The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, January 28, 1888, Image 6

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The Ottawa free trader. [volume], January 28, 1888, Image 6
About The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916

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The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.), 28 Jan. 1888. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038582/1888-01-28/ed-1/seq-6/>

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" THE MINOR CHORD.
f When year jrone by my li f wa s'i
The littl aorrowi thut I hiul
t I tang In Mil, aweet umik;
But grlnf ban (trowu too real to dare
' To gire It breath lu aiiRlit aave prayer.
8. W. Khlreile l O wlaml Monthly.
SUNSET ROCK.
I hod rnndorwl out from Clint tanooga
in the diwtina of tlio cloud Hhroudtxl xiuk
'Point Lookout;" I continued my nioumlor
ing, following the Binuoiw poor) of thu Ttn
nossi over rooky gull i tmd through dells,
donso with the wild undergrowth, and utrewn
with inns covered bowlders und divaying
giant Uvea, 'ftt vine covered natural bowers,
protected by an imj'iiitiullo lialimx of
bliu kln rry vines, and dunk for want or nun
light to absorb the moisture, until 1 had al
most gotten the colossal cone MhnKd muss of
earth and minerals letwoeu uio and the
active, smoky little city.
Wlmto sublime sight greeted my ! I
was standing at the foot of the far famed
BunsotKook, whose pericndirulnr sido faced
westward more than a thousand feet in
height. I looked up; I could only faintly
descry the largo llat rock that jutted from tho
natural wail at it top, for clouds weroslowly
gathering around it. To my left the broad
river wound in and out like a monster snake,
aud past it rose the smoke from the hundreds
of factories arid furnaces of tho city.
I had only a limited tirno to kikjihI, for tho
sinking sun caused deep shadows to spread
over my resting plauo.
Dirsotly the round shining ball sank from
view, I tumeil nr.d looked oiico moro at the
rocky phenomenon. The sunlight gleamed
Still upon it, and wag gradually mounting
higher, and higher. It was cheering to see
the bright rays reflected there, when all else
was Iwing robed in night's dismal mantle.
I was just about to retrace my f ootsteps,
when my nttention was arrested by the ap
poarance c.f ui old man bent with the bur
den of time. Ho was a typical Tennessee
famor, o! that -cla. which has scarcely
reached theaorcge. in inte.'Iix.tuil acquire
ments, nor is even moderately successful
financially.
Hi wore a pair of Lrowu homi made j an
ponta stroprod to him by wide, thick, Iwuhor
trimmed tu.'(jN;ndf rs. A hat w'th an exten
sive brim rortec'. on his head ami was slightly
turned up in fro.it; hU cbockorcd cotton
shirt wins opej, eapi'sing a ounburnod chest.
Ho might havo bwii 0, judg'ng by upjioar
ances. I was stru' k with tha exooodingly aproe
ablo expression, strongly NUggcstlve of crude
philanthropy, in his homely f, over which
the gray luvim hur.g iu shaggy abundance.
Hia beard v.-jia shaven; but t?ie iron gray
whiskers protruded hu!lcie:itly to give the
lower rt of bis fsto an a. by ap.ieftranco,
and renfleroi! tho yellow rtairs of tobacco
juice inn'e obsjrvablo.
lie wim utxmt to pass with a simple
'Iluwdy," and an Lwkword, though aa'.ur
ally polite motion of his disengaged hand
toward his hut, when I KtpN)d him with a
question.
"Id) you 'ive near hero'"
He tuniml, swung hisux over his shoulder,
and riv-ti' l i! on the grass ah his feet, regard
ing me 'jth a surprised look iutermingljd
with cui iosily.
"Ytw, sir, tii ir's my shanty beyant thr
brnii'-Ji among the tiixs; yc'ro u stranger
here, ai:l (' he uskml.
I answe.-i'l I. In inquiry in tho nTlnim.tivo,
following with my eyes hi:i linger, cs he
pointed tn a four roomed I"g cottage, n
nearly hidd-ni by the f vliago that it hail
ewaHsl my tilmervntioh.
"Vcs," ho continued, as if talking were a
geii jiim pleasure to him, "in that thai- fch'S
bani; I've fotch up tw as lik.:ly nm as ever
drawod tho itreuth o' life; but they ain't hero
now; they uir u livin' in To..'n."
He sighed, nr.d for an insUnt a shadow
seemed U eemo into the jovial visagr xs ho
loftiiw! ngniiist the trunk of a walnut tree,
and rubUi' his cblu rufloctively with bus
rough batui.
His fiu-o intorrstod ma in an IndoserilwMo
manner, uii't his odd sounding accent a l.l'vl
pw-.i.lirtr charm to his ipiaitit expressions.
'Can you tell mo," I asked, Htrongly dos'r
ous of detainirg him for u few iucme:it,
"how this cliff happened to lie culled Sun t
Hock? 1 have quest ioir.l several living in
tlio city, liut :io one to far bus Ix-on ablu to
give hid the information."
"Ith'nk I orter, fjrlain the pusson thet
named it.,", be rvtHind'l, looking ut sno
dowdy w if he thought I would cotr,Jict
his t-tateu'rnt, and then went on: "Yes,.,
named it Kiriset Rook, an' I lied a reason fer
doin' uv itr
I pres?d hirj eagerly for his roAfion.
"1 hen 3cancly tuink o' it uow wit'.iout
cryin' like a baby. It hain't a long tale,
str'Aijfv; net down tbar on the stump an' I'll
tell J e about it."
