Nebraska Newspapers

    10 THE OMAHA DAlLTavBHE : SIHSDAV , JtrXE 28 , 1890.
CIIAI'THR XVI. ( Continued. )
Belcher stooped down and turned over tin
tnan's Inert head so as to show his features.
"He's a stranger to me , sir. "
"And to me. " added my uncle.
"Hut not to inc. " 1 cried. "It's John Cum-
mlng. the landlord of the Inn at Friar's Oak.
I've known him over since I was a boy , and
I can't be mistaken. "
"Woll , what the devil can ho krow about
it ? " said Craven.
"Nothing at all , in all probability , " an-
Rwcrcil my uncle. "He Is backing young
Jim because ho knows him , and because he
has more brandy than sense. Ills drunken
confidence set others to do the Bamo. nnd so
the odds came down. "
"He was ns sober as a Judge when he
drove In hero this morning , " said the land
lord. "He's been backing Sir Charles' nomi
nee from the moment he arrived. Some of
the other boys took the olllcc from him , and
they very soon brought the odds down among
them. "
"J wish ho had not brought himself down
ns well , " said my uncle. " 1 beg that you
bring me a llttlo lavender water , landlord ,
for the smell of this crowd Is appalling. I
uppose you couldn't get any sense out of
this drunken fellow , nephew , or find out
what it Is he knows. "
It viafl in vain that I rocked him by the
shoulder anil shouted his name In his car.
Nothing could break in upon that serene In
toxication.
"Well , It's a unique situation , as far as
my experience goes , " said Herkeley Craven.
"Hero we are , within a couple of hours of
the light , and yet you don't know whether
you have a man to represent jou. I hope
you don't stand to lose very much , Tregcl-
Ils. "
My uncle shrugged his shoulders care
lessly and took a pinch of his EiiulT with
that inimitable sweeping gesture which no
man has ever ventured to Imitate.
"I'rctty well , my boy ! " said he. "Hut It
is time that wo thought ot going up to the
Downs. Tills night journey has left me Just
a little culture , nnd I should llko half an
hour of privacy tollrrango toilet. If this Is
my lust kick. It shall at least be with a
well brushed boot. "
I have heard a traveler from the wilds of
America say that he looked upon the red
Indian and the English gentleman as closely
akin , citing the passion for sport and aloof
ness and the suppression of tlio emotions
in each. I thought of his words as I
watched my uncle that morning , for I be
lieve that no victim tied to the stake could
have had a worse outlook before him. It
was not merely that his own fortunes were
largely at stake , but It was the dreadful po
sition In which he would stand before this
Immense concourse of people , many of whom
had put their money upon his Judgment , If
he should find himself nt the last moment
with an Impotent excuse Instead of a cham
pion to put before them. What n situation
for a man who prided himself upon his
aplomb and upon bringing all that bo under
took to the very highest standard of suc
cess. I , who knew him well , could tell
from his Wan checks and restless fingers
that he was at his wit's end what to do ,
but no straiiecr who observed his Jaunty
bearing , the ( licking of bis laced handker
chief , the handling of his quizzing giass , or
the shooting of his rallies , would ever have
thought that this butterfly creature could
have had a care upon earth.
It was close upon 3 o'clock when we
were ready to start for the Downs , and by
that time my uncle's curricle was almost
the only vehicle left In the village street.
The night bcforo they had lain with their
wheels Interlocking and their shafts unde ;
each other's bodies , as thick as they could
tit , from the old church to the Crawley
Elm , spanning the road live deep for a
good half mile In length. Now the gray
village street lay before ns , almost deserted ,
save by a few women and children. Men ,
horses , carriages all were gone. My uncle
drew on .bis driving gloves nnd arranged
his costume with punctilious neatness , but
I observed that he glanced up and down the
road with a hrr.'gard and yet expectant eye
bcforo be took ills scat. I sat behind with
Dclchcr , while the Hon. H. Herkeley Craven
took the place beside him.
The road from Crawley curves gently up
ward to the upland heather-clad plateau ,
which extends for many miles In every di
rection. Strings of pedestrians , most of
them so weary and dust-covered that It was
evident they had walked the thirty miles
from London during the night , were plod
ding along by the sides of tlio road or
trailing over the long mottled slopes of the
moorland. A horseman fantastically dressed
In green and splendidly mounted was wall
ing at the crossroads , and as he spurred
toward us I recognized tlte dark , handsome
face and bold black eyes of Mendoza.
" 1 am waiting hero to give the olflce. Sir
Charles , " said he. "It's down the Orlnstead
road , half n mile to the left. "
"Very good , " said my uncle , reining bis
mares round Into the crossroad.
"You haven't got your man there , " re
marked Mendozn , with something of sus
picion in Ms manner.
"U'hnt the devil Is that to you ? " cried
Uelcher , furiously.
"It's a good deal to all ot us , for there are
Eome funny rumors about ! "
"You keep them to yourself , then , or you
may wish you had never heard them , "
"All right , Jim ! Your breakfast don't
i
1113 AVAS COMMISSIONKD TO DISPENSE
IT UY FOHCB IF NKCUSSAUY.
ncoin to have asicc'l with you this mornliiK. "
"Havo the others arrived ! " asked my
uncle , carelessly.
"Not yet , Sir Charles. Hut Tom Oliver Is
thorn with the ropes and stakes. Jackson
drove by Just now and most of the HUB
keepers nro up , "
"Wo have still an liqur. " remarked my
uncle , as he drove on. "H is possible that
the others may ! > t' lalo , tdnru they hare to
como from Heliiate. "
"Vou take U like a man , Trcgellls , " said
Craven.
"Wo must keep a hold face nnd brazen it
out until thu last moment. "
"Of course , sir , " cried rtolcher. "I'll
never bcllovo the betting would rise like
that If Bomobody didn't Icnousomething. .
Wo'll hold on by our teeth nnd nails , lr.
and sea what conies of it. "
Wo could lieur a sound MUo the waves
upon the beach IOUK bfforo wo came In night
of that mighty multitude , and then at last
on n BUilden dip of the road uc iiaw It lying
lirforo us , a whirlpool of humanity with nn
open vortex lu the renter. All round the
thousands of carriages nnd horses were
dotted over the moor and the slopes were
Kny with tents rind booths. A spot had been
chosen for the ring where a ireat basin hud
boon hollowed out In the grounds , ao that
all round that natural amphitheater a crowd
of SO,000 nooplo could ECO very well what
was going on In the center. As WP drove
up a buz * of greeting rnme from the people
upon the fringe , wMrh wns nearest to us ,
spreading and spreading until the whole
multitude hnd joined In the acclamation.
