OCR Interpretation


The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, February 19, 1904, Image 1

Image and text provided by Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87065612/1904-02-19/ed-1/seq-1/

What is OCR?


Thumbnail for

THE STARKVILLE NEWS.
VOLUME 11.
I Woman Disposes |
I By i
| JOHN C. FI SC H BECK |
(Copyright. 1903, by Dally Story Pub. Oo.)
THIS happened 20 years ago, when
good Mr. Spotswood was governor
of this fair province of Virginia. I was
a young gallant then, and not a some
what sluggish dullard, as I have be
come. And Mme. Clarendon, whom you
maj see knitting placidly by the window
yonder, was neither elderly nor gray
haired. She was as lissom© a young lass
as one might wish to see, and when I
saw her first, riding along a country lane
on her palfrey, I felt that Cupid’s arrows
had wounded me once for all.
Now, this is a bit of personal history,
and refers to Christmas time and stormy
weather, such as sometimes happens,
though but rarely, in our Virginia. There
were many merry-makings in the coun
try in those days, when the example of a
pleasure-loving monarch, howbeit he
dwelt across the seas, encouraged his
people in all such harmless indulgences.
It was at a neighbor’s place, where we
w r ere enjoying a dance, not long before
the beginning of the holiday season, that
I made my bow' to sweet Mistress Pru
dence Haywood. But she would have
none of me, tossing her pretty head and
bustling off on the arm of one of her oth
er suitors.
I thought this a bad beginning, but re
minded me of the proverb about the
brave and the fair, and determined to
press my suit. It chanced that her
father had been an old comrade of mine
in the Indian wars, and I soon found
means to visit him. The old man re
ceived me cordially, and as we sat over
our mugs in the comfortable wainscotted
hall of his fine old dwelling, he rehearsed
to me the eventful story of his cam
paigns. I listened with outward re
spect, but, as I confess with some
shame, with small attention; because
Mistress Prudence served us from time
to time, as the mugs ran dry—talking
being thirsty w ork —as my eyes and ears
w ere for her alone.
I need not say that once established in
the good man’s graces. I was assiduous
in my wooing. But Prudence put me
off with the art of which every maid,
however country bred, is mistress. At
the end of the twelvemonth I knew no
better how I stood in her estimation
than ( did at the beginning.
Christmas eve was approaching, and
with the decline of the year came fre
quent storms and tremendous snows,
such as the people of the vicinage had
not seen for a time longer than com
passed by the memory of the oldest man
amongst us. Travel w’as not only diffi
cult, but perilous, and hardly a morn
ing passed but brought tidings of dis
tress, not rarely coupled with the news
that some daring equestrian had suc
cumbed* to the cold, or been ’whelmed in
a treacherous creek. I could not leave
my lonely hall in such w'eather without
a decent excuse, and fora week searched
in vain for a reasonable pretext to dare
the dangerous roads and see Prudence
again. I was very much in love, and it
seemed at length as though I would risk
any danger, just to see her sweet face
again.
At last I could no longer deny the
gratification of my desire. So, saddling
my horse, Dobbin, I pushed through the
heavy drifts and on to Holloway hall,
passing over the great stone bridge
across the river which separates the
tw'o estates. I noted that the ice had ac
cumulated perilously against the cen
tral arch of the bridge, and remarked to
myself that there would be risk, an’ the
weather moderated not, of the ancient
structure collapsing before the tre
mendous pressure. At another time or
on another mission, I might have dis
mounted and made an examination of
the masonry, but I pushed on, assuring
myself that there was no immediate
peril, and that the stonework had stood
50 winters, even if none so severe as
this, and would doubtless survive a few
brief days of stress.
As I brushed the snow from my cloak
in the porch of Holloway, I could not but
feel a sense of foolishness, for having
ventured on a visit at a time so evident
ly unpropitious. Old Master Hayw'ood
w r as absent, but Prudence met me at the
door.
“Why, Master Clarendon,” she said,
saucily, “ ’tis a rough wind that blows
you hither. Shall I bid you welcome, or
no?”
“As you prefer," I answered, somewhat
stiffly, for I was nettled at the mockery
in her eyes. “But since I come so far
and by such dangerous roads, I may tell
you that I have an object in doing so."
A sudden color flamed into her cheeks,
and she drew back with a little exclama-
STARKVILLE, MISS., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1904.
tion, partly surprise and partly coquetry
—for such is the manner of girls.
“Fear not,” I cried, the sight of her
dear face putting to flight all the timidity
of the previous moment, “all I have to
say may be put in three words: “I love
you, Prudence!' "
I paused for an answer. But never a
word said she. She stood there smil
ing.
“Marry me, my dear,” I began again.
