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About The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19?? | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1903)
THE NORFOLK NEWS : FRIDAY , AVKIL 17 , 11103 3 , I ACROSS I / D'y MARION DENTLLY Copyrlttlit , 1KC , by thn 8. 0. MtCluro Company They reached ( lie edtfc of Fort Simp son one breathless July afternoon , HCC- Ing Its crude but promlnlng outlines as through n maze of nlkall dust , darkly. Their well provisioned prairie Bchoon- cr lumbered heavily on the heels of two fagged and panting horses. It had been a terrific trip on man and beast. The man lay , bright < \ved , dry lipped and silent , on the sluiUflUown In the wagon bed. Aa the horses stopped Instinctively amid the willows beside the stream the girl turned to her father with an encouraging smile. Hut at sight of him the smile changed to tense lines of horror. On the man's chin trickled a vivid crimson stain. An hour later Anita Murdock walked nway from the hastily Improvised camp with young Dr. Ilyrne. He glanced down at her pityingly. She was BO delicate , so quiet and so pret ty. What was her father thinking of ? Bhe was no more lit to take up a claim | and manage a ranch on little or no / . - capital than / She looked at him In mute inquiry. "I thought best not to say this be fore your father , but you must not 'think of resuming your journey. Ho would never survive the rough roads , and the rare air on top of the Divide would certainly bring on another hem orrhage. " "Then you mean that wo can never , go Into La Junta valley ? " 5 There was anguish In the question , ' and the doctor hesitated. "I believe the disappointment would kill him , " she continued. "Ever slnco we got that first railroad circular ho has been counting on going there , get ting well and strong and worklmj again. We've taken the La Junta Ban ner for six months , and we know Just Where we want to live and how to file our claim. Oh , we must go on ! " "Well , for the present you had better etop here and let your father rccuper- ULv * A UiliUia * null ii i a v-wii-i. * > . * any rate , there Is n tidy two room shack right back of my otlicc. The rent is cheap , and I can keep an eye on him until he is In shape to travel. It won't do for him to sleep hero on the river edge even one night. We must pull him together , you know. " And the doctor nodded encouragingly to the girl , who stood watching him With wide open , frightened eyes. So , all unwillingly , did the Murdocks take up their residence in Fort Simp- eon. The hot blasts of July merged into the sullen humidity of August , and one day In the freshening breath of September Henry Murdock tottered to the pqstolllce for the La Junta Banner. They read It together , he and Anita , read of the mountain locked valley where the sun never shone too " fiercely nor yet the blasts blew cruel ly ; where crops rose like nir castles in the night ; where the sick were made Well ; where and this was the best of all starved , weak lungs were fed and strengthened. The Murdocks knew all the prominent La Junta citizens by name , rejoicing with them In success , sympathizing with them In adversity. They lived in Fort Simpson , but their hearts were In La Junta. And now only the Divide , with its pitiless alti tude , stood between them and this promised land , to reach which they had sold their little Iowa home. That night after her father had fallen into a troubled sleep she footed up their account book. They had lived BO simply , yet little remained. If they sold the horses , they might reach the valley by rail , but mountain railroad fares are high , and without horses how could they farm ? She rose impulsively and hurried to Dr. Byrne's olilcc. lie received her with undisguised pleasure. Of late ho had felt that his calls had been un welcome. Very delicately they had hinted that professionally he was not needed , and he feared that they might view his obvious attempts to "drop In" socially as professional calls char itably paid. "Father seems stronger today. Don't you think he can stand the journey very soon ? " Dr. Byrne shook his head. "The nights are cold. There la al ways frost lii the mountains ? " "But you said when It was cooler , " she persisted. v Ho led her to the window and point ed silently to the distant mountain , 5\ where oven In the moonlight she could I catch the glint of snow patches. She clasped her hands In despair. "Why why did you tell me he could go later ? You knew all the time that he could not take the trip , and yet" She turned upon him fiercely and read that In his eyes which made her wrath burst Into a flame. In her un reasoning love for her father she read In this other man's love for herself Only selfishness. Ho had thought that If she stayed she might learn to love