Pike County Democrat, Volume 24, Number 20, Petersburg, Pike County, 6 October 1893 — Page 3

fh* £ikr County grmorrat M- McC. STOOPS, Editor ud Proprietor PETERSBURG, - - INDIANA.

Ioa Lcnon Copyright, 18a3, by the Author., | OR ten years Sist e r Margaret had renounced the world. In the sisterhood she passed for k, a saint And j| yet she was very human, at

ximes very mercy, ana sne was me must popular of all the sisters. There was somethin#' especially winning in her personal!ty. Her face, albeit somewhat pale and thin from constant mortification and nightly vigils. was perfect in feature, and the delicate complexion was tinted charmingly, while the hair which was tantalizingly hidden was of that glorious, golden-red color, which the painters of lovely women choose as their ideal. Sister Margaret had indeed renounced the world and with it all persofiaT'vanities, but there was one thing to which she still elung and that was her golden hair. One evening, quite late, the Mother had visited her in her room. The sister was not at the devotions which had brought a look of heavenly blessedness into her face, but erect in her narrow chamber, clad only in the coarse night gown, which was nearly concealed by a mantle of falling hair, that glistened and shone; and now and again she lifted, as it were, a fold of it in her fingers, and it fell shimmering back. “Sister Margaret,” said the Mother, with rebuke in her voice, “you should be in your bed. There is but one thing which should keep you from it.” The younger woman turned towards her a blushing face. “My thoughts were of the earth, mother,” she said, softly. The mother came closer to her and touched the silky hair. “Is this a snare to yon?” she asked. “I love.it,” said Sister Margaret, in a roice that was musical by reason of its sweet ness, “fbr the sake of-an erring human creature. I never look upon my hair but I recall his praise of it." “Yet you vowed to crucify your human affections.” “No nun could think less than I of human affections,” said the little sister. “But We are bidden to love all sinners. This man is a sinner. While-he walks the earth I must remember him. Once he loved me. and for aught I know he lbves me still.” “My child,” said the mother, gravely, “I see that you still cling to earthly things. It would please me greatly if you would sacrifice this—” she placed her wrinkled hand once more upon the hair. “It would buy something for His poor.” “Do not ask it of me, dear mother,” pleaded the sister, “Clod understands. Love is acceptable to Him when it springs from a pure heart, and He bears with its weaknesses.”’ The mother was silenced. When she had left her Sister Margaret knelt long upon the cold floor. She was woman as well as saint. If she had outlived the bitterness the sweetness of the earthly love remained with her. Never again had the subject been mentioned to her. Daily the little sister grew in holiness and charity. Her black robed form was welcomed in the worst slums of the great city, where men and women steeped in vice and degradation felt the power of a love and purity they could not understand. She carried food to the starving, raiment to the destitute, hope to the despairing and comfort to all. Usually she thought of nothing but her work, and how to render most service to those to whom her life was given; but sometimes a face, a walk, the look in the eyea of one who

u “why!” he miEP, “it’s fat!" passed would arrest her attentiop, and for a second her breath would cosse ■quickly and her throbbing heart would cry out that her prayers were answered. But this was not so. And, by degrees, though her faith ditT not fail, she ceased to look for him whom she sought, and was thus spared the pain of disappointment And the days melted into one another, and grew into weeks, and months, and years. One summer morning when the little sister brushed her hair, a ray of light from the rising sun fell upon it, and showed her a silver thread which had ■crept in among the gold. She looked at it as if she would fain have been deceived, then, with a heavy sigh, let the long tress fall. “Ah,” she said, in a sorrowful whisper, “what if it be faded and white? Would he know me then? As well anight I have been shorn.” That day she had to work very hard. There was much illness about. The