“I have loved you ever since I saw you
first; ’’ and then 1 went on to tell her how
I had seen her riding on a day near 18
months before, and then of the dance
where I had first addressed her, and then
of her father’s long stories of old cam
paigns, and my inattention when she
was within sight. But she interrupted
me not at all; merely smiled as she lis
tened. And when I made an end, there
fell a silence between us.
“Will make no answer to my suit?” I
said, finally. “Well, be it so. But I will
ask again, and again, and yet again, till
you tell me what I wish to hear. Sweet
Mistress Clarendon that is to be, I salute
you!"
“You have impudence, sir,” she cried,
“to take possession of me so cavalierly!
I will marry whom I please, and when I
please, an’ it will not be you. I care not
at all for you!"
It was warm and snug within doors,
but as I swung to saddle again, the cold
struck into my bones, and the growing
storm made all about black and strange.
The wind had sprung up within the hour,
and now whirled the snow into blinding
clouds, so that my faithful horse picked
his way slowly and still more slowly
through the increasing drifts. My own
mind was full of sad thoughts. Though
I was resolved to win Prudence in the
end. this did not prevent me from yield
ing to the deep depression of my mood.
I cast the reins on Dobbin’s neck and let
the good beast proceed at his own sweet
will.
I know not how long I had been riding,
nor how far I had,got on my way home
ward, when my melancholy meditations
were interrupted by the sound of some
thing following me. In the noise of the
wind it was impossible to distinguish
clearly the direction from which these
sounds proceeded; moreover, the foot
steps—for such they seemed —were
muffled by the snow'. Now adays I think
it strange that I should have heard any
thing at all. But, my friends, there is a
clairvoyance of the heart by means of
which we have an instinctive knowledge
of many things too subtle to be heard
or seen* with the gross bodily organs.
And so it seems to me in the case I speak
of; for, obeying an impulse, the cause
of which I cannot even now describe to
you, I suddely caught up the reins and
turned Dobbin’s head against the wind.
And well it w r as that I did so. For in a
few moments I heard a voice cry out in
distress, and, by my faith, it was not the
hoarse shout of a man, but the shrill
treble of a frightened woman. With
that, I clapped spurs sharply down and
hastened with all speed possible to give
what help I could; for under such cir
cumstances it is not w'ell to delay.
FREE SMOKES FOR SINNERS.
Tobacco Used In Prison* Doc* Not Pay
a Government Revenue Tax—A
Recent Ruling;.
Convicts serving terms in the various
prisons of the country have one privilege
people outside the walls do not enjoy.
The commissioner of internal revenue
has decided that it is permissible for ,
state prisons to manufacture tobacco or
cigars for its own inmates without pay
ing license. The commissioner says;
“I would say that upon careful consid
eration of the question involved, it is
held that a charitable or other institu-.
tion conducted by the state and under
state authority, with Its own operatives,
has the right to manufacture tobacco,
cigars, or any other tobacco product
without the payment of tax when all
such manufactured tobacco is used ex
clusively within the state institution.
“The tobacco must, however, be manu
factured within the limits of the state
institution, and no portion of it be re
moved therefrom. If any portion of
such manufactured tobacco Is found out
side of the limits of the institution, it
will be liable to seizure and forfeiture,
the same as any other unstamped manu
factured tobacco which might be found
upon the market”
HAREM WANTED SARDINES.
When First- Boxes of Tbl* Delicacy
Reached Morocco Court There
Was Great Excitement.}
If the sultan of Morocco, Muley Abd
el-Aziz, loses his throne, it perhaps
might be due to the discontent of his
subjects in seeing him adopt so precip
itately European manners and habits..
And whom do you think I found there,
stalled in the snow, half fainting in her
saddle from the cold and the bewilder
ment of the night?
Prudence!
My arms were about her in an instant
As I bore her from her horse, wrapping
my cloak about her trembling figure, sh#
put her dear head against my shoulder
and began to sob. To my eager question,
what had sent her forth on such a night,
she made no answer for a long time,
and 1 availed myself of the opportunity
to turn in the direction of Holloway hall,
leading her palfrey by the bridle. At
length, as Prudence regained her com
posure, I learned why she had followed
me.
“A moment after you left," she whis
pered, hiding her face in my breast, my
father rode up, having been out on busi
ness at the village. He was full of con
cern. for, he said, the bridge over the
river between your house and ours had
gone down during the evening, the
weight of the ice piled against it. What
time did it go, father?’ I asked, filled with
a sudden apprehension. ‘Scarce an hour
since,’ he answered; T heard it as I was
leaving the village.’ At once 1 thought
of you riding home in the night, unable
to see what lay before you, blinded per
chance, by the snow, and with that brok
en bridge in your path. Without a word
to any, I snatched my hood and cloak,
fled to the stable, and, saddling my pal
frey, started in pursuit. But though I
know the road so well, the snow proved
too much for us, my horse and I, and had
Providence not watched over ns, I fear
we would have perished. A silly fool am
I! 1 might have sent my father, or one
of the men. But, no! I did not stop to
think! I —”
“Glad am I you did not,” I sakl, “for
now, Mistress Prudence, you shall deny
me no more. A woman takes no such
risks for a man she loves not. Said I not
truly you would marry mo, after all?"
