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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1899)
if NOT FOE PUBLICATION "What a life!" repeated the mnn to Almself with almost a writhe. "Mak ing bricks without straw all the year round. I wish there, I wish to God I'd never learned how to write." And yet It had paid him In solid coin, eo far. One of his minor dreams was roallzed: tho window of his wrltlng room overlooked a suburban roadway along which Jarring wheel soldom rat tled; he had got away from tho whirr and drono of the town, where his nerves had been at tension all day long. Ho could compose In peace. And yet ho oat with tho bitter, Idle etnro, clutch ing a dry pen. Tho door behind creaked; a woman glided In on tiptoe. "Don't start It's only I," she whispered. "Don't start!" Ho threw down tho pen without turning. "It's nil starts or the strain of expecting them. I'm flick of It, I toll you sick of It nil." "What la tho matter?" Sho had paused half way, with hands together. "Can't you wrlto?" "Write! I've nothing to write. I'm drained dry. And l'vo promised a tragic story" with a hnlf sneer "for that 'Society Sun.' Tragic! What's the time?" "It must be nearly G." "Six? Dark In nnother hour duak now! I've dono nothing. And you you never attempt to help mo by so much as a word." "Nover holp you?" she echoed, and repeated It to hersolf. "I never help lilm! But when havo you asked such a thing? What good would be my Ideas?" "Oh, not much. Women seldom have real Ideas they're Hitting superficiali ties. Still " A long silence. Tho door creaked again, but he knew sho had only closed It and was still hovering behind him. He was somowhat surprised, but would not turn, vaguely conscious of tho sneer's hollowness. Then "I never help you," she repeated, calmly. "Would you like mo to try? porhaps somothlng has Just como to COME BACK my mind. It Is silly, maybe, as I tell It, but you my husband, might mako It clover and interesting. You say your stories arc always twaddle as you first et them down." "Do I? Well, what Is It?" he said, Staring across at tho opposite roofs. "This situation is novel. Go on. Nover mind so long as there is anything at all in It." "Thero is there is a woman's heart in H, I think," sho whispered. "Is that any good?" "Oh!" he said. Her voice had tailed off as If sho had a real idea, but was afraid of the sneer. "Well, there us ually Is that's ono of tho component parts of tho average story. Evon hu mor is the brighter for tragedy lurking In tho background, youknow. Any thing In the heart? That's tho point Yes; anything In this heart?" Another silence. "Couldn't I tell you Just aB It camo to mo, then?" she said. "I'm not clever enough to know. It's more of a Bketch, perhaps. I I imagined two lovers, very dear lovors. They got marriod and there was a beautiful world before thom, with such peace at tho end, if they knew! Mako tho man an artist. He lived for his art. Tho girl tho girl was only Just a girl; sho lived for the man. She hung on his every word, you might say; sho prayed for his success when ho wns never thero to hear, thought for him In ways that ho would novor know, and checked her singing, and movod always so softly, so that he should nover be disturbed at his work. You'ro not writing. Is It so siuy?" "Go on," ho whlBpered. "Thora there's nothing to wrlto yet." "That went on for years. The man, deeper and deeper In his work, never saw that his wlfo was changing; that tho light had gone out of her eyes. Ho forgot all he had meant to bo forgot after a tlmo even to kiss her; and the girl sho could novor bring herself to remind him, th? Btill, she lived only for him, but ho never cared what she wore, nover thought that her work might be hard In Its little way, and that there nro fin.? wenen for whom jenrs of such sllei co ui.d loneliness fcpella death or vorso. Sho was always crying at first, and never dared to tell him why If ho did not see for himself, and kept out of his way so that his mind should not bo spoiled for work. And ho say that ho thought It was something else, and spoko harshly and sneored, and nt Inst got so that ho lived In a world of his own, and wouldn't open his door when when ho knew that her heart was bursting outside, longing for ono kind word again. Or or something llko that. Could you bogln anything with that?" No