Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 25 February 1898 — Page 7

SOUTHERN STORY

ANirE

BELLUM DAYS

ZjgAiy

[Copyright. 1SU7. by the Author.]

Mrs. Strong was emphatic. She was thinking of Adrien. She was rather glad he was invay just liuw. Eliza would have lost some of the freshness of a novelty by the time he returned. "I am nf-aid she is sulking. I am told she goes off on that pony and is gone for hours at a time. "I imagine she docs not go off the plantation. I suppose she is renewing acquaintance with the old place. No harm in that, my dear! No impropriety that I can perceive. "No, no harm." "Nor danger." "Neither .irnx nor danger, father, in the act itself, but it indicates restlessness and dissatisfaction with her lot generally. That is what I want to judge of for myself.'' "But what have you to do with it, Adele? Have we not already meddled with Eben Martin's family affairs sufficiently?" "Meddled:"

Mrs. Strong repeated the word in soft voiced wonder. How was it possible lor her to meddle? Could a sovereign meddle with the affairs of his own subjects? Sans Souci plantation was her kingdom. Within its boundary fences she was absolute sovereign. Its mcnservants and its maidservants, its oxen, its sheep, its asses and all that therein was, were her subjects. She had done autocratically just as she pleased, with man and beast, on Sans Souci, ever since the hour that Adrien's father had installed her as mistress, or, rather, crowned her its sovereign with a very pretty speech.

Adrien's lather, the ex-governor's son, had passed away in the prime of a self indulgent life. His widow had held the helm in careful hands so undisturbedly since that the comings and the goings of the old politician caused hut. slight deviations from the regular order of things.

Eben Martin was simply her steward. A necessary and satisfactory medium between her and the multitude of living things, biped and quadruped, which existed principally to minister to the ccmlort of the Strongs. The serene dignity of her social status was not the result of any vulgar commercial success. She had been born into it. Her social importance was prenatal. It would exist after she was dead. She had net come dowerless into the Strong family. She had added to the magnitude and importance of their estate by joining her own to it When she laid down her scepter, Adrien and Adrien's children would lift it up. To the ex-governor, plantation affairs were secondary and incidental. State affairs were absorbing'. "My daughter-in-law's steward" was the facetious way in which he referred to Eben Martin among the neighbors. Eben Martin and his wife and his sons were among the many things that were simply tributary to the fuller, freer life of the big house. Therefore it presented itself in the light of a duty that Mrs. Strong should see that the,domestic machinery of her overseer's house was kept in smooth working order.

As a conscientious sovereign she was minded to look into everything fearlessly. She was seriously disturbed about this vivid, esoteric girl, who was given to violent horseback exercise and bewitching red pompons. Under the given circumstances she considered her father-in-law's selection of the word "meddle" as not only inappropriate but bordering on the offensive.

Finding a discussion of the Martins and their domestic affairs inevitable, tho governor resignedly laid his spectacles across the pile of unopened papers and went into the subject- with some acerbity. "Yes, 'meddle.' That was the word I used. I have come to look upon the whole Martin brood as an ungrateful and stiff necked lot. Really, I have, Adele, my dear." "Why?" ""Well, Eben stood out so stubbornly for a reduction iu the price I had placed on Neck or Nothing. I never would have sold tho land at all had not that boy Seth stubbornly refused to remain on the place unless I would sell him land to start a small place for himself. As for the second son, my namesakes Strong, his attitude is nothing short of incomprehensible. He refused point blank to be Adrien's traveling companion, although the fellow is so quick and intelligent I would rather have paid his expenses twice over than to have sent Adrien off with that dullard, Spencer. "Mr. Spencer belongs to a very good family, father, and ho is not likely to embarrass my son by any social blunders. Perhaps young Martin thinks he has accepted enough at your hands. Moreover, it is quite time he was getting to work. I believe the plan is for him to study under Dr. Wbitcomb?" "Was, but, hang it all, he positively refuses to go into Whitcomb's office. "Refuses? Refuses to study medicine under one of the best practitioners in the south?" "So Eben told me yesterday. "What does he propose to do, pray?" "He is going to movo on to the peninsula. "Neck or Nothing? Impossible I What would he do there?" "Open'it for Seth, is the plan. At any rate, he is going there to live or work or rust"—tho governor gave an impatient outward sweep of his delicate hands—"or rot there. Confound the fellow, I never was more disappointed in any one in all my life." "But there is no house on the Neck. It is a brambly wilderness, a dreary, fenceless, out of the way hole." "It is all that or a little less. Zeke's old cabin is still standing on it Rather a dilapidated mansion to be chosen by a college valedictorian, with all the world before hirn

"upon my and honor!" Mrs. Strong's amazement was boundless. He must be lacking in ordinary perception of his duty as a man of education and ability. Totally without ambition, 1 suppose. His class generally is."

