The Wahpeton times. [volume], May 30, 1889, Image 5

About The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
I
!f
ft-
£.•
get
it:,
4
me
3
Ail Experience With a Railroad
Robber.
"Let mo relate to you some of my
early experiences," said Conductor
Frye, of the Burlington, "when I was
running baergage on the Union Pacific.
It was back about ten years ago. We
were coming east from Ogden and at a
«j4ma^ station a box supposed to contain
a corpse was put in the express car,
consigned to Lincoln, Neb. Bill Axley.
now on the Santa Fe, was express mes
senger and as we elevated the box into
the car he remarked that it did not Et
the coffin well, as he felt a reacting jar
as the article was put into the car.
4
i^»
:?t
4fcT
&
There were two men fairly well dressed
and showing no signs of suspicion, to
gether with what we took to be an aged
woman, who accompanied the remains.
She was represented as being the moth
er of the deceased and the two men
were the latter's brothers. The wo
man, or man, as she turned out to bs,
was anxious to remain .with the corpse
in the car. She also desired that her
two sons might be by her side. This
was against the rules and they were
informed that transportation would
only be allowed the corpse in the ex
press car, ana accordingly they agreed
to take seats in a coach. Just before,
the train pulled out Bill said to me
that he thought the game was a con
,i cocted robbery and was determined to
have the box handed out and inspected
before the train started. But what if
it were a real corpse? Tha boys would
have hooted Bill off the road for his
cowardice. This I said to Bill and he
finally concluded to let the worst come,
if it must. The conductor signaled the
train to start and Bill jumped into his
car and I got into mine, but the more
I thought of the situation the more I
found that Billy's suspicions were not
unfounded. Finally at the next sta
tion we stoped to await a clear track
and, Bill not being in his accustomed
place at the doorway of his car, I de
cided to ascertain whore he was. At
the door there sat Bill with a face as
pale as a dead person and with large
drops of perspiration standing out on
his forehead. I was about to laugh,
but a sudden motion of his hand
prompted me to refrain. Finally he
walked close to the door and with one
eye on me and the other on the box he
3aid: 'There's a man in that box
alive and I know it. You had better
keep your eye on those other fellows
or we're their game sure.' I paused
for a moment. I did not want to make
a blunder by-informing the conductor
and being called a tenderfoot but sup
posing that the box contains a live
robber, there was the point. I medi
tated and I finally said to Bill to watch
further developements, but he refused
and said that if I did not come to his
assistance he would call on somebody
else. I saw th:it he was frightened
and he did not have much the bettor of
me. Taking hold of the car door I en
tered it and we both stood and gazed
at the box. It was sealed and
npither of us had a right to open
I finally called the conductor and
informed him of the case. 'Yes,' said
he, 'and I noticed that the old lady
who is weeping in the coach back there
has a ponderous foot for a woman."
But we all agreed to wait develop
ments, and I agreed to ride in the ex
press car with Bill. We again pulled
out, but we had not gone far before the
W bell rope was pulled and the train be
gan to slacken up. At this juncture
Bill did not rush to the door to see
what was up, but set both eyes on the
box. A moment of amazement, and
suddenly the cover of the box flew off
and a heavily armed bandit attempted
to rise, but Bill had him and in an in
stant a ball went whizzing through the
fellow's neck and he fell over. "Guard
the door!" shouted Bill, and the words
had not fully escaped his lips when the
individual in female attire appeared and
was about to enter the car when I
leveled my revolver and said. "Wo
man or man, throw up your hands or
I'll sboot." In full range the individu
al could not do otherwise, and one of
£Y the hands while suspended clutched a
fine specimen of firearms. I held the
strange guest at the point of my re
vplver and was surprised to see a little
gfav haired man come out of the next
coach with the two alleged brothers
heavily shackled. The little man
who subdued the two campanions was
a United States marshal who was on
board the train at the time. The con
ductor was covered and ordered to pull
the bell rope, but before the train was
fairly stopped the little officer had both
men in irons. The supposed female
turned out to be a, man in female attire.
XThe feigned corpse was converted into
a real one and his companions were
j. sentenced to the penitentiary for
twenty-one years each and now are at
Joliet, I1L The victim of Bill's marks
manship was Utah Charley, one of the
most daring train robbers that ever in
fested the plains. We put the box and
body off at the next station and they
were disposed of in a manner which I
never learned. Anyway,Bill's temerity
was the means of breaking up a band
of train robbers that had terrorized the
West, and his marksmanship sent Utah
Charley to another home where he
could not stay in a pine box long. Bill
had about $35,000 in charge at the time,
and after making that trip he turned
over his keys and abandoned the ser
vice."—Omaha Bee.
A Jelly "War.
jflThere is war in the jelly business.
