THJ0 QMAHA DAILY BEEt SATMJRDAY , FEBRUARY 8 ,
A Suffering Saint.
ny Harriet Prc catt Spofford. Author of "M.irqufo . of Carafaa/ '
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The river was sparkling , the bouglig wore
waving , tlio bees were humming , warbles fcl
from the topmost , top nf the suivtlppcil pines
nnd cedar ; ) , tlio warm air was full of the
icent of flowrs anil the laughing of children
nnd suddenly on all tlie sweet tranquillity
came the harsh clang ct a bell , a huge brass
dinner bell.
"Oil , that poor , siiffcrln' taint ! " cried Mrs
Mather , running to her window. " 1 declare
cf It ain't too bid ! 1 do' no' how she ever
clan's It ! There they go , them fellers-- !
sti'd think Jbey'd be ashamed to doalht'
And while she was exclaiming the linn In
his fhlrt sleeves In the opposite rtcoiyard
with a nhUo face and black and burning
eyes and a 'tangle of uncombed hair , went
on flourishing hi ? great dinner ball over hla
liwd , ringing It with all IJ might ; nnd half
n dC7ori men , whn had Just thrown down
thrlr tools , were ntnnlng In anfwor It.
"Come on ! Como on ! " ho shouted with a
strange hoarseness and thick articulation.
"Como out , come out ! Up with > cl Up
with jol" And then n womnn dartoJ out of
thp houfo and skipped up on tin ; hoi PS block
half laughing , half crying , and tossing her
apt on over her fice.
"It's a fchnmol It's n llvln' shame ! " cried
Mrs. Mather , eagerly peering behind her
snah curtain. "I declare I don't see whj
Humphrey Lavender don't fall dead , poor
crlttcrl'And all them fellers gawking ami
gaping 'round. I sh'd think you'd Invc
BJKhln' better to do 'Ith yourself , Tom Urlcr ! "
she culled.
"LurJ , Mia' Mather , 'taint my fault , " raid
Tom , flopping n momentf under the open
window lo tic hlo hoo. "Slio wants us.to. . .
She's ast us partlc'Jor. She says he's got to
bo hunfored w'cn ho hes.lho spells , she pays.
She says It's her cioss , an' hls'n , ton. Lcrd !
'taint our fault. I've got lo go an' bid her
In now , " and he ran off post haste.
"Como now , " cried Humphrey , still flour
ishing hlo bell about his blazing face.
"Hurry up ! I ain't no time to waste. Who'll
bid on her ? Hero bho Is ain't worth her
weight In sawdust who starts the bidding ?
Sally Lavender , five feet HVP , as old as her
tongue an' a little older than her loclh , an *
her tonguo's hung In Ihe middle an' goes at
both cmlf. Five cents. Jo Duma , your
money's 'burning a hole In ycr pocket , go.
Do I hear Ion ? No sort of a wife ten ten
ton fraggllc , no account erectur. Ten , do
you say the price of a drink. Yes , she
ain't Vuth much , but she's wuth that. Spe-ik
up there ! Ten , ten. do I hear fifteen ? Who
bids fifteen for a blamed rag doll ? I aln'l
a-laklri' ye In yo know her ain't onere -
dcemln' trilt fmper of the old boy Idle
shlt'lcEs you blddln' , Tom Brier ? ' I'm let-
tin' her go for w'at she'll fetch , yes I be !
Fifteen twenty gpln' twenty am I offered
twenty-five ? By gerry , she won't fclch a
quarter ! Gen ? , at twenty lo Tom Brier.
An' you can take her now or hov her later ! "
And then the woman sprang from the block
and rat * Into the house , as If she could not
bear It ono moment longer , and the men dls-
persad , and Humphrey pocketed Ms 20 cents.
" 'Taint enough to fill the Jug , " he muttered ,
as he went Into the house. "Guoss I'll hev
tor tell her over agin- "
"Hero , dearie , you take this , " said Silly ,
meeting him with a bowl Into which she had
hurriedly poured the contents of a skillet.
"Don't be a dearylng me now , " he raid.
' I'll an't ( a proper , thing. "
"Well , never mind all that. Just take
jlhls. H'o beef' and barley tffoth , an * I blled
' \i pcppar an' an ylngln In It It's , real good
.an' nourlrhln' . "
i "Well , " he said , "perhaps I will. Yoi
ain't no objec' now In makln' way with me
t so I don't Euppos3 you've ben a-tlnfcerin' It ,
, .1'H give some to Iho cat fust , an' ef nothln1
happens to her mebbe I'll take 11. "
" " .Oh. I wouldn't ' wait for that , " she said ,
following his restless walk with the bowl In
her hand. "Sip it while It's coed an' hot. "
"You're altogether too familiar , " he said ,
stopping and drawing himself up , "conslderln1
vho you be. Tom Brier's made a fool o
himself 20 cents for wa't warn't wuth any
thing. Gt ! out ! "
"Hu's all rlghl , " she said cheerfully
-'Here , I'll take some of It myself. " Am
"When she had taken a few spoonfuls am
held up the steaming , savory bowl , he looked
at her a moment and swallowed the rest.
