10 THE OlSrATTA PATLT T lfe ; SUNDAY , ATTHTST 20 , 1890.
S3. RIDER HAGGARD.
AUTHOR Of "SI.C , " "AllAN QUAURMUV "KING SOLOMOVS VIStS , " ETC.
CHAPTER VII.
THE RECOVERY OF THE KINO.
For a moment there was silence , then a
preat cry arose a cry of "Our father Is
dead I" Presently with It were mingled
other nnd angrier shouts of "The King Is
" " Is bewitched the
murdered ! and "He ,
white wizard has bewitched the king ! Ho
prophesied evil upon him , and now ho has
bewitched hlml"
Meanwhile the captains and councillors
formed a ring about Umsuka , and Hokosa ,
bending over him , examined him.
"Princes nnd councillors , " he said pres
ently , "your father yet lives , but his life
is like the life of a dying tire , and soon
ho must be dead. This Is sure , that one
of two things has befallen him : Either
the heat has caused the blood to boll In
his veins and he Is smitten with a stroke
from heaven , such as men who nro fat and
heavy sometimes dlo of , or he has been
bewitched by a wicked wizard. Yonder
stands one , " and ho pointed to Owen , "who
not an hour ago prophesied that before
the sun was down great evil should overtake
the King. The sun Is not yet down , and
great orll has overtaken him. Perchance.
Princes and councillors , this whltu prophet
can tell us of the matter. "
"Perchance I can , " answered Owen calmly.
"Ho admits It ! " cried some. "Away with
him ! "
"Peace ! " said Owen , holding the crucifix
toward those whose spuars threatened his
life.
life.Thoy
They shrank back , for this symbol of a
dying man terrified them who could not
guess its significance.
"Peace , " went on Owen , "and listen. Bo
sura of this. Councillors , that If I die , your
King will dlo ; whereas , If I live , your King
may" Hvo. You ask mo of this matter.
Where shall I begin ? Shall I begin with
the tale of two men seated logether three
nights ago In a hut so dark that no eyes
could see In It , save , perchance , the eyes of
a wizard ? AVhat did they talk of In that hut.
nnd who were those men ? They talked , I
think , of the death of a King and the crownIng -
Ing of a King ; they talked of a price to
bo paid for a certain medicine ; and one
of them had a royal air , and one "
"Will ye barken to this wild babbler
while your King lies dying before your
eyes ? " broke In Ilnkosa , In a shrill , un
natural voice ; for , almost palsied with fear
as ho was at Owen's mysterious words , ho
still retained his presence of mind. "Listen
now ; what Is he , and what did he say ? He
is ono who comes hither to preach a new
faith to us ; ho comes , ho says , on an em
bassy from the King In Heaven , who has
power over all things , and who , so these
white men preach , can give power to his
servants , Well , let this one cease prating
and show us his strength , as he has been
warned he would be called upon to do. Let
him give us a sign. There before you lies
your King , and he Is past the help of man ;
oven I cannot help him. Therefore let this
messenger cure him , or call upon his God to
euro him ; that seeing wo may know him
to be a true messenger , and one sent by
that King of whom ho speaks. Let him
do this now before our eyes or let him
perish as a wizard who has bewitched the
King. Do you hear my words , Messenger ,
and can you draw this one back from the
gates of death ? "
"I hear them , " answered Owen quietly ,
"and I can or if I cannot , then I am willing
to pay the penalty with my life. You , who
nro a doctor , say that your King Is as one
who is'already ' dead , so that whatever I may
do I cannot hurt him further. Therefore ,
I ask this of you , that you stand round and
watch , but molest mo neither by word nor
deed while I attempt his cure. Do yu
consent ? "
"It Is Just ; we consent , " said the Coun
cillors. "Let us sec what the white man
can do , nnd by the Issue let him be judged. "
But Hokosa stared nt Owen , wondering , and
made no answer.
"Bring some clean water to me In a
gourd , " said Owen.
It was brought and given to him. He
looked roundj searching the faces of those
about him. Presently his eye fell upon
the Prince Nodwengo , and he beckoned to
him , saying :
"Come hither. Prince , for you are honest ,
and I would have you help me , and no
other man. "
The Prince stepped forward and Owen gave
him the gourd of water. Then he drew
out the llttlo bottle- wherein ho had stored
the julco of the creeper , and , uncorking It ,
ho bndo Nodwengo 1111 It up wtlh water.
This done , ho clasped his hands , and , lifting
his eyes to heaven , ho prayed aloud In the
language of the Amasuka.
"O God , " he prayed , "upon whose business
I am here , grant , I beseech The , that by Thy
grace po\\cr may bo given to mo to work
this miracle 111 the face of these people , to
the end that I may win them to cease from
tholr Iniquities , to believe upoa Thee , the
only true God , nnd to save their souls
nllve. Amen. "
Having finished his prayer , ho tool : the
bottle nnd shook It ; then he commanded
Nodwengo to sit upon the ground and hold
his father's head upon his knee. Now , as
BEHOLD THE GOD.
all might see by many signs , the King was
upon the verge of death , for his face was
purple , his breathing rare and stertorous ,
and his heart well-nigh still ,
"Open his mouth and hold down the
tongue , " said Owen ,
The Prince obeyed , pressing down the
toiigun with a snutt spoon , Then , placing
the neck of the bottle as far Into the throat
as It would reach , Owen pouted the fluid
it contained Into the body of thu King , who
made a convulsive movement and instantly
uecincd. to die ,
"Ho Is dcud , " said one ; "away with the
falB < prophet ! "
"It be o or It not be "
may , may so , an
swered On en. "Wait for the half of an
hour ; then If ho shows no sign of life , do
what sou will with me , "
"It is well. " they said ; "so be it. "
Slowly the minutes slipped by , while the
King lay HUtr a corpse before them , and
outside of that silent rlug the soldiers mur
mured as the wind. The sun was sinking
fast , nod Hokosa watched It , counting the
eetoiids. At length ho spoke :
"The half of the hour that you demanded
is dead , White Man , as dead aa the King ,
and now the time has como for you to die ,
also , " and he stretched out his hand to take
him ,
Owen looked at his watch and replied :
"Thcro 1 * still another minute , and you ,
llokosa , who arc skilled In medicines , may
know that this antidote docs not work EO
swlftl ) as the bane. "
The shot was a random one , but it told ,
for Hokosa fell back and was silent.