fever-stricken, who In health would have acknowledged no necessity for her presence, watched for her eagerly. Weary mothers, to whom curses came more readily than other speech, blessed her when she lifted the little babies from arms too weak to hold them, and young children, crying with pain and wretchedness, held out their hot hands to clutch the tempting fruit she brought them. By the afternoon she had given away all she had in her basket. As she was descending tha rickety stairs of the last house she had, visited, s woman dashed out from/the garret and, leaning over the banister, called to her. / “I saw you come,” she said, “and I’ve been a-laying in waiy for you. Could you step back?” / The little sister looked up. She saw s pretty, bedraggled, untidy woman, with hollow eyes and a coarse complexion, who was still young, and whose person was clad in faded finery. She was not a new type to the little sister, who could have told her character at a glance. She reascended the stairs. “Vou have only just coine to this house?” she said, with her reassuring smile. “Yes, we hain't been here three days.” answered the woman. “It ain't exactly a s.ootable lodgin’, but the rent's easier than t'other." “You have been better off. then?” said the sister, and she knew the rest of the story without being told. But she let the woman make her own statement. “\Ve gets poorer an’ poorer. When we first married my husband was quite a gentleman. It's drink as done it. But he've been steady a long while now. Turned over a new leaf, you might say. Only he was weak when we come here, and he caught the fever directly, and we hain't any money. And we are starving, well-nigh.” She looked at the basket. Alas, it was empty. “I could stand it myself. But it’s him and the little 'uns ” “You have some children?” “Two.” She pushed open the door, and Sister Margaret entered. The room was squalid and bare of furniture, except for the wretched bed on which lay a prostrate form, and a broken chair against which leant a pale, lovely little child, who turned at her entrance and looked at her with shy, yet eager eyes. .Another, and a younger child, was crouching on the floor, endeavoring to extract nourishment from an old dry bone she was sucking. The sun streamed in through the uncurtained window. It showed the dirt and wretchedness of the room, the torn paper with its tawdry pattern, the soiled counterpane, which was flung over the sick man, and the pale, worn face resting on the coat which served as a pillow. It was the face of a wrecked creature. But the sunlight, while it made the ruin more apparent, yet cruelly manifested that the stranded, broken vessel had been planned for a great and noble purpose, had once been beautiful and filled with power. Was it this thought which came into the mind of Sister Margaret, ard made her gaze, as if fascinated, on the sick man?

"lie am t conscious, lie aon l Know you,” whispered the woman. "He—doesn't know—me,” repeated the little sister like one in a dreamShe was trying to recall a face not unlike liis. She remembered sowell a broad white brow, from which the dark hair had been tossed carelessly back, and great loi%-iashed gray eyes with the dilated pupils of the enthusiast, and a weak, sensitive, mobile mouth, and a chin dimpled like a girl’s. But this brow was furrowed, the hair was streaked with gray, the chin was disfigured by an unkept beard, and the mouth was changed—sadly. Only the eyes were the same. The fever and the sunshine gave them a strange brilliancy. Suddenly the sick man drew one hand from under the coverlet, and with an impatient gesture pushed back the overhanging hair from his forehead. Then he flung his arm out upon the counterpane and the thin slender hand with the fingers of the artist lay palm downwards. Sister Margaret gave a long-drawn shivering sigh. __ But concentrated passion, whether of joy or sorrow, produces a wonderful calm. “What is your husband's name?” the sister asked quietly and without looking round. And the woman answered: "Claude Desborough.” The little sister bowed her head. The man, who had been__ moaning, now muttered something<fncoherenk His wife understood him? however. She fetched a mug from the other end of the room. It had contained water, but was now empty. The little girl had surreptitiously drunk its contents. “1 must get some,” said the woman, philosophically. And she left the room. Meanwhile Sister Margaret stood as if incapable of action. It was so like a dream, this meeting. Her thoughts reverted to the past, strange and far away, as though in another life. She saw a young, handsome man standing before an easel, and a girl, almost a i#iild, was looking up at him in undisguised admiration, and both were smiling from sheer happiness. And presently the girl blushed at his praise of herself, as she stood in her white dress, with the rippling waves of her hair around her, like a nymph in a sea of gold. But now it was night. The girl had changed. Into her eyes had oome a sad, wistful look, and the traces of recent tears were upon her cheeks. She was walking restlessly up and down the room, and presently she covered her face as if with shame at the thought of something she had seen or heard»4<id falling upon her knees at the bedside prayed and wept And then she saw the snow falling, and a wrman watching it listlessly. Hi was growing dusk, hut had it been darker her eyes would have seen a fig

