Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 282, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1913 — Page 3

THEIR HERMIT HOST

By MARY O. ARNOTT. The little schoolma’am,* her face framed in her two hands, her elbows on her desk, looked thoughtfully through the open window into the autumn woods. It was late afternoon and the country school room was deserted—yet Miss Leddon remained at her desk. It had been bqr custom during her five years of service in the school to give her pupils a Hallowe’en party in the little school house. Now, as the time for celebrating the day drew near, she found her finances in such a deplorably low state that she could not spare sufficient money to buy the pumpkins, the doughnuts and nuts and marshmallows that had always added so much to the festivities. She knew that the children looked forward to the party and she was deeply disappointed when she realized that she could not give it to them. As she sat at her desk she tried to dispel the thought of how the doctor bills for her mother’s illness during the summer had eaten into her savings and were even now draining her purse. She tried to scheme some fhanner of : giving the party without funds. The schoolhouse was situated on the edge of a wood and adjoining the wood on the hillside there was a, small farm. Mlbs Leddon remembered having Been some ripening pumpkins lying on the vines not far from the entrance to the farm. She wondered who lived in the tiny farmhouse at the top of the hill. She wondered, too, as she sat there dejectedly, why the person who did live there did hot receive the mental messages she kept sending across the longing to have those pumpkins offered to her for the Hallowee’n party. *At last she got up, put away her few books and pencils, closed and locked the windows and stepped out into the crisp air. She would stop such ineffective methods and go and ask for some of the pumpkins. It was not for herself that she wanted them; it ivas for all the children of the countryside. Perhaps some of them lived in that very farm house though Cora Leddon hoped not —it was such a tiny house that it would scarcely enclose a family of children. She tramped along the path through the woods kicking the autumn leaves beneath her feet and gaining courage for her mission with each step. When she reached the gate leading up the hill to the house she opened it wfth some of her old-time confidence and began the ascent. On one side she saw the golden pumpkins peeping out here and there from among the witnering vines and fallen cornstalks; on the other side of the road great feathery asparagus fern swayed in the gentle fall breeze. The farmer must have made a sDerialty of corn and asparagus, the little schoolma’am decided —a spring specialty and an autumn product. As she reached the small plateau on which stood the diminutive stone farm house a grizzled man came Ho greet her. “Greetings,” said the stranger, pleasantly. His voice, the girl thought, was far more attractive than his appearance. “How do you do,” she replied, smiling. "I have come to beg of you,” she eaid. “Sit doWn and get your breath,” the bearded man said, offering her a rustic chair near the door. Miss Leddon sat down and explained her plan and then asked him for the pumpkins. As she talked to him she observed his eyes; they were as blue as the sky overhead and seemed the bluer for the mass of sandy whiskers he permitted to grow all over his lower face and the heavy shock of sandy hair on his head. His clothes were of a dull tan corduroy and his skin was tanned to almost the same shade thus leavingrihe intense blue of his eyes the only spot of color in his entire makeup. “Suppose I say I can not let you take them,” the man remarked with almost a twinkle in his eyes. “Suppose I tell you of a scheme that presents itself to me even as you unfold yours to me?” Cora Leddon’s face fell. “Of course if you refuse—” • “I haven’t refused,” he hastened to tell her. “I merely suggest another plan. May I?” he asked, looking down at her. , “Certainly,” acquiesced Cora without enthusiasm. “Let me gather the pumpkins for your party and give you and your pupils the use of my little stone farm house for the occasion. Tt would be much more like the real old-fashioned spooky Hallowe’en parties I remember as a child. Leave it all to me —only come and bring your school. Will you Misa Leddon?” “That # really seems like asking too much of you,” she demurred. He Talsed a protesting hand. “Not at all. I’ve lived a hermit’s life here for two years and it will be a delight to me to have you. All I ask is your promise to come.” “Very well—l promise,” said the little schoolma’am, rising to go. On the walk home to the farm where Bhe boarded Cora Leddon’s thoughts were full of the personality of the man in the stone house. He seemed so dnkempt, bo grizzled, so unconventional—-and yet hiß voice and hts kind blue eyes made her think he had not always been so. When school opened Monday morning ■he told the pupils of the Hallowe'en party she was giving them and asked