"Yes , " ho said. "That tastes good. You'r
a master hand at a relish. Sally. But wha
ycu do'n * hero ? " ho added with a start and
a bewildered look. "You're Tom Brier'-
woman now. "
"I guess , " she said. "Tom ain't no place
for me yet. An' you've got to hav borne
ono to ten' round , an' I might cs well stop
a spoil. "
"Well Jes' tell he sends for yo. "
"Now you set down an' lemme brlle ye
this llttlo lamb chop. It's real tender. An
here's a pertater bit In" hot "
"No. I uln't no call to cat "
"Ain't hungry ? " slopping about briskly
"Yes , you be. An' n mealy pertater , will
salt an' pepper , an plenty of fresh butter '
nnd she was preparing It as she spoke , for
the table had been laid before the bell rlng-
Ing. and the gridiron was on thd coals.
"I do1 'no' 'bout this , " he said , as the
smoking chop was slipped on the plate before -
fore him. "It smells sort o' tcmpttn' , " he
" I'onto try n bite
muttered. "Here , , you
No ! We mustn't glvo the children's meat to
dogs. You're sure It's all right , Sally ? '
with a wondering , wistful look.
* "Sure's I be of sunrise ! " And while he
was picking the bone like a famished dog
himself she was tossing a light , largo pan-
coke and covering It with her peach sirup
and following It with another and another
keeping the great cup of cocoa filled all the
time besldo him. The doctor had said he
must bo fed and overfed.
Then ho leaned forward , his elbows on the
table , and stared at the high sunny window
where a llttlo Jug of buttercups and clover
stood , and a bee buzzed and hummed. Anil
hla head fell between his hands , and she
came and put her arms about It and brought
It forward , so that it touched her shoulder.
"You're real sleepy , " she said. "You .Jea'
BO Into the bedroom an1 Ho down an' g'lt a
nap , an' I'll cover you up "
, Ho put out his long arm , pushing her
off with the open palm of his hand. "I'd
like you to keep your distance , " ho said ,
raising his heavy-lidded eyes. "I know about
morals , uf you nln't no prlnceiple ! " and he
rose and moved majestically to the calico
co > ered lounge under the window and throw
himself down upon It. "You there agin ? "
ho said presently , as she > pulled the curtain
across the- widow over him. "No business
here , " dropping off lo sleep and waking
again with a start to murmur : " 'Taint
pioper , " and then lost In some five minuted'
vagary of a dream , from which ho sprung
hallowing , with an Idea that he was drownIng -
Ing ; "Take your ban's off me ! " ho roared.
"You're a-cliokln' mo ! I'll hov ye hung for
a witch yet ! " And then the air was sulphur-
OUB with a storm of oaths that curdled the
blood of the llttlo woman on the stool at
his fert. He her husband a church member -
ber | She hid her face in her arms , rocking
to and fro , the tears overflowing.
"I don't like to sco ye cry , Sally. An'
you know III" he said , stopping to gaze at
'ie'1' '
! ' , , " canlt lieln lt ! " Bhc exclaimed.
"I ahd think 'twas mo thet made ye
cry , " he said , Irresolutely. And ho added
under his breath , "Instid of your own cuss-
cdness. "
" \Vhcro's Polly ? " ho told presently , after
standing a moment nnd staring Into vacancy ,
as | ( trying lo recall his poor wlls , "Thai's
What I want to know , Where's Polly ? "
' "She's well took earo of. She's she'u better -
ter where sue is whllo you while you ain't
feelln' BO well , " a little tremulous thrill in
tle | Bweetiiess of ttio voice ,
"I'm pufflckly well ! Look at the dinner
I've eat. I never felt better In my life
I could take yo down to the river an' drownd
ye quick en I could a kitten. "
' 'You couldn't drown a kitten , Humphrey. "
Ho inido a step toward mo. "At least I
could , " ho said , us she looked In hlu face
with the leara still on her own , "ef you belonged -
longed to me. But being as you'ro Tom
Drlor'a now you're a pretty woman , Sally , "
he said , after looking at her a moment again ,
"j f you b dn't ben so blamed toppln * an'
boun'1 to hive your own way , I wouldn't 'a' '
K0t red of you. Ycu can hev your ch'lce now
between Tom Brier an' the river Oh , my
head ! my head ! "
There was a rap on the door , and then
a shadow fell through .the mile passage-way
Into Ihe blight Kltchin , "Oh , I forgot to
bolt the door ! " exclaimed Mr * . Lavender.
"I'll ba bound yo did ! " cried Humphrey.
"Who's this a-comln' Into folks' houses
'thottt a by your leave ! "
"It's me , Humphrey , It's yes , It's me , "
piped a high , tlihi voice with somclhlng
Ilkn an escapement mldnay of Us utterance
ance-- ,
"Oh , Mr. Hodga. " cxchlmcd Sally , wiping
A chair that was clean before , "Como right
In. Only you'll excuse us Humphrey Isn't
Isn't quite as well as "
"Who bu yoncMed Humphrey , "telling
him to set down In my house ? An' you
ain't welco'iie hen ? , a tpyin * 'round Ivy
Hedge , an' .you know It ! "
"My deal Humphrey I I really think
you can't know what yes ; jvhat jou'ro a-
sajln' , " said Mr. Hedge , blandly , and Inking
Ihc chair. "A scolee'mon's welcome , yes
'mosl anywheres. "
" 'Ccptln' here , " pild Humphrey , looking
for hla stick.