JA year ago forty-three iirms formed a
Irust under which all their establish
aents except fifteen were closed down
and prices, it was expected, would be
put up. Two larjre firms, however, re-
Ised to go in, and have been making
things interesting for the trust. Re
cently the trust cut prices on jelly to
2} and 2A cents a pound, and guaran
teed purchasers against any lower!
prices from outside firms. The two'
Camden firms promptly put jelly down
to one cent a pound, and sold enough
at that rate to give the patrons of the
trust ground to demand a rebate of the
difference between trust prices and
kCamden prices.—New York Sun.
rt I
A Superfluous Mystery.
BT CLARA DIXON DAVIDSOX.
It It my belief that my father was always
kind and fracroni, and merited the pood re
spect of hit family and neighbors, bat, owing
to the fact that he labored from morning till
night six days of the week, and slept the
greater part of the seventh, my early acquaint
ance with htm was necessarily limited.
The memory of my first HokkIuk at achool
Is not more vivid to me than the recollection
ot my flrat and last day of apprenticeship to
my father's trade. He was a well-digger, and
I was taken along to haal up dirk I dis
graced myself by allowing the windlass to
•Up from my grasp when I bad a backet of
cl*y nearly to the top of the well. Father
aanowly escaped being struck by the swiftly
descending bucket and I had a numbing
blow on the head from the windlass handle.
That night, when I was supposed to be
asleep, I heard mother inquires
"Did the chile make ye right smart of a
help the day!" to which my father replied:
"Jim ain't no good to work—ain't sense
enough to keep a holt w'en 'e's got a holt, so
I s'poie we'll eddicate Mm. Larnln's poor
stuff, poor staff enough, but I 'low It's a help
to them 'tala't got sense."
I cried myself to sleep, partly for joy that I
was to have what I most desired, and partly
for grief that my great good fortune came
through the great 111 fortune of lacking
"Sense."
I had been earning a hundred dollars a
mouth for two years, as a stenographer, when
my employers gave me two weeks' vacation.
Instead of visiting my parents in their western
home, as had been my habit during school
vacations, I decided to see a few days ol
fashionable life at Newport.
Then I met Ellen Irving, peerlessly beauti
ful Ellen, with a smile that warmed and
brightened like dawning suullght, and hands
so fair that my heart sank at sight ot tbcm,
for I said, "No poor man's daughter ever had
aoch hands."
The morning following my first meetlne
with her, I studied my reflection In a mirror
for a full half-hour. I tried tbe effect of full
front, three-quarters-face, aod back views,
and nearly twisted my eves out of their sockets
in an endeavor to get a glimpse of my profile.
I tried to be free from vanity for the occasion,
and to pass impartial judgment upon myself
In tbe matter of looks, for I wanted to weigh
my chances fairly in my own mind, and
consider whether there was even tbe possi
bility of winning the heart of a wealthy,
beautiful and accomplished woman.
I derived some comfort from this consulta
tion with my mirror. At least I was not re
pulsive In appearance, and my eyes lit by
love, might be useful allies further than
this a modest man might not go In self praise.
'•But after all," I mused, In a fit of despond
ency "good looks and good morals do not
count for much In these matters. A wealthy
maid will wed either riches or r»nk, wherever
her heart goes. A man with no money and
no social position has little to hope for.
One hour of Ellen's society gained tbe
next day by a happy accident, sent me home
with my head In the clouds (aud my feet,too,
for all that I remember about them), saying
over and over to myself:
"There are no classes In our land, thank
God I A man's worth here Is not gauged by
tbe number ot pennies in his pocket!"
During tbe remainder of my stay I saw
Ellen every day, and felt much encouraged
by her manner toward me. When I .was
compelled to return to my work I sought an
Interview with Ellen, and, having learned
that she lived In Chicago, asked permission
to call soon after her arrival at home.
She blushed deeply, and tears sprung to
her eyes, as she tremulously replied:
"I cannot receive you. Pray do not, ba
angry with me,—but—it is impossible."
I could not reply, my tongue grew dry, my
lips stiffened, and tbe room seemed whirling
round with me. I stood to a moment gazing
with despairing eyes at her beautiful face
and trembling form I noticed that she was
pale and seemed as deeply moved as 1. and
then I turned and left her without a word. 1
did not mean to be harsh or to seem angry or
resentful, but I could not apeak. A spell of
silence seemed placed upon me.
"Fool, fool that I was to hope 1" was the
cry of my heart that night as I traveled west
ward. "I was wrong when I said we have no
classes in America I was right when 1 said
love counts for nothing. I believe she loves
me, but if she marries it will be a man In her
own station. I was too weak to tell her of
my humble origin and position, but she had
doubtless discovered tbe truth in some way."
Partly because I desired to gain wealth,
and partly in the hope of filling my mind so
full of business that there would be no room
left for love, I began a series of small specu
lations, which were gradually extended to
more ambitious operations, until 1 found my
self growing rich. Between being very busy
and very miserable, I neglected to visit my
parents, though I frequently sent tbcm
money and gifts.
Everybody knows how completely lost to
each other, people living in tbe same city
may be, and five years passed after my sepa
ration from Ellen at Newport, before I met
her again.