them to dress la sheets and pillowcases and to meet her at the schoolhouse on the following Friday evening at 7 o’clock. She told them she had a surprise in store -for them. The week passed quickly and the thought of the approaching gayety spurred the boys and girls on to good work and obedience. Hallowe’en was a crisp, cool ovenIng and the twenty-odd pupils of the little country school assembled promptly at’ 7 o’clock. The teacher, similarly clad but wearing a great witch cap on her head to distinguish her from the .children, counted her flock and helped them to secure their garb before the tramp through the wood. They arrived at the farm to see a perfect • fairyland of lights and lanterns. The trees about the old stone house were hung with gay lanterns and festoons of gay trimmings were everywhere. A table groaned with good things to eat from mince and pumpkin pie—which Miss Leddon knew only a man would have provided for children —to nuts and raisins. As each child passed the gate he was presented with a tiny swinging lantern and the evening was merrily spent around the bonfires toasting marshmallows, singing and popping chestnuts. The strange part of it all was the absence of the host and as the evening wore on and Miss Leddon made merry with the children she began to wonder why he did not appear. When the bonfires were burning low and the spirits of the young folks began to Bhow evidences of the hour, a young man In evening clothes appeared in the doorway of the tiny house. Miss Leddon looked up at his face as it was illumined by the flame from a pumpkin lantern. It was the grizzled hermit of the farm —none other. She went quickly toward him and he held out his hand. "r hope you have all 'enjoyed yourselves,” he said, Bmilihg at the expression in her eyes. "Indeed we have,” Cora managed to say “But —why have you absented yourself? I was not sure you were not one of us draped in a sheet and pillow case, too —until we took off the white headgear and revealed ourselves.” The man laughed. “No—l’ve been inside watqhing you all. I’ve been sitting quietly in my dim little window there realizing what I have missed in life—realizing what a- fool I have tried to make of myself. ' Half an hour ago I went to my meager toilet table and — the result is what creates that expression in your face this minute. Is it not, Miss Leddon?” Cora nodded. “It surely is,” she laughed. “I knew you—but it was only because I knew your eyes—and your voice, when you spoke.” The man looked pleased. “I shall be a hermit no longer. The world is still good in spite of the fickleness of a young girl in whom I once centered my entire youthful life,” he laughed. Cora laughed with him. “It’s usually a girl when a man does silly things, isn’t it?” she asked, naively. He nodded. “Also —it is usually a girl—a woman —who makes him do the better things, is it not?” he questioned. Cora interpreted the veiled compliment and turned toward her young charges. “Come and meet them all — my children —and then let us bid you good night,” she said, a blush covering her with confusion. “I’ll walk down the hill with you and learn where you live —if I may?’ f “You may,” said Cora. “And perhaps you’ll help me not to be a hermit any more.” “Perhaps I will," the girl said as he followed her to the group of tired children by the flickering bonfire. (Copyright, 1913, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)

FOUND A CONGENIAL ZONE

Woman’s Explanation as to Why She Liked That Particular Neighborhood. The flats in that neighborhood were too Bmall and the prices too high, yet the man’s wife said they would take one. “The neighborhood,” she added, “is becoming to me/jj? “Absurd,” her husband, ‘1 never heard of such a thing.” “Maybe not, but yoir will hear a lot about It before very long,” said she. "Every one of us, men and women alike, shows off to better advantage in certain parts of town. People are just beginning to find that out, and as soon as they discover their congenial zone they will naturally settle down there. “The reason for their changed appearance is purely psychological. Take you, for example. Owing to your peculiar temperament you ought neyer to venture outside the financial district. You are twice as good looking south of Fourteenth street as you are north of it. Some people look their best In the shopping district, others in the hotel and theater streets, while others come out strongest in a quiet, residential neighborhood. I have found that this very block brings out my goqd points, so here we stop.” “But It is north of Fourteenth street," the man protested. "How about me?” “You?” she returned. “Oh, It doesn’t matter about you.”—New York Times.

