Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1900 — Page 2

Wedded for Gold

CHAPTER XV.— (Continued.) "Have you heard that a jury of my own •Mntrymen found me guilty, and that my fellow-townsmen— the old friends an neighbors whom I have spent all mj among— in their own minds found me guilty, too, and have shown their opinion, moat of them, by withdrawing their busfeess from me — the old friends or i and served, my lord?” The earl took his hand again. “F have heard it, Mr. Lonsdale, and regret it. I am glad to have tins chance •f saying publicly that I disbelieve all feat has been said about your guilt, and am proud to take the hand of .an hones , “I thank you, my lord,” returned Darcy Lonsdale. . His wonder increased when the ean, turning to him, said: - “Your place, Mr. Lonsdale, is at my right hand.” ’ . The lawyer looked at him in amazement. Lord Arlington smiled. “Yes at my right hand,” he said; ana after dinner you will know the reason at this. Darcy Lonsdale took his seat. ~ .. “Your son will sit next to you, said Lord Arlington. “I shall want him as *Mr. Lonsdale saw the looks of wonder from all the gentlemen assembled. “They are not accustomed to see me to honored,” he said to himself, bitterly. Then the grand banquet began, end it was one long remembered in Lilford, because of its grandeur and costliness, those who partook of it described it <n a few words—it was worthy of the earl who gave it. „ Silence, deep and impressive, fell over them when the earl arose to speak. There .was not the faintest sound when he beold friends and neighbors ” he said, “there has been an injustice done among you which I have asked you here to-day to set straight. Lnder-pt-end me plainly, as an Englishman, I «hold the legal institutions of my country. I bow my head to the decision of « judge; I listen with respect to the verdict of a jury. But, gentlemen, human laws, just because they are human and not divine, must at times err; and I say they erred when they pronounced a man as honest, industrious and honorable as my friend Darcy Lonsdale as capable of infinencing a woman to leave him her money. Gentlemen, the judge who gave sentence against him was a stranger to him, and the jury who decided in favor of fee heir-at-law did not know him. But you know him; he has lived among you all his life, he has served you to the best of his knowledge. He has spent his life among you, and not one of you can say that you have ever known him to do wrong. If you can, speak.” There was a dead silence which lasted for some moments, and then a voice said: “You are right, my lord. Not one among us has ever known him to do wrong.” “I am sure not,” declared the earl. "Now, mind what F say. With the jury and the judge who thought James Hardman entitled to Elizabeth Hardman’s money, and who really believed that Darcy Lonsdale had wrongfully used his great influence with her, I have nothing to do. They did their duty honestly, even if mistakenly. To you who constituted yourselves judge and jury—to you who, knowing the man and his character, judged him yourselves as guilty—to you I wish to speak. I believe him to be innocent. I have read carefully since my return every word of the trial; and I say before you all, in the most emphatic words that I can use, that I believe him to be innocent, and, what is more, to be a deeply Injured man.”

He was obliged to stop, for there rose from the lips of the men who had misjudged Darcy Lonsdale, who had shunned him, who had withdrawn their business from him, who had half broken his honest heart by their conduct, a cheer each as had never been heard in Lilford. Perhaps in their hearts they had never quite believed him guilty. I’erhqps the carl's noble words touched them with compunction and regret. “We are agreed, then, gentlemen,” said the earl. “Our old friend and fellowtownsman is an honest, honorable gentleman.” They cheered again and again. It was with some difficulty that the earl could make himself heard. At last silence was restored, and then he continued: “We can never make up to him for all that he has suffered; we cannot give him back the strength, the hope, the happi■eas he has lost; we cannot atone for the wretched hours, the sleepless nights and the weary days— all that is beyond us. Bat I have thought of a plan by which ■ we may aid him, and I want the close attention of every gentleman present while I propose it.” The earl paused for one moment, and those seated at his hospitable table looked earnestly at him; there was still deeper silence when he began to speak again. “There is no secrecy in England. Everything done in the country is as open «a the sea that surrounds it. ThroughWat the length and breadth of England men have read bow Darcy Lonsdale’s ease went against him. F want something •Ise to go through the length and breadth ®f the land; I want people to read how Darcy Lonsdale's friends and townsmen —myself at the head—met and expressed their sympathy with him, and that they presented him with a handsome testimonial to show their full confidence in him •nd to make up for his loss. That testimonial I propose to head myself with five hundred pounds, and I venture to say there will not be a nobleman or gentleman In the county' who will not add his •ame to the list. Cheers again rose. Never had the Bramber Arms heard such cheers. Darcy Lonsdale's face had grown deathly pale; bat tor the strong arm of his son thrown •Mad Mgs he would hart fallen.