Then an liiRtnnt later a second shout broke
forth , beginning from the other side of the
nrcnn , anil the faces which had been turned
Inward us whlskeil 'around so that In n
twinkling the whole foreground changed
from white to dark.
"It's they. They are In time , " said my
uncle and Craven together.
Standing up on our currlclo we could sre
thu cnvalcado approaching over the Dnwnn.
In front came a huge yellow barouche In
which sat Sir Lothian Hume , Crab Wilson
and Captain Harclay , his trainer. The
postilions were Hying canary yellow ribbons
'rotn their caps , thoau hulng the colors under
which Wilson was to light. Dchlnd the car
riage there rode a hundred or more noblemen
nnd gentlemen of the west country , nnd then
a llneiof gigs , tilburies and carriages wound
away down the Orlnstead road ns far as our
eyes could follow It. The big barouche came
lumbering over the sward In our direction ,
until Sir Lothian Hume caught sight of us ,
when he shouted to his postilions , to pull up.
"Qooil morning , Sir Charles , " said ho ,
springing out of the carriage. "I thought I
knew your scarlet curricle. We have an ex
cellent morning for the battle. "
My uncle bowed coldly and made no
nnswer.
"I suppose that ninco wo are all here we
may begin at once. " said Sir l.othlan , taking
no notice of the other's manner.
"We begin at 10 o'clock ; not an Instant ho-
fore. "
"Very good , If you prefer It. Hy the way ,
Sir Charles , where Is your man ? "
"I would ask you that question. Sir Loth-
Ian , " answered my uncle. "Where Is my
man ? "
A look of astonishment passed over Sir
Lothian's features , which , If It were not real ,
was moat admirably alfectnd.
"What do you mean by asking mo such a
question ? '
"Because I wish to know. "
"Dut how can I tell , and what business U
it of mine ? "
"I have reason to believe that , you have
mndu It your business. "
' If you would kindly put the matter a lit
tle more clearly tbero would be some possi
bility of my understanding you. "
They were both very white and cold , for
mal and unlmpassloncd In their bearing , but
exchanging glances which crossed like rapier ,
blades. I thought of Sir Lothian's murder- !
eus repute as a duelist , and I trembled for ' |
my uncle.
"Now , sir. If you Imagine that you have n I
grievance against mo you will oblige me j
vastly by putting It Into words. "
"I will , " said my uncle. "There has been !
n conspiracy to malm or kidnap my man , |
and I hnvo every reason to believe that you
are privy to It. ' '
An ugly sneer came over Sir Lothian's
saturnine face.
"I see , " said he , "your mnn has not como
on quite as well ns you hnd expected In his
tralnlnu , and you are hard put to It to
Invent an excuse , Still I should have
thought you might have found a raoro
proboMo one , and ono which would entail
less serious consequences. "
"Sir. " answered my uncle , "you are a
liar , but how great a liar nobody knowj
save yourself. "
Sir Lothian's hollow checks grew white
with passion , and I saw for an Instant In
his deep-set eyes such a glare ns comes
from the frenzied hound , rearing and ramp
ing at the end of Its chain. Then with an
effort ho became the name cold , haul , self-
contained man as over.
"It does not become our position to quar
rel llko two yokels nt a fair , " Bald ho ; "wo
shall go further Into the matter afterward. "
"I promlbu you that wo shall , " answered
my uncle grimly.
"Meanwhile , I hold you to the terms of
your wager. Unless you produce your
nominee within live and twenty minutes I
claim the match. "
"Klght and twenty minutes , " said my
uncle , looking at his watch. "You may
claim it then , hut not an Instant before. "
He was admirable at that moment , for his
manner wus that of a man with all sorts of
hidden resources , so that I could hardly
miiko myself realize as I looked at him
that our position was really as desperate
as I knew it to be. In the meantime
llcrkoloy Craven , who had been exchanging
a few words with Sir Lothian Hume , came
back to our side.
"I have been asked to bo Bole referee in
this matter , " said ho. "Does thut meet
with your wishes , Sir Charles1
"I should bo vastly obliged to you , Craven ,
if you will undertake the duties. "
"And Jackson has been suggested as time
keeper. "
"I could not wish a bettor ono. "
"Very good. That Is settled. "
In | h meantime the last of tho' car-
i luges hud como up , and the horses had all
been picketed upon the moor. The strag
glers who had dotted the grass had closed
In until thu hugo crowd wim one unit with
a single mighty voice , which wns already
beginning to bellow its Impatience. Look
ing around there was hardly a moving ob
ject upon tha whole vast expanse of green
and purple down. A belated gig was com
ing at full gallop down Ihe road which led
from the south , and a few pedestrians were
still trailing up from Crawloy , but nowhere
was there a sign of the inlying man.
"The betting keeps up for all that , " said
Hclcher. "I've Just been to thu ringside
and It Is still even. "
"There's a better place for you at the
outer ropes , Sir Charles- ' said Craven.
"There is no sign of my man yet , I
won't come In until he arrives. "
"It is my duty to tell you that only icn
minutes uro left. "
"I make It five , " cried Sir l.othlan Hume.
"That is a question which llos with the
referee , " said Craven , llrmly. "My watch
makes It ten minutes and ten it must bo. "
"Hero's Crab Wilson ! " cried Helehor , and
at the game moment a shout like a thunder
clap burst from the crowd , The we t coun
tryman had emerged from hU dressing tent ,
followed by Dutch Sam and Tom Owen , who
worn acting as hU seconds. H was nude t"o
the walit. with avalr ot white calico drawers ,
white ultk blockings and running shoes ,
Hound his middle was a canary-yellow sa u ,
and dainty llttlo ribbons of the game color
fluttered from the sides of his knees. He
carried a high white hat In his hand , and ,
running down the lann , which hnd boon V.ept
open through the crowd to allow persons to
reach"the ring , lie threw the 1'nt high In the
air , so that It fell within the staked en
closure. Then , with a double spring , ho
cleared the outer nnd Inner line of rope , and
stood with his arms folded In the center.