answer. She could not eco, but the man's outward staro was as If It would never again relax. Sho went on a little faster, her voice taking a thrill Just as though his sllcnco Implied that there might be real dramatic pos sibilities in her small Inspiration. "I think my husband could yes! The world Is used to seeing tho man grow Indlrferont, and tho woman cold nnd palo; but you you might take tho tragedy as It Is within tho fo:r walls, and mako It Hvo and throb In there. You might put It that at first the man's mlstako was In always straining for ward to his goal, forgetting that tho happiest tlmo Is now forgetting how, when he looks at last he will not find Just the same laughing girl as ho mar ried. Often ho left her, wo will say; ho wanted cheerful faces nnd relaxation aftor his work, and the wife was only like a ghost creeping nbout tho house. And eo at last, for her tho only alternative to a broken henrt was a heart hardened to stone. And oh! sho had eo loved him had so deter mined always to look her brightest and best for him! That might have gono on until tho end, as It often docs; but thero camo a blow ono blow more than sho could bear. We'll sup posewe'll suppose that one day tho wife, somehow or other, heard him talking to a frlond. The friend was quiet; ho had asked: 'What's tho mat ter with with her? All tho romance gone that you used to talk about?" Make It mako It that she held her TO MB. breath for tho answer, even then even then; that even then sho was hunger ing to put her arms around him, and toll him, oh, no, It was not gone! And supposing she heard him say: 'Her! Poo, tako no notice of her always tho same. Wish to heavens sometimes I'd nover married what with the expenses and the miseries at homo. Can't mako her out not llko other women. Given It up long ago. Don't you ever marry, old .man!' And supposing the wife stood and cried to God to tako her on tho spot, and that God did not answer, and that at last at last, when somothlng scemod aB If It would snap In her brain she crept Into her hus band's study, took out tho pistol that ho kept in his desk and put It to her forehead, and almost pulled tho trig ger. Wouldn't a paper accept a story llko that?" Still no answer. The man had craned till further forward, hie hands grip ping the deok, his face gray in the dusk, his staro widened. It looked It somehow looked as If ho feared for his life to look around, in fear of a hand waiting for hla throat. It was not his wife's talking. It was Tragedy that had como creeping Into the room as It sometimes did when he wroto late, and something stood and breathed behind each shoulder. Tho voice came again, as from a long way off. "Yes! Say, she paused the moment and that saved her. Sho looked at his work and thought of his long strug gles and the mind that always strained after something In llfo that Is never to be found. But the thought had como Into bar head, nnd it stayed and stayed, nnd moro thau once, when ho bad passed her with hardly a word or look. No, my God! sho could not bear It! God forgive hor, she cannot bear It! The indescribable sob and a swift rush. A band had plucked open the drawer at tho man'H sldo and somo thlng bright flashed out. Just In time he realized something nnd swayed up with a hoarse ory: "Winnie! No- no!" and facpd tho picture that was to cat Into hla memory all tlmo. Tho dead silence, tho stare with which the wide eyes In hor worn, white face seomod to search his soul wildly for a filckor of tho truth! Then hor hand dropped and hor face began to twitch pitcou8ly. His arms wero out nnd tho heart beat thero yet. "Winnie!" ho had whlsporcd such n whlspor "don't! don'tl Como back to mo como back!" And for thoso two Tlmo put back tho clock. But tho story that was not for publication. London Star. MOCK HANOING IN A CHURCH. A OruMomo Frrftirnmnro Kntertalne a Colored Congregation. Kansas City Journal: A most start ling nnd unln.uo entertainment, In which the prlnclpnl foaturo was a grucaoiiu'ly realistic Imitation of an execution by hanging, was given In tho colored Baptist church In Carthago tho othor night, and nttracted a crowd which packed tho big building to lta utmost. An Interesting account, glvon In tho Press of tho "tragic" affair is nn follows: "Tho nudlonco nBsomblod in tho basement of tho church, where tho gallows wbb erected, reaching up