BY BERTHA N. O CLAY

I “I have one more word to say, gentlemen,” continued the earl, “and it is this. My agent, Mr. John Sleaman, a gentleman whom you all know and respect, is leaving me. lam giad to say that a fortune has failefc tn him, and that he is going to enjoy it. I propose now to ask Mr. Darcy Lonsdale to take his post. The emoluments are good—one thousand per annum and a house to live in. If he will accept the office, I shall be proud to place my interests, my welfare, my property, in the hands of a worthy, honest and honorable gentleman. Yet one word more. Mr. Lonsdale is no longer young; but he has a son—l wish we all had such a son—and I propose that fye acts, if necessary, in his father’s place, always, of course; with his authority; if he does, I shall secure two good agents instead of one.” Darcy Lonsdale rose and turned his white face to them. But he could make no speech; the only words his trembling lips could utter were: “Heaven bless you, my lord; I cannot thank you, though you have made a man of me again. My dear old friends and neighbors, how could you have misjudged me? But you see now that it was all a mistake. lam glad of it. In future w e will deal gently with each other—we will judge each other mercifully. Lord Arlington, you have saved my honor; henceforward command me as you will.’ Then, unable to say any more, he sat down. Dr. Hunter was the first to leave his place and shake hands with him. “I never believed one word of the story, Mr. Lonsdale,” he said, “although I confess that I have avoided you. Will you shake hands and let the past be past?” After that the guests went up to the lawyer one by one and shook his hand. Some frankly avowed that they had misjudged him, some begged his pardon, some said that they had gone with the many; but every man present wished him well and Godspeed in his new life. It was such a pleasant evening and Lord Arlington had so contrived matters that Darcy Lonsdale was the real hero and not himself. He was all that was most kind and considerate; he talked to 1 him and won his son’s heart forever. But in everything he put Darcy first, so that people might understand all this had been done for him, and when the earl drove off home he knew that he had left some of the happiest hearts in England -behind him. CHAPTER XVI. Lady Chevenix wrote a long letter home, telling her mother how greatly she was enjoying Paris. Sir Owen was very kind to her, and she was so completelydazzled by the novelty of all she saw that she never remembered Felix, except to congratulate herself on her own good sense in having given him his conge. Some slight Indications of impatience made her think that Sir Owen had a certain amount of bad temper, but at present he had shown none to her —indeed, she thought Jiim far better than he had represented himself. He had told her that he gambled and drank. .She had seen nothing of these bad habits; she was too inexperienced to detect that he had placed a restraint on himself which might break down any day. She did not like him very much. Although he was a baronet and a man of wealth, he was not a thorough gentlemau. Sir Owen was coarse in his manners, coarse in his speech. She often, even in those early days, shrank from him. He brought her home one day a set of sapphires so brilliant and rare that she cried out with rapture when she saw them. “There are no sapphires finer than these,” he remarked. “What do you say for them, Violet?” “I say Thank you’ with all my heart,” she cried.

