The enterprise-recorder., April 21, 1910, Image 3

About The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933

Image provided by: University of Florida

                
ON TRAMJI.
Hush llttlo on c-pnup from tliy wnlltwr,
laik Rrowi tle night I can Journey im
imri;
Look hi the ships on the black water 11 -inK,
Hear the ffrent waves, as they crush
en the fOwre.
O Thou, O little Thou!
$n man can tlml uh to trouble tu how!
Whit fnilh the wiiter? "The diitktion Ih
lllM-p.
Xl.e mi hath a ong that shiill lull then
t in sleep !M
,0' It lit the bra, little Tlmu, little
Thou
And the ea shall slnff theo to sleep.
w v -s W
The Figure in the Doorway.
How John Ridgewi) Came to Go back to It Alter Thirty Years.
(W. R. Hose in Cleveland Plain-Denier.)
A man was fumbling with the lock
of the long low shed at the foot of
the sloping lawn. The man wan John
Ridgeway, and he was the owner .f
the sloping lawn and the low shed
and of the red tiled roof that showed
aluive the trees.
Vet John Ridgeway was acting
turn' like an Interloper than it pro
misor. He looked around nervously
-s he fitted tne Key in "
u. w pushed open the wide double
dooic.
The sun was forcing slender rfd
and yellow arrows of light up from
behind tho low eastern hills. Some
where In the distance a roaster sound
ed a faint call. There was dew on the
gratis and tho night wind fluttered
the leaves.
It was light enough for John Rldg
way to find his way about, and the
darkness paled with every passing
moment.
Ho had not slept well for several
rights. The quiet of the place failed
to soothe his Irritable brain. The sim
ple remedies given him by the fine,
old doctor whom he had reluctantly
consulted, proved unavailing.
What you really need," said the
fine old doctor, "Is not complete rest,
but. complete change, with something
to had your Interest along a new
channel. Haven't you a home some
where I don't mean a palace or a
hotel, but an old fashioned home?
Where do you come from?"
"Michigan Southern Michigan."
' And Isn't the old home still
there?"' .
"1 believe it Js.':
"Why can't you go there for a
month or two? . I.ook up hp 01(1
haunts,- and the' early friends. Bo a
bo again."
"1 couldn't think of it," said John
Rldgeway abruptly.
lint he did think of -It.
He had thought of it that night as
he sat by the open window and
smoked and stared wearily at the
trembling stars.
Had he reached the limit of his
powers? Was he going down as Silas
Rankin went down, and Stephen Gur-
ney? Was the mind that had served
him so long and faithfully growing
Indifferent to its duty?
He peered across the lawn as he
drew from the low shed the hidden
ii'-i.iplane. It was lightly borne upon
it.-, track and he drew it away from
the shed and did not halt until it was
in the exact spot whence he and
Crandall had taken their short flight
the dav before.
He and Crandall would have tried
tie craft again that morning, only
Crandall could not come. He had
'phoned John Rldgeway the night bp
fnro that hla mother was dangerously
ill and he was called to her bedside.
His mother. Crandall's mother,
Somehow John Rldgeway had looked
upon Crandall as quite alone in the
world alone with his workshop and
his Inventive genius. He had never
mentioned his mother.
This was Crandall's aeroplane,
biilt with John Rldgeway' money
John liked the eager young fellow and
believed In him. And here was the
craft he had planned and perfected
under John Rldgeway's watchful eye.
for John might have been a fair me-
chanlc, a creditable handler of tools,
If fate had not called him to more
strenuous things.
He knew the aeroplane almost a
well as Crandall knew it, but after
his usual cautious fashion he mane no
boast of his knowledge.
Now he was going to take flight In
It alone. It had behaved so well the
day before In its short flight that n
taxi perfect confidence In it.
"It only needs a light brace or two
and a general tightening to be entire
ly seaworthy,".. Crandall had said as
he glanced the craft .-over.
"Airworthv." John' Rldgeway cor
rected' him.
And they had planned ' that Cran
dall would c-ome ud early from the
village and they would enjoy an ap
petizing flight before breakfast and
. now John Rldgeway was going alone.
Everything had been placed in
( readiness for that early flight.
Ridntewav carefully attached the
tinge plane and tried the levers,
Then he raised the craft on it spiral
lack and took the navigator's seat.
IV. lc, titlle non whnt upp Is I'i! rrvlnc?
Iluir the ilry Biuf-t, us it Ixmls li il
wind;
None but the brpczo Fhiill 1 i 'ur us,
lyliiK
With i!n-k Mf-i before, ;ttnl the black
dcwnn l.plvnd.
O Tlmu. ( 1 it t li- Thou.
Wutor nnd wtml will fare nf uh
Mnw!