The governor caressed his chin reflectively. "No, his entire college record is against that theory. I am afraid ho has left Shingloton under something of a cloud. I saw Redmond in town yesterday and was talking with him about Strong. He would not speak out plainly, but hinted darkly that Strong, in the last months of his stay at Shingleton, had tarnished a brilliant record and stripped himself of well won laurels." "I wonder what ho did? Stramre that Adrien should have given you no hint. Not strange, cither. My son could never be ungenerous to a comrade." "I did not inquire further. If it had been Adrien, I should have compelled Professor Redmond to be moro explicit. But, to come back to this little girl of Eben's, 1 really /lo not see that she comes within your province, my dear. "Then I must bring her within it," she said haughtily, and turned toward her waiter. Drake, you will watch for Miss Martin as she rides home. Stop her, and toll her that I want to see her very particularly this morning. She will find me iu the morning room. You can clear off the table."

The governor accepted these orders to Drake as his own much wished for dismissal and rose with alacrity. Piling his arms full ol' newspapers he went off briskly in direction of his study. Once inside of its heavy, carved door no sound, no intrusion of petty local affairs, would disturb him.

In answer to Drake's somewhat flippantly delivered messago from "the madam," Liza sprang from the saddle as she was riding homeward an hour later, flung the bridle to the boy, and, gathering her long skirt over her arm, walked sedately into "the madam's" presence.

She knew quite well where to find the object of her search. Before she had been sent off to that Baltimore school she and Gabriella had studied together in the morning room. It looked out over the heliotrope and violet beds that were overshadowed by the crimson pomegranate bushes iind tho flame of the flowering quinces. Tho scent of heliotrope always brought back those days to her—brought hack the pinched, intellectual face of the little governess, who had discriminated with cruel candor between Gabriella, refined, delicate, sensitive, and the pretty hoiden from tho quarters, who was admitted on sufferance and had her opportunities thrown at her as bones are thrown to a stray dog. She had bated the governess in those unequal days, had always hated her, in fact, but Gabriella, never. Her she had loved always. Her she had mourned bitterly, if briefly, when the news came of her taking off in earliest womanhood. Gabriella had been her senior by six years, but they had stood and studied heart to heart.

Crowding memories passed in with her through the opening door of the morning room, outwardly trying her composure sorely. She bore herself with the complaisance of a captive princess. She advanced well into the room before speaking, and stood there pressing her tiny, gauntletcd hands tightly upon the handle of her riding whip. Her large eyes were fixed calmly on Mrs. Strong's high bred face. They were red rimmed as from recent tears. When she spoke, the soft culture of her voice was a distinct surprise to her hearer. "Drake tells me you want to see me, Mrs. Strong. Mamma thinks I should have paid you my respects before, but 1 preferred waiting for a summons Ihings have changed so, you know.

Looking at her now for the first time at close range, listening to her, saying what sho had to say with a quiet directness equally free from flippancy as from awkwardness. Mrs. Strong was conscious of a passionate longing and of a brief sensation of thankfulness. If her Gabriella could but have been spared to come back to her radiant, self poised, cultured as this child of Eben Martin's, a plebeian overseer, had come back! It was well! She was glad that Adrien was from home at this juncture. Some disposition must be made of this child before his final home coming.

She assumed her scepter with quiet decision. "Sit down, child. Yes, I wanted to see you. I have some things to say to you that perhaps you will understand better, coming from me, than from your mother. I he no you will receive what 1 have to say iu the right spirit."

Liza walked over to a chair, neither hurriedly nor shyly. She was not oppressed by any disconcerting sense of space between her and this patrician lady, who had been born into possession of all the elegances surrounding her.

