her head resolutely. "No; for tho train does not get to Wrabness til twenty-four minutes past seven It Is not as much paBt six yet," sho said, simply. "But," ho said, finding that there was no chance of hla effecting nn en trance within tho fortress, "arc you bound to go In just yet?" "No, I am not; but you are bound to go back to Lady Jane's for your dog-cart. Sho knows that you camo with mo, nnd she knows thut auntie is in Colchester." "Lady Jano knows too much," ho said, vexcdly. "Yes, I suppose I must go back. Hut I may carry your racket as far as the door, eh?" "Oh, I think you may do that," an swered tho glil, demurely. So together they turned and walked on. The road took a curve to tho right, skirting tho sloping meadow and ris ing gradually until they reached tho gates of tho old house, with Its quaint red front and its many gables and dormer windows, and at tho gate Dor othy Strode stopped and hold out her hand for tho racket. "Thank you very much for bringing mo homo," sho said, shyly, but with an upward glanco of her bluo eyes that went straight to tho man's perhaps rather susceptible heart; "It was very good of you." "Yes, but tell mo," he answered, not lotting go his hold of tho racket, "tho aunt has gono to Colchester, you say?" "Yes." "Does sho often go?" "Oh, no; not often." "But how often? Once a week?" "Onco a week oh, no; not onco a month. Why do you ask?" "IJecauso for tho present I live In Colchester. I am quartered there, you know, and I thought that perhaps sometimes when the auntie was com ing you might ho coming, too, nnd I might show you round a little tho lions and all that, you know. That was all." "Dut I don't think," said Dorothy Strode, taking him literally, "that TURNED AND WALKED ON. auntlo would over want to bo shown round Colchester, or tho lions, or any thing. Yon bco, sho has lived nt tho Hall for more than fifty years, and probably knows Colchester a thnusend times as well as you do." "True! I might novo thought f.f that," and ho laughed a IJttlo at hla own mistake, then added suddenly: "Hut don't you think your aunt might :u Miii v sifV IW5MglaiSKll like to come and have afternoon tea In my quarters? Old ladles generally love n bachelor tea." " I don't think she would," said Dorothy, honestly. "You see, Mr. Ilnrrlf, my aunt is rather strict, and she never does anything unusual, and" At that moment she broke off short as n fairly smart dog-cart driven by a young man passed them, and returned the salute of tho occupant, who hud lifted his hat as soon as ho saw her. "Who is that?" asked the soldier, father Jealously, frowning a little ns ho noticed the girl's heightened color. "That is Mr. Stevenson," sho an swered, looking straight in front of her. "Oh, Mr. Stevenson. And who Is he when he's at homo?" the soldier de manded. "Very much the same ns when ho Is not nt home," answered Dorothy, with a gay laugh. Ho laughed, too. "Hut tell me, who is he?" "Oh, ono of the gentlemen farmers round nhout." It was evident that she did not wnnt to talk nhout tho owner of tho dog cart, hut the soldier went on without heeding: "And you know him well?" "I have known him all my life," alio said, with studied carelessness. In the face of her evident unwilling ness to enlarge upon tho subject, tho soldier hud no choice but to let her take tho racket from him. "Good-by," she said, holding out hor hand to him. "Oood-by," he answered, holding It a good deal longer than was necessary; "hut tell mo I may como and call?" "Yes, I think you might do that." "You will tell your aunt that you met mo, nnd that I am coming to call tomorrow?" "That is a little soon, Isn't it?" she said, laughing. "Resides, tomorrow there Is a sowing-meeting." "And you go?" "Always." "And you llko It?" Incredulously. "No, candidly I don't; but In this world, at least in Gravclelgh, ono hns to do a great many things that utic does not like." "And you might have to do worse things than go to a Bowlng-mecting, eh?" ho suggested, for It suddenly flashed Into his mind that thero would be no gentlemen farmers In smnrt dog carts nt such fcmlnlno functions as sowing-meetings. "That Is so. Well, good-by." "Dut you haven't snld when I may como," ho cried. "No; say one day next week," with a gay laugh. "Hut which day?" "Oh, you must tnko your chance of that. Good-by," nnd then bIio passed in nt tho wide old gate, and disappear ed among tho bushes and shrubs which lined tho short and crooked carrlagc drlvo leading to tho house. CHAPTER If. OR a moment ho stood there looking after her, then turned on his heel and retraced tho steps