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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1896)
1 0 TJTE OMAHA DAILY B73E : STOOD AT , SEPTEMBER 13 , 1800. BY U. RIDER HAGGARD. or sit : , " -Aiuv QUAURMAIVMNG SOLOMOVS MIVES , " ETC. CHAPTUn XI. Continued. It was midnight and Hokosa with his wife Blood In the burying ground of the kings of the Amasuka. Heforo Owen came upon his mission It was death to visit this spot , ex cept upon the occasion of the laying to rest ot ono of the royal blood , or to offer the annual acrlflco to the. spirits of the dead. Even beneath the bright moon that shone Upon It , the place seemed terrible. Here In the bosom ot the hills was an amphithea ter , surrounded by walls of rock varying from COO to 1,000 feet In height. In this amphitheater grew great mimosa thorns , and nbovo them towered pillars of granite , set there , not by the hand of man , but of Na ture. It would seem that the Amasuka , led by some fine natural. Instinct , had chosen these columns as fitting memorials of their kings , at least n departed monarch lay at the foot of each of them. The smallest of theseunhewn obelisks It was about fifty feet high marked the resting place of Um- ouka , and deep Into the granlto of It Owen , with his own hand , had cut the King's name and date of death , surmounting the Inscrip tion with the symbol of the cross. Toward this pillar Hokosa made his way through the wet grass , followed by Noma , his wife. Presently they were there , standing ono upon each sitlo of the llltlo mound of earth more like an ant heap than a grave , for , after the custom ot his people , Umsuka had been burled sitting. At the foot ot each of the other pillars was a heap of similar shape , but many times as largo ; fpr the klngo who slept there were accompanied to their resting places by numbers of their wives and servants who had been slain In solemn sacrifice that they might attend their lord whithersoever ho should wander. "What is It that > ou would do ? " asked Noma , In a hushed voice , for. bold us she was. the place and the occasion tiwcd her. "I would seek wisdom from the dead , he answered. "Have I not already told you. and ran I not do It with your help ? ' 'What dead , husband ? " "Umsuka. the King. Ah , I served him living , and at the last he drove me away fro n his side Now ho shall .ervo me. and out of the nowhere 1 will call him back to ' " " ' "will not this symbol defeat you ? " and she pointed to the cross hewn In the granite. At her words a sudden gust of rage seemed to shako the wizard. Ills still eyes flaHUfd , his lips turned livid , and wlth.thcm he spat UI"H IfasTpower , " ho said. "May It bo accursed , and may ho who believes therein hang upon It. It has no power , but even If It bad. according to the tale ot that white liar , such things as I would do have been done beneath Us shadow. Ily It the dead have been ralsed-ay , dead kings have been dragged from death and forced to toll the secrets of the grave. Come , come , lot us to the work. " "What must I do , husband ? " "You shall sit J-QU there , oven as a corpse sits and there for a little while you shall die yea your spirit shall leave you and I will nil your body wltfi the. spirit of him , wlu > sleeps beneath , and through your lips jil will learn his , wisdom , to whom all things ' "It is terrible ! I am afraid ! " she -said. "Cannot this be done othcrwlsu ? " "It canuot , " ho answered. "Tho spirits ot the dead have no shape or form ; they are Invisible , nnd can speak only In dreams or through the lips of ono In whose pulses life still lingers , though soul and body ba already parted. Have no fear , hro his spirit leaves you It shall recall your own , which till the corpse is cold stays over close at hand. I did not think to find a. coward In you , Noma. ' ' " 1 am not a coward , as you know well , she answered passionately , "for many a deed of magic have wo dared together In past days ; but this Is fearsome , to die that my body may become the homo of the ghost ot a dead man , who , perchance , having en tered It , will nbldo there , leaving my spirit houseless , or perchance will shut up the doors ot my heart In such fashion that they never can bo opened. Can It not be done by trance an aforetime ? Tell me , Hokosa , how often have you thus talked with the dead ? " "Thrice , Noma. " "And what chanced to them through ' whom you talked ? " . . . . , , , "Two lived and took no harm , the third died , because the awakening medicine was not powerful enough. But fear nothing ; that which 1 have with mo la of the best. Nomn , you know my plight ; I must win wisdom , nnd you alone must help me , for under this new rule I can no longer buy a youth or maid for purposes of witchcraft , even If one could bo found fitted for the work. Choose , then ; shall we go back or forward ? Hero trance will not help us , for those entranced cannot read the future , nor can they hold communion with the dead , being but asleep. Choose , Noma , " "I have chosen , " she answered. "Never yoi have t turned iny back upon a venture , nor will I do so now. Come life , come death , I will submit mo to your wish , though there uro few women who would do n much for nny man. Nor In truth do I do It for you , Ilokosa ; I do It because 1 seek power , and tb.ua only can wo win It who have fallen. Also I love all things strange , and deslro to commune with the dead , and to know that , "IT IS TKUHinUS ! I AM AFJIAIO ! " SHE BA11) . If for some few minutes only , at least my " woman's breast hag held the splilt of king. Yg i I warn you , make no fault In your mafic , for should I die beneath It , thru I , \\lio desire to live on and to bo great , will * haunt you ami bo avenged upon you ! " "O ! Kama. " lie