What filth tlie brt'py.cV "Tin1 dui kin hh is
tlc.'P,
The hMh a pinn.? that nhall hill
, thee to i;lt'i'"
Ttnn to tin wind, liule Thou, little
Thou
And th wind nhii!l King tlu-e to Hlopp.
I
I
3
A moment Inter the throb of the
motor arose on the still air. As the
speed Increased the rraft tugged at
Its mooring. Rldgeway threw on" the
retaining clutch, the aeroplane slid
forward and slowly arose.
He drew a qnlcK hreath. This was
fine. It fravc him the old thrill or
power. Ills pulses stirred, a new
light came into his eyes.
He floated across the little valley,
gradually rising, and cleared the
woods on the ridge beyond by 200
feet. Then he tried the steering gear
and swerved to the right. It whs
lone a little too suddenly. He would
he more careful next time. He brought
e craft around In a wide ore, pass-
ng over the woods on the south
hill, and ever the rond above the
mill, and back toward the village
the village where Crandall lived.
He wondered how Crandall's moth
er was.
Now that he had tested his control
of tho aeroplane he grew bolder. Ho
wax a man who had taken risks all
hrough life. He totk a new risk
nw. Ha arose higher and yet higher.
Ho had felt no fear, only a little anx
iety. He was sensitive in a way. He
never wanted to undertake a task
that he didn't carry through with
credit to his skill. Ho only took
risks when he felt sure of tho final
outcome.
A tiny clock hung to a support in
front of him. He had glanced at It as
he took his seat. It was then 6.23. As
he lifted the aeroplane ha glanced at
It again. It Indicated 6.27. He laughed.
Only four minutes.
What would Crandall think of this
lid venture? What would the grave
nd reverend doctors with whom he
occasionally met think of it? What
ould Jim Maddox, his rival in the
street, think of it?
He arose a little higher.
He would make nnother circle.
As he changed directions a pulf of
wind struck him and the planes sud
denly canted. With an involuntary
movement he threw the steering wheel
over. There was a sharp cracking
sound and the left plane seemed to
rumple up. John Rldgeway was
thrown from his seat, but clutched at
metal bar. Then the great planes
collapsed over him.
BACHELORS'
At a wedding breakfast
give their reasons for remaining
The following were among
"I am like the frog in the
water, would not Jump Into the
out again,"
"I am too selfish, and honest
"I prefer, on the one hand, liberty, refreshing sleep, the opera,
midnight suppers, quiet socluBlon, dreams, cigars, a bank account,
and club to on the other hand
linen, soothing syrup, rocking
nockets."
"I have a twin brother, and
one another. Ho Is married." -
The aeroplane and
Its human
freight was falling.
A boy was staring at an advertise
ment In a weekly country paper. He
was a stout boy of 15 and as he read
the lines before him his face lighted
UP- ' ' ' .. .
'Listen to this, mother, ne cnen.
Then he read tna aaveriisenieui
aloud: , V-"' '..'.
"Wanted Strong bojr to go to cny.
One who understands horses and Isn't
afraid of work. Ask for Mallory at the
Fowler house." ' ' ,
Tho mother looked up at the eager
young face. She was' sitting by the
glass lamp at the table with its red
cover, sewing. ' '
"Well. John?"
It was auoh pleasant, sympathetic
vnlcA.
"Mother," cried the lad, "that's me
strong boy who understands horses.
Can I -o?"
The mother hesitated.
"Pee the man, John, dear, and af
terward we will ulk about your g )-Inf,-."
Then the boy noticed Hint his
mother's ry s i-eomed to hither her
and that s-'ie lient close to her sewing.
He saw the man Bt the hole'. ialy
the next m.irning and suited his criti
cal taste.
"Can I go, mother?"
"Are yru so nnxions to go, dear?"
"Yes, mother. It's a npiendiil
chance."
The mother sighed.
"You will come home soon, dear?"
"And write often?"
'Yes, yes."
Her eyes were bothering her again,
but the boy scarcely noticed this he
was so filled with delight.
But he did feel u little subdued
when the hour of parting came. He
couldn't quite understand why his
mother felt so bad about It and why
Bhe clung to him In such a teary
way. No doubt she was worried be
cause she feared he couldn't take enre
of himself. But he would show her.
"Rood by, mother."
"Ooodby, dear son."
She was stp.ndlng In the doorway as
he went down tho road with his lit
tle bundle. He remembered that pic
ture a long time.
And something choked him as he
Wtlieri hack nnd lie broke Into a
quick run and the picture wss fone.
"What's your name," the man asked
hiin.
"John Rldgeway."
"Goln' to make it famous, eh?"
"I dunno. Mnybe."
"Well, yon stick by me. then."
But he hadn't stuck by Walker very
long. He was not an easy l.isk manor.
