THE OMAHA DAILY P.EE: SUK DAY, MA11CII 8, 1903.
FLOWER O' THE CORN,
,
By 5. R.1 CROCKETT.
(Copyright, 1902, by 8. R. Crockett,!
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr Daahter i'Ttte.
The village of La Cavalerle lie well out
upon the plain face of the great Causae de
Larzsc. The strange nameleons and ridges
of rock surrounding It commute natural
defenses which for manjr years had been
assiduously strengthened by the Camlaards.
As Maurice Ralth approached the place
for the first time be saw a wonderful sight.
Hundreds of men, women and children were
engaged In building up. even aa the Israel
ites had done of old time, the bulwarks of
their Zion. The men had their guns and
swords close at hand as they worked.
Many of them wielded the trowel or mixed
the mortar with pistols In their belts and
great basket-hllted swords a-swlng by
their aides. Thus for many years were the
high Cevennes held against the king.
The women were running to bring lime
and aand. The Tery children fetched the
water la palls, or, as though they played
a game, carried building stones, on hand
cart . Meanwhile, a little erected above
the rest, an old man stood and Intoned a
chapter of the bible tn a loud voice or with
uplifted hand led the solemn psalm.
The entrenchments, as Maurice aoon ob
served, were laid out with the natural eye
of a soldier, and the aide of the duke of
Marlborough soon found himself thinking
with more respect of the armed peasants
who could thus keep at bay the soldiers of
the first military power In Christendom.
But, being a young man, Mm; Ice Ralth
thought of other things besides the military
ordering and entrenchment of the village of
La, Cavalerle. The heart within him leaped
up with a eertaln rejoicing to know that he
was so near the girl whom of all others
had power to move him. It was also whet
to hie delight that ahe did not know It.
Hla dispositions were soon made. For
Flower-o'-the-Corn as well at hlmaelf the
night had been a disturbed one. He would
leave her to ber repose till the evening.
Then It waa certain that she would come
out to breathe the high air of the cause,
with the clean, tart grip In it. When that
occurred he would be near t thank her for
having saved bis life. That would be an
opportunity not lo be lost. Moreover, he
would find out whether or no she recognlzod
him. ,
Maurice Ralth had scarcely set foot upon
the wldo, closely-rcppcd space, which in
an English or Ecottl.th yillago would have
been called the "green." hon ho was balled
from afar by his henhu n. Billy Marshall.
The corporal of CuKfnr.'.nnu was standing
by one of the cart vhf Is with a carefully
packed bundle of tlo'Jiss on the ground
before him. A doicn tuen were round about
him. He carried a huge thorn stick In his
hand, and was making valiant pacsca to de
fend hla position.
"Malster," he cried, as soon as he caught
sight of Msurlce, "thae blackyarda will ct
even let your honor's breeks alane no
though I has tailed tham till I was tired
that they are a' ye bae to cover your
nakedness, and Bet has glen them tbo office
In their a!n lingo!"
A man with the blood trickling-down
from broken bead came running to
Maurice, holding a cloth to hla brow.
"This mad fellow of jroufe," he said In
rapid and Imperfect French, "will not give
up your clothes to be brushed." I bad the
orders to attend to your outfit from Jean
Cavalier himself. I dare not face the gen
eral unless I ean interna him that I hive
obeyed hla instructions. Yet ' this savage
baa broken my head for me the bead of
an old soldier of his majesty's guards and
good Protestant of forty years' repute.1
Maurice laughed a little, but. Instantly
checking himself, In remembrance of his
self-chosen state aa Pierre the wagoner,
he apologized humbly, at once hastening to
patch up the wound and attempting to
pacify the belligerent Billy.
But thla was somewhat easier said than
done. For the deepa of Billy Marshall were
aroused by what he considered the uncalled
for and shameless plunder of his master's
goods and chattels. He felt that to much
good, and warlike gear was being delib
erately thrown away on a pack of psalm
slnglng knavea.
But with 'Bet on one side and Maurice
Raltb on the other, the wrathful BUI waa
finally removed to the stables, protesting
all the way that he was more than a match
for all the cheatery Frenchlca In crea
tion. - l
By thia time It waa more than suspected
that Master Billy had been looking upon
the redness of that which remained of the
liquor In the lower part of my Lord Marl
borough's false-bottomed caska.
A tall and somen hat dignified man, wha
after the reacue of Maurice's uniform had
drawn upon himself the gypsy's anger by
entlnuiug to follow them to the stable,
now came forward, as if to offer soma
advice.
"I .would advise you to' take yourself
off," said Maurice; "my man Is somewhat'
irritable and uncertain, at bent. He la
not acquainted with the language and Is
apt to take offense even where no offense
la meant. Hla wife and I will attend to
the horses ourselves."
"But," said the man, epeaklng In a hesi
tating manner, and In a tone of apology,
"here are also my own horses. Who will
sea to them?"
"Whose horses are they?" said Maurice,
much aatontshed,
"Will your highness da me the honor to
enter?" said the man, taking hla hat from
nias nan - s am naa nnariap r inn ns Sanaa.
and I have the commanda of Jean Cavalier
hlmaelf to lodge both you and your equip
age." The young man deacended eertaln steps
of stone, a little crumbling and hollowed
out In spoon fsshion in the middle, with
use and wont, and presently found himself
In wide atablea. The flcor waa of hard-
trodden earth, black and glossy like a
blacksmith's apron, not at all like the lime.
atone of the Cauasea or the floury foot
logswhlch It natura)ly makes. There was
plenty ot light, however, for on the further
side the stable cave upon a little ateep
ravine, or cleft tn the Causae, and withal
a, cheerful sound ot horses tnovln-j their
blinkers and headstalls ss they jerked
their necas upward end wbisked about the
more easily to reach their manner feed
or the hay In ths racks above.