sal < l , "it I believed that there way ntiy danger for you , should I ask ) -ou to do this tlilui ; I who love you moro even tliitu you love power , moro than my life , mere thau anything tliut IB or ever can "I know It , ami It U to that I trust , " shu answc-ud , "Now , licglu , before my cam-ago leaves mo , " "Qood. " lie eald , "Scat yauuelf there Upon tbo mound , resting your head against " the stone. " She obeyed , aud , taking thong * of hldo \\hlch ho had ready , Ilokosa bound her of wrist * and ankle * , ua these people bind the wrlntn and nnklea ot a corpse. Then he knoll be/ore her , itarlng lute her face with his solemn eyes , and muttering : "Obey and sleep , " Presently her limbs relaxed , and her head fell forward. "Lo ) you sleep ? " ho asked. "I sleep. Whither shall I go ? It Is the true slc-ep test me. " "Pass to the house ot the white man , my rival. Arc you there ? " "I am there. " "What does he ? " "Ho lies Ih slumber on his bed , and In his slumber he mutters the name of n woman , and tells her that ho loves her , but that .duly Is more than love. O , call me back , I cannot stay ; a presence guards htm and pushes mo thence. " "ncturn , " said Hokosa , starting. "Pass through the e.'rtb. beneath you and tell mo what vou see. " "I see the body ot the King , but wcro It not for his royal ornaments tiono would know him now. " "Heturn , " said Hokosa , "and let the eye of your spirit bo open. Look around you and tell mo what you seo. " "I see the shadows of the dead , " she answered. "They stand about you , gazing nt you with angry eyes ; but when they como near you something drives them back and I cannot understand what It Is they say. " "Is the ghost of Umsuka among them ? " "It is among them. " "Hid him prophesy the future to me. " "I have bidden him , hut ho does not answer. It you would hear him speak It must bo through the lips of my body , and first my body must bo emptied of my spirit that his may find a place therein. " "Say , can this spirit be compelled ? " "It can bo compelled , or that part of It that still hovers near this spot , If you dare to speak the words you know , nut first a house must bo made ready for It. Then the words must be spoken , and all must bo done before a man ran count 300 , for should the blood begin to clot about my heart It will be still foiover. . " "Hearken , " said Hokosa. "When the Take mo hence , O you most evil man , fo ot your wizardries I have had enough , am from this day forth I am haunted. " "Havo no fear , " answered Hokosa , "yoi have made the Journey whence but few re turn , and yet , as I promised you , you hav returned to wear the greatness you deslr and that I sent you forth to win , for hence forth we shall bo great. Look , the dawn Is breaking the dawn ot lite and tbo dawn of power , and the mists of death and of ills grace roll back before us. Now , the pat ! Is clear , the dead have shown It to me , am of wizardry 1 shall need no more. " "Ay , " answered Noma , "but night follow dawn as the dawn follows night , and throug the darkness and the daylight , I tell yoi Wizard , henceforth I am haunted ! Also , b not so sure , for though I know not what th dead have spoken to you , yet It lingers o my mind that their words have many mean Ings. Nay , speak to me no moro. but let u fly from this dread homo of ghosts , thl habitation of the splrltfolk that wo hav violated. " So the wizard and his wife crept from tha solemn place , and saw the dawn beams light Ing upon the white cross that -was reared 1 the Plain of Tiro. CHAPTER XII. TUB MESSAGE OF HOKOSA. The weeks went by , nnd Hokosa sat In hi kraal weaving a great plot. None suspectcc him any more , for though lip did not bclon to It , ho was heard to speak well ot the nev faith , and to acknowledge that the god c flro which ho had worshipped was a false goi Ho was humble also toward the King , bu ho craved to withdraw himself from nil matters tors ot the State , saying that now ho hoi but one desire to tend his herds and gar den , and to grow old In peace with the nc\ wlfo whom ho had chosen and whom h loved. Owen , too , ho greeted courteous ! when ho met him , sending him gifts of con and cattle for the service of his church Moreover , when a messenger came fron Hafcla , making proposals to him , he tlrov him away and laid the matter before th Council of the King. Yet that messenger who was hunted from the kraal , took back a secret word for Hnfela's oar , "It Is not always winter , " was the word "nnd It may chance that In the sprlngtlm you' may hear from me. " And again : "Say to the Prlnco Hufcla , that though my fac toward him Is like a storm , yet behind th clouds the sun shines ever. " At length there came n day when Noma his wife , was brought to bed. Hokosa , he husband , tended her alone , and when th child was born ho groaned aloud and wouli not suffer her to look on It. Yet , lifting herself , she saw. "Did I not toll you It was accursed ? " sh walled. "Tako It nway , " and she sank bacl In a swoon. So he took the child and burled it deep In the cattle yard by night. After this It came about that Noma , who though her mind owned the sway ot his A CHANGE CAME OVER THE GIRL'S LOVELY FACE. medicine that I shall give you docs Its work and tha spjrlt Isi loosened from your body let It npt go afar , whatever tempts or threatens it , and suffer not that the death cord bo Eovercd , lest flesh and spirit bo .parted forever. " "I hear , and I obey. Bo swift-for I grow weary. " Then Hokcsa took "from his pouch two medicines ; one a paste In a box , the other a fluid In a gourd. Taking of the paste he knelt upon the grave before the entrancot woman nnd swiftly smeared It upon the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat , Also