WORD OF HONOR. f
A Tale of the Blue and the Gray
BY E WERNER.
Copyright , 1691 , by Robert Bonner's Sons.
CHAPTER V.
But Florence was silent. She only
cast a beseeching glance at Edward ;
but the latter knew his advantage too
well. He was aware that there was
atlll one means of parting the two
lovers , and did not delay using the
weapon.
"You have come at an unfortunate
time , Mr. Roland , " he said , with ctu-
ting scorn. "I shall be at your service
for the explanation you will probably
/leraand at any hour tomorrow ; today
I regret that It ia impossible. At my
uncle's urgent desire , my marriage with
bis daughter takes place this very day :
all the arrangements for the ceremony
.ire completed ; the justice of the pcice
will arrive in an hour. You probably
understand that our affair must be de
ferred for the present. "
Roland had turned deadly pale ; lie
scarcely heard the last words ; his eyes
rested only en Florence. At last , with
a violent effort he murmured , almost
unintelligibly :
"You heard. What have you to s-aj ?
Answer ! "
Florence stood as if utterly crushed.
For the first time she realized how un
pardonable her weakness had beeti ,
and that the decision which she had
regarded as a sacrifice to filial love
was really an act of treason to the in : n
to whom her promise and her faith
were pledged. In the consciousness of
this guilt , she did not even attempt
to defend herself , but , instead of answering -
swering , burst into passionate weeping.
' "I know enough ! " said William ii ; a
hollow tone. "Farewell ! "
A flash of triumph blazed in E'l-
ward'-s eyes , but he exulted too soon.
The moment when William turned
from her broke the spell which had
trigue was snatched from him at the
last moment , yet he did not quit the
field like u vanquished man.
The menacing glance which rested
on the young couple ought to have
warned thorn ; it was the look of a r.ian
sure of his vengeance and his ultimate
triumph.
CHAPTER VI.
As the door closed behind her
cousin , Florence uttered a sigh of re
lief. She had feared an instant out
break of the quarrel , which seemed at
an end , at least for Use moment , but
the last threatening wor.ls of the two
men had not escaped her notice.
"What are you to do ? " t > he asked
anxiously. "What is the meaning of
the concealed threats you exchanged
with Edward ? William , I beseech
"
you
"Say no more , " he interrupted giave-
ly , almost sternly. "This i.i a mailer
which concerns us men alone. You
hear that no explanation will take
place at present Let thasuffice. . "
Florence looked timidly at him. The
dark cloud on his brow was not caused
by the dispute with Edward ; she knew
only too well what had occasioned it.
"You are angry witn me btill ! ' ' she
said , softly.
"No , I understand that you were de
ceived by the intrigue , that a father's
last wish has a powerful influence , but
I had expected my affianced wife to
show more resolution , more confidence.
I , too , remained for months with no
message from you ; I , too , heard that
you assented to the separation your
father decreed : but I did not believe it
for an instant. What ur ed me hither
was merely the torturing uncertainty ,
a vague presentiment of misfortune.
IT WAS THE LOOK OF A MAN SURE OF HIS VENGEANCE.
held the young woman captive. She
knew that if he crossed the threshold
she would lose him forever , aid , ere he
reached it , she rushed forward , clasn-
iug his arm with both hands.
"William , don't leave me so ! You
see that I was deceived , ensnared , and
that unfortunate promise was extorted
from me beside my father's uric-bed.
They gave me no choice , and constant
ly told me you had given me up , until
I believed it. "
The young officer paused ; his voice
still sounded harsh and bitter , but at
least he lingered.
"Then choose now , " he said. "Now
the net that ensnared you is tarn , and
no one shall prevent yocr free decision.
Choose whose wife you will 1 > 3. "
"Yours ! Yours ! " cried Florence
with passionate fervor , as she rusht'd
into his arms. "Protect me , William !
You do not know how they have tor
tured me ! "
"Yes , I see it , " he said , bending to-
jvard her.
His resentment could not endure
Bgainst this touching entreaty. Clasp
ing her hand in his , he turned reso
lutely to Harrison.
"My fiancee's explanation is sufficient
for me , and , I hope , for you also. As
she has been the victim of a fraud "
Edward started at the insult , ami was
about to answer , but Roland save him
no opportunity.
