rrr
HIS WORD OF HONOR ,
A 7a/e of the Blue and the Gray .
* y WERNER.
Copyright , 1604 , by Hobcrt Donncr'a Sons.
CHAPTER IX. ( Continued. )
"So you have reached this point of
HUCCCSS ! " Maxwell continued , in his
dry way. "Yes , my dear Will , it
doesn't always answer to run one's
head against a wall ; this time the
masonry remained llrm. You have
tangible proof of it , Bince your prog
ress is impeded. You were raging up
and down like a caged lion. "
"Do you want to mock me even in
this terrible situation ? " cried Roland ,
impetuously. "You do not know how
1 was disarmed or what it is to meet
with base treachery in the house
where one seeks happiness and love. "
"Didn't I warn you against this
Edward , though I knew him only from
your description ? He was traveling
when I called on the Harrisons with
you luckily ! Had I had the honor
of his personal acquaintance , the
whole plan would have been impossi
ble. I pass here for the eminently re
spectable Doctor Blackwood and , as
that worthy man , have been received
with the utmost courtesy. Were it
known that instead of medicine I was
engaged in the iron business at pres
ent , the courtesy would probably end
promptly on both sides ! I shall shoot
this noble Mr. Harrison with the ut
most composure if he takes it into
his head to enter the corridor. Be
sides , Ralph is mounting guard at the
outside door , to which fortunately a
second key was found , and will give
us a sign if danger is approaching. "
"But , at least , tell me how it was
possible for you to accomplish all this
in a single half hour , for you cannot
have been here longer. You went to
the outposts ? "
"Where Lieutenant Davis had again
created an entirely unnecessary alarm.
There is no appearance of fever. Two
an extremely imoortant character. For
Instance , he is absolutely necessary
at your wedding. "
"My wedding ? " repeated William ,
in amazement. ' 'What do you mean ? "
"Why , I think the best plan will be
to wind up the business on the spot.
You want to marry under any circum
stances. The bride , the magistrate
and the witnesses are all here , so I
don't see what is to prevent you ex
cept this confounded iron grating ,
which I shall finally cut through. If
Florence is your wife , you can take
her with you to some place of secur
ity , then your amiable cousin can keep
house here as he chooses. He can't
wholly ruin the plantation or carry
off the buildings ; and , as soon as the
war is over , you can assert your wife's
claim. "
"But , John , have you gone daft ?
Such a plan in the house where Ed
ward rules and will summon all the
servants to his aid the instant we ap
pear. He did so just now , at the time
of my arrest. "
"Pshaw , the servants ! They are
only negroes , and not one will lift his
hand against us as soon as we say
we are officers in the Union army. The
fellows are constantly coming in
throngs to seek protection with us.
You were not known to them , or else
they were afraid of Captain Wilson
and Harrison. The servants are not
to be feared. I'll undertake to deal
with the justice and his companion. So
no one is left except your beloved fu
ture relative and he must be made
harmless. "
"You mean that we are to attack
him in his room ? "
"No ; that is too uncertain , and
will create an unnecessary stir in the
house. I have a better plan. As
THE FILE HAD WORKED UNWEARIEDLY.
cases of sunstroke.which were not even
severe , and will probably terminate
favorably. I've had the men removed
to the hospital and sent a report to
the colonel. Davis' introduction ob
tained for me the loan of a suit of
civilian's clothes from the owner of
the adjoining plantation , and , as I
wanted to profit by the beautiful af
ternoon and my leave of absence , I
rode to Springfield. "
The accompaniment to this story ,
told in the most matter-of-fact tone ,
was the low , harsh grating of the file ,
which ths speaker was diligently us
ing. The whole affair was thorough
ly characteristic of John Maxwell.
Any one else would have done every
thing in his power to keep his friend
from such a venture , and , when all
failed , would at least have been anx
ious and troubled ab'out him. John
did neither. He considered the form
er useless , the latter superfluous ; but ,
without wasting another word , he rode
straight -into the jaws of danger af
ter his man and considered it the
simplest and most natural thing in
the world.