I do not wonder that the people cheered.
Even Uelcher could not help joining In the
general shout of applause. He wns rcrtalilly
n splendidly built young athlete , and one
rouui not uavo wisnen in IDOK upon n nner
night , as his white skin , sleek and luminous
as a panther's , gleamed In the light of the
morning nun , with a beautiful liquid rippling
of muscles at every movement. His arms
were long and sllngy. his shoulders loose ,
and yet powerful , with the downward slnnt
whirh Is n surer Index of power than square
ness can be. Ho clasped his hands behind
his hrad , threw them aloft , and swung them
backward , and nt every movement some
fresh expanse of his while skin became
knobbed nnd gnarled with muscle , while a
yell of admiration and delight from the
crowd greeted each fresh exhibition. Then ,
folding hla arms once more , ho stood llko n
beautiful stntup waiting lor his antagonist.
Sir Lothian Hume had been looking Im-
patlrntly at his watch , and now he shut It
with a triumphant snap.
"Tlmo's up ! " ho cried. "The match Is for
feit. "
"Time Is not tip , " said Craven.
"I have still live mlnutea. " My uncle
looked round with despairing eyes.
"Only three , Trcgellls. "
A deep , angry murmur was rising from the
crowd. "It's a cross ! It's a cross ! It's a
false ! " was the cry.
"Two minutes , Trcgollls ! "
"Where's y-ur man. Sir Charles ? Where's
the man that we have backed ? " Flushed
faces began to crane over each other and
angry eyes glared up at us.
"One more minute , TroKcllls ! I am very
sorry , but It will be my duty to declare It
forfeit against you. "
There was a sudden swirl In the crowd , a
rush , a shout , and high up In the air there
spun an old black hat , lloating over the
bends of the rlngsldcrs , and flickering down
within the ropes.
"Saved , by the Lord ! " screamed Helchcr.
"I rather fancy. " said my uncle , calmly ,
"that this must bo my man. "
"Too late ! " cried Sir Lothian.
"No , " answered the referee. "It was still
twenty seconds to the hour. The fight will
now proceed. "
CHAPTER XVII.
THU 1UNGSIDK.
Out of the whole ot that vast multitude I
THERE SPUN AN OLD BLACK HAT.
was ono of the very few who had observed
whence It was that this black hat , skimming
so opportunely over the ropes , had come. 1
have already remarked that when we looked
around us thnro had been a single gig
traveling very rar.klly on the southern road.
My uncle's eyes had rested upon It , but bis
attention had been drawn away by the dis
cussion between Sir Lothian Huino nnd the
refeice upon the question of time. For
my own part , I had been so struck by the
furious manner In which these belated trav
elers were approaching that I had continued
to watch them with all soils of vague , hopes
within me , which I did not dare to put into
words for fear of adding to my uncle s dis
appointments. I had Just made out that
the gls contained n man and a woman ,
when suddenly I saw it swerve off the road
and come with a galloping horse and
bounding wheels rlsht across the moor ,
crashing throueh the gorse bushes , and
sinking down to the hubs In the heather
and bracken. As the driver pulled up hi3
foam-spattered horse he threw the relna to
his companion , sprang from his seat , butted
fuilously at the crowd , and then an Instant
afterward up went the hat which told ot
bis challenge and defiance.
"There is no hurry now , I presume , Cr.i-
ven , " said my uncle , as coolly : XP if this
sudden effect bad been carefully devised
by him.
"Now that your man has his hat In the
ring , you can take as much time as you llko ,
Sir Charles. "
"Your friend has certainly cut It rather
fine , nephew. "
"It Is not Jim , sir , " I whispered ; "It U
some ono else. "
My uncle's eyebrows betrayed his astonish
ment.
"Some ono else ! " he ejaculated.
"And a good man , too ! " roared Uelcher ,
slapping his thigh with a crack like a pistol
shot. "Why , blow my dickey If it ain't old
Jack Harrison himself ! "
Looking down at the crowd wo had seen
the head and shoulders of a powerful nnd
strenuous man moving slowly forward and
leaving behind him a long V-shaped rlpplo
upon its surface like the wake of a swim
ming dog. Now , as ho pushed his way
through the looser fringes , the head was
raised , and there was the grinning , hardy
face of the smith looking up at us. He
had left his hat in the ring , and ho was
enveloped in an overcoat with a blue birds-
eye handkerchief tied around his .neck. As
ho emerged from the throng ho let his
great coat My loose and showed that ho was
dressed In his full lighting kit black draw
ers , chocolate stockings ajul white shoes.
"I'm right sorry to be BO late , Sir
Charles , " ho cried. "I'd have been sooner ,
but it took mo a llttlo time to make it nil
right with the missus. I couldn't convince
her all at once , an' so J brought her with
mo , and wo argued it out on the way. "
Looking at the gig , I saw now that It was
Indeed Mrs. Harrison who v/us seated In It.
Sir Charles beckoned him up to the wheel
of the currlcuU1.
"What In the world brings you hero , Harrison
risen ? " ho whispered. "I am as glad to see
you as ever I was to see a man In my life ,
but I confess I did not expect you. "
"Well , sir , you heard I was coming , " said
the smith.
"Indeed. I did not. "
"Didn't you got a message , Sir Charles ,
from a man named dimming , landlord of
the Friars Oak Inn ? Master Hodney there
would know him. "
"Wo jiaw him dead drunk at the George. "
"There , now , if I wasn't afraid of it ! "
cried Harrison , angrily. "He's always llko
that when he's excited , and I never saw a
man more off his h'-ad ' than ho was when
ho heard I was goln' to take this Job over.
Ho brought a bag of sovereigns up with him
to back mo with. "
"That's how the betting got turned , " said
my uncle. "He found others to follow his
lead , It appears. "
"I was EO afraid that ho might get upon
the drink that I made him promise to go
straight to you , sir , the very instant he
should arrive. Ho had a note to deliver. "
" 1 understand that he reached the Qcorge
at 0 , while I did not return from Ilelgato
until after 7 , by which tlmo I have no doubt
thut he had drunk bis message to mo out of
his head. Hut where is your nephew. Jim ,
and how did you como to know that you
would bo needed ? "
"It is not bis fault , I promise you , that
you should bo left In the lurch , As to me ,
I had my orders to take his place from the
only man on earth whoso word I have never
disobeyed. "
"Yes , Sir Charles , " said Mrs. Harrison ,
who had left the gig and approached us ,
"you can make the moat of it thU time , lor
never again shnlt you have my Jack not If
you were to gifoVryour knees for him. "
"She's not it pHtron of sport , and that'll a
fact , " said the smith.