"Well , call it delusion , if the word
sounds better. The fact remains the
same , and also the part which you have
played in it You probably will not
refuse to account to me for it. evr.a
though there must be delay. In this
house and at the hour when the man
who also was a father to you lies on
his death-bed , such a dispute cannot
be settled. So I yield to necessity and
shall wait a more fitting season. "
Edward looked as if he were on the
point of rushing upon his enemy. The
icy contempt in Roland's words en
raged him even more than the iusulls
themselves , but by exerting all his
strength of will , he controlled himself.
" 'A more fitting season ! ' " he re
peated. "You are right. Mr. Roland.
I , too , can wait ; and perhaps the horn
for settlement will come before you
expect it"
He turned slowly toward the door.
His game was lost ; the prize for whose
sake he had humoled himself to in-
Had I arrived a few hours later , I
should have found you another's wife. "
Florence bowed her head in con
scious guilt. She had so dreaded this
fate , yet had not had courage to boldly
resist it But for this intervention , she
would indeed have fallen a victim to it.
"I am brave only when you are at
my side , " she confessed. "Do not reproach
preach me , William ! I was so utterly
deserted ; but now you are here again ,
and all will be well. "
He gased silently ivt the palo , sweet
face raised so imploringly to his , and
the reproof died on his lips. He loved
this tender , yielding creature , with
her gentle unselfishness , and knew that
she was capable of any sacrifice as soon
as a strong hand guided an-1 directed
her.
"Then show me that you can be
brave and steadfast when only my love ,
net my presence , protects you , " he re
plied. "I cannot stay with you as you
expect ; my leave of absence gives me
only a few hours more. I must rejoin
my regiment today , and God alone
knows when I shall be permitted to
see you again. "
At his first words Florence's fea
tures expressed vague anxiety ; now she
started in sudden terror.
"You are going ? You will leave
me ? "
"I must. I gave my colonel my woid
of honor to return at sunset This was
the sole condition on which he would
permit me to ride here. I must keep
this promise. "
"And leave me alone , exposed to the
full fury of the storm which Edward
will raise. You mortally insulted him ,
flung the word 'fraud' into his face.
He will avenge himself for it , and on
me , if you are out of reach. "
"Then come with me , " said William ,
with desperate resolution. "Cast every
thing behind you and follow me at
once. Our marriage has long been
agreed upon. We shall find within our
lines a justice of the peace and a priest ,
will perform the ceremony. Day after
tomorrow tomorrow even you can he
my wife. Then come what may , at
least nothing can separate us. "
"And my father ? " replied the young
girl , with a trembling voice. "Must
he , in his last hour , call in vain for his
child ? Must a stranger's hand close
his eyes ? So long as he breathes , my
pine ? is at his side. "
"You are right ! I forgot. You are
bound ; but , so , too , am I. You hear. I
gave rny word of honor , and where
duty calls "
"Duty ? To whom ? Your first , most
sacred duty is to protect me. I shall
stay. I have not the heart to leave my
father. You will go , when you see that
I cling to you in mortal anguish ? Wil
liam , our love is at stake ! "
"And so is my honor ! Florence !
Merciful heaven ! Hear me ! Do not
torture me longer by your entreaties !
Do you not understand that I must go ,
even though the whole happiness of
my life depended on my remaining ! "
She really did not understand. The
spoiled , idolized daughter of the rich
planter could not believe that anything
could be more valued than herself.
She had had before her eyes the dan
gerous example of a passion which set
aside duty and honor to gain her hand.
Only an hour before she had heard the
confession from Edward's lips. From
William she always heard of honor and
duty ; and the old suspicion that there
was a lad : of love stirred in her heart.
And yet , her whole soul drew her to
the man who seemed so hard and un
yielding she would not lose him.
"William ! " There was no reproach
in her voice now. The tones were
sweet and persuasive. "William , do
not leave me ; you do not know what
I must encounter during the next few
hours. My father will demand the ful
fillment of my promise. If I refuse , the
excitement will perhaps cause his
death. Then I shall be wholly in Ed
ward's power , and you do not know
him as I do. He has a fiendish will ,
which can overcome all resistance.
During his suit I have often felt like
the bird spellbound by the gaze of the
serpent. It knows that it is going to
destruction , yet flutters into its jaws.
Have you courage to leave me to this
power ? I fear it. "
With feminine instinct , she had
touched the right chord. William's
jealousy blazed up at the thought of
the possibility suggested. He , too ,
knew Edward , and was aware that Ed
ward would make every effort to wrest
from him the prize which he had just
regained. Florence was not created for
a heroine. To leave her now was in
deed to loose her. Torn from the shel
tering trunk , she would flutter help
lessly , like a vine in the storm , and
become a prey to the tempest.