ho thrust pellets ot It into the ears , the nostrils , and the corners of the eyes , The effect was almost instantaneous. A change came over the girl's lovely face , the last awful change of death. Her checks fell in , her chin dropped , l"-vr eyes opened , and her flesh quivered convulsively. The wizard saw It all by the bright moonlight- then he took up hin part In this unholy drama. What U was that ho did cannot be de scribed , because it Is Indescribable. The Witch ot Ender repeated no formula , but aho raised the dead , and so did Hokcsa , the wizard. Ho buried his face In the gray dust ot the grave , he blow 'with his lips Into the dust , ho clutched nt the dust with his bauds , and when bo raised his face again , lo ! It was gray like , the dust. Then began the marvel ; for , though the woman before him remained a corpse , from the lips of the corpse a volco Issued , and Its sound was horrible1 , for the accent and tone of It were masculine , and the Instrument through which It spoke Noma'a throat was feminine , yet It could bo recognized as the volco of Um- Euka , the dead King. "Why have you summoned me from my rest , Hokosa ? " hissed the voice from the lips ot the huddled corpse. "Because I would learn the future , spirit of the King , " answered the wizard , boldly , but saluting as ho spoke. "You are dead , and to your alght nil the gates arc cpened. By the power that I have I command you to show mo what you see therein concern ing myself , and to point out to mo the path that I should follow to attain my ends and the ends of her In whose breast you dwell. " At once the answer came , always In the sau'.o hoiriblo volco : "Hearken to your fate for this world , IIo- kosa , the wizard. You shall triumph over your rival , the whlto man , the Messenger , and by your hand ho shall perish , passing to his appointed place. By that to which you cling you shall bo betrayed , ay. you shall logo that which you love and follow after that which you do not desire. In the grave of error you shall find truth , from tbo deeps of slu you shall pluck righteousness. When these woids fall upon your ears again , then , wUard , take thum for a sign , and let your heart bo turned , That which you deem ac cursed shall lift you up on high. High shall you set above the nation and Its King , and from ago to ago the voice of the people shall pralso you. Yet In the end comes judgment , and there shall the sin and tlio atonement strive together , and In that hour , wizard , you shall " Thus the volco spoke , strongly at first , but growing over moro fcoblo as the sparks of life departed from the body of the woman till at length It ceased altogether , "What shall chance to mo In that hour ? " Hokosa asked eagerly , placing his ear agalnut Nonta's lips. No answer came , and the wizard know that If ho would drag his wlfo back from the door of death ho must delay no longer. Dashing the sweat from his oyea with ono baud , with the other bo seized the gourd of fluid that he had placed ready , and , thrusting back her head ho poured ot Its contents down her throat and waited a while. She did not move. In an extremity ot terror ho snatched u knife , and with a sluglo cut severed a vein In her ami ; then , taking Rome of the fluid that remained In the gourd In his hand , ho rubbed It roughly upon her brow and throat aud heart. Now her linger * stirred , and now. with horrlblo contortions and every symptom of agony , llfo returned ! to her , the blood ( lowed from her wounded arm , slowly at first , then moro test , and lifting her head slio spoke , "Take mo hence , " she cried , "or I shall go mad , for 1 have seen and heard things too terrible to bo spoken ! " "What have you Been and heard , " ho Asked , whllu he cut the thotijja that bound tier wrists and feet. "I do not know , " BUO answered , weeping ; "tho vision of them pannes from in ? , but all the distances of death wcro open to my sight ; yes , I traveled through the distances death. In them I met him who was the King , and he lay cold within me , ( peaking lo my heart , and us ho passed from WH lie looked upon the child that I shall bear mil ouriuul It ami anollr.ml it ( bull UM. had never loved him over much , hated her husband Ilokosa , and yet ho had this power over her that she could not leave him. Uu ho loved her more and .more , and she ha ( this power over him that she could alwayt. draw him to her. Great as her beauty hai ever been , after the birth of the child i grow greater day by day , but it was an evl beauty , the beauty of a witch , and this fate fell upon her , that she feared the dark nnd would never bo alone after the sun had set When she was recovered from her sickness Noma sat ono night in her hut , and Hokosa sat there also , watching her , The evening was warm , but a bright flre burned In the hut and she crouched upon a stool by the flre , glancing continually over her shoulder "Why do you bide by the flre , seeing that It Is so hot , Noma ? " he asked. "Hecauso I fear to bo nway from the light , " she answered , adding : "O , accursed man , for your own ends you have caused mo to be bewitched , aye , nnd that which was born of me also , and bewitched I am by those shadows which you bade mo seek and which now will never leave me. Nor Is this all. You swore to me that it I would do your will I should become great , aye , and you took mo from one who would have made me great and whom I should have pushed on to victory. But now It seems that for nothing I made that awful voyage Into the deeps of death , and for nothing , yet living , ttm I become the sport of those that dwell there. How am I greater than I was I , who am but the second wife of a fallen witch doctor , who sits in .tho sun day by day , while age gathers