I was Jolif;hted with the proEpuc. of listen
ing to a true stery eomierniug the attractive
ejKit Trora tte '.i ai-ih old lips, told iu the pro
vinciej phraatHiliny of thecorntry people of
that w tior.; so I 'toured him of the exece.l
ingly great plowure it would afford inn. I
gave him a cigar like tho ono I was lighting,
and could hardly refr jin from a smile or he
crumbled It vp and filled a well worn old pipo
with the fragment.
'Over that-. " ho begi'.n, fciiihing lienvllyps
he pnll'od a cloud of tobacea smoke from his
mouth, "on father tide of yender ri?o, iiot
mor'n .'HVl j'Hvds f.'om my Iiui'jj, tTerty 1I
year back, fiteod a houw whar a family uv
three wus a livic'.
'The olo man cane fru.-n r.wny bu'ii ir.
Virir.y scmp'n, en' f otch bis wife an' ('artier
witn him. Thol Mo gal's nanw wtc Kte'la.
Me an' Kaii Jy thet'3 my 'oman -v jvur .'lot',
any gaii., an' ye liair't no ic'ee how v a tu"k
on jver hr, fer s'le lguu ur tairxk a m.'gu'iy
hbapo'ws an' i.U.yod alxiut vi mo'a in ur
shanty wi sho did iu th i;r'n.
'Tw,y wur pjru folkr, tix, .:t I 'tt rv-;i
they'd t'jort lettei- ayr; fer they tr.,J:,v li-'
rich y.eopie ,ltl la-uin', .a' they rh;)':d ,A.,
every lrA cf'n. Te ole n; v wj cov
tiB-.'l '-rBaJii' nn' .vwriwii'; ' rstei br ..
irfgl-ty fo e cpl.-!i,a o' hltn, Ver. .1 tnC: )
tice V hen t'.iftr p.'sloy r t -a i.oi' cri.'.- r
wus vci'j'r'ti' tin ii'fl c it'u a!" U tii v c'
trter rxued !.r ';le -cnt o' i-uva
'eai out; Lvt vlicn I hiv". . ir "v'.Ju :Vsy
In nrw u?e;i''-'.' J ne Vt.1 r'.-. "j js rr-J-
noaa, ti cur U;f4 instil '.ovi, r.-.t.
Ctan V1T 0Sl cn '-"itr t.1v!., n-' I':j .:r 3
him fc-pjoria.' oc.t r nirLij? o' '..v.?fc -.'.
fan Uwr tr:ne, tr.ei, inat'e r ihlvt- u" i;'c.'t-OMioyU-ii'e
Jwr. Mylxic'x. I't'-gct-j. s-r-tUag
agia 'vlri, ra' oi Id a ke riy hoi r v.'
?rnp ia !Y nrto;.l li., r' ia t Vine
-hoin' witboct'o t xiV f :er.t f tr l
"Tby l-c'J :I reney j-i-.d '.r - -'hi'
trim votoe'iTi, f it iy -as -jpt v't'-hcaV ;
mi'-ataach4lvxt:.U-y)iie r.c4 C'Ji M.
'wrltin'fotch !t ta, !
' Vlrglny. 7T.7 t v- at V. wt i.':e d r '
long; ra Jk.1 .'f 'r ..v a
Iosa o' a 'joc'.-jA o jjaJ, ur a c? o'
glch Lxe, i'ry'd -iuA ft .v.Ji.?'
-ruujiii' ovr.
4'i:t jv jry jl- StelLVd j v. .? ; ucii
tee t. h"or k o . "nt .Mii
thin; sr.' vr.mU.-x ta r ut--. v. a v
?ty . it&uT, an' iar-x,a t rkit
itemolly a-spiL'a' fer romp o' somi sort; I
jynr uxA her down ia Ut tuoutb; shj
was VTerUstln'ly a-mJlin a laughln', an'
a-aiinln.
'She wus then jes' -reiachin' 'omanhood; I
uster feid jwwcrful sad when I'd think thet
she wus ho likely, sprightly an puity, an'
hod sich pore chnuce to eu joy herself like
most r young guls, an' wus ohleeged to stay
with two ol' folks thet wus mighty js'i ticu
lar an alwuyi a-wutchin' uv her.
"She'J reud out'n Issiks ter uie an' Mandy,
au it wus more like heurin' o' ther voice o'
augel than a unman Ix-in s.
"tilie was a-gwiue on ter 17, en' I never
teed a smarter cbuneo for the makin' o' n fine
umau than her' wus. Iery cviuntry chap
in the whole settlement wus alyiu' ter set
up tor her, but she didn't keer a snap fer eny
uf 'em. Bh kuowed a thoussn' timisnmre'n
tln-y did. it Jest looked ter my like she wus
tio wm1 fer eny uv them.
"When she weut ter meetin' with her pap
an' mum, au' tbiy t so gentle ltke, always
on tlu r haute 1-cucn in the amen mrner, we
all fi.lt kinder pruuJ uv 'em.
Hhi Is'guua-cttUin'nie 1,'ni le Jihj at ther
fast. A'uiost every day she went to Chatta
noogy -foot te fi'teh tlier imjici-s an' letters
fer her pup. It wus a riht peart trip fer
her, but she made it ifg'lar, and ws ined to
get fat at it, for she got purttier mi' purttier.