William stood close by the window ,
breathlessly watching the work of lib
eration , as well as the dim light of
the room permitted. He could do noth-
ingyto help.
"Have you talked with Florence ? "
he asked. "Does she know your plan ?
She is now alone at her father's death
bed alone with the scoundrel who
betrayed me ! "
"Hardly , for I have forbidden him
to enter the sick chamber ; and be
sides , he has a visitor the magistrate
from the city , who was summoned
here for the wedding. They are in a
hurry , it must be admitted. Mr. Harrison
risen wished , under any circum
stances , to become a Benedict to
day. "
"The magistrate ? So he has really
come ? I should like to wring his
neck ! "
"You will please refrain from that , "
said Maxwell , reprovingly. "Mr.
Thompson is a good , friend of mine ,
whom I hold ingreat esteem' It was
he who originated the peerless idea
of considering me Doctor' 'Blackwood.
I won't have his neck wrung on any
account , and it would "be very im
practical . on your part. A justice is
soon as you are at liberty , Ralph
shall announce , apparently in great
trepidation , that his young mistress
has suddenly disappeared. He has
looked for her in vain. Of course , she
can be only in one place. Harrison
will rush here as fast as possible to
frustrate the attempt at liberation ,
and we shall have him in our hands.
Then he can occupy the place which
he so kindly selected for you , and you
can use his marriage contract the
simplest exchange possible. "
"But that is a partial deception , " re
plied William. "Am I secretly , craft
ily , to steal a right which was prom
ised me openly in the presence of all
the world ? Am I to urge Florence tea
a marriage in this terrible hour which
robs her of a father "
"Stop , Will ! My patience is being
exhausted ! " Maxwell angrily inter
rupted. "Don't bother me again with
your German slowness and stupidity ,
or I'll leave you behind bolts and bars.
One can't lead good fortune straight
to your arms. You must first inspect
it on all sides subject it to a critical
examination to ascertain whether it
is thoroughly ideal and free from
earthly dross ; and meanwhile the
light * airy thing flutters out of your
hands. In short , do you want to mar
ry Florence or not ? "
"Of course I do. But "
"Very well , then , the matter is set
tled. Leave the rest to me. True ,
it's abominable to expect a best man
first to drag the bridegroom from be
hind so many iron bars , but you must
have some unusual circumstance con
nected with it. One thing more : Of
course you have no weapons. "
"Should I have been captured other
wise ? I certainly would not have sur
rendered with arms in my hands. "
"I anticipated that and concealed
two pistols about me. There , now I've
finished. Try your strength and see
if you can tear out the grating. "
The file had worked unweariedly all
the time , had cut through the larger
portion of the grating and loosened the
rest , but the iron still held. William
tugged and shook in vain , and there
was no more time to lose. But the
consciousness of danger lent the
young man unnatural strength. After
a few unsuccessful efforts he again
seized the 'grating and , with a last ,
violent struggle , wrenched it from its
fastenings. The opening was made ;
and , after a few anxious moments , Ro
land had forced his way through , and
was standing in the corridor beside
his friend.
"Here ! " said the latter , laconically ,
handing him a revolver and grasping
a second pistol himself. "Now I'll in
struct Ralph. "
William uttered a si li of relief
when he found himself free and felt
the weapon in his hand.
"I thank you , John ! " he cried en
thusiastically after his retreating
friend. "You are right. We two will
rule the whole household. "
"Yes , that is just to your taste ! "
returned Maxwell , tartly. "This time
we really must run our heads against
the wall , and if it happens to stand
firmer than we expect , it will cost us
our lives. You have arranged mat
ters so that we have no choice. But
keep quiet ! Harrison may come at
any moment ; the fighting will begin ,
and you .will play the principal role
again. "
CHAPTER X.
Meanwhile the justice and his clerk
were seated at a well-spread table in
the dining-room , which also looked
out upon the garden. Edward could
not send the gentlemen , who had tak
en the long ride in vain , back to the
city immediately ; so he had invited
them to dinner. Mr. Thompson could
not find words enough to express his
regret and sympathy for the sorrow
overhanging the household , but he
saw no reason why he should not have
a comfortable meal on that acount.