on his head llko frost upon a bush , Where nro all your lilgh schemes now ? Where Is the fruit of wisdom that I gathered for you ? Answer , wizard , whom I have learcd to hate , but from whom I cannot cscano. " "Truly , " said Hokosa , In a bitter voice , "for all my sins against them the heavens have laid a heavy fate upon my head , that thus with flesh and spirit I should worship a woman who loathes me. Ono comfort nlono Is left to mo , that you dare not take my llfo and that what I bid you that you must do. Aye , you fear the dark , Noma , yet did I command you to arise nnd go stand nlono through the long night yonder In the bury ing place of the kings , why , you must do it. Como , I command you go. " "Nay , nay , " she walled In an extremity of terror , and yet she rose and went toward the door sideways , for her hands wcro out stretched In supplication to him. "Como back , " ho said , "and listen. If a hunter has nurtured a fierce dog -wherewith alone ho can gain his livelihood ho tries to tame that dog by love , docs ho not ? And If a It will not become gentle , then. It being necessary to him , ho tames It by fear. I am the hunter , and , Noma , you are the hound , ' and slnco this curse Is on mo that.I . cannot live without you , why , I must master you as best I may. Yet , bcllovo mo , I would not cause you fear or pain , and It saddens me that you should bo haunted by these sick fancies , for they are nothing more. I'haVe ' seen such cases bcforo today and 1 have noted that they can be cured by mixing with fresh faces and traveling In ifoVr 'coun tries. Noma , I think It would ba well that , after your late sickness , according to the custom of the women of our people , you should part from me a while and go upon a Journey oi purification. " "Whither shall I go and Who will go with me ? ' xho asked , sullenly. "I will find you companions , women dis at creet and skilled. And as to where you Khali go. I will tell you. You shall go upon of an embassy to the Prlnco Httfela. " "Aro you not afraid -that I should stop there ? " she asked again , with a flash of her eyes. It Is true that I never learned all the story , yet I thought that the Prlnco was not so glad tn hand , , me back to you as you ot would have had me believe. The prlco you of paid for mo must have bran good , Hokosa. and mayhap it had to do with the death of as a kins. " "I am not afraid , " he answered , setting o Ills tPetli , "because I know that whatever your heart may desire , my will follows you , UK ! whllo I live that Is a cord you cannot iiroak unless f choose to loose U. Noma , I command you to bo faithful to mo and to ' rnturn to me , and these commands you must obey. Hearken : You taunted me Just now , saying that r sat like a dotard In the suit and advanced you nothing. Well , I will wdvanco you , for both our sakea , but mostly for your own , since you desire It , and It must be done through the Prlnco llafela. I cannot leave this kraal , for day ) and night I am watched , and before I had gone an hour's Journey I should be seized ; alto , hero I have work to do. Hut tbo Place ot Purification U secret , and when you reach It you need fob tilde there ; you can travel on Into the mountains tilt you come to tbo town ot th.q , UtJnco Hafcla. Ho will re- cctvo you sUdly , and you shall whisper this message Injils , par ; "These arc the words of Hokosa , ijjy husband , which he has set In my moub | to deliver to you , O Prince. Ho guided by them and grow great ; reject them and dja | wanderer , a llttlo man of no account. Iluit.flrst . , this la the price that you shall swear-iby , the eacrcd oath to pay to Ilokosa , If hswlsdom | , finds favor In your sight and through It you come to victory : That after you , , the King , ho , Hokosa , shall bo the first man. In the land , the General of the armies , the captain of the Council , the head of the ( doctors , and that to him shall bo given hftlfi of the cattle of Nodwcngo , who now IsjiKlug. Also to htm shall bo given powcf U > stamp out the new faith which overruns the land like a foreign weed nnd to deal as he thinks lit with these who cling to It.1 " ' 'Now , Noma , when ho has sworn this oath In your car , calling down ruin upon his own head , should he break one word ot It , and not before , you shall continue the message thus : 'Theso are the words that Hokosa sot In my mouth : 'Know , 0 , 1'rlnce , that the KliiK , your brother , grows very strong , for ho Is a great soldier , who leatncd his art In bygone wars ; also that the white man that Is named Messenger has taught him many things as lo the building of forts and walls , nnd the drilling and discipline of men , 80 strong Is ho that you can scaicely hope to conquer him in open war yet snakes may crawl where men cannot walk. Therefore- , Prince , lei your part be that of n snake. Do you send an embassy to the King , your brother , and say to him : 'My brother , you have been preferred before me and set up to bo King In my place , and because of thin my heart Is bitter , so bitter that I have gathered my strength to make war upon you. Yet at the last I have taken another counsel , bethinking mo that If wo fight , In the end It may chance that neither of us will be left alive to rule , and that the people also will bo brought to nothing. To the north there lies a good country , nnd wide , where but few men live , nnd thither 1 would go , setting the mountains nnd the river be tween us ; for there , fnr beyond your borders , I also can be a king. Now , to reach this country I must travel by the pass that Is not far from your great place , and I pray that you will not attack my Impls or the women and children that I shall send , and a guard before them , to await me In the plain beyond