Moreover, ho was a hard drinker nnd
forgetful about the boy's wages. Ard
one day he had come to the stable
drunk and struck John blindly and
unreasonably and John had nimbly
eluded the blow and run away.
He didn't go back. Instead he
knocked about the streets doing rfld
jobs and often wishing he could see
tho patient figure in the doorway of
the old home again. He wrote now
and then and made his letters ns opti
mistic as possible. And when times
with him grew Btlll more hard and
bitter he wrote oftener perhaps be
cause he had more leisure.
His affairs were at a very discour
aging ebb when the tide turned. Ho
had quieted and subdued a young
horse that was driven by an elderly
man, and the elderly man had been
so much Impressed by the boy'B cour
age and cleverness that he had taken
him Into his employ.
It was a rather dull position In a
dull old house with ro chance tp rise.
The boy chafed against his narrow
opportunities.
One day he went to his employer
and unfoided a plnn through which
he could by prompt purchases of a
certain commodity profit by a rise
that seemed inevitable. It was a sim
ple deal, only relieved by the boy's
shrewd reasons for believing the stuff
would rise In value.
Rut his elderly employer received
the scheme coldly. Tho house didn't
do business In that way. Not to put It
too mildly, the boy's plan wus merely
a gambler's chance.
23
EXCUSES
the bachelors were called uiion to
so.
them:
fable, who, though lie loved the
well because he could not Jump
enough to admit It.
disturbed rest, cold meat, baby
horses, bread, pudding and- empty
we have never had a secret from
Chlcago Record-Herald.
11
The boy withdrew from the dingy
office. He withdrew as far as the es
tablishment of a customer of the
house, a keen eyed man who had
spoken to him In a friendly way on
several occasions.
The keen eyed man had listened to
the boy's plan with an amused smile.
"And how much do you expect for
your share In the deal?" he asked.
"Ten percent of the net profits,"
the boy quickly ' replied.
"Modest youth," said the man wlt&
a laughv "Ooodby." :
A week later he handed the boy a
folded slip of paper as he passed him
In the big wareroom.
"Your share," he abruptly re
marked and passed on.
The boy unrolled the paper. It waa
a check for 360.
Let It be said to his credit that he
sent 100 of this amount; to the lov
ing mother.
That check marked the turning
priint In his career. From that mo
ment he prospered.
And us he prospered the patient
figure of the mother in the iloorwiiy
grew r.u. re and more Indistinct. He
sent money to her with unfailing ng
nlnritv and occasionally he wrote.
Hut f e picture grew dimmer.
Ho went abroad. He mixed with
great captains of Industry. They rec
ognized him as a rising force. Ho sat
with them. He was one of their num
ber. And the patient woman In the lar :
off doorway looked In vain tor tne
coming ( f her boy.
John Ridgeway was a busy man.
His Interests were many. His time
was brief. Small wonder thnt. the old
home grew further and further away.
In time It quite disappeared.
Men trenilil"d at John Rldgeway's
name. The Hii.tm inl power he wielded
had been fairly equalled. Clutched in
his strong rittht hand were threads
that ran In many directions and con
trolled many interests.
And then one day he saw the pa
tient figure In the door way again.
He hadn't been ciulto hlms.df that
day. Ho was dull and heavy and he
knew It. And being c.ipable of think
ing of his schemes and plans, he sud
denly thought, of himself -nf his boy
hood, of his early lioni".
It. was after this that he went to the
fine old doctor. The tmi. li of senti
ment worried him. He f.-ared a uien-
l tul breakdown.
And lo! tho doctor hail confirmed
his fetirs and what was stilt more
strange, had brought up the very vis
Ion that disturbed him.
When he left tho doctor's office he
took a letter from his pocket and read
It through. Then lie carefully put it
back In the envelope w hich bore the j
postmark of the old town. ;
"Hah," he suddenly growled, "I'm
getting childish." 1
Ho had bought a country home to j
help the owner, whom the money
market had wrecked. It was grand
and lonely. If It had not been for tho
airship experiments he would have.
gone back to tho rooms in the city.
But the aerop.lane engrossed John
Rldgeways attention. It quieted his
mind. It was a soothing plaything.
What was that? Where was he?
Then ho saw tho picture again. The
mother in the doorway, but her face
wore a look of terror and her hands
were stretched out In agony.
A midden sham chill came over
him. a crashing blow stunned him. i
He remembered no more. J
When John Rldgeway opened his
aching eyes he was lying In a dark-j
ened room, but be could faintly make
out the anxious face of the fine ol
doctor.
He tried to speak.
The doctor went down.
"How long was I falling?" he whis
pered. "One of the villagers happened to
have his watch in his hand when ho
caught sight of you," the doctor an
swered. "Ho saw tho aeroplnno col
lapse and watched your fall. You
were buoyed up by the planes and the
descent from the moment of the dis
aster until you dropped Into the mill
pond was exactly thirty seconds."