A Liberal Man.

It was the bride’s first request tot money. “I must have some pin money,” she Baid. “Certainly,” said the groom. “Here is a quarter. That ought to buy St* or six papers of plus.’' ’Hi

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND. .

The joke about hiring a wagon to take home one’s salary turns out to be almost a reality on pay day In the camp of the Constitutionalist army of Mexico. The soldiers are paid in silver dollars, larger than our own silver dollar, and it’s a pretty weighty pay envelope the soldier gets. Note the bags with which some of them have provided themselves to carry their pay.

NON DRINKING KINGS

Many European Monarchs Practically Are Teetotalers. Ferdinand of Bulgaria Abandoned Alcoholic Btimulants and George V. of England Beldom Indulges— Beverage Used by Kaiser. < London. —King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, who has been figuring so importantly In the Balkans, gave up beer, wine and alcohol in any shape or form some years ag<? on the advice of his mother. The king is one of the least nervous among monarchs and keeps his temper In the most trying circumstances. It is due to his coolness that _he has been able to show to such a big advantage when dealing with the hot-headed races of the Balkan peninsula. King Ferdinand is an exception among the Balkan rulers. King Peter of Servia, the king of Greece, the king of Romania and the king of Montenegro all like their glass of wine. It was in December, 1908, that the kaiser became a confirmed teetotaler. His favorite drink is one invented by the kaiserin a few years ago. It consists of orange juice and lemon juice placed in the interior of a pineapple from which part of the fruit has been taken and the juice from it returned. The pineapple is then placed on ice and filled up with mineral water, the drink being transferred to a glass with a ladle. This drink is, however, only taken as a special treat, the more usual beverage being a mixture of the juice of three oranges and two lemons, with a ljttle sugar, mineral water being added. The kaiser has done everything he can to encourage temperance. He stated publicly a short time ago that “the next war will demand healthy

MRS. WILSON STIRS PRINTER

President’s Wife Sees Plant as Ordinary Visitor; Messenger Gets In Trouble. Washington.—Mrs. Woodrow Wilson paid a surprise visit to the government printing office, and because E. E. Terry, the entrance messenger, heeded Mrs. Wilson’s request and did not communicate the fact of her pres-

Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.

enej to Public Printer Ford he Is In danger of a reprimand if not demotion or removal. Mrs. Wilson, who is investigating government buildings in connection with the vroman’s welfare work. In which she Is Interested, gave Terry her name and insisted that she should be treated just as any other visitor and shown over the plant without disturbing the public printer. After she left the fact of her .visit became known and trouble began for Messenger Terry.