ore approaching1. Suddenly the light j leapt into them and color to her cheelca. And she clasped her hands over her heart. She knew no more till he was in the room, at her feet, pleading for pity, for another trial—and not in rain. And yet one more scene rose before her. It was too painfnl to dwell on. Even now Sister Margaret shuddered like one struck by cold. The woman, older, changed, and still sadder, was driving home with her father late in the evening. They alighted, and, as she hastened towards the gate, she stumbled and nearly fell. Prostrate on the ground lay a drunkard. The moon, looking suddenly from behind a cloud, showed her his face. And a cry broke from her, startling the silent night. Then, with feverish energy, she dragged off her glove and flung on the pavement her diamond engagement ring. “It's food he wants,” Desborough’s wife was saying'. “He's very weak.” The little sister passed her hand across her eyes. “Have you nothing?" she asked, j faintly. “Nothing,” said the woman, bitterly, “and we've pawned all we had except this.” She stretched out her hand towards the counterpane and began to pull it away from the shrunken form it covered. The man, half involuntarily, tightened his hold of it. “It won’t fetch much,” said "the woman, “but there ain't any time to lose. He's sinking fast.” “Stop,” said the little sister, and she arrested the dirty, hard worked hand with her own. “1 can't,” cried the woman, passionately. “I love him. I ain’t going to let him die if I can help it. I’d hoped you could ha’ done something for us.” “I will,” said Sister Margaret, gently. "I have only one thing to give him. and he shall have it.” She stepped to the foot of the bed, and pushed back her veil. Then with quick, nervous fingers she loosened her hair. In a minute her black gown was nearly hidden, and the sunshine, pouring throxigh the dirty window, streamed

GOLD HAIR LAY IN* A MASS UPON TUB FLOOR. upon her, and made her a being' transfigured—a creature of wondrous loveliness, refulgent in a cloud of golden light. The children, running to look at her, were almost afraid The mother could not keep back an exclamation. Sister Margaret looked at her with shining eyes. “See!" she said, in a strange, excited, half sad, half joyful voice, and she gathered her hair in either hand and spread it out. “This is for him. Cut it off with all speed; sell it and buy food!” But before his wife could answer her the sick man had risen in his bed and was gazing at her with wondering eyes. Then he uttered a cry which thrilled the listeners, so full was it of rapture, while his haggard face was aglow like that of a young man.' “Why,” he cried, and at the sound of his voice the sister trembled, “it’s Fay! She has forgiven me—she has come to me. Ah, my darling, my darling!” The tears streamed from his eyes, and he stretched out his arms. *T knew you would come. Fay. I always said so. And now I can paint you. But why is it a black dress. Fay? I like you best in white. You are so young, you see, and wee, and happy; and black is for the old and sorrowful. Ah, but the hair is there, and just as bright. You should always stand in the sunshine. Fay.” He continued to regard her for a minute. the others breathlessly silent. Then, with a smile, he said, in a clear voice, like one reciting— “ Hair, such a wonder of Six and floss. Freshness, and fragrance—floods of it, too Gold, did J say? Nay. gold's mere dross; Here, Lits smiled: ‘Think what I meant to do!* And love sighed: ‘Fancy my loss!’ " “So when she died—” “Died! Who is dead? Not Fay? Dead, did you say? No, she is there. Why, where was I? Jjet me think. You know. Fay; I have quoted it so often to you. Ah, I remember now. “ * Not my hair!' made the girl her moan, * All the rest is cone, dr to go; But the last, last grace, my all. my own—' “Fay, you are crying. Do not cry. Ah, it is my fault. Forgive me, dear. Pray for me. Fay. Oh, help me, I have sinned again. She has turned away. Oh, my God.”

The rapid, utterance enaea in a snnek and he fell back senseless. His wife turned to Sister Margaret. “It’s the fever,” she said. “He’s raring.” And she stooped to aid the fainting man, murmuring as she did so: “He often says long bits of poetry when he's off his head.” The Sister of Charity sprang towards her sobbing. “Don’t restore him yet," she said. Do this—” she pointed to her hair—Awhile he is unconscious.” And in a few minutes the old blunt knife had done its work and she waa shorn of her glory. She drew its former black covering over her head while the poor woman gathered in her hands •the poor gold hair” which lay in a mass upon the floor. “Now go,” said the little sister, quite calmly. “Bring him help. I will attend to him tiU you return.” When the dying man came to hia senses he saw bending over him the black-robed figure of a Sister of Chap i&y. Bat her lace was hidden.

