Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1917 — Page 2

The Faithful Soul

By GEORGE ELMER COBB

(Copyright, by W. O. Chapman.) "And what about your past?” “She don’t know anything about that.” • . “But is sure to in time? “She will have to stand the shock, then, as other women have done. Really, the little beauty has bewitched me I There is np way for me but to sail under false colors." ♦ “You unmitigated villain!” It was not one of two engaged in conversation who uttered the last ~words. They were spoken under his breath by Ward Evans. He was seated in one of those old-fashioned booths or partitioned off compartments of an old-fashioned restaurant in Rockton. He had overheard a specious pair disclose a villainous plot in the next stall. One was its inceptor, a graceless criminal. The other was Indifferently in harmony with the plans and principles of his companion. The former was Bryce Williard, exconvict, bigamist, devoid of respectability and honor and boasting of a prospective rendezvous with a fair young girl to whom he had taken a passing fancy. He had spoken her name and it conveyed a certain intelligence ty Evans. He knew its owner casually. He was interested to the extent that she was about to become

Really, the Little Beauty Has Bewitched Me!”

the guileless victim of a villain and all his sense of manhood was stirred within him. His life held little of hope or comfort, for he was an invalid and had been for years. Money and social eminence at his command, existence had become vapid, profitless, well-nigh unendurable. He was no physical match for the burly scoundrel who was about to elope with the daughter of a humble resident of Rockton, yet Evans was resolved to thwart him. He hurried from the restaurant. It was quite dusk, and it was within half an hour that Willlard had arranged to meet Lilias Deane at a certain spot at the edge of the town. Eva ns proceeded i n its direc tlon. He consulted his watch and calculated that he would reach the place in advance of Williard. He was none too strong, however, and his gait became lagging and slow under the strain of the unusual exercise. Half an hour later he entered a little grove. Looking back he saw Williard a few hundred yards behind him. Looking ahead he made out the girl Lilias, a satchel in her hand, shrinking to the shelter of a great tree. He lifted his hat as he neared her and she bowed in return in a fluttering, embarrassed way. He halted. The movement was unexpected on the part of the girl. Casually several times in the past he had thus recognized her, but they had never spoken. He spoke now. , “Miss Deane,” he said hurriedly, -with a glance back to assure himself of the distance away of Williard, “will you kindly walk on with me? I have something of great importance to say

to you." «I_l.y es> certainly," she stammered, but her gait was reluctant as she kept pace with him. She had always Evans far above her humble family in the ■way of wealth and social position. As • friendly neighbor, as a hopeless invalid, as she had heard, she could not very well decline his suggestion, although her mind was entirely with the man who must soon overtake them. “You must trust and believe me,” went on Evans, gravely and insistently. “By chance, but beyond a doußt, I have learned that the person for whom you are about to abandon home and friends is a scoundrel.” Fhe came to a dead standstill,' her face wh’lte, resentful and unbelieving. ‘'There is no time to discuss this,” proceeded Evans rapidly. “You have been grossly deceived, as I can prove to yob. You must not meet this man. Oo home, and I will later convince you ot the truth of what I say.” His earnestness held her, his superior willpower drove back perversity. She swayed as if about to faint.

“He is a bigamist,” added Evaqs. “Trust me, I am acting in the /batter wholly for your own good, to avoid the misery and heartbreak of those at home who love you. Hasten, I beg of you." “Lilias!” called the voice of Williard, for he had nearly reached them now. The girl uttered a muffled sob and hurried away. Evans put up his hand and halted the scoundrel as he approached. “You are unmasked and your intended victim knows of your true character and designs,” spoke Evans, and his calm dignity abashed the wretch. “If you take one step after that young lady I will have you under lock and key within five minutes. Go your way. Your evil schemes are baffled.” The man slunk away like a beaten cur. Once again Evans saw Lilias Deane. It was in the little park near her home. They sat on a bench engaged in conversation for over an ■hour. Evans disclosed all that he had learned of Williard. and Lilias was shocked, appalled, and then the tears of gratitude came into her eyes as she realized what this disinterested friend had saved her from.