One day I was passing a handsome resi
dence on Dearborn Avenue, when chancing
to glance toward the house, I saw a woman,
with a broom In her hand, and a sweeping
cap on her head, industriously brushing dead
leavea from the gravel walls. I gave a great
start when 1 saw the woman's face, for It
bore a remarkable resemblance to Ellen's,
hut I reasoned that my dainty love would not
be doing menial work, and that, although
this woman was wonderfully like her, I must
not suppose I had really found her. So I
passed on, though the Incident was in my
mind all day, and was responsible for a care
less business transaction, by which I lost
quite a sum of money.
as 1 would to banish the thought of
the neat servant, who looked like Ellen, I
could not, and the next morning early found
me sauntering slowly past the bouse, where
had seen her,—too early, for tbe shutters
were all closed, and sleepy silence pervaded
the place, '•'wo hours later I passed again.
Then an Inspiration came to me. Might not
a daughter of tbe bouse undertake some do
mestic duties? I hastened up the steps, rang
the bell, and inquired if a family named
"Irving" lived there. No the name was
Lewis. Another thought: perhaps Ellen was
married, and performing wifely Instead of
daughterly services. 8o I. asked for Mrs.
Lewis, not without a wildly palpitating
heart, and an earnest hope that Mrs. Louis
would not prove to be my Ellen, for the ap
pendage of a husband was not pleasant to
think of.
Mrs. Lewis proved to be an elderly lady
in black silk and gray bangs, who said with
great posiliveness, that no person named
Irving lived in her house.
This incident revived tbe old misery, and
made it more unbearable than ever before.
I left my business In tbe bsnds of a trusted
mansgcr, and went to California. But one
cannot run away from sorrow I was as rest
less and unhappy In San Francisco as in
Chicago, and three weeks from tbe day I left
found me hurrying back. On leaving the
Union depot at Chicago, I was about to call
a cab, when I felt a pair of eyes looking
fixedly at me, keeping pace with me as 1
walked, and a woman's dress was moving as
fast as I moved on tbe opposite side of tlie
wide walk. Turning to look at the wearer
ot the dress, I stood at last face to face with
Ellen Irving. We both stopped, and stood
as If transfixed, staring in cach other's faces.
I was first to move. I made my way through
the crowd of passers, who, of course, took
not tbe slightest notice ol either of us, and
gaining her side, said:
"EllenI Miss Irving!"
"It to really jou, then," ahe said, choking
back a little hysterical sob. "I feared I
should never see yoa again."
"And yet I have only been out of Chicago
three weeks In five years."
"And I have not been away at all since I
returned from Newport."
But you might have seen me If you had
cared to, you know," I said, remembering
how we had parted "I suppose you are
married now," I added, trying to speak
lightly.
"No, I am not married, and never shall
be," she replied soberly.
There were many passers, but each one
was intent upon his own business or pleas
ure, and no one heeded na. The nolae of
travel on Adama and Canal streets made a
continuous roar, but even then, amid the
hurry and confusion, I put my llpa near her
eur, and said:
I wish I could induce you to reverse that
decision."
"What do yon meant" ahe questioned,
with a surprised uplifting of tbe eyes, and
the slow smile that had captivated me at our
first meeting, dawning on her face.
"I mean that by becoming my wife you
could make me the happiest man In Cook
couuty."
"Consider the risk you know nothing
about me."
"Except that I have thought of yoa ay
and night for five years, and been miserable
without you. It I am mistaken In yoa,—and
I am not,—I might as well be wretched with
you as without you."
''Argued like a lawyer but—I could not
make you happy."
"And wUvf Do ycu nqt love me!"
8be lifted her eyes to mine, snd said:
"Do you not kuowi Have I not often told
youl"
"Never In words." PRP
"Then you shall hear It listen: I love
you—Oh, hesven, how well! This is no place
to tell you so—but If I msrry you, will you
promise never to pry into my past, never to
question me concerning It!"
'•I will promise anything."
"You are certainly very rash. May you
never regret this meeting and these
words."
"And now—shall I escort you home? Shall
I call a carriage?"
"My home! That shall be like all the rest
a sealed book to you. If you wish It, I will
go with you now to the clerk's office, and
afterwards to a magistrate or a minister.
If we are to begin in mystery, one day is
as good ss another. The marriage must be
legal, though, and in order that it may be so,
I must tell you tbat I was christened Ellen
Irving Jones, though I left off the Jones
during my stay In Newport."
This startled me slightly, and I was also
astonished by her wllllngncss,even eagerness,
to be msrrled immediately, yet I was very
happy, and not In the least daunted.
"You are taking me entirely on trust," I
obserred.
"No, not entirely. I learned Incidentally
tbat you are the kindest of landlords, tbat
you do not allow your agent to distress your
tenants, and that you have kept a poor old
man and bis wife under a root for months,
without asking them for rent I think I
should have learned in time where you lived,
from these people, aud should have stolen a
sight of you sometime, bad we not chanced
to meet to-day."