"So I've aln udy I'd' ye, sho couldn't tun'
the sight uv eny o' ther neighUir young fi 1
lers; but it wus with her finally like it is
with most all desarvin' wimen; t bur's gen-
er'lly some felli.-r that takes tbeir eye, an
whuther he's us rieli as u uuiiKcr, us imi o
bug Juice as a bileii owl, or ns j"ro an a
. . . .i ii . : l. i.. I..... i
sturviu razor-lack snoio; iney u suck to em
like a sick cat to n hot rock.
"One evenin'. when I wus a-sproutin over
tharln thet ol' wheat field, what it looks like
ther sa.ssyfnck'1 Uiko the lan' bodaciously, I
seed some ono thet surprised mo niore'n I
I know how to toll ye.
"I hod jest gouged out'n the ground a root
purty nigh as big as my thigh, an' was
a-puflln' like smoke, a-rostin' fer a breathin'
spell on my grubbin' hoe handle, when I
hoerd somelsjdy a-talkin'; an' iwpin' '
tbrouirh tho beach tree limbs, which wus ,
a-hangiu' betwixt mo an' tho trail a-goin' to
town, I cotch sight o' Btellu, as rod in ther
face as a rose, a-talkin' to a town chap
dressed as flno m a fiddle. Kruin whar I was
ho looked like a poworful gocnl lookin' feller.
"He was a loauin' ag'in a ouk snplin'
a-gozin' at her, as I 'lowed, with genuine Iovo
Btroamin' out o' hi eyes, an' actin' fer tho
world, like In cculd eat her alive. I'd seed
L!m before, an' knowod him; he wus a rich,
prom'sin' young lawyer in Chattanoogy. Ho
wusu't inore'n t'jirty or so, but all ther people
in the country thought a jower ov him, an'
wus a-talkin' mightily about puttin' him up
ter inn fer congrjes, so I heerd at ther court
houso, oris day, whar ho mat'o as flno a speech
on the sli.very question as hod ever been
heerd thar.
"He bed black linir an' eyes, wrw a-woarin'
gol' r'ngs an' a chain, an' diniunts wus
a siarklin'bl JOttn'yaUerin tho sun, on his
white shirt.
"When I seed era out thar. kinder dove
like aparkir.', it made mo think powerful
strong o' my young day?, when moan' Mandy
fust begun to tuPe on. Mandy was good
'nough lookin' fer me in them times, but then
she wusn't nigh us purity as Stella.
'"Alien 1 fust cotch ther two tegethei
thare, 1 felt mighty curi's ubout'n ther heart
ter Hud her h likiii' o him; but I tried to rec
oncile myself, r. rclloctut' that he's jest tho
f oiler ter match I or, an' so, Verdin'ly, I
8is'k.;d away without a bit o' disturbanco
V'j.tin a few sticks n-crackin' und'T my Ut't
thet they never heerd, so busy was they
a Ulkiu', an' then went on homo through tho
pabtur', across tln:r p -ing braui.'h by ther ol'
oak foot l g so as not ter piu-:s 'em.
"I kuow'd thet uhAi be on directly, so I
couldn't hardly watt for her, fer 1 never
mvamml but thot she'd tell mo the fust thing,
for sliu'd al'u)-a t-jl' mo ever'thing about
herself.
"l'urtty soon I li3i-rd her ningin1 an'
a skippin' along the r.ivel trail. It was
a gnnvin' dark, but she o!;arvod me aa I was
a-piluV a pasa'o' o' grrtin corn stulki? over ther
lot fence to ther cows. I made out I was
ml 'hty intent uc' t-onsurned tvbout ther cows
'H'tin' ph' Kivur so much s 1 xikod up M sho
come :iigh nm; I wat.tei.1 hi-r to tell it nil
herself.
".She comntrncc 1 A-inquirin' about Mandy,
an' how I wus a-n.akiu' uv it, but narry a
whikjxjr rig'iruin' uv thor str&ngo feller; an'
ther fusf thing I knowed the n ils o.'f, a-put
tin' out for homo ff.nt as her feet woidd
ttiko her, r n' I ms left t-staudin' a-Iookin'
at my si' br in J ley u-chnwin' the f elder olTn
ther litc.lks. ' J-.' a-feelin' for tho world -u ef
I'd swall.nr'd r. pc-ket o' ohot. Then wus
about t'i3 t:' tavo Vnut I begun ter think
wiiuii'.in was crri'scr than :mn.
"Idiunet. nth-Jig ter AInndy uv what
I'd uixsJ, but I rc41od an' tunij!! thot blessed
nlgL'C long whlout a viuk o' rlecp. I have
al'ajs belio'sd a :nce thot It wus n good se
:vit a-frgin' ?"o tbe t loo.'iin' rter thot
pore g'l.
"It vci:; c.i artrT'ards, an' I wed 'am
a- waJkm' rJi' t tilkin' with one another
m'glity nigh ecry evenin' as she'd bo a-com-in'
back fix-n uwn.