Roland made no reply , but a ter
rible conflict was raging in his soul.
Now , for the first time , he understood
the warning of Colonel Burney , Avho
had been unwilling to let him go into
temptation.
He had manfully resisted it , when
Harrison assailed him ; but it was very
different to stand face to face with
Florence , listen to her entreaties and
see her tears. The young officer loved
her with all the passion of his four-
and-twenty years , and his strength
threatened to forsake him.
Florence saw the conflict in his face ,
and , clinging to him like a timid dove ,
she pleaded more and more fervently ,
while the temptation stole nearer and
nearer. After all , why was it neces
sary that he should return today ?
There was no battle in prospect ; the
soldier would not be missed from his
post. What if he should stay merely
until the morrow ? Much nay , every
thing would be decided by that time.
Death was already knocking at the
door , and , as soon as Mr. Harrison
passed from earth , his daughter would
be free to follow her lover.
Until tomorrow !
A pretext was easily found. Spring
field was within the enemy's lines. The
way might be obstructed ; return im
possible ; any one of the hundred perils
\\hich threatened the daring rider
might intervene. It was but a word
which stood between him and his hap
piness true , his word of honor.
( To be continued. )
Paving : Stones and Ken olutIons.
The reasons why another reign of
terror was not recently inaugurated in r
France is thus stated by the Chicago
Times-Herald : "One hundred fifty
f
twenty-five years ago these things
would have set the mobs going. They
would be throwing paving stones at
one another ! Paving stones ? Ah , there
is the secret of the whole matter. The
c
mobs have been robbed of their am- .
munition. The people stand ready to g
hoist the red flag and run riot , but
what are the bare hands against maces
and muskets ? The rioter stoops to pick
up a paving stone , and his fingers
scratch vainly along the smooth sur
face of the asphalt with which most of
the streets of Paris are now paved.
Ciel ! He is helpless ! He straightens
up and stares vaguely about him for a
moment , and then some commissary
of police runs him in. Men and women
follow , shouting and shaking their
fists , but there are no paving stones
for them to hurl. So the Republic
continues to stand. It is wonderful !
A little bit of asphalt prevents the
killing of people by the scores , and
history is robbed of whole chapters
of bloody details. Vive le tar barrel ! "
Dangerous Friction.
An insurance adjuster was sent tea
a Massachusetts town to adjust a lessen
on a building that had been burned.
"How did the fire start ? " asked an
acquaintance who met him on. his
homeward trip.
"I couldn't say certainly , and no
body seemed able to tell , " said the ad
juster , "but it struck me that it
might have been , the result of fric
tion. "
"What do you mean by that ? " ask
ed his friend.
"Well , " said the insurance man ,
gravely , "friction sometimes comes
from rubbing a ten-thousand-dollar
policy on a five-thousand-dollar build
ing. "
, MCTOEAL CONTRASTS
DIFFERENTCONDJTIONS UNDER
TWO ADMINISTRATIONS.
Dismal SCOIICH of I'ovorty ami .SufTerlujr
Olve Place to Gratifying Iltrpreicutu-
tlon of tlio Splendid I'rosporty Vtolblo
on Rtorj Hand.
Thiri week's American Economist
presents two illustrations which
preach a sermon and tell a story of
peculiar interest and significance. The
first , a photographic reproduction of u
scene of actual occurrence , brings into
view a condition which existed in Jan
uary , 1894 , less than a year after the
inauguration of Grover Cleveland us
president of the United States. The ad
ministration of President Cleveland
was distinctly committed to the policy
of free trade , and from the moment
the result of the presidential election
of November , 1892 , became known , the
country began to feel the stress and
stringency of the changed industrial
and economic outlook. A year and a
quarter later , the period at which the
Bcunc portrayed in the first picture
occurred , the wage earners of the Unit
ed States were brought face to face
with the disastrous consequences in
volved In the triumph of free trade.
Out of work , out of money , their wives
and children suffering for lack of food
and clothing , eagerly thronged the
places where relief was dispensed. One
among these numerous places was the
New York Herald building , corner of
Broadway and Ann street , where free
clothing was handed out to the needy.