1 had elegant apartments on Ontario Street,
and thither took my bride that afternoon.
"Shall we eo away?" I asked. "Would you
like a wedding trip to tbe sesside or across
the occan i"
"I have lately been very 111," she replied,
"und If it will please you as well, I would
ratber remain quietly here for the-prefcjnt."
She did, Indeed, look white and thin, and the
pretty walking dress she wore was far from
tight.
As the days went by, Ellen never went out
without me, snd never spoke of sendiqg for
bcr trunks,or visiting home or relatives. This
seemed very strange, but I kept my promise,
and did not question her. However, though
Eilen was a model wife, and charmed and
fascinated me afresh every dsy, her continu
ed silence concerning her past life, began in
time to prey upon my mind. I tried to resson
away my doubta and fears I told myself that
so long ss I had a kind, faithful,and passion
ately loving wife, 1 need not care what she
had been. Besides, how could so good a wo
man, whose every day acts showed ber
to be kind and conscientious, ever have
been or done anything to be ashamed
ofi
One day we were driving In Lincoln Park,
wben we meta fine turnout, presided over by
a handsome coachman in irreproachable
livery. On seeing blm Ellen started violent
ly, and pulled her thick veil over ber. After
we had passed the carriage sbe leaned heavi
ly against me, and ber head fell forward.
Sbe had fainted. Sbe soon revived, but of
fered no explanation, and 1 asked none,
but I brooded In secret over the Incident,
and a sickening fear that some other man,
either lover or husband, held a prominent
place in her past history, took possession, of
me. I tried to hide tbe state of my mind
from Ellen. How miserable I failed to do so,
the following letter will show It was on my
dressing case one day wben I returned from
my office, and for tbe first time since my
marriage, found no beautiful woman waiting
to cling rouud mv neck, and look lovingly up
into my eyes. Here is tbe letter
Deak James:—I am going from you never
to return. Not because there is In me any
lack of wifely devotion,but because I am mak
ing you unhappy. I would lay my bared neck
on the euillotlne for vou I would rather die
tban leave you, but 'I must, for your sake,
though it breaks my heart to do so. 1 fancy
you have accldenti.v learned something of my
history or else vou are torturing yourself with
conjectures. I will reveal all tbe mystery to
you, but I can not look into your reproachful
eyes afterward.
You who have been daintily bred and ac
customed to wesltb and tbe refinements with
which it surrounded you, will be shocked to
learn that my mother waa a rag-picker—an
honest, virtuous, and kind-hearted woman,
tut still a rag-picker. I cannnot remember
when my father died. My mother and I
lived in one (mill, miserable room, and sbe
managed to nay the rent and buy food enough
to keep us alive.
Wbeu I was five years ot sge I began to re
ceive Instructions in music from an Italian
neighbor who was a street musician and
thought he could make me useful.
He was really a kind-hearted old man,
though his knowledge of music bad its limit
ations, and afterward when I sung with him
on the streets daily for three rears, be divid
ed the money esruedwith tbe utmost fairness.
When I was ten years old my mother and I
went to live with
my
Ke
uncle, who was also
tor but earning a comfortable livelihood,
kept me In school, and furnished me ail
the books and music and facilities for study
that I needed. I learned fast, but when
was fourteen years ot age, dear old Uncle
Reuben died, and mother and I both went out
to service. Mother had learned to cook
while with ber uncle and so could esrn pretty
good wages. Even as a domestic, I learned
many thlugs, some useful and some foolish.
I picked up society manners from tbe young
ladles with whom I lived, and I spent nearly
all my leisure reading.
That trip to Newport was taken to gratify
my mother. Sbe planned it three years ahead
and made it possible by the most pinching
economies.
I left mv place two weeks before going to
Newport to prepare my bands and my com
plexion for the role of a fine ladv, which I
was to assume under tbe name of Irving, be
sides which I engaged a superannuated relic
of anc!ent methods in teaching, a good, prim,
old lady, as you know, to act as my chup-rone.
I did no: like to spend mother's hard earned
money on myself, but consented because she
lind set bcr heart on ft. I tbink she was am
bitious for me in the matter of marriage, for
sbe seemed despondent after I returned, and
never would tell tne why.
Tbe rest scarcely needs explanation. I was
ashamed of my humble origin, and anxious
to bide i! from you. When Vou found me in
Canal street I was in great distress. My
mother had died after along Illness and after
ber death 1
had been Idle a long time. My
heart was very desolate without mother, but
1 was compelled to smother its cry and turn
my thoughts to my necessities. Our expenses
bad not only consumed all our savings, but
had compelled me to pawn everything we
possessed excepting the clothing wore when
i' «n-
1
•dvertlsement for a saleswoman, but was so
weak that I bad rested awhllo in tbe depot
m.£reth«n!?rl,u.g
w£,k
8eJzed
"*r
w,th
I sat In my chair fully two hours In a half
paralyzed condition, trying to use my be
numbed brain, trying to. think what I had
best do. The room grew dark and tbe curtalna
were not drawn. As I sat aimlessly staring
from a window, my vlalon gradually concen
trated upon the figure of a woman on the
opposite side of the street She stood apart
from tbe street lamp, in shadow, but her
form was outlined against the yet deeper
shadow of a building. At last I became con
scious of tbe fact that I was looking at her,
and afterward that she had been standing
there perfectly motionless for a long time.