"Cuodoy I made a plrt ter posa 'em kinder
nvHrMuMtel lite, while they's n-Inanjt' agin
ther fe!C-j, w'.-a." ha g'ner'ly left h-r, an'
turii'xl biitt. She loaded up kinder surpi ised
likoar.d a littlu flurried, but smileil as usual
en' juid :
" '1 lowly, Unc'o Joer
"Ter tell ys tlw ti uth, I's kinder lookin' for
':d t'V. nieetiu' uv "ja, for l's sartin thet
Vu' ir Ste'U' thoi.glit sich a power o' mo
yn', ':j'u. bj p.easeil ter see mo; but thar's
w'tar I drapjsvl my cendy, as ther Niyln is;
WMtead j' '.hot, Iw tu.-nod his foi-o away an'
Ur.ikod do-ri i)k-r "ivsr without no much ns a
iuk; o' .'ja' .ead. Tluir's vhar I larned what
hi.i,! wvf.' te ius mode out'n, fer I coteli a
Ic .i; o '.'ij .'kxi, aV of it hod o' been ol'
F.lcV h'."f, 'i ccul'lnl n-beon tnore like a
i Jr'yin' ho ill's 'i.n ais wus,
1 1 r "ins ovr tr.e iu a ruinpit; I seed it
til v viiy Ux l.'.3 fn. Ici then, like a
1,'s.i, -A,:y hiV '. eeu b alltinvl trech'rous
t - bct i zvK gw'u oi U Ji3r way tr ther
I V 'lie vith 1 or.
: "' ' V'.ii.'g, :nar lor'n a drove of hornets
'H'-. cM-'-y! rst, m I wont on down the
x-TuVt:itt 'uy x hau 1, a-tremblinir
j t .''a lw it) ' ot n j oold rs ice around
ilahsi" .. rt-futt Idia no t;u!ck ic would
' i-vtjpj's ycr 'ukii i .ud coald n-stmiiil
I e9 ,j-- c' sit ukii'g .1a race as frwly
j . ! t'ce4i'. v.i. to; bvt 1 v-air i's-.-ei a spell,
! r r d a -Vr ';' 'ict ihe 'o.v-l l-tri, I kaowed
l.'.l : 'j h v i.o:e .'.:br .ry; 0 1 cor.clc.ded
' UA vj.'t n j3 tilk vj 'it T.it'i tlw bark
o:iC 'rot.
iMi-,-lt cvsf.t-n tf - a :o;r ra tfcm arter
i f t, ru '. xj .''." duc'ccl hw purty ytl'.er
t.e.vj, oil.-. si Ji 3, ad j.'jwmI ne Uio (
1 'i t r.-fitLTfl 'ico' cc'j .'rora that time on.
"a 'av a ca. .'.&' CiJtl-auo w'.th Ue-iUl tX
rv a- he- vx.-? .i cL.xj insaa p'ashin'
crt?: .J -ra.c r r .1 ra nuaiy
fc.".1 L v.w MwA uv ci i;:g!cg cad
tjATia;-:, nr. "i.s v ' z.j '.ht iaSu that
Wi'. ,fcf.ve ; fcC3 o -vrjel-iiLe i oerer
I t'j,-.J hr w.t--na!iRftt thebr.rs; I
: ppr vi' cf wj;:p of Uc.-:.rouU lint
tl-xv ii ij ct.-; i0 a-cxyia' ja ir
bur. hjx -roal'. '. :cL .t '--o wl
i ic jvC 1' I tu i'i. rfle 'jded at fust vo tiau
'i. o, iho oo--ia't smile, though she tried
U( w the cuu tquar up aa' laid her head
on my Limit, and the tears ran like a shower
of rain, while she was aoobing like a cuua
tliat had hurt himself.
'I knowod without askin' that it was the
feller at tho bottom of it; so I jest smoothed
her bldiung 'aller Imir and tried to pacify
her, a-telliug her be wasat worth it, and the
like,
"'Dou't say n word agin him, Undo Joe,'
she said, loav in' off cryin' fer a miuute; 'I
love him yet, and can stand anything except
that,'
"Then hho Ix-gnn telling mo about it as
well ns she could for cryin'. He'd liegim ter
line her when she was a-coming back of
evenings, and nhvuys had something to tell
her ubout books and well like, lie was me
iir.t uiun thut sho ever see t hat she li;ed, and
ho iHikel to her so kind ami so smart. Then
he lioguri making lots over her good looks
an' her oddieation, un' so forth, an' snore
that be loved her niore'n he did his life. So
bhe thought of him ns if there wusu't another
man on top of the green earth, and loveil linn
more'ii she did her own folks. Dut imino
diately after IM seen him that day he quit
coining; may be Ih-cuuso ho was nt'eared of
me, ni ter catching my eyes, or something or
not lu r, uu' she'd heerd iu town, from some
nieddliii woman, thut ho was going to marry
a rich young lady, the daughter of a rich
storekii'iier in l.'huttaiioogy.
" 'Uncle Joe,' she said, a looking at mo out
of a pair of eyes as tender like und innocent
us a new liorn babe's, 'I don't want ter live in
this troublesome world u nuther minute arter
ho marries; they wiy it's next Thursday
evening lit 0 o'chxk; C o'clock is jest the
tirno that the sun goes down Udiind the bill
yunder behind the hill; if ho marries I
won't I n living arter it; mark my words.'
"I trembled all over from head to foot as
she said it, fur in all my born days I never
wed before nor sense sich a onhappy, miser
able hxik on a human face; sho looked liko
her last hoK was gono.
"I loved her liko she was my own flesh and
blood; an' when I seed what tho black
hearted scoundrel hail dono to muko her life
a hell to her, I was as mad as blazes, and my
heart felt liko it was being dragged through
a brjcr patch, a bleedin' fur her in her
trouble.
