Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 1886)
I4 VH hV , V f i r i , t- u I ' Wfeere Iiove Was Not. Oaoe In a dream 1 saw a blackened world Hung nigh In space, by bitter winds oer- dhjwu; i And there no forests were, no flowers Brew, i No rivers flowed: but all wns dark and drear. , And on that emoke-encircled sphere there were No cities full of life; no children spent Glad hours in play; there laughter no er was beard. And day was endless day, and night ne'er With tired husband secMng home and wire. And "homo" was but a mocking echo there. And walking o'er that world I met a man. Or ghost of what was man, wau, staring- cyw3 And bowed as though with age, albeit his locks Were fair, and ecemingr youthful was his fHCC ,,. And unto bim 1 6aid in question: by This waste and desolation, and where are !tte people that once dwelt upon this world.' And slow he made reply. "But yesterday Did Love remove bis court from this drear globe. Which was as fair a world ns ever camo From the Creator's hand, and now. 60 soon. That Love is flown has como this awful change . , . The chcerlessncss, the people dead and t gone." Ho turned from mc, it seemed, and 1 awoke Back in a world that Is controlled by Love. Meredith Nicholson. Song of a Lily. Her lino array was wrought in looms of air. And woven by tho shuttles of the sun. In noiseless warp and woof of tissue fair. And kindly juices from the warm earth won; And all of wandering odors that were sweet Were caught within her silken web of light; And perfumed rains that wept around her feet Their fragrance yielded in the summer night- Tho lily toiled not. spun not. yet she grew In loveliness supreme, from day to day: A hand Divine imparted every hue. And clothed her in her beautiful array. The boon of dews, and rain, and as a kiss: Her white and suppliant petals, clasped in prayer. Gave silent thanks amid created bliss. 01 if such issues, spring from gifts of thine. If such unfoldings on thy bounty wait. The ambient airs which nurse the llfo dlvlno My soul shall steep, my spirit satiate. It shall be mine with suppliant band to claim Tho utmost boon thy treasuries may bold; Why should the lily's bloom my spirit shame. When Earth is rich and Heaven Is raining sold? Clara Thwaltca. It" A LOVE TIFF. They had a love-quarrel. Ethan Nash nnd Tilly Fogg had been the mnct nnmAst nf lovers, esneclallv Tilly. Ethan did not betray half the warmth about it that she did, because it never was in him; but if ever man wanted more devotion, and affection, and all that sort of thing than Tilly Fogg gener ously lavished on Ethan Nash, he must have been an unnatural and exacting fellow. For some days they had been very careful not to speak to one another. No two people ever tried so hard to bo entirely indifferent each to the other. At last it got to be so bad that Ethan had stayed away from Tilly for two or three weeks. How he managed to do it was a mystery, and always will be; it can be explained only on principles of contraries, and sulks, and oddities. It was getting to be rather unpleas ant, considerca in all points of view. There was poor Tilly almost dying from the treatment, though she never would have entered a complaint of any sort in the car of any living soul; her eye was beginning to lose a little of its usual brightness 1 could sec it plainly enough and the red roses on her cheeks were fading rather fast There happened to be another young miss in the village, who had been teach ing the district school during the sum mer, and had finally concluded that it would be tho plcasantest thing she could do to stay through the winter, too, and visit around. Just at this particular time sho was staying at Squire Judkin's house. Her name Was Lucy Doane. Lucy Doane was just the smartest girl, in her own estimation, I think I ever knew. Having been selected to in struct tho 3oungcr portion of tho chil dren tho past summer in nccdlowork and a-b, ab, and being considered com petent to keep the smallest ones from rolling off the benches, while asleep, upon the floor, she somehow reasoned heraelf into the complacent idea Jthat there was no lady in tho place who could beat her in conversation, correct grammar, or, indeed, any of tho accom plishments that were going. She wore glasses with silver bows, mitts on her hands, and always kept her work-bag on her left arm. A per fect picture of a "school-marm" in all the person's parts and qualities. At this particular time there was a deep fall of snow on the ground, and the sleighing was glorious. Bells and belles made the old country roads mer ry, far and near. There were parties without number to tho neighboring towns, making up merry dances in every old tavern-hall, where the screech of the liitdiu had ever resounded. Well, to make the story as short as possible, Ethan received a very neatly written note one afternoon from Lucy Doane, written in her characteristic style of precision and firmness, all cor rectly phrased and spelled, 63'ing that she would bo very happy to accept his polite invitation to go to the next ball over at Uptieid, anil would hold herself in readiness accordingly. What's all this!" exclaimed Ethan when he had fairly read the note through. He was puzzled and confounded. "I never invited Lucy Doane to go to the Upheld ball in my life! Why, what does bhe mean? I'm sure 1 don't know how to proceed in such a case!" Which was all perfectly true. Ethan Nash was in a regular quandary. So he came right over to consult with me about it. Why he selected me out of all the rest of his numerous acquain tances in the village. I never knew, and irobably never shall, but he came and aid the matter plainly before me, aud says he: Sow, John, I want your advice." You shall have it, with all my heart," says L "I'm in'a regular fix," said he. "You sec, the way of it is this: Here I've got a letter from Lucy Doane," producing it from his pocket, and holding it out at arm's-length, "and sho says in that let ter that she is very happy to accept my kind invitation to go to the sleighing party up to Upheld, when the fact is I never asked her to go with mc in my life." I could not holp 6miling. "Rather awkward," I suggested. "Isn't it? Now I wish you would tell me what I'd better do about it" "Do?" "Yes, what would you do? You see, I must do something." "Oh, certainly; that letter must be answered somehow." "Then what would you say to it How would you try to get out of it, John" I'd up and thank her for accepting," said I, "and then I'd secure a nice sleigh