Then sbe moved an arm, and with the signif
icance of an electric bolt the keenest con
sciousness came to me. The woman was
Ellen. Mr physical powers and mental
facilities returned together, and I lost not
moment I sprang out of the room, down the
stairs and across the street. Ellen did not stir
except to brace herself against tbe building
as if to prepare for a shock. I took her gently
by the hand and said:
"Ellen, my darling, comc home."
She went with me as unresistingly as a little
child that had lost its mother, but as soon as
we reached our room she threw herself Into a
chair and gave way to uncontrollable sobs and
tears. I laid a comforting hand on her head
and said:
"You are nervous and far from well. To
morrow we will start away on a little trip
that I hope will do you good."
She looked at me In surprise, and then arose
and went to tbe dressing case in my room
The letter lay where site had left it, and as it
had been enclosed in an euvelope, ehe evi
dently supposed I had not found It. She did
not give It to me, but placed It in her pocket.
The next morning early found us on a
western-bound train, and at half past six
o'clock that eveniug wo stood before tbe door
of my father's house. Ellen looked at me In
quiringly. In answer to her look I said:
"I have brought you home to visit my
mother.'
She glanced at the low, outer wall, ber eyes
swept over the Bumble surrouudlngs, and a
puzzled look settled on her face, but she said
nothing.
My mother, clad in a clean, dark, calico
dress, coarse shoes and cotton handkerchief,
opened tbe door for us and lifted her toilworn
hands In glbd amaze at sight ot me.
"Weil, well Jim, got round to see your ole
mam at last, did ytf You ain't been home
for aright smart chance of time. I reckon
you couldn't stay away from pap an' mam
any longer. Is this high-toned lady your
woman!'1
"This la Ellen, my wife, mother, and I hope
you and she will love each other dearly."
"I am sure we shall," Ellen said, speaking
cheerfully for the first time tbat day, aud the
two sprang into each others arms.
The room we entered was a plainly fash
ioned setting-room, In which the pictures and
ornaments I bad sent, looked out of place.
We were just seated wben father (came In
wearing his working-clothes,yellow with clay
and dripping with moisture.
"Ellen, my wife, this ia my father."
She held out her band, but he said:
"I reckon my paw won't ault with kid
gloves. Jlst you bold on a bit till I climb out
o' these duds an' I'll show yea grlp'll make
ye yell." Presently he glanced at me and
observed, "so ye hadn't fergot the home
folks."
"No, I said, "and when I go back I shall
leave you'in a niore comfortablo home, and
you need never work another day, either you
or mother." ...
"It'll be easy llvln'," said mother. "But
I'm afeered ye can't make us over into fine
folks. We ain't learned, ye know."
Presently Ellen retired to our room to ar
range her hair and bathe her face. I piloted
her, and entered with her, closing the door
after us. Looking round at tbe low walls and
old-fasbloned furniture I remarked:
"Here la where I slept when I was a boy."
"If I had only known," said Ellen in a
low tone, more to herself than to me.
I drew her into my arms and said:
"So you thought we had an aristocracy In
America, and tbat tbe daughter of a rag
picker might not wed the son of a well dig
ger 1"
She lifted ber tear-wet eyea to my face and
there was a smile shining through the tears.
"I have been guilty of a great folly. You
might have been a prince or a beggar, I
would have loved you just the same, and
ought to have trusted your love for me. Did
you, then, read that letter.
"Yes, my love."
"How good you are! Do you forgive me?"
I pressed her yet closer in my arms and
whispered:
"Whenever I am persuaded tbat you have
done anything wrong I will forgive you. Re
member tbat bank in future, and present
your check whenever you like."— Yankee
Blade.
St. Helena's Want of Leaky
Ships.
According to the Blue Book for St.
Helena for the past year the colony
suffers sadly from the absence of leaky
ships, which formerly often visited the
isles for repairs. The revenue was
only £8,04% while the expenditure was
£11,369. The smallness ot tbe former
was due entirely to tbe falling off in
the customs takings because no leaky
ships arrived during 1887. and also
because of the distress caused by an
epidemic of measles and a consequent
diminution in the consumption of im
ports. Notwithstanding its excellent
climate and productive soil, business iu
the colony has been exceedingly de
because—(1) tbe Suez Canal
has diverted a large portion of the
trade (2) steamers are taking the
place of sailing vessels (3) shipowners
are aiming at very great economy on
aj£ouut of the low freights, and the
enormous development of the trade iu,
tinned provisions has rendered ships
more or less independent of ports of
call (4) recent legislation lias elimina
ted defective ships and has thus de
prived the colony of much of the har
vest gleaned from vessels in distress.