"How ? " said Mr. Hodge.
" 1 said excepting here , an' I nln't goln' tcr
hev you cxchangln' looks wllh that woman ,
oyther. She don't belong here , no 'way ' ,
tlianka be to pialte. I've allus kep' thln'A
i expectable , an' ef you've rome to de-il ' 1th
mo as a church member , I don't stand In
need of none of your dealln' , and so good-day
to ye ! " And aH Mr. Hedge did not go , ho
sttodo off himself through the open doorway ,
"Oh , Mr. Hedge , " exclaimed "Sally , breath-
U'uply , "I musl go , too I can't let him off
alqiie "
"That's Jest It , yes , I may say. Jest It. "
saia the selectman , wllh his short , dry cough.
"I t came to tee about , yesaboul n ro-
movln' of him , as I may say ( lo the asy
lum " .
"Oh , no , no , I couldn't have It ! " cried
Sally , but under her breath. ' "It would
break his heart w'en he- come to. He'll come
round all right In a llttlonhlle. . Hi nUiiy
docs. You imii'tn't think of It. I couldn't ,
oh ; I couldn't stan * It myself ! "
"But , Mia' Lavender It ain't yes. It
ain't only you , only you , I may say , an' him.
It's , It's the community , yes , the community.
Nobody's safe , so to speak , yes , nobody's
safe with a crazy man loose "
"Oh , " ho ain't crazy ! Hu's only Jest n llttlo
mite out'n his head. Ho never'd hurt a
fly" she cried , hesitating on the point of ono
foot , and , tying on her bonnet , hurried by ,
sunbeam planting through her great brown
eyes , lifted In their mild , pitiful appeal.
"Ho won't do nobody n harm as long's I'm
near , an' I'm near every minute , an' It's
most time for this spell lo be over , an' I
must lake him his hat he'll bo so morti
fied w'en Mo comes to an" bo's the best ,
oh , he's the very best husban' any woman
has w'en he's all himself "
"There , Mis' Lavender , don't now , don't
Ret so , M I may say , excited. He's a-leanln'
onto the gate now , yes , quite , quiet. Yes ,
an' you needn't , that Is to say , you needn't
worry none. I won't do nothln' 'thout your
your co-operation. As long's you can , yes ,
control him "
"Mostly I can manage , " she said , her
flngcra shaking so she could not tie her
bonnet htrlngs. "He's really really oh ,
he's fond of mo "
"Ye * . , I know , yes , " said Mr. Hedge , tak
ing up his hat and pouring out the bandanna
to mop his face. "But I. don't you yes
don'l you think you , would be happier , as
you may say , safer , that Is , yes , easier
every way , if ho was took care of "
" " cried the llt'.le
"Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! suddenly
woman , covering her face with her bands ,
through which the tears spurted. "I can't
bear another word ! , , The dear Lord knows
what I've borne already w'en I first found
It out an' I couldn't believe it I thought
I was teched myself but w'cn I'd wake up
in the night with his nan's at my tliroat
and the baby , oh , the baby ! "
"By gracious ! " cried the startled Mr.
Hodge. And he would have said "By
gracious ! " again if he could have made up
ils mind in season , when she took down
icr hands , wiped her eyes and with scarcely
a trace of her tears looked out the dopr and
smiled. His exclamation had restored her
Belt-control.
"I shall have to leave you to lock up , "
she said , turning to Mr. Hedge with a pretty
dignity and as If nothing had been said
before. "We was goln' to take ai walk to
gether , my husban' an' me. "
"Well. " said Mr. Hedge , when he went
Into Mrs. Mather's fore room , a room
resplendent , with a picture of Captain
Mather's three-master , the Man of Mull ,
under full sail and In a gilt frame , and
with a portrait of the late captain himself
that looked much as If the figurehead of
his schooner might have sat for It. and
whore the pretty black-eyed mistress always
braided her mats In the afternoons. "Well ,
I'm free , yes , free to confess I never , as
"
you may say
"You may say Jest w'at you please , Mr.
HoJge ! " cried Mrs. Mather. "An" I'll say
it after you. For ef ever I see a sufferln'
saint put upon an' no way to hinder , an'
enough to make you doubt the ways of God
to man "
< Or or woman either , as It were yes , " said
Mr. HodEe.
"Which is Jest w'at I mean ! She's done
overythln' she knowed how to keep It from
gottln' oul. An' w'en he's right agin she
acts Jest's though everybody'd forgot it ! For
got It ! My land > I can look right Into their
house , an' w'cn I see him flourlshln'
the ox roun' that baby a settln'
' lookln" an' laughln1
on the floor an' up
Into his face till ho dropped it , or a-selzln"
Sally by the hair of her head an' bendln'
her head back , an * she a-looktn' at him
with them great still eyes o' hern , patient
' an' nothln' but spark
as a dumb critter's , a
of the old love left In the midst of all his
fury savin' her from destruction , an' nothln'
beln' done "
"But Mis' Mather yes , Mis' Malher
there's nothln' lo do. She don't want him
took up. An' that's nil , yea , that's all the
seelec'men are empowered , yes , ns I may say ,
empowered to do. It yes , It looks to me ,
Mrs. Mather as If you was , yes , as It were ,
a-blamln' the Lord more than the seelec'men ,
yes. "
"I don' but I bo ! But I do'no how the
Lord can look Sally Lavender In the face.