against the time came around and carry her." "You would! The Old Harry must be in you!" "On the contrary, I assure you it's just the best thing you can possibly do. Just take my advice for once and see -what will come of it" He hung down his head, put the note in his pocket, and suffered himself to think of it There was uo chance of escape. He saw for himself, thanks to his native common-sense, that the best way to silence that battery was to walk straight up to it. Which ho did, and sent back his mes sage of tbanks to Lucy for deigning to comply with his request The afternoon of the sleigh-ride was cold and biting as you would care to read about Even at noon the sun had not Mt a single icicle to running at the aves, and the snow in the road-track was as smooth 'and polished as mar ble. "I've got my sleigh," said Ethan to mc, in a rather confidential manner. "It's Ben Ball's cutter. He didn't want to use it himself. Jake's going with a two-horse establishment But mind you I had to pay for it!" When the twilight advanced what little there was of it at that time of the yearI S;lw Ethan Nash driving up pell-mell with ToinNickinson's fiery lit tle mare, the cutter digging her heels like a sledge after a reindeer. Ethan bad as much as he could do to manage her. Subsequent to that slight glimpse of Ethan, buzzing by my window as he did, I caught no other until I stood in the little ball-room, having ushered in (as I thought) a very handsome young lady in a fancy dress with "fixings' to correspond, and taken a modest, if not decidedly timid survej- of the floor. There was Ethan in full feather. He was dressed "with all his might," and couldn't have spared a single item of his inventory without damaging ins el- j fectivencss decidedly. 1 fact, he meant i to be killing. Near where he stood sat Lucy Doane, I simpering and whimpering behind her i half-spread fan, her round face as red as a wasting winter-apple, her eyes up turned to him in an exceedingly lan guishing style, and lots of young girls surveying them with feelings so mixed that 1 shall be excused from describing them. By the bye in came Tilly Fogg with Edward Marks. How Ethan did stare straight at her, and how she did stare straight back at him; I sat where I could see it all; and there were others that saw it as well. For a few minutes the friends and acquaintances of each party were instantly engaged in regarding their conduct : Ethan instantly threw his eves nD at the opposite wall. just as if there were ' i. m:ii.. v : l. : no buun person :u miy j;s "lu room. On her part, to exhibit a proper degree of resentment she pursed her pretty mouth, gave her head a contempt uous toss, and acted as independently as if she was to lead off in the dance herself that night; and knew it Well, and what was a little strange, too, she did lead off, standing with her fiartner, who was a young student ol aw in the office of Siinfre Docket at tho head qf the figure. How elegant she looked in her taste ful dress and with her beautiful color! What an air of queenly pride she portrayed as she smoothed down the glossy hair on her temples and looked over the rustic crowd a if she knew well enough that she was the belle of tho evening. Ethan stood a good way down the floor, and it was noticeable what an everlasting chat his fair partner Lucy Doane kept up for him behind her well-spread fan. Only once or twice Ethan's eyes wandered up to where the little figure of Tilly Fogg was standing, but Lucy Doane watched every move ment and brought him back to his senses again. As for Tilly, she was perfectly wretch ed, though slic did laugh and chatter so much with her partner, the young law student There was excess in her actions, aud that was enough to betray her. Anyone with even half an eye could sec that at once. But no doubt it as sisted to heighten her beauty; for but for this unhappy pressure on her pride and her self-will, there would have been no such suffusion about her cheeks, nor no such imperious expression about her beautiful eyes. "I don't sec but what we arc really making out a nice time of it" said Ethan to Lucy. "This is line very fine!" said Ed ward Marks to Tilly at about the same moment It was something of a coincidence, and deserving of a chronicler, as here it finds one. When we went down to supper the confusion was cxeossivc. They all rushed into the supper-room in a state bordering on despair, acting as if there was but one chance in a thousand of their ever getting another mouthful to cat in the world. The tables groaned, and so did those who sat down to them before the got up. There was a smart business done for some time in the way of eating, and hungry folks might have looked with a hearty relish and envied them. The party broke up toward early morning, dancers, fiddlers, and all. By the dull light of the stars that winked and twinkled so steadily far off in the sky, they sallied forth from before tho door in "their sleighs for home again. Ethan and Lucy Doane felt consider ably sleepy on their way back, and, as a consequence, very little was said by cither during their brisk ride. As for Tilly and the young student, she was entirely unhappy, and he was shall 1 confess ltr a very little "mashed! j It w:is easy enough for everybody to see now that Ethan Nash and Tilly t loved one another, and this show of in difference on their nart was the greatest i piece of mere acting heartless and hol- . low imaginable. j The rest of us who knew all this and more, too. from the beginning, deter mined to put an end to it They had been living on "stuff' a great while longer than they ought to have done. So the next d:ry there was a concert ed arrangement made among ourselves to bring them all together. It was over at Susan Wilde's house. and the hour was just before tea. i .. . n . rirstcamc in hihan. lie was going round to dissipate the day through, and we knew at about what time he would be there. Then followed Lucy Doane She was all smiles and syllables, for she felt confident as she ever wanted to be that she had at last won tho heart of Ethan Nash. In her presence, however, he was rather quiet than otherwise. The mo ment she came in he stopped talking. She saw it and half stopped, too. By-and-by, who should run up to tho door, all muffled up to her pretty eyes, but Tilly Fogg! She had been sent for. for that was at the bottom of the ar rangement. It could never have suc ceeded without her. She came clear into the room beforo she knew who was there, and the mo ment the startling