“Oh, never, never will I forget your kind care for me!” she sobbed. “Wherever you are I shall think of you, and pray that the greatest good may come to you,” and she bent and kissed his hand, and watched him go away, and took up the old home duties, shuddering whenever she recounted how narrowly she had escaped the wiles of a heartless adventurer. It was a year later when the news came to Rockton of the death of Ward Evans. He was one of over fifty overtaken in a volcanic island of the Pacific by an eruption. What had been recovered of his remains had been sent to his former home. A simple headstone in the village cemetery told of his cruel fate. And never Lilias forgot him! That last interview with him had left with her an impression of almost adoration for the noble spirit that, amid personal suffering, had paused to do her a vast servlce. _ ~r

His memory became to her an ideal. To her, though dead, he was more than any other man living. Every week she would visit the little cemetery. and, seated on a grass plot near the lowly grave, would weave a wreath of the choicest wild flowers and place them upon the little mound. “He was all that is noble and good,” she murmured-one day, as she kissed the simple wreath she had made, andT set it in place. “He has made my life sweet with its Impulses of duty, and I love him, I love him !” She looked up, startled, for someone was approaching. She hurriedly brushed the tears from here eyes. Then, with clear, astonished vision, she recognized—Ward Evans ! The hue of health was in his face. He was a changed man. He came forward with extended hand. He rioted the shock of his unexpected presence, and in his usual quiet way sought to reassure her. “My grave,” he said with a slight smile. “The error in my identification was worth while, to prove that I have one devoted friend in the world.” “And they said you w’ere dead —and I —oh, I remembered!” “Bless you!” he spoke solemnly. “Perhaps your thoughts and your prayers guided and protected me.” She took his proffered arm. A hush, holy, serene, fell across them as they proceeded down the tree-shaded path and into the full glowing sunlight, and in his heart of hearts Ward Evans felt that in this congenial spirit he had found a life-long companion.

MOCKING BIRD SAVES FOUR

Awakened by Shrill Whistle in Middle of Night, Family Escapes Death by Gas. The shrill whistle of a mocking bird saved the family of George Daglish of St. Louis from asphyxiation early one morning. ±=--.===. ===== The gas cocks of the kitchen range had been turned on while the family, consisting of Mr. Daglish and his wife, a son, eight years old, and a daughter, aged nine, were asleep on an upper floor. The mocking bird began whistling shrill notes and awoke Mrs, Daglish about one o’clock. She was partly overcome by the gas, but awakened her husband, who also was suffering from the fumes. The children then were aroused, and Daglish carried them into the yard, while windows and doors were thrown open. The mocking bird continued to whistle until Mrs. Daglish went into the kitchen and turned off The bird, Jim, is twelve years old and unusually large. “He is kept in a cage ifi the kitchen, but can open the door and fly about—He never before was known to make a noise at night, and the Dagllshes attribute their escape from death to his vigilance.

Use Wireles in Storm.

By means of about five hundred feet of wire strung around a wooden framework, some experimenters in the electrical department of Union college, Schenectady, N. Y., are said to have been able to receive messages during violent storms and determine the direction from which they come. The wireless waves are received by the wires on this frame just as they are received by antennae high in the air. They are then transmitted to tuning devices and a telephone receiver ip the usual manner. It-has been found that by turning the frame about until its axis is in line with the direction of the sending station, the signals are beard most distinctly. This directionfinding feature, it is believed, Will prove of great value in many ways.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

SILK IS REPLACED BY WOOLEN JERSEY

Unimportant Sport Material Changed in Season to Important Standard Fabric. OOATS GIVE WAY TO CAPES Women Are Not Expected to Accept Argument That They Should Show Patriotism by Buying No “■"New Clothes. New York. —Despite the persuasion, pleading and argument of the hundreds of women who have organized themselves for preparedness to the effect that women do not buy any more clothes, but give this money to national defense, the process of arranging new apparel to meet the season goes steadily on.