the mountains , seeing that these can only Journey slowly. Let us pass by In peace , my brother , for so shall our quarrel bo ended ; but'If you do so much as lift a single spear against mo , then I will give you battle , setting my fortune against your fortune , and my god against your God. ' "Such are the words that the embassy shall deliver Into tlio ears of the King , Nod wcngo , nnd It shall come about that when he hears them , Nodwengo , whose heart Is gentle and who seeks not war. shall answer softly , saying : "Go In peace , my brother , and live In peace In that land which you would win , ' Then shall you , Hafcla , send on the most of your cattle and the women and children through the pass In the mountains , bidding thorn to await you In the plain , and after a while you shall follow them with your Impls. Hut these shall not travel In war array , for carriers shall bear their fighting shields In bundles , and their stabbing spears shall bo rolled Up Jn mats. Now , on the sixth day of your Journey you shall camp at the mouth , of-tho , pass which the cattle and the womijnxnavo already travelled , nnd his outposts /a'nd spies Khali bring it to tbo ears ot lhoJKlus that your force is1 sleeping there , > purposlng to climb the pass on the morrow , /'But on that night , so soon ns the darkrfcsi fills , you shall rise up with your CaptainarJ .your regiments , leaving your fires bulging nnd men about your fires , and shall trAV fclJycry swiftly across , the val ley , so that'an Iiour before the dawn you reach the second range of mountains and pass it by the gorge which Is the burying place of kings. Here you shall light a flro which these W3xwatch _ will believe to be but the flro of a herdsman who Is cold. But I , Ilokosa , also shall be watching , and when I see that flre I will creep , with some men whom I can trustr to the llttlo northern gate of the outer ! wall , and we will spear those that , guard ltand open , tlio gate that ypur army maytpasfl through It. Then , before the rcglmentrcan aland to their arms or those within It are , awuketied , you shall storm the Inner walls and by the light of tbo burning huts shall put the dwellers in the Great Place to the wpear , and the rays of the rlelng sun shall crown you King. "Follow this counsel ot mine , 0 Prince HuCcla , and all shall go well with you. Neg lect It aud bo lost. There Is but one thins which you need fear It is the magic of the Messenger , to whom It is given to read , lhc secret thoughts ot men. But of him take no account , for he is my charge , and before ever you set a foot within the Great Place ho shall have taken his answer back to him who sent him. " Hokoaa finished speaking. "Have you heard ? " ho said to Nomn. "I have heard. " "Then speak the message. " She repeated It word for word , making ro fault. "Have nj fear , " she added. "I shall forget nothing when I- stand before the Prince. " "You are a woman , but your counsel Is : good. What think you of the plan , Noma ? " "It is deep and well laid , " she answered , : "and surely It would succeed were It not for ono thing. "Tho white man. Messenger , will bo too clever for you , for , as ou say , > he is a reader of the thoughts of men. " "Can the dead read men's thoughts , or if they can , do they cry them on the market place , or Into the ears of kings ? " asked Hoei kosa. "Have I not told you that before I w see the signal fire -yonder the Messenger shall sleep sound ? I have a medicine. Noma , a slow medicine none can trace. " "Tho Messenger may sleep sound , Iloko-ia , nnd yet perchance he may pass on his mes sage to another , and , with it , his magic. Who can say ? Still , strike for power and greatness and revenge , letting the blow fall where it will. " ( To bo Continued , ) OUT OF THIS oitni.YAur. The horn of fho rhinoceros Is not Joined to the bone of the head , but grows on the skin llko a wart or corn. A German professor claims to have discov ered the germ which causes baldness by de stroying the roots of the hair. Over COO fossil elephant teeth have been dredged from the sea * at Molcasea , on the const of the Mediterranean , slnco 1870 , The entire population of tbo state of Now York ( C , 013,344) ) could find standing room on tract of only one square mile In extent , Dr. Merman says that between January 1 of the year 1137 and January 1 , 1880 , over ,000,000 persons perished In earthquakes ; Tombstones made of glass uro fast becom- ng the rage ln sdyeral of the European countries , particularly Germany and Italy. Steel has bejjn'ised for shipbuilding only about twcnty S-dors , yet It Is estimated hat 90 per ifdfit' bf the vessels built at the iresent day Pro''of steel. Several of . . ' 4 , , world's lost eminent as- ronomors pr.qTeis to believe that the qun'a icnt Is kept HP/ft ) ' wre/eked worlds that ore continually fajjljfi Into It. ' ' Henry A. li'ubs'ejl , tbo oldest letter carrier n Newark , Nj JJ. resigned after thirty-one ears of actlvohjwrylce , Ovcnty-nlno ot which were spent in w iv' ' 1 " ? < n'or enc routc- ' A petrlfledujflsii , found , by Dr. Nowbcrry Delaware , j p. , wp'lghed twenty-live Hi ! loumls , and ) A aq perfect lu form , position fins , scales , etc , , as though It had died yo but yesterday jllj tcad Of 2,000 years ago. en There is an j'pormous crop of sugar beets ud n San Henlto tflunty. California , this yar. udwe The avcragoi yj.elJ U twelve tons an acre , weNt ' vlilcli will net $3.CO $ a ton. As au Instance tbo profit In thla crop , a story Is told ar seven brothers , Danes , who rented a a arm of 273 acres , paying for It $7 an acre be the rent. They have raised not less th han eighteen , and probably twenty , tons on the acre. Tftrtu of the. Danes have done 8a nearly all the work , tbo others