"Sport ! " shb'dHed ' , with shrill contempt
and anger. "TVIt' ' mo when all Is over. "
She hurried aWnrv and I saw her afterward
neatcd among -HidMirACkon , her back turned
toward the mujtmitlo and her hands over her
ears , cowering'anl wlnrlng In an agony of
apprehension. ' " ' '
While this hhrrVd scone hud been taking
place the cro\td' ' llkd become more nnd more
j tumultuous , pM'tl/'from their Impatience at
the delay amV'ivirtly from their exuberant
spirits nt the IwdipoeU'd chance of seeing so
crlobrntod n lighting man ns Harrison. His
Identity had nlreally been noised abroad , and
many an elderly ( connoisseur plucked his
long net purauout of his fob In order to
put a few guineasupon ! the man who would
represent the school of the past against the
present. The younger men were still In
favor of the west country man , and small
odds were to by had either way In proportion
tion In the number of the supporters of each
In the different purls of the crowd.
In the meantime Sir Lothian Hume had
come bustling up to the Hon. Berkeley
Craven , who wns still standing near our
curricle.
"I beg to lodge a formal protest against
those proceedings , " said he.
"On what grounds , sir ? "
"Hocauso the man produced Is not the
original nominee of Sir Charles Tregollls. "
"I never named ono , ns you are well
aware , " said my uncle.
"The belt ing has all been upon the un
derstanding that young Jim Harrison was
my man's opponent. Now at the last mo
ment he l.i withdrawn nnd another and
more formidable man put into his place. "
"Sir Charles Tiegellls Is unite within
his rights , " said Craven firmly , "lit- under ,
took to produce a man who should be within
the age limits stipulated , and I understand
that Harrison fulfill : ! all the conditions.
You are over five nnd thirty , Harrison ? "
"Forty-one next month , master. "
"Very good. I direct that the tight pro
ceed. "
Hut alas , there was one authority which
was higher oven than that of the referee ,
and we woie destined loan experience which
was the prelude and sometimes the con
clusion also of many an old-time fight.
Across the moor there bad ridden n black-
coated gentleman with buff topped hunting
boots and a couple of grooms behind him ,
the little knot of horsemen showing up
clearly upon the curving swells , and then
dipping down Into the alternate hollows.
Some of the more observant of the crowd
had glanced suspiciously nt this advancing
Pgure , but the majority bad not observed
him at all until lie reined up bis horse upon
a knoll which overlooked the ampltlieater ,
and In a stentorian voice announced that he
represented the Custos rotiilorum of his
majesty's county of Surrey , that he pro
claimed this assembly to be gathered for an
Illegal purpose , and that he was commis
sioned to disperse It by force If necessary.
"Never before had I understood that deep ,
seated fear and , wholesome respect which
many centuries of bludgeoning at the bauds
of the law had beaten Into the fierce and
turbulent native of these Islands. Here
was a man with two attendants upon one
side , and on the other 30,000 very angry and
disappointed people , many of them fighters
by profession , and 'some of the roughest
and most danger6ua classes In the country.
And yet It was tbe'single man who appealed
confidently to rfircjj , while his multitude
awajed and murmured like a mutinous ,
fierce-willed creature brought face to face
with a power against which it knew there
was neither argument nor resistance. My
uncle , however , with Herkeley Craven , Sir
John Lade , and a dozen other lords and gen
tlemen , hurried across to the Interrupter
ot the sport.
"I presume y.ou. have a warrant , sir ? "
said Craven.
"Yes , sir , I have a warrant. "
"Then I have'a legal right to Inspect It. "
The magistrate bunded him a blue paper ,
which the little knot of gentlemen clustered
their heads over , > for they were mostly
magistrates tberfialvca , and .wero keenly
alive to any possible 'Haw in the wording.
At last Craven shrugged his shoulders and
handed It back.
"This seems to be correct , sir , " said be.
"It Is entirely correct , " answered the
magistrate , affably"To prevent waste ot
your valuable time .gentlemen , .1 may Bay
once for nil that It Is my unalterable
determination that no fight shall , under
any circumstances , be brought off in the
county over which I have control , and I
am prepared to follow you all day in order
to prevent it. "
To my inexperience this appeared to bring
the whole matter to a conclusion , but I had
underrated the foresight of those who
arrange these affairs , and also the ad
vantages which made Crawley Down so
favorite a rendezvous. There was a hurried
consultation between the principals , the
backers , the referee and the time
keeper.
"It's seven miles to Hampshire border and
about six to Sussex , " said Jackson. The
famous muster of the ring was clad in honor
of the occasion In a most resplendent scarlet
coat , worked in gold at the buttonholes , a
white stock , a looped hat with a broad black
band , buff knee breeches , vdilte silk stock
ings , and paste buckles a costume which
did Justice to his magnificent figure and
especially to those famous "balustrade1
calves which had helped him to be the
finest runner and Jumper , as well as the
most formidable pugllst In England. His
broad , high-boned face , largo piercing eyes ,
end immense physique made him a fitting
leader for that rough and tumultuous body
who had named him as their commander-lu-
ohlef.
"If I might venture to offer you a word of
advlco , " said the affable official , "it would
bo to make for the Hampshire line , for Sir
James Ford on the Sussex border has. ns
great an objection to such assemblies as I
have , while Jlr. Morrldow of Long Hall , who
is the Hampshire magistrate , has fewer
scruplen upoii the point. "
"Sir , " said my uncle , rasing his hat In hli
most impressive manner , "I nm Infinitely
obliged to you. With the referee's permis
sion there is nothing for It but to shift the
stakes. " - , ' '
In nn Instant a scene ot the wildest anima
tion bad net in. .TonfOwon and his assist
ant , Fogo , with the help of the rlngkecpers ,
plucked up the utakcs and ropes and carried
them oft across country. Crab Wilson was
enveloped In great coats and borne away In
the barouche , while Champion Harrison
took Mr. Craven's place In our curricle.