"I hod no idea, howover, of how desperate
sho was, really, and how far things had gono,
until afterward, an' so I kept a hoping that
when the first pain o' the disappointment
was ever she'd be all right agin ; but there is
where I was fooled in her.
"I tr ied mighty hard to git bor to stop
cryin' when we was walking back home, but
she kept on and said it wasn't no use, she
didn't want ter live nrter he'd deceived her.
"'Undo Joe,' she said, a shaking from
head to foot and a weepin', 'yer don't know
it all; 1 can't tell you the worst'
"I left her nigh her pap's house, a bogging
of her not to take on so, and to drive it from
ter mind. Sho never made no promiso; sho
went on up the little gravel track betwixt
the two rows of grapevines, a staggering like
a drucken pusson, or soma ono a losiu' of
their mind. Her pretty figure in ber gray
dress looked kinder tent and droopin', nothin'
on earth like what she hud been.
"I never seed her to talk to her again; I
thought she's a stayin' in ter drivo itofffrom
br mind. I never once thought of Thurs
day Iming tho day sot for his woddin, not
withstanding fehe'd said it wus; but lhurs-
day, uUiut this time of day, I was a-passing
this identical spot, for the sun had j?st gono
out of sight over there where it's so blood
red in tho sky. Now observe drat, before I
go any further, tho shinooutho side of tho
rock."
Ho i mused and pointed to the monstrous
cliff. Diructly across its rugged surface,
high above our heads near the summit, was
istinctly delineated tho shadow of tho earth's
surface; us tho sun, already below tho
horizon, sank lower tbo shadow lino mounted
higher, und tho sad song of the whippoorwill
mid tho doep melodious croak of tho frog in
tho river marshes indicated that tho queen of
night would soon wrap tho groat mountain,
tho lowly vulloy and tho silently rolling
rivor in her dusky rol. On post tho river,
whose surface mirrowed tho red sky, shone
the bright rod glare of a great Hist furnace.
perhaps two miles away in tho suburbs or tbo
city. .
On iho river a littlo steamboat, with its
single light in tho engine room, spoil on
ward, end tho deep, long whistle from tho
factories in the city noted tbo cloatn or any.
Had I foreseen the end of the old country
man's narrativo the very ir.oisturo in vapor
waves tliat hung among tho trees, nlong tho
shadow covered part of tho clLland down to
the water's edge would have suggested na
ture's humid winding sheet; tho water worn
nooks and tlssuros in tho smooth green rock
at it base would have seemed drear, vine
draixKl sepulchers, and the weeping willows
tho berenvod friends of a departed ono,
stuniling in clusters with drooping branches,
as if unity wore consolation.
"Yon can poo tdie p'int or tho rocfc now,"
Undo Joe continued, plainer than yo could
beforo it begun to git dusky down hero,
'cause the shine's all np there in one spot. It's
a-dimbing higher every second, and it won't
bo thro minutes before it's gone clear off the
fiuxi of tho earth.
"As I said before, I was coming along
hero, and n-happening to cast my eyes up
ward, I seed a woman a-standing on tuo uat
rock that sticks out over the edge. It was
Ktella; 1 knowed her by her white frock aud
tho big black straw hat. I would not have
recognized auy other pusson 'cept her. Sho
was as still as a ist, and the wind was
a-flapping her frock powerful, with tho suu
a-gleauiiu' tlirough tho soft yallor hair.
"Merciful Maker! It all camo into my
mind as quick as a flash of lightning. I ra
momliored what she'd said about Thursday
evening aud his getting nuirriod. I knowed,
somehow, that she wasat there fer r.othin';
something told me that she was intending to
take her own life.
"I seed her a-gazing at Chattanoogy, that
yo kin seo from there like a pictur. Sho was
a-wipiu' of her eyes liko she was cryin'.
"It liKks liko it might le a milo from here
up there, but the littlo sun spot, like a stream
of light a-bustin' through a crack in the floor
of heaven, was around her, and I could see
the sad, purty face, sometimes mighty nigh
kiverod with tho yallor hair Hie wind was
a-phiyin' with, almit as dutinct as if I was
within ten foot of lur.
"The devil's abadder was e.-crawlin' np
entirely faster than I wanted it to, fer I
fir tidy Ixlieved that It was in her mind ter
wail till tlio sun was aot, an' as long as she
could see it it was up.
"1 yelled and hollered as Food aa I could,
but it didnt sceni to go half of the way, uid
it looked I ke the -wind blow it oT to one
tide; she didn't turn her bo&il, so Z knowed
it wasnt no use 'jyin' for she couldn't hoar
mo nor see mo way down here fu the dark.
"Tho jpot was getting smaller fast. I
lropiwul on ut my knees, a keopiu' my
eyes or her, aud k inter prayin' to the good
LfirJ to save ber.
"I've got. a prayer I pray regular on
Btndays when I'm axed to, including mighty
nigh everything in gineral; but it waant
ihini worts tliat cure from my oold, tractr
bUng br Ump.
! sen' bsr hiw a b;'iiLkig over the digs of
Uro-'h,fv(ilft-hoJdii'terhaiiil.iflrir agicha
i-wi, li'ta -hawta draadi-vj; of uockiag
bhe hail to do.
'The words of my prayer wasn't a-comin
outef my mouth like a parson would have
aid them, but my heart was a bnstln' with
fear and misery, uid what was said went
a-shootin' up that rioae side right to the great
high throne.
