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About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1903)
B lored her. H * meant to tell her so , and the moment for do ing o had coine. The fluffy olden head was very near , a few ( rords had been spoken , when the door Spened and Ella Slaunton entered. A frown clouded the brow of Dr. { ftantoa , the eminent young physician frho everybody declared would make fela fortune In his profession , and Iretty Nellie Savllle escaped , glad to ilder tier flushed cheeks from her cou- tfca's jealous eyes. Mrs. Stanton threw heraelf languidly Bto the depths of an easy chair. "Bo I have found you at last , my Jear Ralph. I have been seeking you jbr the last hour. " He bated this woman , In spite of her Sari : , witching beauty. His uncle had jbund that beauty irnxJstible , and by t late marriage robbed his nephew of She quarter of a mlHimi which he had aught him to expect would one day w hie. "What did you want with me ? " ho tefced curtly. "You are cross. I wanted your soci- rty nothing more. Is there anything Itrange in that ? " "Most flattering of you , my dear tant , I am sure. " Xt was Mrs. Stanton's turn to frown. "Don't call me that hateful name. it I did marry your uncle , you might remember that I am not yet 25. By the way , Nellie Saville quits the teens &ext week. " "Indeedl" "Yes. Charming girl , Isn't she ? Real ly , Ralph , i you should see the dismal hole of a parsonage where that girl's parents live you would feel grateful [ o me for my compassionate generosity In talcing her from It for a little jyhlle. Are you going to Lady Camp bell's this afternoon ? " "No. I detest tea and tennis. " "So do I. Besides , I have headache- $7111 you prescribe for me ? " After the majority of Mrs. Oak- Brook's guests had departed for Camp bell Souse Dr. Stanton was pacing She lawn with Sir -Tohn Debby , smok ing cigarettes and talking politics , and fndoors his relative occupied a velvet lounge and tried to read the lust new feorel. He came to her at last , but it was frith a serious face and an open tele gram in his luiucl. - "My sister has met with an accident. Levison waiits me to go at once. " "Oh , Ralph ! Is it serious ? You will return here ? " ' "I think uot , " he re-turned , replying to the latter question. "You will come to Melton Willows * t Christmas. Ralph ? " "I really cannot promise. Good-by ! " She sat there until the sound of the horse's hoofs had died away. Then Bhe crossed the room and looked at ( he ? notes he had written. One was for bis hostess apology and explanation , frf course but the other was for Miss Baville. A moment's hesitation ; then he lore it open. "Dear Miss Saville : Before you see this you will know the reason of my sudden departure. But I cannot wait until our next meeting for the answer DiCTAtED A GUSHING LETTEB. to the question I should have asked you this morning If Mrs. Stanton's entrance had not prevented me from doing so. I want you to be my wife , Nellie ; my loved and honored wife. Will you ? Write yes or no soon to your loving but Impatient Ralph. " A small fire burned in the grate. She put the letter into her pocket and burn ed the envelope. * * * "Dear Ralph , " murmured the lady. "I want you to write to him for me , Nellie. He promised to let me know how his sister was , but I suppose he has not had time. He does not know your handwriting , I think. " Very soon Ella Stanton had dictated a gushing , affectionate letter , and -with blanching cheeks Nellie had written It"Don't "Don't close it now , Nellie. Throw It aside. There is ouly one other that need be written now. " "What is it ? " Nellie asked , a trifle wearily. "Why , you know , dear , Mr. Graham wants me to open the Brixton bazzar , but 1 really don't feel equal to the task. 1 must write to decline. But he always laughs at nerves , and I do so hate being laughed at. " "My Dear Friend : I have thought fully considered the subject and must decline the honor. I am grieved be yond expression to disappoint you ; but , feeling as 1 do , I cannot act oth- , erwise. However , I feel confident that you will meet with one worthier than T > that what I cannot grant she will j L'ully conede. . Only one thing I agk that this shall In no way Interfere - , fere with the friendly relations -which have always existed between us. " "L think It Is making too .inucb of n little thing , Ella. You will sign It , ol course. " "No , dear. Do It-for me only ml tlals. How singular that they should be alike , Is It not Ella Stanton and Elinor Savllle ? There , now , dear , jusl run upstairs and see If Louise has mended that lace I tore last night" A moment more , and Ralph Stan ton's simple , honest letter lay open be fore her. Jealousy had quickened her memory. She knew It by heart Refolding it , she enclosed It wltli that other in an envelope addressed Jn Nellie's pretty , graceful caligraph to "Ralph Stanton , Esq. , " and sealed II carefully. It was necessary to destroy the mis sive originally Intended for Ralph , and to indite another one to Mr. Gra ham if discovery was to lie avoided. * * * * * * * Two years later Dr. Stanton was journeying northward. The