On pegs hero and there were hung sad
dles and accoutrementa ot war all ready for
use. For the CamUards obtained many of
their moat celebrated successes simply by
the speed with which they were ablu to
move from one place to another.
Still higher rowa of Iron head plecee
winked aa the level ahifta of sunlight fell
through the narrow, triangular openings In
the wall above each horse's bead. At the
farther end. In the widen and best stalls,
were placed In the order tne nine horses
ot Pierre the wagoner, while opposite, In a
kind of square alcdve, empty, awept and
garnished With good, clean atraw, Billy the
gypsy and hla wife Let had made their en
campment. The package ot clothca which
had been the cause of the loud disagree
ment without, waa carefully atowed away
in the corner behind Billy. Maurice recog.
nlsed the bundle as containing hla best
atari uniforms, which he had taken with
him at the last moment, with some vsgus
I I
I f
Idea that the nossession of it might tell In
! his fsvor. If he were apprehended as a spy.
It had, however, been enclosed In the same
hiding place as the Held piece sent to the
Camisarda by the etstes general of Hoi-
land, ao that the chancea were small indeed
i thst It would do htm much good should he
have fallen Into the hands of M. le Mare
chal de Montravel. He had, however, some
what carelessly tossed the bundle in at the
last moment, chiefly with a sort of disin
clination to cut ail ties which bound him
to his old life.
Maurice aaw to It first or all that Billy
and his wife were comfortable according to
their simple and eaay standard. . In these
regions, as In Spain, only travelers ot the
highest consideration ever thought ot as
cending to the second floor where dwelt
In half-barontcal state the Innkeeper and
bis family. And It waa, though Pierre knew
It not, proof that aome hint of hla quality
bad already leaked out that he thus re
ceived the Invitation of his hoat the "Bon
Chretien."
In this Billy Msrshall waa Induced to
HE SEEwu, ?0 CROW DIZJ5Y IN A MIST
VERY NEAR.
.
lay himself down on the straw.' They left
him using the bundle of Maurice's regimen
tals ss a pillow, snd even In sleep de
nouncing Are and slaughter against anyone
who should attempt to despoil him ot It.
As was her custom, Bet composed herself
stolidly to watch her Lusband through the
hours of the day till It Bhould be her lord's
pleasure to wske. She herself bad tasted
nothing since the night before. Yet she
never onoe thought of preparing food for
herself which Billy would be unable to par.
take. She would sit and watch that no
harm befel him in these strange places, per
fectly assured that her lord, awaking to
find himself in a strait betwixt the deep
sea of a racking headache and the devil of
a temper, would certainly Inflict corporal
punishment upon ber.
At the Invitation of Martin Foy, landlord
ot the Bon Chretien, Maurice mounted the
stairs, which ascended circularly at an angle
of the atablea.
To those unacquainted with the plan ot
such aoutbern houses It might have been
remarkable how at each turn ot the stalls
the remembrance of the strange entrance
hall beneath was blotted out. At the first
the ammonical stable smell waa suddenly
left behind. At the aecond there In front
ot the aacending guest waa a fringed mat
lying on the little landing. At the third
turn, lot Maurice found hlmaelf In a wide
hall with door lighted from the front, with
an outlook upon a courtyard in which waa
a Judae tree In full leaf with aeata of wicker
and rustle branchea act out, while here and
there In the shade stood small round tables
pleasantly retired all showing a degree
ot refinement to which Msurlce had been a
stranger ever since he left those Inns upon
the great roads of England which are Justly
held to be the wonder of the world.
But, notwlthstsndlng, considering that he
waa in one of the moat remote corners of
France and had Just mounted up from a
stable, what wonder Is It that, Martin Foy
atill piloting him. Maurice stood suddenly
aghast when, at the opening of a door,
girl atood before him.
She wore a. dresa of aome rough surfaced
atuff, excellently made, which fitted every
curve of her lithe young figure. Motionless
as she stood, there waa a auggestlon ot
something excessively active, vigorous
feline.
She wore a simple pomegrsntte flower,
red as blood, among the copious heaped
masses of her hair. It gave to her dark
beauty 8panlsh suggestion, and. Indeed,
she needed no other ornsment.
"My dsughter, Yvette!" said the landlord
of "Bon Chretien" for an Introduction.
The girl did not move at all. Only her
red lips psrted slightly and she threw Into
ber great black eyes something for a mo
ment personal to Maurice Ralth something
also that ha never forgot.
"Thla la that Mons Pierre", of whom you
have heard,' ssld Martin Foy. "he whom I
hsve bten commended to caro for (to the
everlasting honor of thla house) by Jean
Cavalier hlmaelf, during bis sojourn among
ua. Hs has brought us both amis and dls
pstches from our allies of the north, and
for thla I beg ot you, Yvette mi daughter,
to do hla all honor."
i win Mb ivsraw
-ijf i iff ?i m m ) bgmew
"Indeed." entreated Maurice, who fore
saw difficulties f the landlord ehouiJ go '
about introducing hlra a the accredited j
ambassador of the allies. "I who am come
among you am but the servsnt of a servant j
one Pierre of Roche-a-tlayard and Hoo!
I am no great person a poor Flemish car- I
ter only, and deserve but your plainest
fare."
But even sa he spoke he was conscious j
that the girl's eyes were upon him. A !
r-mlle slowly formed Itself upon her Hps,
which of themselves were gracious, knowl
edgable, but more than a little scornful.
