The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, March 28, 1902, Page 7, Image 7
THE NORFOLK NUWS : FRIDAY , MARCH 28 , 1002 , ANNIE'S | BIRTHDAY GIFT f A Story of Blackmail and Its Results. The village clock was striking tlio Iiour of 5 one afternoon as Annie Gru- liam stepped out of her trim and com fortable cottage to meet her husband at the gate. She made a pleasant picture for the 'eye to rest upon. Her year of married life had been a very happy one , and never did maiden look more eagerly for her lover than did she for her hus band's return from the distant city , whither he had gone a week ago on business for his employers. Among the few ornaments she wore was a beautifully chased gold bracelet which encircled her left wrist. As her eye caught Its gleam a peaceful smile lit up her sweet face , for It was her husband's gift to her on her last birth day. day.She She stood at the gate and looked down the road In the direction of the small mining village through which her husband must pass on ills way from the station. A man's form came into view on the quiet road , but a sin gle glance Biifllced to show her that It was not the familiar figure she looked for. She scarcely observed the man further , her eyes traveling beyond him to scan the road , till he halted almost at her side. "Can't you spare a copper for a poor fellow who has walked all the way from" he began , with the usual plea and whine of the professional tramp , but stopped abruptly and gave vent tea a low whistle. "So it's you ! ' he exclaimed sneeringly - ly , recovering from his surprise. "Aren't you glad to see an old pal ? " She looked at him for a moment , then drew back in fear. "I suppose you've got too high and mighty for the likes of me , " lie con tinued , observing her action. "I hoard you had got spliced to the gaffer of a mine somewhere about this quarter , liut had no Idea of such a slice of luck as this happy meeting with you. So this Is where you hang out , eh ? It does look rather comfortable inside. " He drew nearer the gate and made as if to enter. "No , no , you cannot come In , " she cried in alarm. "See , here is some money. Take it nnd go away. " He examined the contents of the purse which she handed to him. They amounted to only half a dollar , and he , was dissatisfied. "I'm as dry as a dusty road in June , , nnd tills will hardly wet my throat. Let's see that bauble on your wrist. It should be worth something , " he said , looking greedily at the bracelet. "No , Indeed , I will not. I have al ready given you more than enough , so please go. " "Not If I know n thing or two , " ho Bald , with a cunning leer. "Did you tell your adorable husband that you got the swop from Watson's for nab bing a trinket like that ? No , I guess not. " "You know how false that charge was , " she cried indignantly , but with fear In her eyes at the mention of her - husband. r "Oh , of course you say so , but who would believe you ? " ho returned. "Hand over that bit of Jewelry , and inum's the word. " "It's my husband's gift to me , " she pleaded , "and I cannot part with It. I will give you its value In money , but do not ask tills. " She turned to enter the house for the money , but he was too quick for her. "Not so fast , my pretty. 'A bird in the hand Is worth two in the bush1 any day. 1 can make as good terms with your husband , so It must be that gilt thing or nothing. " She eagerly scanned the road again. Yonder at last was the well known Btalwart figure of her husband. Should Blie tell him all and trust to his bellev- "ing in her innocence ? What if ho Bhould believe this man's story ? Tljese thoughts passed quickly throtigh her mind. The risk of losing his love and respect seemed too great to face. She slipped the bracelet from her wrist and handed It to the man. "There , take It nnd go quickly , " she uald , with white , drawn face. He snatched It from her and walked nway , humming n lively air and look- lug the virtuous man he claimed to be as he passed her husband a short dis tance from the gate. John Graham greeted his young wife affectionately , and together they enter ed the house. He observed her pallor for the first time as she turned up the light of the dining room lamp. "What's the matter , Annie ? " he In quired anxiously. "You look as if you had got a fright. Have you been mopIng - Ing in my absence ? I meant to be back a couple of days sooner , but I could not get my business finished In time. " "It is nothing , John. I did weary for your