She regarded Mrs. Strong's high bred, refined beauty with the girlish enthusiasm she accorded everything that was best of its kind. If good breeding had

"I wonder what he did?"

allowed, she could have smiled as she recalled the unreasoning awe of Gabriella's mother that had filled her ignorant little soul in those bygone governess days in tho morning room. "I was educated into it," she said, in silent self excusing, "just as I have since been educated out of it." Aloud and with unruffled dignity, "If we are going to talk of my affairs, Mrs. Strong, as 1 suppose we are, I should prefer being alone withjrou,"

She glanced toward the window, where black Suzanne had located her hassock to net the best liirlit on the skirt she was hemming. At tho sound of that impelling young voice she rose, swept Liza's bright lace with a look of eager curiosity and awaited further orders.

It was hard to believe that this young lady with her gloved hands and imperious ways was little Liza Martin, who had been born down in the quarter lot. "You can go, Suzanne. You can keep busy too. Weigh those crab apples for the jelly I will measure the sugar when 1 come out.

A wasted moment was the worst of crimes in .Mrs. Strong's kingdom. Suzanne went out, closing the door noiselessly behind her.

A wondering smile broke over Liza's face. "And so that is blac-k Suzanne! ITow tall and stately sho is. Sho looks like an Indian princess. Gabriella and I used to call her Pocahontas and teach her our lessons at second hand. She looks much moi'e like an Indian than a negro. I suppose she is invaluable after all these years of training. Mother tells nio she is quite an accomplished maid—sews, does your hair, preserves and does a little of everything." "Suzauneisverywe.il in her way," Mra Strong said curtly. She was fumbling among the papers or. her desk for her eyeglasses. They were rarely ever just where she could lay her hand on them. "And mother tells me old -ancle Dolbcar is still driving you.

Liza was purposely multiplying words. Mrs. Strong had found her glasses and poised them accurately upon the bridge of her dedicate nose. She was scrutinizing Ebon Martin's daughter with that cool deliberation that finds its only justification in acknowledged social superiority. She was a devoted adherent of the hereditary theory. There was a delicacy and a refinement in this girl's personality that offered an intensely interesting physiological study Liza afterward informed Strong that she was prepared to give an accurate description of a fly's sensation under the microscope. "Dolbear is still active and hale.

It came to Mrs. Strong slowly that a remark had been made and perhaps politeness demanded a reply, but this young person's self possession was, under the circumstances, a trifle disturbing She hail completed her physiological survey, so she took off her gold rimmed glasses. "It is of yourself and your own affairs 1 desire to talk, Eliza. You have been exceedingly ceremonious with me since your return.

Liza met the issue with a pretty gesture of despair. Why should she submit to the probe held in that delicate, aristocratic hand. "1 have no affairs worth discussing. Mrs. Strong. My mother has urged my coming up to the house, but I asked her why and she could not say. No one here needs me now. Mile. Moncrief was never tired of telling me that I was brought up from tho quarters to study with Gabriella because she needed the stimulus of competition. The taunt made very little impression on me in those days. Either I must have been a dreadfully spiritless little animal or else love carried us triumphantly over every social barrier. We knew nothing about class distinctions then, my darling and She loved me and I loved her." "My daughter was very fond of you. child, it was by her request that all her things were sent to you," said the mistress of Sans Souci in the softest, saddest of voices.

Liza's eyes were luminous with unshed tears. "I know, I know. I miss her so. I go t* see her every day.''

There was something weird in this soul communing. The narrow literalness of Mrs. Strong's comprehension recoiled from it. "You go to see whom, Eliza? I don't grasp your meaning." "Gabriella, my dearest—out there under the pine trees in the lonely old burying ground on the point. She is more real to me than you are, with your whitening hairs and your blue veined temples more real to me than iny mother, who has accumulated flesh and years. Look!" With a hand that trembled perceptibly she touched a bunch of blue periwinkles pinned at her waist. "I gathered them at the foot of her grave. They remind me of her eyes. I go out there and toll mv darling everything. I should stifle to death, else. She knows. She understands. Sho pities.

