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::Thc Woman Who Knew V ; ; By WILL LEVINGTON COMFORT TYILI, DUDLEY, who owned the || peach farm touching the western borders of the hills, peered in through the open door of Hatfield's shanty as he drove by. Hatfield was there, bend ing over the stove, occupied probably with a rather of bacon and a tin cup of tea. Above the faint sizzle from the pan and the rustling grind of the wheels in the heavy sand of the road. Dudley heard the muttering of a voice, it was as if Hatfield w* re talking back at the sputter of the fat. Dudley pulled up in sudden pity and called. The man’s murmur ceased, but a tlock of geese be hind the shanty whanged up a general and animated comment. Hatfield ap peared at the door. He was tall, young, black haired. His face had the yellowish whiteness of an unblued washing. His body was bent, his long arms hanging forward like an aged farmer's. “Tomorrer's Sunday,” Dudley began, ■with effort. "What be you a-goin’ t' do? They's partridge -slews o' part ridge—in them snails yonder on the west slop's. Then, ef we want a blue- j bill, or redhead, < r mallard—you know Titman lake, an' fishin' in old Silver?' Lew Gail got a 2b pounder tliar yistiddy —grass pik‘. Come on along. Peaches all marketed. Apples are better out in the cool. Least they won't spile. Save yer pork fur winter and hev game lur a week. Come on!” “Thank you. Dudley, but I'd better tot. I'm a poor hunt* r.” “Time you war learnin’, then. Come on !’ “But—" “I’ll rout you out 'bout three an' a half in the mornin’. We’ll go to the duck ' cove fust, an' wait for light to see the birds. 1 got two guns. Git up, Collie! G'long! ” This invitation of Dudley's must weigh in as a virtue. He would far rather have gone hunting alone. Moreover, the day’s sport would be strained because free silences and random chatter were impo-sible in the presence of an ir.s* rut able fellow like Hatfield. Dudley was the happiest man in the hills just now He turned back after Collie had plodded on a hundred yards or so Hatfield was still standing in his doorway, his body appearing long drawn ar.d h. ipless Dudley smoked, chuckled to the mare, and smacked his lips at the west. He had reached the High ridge. The view was glorious, startling. The fields and lakes and forests shone through a golden grenadine of Indian summer haze. All the jewels of heaven seemed to have dropped into the valley, thsre to glow in the smoky light of the r,d-hot crucible sagging down west. . . . About a quar ter of a mile south of Dudley’s place there was a white cottage with green blinds. A handsome young woman ap peared at the door of the cottage, glanced back cautiously, then wav*d a hurried, laughing kiss at Dudley a- he passed. Hatfield lingered at the doorway until the tea boiled over and the bacon was charred. He would, perhaps, have for gotten to eat had not the scalding bub bles aroused him. Most pitiable was his attempt. The odor of food sickened him. He drank the tea from the leaves and set the rest away, handling the dish.s repugnantly Then he rolled a cigarette.and lit it.and hurried out in the air The dark was growing. He re flected miserably tiiat cigarettes were always endurable. Why hid Hatfield liv alone on the Hill ! forty? One ran t traul beyond the ridge : district to barn this A ft \v suggested ! that weak lungs ware responsible for his purehase of the little fruit farm and | Lis statu h adhtrtnce thereto; others; It!; veil that he had dissipated fortune, physique and morals in ir.ttrupolitan I e< inpany, and that he sought to rei»air a,l three by solitude and toil incessant, : Which put ss was farthest afield if not for this narrative. A few things were know t.; that he spoke as one having culture and understanding; that he la bored from dawn to dark in the frail but ceasebss manner of a woman; that lie paid for what he bought swiftly and without question; that he gladly har bored wayfarers, but avoided affiliations with his neighbors. that he* lived care lessly. bitterly, and absolutely alone. Had yem watched him that right, you would have lear: eei that Hatfield's soul held the passion and poetry of a Greek's, I the supreme fervor of a man allied with the idols of a boy And you might have imagined without touching doubtful fab ric that his mastering romance was tor lured by a knowledge of physical unfit ness. fanned by solitude and rendered maddening by its purposeless fruition. It was dark before moonrise. The reese werr regabbing the day’s events by the w ater trough Hattie Id paused sud eenly. He had walked for an hour, walked swiftly to and fro. between the barn and the shed. He almost ran indoors, lit his lamp, plac d It beside the mirror in the kitchen, and shaved with • lumsy haste. Then he bathed outside the cistern and attired himself in tlothing of rare taste and quality, but which hung tragically loose. There was an Irrevocable sorrow in the large tessof that suit of a year ago. The hills