Manchester Democrat. [volume], December 20, 1899, Image 7

About Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Iowa

                
THE FARM
I N
THE HILLS
CHAPTER IV.
A CLEW TO THIS MISSING ONE
Reginald Masson raised Ids head
sharply and threw all the force of his
lungs Into a shout which echoed In the
hills. There was a pause, and his heart
began to fail him agaiu, for fear that
he should get no reply.
Then above him on bis left band he
heard a man's voice calling:
"Hello! Hello!"
He made out the direction whence
the voice proceeded, a point almost Im
mediately above him. He paused again,
tut hearing nothing more, and fearing
that this chance of meeting a fellow
human being might escape him, he
leaped across the little stream and be
gan a vigorous attempt to ascend the
hia
This was comparatively easy, for in
stead of the stones and crags of the
last mountain he bad climbed his feet
reached down through the snow to a
spongy surface of dry heather, slippery
In places, but less treacherous than the
rolling stones. He shouted once more
on his way up, but got no reply.
Resolved not to let this opportunity
of human companionship escape him,
Masson thai went on quietly and as
quickly as he could, without uttering
any further sound. Prom the tones of
the voice he beard—tones of acute suf
fering—he Judged that the man who
bad uttered them bad come to grief on
bis way among the mountains and had
wondered whether was Coch Tal
who, In escaping from himself, bad
met with an accident.
As usual among the mountains, Mas
son climbed for a much longer time
than he had bargained for before he
came to anything but little tablelands
with more hills beyond. Again and
again he thought he must have reach
ed the very summit, and again and
again on arriving at what he had sup
posed to be the last point he found an
other point to be scaled beyond.
Then at last he found himself face
to face with a man.
Hot the redheaded peasant, but a
creature as unlike blm as possible—a
small, lithe, black eyed man, with a
keen, hawklike face and a wiry little
frame, a real sou of the Sllures, who
stopped short in his hurried walk up
and down the ledge of the mountain
be occupied and glared at tbe intruder
.with fierce eyes.
"Who are you? Who are you? What
are you doing here?" be asked in good
t&ngllsh, but with tbe sharp Welsh
accent very strongly marked.
Although his words contained no
welcome, and although the look in his
£ttce was as uncompromising as his
{words themselves, Masson was so
much relieved by the sight of another
human being that be answered buoy
antly enough:
"1 am a stranger in these parts. I've
lost my way. I should be thankful for
a night's shelter. 1 can't get back to
Trecoed tonight"
As he
Bpoke
And in tbe pause which succeeded
his words Masson noted also that he
had reached the very point toward
which he had meant to make his way.
for on a mountain ledge a little higher
than the one on which they stood h6
saw the gray walls which had attract
ed himfrom the neighboring mountaic
and a ruined arch, lofty end pointed,
which had once beeu the east window
of an abbey church.
Even in the first brief glance through
the still falling snow and In tbe gath
ering darkness be discerned that 8
stately Gothic doorway had been fill
ed In to fit a mean little painted door
and that a portion of what had oncc
been a handsome pile of monastic
buildings had been roughly roofed In
for modern occupation. To the left
of the door a window had been insert
ed into the solid masonry, and through
this window a feeble light glimmered
so faintly that it threw no patch ot
warning light on the snow outside.
At the corner of the building a large
snowdrift had already collected, aud
this was gradually extending, as the
snow still fell and the wind still blew,
in the direction of the window.
The farmer, after a long pause, an*
swered Masson's request ungraciously
•enough. His manner was short, 8harp
fiurly. But it was less offensive than
defensive, Masson thought, betraying
as It did a mind ill at ease.
"Back to Trecoed! What made you
leave Trecoed on such a day as this?"
be said gruffly, while his quick eyes
looked searchlngly not at Reginald, but
down Into the valley from which be
bad Just climbed. "You must havo
been out of your senses, man, to try.
And across the hills too!"
He seemed less pitiful for the stran
ger's distress than scornful of his
foUy.
"Yes, it was a rash thing to do. 1
was to have had a guide, but 1 started
without him."
The other man laughed mirthlessly,
contemptuously.
"Oh, aye the guide knew better
•what be was about than you did."
"You won't refuse me a night's shel
ter?"
The man shook his head.
"We've no shelter to give," he said
ahortly.
"I can pay for it well."
The unwilling host looked at him
with a little more interest, but he
again shook his bead.
'Ifs not possible just now," said be
in the Bame defiant, wholly surly tone.
"There's illness In the bouse and no
time for waiting on strangers with my
daughter, my poor girl, lying at death's
door."
FLORENCE WARDEN.
Copyright, 1899, by Florence Warden.
Reginald Masson exam­
ined the mau's features, in which he
Cound traces of no mean intelligence,
and his dress, by which be guessed
blm to be a small farmer, a man of
higher class than Coch Tal.
As he uttered these words the ex
pression of bis face underwent a sud
den change, and a look of unutterable
anguish shone In his black eyes.
"111?" said Masson. "Your daughter
|11? Perhaps I can be of some use
then. I'm a doctor."
The man, who had turned away as
if to hide his own distress, sprang up
on him with a wild look of joy in his
sensitive face. He seized Masson by
the arm with the nervous grip of a
.small, strong hand and, holding him
tight, stared up into his face as if he
would force out some truth which the
other wished to conceal from him.
"You—a doctor? No, no!" he said
lioarsely, stammering In his excite
ment "You say so—you say that to
-get tbe night*s shelter you have been
asking fort Noi no, you're not a doc
KM If* tto to IMP*
5?
A TALE
OF
MYSTERY.
for—too much, loo much!"