The pathos in her clear, young voice was potent to move Mrs. Strong to an act of unusual condescension. Sho left the writing desk before which she had been sitting all this time and came over to share the sofa seat with her overseer's daughter. "Gabriella's mother pities you, too, Eliza." "You I You pity me? Oh, why did you urge my father and mother to send me away from them? I know it was meant in kindness, but what has it done but unfit me for—them—for mv life? "They do not know what all this means to me. With God's help they never shall. But what am I to do with my spoiled self, my despoiled days, shorn of everything I have been educated to prize? Oh, what have you all, in your blundering kindness, done to me?"

It was the irrepressible cry of a soul in protest against the eternal unfitness of its environment.

Mrs. Strong put herself on the defensive with a clizzy sense of topsy turviness. What! She, the mistress of Sans Souci, apologizing to Eben Martin's daughter! "Call it a mistake, if you choose, child. It was certainly meant in all kindness. I must confess I did not anticipate—all—all this." "All what, Mrs. Strong?"

The lady moved uneasily under the quiet compulsion of the girl's splendid eyes. "Really, child, you understand the

art oi matung tilings cumc uic" uiVouihcT you must know that you are uncommonly pretty."

There v:as more sadness than of girlish vanity iu Liza's smile as she answered "I don't want to make tilings more difficult than they arc. That is tlu reason I have been lardy in paying my respects to you. I wanted to get myself well in hand before 1 came to see you. As for my looks, mother and the boys —blessings on their unconventional heads—are a trifle outspoken. 1 might be a doll for the frankness of their flattery. Better—far better if I wire! Then there would be none of this hot, bitter, futile rebellion in my soul."

She flung her hands outward and upward with a passionate sob. When she removed them, it was to find Mrs. Strong leaning back among the sofa cushions, white, agitated, convicted. She was aghast at the mischief she had unwittingly wrought. "I forgot you are not robust. You art not going to faint, Mrs. Strong? Shall 1 call Suzanne?"

The lady opened her eyes languidly. "1 am not going to faint, and 1 do not want Suzanne. I was trying to think of something to say to you, something comforting, Eliza. But 1 am so agitated." "I am sorry to have agitated you. That is wliv I did not care to come. 1 knew I must say all this to you one timo or another. As for your trying to think of 'something to comfort' me"— her sweet, clear voice was full of infinite sachiess—"you are as powerless asl was when I was sent away to bo educated. Such as my life is to be must be the work of my own hands hereafter. 1 wish I could have said what I had to say more amiably, but when the sonl is full of bitter revolt the lips are not apt to drop honey.''

She drew her breath in quickly, bent forward and laid her bunch of periwinkles on the lady's lap. "Gabriella says let there bo peace between US."

In another moment a dash of scarlet against the green of the orange hedge, repeated once, twice, three times, showed where Liza was speeding homeward. "A most unusual girl! A remarkable creature!" Mrs. Strong said, getting up to put the peri winkles in water.

CHAPTER VII.

Life at Sans Souci moved to a livelier measure when Adrien came home, exchanging the stately andante of its everyday routine for a brisk allegro movement, expressive of the holiday spirit of gladness that seized upon everybody on and about the premises.

Old Dolbear struck the keynote to the situation tersely, standing over Sandy, his helper at the stables. (Adrien's home coming meant a good deal in the direction of extra work.) "Y'ou see, boy, it is lak lettin down the checkreins for all eousarnecL Miss Adele, she darsn't be so rigydiiied bout givin out pcrvisions, w'en, jus' as lak as not, w'en the dinner is ready to be dish up, Mr. Adr'n yher he come 'lopin wid three er fo' young gent'mens unqualify, all es hungry es wolfzis. An cook Nancy, she sorter slack up some, bekase she know Mr. Adr'n don't favor 0 o'clock breakfusses, an she kin lay all her own laziness at his door. An black Suzanne, sho take her own time cleanin up uv mawnhi's, for there's such a sight uv pickin up arter that boy tUat hurry in is out uv de question. But, nobody ain't a keerin. Lud, no, sir Who's a keerin? Not ef he mek work enough for fo'ty extra hands. An old mars gov'nor, he step roun lively an you please, lak be want that b?y disfcinc'ly onderstan he ain't out uv de ring hissel yit, nur ready to be lay on de sheff. Nuther is I."