Then off the huge crowd started , horsemen ,
vehicles , and pedestrians , rolling slowly over
the broad face of the moorland. The car
riages rocked and pitched llko boats in a
seaway as they lumbered along , fifty abreast ,
scrambling and lurching over everything
which cauio In their way1.
Sometimes , with a snap and a thud , ono
axle would como to the ground , wbllo a
wheel reeled oft amid the tussocks of
heather , and rfars of delight greeted the
owners as they/looked / ruefully at the ruin.
Then , us the Jorso ; clumps grew thinner
and the sward barg. level , those on foot be
gan to run , the fMm-s struck In their spurs ,
the drivers cracked their whips and away
they all streamed In the maddest , wildest
cross-country steeplechase , the yellow ba
rouche and the crimson currlclo , which
hold the two champions , leading the van.
"What do uou'ljhlnk of your chances ,
Harrison ? " I heard my uncle ask , as the
two mares picked Jthelr way over the broken
ground. .
"it's my lahtn rtUht , Sir Charles , " said
the smith. IJYcm.t heard the missus say
that If she let mofoff this tlmo I was never
to ask again..i- -must try and make it
a good one. " 1 > >
"Hut your minlnK ? "
"I'm alwaysJ-'tuMtralning ' , sir. I work
hard from muriilngi to night , and I drink
little else tnanucwaifir. I don't think that
Captain Harclay-crin"do much better with all
his rules. "
"He's rather long In the reach for you. "
"I've fought and beaten them that were
longer. If It comes to a rally I should
hold my own , and should have the better
of him at a thiow. "
"It's n match of youth against experi
ence. Well , I would not hedge a guinea
of my money. Hut unless he was acting
under forpo , I cannot forgive young Jim
for having deserted me. "
"Ho was acting under force. Sir Charles. "
"You have seen him , then ? "
"No , master , I have not seen him. "
"You know whore ho is ? "
"Well , it is not for mo to say ono way
or the other. I can only tell you you that
he could not help himself. Hut hero's the
beak a-comin' for us again. '
( To be Continued. )
Always patronize the homo article. Spe
cially if its better. Cook's Imperial Extra
Dry Champagne boa no equal.
GLOOMY FOURTH OF FIFTY-SIX
A Year Wlion Good Americans Woiuleied
if There Would rBo Another.
IT WAS A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR
lnt < lfir | < 'lnltiti of l ) ( > i > liirnlliiii of In-
llrpc 11)1 filer llMllltril III I'lUIII'lllW
_ Almtrnct uf n Siiccrli l > > l.ln-
folii Hitherto t iiiuhll | l -it.
( iVpyrlRht. ISM , by S. P. Mc-Hunl Prt. )
It Is illllloult fur nil American nil nil to
grasp the Idea that the foundations of tlio
Fourth of July wore ever less Impregnable
limn today nnd yet only forty years ago In
1S58 , not only the popularity , but the very
oxlstence of the Great holiday was seriously
threatened.
Eighteen hundred nnd fifty-six , like
189(5 ( , was a presidential year , but
whllo today the country Is divided on
R matter of pure financial policy , a matter
which calls Into question noiut of the funda
mental principles of our government , then
the country was agitating the very founda
tion on which the Fourth of July Itself rests.
The greatest clause of the Declaration of
Independence , "All men are created free
and equal , " was In dispute. What did It
mean ? "All men , " without regard to rank ,
condition , or color , or was It "all white
men , " or might It not bo "all white Proles-
tant men. "
The disputants had gone so far as to or
ganize parties and put up president ! ! candi
dates who stood for these various Interpreta
tions. Klrst , there were the republicans
with Fremont for president. They came out
squarely for a literal Interpretation of the
clause. Second , there were the democrats
with Buchanan at their head , who Insisted
that equality was confined to white men.
Third , the know-nothings , with Klllmorc as
leader , who restricted equality to white
Protestants.
While the politicians wrangled over the
meaning of the Declaration of Independence ,
the people naturally were regarding the day
which celebrated the document with suspi
cion , a part of them declaring with Ilosca
lllglow ;
Folks don't want Fourth of July t' Inter
im ru
With th'- ' > business conmirns o * the rest of
the year.
Another part repenting a sarcastic com
ment of Abraham Lincoln :
"The Fourth of July has not quite
dwindled away ; It Is still a great day for
burning fireworks ! ! ! "
The debate had grown so warm in the
months before the Fourth that In congress
an advocate of the first Interpretation.
Charles Stunner , had boon beaten over the
head by Jin advocate of the second. In
Kansas the two parties were In an actual
state of civil war , one side contending that
the territory must admit only free men ,
the other that It must receive slaves. In
Now England Garrison In disgust at the
Idea that the constitution of the United
States protected slavery in the south had
even burned this sister of the Declaration
of Independence and a chorus of ardent
"nmens" had greeted the smoke. In the
south there was an Incessant abuse of aboli
tionism combined with threats of disunion.
OUSEUVANCE OF THE DAY.
It Is curious to see how the country nnd
Its great men spend this Fourth , the first
after democrats. Know-nothings and repub
licans were fully organized for the fight
which was to decide what the day did really
mean ; was to decide , In fact , whether It
was to exist any longer. In Washington It
was spent ominously. Congress was still In
session and before it lay the reports of
tin- committee that had been investigating
affairs In Kansas. The debates were stormy
and men who hud been friends for ycais
were beginning to break apart. Partic
ularly bitter were the friends of Sumner
who was still lying in Washington ( the as
sault on Sumner occurred on May 22. )
William H. Scward fapuut his Fourth in
visiting .the sufferer : "Ho Is much changed
for tl\o \ worse , " he wrote after he got home.
"His elasticity and vigor are gone. He
walks and In every way moves like n man
who has not altogether recovered from ; i
paralysis , or like a man whoso sight is
dimmed , and his limbs stiffened with age. "
Many another great man's thoughts
turned to Sumner that day , even the gen
tle Longfellow's. The poet was at Nnlmnt
nursing a lame knee. He had hurt it just
as ho was on the verge of going to Europe ,
but so excited was ho over the politics of
the country that ho even declared he was
glad to stay at home to save his vote. " 1
liavo great respect for that now , though
1 never cared about it before , " he wrote.
Jefferson Davis , soon to take so promi
nent a part in the contest , was secretary
of war. To him It fell to l.-eep order In
Kansas , a task which required no little
discretion on this critical Fourth of July.