It was a charity which honored the
generous proprietor of the Herald and
which went far toward mitigating the
sufferings of the poor in that never-
trade winter of
to-be-forgotten free
3893-1894. The charity was the wor
thier on the part of the Herald , be
cause of the element of reparation en
tering Into it.
Come we now to the second picture ,
which appears in the New York Her
ald of Dec. 5 , 1899. Three years and
a month have elapsed since the ver
dict of the people at the presidential
election of November , 1896 , was made
known in favor of a protective tariff.
Instead of the dismal scenes of poverty
seeking the dole of free soup and free
clothing , we have a picture of Uncle
Sam , his features expressing supreme
gratification , standing by the side of a
chimney in whose dense mass of escap
ing smoke are seen the outlines of the
word "PROSPERITY , " while a huge
placard announces the fact that
During the past wecl : the wapes of
56,700 opcratlvcH in Fall River ,
toivcll and New Uadford have been
advanced TO per cojit- .
The New York Herald was for many
years a strenuous advocate of free
trade for the United States. It is not
so strenuous now. Otherwise it would
hardly have furnished the second pic
ture of a pair which tell so vividly and
so convincingly the story of contrast
ing conditions under two administra
tions.
BARGAIN COUNTER THEORY.
Our Products Not Sold Abroud for Less
Tliiiii at Ilonic.
One of the arguments most generally
urged against the protective tariff sys
tem by its opponents is that American
products are frequently sold to foreign
consumers for less than they are sold
at home. The same objection might be
urged against the bargain counter
sales of the American merchant. He
has a surplus and cannot afl'ord to hold
it over until the next season , to be put
up in competition with new and fresh "
goods , even of the same manufacture. :
The bargain day sales of the mer
chant do not affect the salaries of his
employes , they are of some benefit to
those who buy , and although they may
not add to the profit side of the mer
chant's account , they at least save him
from loss.
The manufacturer cannot exactly es
timate the quantity of goods he can
sell during the season , but he knows
he must have enough , and he further :
more feels that he is in duty bound to
furnish his employes full employment ,
and therefore lets his mills go full
time. If he has a surplus and can dis
pose of it at cost in a foreign country
It saves him from loss , helps the pur
chaser to the extent of reduction in
price , and above ail , enables him to
give his labor full employment.
Is there anything' wrong m the
FREE TRADE MEANT FREE CLOTHING.
Result of the New York Herald's Teaching The Distribution of Free Cloth
ing in the Herald's Ann Street Building , January 19 , 1891. I
transaction ? The thinking man will
say no.
The fact cf the matter Is , however ,
that American products are never sold
in foreign markets for less than they
are at home.
That they are sold , however , at less
price than the foreign manufacturer
can produce them for , is an acknowl
edged fact. This is the misfortune of
the foreigner.
The superiority of our skilled labor
and improved labor saving machinery
enables us to do this , and we do it.
Can any one find fault with us for
doing so ? St. Louis Star.
FREE TRADE BOSH.
The Assertion That President McKln-
ley J > uti4 Toward Cobdenlim.
The New York Times seems to be
taxing its resouices to save the Demo
cratic party. It sees that Mr. Bryan
and all that he stands for on silver ,
trusts and expansion can only make
.hat party less popular with the people.
It has finally hit upon a scheme by
which the party can be reinstated and
the country saved from untold disaster ,
namely , by abandoning its position on
silver , trusts and the Philippines , and
standing for the simple issue of tariff
destruction. Let the party declare for
putting all trust products on the free
list and make "a determined assault
upon the 52 per cent Dingley tanu"
ind its popularity with the people is
assured. It takes the recent remarks
jy President MeKinley and Postmas
ter-General Charles Emery Smith ,
favoring foreign commerce , as certain
evidence that the administration is
rapidly getting in line for free trade ,
and warns the Democratic party that if
t does not hurry up and get upon this
anti-tariff platform the Republicans
will be ahead of it , and then its
chances of success \vill be gone for
another generation , Mr. Bryan may
lack political insight in adhering to
the IG-to-l preposition , but in his wild
est moments he has never exhibited
such mental chaos as is revealed in
the notion that President McKinley
md his postmaster-general have turned
their backs on protection , and that
"ree trade would be n popular issue
or 1SOO. Such a notion can only be
mtertained on the assumption that the
American nation is composed of sev-
jnty-five millions of people "mostly
iools. " Besides this deliverance Mr.
3ryan's talk really sounds like states-
uanship. Clinton's Magazine , Decein
jar ,
> o Tariff Tinkering.