coming , nnd I am glad to see you home again , " she said , with an effort to keep the tremor out of her voice. "I have news for you , dear , " lie said when they were seated at the tenta- Lie. " 1 met some of my people in the city and was invited home. As they appeared to be holding out the olive I , * * branch of peace of course 1 went , and the upshot was that matters were Binootlfed over. They have most gra ciously condescended to forgive us for marrying , , and my mother and sisters arc coming on the 2Sth to spend a few days with us. "See what I have brought you from the city. I remembered that the 28th Is your birthday and thought you would like this. You might wear It when they come , along with the one I gave you last year. I want you to bo nt your best before my people. " As he spoke be drew a small parcel from his pocket and unfolded It , re vealing n bracelet of exquisite design upon a bed of velvet , lie handed the gift to her with a tender smile. "I am not worthy of this , John , " she said faintly , while a mist rose before her eyes. She was already paying dearly for her error In her transaction with the trump. "Nonsense , my dear. Bring out the other one and let mo see how they look together. " "Not tonight , John. Plcaso don't ask mo , " she said so earnestly that he look ed up In surprise. "I'm afraid you are not yourself to night , Annie. You do look rather ghost like. But don't trouble about the bracelets , as I can see them both on the UStli. " When the guests arrived , It struck him that his wife had never appeared to greater disadvantage. She looked pale and anxious nnd seemed to avoid meeting his eyes , llo was annoyed to see the proud lips of his mother and Bisters curl at his wife's awkwardness , and he felt that she had not done her self Justice. Once he whispered : "You are not wearing both bracelets tonight ? " "No , " she answered In a low voice and with averted eyes. He turned away , with a look of disappointment. When the visitors retired for the night , he took both her hands In his. "There Is something wrong , Annie. What Is It ? " Could she tell him , or must Bho go on deceiving him and enduring the misery of the past few days ? He was a man who was upright In all his actions and hated deceit In any form. Yet she would only be doing him a further In justice by concealing the truth. In a low voice she began and recounted the whole story. When she had finished , ho remained silent. She lifted her tear stained face to him. "You do not believe me , and there fore you cannot forgive me ? " she ask ed wistfully. "I both believe and forgive you , " he said gently. "But what you have told me Is not quite new to me. I knew about the charge against you when I asked you to marry mo , but I believed In you. And within the last twenty- four hours 1 have heard the rest of the story. Do you recognize this ? " She was astonished to see him hold up the bracelet which she had parted with so unwillingly to the tramp. "Your friend the tramp got the worse of drink with the money you gave him and was locked up at the police station , " he resumed. "This was found in Ills possession , and he could give no proper account of It. Lieutenant Stir ling happened to mention the matter to mo. I had my on reasons for be ing interested , and , along with Stirling , I interviewed the man. I knew him nt once to be the man who was the Wat sons' groom when you wore with them. We wormed the matter out of him , and now It appears that it was one of the servants whom he was courting at the time who was the real thief. " "Then I am cleared at last ? " she cried"Joyfully. . "Yes. I could have told you all this a few hours ago , but I wanted you to learn to trust your husband more fully. I am glad that you have told me every thing frankly. Now let us forget the past. " "The best birthday gift you have giv en mo Is your forgiveness , " she said gratefully. Penny Pictorial Magazine. A Kindred Son ] . They had just been Introduced , nnd , as she looked Into his thoughtful blue eyes , the young girl felt that she had at hist met n man of high Ideals. "Are you interested In the elevation of the masses , Mr. McSmudge ? " she asked , after she had worked up to the subject by easy conversational stages. "Intensely , Miss Gushlngton , " he an swered. "I have dedicated my life to this great work. I am just now inter esting myself In circulating a pamphlet on the subject , which 1 shall be pleas ed to send you. " "How lovely ! " she murmured. She knew that she had