That he did It without bloodshed is to his
tiedlt. Douglas , Toomba , Stephens were
all In congress , struggling with the theo-
rcticrl part of Kansas , as Davis was with
the practical , and succeeding not quite
EO well , it should be noticed. John Drown
was in Kansas , his hands still jvct with
the blood of the massacre of the Pottawat-
omlo , urging constantly on the free soil
party his favorite maxim , "Keep cool and
fire low. " Henry Ward Ilcecher was help
ing on his side of the cause by raising
"Bcocher's Illbles" for the frro soil party
of Kansas , the "bibles" being first-class
rifles. And so it was all over the land ,
the men of north and south were actively
supporting their peculiar Interpretation of
the Declaration of Independence. Those
who happend to bo In Europe werei'.u
loss anxious than those at home. To them
the condition of the country eccmed hope
less , beyond compare. "As I read these
things s-o far away , " wrote Lowell from
Dresden , "it seems as if I were reading
the history of a republic In the last
wretched convulsion before absolute disso
lution. Yet I believe It will somehow bo
turned to good nnd that out of this fer
menting compost heap of all filthy materiala
a liner plant of freedom Is to grow. Hut
when ? "
CKLKIIHATIOXS IN EAST AND WEST.
The celebrations which took place were
In many places In tho' cast studiously dis
creet , every effort being made to avoid any
reference to slavery. In Now York they
got on particularly well , for tbero they had
a pleasant duty to perform , which took at
tention entirely oft politics this was un-
voillng the familiar equestrian statue of
Washington , which stands in Union square
H was "out west" that the Fourth of
July of 185G took the most pronounced po
litical tone. The west had produced the
republican party and the members of the
now organization , most of them young , com
bative , fearless men , were glad of so good
a chance to heap sarcasm on the Interpreta
tion their opponent * ) were giving to the
Declaration of Independence.
In Kansas a particularly dramatic act
was planned. Kansas had at that tlmo a
territorial government of the usual kind ,
but It was pro-slavery in its sympathies
The advocates of free Kansas or the "frco
state party , " as It was called , had the year
bcforo (1855) ( ) organized a state government
of Its own , elected Its own representative
to congress and set about preparing a con
stitution. Thus Kansas had in 1SDC two
governments , one under the direction of the
United States authorities , one self-directed.
The latter planned that the legislature it
had elected should meet at Tojieka , the
capital of the state , on July 4 , and by the
morning of that day part of the members
and a largo body of sympathizers were In
town. The territorial authorities were
rather tired of dispersing conventions and
mobs , but they felt that It would bu a
serious blow to their prestige to allow so
Irregular a body as the now government
to convene , and BO celebrated the Fourth by
marching dragoons upon the capital and
driving off the "bogus" government. The
ease with which the free state party was
dispersed took all the eclat out of the
movement.
Hy far the most Interesting western
Fourth of July celebration to the reader
of today was that held at a little Illinois
village Princeton , This towy. one of the
fairest in all of the beautiful state , owes
much of its beauty to the liryants brothers
of William Cullcu Bryant , who ( settled there
in the 30 and through whose efforts It lias
become In appearance largely a New Eng
land town. PriQcetou w s the bomu tiut
only of Joiin Bryant , an ardent free noli
m n , but of ( hat famous abolitionist , Owen
Love-Joy. Hut it was the presence of
neither Hryant nor Lovojoy that made ( ho
dfty historic. It was the fact that the chief
oratlbn of the day w.is'nntdo by the innu
who was to bo the central figure In net
tling the question : "Ar. ' all men created
equal ? Shall the FourUi of July Mnnd
for something greater than the flreerrcker ? "
This man was Abraham Lincoln. The re
publican party of Illinois had been regu
larly organized only six weeks before and
Lincoln had made a speech at the con
vention which gave him by general consent
the leadership ot the now party. What
would he say today the first Fourth of
July since he had publicly declared himself
a republican ?
The crowd which gathered at Princeton
was an Immense one for a town of Its size.
The people ramp from every direction on
foot. In wagons , on horseback. As n rule
they moved In delegations or processions.
It being the intention to combine the various
representations at Princeton in a gigantic
parade. The experiences of n member of
one of thrse delegations that from TIs-
lillwn were published In a local paper a
few days after the celebration. It Is evi
dent from the letter that the Fourth of
July , 1S5C. was a great day for that
part of the world.
"At nn early hour. " says the correspond
ent , "tho wagons commenced pouring Into
our town by scores , bound for Princeton ,
with their Hags flying , and bearing on them
In largo glaring letters different Inscrlp
tloiiB. Wo noticed n banner In the Henry
delegation with the motto "Liberty or
Death. " Inscribed thereon. Load after load ,
not wishing to wait for the procession ,
passed on and could not be prevailed on to
atop and fall In with the rest. Wo got In our
conveynncn , nnd , after taking our plnce In
the procession , we looked ahead of us and
the procession In front reached ns far as
the eye could extend. We remarked tint
we must be near the lost end ot the pro
cession looking around , wo came to the con
clusion that this was not the case Just at
that time the Henry delegation , which num
bered In all about forty or fifty wagons and
carriages , wns heaving in sight thus mak
ing quito nn addition to our numbers and
Increasing our length. Heforo arriving at
Princeton , the wagons and carriages were
counted , nnd , wo were told , numbered IfiO
vehklcs , many of which had from fifteen to
eighteen persons , nnd , In fact , there were
several that had ns many ns twenty-five
persons In each. From this a partial con
clusion can bo drawn as to the number In
attendance at the celebration. On arriving
at Princeton we found all the principal
streets so crowded that it was nn Impossi
bility for our wagons to get around In any
thing llko order. We therefore were com
pelled to turn as best wo could. "
LINCOLN. THE OHATOH OF THE DAY.