'Lot me go," buUI Masson good hu
momlly. "I can soon prove It to you,
1 thiuk. Lot me got at my pockets."
But already the man was couvinced.
Massou's attitude, his readluuss to give
his credentials, had beeu enough for
the eager father.
At the lirst plunge iuto his pockets
Massou brought out a small case of
surgical instrumeuis which he always
carried about him, aud the uiomeut be
drew It out the little Welshman seized
biui again and began to drag him up
ward toward his dwelllug.
"Come in, come iu.V said be in a bro
ken whisper. "Come in, sir, and don't
bear me malice for treating you so
shabbily at lirst. I'm nigh beside my
self, that 1 am, sir, and now—now—oh,
thank God, thank God!"
Aud the excitable little fellow burst
Jnto loud sobbing aud climbed up the
slope toward the gray ruin above, still
holding Masson In a firm grip with
one hund and hiding bis contorted face
with the other.
From the size of the ruined build"
lng which had been converted Into a
farmhouse and from the appearance of
such of the old walls as were left
Masson decided without difficulty that
the remains were monastic, although
the situation was higher than was usu
ally the case with such peaceful Instl*
tutlons.
The position was, however, sheltered
and pleasant, protected on the north
Bide by a mountain of great steepness
and so hemmed In by lesser hllU on
the cast and west sides as to leave II
open only to the milder south.
As Masson allowed himself to be led
forward be noticed that the ruins on
the left and the fragments of an east
window were the remains of a church
of small size, aud he conjectured that
the portion of the ruin which had been
made habitable was what was left of
the mouastery itself.
In the darkntss, however, with the
enow still falling, and his companion
hurrying him forward, he had little
leisure to take accurate note of his sur
roundings. The ground, moreover, was
uneven and rough, being Incumbered
by stones aud by fragments of over
grown ruin. They came upon the door
quite suddenly, as they got round the
base of a massive pillar, which, no
longer supporting anything, stood by
Itself like a sentinel before the incon
gruous pile of old and new, mean
things and stately, which formed the
farmer's home.
They dashed into the dwelling quick*
ly, and the farmer, drawing his com-
The room in which be found himself
had evidently beeu tbe refectory of the
monastery, for the stone pulpit in the
wall where the reader used to stand
during the dinner hour was still to be
seen, though broken and imperfect on
the south side of tbe room.
A rough partltlou wall of lath and
plaster had been erected just beyond
this pulpit and in this partition were
two doors leading to the other apart
ments of the farmhouse.
On tbe right opposite to the pulpit
in the wall, was a huge open fireplace
partly filled in with bricks, In which a
fire of logs was burning.
On tbe left wall, which was roughly
whitewashed, the outlines of the low
er part of a row of beautiful early
English windows, divided by clusters
of slender pillars, were plainly to be
seen. Small latticed windows and
more bricks and mortar filled up the
spaces where the lights bad been.
The huge beams of rough wood over-1
head, dark and dusty, showed that the
farmhouse had stood in its present\
condition for a length of years. The
floor was red tiled, clean and bright
the oak settees aud presses, the pots
and pans ou the white dresser, the
neat hearth, tbe fresh white walls, all
testified to tbe care of a housewifely
hand.
But tbe only creature in the room
was a withered and bent old woman,
wearing a large apron of check print!
over her dark dress, a small shawl1
drawn tightly round her shoulders and
a clean white cap, who sat in a rock
ing chair almost over the fire, with
crossed legs, a short pipe between her
lips and her eyes fixed on the red
heart of the fire.
She neither spoke nor moved when
the farmer and hlB guest entered only
her eyes, black and keen as those of
the farmer himself, turned slowly,
But the only creature tn the
room
toot a
withered and bent old woman.
took In all the details of the stranger's
appearance and then moved round
agaiu slowly toward the glowing logs.
Masson, bewildered and dazzled by
the change Into light and warmth, al
most staggered when be found himself
once more on a level floor.
Tbe farmer had advanced to the
fire and, bending to warm bis bands In
the blaze, said a few words to the old
woman. They formed a question,
Masson knew by tbe tone. But he
could not understand it, as it was In
the Welsh language.
As the farmer's tbin, muscular hands
were stretched out over the flames
Masson caught sight of a ring on the
little finger of his right band which
caused him to shudder with a horror
which chilled bis blood.
It was an old fashioned ring, of sin
gular design, lu a broad band of gold
deeply and heavily chased was set a
circle of plain gold half an inch wide,
In which was an amethyst of a deep
purple color.
A most slngulai ring, not to be mis
taken for another old fashioned,
quaint clumsy, handsome, with an old
For Ucgmuid Masson recognized il
as a ring which had belonged to his
own grandfather, a ring which hi*
brother Granville had worn always GU
the little finger of his left hand.^.^,
CHAPTER V.
A HOUSE OK MYSTERY.
Reginald Massou could not repress
an exclamation when he recognized his
brother's ring on the farmer's hand.
He came a step nearer, still with his
eyes steadily fixed on tbe Jewel, until
at last he touched it with his trembling
finger. The farir r, who had watched
blm in some surprise, frowned and
drew back as the other advanced.
"I beg your pardon," said Masson
quickly, "but—the ring on your finger
—I—I—have only seen one like It be
fore." As he spoke he came a step I
nearer still and seized the farmer's
hand. His own agitation Increased as
he examined the ring more closely and
assured himself beyond a doubt that it
was Indeed his brother's. "1—I— Will
you tell me how you got It? You must
forglv* the question. You will for
give it when I tell you that when 1
last saw the rlug It was upon tbe hand
of my own brother,"
His Hps formed the words, but did
not utter them. He was unable to see
or to think. The pitiful consciousness
that the ring was now nothing but a
relic of the dead unnerved, overwhelm
ed him.