I The seconds passed on as the minute hand
! of the watch went round from ten to twenty ,
from twenty to thirty , and from thirty to
forty. A few more Instants nnd the game
was played. Had that dream of his been
vain Imagining , and was all his faith noth
ing but n dream , Owen wondered ? Well , If
so , It v. on Id bo best that he should die. But
ho did not bellevo that It was so ; ho believed
that the power above him would Intervene
to save not him , Indeed , but all this people.
"Let us make an end , " said Hokosa , "tho
time Is done. "
"Yes , " said Owen , "the time Is done and
the King lives. "
Even as he apokc the pulses In the old
man's forehead were seen to throh and thu
veins of his neck to swell as they had
swollen after he had swallowed the poison ;
then once more they shrank to their natural
size. Umsuka stirred a hand , groaned , sat
up , and spoke :
"What has chanced to mo ? " he said. "I
have descended Into deep darkness , now
once again I see light. "
No one answered , for nil were staring ,
terrified and amazed at the Messenger the
whlto wizard to whom had been given power
to bring men back from the gate of death.
At length Owen said :
"This has chanced to you , King. That evil
which I prophesied to you It jou refused to
listen to the voice of mercy has fallen upon
you. By now you would have been dead
had It not pleased Him whom I serve , workIng -
Ing through me , his Messenger , to bring you
back to look upon the sun. Thank Him ,
therefore , and worship Him , for lie alone
Is Master of the earth , " and ho held the
crucifix before his eyes.
The humbled monarch lifted his hand
ho who , for many years had made obeisance
to none and saluted the symbol , saying :
"Messenger , I thank Him and worship
Him , though I know Him not. Say , now ,
OWEN AND HOKOSA.
how. did His magic work upon mo tq make
me sick to death and to recover me ? "
"By the hand of man , King , and by the
virtues that He hid in nature. Did you
not drink of a cup , and were not many
things mixed in the draught ? Wns it not
but now in your mind to speak words that
should bring down the head of pride ; and
evil and lift up the head of truth and good
ness ? "
"O , Whlto Man , how know you these
things ? " gasped the King.
"I know them ; It Is enough. Say , who
was It that stirred the bowl , King , and
gave you to drink of It ? "
Now Umsukn staggered to his feet and
cried aloud , In a voice that was thick with
rage :
"By my head and the heads of my fathers
I smell the plot ! My son , the Prince
Hafela , had learned my counsel and would
have slain me before I said words that
should tot him beneath the fest cf Nodwengo.
Seize him. Captains , and let him be brought
before mo for judgment ! "
Men looked this way and that to carry
out the command of the King , but Hnfela
was gono. Already ho was upon the hill-
Hide , running as a man has rarclv run be
fore , his face set toward his fastness In
the mountains , where he could find shelter
among his mother's tribesmen and Hie army
which he commanded , which of late had been
sent thither by the King that they might bo
far from the great place when the prince
was disinherited.
"Ho Is lied , " said one. "I saw him go. "
"Pursue him and hi Ing him back , dead or
allvo ! " thundered Ihu King. A hundred
head of cattle to the man who lays hands
upon him before ho reaches the inipl of the
north , for they will fight for him ! "
"Stay ! " broke In Owen. "Onco before this
day I prayed of you , King , to show mnrcy ,
and you refused It. Will you rc-fusn me n
second time ? Leave him his life who has
lost all else. '
"That he may rebel agnlnbt mo ? Well ,
White Man , I owe you much , ami for thin
time your wisdom shall be my guide , though
my heart speaks against this gentleness.
Hearken , councillors and people , this Is my
decree ; that Hnfela , my son , who would
havu murdered me , be deposed from his
place as heir to my throne , and that Nod-
wongo , his brother , be set In that place , to
rule the People ot Fire after mo when I
die. "
"It Is good. It Is Just ! " said the council.
"Let the KlngV word be done. "
"Hearken again , " said Umsuka. "Let this
white man , who Is named Messenger , be
placed in the house of guests and treated
with all honor ; let oxen be given htm from
the royal herds and corn from the granaries
and girls ot noble blood for wives If he wills
them. Hukosa. Into your hand I deliver
him , and , great though you njc , know this ,
that If but a hair of his head Is harmed
with your goods and your life you shall
answer for it. you and all your house. "
"Let the King's word bo done , " said the
Councillors again.
"Heralds , " went on Umsuka , "proclaim
that the feast of the first fruit ? la ended
and my command Is that every regiment
should seek Its quarters , taking with It a
double gift of cattle from the King , who
has been saved allvo by the magic of the
white man. And now , Messenger , farewell ,
for my head gjows heavy. Tomorrow I will
speak with you. "
Then the King was led away Into the royal
house , and , save those who were quartered
In it , Ihe regiments passed one by ono
through the gates of the kraal , singing their
war songs as they went. Darkness fell upon
the Great Place , and through it parties of
men might bo seen dragging away the
corpses of those who had fallen In the fight
with sticks , or been put to death thcieafter
by order of the King ,
"Messenger , " said Hokosa , bowing before
Owen , "will you be pleased to follow me ? "
and he led htm to a llttlo kraal numbering
five or six largo and beautifully made huts ,
which stood by Itself , within its own fence ,
at the north end of the Great Place , not far
from the house of the King. In front of the
center hut a ( Ire was burning and by its
light women appeared , cleaning out the huts
and bringing food and water ,
"Hero you may rest In safety. Messenger , "
said Hokosa , "seeing that night and day a
guard from the King's own regiment will
stand before your doors. "
"I do not need them , " answered Owen ,
"for none can harm me till my hour comes.