intelligence revealed itself through her eyes she made a movement as if to have retreated with precipitation, had not Susan stood close at her back, and crowded her along so as to shut the door. There they were, then, all together; not one of the three unhappy parlies had previously thought of such a thing. "Now," said I to all hands, "what's the trouble?" "Yes," said Susie Wilde, who was a real good little girl, "what is the matter, sure enough?" "Why?" said Tilly, reining herself in proudly, and looking everywhere but at Ethan. "Who said anything was the matter?" blurted out Ethan, who couldn't have held his tongue to save his life. . "See here," said I. "You, Tilly, arc very unhappy. You needn't tell me you are not for 1 know well enough you are; I could see it last night" She tried to be indignant but made only a poor feint of it "Now. Lucy," 1 continued, "what made you go so readily to the dance with Ethan if he never invited vou?" Lucy was instantly as mad as a March hare. "He did invite mc, I'd have you to know!" she exclaimed, fixing her spec tacles anew tton her nose. "He didn't!" broke in one of the girls who was in the secret "We did it We got up that invitation ourselves!" "And I " she hesitated in her confusion- "Then vou didn't " chimed in the relieved Tilly, for the first time speak ing to Ethan. "No, never!" tic answered with ready emphasis. "Then I forgive you!" said Tilly, much lightened in her mind. And she cordially extended her hand. Ethan not only took it but he kuew his duty well enough to turow his arms about her and kiss uer besides. Lucy Doane flounced out of her chair, and started for the door. "I don't care," said she; "I've been engaged this ever so long to tho minis ters son over in Filield, and now I'll marry him!" "I would," amiably answered Ethan, not letting Tilly quite go out of his arms. And the party was made smaller by the suddeu withdrawal of the brisk lit tle "school-marm." The rest of us sat down to a supper a real hearty country supper and a 1 grand good lime we made of it too. I There was no more trouble for Tilly and Ethan; their differences were all healed. m JEAN PKGOLA3. Jean Pegolan, farmer of Eyevcttes, is in a good humor this evening. Around him the wind is sighing among the leaves of the trees the melancholy song of autumn, while the low sun is sending its red, level rays through the branches. The sky is dark blue, tho scent pene-. t rating and spicy of the fallen leaves fills tlie forest and Jean Pegolan, moved half unconsciously by the ripe, mellow beauty of all around him, touches his good "gray mare with his whip lightly to hurry her on her homeward way. it is true that tho German army is marching on Paris; true that the Prus sians have pillaged a village here, burned a farmhouse there, and even that they have shot some inoffensive peasants now and then; but after all, what is that to Jean Pegolan? His horses, his cattle, his fields have not suffered from the marauders. In the town wltere he has just sold his crops he saw sonic Prussians and real ly they were not such monsters but men like ourselves. Just as he turns at the Croix-Verte, the village with its high church tower, the weathercock on the top, turned to burning, molten gold by the rays of the setting sun, meets his eye. At that sight Jean Pegolan smiles, already he tastes in imagination the good soup smoking on the table in ex pectation of iiis arrival, and his mouth waters. "Allons! Hue la Grise." But la Grise stops suddenly. A Ger man aide-de-camp has ridden up, nnd forced to draw rein bj' the narrowness of the road, and Jean Pegolan, being rather slow in turning out for him, the officer raises his whip and the lash cuts across the farmer's face from car to car. Certainly the farmer of Eyevettes has a most profound" respect for the conquerors of his native land, but at this blow rage filled his heart Standing up in his cart he returns it with interest The heavy wooden seat comes crash ing down upon the head of the Prus sian, who tumbled off his horse with a broken skull. In the forest tho trees are tall; silence broods over all; the moon is rising slowly above the horizon from behind a veil of light, transparent clouds. Pegolan. his rage gone as quickly as it came, glances teariuHv about him. The Prussian has tumbled head fore most into a dry dilch, his heels high in the air, his face buried in the mud at the bottom. There is small fear of his returning to relate this adveuturo to his brothel's in arms. "Alloiih! Hue la Grise!" And the mare bounds under the lash and sets ofl for home at a gallop. They have all been driven like a ilock of sheep into the church the peasants of the neighborhood. Thev are huddled together in the nave of the. building sonuiTvury pale, others very red the throats of all choked with fear. Through the tall, tin painted win dows of the church a crude light falls, cutting large bleak squares upon tho rude blouses and lighting up cruelly these faces, of which terror has drawn the lips and pinched tho nostrils. Above tho altar, between two unlighted wax tapers, hangs a great plaster image of the crucified Savior; its outstretched arms seemed to be blessing those below. From the graveyard surrounding the church come the heavy, pungent odors of the dying leaves, mingled with the chattering of the sparrows quarreling among the tombstones. The evening before a German patrol had discovered at the crossroads of the Croix-Verte the body of the murdered Uhlan lying in the ditch murdered by one of the cowardly peasants without doubt At dawn a battalion of Saxon chas seurs has marched into Eyevettes, and, by order of tho commander, alt the men round about have been driven into and shut up in the church. They have been given till noon to discover and deliver upvthe assassin to justice. That time past and the murderer not found, the village with its outlying farms will be set on fire. Half-past 11 has just been tolled from tho clock tower. (3. if they, tho peas ants, only knew who this assassin, this murderer, this bandit was, who had brought them into this predicament, how gladly would they deliver him up. If necessary, they would hang him with their own hands. But alas, they do not know, and time is passing. He who could free his neighbors and friends from this embarrassment, who could say to them with truth: "Tho murderer, the assassin, the bandit it is I behold him!" he is very careful not to utter a word. Seated in the shadow of one of the confessionals, his cap drawn down tightly over his