PAY DAY IN THE CAMP OF HUERTA’S FOES

men; war calls for strong nerves, and victory will crown the colors of the nation which consumes the least alcohol.” Contrary to popular belief, the amount of beer drunk per head of population in Germany every year is considerably less than the amount drunk in EnglandVery little alcohol is drunk by the German royal family, though the kaiser is the only absolute teetotaler. When he is invited to dinner he drinks a special temperance drink that ' is supplied to his host in advance and is served to the emperor in champagne bottles. The reason for thlß is that according to strict etiquette alcoholic drinks would be banished from all dinners at which his majesty was present in the ordinary way. But the kaiser waives etiquette and drinks mock champagne while the guests are drinking the real variety. The crown prince, though not a strict teetotaler, has very strong views upon those who drink to excess. While a student at Bonn he gave offense to the university by protesting vigorously against the drinking of an exaggerated quantity of beer by the students. His sister, Princess Victoria, who was recently married with such pomp and ceremony, has an occasional glass of champagne, but when she is alone with her husband the beverages consumed on the royal table consist of anti-alcoholic drinks of various kinds. The late Rev. W. T. Stead wrote in the Review of Reviews when King George came to the throne of England: “George V. is probably the most abstemious king who has ever ascended the British throne. I do not say that he is a Good Templar, or a Rechabite, or a pledged teetotaler. But I do say, with confidence, on the authority of men who know him intimately, who have lived with him, dined with him, supped with him, that, although he sometimes takes a glass of wine, his usual beverages are distilled or mineral water and milk. There Is not a man more abstemious in the use of intoxicants among all the millions who own his sway.” The proof of the pudding is in the eating, or rather, one should say, the proof of the drinking is In the shooting. King George is one of the finest shots in England, a position which he could not hold if he were not practically a teetotaler. Thodgh Queen Alexandria Is fond of good wines, she always provides a specie’ Danish hot weather beverage for her guests during the summer months, it ia made of equal portions of the juices of oranges and crushed peaches, some slices of cucumber and a dash of ginger. The whole is flavored with maraschino, and when blended it is placed for a tew hours on ice Those who have tasted it say it is one of the most delightful summer drinks imaginable.

CHINESE WERE TOO EAGER

How Too Much Haste Spoiled Their Trade In Walnuts With This Country. Tien Tsln. —The principal decrease in the trade of this port with the United States was in the item of Manchurian walnuts, exports of which decreased by over $120.00 in 1912 as compared with 1911 i The reason for this is interesting. Inquiry for these walnuts from the United States began in 1910. The demand In 1911 was very heavy—so heavy that orders from the United States could not be filled, and In the beginning of 1911 the merchants In Tien Tain sent Chinese buyers throughoutout the reglbn of production to purchase the crop before it was ripe for delivery. The Chinese, eager to realise the decreased prices, threshed the nuts down from the trees while the kernels were still in. the milk and threw them on the market as early as possible. As the nuts yrere not ripe, in many cases the nulls adhered to them

DISCOVERED GHOST IN A TREE

Police Cowed, but Plucky New Jersey Town Mayor Routs It With Bhotgun. : New York. —Two borough marshals of Prospect Park, N. J., resigned because they assert they were terrorized nightly by a ghost that held forth In a tree on the town’s outskirts. Mayor Lambertus Town, New Jersey’s youngest mayor, waited two nights for the ghost. The other night he heard a voice in the tree. A blast from a shotgun deslodged a swearing parrot. »

INDIAN TO SIGN U. S. MONEY

Gabe E. Parker, a Choctaw, Is the First of His Race to Be Register of Treasury. Washington, D. C.— Gabe E. Parker, a Choctaw Indian o*f Academy, Okla., first man of his race to be Register of the treasury, was sworn into office.

Gabe E. Parker.

His signature will appear on all currency and he declared he regarded bi» appointment as a signal recognition of the Red men.

Freak Animal His Hobby.

Rochester, N. Y.—William Browning, who resides near here and whose hobby is the collection of freak animals," has just “taken on” a pig with two noses, eight legs, four ears and one bye. ,Two of the legs project out of the front of the two bodies. They are joined together. Among Browning’s other interesting “pets” is a two-headed alligator.

ans had to be torn off by hand. This left stains on the shells and some chemical preparation containing sulphuric acid was used to bleach the exterior. This found Its way at the joint between the two halves of the shell and often injuriously affected the kernels. Then, many of the kernels being in the milk, dried up, leaving nothing but the black skin in which they had been contained, while those at a greater stage of development decayed. The net result was great losses on the part of the merchants who had engaged in the trade without taking proper precaution? as to the quality of the nuts which they were shipping, while the buyers In the United States, bitterly disappointed and suffering severe losses, abandoned the trade..

Free Dinner With Each Wedding.

Charleston, W. Va. —A free dlnnet with every marriage is the inducement offered by the Rev. M. H. Lacy, famous as A marrying parson nera.