There I've said It ! "
Mis' Mather , I I shan't , so to say , yes ,
repeat w'at you've mid. It yes In one
point o' view does credit to your feolln's.
But the Lord he yes , as you may say , ho
rules the world his own way , yes. "
"I do'no w'ethcr ho doe * or not. Hum
phrey Lavender ain't the first of his people
on the mother's sidethat's ben besldo thelr-
Eelvco , an' hewouldn't a' ben the last et
Polly'd ben spared. To look at that dear
baby , with her little , rosy , smllln' face , a'
cqulnntln' up her tnveet eyes laughln' an *
showln' her pretty white beads of teeth , an'
to think she's got to go through the Bame-
thing wol , cf there's anylhln' makes you
doubt Jestlco " '
"There ain't , " said Mr. Hedge , taking up
ils hat and looking Into It , lining out the
ongth of his handkerchief and putting It
carefully back , "there there ain't , I don't
want no better , yes , argyment , for another
Ife than the way , yes the way Sally Laven
der's b ln' trained for 11 , as you may say ,
An' ef II ain't the sperlt of the Lord that
nakca her keep that madman from.doln'
ler a mischief , then there ain't no sperit
of the Lard. An1 there la. Mis' Mather , yes ,
us you may say , thora Is. "
Mrs , Mather was silent , the strips of her
rug braiding hanging limply over her fingers.
'I don't myself , " began Mr. Hedge again ,
'I don't that is to say , myself believe In no
evil prlncerple. It's conlrary , yes , lo my
dee of Ihe power of Qod. Yes. But I ain't
never spoke of It before , eo to say ; as It
might be thought , yes , a little , yes , a llt-
lo Irrcg'Ur In a deacon. But beln' as wean
\an talkln' kind of Intimate "
"You can suy Jest w'at you like here , Mr ,
lodge. It won't never go no further , I'm
cal pleased to hev you speak your mind , "
napped Mrs. Mather.
"Well , then , as I was a.sayln' yes , a-
ayln' , it may seem , yes , it may teem
Ing'lar. but ef you allow the doctrines of
ree-wlll. Mis' Mather , then Humphrey Lav-
nder'B gran'thcrs are responsible , yes , In
one way or another , fop his , yes , hla spells.
But the reason he dcn't kill that b.iby
v'en he's n-Ilourlshln' his ax , or don't , yei ,
ai you may say. put an end to Sally , w'en
m's yet. w'cn he's got her by the hair of
her head , li that the sperlt of the Lord IB
In him , nn' l , yea , Is too much for the
gran'thcrt , yes. "
"Mr. Hedge , " * ald Mrs. Mather , leaning
forward , A little breathlessly , "you are a
good man. "
"Yes-that Is to gay , " replied Mr. Hedge ,
growing quite red and plunging for his
handkerchief , "I I try ( o be. "
"You are ! " she repeated , wflh emphasis.
But while Iho selectman and the p'rctly
widow were discussing fale , freewill , fore
knowledge absolute , Sally Lavender was fol
lowing her husband Ihrough the by-paths o !
the river wood , the viewless feet of fear fallIng -
Ing before her , and her tired eyes full of a
horror of the she know not what , At first
Humphrey had not teemed to notice her.
Then ho shouted , "This way now , " and
"come on , come on , " and "I'll lead you a
dance ! " and then he turned his head. "Oh ,
H'tt Sally , " ho said , and relapsed Into silence ;
and all the time he maintained his gigantic
strides lo .keep up wllh which laxed her
running powers. The wild smllax vines
tangled her feet , the boughs he parted flew
back and hit her fare , a snake slipped hissIng -
Ing under her shoe , Ihe briers caught and
tore her fiown , the thorns scratched her
hands and her ankles , her feet were wet
with tbo boggy places Ihrough which they
trampled , she look no heed of any of II , all
her thought active only to follow her hup-
band and keep him from doing himself a
mischief. Sometimes he lingered a moment
oxer a brown sunlit pool , and she hurried
with all her poor strength. Sometimes he
wound his way out of the wood and throw
bluisclf down on the steep brink of Iho river
whcro n quick mellon , a slipping fool , would
end all ; and she hurried again lo pink down
gently In the long grass and the nodding
dairies bcdda him , and lay her hand on his
arm. and wonder In a blind way at the In
difference of sky and water to her trouble.
Then It was up again and tramp away. She
hid no Joy of the soft waning afternoon ,
wlofo light she hod many a time before
thought like thai which might phlnc across
the hills of heaven ; she had not uen the
blaze pf the sunset ; she , did not feel the
coming of the purple dewy dark , nor hear
the wild lamenting of Iho whlpporwlls ; and
when , near midnight , lu the hard , cold ,
t'hlnlng ' moon , they reached their own door ,
she had no other wnsatlon than that she
must walk on forever.