He thought it perfectly natural that
Edward should excuse himself and re
main in the drawing-room. No one
could feel offended with the grief-
stricken nephew , but he himself dis
cussed all the more eagerly the good
things set before him , and was ably
supported by his clerk.
The old gentleman only regretted
Doctor Blackwood's absence , and ad
mired the sense of duty which would
not permit him even to appear at din
ner. He was just giving his factotum
a discourse concerning this distin
guished physician , at the same time
helping himsfilf to a large piece of
roast meat. His factotum listened
most dutifully and took a still larger
slice , when the subject of the conr
versation suddenly entered.
"Ah , there you are , Doctor Blackwood -
wood ! " cried the judge. "Sit down.
Unfortunately you have coine a little
late. We have had the roast serv
ed. "
The doctor bowed in the most
charming manner , and signed to the
servant , who had just brought in the
dishes , to leave the room.
"Thank you. I am very sorry to dis
turb you , but there is a business mat
ter to be settled , which admits of no
delay. "
"A business affair ? Is there a will
to be made ? "
"No , on the contrary , the matter
concerns a wedding. "
Mr. Thompson dropped his knife
and fork and stared at the speaker in
the utmost astonishment.
"The ceremony is put off. Mr. Harrison
risen told me himself that he was
compelled to defer it foi ihe present. "
"Certainly , and he will probably dose
so altogether ; but another person has
taken his place Mr. William Roland. "
"What ? What did you call him ? "
"William Roland. The circumstances
have entirely changed , and unfortu
nately I have not time to explain them
to you in detail. But , in the name of
the betrothed couple , I beg of you to
perform the wedding ceremony at
once. "
The magistrate leaned back in his
chair , assuming a dignified attitude
and a solemn , official manner.
( To be continued. )
CATS CAN SWIM.
Au Old Fisherman's Story In Illustration
of That fact.
"Can cats swim ? " was asked of an
old fisherman. "Why , certainly , " was
the reply , "and that reminds me of a
cat I once tried to drown that swam
ashore. Surely there must have been
hundreds or thousands of people who
have drowned cats in the same way ,
but nevertheless this was an experi
ence of my own. We had a cat that we
wanted to get rid of , and as humane a
way as any to kill it was by drowning.
So I put a couple of bricks in the bottom
tom of an old grain sack and put in
the cat , and tied the bag up carefully
and securely and walked down to the
end of a wharf and stood there and
swung the bag , with the cat and the
bricks in it round like a sling until I
could give it a good momentum and
then let it go , and slung it out to fall
and sink in the water , I should say
twenty feet away. I supposed , of
course , that that was the last of the
cat , but the next morning the first
thing I saw when I went out of the
house was the cat sitting on the ver
anda. I suppose the bag had a weak
spot in it somev/here , the bricks were
heavy and sharp-cornered , and swing
ing the bag round that way started
it more , and the cat was desperate ;
and with the bag that way it scratched
and tore its way out and got to the
wharf and clawed its way up and came
ashore. Can a cat swim ? Why , sure ! "
Jlechanical Argument.
Judge And what did the prisoner
say when you told him that you would
have him arrested ? Complainant
He answered mechanically , yer honor.
Judge Explain. Complainant He
hit me on the head with a hammer.
Stray Stories.
It is impossible that an ill-natured
man can have a public spirit ; for how
should he love ten thousand men who
has never loved one.
CHUECH MD TABIFF.
DOES RELIGION THRIVE ON
POVERTY AND WANT ?
Characteristic Free-Trade Contention
That the Cause of Christianity Is
Best Promoted by Human Destitution
and misery.
The Brooklyn Eagle , a Free-Trade
but gold standard newspaper , is very
certain that The American Protective
Tariff League is on the wrong track In
its effort to show the extent to which
the churches have shared in the res
toration of prosperity through increas
ed plate collections. The Eagle says :
"Religious revivals follow disasters ,
and big financial panics make men
think of their sins and induce them to
turn their thoughts to the churches
and to give to them more liberally
than in their prosperity. Flood and
pestilence are potent influences in
making men think of serious things.