ward about IHo or six foot. Tho drop was only n short ono, but every othor detail was carefully copied from a sure enough hanging Bcono. About 9 o'clock Peter Gibson and 8portlng Wlllln Hnncock camo In, leading Art Irwin, the boy condemned to tho gal lows. A suppressed murmur rnn ovor tho nudlonco, which waited with bated broath the flnnlo of this strango scene. Tho lamps about tho walls cast a shud dering gloomy light about tho room, and a superstitious horror could bo traced on many a faco. But Negro good humor enn not long bo sup pressed, and scarcely had tho first feel ing of awe passed away, when some lusty voico broken out In a hearty laugh. This soon spread, and tho sccno lost a largo Bharo of Its grue somenesfl. Tho convicted murdoror was led up tho steps of tho Improvised gallows, his arms and logs woro tied and n ropo wns fastened to his neck, a black cap wns adjusted, tho trap sprung nnd tho body dropped. So far as actual appenranco wont ho might havo been hanged by tho neck. Tho body turned nnd twisted as tho ropo dropped, seemingly limp and lifeless, nnd wbb carried out on a strotchor nmld a deathly sllcnco. Tho affair, however, was not so realistic as It appeared, for hoforo entering tho room another ropo had been carefully har nessed nround Irwin's body, with a loop coming under his collar. This Inst ropo was conccnled by tho boy'a clothing, and although tho ropo ap peared to enclrclo his neck, It wns in reality fastened to tho loop under his collar. After a few minutes in which to romovo ropes, etc., Irwin returned to rccelvo tho congratulations of his lady admirers, who gathered around the llttlo 'hero' In groups." LUTHER'S RINO DISCOVERED. Kiicnutiment llunil of tho Groat Hoforiu er Found In IN'orwny. Martin Luther's historical engage ment ring has been found, and In tho possession of a Norwegian peasant woman, Slgrld Hansen Aim, in Sonder hordland, In Norway. How it camo to Norway and when Is unknown, as for centuries tho ring has boon an heirloom In tho family of nil tho women having tho name of Slgrld. Two years ago tho German State His torical Museum had advertisements In serted In continental nowspapors. Slowly tho nows found Its way to Nor way and was read by tho Norwelglan peasant woman. Tho description of tho ring tallied exactly with the ring in possession of tho young woman. Consul Jens Gran, In Borgner, was notified, and at onco offered the wom an 800 kroner for tho ring, which was refused. This is tho description glvon In Norwolglnn newspapers of tho ring found: "It Is of silver, considerably worn and badly scratched. Set In the ring Is a rod pearl, to represent a drop of tho blood of Christ. On the outside of the ring Is engraved Christ on tho cross, and several of the subjects of tho crucifixion ns the ladder, tho lance, etc., and tho letters I. N. B, J. (Jesus Nazraenus Rex Judoroum). On tho ln sldo of tho ring Is engraved 'Martlno Luther Cathaiina von Boron 13 71525 and the faint outlines of two hearts." Through tho Gorman min ister to Sweden and Norwny every ef fort will bo mude to Induce Its p res on', owner to permit it to hecomo tho property of tho Gorman Historical Museum. The l'aront Before tlio Teacher. Let us ask for a moment what it is "to deal honestly with a child's moral and Intellectual llfo." Is it not to set before him a worthy example; to fill him with honest aspirations; to iacul cato pure motives; to aid him In hla ondoavors to overcome evil Influences? Is it not to give him a gllmp30, oven If It be only a glimpse, of tho highest possible Ideal? If thU la put off until tho child reaches school ago. If it is not done In tho homo under the in flnenco of tho father nnd mother, if they do not porsUt In It whlls the child remains under tho parental roof, It Is often In 'vain to attompt It Id school. Teachers' World. Molluik In an African tako. Lake Tanganyika, In Africa, offers a unique field for scientific xplcrntton. This region, like Austrulla, Is pno of the few localities whoro anlmtls still live that have become extinct else where, certain whelklike molhsko of this lake appearing to hay) been driven from the ocean and to b Identi fied with the fossil forms of ld Jur assic sobs in Europe, TUB "JAILER'S HA BY. It was all tho fault of tho bauy. So tho JiilW sulil, and to everybody bo lleved. At tho sumo tlmo It was do clarcd absurd