The farmer's husky voice roused
him after the lapse of a few seconds.
"Ifs very strange, sir very strange,
if what you say should turn out to be
true," said he, less brusquely than be
fore. "But for sure, it's a most un
common ring, and It's true 1 haven't
had it long, nor I can't tell who had it
before me."
Masson had roused himself already
from tbe despondeucy and despair Into
which the first sight of the ring had
thrown him. As he turned toward the
farmer the latter took the ring from
his finger and put It luto the trembling
hand of bis guest.
"Maybe," weut on the farmer, "you'll
see some marks, If you look at it close,
by which you may tell for certain one
way or the other."
Reginald nodded.
"I can Ideutlfy it beyond all shadow
of a doubt," said be in a broken voice.
"It was left to my brother by my
mother's father. How did It come
Into your possession?"
"I'll tell you all about it, sir, present
ly, when you have seen my daughter,"
said he. "But meantime you're wel-
panlou in, shut the door and paused come to keep it sir, till you've beard
for breath. all there is to tell about It When you
Reginald looked round him with as
tonishment and interest
have beard that, you'll be able to say
for certain, I expect, whether tbe ring
was your brother's. This way, sir,
please."
The matter of the ring, singular as it
was, seemed to have but little interest
for him, so deeply absorbed was he in
anxiety for bis daughter. But It was
not unnatural that he should appear
to look with something like suspicion
at a guest who had made so strange a
claim. As Masson advanced, there
fore, toward the Inner door, which was
held open for him to pass through, the
farmer watched blm narrowly with bis
keen black eyes.
And Masson. returning bis gaze, was
more impressed thau before by a coun
tenance which changed so rapidly in
its expression from despair to curiosity
and back again to despair.
They ikuvlhI into the back room,
formed by the remainiug portion of
the refi dory. It was evidently used
a3 a wash'iouse, bakehouse aud as a
place of .l iage, not as a living room.
The^v: "Is were characterized by the
same use of whitewash as In tbe
big kiu ji'ii. a beautiful arcade with
clusu:of slender pillars ou tbe left
baud s.-«c. which time had defaced
but lh.l., l..ivlng been lucluded In this
modern "restoration."
lu oue corner was a rough wooden
stnlrcu... with a small landing at tbe
top. t-:i each side of this was a door,
UL i, !--lng ascended the stairs with
the a't.or. Masson followed him Into
a at tbe back, where there
won* pad small beds and a few pieces
of substantial old fashioned furniture.
There were some strips of drugget on
the c'^n floor. There were curtains
of bi'.^.,. turkey red over the win
dows, of which there were two, look
ing west. Afire was burning In a
small grate on the right, and the whole
loom showed the cleauliness and care
which bad been noticeable in the kitch
en. On the top of a chest of drawers
the farmer pointed out a IHtle medi
cine chest
Only one of the beds was occupied,
and as the former led tbe way toward
it the girl lylug in it turned her head
quickly aud fixed upou tbe stranger a
pair of large, glittering eyes.
Masson took the chair beside tbe
bed which the farmer placed for him
and looked at her by tbe light of a
caudle which her father brought across
the room from the mantelpiece.
While he made his examination the
girl continued to stare at him fixedly,
and as she did so her brows gradual
ly contracted with a slight frown. Not
a word had been uttered by any one of
the three.
At last the farmer spoke.
"Well, sir?" said be in a tremulous
voice.
Masson looked up quickly and was
touched to the heart. Down tbe farm
er's thin, swarthy face the tears were
streamiug like raiu.
"She's very HI. ain't she, sir? My
poor Gwyn."
"She's 111 certainly, but you mustn't
give way like that," said Massou.
He had taken tbe girl's band and
was feeling her pulse. The moment
he spoke he felt a strong tremor run
through her, and, glancing at her
quickly, he saw that the strained, in
tent look with which she had previ
ously regarded him had changed to an
expression of terror.
Still she did not utter a sound.
Perceiving that for some reason
which be could not divine his patient
looked upou him with fear, if not mis
trust the youug doctor haste&ed to
leave the room after uttering a few
more reassuring words, each eae ef
which seemed, however, to hftfV tbe
effeet of deepening the lmpraiaftaa of
horror with which be appearcf have
inspired her.
When he reached the dosic,
threw, in turning to leave
one last glance at the girl. had
raised l*ae bead a little, the Mlv to
watch him, and her Hps wei« aoting
rapidly, as if she were^ormggj^Wet*!
in "bade "her not to utter.
So much struck was he by this atti
tude of his patient that he turned to
her father and said iu a low voice:
"Is she always shy and afraid of
strangers? My coming seems to alarm
her terribly."
"No, sir," answered the farmer.
"Gwyn'8 not so shy, considering she
lives In the wilds."
The girl was still watching with the
same feverish intentness, and Mnmrftni
1
His feelings had by this time pos
sessed him so strougly that he dropped
the hand of the farmer, which had
remained passive and cold in his, and
supported himself for a few moments
against the wall by the fireplace. Tbe
awful fears as to his brother's fate
which had filled his heart for so long
had, upon this strauge discovery,
readied the point of acute agony. Al
though he felt, he kuew, that he had
need of all his coolness, of all his self
possession, to get at the heart of the
mystery upon tbe borders of which he
found himself, neither feeling nor
knowledge helped him in that first aw
ful moment.
"My brother! My poor brother!"
Be had taken the girl's hand and wa$
Jccllno her pulse.
who began to fear that this horror or
aversion on her part would interfere
with his chances of success with the
case, went back to tbe bedside in the
hope of fiuding some words to say to
her which would put him on a more
favorable footing.