Surely, the appeal of these women must be based on ignorance of conditions, for they have the welfare of humanity in their hearts or they would not organize into bands for civic help; but to plead that no woman should buy new clothes and that she should frown upon the pegtop and the melon skirt because they are new fashions and demand .the purchasing of new clothes, is to argue in a way that would take the very food out of the mouths of millions of workers. These women argue that we should follow the example of France, England and Germany and that our women should make a sacrifice of clothes in order to show their national spirit. But why? The resources of France, Germany and England were needed for war, which was sprung upon them without any warning and found them unprepared financially. This isn’t a figment of the imagination, but the statement of financiers and of industry. Women Will Buy Clothes. However, it takes very little argument to persuade women that their national spirit should be shown in spending their money on clothes, if they have it to spend. Everybody is benefited all down the line, to the little cash girl six years old in the slums of the city, whose money is needed to give more bread to her family. Therefore, accepting the fact.thaL new fashions will be as popular as ever and that new clothes will spring up afresh as the leaves on the trees and the grass on the ground, it is best to content ourselves with telling what it is wise to buy, rather than arguing for and against buying. A summary of w’hat is accepted may be wise at this time!* To begin with, there never has been a season when so much worsted jersey was worn. The doom of the average skirt and silk sweater was struck when the fashionable season at the winter resorts opened on the first of the new year. The one-piece frock of any material superseded the other two garments in combination. Varieties of separate short coats were worn, made of anything from yel-

This gown was worn by Mme. Paquin at her opening in Paris, and it gave the final seal of approval to the new silhouette. It is of dark blue taffeta embroidered in Nattier blue. The sleeves are bell-shaped, the hips are distended by drapery, and there is a narrow belt that ties in the back.

vet to stockinet, but the silk sweater was second and third class wherever high fashion was foregathered?-* 1 The number of one-piece frocks in worsted jersey is astonishing. The French designers, aided by the Americans, have produced a wide range of these garments, and they are accepted for the street as well as for the country and also at afternoon teas. When a designer like Gabrielle Chanel takes up horizon blue jersey in an excessively supple and fine weave which resembles the best quality of stockinet, and makes it into a charming -one-piece frock combined with biscuit-colored jersey, then it is natural that women want such clothes. Becomes Standard Material. The dominant thing that has been done this season is to change jersey from an unimportant sport material into an important standard material. It rivals serge and crepe de chine. Strange to say, the silk weave is absent from the French gowns, and

gowns and suits of it are sold, by the American dressmakers at absurdly low prices, as if they knew that its doom was sealed. Beige, biscuit, string color and three tones of gray rule in the one-piece ..wpqlen jersey frocks, but dark blue, ■dull” red 'and horizon blue are coming strongly into favor. These frocks are usually made in one piece, and all the varieties -of drapery and plaiting .and barreling that prevail in the other frocks are used in the jersey. This material has also been introduced into juvenile clothes with marked success. It promises to supersede muslin, silk and linen. Romp-

This evening gown is of white satin, the skirt embroidered in gold. The pointed bodice is of black velvet with shoulder straps of jet and jet ornament with tassels in front.

ers, country clothes and beach suits are made by the hundreds in white, horizon blue, deep pink and gray touched with blue and silver. This is an excellent idea, for the material does not wrinkle, is easily cleaned or washed and does not shrink. It also goes longer without ironing than any other kind of fabric intended for constant service. Another segment of the wheel of fashion in which this woolen jersey has appeared is the long cape gathered , to a slight yoke at the shoulders, with slits at each side for the arms and finished aUthe top with an. immense handkerchief collar that fastens on the left shoulder. These capes are lined with brightly figured Chinese and Japanese silks. The Cape, Not the Coat Another distinct change in fashions is the insistence upon capes instead of topcoats. Mme. Paquin and Mme. Georgette wore these capes in Paris all through the winter and featured them at the spring openings. The house of Cheruit also turned out a goodly number of them, with all the peculiar tricks that belong to this little group of designers. yThe only topcoats that the smart houses offer are for sport use, and they are made of colored velveteen and stockinet jersey in bold, gay designs. For other hours and purposes, the cape is offered instead of the topcoat. It is of serge lined with figured crepe; it is of satin lined with horizon blue or flamingo pink; it is of Chinese blue woolen jersey lined with gray; and it is in gray lined with pink, blue or yellow. A woman will own as many capes at she once owned sweaters. They not only appear as outdoor garments,, but as indoor accessories to house gowns. They are also used for late afternoon and evening wear, indoors, and are of chiffon or Het. They are banded with bright materials in the same color, they are lavishly embroidered with beads, silk floss and bullion threads, and again they are made of chantilly, Spanish or filet lace, unlined and ungirdled. There is no limit set on the usage of figured silk for linings and facings, and the capes offer excellent advantages for this fashion. This trick never had such instant success asXthls season.. (Copyright, 1917. by the McClure Newspa- ' per Syndicate.)