I am a stranger here and you are a great
man ; yet , Hokosa , which of us Is the safest
this nlghtr1"
"Your meaning1 said llokosa. sharply ,
"O , man ! " answered Owen , "when In a
certain hour you crept up the valley yonder ,
and , climbing the Tree ot Death , gathered
its poison , went I not with you ? When , be
fore that hour , you sat In youder hut bar
gaining with the Prince Hafela tbo death
of a king- for the price of n girl was I not
with you ? Nay , threaten me not In your
own words I say It 'lay aside that spear
or your body shall bo thrown to the kites , '
as one who would murder the King aud the
King's guest ! "
"White Man , " whispered Hokosa , "how can
these things be ? I was alone In the hut
with the Prince ; I was alone beneath the
Tree of Doom , and you , as I know well , were
beyond the river. Your spies must be good ,
White Man. "
"My spirit Is my only spy , Hokosa. My
spirit watched you , and from your own
lips ho learned the secret of the bane and
of the antidote. Hafcla mixed the poison
ns > ou taught him ; I gave the remedy nnd
sa\cd , the King nllve. "
Now Iho knees of Hokosa grew weak be
neath him , and ho leaned against the fence
of the kraal for support.
"I have skill in the art , " he said hoarsely ,
"but. Messenger , your magic Is more than
mine , and my life Is forfeit to you. To
morrow morning jou will tell the King all ,
nnd tomorrow night I shall hang upon the
Dtcadful Tree. Well , so bo It ; I nm over
matched nt my own trade , and It Is best
that I should die. You ha\e plotled well ,
nnd you have conquetcd , nnd to you belong
my place and power. "
"It was you who plotted , nnd not I ,
I llokosa. Did you not contrive that 1 should
j reach the Great Place but a little before the
poison was given to the King , so that upon
mo might bo laid the crime of bewitching
him ? Did you not plan alsj that I should
bo called upon to cure him a thing > ou
deemed Impossible and when I failed that
I should be straightway butchered ? "
"Seeing that It Is useless to lie to you ,
I confers that It was so , " answered Hokosa ,
boldly.
"It was so , " repeated Owen , "therefore ,
according to jour law your life Is forfeit ,
stcliiR that jou dug a. pit to snare the feet
of the Innocent. But I como to tell you of
n new law , and that which I preach and
practice. HokoEa , I pardon you , I promise
j-ou that no word of all your wickedness
shall pass my lips. "
"It has not been my fashion to take a
boon at Ihe hand of nny man , save of the
King onlj- , " said the wizard. In n humble
voice , "but now It seems that I am come
to it. Tell me , White Man , what Is the
payment that you seek of mo ? "
"None , Hoko&a , except that you cer.se
from evil and listen with an open heart to
that message which I am come to deliver to
you and to all your nation. Al&o , you would
do well to put away that fair woman whose
price was the murder of him that fed you. "
"I cannot do It , " answered the wizard. "I
will listen to your teachings , but I will not
rob my heart of her It craves alone. White
Man , I am not like the rest of my nation.
I have not sought after women ; I have but
one wife , and s > he Is old and childless. Now ,
I for the first tlmo in my daj-s , I love this
girl ah , you know not how ! and I will
take hei' , nnd she shall be the mother of
my children. " '
"Then , Hokosa , j-ou will take her to your
sorrow , " answered Owen , solemnly , . "for she
will learn to hate you who have lobbed her
of roj-alty and rule , giving her wizardries
and your gray hairs In place of them. "
And thus for that night they parted.
CHAPTER VIII.
TUB FIRST TRIAL BY FIRE.
On the following day , while Owen sat
eating his morning meal with a thankful
heart , a messenger arrived saying that the
King would receive him whenever it pleased
him to como. He answered lhal he would
be with him before noon , for already he had
learned that with natives one loses little by
delay. A great man , they think , is rich
In time and hurries only to wait on his
superiors. At the appointed hour a guard
rami ; to lead him to the roj-al house , and
thither he went followed by John , bearing a
Bible. Umsuka was seated beneath a reed
roof supported by poles and open on all
sides ; behind him stood councillors and at
tendants , and by him were Nodwengo , the
Prince , and Hokosa , his Mouth and Prophet.
Although thu day was hot he wore a kaross
or rug of calsklns , and his face showed
that the effects of the poisoned draught were
Btlll upon him. At the approach of Owen he
rose with something of an effort , and , shak
ing him by the hand , thanked him for his
life , calling him "Doctor of Doctors. "
"Tell me , Messenger , " ho added , "how It
was that j-ou were able to cure me and who
were in the plot to kill me ? . There must
have been more lhan one , " and he rolled
his eyes round with angry suspicion.
"King , " answered Owen , "It I knew any >
thing of this mailer , the power that wrote
it on my mind has wiped It out again , or ,
nt the least , has forbidden me to speak of It.
I saved you , It Is enough ; for the rest , the
pabt is the past , and I como to deal with
the present and the future. "
"This white man keeps his word , " thought
Hokosa to himself , nnd he looked at him ,
thanking him with his eyes.