being en- ar gagei ( In another beet raising enterprise CO near Watsonvllle , U U aald that on the BU rst farm the three will make $0,000 tbla BUw < 'ear above all expenses. BU a Lady Bountiful , who some time since B 510,000 to the Brooklyn Kindergarten iBsoclatlon , and whoso name was not known pr or some time. Is the widow of Mr , Hans S , ha Christian. The money U lo bo devoted to fir lie erection of an Immense kindergarten fo > ; Ulldlng , and when it la completed Mr * . wl Christian will decide whether her gift shall hli o under the Jurisdiction of the Klnder- dl : arten association or tbo Methodist Church W WWl oultty. Wl BACKWOODS PLUCK ! R - J5 A True Story of Early .Mississippi Days. ' BY MAURICH THOMPSON. Copyrighted , IMS , l > y the Author. Two hundred and forty dollars In Bold coin < could not now bo regarded as a largo sum i ; but fifty years ago It was quite differ ent ( , especially among the poor folk who lived far down In the lowlands ot Missis sippi. When Henry Urack , a boy ot 16 , was entrusted to bear such an amount of money to New Orleans the responsibility seemed almost too great for him. Ills father at the time was III and bed-fast , and It was necessary that a debt of $240 , due the city , should bo promptly paid In order to hold the land upon which the Brack family lived. Henry was the only son of his parents and had been familiar with frontier hard ships all his life , yet this undertaking Im pressed him as something stupendous. In these days there were no railroads , Even the wngon roads were for the most part nicro winding trails through dense and unin habited woods , So that when Henry Ilrnck set out ono flno March morning , riding n gray pony , he bade farewell to his parents anil sister. ) with the tone and expression of ono going away Into deadly danger , never , perhaps , to return. The money , which , as 1 have said , was all gold coin , had been carefully bestowed In a leather belt and buckled around Henry's wnlst under his clothes. In a pair of sad dle .bags ho bore some bacon and dried venison. Across the pommel of his old snd- dlo rested a long ride , and at his side hung bullet pouch and powder horn. Nor was the gun his only weapon , for In his Inner coat pocket wcro two small pistols. Ho did not feel afraid , but a sense of doubt and dread oppressed his mind. The mondy-bag clasped about him bore In upon his heart , as In a pathlMS wood , weaponless and with out food. His condition seemed hopeless. Overhead the moon hung In n sheet of palo cloud that spread mlst-llko over the sky. All around was gloom and every where profound Mlenco reigned. Not even an owl hooted and all the smaller night things held their voices. What was Henry Ilrack to do ? Ho quickly made up his mind and began at once trying to get back to the road. Slowly and with remarkable sagacity , considering his condition , ho moved along studying the ground and fol lowing as best ho could the tracks of the horses. Now , It so happened that In the dim light of the wood ho took up the trail made by the horses when taken away by the robber. Instead of these coming down from the road , This led It I in deeper Into the wild forest , and at the end of an hour's slow tramn ho came In sight of a small fire , beside which a man was stooping In the aot of broiling some bacon , the smell of which reached Henry's nostrils with a savory appeal to his appetite , for ho was hungry. Ills first Impulse , at sight of a human being , was tn make haste and Join In the prospective feast , but when the man turned his face Henry stopped short with a chill of consternation going up his back. It wan the robber. Fortunately Henry bad made no noise. The man evidently felt quite safoj for while ho attended to his cooking ho sang over and over again four lines of a ditty , popular at that time : Ho bought her a gown of purple * nnd gold , And lie g-ave her n rosu nnd n ring. And oh , but her fnco did shine for him , And oh , but her mouth did sing. He had n rich , soft tenor volco that rip pled nway through the still woods. Henry stood gazing and listening. Ho saw his pony nnd the horse of the robber tothcrud near the ( Ire. Ills saddlebags sat hard by and OVEIl THE PIKE. It were , a great weight which seemed to hinder free breathing. He was young and strong , however , nnd when once ho was well forth on his way htj threw off much of his discomfort and rode along whistling. For some _ hours the road led p'nst scattered plantations , but long before night" fall the even Jogging of his staunch pony had taken him deep Into the unbroken wilderness. Two days and nights went by without any unusual adventure. To be sure a boy nowadayswould think a bear prowling near where ho slept some thing to remember with shudders , but He'nry Brack had no more fear of a black bear than one of us would have of a cow. A panther and a robber wcro the two beings Henry dreaded to encounter. In these days , although John A. Murrcll and his gang of desperadoes had been caught In the law's clutch and duly dealt with , there still lingered a feeling among the common people that all was not yet secure ; . Murrell's fame , his dazzling achievements In outlawry nnd his far-reaching .evil In fluence could not bo wiped out in a month , or year , or a decade. There were men all through that region who dreamed of follow ing In his footsteps , men who kidnapped negro slaves and sold them over and over again , who watched besldo the obscure high ways to waylay and rob travelers , and these fellows were singularly shrewd at finding out when and where a well-loaded victim could be had for the trouble of the taking. All wont well with Henry Brack , how ever , for two or three days and nights , dur ing which ho made very good progress