Lincoln's speech on this occasion was ev
idently not written out , for It does not ap
pear in any of the "complete" collections
of his speeches. The only report of It of
which we know Is the one given by the cor
respondent quoted above , who says :
"Mr. Lincoln commenced back at the for
mation of the American government , and
made a hasty review of our history , glancing
at all the most Important features In our
legislation. He spoke In the first place of
that declaration made to the world , by our
forefathers , 'That all men are born free
and equal , ' and from that tlmo lie moved
on down to the famous ordinance of 17)57 ) ,
the ordinance which was passed , nnd under
which Virginia ( If our memory serves us
aright ) , granted the five states of Ohio , In
diana , Illinois , Michigan nnd Wisconsin , to
the general government , and In that vast
territory , slavery and Involuntary servitude ,
except for crime , was forever prohibited. Ho
then came to speak of the Missouri compro
mise , and on this point he dwelt at full
length , as the repeal of this act Is the
measure that is now causing so much ex
citement throughout the country. He said
that the people had lived in comparative
peace and quiet , with only an occasional
brush. During General Jackson's adminis
tration , the Calhoun nullifying doctrine
sprung up , but General Jackson , with
that decision of character that ever
characterized him , put an end to
It. Then again In 1845 , when Texas
knocked at the door and requested ad
mission there sprung up another excite
ment on the slavery question. That finally
passed off until the excitement In regard
to the territories of Washington and Utnh
came up , which was the cause of the pas-
! ! 3go of the compromise measures of ISHO <
It then ran on until 1854 , when Douglas ,
In announcing his bill for the organization
of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska
recommended congress to repeal the Mis
souri compromise , which move raised such
nn excitement around Clio white liouec
and throughout the country as never be
fore was heard ot In thia union. Mr. Lin
coln took his scat amid loud and enthusi
astic cheers. "
And this Is all wo know of Lincoln's
speech on this critical Fourth. But It Is
enough to show that ho was doing his.best
to carry out the advice which ha had al
ready given the young icpuhlican party ,
that "ballots , not bullets. " were the
weapons to use in settling the fate of the
Declaration of Independence. He said
nothing evidently to Inflame the excited
and outraged people. He simply used his
toric arguments to prove to them calmly
that they were right In their opposition
to the extension of slavery. There prob
ably was not another political speech made
on the Fourth of July , 1856 , which was so
full of hard facts and so free from those
appeals to the emotions which are ordi
narily reckoned as the only eloquence ,
IDA M. TAltllELL.
Mrs. Alice Freeman Palmer , former presi
dent ot Wcllesley college. Is now In Venice.
She has accepted the invitation of the Ameri
can Missionary association to bo one of the
Breakers at the Jubilee of the association In
lieston next October. Her subject will bo
"Educational Equipment lor Missionary
Service. "
How are
Your Kidneys ?
/Joes Your Hack Ache ?
' the Wood. Meoltliy KUaeya
I pure blood.
Dr. Hobbs Snnraens Kidney Pills
) cure Kheumatlsiii , ( lout , He/emu , ,
Ana-nila , I'lmples , llqil IJI od.llrlKht'fl
t Disease , JMalarla , Uacknclic , Kidney i
Palm , Dropsy , Pain hi Ilia Abdomen ,
) Preiiient | Urination , InUanimatloiiaf i
Kidneys , etc , Kmlorseil by rliysl.
I claim nuil DniRclsts. 50 cents a Imx. j
Sample Pills and Valuable Hook trie.
T.IKKA 1'lLr.fTntr.Vtrl ) , HiI Tub ! , * f.llllf
Liter I'tllt iton'turijif , ( tnlu IO t-'tnlm ) 'lal.
SufciuiilH'lli : Altniyi ii'linMi * 'lull * no
KUbslllute. rnrialrliynllilrinniUi * . SMid
, „ ! U'amiiH'iiajniuiml WM.COX Sl'l'.i it'll. CO ,
SMSoutU UltflilhSlrt-ct , 1'IiItADJai'JUA. 1'A.
DEVOTING HIS ENERGIES TO
CURING THE SICK ,
THOUSAHDS0PPEOPLE
OWE TIIKIH 1IKAIJ1I TO Mn\TO \ IM
PROVED HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES ,
AMU Vour nruuKlnt fur MIIM > UII' clnlilp
to llcnllli llli.v n il.-Ont Muit } on
Itoincily anil Cure Vourxrlf. ,
Owen Suldor , S13 Nineteenth street , Den
ver , role , says : "I hnvo been ix nnirlyr to
Kbciimatlsm for the | > unt 12 yearn , nnd
during nil that tlmo have scarcely been
nnlo to hobble a roll ml. I Prut contracted
Artli-iilnr UbiMimiitlsm In my Unco JolntH
Mid nnklc * iKurly 30 yours ngo. unil it kept
HtiMiIlly getting worse , nnd hnvo wcivrci'ly
luH-n iihiu to walk for 12 yours. 1 got two
bottles of Muiiyon's Rheumatism I'ure ,
nnd took th.-ni . both , nnd I can walk with
out a limp and nm sure of a eompli-tt- cure
I heartily ivi-nmtnonil it to nil those uf-
lllclpil with minimalism. "
.Mtinyon's Hlicunuitlsm Ouro seldom falls
to ivlli'vo In line to thren hours , and euros
In n few days. 1'ileo 23e.
Muuyon's Dyspepsia Cure- positively cures
nil forms of Indigestion and Htomucli
trouble. Price KM :
Munyoit's Cold I'uro prevents pmniinonla
and breaks up n cold In n tvw hours.
Munyoti's Cough euro stops coiiKhs. night
sweats , allays soreness ami speedily heals
I he lungs. 1'rlce 2"ie.
Mtinyon's Kidney Cure speedily cures
Tmlns In the back , loins or groins ami all
forms of kidney disease. 1'ilee 2.V.
Munyon's I'llo Ointment positively cures
all forms of piles. Price Mo.
Munyon's lli-ndaolio Cur stops headache
in three minutrs. Price 2.10.
Munyon's Dlood Cure eradicates nil Im
purities of the blood. IMIoo Ki\
Munyon's Female Hemedles are n boon
to all women.
Munyon's Asthma Komoillrs rolleviin 3
minutes and euro permanently. Prlco Jl
Munyon's I'atarrli Iti-iiirdles never full
I lip Catarrh ruro prloo Zic-oradli'iili s tlio
disease from the system , and the Catar'b
I ablets price L'5c cleanse and heal to ;
Munyon's Nerve Cure Is a wcindm-ful
nerve tonic. Prlon 2 , " > c
A separate cure for each disease. At nil
dniRglsts , mostly 2jr a vlul.