But on seeing blm approach, she
sank back on her pillow and closed
her eyes, lie stood for a few seconds
looking at her face, which was that of
well grown, handsome girl of some
18 or 20 years, with masses of black
hair, and theu, as she kept her eyes
resolutely shut and still uttered no
word, he withdrew without disturbing
her.
At tbe door, however, for the second
time, he saw that she had raised her
head to watch him go out.
CHAPTER VI.
STRANGE MIDNIOHT VISITATION.
The farmer scarcely waited to close
the door of the room before question
ing the doctor.
"Will she gt?t over it, sir? Will she
get over It? Ii's no use deceiving me,
sir. 1 know she's very ill. But—will
my dear get over it? Or will she—will
she"—
His voice faltered and died away.
Great drops of sweat stood upon his
forehead. lie clutched the doctor's
arm In a grip of Iron.
"We must always hope for tbe best"
began the doctor.
But at these doubtful words the
farmer spurned him with so much vlo
leuce that It was only by a quick move
ment that Masson escaped being flung
down the stairs on the tiles of the out
house below.
"I beg pardon, 1 beg pardon, sir,"
cried the farmer, contrite immediately,
as he held out a beseeching hand to
ward the guest he bad a moment be
fore treated so roughly. "But if you
knew bow I feel, what It would mean
to mo if—If my girl—my bonny girl
was to die"— Again his voice shook
so much that it was almost inaudible,
"you'd forgive me."
He was trembling so much that he
staggered aud held on by the rough
stair rail for support. Masson, who
had gone down two or three steps,
looked up with warm pity into his
drawn aud quivering face.
"Indeed," said the doctor, "I am tell
ing you the truth when I say you have
no need to give up hope. Your daugh
ter is very ill, there Is no deuylng that.
But she is youug. She has a fine phy
sique, and we may well hope to pull
her through."
"What do you call the fever, sir, that
she's got?"
"Pueumonia."
"Ah! That comes of cold, don't It?"
**Yes."
'That's got by being out in all
weathers, looking after the live stock
when I was 111 myself. Poor Gwynl
My poor little Gwyn! If you knew
what she was like, sir what a sun
sine Bhe is about tbe place, why you
wouldn't be surprised at my taking
on so!"
"Do you leave her alone up there?"
asked Massou.
"No, sir. I was up with her myself
all night, and her grauny's been with
her all day, till Gwyn herself sent her
down stairs to get my tea for me. And
tonight it's her brother's turn, only
he's afraid, the blockhead!"
•Til do the watching tonight But I
should like you to tell her who I am
that I'm a doctor aud that there's noth
ing to be alarmed about She seems to
be afraid of me."
"Why, yes, sir 1 noticed It myself.
I'll speak to ber. Aud thank you kind
ly, sir, for your offer. I won't refuse,
for you'll know what to do for the
best for sure, and you wouldn't let her
die, a young thing like that, If you
could help it sir that I know."
"Of course not. But you have more
to hope from her youth and strength
than from anything I or any one else
can do."
"And uow come, sir, and have a bite
of something yourself. You must be
starved, after all these hours In the
cold. Come, sir come, and you're
heartily welcome to the best we've
got"
Transformed Into the most attentive
pf hosts to the guest who was ready to
try to save his daughter, the farmer
drew Masson into the kitchen, where
another figure, that of a thickset,
heavy looking lad of 10 or 17, now com
pleted the straugo party.
He was sitting cowering over the fire
In his rough shepherd's dress, and
when told by his father to lay the table
for supper, he rose clumsily, pulled his
hair by way of salutation to the guest
and shambled awkwardly toward tbe
dresser in obedience.
"This gentleman," Bald the farmer,
introducing Masson, "is a doctor, and
he's promised to sit up with your sis
ter, Tom. So you can make yourself
easy, you can go to bed yourself and
snore yourself hoarse."
Tom raised his bead at this intelli
gence, aud It was evident that he was
much relieved In his mind by It He
saluted agaiu and quickened his pace
as he laid the cloth on the table.
The old grandmother meanwhile sat
by the fire In exactly tbe same position
as when Masson had first entered the
bouse. And she watched the stranger
In exactly the same way as before,
moving ber eyes, but not her head, and
looking, now that he was less dazzled
by the lights and able to take a better
Tiew of her, more like a witch than
•ver.
The farmer, whose sense of hospital
ity had grown keen with his gratitude
to the doctor, now Insisted on bis com
ing up stairs again to his own room,
taking off his overcoat and bis wet
boots and putting on a pair of carpet
slippers belonging to the farmer him
self.
This bedroom, which was over the
kitchen, contained two beds, like tho
tunianV MUM-MM
plain aud~solid manuer. An absence of
the few small pictures and ornaments
which had relieved the severity of the
back room was the chief point of dis
tinction of the apartment occupied by
the farmer and his son. Everywhere
there was the same exquisite cleanli
ness: everywhere the same prevalence
of whitewash. Here, as In the other
rooms, the old windows had beeu filled
up with bricks and mortar, and new
ones, small, mean, latticed, had been
Introduced Into the depths of tbe old
monastic &
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
STATE NEWS NOTES.
MATTERS O- SPECIAL INTEREST TO
IOWA PEOPLE.
Newton, la.. Dec. 18., Ex-Judge
Horace S. Wlnslow died Monday night
in this chy after a lingering Illness.
Wlnslow was known throughout the
stat*» as an eminent lawyer and Jurist.
At the time of his death he was attor
ney for the Chicago. Rock Island and
Pacific railway. Horace S. Wluslow
was born lu IMttsford. Vt.. In 1837, aud
came to Newton In 18T. He was at
torney for the Sixth judicial district
of Iowa from 1802 to 1S(K5 and judge
of the same district from 1874 to 1878.