"So bo It , " answered the King ; "after all ,
It Is wise not to stir n dungheap , for there
wo find little besides evil odors and nests
of snakes. Now , what is your business with
inn nnd why do you come from the whlto
man's countries to visit me ? I have heard
of those fountilps , Ihey are great and far
away. I have heard of the whlto men also
wonderful men , who have all knowledge ;
but I do not desire to have anything to do
with them , for whenever they meet black
penplo they eat them up. taking their lands
and making them slaves. Once , some years
ago , two of your white people visited us
hero ; but perhaps you know that story , "
"I know it , " answeied Owen ; "ono of
these men you murdered , ami the other
you sent back with n message which ho
delivered Into my ears across the waters ,
thousands' ' of miles away. "
"Nay , " answered the King , "we did not
murder him ; he coma to uo with the story
of a now God who could raise Iho dead and
work other raltatles and gave such powers
to Ills scivauts , So a man was slain and
wo begged of him to bring him back to
life ; and since he could not , wo killed him
also , because ho was a liar. "
"He was no liar , " said Owen , "since ho
never told you that ho had power to open
the mouth of the grave. Still , heaven Is
merciful , and , although you murdered him
that was sent to you , his Master has chosen
me to follow In his footsteps. Me also you
may murder If you will , and then another
and another , but still the messengers shall
come , till at last your cars are opened and
you listen. Only for such deeds your punish
ment must be heavy , "
"What Is the message. White Man ? "
"A message ot peace , of forgiveness and
of life beyond the grave , of life everlasting.
Listen , King. Yesterday you were near to
death ; say now , had you stepped over the
edge of It , where would you be this day ? "
Umsuka bhrugged his shoulders. "With
my fathers , White Man. "
"And where are your fathers ? "
"Nay , I know not nowhere , everywhere ;
the night Is full of them ; In the night wu
hear the echo of their voices. When they
are angry they haunt the thunder cloud and
when * they are pleased they smile In the
sunshine. Sometimes also they appear In
the shape ot snakes or visit ua in dreams
and then we offer them sacrifice. Yonder
on the hillside is a haunted wood. It la
full of their spirits , White Man , hut they
cannot talk , they only mutter , and their
footfalls sound like the dropping of heavy
rain , for they are strengthless and unhappy ,
and In the end they fade away , "
"So " answered Owen "who
you say , , are
not altogether without understanding , yet
know little , aover having beeu taught , Now
listen to , pip , " ami very earnestly he
preached ia him and those about him of
pence , of Jptgjvencss and of life everlast
ing. , , , ; ,
"Why should a Oed dlo miserably upon a
cross ? " nSjkfHi Jho King at length.
lirinig'h ' Ills sacrifice men might be
come ns gtfds/ ' answered Owen. "Believe
In Him an'd lie will save you. "
"How can we do that , " asked the King
again , "wjinn already we have a god ? Can
wo detert onq .god and set up another ? "
"What pod. Klni ; ? "
"I will , shqiv him to you , White Man.
Let my Utfer' be brought. "
The ! ltter was brought and the King en
tered It. Passing through the north gate
of the Gr at Palace , the party ascended
the slope ot 'Die hill that lay beyond It
till they roadhcd n fiat plain some hundreds
of yards in width. On this plain vegeta
tion grew scantily , for here the bed-rock
of Ironstone , denuded by frequent and
heavy rains , was scarcely hidden by a thin
crust of earth. On the further side of the
plain , however , and separated from It by
a little stream , was n green bank of deep ,
soft soil , bcjoml which lay a gloomy val
ley , full of great trees , that for many generations -
orations had boi'n the burying place of the
kings of the Amasuka.
"This Is the hcuso of the god , " said the
King.
"A strange house , " answered Owen , "and
whole Is he that dwells In It ? "
"Follow me and I will show' you , Messen
ger ; but bo BWltt , for already Iho sky grows
dark with the coming tempest. "
Now at the King's command the bearers
bore him across the sere plateau toward
an object thnt lay almost Inlt \ center.
Presently they halted , and , pointing to this
object , the King said :
"Behold Ihe god ! "
Owen advanced nnd examined It. A glance
told him that this god of the Amasuka wan
a meteoric stone of unusual size. Most
of such stones nro more shapeless lumps ,
but this one bmo n peculiar resemblance
to n seated human being , holding up one arm
toward the sky. So strange was this re-
nnmblance thnt , other reasons apart , It was
not wonderful that savages should regard
the object with awe and veneration ; rather
would It hnVc been wonderful had they not
done sn.
" 5ay , now , " said Owen to the King , when
ho had examined the stone , "what Is the
history of this dumb god of j-ours , and why
do you worship him ? "
"Follow me across the stream 'and I will
tell you. Messenger , " answered the King ,
again glancing at the sky. "Tho storm
gathers. ' and when It bleaks none are safe
upon this plain except the hoavrn doctors
such as Hokosa and his companions , who
can bind the .lightning. "
( To bs Continued. )
Mustapha Mu. = sa Ben Ycssuf Abu Ileona
has been arrested In London for bigamy.
A man with , such a name ought to bo al
lowed to divide It between nt least two
helpmeets.
A Denver paper records the marriage of
n man only thrco feet hl li. lie will feel a
good deal smaller than that when his wife
begins to ask him where he has been at this
hour of the night.
The engagement is announced of Mis
Eleanor Spurrier-Alexander , daughter of the
United State ? minister to Greece , Servla
and Rumania , Eben Alexander , to Andrew
Henry Pa"tttrscn , of Georgia.
Tandem elopements are becoming popular.
In Ohio. A youns couple rode from Medina
to Sandusky and a justice of the peace did
the icst. u.They couldn't afford a carriage
bill Ihey lobn'e'd swot on the street with a
bicycle built for two.
Princess Maud of Wales came near not
getting niarrlc'J on her weddins day. The
archbishop of Canterbury and the bishop of
Winchester. t\vo of the five prelates needed
to tie Iho-Jiuot. had sent their state robej
to Buckingham palace In the early morn-
Ing. The robes were mislaid by a stupid
servant , and the whole palace was turned
topsj'-tui vey till they were found , just in
time for the service.
Rev. Dr. A. "D. AVllbor and hia wife of
Rochester celebrated the fiftieth anniversary
cf .Iheif wedding last week. Dr. Wllbor ,
who is a , AJethodlst minister , has held many
Impoitant charges In Western Now" York.