A wave of prosperity does not advance
the cause of religion. It rather retards
it. If our present prosperity is oc
casioned by the Dingley law then the
churches might well hope for a return
to the Wilson law , with its alleged de
pressing effect on business , and its
consequent direction of the thoughts
of men to their souls' salvation. * *
It was the Wilson law that made the
churches prosperous , and not the
Dingley law. "
It may be so , but if so , let us have
the facts and figures to prove it. The
Eagle , chief among the newspapers ol
the "City of Churches , " should know
whereof it speaks ; but does it know
for certain that religion fares best
when the people fare worst ?
Is it true that poverty increases
crime and morality at one and the
same time ?
Do idleness , hunger and want oper
ate to fill the jails and also the
churches ?
Is the minister surest of his salary
when the burglar is busiest ?
Do the dire conditions which impel
men to steal and murder promote
Christian morality ?
Are pew rents more promptly paid
and is the contribution box better filled
when churchgoers have empty pock
ets ?
Does the appeal in behalf of home
and foreign missions meet with the
most liberal response when the con
gregation is "broke ? "
Are church debts the smallest when
individual debts are largest ?
Do men think most about the sal
vation of their souls in times when
they are most engrossed with the
problem of how to keep body and soul
together ?
Is it , in short , true , as the Brooklyn
Eagle asserts , that "it was the Wilson
lav/ that made the churches prosper
ous , and not the Dingley law ? "
The American Economist does not
believe that any of these things are
true. To believe them would involve
the necessity of believing Christianity
to be a curse instead of the greatest
boon and blessing the human race has
ever known.
If the churches will do their part in
furnishing information as to the rela
tive difference uetween plate collec
tions in 1895 under a Free-Trade tariff
and in 1899 under the Dingley tariff ,
the American Economist will guaran
tee to show that religion and moral
ity thrive best when mankind is hap
piest , most prosperous , and freest from
the necessity and the temptation to
commit crime.
Of the truth of this there is not the
slightest doubt. Wouldn't it be a good
thing to demonstrate it beyond ques
tion in the manner proposed by the
American Protective Tariff League ?
RIGHTLY NAMED.
Democrats Ashamed of the Term "Free-
Trade" as Applied to the Wilson La\v
Some of the Democratic newspapers
are scolding at Congressman Gros-
venor of Ohio , because he said in his
recent speech on the Currency bill that
in the campaign of 1S9G the Democrats
demanded "the maintenance of the
Free Trade Tariff bill , called the Wil
son act. " They complain of the term
"Free Trade" as applied to the Wil
son bill , insisting that it was in a
measure Protective , since it carried an
average duty of nearly 40 per cent.
Isn't it rather late in the day to bring
up this question ? Three years and
two months ago the people of the
United States registered their judg
ment of the Wilson tariff by over
throwing the party responsible for its
enactment. They condemned it for
what it was , a Free Trade measure in
principle and intention , and , if not
wholly so , as near an approach to
Free Trade as the Democratic party
dared to make at that time. It was
meant to be the entering wedge that
should split asunder the American
system of Protection , and the horrible
wreck and ruin wrought by that enter
ing wedge foreshadowed only too
plainly the ultimate fate of American
industries in the event of the complete
realization of Free Trade in this
country.
Congressman Grosvenor's appella
tion , "tne Free Trade tariff bill , called
the Wilson act , " is fully justified by
the facts. Democrats , however , are
naturally a little sensitive about it , in
view of all that has happened in the
past three years. Formerly they were
only too glad to take the credit of the
Wilson Tariff law as "a step in the
right direction. " They found no
fault in the campaign of 1S9G when
that law was characterized as a Free
Trade measure. The only fault they
found then was that it didn't go far
enough in "the right direction , " that
is in the direction of Free Trade. But
times have changed , and the Demo-
irats would like to have the Wilson
A BIG GUN TO BE SPIKED THIS YEAH ,
1 THE. fillip.
' ! *
OF
75.000
AJEW ENGLAND
H/WEBUN
ADVANCED
jtHlffttit , , / - / > .