A Knitted Sports Costume.

Among the costumes lately arrived from Paris is a knitted sports costume consisting of a narrow, skirt and sweater blouse, the model made of white yarn showing a border effect of large red roses placed at intervals around lower part of skirt. The mannequin wore with this costume a knitted tam to match. Another idea was a knitted yarn blouse worn with a skirt of “Kasha” and still.another unique sports suit was developed of white Kasha showing narrow skirt slit up to the knees; a band of woolen embroidery in a Paisley pattern defined the slit on either side. The jacket was, adorned with embroidery to correspond.

The New Crepe Jersey.

One of the most attractive of ths spring fabrics is the new crepe jersey, which comes in e all. the new shades. From a little distance it is almost impossible to distinguish this wool material froni heavy Chinese crepe, yet if has all the wearing quality of Jersey,

COUNTRY'S NEW TERRITORY

THE American flag has recently been raised Over the Danish West Indian group of islands, the United States having agreed by treaty to pay the Danish government $25,000,000 for all of the holdings of the latter country in the West Indies.

On the map the West Indies are seen as a string of islands, beginning with the large ones of Cuba and Santo Domingo, thinning out in midoeean to a few almost invisible dots, and then emerging to the south again in the larger French and English islands. What we have bought from Denmark are about fifty of these little pinhead islands, writes Frederic J. Haskin. Only three of them are large enough to have names on the map, and the largest contains but 84 square miles. Insignificant, however, these islands are most interesting, and may become important. '

Two Embraced in the Virgin Group. St. Thomas and St. John belong to the Virgin group of islands, which was discovered by Columbus, as was also St. Croix. St. Thomas was settled by the Dutch, who left it for New York. Then the Danes took it, and the English took it away from the Danes several times, but always gave it back be-eause-they did not want-it? The Dutch and the English also squabbled in a small way over St. Croix; then the Spaniards got hold of it, only to be driven out by the French, who gave it to the Knights of Malta. They, being unable to make a living there, burned up their holdings and departed Denmark, thereupon got St. Croix for the same reason that she got St. Thomas, namely, because nobody else wanted It, She has been losing money on the Islands almost ever since; that $25,000,000 will be the first profit that Denmark, as a nation, has made out of her West Indian colonies in a long time. The history of our own relation to the islands has been much repeated of late. In 1865 Secretary of State Seward offered $7,500,000 for them, a vote was taken here and the people were almost unanimous for the transfer. The bill then died in the senate committee ou foreign relations. In 1902 we wasted an opportunity to buy the Islands for $5,000,000. In 1916 we jumped at the chance to buy them for $25,000,000, and now the money having been paid the islands are under the flag. The price comes to nearly S3OO an acre, as against 2 cents an acre which we paid for Alaska, 27 cents for the Philippines and about $35 for the Canal zone. Thus it is seen that colonies, like everything else, are going up in price. Island Littered With Old Relics.