which ho had taken in Dorothy Strode's company, and as ho went ulong ho went again over all that sho had said, thought of her beauty, her soft bluo eyes, and fair, wind-tossed hair, of tho graco of her movements, tho strength and skill of her play, the sweet, half shy voice, tho gentle mnnner with now and then Just n touch of roguish fun to rellovo Its softness. Then ho re called how sho had looked up at him. and how softly sho had spoken hla name, "Mr. Harris," Just as that farmer-fellow camo along to distract her attention and bring tho bright color Into her cheeks, and, by Jovo! ho had como away and nover told her that his namo was not Harris nt all, but Ayl mer Richard Aylmcr, commonly known as "Dick," not only in his regi ment, but In every place whero ho was known at all. Now how, his thoughts ran, could tho little woman havo got hold of an idea that his namo was Harris? Dick Harris! Well, to bo Buro, it didn't sound bad, but then It did not suit him. Dick Aylmer Bo wn3 and Dick Aylmcr ho would bo to the end of tho chapter except except, ah, well, well, that was a contingency ho need not troublo himself about nt pres ent. It was but a contingency and u remoto ono, nnd ho could lot It take caro of Itself until tho tlmo camo for him to fairly look It In tho face, when probably matters would conveniently and comfortably arrange themselves. And then ho fell to thinking about her again, and what a pretty namo hers was Dorothy Strode! Such a pretty name, only Dorothy Aylmer would look even prettlor Mrs, Richard Aylmer tho prettiest of them all, ex cept, perhaps, to hear his men friends culling her "Mrs. Dick." And then ho pulled hlmsolf up with a laugh to think how fast his thoughts had been running on why, ho had ac tually married himself nlready, after an hour and n half's acqualntuuco nnd bcfqro even ho had begun his wooing! And with another laugh ho turned In at tho gates of Lady .lane's place, where ho must say his farewells and get his dog-cart. Lady Jane wns still on the lawn. a?d welcomed him with n smile. She was a stout, motherly woman, still young enough to bo sympathetic "Ah, you arc back," sho said. "Now, Is not that a nice girl?"" "Charming," returned Dick, Bitting down beside her and nnswerlng In his most conventional manner. Lady Jano frowned n little, being quite deceived by the tone. Sho was fond of Dorothy herself and would dearly llko to innko a match for her. Sho had seen with Joy that Mr. Ayl mer seemed very attentive to her, and hnd encouraged him in his offer to escort her down tho road to her uunt'u house and now he had come back again with his cold, conventional tones ns If Dorothy was the tenth charming girl he had taken home that afternoon, and he had not eared much nhout the task. "I heard you Bay a little tlmo ago that you were going away," ho re marked, after a moment's pause. "Yes, we are off tonight by tho boat from Harwich," sho answered. "Yci, It Is rather n long passage twelve hours but tho boats aio big and the weather Is smooth, and it Is a great convenlenco being able to drive from from ono's own door to the boat Itself ono starts so much fresher, you know." "Yes, that must be eo," ho replied, "though I never went over by thU route. And how long do you stay?" "All the winter," Lady Jano an swered. "We go to Klsslnsen, though Jft. SITTING DOWN BESIDE HER. It Is a trifle late for tho place. Then on by the Engndiuc, Italian Lakes, nnd to Marseilles. After that to Al giers for several months." "Algiers," ho said In surprise, "really?" "Yes, I need a wnrm climate In the winter, nnd It gives Mr. Sturt a chanco both of life and of sport, so Hint ho docs not really feel being out of Eng land for so long." "And you como back next spring?" "Yes; some tlmo next spring," sho answered. Dick Alymer got up then nnd began to mako his adleux. "Then good-by, Mr. Harris," said Lady Jane, with much cordiality, "and I hopo to find you still at Colchester when wo como back again. If not. you must come nnd sco mo in Loudon dur ing tho season." "Thanks, very many," he said, "but my " "Oh!" cried Lady Jane, in dismay, "look, look! tho fox-terrier is worry ing tho Persian kitten. Do rescue It somebody, do, do!" (To bo continued.) HERMIT IN A BIG CITY. Why mi Old I.iuly I lux Shut Ilcni-lf Off from tlui World. Various, Indeed, aro tho ways in which eccontrlc peoplo indulge tholr llttlo peculiarities, but a decidedly orlgln.il manner has been adopted by an old lady living hero, says a Paris letter to tho London Tolcgraph. On one of tho grand boulovnrds stands a houso with closed shutters nnd