'I begun to bopo, and' sot in ter prayin'
harder and harder, fer sho'd give up lookin
over the odgo, and w as a-dragiu' of her feet
onsnrtin like awny as if she'd changod her
mind. I never felt sich a feeling of confi
dence in prayer in my life, and begun
thaukin' of the Lord.
"All ut once she stepped still cgin, and
begun n-gazing pint blank nt Chattanoogy
she was a--tening ut something with her
hand held close to her ear, I beerod it, too;
sound comes mighty easy a long way on tho
rivor when it's still; I knowed what it was
no stKiner'n I'd heard it.
"It was tho ding-dong ding-dong, of a bell
in tho biggest church in town, a-ringin'
fust nnd glad liko tbey do arter a body's
married.
"My heart stopped its beatin'; every lick
scorned ter nie was a pushiu' her Higher and
Higher thu edge. The bell told her tbut he
was married.
'She turned around a faein' this way; she
was a holdin' of her hands to her ears as if to
sliut out tho sound of the bell, und coiuo on
back slow to tho edge.
"My eyes felt like they wus a bustin' out
of my head with fenr of what I knowed I
couldn't stop. I tried to holler, but I might
as well have tried to reach tho moon. Tho
shine had left tho rock with a jump, and wus
a paiutin' n white cloud in the blue sky red
and gold awny up higher on its way to the
promised land, where God aud the angels
have light day an' night.
"I tried ter close my eyes sho was a-get-tin'
reaily fer tor jump. Directly I seed ther
pore littlo frail thiug hop ofTn tho rock like
a bird.
"I fell on my all fours, my faco agin ther
coolgroun'; I tried ter stan', but I couldn't.
I heerd her full with a dull thud on tho
groun' in ther bushes nigh mo. I crawled,
foelin' like I was dead, through ther briers
an' undergrowth ter her side. Sho was dead.
I sot thar a-holdin' up her pore yallor head
in my hands, not a-knowin' what I was
about.
"Soon thor folks up thar on ther hillside
thet bed heard me a-shoutin', came an' tuck
us both homa
"Thet rp'ght I wus a-ravin' clean 'stractcd
out'n my senses. .AH thor tirno I was in a
trance like ; it scemod thet I's a-floatin aroun',
fust up ther sido of ther cliff iu a deep fog
a-tryin' my best ter reach a bright spot
above me. Thon I floated over ther moun
tain, across the river, above Chattanoogy,
an' thon went down right through ther top
ov ther big stone church. Directly I heerd
the big organ n-playin' like a lively war
chuno, an' I seed thor houso packed an'
jammed with tho flno dressed folks up town.
Then I seed a man an' a 'omau a-standin'
'fore ther parson n-bein' married; all's as
still as a grave. Then ther chune struck up
louder an' gladder 'n ever, and they walked
out ov ther church. I cotch a-sight o' his
face; it wus ther young feller with ther ol'
Nick's face I'd seed afore with poro littlo
Stella. Then ther big painted winders with
ther Saviour a-walkin' bore foot on 'em went
out of my dream, an' the people, tho benches
uu' all.
"I ain't got much more ter tell ye;-two
days nrter her death, sho was buriisi. It
wasn't a gran' funeral, but it wus tho sad
dest one I ever teed.
"A ol' man an' 'oman sot beside one
auuthcron ther fust row; ther man's head
was whiter 'n snow, an' his face was wrinkled
with sorrnr; ther 'oman was bont over nu'
kiverod from head ter foot with a black
veil. She wus a-sobbin' like her heart would
break, lietwirt them an' ther parson's stan'
wus a coflin n resliii' on two chairs, au' ther
people wus u-singin' 'Ersleop iu Jesus' as
soft an' low as ther wind a-moanin' in ther
trees on ther mountain."
I left tho good old countryman wiping his
eyes, and turmxl to wend my way back to
the city, passing tho spot, now overgrown
with wild shrubbery und luxuriant mountain
weeds and flowers, where poor Stella fell.
Tho trees and huge bowlders seemed to
shudder in tho deepening shadows, and tho
grass Ixmeath my foot shed tears of newly
born dew, as if weeping for tho tragedy of
nearly twenty years before. W. N. Harbeu
in Waverley Magazine.
Diamonds from Pawnbrokers.
Many diamonds ore purchased from pawn
brokers by parties who find a certain fascin
ation in buying things that may have been
acquired iu a questionable manner. They
feel that they aro surely getting a bargain.
It is needless to say that most pawnbrokers
aro very well Informed as to the value of
articles in their possession, especially dia
monds, and profiting by the purchaser's air
of wisdom they rarely hesitate to ask an ex
orbitant price. Tho same quality of stone
might in almost every case havo been pur
chased for l-s money and with much more
satisfaction to the purchaser. The popular
belief that one can buy cheaper from pawn
brokers and at auctions is so well understood
in Mexico, where the pawnbrokers ore under
government patronngo, dealors frequently
place diamonds and other ger.is with them, to
tie sold at auction on commission, and get
lietter prices than they could in their own
ehops. Not all dealers that pretend to bo
pawnbrokers are roally such. Many of them
sell what they have purchased from other
brokers at annual sales, and only do a little
Iawnbrokiug for show to assist them in dis
posing of their stock.