Ho was for ten years Ireaburur of Genesce
Wesleyan seminary , Lima , N. Y. , and for
five years was superintendent1 the Batavia -
tavia Institution for the Blind.
The young woman of Nashua , la. , who
started the Boles stampede in the Chicago
convention , tells a Chicago paper about her
"
post-convention" fame. It seems that the
people of Nashua haven't made much of
her , because they are "gold bugs. " But
she gets a heavy mall , many of the letters
containing offers of marriage. One clergj--
man In Canada , "with dark brown hair and
dark slumbering eyes , " wrote her that he
was willing to crawl twenty miles "on his
hands and knees" to see her.
The proposed marriage between the Hered
itary Prince of Coburg and ono of the twin
daughters of Ihe Grand Duchess Vera of
Wurtemberg ( each of whom will have a
fortune of twelve million of marks ) appears
to have fallen through , and It is rumored
that Prince Alfred will shortly bo betrothed
to the Prlntess Feodore ot Saxe-Melnlngen.
only child of the Hereditary Prince Bernard ,
while her mother Is the Princess Charlotte
of Prussia , eldest daughter of the Emperor
Frederick. Princess Feodoro was born at
Potsdam May 12. 1S79 , so she is four years
and a half j-ounge.r than Prince Alfred.
In Kllllngly , Conn. , there lives a French
Canadian , named Lev ! Bradshaw. He has
been a resident of that town about thirteen
years , and Is now 69 years nnd 4 months
old. Ho has been married three times , and
Is the father of forty-one children. Forty
of these are now living. The last child
died shortly afttr Its birth , three weeks
ago. Ills first wife fore him six children ;
three being twins in that family. The
second wife was the mother of twentj--
four children , of whom twelve are twins
and his present consort has presented him
with eleven children. Bradshaw was first
married when under 14 years of age. His
eldest son Is now 54 years of age , and has
several children and granchlldrrn. Twenty-
nine of his sons and daughters are married ,
all having children , Tills man does not
know Just how largo his family of grand
children and great-grandchildren has be
come , as the sons ami daughters hnvo scat
tered , but he can count up more than 150
descendants that he Is ceitaln about. Mr.
Bradshaw married his last wife In Daniel-
son about thirteen years ago , and the last
child bom to them Is the only one dead.
IMI'IKTIKS.
Ho was very deferential , but ho was a
deacon In the church and ho felt that ho
had a right to criticise , relates the Chicago
Post.
"I hope you'll pardon me , " ho said , "If I
suggest tbat your nermons are ah "
"Too plosy , * 1 suppose , , " sdggested the
minister.1l
"Oh , no1 ? not that. But too long. "
"But you1'mustn't blame mo for that , " re
turned tl/o1 / minister pleasantly , "If jou
linmv a llttlo''nioro ' I wouldn't have to tell
roil so much , "
u > uin .
On a rc'cWt 'Sunday evening In Belfast ,
Mo. , a yffurlg'roan in church looked fre
quently at ' .1m watch during the sermon.
Just as lie TVUS , doing gO for the fourth or
fifth tlmo the pastor , with great earnest
ness , was "ufglag the truth upon thu con
science ofvhlsflViearers. "Young man , " said
he , "how Is'It''A'lth ' you ? " Whereupon the
young man1 with the gold repeater brawled
out , In tha hearing of nearly the whole con
gregation , J a'huarter past eight. "
"Sharpsip/ flon't believe you have been
inside a church for six months. "
"Phlatz , "that's unjust ! Only three Sun
days ago I spent nn hour and a half in the
vestibule of one of the finest churches on
the south side -when I was out riding on my
wheel and got caught In a shower , blame
you ! "
"That minister U the most absent-minded
man ! I took him through a hospital ward
yesterday where all the patients happened
to be asleep. "
"What did he do ? "
"Forgot himself and began to deliver a
sermon , " _
Till- Cheerful Iillot.
Indianapolis Journal : "Did you ever hear
of green apples being used as beautlfiers ? "
asked the Cheerful Idiot , as soon as the fat
uoanler had ceased eating peaches out
loud.
"I never did , " said the typewriter boarder.
"Strange , " continued the Cheerful Idiot ,
"when all the funny men have been telling
f9r years how they make the hair curl. "
!
MARCUS WHITMAN'S RIDE.
The Hero M'ho Saved the ( treat TS'ortInvest.
IIY dl'.ORnn M. HAXTRH.
q JTOrCTrt3 ? ? 7iflTr37rs R vr * rr r5 } ? rm T 'Kn'&F
( Poiiyrlfilit , ISM. by S. P. Meniirt * Company. )
To one man nro the people of the United
States Indebted for the possession of the
rich region which now comprises the states
of Oregon , Idaho nnd Washington and part
of Wyoming.
That man was Marcus Whitman , who ,
nearly sixty years ago , xvent as n volunteer
missionary to the Indiana of the far north
west , lly darlni ; nnd perilous Journey 4,000
miles across the continent to the city of
Washington , In the midst of n severe win
ter , through primeval forests , across high
mountains and over untiavcled plains , filled
with wild benstn nnd wilder men. he saved
to the nation the vast terrllory then known
tinder the generous name of Oregon.
Ono hot , sultry day In thu latter part of
the .Id's , there arrived In St. Louis then
a border city , marking the last considerable
settlement toward the Hocky mountains-
four Flathcnd Imlicns. They wcio all chiefs ,
men of great Importance In their tribe , and
wore worn nn.l outwcarled with their mareh
of thousands of miles In order to reach the
cbodo of the whites.
"Wo hnvo como from our homes toward
the setting sun , " exclaimed the spokesman ,
through heat and hardships such as few men
ave known. We hnvc como 'o see tin.
