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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1898)
&7T " V K21 THE RED CLOUD CHIEF. 'JLP JJ"'U J" r ,h r 1 :--,Lll(SHT OT OF isa Ml INTERNATIONAL PRZSS ASSOCIATION. CHAPTER ::iX. (Continued.) "H'm!" remarked Barbara, wJth an athcr sniff, "perhaps not. But for all that, MIsh Dorothy Ma'am. X should uy David StcveiiHoti was a moan boy. and I never could abide meanness In man, woman aw child." "lie wa most generous to mo," nald Dorothy, with a sigh. "Yes, to serve his own ends," said Barbara, sharply. "You may take such generosity as that for mc. Not that I waa Bpcaklng of t' at ma'am, for 1 wasn't, but of the time when David was a boy a horrid boy. who thought nothing of stealing the best apples anil letting another take the blame of It." "Oh, Uarbara! Barbara!" cried Do rothy, "you'vo got hold of a wrong rftory. Why, I know that once when David stolo some of auntie's apples, and young Tom Merrlman got the blame, David came and told auntie himself." "Yes; and for why?" demanded Bar bara, with uncompromising sternness. "Because I happened to have caught the young limb nt It and collared him beforo he could get away. 'You are .'tailing Mrs. Dlmsdale's apples, David Stovenson,' I said, laying hold of him suddcnllko; 'and you stole them other apples that Tom Merrlman has been sacked for.' 'And what's that to you. you old sneak?' he asked. 'Sneak or no sneak,' said I, 'you'll turn out your pockets to mo, my flno gentleman; and you'll go straight up to the house and you'll tell Miss ldmsdnlo that It was you stolo tho npplos last week, and then you'll go and ask Tom Merrl mun's pardon for having let him lie under your fault,' 'That 1 shan't,' says he. 'Then,' says I, "l Just walks you right off to Miss Dlmsdale, and she'll see you with your pockets full, red handed as you arc. No', Bays I, 'It's no uso to struggle. I've got you safe by the arms, and so I mean to keep you, whether you like It or not. And If onco Miss DImsdalo knows the truth, do you know what she'll do, David Stevenson?' says I. 'No,' says he, .sulkily. 'What?' 'She'll never stop to think that you're David Stevenson of Holroyd,' I sayB, 'but Bhe'll Just hand you over to tho constable at once, and I don't think, my young gentleman,' I adds, 'that Tom Merrlman having got tho sack to fill your- Inside with 111 gottcn goods, '11 help you with the bench In tho very least.' " ,"Well, bo I suppose he gave In," said Dorothy. "Well, of course, ho had to." return ed Barbara, with prnctlcal plainness; "but all tho same, ho never forgave me for having been tho ono to get the bet ter of him,. and nover forgot It, not to tho very last day we were at the hall. Ah! Miss Dorothy, darling, If you had thought proper to marry David Stevcn Hon, you would have had to do with out mc. Ho never would have had mo about him, and I wouldn't have taken Bcrvlco under his roof no, not to save myself from ending my days in tho workhouse." "Barbara, Barbara," cried Dorothy chldlngly, "not for mo?" "Well, if you had put It In that way. Miss Dorothy, you might havo got over me," tho old woman answered. But stay! I think I ought to say hero that although I havo called her old In many parts of this story, Bar bara was not, and could not reason ably bo called an old woman In tho common acceptation of tho word. She was a year or so over fifty, and a very Htrong, halo woman at that, and at this tlmo to Dorothy sho was a very rock and tower of strength. Well, by virtue of tho letter from Es ther Brand al '' in the Joy and expecta tion of her coming, Dorothy passed -that day with quite a light heart, and oven sat down to tho little piano and wing ono or two of tho songs that Dick liked best. And then sho went to bed and slept, leaving the door open be tween her room and Barbara's for com pany, and Bho dreamed, as she alwaj'3 did, about Dick. Nor was it a pleasant dream. Sho Raw Dick on board of a largo steamer, wearing whlto clothes and a sailor hat, looking very