eyes, sick with fear, Jean Pegolan thinks of his wife so young and enticing; of his cows ruminating peacefully in the mea dow; of his hay bursting "through the ; windows of his granary; and he tells himself that to die now is to leave all these good gifts of Providence forever. Would he not therefore, be very stu pid to confess? After all, he did not mean to kill the Prussian; he had no idea he struck so hard. And with those j arguments he quiets his conscience. j If the lot to die falls on an innocent man, why, so much the worse for the poor wretch yes, everybody .lor Him self in this selfish world. Ding, dong, ding. Eleven and three quarters riug out from the church stee ple. Only a quarter of an hour left to them to make up their minds. The vibrations of the bell die slowly away, and silence, like a great dark bird, falls down upon the vaulted room. Then the regular, heavy tread of a company of soldiers is heard outside a harsh voice calls "Halt!" and the butts of the muskets fall with a hollow clanging sound on the ground. De cidedly it is time for the prisoners in the church to discover the murderer. Now one among them whispers a name. It is only a whisper, yet some how every one has heard it Quickly, quickly those about who have no desire to be shot or turned out of houso and home take it up it resounds from every side. Jean Pegolan draws'a great breath of relief. It is not his name that he hears. It is that of a poor wretch, half , woodcutter, half poacher a "red" who I voted non at the plebiscite. The mis erable man has a sickly wife and three small children, of whom the oldest one has just begun to run about alone. The death of the father will leave his familv frh flio ffcf tinnrrui- Itrit if fio fltft not absolutely kill the Prussian, he is capauiu ut nuiuj: u. xueu, too, ne is a beggar a thief and tho others are rich farmers, honest tillers of tho soil Yes. justice beforo mercy. In vain the unhappy wretch protests his innocence of tho crime, affirming that the day and evening of the murder he did not leave his hut He had hurt himself the day before in felling a tree. All day long he lay on his bed; they can send for his wife, she will boar witness that he is telling the truth, lu vain he drags himself on bis knees from this one to the other, praying in a voice suf focated with agony for mercy, for pity, not for himself, but for his sickly wife, his children of such a tender age. Sil ence, stern, inexorable, replies to his prayers. From his corner, bathed in sweat, Jean Pegolan listens to the condemned man's pleading, dreading that the pnry ers of the unhappy wretch may succeed in melting his hearers' hard hearts, and he may obtain the mercy for which he implores a useless fear" on Pegolan's part. The peasants are only too relieved to have at last found a way out of their difficulty. They arc anxious to have done with the matter, to be rid of the ight of this man, who kneels thero tear ing his hair and shrieking out curses on them for their selfishness aud cruelty. And the great white image of Christ bends over them all; his gracious head crowned by the cruel thorns. Now tho portals of the church door are suddenly thrown wide open, show ing the square outside bristling with bayonets. In the doorway appears the platoon of execution, their guns shining m the warm, dusty light which falls down from above. Twelve o'clock rings out from the belfry. A volley of musketry rings out, fol lowed by u short, panting shriek, and tho corpse of the beggar lies there in the dusty road, his blood gleaming in the sunlight stains the soles of the shoes of the soldiers as they wheel about; while the mounted German officers look down scornfully its they ride away, upon the body of the French coward who died screaming like a woman. Jean Pegolan is returning to his farm. Sapristi, how pleasant it is to be home again. The hens are comfortably scratching in the barnyard, the pigeon's cooing on the roof," the ducks lazily swimming up and down tho pond. From ttie outhouses, which have for tunately escaped the depredations of the Prussians, comes the grave lowing of the milch cows, to which the strident neighing of La Grise responds. The sheaves of wheat upon the granary floor fill the inclosure with a warm, yel low light; above the piled up hay threatens to burst through tho low win dows. The farmer of Eyevcttes gives himself a shake; he feels that his shirt is still damp upon his back. He enters his house. A woman it is his wife is kneeling, weeping by tho bedside. She rises at the sounifof the opening door. "What, have they not shot you?" sho exclaims. "It was you," she continues, "who killed the Pntssiau at the Croix Verte. After you were gone I found the blouse you wore there was blood on it." "Keep quiet, keep quiet It is quite true. But you will not betray mc?" "Have no fear; but you," returned his wife with a shudder, "you you let an other man be shot in your place?"' "It was not my fault. It was the niairie who made the choice." "Jean Pegolan, you wretch; you wicked coward, adieu." Pegolan has fallen into a chair. Deep down in his heart there stirs a feeling akin to ivmor.e. And as tho cart drives off. carrying away with it his wife, who has left tiim to return to her parents, ho remains huddled up in his chair. Even ing draws on. The Saxon battalion marches away to the sounds of life and drum. The wife and children of tho murder ed man are left to die ot hunger. By this time Jean Pegolan had recovered his .serenity. After all. those bandits of Prussians did not burn his farm. 7'c plc liar. WIT AND HUMOR. i A correspondent wi-hes to know how editors spend their leisure hours. Leisure hours! O, j'es; they spend them catching up with their work. Burling ton Free l'ress. I An exchange tells how to make an umbrella case. Easy enough steal the umbrella. But who ever heard of an umbrella case being brought to trial, anyway. Darlington Free l'ress. In a bathhouse. Customer (frantical ly) Here! I say! There are no towels here. Proprietor In a moment sir. The gentleman in number seven is near ly through with it. The Itambler. A philosopher says that only through failure can success be attained. This is perhaps the reason that so many mer chants purchase expensive houses after having failed. New Haven News. An advertisement reads: "Wanted, a young man to bo partly out of doors and partly behind the counter," and the Cleveland Leader asks: "What will be the result when the door slams?" Guest (rising excitedly from the table, after tasting an