She answered not. In a few minutes
we met Master Haywood, and a troop
of his men searching for the missing
maid. ,
“Sir,” said I. as we drew rein before
the hall, “I crave your hospitality for
the night, for my own home is tar, and
the weather unpropitious. And to-mor
row I shall ask you yet another favor
still."
“Harry,” replied the old gentleman,
clapping me on the back, “it hath al
ready been asked and granted. The
wench told me months ago she loved
thee and would marry thee. ’Twas only
a matter of waiting till she was ready.
And as for thee —boy, dost think an old
Indian fighter hath failed to see through
thy pretense of interest in his tales of
forgotten battles? Hal’’ and his cheer
ful laugh rang out right merrily. And
as we stood in the great hall, he took our
hands in his, and joined theip together,
and with the tear drops glistening in his
eyes, added: “Take her. Harry, and be
happy.”
And that, my friends, is how Prudence
Haywood made up her mind to become
Mme. Clarendon!
The sultan disregards this danger, how’-
ever, and when he wants a thing Euro
pean, he must have it at once, says the
New York Tribune.
One night there was a great noise in
front of the residence of an Englishman
inhabiting Morocco. Immediately the
soldiers of the palace struck the door
violently exclaiming: “Dq,ba! Daba!
(quick! quick!). The master wants all
the sardines you have in your house!"
The Englishman was not a sardine
merchant, but handed over what few
boxes he had, and learned later that
only a few hours before a foreign min
ister had presented to the sultan a few
boxes of sardines, which were opened
In the harem and partaken of by all
the inmates.
Such a sudden frenzy was created for
them that on the morrow a special rak
kas was dispatched to Tangier, with or
ders to bring all the sardines in the
place.
IN ABSENCE.
“God lead thee, dear!" The sunrise light
Steals softly through the gray.
The dream and darkness of the night
Are lost In perfect day.
I smile, and whisper tenderly:
“God lead thee, dear, alwayl”
“God help thee, dear!" The noontide hour
Is golden, glad, and gay;
The world smiles upward like a flower
To meet the sun’s warm ray.
I pause and whisper earnestly;
“God help thee, dear, alway!"
“God keep thee, dear!” The sunset flush
Kisses the dreaming day.
And In the wondrous holy hush
The whole world seems to pray.
_I kneel and whisper lovingly:
“God keep thee, dear, alway!’’
—Alice E. Allen, in Goqd Housekeeping.
Only 20 per cent, of Italian and 4 per
cent, of the Greek immigrants are fe
males.
Home Making a Lost ylrt
By MRS. ALICE PELOUBET NORTON,
Instructor in the Home Department of the University of Chicago.
HOMES of America are 50 years behind the tiniest The
Thome has been left where it was when our mothers and
grandmtohers solved the problems of both home and educa-
The American mother has gradually dropped all respon
sibility of rearing her children, except the physical art. It is
time she turned her attention seriously to the study of the
ImQk home-making.
In this subject there is still enough for people to learn
to merit a course in the universities of the country. People
are ignorant of the subject, and think when we refer to domestic science
and housewives we mean merely cooking and serving. Manv people
are so ignorant that they do not even know that the yeast they put in
their bread is a by-product of the liquor industry.
An association of housewives and women contemplating marriage
is greatly needed. And, going still farther, all men who ever expect to
marry should take the course in domestic science and the art of home
inaking, leaving out the cooking and sewing, perhaps. For only by
studying what makes an ideal home can a man know how to help his
wife to gain the highest ideals of home life.
Among the different studies I would suggest under the subdivision*
of “Home,” the development of the home, its function in society, its
propagation, location and defense, production and transmission of
wealth, intellectual and social training.
Under the heading of “Maintenance of a Home,' I would suggest
family, house domestic architecture, domestic art, floors and walls, fur
niture.
Under the heading of “Maintenance of a Home,” I would suggest
a line of study inculding such subjects as the science of cleaning and
dusting, plumbing, heating and ventilating, and the selection, care, cook
ing and serving of food.
ROMANCE ON THE BEACH.
suture Wan Doinff Her Very Best. Hut
There Was Somethlnjc More
Sonl-EnKrnHinK.