He was elected grand commander of
Knights Templar of Iowa in 1880. He
was a life-long Republican.
Stabbing Affray In School House.
Fort Dodge, la., Dec. 13.—A serious
stabbing affray occurred lu the public
schools of Lehigh, twelve miles south
of here. The principal, O'Malley, a
well-known educator, ordered James
Elsbury, a pupil, to change seats. Els
bury refused, when the principal en
deavored to remove him by main
strength. Elsbury drew a knife and
stabbed O'Malley three times, inflict
ing wounds from which O'Malley may
die. The principal was taken to his
home, where he now lies lu a precar
ious condition. The boy who com
mitted the assault was placed under
arrest.
May Sell .1 Court llmue Site.
Des Moines, la., Dec. 1T.—The su
preme court holds that the county board
of supervisors may sell the old court
house site and apply the proceeds to
the erection of a court house on an
other site. Some months ago a spe
cial election was held and the proposi
tion to sell tbe old site, purchase a new
one in a different locality, and erect
thereon a court house to cost $400,
000 was caiTled. There was hitter op
position, however, to changing the lo
cation, and tbe power to sell the site
was attacked In the courts.
•fan
IOWH
Railway.
Sioux City, la., Dec. 14.—The Sioux
Olty and Northern railway and its
properties have been sold under an
order of the federal court by Howard
S. Baker, special master-ln-chancery,
to William Stewart Tod and Robert E.
Tod, of New York, of the firm of
J. Kennedy Tod & Co. Tbe road was
sold for $1,500,000. The property will
be operated now in connection with
the Sioux City and Western, also
owned by the Tods, by the Great
Northern.
Fight Amoit* Myatio Shrinere.
Des Moines, Dec. 14.—There is a
fight among the Mystic Shriners of
Iowa which will develop at the meet
ing of the El Knhir temple in Cedar
Rjpids, which began yesterday. The
two Iowa temples—Kaaba at Daven
port El Kahlr at Cedar Rapids—have
been petitioned to allow a third to be
established lu Des Moines. They op
pose the actlou and at tbe Cedar
Rapids meeting the friends of Des
Moines will appear in force and at
tempt to carry their polut.
Det Moines Get* No Temple.
Cedar Rapids, la., Dec. 15.—At the
annual election of El Kahlr temple,
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the propo
sition to divide one Jurisdiction and
give Des Moines a temple was de
feated, despite the strenuous efforts of
tbe delegation from that city, which
came by special train. The election re
sulted: Imperial potentate, F. O.
Evans, Des Moines recorder, J. W.
Gelger, Marlon treasurer, IL T.
Forbes, Cedar Rapids.
Iow» Fruit Grower* Meet.
Des Moines, la., Dec. 13.—Fruit
growers from all sections of the state
thronged the capital yesterday when
the twenty-fourth annual meeting of
the Iowa State Horticultural society
was called to order. The opening ses
sion was occupied with the officers' an
nual reports and other business of a
routine nature, followed by a discus
sion of the future policy of the society.
Ingram Adjudged a Bankrupt,
Des Moines, la., Dec. 14.—C. O. In
gram, tbe (ailed Mount Ayr merchant,
has beeu adjudged a bankrupt. Be
filed an admission of Insolvency and
consented to tbe sale of bis assets.
Tbe creditors have called a meeting In
Des Moines Jan. 10 to organize to flght
the preferences given by Ingram
through transfers of property before
hit failure.
Concern 8 Per Cent.
Sioux City, la., Dec. 14.—A final re
port was made Tuesday lu the affairs
of the Union Loan aud Trust company,
which failed April 25, 1803. with lia
bilities of $6,000,000, and precipitated
the collapse of the Sioux City boom.
The assets of the company brought a
little over $500,000, whlcb was applied
upon preferred claims.
Train* Mait Not Stop There.
Des Moines, la., Dec. 10.—Under or
ders from the state board of health
tbe Iowa Central Railroad company
bas been instructed to make no stops
at Coalfield, in Monroe county, until
after tbe smallpox quarantine estab
lished there bas been raised. Ten
cases of tbe disease have developed
there.
Lot* or$50,000 by Fire.
Sheldon, la., Dec. 14.—Tuesday night
a fire started In Barrou Bros.' store
and before it was subdued bad de
stroyed $50,000 worth of property. Bar
ron Bros, suffering the heaviest. The
loss was well insured.
llltnol* Central Extension,
Des Moines, la., Dec. 14.—The Illi
nois Central road, from Fort Dodge to
Omaba, 130 miles, bas been formally
opened. It will give tbe Illlinols Cen
tral one of the shortage lines to
Omaha.
Wood Sail, for Cuba.
New York, Dec. 18.—Major General
Leonard Wood, the newly appointed
governor general of Cuba, bas salted
for that country on board the steamer
Mexico. General Wood was accom
panied by his aide-de-camp, Lieuten
ant E. C. Brooks of the Sixth cavalrv.
LEFT A HANDSOME FOETUNE.
Dividing tho Most of It Among SUO Peo
ple—Gift to the Poor.
Mount Pleasant, la., Dec. 10.—The
will of the late W. G. Sanders bas been
filed for probate here. Tbe estate
amounts to about $400,000. He was a
widower aud left no children. Two
thirds of lib estate he divided up
among about 200 relatives and friends
scattered all over the country. Every
one who had been kind to blm or his
deceased wife will get a check for $500
or $1,C00.