"Let mc see your hands!" she said eud
denly. Maurice Raltb, struck with sudden fear
that ho would not be as successful In pre
serving his Incognito ss he had hiped, obe
diently stretched cut his hand. She did not
take It in her palm, but let It lie lightly cn I
the bark of her wrist. Then with her other
hand she turned the young man's Angers
over, letting the points rest a moment on
the soft palm of her hand, yet not caress
ingly, but more as if she were making an
experiment.
Then quite suddenly she lifted her eyes
to his and gave htm (aa it were) full vol
ley. They were not broken bits of the blue
of heaven forewandered and loat like those
of Flower-o'-the-Corn. Rather great, storm
dark, ultra-passionate tbey seemed, the
kind of eyes which forever seem to swim
In tears that are never shed angry tears
mostly, yet capable, too, upon occasion, of
melting to a singulsr, unexpected tender
ness. Invincibly touching because so rare.
"Ah, Master Pierre Master Pierre, th-i
OF PERFUMED BREATH. TWO GREAT
roulier, the carrier," trilled the girl, half
laughingly, half scornfully, "good master
wagoner I am glad to make your acquaint
ance." "And I also am honored," said Maurice,
speaking roughly, "It is a pleasure to me
to be here. The wine is better and the
(glrls are prettier than they are in my part
or tne country, whit more can a man
want? And that reminds me upon my
word I had forgot, go bring me a can of the
best, lass. Wine seals friendship, they say
or perhaps because you are so pretty,
you would prefer to sesl It In another
way?"
He approached the girl with one arm out
atretched, his whiplash caught up In the
other, in the traditional attitude of Jolly
wageners when they encounter the prettiest
serving maid of an Inn. But Yvette Foy
did not move an inch, nor did the naif
scornful expression of her eyes change.
Seme time before her father had disap
peared down one ot the many passages
which led from the landing where they had
met.
"I will see that your room Is prepared,"
he bad said. "Yvette will show you the
way when you are ready."
The two young people were all alone.
Yet In apite ot thla direct aaaault, Yvette
Foy atood with her hand still on the latch
of the door.
"Ah, no," ahe aald, "that might take 'n
Frances, the pastor's daughter of Geneva,
but not Yvette Foy. Good Master Wag
oner, who have only a couple of blisters
on your rein fingers where the skin should
be bard aa horn. And these pretty, dainty
banda were never in any man's service. I
wot."
She laughed loud. So deep and rich waa
her contralto that It wat almost like the
tremolo of an organ. There was a certain
palpitating quiver about It which symps
thetlcally thrilled the listener somewhere
within him, somewhere very close to the
seat of his being.
"Beside, all being said and done, you do
not do It well," ahe said. "I myself, poor
Yvette Foy, that never hsd the chancea of
an orange-wench at a theater I could do
It better! See!"
And she tcok the" long carter's whip out
of his yielding hsnd. set bis groad, milch
worn bat on the back of her email, shapely
bead, biding the great heaped masses of
ber darkling hair. She snatched a great
wagoner's coat, called a boupelande and
threw it about ber shoulders, buttoning It
with quick, nervous fingers.
Then she threw torwsrd her right foot
snd brought It down with a slight, but un
mistakable, stsmp upon the floor, holding
the whip at arm'a length from her, the butt
defiantly aet upon the ground with all the
alra of a devil of a fellow.
"Fatth of a dog," ahe cried, "it you be
not the prettiest girl I have aeen In a quln
talne of Sundays! Strike my liver snd
lights If I do not think so! There! An.j
there! And there!" she cried, kiosing
loudly on the back ot her own hand. "Let
thst serve for a beginning and now." ahe
flung doan a broad Spanish dollar with lh
pillars of Hercules very evident upon It
"there Is what will give ua the where-
Mi I WW I -v fiVIIS
withal to drink to our better acquaint
ance!" She dropped the closk cn the floor, gave
her head a tight, careless shake so tbst the
hat tumbled off of its own acord, and atood
bowing before him, a quiet smile upon her
Hps and her hand upon her heart, after the
manner of one that takea aa a thing ot
course the applause of a crowded theater.
The young man remained amated and
abashed. He was silent, chiefly because he
did not know how much this girl might
know, nor what might be her meaning In
thus laying bare hla poor artifices and self
concealments.
Shu bowed again more mockingly than
ever. '
"Shall I have the honor to lead your
honor to your honor's chsmber?" she said.
Then Maurice Ralth. who, though on two
occasions hud acted the ninny, where girls
were concerned wss very far indeed from
being cne, recovered himself.
"Madam," he said with a auperb bow,
"I am deeply Indebted for the Instruction
you have afforded me, and I shall not fall
to profit by it when next I enter an Inn
and find myself served by a pretty waiting
woman!"
But the finesse, though by no means
thrown away, was utterly rejected by Mis
tress Tvette.
"No," she eald, pouting her lips pet
tishly, and patting the floor discontentedly
with her little slippery foot, "that will not
do. You are a gentleman masquerading as
a wagoner. I. on the other hand, am a lit
tle village girl"
"With the featurea of an angel and the
mill ""tv
tz.oerrT
SMTate.. EYES. MOIST AND LUMINOUS. WERE
'
manncrs of a great lady!" aald Maurice
Raitb, quickly, bowing complacently In bis
turn.
, The girl laughed and not so contemptu
ously as before.
"Ah, that is better," she aald. I will not
betray you. You shall be Pierre the Wag
oner tq all the world and you will. But to
me "
"To you?" he questioned, seeing that
she paused.
"Anything you please!"- she said, with
strange straight eyes and fixed smile.
There fell a silence between them which
endured longer than Maurice Raltb felt to
be altogether comfortable. Yvette Foy ap
peared to wait for something to be said on
his side. But since be did not speak, she
reverted suddenly to her former scoffing
manner.
"My father will be waiting for us," she
said. "Permit me to conduct hla honor,
the ambassador, to bis apartments!"