bronzed and happy. Ho wbb leaning over tho sldo of tho ship, with a cigarette In his mouth, Just ns eho had seen him many n time, and by his eldo there stood a beautiful lady not a girl like Dorothy horsoir, but a beautiful woman of about thirty years old, such as Dorothy fancied her old friend at home, Lady Jnno Sturt, might havo been nt that ago. They eomcd to bo talking earnestly togeth er, and after n time such a long tlmo It Boomed in her dream Dick took ono of tho lady's hands and raised It to his lips; then sho laughed and said some thing, and Dick caught her to him and kissed her on tho lips. Immediately afterward, while Dorothy, with frozen lips, was gazing nt them, Dick turned his head and lookod hor full in tho eyes with tho glanco of an utter stranger. CHAPTER" XX. ITU a bhrlok Do rothy nwoko tho sun waa streaming in nt tho sides of tho wlndow-bllnds, and Barbara wns J unt coming through tho door way with a llttlo tray boarlng Doro thy's early cup of tea. Barbara?" Dorothy rt!IPl i "9i I scream, gasped. mwk . rii7 ti""" i"" IWBPjmW "A bit of a cry. What ailed you. ma'am?" Barbara asked. "Oh! I was so frightened I had such a horrid dream about the master. I thought " But Dorothy did not complete the feculence, for Barbara put out her hand with a horrified look. "Nay. now, Mis Dorothy, don't toll It. Whatever yoi do, don't toll me." "But why?" cried Dorothy, open oyed. "You Hliculd never tell a dream be fore noon, Miss Dorothy," returned Barbara, poitentously. "Oh I" exclaimed Dorothy, "Isn't It lucky?" She knew that Barbara was a great believer In luck, and signs and omens. "It's fatal." answcicd Barbara sol emnly, whereat Dorothy burst out laughing, and the worst feelings of drend with which she had awakened passed nway. "I think." die said after breakfast when Barbara wns clearing the table "that I shall put on my hat and go up to tho High street I cannot finish this until I get some more lace;" then sho held It up and showed It oIT to Barbara. "Isn't It sweet?" nhc ex claimed with Intense satisfaction. "It' lovely," returned Barbara, who was overjoyed at tho prospect of :i baby. "Then do you wish mc to go with you, ma'am, or will you go alone?" "Do you want to go?" Dorothy ask ed. "Well, ma'am, to bo honest, I don't. I want to turn out tho room for Miss Esther. You ace, sho may come near ly as fast as her letter, and I shouldn't like to put her Into a dirty room." "It enn't bo dirty, Barbara," cried Dorothy, laughing, "because nobody has oer slept In It." "Well, ma'am," Barbara retorted, "I can't say that I know a dirtier person than Mr. Nobody on tho whole." Dorothy laughed. "Well, then you evidently have a lot to do, and I would just as soon go alone. So I will 30 YOU STARTLED ME. soon, beforo I got tired or tho day gets hot;" for nlthough Soptembcr was half over, the weather Just then was most sultry and trying to those not In tho best of health, Sho was soon ready, and went Into the cosey llttlo kitchen to ask Barbara If there was anything alio wanted, but sho did not happen to want anything at alt. "Do I look all right?" Dorothy ask ed, turning hcrsolf about. "Yes, you look very sweet this morn ing, Miss Dorothy," said Barbara. "I wish tho master could see you this minute." "So do I." echoed Dorothy promptly. "Well, ho will seo mo booh enough, soon enough. Good-by. Barbara." Barbara followed her to tho door nnd watched her out Into tho street, and truly, ns she had said, her young mis tress was looking very bonny that day. On her fair hair, loosely arranged, yet not untidy-looking, she had a small straw bonnet trimmed with ribbon and n cluster of glolro do Dijon roses. Over her pretty blue cotton gown sho woro a long dust-clonk of somo thin nnd light-toned matorlal. Sho also woro tan-colored shoos and Suedo gloves of about tho samo tone, and sho carried a largo whlto cotton parnsol to shield her from tho sun. It was a very simple and cheap toi lette, but It was fresh and dainty-looking, and Dorothy looked bright and lovable nnd