With quick transition from colloquial leniency to judicial severity, Dolbear laid violent hands on the piece of harness Sandy was rubbing. "Does you call that clean? Bekase I beers leave to diffah wid vou."

His bushy, gray brows contracted ominously as closer scrutiny revealed greater obliquity on Sandy's part. V'W "Sandy, you is a low life, triflin, good fur no thin, quarter nigger. You ain't wuth shucks. No, sah. Y7ou ain't wuth the powder it 'ud take t' blow your saphaid off'n with. An you 'spires to wait on Mr. Adr'n

Sandy did not look at all aspiring at that moment. He seemed to be taking himself rather seriously, as Dolbear's denunciation grew in the direction of infinite contempt and forcible invective. "I p'iutedly tole you to brcsh up the drag harness, now, didn' I, boy? An yher you is ben wasen a solid hour on the buggy crupper. You is got a sight to learn yit, Sandy—a sight. I tell you You pmn'kin haid raskil you! "W'en the Strongs goes a-co'tin, they does it in style. You needn't trouble youseff to hitch up ary one horse contraption for my w'ite folks. They is blue blood quality, that is what tho Strong fam'ly is, root an branch, boy. 1 driv' Mr. Gabr'el, Mr. Adr'n's pappy, 'bout w'en he was waitin on the ladies, an wo went in style, I tell you, boy. Mars Gabr'el's gone now, an Mars Adr'n's liaviu his day, but ole Dolbeer ain't furgot yit what's littin in a colua pusson which 'spires to wait on a gent'men uv cibility. You ain't much to look at, Sandy."

Sandy, nowise disconcerted by this Blighting personal mention, surveyed himself gravely, hitched his solitary suspender farther up on the patched shoulder of his ragged cotton shirt and answered with cheerful optimism: "But I kin fix up some. I ain't got no Sunday shoes nur no hat wuth talkin 'bout, but mammy wash my yother shirt yistiday, an I got a better pa'r breeches than these yher, them as 1 keeps for bury ins an baptizin's.

Dolbear waved his hand majestically. "1 is glad to hear it, Sandy, 1 is glad to hear it, but you needn' 'stnrb youseff. Mr. Adr'n is already signify that the bobtail mar's an the drag an ole Dolbear is good 'uofagh to git him over the road in style to Alis' Chambliss' olace.

Miss Amy done come home. Miss Amy, she's ole Mis' Chambliss' onlics' gal, an she'll be rich as Shorthorn cream some uv these days. I reckon (hem bobtail mar's'll trample tho weeds down right smart on (he road '(wist our placeail hern. It won't bo the fas' Strong ole Dolbear is goneeo'tin with Yher"— with a spasm of conscientious energy— "you chuckle head calf, git to work oil dem harness.

The fragrance of a good cigar, followed by a quick, linn footfall, perhaps had something to do with this newborn zeal. Adrien's slender figure was trained in the doorway of (he harness room the next second. "Why, Uncle Dol, you are nibbing away as if you wore just learning your trade! and dying earn your salt. ... "No time fur foolin. Mars Adr'n.' Some folks wnks they ja ws, other 1 olkses wuks they elbows. Dolbear ain't got no time to wuk his jaws, less'n bout grub time. "1 thought 1 told you to get help about the stables. "Dar lie"—pointing the finger of scorn at Sandy—"dar my he'pef you isa mind to call him dat. Whar's your manners, nigger?"

Thus violently introduced to public notice, Sandy rose and made a shuffling movement iu Adrien's direction. Liberally construed, he might have been said to have beiwed.

There was an air of vague uncertainty about all of Sandy's performances, a certain shy tentativeness as if the willing spirit- located somewhere within his uncared for little body was sadly conscious of the flesh's weakness. He was approaching manhood positive of but one thing—that it was impossible for him to escape condemnation from some one at every turn of his existence. Henco a certain unresentful acceptance of Dolbear's tart criticism As he shuffled forward to where Adrien. resplendent. in drab velveteen shooting clothes, stood regarding him with coolly investigative eyes, his own wore lifted dcprecat ingiy as ho ventured a shy salutation. "Howdy, Mars Adr'n? I is mouty glad to see you ag'in.

Furtively he was rubbing his begrimed right hand along the leg of his ragged trousers. If Mr. Adrien should vouchsafe a handshake, he wanted to be found in complete readiness.