that a baby should bo allowed companionship with a mur derer, and beond all decency that bottles of laudanum should bo loft within Its rcuch. Indeed, there was a great deal of talk, and much disap pointment over tho nffalr. Not sltico tho lynching of tho negro Tilly, two years before, bad there been n hang ing In tho Jail. And this time It was to hnvo been conducted on the strict est principles of tho hangman's code. So very proper wero nil tho arrange ments that tho citizens spoko of tho coming "execution" with qulto tho de corum which nn eastern town would use to discuss n pink ten. Small won der then that everybody espcelully thoso holding tickets of admission -was outraged. In fact, so much was said that tho Jailer resigned and ho and his wifewith tho baby, who had dono all tho mischief moved to an other town. The Jailer's wlfo declar ed that his nerves seemed dreadfully upset nbout tho whole thing and she wns glad ho had given up tho "Jail business." Farming wim nicer work anyhow, sho allowed, and tho baby Bccmcd to thrive better. As for tho baby himself, he told me in strict con fidenco Just how It happened. Tho prisoner had novor mndo the slightest effort to escape. From the tlmo sentence wns pronounced he Btcmcd to begin to die. He would sit for hours without moving a muscle would neither cat nor drink. A horrid sort of Btupor possessed him, from which tho klnd-henrtcd Jailer was pow erless to rotiso him, until ono day he thought of hlfl baby, Ted, tho only bit of sunlight In tho gloomy houso of bondngo. Tho lovoly child blossomed llko a Sharon roso In this desert of sin and death, and the very sight of him might, eo tho Jailor thought, bring peaco and healing. So ono day tho baby was brought to tho death-watched cell. HIb tousled, yellow head peered cu riously In, and his small voice had a ring of pity In It a3 ho said: "Dark, poor man." And tho prlsonor camo to tho grating and stretched out eager handa, clasping tho tiny fingers rested trustfully In his. And nobody dis turbed them, for tho "poor man" was crying, nnd so they wero nbt afraid. Tho baby camo again, nnd often, and thoy noticed that tho prisoner would always cat what ho brought; a bit of candy or a dirty lump of sugar was his dnlly offering, and It was nover re jected. Ono 'day tho Jailor came, too, and they both watched tho boy. Ho was playing horso with a picco of plno THE MAN SEIZED IT. board. Tho prisoner glanced at it and aald, grimly: "Won't they need that in tho yard?" The Jailer could not answer, but kopt his gaze on tho baby, who had distracted tho attention of tho guard In tho corridor. The prisoner grasped tho door with both gaunt hands, and, putting hlB ashen lips as near the Jail er's ears as the bars would allow, said, sullenly: "Havo you any Idea of how you are going to dlo?" Tho Jailer, was alarmed and dis tressed. He had hoped to lead tho prls oner to forgot his impending doom, if only for a res pi to of an hour, but this question showed him how poorly ho was succeeding. He pretended not to hear, and mado a move as If to go, but the child ran to him and, putting tho stick through tho bars, lisped: "See, horsy?" A smile distorted his faco. aa tho man took tho picco of wood, then let It drop with a Bhuddor, speaking rapid ly and low: "Dying Is bad enough, I supposo, undor any circumstance but nono of us is horolc when forced to sit, day by day, for a certain hour, when wo are to bogln tho process of rotting in cold obstruction.' God! can jrou think, mnn, how It feels? What devilish Irony In tho fate that I, who havo always hated any public display" ho choked and tho baby laughed "should dlo In this way-r-should per form tho tragedy of my llfo beforo a gaping crowd. I tell you, mnn, It must not shall not be I" His voico eank to a whisper, but his face was so livid with fear and threat that tho Jailer grasped his baby and moved away from the cell door. Tho man behind It laughed a dry, high pltchcd laugh. "I beg that you won't be frightened. I am not going to do anything violent, except to myself, If possible. Do you hear, man? Except to myself. Listen to me. Every night you pray that baby may novor be In such a dovll-rldden holo as this coll. By thoso prayers, and aa you hope for mercy for him, I charge you have- pity and listen to mo. I havo thought of escapo, I do not ftnr death. What wpuld llfo