a llttlo lady from tho crown of her bonnet to the tips of her shoes; lndcod, more than 0110 person thought bo ns sho pnssed up tho street; and tho old Gonornl, who was out for his usual morning trot, stopped in his walk, and, wheeling round, stood to look after her till bIio had turned tho corner and was out of sight, when ho went on with his self-imposed sentry go, wishing with all his heart ho was forty years younger. Mcnutlmo Dorothy went serenely on hor way, reached tho shop for which sho was bound, nnd thero mndo her purchases, all small enough for her to bring them away In a neat llttlo parcel In her unoccupied hand, And then, just as sho stepped off tho doorstep of tho shop on to tho pavement, sho sud denly found herself face to face with David. If It had been possible sho would havo retreated back into tho shop; but It was too lato for that. David Stev enson had already uttered an exclama tion of surprise, nnd wns .standing close In front of her, holding out both his hands to her. Now, it 4-i was one person In all fir rl yp tho wide world whom Dorothy would rather not havo seen Just then, that person was David Stevenson. 1 think she looked all tho dismay which sho felt, and that sho felt all and perhaps moro than tho dismay which sho look ed, "Oh! Is that you?" she gasped. David let his hands, with their glad welcome, drop Instantly. "You're not very glad to see mo, Do rothy," ho said, in quiet, but bitter re proach. "I that Is, you startled me," she re plied, In 11 wild endeavor to put off any questions he might think proper to ask her. "Evidently," he said, dryly, "and yov want to get rid of mc, eh?" "Oh, not at nil," biting her lip and wishing that she could sink Into tho ground, or dlsRc'e Into thin nlr, any whero out of tho way of his hard and steely-blue eyes, which seemed to look her through, and to know In a moment nil the secrets of her life. "No? Ah, thnl Is better. Then, since you don't want to get rid of mo all In a hurry, perhaps you will let mo walk a llttlo way with you. May 1?" "Oh, yes, certainly," said Dorothy, giving herself up for lost at once. "Do you live near here?" ho asked. At that moment there was a slight block on the pavement of tho always busy street, nnd Just ns David spoko Dorothy perceived that the sweet faced lady who lived on tho Hoor above her wnH also blocked, and stood for a moment or bo face to face with her. Undoubtedly sho had heard David's question Just as Dorothy had done, and undoubtedly Dorothy had never seen her eyes so cold or her lips bo austerely shut before. In her distress nnd annoyance at being thus nppar ently caught, Doiothy blushed a vivid, guilty crimson a fact upon which the Hwcot-faced lady put tho usual con Ktructlon to which all highly moral per sons seem to Jump nt once In a mo ment of doubt that is, the very worst possible one. "Can you give mo no iicwb from home, then?" Dorothy asked, in a des perate voice, raised far above her usu al tones. David looked down at her In sur prisean involuntary action which was not lost upon the lady, who waa still unable to pass on. "News?" he repeated. "Why, of course 1 can. I have bo much iiowb to tell you that I hardly know whero to begin. Let mo seo Lady Jane le back, of course." Dorothy turned her head In tlmo to seo that the lady had passed on nnd was out of car shot beforo David had begun his news. There, just like David's atupldlty, to bo too Into. Why, she wondered, Ir ritably, could ho not havo happened to sny something which would havo let that woman upstulrs know that they had known each other nil their lives? But no, David had always blundered whenever nnd wherever sho wns con cerned, and bIio supposed that ho al ways would. Her Interest In the homo ncwH was gone, lost In tho depths of her annoyance, but sho listened pa tiently till ho bad exhausted that topic, till bIio had heard who was married nnd who wns dead, of a flro In such a one's rlck-yard, nnd of n barn belong ing to another which had been struck by lightning. Then ho