Personal loiters to Prof Munyon , IfiOS
Aroh street , Philadelphia. Pa . answered
with free medical iidvlco for any disease
iMUWPIi
If you nro sulTerliifT from tlio effects of S-
yontmnl follycirtlio usri-ancs < if inutnror : ' . * '
yuan , rostillliis In nervousness , nlulitly
lobiei. vrnatoil imris , luck of niumcrr uml
general ttoliUUaiod condition ,
vriltn ino
iinil I v ? 11 ba Imppy to innll yon , in plulii fe
cnvplnpo.lhe it > clintlmtconii1"ltlrriiretl | | -
ino of a cnbo * > r ninny > cars' i innulinr I KJ
jTiint NO 1'A V. tiplim Hind to licln my fel- feI
Inw-man In lilaailllctluu. Uurrcaponcciiro & *
coulldontlal. fem
C. L. KEWLAND ,
BoxS6t. Kalamazoo , Mlcli. m
Wo Ren'l tlio mnrvrlrtini Vrrncli
Jlcmc.lv CALTHOS frw , nnd T
local Kti.-irnnlio that ( . 'AI.TIIOS win
STOI' ni rlinrer KmUnlonv
CultUnrrmHlt rrhrc.Viirlr ? rlo
uml nr.s 101:1 : i.i viBor.
t's it and / < ? v i/sntisfica ,
AiMrm , VON MOHL CO. ,
Hcla Anrrlrna AgraU , llurlnnkl ] , OU0. j
V purchasing needs niudu
at tin : following Nebras
ka factories. It you cnn- .
not lliulvhiit you want' ,
coiiiiiuinicnto with the
iiiiiiiiil'iictiircr.s as to
\v h a ( dealers handle
their { ; O < > ( ! H. . - . = -
HAGS , BUKLAP AND TWINE.
inuis O.IIAIIA IIA < ; co.
Jlamifai lun/irt of all lilmla ot cutlon nnd liur-
lni > haK * , cottoa Hour sacks anJ twine a pi > eo
lalty. CK-iUG-dS a. lltli HI.
UHBW13RHJS.
01IA1IA ltllIOWI.\ < ; A.S.S ( ) < ; iA'l'M ) > .
Car Inai ] HhfpmonlH inude hi nui- own rrfn
ei.'Llor curb. Illno UlbLrin , ] ! lllK Kx | > ort. VI'MiLt
M\ioiL and Painhy Jpoit Jellvt'iui ] to all pa u. .
of tincity. .
FLOUU.
S. K. CMMAX.
Manufacturer of Gold Mnlid Klour.
C. K. ISIuclc. MiiniiKi-r. Oinalia
IKON WORKS.
DAVIN A COVlil II , IIIO.VVOKK } .
Iron mill UIVINM I' ' IIIIII | < T .
M-jnuruUmwH nnd .luhhi-is of M.ic lilm-iy 'leri-
fii ] ii'pjlilni ; n hpfclally. IJ'JI , 1WJ anil UQ3
J'41-l.hull SlU'Ot , OlIKllia , S'PU.
l.YIHISTItlAI * MtO.VVOItKS ,
Manufn' tmlns : and n-palrlntr "f all kin 9 of
IMK hli.i-iy. I'liKlni'H. iMimp.i , t'lei'nt'iia , jirn'tna
jiri'svi'S. liniiKe'H , hliafllni ; nnd rnuidlni ; . * . H1 ) and
14'i.s lluw.ird .SI , Onrilia.
p\\To.\ viKiti.m : iiio.v u'oitK.s ,
Miitmrai Hirers of Aichll. r ulial Ii' > n IVitilt
llpiiiTal Foundry. Mac.ilni' .mil IHarkmn'il ' , ni.
KriKint'tTx "nd ( "ontini loin for Kliu l'i > f Jlud'l-
IDKK. Ulllre and \voiKa : | i , ] ' , Hy i nil K. .
! 7lli Mri-i'l , Omri'.ia.
NIOIIT WATCH , Fl Illli ! HKI1V1' 'l-i
C \ \ \rn.
The only pi'ifprt | iiterlli | ) > ii tu prupuity Kxuni-
Ini ) 't. ' lli'Ki tlilnu mi cailli , lU'dm-cH l/ruMnm
rnt'-H. I'M I iMiijil.ia ' " ' < ' t ,
SHIHT KACTOI11ES.
II. J 3 V . \ \ SX 141111 - \ S lA .mi HIT
cuMom hlilit lallnrH. 151 i Kurnini.
TKNTS AND AWNINGS
\VOIF IlltOS , .V CO ,
Maniifnctumy ot Icnix , awnlunn. iii | , ill.itn.
n.iK > . lianmia mid Hliriimi'in. TJJIN'TH I'OIl
UINT. "oi-703 : Smith i'lxlL-f'illi fired , tiinulii.
nnJ StercotypMR
mil Tin ; TKAIJK. 1'lnlmuioilnlij u i' ' iii. . il for '
tli lr xui'orlar Iliilili nuil i/rliiiuni iiinllo Ui > / *
Kunrnnlim llrt-rln * "rk. J'n mi'l ' urni-ii iiii.l f .1.
raanounlil cli.iri < i < H Wnhi forintliuii . Henil fur - % f
lilt Howard lit , OiJAIIA. NKII.
BERLIN
Until Further Notice Will Give
Free Consultation
and Free Treatment
In All. . . . .
New treatment for Catarrh and lUieumatlsm. Diseases of Wumcn. Ulscafca uf tha
Nervous Hyxtem , Illaddor nnd Kidneys ; all Jilnod l li eii , 'H , BUIll iJliH'ascs , I'lmples
and all blurnUliPH of the face ; rtlsca.c'H of the 10ye mid Kir. ; Ttnont niul Lum ; * ; LOBS
of vltalluy In youiiK anil mlddlc-axed uu-n ; Ulsi-aBra uf the btuinndi , otc. . etc.
liobort W McJJrlde , 2022 Mandeiton Btwl. Omaha. Hay . " 1 have suffeitd from
rhuumatinm four ycum. Tried dotter until I Ion hui > t > Vour Hist treatment re *
lloveq me In TI3N MlNUTHS. Have not been BO well for yearn. "
HOUnS 8 to I ! i. , in , , " U. t end i to 9 p. in , Sunday K u in. to 1 p. m.
Rooms 14 ( S 15 , Arlington Block , ( JiexlDoor West ol P. 0. )