Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1912 — Page 2

The Daily Republican Bgg KwryP*? ftwpl lfiu>d»y HEALEY A CLARK, ’ RENSSELAER, INDIANA.

No Man’s Land A ROMANCE

By Louis Joseph Vance

Dnstratioiis by Ray Walters

(Copyright, iszo, by Lonit Joseph Vance.) SYNOPSIS. |• ' 1 Garrett Coast, a young man of New York City, meets Douglas Blackstock, who Invites him to a card party. He accepts, although he dislikes Blackstock, theu reason being that both are In love withK&tb- . seine Thaxter,,. , ‘ ...I CHAPTER I.—(Continued.) - He felt her eyes upon him, seriously sweet and questioning, and frowned slightly, wishing he had held his tongue, though aware that he could noff have, earing the way be did. “Why not tell me? I’m waiting, Gartett” rrr" “Well. ..." It was difficult: an Impertinence; incredible, besides. But now that he had committed himself, he stiffened a resolve and plunged. “It was said that your engagement to this man Blackstock would be announced before long." That out bluntly, he caught a long breath and, divided between fear and faith, sat watching her. The seconds of her silence Bpun for him an hour of anguish. “Katherine . . ." She turned. “Yes?” “Have you nothing to say?" he asked Involuntarily, and at once regretted it “What do yoil wish me to say?” Her tone was dull, as If she spoke mechanically, with a mind detached. “Esther affirm or deny. You owe me that, at least" l “Do I?” She seemed surprised. YBut what" she pursued, rousing, "does ‘this man Blackstock’ —” “You know I don’t like him, Katherine. I can’t” “But I can and do, .Garrett” There was simplicity in that, almost confessional. His tears assailed him more imperiously. “Then it’s true? Don’t tell me that!” , “What does Mr. Blackstock say?” “I haven’t Interviewed him, of course. I seemed too absurd —” “Why?” ' The only report he had at command was pitifully Inadequate: “Because I love you." “Is that any reason why Mr. Blackstock should not?” “There are reasons why you shouldn’t let your name be coupled with his.” “And they are—?” , She put It crisply. His heart sank, foreseeing defeat He veered at a tangent, evasive. “You haven’t answered me. Is them any truth in this rumor?" “Not yet” ' ~~r — i “You mean it may be true —later?” “It’s possible.” she affirmed quietly. “Mr. Blackstock has asked me to marry him; he hasn’t as yet had my answer.” “Katherine! . . . You can’t reafly—care for him?" “I’m trying to be sure, Garrett, before I tell him so—or you.” “But —but you mustn’t! . . . The thing’s impossible. . . . You —’* “You’ll tell me why?” Her composure was sobering. He got himself more In hand: she was not to be moved by storming, he knew. Reason, logic, an appeal to her intelligence: she would require these of him. Yet when put to It he could not bring himself to tell what he knew of the man by hearsay, if very credibly. Personal defects, luck of breeding, and the like were all unstable objections. ... In the end the best he could do, since some sort of an answer was essential, was to frame a halting, inconclusive: “He’s not the sort. . . .” She misinterpreted his confusion. “I know what you’re thinking: that he’s not a spoke in our particular social wheel] an outsider. Must I condemn him for that? Are there no right men, Garrett, but yourself and others of our ’set?' I know he has his lacks; I fancy you’d call him crude, If you were candid; with me. Bat men of his genius, upbringing , Not that I concede any crudity in him; it’s hardly that: he merely lacks—epmething—difficult to name It; not cultivation, not sensibility, but, I'd say, friends.” “He has many. , . ." So she cared enough to fight for him! There was bittern es*. surpass; tog the bitterness of aloes, to that discovery. “I mean the right kind, yourself, for instance; friends to bring him out He’s quick, adaptable, of a 'good" fami* ljr-rjif not a wealthy one.” ’ C*e*L toll back upon the one mentlpna,ble objection of Which he had dfrtato knowledge. “H?ss get a viif .e -- -■ - 11X1X10iciuptyr- . “Friend* would teach him to control it/ And there are excuses for that: his sif&t—bis eyes are in a bad way. If* injured them seriously, somehow, 1 1 el '