He left $2,000 to the city cemetery
fund, $2,000 to the Christian church of
this city and $2,000 to tbe local Chris
tian Scientists. The balance of bis es
tate, amounting to about $100,000, he
has left as a trust fund to be Invested,
and the Income to be Med for the rsllef
*f Hm
1 -v..\ i. 4
Pound iiillt.v of Monlor,
Maninilti'. Mich.. Dec. 18.—Christ
Kallio was found guilty of murdering
.Tamos CasluMi at Ishpinilng, Micb..
on Oct. 9. and Jacob Lnssnnell, an ac
cessory. guilty of manslaughter. The
liien have not yet been sentenced. ,,
Co*U tlie .icluMil DUlrlet $50,000.
Sioux City, la., Dec. 18.—The Iowa
supreme court, has rendered a decision
which costs the Sioux City school dis
trict $50,000. The district had secured
Judgment in the lower court against
the American Surety company for $50,
000, which was securty on School Treas
urer Hubbard's bond for that amount
The money was lost by failure of the
Home Savings bank. Tbe supreme
court reversed the lower court's de
cision.
Church'* Busy D*y I* Sunday.
Des Moines, la., Dec. 16.—E. M.
Donald, of Fort Madison, defendant
In the case, appealed from a decision
by the Lee cousty district court, that
he must pay a subscription made on
Sunday to a church. Donald set up a
defense that the obligation having
been entered Into on Sunday was ille
gal and that there was no considera*
tion. Both claims are overruled by the
supreme court.
College Must Pay Tax**.
Des Moines, la., Dec. 10.—A decis
ion was rendered In the district court
here holding that Highland Park col
lege of this city was established for
pecuniary profit aud therefore should
pay taxes. The college contended
that It should be exempt from taxa
tion for the reason that It was an edu
cational institution. The decision will
apply to number of colleges in the
state. An appeal will be taken,
(iailly nfShooting Her Husband.
Osceola. In.. Dec. 18.—Mrs. Julia
Crosby who was on trail on the charge
of murdering ber busbaud, Nicholas
Crosby, at their home at Woodbine,
by shooting him, pleaded guilty. The
shooting resulted from family differ
ences nnd the case attracted wide at
tention. She will be sentenced, it Is
understood, to twenty years' imprison
ment.
Loan* to Parmer* Are Higher.
Des Moiues, Dec. 18.—Iowa bankers
and financial coucerus arc raising the
rates on farm loans, aud whereas 5
and 5% per eeut was accepted until
recently, and 7 per ceut. Is now de
manded and secured. Bankers report
that the demand for money is fully
equal to the supply for the first time
in two years.
Iowa Horticultural Society.
De Moines, Deec. 10.—The Iowa
Horticultural society bas elected of
ficers mul appointed committees for
the ensuing year. The officers are:
President. C. E. Gardner, Osage sec
retary, Weslay Greene. Davenport.
Tod* Have PttlU a Million.
Sioux City, la., Dec. 18.—BondB rep
resenting .fl.iOS.Olltl have lieeu paid by
the Tods, of New York, for the Sioux
City ami Northern, which they bought
at foreclosure last Tuesday. They get
possession Dec. 31.
CUES MAM' FOR COM EMIT.
Judge Scott of Omaha Summon. Hatch of
Alleged Keoalollranl..
Omaba, Neb., Dec. 18.—Judge Scott
Is finishing up his term on the district
beucb with a brilliant display of legal
pyrotecbnics and contempt cases. The
Urst thing in the morning he cited
Frank Harris of the Chicago Wreck
ing company, which is tearing down
the exposition buildings, for contempt
for dismantling a building in tbe face
of uu injunction. With this for a
stifl'ter he took up the Dodd habeas
corpus case. Judge M. K. Hopewell,
who preceded Scott on the equity
bench, was lirst cited and a deputy
sheriff sent after blm. The charge
against Hopewell is that he advised
bis elleut, who has one of the children
lu controversy iu his keeping, to pay
no attentiou to Scott's order to pro
duce it in court. The other parties
wanted are persons who are alleged to
be concealing the children and keep
ing them out of tbe reach ot the sher
iff. In all there arc nine persons in
volved In the proceedings, but only
the two preachers already lined have
been brought into court.
To Install Marco ill Sy.t-in.
Toledo, O., Dec. 18.—Without wire
or cable the Ann Arbor railroad will
attempt to flash messages across Lake
Michigan this winter. The negotia
tions have beeu practically closed be
tween Mraconl aud the Ann Arbor
company. One of tbe otHees will be
at Frankfort, on this side of the lake,
and tbe western office will be at or
near Menominee. Tbe distance will be
about eighty miles, but agents of the
Marconi system do not anticipate that
they will have difficulty In giving the
railway satisfactory service
WASHINGTON'S LAST YEARS.
Hie Htp,r Life with Rli Wife ml
Mount Vernon.
At tbe time of his retirement to
Mount Veruon, after the expiration of
bis term as president, "the tall figure
of Washington was ouly slightly bent
and be was still supposed to weigh up
ward of 200 pounds," writes William
Perrine of "Tbe Last Years of Wash
ington's Life" In The Ladles' Home
Journal.
"Excepting his gray hair and bis
false teeth and some trouble in bear
ing there was little of the usual ap
pearance of age in his muscular per
Bon.
his gait and his strong, pock
marked face. Ue was affable and
merry with his best frieuds, but while
be had the true hospitality of a south
ern gentleinau iu inviting every vis
itor from a distance to his table or to a
bed over utght, his politeness was gen
erally formal. Yet if he particularly
enjoyed the conversation of a guest he
would pay him the compliment of lis
tening to him uutil after 9 o'clock, or
even of lighting him with the candle to
a bedrooui for the night.