told her how ho had im proved tho Hall her perfect old homo, which in her mind needed Improve ment of no kind how ho had put a smart, capable gardener In to bring tho plnce Into real good condition "And old Isaac?" said Dorothy.Horce- iy. "Oh, ho Ib still about I shouldn't turn any old servant of yours off, yon know. Thero nro plenty of odd Jobs for him about the place." "What sort of odd jobs?" demanded Dorothy. (To bo Continued.) WORSHIP OF COD. Kov. IlrMol Otvc4 Homo Tlmoly Hint) Well World ClnrlslilnB. Tho Rev. C. O. Bristol of Hartford, Conn., sayB In his anniversary sermon ; "Lot mo remind you that nmong nil tho definitions nnd conceptions of wor ship and tho houso of God, oura Is ono that has from tho earliest tlmo leaned toward the moro Btrlct and con sorvatlvo view. With ua tho church Is not a concert ball nor a lecture room. Wo bollovo as firmly as others In Intellectual training nnd In hours ol amusement, but they must havo their rightful placo, nnd that 1b not tho church. Tho church Ib for tho worship of God, with those branches that Just ly concern tho upbuilding of tho spir itual Ufo nnd tho extension of the kingdom of God. Within tho wnl's of tho church you stand upon a hallowed spot, consecrntcd mndo holy for tho worship of God. As Jchovn nnnko to Moses, bo he speaks to us hero, 'Take' off thy shoes from thy feot, for the placo whercup thou standest Is holy ground. A sensitive naturo, a naturo trained In tho waya of cul turo, will always havo respect for and be reverent in tho houso of God during tho hours sot apart for public worship, A naturo that la not so sensltlvo noi bo trained In tho arts of true manhood and womanhood will not bo revcront here, nor elsewhere 'conBldornto of the feollngs of others. It la therefore nt othor hours In God's houso that I ask you to maintain tho nttltudo of rover once. When for any purposo you are brought horc, whethor tho first day or tho fourth; whether for work or wor ship, let us not forgot it la God'a house, and do all things no In His presence nnd for HIb glory. Entor it not until you havo loft at tho door all worldly thoughts and commonplace conversa tions; be content to separato. yourselves from human companionships for the moment, and bo glad to walk with God.' l.'itxtrr I.lllm Fiitllng. See! tlniM) Easlor lilies laid On tho cross begin to fade. If tho one who bore them hither Had a faith that will not wither; If ho hath within his bosom Lovo to God ami man In blossom, Tho' his denrcfit hopes decay, Health and riches pan nway, Unseen crosses Iks can dreys And give life Easter chocrfulncn. Fletcher Date. "Young ladles," began Miss Sanders. Several of tho younger girls always giggled when their Sunday school teacher began that way. Partly bo causo tho humor of being called "young ladles" struck them; partly be cause they woro pleased by the com pliment; partly because they wcro young and couldn't help It. I Miss Sanders went on to explain to tho "young ladles" that the church would bo decorated next Saturday for tho Easter celebration, and that It each pupil brought a pot of lilies tho class I would bo well represented. I "I havo a lovely pot ot Ulles at home, Miss Sanders," said Esther Shaw, eagerly, when the class was dis missed. "It has six Ulles on It, nnd It Is so tall taller than any lu tho Hor- Ist's." "That Is very nice, Esther," smiled Miss Sanders. "Bring It early. It it Is so pretty you shall havo a good placo for It." Esther wont homo with springing feot. She had watched and tended that Illy so carefully all winter. How glad sho waa nowl Mr. Learner, tho florist. I bad nono prcttlor than that. It would I bo tho tallest there. Mrs. Shaw had al- I ways encouraged Esther In her lovo for flowcra. It seemed aa If tho llttlo girl was to bo rewarded for her work. I Tho next morning Esther had an or- ' rand to do beforo school. "I can't wait," sho said, hastily, when two of tho girls stopped to ask about tho church decorations. "Yes, my lily Is splendid! I'll tell you at re cess!" Sho