Lad not added unto his flesh. When « was done, he left the house and hur tled up the r..ad in the direction Dud ley had taken. A slip of the moon had dawned in the far southwest. The rectangular clot of ihadow ahead was the white cottage with gr-en blinds. As Hatfield ap jroached words softly spoken reached lim He crept into theeldtr shrubs misich obscured the roadside and made its way forward until his suffering eyes caught a dim view of two figures at the gate, the figure of a man and of a woman t whose voices he Knew) in lovers' embrace. "What was that noise?" the woman ashed, intensely, drawing quickly away from the other. “Nothin' but a bunny in th- brush,” Dudley whispered, amorously. “We’re goin' out after game to-morrer—me an' Hatfield pore devil, looked so lonesome a* 1 druv by this evenin' thet 1 Just had t' ask him t' come along." There was a long silence. "Bill,” said the woman, at last, "now that we re engaged and goin' to be mar ried, I've got to 'ffss up. You know this spring we all thought Hatfield was dyin' of consumption. Well. I tried to be good to him, brought him little cookin's, you know', an’ tried t’ tidy up his house a bit. Well, he’d look at me kinda funny all the time, sorta pitiful, an' yet 1 can't exactly tell how he looked. I took it jus' th' same as any nurse would a fever patient—allowin’ fur him. y’ know An' one day he said he wished I could always be aroun' thet little cabin o'his’n. an’the words scared j him. an’ he looked out at the rainy | peach blossoms for a long spell, red as any lamp shade. Anothei time he said I was the kind of a woman that the supreme intelligence intended the breed ’ to be—strong backed and soft handed! : Or somepin’ like thet. An’ then his cough eased tip and he tuk to work, and I didn’t go no more. Two or three times he came here in th’ evenin', but mother tuk c are of him. an' I was alius pickin’ ' plums or tannin’ peaches. An’ thet'r all." Dudley laughed. “1 ain't afraid of pore Hatfield a-eut tin' me out,” he paid. “But be nice t’ him t'morrer.” the woman whispered, hastily. "He’s a pore, sad feller, an’ harmless as—” “Harmless as a rabbit,” Dudley fin ished. A few minutes before four the next morning, while it was still black night, Dudley drew up his rig at Hatfield's gate. There was neither sound nor sign of light in the shanty, so the driver made a huge noise and prepared to wait. Scarcely 30 seconds passed before Hat field appeared in the clothes he had worn the night before. Dudley turned his lantern upon the gaunt figure. "Go an' git yer rubber boots,” he com manded, laughingly. “Can't do 'thout 'em.” Hatfield obeyed silently, and two min utes later was driven rapidly toward Titman lake. The horse was fastened on the high rail and Dudley led the way to the cove. "You’ve got the best gun," the man of experience explained—‘‘12-gauge ham merless. Press down that little lever on the left side an' you cock her. . , . No, don't cock her yit. She's loaded!” They had a mile to walk. The day was gathering. "S-sh-h!” warned Dudley. "We’re purty nigh thar. Ye don't want t’ skeer 'em! By cripes, but ye're a fool with a gun!” “Did you say that you press this left lever down to cock the piece—both bar rels?” Hatfield gasped. "Sure,” whispered Dudley. “The lake's yonder. D'ye see it?” Titman was ahead, showing up pearl gray in the dawning, like the mist which hangs over a bog. “S-sh-h!" warned Dudley. "Thar's a flock down in the cove—hear ’em? We'll get a bunch—fust shot!” They crept on. Dudley turned at last, his body bent behind an artificial blind in the edge of the bluff over the cove. His arm was raised to further command silence. Hatfield was crouched, too The nerves of the man wrung a horrid scream from his throat, before the crash of the gun. That Instant It seemed that the whole lake rattled and clacked, but the sound was merely from the cove where the vast flock was rising. . . . Hatfield saw the other sink upon his gun, his chin and throat a blotch of deep color. Two or three hours later Hatfield’s brain assumed command of surviving faculties. He was two miles away on the far shore of old Silver. He was harboring a world of ancient pas sion — that of killing himself. The lake was there, but it did not ap peal The knife in his pocket horrified. He wanted one more shell. Dudley hail given him two, but both barrels were empty. There were innumerable shells on Dudley's body. He started back, run ning. The place was changed. Dudley was not there! Other hunters had come to the blind. Hatfield searched on his hands and knees for one dropped shell. Thus he was found by those who required hint. The twelve wise men adjudged him in sane after many days, but the vomal who knew most, yet who had done no wrong —remained to weep — Chicago Tribune. Tile Nile Dam. Sir Benjamin Baker, who built the Nile dam. has just given out some new figures concerning the dam and its con sequences. During the critical periods for the crops March to June—the sup ply of