She lighted the lamp mechanically. The
flro In Iho stove was not all gene , and the
broth she had left In the oven was ctlll
warm. The doctor had paid , she repeated to
herself again , that he must be made to eat ;
she poured him out a bowlful , and ho took
It ravenously , whllo she drank a cupful her-
iwlf. And he ate the custard pie she put be
fore him with no Idea what It was he ate ,
his wide and burning eyes red , It seemed ,
with the fire In his brain. If only the could
make him sleep ! The doctor had said sleep
would-be hlo salvatlcn. But when she had
offered him any of the anodynes It had sim
ply aroused his fury. She had hated to de-
celvo him , but there was no help for It ; she
flipped a dose Into the cocoa whose own
slightly bitter taste disguised It. But Just
as he had taken the last of the cocoa he saw
her putting the vial out of slghl. "Don't you
c : > mo near me with that poison stuff ! " ho
shouted. "I'll pour It down your own throat
If you do. Here ! By king ! I will any way ! "
And with a stride ho had sslzed the vial In
ono hand and his wife's chin In Iho other ,
and In a mlnule the whole bottleful , and
death with It , would have been her portion ,
for she could not escape the terrific grasp ,
she only could lift her hand and lay it on
his shoulder in the way of an old caress. A
shiver ran through him ; he trembled at the
touch ; the vial clipped to the floor. "Here ! "
ho cried , "Ain't you the woman I sold toTem
Tom Brier once ? What In nation you here
for anyway ? Git out o' this , neck and crop ! "
and he lifted her as If she had bppn a leaf
and sent her flying tnrough the door. Then
he shct the bolt homo and stalked Into Die
bedroom and tumbled as he was upon the
bed.
bed.Sally Lavender lay on the grass where she
had fallen , too tired to pick herself up , too
wretched to know that she was tired. It was
under the thick-leaved shade of the apple
tree where no dew foil. Before she could
gather what had happened she was asleep1.
She woke with a start when she had.slept
perhaps an hour , full of terror of something
unknown , and which resolved Itself almost
Instantly Into something -too well known.
She was icy cold for half a moment , and
then she was burning Jn a glow of Indigna
tion from head to foot. But as she wrung
.her hands the touch of her wedding ring
controlled her like a talisman. "It Isn't
him , it lsn'tjhlm.sho ! sobbed. "He'xd never
do it in the world. It's the strings all
Jangling which ways. And , oh , It does seem
cruel but I mustn't , I mustn't an' he so
goad and gentle an' lovln" , w'en bo's all
there. An" I've said It though he slay me ,
yet will I trust In him an' perhaps It's my
trial oh , dear Lord , help me to bear the
burden , an' Lord , be merciful to him ! "
She rose after a while and went tiptoeing
round the house ; the lamplight streamed
from th'e bedroom window , and climbing on
the trellis , she looked In. Her heart gave a.
great plunge of Joy there ho was on the
bed'In a deep sleep. She longed to get in , to
loosen his necktie , to get his clothes off
and make him comfortable. But the window
was fast , and even If she could , It would
waken him , and the sleep was too precious.
He might wako at last , as he had done be
fore , all right , even if weak to extremity.
Her heart yearned over him ao a mother's
heart yearns over a suffering child. She
crept round to the doorstep , nnd sat there
keeping guard. Ponte had gone off on a
sheep raid with Prince "Mather. The cat
came and curled up on a corner of her
sown.
While she sat there the moon went down ,
red as a burning brand quenched In the
river ; the shadow folded about her like a
garment. All the little house was- still as
death. The cool and dewy air was soft with
the fragrance of the flowers that came to
her In faint and honeyed wafts : a drowsy
mist of stars hardly disturbed the darkness
of the night. There was no sound but the-
lapping of the river , and mow and then the
village clock that tolled the hour , or the
quick wrangle of some .neighbor's . clock
through the open windows. Every once In
a while she went round and looked in , and
saw Humphrey still sleeping. A light wind
came fluttering about her the dawn had
stirred In the night. As she sat upon the
low step , mot conscious of being tired or
sleepy , only conscious of listening , It was all
so sweet and still and solemn , It seemed as
If the night itself were a communion and
unknown force ; Us peace cnlercd Into her
toul ; she felt as though she leaned her head
on the breast of her Heavenly Father. A
little bird piped beside his nest ; a trill
answered It , all the unseen world was awake
with wild music. Through the clear dark ,
across the water came the rhythmical rowIng -
Ing of oars ; she- stole round again In tender
fright , but Humphrey was still sleeping. A
dream of light , rather than light Itself had
Interfiled the dusk ; It grew with elow pulse ,
and welling till gray was gold and gold , was
rose and rose was silver-blue , swelling like
the prelude to great music , as If day bad
never been before. Everything was drip
ping and shaking and sparkling with dew ;
the bright light breeze went rioting ;
no one stirred ; she had the day as she had
had the night , alone to herself. "Tho Lord's
ben good to me , " gald Sally Lavender. "He's
glvo me a real season of peace. "
She waited till Tom Brier came along
whistling ) to his Job , She had never tftlkM
of her trouble ! but she h d sometimes asXed
help of Tom ; and he brought a ladder 'round
to the back of the bouto nnd held It and
looked the other way while she found her
way In at an upper 'window. Then she slipped
down the stairs and closed the bedroom
door and noUclessly lighted .tjie fire and set
the tjieat to simmer for hjs slrong rich broth ,
and washed and refreshed herself , ana al
lowed herself a long , BWcct slumber on the
lounge. She crept , by and by , Into tlje bed
room , where Humphrey/ still , slept , although
stirring now and then , nnd held a cup of
broth to his lips , her arm under his pillow ,
and he drank It without 'unclosing ' his eyes.