This crude summary of the history of the Danish West Indies gives no Idea of their real story, which is filled with romance of the Spanish main, with pirates and privateers and doubloons and creole beauties. The Islands are littered with old cannon, ruined forts and all the other stage props of swashbuckling romance. Geologically, these islands are the tips of a badly swamped mountain range. St. Thomas juts suddenly out of the water, like a swimmer’s head. From its highest point you can see Porto Rico to the west and an amazing amount of ocean all around. There is practically no cultivation, because all the people make a living out of the harbor? Fire and hurricane have swept the Island almost clear of forest, but there is a low, dense growth of brush, which affords a shelter for wild goats and deer, while few cattle graze on the open, windswept mountain tops. The island is beautiful with a vivid, unexpected beauty—an ideal place to explore with a pony and a camera. And the bulk of it is now serving no other purpose than to delight an occasional wanderer with an eye for the picturesque. St. Croix, on -the other hand, is a rich island. It contains 84 square miles of territory, a large part of which is planted in sugar cane. One side of the island is flat, while a miniature mountain range borders the other, rising steeply out of the bright, tender green of the sugar fields, which reach clear down to the palm gfoves along the white beaches. This island has fine road? bordered with raws of royal palms, and It boasts no less than 20 automobiles. Long ago it was a favorite winter resort for Americans, and the islanders believe thaFlt is going to become popular with tour-

ists again. Land has already been bought for the erection of a large modern hotel. St. John Claims 900 Inhabitants. St. John contains about twenty square miles. It claims 900 inhabitants, but they are hard to find owing to the density of the jungle, the lack of roads and the fact that there is no town on the island. The other 47 islands which are Included in our purchase vary from such bits as Sall rock, which is a bare spire of granite that looks like a sail and affords a home for a few sea birds, to Buck island, which is several square miles in area, covered with dense grow’th, and full of wild pigeons, parrots and wild goats. Most of these small Islands, or keys, are uninhabited and many of them are practically never visited by men. Our purchase includes three principal cities and a few smaller villages. The most important of the cities is Charlotte Amalie, on this Island of St. Thomas. In the islands the town is called St. Thomas, Its Danish name almost never being heard. It has about 12,000 inhabitants, most of whom have negro blood, but It Is not a negro town in the sense that Port au Prince is. The typical St. Thomlan of the better class is a West Indian creole, and of a distinctive type. He has just enough negro blood to make his skin dark and his hair slightly kinky. He is Indolent and pleasure-loving, but intelligent and pretty well educated. Many of the leading merchants of St. Thomas are creoles, including the only millionaire to the inlands. These weH* to-do creoles have their children educated in Europe, and mingle with the Danish officials as social equals. Many of the young Danes have taken creole brides back to Denmark. Capital City Rated Beautiful. In St. Croix are Chrlstlansted, the capital, and Fredrlkstad, each having a population of between 4,000 and 5,000. Fredrlkstad is a flat, white, dusty town, swept by the wind from its open roadstead, and is neither picturesque nor interesting. Christiansted, on the other hand, is a beautiful tropical city, full of flowers and palms and picturesque old houses. It has a pretty little harbor choked with sand and mud. The bulk of the people in St. Croix are black negroes, while the dominant class are mostly Irishmen and Danes. From these facts, it will be seen that we have not bought a valuable piece of real estate, but the purchase seems to be amply justified. Whatever the value of the islands to us, our potential value to them is enormous. The people of the Danish West Indies are looking to us with faith and hope for many things, and the whole Caribbean world will watch our course there with keen and critical interest. Wherefore., Uncle Sam’s new islands are a more Important part of his domain than they appear on the map.

No Newsboys Required.

A Rochester newspaper has accomplished the task of selling newspapers without the aid of newsboys in the out'lying districts of the city. This- has been done with the aid of a motor truck, a number of sacks and coin receptacles. The sacks are placed on poles or tree branches, and contain 20 to 40 papers each . They carry signs reading: “Take paper and deposit coin in coin receptacle.” The motor truck delivers the sacks to their various positions in the morning and collects the empties and receipts in the evening. The returns show that very few people neglect to pay for the papers they take. The sales average 35 papers to the sack, and represent additional business. Investigation among the news dealers of the city also shows that they have not lost by reason of the new scheme. It is evident that the sacks serve a class of people who went without papers before, because they could not be served by the newsboy system.—Wall Street Journal. i

Pleasantly Missed.

“Too bad about the Grabcoins.” \ “What’s happened to them?” “The war has kept them away from Paris for more than two years, according to Mrs. Grabcoin.” “Do you suppose Paris is aware of that?” ‘ “No, but Mrs. Grabcoin talks as if her absence were a source ,of profound regret to all the capitals of Eurone.” ■'