Representative Payne of New York ,
hairman of the house committee on
ivaya and means , is certain that the
neseiit congress will do no tariff tin-
cering. "The Fifty-sixth congress has
mportant work on its hands , " said he
n a recant interview. "There will be
10 tariff legislation duiing the present
session. The condition of the country
s today thoroughly prosperous and
vill continue so unless ill-advised and
adical legislation affecting the busi-
GOOD NEWS.
DURING THE PAST J
5EWEEK THE WAGES * ' & 5ggm&
op 6,700 OPERATIVES !
NFAU-RlVER.LOWEUL
NEW BEDFORD
HAVE BEEN ADVANCED
10 PER CENT.
New York Herald , Dec. 5 , 1899.
ness and financial interest of the na
tion Is enacted during the next few
years.
"Tho country demands and should
have a settled and assured policy In re
spect to those questions. The Dingley
law as a revenue producer has more
than satisfied those responsible for its
enactment , and has proved gratifying
j to the people of the country gener
ally.
ally."It
"It has furnished ample revenue to
carry on the government from the mo
ment the sugar and wool schedules be
gan to operate. I am convinced that
the happy results it has produced will
be-permanent. "
Representative Payne is right. The
Dingley law has proved so satisfactory
and in all ways beneficial to the coun
try that the people have no desire to
interrupt its operations for some time
to come.
J'rotectlon and the Cold Rcsnrvo.
The treasury statement for October
13 shows that the gold reserve in tha
treasury stands at $257,740,900. The
Democratic "endless chain" seems
powerless to draw the gold out of thp
treasury during a Republican admin
istration. When we had free trade , or
tariff reform , the Democratic adminis
tration sold over 5202,000,000 in inter
est bearing bonds to obtain gold with
which to maintain the gold reserve and
to pay current expenses of the govern
ment. There has been no drain on the
gold in the treasury since the Repub
licans were placed in charge of it , be
cause the people have full confidence
in the financial ability of the Republic
an partj' . If the Democratic party was
placed in power tomorrow our un
paralleled prosperity would vanish , our
gold reserve would melt away like
snow in August , and before six months
had passed the "endless chain" would
bo doing business at the old stand ,
bonds would be sold to pay expenses
and maintain the gold reserve , busi
ness would be paralyzed and before a
year had passed the country would be
swept by a panic , and labor would be
thrown out of employment. Benton
(111. ( ) Republican.
Historic Phrases A la Atkinson.
From the Mobile Register : If the
fashion prevails of bewailing our na
tion's effort to maintain the dignity of
its flag in the face of the enemy , WP
will have to revise the saying of these
who once were national heroes and ask
our children to study them in the fol
lowing shape : Give up the ship. Law
rence. Be sure you are right , then
apologize for it Davy Crockett. We
have met the enemy , and ours are
theirs. Oliver Hazard Perry. Wait un
til you see the whites of their eye.- ,
boys ; then run. Andrew Jackson.
Don't hold the fort ; I'm running. W.
T. Sherman. Damn the torpedoes ,
take a sneak. David Glasgow Farra-
gut I propose to get out of this line
if it takes all summer. U. S. Grant.
There stands Jackson like a stone wall ,
but he is a fool to do it Gen. Lee.
When you are ready , Gridley , you may
skedaddle. Dewey.
Dolnc Very Well.
The offer of the treasury department
to redeem $25,000,000 worth of govern
ment bonds is an unmistakable indi
cation of the flourishing condition of
our national finances. The lack of
readiness shown by the holders or
bonds to take advantage of the offer
of the secretary of the treasury Is an
equally reliable indication of the very
satisfactory condition of commercial
affairs throughout the country. The
Dingley law seems to be doing pretty
well , both by the government ami by
the people generally.
Oh , the Sadness of Prosperity !
"Everything seems to be lost for tha
time being in the whirl of moneymaking
ing the pursuit of money. " John R.
McLean , in Cincinnati Enquirer.
This Is the pathetic way in which
the candidate defeated on a platform
of calamity and discontent describes
general prosperity.
The situation , as Mr. McLean de
scribes it , may seem sordid , but it is
all right. New York Sun.
Much More Favorable.
No other word than triumph does
justice to the results of the Dingley
law. No matter where the test is ap
plied its workings are far more favor
able than any tariff ever devised by a
Democratic congress. St. Louis Globe-
Democrat