fasten ed door. Scarcely a sign of life Is thero about tho placs and tho houso has re mained In a similiur state over a qunr tor of a century. Tho owner is an old lndy, who, on Sept. 4, 1870, tho day on which tho re public was proclaimed, rcsolutoly dotor- mlnod that no ono affected by republic an Ideas should over cross tho threshold of her dwelling. To avoid any such contingency sho simply declined to allow any ono lnsldo and has refused all offors to hire either npartmonts or tho shop below. Tho only tlmo Bho breaks through her hard and fast rulo Is whon workmen aro permitted to en tor In order to carry out repairs. Painters, carpenters, locksmiths nnd masons once a year In turn Invade hor privacy and mako good any damage. To relatives whoso political tendencies are tho sumo as her own sho is partic ularly gracious", but at tho death of each ono an apartment in tho building Is soalcd up nnd now all nro closed barring tho very small ono at Jho bAck of the house, which the anti-republic-nn hermit reserves for hor own uso and that of her threo servants. This strango behavior on tho part of an old lady has repeatedly oxoltod comment and numerous havo been tho attempts of people to gain an entrance by sorao ruso or other. All their efforts are foiled by an aged servant, who guards the front door with dragon-like vigil ance, and tho would-ho intruder soon flnds tho portals alammed in hla fnco and himself nono tho wiser for hli curiosity. Similar, lint Different, Landlord (to delinquent tonnnt) -"Well, what do you proposo to do about the rent?" Tenant (examining torn trouserB) "Oh, lt'a not so bad. My tailor can flx It nil right." There Is many a slip 'twlxt tho cup and the Up, but there la only ono between a man and tho sidewalk. JOHN RANDOLPH. PICTURESQUE PUDLIC UF1E IN HISTORY. F10- Tyjilcnl Vlrginhi Sliilrtiiinn- Dim iif tlio Mont Itrmnrkiilitf. Mtul Tntruti'it Clinr-ix-trr l'.trr I'riuliirpil In AliHTlni A Murvploui l'o wit or ICIcMiuriicc. (Special Letter.) k OILS' RANDOLPH ' If of Roanoke was J ono of tho most re- v-. miirknblo charai- ites " flU'tl .ll'fil. tit. til limtil sC ffTT V... .,..,. . ........ ... by this country. There are yet, after all these yoiits, numbers of anec dotes told and mKl- m htr S'? -x printed of the ec centricity, the pow er of fi.irensni and the wonderful elo quence of the man who wns perhaps, the most unique llgure of this cen tury. For more than thirty years Ran dolph was constantly In public life, serving ns congressman, senator, and minister to Russia, during which time ho was called the political meteor of his day, and uttracted the attention of tho public In a way that no other man ever did. He was known by many, but comprehended by none; his bril liancy wns equaled only by his eccen tricity; unit his inlrih mingled with a sadncHs not untouched by bltternojo. His whole life was tinged with that morbid uuhapplucss and love of soli tude which characterized his later years. He believed himself to ho the child of destiny, und would often us sort In tones of unguis!, that ho felt "tho curse" cleaving to him. In early youth he acquired great knowledge of ;tolitlcs and an extensive ncqunlntuuco with tho lending characters of tho country which sened him well In 17'J1, When he found himself elected to "on- THE TOMR gress. Ho became during the next It years the most prominent tlguro In congress. Crowds flocked to tho houso whenever It was announced ho would speak, and a lasting Impression wua made upon them by tho tnl), gaunt mnn who, with dark eyes flashing and sallow fuco lighted up by his wonder ful eloquence, emphasized with his long, bony forefinger some of the most cutting barbs of Irony nnd sarcasm which ever foil from mortal lips. Somo times, but not often, he made uso of tho wonderful power of pathos he pos sessed and swuyed his audience which soever wuy ho would. In 18111 ho re tired from congress and returned to his estate on tho Staunton river, the celebrated Roanoke, which Ib nover separated from tho mention of his name. Hero ho dwelt nlono, savo for his slaves, In a houso built ot logs. It would be difficult, Indeed, to discover a moro lonely spot, whero day after day not a sound wns heard but the rustling and sighing of tho wind through tho trees. Ho never permitted a twig to bo cut on the place, and tho dense undergrowth and unpruned trees seemed to form a fitting retreat for the wild nnturo of this descendant of Po cahontas. Humble ns his dwelling placo was in appearance, It contained somo flno paintings and ongrnvlngu, and a magnificent library of moro than a