She gave It to him to twice or thrice during
the day , and piece liypiece , slowly , and at
long Intervals , sh i rttniated his clQthes , and
with caullous lifting1 and tugging of alt her
poor llttlo strength , had him decently In bed ;
and she took her own morwl of food , and
lay down outside and waited. There was
peace In her heart. There was even a deep
still Joy as she thought of the grass growing
on the little grave where Polly lay the chllil
for whom she had feared her father's fate ,
and whom , whllo her heart half broke wllh
love and longing , she had been glad lo lay
eway before the trouble could come Upon
her.
her.The
The day went by like the marching of nti
enemy's army. All the village kept quiet
about her.door friends and neighbors know-
It wao Humphrey's tlmo for slumber now ;
the children's laughv and cries wcro far
away ; even the bocs and birds mads drowsy
music. When far off In the1 twilight the
whlpporwlls began to sing , she laid her onn
weary head Upon the pillow , listened a mo
ment to the deep , calm breathing beside her ,
and fell asleep.
It was In the dead of the dark that she
awoke with two arms about her , and a rough
cheek resting on her own , a rough cheek
wet with tears. "Wife , " whispered Hum
phrey , "wife , I'm all right. Yes , I be. But
I kind o' fool ez though I1 bon dragged
through seven cities , an' ez though you'd
had a tug of it , too , Sally. Hev I ben abusln'
cf ye , mother ? Was It one of the bad ones ? "
And Sally pressed her cheek closer. "There ,
there , " she laughed and cried , " 'Twarn't
nothln' at all to speak of ! "
Take ndvlce ! Slop coughing at once by
Ihe Immediate use of Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup.
Ono botilo will cure you.
IJRATII I.V ITS THAU. .
Itpcnril of Mortality lit n
XIMV York Court , " CIIHC.
A slim , middle aged man walked tnlo part
1 of the court of general sessions the other
day , says a New Ycrk dispatch. He was
well dressed and modest In bearing , but his
appearance Kerned to slrke ! lerror to the
heart of every court official who saw him.
"Here comes the fatal case- , " whispered
Officer Peter''Seaman to Captain Curry of
the court squad and both .hastily disap
peared In the ante-room of the Judge's
chambers. Judge Cowing saw the man approach
preach and sank In his seat' until his head
was barely visible. Assistant District At
torney Barlow S. Weeks grew pale and be
gan to shako as though he had the chills.
The man walked up to him and handed him a
subpoena.
"No , I won't touch It. Take It away , " ex-
clalme < i Mr. Weeks. i
The mysterious stranger smiled and with
drew , and the court. resumed Its proceedings.
Outside the corridor hot told the remarkable
story of the caso'of khe. "people against
Newell , " or "the fatal cnse1 ' as It is kno.\n
in the district attorney's office , from the
fact that everybody" who has had any active
connection with "if during the past eight
years , whether layman , lawyer or Judge , has
died. Everybody , * at ' .s , with but two ex
ceptions. The strrfnger la oneof the two
Eurvlvorc. He is Brian So. Hughes , a manufacturer - .
facturor of paper tidies In Center street.
According to nib' story , the "hoodoo" of
the fatal case began its work , July 8 , 1S8S ,
when Matt'new J. Newdll , 'a bartender , was
arrested for vlolaUrtgJlhe , cxolss law. Newell
was afterward Indicted flnd hold in ' $100 ball.
Mr. Hughes was requested to go on his bond
by James n. Kelao , t o < euparintendent of
markets and collector of city revenuj , who
had formerly1 been tihlePot police. The man
who carrleditho * n siaBe ; forMr. ( Kelsoi.was
named Coop.o-He d1ed.afewlweks later , and
was followediby Mr. Kelso , who died Novem-
Der 20 , lass. ;
The. case was not called for trial until two
years had passed. Then Mr. 'Hughes sought
for Mr. Newelliibut .wftsJunable'to'flnd ' either'
him or Glbney , the saloom proprietor. Finally1
ho learned that Glbney had a brother-in-law
named E. J. McManamy , living In Kansas
City. He wrote lo Mr. McManamy , asking
for Information < about Newell or Glbney. and
'In reply received a letler saying : lhat bolh
men were dead. * i Mr. Hughes again wrote lo
McManamy several months later , asking for
more details about the death" of NewDll. He
was answered by Nicholas McManamy , a
brother of his former correspondent , who In
formed him that the latter had died since the
receipt cf his first letter..Mr. . Hughes soon
after received another subpoena to appear in
court. He went , to Assistant District At
torney Gunning S. Bedford to explain mat
ters. Mr. Bedford sympathized with him In
his dilemma , but told him 'he would have to
produce proof of New-ell's death befor ? ho
could be- released from his bond. Mr. Bed-
fcrd died fifteen days la'.er , Thoi Mr. Hughs
Interested former Coroner Henry Woltman in
the case , and the latter promised lo aid him ,
but died before' he accomplished anything.