CHAPTER IX.
To Love and To Hate.
The auberge of the "Bon Chretien" In
the village of La Cavalerle, tn the dlatrict
of the Cevennes, held by the rebel Caml
aards, bad on a time been the residence
of the ancient Prior ot the order of the
Monka Templar, who had indeed built the
walls and first held possession ot the town,
As usual, the Innkeeper waa the richest
man In the little commune, though not
for the usual reason. He bad not originally
belonged to La Cavalerle, but being of the
Camisard opinion be bad transported him
self and bis family .from the town of Millau
aome ten years before. ' It waa whlapered
that bis wife, now dead, bad not been
equally zealous with himself, and that
she had lived long enough to Indoctrinate
the little Yvette with her oplniona.
"Maurice's room in the "Bon Chretien"
was large, and to the Engish eye, some,
what bare. But the flower-wreathed bal
cony, with Its outlook upon white road
and gray parapeted wall, made up for all
else. In the chamber they found Martin
Foy with his own hands putting the finish,
ing touches to I be arrangements.
"You will find your aheeta aired," be aald,
"and there Is a bell upon the table which
you will be good enough to ring without
the door It you are In need of anything."
"But,1' said Maurice, "thla will not do. I
am but a poor wagoner of Flandera and I
have no right nor desire to occupy the beet
room in the bouse."
"Sir." ssld Martin Foy, bowing gravely,
"permit me for thia cause left I the best
business within the walls of Millau for
this csuse counted all but losa Gross that I
might win. Christ. And ahall I not give the
test room, in my pcor bouse to the man
who, counting not hla life dear, brought
the cannon from the statea general of Hol
land to the poor folk In sore travail on
these mountain lops?"
As Martin Foy spoke there csme Instinct
ively a kind of chant into bla voice, which
Maurice had learned to recognize aa the
sign-manual of the Csmlssrd prophet or
high preacher. It was 12 o'clock and be
neath came the sound of a chanted psalm.
Martin Foy stsrtsd and went rapidly to
ward the door.
"It Is the hoar of prayer." he Ssld. "God
forgive me. I had forgotten. Will you ac
company me and hear the new preacher
from Geneva expound the way? No? You
are wearied and would repose. Well, on a
future occasion be will refresh your heart
with auch expositions of the true Inward
ness ot scripture as have never been yet
beard upon the Cevennes, I leave you to
my daughter. Let her find you the where
withal to sustain the body, while I go else
where to seek for the better sustensnce of
the soul!"
Yvette Foy followed her fsther with her
eyes as he went out through the door. She
did not smile. Rather there was an ex
ceeding bitterness tn her great dark eyes.
"Let us go out Into the clean, wholesome
air," she said.
Maurice followed her out on the balcony.
There waa something Intensely attractive
about this girl. She seemed created for
allurement. She walked like aome Aholah
or Ahollbah, scarlet-lipped, llthe-llmbed,
certain of her attractive power. Give her
but silk for serge, red heels for home
cobbled shoes, and there bad not been a
prouder or a fairer court lady under the
raying splendor ot the Ellde-Boeuf.
The balcony upon which Maurice anl
Yvette Foy emerged was not proper to his
room alone. It went all about the bouse,
except, that Is, on the side which over
looked the street. Yvette led the way to
the corner where they were most remote
from observation, and pointing tbe young
maa to a chair, leaned ber elbows negli
gently on the Iron railing, ber chin on her
clasped bands.
She looked tip into bis eyea a long while
steadily, and tn spite of himself he felt
his soul being drawn from him. For so It
Is when eyea that are great and large have
that In them which needeth not speech.
"So," ahe said slowly, without with-
drawing her eyes from his face or allow
lng the spell to be broken, "have you come
so far for ao little?"
"For me, I do not know what you mean,"
he said, uneasily.
But all the same be did not look at her,
And Yvette Foy, the Innkeeper's daughter,
laughed that low, resonant lough, like tho
gurgling of water underground.
"No," she aald, "It Is not hid from me,
aa you think. And that thing that has
brought you here is not, as they think, to
bring tbem a few guns, a little powder and
the greetings of their dear friends and
noble allies, who, unloss it suited them
would not stretch out so much as their
little finger to help If they were dying ot
hunger and torture. The poor silly fools
are all agog with the hope that next week
Marlborough and the Prince Eugene will
be camping out on the ridge, there, and
King Louis and all the mar&hals of France
sleeping In their deep graves! A wonder,
sir, that you can lend yourself for a mo
ment to such deceit! No, and you would
not but that you came here for what?
To follow that pale, plnk-and-whlte daffy-
downdllly girl, the daughter of the Ger
man pastor. She has no heart, she Is an
Icicle, a frozen rush from the water edge,
She knows neither what It Is to love nor
what It Is to hate."
"And I know both!" she added auddenly.
her voice was hardly louder than a whisper,
yet far-reaching like an echo In a great
cathedral.
She rose up suddenly and fronted Mau
rice.
"Yes, I know both to love and to hate."
she repeated, and as she spoke she slowly
approached him where be atood. All about
the terrace the creepers were red and pur
ple. Tbe pair were almost wholly hidden
behind tbem.
"Listen," she said. In tbe same low,
thrilling voice. "I have not spoken to a
man at least not in this barred prison-
house for five months. What are these
yammerers to me? You you !" ahe seized
btm with quick, vivid hands tbst left nerv
ous Impressions upon his wrists, "you who
come trom camps and courts and the so
ciety of the living you know. These are
not my equal. These are no companions
for me.'"
"But." began Maurice slowly, "Is It not
possible that after all that "
She would not allow blm to continue.
"I know I know," ahe cried, almost
fiercely, "you would say that these men
and their, women are better than I!