Around the setting sun the sea rolled
like a molten furnace, deepening away
from fire to crimson, from crimson to
purple, from purple to gray, and so on
to the shimmering black mirror that an
swered to the flickering lights of the in
coming procession of stars, very pret
tily relates a New York Times writer.
Far out from land a belated fishing boat
stole slowly harborward. its red and
its green light mere specks of color on
the vast surface of the rocking water. A
cool wind blew in shore and brought
with it the sound of whistles from the
out-bound steamers in the dim distance.
In one direction the lights of the great
city could be seen as a blur of brightness.
Indistinct and specterlike, upon the
darkness of the summer sky.
To the man on the beach the scene
seemed too glorious for words, and his
soul was caught up by its beauty and
lifted far above the dross and common
ness of the wicked world. In that mo
ment he realized as never before the vast
difference, the unspeakable gulf between
the things of Heaven and the things of
earth, and his heart swelled with love
for his fellow men.
Beside him sat his bride of a month.
The moon has rarely seen a woman more
beautiful. The light in her eyes seemed
born of the beauty of the night, and he
wondered. Was she, too, drinking in its
splendor, feasting upon its loveliness,
breathing it into her W'hole being? Her
gaze was riveted upon the distant hori
zon, where sky and sea were one. She
sighed—oh. how sweetly she sighed!
and turned her beautiful face toward
him.
“John, dear," she murmured —and her
voice was like the whispering of angels
to his soul —“I can’t just decide whether
to have it made with a circular flounce
or with a plain deep ruffle."
Anxious to Help.
He (after the honeymoon) —Has your
father said anything about helping to
provide a home for us?
She —oh, yes, indeed. He said when
we had a home of our own he would buy
me a cookbook and allow mother to
com© and teach me how to use it, even
if it took a year.—N. Y. Weekly.
Lucky Dog-.
“My luck Is the best any man ever
had.”
“The deuce it is!”
“Yes, sir. A girl refused me yester
day, and I see by the morning paper
that her father has lost all his money.”
Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune.
Marie Corelli.
Miss Marie Corelli can write French
and Italian as fluently as her native
tongue.
To Cure a Bad Habit.
The best cure of a bad habit is the cul
ture of a good one.—Chicago Journal.
NUMBER 50.
“ROOTING” FOR HIS SUCCESS.
He Wasn’t Wasting Any Time, Bat
He Was Taking an Easy
Way to Harry.
“It is an Impossibility,” said the late
John Robert Proctor, head of the civil
service commission, relates the New
York Times, “to be stern to a negro ser
vant or a child. Their blandishments
and excuses are above all rules.
“I made up my mind firmly many
times to get rid of a colored man in my
employ w’ho would persist in loitering '
about instead of attending to important
business. One day he was dispatched
on an errand which ought to have taken
him about thirty minutes. He was gone
over two hours. Earnest inquiry
brought forth information that he had
been seen an hour before with a colored
preacher. At last I had something defi
nite in the way of evidence. Whe he re
turned I called him to my office.
“Now, sir,” said I, “what do you mean
by wasting time in this way?”
“I ain’t been a-wasting none of your
magnitudinous time, Massa Proctor.”
“Yes, you have.”
“ ’Deed I hain’L” He bowed humbly.
“You’re a shiftless fellow'; but I hope,
sir, you’re not going to tell me a lie.”
“Oh. Massa Proctor! De Lawd knows
what hei-ne-ous high crime has I did
now?” He was limp with fear.
“You’ve been gossiping away the
government’s valuable time with jour
colored preacher.”
“No, Massa Proctor, I swear by de
soul of Abraham Lincoln ’tain’t so. Hope
to die if it isn’t true what I say. 1 met de
parson of de Baptist church, and I says,
T’se gwine on a most importentous er
rand for Massa Proctor, I is,’ and he
says, ‘Well, if dat’s so we’d better ask
de blessin’ of de Almighty, for Massa
Proctor needs and deserves it,’ and Mas
sa Proctor, w r e wuz prayin’ for success
in your undertakin’ all this time.”
Snake Seram.
The serum obtained by inoculating
horses with cobra venom, so effective in
the practice of Calmette, has been found
by Dr. Tidswell to have no power in
counteracting the venom of Australian
snakes. Other experiments seem to prove
that the anti-venomous serum is only
active against poison of snakes of the
same species as that supplying the
venom of the serum.
Two at Dinner Time.
“At last,” my angel,” said the happy
man in the new clothes after he had set
tled with the minister, "we are really and
truly one —one for ever.”
“Theoretically, yes/ -ejoined the
blushing bride, “but, from a practical
standpoint, it will be advisable to con
tinue ordering dinner for two.” —Lon-
don Tit-Bits.
Sand for London Streets.
Each year about $50,000 is expended
in sprinkling the streets of London
with sand to prevent horses from slip**
ping.

xml | txt