Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1900 — Page 2

Twixt Life and Death

BY FRANK BARRETT

CHAPTER V.—(Continued.) As soon as she was out of sight Mrs. Redmond took the letters up to her room, where her husband was sitting in a dressing gown, with a bottle of whisky and a sporting paper for refreshment. She laid the letters side by side on the table with the flaps upward, soaked a handkerchief and spread it carefully over them. Then she began to dress. Taking off the handkerchief ten minutes later she found that the-flaps yielded to the insertion of a knife blade. “Open them and rend what she has been writing about,” she said in a whisper to her huslxind. Redmond, who had been watching the proceeding in silence, obeyed, .r “Does she talk about walking in her sleep?” the woman asked. “Oh. yes; something about it ip everyone of them.” Mrs. Redmond expressed her satisfaction with a nod. “No suspicion that she has been deceived ?2---"Nos a word.” “That will all serve ns evidence on our Bide if there should be any question. Close the letters carefully and send them over to the post, when we are gone, I’m going to take her over to Dr. Shaw. She ' must have something to take—a mixture ftf some kind.” She was standing beside Redmond, plaiting her hair, as ho replaced the letters and closed the envelopes. He nodded without looking up. . “It will have to lie done to-night for certain,” she continued. "You can settle where she’s to fall from. We shall be back about four. You’d better keep* out of the way till you're wanted.” Redmond's hands trembled so violently that he had to lay down the letter he was trying to inclose. Mrs. Redmond turned from him in silence with a contemptuous jerk of her head. When she looked in the glass to see «f her hair was all right, she caught a glimpse of him wiping the perspiration from his livid face with a handkerchief. “Remember,” she said, going back to him, “there’s no shuffling out of this. It's your only e»ca]>e from the gaol and the workhouse. If you're not here when the time comes I’ll take the girl away and set the lawyers to work.”

CHAPTER VI. When Mrs. Redmond reached Dr. Shaw’s house, the physician resigned himself to the inevitable. Not a week passed without a visit from this woman upon some imaginary ailment of her own or Emma's. He listened, his eyes resting on the paper knife he toyed in his long fingers, but his thoughts were chiefly occupied with Nessa. Who was she? How had she fallen into the hands of Mrs. Redmond? What was the painted woman doing with this fresh, innocent girl? What on earth were the girl's friends about to let her associate with this woman? He disliked Mrs. Redmond. He knew her, and wondered how anyone else could fail to see her deceitfulness through the palpable mask of paint and dye and society manners. “It’s an ordinary bilious attack—nothing more,” he said, looking up, his eyes resting first on Nessa, as Mrs. Redmond concluded her account of Emma’s symptoms. “I believe it is the beginning of fever, f must beg you to come and see her. If it is anything catching I must send her away to her friends at once.” “I am very much occupied. However, if you insist, I will do my best to call in the course of the day.” “Oh. thanks, awfully—thanks'. And now. doctor, I wish you to prescribe for this young lady,” Mrs. Redmond said, laying her hand on Nesa’s arm. Dr. Shaw looked sharply at the girl, who sect ted no less astonished than himself by thi demand. He smiled a? Nessa’s surprise gave way to uncontrollable mirth. “There’s nothing whatever to laugh at," said Mrs. Redmond. “It is not natural. and it is certainly dangerous for a young girl to walk in her sleep.” The doctor assented to this, and listened with serious attention to Mrs. Redmond’s account of the affair, while Nessa sat with head bent, amused and vexed by turns. It was so ridiculous to make a fuss about such a trifle. She raised her head, and met the doctor’s eyes, blushing as if she bad committed a fault when he spoke to her. “You do not look a likely subject for nervous disorders of this kind,” he said, kindly. “I am sure I have never misbehaved myself before—in that way,” she replied, with a laugh. "You have never been so violently excited as you were yesterday and the day before,” suggested Mrs. Redmond. Nessa admitted that this was true. “Of course,” said Dr. Shaw, “great aud unusual mental excitement might account for a case of this kind, but I really see no cause for serious alarm. There Is no reason to fear a repetition of the attack, especially it the excitement abates.” “But the excitement may not abate—the attack may be repeated,” insisted Mrs. Redmond. "Then you had better have someone to sleep in the same rpom for a few nights." "I couldn’t. I should never be able to close my eyes for fear of something happening. And you cannot expect me to put a servant in the room who la probably sickening for some horrid, infectious complaint. Surely you can give something to produce sleep.” The doctor reflected a moment. What was he to do with this obstinate fool of a woman? It was impossible to convince her that Nessa would be better without the use of drugs. If he refused to administer anything, he was perfectly sure that she would go to the chemist and procure some poisonous stuff, such as she herself was in the habit of taking—a concoction strong enough to half kill a young girt unaccustomed to the use of narcot-