Granted! You are right. Infinitely better,
higher, purer. But the being they call God
made me so. I might have been like your
Chlna-of-Dresden maid down there and
ceen good in all things. Only I am not.
It wss not so ordained. My father sent me
to Paris to be educated finished. The
school wss a kind of Protestant convent
without the dresses and without tbe masses
so much the duller therefore. But there
was another maid In that prison-house
her name, Eugenie La Gracleuse., Her
father is now tn the Marshal de Montrevel's
army. And ao long aa she remained she
and I found a way to evade moat of the
restrictions of the place."
She pauaed to let her memory run over
the leavea of the past.
"I waa there four happy years. I saw the
great world. I heard men speak men who
were men men like you. And at the end
of It I came back to thla to thla!"
And with great sweep of disdain ahe en
closed with her arm the circle of little
high-roofed bouses that constituted the
fortified village of La Cavalerle.
She looked wondroualy lovely to Maurice,
thla girl, vivid, pitiful, of an aatonlshlng
and moat magnetic beauty. Suddenly some
thing seemed to melt In the young man's
heart. ittappeared to him that he bad
been aent on apeclal mission from the great
world to comfort thla forlorn girl edu
cated, made to taate the pleasures of life,
and then torn from them to be plunged In
solitude. Also ber eyes were certainly
wonderful, that olive akin, at once clear
and mat, without polish of aervice or flush
of color, save only the wondrous Hps ot
cardinal red laid like leavea of autumnal
scarlet upon tbe Ivory of her face. Above
her beeped balr In dark loose masses, eyes
deep and lustrous!
He made one step toward her. Yvette
Foy started and a flush of something like
triumph momentarily reddened ber cheek.
The moist suffusion of ber eyes brimmed
over. A tesr ran alowly down her cheek.
Maurlce'a right arm waa about her. He
had a kerchief in bla left hand. He knew
not from whence he had obtained It. But
be waa wiping away that alowly trickling
drop. Two great eyes, moist and luminous,
were very nesr. The face waa very near.
He aeemed to grow dizzy In a mlat of per
fumed breath. The carnation lips were
nearer still. The sight and thrill of them
aeemed to swallow up all else.
When auddenly beneath these two, stand
ing thua, roae the singing note of a mar
velous voice. Maurice let the handkerchief
drop. He atarted back. Yvette Foy, left
unsupported, staggered und would have
fallen bad It not been for the Iron of tbe
balcony which aha clasped with both hands.
Her red Hps grew asben pale with anger.
From tbe balcony Maurice Raitb looked
down. It waa a child's funeral.
First In the procession csme the old
minister, the late chaplain of Ardmlllan'a
regiment in bls'bsnds and Genevan gown,
ths book open In his hsnd.
Then, all clad In white, fair, and tall
like an angel, Flower-o'-the-Corn followed,
carrying (as waa the custom) tbe babe In
ber arms, dead, sinless, also clad In white.
It was ber voice which Maurice bad beard
leading tbe burial psalm. He wss too fsr
away to bear the words of tbe French
paalter, but ho well remembered the tune.
It waa that which had always acoompaoled
the ancient Scottish worda of tbe 121st
Psalm, the Psalm of assured peace aud
purity. And tbey rose to bis heart and
welt nigh to bis Hps as be listened te the
rlesr voire of Frances Wellwood. whom
he hsd called Flower-o'-the-Corn.
I to the hills will lift mine eye.
From whence eloth rome mine n let.
My enfrty cometh from the I.or1
Who Heaven and earth hath made.
Thy foot He'll not let slide, nor will
He plumber thnt thee keeps,
Pehold, He that keeps Israel
lie numbers not, nor sleep.
Maurice lifted himself up with a certain
heave of relief. Many things, the Imagine.
tlons of the hesrt of a man, which had run
like a millrace before, had grown sud
denly still and Joyless.
He turned on hla heel and went out with
out once looking at Yvelte Foy.
(To Be Continued.)
OMAHA HIII,K!HI,K M ARKRT.
Condition of Trade and Quotations on
Staple and Fancy Frodare.
F.OfSS-rnsettlerl; fresh stock. 14al4o.
1.1VK POL'I.THT Hens, 10lot,c; old
roosters. 4ijfH-; turkeys, JUfciSe; ducks. Ntf
: sjcese, s'livc, cnicKena, per IB., Vn mv.
DkF.HSEO POn.THY-CMi-k.n. Illii'le-
hens, UfiMc; turkeys, lixjjl8c; ducks, ll(ui2c;
geese, Hiil2c.
BUTTKR Packing stock, 12yai3o; choice
nrnry, in tuns, i;xhi,c; separator, X'qiiC.
OYSTERS Standards, tier mn. 2fic: extra
Selects, per can, Hie; New Tork Counts, per
can, ttr; luiK, ox irs selects, per gal., fl.is;
bu.k, Standard, per gal., tl Ho.
FHOZEN FRKSH FISH-Trout. MHOo;
nerring, ec; picKerei, so; pIKe. e; perch, 6c
buffalo, dressed. Tc: sunflah. 3c: bluellns. He
whiterish. c; salmon, 16c; haddock, lie;
codttsh, 12c; redsnapper loct lobsters,
boiled, per lb., 40o; lobsters, green, per lb.,
One; bullheads, 10c; cattish, 14c; black bass,
iuc; naiioue, jic.
HR AN Per ton. 15.50.
HAY Prlres quoted by Omaha Wholesale
dealers association: Choice No. 1 upland,
17.50: No. 2. 17: medium. ItvSO: rmru Id
Rye straw, ft. These prices are for hay of
good color and quality. Demand fair; re
ceipts ugni.
CORN 4.1c.
OATS 88c.
RYE No. 2, 46e.