Mrs. Washington at this time was a
healthy, pleasant and uuostentatlous
little woman, still showing traces of
good looks and with seldom any other
thought thau of playing respectably
ber role of mistress of the house of a
country geutleiuau, of caring for the
negroes or of amusing herself with her
knitting. She had great pride iu her
recipe for making 'cherry bouuee,'
and on a midsummer day she cut out
82 pairs of breeches for the meu work
ing ou the farm. She had said that
she aud the geueral felt like children
just released from school when he left
tbe presidency, and she told of her
satisfaction in settling down again to
tbe 'duties of an old fashioned Vir
ginia housekeeper, steady as a clock,
busy as a bee and cheerful as a crick
et'
Rousb on the Minister.
Sir William Long tells a story of an
old Scotch lady who could not abide
long sermons. She was hobbling out
of tbe kirk one Suuday when a coach
man, who was waltiug for his people,
asked her. "Is the minister dune wl'
bis sermon V"
"He was duue lang syue," said tbe
old lady iuipatieutly, "but we. wauna
stop!"
The F«atol Hoar.
"How happy the Dabney-Joneses
look this eveuing. It must be their
wedding anniversary,"
"No they've got their old cook back."
-Oattoit
Vim
Prn*.
tA a
KWV'H
iW 5'.'
.•ST"
There is a Class of People
Who are injured by the use of coffee.
Recently there has been placed in all
the grocery stores a new preparation
called (JRAlN-0, made of pure grains,
that takes the place of coffee. It does
not cost over as much. Children
may drink it wth great benefit. 16cts.
and 25 cts. per package. Try it. Ask
for GBAIN-O.
Her ThotiKhtfnlneaa,
"Beautiful, my dear!"
The elderly millionaire who had mar
ried the famous beauty regarded the
watch chalu admiringly,
"A very delightful birthday present,"
he continued, beaming upon his fair
jftung wife. "So massive and yet In
such excellent taste."
"I am so glad you like it," she ob
served. "It was so cheap too. Just
think. It cost only $15."
"Only $15!" echoed the millionaire,
In astonishment. "Fifteen dollars for
this solid gold chain!"
"Oh, of course it Isn't solid gold,"
she Interposed. "You could never get
a solid gold chain for that price."
"What Is it, then?"
"Why, gold tilled, to be sure."
"I see," said her husband, stroking
his chin reflectively. "But why this
sudden streak of economy? Dou't you
think 1 cau afford to wear a solid gold
chain?"
"Of course you can," she assented.
"But this one is guaranteed to last
for ten years—and—aud"—
"Well'/" said the millionaire inquir
ingly.
"Well, dear," she concluded, after
some hesitation, "as that is quite as
long as you are iikely to live, 1 thought
it would be foolisch extravagance to
pay any more!"—Harold Eyre In Worn
an's Home Companion.
The person who disturbed the con
gregation last Sunday by coughing, is
requested to call on Gregg & Ward and
get a botte of Foleys Hone and Tar
which always gires relief
Appnllln* Brntnlttr*
Miss 8lessor, Scotch missionary, wb»
has been 24 years in Africa, has her
self saved the lives of over 00 twins.
When twins are born, they are at
once taken from the mother, and If no
one Intercedes they are at one# tak
by tbe feet and head and have tbalr
backs broken across a native woman's
knee, in the Bame manner as one would
break a stick. The bodies are than
placed in an earthenware receptaola
and taken to the bush, where they an
devoured by the files, Insects or ani
mals. Sometimes the little victims
are put into these receptacles alive and
are then catcu alive In the same way*
The mother becomes an outcast If
she does not at once take her own Ufa^
she has to flee to tbe bush. If sha
ventures near the town or village, aha
must see that she does not remain on
the path when any other native la com
ing. Her presence, according to their
superstition, would defile the place for
others. She must not drink from the
same spring, must not touch anything
even belonglug to her own relativea.—
Misslouary Uevlcw of the World.
For Pneumonia.
Dr. C. J. Bishop, of Agnew, Mich,,
says: "I have used Foley's Honey and
Tar in three very severe cases of pneu
monia the past month with good re
sults."—Gregg & Ward.
ftnllroad Ties.
A fact of some interest In railroad
construction is the great diversity In
the number of ties used to tbe mile on
different lines, as well as In the dai
and quality of timber. Thus, aceord
Ing to the construction details ot the
New York, New Haven and Hartford
railway, the number of
tleB
is
used on
that line 1b 2,800 to the mile, thrw
quarters of these being chestnut and
one-quarter oak, while some roada«HM
2,000 only, or 2.500 to tbe mile. Mora
than 00 per cent of the ties ara cot 8
feet long, 12 per cent 9 feet and the
rest SV& feet long the nine foot ties an
used chiefly by the southern and gulf
'group of railroads, where pine tlmtMr
is very abundaut and cheap. The New
England roads have their ties cut from
five to six Inches in thickness, while
the southern roads seem to prefer sev
en incb ties the width of the ties like
wise varies from five to six inches In
New England to eight Inches In the
central northern and the southern
roads.—New York Sun.
Benj. logerson, of Hutton, ind,, savs:
he bad not spoken above a whisper tor
months, and one bottle of Foiey'-s
Honey and Tar restored his voice. It
is used very largely by speakers and
singers.—Gregg & Ward.
Cnre of Rubber Goofta.
In putting away rubber gloves, rub
ber sponge bags and rubber bathing
caps a liberal supply of talcum, or
even ordinary toilet powder, should be
applied to them on all sides, and they
should be placed carefully in boxes
without rolling. When they are needed
for use again, they will not be found
adhering in different places In a way
that makes fullin^' apart daugerous, if
not entirely disastrous
It Hits the Spot.