John Kerrigan , an excise Inspector , was
the next man Mr. Hughes appealed to for
assistance. Kerrigan died within a few
months after their first conversation. Po
liceman James Gerow and Patrick English
of the Elizabeth street station were the
men who arrested Newell , but were after
ward transferred to the Tombs police squad.
Gerow has since died , and the lalo Police
Justice Solon B. Smith , who died about a
year ago , was the magistrate before whom
Newell was arraigned. Policeman English
and Mr. Hughes are the sole survivors of
Ihe "fatal case. "
Mr. Hugfies was ckatlng In Central park
last Wednesday , when his office boy walked
out en the Ice and handed him the envelope
containing the latest subpoena to como to
court. While he was reading It a reckless
skater struck him In the back and threw
him a distance of twenty feet. His shoulder
was dislocated by the fall , and ho had to
put himself under < t doctor's treatment. It
was In response to this subpoena , that he
went to court ,
Mr. Hughes Is far from being frightened
cr depressed at the results of his connection
with the "fatal case. " He Is a leading mem
ber of the Thirteen club and believes that his
cci rectlon with that organization has "hoo
dooed" the "hoodoo" of the fatal capo.
"My friends , " ho said , "aro all advising
mo to pay the $100 , ball money to the city
and end the Blaughtar , but it doesn't worry
me any , , and , L suppose I'll get subpoenas at
regular Intervals until my turn comes , for
all of the first district , attorneys are afraid
to have anything to do with the case. "
Don't Invlto'dlsappofcifment by experiment-
rg. Depend upon COneJMInuto Cough Cure
aud you have Imtneduile relief. It cures
croup. The only htrmltes remedy that pro
duces Immediate rcanllB.
Quaker Wisdom. *
" Age and wedlock bring a man to Ms nightcap
" . .
cap , but..Quaker Oats makes his- sleep re-
, freshing.
freshing.uaker
OATS
Sold only in 2-lb. Packages.
, . ,
J-.Ai iii&iiW * jj °
AVOLP A PASTOn'S PET.
IlrottRlit Up nn n Ilottlc nnil | n
Inr Church Attendant.
A wolf has crept Into the fold of Iho John
Hasj Presbyterian church , on Kast Seventy ,
fourth street , relates the Now York Journal.
It has not como In sheep's clothing , but In a
dark , shaggy coat. Its presence In the
flock does not seem to occasion the least
anxiety ; In fact , It has become a universal
pet and favorite \Uth all. The wolf Is Iho
pot of nev. Vincent Plsck , pastor of the
church , This peculiar pet was born on n
cstern prairie , bul when ho was a very
small cub , and before ho had nrown fierce
enough to bo dangerous , ho was captured
and transporlcd lo Ihe quiet church parson
age. Since then the religious Influences of
his surroundings have completely converted
him. Ho has put away nearly all wolfish
things , and at the present day Is leading a
quiet , exemplary life , and oflen attends both
the church and Sunday school. It Is raid ho
sleeps through the sermons ,
The wolf uaa born a heathen. Ilolh of his
parents lived and died on Iho open prairie.
Mr , Plsck , while on a hunting trip In the
west , shot the parents of Mr. Wolf and cap-
lured their cub. Ho brought the little orphan
homo with him , nnd n now llfo at once began -
gan for him , He W.IB given n milk diet' ,
which agreed with him very well , and In
tlmo It began to Influence his character. In
stead of growing up to bo snarling and feroci
ous , his manners became mild and gontlo.
Ho roon became accustomed to hln civilized
home , and enjoyed Ihe rich carpsls ho walked
uptn and Ihe warm blanket1 * ho o'ept In every
night. Mr. Plsek , In bringing up the wolf
In lits own fold , has been very careful to keep
Ms young charge out of bad company.
In the eutnmer lime Mr. Wolf changes his
residence lo lilt ) mislcr's summer hcmc nt
Lake Hopatcong. This move Is alwaj'9 very
welcome lo Mr. Wolf. Ho Is allowed lo run
nt large aboul the woodtx As u remit , how
ever , ho Is constnnlly mecllng wllh very curi
ous adventures. The summer Idlers through
out the section are very fond of shooting.
The woods afford > ery llttlo opportunity for
the sport , but It has happened n score of
times thai Mr. Wolf has been chase.l and
flrcdit o\er and over again by those amateur
hunter ? , who become greatly excited at the
fight of such wild game. Mr. Wolf has
barely gotten nwny during several of thos ?
affairs wllh a whole skin. He Is very nlm-
bo ! of fool , however , and soon eludes an exp -
p = rler.c3d hunter. The pet wo'f ha ? also otlen
caused groal conslernallon by appearing bud-
dcnly before picnic parties or parties alone
In the woods. The appearance of his sharp
lltlle ness has oflen broken up a parly and
caused Ihcm lo run wildly from him , nl-
Ihough his Intentions were undoubtedly
friendly. On one occasion two girls who
were rowing on the lake spied Mr. Wolf on
shore nnd were afraid to land for ssveral
hours for fear of encountering the supposedly
ferocious animal , which followed them along
the bank to play with them.