RELIGIOUS AND C.UUCTIONAL. —Let the penitent be ever mourning, and in his tears let him every rejoice.— St. Augustine. —Allegheny college, Meadville, ha« .■eoently elected to its presidency Rer. W. H. Crawford, of Chicago. —Nothing shall be too hard which God hath promised, and yet by faith and prayers are fit to receive.—Baxter. —There are, according to the statistics, 12,000,000 Sunday school scholars and teachers in the United States. —One indulged sin may so cloud the sky that it spreads a mist, so that to see what God is doing is impossible.— J. Newton, M. A. —Biddle university has received as a bequest from the late Mrs. Laura Carter, of Geneva, N. Y., the sum of $10,000 for a new dormitory to be commenced about September 1. —Only in looking Heavenward, not in looking earthward, does what we can call union, mutual love, society be* gin to be possible.—Carlyle. —Light is not obtained by searching, but by submitting. You can never find God by searching. You must come like a child; you are not asked to understand, only to accept and believe. —Haslam. —The devil tempteth not unbelievers and sinners, whom he hath already secured possession of: but faithful and religious devout persons he in various wavs tempteth and disquieteth.—Thos. a KempisJ —In one of the towns of Connecticut the public archives show that a motion was made and adopted by the school trustees within two generations past that "it is the sense of this meeting that it would be a misuse of public funds to teach girls the back part of the arithmetic.” —In the Ohio Wesleyan university Prof. W. G. Hormell, who has recently been talcing graduate work at Harvard university, has been elected to the chair of physics, and Rev. R. T. Stevenson, after, a course of study at Boston university and in Europe, has been elected to the chair of history. —The wheel is turning and Mohammedans are sending missionaries right into the heart of Christendom, as Christians have long gone into the midst of Islam. A Moslem missionary has taken up his abode in Liverpool, Eng., and has secured several converts. A Moslem institute is also open there every day for prayers. —Four hundred and eighty-five missionaries are on the staff of the London City Mission. French. German. Spaniards and other foreigners are employed to reach! certain classes. The receipts were $252,9S5 last year. During the same period 69,000 meetings were held, and over 3.500.000 visits were made.— Missionary Review. —The trustees of Bangor Theological seminary have resolved to establish a distinctively biblical course of study as an elective. The course will be open at the beginning of the fall term. The special object of the course is to give adequate instruction in English studies to those who are not prepared for the regular! course in Hebrew and Greek. It will be distinct from the classical course during junior year; but in middle and senior years the studies will be mostly those of the regular coarse as given in the catalogue. ,

WIT AND WISDOM. be-: —Every man with a bright son lieves in heredity.—Atchison Globe. —The best backing any man ever had is his own backbone.—Galveston News. —When truth goes to battle it always fights in the front rank.—Ram's Horn. —The milk business is one in which both men and measures are essential.— Buffalo Courier. :■ —Pride is better than envy, but a man may get along without either.— Cleveland Plaindealer. —A man never has so much use for his watch as when listening to a long sermon.—Atchison Globe. —A correspondent asks: “How can I get a copious flow of language?” Try stepping on a tack.—Texas Siftings. —There are two things in the world upon which there have never been any improvement—the wheelbarrow and kissing. —Hardware. —“Whisky never effects my brain,” observed a, bibulous actor. “No, but it goes to your head, though,” was the reply.—Somerville Journal. —Kentucky had another shower of fish the other day. It is a strange state where the fish have to go to the clouds for water.—Boston Transcript —An editor's excuse for discontinuing the publication of his paper was thai everybody else stopped the paper, and so he thought he would.—Tidbits. —One of the differences between a bicycle and a unicycle is that the wheelbarrow is much the harder of the two to push.—Somerville Journal. —Gobble—Don’t you like the laundryman I recommended to you? Stone— No. Cobble—What's the trouble? Stone—He's just my size.—Vogue. —An enterprising hosier has announced a new button, which he calls the Old Maid’s Wedding. Why? Because it never comes off.—Tid-Bits. —He Felt Sore.—“How beautiful Miss Clabberton looks to-night, Pelham! Ehe is certainly the cream of our set.” “Yes,” sighed Pelham; "the cream that sours on a lover very easily.”—Judge. —Watts—Higginbottom is always boasting of his ancestry since he made his little strike. I wonder what his ancestry really is? Potts—English, Irish and plebeian, I should guess.— Indianapolis Journal. Risky.—Sallow Passenger—Don’t you think there is always some (puff) risk in riding (puff) in a smoking car? Redfaced Passenger—I do sir. There is no telling (phew!) when the man sitting next to you may light a cigarette. [Moves three seats forward.]—Chicago Tribune. Powerful. Wife—While you were away, my dear, the baby pulled the folding-bed down on him. Husband—Was the little fellow hurt? Wife—Oh, no. He raised it almost immediately with his voioe.-—Judge