at lust found a kindred soul. But this world Is full of bitter disap pointments , and it was a hard Jolt to Ethel Gushington's liner sensibilities when a few days later she received , with the compliments of John Wesley McSmudge , a catalogue of passenger elevators for which he was agent. Salt Lake Herald. Silk In EtiKland. King James I. was very anxious to naturalize the silkworm in England and' to establish a native manufacture of the product. To this end a great many mulberry trees were imported from North America , and a fine plan tation of them was made near St. James" palace on ground where Buck ingham palace now stands. This plan tation was known as the Mulberry Gardens and became n kind of recrea tion ground. Both Evelyn and I'enys record their visits here , nnd Dryden is said to have brought a lady friend here to enjoy the "mulberry tarts. " Close by were the necessary houses and appliances for rearing the silk- woims and the manufacture of the Bilk. But the king's experiment failed. A Cine of n\i > lrutlon Anyway. Some years ago a battery of artillery was at big gun practice at Bermuda. One of the guns a thirty-eight ton- was found to have a serious flaw. The olllcer In charge , not caring to risk half n dozen valuable lives , Inquired : "Sergeant , have you any time ex pired men here ? " "Yes. sir , " answered the sergeant. "Paddy Jackson has Just completed his tlme ' "Well , then , " replied the thoughtful ofllcer. "Paddy Jackson will fire the gun. " And Paddy Jackson did fire the gun , happily with no fatal result. Edin burgh Scotsman. HUE AD AM WllmS. THE PARTS VIANDS PLAY IN MAR- ( UAGE CEREMONIES. Sivcctlicnrl Cnkrn tit n Dtilcli Dain- el lOirrittlnn llrlilcKriiiniiN Mtmt Work Kor Tlu-lr SIIIUHT Wliiu Iti Clilnn Mnrrlril li > - Cnitily. Tlio Important pnrt wlilcli ( LTforont viands play In marriage ceremonies makes rather an IntcroHtliiK utory. Kor example , tlio S\veillnh lirlilo nils licr pocket with bread , which oho tils- lieuscs to every one oho meets on her way to church , every pleco HIU KlveH away averting , as nho believes , a mis- fortune. On the threshold of her new homo a bride in Sen In Is presented with ti plate of bonbons , one of which she and iho bridegroom share between them , [ lie divided bonbon signifying that no bitterness Bhnll divide them. A sieve of wheat corn Is also given to the bride. Of this she takes three handfnls , throws It over her hend , emptying the sieve upon the ground , The scattered corn denotes that the bride brings Joy and prosperity Into her new homo. The bride Is still outside the door , nor cun Blie enter until she has placed two loaves of bread beneath her arms and taken a bottle of wine Into her hands. With these emblems she at length crosses the threshold of her future home. At the first meal of the newly married pair bread and wine must lie taken by both to denote that thence forward all they have shall be equally divided between them and that their married life shall be passed in unity Hid fidelity. A Russian wooing culminates In the betrothal feast , at which the bride elect in return for a long tress of hair which she has given to the bridegroom re ceives bread and salt and an almond cake. In Holland if a young man is in love with a girl and wishes to ask her hand lu marriage lie buys a small sweet cake and , wrapping it up In soft paper , proceeds to the house of his inamorata. He Is ushered into the midst of the family circle. Without n word ho walks up to the young lady and lays the cake on the table before her. The rest of the family affect not to notice anything unusual and continue their work or their reading. The young man turns aside and talks to the father or mother on some very ordinary subject , keeping his eyes eagerly fixed on the girl while he is conversing. If she ac cepts his offer , she takes up the cake and eats it. If she is a coquettish tlnuisclt she tortures the young man by turning it over and playing with it be fore she decides to taste it and then en raptures him by eating it to the last crumb. If , on the other hand , she wishes to have nothing more to do with her admirer , she puts it back on the table. The young man takes up the cake and , with a "Vaarvoal byza- men , " leaves the house. The matter la then kept a profound secret by both families , and the outer world never hears of It. In place of a wedding cake in Holland wedding candles arc given "bruld zulkcrs" they are called. They are passed around by children and arc served in flower trimmed