les. The best way was to comply with the request, and practice a harmless deception. With this conclusion he rose, saying that possibly a mild sedative might have asgood effect, and left the ladies for a minutes. “It will do you no harm to take this before going to bed,” he said, putting a bottle wrapped in white paper into Nessa's hand. That was true enough; the bottle contained nothing but pure water tinctured with cochineal aud disguised with peppermint. Mrs. Redmond went away triumphant. But she was not simple enough to Udieve that she had overcome the doctor’s scruples. When they returned to the Towers, and she was alone in her room, she took the bottle from her sealskin bag, in which she had put it "for safety,” removed the paper carefully, and poured away the pink liquid. She refilled the bottle from one of her own. The efficacy of that mixture in producing sleep ijhe knew. “Dr. Shaw is responsible for whatever happens-now’,” she said to herself, as she wrapped the bottle in the paper she had taken it from. Upstairs, after dinner, Mrs. Redmond found her husband, with a face the color of lead, pacing the bedroom. “Are you ready?" she asked in a low tone, as she took tip the sealskin bag. He nodded in silence; and then, overcoming the difficulty of speaking, he faltered: “For heaven’s sake;’be quick. This is 'torment 1” , She scanned the quaking coward from head to foot, and, seeing his irresolution, thought it advisable on quitting the room to turn the key upon him. Downstairs she found Nessa sitting in the gloaming by the open window, aud for the first time that day looking grave. Her mind seemed to have taken on the subdued tone of the trees and sky. Night was falling upon her. Mrs. Redmond sat down in the chair opposite, the bag in her lap. “Why, how’ awfully solemn you look!” she exclaimed. “Tvo been thinking,” said Nessa; and then, in a tone of interrogation, she added, “Mr. Redmond Has not come home?” “No; surely he has nothing to do with your gravity.” “Yes, it has. I want to see him. I have something to say.” Mrs. Redmond laughed. “Of course you have, my dear; so have I, he’s perfectly aware of that, and keeps out of our way in consequence.” “But I want to apologize to him,” said Nessa, quietly. “Apologize!” exclaimed Mrs. Redmond, with superb disdain. “I never apologized to anyone in all my life!” “Not when you had to acknowledge yourself in the wrong?” “I never did have to acknowledge myself in the wrong, my dear.” “How nice!” said Nessa. naively, with a sigh. “I’m always doing wrong, an finding out just when it's too late to be undone. I have wronged him. Oh, you don’t know what dreadful things I thought he might be guilty of doing—the most horrible wickedness.” "And pray what reason have you to change your opinion?” “Why, surely a man who is afraid to face a school girl cannot be capable of such desperate designs?” Mrs. Redmond made no response, but sat nursing her knee, and eying, sidelong, the girl who had fallen into a reverie. Then she pressed the fastening of her bag. It opened with a snap that aroused Nessa from her meditations. "My dear, we were both going to sleep, I do believe,” said Mrs. Redmond. “Get a glass. Here’s the mixture Dr. Shaw told you to take.” It had grown so dark that they had to light the lamp to find a clean glass. Mrs. Redmond poured out the drug, Nessa holding the glass, laughing ami protesting. When the bottle was emptied, Nessa, with a wry face lifted the glass to her lips and drained off the syrup. “But it’s too early to go to bed yet,” she said, setting down the empty glass. “Oh, yes. We will sit down and have a good long chat.” They sat down; but soon Nessa found her friend’s light gossip unaccountably inaudible, while an insurmountable I drowsiness crept upon her senses. Mrs. Redmond watched her keenly, and chatted on until the girl’s lids dropped. “You had better go up to your room, dear.” Nessa roused herself with an effort, and in a state of stupor submitted to be guided upstairs. When they were in the little bedroom she sat down on the bed, and, with a last effort of consciousness’ threw her arms about her friend’s neck and kissed her. Mrs. Redmond did not consider it necessary to return the kisfS, for Nessa was already asleep and the next moment slipped sidelong heavily upon the bed. She stood over her in the dim light for some minutes. Then she raised the sleeping girl’s arm and let it drop. It fell inert. She shook her. Nessa made no sign of consciousness. Mrs. Redmond went downstairs and unlocked the door of her room. Her husband stood against the window—his figure just visible in silhouette against the gray light. Mrs. Redmond lit a candle. “Come on,” she said, beckoning him from the door. He followed her automatically up the stairs. CHAPTER VII. Nessa lay where she had sank, her cheek pressing the pillow, her head thrown backward toward the wall. She breathed inaudibly. Mrs. Redmond brought the light close to her eyes; the lids, slightly parted, showed the blank, white body of the upturned ball under the long, curved fringe of the lashes, but they made no movement. “Come on! Do your work!” said Mrs. Redmond.