“Is that all, Violet?” “What more can I say, except that you are good, kind and generous?” “Can you think of nothing else, Violet?” he asked. “Has it never occurred to you to throw your arms round my neck and kiss me, and—and say, ‘Thank you, my darling.’ ’’ She shrank from him with a little shudder, his dark face was so close to hers. “I have noticed," he said, “that you are always ready to thank me when I bring you any of the silly trifles women like so much —you are then most amiable; but never once since we have been married have you come to me and kissed me of your own free will!”“I will do so now,” she said. “No, thank you,” he returned. “It would not be spontaneous. You would do it because I asked you.” She was startled at the expression of his face, at the tone of his voice—startled, and just a little afraid. After that the gay French capital might be as gay as it would. Sir Owen would not remain. Invitations poured in upon him and his beautiful young wife; he would not accept them. One of his fixed resolves was to, be in England at Christmas, and to England he was determined to go. In vain Violet pleaded that Garswood at Christmas would be dull. He laughed at the notion. “No place is ever dull where I ain, Violet,’'' he cried. “That shows how little you know me. I shall fill the place with visitors of my own choosing--and I promise you that we shall not spend our time in dullness.” That was the first dissension between Violet and her husband. She would fain have remained longer, but Sir Owen was tired of Paris. He liked English sports, English habits and English sheer. He was angry that Violet should for one moment presume to like Paris. It was unheard of, he said, that any English woman should find Christmas at home dull. And that was the first time that Violet saw him in a rage. He swore, loudly—not at her—that was to comeUater on. He declared the whole race of women foolish and idiotic. He frightened her so that she was glad to escape from his presence and give orders for the packing op.

“I am not toy owii mistress, after all,” ! she said, with, a discontented look on her fair face, “t rannot do as F like. I never dreamed that I should have a master.” Their coming home was quite unexpected, consequently there was no rejoicing. It wa# night, too, and cold. Sir Owen was not well pleased at their reception, although he had expressly forbidden anyone to write. But Violet’s spirits rose again when she found herself in the magnificent mansion. After ail, her husband might be coarse and bad-tempered', but she was mistress of those superb rooms; This was her house. She was to live in the midst of all this luxury, with troops of liveried servants at her call. She was so pleased that Sir Owen recovered his good humor, and the first evening they spent together at Garswood was perhaps the happiest they ever had there. On the morrow Sir Owen found a hundred things that required his attention; nevertheless he was thoughtful about his young wife. “You will like to see your mother and father, Violet,” he said. “Order the carriage when you like. I cannot go with you, but I will come for you. You bought some presents for them, did you not?” “Yes,” she answered? She looked wistfully at him. It was her first visit since her marriage, and she would have liked him to be with her; she was beginning to understand that she must not interfere with his arrangements. She could not resist saying: “I should enjoy it so much more if you were with me, Owen.” “Oh, no, you would not!” he laughed carelessly; “you only fancy so. You and your mother will have so much to talk about that I really could not stand it, you know —I could not, indeed. I will be there in the evening, and will drive you back home.” She knew that to say more would be quite useless, so she made the best of the arrangement. After all, there were many delights before her. She had a superb costume, trimmed with costly- sable, and she was to wear that for the first time. Her heart beat as she thought of the pleasure of driving in her magnificent carriage through the streets of Lilford in her Parisian costume. “I hope that I shall meet Lady Rolfe,” she said, “just for the pleasure of cutting her!” She drove at once to The Limes, and was met with the kindest of welcomes. “I should have gone to meet you, Violet, had I kr.own that you were coming," said Mrs. Haye. But Lady Chevenix thought’ that tinder the circumstances it was just as well she had not come. They went to the drawing room together. Francis Haye was more of an invalid than usual that day, and his daughter, hearing that he was asleep, would not have him disturbed. “Let us have a long talk, mamma,” she said. “I have so much to tell you!” They sat down to exchange confidences, and Mrs. Haye almost trembled with delight as she looked at her daughter. “How well you look, Violet!” she said. “What a superb dress, and how it becomes you! Are you very happy, my dear?” “As happy as other people, I suppose, mamma. *am very rich —and that must mean that lam very happy. It will-take nje a whole day to show you my dresses and jewels.” They talked long, and not unhappily. Presently Violet produced her presents. Mrs. Haye went into a rapture about a dress of Genoa velvet and some superb Mechlin lace. After that Violet began to inquire about her old friends. “Mamma,” said Lady Chevenix, with a slight flush on her face, “what do they say In Lilford about my marriage and me?” “What can they say, my dear? Everyone envies you, everyone talks about your wonderful marriage.” Violet took up the rich tassels of her dress and played with them. She never raised her eyes to her mother’s face. “But do they—l mean, have they said that I did wrong?” “Wrong!” cried Mrs. Haye. “Why should they? Which of them would not have done the same thing? Which of them would not be pleased to do the same wrong?” Lady Chevenix looked relieved. “I was afraid they would say 1’ had acted unfairly,” she said, slowly. “Mamma, how are the Lonsdales? How is Felix?” There was a brief silence before the question was answered, and then Mrs. Haye told her wonderful story. “You have never heard of such a change of fortune, Violet,” she said; “it is almost as wonderful as your own; I can hardly understand it. The Lonsdales seem to have all the business of the town now, and of the county, too. They have —I cannot tell how many clerks; they give grand dinner parties; and. what seems to me stranger still, they are frequently invited to Bramber Towers.” “We shall visit there, I suppose,” remarked Lady Chevenix. “I am very pleased indeed to hear all this, mamma; if any family ever did deserve good fortune they did. They are recognized by the county now, I suppose?” “Yes, quite. Lady Rolfe has taken them up. I hear of nothing but the Lonsdales.” There was silence again for some minutes, and then Violet said, slowly: “And Felix, mamma—have you seen him since my marriage?” “No* not once, my dear,” was Mrs. Haye's reply. “I need hardly say that he has never been here.” “Do they say—do they know if he thought much of it? Did he make a great trouble of it. mamma?” she asked. “I cannot say,” replied the cautious mother; “I have never heard the subject mentioned." Lady Chevenix was silent again. After a little while she said, quickly: “I should like to ask you one question more: Does Felix—has he found anyone else to care about yet?” “F have pot heard so, Violet, my dear, you have every blessing the world can give; do not think about him. And, if you will take my advice, you will not talk about him; Sir Owen might not like it.” “I shall be careful, mamma; I shall not speak of him. But I wanted to hear about him just once.” She said no more then, but as she sat in the familiar room she thought a great deal of him—it was impossible to help it. The quick eyes noted how completely every trace of him had been removed. The books that he had given her, the pictures, were all gone. “They need not have banished everything,” she said to herself. Later on Sit Owen came, and they