AROUND THE CAMP FIRE

GRIM SIGHT AT JONESBORO* Dead Soldier Grasps Gun in Rlghti Hand and Sapling In Other — Killed as He, Made Spring. , I was a member of Company I, Flfty-i first Ohio, and will mention an in’ci-i dent of the Eighteenth United States! that come to my personal knowledge-! It was in the flanking movement Gen-j eral Sherman made when before At-i lanta In the closing days of August,; 1864, writes L. B. Kinsey of Dana,; lowa, In the National Tribune. Whenj sending the Twentieth corps back to* the bridge across the Chattahoochee! he swung loose with the rest of hisl army, and, passing to the west of} Atlanta, first struck and tore up the* railroad leading from East Point tor West Point. Then with a left wheel 1 he reached for the Macon railroad,i with the Army of the Tennessee on* the extreme right. The Fourth corps,; to which my regiment belonged, struck: the Macon railroad at Rough and! Ready Station about the same time* the Army of the Tennessee butted up| against Jonesboro. We remained all night at Rough and' Ready, passing the night In erecting; a small works across the railroad to! firmly hold it. The next morning womarched down the track towards* Jonesboro, tearing up the railroad, burning the ties and twisting the redhot rails as Sherman’s army well! knew how to do. We had left the* small earthworks we had built during the night fully manned, and wo stepped out lively for Jonesboro with, a “Hurry—hurry!” from our officers, or we would be too late to belp gobble Hardee, who, we were told, ooH cupled that place. It was near sundown ere we got Into position to make the charge upon the right flank of Hardee, and so late before those on our left were into position that the charge was made without them. The next morning, in going over the ground charged over by the troops farther to our right, and which, by the way, was the ground over which the Eighteenth United States charged, I saw a member of that regiment standing with his gun carried at a trail arms In his right hand and with his left hand grasping a small sapling, which he had evidently grasped to help him spring over the rebel works directly In his front. He had been killed Instantly just as he stooped to make the spring, and remained ip that position, the butt of bis musket on the ground held in his right hand and his left grasping the sapling.

Fell In Action.

They were talking of war, and the young man mentioned that one of his ancestors was killed during the Revolution. "He was a brave man,” he said. The young lady looked pensive. ' “I had an uncle who was killed in the Civil War, the very first battle he ever went to,” ftie said. “He was only a private, so he hadn’t made a record.” “That was hard,” said the young man, “to be shot down in his first engagement.” “He wasn’t shot down,” said the young woman. "He fell and broke his neck when he was running down hill. I think war is awful Cruel, don’t you?"

Could Look Up to Him.

Judge Kelly of Pennsylvania, who was one of the committee to advise Lincoln of his nomination, and who was himself a great many feet high, had been eyeing Lincoln’s lofty form with a mixture of admiration and possibly jealousy. This had not escaped Lincoln, and as he shook hands with the judge be inquired: "What is your height?” “Six feet three. What is yours, Mr. Lincoln?” “Six feet four.” • "Then,” said the judge, “Pennsylvania bows to Illinois. My dear man, for years my heart has been aching for a president that I could look up to, and I’ve at last found him.”

A Taking Person.

“Yes, I was at the battle,” said the talkative stranger. “Tell us something about It” “Well, the first day I took two prisoners —rebel officers.” “Gee!” "Yes; and the next day I took eight men.” “Well, well! Anything else?” “Sure. The day before we quit I took a lot of transport wagons and followed that up by taking a big gua unaided.” “Say, my friend,” said one of his auditors,'“what are you, anyhow?” “Oh, I am one of Brady’s photographers.”

Taste for Books.

If were to pray for a taste which should stand .me in stead under every variety of circumstances, and be a source of bdppiness and cheerfulness to me through life, and a shield against its ills, however things might go amiss and the world frqvrn upon me, It would be a taste for reading. Give a man this taste and the means of gratifying it, and you can. hardly fall to make a happy man. unless. Indeed, you put Into his hands a most per* er»e selection of books.—John F. W. Herschel /