olive for the first time) "It's sorry I'd be to disturb the hilar ity of the mating, but I belave some joker's been salting the guseberries!" Judy. "How is this, son-in-law; you went to the ball last night and here it is scarce ly two months since yon lost your wife?" "I acknowledge it- belle mamma, but then, you know, I dance so sadly!" French Fun. There are little, sweet pretty, and green oases all through the desert of life, but the fat man who breaks a sus pender on a hot day when running to catch a train doesn't think of this. Boston Courier. Wanted the address of an officer serving in the battle of Gettysburg above the rank of Major who didn't "save the day" or "turn the tide" at some critical point of that momentous struggle. Washington Star. They have some bright pupils in the Tyngsborough schools. At the examin ation the other day n boy was asked, "What are the warmth-producing foods?" His reply was, "Cayenne pep per and Jamaica ginger." Lcwiston (Me.) Journal. When you have an etching of Millet's "Angelui" don't put a Japanese fan under it and when your longing for Greek art is gratified by a plaster cast of the Venus di Milo don't enhance its beauty with a surah scarf drape. Toronto Olobe. ' A local paper in Virginia chronicles that mosquitoes are very thick this spring. e never saw a very thick mosquito, nor do we fear one of that sort The sting's the thing, wherewith he jabs while hovering on the wing. Philadelphia Vail Dumley Fish may bo good brain food, but 1 can't see that it has any ef fect upon me. Robinson How often do you eat it? Dumley I've been eat ing it three times a day. Robinson You don't eat it often enough, Dumley. New York Sun. I "The picture is very fair, Brown, bnt you look too sad." "Yes, 1 looked aad on purpose. You see it's for my wife, who is in the country, and if it looked bright and cheerful she'd be coming home to find out what the matter was." New York Times. "Well, now, Mary, the cook, has left us," said she, in deep distress, "and what sort of shape are we in now?" "In the shape of a polygon," he respond ed with great glee, for be was a para grapher, and had never got off a good thing so impromptu before. Judge. I Attheclub: Breakfast time. '"Walt taw." YesMr." "G.vo mo, aw, some oatmeal, a toiu.-itnw salad, a u-oll, and a pint of St. .jtiiien." "Ysir. And a nice littlo stunk or chop, air?" "Steak! Chop! Ciks it! Do you think 1 am a tnuck dwivar?" joiv.-i Topics. "Look hero." remarked Do Wiggs to the corner grocery, "litis pavement is awfully ii iprciy. Wuiy don't you. throw some sand on it?" -Can't ;et a bit," replied the grota-r. "Well, throw some sugar over it; the pavement won't know the difference." "Chestnut!" yelled the grocer. Proprietor to Clerks I have procured a complete stock of medieiues. gentle men, and .should any of you bo taken suddenly ill while tho b.iso-bali season continues at the polo grounds, you will not need to go home, as I can prescribe for you myself right here on the prem ises. I'uek. Mrs. A went into the kitchen ono morning and informed Ellen that Mr. Thompson, a neighbor and a prominent resident, had committed suicide. Ellen looked at her with an expression of mingled astonishment and disgust, and said: "Oli-h-h. mum. has he? Wid who?" Harper's Monthly. Customer (to drug clerk) "What do you charge for arsenic?" Drug clerk (suspiciously) "What do you wnnfit for?" Customer "I am a French caudy manufacturer." Drug clerk (suspicions allayed) "O. I beg pardon sir; I thought perhaps you wauted to take it yourself." New York Hun. First detective Hist; I'm on the track of a burglar. Second detective Hush! So am I. There's my man. First detective Saw loukee here, that's my brother: he's all right Como. help me catch my man. See him there? Second detective -Coiiioiuitl you; that's my father. Omaha Wortd. Now that Niagara rapids have been safely navigated there is but one moro world to conquer. If smut: man will go into Wall street and come out unseratch ed the Niagara Falls herd will not ho worthy to blaek his shoe. 1 hero's a lig gate to immortality. Who'll be Iho first? Columbus (O'fl.) Enquirer. "I wonder if I would look well in black?" saitl a briilo ot but three months' standing to a lady friend. "Why. a.o any of your relatives serious ly ill?" -No buttny husband insists on having uvd cucumbers every morn ing for breakfast, and 1 cannot talk him out of thorn." t'hilndelphui News. "Mr. Jones, yon might lend me that novel. I have Ixvn wanting to read it for some time." "1 am heart-broken at being compelled to rclnse, my dear niidame; but i'vi; mado it a tule not to lend books they an; never returned. Tho prnot is b fore yon. Yon sec how well stoeki d with volumes my shelves are? Well, thev are all borrowed!" Tul-IUts. Now comes an iconoclast and says that there is a colored man who lives at Mount Vernon, wlioro George is buried, and he told a lady that on on there was a liulu .slave boy named Ike, who lived in Mr. Washington's family, and that what George really said was: "I cannot toil a lie. lather. Ike did it:" but that tin- fatiier didn't hear .straight. At-ttf Yutk PosL "Got any "ggs to-day. Mr. Coltl cheosf?"' "Ye . sir. plenty of thetn." "Ate ilii'V liv.-.b?" "I'roh. sir. a tho tlowois thai ihem!' Then I don't want an." "Don't want any?'' "No, sir. I'm going to lecturo to-night, and I thought if 1 could run across some stale eggs " " "Stale, .sir! Thero hain't an egg in that barrel that was laid this year." I'hUaddphia Call. Young Lady (to a young minister) I trust that our leaving last evening during the Kuruioii did not annoy you. Mr. Whitochokor. Bur mamma felt very ill. and we. thought it best to go. Young Minister (profusely) You did quite right. Mi.v Smith. 