Beforo a diamond is offered for sale by a
pawnbroker it has generally been shewn to
from one to a don dealers and brokers, who
have all had an opportunity to purchase it if
they choose, or certainly to assure the owner
of its true value. If it is anything exceptional
it will surely find a purchaser. If it is im
perfect, off-colored, very much spread and
will make it a big show for littlo money, it
will in due time find a place in the pawn
broker's window. Uoorge F. Kuna ia New
York Mail and Express,
EsplMlvs Towers of Naphtha.
The explosive power of naphtha and simi
lar illuminations is being examined into by
Coroner Ashbridge, of Philadelphia, with re
sults which he considers remarkable. Hey? as
in New York the other day, and told a re
porter something about the exjierimenia.
"ITiere was an explusion of naphtha," he
said, "by which a number of workmen were
killed and barn;d. V'ith a view to collect
ing Information for the coroner, we have
been snaking a series of tests. These show
that aapatlia is a mcst higldy dangerous
thing to handle. I have been astonished by
ite explosive power, and so have the scientific
men who have assisted me in the tests. We
found thut four drops was as much as we
could explode with safety iu my of'.lce in
riiiladolphia. If we hnd used moro at a time
the windows and walls would havo raftered.
I shall novor use naphtha in my bouse again,
and I Mieve a gid many other people wonld
give up its use if they knew wbat a danger
ous azpkaiv it is "Now York Press.
"Oive n aunve particulars about the fauna
uid Jort of your region," said a lnston lady
y?:(rWa hotel keeper. And the poor man
hi'n ami hi.wed, and finally said: "We
get all our meats direct from New York, and
set the best table ever aeon In the place."
Hotel Oazvtt.
A MEDAL FOR PITMAN.
New York I'honographera Honoriag tha
Ioventor of (ihorthaad.
Tho shorthand writers of the city of New
York have recently had a fine gold medal
made to bo presented to Mr. Isaac Fltmun,
tho inventor of phonography. This ia
commemoration of the publication of his
flivt liook on that subject in lS!i7.
Tho father of shorthand is of Bath, Eng
land. Ho is about 75 years ola lie re
ceived a common school education, and was,
when a youngster, a clerk in his father's
cloth mill. When 17 years old ho mastered
one of tho old systems of stenography (Tay
lor's), with w hich he reported slow seakors.
Subsequently ho prepared a manual of short
hand founded on this system, ami later is
sued a book, called "Stenographic Sound
Hand; or, Sign Writing by Sound." It is
the anniversary of the publication of this
book, w hich is to bo soon commemorated.
Since that time Mr. Pitman has issued
numerous books on phonography, which
havo hud a largo tale, ono of them "Tho
Toucher" having been sold to thu numlier of
moro than a million copies.
A recent discovery htui shown, however,
thet Mr. Pitman wus preceded in tho
application of tho phonetic principlo by
tho llev. Pbineos Bailey. A Inxik on
shorthand bus been found in Vermont,
written by Mr. Bailey, in which cer
tain rules for writing by sound nro dearly
laid down. Ho published a book on the sub-
TIIE PITMAN MEDAL.
ject in 1S19. This book passed through many
editions. It is not claimed that Pitman took
tho idea from Bailey. Both men seem to
have worked on tho snmo linos, and, though
Bailey's system is ingenious, Pitman's is bet
ter adapted to practical uso.
Professional shorthand work is very fairly
paid, both iu England and American, though
owing to tho crowding of tho profession of
late, this is true only of the very best writ
ers. The salaries of official court stenog
raphers in New York run from $3,000 to
$3,000. In other states they will earn about
$1,500. Tho reporters of tho congressional
committees roceivo $4,200 apiece yearly.
Twenty years ago newspapers were in the
habit of reporting speeches and lectures in
full, nnd there was a groat demand for stenog
raphers for this work. But tho groat vol
ume of news now crowds out these detailed
reports. It is rare now that a long speech is
reported. When one is to bo taken down a
person especially devoted to this work is
given tho job, receiving therefor from $6 to
$10 a column.
ROGER Q. MILLS.
Democrat Congressman and Chairman of
the AVays and Means Committee.
Roger Q. Mills, of Texas, is chairman of
tho committee ci ways and means. This
chairmanship is regarded the most important
position in tho gift of the speaker, and is
especially so just now, when tho tariff ques
tion is attracting so much utteution, for this
committee will have charge of whatever
tariff legislation is accomplished.
Mr. Mills was born in Todd county, Ky.,
and is 45 years of age. At 17 ho went to
Palestine, Tex., where he studied law, finish
ing his studies three years later; but being
only 'JO, and tho laws of tho state of Texas
requiring a practi
tioner to lie at least
SI, Mr. Mills would
have been obliged
to wait one year,
but a special law
was passed by tho
legislature, and he
was admitted to
practice without
tho additional year
being added to his
age. He settled at
Corsicana and
jifkii"1 opened a law oince.
Roger q. mills. His practice soon
became lucrative, bot when tho war came on
ho left it for the Confederate service, which
ho entered with the rank of lieutenant
colonel, retiring at the finish a full colonel,
with honorable soars, having boon thrice
wounded.
Going back te Corsirana, ho resumed the
practice of his profession and was regarded
as an able counsellor. In 1872 he was elected
inomber of congress at large, and in tB74 was
chosen to represent the Fourth district of his
state, and again represented tho Niath dis
trict. Be wasane of Mr. Carlisle's most
active supporters when be (Carlisle) was first
a candidate for speaker of the hoase. This
naturally resulted in a warm personal friend
ship between the two mea Mr. Mills is also
a warm friend of the president. Mr. Mills
has already assumed the loadei-ship left va
cant by Mr. William R. Morrison.