White Man's IJook of Lifo and to hear from
the lips of the pale face the story of his
God. Our people- are In darkness , and they
would know the truth. Where shall wo
find the book that tells of the white man's
boivcn ? "
This pathetic appeal went out all ever
the country.
WHITMAN AS A VOLUNTEER.
Among those who quickly responded was
Marcus Whitman , a man of sincere eon-
\lctlons and indomitable spirit , then icsl-
dcnt near the village of Elmlra , N. Y. In
company with his yoiini ; wife nnd n handful
of hardy pioneers , Whitman sailed down thu
Ohio , and i > : > the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers on a raft , carrying \vllh him , besides
other necessities , a four-wheel wagon , which
the bordenucn told him would be Impo&sl-
-o to git across the mountains. Hut he
did get it across , and a few years laier we
? " ' ! him at Walllatpul , a settlement near
Fort Walla Walla , composed nearly alto
gether of fur traders and trappers.
At this time (1842) ( ) the boundary Hue
between the British nnd United States pos
sessions in the northwest was still an un
settled question. Under the treaty of 181S-
1S23 it was commonly held that this country
was open for settlement to the first people
hlch went thither in suliicient numbers
to hold and organize a government. The
nntlre region was claimed by England be
cause of Vancouver's exploration of the
Columbia river , and thu fact that English
fconiDanies had done much to develop
the wealth of the section.
The United States en the other hand ,
claimed that Captain Robert Gray , a Bostonian -
tonian , was the flrst to discover the Colum
bian river , in 1792 ; and. further , that the
Immense tract belonged to them by subse
quent purchase and treaties with Spain.
Notwithstanding the validity of our claims ,
American statesmen did not believe the re
gion was of the slightest value , and took
no pains to secure it. Daniel Webster de
clared that It was a bleak and barren waste ,
unlit for the habitation of man or beast ,
and not worth the ownership of any na
tion. Other leading statesmen agreed with
him , and Senator Benton said In a speech
that the Rocky mountains formed the
"natural western boundary of the United
States , and upon their highest peak should
bo set the statue of the fabled god , Termi
nus. " Meanwhile , however , the Impression
still prevailed among bath English and
Americans that under the terms of the
trealy of 181S-182S , the region would belong
to the first nation that settled It in greatest
numbers.
A BRITISH I1OAST.
This was the condition of affairs when in
1842 the missionary. Whitman , rode from
his home at Walllatpul to fort Walla Walla
to attend n dinner tendered to some recent
OVER THE FIRE.
arrivals from England. About a score of
prominent English traders were present on
this occasion , and the talk as to the owner
ship of the country ran high the English
men taunting Dr. Whitman about the Igno
rance of American statesmen concerning the
natural wealth of the region and making
bold to declare that a movement was on
foot to bring a large British colony thither
and to settle the dispute as to the country's
ownership by raising the English flag , In
the midst of the argument a Canadian run
ner broke In upon the festivities to an
nounce that an expedition of 150 Englishmen
was then about 300 miles up the river , In
tent upon finding homes In the disputed
region , and that these would Immediately
he followed by more colonists.
Dr. Whitman saw there was no time to
lose if Oregon was to bo saved to the
United States. The young man's missionary
duties had not kept him from making ob
servations as to tha vast wealth of the
region where Providence had sent him , and
ho realized that through tbo short-slnbttd-
ncss of the people at Washington , a country
worth , In natural resources , several ordinary
kingdoms , was about to slip from the na
tion's grasp.
grasp.WHITMAN'S
WHITMAN'S RB30LVE.
Then and there ho determined upon the '
course of action which was to make him a
hero although jou may bo sure his deter
mination was not prompted by nny selflih
motive. When the feast was over , joung
I Whitman made his excuses , and , tilled with
the enthusiasm of his Idea , hastened back
I to Walllatpul. A winter of unusual severity
i had already set In. and when ho reached his
home , declaring his Intention of setting
forth across the continent at oiu-o In order
to reach Washington In time to prevent the
I sncrlflre of Oreglno. Whitman was told that
sueh a journey alone and nt that season of
the year could have but one ending fail
ure nnd death to the man who undertook It.
Hut notwithstanding the pleading of his
family and the gloomy forebodings of friends ,
the hardy young patriot could not be de
terred. "Though thcro Is only one chance
In ten thousand. " he declared , "I will take
that chance. My life Is but of little worth
If 1 can save this country to the American
people. "
So on October 3 , 1812 , three days after hU
return to Walllatpul , ho set forth on his re
markable journey. With him went General
A. L. Lovejoy , n guide , and three pack-mules.
For n considerable distance he was also ac
companied by a party of Cayuse Indians ,
who finally bade- him farewell and re
turned , after telling him that they never ex
pected to see him alive ngalu.
THE HIDE.
For the first eleven days of the Journey
the road was plainly marked , though be
set with danger from the Illackfoot Indians ,
who were then uesinnlni ; to bo very hostile
to white men. At the end of this period the
little band reached Us first post. Fort Hall ,
which was commanded by Captain Grant.
He said Sioux and Pawnees were at war
and to attempt a passage through their
land meant certain destruction. Captain
Grant nnd the soldiers at the fort urged him
to turn back , as any attempt to cut a now
road across the continent must Inevitably
end In disaster.
But to all such warnings the young mis
sionary gave no heed. The next morning
he set out toward the southeast to discover
a new route to the Mississippi settlements.
/
THE DOCTOR.
In due time the party reached Fort MIntah
where the guide left It , saying he rcfusti
to go any further Into an unexplored lam
to meet cerlaln death In such seven
weather. Nothing daunted. Dr. Whltmai
hired another mail who had some familiarly
with the jeglon and pressed on Ihrougl
blizzards and many hardships to Fort Un
compahgra , In the Spanish country , 01
Grand river. Stopping n day In Uncnm
pahgra to recuperate Its stores and energies
the little band passed onwaid Into the hear
of Ihe big mountains , bent on discovering
' a way lo Iho ancient Spanish settlemcn
\ of Tnos , northwest of Santa Fe ,
THE STORM.