But Adrien's ivory white hands, with their carefully pruned pink nails, were clasped about the stock and the muzzle of the gun at rest across his shoulders He flung a nod and a smile at the boy. The smile was bright and the nod friendly Sandy, the uncritical starveling, appropriated them gratefully and grew bold. "1 is got a pup for you. Mars Adr'n— a rale setter pup. She ready fur to be trained right now 1 ben savin her fur you. A setter pup, lie is. "A setter? The very thing! 1 am going to look for some birds this morning. Sandy, and there isn't a dog hut Martin's old collie up at the house, can give her her first lesson this morning.'

Sandy waxed descriptive under this genial warmth of appreciation.. "Her is ole Dido's pup an Hero ix her's daddy W'en you went away to school, ole mars sent ole Dido down to mammy's house an tole mo to tek keer er her, an us did, but her die ali the same. Her die six months ago. 1 lei was wore out, mammy say, but her lef a passel er paps, an mammy sho drown 'em all but one, an she say I irius' raise bit fur you. Us name her Sa'y Jane, an her is got three w'ite foots, jis' lak ole Hero Her is mighty smart, Mar:Adr'n, hut her don't know nothin— notbin tall. "Well, then, it is time I was teaching her something. Go fetch her, Sandy. I've been wondering all morning where I could find a bird dog."

Dolbear's jealous disapproval found vent in a snort of contempt as Sandy leaped nimbly past him and disappeared at a full mil in the direction of the quarters. "Son, don't you be turnin that fool boy's head. He's mouty easy sot up. an don't you be raisin no great 'spectashuns on that pup. Sandy is some on tho brag, 1 fell you.''

Adrien laughed absently and walking to the end of the harness room looked through its one broad, unglazed window into the paddock beyond. "I have changed my mind about rid ing over to the Cliamblisses this morning, Uncle Dol. I think I will take a long tramp instead. I hadn't though I much about the partridges until Sa-idy mentioned Sarah Jane. Where will I most likely to find Bob White?"

No one ever questioned Adrien's mooas. uoinear laici tne nrag names.down regretfully. But "white folks'' most generally were "notionate," according to his observation. "You ougliter fin partridges inns' anywhar jus' now, but they principally feeds up 'bout tho buryin ground. The peafields lays all 'bout the buryin ground, an tbe birds ain't ben pestered much uv late. Ole mars giv' orders nobody was to shoot the partridges. He's ben savin 'em fur you. Den you don't want tho mar's put in the drag?" "Not mi til I give further orders. 1 wonder if one of the Martin boys would not like to tramp with me?"

Dolbear waved a superb negation with hand and head. "Let the Martin boys 'lone, son they is got work to do. Let 'em 'lone. It all done ve'y well w'en you was a passel uv little boys together, ruimin ba'rfoot an climbin pussimmon trees an not knowin from bull's foot, but you ain't a little b'arfoot boy now you is got the fam'ly name to take keer of. The Martin boys is got to work out they own salvation. Let 'em 'lone, son. Birds uv a feather is 'bleeged to flock tegedder. The Martin boys ain't no born gentlemens."

In less questionable English, but with similar impressiveners, Adrien had already received this advice twice over.

With gentle vagueness, as one who would temper justice with mercy, his mother had said: "The Martin boys are worthy,' excel­

lent people in their places, my son, and when you were all children together, subject to my surveillance, tho intimacy was not objectionable, hut of course everything is different, now."

Liza especially, she might have added, but she did not. His grandfather took the unequivocal stand of the plutocratic old aristocrats he avowedly was. "Wo must draw tla- lino somewliero,. Adrien. Ebon Martin is as good and useful man in his sphere as can be found. Ho is that boy Seth. Invaluable on the place, both of them. Charlio is. nothing but a crude youngster yet. And as for (he women, Martin's wife is just what an overseer's wife ought, to he, healthy, vigorous, ignorant, gooel nalureel. The girl, I am afraid, has been spoiled between them all. Your mother there diel her sharo. Sho is an uppish little minx, as full of independence and pride as an egg is of meat. Educated out of all cone-option of lu-r trno sphere in life, 1 fear. Your mother there says the girl is absolutely strong minded talks of going north to study medicine. Revolting." "The world moves, grandpa." Adrien laughed at tlie antiquated horror in tho governor's eyes. "How about Strong? lie was ratlu.-r a favorite of yours at ouo time." "Yes. That is, Eben had bestowed my name on the chap and 1 desired him to do credit to it. I thought ho was in a fair way to do so, too, from all I heard. But"— the governor's long blua veined hand went up to his velvet skullcap and set it slowly rotating—"I am glad you'vo brought his name up, Adrien. It convinces me that you havQ not avoided it purposely.