to his work—something about the spark, I believe.” “Those wireless experiments of bier* ’W"/;: X::-feg=fe “Yes. He’s going to do great things, Garrett.” “Late to the field.” “He leads it today; they all look to him. His inventions, discoveries, improvements, will make wireless aa every-day a thing as the telephone. ... 1 don’t mean he couldn’t win without friends: he’s strong enough . “Men have little use sos him, Katherine.” “Women have.” Coast strangled temptation. . . . “He has magnetism.” “That* and strength, ambition, enthusiasm. He’s worth being a friend io. I want you to know him better, to like him, Garrett.” After a little he managed to say: “I'll try, If you wish.” 5 “I do wish. Please, Garrett.” “Then I’m to understand you seriously contemplate marrying him?” Her “Yes!” was absolute. “Don’t you see” —he hated himself for this —he’s after your money, Katherine?” “Garrett, that is unworthy of you.” He said nothing, doggedly taking what comfort he might from the knowledge that he was right. Gradually he comprehended that In the course of their conversation the car had left Fifth Avenue at the Plaza and was crossing Central Park at the Seventy-second Street entrance. “We’re near the gate,” he Bald abruptly. “If you’ll drop me there, please—” , “Certainly. Tell Patrick.” Coast groped for thevepeaking tube and communicated with the driver. When he sat back he was conscious of the woman’s softening regard. “You’re not angry, Katherine?” “No, Garrett; but I’m very, very' sorry.” “If I’ve seemed presumptuous—” “To me. Garrett? Can you remem-

“Brains, Rather,” Observed Van Tuyl Blandly.

ber the time when we were not — friends?” •< - “No. . . . I want you to understand that It wasn’t altogether because I want you myself—need you, because I love you—as you knowhave loved you for years. . -. . It was jealousy of your happiness. I said nothing that I didn’t believe.” “I know. But you were —are mistaken. You’ll come to understand.” “i don’t want you to make a mistake. Wait, Katherine, wait a little before deciding. I’m sure of your heart: it won’t misguide you." “I believe not I know my heart and mind.” "You know mine,’’ he Bald gently, and no more. • That stabbed her; she winced, wondering why. But the personality of Douglas Blacks took stood forth so largely, limned in such vivid coloring, in the foreground of-her- consciousness, that there was left little room, even for old friends such as Garrett Coast Afoot, Coast lingered at the door, keen eyes searching hers almost plaintively. i - "I’ll drop in for tea tomorrow. If you ask me, Katherine.” “Have you . ever needed an invitation, Garrett?” “Then I’ll come.” He nodded to the driver and the ear swept away. Long after it had shot out of sight be stood staring. Then dlscovettng himself bareheaded, hat and stickFln hand, an object of amused regard, with a curt laugh of confusion and awakened self-consciousness, he turned back through the park. , CHAPTER 11. Resigning with Utile reluctance his place at the card table to Dun das, whose darn it was to cut la. Coast w -.- * ' —... ... w —-

ligbted a cigarette and wandered round the dining-room of Bl&ckstock’s apartment, idly inspecting the hhlfdozen hunting-prints that adorned the green burlap walls. Unspeakably bored, he went to the buffet, where he poured a very little Scotch Into a tall glass, drowning it with icy charged water; He had refused to drink up to that moment, and was thirsty, but as he sat ripping and watching the players, Van Tuyl’s unnatural pallor, moist hair and fixed smile affected him with a faint disgust, and he put the glass aside, not half-emptied. His brows knitted to. his concern for the man, who had been drinking heavily and would pursue that madness until satiated or sodden: no influence that Coast knew of would restrain him; he was as unmanageable as a wild horse, and as spirited. „ Slender, graceful, high lord erf Devil-may-Care, Van Tuyl sober was inimitable, more loved than feared In spite of, perhaps because of, the wit he wielded like a whip-lash. Excesses fanned that brilliancy to a burning frenzy; at such times he knew no friends, and those who knew him avoided him; his wits, submerged, frothed with a satiric humor that etched as-indelibly as an acid when he did not lay on with a bludgeon of vituperation. . . .. A dangerohs foil to Blackstock] Coast thought, comparing them, wondering that they were so much together. Contrasting them he thought: fire and tow, rapier and broadsword! Blackstock was the broadsword of that comparison, heavy and cumbersome if capable. Without an effort he dominated the others. Van Tuyl always excepted; the sheer weight of Blackstock’s personality forced them into the background. Little Dundas, with his deferential smile, delicately pink face and permanently rounded shoulders, seemed the veriest shadow of a man: Blackstock’s shadow he had apparently constituted himself. Truax, round of face and blandly prac-

tical, if unquestionably independent, was only less dwarfed by his host “A good bridger”—Blackstock to the current slang:- giving himself wholly to the game, playing to win, “wolfing the tricks,” Van Tuyl told him. The comment brought a darkish smile to the man’s face. “What d’you want me to do with ’em?’’ he growled semi-humorously, flipping a card from his hand and as swiftly making his play from dummy. “Make you a present of ’em? . . . Play to that, now; come through with that ten-spot” He chuckled as he gathered in the trick and led the final card from dummy. “That’ll teach you to double my original make, I guess. Game and •’ rubber, Dunny: six without, doubled, and a little slam. Got that down?” “Yes,” replied Dundas, grinning m he jotted down the score. “Tough luck, partner,” Truax observed to Van “You couldn’t help doubling on your hand, of course, and equally of course I had to be chicane In hearts.” “Brains, rather,” observed Van Tuyl blandly, shuffling. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

Different.