VEGETABLES.
NEW CELERY Kalamazoo, per dos.,
c; i amornia, per qos., 4n'p ioc.
POTATOES Per bu., 4ni4.c.
SWEET POTATOES Iowa and Kans-a
13.
NEW PARSLEY Per dos. bunches. 40e.
NEW CAKHOTS Per elos. bunches. oc.
LETTUCE Per dnz. bunches, 46c.
BEETS New oouthern, per dos. bunches,
50c; old, per bu., 40c.
CUCUMBERS Hothouse, per dor, tl.TB.
PAR8NIP8-Per bu., 4jc.
CAKRCTS Per bu., 40c.
GREEN ONIONS Southern, per dos.
bunches, 40c.
RADISHES Southern, per doi. bunches,
sac
TURNIPS-Per bu.. 40c: Canads rutaba
gas, per lb., 1V4CJ new sou'hern, per dog.
ouncnes, &c.
ONIONS Red Wisconsin. Der lb.. lVc
white, per lb., 2'-4c; Spanish, per crate, $1.75.
SPINACH Southern, per doz. bunches,
boc.
WAX REANS Per bu. box, $3; string
Deans, per du. oox, l.au.
CABHAOE Holland seed, per lb., HC.
NAVY BEANS Per bu.. 12.56.
TOMATOES New Florida, per 6-baaket
CAULIFLOWEU-Callfornia, per crate,
FRUITS.
PEARS Western, ner bbl.. 12.75: Jons..
thans, 5; New York stock, 13 25; California
aelinowers, per bu. box, 11.50.
GRAPES Malagas, per keg. $6.00ig7.00.
CRANBERRIES Per box, $4.
TROPICAL FRUITS.
LEMONS California fancy, 13.25; choice,
18. 0u.
FIGS California, per 10-lb. cartons, 90c:
Turkish, uer io-lb. box. USilHe.
ORANGES California navels, fancy, 13.00
mu.io; cnoice, iz.io; Meal terra 3 ean sweets,
$2.25; sweet Jaffa, 12.50.
DATES Persian, in 70-lb. boxes, per lb.,
ow, jjcr vaae ot wd. pags.. sz.zs.
MISCELLANEOUS.
OLD METALS. ETC. A. B. Alplra quotes
ino louuwiiig prices: iron, country mixed,
per ton, $11; Iron, sto.e plate, per ton, $8;
copper, per lb., V4c; brass, heavy, per lb.,
8Hc; brass, light, per lb., 64c; lead, per lb..
oc; sine, per id., jfic.
MAPLE SUGAR Ohio, oer lb., loo.
HONEY Utah, per 24-frame caae, $3.26;
cuiurano, S4-DU.
CIDER New York. 14: oer U-bbl.. ITKo
SAUERKRAUT Wisconsin, per fe-bbl..
1. t.kl i -r 1
, " I mil., 4. (9.
POPCORN Per lb.. 2c; shelled, 4e.
HIDES No. 1 arreen. 54c: No. rn
No. 1 salted, 7c; No. 2 salted, fc; No. 1
veal calf. 8 to 12 lbs., 8c; No. 2 veal calf.
12 to 15 lbs., Sc; dry hides, l2c; sheep
pelts, 2575c; horse hides, 11.50&2.60.
NUTS Walnuts, No. 1 soft shell, per lb.,
15c; hard phell, per lb.. 14c; No. 2 soft shell,
per lb., 13c; No. 2 hard ahell. per lb., 12c;
Brasils, per lb., lie; filberts, per lb 12c;
almonda, soft shell, per lb., 16c; hard ahell,
per lb., 15c; pecans, laige, per lb., 124c;
sranll, per lb., 11c; cocoanuts, per dog., tc;
chestnuts, per lb., 10c; peanuts, per lb.,
5Hc; roasted peanuts, per lb., 7c; black
walnuts, per bu., $1; hickory njts, per bu..
WEADK COMMISSION COMPANY.
110-111 Board of Trade, Omaha, Neb-
Telephone 1516.
CHICAGO, March 7. WHEAT There has
been a weak wheat market, mostly Influ
enced by the prediction of clear weather
wnn no low temperatures, wntcn caused
any anxiety overthe recent ralna to dis
appear and started the belief ot an early
spring. The northwest markets were even
weaker than ours, and it ls said railroads
are refuring to deliver wheat to the mills
because of the danger of losing their cars.
San FrancUco messages say the export
demand is poor there. World's shipments
are predicted to be 10,000,000 and an increase
on passage Is expected. Clearances were
219, ('JO bu. Primary receipts, 42U.U0 bu.,
against 438,000 last year; primary shipments,
lOO.uOO bu., against l'a.iuo bu.; northwest
receipts, 282 cars, against 811 last year;
local receipts, 31 cars, with one contract;
estimates for Monday, 30 cars. It Is es
timated there will be a decrease In the vis
ible of about i6O,0U0 bu.
CORN Market was strong early on the
general rains, but the near futures were
weak. There waa liberal selling by certain
houses, which suggested Patten selling,
and the result was that market lost Its
early advance. Weakness In wheat alao
had Its influence. There was aome open
sailing of July by Patten. The commission
houses sold both May and July. The March
at New York was a cent lower and brokers
said 500,000 bu. corn waa for re-sale by New
York, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Local
receipts, 378 cars, with two contract; esti
mates for Monday. 260 cars: clearances.
Ktit.OM bu. Cash market was Irregular.
Primary receipts. 530,OUO bu., against 803,000;
primary shipments. JJso.OUo bu.. against 156.
OuO bu.
OATS Market sympathised with wheat:
the first prices were the best ones and there
was a break of He from the top. There waa
a good deal of commission house selling.