When about one-third of the dlalnnce was
was accomplished the party entered a deei
canon of the Rockies In the hope of finding
a pas ? that would take them through to the
eastern side of the Immeripe barrier of rock
nnd Ice. When they had come near the
middle of Ihe canon the light falls of snow
which they had encountered all the waj
from Walllatpul hole broke In'o a blizzard
of awful beverity and Ihoy found themselves
hemmed In on all sides by snowdrifts Im
possible to overcome. For ten days they en
dured Ihls , during which time the provisions
became scarce , nnd Ihe animals unmanage
able. Finally , however , Ihe storm ceased I
nnd the snowa gave way sufficiently to per
mit the voyageis to got out of the dark
canon and to the top of thejiiountaln. Here
another storm broke upon them with even
more fury than the first , and they attempted
lo gel back down Ihq slope in order lo take
refuge In thu canon again.
The guide , however , after repeated efforts
to locate the trail back to the camping
place , acknowledged himself completely lost.
Here death Indeed was close at hand. Dr.
WL'ltman saw Ihat they were beyond the
help of man and , true to his teachings , he
knelt In the snow on Iho bleak lop of Dm
mountain peak anil asked God for guidance.
Then he turned ono of the pack mules
loose , and with Its usual unerring Instinct
the animal led the party bock ever the trail
to their former camping place.
When the storm had finally abated , the
puli'u deserted the party and Dr. Whitman
was forced to return alone lo Uncompa gra
lo proouro a new one. leaving General Love-
joy in camp in the canon. Obtaining a new
guide , however , was no easy task , and thu
misslon.ir : ' was detained several days In
Uncnmpahgra , Hit finally returned with a
Mexican who had promised to accompany
him to Santa Fe. After still further hard
ships and deprivations , tlie llttlo band
reached Taos , where they found provisions
so scarce that they could add none to their
already much depicted slorcs. Bui with
bravo hearts they pushed on , crossing
streams filled with broken Ice , and suffer
ing pangs of hunger , until they had
traversed about half the distanced between
Taoi and Santa Fe. Heio the lasl of tbo
stores was consumed and death by starva
tion wns close nt hand. In that country
thcro was no game for the hunter's gun , and
brforu Dr. Whitman and his associates
reached Santa Fo they wore compelled to
eat thu doctor's dog and one of thu mules.
From the old Spanish town they struck
off to the northeast , bound for Bent's Fort ,
at the head of the Arkansas river. They
were now on thu plains and grass and food
were plentiful. A few days out from the
fort they met a caravan going to Taos and
Dr. Whitman was Informed that a body of
plainsmen were about to leave the fort for
St. Louis , Desiring to catch this paity and
hurry on lo Washington , Whitman dropped "
all Impediments , and leaving his compan
ions pushed on alone. A few days later
General Lovejoy and the guide reached the Is
fort and the doctor had not yet arrived.
They knew , of course , Ihat ho had lost
his way , and fearing the worst from the , '
savage men and beasts of that region , they
at once began search for him. Four days
later ha was discovered by the general and
brought Into the fort completely exhausted.
A refct of a few hours , however , and ho was if
again on his way , alone , attempting to catch
up with the caravan , which ho eventually '
succeeded In doing , about 100 miles away.
WHITMAN'S RETURN.
The trip thence lo St. Louis was unevent
ful. In this city , however , ho learned that
the Oregon question was still open , and with
renewed hope , he hastened on to Washing
ton.
ton.Onco In the capital city ho found It a
comparatively easy task to convince Presi
dent Tyler and Secretary of State Webster
of the desirability of the Oregon country.
His frozen hands and feet bore witness to
the truth of his long journey and the presi
dent promised him all the aid In his power.
A year later saw him at the head of a
caravan of 1.000 people , hound for Walla
Walla , The Journey of this caravan the
ono of consequence that ever crossed the
continent IB a story by Itself. Suffice It
to say hero that they reached the promised
land In safety and oiganlzed a government
In accordance with their country's laws.
Shortly after a treaty was entered into with
Kngland recognizing ( ho ownership of tj
united States to all that vast area. i
And that Is how Marcus Whitman sav
Oregon.
A TRUE GHOST STORY
1 Y ! . W , S.
Written for The lleo.
Cold , cold blew the wind ono winter'
night. and fat fell the snow , but what' 1 '
cured the merry i > nrty gathered nrotuul the
blazing flro In the old oak dining loom nt
Ardly.
As the fierce gusts swept by , rattling
the windows with their Icy fingers , grand
papa remarked : "How thankful wo should
be , children , to bo so safely sheltered to
night. And now , what shall we do "t
aimiso ourselves games or stories ? Char
lie can choose. "
The old mnn'a eyes rested lovingly on a
flue boy of 8 or 10 who nestled nt his side.
"Oh. grandpapa , lot us have n ghost
story. " exclaimed Charlie ; "this Is Just the
night for one. " and , as all seemed ngrccd ,
the old man began :
"It Is now many , many years nlnce I
was visiting In the county Tyrone , Ireland ,
with my f i lends , the St. Clalrs Ono mornIng -
Ing at the breakfast table Henry St , Ololr
icmarlicd that ho had heard a strange story
Ilk1 day before. 'Do you remember , ' said
lie to his father , 'the old manor lions *
inn chased last year by Colonel Evcrshnm ? '
" 'Yes , 1 renu'inber It well , The colonel
lias two daughters the youngest as lovely
a girl as I have over Been. '
" ' ' ' will bo
'Well , continued Henry , 'yon
sorry to hear that she Is dead. Last year ,
t seems , the two girls , Elsie and Marie ,
were left 2,000 each on the death of their
; randniothcr. Poor Marie did not long en-
oy her good fortune. Whllo out rldhiR
not long ago she was thrown from her
loisc nnd almost Instantly killed. Yon may
Imagine what n blow It was to her parents ,
Her father seemed qulto heartbroken when
[ met him shortly after , and , as If to mnltu
natters worse , rumor has It her ghost can
not rest easy In the grave unless her for-
.inio Is given to her sister misc. Stiaiigo
lolsos mo heard in her room In the dead
of night. Hexes arc moved and the ghost
s heard to walk from room to room. Not
a servant will stay In the house at night.