spent a pleasant hour together. But there was a dreamy, look on the lovely face, a softened light in the clear eyes; she eould not help thinking qf the past bright, girlish life that had been so simply happy. Felix had been part of that life, and she could not help remembering him when she thought of it. As she drove home she said to herself: “I do not think I shall go to The Limes very often. After all, the pain is as great as the pleasure.” But she did not own what the pain was. (To be continued.)

Boys’ Rights at School.

One of the school trustees of Chicago is soliciting the influence of woman’s cjubs to bring about the establishment of separate public schools for boys and girls, says Harper’s Bazar. This Is an Incident of the widespreadlng man movement. The separation of the sexes in the schools is sought not, as might at first be thought, because boys are rude and girls need to be protected. It Is because little girls, holding all the promise of the future of Susan B. Anthony’s United States, inspire school teachers to be partial in their attention. The girls do the most reciting, they take all the prizes and the boy is so generally neglected that even the chance of being President seems slipping from his hold. Moreover, sex favoritism prevails in the matter of the selection of teachers, and the school trustee wants not only separate schools for boys, but men to teach them. The assertion of a virile masculine element in the sexless, attenuated theories of modern education would doubtless benefit bpys, and by contrast might define something new, and at the same time good, in women.

He Wanted Five Cents.

The kind-hearted man was several miles from the city when he dismounted iff the middle of the arid road because a tramp dodged from side to side in front of his bicycle. “What did you do that for?” inquired the rider. “Mister, I want to talk to ye.” “You’re liable to get into trouble if you act that way every time you get lonesome.” “I won’t detain you only a minute. I merely wanted to ask you for five cents. An’ lemine tell you somethin’ else. I don’t want it fur licker. I know dat suspicion always comes up in a gent’s mind whenever anybody he ain’t well acquainted w-ith axes ’im fur five cents. But dis is a case where you ain’t fakin' no chances.” “Well, here’s your nickel. I hope you are not deceiving me.” “No, sir,” he replied as he pocketed the money. “I kin give ye complete assurance dat I don’t want dis money to buy licker. What I wanted wit your five cents was to pay me car fare to de saloon.”—Detroit Free Press.

How the Quarrel Began.