PurnoKolv I Why should I?" TO 11K CONTWUKl).

II.VZI.ETON WUKCfC.

Tim T^i-IXf'.il ArclilcH 1y ol' a Trunk. PtUNCETON', Ind., Feb. 21.—Tho finding of a trnnkful of jewelry and clothing in'White river near Hazleton, thia county, recalls the railroad disaster which occurred on the Evansvillo and Torre Haute road near llazleton lasti March. The trunk was founu by David Young, a fanner, who sold tho contents to neighbors. William Thorn, i\ railroad detective, learned of tho Iind, and went to Young anil demanded that he replace tho jewels and deliver them to him. Thorn Saturday found a book in the trunk which had tho name John Abbot Hathaway written on the flyleaf. This was the only mark of identity tlio trunk had. It may be that the owner of tho book wont to his death when the train plunged into White, river on that dark night iu March and five people Were killed.

^5: CHINESE FREE PORTS.

Oiivoi-iiiikmiI. tins A^ri'tvl to 0|wi nil Iii^ lull Witter* to iViivj^alioil Pickix, Feb. U1.—China has agreed to open all her inland waters to navigation by steamers, whet.-ser foreign or nativo owned, under regulations to bo framed subsequently. If not restricted by these regulations the agreement, which is to come into operation within lour months is satisfactory, and promises a wide expansion of foreign trade.

China has also undertaken to opou one treaty port iu the province of HuNa.ii within two years, iind proposes Yo-Ch-au near the Yang-Ts-Kiung, on tho bonier of tho province. The Tsung-La-Yanmn's reasons for delay in opening is that the central authority at present is powerless to enforce the immediate openinir of any port in the province of liu-Nan or to protect foreigners there-

TO PREVENT REPEAL.

Mr. Will Oiler Amendments to Corrupt 1'iitctno Art, Cou?Mi es, O., Feb. 21.—Senator Garfield will endeavor to prevent the repeal of tho corrupt practice by having tt amended. He has changes in view which he thinks will eliminate all of the formidable objections which have been entered against the law. Up to this time Mr. Garfield has not formu lateel any et' his amendments, but it is probable that he will put. them in shapo and introduce a bill embodying them before the close of next week. Two bills have been introduced to repeal tho act, one of which is now pending in the house and the other in the senate.

TO SURVEY THE YUKON.

CioVMi-niiK'iit Hum Cunt i-iiuUmI |\»r Slt-um-er I«'or That Turpoits Nisw YORK, Feb. 'Jl.—A steamer for tho United States government to bo used in the work of surveying the Yukon river, has been contracted for by Seabury & Co,, and the Gas Engino company of Morris Heights.

Tho vessel will be 75 foot long, 10-foet beam and three feet six iuches draught. She will bo of composite construction, tho frames being of steel and tho deck timbers, beams and planking of yellow pine. Suitable cabins, deckhouse, galley and crews' quarters will be conveniently arranged for the service intended.

RIGGS MUST HANG.

Dentil IVnulty Assessed Against a, Mur-l«i-er at Muysville, Ky. Maysvilu-:, Ky., Feb. a I. Amos Riggs was convicted by a jury late Saturday of the murder of W. 11. Boyd auel Mandeville Boyd, and the penalty fixed at death by hanging.

Riggs waylaid the Boyds near their homes iu tho vicinity of Mount Gilead, this county, March 25, 1897. and shot thein down in cold hloocl, using a shotgun loaded with buckshot. A few years before ho had shot and killed Abab Black in the same neighborhood, for which he served an 8-year sentence iu the penitentiary.

Scam) head is an eczema of thesealp —very severe sometimes, but it cau cured. Doin's Ointment, quick and porinan'Mit. in its results. At any drug­

store 50 cents.