1 assure you I was not annoyed in the least. Young Lady You are very kind to say so, but 1 suppose vou get leed to that sott of er yes. pour mamma, is a dreadful sufferer at times. A'ew York Sun. Minks "See hero, Biuks. you must Im getting crazy. I hear you backed your old nag against Lightning last week." Binks "1 did.'" "You'might have known you'd lose. Lightning is the fastest horse in seven counties, and ours can't go a milo in four minutes." "'lhatisail right, but 1 know Light ning's driver, aud my old nag would have won if it hadn't been for an acci dent" "What .sort of an accident?" "Lightning's reins broke." Omufia World. COCKENOES ISLAND. It I Maid to be Haunted ty th Ghost of Charlie Rom. People tell some strange stories abont Cockenoes island, a pretty bit of land containing about twenty acres and sit uated three miles to the eastward of this place, writes a Norwalk. Conn., correspondent of the Boston Olobe. The island has had the reputation of being haunted by the ghost of the ill fated Charlie Ross, and for years it has been untenanted save by parties of campers-out one of whom, the other day, rescued the unfortunate German boy who was found floating in a water logged boat two miles offshore. A story which is devoutly believed by people living in the vicinity of the island is inai tne cones oi naruc noss lie buried in some portion of the island, nnd within a week something has hap pened which has caused considerable excitement hereabouts. About the time of tho excitement over the kidnaping of the boy two hard looking citizens were often seen on the island. They occupied a house that still remains standing. People who visited the island were peremptorily ordered off the place by these men, but a number of people caught a glimpse of a little boy whom the men appeared to guard with jealous care, and they al ways strove to get him out of sight as quickly as possible whenever anyone visited the island. Tho great anxiety of the men to keep the boy out of sight aroused suspicion, and the men and their prisoner were at once connected with the kidnaping case. Many attempts wcro made to got a good fook at the boy, but they failed. One party, consisting of three well known citizens, two of whom are liv ing, landed on the island one day and hastened to the house. Their approach was unobserved, and they attempted to get inside the house, when one of the men, with an oath, blocked the door way, and, whipping out a knife, threat ened to stab the first man who dared to cross the threshold. The party had not prepared for such a warm reception, ami they beat a hasty retreat One day tbo two men were seen leav ing the island, but the boy was not with them. Ono or two men immediate ly set out in a Doat and visited tho island in the hope of finding the lad. They reached the old honse and found it deserted- The premises looked as though the late occupants bad left for good. Everything had been removed or destroyed. Not a trace of the lad could bo found. The nieu did not come back, and the 6tory is that tho child was murdered in the old house and his remains buried on the spot Many fiartics dug up the dirt floor of the cel ar, but without finding any trace of a murder. The other day an elderly man, poor ly and roughly dressed, rowed out to the island and visited the house. Sever al residents who saw him declare that he bears a close resemblance to one of the two men who lived there so mysteri ously years ago. The old man drew some plaus of the honse and made some rough measurements of the cellar near the east wall. The man left as auietlv J 1 as he came, and refused to answer any questions. Immediately after the old man's visit somo young fellows went to the island and out of curiosity, commenced to dig near the wall where the mysterious stranger had taken measurements, and they unearthed a human skull and several bones so they .said. Their story is accepted by the towusfolk. although thero are thoao who say that the bones thev dug up probably belonged to the dog the two men used to keep at the island. I Several old residents say that tbo ap pearance of the lad who was kept a t prisoner on the island tallies exactly i with the description of the curlv-haired Charlie Ross as printed in tho news papers. One or two gentlemen living here believe that he was murdered on the islaud, and will make attempts to clear up tho mystery. footprints" in the kock. Traces of a Race Discovered oa Stone Fourteen Fret Underground. A block of stone some twenty-four inches square arrived iu this city a few days since aud is now in the office of Mr. H. H. Leavitt. late United States Consul to Maiiaqua, Nicaragua. It is an object of curiosity, for deep in it is the impression of a human foot, which fact is rendered all the more singular as it was taken from a stratum fourteen feet below the earth's surface. This specimen, for after all it is only a speci men not merely an isolated block curiously impressed was taken from the bottom of a stone-quarry which for a space of 200 feet long aud seventy feet wide bore traces ot the countless feet ot adults and children. No particular direction of motion was indicated by the imprints, as the toes pointed in many ways, which would not have been the case had the movement been a com mon one among tho race oi people who left their footprints on the sands. Several blocks cut from the same stratum were sent to Vienna during the last year and are now in the National Museum, but the geologists nnd scien tists were unable to arrive at any con clusion as to the period when the im prints were made, as the gentlemen who sent them did not send specimens of tho overlaying strata. This Mr. Lea vitt guarded against, ami he showed to the Herald rejiorter yesterday specimens of every strata to the number of eleven, as well as an engineer's diagram of the quarry and exact measurements. The stoueitsolf is a remarkable specimen. The foot is most ciearly defined, the lines, curves, and toes being most dis tinct having sunk into the soft material since turned to stone some five inches. A gentleman well informed gives sever al reasons to show it is the imprint of the foot of a prehistoric man. Mr. Leavitt says that he visited tho quarry with several gentlemen, and tnat he had the block cut. The quarry is near La kg Manaqtta, which is forty to fifty feet below it on the dead level. Large trees at one time flourished on the surface, which is now in the vicin ity of pasture The whole district is of volcanic formation to a great depth, as shown by the many swells in the towns and neighborhood." As near as can be judged the strata in the quarry are level, do not vary in sequence and very little in thickness. Several strata are alike, save that the underlying ones are solidified. For instance, stratum 12, in which the footprints are to be found, is the same as stratum 3, ten feet above it. It is a dark gray conglomerate, very porous.