Tho pale lips moved.
Tho doctor bent again.
"It was thirty years oxactly thirty 1
years." '
The doctor drew back. Ha did not ;
smile. I
"That must cover the period of
your public life." ho gravely said.
Tho eyes said yes.
The doctor bent to catch tho com-;
ing message.
"I lived It all again," said John 1
Rldgeway. I
The doctor slowly nodded. '
"You have had a miraculous es- ,
cape." he said. "You have been se- I
verely shocked and badly bruised, but J
you are going to get well. What are
you trying to say?"
How soon can I be moved?"
"In a few days, I hope."
"There Is something I want."
"Yes. What is it? Take your time."
"I want to go home," whispered
John Rldgeway.
"Home?"
"You know the home I mean. You
asked me about It"
"Yes, yes, I remember. Go on."
"There Is a letter In my coat pock
et. You will find It."
"Yes, yes."
"I haven't been home for thirty
yeaTs. It's a long time. You get pret
ty tired In thirty years.
'"Yes."
There was a little silence.
"Somebody is waiting for me," mur
mured John Rldgeway, "She is stand
ing In tho doorway, the old doorway
with the vines about It. She has
changed. Her hair is gray and she
leans against the casing, but her hand
Is stretched out to me and . her face
It smiling."
A softened look crept over the
bruised face. 1
The old doctor laid his hand softly
on John Rldgeway's limp fingers.
"I will take you to her," he said.
Every winter more and more women
are going north to camp In the pine
woods and to hunt moose and deer
during the snowy season.
' NEGLECT
YOl'R KIDNEYS.
r. BK-& n aw at a. w
run ma JT.
ATaodu ac kidHsT.t
'tlVIIVI I l
Cure Comtlpattnn, Diarrhoea, ConvuMor.t,
Colic, Hfiur Stomach, etc. It ljfttuy Wnrmi,
Allajn HevpHMinfM nnd CnMs, It Aids Dera
tion. It Mnkefil l pthino Hnny, Promote Cheer
fiulaear ud fruduces Natural fcleep.
St. Edmund' Hall.
St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, the In
dependence of which seems threat,
ened by neighboring Queen's College,
j Is now the sole survivor of tne orig
j Inal "halls" from which university
I life arose at Oxford. It bears the
i name not of tho martyred Saxon
monarch but of Archbishop Ldmund
Rich, who possibly about 1219 deliv
ered near this spot the first Oxford
lectures on Aristotle. This legend
once enabled the present princlpnl ta
retort that If Dante really visited Ox
ford he might conceivably have stud
ied at St. Edmund's Hall, hut not at
Queen's College, which did not then
exist. Westminster Gazetto.
Prisoners Released to WorK.
r hmu nPAl
In one of toe v
i. . orison which opens
.rn morning and
i prisoners go Into the town for house
work, gardening or -me trade. Some
! act m commissioner.. In
! In,, they Qley at tb?
' pointed time o the prison and th.
I jTiler most Wully ident flea them
I before withdrawing the bolts for
! ,helr admission. Onoe a Prlsone
I ventured to present himself at tie
1 rates of Ihe prison In a st.ite of In
1 ebrlety, and the Jailer refused to ad
: mlt him. "To punish you,' he said.
"you will to-night sleep out or am.,..
And the .r.rlsorer, it Is recorded, in
tplta of tears and entreaties, was
condemned to pas the night outside.
A LITTLE THING
Changes the Home Keeling.
Coffee blots out the sunshine from
many a home by making tho mother,
or some other member of the house
hold, dyspeptic, nervous and Irritable.
There are thousands of cases where
the proof lg absolutely undeniable.
Here Is one.
A Wis. mother writes:
"I u taught to drink coffee at
an early age, and also at an early age
became a victim to headaches, and as
I grew to womanhood theao head
aches became a part of me, as I was
scarcely ever freo from thorn.
'.'About five years ago a friend
urged me to try Postnm. I made the
trial and the result was so satisfac
tory thut we havo used It ever Blnre.
"My husband and little daughter
were subject to bilious attacks, but
they have, both been entirely free
from them since we begun urlng I'os
tum Instead of coffee. I no lunger
have headaches and my health is per
fect."'
If sorne of theso nervous, tired. Ir
ritable women would only leave off
coffee absolutely and try PoBtum thoy
would find a wonderful change In
thblr -life. It would thon be filled
with tunshlne and happiness rufher
than weariness and discontent. And
think what an effect It would have on
the family, for the mood of the moth
er Is largely responsible for the tem
per of the children.
Read "The Road to Wellville," In
pkgs. "There's a Reason."
' Ever read the above letter? A new
one appears from time to time. They
are genuine, true, And full of hosian
Interest,
fFEL DON
WW