London season was over and the famous phy sician had been on the point of startIng - Ing for his holiday when he wag summoned by telegram to Sir Chris topher Knott , a wealthy patient brim ming over with gout and crochets. Thinking ? It was dreaming dream ing of a slim , petite figure and fluffy golden hair and gloriously blue eyes ! Yes , though she refused him he loved her stilL Her home was at Grim- stone. Would he see her ? What folly ! Doubt-less she was married , and , it not. had she not told him In the crueJ little letter , which was even now in the breast pocket of his coat , that it could never be ? "Grimstone ! Grimstone ! " shouted a porter , and so his reflections came to an end , but only to awaken into lively interest. From a second-class carriage a girl alighted a girl in a neat little hat and gray dust cloak. Underneath that hat was a piquant little face and A clustering fringe of fluffy golden curls. * * * * * * * Nellie was alone in the drawing- room. Suitors had wooed in vain. She was the orthodox clergyman's daugh ter , with her duties to perform as they rose fresh each day , ajid in the past a nameless disappointment. Her thoughts had turned on thai visit to Oakbrook two years ago when the waiting maid brought in a card "Dr. Stanton. " "This is , indeed , a pleasant sur prise , " she said with a rosy flush that told its own story. ' 'I am sorry that mamma is not at home. " "I am staying in the neighborhood professionally and could not leave without calling on you. It is the priv ilege of friendship , and you desi.cd that we continue friends , " Nellie looked puzzled. "I dp not understand you. What do you nfenu ? " "I beg your pardon for the allusion , Miss Saville , but you cannot have for gotten ? The words were in your let ter a letter I have kept because you wrote it , in spite of its contents. " "Indeed , you are under a mistake. I never wrote to yon in my life. " "Then you never wrote this or re ceived this ? " And he placed In her hands the two unfortunate letters. * * * When the primroses looked like stars in the grass and the air was filled with the odor of violets , a wcd- iling took place at Grimstone church. And three months later a society jour nal announced that Mrs. Stanton , widow of the late George Stanton. Esq. . of Melton Willows. Berks , had bestowed heart and hand upon Count Horenza. an impecunious Italian noble man. Waverlev. Birthday for Each Sex. AVith the exception of the Emperor [ here are no individual birthdays in le-lightfully interesting Japan. The people , however , make up for this neglect by having a sort of general birthday of everybody in common , which is celebrated with great re joicing. There are two of these general holi days , one for each sex. The male birthday , which is known as the "cel- ? bration of the boys , " occurs on the third day of the third month and the the girls celebrate the fifth day of the fifth mouth. These days are generally [ nit aside and boys and girls respect ively receive presents according to their station. The birthday of the Emperor , or ren-o , as he is more properly styled , Is also a general holiday for the Jap- inese everywhere. The houses are all lecoratecl with flags , and in the even ing the streets arc gay with the lights > f Innumerable colored lanterns. Iii the morning the highest authorities go [ o the palace and offer their congratu lations in person and the lower degrees sffer them vicariously to their supe riors. All the Japanese would , some how or other , congratulate their mon- irch on having added another year to his age. Booties Use Saws. Some large beetles are as good as cir cular saws. They seize a branch or twig with their deeply toothed jaws tind whirl round and round until the twig is sawed off. They have been known to saw a twig as thick as a walking stick in this manner. A Chnn > ; e. Her headgear now is strangely great ; It tilts and veers in mad delight She queries. "Is my hat on straight ? For if it is it isn't right ! " Washington Star. BUTTONS GROW ON BUSHES. Nuts Furnish Many of These Needful Articles for Wearing : Apparel. No , the ivory buttons you weur do not represent the death of an elephan/ In the wilds of Africa ; your pearl but tons were probably never nearer thar you took them to the shell of a bi valve mollusk , and the probabilities are that no rubber tree was ever tapped - ped to produce the hard rubber buttons - ( | tons that adorn your overcoat , says i Popular Mechanics. Down in Central America there is a fruit-producing palm that has quite metamorphosed the button business and formed the i nucleus for one of the most important industries In the United States. The seed of this fruit contains a milk that is sweet to the taste and relished by the natives. The milk when allowed to remain in the nut long enough be comes indurated and turns Into a sub stance as brittle and hard as the ivory plant Most of the buttons now used in America , whether termed ivory , pearl , rubber , horn or bone , come from this ivory plant. Thus the probabilities are that your buttons are made from a vegetable milk and they grow on bushes. The ivory plant is one of