him. And now she hated him. "Oh , If I had never listened to you ! Now ho will stay here to die. " Dr. Byrne tried to take her hot hands In his , but she drew nway from him. "My dear girl , you nro well and . strong. For you the overland Journey 'has no horrors ; for your father it means death. " "Thou , " exclaimed Anita bitterly , "I must get something to do , BO that wo can go by rail. I thought it my duty to care for him , and now our money is nearly gone. " He gained possession of her hands this time. "Anita , It IB your duty to care for 'him ' until the end. Won't you let mo help you ? Mnrr.y mo tomorrow , and 1 will care for you l > oth. " "No , no ! " nlu > vxdnluuul passionate ly. "It has been Ills dream to go fhore. Dr llyrnc , If you love mo as you uny you do help me to get work anything that Is honest. " The man sighed and turned nway. He realized that he had no place In her heart or thoughts. When he faced her ngaln , his voice was calm and even. "I think It can bo arranged. Mrs. Gallagher needs some one to help her with the girls. You know her husband holds mi Interest In the Ten Strike , nd she wants to take the girls east , then abroad. They are irlW HH In dians , and she- has the sense to know they need training dowi > . Do you think" Jim Gallagher owned the largest sa loon and dance hall In Fort Simpson. Anita's face flushed , then paled. "Thank you. 1 will try It. " Two days later she was Initialled- governess In the noisy Gallagher house hold , with the privilege of going homo at night. She was to teach the glrla how to walk and talk and dress. Mm. Gallagher considered the last accom plishment most Important. She boon became extravagantly fond of Anltu and would have loaded her with pres ents , but the girl proudly declined ev erything except her salary. So the winter crept Into the tendw outstretched arms of spring , and Ani ta's bunk account grew. She had leased the horses to a wood hauler , and she had sewed nights. She wan too busy even to note the gradual change In her father. lie scorned con tent and quiet each evening when ulie came home , and she little guessed whose hand ministered to him during the day. The Gallaghers were departing for the east. Anita was at the depot t * ft c them off. The girls no longer shuf fled when they walked , and they un derstood the use of knives and forks. Mrs. Gallagher surveyed their neat traveling frocks with pardonable pride. Then she slipped an envelope Into Ani ta's hand. "Sure , you've done wonders by mo nrurls , an' it's that I've been tryln' to toll you In the letther. " When the ttrain pulled out , Anita opened the envelope. It contained no word of writing , Just a crisp banknote mat rainy IOOK ner ureatn. Aim ner salary had been paid in full. Anrta walked home on air. They would start for La Junta on the morrow. In the doorway stood Dr. Byrna shading his eyes with his hand and looking up at the everlasting hills. In her happiness she would have brushed by him , but he barred her passage. "Is he sleeping ? " she Inquired. Then something In the doctor's face caught and held her attention. "What is it ? No-no , not that ! " she cried. "Oh , God , and I have worked BO hard ! " She swayed In the doorway , and Dr. Byrne , taking her In his arms , led her gently Into the darkened room. His voice was low and comforting. "It came so suddenly , though I have seen Its shadow for Aveeks , dear. There was no time to send for you , and he left this word : 'Tell 'Nita I have crossed the Great Divide , but I will wait for her on the other side. Be good to her. ' Darling , will you let mo be good to you ? In your great sorrow don't try to stand alone. " Without replying she crossed the room , raised the sheet and looked long and steadily into her father's face. On It rested a smile of ineffable peace. The money fell noiselessly to the floor. It had been earned in vain. Then she turned and looked into the brown eyes bent pityingly upon her. "Harry , " she murmured , "he does not need it or me , and I am so tired. " Her head drooped wearily up on his shoulder , and his arms folded lovingly around her. Ilcfliicincnt. Refinement looks ever with disap proval upon heedless waste and need * less extravagance. She carefully counts the cost and makes the most of nil material brought to her hand. Consideration for others has made her watchful , and nothing In her charge Is squandered or wantonly consumed. To vulgar ostentation she firmly re fuses the radiant light of her counte nance , but seeks Instead the quiet nooks , the retired haunts where dwell those who know her true worth. The spirit of refinement lives even with those whose tastes are simple and pure , who make no pretenses , whose faith IB humanity is strong and real. To those endowed with kindly tact and genial wit , who employ all means