When suffering from a severe cold
and your throat and lungs feel sore,
take a dose of
and Tar, when
be at once re
Foley's Honey
the soreness will
lleved, a warm
grateful feeling and healing of the parts
affected will be experienced and you
will say: "It feels so good. IT HITS
THE SPOT." Guaranteed.—Gregg &
Ward.
Gont'i Milk.
Modern Mediciue says that goat's
milk, contrary to the general Impres
sion. differs from cow's milk not In be
ing more digestible, but in being less
digestible and less uutrltious, although
It contains a larger amount of solid
matter than cow's milk. It Is indeed
the most indigestible of all milk.
Goat's milk has a peculiar and unpleas
ant odor and flavor, due to lifrclc acid,
»r birclne. It contaius au excess of fat
and
therefore altogether too rich for
an
Infant's diet.
Lost.
Many have lost confidence and hope
as well as health, because they have
been told their Kidney disease was in
curable. Foleys Kidney Cure isaGuar
anteed remedy for tbe diBcouraged and
disconsolate.—Gregg & Ward.
A Uor story.
Animals have seutlmeut. and they do
reason. Lord Sandwich had two intel
ligent. companionable little white dogs,
lie was foud of both. They were much
attached to him and devoted to each
other. One white pet fell sick, aud he
watched over
the little
creature. But
no care sufficed to save it. aud It died.
Tbe lovlug master said that he himself
would bury the dog. and he did so.
Tbe living Pomeraulau stood by, griev
ing as sincerely as the bereaved mas
ter. But the survivor could uever
again endure Lord Sandwich, shunned
him and was utterly irreconcilable for
all time. He thought that tbe master
had killed aud burled his canine oom
rnda—London News.
Chapped bands, cracked Hps and
roughness of the skin cured quickly by
Banner Salve, the most healing olnt
mint in tht world. Mo.
•'J
vry
Again the publishers of the DEMO
CRAT have decided to give its old and
new subscribers who pay one year's sub
scription in advance, a present of either
one of the following:
Famous Frontiersmen, Pio
neers and Scouts,
Being narratives of the lives and ex
pioits of the most renowned Heroes
Trappers, and Explorers of this coun
try, etc. It is a book of 540 pages, has
over 250 full page portraits and illus
trations, and is bound in English silk
cloth, stamped In silver.
The Home Physician and Cen
tury Cook Book
An elegantly bound book of 353 pages
and over 300 illustrations. It should be
in every family.
The Boston Globe says: "It is better
and more fully illustrated than any
other book of the kind."
The St. Paul Dispatch pronounces it
"The best book for the purpose wo
have ever seen.'
The Minneapolis "jommercial-JBulle
tin, commenting upon it says: "There
has never been a superior book of ita
kind issued."
'It is," says the Detroit Evening
News, "just what its name impii^s^-a
family book."
Poultry Culture.
Written by I. K. Felch the greatest
living authority on poultry raising.
It is nicely bound in cloth and con
tains over 400 pages of valuable In
formation to every one interested In tbe
raising of poultry, It Jhas over sixty
illustration* and treats on tbe breeding
of poultry, location, buildings and fur
nishings,'feed and care of fowls, from
shell to griddle, artificial incubation,
diseases of fowls and their medical
treatment, mating turkeys, ducks,
geese, ete.
Pooular American Dictionary.
Bound In cloth. Contains over 38,000
words with accurate definitions, proper
spelling and exact pronunciation. It is
enriched with 400 illustrations and be
sides being a dictionary of the English
language, it contains a compendium of
classical quotations list of scriptura
names popular names of states and
cities metric system of weights and
measures mythological names: Ameri
canisms government and constitution
of the United States biographical dic
tionary of distinguished men vocabu
lary of English synonyms. Also spec
ial departments on, commercial and
legal questions banks and banking:
interest tables and laws agricultural
tables .legal phrases and maxims, etc.,
the whole forming a library itself.
Prince Bismark
And the Be-eetablishment of
tbe German Empire, by Max
Frederick.
This great work is printed In German
text, is appropriately Illustrated, con
tains nearly 300 pages, Is handsomely
bound in silk, and a fine portrait of the
"Iron Chancellor" is shown on the
front cover.
The CondensedlCode „of the
Laws of Iowa.
Being a condensation of all the gen
eral statute laws of thiB state (except
the code of procedure) contained in
the code of 1897.
Murray's Horse Book,
Treats on the origin, characteristics and
training of horses, and gives remedies
for their diseases. Tells bow to select
and how to care tor dairy cows, and
how to educate and train dogs.
Dairy and Creamery
Is a semi-monthly newspaper published
the 1st and 15th of each month and is
devoted to the dairy,creamery and stock
interests.
Kemember, every old and new sub
scriber who pays all arrearages and one
year's subscription in advanoe to the
DEMOCRAT, Is entitled to receive his
choice of either one of the above
premiums.
If Sent By Mail.
Eighteen cents in addition to the sub
scription price is required to prepay
postage on "Famous Frontiersmen,
Pioneers and Scouts," and ten cents for
postage on each of the other books, ex
cept the Code of Iowa.'
Periodicals.
We will also furnish to our paid-in
advance subscribers at reduced rates
and at actual cost .to us, almost any of
the leading newspapers and magazines
published.
The readers of THE DEMOCRAT
may rest assured that it will, during
th coming year, maintain the high
standard of excellence it has attained
and continue to be, as it has been for
many years past, the leading newspaper
published in this county.
LIVERY AND
FEED STABLE
Firs t-class rigs to be had at all times
Buss to all trains and passengers taken
to or called for in any part of the olty.
1
FrooMriogloi
•V.'* ^PROPRIETORS*
j*
i_ & lu.