-no cracks or fissures, and full of pieces of hard black cinder. No. 11, overlaying No. 12, is the same as No. 4, a dark gray indurated mud called talpitate. It is not used for any purpose. Through No. 11 are numer ous horizontal veins or streaks full of impressions of leaves and twigs. Of these Mr. Leavitt has several specimens; they are similar to coal specimens, save in color. Stratum 5 is of indurated mud, light yellow color, interspersed with shale of "some material and with pumice. Local name of stratum tal pnga. No. G, loose gravelly black sand, grains rounded, as though by action of water, nnd precisely similar to the sands on the bank's of the lake. The stone, if its date may be fixed, may tend to throw some valuable light upon the story of man leforo the Aztecs. Mr. Leavitt will invite scientists to see it at his office in the Stewart Building. New York Herald. SEEN IN SHOP-WINDOWS. A Pipe that wan Made for Longfellow and Some Pictures front Africa. Anyone who keeps his eyes open can learn a good deal, savs the Boston Olobe. especially if he keeps them direct ed toward the shop-windows of the principal streets of a great city. Shop windows and show-cases contain nearly all the materials which make up the world's fairs and industrial expositions, and they are to be seen at all times and without admission fee. A section of this permanent exhibi tion which is just now of more than ordinary interest, is contained, in the window of a mineralogist and dealer in precious stones and curios on Tre mont street In the midst of an attract ive array of Brazilian agates. Burmese amber, set stones, antique earthenware, ivory carvings from India, and vases from Japan, is to be found a large and elaborately carved pipe, which was to have been presented to the poet Long fellow, but which wns not finished until after his death. A German residing in Illinois, and named Hermann was the artist who de signed and carved the bowl, employing for the purpose rod Indian pipestone, such as Longfellow referred to in his poem of "Hiawatha," from which poem the carver is supposed to have drawn the inspiration for his task. The bowl of the pipe is five inches long, and it is can ed to represent the face of an Indian with closed eyes, sur rounded wilii leaves ami ferns. The pipe has a long stem of wood, covered with the bark -and trimmed with feathers. Another exhibit in this section of the permanent world's fair of Boston is a collection of ostrich eggs, each of which is covered with pictures executed by native South African artists. Upon one of the eggs pictures of various animais and binti arc drawn in a style showing no influence of foreign or civilized tuition. The figures are shaded with scratches in the surface of the egg shell filled in with some black substance. The scratches in the draw ings are crude and painfully regular, allowing only a guess at the creature intended to be represented. No at tempt is made at grouping or systemat ic arrangement of the pictures in any way, but each seems to have been drawn wherever room was found for another effigy. This decoration was the work of a Bushman belonging to one of the savage tribes in the remote interior of Africa. The illustrations upon another of the eggs show the influence of a civiliza tion a stage further advanced than that of the preceding. Alternating with groups of strange flowers strangely colored are figures of natives of South Africa painted in crude colors and in more or less stiff and artificial attitudes. A Zulu warrior, who would be recog nizable from his shield and spears with out the title lettered underneath, stands in a photograph-gallery pose on one side, while a Malay fruitscller in an ec centric suit of clothes, stands upon the other. The pictures executed in colors are from the bands of Kafirs, semi-civil-feed natives, who live in the vicinity ol the South African towns. Chauncey M. Depew and Franklin B. Gowen both entered the railway world taBiiWlficft. THE CHICAGO SHORT LINE OK THE uiago, Milwaukee and SIM fiiw ay. THE BEST ROUTE From OMAHA and COUNCIt BLUFFS TO THE EAST, Two Tntoi DUly trtwtja Cnsia, Csia:ll BIcffj, Chicago, -ani- Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Dubuque, Davenport, Rock Island.Frecport, Rockford, Elgin, Madison, Janesville, Beloit, Winona, La Crosse. An.l all other Important INnut K.tst, Nirthe:it :tuil Southeast For through tirkH: !! on the Tirkft Agent at Columbus, Nelrak i. Pullman Si.rn-KKa and Uw Ki.nksi" IIM.7 t'AKs in 'inn Voi:i.r an niu on tin- in :i in lines oi the 4?hi-:tK;o. TSit waakerft St. Faal ft, ami evtrv attetilion is p.iiit to ii,,Mit"i-. iv ctmr teoiis employe of tin- Company . St. Mi Hrr. A. V. II. C'strtM-nter, tieiier.tl Jlau ier. iivu'l !. .M. J. V. Tufkfr, eo. II. I3mi Hon . Ax'llWl Man. A't l'as3. Ajj'l. I. '1. Ciarlc, iieu'l .Snp't. Kel. 17-1 LOUIS SCHKE1EER. lit ill' I All kiuds of Kenan iii- don? uu Short Notice. Buggies, Wag- ohs, eti, made to order,' aud all work (iiiar- aiitecd. Also sell the world-famous Walter A Wood Mowers. Beauers, Combin ed Machines, Harvesters, and Self-binders -the best made. ETShop opposite the "TattcMall,' on Olive St.. COLUM BKS. 2t-m TRASS'S SELECTED SHORE Cheapest Eating on JB&rthr ASK YOXTK GKOCJUt WQ& THSX. TRASH'S' 1AM THRORICIM&L anC MILV CEUUIUEI Tako no other Brand PATENTS CAVEATS, TK A DK MARKS AND lOPYIIIUIITS Obtained, and all other business in tbe U. S. Patent Ortife attended to for .M01 KKATK KEKS. Our otlieu in opposite, the 17.3. Patent Otllce, aud w. ean obtain Patents in less tirao ttMtn those remote from WASHING TON. Send MODEL OR DUAWINi;. W advise as to patentability free ofehrxre; and we make NO CI1 A KOK UN LESS WE OBTAIN PATENT. We rcler here to th Pos.tmatT, the Supt. of .Mouey Order liv.. aud to ottii cials of tbe U. S. Patent Ortiie. Vor cir culars, advice, terms and lelerenees to actual clients in your own State or county, write to C. A. 8I'0 W Jk CO.. Opposite Patent Otlire, Wa-'tiiuton, I.C THE Chicago Herald AND COLUMBUS JOURNAL. The COIjIIMIBIIN JOUBCNAI,. once a week, aud the Chiragn Hirald, oufe a day, for one year. fjWXM. The JOIJKNAl and the MVe.U.v Herald, one year, S9.75. Address, 31. K. TiritNKR & Co., PJmay.SG-x Columbus, Nebr. TrriT T)for working people. Send 10 H VA I J I ee,ll!' postage, and we will -- ' - mail oifrtr, a loyal. al uable kample box bf oods that will put you in the way of making more money in a few days than you ever thought po ible at any biisinos. Capital not re quired. You can live at home and work in spare timo only, or all the time. All of both sexes, of "all aire, grandly " cestiful. .10 cents to $." ea-iiy earned every evening, mat all who want work may test the business, we make t!ii un paralleled offer: To all who ace not well satisfied we will send $1 to pay for the trouble of writing us. Full particulars, directions, etc , sent free. Immense pay absolutely sure for all who tart at once. Don't delay. Address Stixhon .v- Co., Portland. Maine. OM.AJE-I.A. WEEKLY REPUBLICAN CLUBHING KATES. HEREAFTER wc will furnish to both onr old and new subscribers, tbe Omaha Weekly Jlepublican and Jouk Xal. at the very low rate of Mg.?5 pet year, thus plactnir within the reach of all the bi-.st state nnd county weeklies pub lished. itlig the leader the condensed, general and foreign t" legraphie .mil state ncw of the week. Try !ir a year and be satisfied. " may.VNi-tf MVPAPER A book of 100 pagef. . The best book for an 1 aw bm akm. m m a m k. Vtvciiiat.1 lt vun- OyWfclll lUirsq... i or otherwise. It contains lists ol newspapers anil estimates of the cost or advert lsintf-Theailvertisrwho wants to spend one dollar, flnds Ui ltthe In formation he rcfjnlrta, while torbim who will Invest one hundred thousand dollars in ad vertisinj;. a scheme is indicated which will meet hia every requirement, or yj Imvmdc to do to by sli'jht chtinatsmsily arrirfil ut ljcor Ttspomitnre. 