The population is estimated at 5 200
the imports amounted to £46,856, and
tbe exports to £13.168 for whalebone
and oil transhippeil at the island. Ouly
three serious crimes were committed
.luring the year, and iu two of these
tho criminals remain undetected. No
lightning has occurred on the island
since 1878, and storms are unknown.
London Times.
How He Knew It.
"Politician, ain't you?" he inquired,
turning to the passenger immediately
behind him. "Yep bow did you
know?" "Breath."—Boston Qmeelte.
i,
**s then about to answer an
'Mtler. Tbe coach-
,tb® sight of whom agitated me. had
lived in the Lewis family ana knew my his tor
th,t
be might say
truui would lead you to suspect the
street musician and domestic
servant, the daughter of a rag-picker, for
th«riUi
,our
v1"®
by
marrying you.
May the blessings of heaven rest upon you.
Yours In life or death. Ellen.
Whew had ahe gone! Where could sbe go?
She bad left her purse and even the clothes I
had bought for her, wearing the same walking
costume In which she waa married.
"She will throw herself Into the lake," was
my despairing thought.
SOCIETY-GIRLS' ROOMS.
Some of tbe Peculiar and Unexpected
Thfitti Seen Tbere.
But tho room of a society girl whose
name I could mention but may not!
The odd things upon the walls and
lying scattered about, writes Clara
Belle in the Cincinnati Enquirer, area
wonderful mystery to the uninitiated.
A variety ol cigars suspended from
the mantel by ditFerent-hued ribbons
or a bunch of cigarettes attached to a
picture frame by means of a large
ribbon bow, these are easily known for
what they are but a pretty little box
on tbe toilet table with the inscription:
"Cremated July 12 1887," calb for
many a guess. The opened lid dis
closes a amall heap of gray ashes with
another inscription: "Mount Desert
July 12, 1887." It is the ashes of a
cigar smoked by the fair owner during
a mild flirtation of the last season. A
parcel of canes trophies won in
fencing matches, occupies a prominent
wall spacer and a velvet plaque mount
ed with pipes of all kinds from com
mon clay, through cob and brlarwood
to meerchaum, are souvenirs of gen*
tlemen friends. All sorts of riding
whips rise like cat tails from a large
vase, a pair of oars marked "Isles of
Shoals," are crossed over theJfCs1*
and a genuine fish net is draper*'JsVf
apiece of statuary. These
common souvenirs of vacatiosTrfcwg_„
and tender recollections, but many of
the girls vie with each other in collect
ing oddities. One of them exhibits a
tiny Japanese bowl filled with shining
objects of ivory whiteness.
"These are the first teeth of my
friends' babies," she explains.
Oue has a punch bowl half filled with
clippings of hair.
"From mustaches," she mysterious
ly whispers.
"From mustaches that have ventured
dangerously near," the other girls say,
"and sbe has a fancy for carrying
some pretty gold scissors sheathed at
her bolt."
She herself deolares that she is col
lecting hair for a hammock pillow on
which to dream of what might have
been. They do say that many an in
cipient mustache has so suffered from
those pretty gold scissors that tho
wearer has had to shave and begin
over again. It might not be safe to
infer that the hirsute souvenirs wore
surrendered gallantly as a tribute for
a kiss.
In the same room a silken banner
with designs from tbe cigar boxes of
the favorite brands of favored friends,
fringed with cigar ribbons, makes an
ornamental affair, and festoons of dance
orders and german favors are prettily
arranged about photographs.
At the Stamp Window.
He was a queer looking chap who
peered in at tbe stamp window of the
postoilice the other day and said to
the man in attendance:
"Bo you the postmaster?"
"What do you want?"'
"I want to know what letter stamps
are selling at to-day."
"Two cents."
"Anything off when a man buys two
or three?"
••No."
"Couldn't throw in a cent stamps
could you?'
"Throw in nothing."
"Thank you. Jos' thought I'd ask.
I buy a good many in the courso of the
year, and you could have my hull cus
tom fyou'd do the fair thing."
"The law doesn't permit any dis
count."
"There's where the law makes a
mistake, for you'd sell more if you
threw a Jittle something off for cash,
or give, a chroma."
Don't block up tho window, please."
"If you had some stamps with tho
gum stickum worn off that you could
take less for, I could make 'em go with
a little paste."
"We have nothing of the sort here.
How many—"
"P'raps you've got 'em without tbe
pictures. My gal Marier oan paint
General Jackson's portrait so nat'ral
that any Democrat would get up and
squeal."
"If you don't want to buy any
stamps stand aside."
"I might have bought 'em at the
Corners, but being in Austin 1 thought
I might get 'em cheaper. No stamp
scalpers in the city that sell below reg
ular rates?''
"I reckon not" HSU
"P'haps there's another postoilice
in town where they are selliu' off the
old stock below cost to make room for
anew stock of fall stamps of the latest
designs, just imported. Sheriff sale,
mebbe.or postmaster going out of bus
iness and determined to sell the supply
of stamps he has on hand at any sacri
fice."