Cash situation Is not weak. Western of
ferings are light and the eaatern demand
good. Local receipts. 287 cars, with 14 con
tract: estimates for Monday. 210 cars:
clearances, 15,ii0 bu.
1-KOV1S10N8 Market opened rather
strong for lard and ribs. Armour was the
best buyer or July lard and libs. Slaush-
tor sold May and July ribs, causing a small
reaction, trade was quit general and the
market very strong In the face of weak
grain markets. Estimates for Monday. 40.-
0"0. Hogs In the west today, 28,(00, against
4.uiiu last year, receipts ror tne week,
128.U04. against 161.795 same week last vear:
shipments, )X.6, against 4.1.313. Packing to
date since February i, 113,000, against 116.
0UW last year.
WEAKH COMMISSION COMPANY.
London Sleek Market.
IONPON. March 7. Closing quotations:
Consols, money . .
.... lilt
....
.. .
.... S4
101
Now Yurk (.'antral... 141
Norfolk si W.tro . 73
do pfd S
Ontario at Wasters.. IP
do sreount
Anaconda
Atcblsnn
do Dfd
rannayivama is1
Balllmoro 4 Ohio ... IX
( tsadlsn Pd. '
l limpukt onto... V
Chlro ). W i
r.. m bi. r I7w
Rand Mluea
Heading ,,
do I at pfd
do td sfd
Southern Hallway...
. SU'a
. i
. 33,
. Ji'
. ,
. SI
. as
.
. at
DtBxra
12 ' do pfd
In1 Southam Pacta,-
lienvar A R. (
do pfd
Erla
do Ut pfd ..
do td pfd...
Illinois ( antral
I'nloa Facile.
dw" pfd
I nllcd Statea Stacl.
do pfd
Wat.aan
do pfd
6S
,H4
IxulKllla A: Nafh...l.'.l
M.. K. T
BAR SILVEH-L'ncertaln St
ounce.
2".'d per
MONEY 3H3 per cent. The .rate e,f
discount in the open market for short bills
Is 3S'u3 per cert and fur three months'
oiils is 'iWui per cent.
Milwaukee Grain Market.
MILWAl'KEE. March 7.-WIIKAT-Isiwvt;
No 1 northern. TWfj",'.je; No. 1
northern. 7r-Ve; May, 74'tj747c bid.
KYK Steady; No. 1. 6.V.
UAHLfcY-lJul!; No. 2, 6.1c; sample. 41"!
53c.
CORN May, 47c bid.
Dalath Grain Market.
nri.t'TH. March 7-WHKAT-Cssh. No.
1 bard. 74Se; No. t northern, 71Sc; No. 1
northern. 74Sc; May, 74,j?4Vc; Julv. Uc.
OATn May. UVaC.
CONDITION OF OMAHA'S TRADE
Shartap of Freight Can EeUrrlnj Both
Bmincis and Co'lection.
PRICES, HOWEVER, CONTINUE VERY FIRM
Jobbers Kind that So Far This Season
They Have nld More Uooita and a
Better Unas of (.ooila Than
Vhe Old a War Aan.
The shortage of freight cars is still hav
ing a very Injurious cftect upon the general
trsde sltuntlon In the territory tributary to
Omaha. Merchants who have been In ths
city recently suy that the grain eievatora
are tilled with grain no, I that it Is Im
possible to make shipments. As a result
there la no chnnoe for farmers to sell ths
grain they have on hnml. Mer- hauls ferir
that because of the scarcity of money their
spring business will he slow in starting ut
and that they will lose more or lees of It
entirely Collections are, of course much
slower than they would be otherwise, for
when retailers have to carry their custom
ers the Jobbers in turn have to carry the
retailers. Ixcal Jobbers say that merchants
who for many years have been discounting
their bills haw lot only lost their discounts
this season, but have been obliged to ask
for extension of time. The general opinion
Is that had the seriousness of the situation
been realised a short time ago the volume
of business with wholesalers would have
been materially reduced, but as It is mer
chants had bought the big bulk of their
goods before they realised the true state of
affairs and now the only problem is how
they are to dispose of what they have
bought. It la hoped, howevor, that l.i a
short time there will no longrr be a scarcity
of money and tradewlll then proceed In Its
natural course. It cannot be said that mer
chants are exactly worried at yet. but al
the same time they are getting uneasy.
The markets as a whole held very firm
last week and quite a few advances weni
Into effect. It Is very evident that thers
is a firm undertone to the trade and thoss
who ought to know are as confident as
ever that present valuea will be maintained
for some time to come.
Another Advance In Saajnr.
Wholesale grocers enjoyed a very lively
trsde last week. There was no special fea
ture, as the demand waa for all lines ol
seasonable goods.
One of the moat Important changes In
the market was the advance In sugar,
amounting to 5o per 100 pounds. Tho mar
ket on rawa la quoted aa strong at the ad
vance. The coffee and tea market has nol
changed since last report. Trading Is ac
tive, with prices strong on all grades.
There was a little easier tone to the drift!
fruit market last week on the Pacific const
but prices there are still on a parity with
eastern markets. Stocks are so small or
the coast and so concentrated that thers
la not much chance for lower prices tc
prevail. In fact, an Increase In the demand
would cause an advance In prices.
The market on canned goods is without
special feature, with the possible exception
of tomatoes which are a little weak In
the east. 'vVlth the freight rates now In
force, however, the possibility of en enslei
market In the west Is considered rathet
remote.
The rice market continues very firm oe
all high grade goods and stocks are be
coming more scarce every day.
Farinaceous goods, and. In fact, prac
tically all other staples, are selling In Juai
about the same notches they were a week
ago.
Dry Goods Xot So Brisk.