on his lournoy and came Into the Pearl Hlver coun- ry. Hero had been ono of Murrell's favorite launts , and hero , too , Pierre Raincnii , the elebrated crcolo highwayman , used to have ils sylvan retreat. Henry knew the history if these men and oB course- his imagination uilt rather gorgeously In their belief. No vender , then , ho was scared almost out of ila wits when suddenly ono afternoon. Just jeforo nightfall , a man's volco struck his ar , from not more than six feet of distance vlth : "How do you do , young man ? " Henry started and looked quickly to see Idlng nearly abreast of him a short , sllghl nan whoso sintlo , despite a rather frowsy 111u red beard and a freckled skin , was lulte pleasing. "How far arc you going this way ? " the trangor continued in a soft volco which at inco won Henry's conrdence. "To Now Orleans , " was the frank answer. STARTING OFF. Tlio man raised Ills eyebrows and gave cnry a half-Incredulous look , "That's a big undertaking for ono BO ho suggested ; "but you look brave nough to do U. I'm right glad , too , " he JJed after a slight thoughtful pause , "fur o can travel together , I'm on ray way to 'evr Orleans , too. " Henry was captivated by the man's suave nd gracious manner. They rode along for half hour chatting while the sun fell clew the western horizon , The man said liat bo knew a short cut across the wood their left , by taking which they would ivo several miles of distance and yet rrlvo at the spring where they would camp omfortably for tbo night. Henry , all un- Lispectlng , went with him and when they cro deep la tbo dark and lonely forest , addenly the man turned and struck him heavy blow with a horao pistol. Ho fell ono dead. All was blank to him. How long ho law unconscious lie could not rocUely tell. It wad probably less than an our ; but when ho regained his senses bin rst thought was of the money. Ho felt r It. Of course It wai gone. 80 llko- Iso was Ills pony , Staggering to bin feet , " U bead bloody anil sore and hli brain Izzy , bo looked about lit itupld confusion , fell might his heart sink ; for ( here bo as , perhap * a hundred miles from homo. his rillo leaned against a tree. In an In slant a wave of anger swept through him He clenched his hands and breathed ban whllo his whole nature condensed itself , si ta speak , upon the thought of recovering hli property and visiting punishment on tin robber. For a few minutes , perhaps only a fev seconds , he revolved In his mind all tht chances ot the situation. Ho was desperate nnd quite ready for a desperate effort Presently the man iitooped low over the now hotly burning flro { 0 ; turn a sllco "of brolliil ! , bacon. At that moinont , with the swljt nm noiseless flight of a cat , Henry bounded for ward nnd rushing hard against the mai dashed him headlong into the flre , and be fore ho could rise Henry leaped to the gun nnd leveled it upon him. The man , thougl badly burnt , did not heed the command to surrender , and Henry fired. Ho fell back ward across the flrc. It may seem strange ; but Henry did no lot the robber burn. Ho dragged him awny from the coals and flames and extlngulshe ! the flro that had caught his clothes. The robber's name was Giles Carow. He did no die of the wound that Henry Brack gave him I am sdrry to say that , although Henry sue ceeded in finding a settlement and having Caro-.v arrested , the wily fellow cscapc < from custody after ho got well and was killcu years afterwards In a street fight"at Now Orleans. Henry Is still living , a hale old man , saving that ho Is blind of his left eye from an accident in chopping wood. TUB "CAXAUV TriAins. TvneliliiK IllrilH Sunn.Simple Trick * _ How Street Kiiklrn Sell WiireH. The fall Is the best season In the canary bird trade. Yes , In canary birds there Is a trade with seasons , and tricks , too , Jusi as much as there Is in pig Iron. The tricks como through the discriminations against the weaker sex , the new woman so mucl resents female canary birds are a drug Jt the market ; you can buy one anywhere for 50 cents , whpreas the Now York price for a guaranteed singer is ? 3. Sometimes , in the case of a very flno musician , $5. You can get a male bird not guaranteed for $2.50. Until the females are sufficiently Imbued with the spirit of the ago to sing llko their fathers and husbands , they arc likely to bo moro appreciated by the bird fakir than to the public. They help the fakir to got a dishonest living. Ho puts eight or ten in a cage , and with them ono or two singers , and then ho plants himself and his cage at BOIIIO corner , probably on a street leading to a ferry , and awaits results ; when ono of his singers brenks Into song ho Is pretty sure to bo questioned as to his prices. "Any bird In that cage for CO cents , " la his response , Some ono astutely points out the bird that sang , and says ho will take that one. Will ho ? When he becomes happy , nnd feels secure , he will bo apt to feel like singing. The common necessities of bird life , a clean , sunny cage , fresh water and seed and cut- tlobonc , you will , of course , provide him ; but some further attentions will add much to his happiness. The best bird fanciers do not , approve the plan of feeding a canary on seed alone ; ho should not -havo his cage fitted with luxurious and varied viand : ) , but ! a loaf of lettuce or a bit of apple are par ticularly good for him , and once In a whllo a pleca ot hard-boiled egg will make him feel that life Is a gormandizing , gloilous spree , If you want to tamp him there Is ono simple yet cunnlng'trlck that Is worth any other Instruction that can bo Imparted , It Is this ; Make believe you are afraid of htm. of You think he won't understand ? You alto gether underrate his powcru of comprehen