water for irrigation was doubled by the dam. The Irrigation of rice, pro hibited in previous years, was allowed, and the increase In value of land now converted to irrigation is calculated at over $25,000,000. Quick Work. Word comes from Iowa that the champion corn husker husked 208 bushels of corn in ten hours. That is wha' might he called moving the crop on the lightning express, remarks the Chicago News. Mum Take Their ( hole*. Chicago has served formal notice upon highwaymen, says the Washing ton l’ost, that they must either go to work or go into politics if they want to remain in the city. JAPAN'S (MENTIONS The Causes of Her Threatened Rup ture with Russia. A GREAT FIGHT FOR HER LIFE Sppo llmiKPr of the Hear Alivirbluu Aorthrrn I'roilnmi of fhlnu —form Sol lilt" Krai I nine of flip Trnnhlp. HAT is it all about, this rumpus in the far east tiiat Alls the columns of the press of the world with theories and rumors; that keeps the bulls and bears of the stock pits clawing at each other; that is helping to regulate the price of eatable commodities? Is it a specter invented for the satisfaction of man's lust for gold, or is it a reality? Uy all means it is a reality. A reality founded upon a condition that has in it nothing that Is new in the world of international economics, nothing the world has not seen before. The press one days tells us that Japan has issued what is virtually an ultimatum to Rus sia; another the news is cabled from Peking, from Hong-Kong, from Nagaski or other seat of the enterprising scribe, that new negotiations are on foot and a settlement seems near. A settlement of what? What are the negotiations about? What was Japan's ultimatum? What is the rumpus all about anyway? It is one little nation fighting for its life, its future, its prosperity. It is more than that—it is this one little nation fighting for the life of another little na tion and a big nation near her borders, and for the commercial rights of other big nations of Europe and America. Japan is saying to Russia: "Corea must not be stepped upon; it must re main a free and independent people; the seal of the czar must not lock its doors. That is what is said in words. What is said in meaning is that Japan must have a chance to live, a chance to grow, a chance to sell the products of her accumulating factories. That the dare not move a hand. The peaceful ' policy of the United States forbids more than sympathy with the little combat ant. And the menace that is seen is closed ports in a developing market. No, little Corea, with its 82,000 square miles of territory, is not the only bone of contention. If it were the question so far as Russia and Japan are con cerned, would be easily settled. Rus sia is quite willing to concede the inde pendence of Corea as demanded, upon the condition that Japan acknowledge Russian sovereignty in Manchuria. What Japan demands is that Russia concede Corean independence, and the Rear agree to keep his paw off the her mit nation without asking conditions, for Japan is U>o wise not to know that the acknowledged control of Manchuria is but another step in the scheme of Russian agrandizcment, the full ob ject of which is the control of all the great northern provinces of China con taining the very best markets now open to Japan, markets the gates of which would be closed and locked with Russia In control. There is a peculiar political situa tion back of this lone fight of little Japan to prevent the disruption of the Chinese empire. Every commercial nation of Europe and America has cast covetous glances upon China, either upon its ter ritory or its markets* Had not the Washington government stepped in at an opportune time the great empire would undoubtedly have fallen a prey to the territorial greed of the nations of Europe, but with American mills, Amer ican machinery and American genius back of these the Washington govern ment could see a better opportunity for this country in an undivided China with open ports than in a divided China with closed ports. That this country could share in the distribution and division of the empire was not. or is not, to be considered, and even if it could, it would be valuable only from the commercial standpoint, and undivided China offers a better opportunity than any small part of the empire this country might, by any possibility, secure. The wise heads of England look upon the subject in much the same way as do the officials at Washington. Though England might share more largely in the territorial spoil than could this country, yet England cannot afford to THE GREAT WAS.L OF CHINA. greed of the Russian Bear must stop be fore it has cast the shadow of its hoary paw over all that semiconscious nation, a nation worse than helpless, on the mainland that means to .Japan life, fu ture, opportunity, prosperity. As a matter of necessity, Japan has set up a Monroe doctrine of her own in Asia. The little empire is not large enough for the awakened activities of its people, and