A Bradford gossip put her head over the garden wall and thus addressed her neighbor, who was hanging out her week’s washing: “A family has moved into the empty house across the way, Mrs. Jones.” “Yes, I know.” “Did you notice their furniture?” “Not particularly.” “Two van loads, and I wouldn’t give a £5 note for the lot. Carpets! I wouldn’t put them in my kitchen. And the children! I won't allow mine to go within six yards of them. And the mother! She looks as If she had never known a day's happiness in her whole life. The father drinks, I expect. Too bad that such people should come into this neighborhood. I wonder who they are.” “I know them.” “Do you? Well, I declare! Who are they?” “The lady is my sister." There has been trouble in that street ever since.—London Tid-Bits.

Mr. Villiers’ Romance.

An unexpected and pathetic romance in the life of Charles Villiers is at the bottom of the fortune which he has left to the Rev. Montague Villiers, vicar of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge. The amount is actually £150,000, and a similar sura has been left to another son of Bishop Villiers. Mr. Charles Villiers, it appears, had been in love with a Miss Mellish. For some reason they did not marry, but each lived single for the sake of the other. When Miss Mellish died, she left her money to Mr. Villiers. He, having enough for his own simple needs, did not touch It, but allowed it to accumulate, and willed It to his kinsmen.

His Only Fear.

The dangers of battle have seldom been more pithily expressed than by one Corporal Caithness, a veteran of Waterloo. When he went home to tell his friends about the victory, they crowded about and asked film if he had not feared the English would lose the day. “No, no,”, said hb, “I knew we couldn’t do that. But what I did fear was that we should Jill be killed before we had time to win It.”

Senora Cousino's Vast Wealth.

The richest woman in the world is probably Senora Couslno, who owns most of the copper mines in Chill and Pera. She Is supposed to be worth SIOO,000,000, while her annual income is believed to reach about $8,000,000. Her personal characteristics are thus summed up: “She is about 55 years old, tall, dark, and stil beautiful.”

Zola's Motto.

OVer Zola’s study Is the motto. “No day without something accomplished,” which rule he has followed all his life. He does not believe In the work that is dashed off, but his method of composition is painstaking in the extreme. When be ha® to describe a place he ah ways visit® it first.

GALVESTON AS IT WAS

BEAUTIFUL AND PROGRESSIVE SOUTHERN CITY. rhe Greateat. Cotton Fort and the Fifth Commercial City in the United States—Has Risen Before from the Fury of Storm, Fire and Flood. Galveston, previous to the devastating storm, was one of the most beautiful and progressive cities of the sunny South. Its history indicates that it has been one of the most unfortunate. In 1872 the entire eastern portion of the city was swept away by a tidal wave which followed a terrific storm that raged along the Gulf coast for three

ORPHANS’ HOME.

days. When the city had recovered from this calamity, and was built up In more beautiful and substantial style than ever, a devastating fire nearly destroyed Jt in November, 1885. Its enterprising citizens were not dismayed, however, and the city was soon rebuilt. In August, 1899, It was injured commercially to a great extent by the Brazos flood in which rich farming lands having an area of 1,380,000 acres were submerged for eight days to a depth of two to twenty feet. The loss as estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture was $7,414,000. The city has triumphed over all these adversities and will doubtless arise with increased strength from the present appalling disaster, for It Is the greatest seaport of the South, being connected with the entire railway system of the United States and Mexico and having direct lines of steamship communication with all the great ports of the world. It is the largest cotton exporting point in the United States and among the 127 foreign exporting points in« the country It holds fifth place. During the year 1898 Its exports Increased $10,500,000 and Its export End import trade is now fully $100,000,000 a year. Harbor Improvements. A leading cause of the city’s great commercial progress during the past few years is the harbor improvements made by the national government, involving an expenditure of over $8,000,000. In 1895 the depth of the channel over the bar was only twenty-one feet. By the construction of jetties and other Improvements which were finished in January, 1898, the depth was increased to twenty-eight feet and is still increasing at the rate of six inches each year owing to the action of the wind and tide. This depth of water permits the largest steamers to load and unload at the wharves. In addition to being the country’s greatest cotton port, immense quantities of grain, lumber, live stock and dairy products are sent through Galveston. Much of the grain from Kansas, Nebraska, lowa and the Dakotas, which formerly went to Eastern ports for shipment now goes to Galveston because the shippers can save in charges by loading at that port. The lumber exports in 1898-9 amounted to $1,247,914 and in 1899, the port handled $200,000 worth of eggs. Its trade tn live stock, dairy products and poultry has developed rapidly since the harbor improvements. Location and Description. Galveston Is situated on the northeast extremity of Galveston Island at the mouth of Galveston Bay, the entrance to which Is through the channel between the city and the southwest point of the peninsula of Bolivar. The island is twenty seven miles long, runs northeast and southwest, and is from one and one-half to three and one-half miles wide. Where the city Is built it Is one and one-half miles wide. It is intersected with many small bayous and bordered through Its whole length on the gulf side by a smooth, hard beach, forming a splendid' unsurpassed bathing. On this beach Is the magnificent Sea Beach Hotel. The streets of the city are but a few feet above the level of the bay. They are