“Why, & year ago you told m« this place was easily worth $15,000. Now you estimate Its value at less than $10,000." “You must remember that I was trying to sell ft to you then. Now you want me to sell It for yon."

Foreign Health Resorts.

According to the latest statistics about $40,045,000 is expended each year by visitors from foreign countries who take tbe “our«” at the natural mineral spring resorts to western Bohemia, along the Jfirsgebirge (Or* mountains).

r f*HE recent slashing of the large painting of Perry’s victory on Lake Erie was the first act of vandalism com--1 mitted in the capitol at Washington for many years. In the photograph the cut made may be seen near the lower left hand corner. The painting is the largest in the capitol and hangs ht the grand landing of the east staircase in the'senate wing.

FREE DIVORCE HERE

Severance of Marriage Ties in Norway Easy to Procure. ■ New Law t ls a Blessing—lts Enactment Has Not Been Followed by —a Rush of the-Dissatisfied to Courts. London.—Norway has now solved the divorce evil, a correspondent writes. At least so declares Fru Ella Anker, one of the leaders of the Norwegian women’s movement and a sis-ter-in-law of Herr Johann Castberg, minister of justice in the last Norwegian cabinet Herr Castberg framed the law of 1910, which is believed to have accomplished the miracle. Fru Anker has come to England to tell the Englishwomen of the success of her sex in Norway, and so struck with her accounts have been many influential women’s organizations that they have decided to agitate for an English divorce law modeled on the Norwegian measure. It was with the hope that Fru Anker’s knowledge would be of some assistance to you in the United States, floundering as you are in a divorce maze from which few are in agreement as to the surest way out, that I have had the following Interview, Fru Anker is a slight, pleasant faced, rosy complexioned, typical Scandinavian woman, with an engaging freshness of manner. She speaks English almost without a flaw, but is troubled, from an Interviewer’s point of view, with an amount of modesty and self-deprecation that is alinost disconcerting. But what she lacks in self esteem she more than makes up In her enthusiasm for the cause of women. She is, like most Norwegian women, absolutely sure that the beginning of the brighter era dawned in her country when partial adult .suffrage was granted to her sex. Certainly, declares Fru Anker, the women were the deciding

PARDONS AN HONEST NEGRO

Governor John Slaton Thinks Twenty Years Enough for Man Who Conr fessed Murder. wr- ' Atlanta. —Nearly 20 twenty years a convict is considered by Governor John M. Slaton as punishment enough for a negro, who, after committing a murder and fleeing from the state, paid hiß own railroad fart back from Mississippi to the scene of the crime and confessed, expecting to be hanged for his trouble. In the case, that of James Fbster, sent up 20 years ago from Early county, thl governor has granted a full pardon. Twentr-four years ago. Seaborn Sheffield, a wealthy planter, who lived alone, was found dead while at the supper table. There was no clew to the murder, and the crime remained a mystery until four years later.* While court was to session, Foster came to the sheriff and stated to him that he was the murderer. The negro had fled to Mississippi and remained there four years. He said his conscience drove him to return and con-fess,-and he said he expected to be hanged. The negro claimed he had been forced to kill Sheffield by the latter’s two sons-in-law. who feared he would divorce his wife. The negro was given a life sentence, but the white men he implicated were acquitted. The negro has been an exemplary prisoner, and Governor Slaton thinks he should be rewarded for Confessing the crime when h« was in no danger. The pardpn of the negro was urged by Justice Powell, of the Court of Appeals, who Is a nephew of the murdered man.