of good within their command , whose hearts tre touched by the grief and misery around them and who are quick to BOO and respond to others' wants with these , too , the spirit lives. They who vntertain this guest are clean in mind and person , and the motto hung upon the spiritual walls of home Is "Cleanll- nees Is Next to Godliness. " Ink n an Baraclie Cure. AM amusing story Is told of a man ( who was suddenly attacked In the night by a violent fit of earache. Hi * wlfo told him that there was on tb window sill by the bed a bottle ol hloroform and recommended him to rub some on his face. Without striking a light ho reached out for the bottle , pulled out the stop per and , pouring some of the contents Into his hand , anointed his face from mouth to car. Very soon he announced that the pain was better , lay down again and went to sleep. Ho was awakened In the morning by a cry of horror from his wife. "What Is the matter ? " he Inquired. "Look at your face ! " was the reply. A glance In the glass showed him that his face on ono sldo was black as a negro's. The bottle which he had grasped In the dark had contained not chloroform , but Ink. Milwaukee Wis consin. OHSE , BDGGY BU ] ) JffltHESS GIVEN AWAY ! Absolutely Free to the MOST POPULAR LADY Married or Single , in Northeast Nebraska. The Norfolk News wishes to increase the circulation of both The Daily News i and The Weekly News = Journal. In order to do this and do it effectively , this paper will on OCTOBER IS , 1903 , Give Away , Free , * * A Handsome Driving Horse , A Fine , Rubber-Tired Rxmabout , And a Complete Set of Harness j To the Lady receiving the Largest Number of Votes in this contest up until 12 O'CLOCK INOOIN : on that day. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING to Vote in this Contest. How will you go ahout it to Secure this Magnificent Prize ? Here you are : DMIL.Y. Every subscription paid for ono year in advance will entitle subscriber to 012 votes. Every subscription paid for six months in advance will entitle subscriber to 15(5 ( votes. Every subscription paid for three months in ad vance will entitle subscriber to 78 votes. Every old subscriber who pays arrearages will bo entitled to six votes for each week paid. Each copy of the paper will contain a free ballot which will be counted provided it is voted within the time limit specified on the ballot. t WEEKLY. Every subscription paid ono year in advance will entitle subscriber to lifty-two votes. Every subscription paid for six months in advance will entitle subscriber to twenty-six votes. Every subscription paid Cor throe months in ad vance will entitle subscriber to thirteen votes. 1C very old subscriber who pays arrearages will bo entitled to fifty-two votes for each year paid. Votes for fractional parts of a year will bo issued in proper tion. Each copy of the paper will contain ono free Ballot which will be counted provided il is cast within the time limit specified on ballot. > > After having entered the race , the name of the lady will be continued upon the list , which will be published from day to day. Candidates will not be permitted to combine votes already counted , against any other. The ballot box will be placed in The INews Office , where votes will be deposited , counted and frequently published. Coupons may be brought in or sent by mail. The judges , consisting of three prominent citizens , will be appointed at the close of the contest to count the votes. A coupon , to be counted , must be deposited before the expiration of the week that follows the week of its publication. Each one will be dated. IT WILLPKY YOU to get your friends interested early in voting for you. A horse that goes , a rubber tired buggy that rides easily and a harness that is good to look upon will be a pretty tribute to the winning lady from her friends. WE ALL HAYE SOME FRIENDS Who has the most of them ? The contest will tell. The sooner you subscribe , the more FREE votes you will have. Subscriber's Ballot. FREE VOTE. ) > > < J > < SKfH > X ! > < J * Xs > The Norfolk News : Enclosed find $ for subscription to The Norfolk Dally News , The Norfolk Weekly News-Journal , ( ErnBO Ono Not Wanted ) With it I cast rotes for of Nebraska , as my choice in The News Horse and Buggy Contest. The Norfolk News Popular Prize Contest , I hereby vote for / of , Nebraska , as my choice iu The Norfolk News Free Horse and Bnggy Contest. ( This Coupon , when clipped from The News and properly filled out , counts for ONE VOTE , if deposited before Saturday $ noon , April 25,1003. t > , Any Lecdy * Ma.y Enter This Contest and receive the prize with a large enough vote. Every Paper Contains a FREE i BALLOT. You get more when you subscribe. Get your friends to take The i : News. It will pay you and be doing them a favor at the same time.