bas kets. Bride pudding Is the name of the piece de resistance served at a Norse peasant wedding. This is not brought on the table until the last day of the festivities , three or flve days being given up to feasting and merrymaking. The appearance of the bride pudding is the signal of dismissal , and at tfoe close of the feast the guests say fare well , presenting at the same time their gifts , which consist of cash. This the bride receives , the bridegroom presentIng - Ing each donor with a glass of wine. Partaking of two tiny glasses of wine Is all the ceremony necessary to make a marriage in some Chinese provinces , provided a quantity of fireworks are Bet off. These are to wake the "great Joss" from his sleep that he may wit ness the ceremony. At a Ilebrew wedding man and wife sip from one cup of wine , symbolizing participation in the Joys and pain of earthly life. The emptied goblet is placed on the floor and crushed into a thousand pieces by the bridegroom , who thus shows that he will put his foot on all evils that may enter the family circle. At an Egyptian wedding feast meat is not eaten because of the belief that it would lead to future bickerings be tween them. Eggs , fruits and sweets are served. The first meal in the new bouse cannot be touched until , after every device known to the bridegroom , the bride has been at last induced to speak. Once she utters a word , he claps his hands , and supper is brought to them. Married by candy Is the plan in Bur ma. Of all marriage rites this takes the palm for conciseness and sweet simplicity. Llero the dusky lady takes the initiative. Seeing a youth who pleases her , she offers him a sweet. If ho accepts her proposal , lie promptly cats the token of affection , and they arc thereby made man and wife. In the act of eating alone this most prim itive rlto consists. If the youth be not favorably disposed , ho remarks with all gallantry that that particular candy is not to his taste , and the matter is ended. In Mandalay three weeks after l marriage kinsmen bring the bride groom a bowl of rice , a vessel of wine and n fowl , much of which collation IB sacrificed to the spirits of ancestors. A Bagoda bride in tlio Philippines If she bo good locking and the daughter of a warrior , is sold by bcr father for about $30 , which sum is not given in money , but in vegetables and chickens One way of estimating such things is at the price of a brass gong. Such a gong Is worth thirty silver dollars , am It Is a valuable maiden Indeed who wll bring two brass gongB. What to Eat Common SiMinr In I.IMT. When we are told that every law ! mist he enfiiroed to the letter though he heaveiiH fall , It IIIIH a brave sound , nit a wise regard for the public good lemiuulH that the lawn he HO executed that the heavens may not fall. Thn naxlm that "the extreme of the law nay he the extreme of Injustice" 'minimum Jus , minium injurln" IH of venerable age and IIIIH had the npprov- il of the best Jurisprudence JIH well as the best statesmanship of many centuries. It Is not mure "sophistry" - as somewhat hastily , I mipposo , It ban noon called but It may well bo quoted In support of the application of simple common sense to complicated and per plexing exigencies. 1 think there ) H not \ government In the world , not oven the most conscientious , that does not refrain from rigidly enforcing to the letter Home laws standing on its statute iiooks , either because they are nntl- Hinted or because such enforcement in practically Impossible or , If beneficial , would result In evils greater than those which those laws are to prevent or re press. Carl Schurz. Dntrn. The preparation of dried datou IB car ried on largely at Awabl , and as the season had now commenced I took the opportunity to observe the process and was taken round the factories by the Bhelk. The dates selected are picked before they are quite ripe. The fac tory had a chimney about fifteen feet lilgh and contained several open , cir cular , copper boilers , capable of hold ing live gallons each and nearly full of water. Into those vessels the dates are put and allowed to simmer over a Blow lire. As the water In the copper de creased from evaporation It was tilled up again , but It gradually became Inspissated by the extraction of the Juice of the date. The fruit Is left In the water about half an hour and Is then taken out and spread on mats or cloths In the sun to dry , after which it becomes hard and of a pale rod color. It is exported In largo quantities