Her husband drew back to the door, beckoning her. “Where’s the girl?” he asked in a whisper when she joined him. “In her bedroom and asleep this last half hour." “I shan’t do it on the parapet. I looked at it ’ this morning. It isn’t naturrW that she should get out of the window. “Where shall you pot her, then?” He pointed down the corridor. “Is it all ready?” “Give me the light.” He took the candle, and she followed him down the corridor, away from the staircase and toward the unoccupied side of the house. Beyond Nessa’s room *the wainscoted wajls were gray with the dust of years. Cobwebs tapestried the angles of the unused doors and hung in ragged festoons from the low ceiling. At the further end there were signs of humidity; the boards yielded to the pressure of the foot; there was a growth of crimpled yellow fungus in the old molding of the lower wainscot panels. The old door that closed the corridor was green in one corner, where the rats had gnawed the rotten wood away and given passage to the damp air; a prismatic slime marked the course taken by a slug; the great hinges, the rivet heads, - the heavy bolt aud hand ring were crusted with red dust They stopped. Mrs. Redmond drew her skirts together and glanced to the right and left in horror. She had courage enough for murder, bnt went in mortal dread of a spider. Redmond pulled tire ring, and the door, grating hoarsely on its hinges, swung back against the wall, showing a space of impenetrable darkness beyond. He dropped on his knees and thrust out the hand that held the light, the candle flaring and flickering in the current of cold air. Mrs. Redmond stepped boldly to the doorsill and looked in. She now distinguished brickwork on the opposite side, and knew that this must be the tower of which she had heard. It had once been floored, but the roof had fallen In and broken away the rotten planks, leaving nothing but a couple of moldering crossbeams and a narrow ledge of crumbling woodwork just beyond the sill -“What is down there?” asked Mrs. Redmond. “Is it deep enough?”

Redmond took a brick from the debris that lay on the ledge and dropped it. One might have counted twenty before the hoilow sound that followed reached their cars. “That will do!” said the woman. They left the door open and returned to Nessa’s room. There Mrs. Redmond took the light and nodded to her husband to do his work. For a moment he hesitated, looking down on the sleeping girl and rubbing one clammy hand against the other, his mustache twitching with the convulsive movement of his lips; then, with the energy of desperation, he suddenly caught hold of her aud lifted her upon his shoulders. He carried Nessa down the corridor quickly, as if she had been a mere infaut. When his wife came up with the flickering light he laid the supine girl down ou the edge of the doorsill. That was not the easiest thing to do; it required dexterity and strength of no ordinary kind. The sill was not long enough to iay her oi;i at full length; her shoulders had to be raised and placed at the edge of the wall. Without a firm grip the flaccid body would have slipped from his hands; a clumsy movement would have broken away the rotten wood on which she rested. “That will do,” said he, when he had disposed of her to his satisfaction. “The slightest movement will finish her. If she only turns her head she must topple over.” He was still kneeling with his hand on Nessa’s shoulder. Mrs. Redmond bent down. “If a touch will do it, why not push her down and be done with it?’ she asked. “You do it.” “Not I,” she replied; “I’ve done my share. I’m not going to have a murder to answer for.” “Nor I either,” said he, taking the light roughly from her hand. They went back through the passage—he first; hastening to get away from the place and escape the awful sounds their ears were straining to catch. The panic was upon them both now. Neay Nessa’s empty room he stopped suddenly, catching his breath with a rattle in his parched throat. “What?” ejaculated she, clutching hia arm. It was a trifle —nothing. His foot had struck against the shoe that bad fallen from Nessa’s foot as he carried her along. Yet this little thing had crisped the hair on his head and paralyzed him for ths moment. (To be continued.)