PROFKSSIOXAI. CARDS. J. T. KXMB, V. Di, Physician and Surgeon, PETERSBrRG. IStt VOflee In Bank buldlnsr. first floor. Wll be round at office day or night. . GEO. B. ASHBY, ATTORNEY AT LAW PETERSBURG, IXDl \V Prompt Attention Siren to all Boelnesa. '<%|W'f>ffice orer Barrett & Son's store. Fkaxcis B. Posit. Dewitt Q. Caarriu. POSEY A CHAPPELL. Attorneys at Law, Petersburg, Ind. Will practice in all the courts! Special attention given t> all business. A Notary ^ Public constantly in the office. g^Offlce— On first floor Bank Building. E. A. Ely. G. DATESrOU ELY & DAVENPORT, LAWYERS, Petersburg, Im tfiifflce over J. R. Adams A Son's drug ■J*tore. Prompt attcutiou given to ail business. C. P. ElCU.VRPSOX. a. h. Tatxob RICHARDSON A TAYLOR, Attorneys at Law, Petersburg, Ixix Prompt attention given to all business. A Notary Public constantly In the office. Office in C arpenter Building. Eighth and Main. DENTISTRY. TV. H. STOXECIPHER,

Surgeon Dentist, PETERSBURG, IND. office in rooms 6 and 7 in Carpenter Buildin*. operations first-class. All work warranfe I. Anaesthetics used for painless extraction of teeth. NELSON STONE, D. V. S., PETERSBURG, IND. Owing to Ion® practice and the possession of a fine library and case of instruments, Mr. Stone is well prepared to treat all Diseases of Horses and Cattle SUCCESSFULLY. He also keeps on hand a stock of Condition Powders and Liniment, which he sells at reasonable prices. Office Over J. B. Young & Co.’s Store. Machinist AND Blacksmith. I am prepared to do the beat of work, with satisfaction guaranteed In all kinds of Blacksmithing. Also Mowing and Reaping Machines ■nalreil in th. beat of work rnuoU, 1 employ none but flrst-elsss workman. Do not go from home to get your work, but call 01 mo » my (hop on Main Street, Potonburi UilOM. CHAS. VEECK. TRUSTEES* NOTICES OF OFFICE DAT. NOTICE Is hereby given that I will attend to the duties of the office of trustee of Clay township at home on EVERY MONDAY. All persons who have business with the office will take notice that I will attend to business on no other day. M. M. COWES, Trustee. ATOTICE I* hereby given to all parties InXT forested that 1 will attend at iny office in Stendal, EVERY STAVED AY, To transact business connected with the office of trustee of Lockhart township. All persons having busiuesi with said office will please tSSe notice. J. S. BARRETT. Trustee. "VTOTICE is hereby given to all parties conIs cerned that I will be at rov residence. r EVERY TUESDAY, To attend to business connected with th« office of Trustee of Monroe township. GEORGE GRIM, Trustee. -VTOTICE is hereby given that 1 will be a1, Is my residence EVERT THURSDAY To attend to business connected with thn office of Trustee of Logan township. ’ 4F*Positively no business transacted except on office day*. SILAS KIRK, Trustee. NOTICE is hereby given to all parties concerned that I will attend at my residenci EVERY MONDAY To transact business connected with tbt office of Trustee of Madison township, f AF-Positively no business transacted except office days JAMES RUMBLE, Trustee. NOTICE is hereby given to all persons irterested that I will attend in my office l» Velpen, EVERT FRIDAY. To transact business connected with the office of Trustee of Marion township. All persons {raving business with said offloe will pleaaVtake notice. W. P. BROCK. Trustee. NOTICE is hereby give* to all persons concerned that I will attend at my offine EVERY DAY To transact business connected with the office of Trustee of Jefferson township. R. W. HARRIS, Trustee