thousand volumes, most of which he had Imported from England. Many of theso books wore raro editions, beau tifully bound, and In numbers of them wero marginal notes, evidencing pro found thought and research. Of a conservative naturo, Randolph clung to the traditions of hla ancestors, and traveled In a coach and four long nfter others had nbandoned that cluniby modo of locomotion. In his dress, too, ho adhored to tho fushlunu of tho post to such a degrco that his queer flguro was often tho subject of much notoriety. This annoyed him, but had no effect In producing an alteration of costume. .Uc xwLf life',. " OF advooated tho English law of prltno genlture, nnd believed so Ilrmly In keeping property Intact that ho could never bo persuaded to part with a foot of his large landed estntes. Randolph's habit of withdrawing froti his fellow men caused him to make few friends, but those friends felt for him a depth of Attachment seldom equaled. Ono of them was Francis Scott Key, nuthor of tho "Star Spangled Rainier," with whom he kept up a long and volumin ous correspondence, which was pub lished some time since. In the life if John Hundulph was a romance, around which has always hoveled a mystery quite In accotd with the rest of his strange caieer. On a plantation near his mother's home lived Maria Wind, a young girl of wonderful heauty.faineil as tho belle of her day In tho state. All tho wild devotion In Randolph's nature was concentrated on this beau tiful neighbor, und llnally they lie came hctiothed. One day, however, I hey parted nfter a long, solemn Inter view, und from thut time never met when possible to avoid It, though their Interest in each other seemed unabat ed. Neither of them could ever bo In duced to explain the strange occur rence. In after years Miss Ward mar ried his cousin, Peyton Randolph, and at her death left u sealed package of letters, with solemn Injunctions that It should he kept unopened und given to her daughter, then three years old, when she should be of uge. This pack age, It Is thought, explained the reanon of tho broken engagement, hut the ex ecutors concluded the papers were too sacred to chance tho uncertainties of so many years and hurnid them un opened, destioylug at the same time all chances of ever solving the mystery. John Randolph te-cutered Congress In KSI'i, and though the Ill-health from which he sulTercd nil his life had In creased to an alarming extent, he took a prominent part In politics. He op posed the national hank hill, the tarllT, the Missouri compromise and numeroua other Important measures which were RANDOLPH. brought forward. Ho upheld his opin ions in deflnnco of everyone, caving llttlo for tho approval or disapproval of those around him. The sentiment which ruled him wns n passionate de votion to his stato, which even hla en emies could hut admire; his chief polit ical efforts wero exerted for stute'e rights In opposition to most of the party leaders of tho day, who favored strong central government. In study ing his life ono flnds that his most llery shafts and bitterest taunts wero directed not so much against his own enemies us against those whom he con sidered tho foea of hla state. Neither flattery nor threat nor favor could JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE, turn him from bis nll-absorblng theme. Randolph took a brilliant part in the famous Virginia convention of 18-9, whero tho greatness of his Intellect and eloquence was conspicuous even In nn assembly composed of such men us Monroe, Madison nnu John Marshall. A few months before his death the country wub thrown Into great exclte mont by Andrew Jackson's proclama tion to enforce tho tnrlff law, Ran dolph, though 111 In bed at the time, opposed this so bitterly that he Innlsted i on being lifted Into hi coach anl driven from county to county, where ho addressed tho people with nil tha earnestness of a dying man. Ilia dis trict Immediately adopted resolutions condemning the proclamation nn un Infringement upon tho rights of the states, and the effect of his eloquonco spreading abroad hud great Influcnrn In bringing nhout the compromise bill of lS.'W. This last powerful stroke for tho cause for which the powers of his genius and eloquent1." had been m constnntly exerted seemed to form a lilting end to the life of John Ran dolph, lie died June 21, 18:13, nt tho City Hotel In Philadelphia, whero hn had gone to set sail for England. On hi) way ho passed through Washington, and dragging his emaciated body with dllllculty to the senate chamber again met Henry Clay. Thu former enemies