There wereiot nearly as many buyers ot
the dry goods market last week as arrive
the week before. That was partly owing t
the weather and partly to the condltioni
existing In the country as described above
Aside from that, however, It should ui
noted that most of the larger Duyers havs
placed their orders and only the smallei
merchanta, who buy in a hand to moutt
way, are left. In making comparisons wltt
former years local Jobbers find that tne)
havs gone away ahead of all previous rec
ords and have Bold not only more goods
but a better class of goods than ever be
fore. Owing to the great auccese they nnvs
bad this spring, they are counting on dolni
a rushing business next fall and are pro
paring to carry larger and better fall stocKi
even than they did a year ago.
The market for cotton goods contlnuei
firm ar.d best grades of four-yard cottoni
are held at 4(&c. Other brown goo,.i
have been advanced In sympathy and a ue
elded scarcity of these goods Is reportec
both with wholesalers and manufacture.. s
Advance In Price ef Copper.
The hardware market as a whole Is in i
very strong position. Since last report cp
per has advanced considerably anu the oe
mand Is reported - brisk at the advanie
The talk of the trade now is the scarcltj
of goods and the outlook for an enormo-i
spring and summer demand. Local Jobben
are all advising their customers to uu
early ao as to be sure of getting theli
stocks at the time they are wanted anc
from the way the orders are coming in II
I . 1 1. - V. V. ,Via mflltlHrv Ctt fhl
retailers are taking note of the advice given
. . ..An.tn n tVi- alntt
JODDers are caiiiiip, toicuiiwu "
movement of freight as one of the reasons
why merchants should buy early.
According to advices received from th
country, merchants as a rule had a very
satisfactory trade on winter lines and are
well satisfied and In good condition tot
starting In the new season. They all seem
to be looking forward to a good summei
demand and their ordera so far have beer
exceptionally large.
Good Robber Weather.
The kind of weather that was experienced
last week Is what rubber goods Jobbers like
to see. There were a good many buyers in
the city all the week looking for sprlni
rubbers and In fact Jobbers had to work
their men overtime In order to meet ths
demand promptly. Rubber clothing aa well
as footwear was wanted, so that the trade
was good all around.
Merchants are also ordering fall rubbers
more freely than they were a short tlms
ago and Jobbers do not look for much trou
ble In the future to get retailers to pl&ct
their orders. , .
There Is not much to be said of the
leather goods trade, as this Is sort of a be
tween season period. Merchants are sort
ing up their atocks to some extent, .but stIU
even that class of orders are not very nu
merous. Traveling men are preparing to
start out next month with next fall sam
ples and feel confident that they will do s
good business from the beginning.
Kraft and Produce.
There was a good brisk demand all the
week for frjlta and vegetables, but there
were few changes In ruling prices. Thers
waa a better supply of green stuff from
the south than there was the week be
fore and Drlcea were a little more reason
able. In a short time It is thought the
supply will be much larger and that prices
will move sieauiiy uowiiwuiu.
The mi market fluctuated back and forth
with receipts, but averaged about the ssmi
as the week before. Poultry showed very
little rhanse. the suouly and demand appar
ently being about equal. Creamery buttei
la quo tea a nine nigner man ii warn
week no. but while backing stock sold
more freely there has been no material
change In prices.
St. I.onla Grata nnd Provisions.
ST. I)i:i8. Mur-h 7.-WHKAT Uiwer;
No. i red. cash, elevatort 6M,". nominal;
track. 72 "4 'tc; May, 6!c; Jjiy, ;c; No.
if hard, iui-'i'.
I'uHN i.ower: No. 1 cash. 41c; truck, 41(3
44c May, 4K((411,ac; July, 41c, nominal.
OATS Firm: No. cash, ;i.c; truck, aiHf
M'c; Mav, 4-c; July, iMac; N. i whus.
SSc.
RYE- Firm nt 50V4c.
FLOl'R Steady; red winter patents ;(.31
fritio; extra iancy and utralgiil, n.iAH.ij;
ciear, l2.1ott2M.
UEtCU 1 .molhy, nominally il.i3.'JU
t'OKNMKAL Steady, IJ.30.
BKAN Dull, easy; .Hiked, east track, 81
HAY-Steady; timothy, lll.i'Hj 11.66.
IRON COTHiN TIES-ll.Ui.
Ii A ('( i I N t J i H V c .
HEMP TWIN. sc.
PROVISIONS Pork, lower; Jobbing,
standard mess. $ls.S.'i. l.ard, higher at & 6
l)ry salt me-its (boxed), steady; extra
short, dear ribs and short dears, 1'.
llacHi limned i. sieauy: exfa shorts, dear
ribs and rho.-t clear. Ho t)?1
MK ' Al.ri-l.cHd. hlgner at tl.l2,a. 8ltcr,
stronger at M iw.
POCLTRY Turkeys, llgher; chickens,
l'iV&''illc; turkeys, lc; ducks, lie; geere. Sc.
Ul'TTER Steady; creamery, if'n ix'sc;
dairy. lMj'.iVs'-
EJGS Lower; fresh, I-.
Receipts. Shipments.
Flour. Lb a . M
Wheat, bu 4. icw ",J uu
Corn, bu lK.tsO 11.(psj
Oats, bu 6,uoj bl.OAi
Toledo G.-nln and Meed.
TOLEDO. March 7 WH EAT Fairly ac
tive, weak; cmh, i.'jc. Mi), 7K7,c; July,
CORN'-lJull. eaalrr; M-erch, 45c; Ms
lay.
4lac; July. 44V-.
OATS-Dull, lower; May. Sio; July, JC.
RYE-No 2. Mc.
SEEI ioer. fairly active, steady;
April, 17; October. S f: r me timothy,
$1 So, nominal, nrlme alslke, M, nominal.
t