" . ' "
.
. 'i
.Jj tll *
, \O4 * II W'Ml-
wHi lS *
Adapted from the New York Tribune.
law relegated to the limbo of oblivion
Toward the law and the blame whicl
attaches to the party .responsible to
it the greatest charity would be forget
fulness. That is why the sting of Mi
Grosvenor's reminder has called fort !
so many manifestations of pain am
uneasiness. But there are some thing
not to be forgotten. The "Free Trad <
tariff bill , called the Wilson act , " i :
one of these things.
TEXTILE INDUSTRIES.
They Are Flourishing Grandly
Protection.
The cotton and woolen mill opera
tives of New England have news thai
came just too late to be celebrated or
Thanksgiving day , but which wil
much increase the cheer of Christmas-
tide. Owing to the prosperous condi
tion of the cotton goods trade the mil
companies have been able to announce
advances in wages amounting in mosl
instances to 10 per cent. For man }
of the cotton mills this is the secom
increase of 10 per cent within a fev ,
months. The American Woolen Com
pany , which operates twenty-six mills
in a score of towns , also announces i
general advance of 10 per cent. Bj
several independent woolen companies
a similar advance is made.
What this prosperous condition ol
the textile industries means tu New
England may be gathered from the
fact that fully 300,000 parsons will now
receive higher wages. From the ad
vances already announced it is esti
mated that the cotton-mill operatives
will receive an addition of § 1SOOOC
weekly to their present earnings. The
increase thus far to the woolen-mill
operatives amounts tc $20,000 weekly.
Some of the advances went into effeci
yesterday , others will date from next
Monday , and still others will begin on
January 1. Counting the families oi
the mill workers , fully 1,000,000 per
sons are directly affected by the ad
vance , and probably as many more will
benefit indirectly.
That the cotton manufacturers can
see their way clear to make these ad
vances in wages is a proof of the gen
eral prosperity of the country , for the
demand for their goods is not confined
to any one section. There is also a
growing foreign demand for American
cotton fabrics. The contrast between
the present prosperity of the cotton in
dustry and the depression of 1893 is
most striking. So severe was the pros
tration of business then that many
New England cotton-mill owners
talked of moving to the southern states
in the hope of obtaining cheaper la
bor , and the Massachusetts legislature
appointed a special commission to con
sider the problem of unemployed tex
tile workers. Now all the cotton mills
are busy and the prospects of trade are
excellent.
The woolen manufacturers also testi
fy to the improvement in conditions.
"The woolen business was never in a
more flourishing condition than to
day , " says William M. Wood , treasurer
of the American Woolen Company.
"The mills are busy and are looking
forward to the new season with the
highest anticipations. " With the res
toration of confidence and prosperity
which followed the verdict at the polls
in 1S9G the people are able to spend
more money for clothing. Owing tc
the accumulation of stocks during the
depression the cotton-mill operatives
did not gain much benefit from the
changed conditions until early this
year. Enormous importations during
the last days of the Wilson tariff act
held back the woolen trade still longer.
The textile industry of New England
has suffered much from the policy
which came into effect with President
Cleveland's accession to office. The
textile workers of New England have
had a bitter object lesson. Under the
Republican policy of protection , sound
money , and expansion they are pros
perous as never before. It has been a
subject of comment that Massachu
setts , misrepresented by the Atkinson
crowd as opposed to expansion , should
have led all the other states in the
number of soldiers , in proportion to
population , furnished for the army in
the Philippines. The fact is that the
workingmen of Massachusetts under
stood much better than their self-con
stituted leaders the value and ad
vantages of the Philippines as a base
for oriental trade. They were willing
to do their share toward securing these
advantages for themselves , their kin
dred , and their country. Chicago In
ter Ocean.