PICTURE IN CAPITOL SLASHED BY VANDAL

factor in putting through the law that 1b now likely to serve as a model for other countries. / '“First I want to make clear,” said Fru Anker, “that this law which has done so much to solve the divorce evil In my country was one of the direct results of the enfranchisement of my sex. The law was passed by a liberal government, but It had the support of all parties. It is based on the principle that mutual love between the husband and the wife is the only moral basis for marriage. When that feeling fails or is seriously shaken It is absurd to bind the two together any longer. The law ought then step in and provide the means for a divorce. Our law provides admission to separation as the preliminary to divorce when both parties request it, and similar relief when one requests it on such grounds as to make it probable that mutual good will is ruined. If there Is agreement between husband and wife, the law grants a divorce without inquiring into the reasons, hut as security that the step has been well thought over before action it provides that a year of separation must intervene between the application and the actual granting of the divorce. If the request Is made by only one party two years of separation must precede the actual divorce. “In my country divorce Is not looked upon as a disgrace, but rather as a relief from an unfortunate state of affairs. It is kept out of the courts as much as possible, the machinery being largely in the hands of administrative officials. The proceedings are very simple and extremely cheap. The cost varies in different cases, running from a little less than $1.25 to $25. It is not necessary to employ lawyers. It is the duty of the administrative officials to make their own investigations and to collect the necessary information, to settle the question of ihoney and to arrange for the care of [the children. “When a husband and wife agree that they want a divorce they appear

Prince Too Huge For Van

Bpecial “Black Maria” Built for^ Rajah’s Gigantic Son, Accuaed of Stealing Pearls. Paris. —Paris is convulsed with laughter because an Indian prince, who attended the coronation of King George and Queen Mary of England Is so bulky that he cannot enter the Paris black, maria, and the city council has been compelled to build a special police conveyance tor the' big browfi man from India. His name is Naushad All. and he is a member of the provincial parliament of Oudh and a nephew of Ralah Blr Mohammed Tabaddreg Raoul Kham of Jehangirabad. The reason why this mighty man of many distinctions has been connected with the black maria is because of his fondness for jewelry. A jeweler named Meyer sent him a rope of pearls for inspection, the prince having written: “Please let my secretary select jewels to the amount of $10,000.” The high sounding titles of Nan Shad All and of his uncle, the rajah; his presence at the British coronation, and the fact that he is Invariably accompanied by a giraffe-like servant seven feet high to Indian costume. threWthe usually suspicious jeweler off his guard. *The thinness of the servant and the largeness of his master have been brought out to most picturesque contrast, tor so devoted to the servant that be insisted on going to Jail with hts toaster. His family has served the prince’s family for 300 years.

before a magistrate and ask for ‘an order.’ He sendß them to the conciliation board, a permanent Institution for mediation in all matters of judicial conflict. the officials of the conciliation board And it impossible to change the minds of tjhe couple the latter are granted a separation order. At the end of one year the ministry of justice is compelled tp make the divorce final if it is demanded by either husband or wife. “Infidelity on the part of either husband; or wife has been a ground for divorce In Norway since 1680. It is l still considered a crime, and the Offender pan be punished with penalties and imprisonment on the request of the other party. But few divorces are nowadays obtained on this ground, the couples preferring to come to an agreemenf and give no reason for their request for a divorce. In 1910 of the 390 divorces 237 were granted on the grounds of separation de facto, 131 by mutual consent, eleven on the ground of Insanity, two for bodfly unfitness and only nine for infidelity. “After separation and divorce the common property is divided-equally between the husband and the wife.”

MASSACRE OF INDIA LEPERS

Victims Were Assembled by Chinese Governor and Shot Down by Soldiers. Calcutta. —The mission to lepers In India and the east 1b responsible for a tragic story of the massacre of a number of lepers In a district near the French frontier In China. According to this story, a military commander of a district Induced the lepers to assemble by the announcement that a distribution of rice would be made. A large number gathered, bringing with them many children. Arrived at the rendezvous, the lepers were surrounded by soldiers and shot down. Dead and wounded were then shoveled Into a deep pit already prepared and kerosene oil poured over them, the whole mass then being set on fire. A few who escaped were hunted down on the hills and killed.

It seems that as the prince was taking shinp at Marseilles without having paid for the jewels or returning them he was arrested. the' black maria. He is at least three times as big as the average Frenchman, sp on the request of his American lawyer, Frederick Attain, the city of Paris is forced to build a black maria of triple capacity for its pompous, princely, and most interesting prisoner.

HER GOLDFISH ARE BOMBS

Woman In Letter to Commissioner Says Her Pits Are Given tb Exploding Into Fragments. Denver, Qolo. —Finny McNamaras are probably at work on the goldfish tribe in Colorado, according to an opinion of Col. James A. Shinn, state game and fish commissioner. Colonel Shinn bases his theory of such probability on a letter received from a Colorado woman. ' ‘ “I just wonder what’s the matter with my goldfish,” the Woman wrote to Colonel Shinn. “They are Just as healthy and well fed as they can be. But lately they have been exploding. “They win swim around in the most sportive manner tn their howl and then suddenly they will come to the surface of the water, and—pop! bang! —explode into a thousand bits!” r

Child’s Clear Sight.

An intelligent child detects a sham at once, and resents, mods than any* thing, to be patronized.