The family does not know what to do.
The colonel saya he Is afraid ho will have
o sell out , and he cannot bear to do that.
Ho sat up two or thrco nights , but the
host could not be heard while ho was
liero. It seemed to have taken these nlghtu
o rest. "
" 'Do you really bellevo In ghosts , " said I ,
peaking for the first time.
" 'I can't say that I do , ' said he , 'but
hero Is something very strange about all
Ills , and I hardly know what to say I only
wish I' could help the colonel in any way
and I would do It. ' i
" 'Well. ' hald I , 'I'll tell you what we
can do. I don't believe In ghosts , so It yaw
will help me I think \\c can manage to
lay this one. What I want you to do la !
to get Colonel Evci sham's permission to1
enter the house after dark No one else ,
Is to be told of our Intention , and the family
are to retlie at their usual hour'
" 'Done. ' said Henry ; 'I will spedl
to him this very day. Why , thelre ho Is
passing this moment , ' and dashing out of
the house ho was just In time to hall a
fine looking old gentleman , mounted on a
splendid gray horse. In a few minutes
he returned in great glee , saying 'It Is all
settled. The servants will all go away for ,
the night and the family will retire at the
usual hour. No one but the colonel knowing - ,
ing anything of our Intended visit ami the ,
dining room window will be left open for |
our entrance. '
" 'Splendid , ' said I ; 'Now we will hav
a chance to cover ourselves with glory. '
"About half past 10 o'clock we set out to
the manor house. The night was dark and )
moonless , so that we found It rather hard
worlc to steer our way through the thick
trees which surrounded the house. At last
we came out on a broad path and saw In
front of us an open window through whlel
shone a faint light. Entering as ullentl.
as any professional burglar , we found ourselves - !
selves in n large dining room. A bright flro
burned on the hearth and cast n cheerful
glow around. On the table were glasses ,
decanters and refreshments , 30 that wo
spent the time quite pleasantly till the clock
on the mantel piece warned us that the
ghostly hour drew nlgli. My plan was that
one of us should stay In the dining rdOm
while the other would stand on the stairs In
the daik , down which the ghoat was wont to
descend.
" 'Which will you do , ' said I to my
companion with a laugh. With a shrug of
his bhoiildcrs he said ha thought ho iiad _
belter wait in the dl.ilng room , ready to
hi Ing a light If I required It. 'Very well , '
said I. Tnkln'g off my boots I went quietly
out. Two or three steps up the stairs
took my stand , one hand grasping the
railing and the other resting against the
wall so that nothing could slip by with
out my knowledge. All was still as death
nnd I startled as midnight chimed out
Horn the clock which stood at the head of
the stairway , All was still again nnd re
malneil so for nome time nnd I began to
fear the ghost would not put In nn ap
pcaianco. It was chilly , too , In tha cold
hall. Suddenly the stillness wan broken
and I heard a far away rustic. I did not
bcllovo in ghosts , but certainly something
was coming. I could hear a nolso as of
heavy boxes being mrved down the
hall above ; I felt something was coming
and I could dimly see a tall , whltu llguro
out against the window above. A deep
grojn seemed to 111 ! the air us the spirit
came onward. Down the stair it glided and
suddenly plump Into my arms cainu some ,
thing. I grasped It tightly and In the
struggle wo both rolled to thn foot of tha
Blairs. I culled loudly for a light. /
" 'Oh ! pleahu , please , let mu go , ' whis
pered a voice.
At this moment Henry appeared with a
light and what was his surprise to llnd
my prisoner was Miss Ellso , who had
thought In this way to get her slsttr'3
money.
"I saw an agony of shame on her face ,
She begged us not to let is bo known ,
promising nevur to play the ghost again ,
"We promised and It Is needless to gay
the ghost was never heard again In 'Ever-
stiam muiision. ' "
_
I'llA'ITliK OITIIH VOI NHSTHIlil.
"You arc a pretty bright boy , " said the
now senator to thu page. "Yes , " Bald the
Iwy ; "I uin not a page of the Congressional
Record , you know. "
Auntlu Do you like Undo Harry to rldo
you on his back ? Tommy 0 , right well ,
Imt I had n rldo on n real donkey yesterday ,
"What bird has the best means of nttaclc
Hid defense ? " asked the teacher. "Tho hornet
net , " answered the lynx-eyed boy at the
fool of the class.
When the minister caught the llttlo boy
lUhlng Instead of being at school thu paiKou
uskcd Dm lad what his mother did when ho
ran away Ilka that and gave her the slip.
"Gives mo the slipper. "
"Now , Hilly , tell us how you know when
Sunday comes. " Yes'm. I allus known It
Sunday coz grandpa won't Icinme Him ;
Henrlettor , sho's a corker , ' "
Teacher Tommy , when was Home built ?
rommy In Ihu night. Tcuchcr How came
'ou lo rnako such a mistake ? Tommy You
laid yesterday Homo wasn't built In a day
"If you don't givu nui a quarter , " said
Ittlo Willie , "I'm going to tell about you
duulng Hlster. " "Hut I hadn't even thought
kissing your ulster , " protested the ynun/ / ;
nan. "You ain't ? " said Willie , puzzled.
'Then I wonder what she told mo to say
hut to you for ? " _ _ _
The king of pills Is Ueecham's Bcccinra'a
For Reliable Political News
And to Keep informed
Of the progress of the
. '
Presidential campaign
You must
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