there must be room for commercial expansion. Long before Japan was awakened by Commodore Perry and his followers, Yernak had rossed the I’ral mountains and the Russian Bear began his migration east ward. Before Japan had awakened he had reached the Pacific and found—a sea of ice. He tarried there, and it was not until Japan had awakened and rubbed the sleep of centuries from her eyes that he tired of his sea of ice and began casting covetous glances south ward to an open sea. Those glances in ADMIRAL ALEX EFF. The Represertat.ve ol the Czar in the Far Eaat and Commander of the Russian Forces There. eluded Corea, then claimed by China as a dependency, a claim which the world scarcely recognized. In Corea, too, Japan saw an opportunity, and she was then but beginning to look for oppor tunities, and she grasped at it. Europe wrung from her what she had fairly earned by defeating the Dragon in open w arfare, but she insisted, at least, upon Corea's independence. The Hear, in the meantime, moved southward. Policy forbade him meddle with Corea, for a time at least, and with wily smiles and fair promises he won favor with tottering China and a foot hold on the open sea. Japan has watched the menace grow, and pro poses to stop it. China, when it is too late, sees the danger opening before her, but is powerless. The nations of Europe, foi very fear of each other I | see the disruption of the Chines**m ; pire. Lord Curzon put the ease tersely | when he said: ‘'It is only in the east, and especially in the far east, that we may still hope to keep and ereate open markets for British manufactures. Every port, every town and every vil lage that passes into French or Russian hands is an outlet lost to Manchester, Bradford and Bombay.” Russia is not a competitor with the other nations of Europe in the world s markets. She wants only exclusive markets, and to get these she must con- 1 ] trol territory. The development of Si beria lacks nothing but a market for its | products. What better is at hand than North China. French politicians at least are willing to heip Russia get w hat she wants if in turn she may have her pick of the southern provinces border ing her already large interests in Cochin l China. But republican France is not I so easily handled as a more stable monarchy. The intentions of the French politicians may be all right, but Russia mistrusts the temper of the French peo ple. The military alliance with that country cannot be counted upon too i strongly for such a purpose as the dis memberment of the Chinese empire in opposition to the wishes of Japan and the United States, and so Russia has curried favor with Germany, who cov ets territory in the provinces lying to the south of Peking. Just how much Russia is willing to grant in return for the assistance she needs is hard to say, but she will probably be quite generous ’ in promises if such are necessary. I he smaller nations of Europe which ran in no way hope to profit in territory by the distribution of China at the hand of the czar, sympathize with Japan in the struggle she is making, but, like the i'nited States, their help can go no fur ther than that of sympathy, and this : neither buys warships or wins bat tles. Thus it is that Japan is left virtually alone to fight for the maintenance of the Chinese empire and for the open door policy of which we have heard j so much. It Is the mikado and his army and navy that must keep the Russian Bear out of Manchuria, out of Corea, : out of Mongolia, out of Peking, if he is ! to be kept out, and the ports of this se< - ; tion of China remain open to the com merce of the world. If she is not suc cessful. the great wall of China will be • moved south some several hundred miles to mark the new Siberian frontier, and Russia will have secured new and exclusive markets which she so much desires. That these markets will still remain open to the trade of the world is au idle dream. DANIEL CLEVERTON. GOVERNOR OF OREGON Uses Pe-rii-na For GoldSi in His Family land Grip. C'.iriTOL B['II,I)IS({, SALEM, OIUI.ON. A Lottor From Th<* (•OTcrner of On-eon. Peruna is known from tlit* Atlantic to tlie Paeilie. lift tors of congratulation ami commendation testifying to the merits of Peruna as a eatarrli remedy are pouring in from every State in tlie Union. Dr. Hart man is rceei\ing liun dreds of such letters daily. All classes write these letters, from the highest to the lowest. The outdoor laborer, the indoor arti san, the clerk, t he edit or, the statesman, the preacher all agree that I’ernna is tlie catarrh remedy of tin* age. The stage and rostrum, recognizing eatarrli iis their greatest enemy, tire especially enthusiastic in their praise and testi mony. Any man who wishes perfect health must be rut indy free fruin eatarrli. Ca tarrh is well nigh universal; almost om nipresent l’cruna is t he only ahsol nte safeguard known. A cold is tin* be ginning of catarrh. To prevent colds, to cure colds, is to cheat catarrh outof its victims. I’ernna not only cures ca tarrh. hut prevent.sit. Kverv household should he supplied with this great rem edy for coughs, colds and so forth. The Governor of Oregon is an ardent admirer of I’eruna. He keep, it eon tinuaily in the house In a recent let ter to Dr. Hartman, he says: State of Oregon, 1 Exf.c i itve Department ) The IVrmia .Metlie;ne (.'