"Well, that is a novel idea. Fellow
tried to run the regular postoflice out
of town, eh, and had to close put?''
"Exactly, Competition in every
business, you know."
"There's no competition in the post
oflice business of Austin, you' find.
Now order your stamps, if you want
any, and vacate."
"Well, then, boss, if I can't get no
discount here's two cents give me a
stamp jes' to try, and if it gives satis
faction 111 recommend you to my
uoigbbors."
"Thank vcfa. We am to please.
Good day."
"Good day."—Texai Sflings.
Held Bruin by a Hind Leg.
A Brockwayville, Pa., letter in the
Pittsburg 'limes is as follows:
One of the most successful hunters
East Jefferson is Darius Hetrick,
who lives at "Blowtown," a settle
ment at the headwaters of the North
Fork in Polk township, consisting of a
store, board mill and half a dozen
houses.
Hetrick is a typical specimen of a
Jefferson county pioneer. He is good
six feet high, and sinewy as a black
smith. He has no spare flesh. Al
though he has heard it thunder al­
yore of the
steps to 1
most si
enough tWortliingt|
the mountJfiBb?"dr4
m, Writes il
The old ohsjv gfcaj
bears and kiU
sort of sport is tg|
wants to cage
numbered amoi^!j
animals nearly
on the Alleghany
Hetrick Is a bu3_
He killed his firstj
years old. An old!
with him is Tom
occasion, two yearq
quite plenty arot'
and Mr. Hetrlckl
about the hills nea
distance, and coj
boil in his pot
"I got up in the
wife to make me
with me, for I ha
should die that daj
He hunted up his
nahan, and they set fort^
was fresh in the snow
followed. The bear wji
taken. It was snugL
big log. Hetrick
gun at it. The Ui
and it was in no
dog ran up »c
bear w«c not rn a humor'
so it
80
rolled over on itfr back,
5j\nd with four feet in the air, it sent
the dog out in the snowdrifts the first
round. Then it crawled back 'under
the log, and Hetrick, afraid his bear
was about to escape him, having but
an old single-barreled rifle, dropped
his gun and rushed for his meat. He
grabbed the rotreating bear by the
hind leg and pulled. He did not have
to pull long, for tho boar was willing
to turn around to see who wanted him.
The bear was no sooner out from
under the log than Hetrick was in the
condition of the darkey who wanted
somebody to help him let go of a bear
uuder slightly similar circumstances.
Carnahan stood by laughing at the
two flying about, and as he thought
Hetrick was getting his hands full,
Carnahan pulled up his gun and fired
at bruin. In his alarm he missed the
animal entirely. Tho situation was
becoming decidedly uncomfortable
when Carnahan, who bad a double
barreled riflo, shot tho bear through
the head.
In telling of this affair, the old man
thought they did a much greater act in
selling tho bear for twenty-five dollars
than they did in their reckless attempt
to catch it alive by the hind leg. __
Behind the Eye.
Nothing is seen until it Is separated
from its surroundings. A man looks
at the landscape but the tree standing
in the middle of tho landscape he does
not see until, for the instant at least
ho singles it out as the object of vision.
Two men walk the same road as far
as the bystander can perceive they
have before them the same sights but
let tbem be questioned at the end of
the journey, and it will appear that
one man saw one set of ob
jects and his companion another, and
the more diverse the intellectual train
ing and habits of the two travelers the
greater will be tho discrepancy between
the two reports.
And what is true of any two men is
equally true of any one man at two
different times. To-day ho is in a
dreamy, reflective mood—he has been
reading Wordsworth, perhaps—and
when he takes his afternoon saunter he
looks at the busby hillside, or at the
wayside cottage, or down into the loit
ering brook, and he sees in them all
such pictures as they never showed him
before. Or he is in a-matter-of-fact
mood, a kind of stock market frame of
mind aud he looks at everything
through economical spectacles—as if
be had been set to appraise tho acres of
meadow or wood land through which
be passes. At another time he may
have been reading some book or
magazine article written by John Bur
roughs and although he knows noth
ing of birds, and can scarcely tell a
crow from a robin (perhaps for this
very reason), ho is certain to have
tantalizing glimpses of some very
strange and wonderful feathered speci
mens. They must be rarities, at least,
if not perfect novelties and likely
enough, on getting home, he sits down
and writos to Mr. Burroughs a letter
full of gratitude and inquiry—the grati
tude very pleasant to receive, we may
presume^ and the inquiries quite im
possible to answer.