knocked at Mrs. Morgan's door up ono flight, bnck and opened It, scarcely waiting for a "Como In." "I'm in such a hurry, Mrs. Morgan," sho began, "but mother wants to know If you can't let her havo the apron3 to day?" Mrs. Morgan, a thin woman In black, roso from tho bed bcsldo which sho va3 sitting. "I'm sorry, Miss Esther," Bho said. "I wanted to let your mother hnvo them, but Freddy's been nick again, and thoy'ro not done yot." A wasted-looking boy lay on tho bod with a crutch besldo him. His big, RUE TALKED IT OVER WITH MOTHER, feverish-looking eyes mado Esther start. "Is ho very sick, Mrs. Morgan?" "No worse tlmli ho has been beforo," replied tho woman, turning away. "But ho wants to bo amused and havo things to look at, and I can't always sow." ism? W Esther hnd two or three pinks In her band. Noticing that the llttlo boy looked at them eagerly, the kind-hearted child approached the bed. "Will you have theiu. KicddyV" The sick buy reached out his hand quietly, without speaking, and Esther laid the flowers In It. "Thank you, Mis.i Esther," said tho mother, gratefully, "lie always loved flowers bo. But lluwcr.4 cohI something at this time of year." Like a flash a thought darted through Esthcr'u brain my lilies! "lie may have those," hhe answered, hastily. "I meant them for the teacher, but sho always has lotH. It doesn't matter!" Sho ran down tho stairs, scarcely healing Mrs. Morgan's "Tell your mother I will finish the work by to morrow." She walked rapidly down the street, trying to push out tho llttlo thought which cnnio ngaln and again as font us sho rejected It: "To give Freddy my Illy? Not to tnko It to the church! Oh, I couldn't do that!" Thero was little time for tnlk. School wns beginning. At icccsh, when tho girls talked over their plans for flow ers, Esther ran awny to play a lively game. Sho wanted neither to talk nor think. When she wns alone that night her ono thought was: "No, 1 can't do it! I cannot!" "Mother, do you think Freddy lu very sick?" she asked the next day. "I don't suppose he will ever be per fectly well again," answered Mrs. Shaw. "Why?" "Ills mother coys ho likes things flowers" began Esther slowly. "I don't suppose she can give him much beyond bread and butter. You WOULD YOU LIKE THIS? may tako him somo Jelly today, If you like, Esther!" Tho llttlo boy Ktlll lay upon tho bed when Esther came lu with tho jolly. Tho pinks stood lu a cup beside his hand. "I believe thoso flowers did him moro good than anything yot, Miss," eald Mrs. Morgan, who sat sewing near the window. "Ho nhvays was that fond of flowers! It was good of you to think ot giving thorn to him." Es ther alghed. "Could I do It?" she thought. Sho watched tho boy tako n spoonful of tho jelly and Ho back again languidly. "Is ho very sick, Mrs. Morgan?" alio asked again, "Oh, he'll bo all right when ho can run nut and seo tho ruses and tho lilies and tho dnlslo3." His mother camo and shook up hla pillow, and then sho moved tho flowers a llttlo nearer and took tho Jelly away. Esther walked homo with tho ques tion unanswered in hor heart. Then sho stood beforo tho Illy and consid ered It. "I Bupposo Freddy would think It was beautiful, and it would keep In bloom a long time If his mother wa tered It. And I know bo's pretty sick, and I Eupposo I really ought to bo glad to glvo It to him, It I can. But oh, dear, It would bo tho tallest one, and prettier than any one's, and I did want to put It with tho othor girls'!" After all, It wasn't an easy problem for a little Flrl to solve. It seemed pretty big to Esther. Tho Illy got a llttlo salt water that afternoou. By nnd by Mrs. Shaw, coming In, found Esther still staring at tho lily, with red checks and suspiciously bright eyes. "What Is It, llttlo Klrl?" So sho told her mother all about It, and somehow tho question seemed to clear as sho talked It out, '"But yet If did eeem right to tako It to tho church," bho said, In a slightly puzzled tone "Well, you see, Esslo, that depends! Perhaps It wasn't bo much