had a touching Interview nnd parted, for tho lust tlmo, 111 pence and good will. Randolph wns curried to Vir ginia and burled under tho pines of Roanoke In the midst of ths.t solltudu whleh he had always craved In life. Mnny yenrs later his remains wore & mood to Hollywood cemetery In Rich mond, ami a handsome monument placed over them by John Randolph Rryun. In tuuklng the removal It van found that his body was burled no less than eight feet In tho ground; tho triple lead collln was with difficulty re moved, as the roots oi an old oak ha 1 burst It asunder nnd wrapped round mid round his body, holding him In a long eiubiuco close to the stnto ho had loved ho well. SAILORS FOND OF COUNTRY. Invurmlily thioii Hnllrluc Thoy Ntt k u I'lirm to I'.nil Their Itnyi. From tho Washington Slur: "Naval otllcers always settle In tho country when they can," remarked n promi nent otllcer to a Stur reporter, "Dur ing their uetlvo careers that Is, dur ing the time they aro nt sea they nro necessarily cramped for room, und while Koine of thorn on tho largo, mod ern ships have elegant und sumptuous quarters there Is necessarily n limit to It. TIiIb thing grows on a man to such nn extent thut tho llrst thing ha docs when ho Is retired, nnd In hun dreds of cases long before retirement, ho hunts up n farm. Threo of tho ad uilrnls on the retired list, headed by Admiral Amnion, nro tho owners ot farms In tho Immediate vicinity ot Washington, nnd a number of other olllcers are similarly provided for, though their farms nro not extensive. Thoy seem to want Btretchlng room, and It will bo noticed that when thoy do they secure big places. Tholr minds run Into stock and chicken rais ing. Tho ofllcers of tho murine corps lmvo been noted for years ns the owners of tho speediest horses owned or driven nhout Washington, and thoy lmvo been always prominent in con nection with our ruclng Associations or organizations. Naval ofllcers have been similarly prominent. It Is dif ferent with army. ofllcers. Their am bition hocnui to bo for ulco housca In tho cities. Tho naval otllcers' Idcae all run toward tho country. I don't llko to give nnmes, but I could give dozens of Illustrations to prove what I suy, If It wore necessary. Take a look at tho Incoming curs from any of tho suburban places around Wash ington nny morning nnd thero will be Bufllcicnt proof of what I say." HAVE FAITH IN FETISHES. Many Colored I'vopln lliillnvn That Knak Skin Will Witnl (in Krll. From the Philadelphia Record: Re lief In tho etllcucy or fetishes Is still pruvnlent nmong a certuln class ot colored people In this city, and prob ably no ono has tho superstition brought ao forcibly to his attention as Head Keeper Munloy of' tho Zoo. Con stant applications uro made to him for materials for lovo chnrms by both sexes. Most often tho request Is tot n llttlo piece of snake skin, which, when powdered by a witch doctor and put in a locket, to bo suspended from tho possessor's neck, Is considered to bo a suro winner of uffcctlona. To supply tho demand a numbor of skins taken from tho reptiles that dlo in cap tivity uro always kept on hand. The soft breast feathers from tho African gniy purrota uro saved for other woo ors, who prize thorn Just ns highly. Keeper Mauley Is called upon to sup ply fetishes to Insuro success In corn but us well as In love. Several negro prizo fighters well known in tho local ring cany a llttlo bunch of hair clip ped from the tuft on the end of the old lion's tall. These bristles uro thought to glvo tho wearer unbounded couragt and strength. Wamrn'a 1'ocUeU. Ladles fifty, yoars ugo, when golnj, on a Journey by stage coach, enrried thoir ensh in their underpockcts. Thero were no railways opened In Wales then, nnd peoplo who had not a clo80 carrlago cither wont In tho mall coach or In a post chase. Farm ers' wives und market womon woro theso largo under pockets. I remem ber my Welsh nurso hud ono, whoroln If sho took mo out cowslip picking, or nutting, or blackberry gathering, sho carried a bottlo of milk and a lot of biscuits or a parcel of sandwiches, of ten a clean plnuforo as well. Her pocket on those occasions was llko a big bug. I was very proud when sho stitched up n wee pockot for me to wear under my frock, out of como stuff llko bedtlcklng, similar to that of which sho made hor own big pockt ets. Notes nnd Queries. KiiiiCMriiu Tnll for Soup, Kangaroo tails for soup havo boon sent to London from Australia. A shipment of twenty-flvo hundred weight was sold at tho rate of ft a dozen tails. In Australia they aro con. sldercd a great, delicacy, ,