from Muskat to India. Geographical Jour nal. A RuiMlvnt of ( he Primitive. A Philadelphia philosopher thus ex plains the general preference for a wall table In a restaurant : "Primitive man ate In peril. The cave bear , the unber looth tiger , even some warrior of his own kind , was apt at any moment to leap upon him and to devour his food and perhaps himself. Therefore ho took his meals with his back against a cliff or In the corner of two adjoining cliffs , If possible , and with the open country before him. That , you see , was tl'o K.'ifoHt way for him to cat. He could not then be surprised. "And we still have In us that memory of the primitive man , and we still un consciously , when we sit down to our repasts , choose places that give us a wall for our protection. That and not a desire to see things Is what causes us to pick out walls and corners. You can eee as well from the middle of a roomer or from any other place , you know. " itf n. I'eimlon. When Thomas SnodgrasH , ex-collect or of Oanjam , Madras , was expelled from the service of the East India company owing to his extravagance , he applied for a pension , but the com pany turned a deaf car to him. Ac cordingly lie arrayed himself in tattered clothes and , armed with a broom , Bet to work sweeping a crossing in Loiul- cnlmll street in front of the East India house. Immediately all London was agog with the Intelligence that an old and distinguished olllccr of the East India company who had ruled over 100,000 people and reveled In a palace was now reduced In the evening of Ills life to the nccesBlty of earning his bread by sweeping the streets. The king was thunderstruck and implored Mr. Snodgrass to take himself and his broom away. This he did when the company ga\e him his pension. The Celt * nnd firreii. The early CcltH worshiped the dawn and the sunrise. It Is more than proba ble , therefore , that their liking for the color green which wo see In their flogs , sashes , etc. , arose from a mistake among those who had lost a thorough knowledge of the Irish language. The sun in Celtic Is called by a word pro nounced exactly like our word "green , " and it is likely that the Irish fondness for that color arose through the strik ing similarity of the two words. In the same way , when we talk about a greenhouse we think they ore so called because plants are kept green in them during the winter ; yet it Is far more probable that the word is derived from the old Celtic word for sun , because greenhouses are so built ns to catch the rays and heat of the sun and store them for future use. Kilned Coimdencc * . A well known English dean recently had the misfortune to lose his umbrel la , and he rather suspected that its ap propriation by another had not been altogether accidental. lie therefore used the story to point a moral in a bcrmon in the cathedral , adding that If its present possessor would drop it over the wall of the deanery garden during that night he would say no more about it. Next morning ho re paired to the spot and found his own umbrella and forty-five others. Lifted Up Forever. Mazzlni , whoso name is associated with the liberation of Italy , was once asked what ho would have taught In Bchool. "One thing , at any rate , In all , " re plied Mazzlni , "and tjiat is BOIHO knowl edge of astronomy. A man learns nothing if ho has not learned to won der , and astronomy , better than any science , teaches him something of the mystery nnd grandeur of the universe. "Now , a man who feels this will soon feel something of his own greatness and mystery , and. then for the first time be IB a man. " WITH DEAL THE mamr B Don't | > ny two rulrn tirnfllii wlii-n you luiv . . , . ' ' " " I > N 1 wllli Iho fin-lory < I < 1 our liiMint wliolrfuiln rnlrn , " , r mr , , * , , , r wlllnit illrw I In i iiMoim-iit M unvliiK Ilinumiiiilii of dulliitu In i-iirrlnK < < IHIII-M In VvWy"nriu-T Vf 1 WW W M'lsi'ijj'iiV'iMiiBi'A ' ' ' ' Ji'i ' ij-ih - v r i ir01" ' ) OH ti" " " ' M vte Saa/e five Profits for \nu on linriinw unit nllii-r liorm I-III | | | > IMI IIR | \\rlli ; for our frio llltintrnliHl rnliilUKiinlii nhlclivn illw-rlUi tin-liiiKKlifi.Mirri n.iitiii-loim , I'llUnit Imvi niiiiliiiiur fm'Kiry fiiiiidiH riirtlirlr liluli vrmln , Dnri'f wiill until jour m-cil In morn ( in-mlim ; wrllii lo-ilny unit liiiMiiinil | lijuoliy ( ) ou for liiliinimo. . 1IIC COLUMI1US CAIIRIAnc A IIAIINESS CO. , Columbus , . , . . . NO.MII iitiKKr rrlmfwiw 0. P.O. 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