MASONIC TEMPLE.

wide and straight and the residence quarters are beautiful, abounding in luxuriant gardens shaded with magnolias and oleanders. During the summer months thousands of pleasure seekers from all parts of the South go to Galveston to enjoy the many attractions of the city and Its surroundings. On the bay, or north side of the city, is the commercial section, with wharves stretching dong for nearly two miles, Hued with ’sheds and large storage

houses. In this same portion are three grain elevators with an aggregate storage capacity of 3,250,000 bushels. The island from the north side is connected with the mainland by railroad bridges and the longest wagon bridge in the world, nearly two miles in length. On the south side of the city, beginning within fifty yards of the medium gulf tide, the wealthy resident portion of the city is located and this was the first part to be struck by the full force of the recent storm and flood. All of the eastern end of the city was washed away and some of the handsomest and most expensive residences were here located. There was one home which alone cost the owner over $1,000,900. Among the principal buildings of the city are, or were, the new custom house and postoffice, the cotton exchange, the Court House, the Ball free school, the free public library, the Roman Catholic University of St. Mary, the John Sealey Hospital and the School of Medicine of the State University. All the buildings of the city were constructed on substantial and modern lines. The city had gas and electric light plants, a water works system valued at $450,000 and supplied from artesian wells and a number of first-class hotels. In 1593 the gross city valuations were $25,000,000. The city debt was $1,750,000 and the officials had authority to issue sl,500,000 in bonds to raise money for permanent Improvements, and it owned property to the value of $1,955,560. The population? according to the figures given by the census bureau for 1900. is 37,789. History of the City. The island of Galveston was occupied by the famous pirate Lafitte in 1817 and continued to be his headquarters Until his settlement was' broken up in 1821. It is believed by many that somewhere on the island are buried treasures of the pirate and many stories of romance have been woven about the daring rover and his island home. The city of Galveston was founded in 1837. It was the scene of stirring events during the Civil War. The Federal forces occupied the city Oct. 8, 1862, but it was retaken by the Confederates on Jan. 1, 1863. During

GOVERNMENT BUILDING, GALVESTON.

the past few years the United States has spent $932,000 In the construction and equipment of coast fortifications near the city. Bay of Galveston. The bay of Galveston, the mouth of which is guarded by the island on which the city stands as a sentinel, is a body of water with an area of about 450 square miles. It has an irregular coast line and branches out into various arms. It receives the San Jacinto and Trinity rivers and Buffalo Bayou. Owing to the island being but little higher than the bay, inundations have often been threatened. The bay is quite shallow in most parts. Eentrance to It Is through the recently constructed deep water channel and flanking it on either side ar® the stone Jetties five miles long.

A Bad Case of Lockjaw.

A Whistling People.

The natives of Gomera. one of the Canary Isles, converse with one another by whistling on their-fingers. It Is possible to understand a message a mile off. Each syllable of a word has Its own peculiar sound. Gomera is cut up by a number of deep glens, which are not bridged over, and as It would otherwise be Impossible for the Inhabitants on separate sides of a glen to talk with one another without going a long way round to meet, they have hit upon the whistling device as the best means of communication.

Thought He Was Saving Money.

Hiram— Hurry up, Mandy, an’ git away from this bulletin'. Mandy—What’s yer hurry, Hl? Hirais (Chuckling)—The feller tn the elevator forgot ter collect our fares.— Truth. Almost every girl of sixteen has her mind made np that some day she will have a son named De Mountville, or a daughter named Geraldine. About all some men are willing to do for a living la to breathe regularly.