SEA FORESTS.

Where Animals Roam Ainu. as They Do ou the Land. The sea has its vegetation as well as the land, and very wonderful it is to think of the forests of great sea weeds waving under the green waters. The weeds in the Saragasso Sea are so thick as to be dangerous to navigation. The Marocystis pyrlfera, a marine plant, attains a length of 500 to 1,500 feet, and is the largest vegetable production known. On the shores of California there are fields of this plant so dense that ships driven toward the land have been saved by it. The Lessonia, another marine plant, Is found on the coast of the Falkland Isles. Its stems, thicker than a man's leg, and from eight to ten feet In length, cling to the rocks, above high water mark, by means of fibers. Many branches spring from these sterns, bearing long leaves, which hang down into the water. Marine plants form vast submarine forests nt the southern extremity of America, aud are so strong nnd buoyant that they frequently raise large stones from the bottom. Myriads of animals and parasitical plnuts inhabit these forests of the deep.

The Cause of Old Age.

Agnes had been sitting for two or three minutes In deep thought, apparently. At last she looked up and said: “Mamma, I know why people grow old; it’s because they live so long.” Only seven occupations were opca to women In th® United States In 1839; now there ar® about 400.

ONE COMMON AIM.

Democracy Prevent* a United Front Against a Common i.nemy. Four years ago Mr. Bryan, amid scenes of great excitement and bitterness, was suddenly called to party leadership. This year he is summoned with deliberation and with unanimity to the same high place. Four years ago his nomination was resisted by nearly a third of the convention. There were many bolters from the There was general dissensions among Democrats, which led to open rupture and the assembling of a convention that put in the field alleges! Democratic opposition candidates. Now mark the difference. There is no evidence anywhere within the organization of protest or opposition. The convention was unanimous, and It was not a forced unanimity of elements hiding secret opposition, but of people who believed in the man and the cause he represents, end whose agreement on a unanimous nomination was the most sincere act of their political lives. The Chicago Chronicle, which four years ago opposed Mr. Bryan, now joining in hearty and vigorous support of his election, says: “It may be stated with emphagis that never in the history of. the party has a Presidential candidate been placed in the field with greater unanimity or with more genuine cordiality on the part of his supporters.” It is plain, therefore, that Mr. Bryan has been a growing man, and impressed himself upon his party and upon the country. His energy, his zeal, his sincerity cannot be Questioned even by his'most implacable foes. He is stronger to-day

Don’t be frightened, Willie. Papa will look out for you aud Teddy. See what a big life preserver papa’s got.”—New Y’ork Journal.

than £ter before. He has a united party back of him, which he had not in 1890. —Pittsburg Post. Conquest. If there is one principle more deeply written than any other in the mind of every American it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest. —Thomas Jefferson. Conquest. That is our object in the Philippines. The Filipinos. A people who gave up 50,000 lives to win their independence from Spain, and had beaten the Spanish soldiers back to Manila before Dewey entered the bay of Manila that morning in May, 1898. Aguinaldo. The trusted leader of the Filipinos. A man imbued with the spirit of liberty, fapiiliar with the Declaration of Independence and with the constitution of the United States, furnished with arms and used as an ally by Dewey, believing all the time that the defeat of Spain by the United States meant independence, not conquest, for the Filipinos. It was the devilish lust of conquest that made our administration, our government, play false to Aguinaldo and the Filipinos. Neither our Declaration of Independence, nor our constitution, nor our traditions, nor our form of government contemplate conquest, which is neither more nor less than national piracy.— Helena Independent. Another Civil War. Shall the United States of America continue to be a free republic, and the friend of free and struggling republics everywhere, with equal privileges to all? Or shall the United States become imperial in fact If not In form, with special privileges for the few, the denial of the “consent of the governed,” military rule over subject peoples and unwarrantable corporate or trust exactions from our own people? Shall we continue to stand upon the Declaration of Independence and a strict construction of the Constitution, or are they to become forgotten documents In a new-fashioned era of heavy armaments, great military budgets and vast military establishments to oppress the people of our colonies, or in time, perhaps, to overawe the people of our own land? Republic or cpiplre, which? That is the great question for the people to determine. It underlies and overshadows a. d exceeds In its vital Importance all other issues of this last yearfof the nineteenth century.—Albany Argus. Nullification of * Doctrine. When the joint high commission failed to dispose of Canada’s newly con-