<>., < «d uni Inis ().; DearSirs I ha\e had occasion to use sour Reruns medicine in my famiF for colds, and It proved to he an excel• lent remedy. I ha < e not had occasion to use it for ot her ailments. Yours very truly, W. .11. Lord. It will he noticed that the O vernor say s he lias not had o caslon to use p,». rima for other ailments. The reason for this is, niost other ailments bepin with a cold. L.’sinjr l’ernna to promptly cure colds. lie protei ts his family apainst other ailments. This is exact y ivhat every ot her family in the United '■’ates should do. Keep Peruna in the lo use. Use it for eon pi is, colds, la fjri j>pe, and other climatic atfeetions of winter,and there will he n > other ailments in the house. Such families should provide ; themselves with a copy of Dr. Hart man's free hook, entitled, "Winter Catarrh.” Address I)r. Hartman, Co in ml ms. Oiiio. Ask Your Druggist for a free Peruna Almanac for 1904. FILES NO MONEY TILL CURED. 25 m«s tsmnstti. We scad FREE and postpaid a 200 pace treatise oa Piles. Fiatala aad Diseases at tie kectam: also 100 pafe ilhis. treatise on Diseases of Woaiea. Or the UnmsjiiJs cared br oar atilu method, aone paid a cent till cared—are tarnish their aaaMs on applicaliaa. PR8. THORNTON A MINOR, 1031 Oak SL. Kaaaaa Citr'fe I 10,000 riant* for lOo. This is a remarkable offer the John A. Sal/.er Seed Co., ha Crosse, Wis., makes. 1 hey will send you their big plant and seed catalog, together with enough seed to grow 1.000 tinii, solid Cabbages, 2.000 delicious Carrots, 2.000 blanching, nutty ( elery, 2.000 rich, buttery Lettuce, 1.000 splendid Onions, 1,000 rare, luscious Radishes, 1,000 gloriously brilliant Flowers. This great offer is made m ordci to in duce you to try their warranted seeds— for when you once plant them you will grow no others, and Ait. ion nrr lCc postage, providing you will return this notice, and if you will send them 20c in postage, they will add to the above a package of the fa mous Berliner Cauliflower. [K. L.J Strict I> tin nine** She—In truth. I think he is neglect ir.g hi* business to court the rich « ulou , He (), I thinly not. His business i« to make money, Aid she has plenty ct it.— Stray Stories. A r at her * Worry. Your fioor wearied wife losing sleep night after night nursing the little one suffering from that night fiend for chi! ' dren and horror to parents ( Kill |» should have a hottle of Tavlor’s t liero l ee Remedy of Sweet Cum and Mullein. I an undouhted erouf. preventive and one l »r coughs, colds and consumption \! druggist*, jjv , 50c., and $1.00 a bottle. Ilou llill ll«* (iUCNI Ilf H hliv I say. Mr 1 pdyke, what do you nufifKise ( lai i -aid about you js:-1 belore you i'ame in? Mr l pdyke—I haven't an idea in the world. Robert. Robin (amazed) Well, you've guessed it! Teat’s just wi.at she did say!—Stray Stoi ies. Moravian Hurley nml Spelts, two great cereals, makes growing and fattening hogs and cattle possible in Dak . Moot., Ida., <>.!o . yes everywhere, and add to above Salzer's Million Dollar Crass, Ieosinte. which produces 8n tons >f green fodder per acre, Salzer's Earliest Cane Salzer's 60 Day Oats and a hundred of other rare farm seeds that they offer. jrsr CRT THIS OCT AND RET C It* IT with 10e it, stamps to the John A. Salzer Seed Co.. Iai Crosse. W'is.. and get their big catalog and lots of farm seed sam ples. [K. L.] Ethel —"Will told me last night he wa» afraid his mind was going." Mabel— "Weren't you scared?" Ettiel -"Yes. 1 was •/raid he wouldn't go with it.”—Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. TRADE MARK. At The Post Up and doing to live and help to live, the old reliable StJacobs Oil is an universal benefactor in the cure of Hurts, Sprains and Bruises Pr.ce, 25c. ind 50c. A Boston physician’s dis-' eovery which cleanses and ii' <41-1 (til III liaillllldl >11 Ul kilC IUUUJiU membrane wherever located. In local treatment of female ills Tax tine is invaluable. Used as a doui he '! is a revelation in cleansing and he «ir.g power ; it kills all disease germs which cause inflammation and discharges. 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We sell our medicine on aP tive punrantee, if directions are lowed, and money will he refund* cure is not effected. Manufactured Smith Medical Co., St. Louis. Mo. l’rice 50 centsandfl.OO. TrialSH mailed free. For sale by all ilrujff Our money winning boofe written by men who know, you all about Pota^sh They are needed by every n>*j who owns a field and a plow, *■. who desires to get the must1 of them. They art/rtt. Send porta', (.tKUAN KALI WOUKS New York—93 Nbm«d Stmt, Atlanta, Ca-°a«S Hr**4*