14'J editions have been .issued. Sent, uost-naid. to any address for lo cents. Write to GEO. V. ROVKI.I. 4 CO., NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING BUREAU. UOSprucSt-PriiitinffllouscSq.), New York. U on IUe la tfcllmtelfcl t the Newspaper Adrer Oalng Agency of Stem. .AVBI '. our auiaoroea agena. R QrWrniilh nnd Wonnn WoL' UlUUuUlllIIll UllU II lltiUll lliUuu I w' bbV T IbiiJbbwbbw r sbB bMbbm BraB 09su xH las! tfssrecKorj nj TSP3 IU ST. ATM AMU UNION PACIFIC LAND OFFICE, S AMI C. SMITH, Ag't. AND i General Real EsiatcDealer. EtTI have a large number of improved Kaiius for sale cheap. AUo unimproved lariiiuig and grazing lands, ftoiu to (If. per .icre. , JSTSpeetal attention paid to making final proof on Homestead and Timber Claim. J2T Ml having lands lo sell wilt tiud it to their advantage to leave them in my hands for sale. .Money to loan on farms. ' F. II. Marly, Clerk, speaks German. W-tf Columbu, Nebra-ki. FREE LAND! roi: FARMERS & STOCKMEN -lust bryntiil tho Nebraska line on Hit Pl.i'le Kit er. The Country is Wonderfully Productive. Cheap Lands for sale in the viciHity of the lively town of Sterling. o- Grand Openings for all kinds of Busi ness. Present population of Town 500. o JTSeiid tor eirriiiars to PACKARD & KING, 2S-y Sterling. Wt Id Co.. olorado. - i - ESTABLISHED IN I860. rist: V WAbMlINtSTON, l. U. l:illy. except Suniliv. Price, $." per year iu advance, postage free. TIIK WEEKLY miim BEAU. Devoted to fre'ieral news and original matter obtained from the Iep irtinent ot Agriculture -mil other iep.n tliients ol theCoternmeiit, relating to the firming anil planting iutereots. An Advocate of Kcpuhliran principles-, reviewing fearlessly and fairly the acts of l iingres and the Xation.il 'Adminis tration. Trice, $1.00 per year in advance, postage free. E. FOX, President and .Manager. The National Kki-uui.ican and the Columiius .Ioukx.il. 1 vear, $-2..-0. .'H-.v Cures Guaranteed! DR. WARNS SPECIFIC No. 1. A Certain Cure for Xervon.s Debilitv. Seminal Weakness, Involuntary Eiui.s ions, Spermatorrhea, and all (lis fanes of the getii to-urinary organs caused by sclf abtiM or over indulgence. Price, $1 00 per box, six boxes $.r.bo. DR. WARNS SPECIFIC No. 2. For Epileptic Fits, Mental Anxiety, Loan ol Memory, Softening of the Brain, and all those diseases of the brain. PrNe $1.00 per box, six boe.s $.".IM). DR. WARNS SPECIFIC No. 3. For Impotence, Sterility in either ser. Loss of Power, premature old age, and all those diseases requiring :i thorough in vigorating of the sexual organs. Price ?i00 per box, six boxes $10.00. DR. WARJTS SPECIFIC No. 4. For Headache, Nervous Neuralgia, and all acute diseased of the nervous hyatem. Price fiOe per box, six boxes $i."0. DR. WARNS SPECIFIC No. 5. For all diseases caused by the over-use of tobacco or liquor. This remedy is par ticularly elOcacious in averting palsy and delirium tremens. Price $l.0o per '.ox. six huxeti $..0O. We Guarantee a Cure, or agree to re fund double the money paid. Certilicate iu each box. This guarantee applies to each of our live pi-cities. Sent by mail to any address, secure from observation, on receipt or price. Be careful to mention the number of Speeitie wanted. Our Specifies are only recommended for spe eitie diseases. Beware of remedies war ranted to cure all these diseases with one medicine. To avoid counterfeits and al ways secure tue genuine, order only fr.m IMftWTY Ac CHI.H-, jhcuu (,'isrs, V'-l Columbus, Neb. Health is Wealth! Dk E. C.We3t's NntTE ato Hiiais Twcat Best, a iraaranteod epecitic for Hysteria. Dizzi neea. Convulsions, Fits, Nervona- Neuralgia. lleadache.Nervona Frofitration caused by the use of alcohol or tobacco. Wakefulness, Mental Do preseion. 8of toning of tho Brain resulting jain- namty naa leaamg lo misery, accny "J ul-buj. Prematura Old Ago. Barronncss, Low of power in either box. Involuntary Losses and Spermat orrhoea caused byover-oxertion of thobrain.selr abuseor over-indulgence. Each box contain ono month's treatment. $1X0 a box. or six boxes tor$U)U,6ontbyinnil prepnidon receipt of pricat WE GrAKAXTJEK MX. SOXES To euro any case, vlth each order roceiTOdbyaa for six boxes, accompanied with f50JO. wa will end tho purchaser our written guarantee to re fund tho money if tho treatment doeanotoiwd cure. Guarantees issued only by JOHN O. WEST & CO., 862 W. MADISON ST., CHICAGO, ILLS., Eolo Prop's West's liver Pills. in presents given away. Send us 5 cents postage. juvrir ami oy man you wilt get free: package of ;oods of larjjc value, in::i win siari. yon in worK mat Will at oikc briii you in money faster than any hinx else in America" All about the -Ju.otX! in preseuts with each box. Aetit-. wa ted everywhere, of either six. of all a-ics, for all the time, or spare time only, to work for u at their own home-. Fortunes for all workers ab--olutely assured. Don't delay. II. Hal f.rrr. o., Portland. Tdaine. S500 REWARD! WE will jt the wtrm -rwr.l lot ny n of Ltwr fi irii!r Pnp7ti.ickl!ndKh,ls4iecwion,CoaiUplfc9orC;oitiM iwtoaaot cum with VV,.r iutl tlw Mb. win lb tinZ tiauar itikUr complkd with. Tity n ponly Tt-tUtW.uJ sv-rfll to pre utUbcUcn. Bnw Coutti. Lug to n,. too Utafapillt,oU. rr J. by u dnroUu. D..W.0I JOHN C. WlStM.ax.tn M lS V. HWw St, ChWi. tuswitl tl. test s Bilp?JJ.i..in.jUoia2k Wf TTVJ more money than at anything It 11 ,:,,e ui' li'S n agency for 1 j. 11 lBe )t.t s,l.nill;r oook out Be. iricuers succeed grandly. None fwil.. Terms free. Hallbtt Book Co, Port land, Maine. 4-32-y NATIONAL EEPOBL 2"h "TIT i 1 $011(1 nnn NT-.. '-ar V -