celved and stubborn pretensions to territory that would give her a seaport for her Yukon province at the expense of the Integrity of our own const Hue, it ’has announced that Secretary Hay would take the controversy into bls own hands, separating It from other questions in dispute with the dominion. This rumor of a “provisional, preliminary and temporary” recession from our previc Italy undisputed frontier is the first news from that quarter. It looks like a proposition pnt forth tentatively in order to ascertain whether public Interest is so much engrosed in the Presidential campaign, lu affairs Lu Giilnn aud Ju other tnnt’urs at home and abroad that It will either tolerate with indifference a snrieuauc of territory or acquiesce submissively in a practical nullification of the Monroe doctrine.—New Yolk Suu. Haiiti'isr ’'own ths Fing. The United Stales did not acquire possession of Alaska by conquest fron natives who wanted independence, but by purchase from Russia. Neverthe less, our flag has been flying there fc* about thirty-three years. In the words of President McKinley. “Who shall haul it down?” President McKinley himself, through his Secretary of State, has hauled down the American flag on a considerable strip of that territory. He has done this at the instance of Great Britain. The British flag never floated over this territory until Mr. McKinley hauled down the American flag. When an impartial commission shall adjudge this territory to be outside the purchase which the United States made from Russia it will be tinae for the

WILLIE AND HIS PAPA.

President, if duly authorized by Congress, to haul down the American flag. Until such time—hands off, Mr. McKinley and Mr. Hay!—Boston Post. Mnybnry a Strong Candidate. The Democratic party has given the people of Michigan a gubernatorial candidate of the older school—no brag, no bluster, no holism, no bluffing, no intimidation, no fake “reforms.” If the people of the State are dissatisfied with tlie reckless and corrupt manner in which the affairs of the commonwealth have been administered they have it in their own power to bring about a better state of things. If they desire a government that is not the plaything of demagogues on the one hand and corporate interests on the other, the opportunity Is theirs. They can find no fault with the candidate. They can find no fault with the platform on which he stands.—Detroit News.

Why Not Divide China?' If imperialism is a good thing; why not now join with the other "world powers” in the partition of China? We have much better reasons for seizing a slice of that empire than we had for taking the Philippines. It Is a larger field, both for our trusts and for our missionary “statesmen.” At the present rate of progress the Filipinos will soon all be civilized—that is to say, dead—but In China Hanna would have unlimited scope for “Christianizing” the heathen.—Columbus, Ohio, PressPost.

Ont of Their Own Mouths. Webster Davis has been accused of using some of President Garfield's utterances In addressing a Democratic meeting. It Is bad enough to condemn Republican doctrines without proving their error by quoting from the old leaders of the party. Democrats should be forbidden to quote from Lincoln or Garfield.—Peoria Herald-Transcript. They Are Naturally Furprised. That there were differences of opinion and discussions as to policy at Kansas City naturally excites the organs of the once free and Independent Republican party, in whose conventions Hanna no longer tolerates any discussion.—Albany Argus. Not Up to Date with Hanna. To be sure, it hurts the Hanna crowd to have such a garrulous lot of old granny Republicans as Lincoln, Grant, Garfield, Sherman, Edmunds, Hoar, Carpenter, Seward and Stanton quoted in this campaign.—Omaha World-Her-ald.