taking It to church' that you liked as tho fact that it was a bigger Illy than tho othors." Esther's cheeks flushed. "You see, g'rllc, tho flowcra In church mean somcthlur, more than Just a love ly llower growing out of the dark earth. They mean llfo coming out ot death and good out of evil." "Yo.i, nininma I know," "You meant to give your flower In church because every ono would nil mlro Its beauty. You enn mako your gift still more beautiful If you decldu to glvo It to a llttlo child who has no other flower to make lib Easter hap py." "Ye-es," responded Esther. Sho did npend n few moro Highs over tho matter. Either was only a llttlo girl. But, after all, It hi bravor to do what ono feels to bo right, when It la hard work than when ono Is excited by a feeling of one's own goodness. Sho carried the flower to Freddy tho next day. " 'Cause, you sec, mamma," she explained, "ho might us well begin right nway to keep Easter, It my Illy Is going to help him do it." "It Is very goud of you, I'm sure," raid the tired mother when Esther had presented hor flower. "Your other flowers havo done him much good." The Rick boy waa propped up lu a chair. He smiled and brightened, look ing at tho wonderful whlto flowcra, and put out his lingers to touch tho waxen leaves. Esther stood and looked at him, and an sho saw IiIr admiration of hor Illy, a little feeling of satisfaction that sha had decided rightly began to grow lit her heart. "I hope you will water It, Mra. Mor gan," Hho said. "I will." answered Freddy, nodding. "Mother will give mo tho wntcr." "There! It's mado him fcol better al ready," exclaimed tho mother, looking fondly from tho Illy to tho boy. I do not think thn Easter lilies looked less lovely to Esther becauso hor own waa nvt nmong them. Sometimes there are llllea that grow In our hearts. EVA LOVETT. Tint JKtt-M Miirolilnx On. Do ye hear the song of triumph, Breaking o'er tho brink of dawn, Hear tho gladness and tho glory Of the EiiRtetH marching on? Hark! The universe Is throbbing To It is Hweet, unbroken chime, Lo! Tho uges arc resounding With Us choral strain subllmo! Do ye hear Mb echoes ringing Down tho centuries long gono, Do ye mark tho rhythmic footfall Ot tho Eustera marching on? Do yo seo their banners gleaming. And their serried cohorta bright, And their standards high uplifted. Radiant with celestial light? See sin skulking, shadowB scatter. Conquered death grow weak aacl wan. Terrors fleeing from the highway Of tho EasterB marching on; Seo tho grave, so dark and dreaded, Now becomo a royal bed Which tho King of Kings hath hal lowed, Where la neither Death, nor dead! Do yo know tho holy joying, Breathing blissful bcnlaon, Sorrow'a keenest dart destroylng,- Of tho Enatera marching on? Feel yo not tho wings ot healing Chnso afar tho clouda ot gloom, Aa earth thrilled with glad rejoicing, Bursts to bright and beauteous bloom? With ono mighty song victorious, ' With ono glorious untlphon. With ono watchword, aro tho legions Of tho EasterB marching on. "Christ bath risen, hath abolished Satan's disinherison! Llfo Immortal, llfo eternal!" Shout the Eastcra marching on! Julia Zltolla Cocke. APRIL. By Mary Mltchol. Oh! April Is a dainty dame, Sho wears tho swootcst dresses! Her eycB aro llko tho still blue flamo And Bun-gold nro hor tresses. Her wee, wco feet aro soft and fleet, JL Her form one bnroly guesBoa. Oh! April la n dainty dame, And wears tho softest dros3ea! Oh! April la a dainty dame! Of all the year-child faces, Hera nover stays an hour tho same, Sho has bo many gruces! Her smllo or algh, It Is so shy, Halt hid In budding mazes, For April is a dainty dnme, And woara tho finest lncca. Noted women havo shown no pre cocious dcslro to wod and make homes ot their-own. Georgo Eliot waa nearor 40 than 30 when Bho married tor th first tlmo and closo upon CO when her second marriage took placo in 1880. $ 1 rt 1 A i r.r? i . ! ;.: 1 i.il :)! M t 3 v ' .1!IV J" tt "ft 1 ; iki Jfe" , Jsjtwfr dlil&tt mu ....,": autUk. : f if - A A k .QWfc