Cl Sz :Lv£. OHIO&MISSISSIPPI liAILfAY, tsz um EAST & VrEST,. I Solid, Dal It Traies to Cl KlnutO^ 8 Solid Dollj train* .tali*. Leals. I Solid Dally trains to i.jalttllla. Connecting In Union Depot*,' with tral.tg of all lines: hr the East, West, Nort t and rhrough Veslibol) toy Cos he*, fsllnlt P arlor Cars and SI lepers o > alL Trains , DOUBLE DALLY LINE. —&r— * ‘ Pill man Testibs l« Buffet Sleepers froiff St. Louis and Stationi ou Main Line -to— Washington^altiM^MeN pk and Hew Yoik, with* . oat change, Easts'aso Fro* WASHINGTON. No .8 Accommodation 12 S7 P, No. 2. Pay Express 4 18 P. No 4. Night E xpresa 1237 A. No. 8 Fast Exprei* 2. 05. A. WasTWARt Form Washington No 7 Accommodation 12 42 P. No. 1 Day Express 12 57 P. No. 3 Night Express 12 38 A No. 5 Fast Exprens 2 06 A !* ]fc| Home Seekers MovinG WesT llhonld take this Una aa t. haa less chan tee at cares and be ter accon modatlona than other routes. Our Vestibule cars are al« xury, which niaj be enjoyed by all, without extra charges, iu every atteution • given our passengers «■ make their Jourr ey pleasai t and eomfoitablo. Our agento wit: take pieaiure In answetinn Inaolriesin retard to rates for both pa*»enKrs and freight. time, routes and conneo* ms: ball at your borne If desired and at* tend’to shipping freight >y the most dlreel ’ N'ktngbaggi ge.wlthontchargt routes and chee. I— -- . . for any assistants they maybe able to ran* d<N. B.—Passen {era shoulc purehaae tlclett before entering ;he cars, ai the ticket rale t ton cents less tl an the tral h rate. Communication* addreaied to the nudag Signed will toce re prompt attention. THOMAS DONAHUE, Ticket Agent 0.4 M. R’y Washington^ad. C. G. Jonei , District 1 assenger Agt, Vincennes Fid. J. F. BARN ADD. W B, SHATTUC Pres. and M gr. * Ge’n. Pa*l Am C1NCINNATT ( OHIO. rt

if F. R. SHINDY. FIMHinflL FAMILY GROUP AND RESIDENCES A SPECIALTY. All kinds of outdoor work, por« raits, copying and enlargingf rom t»ldj pictures &c. Birthday and surprise party group) a specialty. Satisfaction guaranteed or no pay. Give me & t ail, or ad treat F. A. SB ANDY, Petersburg Indiana. M. j. B11AD'2\ Petersburg, Indiana, Will aaake yta Photos In may i umber at most reaso lablo rates. HemBmv»f that my work it waij ranted. U roj want P DRTRA1TS«nlargst call and uara the work done right. All work guarantee! to stand the test at ages and still be as t right as whs a take* (Tom the gallery. Studio equipments rf standard taodsna makes. « e ■ Our motto—“Ths feet Is As Wood A* Any,and Always the Jkeapest.” M. J. BRADY. Qallery la Eisert’s^f uildlng, upstairs, o* Main, between S: xth and Seventh. Monuments Best material, most reasonable prices,sate Isfactlon guaranteed «t Velersbuir* VImrf ble Works J.4E. YOUNG, Proprietor* THIS PAPER IS ON FILE IN CHICAGO Ml) NEW rORK AT THE OFFICES OF A. i. KI-LLOGfi NEWSPAPER GO. OVJ EJi Mh BR^ This Trade S ark Is an the best WATERPIIOOF COAT gSS^r* In the World l A. J. TOVER. BOSTON. MASS. YOUMfi HEB iSSSLE ygT•oc* situations. Writ. J. D. BlOWk, 8 Malta. Mae. *■*1* mrna«e*»iaa*