In jersonal appearance Mr. Mills is tall,
muscular and commanding. He stands
nearly six foot high and is broad sho-iVlered.
He is open, frank and aggressive. Ho wears
his hair, which is gray, closo cut, and his
face is adorned with a frosted mustache
and goatee. He is said to bo truthful, and
can say "yes" r "no" without keeping one
who wishes to engage his interest in any mat
ter dancing attendance w hen ho has no in
tention or ability to serve the person seeking
his influence. All this has rendered him
popular in his state.
How Actresses Lafear.
Pcoplo say some, men and women aro "born
actors;" but thoso who imagine that they
have not cultivated with on indefatigable
assiduity tho talents he or she possesses from
nature have a very Imperfect knowledge of
the source of that merit which so astonishes
them. Who that knows or reads of Rachel
raoliaus how sho workod and struggled to
gain tho goal hour after hour, day after
day, intonation, pauses, declamation all sho
studied step by step with her master and her
friond Sanson. All cried, "She is a genius,"
yet of how many hours of deep reflection and
earnest study were her rare exhibitions of
skill the fruit
"I have studiel my sobs," she wrote, "and
shall watch to soo if you aro satisfied, for I
am now sure it will come." This she said of
perhaps her greatest piece of acting, the
scene in "Pheilre" where she utters "Miser
able ot jo vis." Not one effect that delighted
and electrified her audience during two years
of this gmit rolo but was rtudied and tried
aud etudird again. HiM'hel was never lost in
a character; it was lost in her.
In referring to my humble ffforrs in the
pwit, I can only say tliat my best result have
boon through my greatest stuify and work.
Many a night have 1 cried myself to sleep
unablo to reach an ffect or niake a ce-ta'n
point. There have oetn lures when oartain
roles Wave been as a closed book to is, and
even after repeated rehearsals remained a
blank and I became wholly despondent, when
all at once the veil fell from before my eyea
and I seemed to realize the character aad ita
possibilities. Fanny Davenport
(Itf ISAAC "PITWN h Sffl o
Absolutely Pure.
Till! powder never riuii. A marvel of psrtlr,
NtrMiiftli hii4 wlmtinomi'iifrt. More rt'tmomlcai iaa
tlie unliimrv kimM, unit rummt he tolil lu roniptaiUoa
wild Hit innlttiiulu uf In li st, rlmrt weight ttlom ur
ploiriihale ..iwliT8. Sold only in can. ltuYAL Uai
imi 1'MWbtut'u. HKiWullbb N.Y.
SB. J. J3. WALKER,
Oculist and Aurist,
Who ha practiced In thin city a ' te
li(, way be commlted
AT THE CLIFTON HOTEL, OTTAwA,
On the nrat Buturdty of each month,
aa foikiwi:
Saturday December 3
Saturday January V
Saturday February 4
Saturday Maroh S
Suturday ....April T
Saturday May ft
At all other tunna (aa Una ta the only plare he vUM
profuaalonully) be may be found la Chicago.
OKFICK AND DISFKN8AKY:
88 Waahln tea Street. H. W. Comer of PearWa.
Farm Lanls for Sale.
I have for aiile some nf the brat ImproTt4
Kuril n iu La Salle couuty:
Land" Id Dnytnn,
Luuils In Allen.
Landu la Hronkfleld,
Land lu Grand itanlda.
Lamia lu Farm Kltlice,
Land In Deer 1'ark,
Lftudi iu South Ottawa,
Lttudd In Wallace,
Luuila In Fall Kim
Laiiila in Mcwlota,
Lanila la Adaau,
Lundi la M.
I can and will give bargalna to purcbaaera
li. F. LINCOLN.
Junis-tf Ottaws M.
BHD
m
ym
All PruiKiin, li'., inc., and (l uu. frrpared oalf bf
r. Seta ArnolrV. Med. Curp.. Wuo-.iocket. & i '
Dr
1888 PRESIDENTIAL YEAR-1888
To Keep Posted on PolitUft
SUBSCRIBE FOR THE
lb Ycrk Weekly Herald
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR.'
Greatest and Cheapest Family Journal j
IN TIIE UNITED STATKi.
An impartial Epitome every wtk t
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Notable CltrMH.
The World of Literature and .Vrt. .
Short 8toriea. j
Information on All Subject-.
JAMES GORLON J5VN1T1,
New York CUy.
Oar Km fit 01-3, wtlch ive HOW oetvpy,
.um about 3 MM Floor Spa
The I1T' t ERS' GCIDB ti
iMUtd Bn,U and Marcl
Y,iuy2 tecItei,wltbOTr
,500 UinatraUoM
-Tjole Ptar Gallery.
: E3 TX,cIesale Prtoaa
4imt to tntmumfrt om all gooda lor
paracxx.I or ftmUy vmt TcUj bow to
order, nd Rtvra e?ast coat oaTarw
tbiag yea xsr, u. Akink, wear, o
fcera iTc-a rtth. The VNVAIXABLH
BCOiM rcnut.n taforaViatlon gleamed
vTMrai r.j,e uw.r.wU f,tae world. A
c;V 'li 3"T33 receipt mt
Z0 ..'a. to iijey -rpeMa mailing.
IMATQOiAZRt 'XRD A CO.
Sl.'.-lJi IIcLlffr a Aveork galeae, Uk
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About The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916