the mar vels of the age and is rewarding the growers with vast fortunes. The nuts are brought to the United States by the ship load and hauled across the continent to the big button factories , from which they issue forth in every conceivable design , color , grade and classification of button. The ivory plant has recently been discovered in California , but the nut it produces in its wild state is of in ferior quality and will not make good buttons. It is believed , though , that with the proper cultivation the fruit would be as valuable as the Central American. If so , the growing of but tons in America would become an in dustry of importance second only to the growing of corn , wheat and cot ton , for everybody wears buttons. The best ivory nut for commercial purposes is found on the banks of the River Magclalena , in the United States of Colombia , where by some it is called the Tagua palm. The fruit forms a globular head about twice the size of a man's head and weighs from twenty to twenty-eight pounds. The head is a kind of cluster of bulbs and in all contains from fifty to sixty seeds. The seeds are allowed to dry and are harvested several times a year by the natives. The Apparel Gazette , the great deal ers' authority oh everything that people ple wear , says : "The ivory nut Is used almost solely iu the manufac ture of buttons , though some factories also make poker chips from them. The nut , however , has superseded the ar chaic mud , rubber and bone buttons in vogue formerly. It admits of wider and more varied treatment for this purpose than any other known sub stance and is easily worked. The United States consumes more than one-half of the world's product of ivory nuts and nine-tenths of the vege table ivory is manufactured into but tons. "When the nut reaches the button factory it is cut into three slabs. In the process of cutting out the button is partially shaped. Afterward the thread holes arc drilled and counter sunk. The button is then sent to the polisher , who uses the shavings and powder made in drilling to polish them iu their white state. Afterward they are sent to the designer , who traces on the buttons in indelible dyes the designs needed to make them match the various weaves , coloring and textures of fabrics. After receiv ing these outlines , if the buttons are to remain smooth and receive another coat of coloring , they are put into dyes. If they are to be stamped with a segregated pattern they are put into a pressing machine fitted with dies of the pattern desired. " STORY OF A GOLD PIECE Found in the btonmch of a Cod and Clafmel by a Mnn in Kansas. Some few weeks ago A. E. Levy , of 529 Broadway , New York City , went fishing down at the Fishing Banks. His luck was not exceptionally good , but when he reached home and the catch had been cleaned he found that he had broken the record. In the stomach of a cod was found a $10 gold piece , with two diamonds set on one side and the initials "P. C. E. " on the other. Mr. Levy was so amazed that he sent the story to the papers , and it was copied throughout the country. This he thought would be the end of it , and the matter slipped from his mind and was forgotten. But Tuesday of this week he received a letter from Patrick C. Evans , residing iu Kansas , who claims the $10 piece as his own , and Mr. Levy will surrender It to him. Mr. Evans in his letter tells the following story : "I some days ago saw In a St Louis paper an item about your catching a codfish which when you opened It gave up a $10 gold piece , on one side of which was a couple of diamonds and on the other the letters 'P. C. E. ' The coin Is my property , Mr. Levy. The coin Is valuable to me , for the following rea son : I was fool enough about five years ago to go into a 'wildcat' gold mining scheme in Colorado. I paid the piper to the time of $4,000 before I found out what I was up against The only thing I got out of the enterprise was this same $10 piece , which I bor rowed from the president of the com pany , a man named Harris Colby , at Leadville , Col. , having only a check in my pocket at the time and being shy of ready money. As It happened , I did not change it , and the next day the mine busted up. So I said I would keep the coin as a warning to me not to be clasped as * sucker by any man , or CENSUS TAKING IN INDIA. Colossal Work Accomplished De cennially by the British. In India census-taking Is a colossa ! accomplished decennially , witl aoteworthy success , by the Britlsl jovernment Even among those whc ind descriptions of census methods iry reading at best , Interest must b < iwakened by the difficulties surmount id In that land of splendor and squal ) r , vast population , and innumerabh races , languages and religions. The population of India is 294,260 , ' fOl a figure so vast that it Is bettei realized by considering the fact thai there are more than 715,000 village ! Ind towns scattered over an area ol me and a half million square miles. Tt nake the enumeration of this vast ter Itory , virtually a million enumerator ! ire required. The successive steps of census organ zatlon are the enumerator's "block , ' : he "circle , " "the charge , " the district , the province , and finally the Imperial Census Corn-mission. A charge com prises two or more circles , a circle If Composed of ten or fifteen blocks , and : he block contains from thirty to fifty bouses. The provincial superintendents be- jin the work of organization a year in idvance of the census date. Officers ire designated , the villages in each Circle are listed , block lists are pre pared , and every house is numbered , fn some provinces the census authori ties determine In advance the Ize of the number , and specify the proportions tions of red ocher and oil , or other Ingredients , forming the substance with which the number is to be paiut 2d. Even In this simple detail , how aver , racial difficulties are encounter ed : In Hyderabad objection Is made to tar because of Its color , and red ocher is substituted ; in some other localities , : > n the contrary , the natives consider red ocher unlucky , and if it is used they carefully erase the figures. On huts of wattled bamboo a small space ts plastered and then whitewashed , to form a background for the number. In the case of huts made of leaves , ind also when objection is made , on account of caste restrictions , to the touching of houses by enumerators , the numbers are painted on bits of tin. tiles or pots conspicuously placed , and are usually treated with great respect by the natives. In this immensely populous and re markable empire the census schedule is framed to meet a wide variety of local and racial conditions. It is print ed in no less than seventeen different languages , and includes , in addition to the ordinary inquiries , questions con- "eriiing religion and caste. Century. "Water as a Cure. A well-known physician says that the girl who has not a clear com plexion and wishes one has a simple remedy right at hand if she cares to use it. And it is water , applied not outwardly , but inwardly. That is not so much outwardly as inwardly. .This authority says that the sallow girl should drink two quarts of water between rising and retiring , but not a drop at meals. More than this , the water drunk must not be too cold. Ice water does not help the cause of beauty. Cool spring water , if it is to be had , is better , or , at least , water of the temperature of spring water. The drinking of too little water he believes to be the cause of many ills. Surely here is a way to attain beau ty of complexion that is simpler than many of the cosmetics prescribed , but ts very simplicity will keep it from being much used. , for there are in the and a number of people who believe n complicated prescriptions that puz zle them , but iu nothing that they understand. Gen. Clay's Courage. General Cassius M. Clay fought many duels in his-day , usually with iis long-bladed knife , meeting pistol or rifle equally with that trusty weap on. His physical strength was gigan tic. He was accustomed to the use of weapons , and he was always cool ind never lost his judgment For ex ample , when an adversary shot him , and he supposed he was done for , he nflated his lungs to the full , conscious hat he would live as long as he could aold his breath. Then he drew his inife and. did his bloody work. That was when he killed Turner. After all , speaking musingly , reviewing his life , ic confessed to a reporter , when he was about 84 , that he was opposed on principle to the duel , thinking it a savage1 way to settle a difficulty , "but there are some cases for which it seems to be the only remedy. " New York Tribune. Only Temporary Idleness. "I assure you , madam , " said he , 'that I would not be begging my bread from door to door if I could but procure employment at my profes- ion. " "Poor man , " replied the good wom- in , as she handed out a pie , "what is your profession ? " "I am an air ship pilot , madam. " Tit Bits. Bits.Not Not Out of the Ordinary. Cadley I must confess I was pretty "ranky yesterday. Did the girls say anything about it ? Kandor Oh , no. Cadley Strange they didn't notice ny behavior. Kandor I guess they didn't see any- _ hing unusual about it. Philadelphia Press. Part of the Population. Paris uses 200,000,000 snails as food mnually. And yet the town is not so slow. Washington Star. Women and opportunity like to make : alls when you are out t VELVETS ARE BRIGHT INCREASE IN VIVIDNESS AS EACH NEW ONE COMES OUT. Solid Color Weaves and Figured Ma terials Are All Strikingly Tinted and Designs Are Prominent- ace Is Much Used on Eveninc Gowns. Xew Tork corresnon I nce : j EW velvets in- I crease in vivid ness with every addition the shops make to their sup plies. This ap plies as well to real velvet of the finest quality and to the various sorts of velvet eens , some of which are mate rials of decided worth. All the grades show bril liant tones inthe Bolid colorweaves , and the brightest of them are dis played in such quantity that they plainly are intended is the material for gowns , not merely as trimming. This impression is corrobora- 'od by study of model dresses , in which re velvets of the brightest possible hade. They are handsome get-ups. made > lainly , for the most part , but with trim- On