ho to mo now? I killed him for her, and now now I must die for him. Bo It bo, but not that way" and ho pointed to tho bit of wood tho child had dropped God! not that way!" Then as tho Jail er moved a little nearer, the man stag gered to his feet and whlsporcd hoarse mm i -. ly: "An old hot tlo. I could hrU It li. pieces; or a rope -but no, the guard would so mo. Sumo drug anything, so It bo Btrong enough, but bring It oh, lot mo hao It heroic- beforo they como to mo!" Not a word had tho Jailer spokon during this plea of agony. Then tho gunrd camo up with the llttlo one. "The kid wants to kiss 'mnn,' " and tho prisoner stretched hlfl arms through the grating nnd stroked tho curly bond. The beautiful baby faco lit up with an angel's smile. "Ily-hy, man," ho said, nnd hla father carried him away, with no sign of responso to tho wild look of entreaty In tho eyes of the doomed mnn, Next day the baby camo again. This (line ho passed the guard, returning his challenge, "Hullo, two-year-old!" by only a dignified stiun. Ho toddled up to tho prisoner's tell, nnd tho first glimpse of tho yellow bend brought the wretched occupant forward. Hl at tention wns attracted to the small tin can tho child carried. "See tboro!" And tho llttlo oik proudly tapped It ngulnst tho Iron grating. With fever ish haste tho mnn seized It, and with an effort wrenched off tho cover. In sldo was a small bottle containing a brown liquid, which ho smollod, then sighed ns with Inllnlto rollef. A sec ond's hesitation, a glanco upward, which was moro a despairing Inquiry than n prayer, and ho raised tho phial to his lips. Then ho crawled to tho cot and crouched upon it, while tho baby tlp-tocd to eco. Only tho baby! No pitiless crowd of ghouls; no vul tures watching tho dying struggles of their prey; only tho bnby! And to tho dying man's v'slon tho nureolo of hair and beckoning hnudo wero those of n heavenly spirit. Tho pblnl dropped io tho floor, tho shaven head sank back, nnd tho pris oner wns free. Gertrude Gunning. VOTING BY MACHINERY. Nebraska In Try Atilniuittlo Hyitem of NolectlliR Candidate. Tho state of Nebraska has ordered 3,200 voting machines nt $500 each, a total of $1,000,000, says tho St, Louis Globe-Democrat. This machine Is pure ly mechanical In construction. Tho regulations aro complete In ovory do tall. Split tickets can bo votod ns readily as straight tickets. Tho booth stands six and one-half foot In height nnd la nbout four feet sqimro, giving nmplo room for voting. Though mado of steel, It can ho carried nbout with out dltllculty, although rather heavy. Tho voter, upon entering tho booth, faces n squaro Bteol box about tbreo foot In dlmonsIoiiB and thrco InchoB thick. On tho faco of this squaro is a long, narrow row of glazed open ings, In which appear tho different tickets to bo voted. Each party tlckot Is printed on a slip of its own. Tho cnndldntoB for each offlco aro In align ment and tho wholo arrangement Is similar to tho regular Australian bal lot. But at tho point whoro tho voter usually puts n cross Is n nickel-plated button nnd at tho top of each party tlckot 1b a lover. As tho first vote Is cast a bell rings. This Informs tho Judges that a voter hnB Btnrtod to cast bis ballot. A straight party man has only to pull tho lovor and his voto Is cast, A man who wantfl to scratch reglstors his voto by the buttons. When the straight tlckot Is voted, by pulling tho lover down, tho mechanical countora all down tho lino register ono voto for each candidate On tho out aldo of tho booth tho voting register Is locked by throo different locks, ono of which Is given to each of the Judges. Royal Lady Colonels. Queen Victoria Is colonel of a regi ment of Prussian dragoons, but Hor Majesty has never donned tho abort blue tunic and other obligatory uni form of this body nnd ridden at its head. Her daughter, tho Empress Frederick, Is a colonel of hussars, and has often appeared at reviews In the looso-brnlded Jacket, fur cap, Bcarlot tights, and gold-embroidered top boots of her regiment, a dash of femininity being ndded In a blue skirt not belong ing to the regimental uniform. The present German empress Is a colonel of cuirassiers, and at reviews rides at her husband's sldo In a white riding skirt, whlto military Jacket, and plumed, three-cornered cap. The Queen of Greece, a Russian princess, Ib admiral