Somo men (not many, it is to be
hoped) are specialists, and nothing
else. They are absorbed in farming,
or in shoemaking, in chemistry, or in
Latin grammar, and have no thought
for anything beyond or beside. Oth
ers of us, while there may be two or
three subject toward which we feel
some special drawing, have neverthe
ess a general interest in whatever
concerns humanity. We are different
men on different days. There is a cer
tain part of the year, say from April
to July, when I am an ornithologist
for the time being, whenever I go out
of doors, I have an eye for birds, and
comparatively speaking, for nothing
else. Then comes a season during
which my walks all take on a botani
cal complexion. I have had my turn
at butterflies also for one or two sum
mers I may be said to have seen little
else but these winged blossoms of the
air. I know, too, what it means to
visit tho seashore, and scarcely to no
tice tho breaking waves because of tbe
shells scattered along the bcacb. In
short, if I see one thing, I am of
necessity blind, or half-blind, to all
beside. There are several men in me,
and not more than one or two of them
are ever at tho window at once.—
Atlantic Mon'lily.
He Didn't Go Out.
"What's tho name of this play?"
asked a young lady of her escort at
Albaugh's last night at the close of
an act. "Siberia," he replied as be
started to go out "Thanks," she said
sarcastically, "I thought possibly it
was Two-beeria." Then he didn't go
oxiL—muhinglon Crliie.
4
g*
io
suspicion
in regard
arose and looke
passengers and
by his eye and manner
maniac. Tne lady in the
unaccompanied) became
fright and rushed to
about to jump out PI
against the door I ma&Mi
possible.
^worried
1
A look of horror was
faces, and the question with
"What will the madman do next?
madman unarmed is alarming, but ft
madman with an open knife is terrific.
In the demoniac strength that comes
to such a one he might make sad 4
havoc in that flying railway train, or -f
ho might spring out of the door, as
once or twice he attempted. It was ft
question between retaining tho foam
ing fury in our compauy or letting him
dash his life out on tbe rocks. Also it
might be a question between his life
and the life of one or more in the train.
Our own safety said, "Let him go."
Our humanity said, "Keep him back
from instant death," and humanity
triumphed. The bell-rope reaching to
the locomotive in English railway]
trains is outside of the car and near,
the roof and difficult to roach. I give!
it two or three smart pulls but there
was no slackening of speed.
Another passenger repeated the at»
tempt without getting any recognition.
We might as well havo tried to stop ft
whirlwind by pulling a boy's kitej
string. When an English engineer
starts his train he stops for nothing 1
short of a collision, aud the bell-rope
on tbe outside edges of the car is only
to make passengers feel comfortable
at the idea that they can stop the train
if they want to, and, as it is not once
in a thousand times anyone is willing
to risk his arm and reach out of the
window long enough to work the rope,'
the delusion is seldbm broken. To rid 'L
ourselves of our dangerous associate
seemed impossible. Then thore came
a struggle as to which should hare
supremacy of that car, right, reason,
or dementia. The demoniac moved
around the car as if it belonged to him
and all the rest were Intruders. Thep
he dropped in convulsions across this
lap of one of the passengers.
At this moment, when we thought
the horror had climacterated, the,
tragedy was intensified. We plunged
into the midnight darkness of one of
those long tunnels for which English
railway travel is celebrated. Minutes
seemsd hours. Can you imagine ft
worse position than to be fastened in ft
railway carriage, eight feet by six, in ft
tunnel of complete darkness, with ft
maniac? May the occurrence never be
repeated! We knew not what moment
he might dash upon us or what way.
We waited for the light and waited
while the hair lifted upon the scalp and
the blood ran cold. When at last the
light looked in through the windows
we found the afflicted man lying help*
lessly across one of the passengers.
When the train halted it did not take
us long after handing over the poor
unfortunate for medical treatment to
disembark and move into another car.
•IHUsburg Dispatch.
Decendants of Boyalty.
The number of families in the Unit*
ed States who can claim royal descent
is so great that a book has lately been
written on the subject The Plant*
genets appear to have given rise to ft
larger number of American families
tban any other royal stock and Ed
ward IIL is credited with half a dozen
or so, including tbe families of Wash
ington and Cadawalder. A King of
Munster is answerable for a family of
Carrols, and "the" King of North
Wales for the Boyds, King. James V.,
of Scotland, has numerous represent**
tives to-day in tbe states, including, it
appears, tbe Potts family aud that of
the Jeackles. Even Powhattan, King
of Virginia, is made use of for herald
ic purposes, and from him are descend-'
ed the Murrays aud Randolphs and
others. Negro descent from the many
African Kings is not included, which
seems like wilfully throwing away ft
valuable and extensive source of royal
pedigreo.
Small Favors Thankfully Re- $
ceived.
Snap actor: "I called, sir, to ask
you to insert a line to the effect that I
have just refused an offer of $500 ft
week. Accommodating editor: "With
pleasure. Is tbere anything else I can
do for you, sir?" "That's all, unless
you have a spare dime about you."—.
Philadelphia Record.
Hmband— "I'm feeling awfully queer this
morning, my dearr" Wife—"Well, yon
needn't be alarmed. It's because you are
sober.—llotton Budget.
|rhe «nt boy-cot—Cain's little bcd._jr«
Jvrkfs&
t. .te'-SS
-ft?
nl-
I
If 1}
«&