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

New York.—Midsummer dullness to noted in all different markets. General trade always slows up somewhat at this time of the year, and the Stock Exchange situation is simply a reflection of this state of comparative inactivity. No important change in conditions is likely before the middle of next month, when merchants will begin to make preparations for the early fall season. There is a more confident sentiment in commercial circle* Thia is not due from the growing, belief that prices have at last reached bed-rock, which has resulted in a better inquiry for goods. The situation in respect to crops is also hopeful. For this reason merchants are all looking forward to a satisfactory fall trade. Dullness has been the only feature of the stock market. The volume of business has been too light Throughout the week to give prices any decided tendency in either direction. Chicago.—The price of wheat tended moderately upward during the week, and showed a slight improvement at the close of Saturday’s session as compared with its value at the end of the week previous. The firmness thus indicated was chiefly iue to heavy rains and comparatively cold weather in Europe just as harvest was well under way, and resulted in the receipt of heavy buying orders from the importing countries. No new light has been thrown upon the vexed question of the actual total of this season’s domestic wheat production in the crop report of the national agricultural bureau. It did not''include any reference to the extent of the reported damage to winter wheat, but as far as it went confirmed the report of the previous month as to the seriousness of the loss to spring wheat by the long drought that prevailed in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The size and excellence of the Kansas wheat crop is attested by the heavy volume of the deliveries and the eager competition for their possession between the home and foreign millers. Kansas is the main present source of supply, nnd for n month to come, at least, should be able to hold in check the bullishness arising from crop failures in other parts of the country, unless further damage should overtake the crops of the United Kingdom and Europe. Heat and dry weather have reduced by two points since July 1 the promise of the corn crofi, and a further continuation of such weather threatens additional deterioration.

ALLIES FIRE ON AMERICANS.

Awful Blunder During the Fighting at Yang-tsun. A dispatch from Yang-tsun, via Che Foo and Shanghai, tells of a terrible blunder that occurred during the Yrangtsun battle that nearly wiped out the Fourteenth United States Infantry. During the night, while the English and Russians were shelling the Chinese trenches, the Fourteenth was brought into position, ready to storm one of the Chinese trenches. They were observed in the deep darkness by the Russians, who took them for a body of Chinese, and immediately turned their guns upon the Americans. The Americans, thinking they were being attacked by Chinese, fought back, until some one of the Americans discovered the awful mistake that was being made and they ceased firing, but the English and Russians kept it up until an American rushed into their lines, in the face of a deadly fire and stopped the maiming of his men. Ten Americans were wounded, some of them very seriously, before the mistake was discovered. In the fighting that night ten Americans were killed and fifty-five wounded. The British bad fifty wounded and the Russians ten, including a colonel. Th® fighting lasted for four hours. The Chinese lines extended from the railway bridge eastward three miles. It is estimated that they numbered 20,000. The Russians, British, and all the Americans were engaged.

KILLS FRIEND TO WED.

Cowardly Murderer of Express Meteengcr Lane Is Caught. What promised to be the greatest murder mystery In the history of the Adams Express Company was solved unexpectedly, when Charles It. H. Farrell, an employe, confessed to having murdered Charles Lanq a messenger, and robbed an express car on the Panhandle, near Milford Center, Ohio. Love for his sweetheart and an ambition to provide her with the necessary funds to purchase an elaborate wedding outfit prompted Ferrell to shoot down his old friend and companion In cold blood and rob the safe of his former employers. Ferrell was arrested while Bitting in a doorway with his sweetheart, Miss Lillian Costello, a well-known young woman, at her home in a fashionable part of Columbus, Ohio. Ferrell was to have been married spon to Miss Costello. He had been discharged from the employment of the Adams Express Company three months ago and had not been able to secure employment. The slayer confessed that the motive of the robbery was to secure money, of which he felt in great need on account of bis approachfng marriage. The money secured he hnd given to Miss Costello to keep for him, saying that it was money he had saved from his earnings. The Pennsylvania express, leaving Cincinnati at 8 p. m. Thursday, was robbed before the train reached Columbus, and Express Messenger Lane was found dead in his car when the train reached the Ohio capital city. Complaints continue to come from Africa of the systematic and prodigal destruction of great game. A correspondent writes to London fropi Beira, in Portuguese East Africa to say that unless some prompt action is taken the district through which the Umbali pailroad passes will soon be denuded of the animate life which abounded upon it a little white ago. More than 6,000,000 persons in India are still receiving government aid, but the condition is slightly Improved by the sains in some sections.