The Kelly of It.
The laboring man has more work tc
do today than he has had for years ;
he is getting higher wages for doing
it than he has received for a long
time. Now he is talking about voting
to tear down the party that gave him
the work and the wages , and enthrone
I in its place a party whose watchword
is "Low prices for everything. " Since
we were children , all of us have been
taught to think of the man who killed
the goose that laid the golden egg was
the Prince of Fools. Compared to the
laboring man who votes to reduce hia
wages and the number of days ha
works , the man who killed the geese
is a wise man and a philosopher.
Lawrence ( Kan. ) Journal.
DANGER AHEAD.
California's Protest Against Proposed
Reciprocity Confessions.
If reciprocity treaties with foreign
nations mean the release from restrict
ive tariff regulations of foreign prod
ucts which we do not produce , in re
turn for the admission for such of our
products into foreign territory as they
do not produce , no one will deny their
wisdom.
On the other hand , if these treaties
mean the withdrawal of tariff in such
7 manner as to build up one class of
products in our own country at the ex
pense of another , or the fattening of
powerful Eastern corporations by the
destruction of protective industries of
the country , it is time to call a halt.
The news from Washington that not
only the Jamaica reciprocity treaty ,
but the French reciprocity , contains
provisions that strike staggering blows
not only to the fruit industry of the
Pacific coast , but to our wine industry
and still other products , at the behest
of rich and powerful corporate inter
ests in the East , is amazing and dis
heartening.
If that is the way the administration
and the Republican party interpret the
duty they owe to the country , the
sooner the president and the party
learn that they are treading the path
that leads to disaster the better.
It will not do to lightly put this
question aside by saying that Cali
fornia must suffer for the general good.
If that were true it might be a good
excuse , however lamentable , but it is
not.
not.Will
Will it be for the common good to
shatter the industrial interests of this
immense western region that the
Standard Oil company , the northwest
ern millers and greedy importers in
the east may fatten ?
The Republican party has stood for
protection to our growing industries
with magnificent results. If it per
mits itself to be used by designing men
it will basely desert its colors , and will
deserve the fate that will surely over
take it.
It is not a question alone of injury
to our local interests ; the affair as
sumes a national importance. Should
the Republican party prove faithless
to its trust in California , it will prove
faithless in other states. Los Angeles
( Cal. ) Express.
Happy Times for IVase Earners.
On the morning of Dec. 18 an ad
vance of 10 per cent in wages went
into effect in many of the cotton man
ufacturing cities and towns of New
England. The increase affects from
70,000 to 75,000 hands. The places in
cluded in these advances are Lowell ,
with about 18,000 operatives ; Augusta ,
Me. , with 1,100 ; Lawrence , 12,000 ;
Chiccpee , 3,000 ; Biddeford- . , 3,500 ;
Manchester , N. H. , nearly 15,000 ; New-
buryport , 500 ; Waterville , Me. , 1,000 ;
Lisbon , Me. . 500 ; Brunswick , Me. , 700 ;
Hooksett , N. H. , 500 ; Suncook , N. H. ,
1,500 ; Amesbury , 800 , and Nashua ,
1,500. In addition an advance goes into
effect in a number of the cotton mills
of central and western Massachusetts.
Some of the woolen mills also in
creased wages 10 per cent Dec. 18.
These are outside of the American
Woolen company , which will make a
general advance on Jan. 1 , affecting
26,000 operatives , while in the south
ern cotton mills an advance is shortly
to be made in the wages of about 50,003
workers.
From the West comes the announce
ment that on Jan. I the Elgin Na
tional Watch Company will put in
force a new scale of wages amounting
to an advance of 5 to 10 per cent , and
affecting over 3,000 hands.
Many thousands of workmen in
' ; other parts of the United States start
ed the year 1900 with increased
wages. It is Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year for the wage earners
in these days of protection and pros
perity.
New Use for Shrep Shear * .
The Kansasians who three years ago
used their dinner horns to cry calam
ity are now using their sheep shears
to clip coupons. Louisville Courier-
Journal.