In the Russian navy. Most of the princesses of tho Russian royal houso aro army olllcers of high rank, but they content thomsolves on military occasions with wearing tho colors of their commands, Instead of riding at their head in full uniform. Hurfnro Observation. The remarke mado by a countrymar, when ho gets his first view of tho ocean arc not nlways remarkablo for depth and appropriateness. A strollor on tho beach of a Massachusetts sea port overheard tho opening remarks of a farmer nnd his wife who had como from northern New Hampshire, as he subsequently learned from their con versation. "'Well, I feel to be glad we've come, William," said ho woman, with a elgh of pleasure, turning from the sea to faco her spouso. "Would you ovor havo believed thoro was such a sight of water In ono place in this world?" "No, I wouldn't," roturnod William, "And -when you consider that wo can't see any hut Just what's on top, It's all tho moro.aston lshln, Sarah, now ain't it?-' l . i Ilegrnt. Boston Traveler; Young Wife The' now servant girl Ih a treasure! She Is a good cook, 1b so economical, never goes out nnd novor nnswers back. Husband Why didn't I moot hor be foro we wero marrlo" 01 K BUDGET OF FUN. SOME GOOD JOKE-3, ORIdlNAL AND SELECTED. A Variety of ilohm, ll!r mill Iionln, Orlcliiul mill Selected 1'loMiim nnd ili'Untu from the Idle nt Humor Witty Haylngi. Iter Choice. From Judeo: Sho wns a pretty Joung t hit) ir, frrn from a fashlouablo "finishing kcIidoI." Sho was bidding tho "happiest mun on earth" a fond ndleu on tho stoop of the old country house. "Now, dearest, Just hoforo I go," he mild, tommeuclng nil over again, "what kind of ring shall It bo?" "Oh, Jack," sho answered, rnptur ously,"do get mo n solitaire with throo dlamomlH In It." Well? Teacher "Now, Itohert, what Is a niche In a church?" Itobort "Why, I 8'pono It's Just tho Bamn as a niche out of church, only you an't scratch It bo good. From 8craps. The I.aek of a Carpet. Missionary "Was It liquor that brought you to thls7" Imprisoned Burglar "No, sir; It wa houHc-cleanln' spring houso-clcanln', sir." Missionary Ehhouse-eleanln' 7" Burglar "Yesslr. The woman had been houso-eleanln', an tho stair car pet was up, an' tho folks heard mo." Tld-Blta. Her IlUturhlnic Thought. Life: "What Is troubling you now, Penelope?" snld Marguerite to hor friend, ns she noticed tho cloud uu her brow, "I was moroly thinking, Marguorltc," replied Penelope, "that when a woman condescends to mnrry, bIio Is compelled by force of circumstances beyond her "ontrol to .mnrry a mere man." A Yellow Iilmi. Judge. "We," said ono yellow edltoi to another, "havo printed a plcturo of Dewey's wlfo and a plcturo of the wo man Dowoy wanted and couldn't get. Now, what shall wo do?" "Now, we'll print a series of pictures of women that Dowoy might havo fallen In lovo with It ho had met hem." I'oor Connotation. "When wo woro first married, ho railed mo his llttlo kitten," walled Mrs. Bickers, "and now ho cnlls me a cat." "But you must remember," replied tho consoling one, "that oven llttlo kit tens grow up to bo cnts In a compara tively short space of tlmo." Detroit Frco Press. HI Oay Old Time. "Yes, his wife left htm at homo ono." "How does ho Bcem to enjoy it?" "Ho says ho 1b having a gay old orgy'." "How docs ho pass his tlmo?" "Sits on tho front steps and waits for tho letter carrier." Cleveland Plain Dealer. In Danger. Washington Star: "I'm afraid I'll (oso my place," said the valet of a young man who had becomo nutural Ized In England. "What's tho troublo?" "I thoughtlessly addressed him a 'Mrs. Astor.' I should have said 'Hnstor.' " Hade to Order. Grubbs "Perkins seems to bo a solt fiado man." Stubbs "Woll, If you over saw him whon his wlfo was around you would think ho wns mado to ordor." Ohio Stato Journal. Hliiod It That Trip. WP" Doctor "You'ro all run down. What rou need Is a sea voyage. What's your business?" Patlont "Sailor with Dowoy; Just homo, Blr." Thought It a Dlunerplate. Mrs. Benham "The report of the fiasoball game says that ono of the players died at tho plate." Benham "Well, what of It?" Mrs. Benham "I supposo It wai jvcreatlng thnt killed hlm7" Judge. Dud for Thorn. "Doctors havo a hard time in sum tier." "Hows that?" "Pntlouts who go away owing them iumey rome hack In so much better icalth." iiwm. II WlWIIff 4 - -i SiiwBSwS!8iiSS&r55iiB