It can ba understood that Mr. Wolf makes
a very valuable watch dog , or , rather , watch
wolf. His appearance on Iho ? ceno always
causes a Iramp or beggar or book agent to
leave without making more inquiries. His
latest adventure was to conceal himself be
hind the pulpit of Mr. Plsek's church ono
Sunday morning. The services were well
under way , when Mr. Wolf suddenly stepped
out from his place of concealment and stooJ
on the pulpit platform , facing the congrega
tion. The terror cf the latter lasted for sev
eral moments , during which Mr. Wolf , with
much dignity , marched down the pulpit steps
and through the ale'.e to the outer door.
J. W. Pierce , Republic , la. , says : "I have
used Ono Mlnuto Cough Cure In my family
and for myself , with results so entirely satis
factory that I can hnrdly flnd words to ex
press myself as to Its merit. I will never
fall to recommend It lo othorp , on every oc
casion lhat presents Itself"
In Tlmxt * Good Old Dnj .
Maine's oldest Inhabitant comes to the fiont
with another prohibition atory. "Talk about
drinking in these days , " he raid the other
day , "why , when I was a boy I knew an old
fellow who used to carry around with him ,
strapped moH of the time to his back , a little
wooderf keg filled -with New England rum ,
from which he took frequent drinks. " * "
A MAN CANT WORK.
WHEX Iin IS SUFFERING WITH PILES
lie Can't Ent Can't '
, Sleep , Cnn't Get
Comfort Any Way lint One Pyramid
Pile Cure Will Cure Him , Glvo Re
lief at Once Never Knoviii to Fall.
Just a lltllo pain may so distract a man's
mind that It will cost him hundreds of del
lars. Life Is a battle. To succeed one
needs all his energies and all his brain
force to apply to the question at hand. Even
a corn will make him irritable , cross , angry
and an angry man ecldom succeeds. The
trifling pain of a corn Is a pleasant feeling
beside the agonizing ache of piles. That
Is a pain which eeems to pervade the whole
body. It communicates Itself to all the
parts near Ihe seat of the trouble and brings
ou a heavy , dragging feeling In the peri
neum. Thoto who have never so suffered
do not'know what it means. It racks the
nerves , prevents sleep , proventa concentrated
thought and makes a man lose flesh as fast
aa ho would with a virulent fever.
And yet piles are looked upon as a llttlo
thing. They are neglected allowed to run
on from month to month and year to year.
By and by comes a dangerous surgical opera
tion. Maybe it cures maybe it kills.
There Is only ono sure , safe and quick
cure for piles. It Is the Pyramid Pile Cure.
It is a recent discovery and its properties
are such that it cleanses , eoothes and healu
the Inflamed parts , reduces Iho Inflammation
at once and with continued treatment re
moves all swelling and all trace of tbo dis
ease. It puts the membranes In a healthy
active condition and cures complelely an
permanently.
Prom C. P. Collins , Oarnett : I commencei
using the Pyramid Pile Cure and my cast
was so bad I thought the remedy was goln
to fall In my case , but before I had use
two-thirds of one package I began to fee
much belter , and can honestly say I am en
tlrely cured. It Is the quickest and sures
remedy I have ever tried or heard of.
From Joslah Roberts , Port Drum , N , J.
Just one-quarter of a package of the Pyra
mid Pile Cure did wonders for mo and
have lost no opportunity of rccommendlni
such agreat , remedy. '
From Wm. McHale , Rockport , Slaw , : On
package of Pyramid Pllo Cure has hclpe
more than anything I have yotUEcd. ,
Pyramid Pllo Cure is sold by druggist1
generally. If yours doesn't keep It ho wll
get It for you If you ask him. Book o
cause and cure of piles ent free. Addrot
Pyramid Drug Co. . Albion. Mich.
( My mama us rf Wool Soap ) U wltn mine had
WO OLENSv\\\ \ \ \ shrink It
WOOL SOAP
- A.cr.
Uworth , scnodde k Co. , Maker * . CUcani
liiwiwfi < Bt"t2-2 ' L OD"i.i-i
r
*
GOOD THING-PU5H IT ALONG :
1
01 :
, A Great. Big Piece fop !
1O Cents- * .
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE.
Something New
South Arabian Nights
.Mew Story from "Uncle Reniils"
A&roti
TheSonofBenAli
C Told by His Friends and Acquaintances.
Bg JOEL BHfiNDLER HflRRIS
This story began publication Feb. 2. To
run six weeks. Illustrated by Oliver Herford.
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE.
V Keeps Men Poor.
The clerk might be "boss" if he
had the head for it. The brains
?
are there , but they don't seem to
work.The trouble is often in the
stomach. Indigestion keeps men
poor because they don't know they
have it , but imagine something else.
Ripans Tabules insure sound diges
tion arid a clear head.
rtipann Tatulc i Sola by drugglid. or hv . mutl
if the prlcr ( M cent * a , box . ) le tent lo T.e , , HI- ,
pan * Oicmlcal Company No. 10 Bpruce SI N T
REBTORV
LOST VIGOR
HERMAN * McCONNELL DRUG CO. . IfU Dodg. Btrtit , OnuU.