evening gowns and wraps the use of luce is to be lavish. Its employment is not characterized by the set design and stiffness that often marked last winter's .pplications , especially those that were in the medallion way. Almost all of it has a look of softness , and while the treat ment of a year ago was handsome , the newer arrangements seem even more beautiful. New fashions that plainly are an improvement on the old take hold quickly , and this change is being effect- il according to this rule. Valenciennes .s much favored , but the available list is long. It takes in mechliu , chantllly , point de Paris , milanese , filet , point d'es- prit , lierre , Paraguay. Mexican and Vruges , with many more less well known , ' it with beauty to recommend them. Elaborate dressers are not content with the use of such laces in simple fashion , but must trim them to the end that the whole result appear more compler. The designs of the lace are outlined with ruchings. This trick has an endorsement whose cordiality amounts almost to fad- r- V5Vll Vll dish interest Lace embellished fringe is in high standing , too , some ! oi the fringe being woven in with the mesh of the lace. And these and other lik tricks are indulged even iu gowns al ready almost smothered In lace. Bodices seem not to bear more of such embellishment than they have of tate but skirts are decked out with increased liberality. Lace insertions appear os skirts between pleats and tucks , and bands are bestowed with a free hand. Both bauds and insertions are wide , som of them strikingly so. Ruffles for the fee * of the skirt account for much of the ex penditure for laces , though such may b arranged in modest proportions. On tha other hand are skirts all lace ruffles bat for a yoke of contrasting stuff , and still others in which the lace web extend * away to the belt Much variety prevail * in the arrangement of the lace. Stand ards for dress-ups make it easier to pro vide place for an immense amount tham to accomplish a fine result with a scant supply. A pretty disposal of flounces and ruffles is shown in the small picture put at the head of this depiction. They wer * black chantilly on black crepe de chin * , The gown in the center of the next pie- > ture had white chautilly upon white sift net , the whole over violet silk. At th left of this gown is shown a Iac trimmed evening wrap guipure upon heavy brocaded white silk. On fin * wraps is more of the heavier laces , but even here , in garments marked by a look of cozy warmth , are seen laces of th softest , most filmy sort In the field of embroidery recent changes have been more in the character than in the amount of the ornamentation. As to the amount much is left to indl- - \ , v W MI ' < t VNM | | iirru-i LAV1SIINESS IN LACES AND EMBROIDERY. . ! .nr placed wherever the goods conies io\t the wearer's i.eck. face or arms. . .n.i this trimming serves quite as much o relieve the skin from too close contact vith the vivid shndings , as it does to riianu'iit the gown. This point is one hat should have very careful considera- ioa by purchasers. Few complexions an stand contact with these brilliant col- riutrs. and none can stand them all. So Tie intending buyer should either choose urely one that is safe , or else have well n mind some jrenei'al scheme for fencing ior < t'lf off from it. The latter process - . ! 1)0 attained with entire success , corn- iuinir stylishness , beauty and an out- iv quite in harmony with the cost of the no velvet that may be in the gown it- elf. vidual taste. There may be little or much. A modest , inconspicuous design , little more than an edging or a narrow band , will suffice , or the material may b almost hidden. What is permitted in the way of showy treatment is suggested in the wrap at the right in the second pic ture , whic' was white cloth embroidered with white silk cord. At the right in the concluding picture is another white oloth wrap with white cord embroidery dis tributed less lavishly. Quite as often th embroidery is upon bands or pieces of contrasting goods that are then applied. Such bands or pieces may be extensive , or may be limited to small dimensions , appearing at cuffs and edges. Many gowns include tiny jackets of the con trasting material entirely covered with STREET AND EVENING ATTIRE BOTH ENRICHED WITH LAGS. the embroidery. Cords , braids and pa sementeries in large variety , but chieflj of the smaller sizes , are employed verj freely in this way. Bands are often em , broidered with silks and flosses of thi heavier sorts. Much of the more attract ive and serviceable ornamentation of th < winter fashions lies in such bandina Its uses constitute one of the best ol current chances for the home dressmab er to attain stylish finish without greal Fashion Notes. lak lace in several shades is verj Black , white , cream , ecru and cham pagne are the shades in which the new silk laces will be conspicuous. Ermine will be favored among tha white furs , though its scarcity has led to a considerable advance in price A plaited green chiffon lining is effect ive under a white cloth garment , tha fnua of the lining falling below the cloth.