sion ; If you have any tact In acting , If you can play the buffoon well enough , yon will find how to put your finger out to him , and then draw It back In alarm ; how to approach his cage and then fall back In terror ; If you talk your carvcn uciitlmonts aloud ami Implore his mercy you will help your own expression , and though ho may not muter * stand your Kngllsh , bo sure ho will your tones ; and then , and this Is very odd ind funny , he will begin to play the bully ; will ' spread his wings nnd Jump iU you ; but If you are meek and ofTcr a lump of xugnr , say. In a proper spirit , ho will K''ow merciful , and afto- that all IB easy. Ono trick , an old favorite , you had totter neglect In his education , Don't feed him by putting eeeds between your lips tor ? i < in to snatch ; dluca e can be communicated In this way. Don't cover his cage clonuly at | any time , Dlnla especially need fuuli clr , and without It are llablo to lung troubles. And don't let him tay up Into at night ; lie may like It , If bo can l > a > with the Family , but It U as bad for him as for otbt-r J. babies. I'rnltlo of tliu . ' "diva mo a blto o ! your candy , Jlmmto ? " "Nope , but you may kits mo whllu 1/y mouth's sticky , " Teacher What Is the true tc.t of ef at- ness ? [ Little Johnnie To liavo your hired girl ' Interviewed by reporters whenever you do anything. Friend of the Family Johnny , 1 suppose yon are delighted with the now llttlo brother at your house ? Johnnj Now , nothln't He's second-Tiandl The doctor brought him. and there's no lel- lln how many families hiu had him before. I know n llttlo tnnlden . v'llln ' , , f , c ° that I * Jlvlno. Jnst night 1 took her in my ntnw And naked her to bo tnlno. Slip spurned my fond embrace , nml coat .i\ ! < nllcV Blnnco nt mo. "I tiin't belong to you. betntisji "v 1 in nmmina's illrl , " paid she. SU.HIH'S Why he 11en.r Mtllo lrl Xrvor linn lo < ! Donii lit Her Clnnn. 'Mamma , " said 7-year-old Frances , AS she burst In from school , as told by the Detroit Free 1'rcss. "What Is It , sweetheart ? " asked mamma , as she Kissed the ruby lips. "You know In our school , If ono scholar can't answer a question and the next ono can , the ono who answers goes tip and the ono who can't answer goes down. " "Why. that li the way wo did when mamma vas n llttlo girl and went to school. " "In it ? " ti "Yes. I suppose you are trapped prcttr * often , Frances ? " "Yes , mamma. " replied the truthful llttl * girl. "I was trapped this morning. " "Who went up Into your place ? " "Freddy Trotter. " "I should think Freddy wouldn't bo abln to trap you often. Ho Is only C',5 , whllo you are Dast 7. " "Yes'm. Say , mammal" "Well ! " "You know Suslo Urlggs ? " "Yes. " "I never saw her trapped even once. " "Didn't " you ? "No. " "Isn't that nice ? Don't you wish y K know your lessons that well ? Don't you wish you were never trapped , like Suslo HrlRgs ? " "No'm. You see , mamma , Suslo has been clear at the bottom of the class ever slnco I've been going to that school. " IN LARGE ) BOTTLES. OR SMALL ) Owing to the many requests from its patrons , Warner's Safe Cure Co. have put on the market a smaller size iflONEYANDUVEfi. bottle of Safe Cure which can now be obtained at all druggists at half the price of 7 the largo bottle. Is notonly a scientific vegetable preparation and does all that is claimed for it , but it is the only Kidney and Liver medicine used by the best people of four conti nents. A medicine that bears the stamp of the world's ap proval , and maintains its posi tion for a fifth of a century , must necessarily possess pe culiar merit. * ' - PARROTS Wo offer them tills .year nbi-npor tliiin over buforu , Young Pins Island Tbo most beautiful easiest and quickest to learn to talk nm all purrols-uiily 8600 each This price in eludes a shipping caco , L'-lls , purrott hont with vuliiiiUlo directions .and u wrlttcm guar- iiii too. Luoe , solid I'arrot Uugcs , fJ.fJO. Parrots shipped with perfect bufoty nil over U. H. A. Geisler's Bird Store , Omaha , Neb. Established 18B8 PATRONIZ ! Y purchasing goods mndo ' nt the following Nebras yj lea factories. It you cannot - not find wlint you want , communicate with the inaniifacturcr.s an to w h u t dealers handle thcjr goodti. ! HAGS , AND TWINE. IIUMIS OMAHA HAG CO. Manufacturers of all ) < lnJa of cotton and bur- ap line * , cotton Hour nark and ( wlno a pee > laity , CH-niH'8 ' 8. nth El. OMAHA IIIIKWI.VU ASSOCIATION. Car loud ililpuic'nln maclo In our own rcfrik. cralor ram. Iliua IllUjon , KMte i : port , Vlena lixport nm ! 1'omliy Export JcllvticJ to all pan * the ell- . IKON WOKKf ) . DAVIS A : UO\VHIM < IltO.V AVOUKd. Iron mill llriiNH Fouiiilcrn. Manufacturer * ami Jobber * ot Marlilnery. Oen. tial rtpalilng a peclaliy , 1501 , 1W3 and 1WJ Jicktou vtrcct , Giiiuha , I.'eb. IKDUSTillAh IIIO.V AVOHKS. ManufacturlnK nnd rfpalrln ? of all Mn'li ot machinery , engine * , puinr , tlcvalort , pr < nlliit pre&iei , MaiiKera , ulinftint , ' unu coupllne * . H" onij to llowanl HI. . Omaha. > I'.VXTO.V A : VIUIIM.VO IHO.V AVOItKS , Manutucturei * of Arcliltrcutral Iron Work , nenernl Toundry. Moclilne nna lllflclumul * work , Knulncora nml Contrnctor * tut 1'lte 1'roof JIullit. lnc . Odlco anl worka : U , J' , Jtnd Bi > . 17th lilrtet , Omaha. NIG-HT WATCH. Find HI5KVIC13. itMliillNAK nih'l'ltlCT 'l'15liU AI'lT. Tha only p rf t protection to proptily. Eiam- ne 't. H ' tiling on enrlli. Kctlucu Inauronc * rate * . ! MiJ > ou ft _ triMl , . 8IIIUT FACTOUIES. ii. livX.VH XUIIHASICA" COMI'ANV. I.'iflucho ciutom tlilrl tailor * . 1511 I'urnam. TENTS ANU AWNINQS. _ lines , tt co , Manufacturer * of tent * . awnlni : , tarpollan * . luiri , Lm < H n and itnamtn. 'IlMTa VOlt I1NT. 7M-10) Ucuttt BUUentU trtlt , Ooubk * fi'tb.