Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1904 — Page 2

Old Blazer’s Hero

CHAPTER XXHL—(Coiiti'ntied.) - Since lie I’yitl broken the bond which lor a little while had hold him, he had fallen back into all the regular ways of kjs youth, and among other reviyed habits was that of taking his inoiTior to the ‘ eld-fashioned -chapel in which site had after her own fashion, all her life.’ I'l.esmseiElo. sit in sight. Hackett there, and without :<-isi.ng motives too closely, it is just possible that he continued Unit revived habit of his •as much for-the. sake of seeing her as for any reason which the pastor of ■ the -j-b mu—mightlurve Duhul +oww» . solid.. It happened one gusty Snirh.. night in midwinter, a month after Hnek-ctt-'s return. that he went to chapel alone, and returning homeward, overheard .4 phrase which, in its own due time, brought him 4he supreme temptation <»f his Ji.e. The Baril was dutifully elbowing Hep- • isibah -hompwnrd. and the two were butting. against the wind, head downward and shoulders squared, when Blanc' came up behind them. Hepzibah.-- with the wind in htr ears, was uncoil scions of the footsteps in her rear, .<■,filing to Shadrach. said: "Trust a woman for leadin’ a woman’s tenrt. it’s Ned her cares The unwilling listener .sEi.mil • suddenly still, and ali the blood in his body seemed to riot for a moment in I.N heart and head. He was conscious of nothing for a while, and when lie recovered himself he was surprised to see the dark figures ttill bitt a iittle way m. front <-f him. lie seemed .to have been absent from himself and them for a long t imc. '■* llepzi: bah's voice reached him, blown- backward by the wind. ’’No.’’. She was evidently answering some saying of Shadrach’s which Blane had missed. "No harm’ll come on’t. Iler's as gooil. as gold, and so is lie; but it’s him as hcr’s grown to care for, though it's a million, to one her never guesses it." Now Ned Blane had never played the eavesdropper iir. his life before, but if all self-respect had. hung forever upon j the issue of that temptation, he would have let it go. lie had followed to hear. •imply and purely because he could not do otherwise, but now thaj he had heard ] he stood still in the roaring wind. I If that were true! The thought haunted him thereafter day and flight, and broitght'with it snch temptations as the simplest minded may fancy. But in n little while the true temptation came. That howling wind turned mu- north and blew-for days. It bote bitter frost upon its wings,, and locked every stream and canal and lake nud standing pond deep in black ice. There had been no such frost for years, aud all the skaters in the township must seeds turn out day by day or night by night to revel on Barker's mill pond, a space of water some dozen acres in extent, which being sheltered by thickwooded slopes from the wild wind, had frozen marble smooth. Ned was not much <■/ yn expert, but the fleet passage through the stinging air at once in- . spired and soothed him, and he was there night after night amongst the crowd who sped to and fro in the coming and going of numberless torchlights and the steadier glare of cresset fires which burned upon the bank, Saturday afternoon left him free for • n hour or two of daylight, and he set •ut for the pool. As he reached the •dge there was a great noise of apphutse. and a huge horseshoe line of spectators was formed upon the ice to watch the •volutions of some skilled performer. Ned, dangling his skates in his hand, walked over drearily enough to see what might be seen.'-’ttnd shouldering through the crowd at a place where it was less dense than at most points, beheld Ids 1 enemy, who, with half his world for; •nlookers, was rollicking hither and thith- 1 •r with an enchanting grace and surety. I Ilis habitual swagger became him here, end was converted into a beauty. He circled, poised on the outer edge, at apparently impossible angles, soaring like' a bird on oven wing, waving and darting with a bold and sweet ; dexterity, and moving, as it seemed, more by volition than by mere force of skill and muscle. And as he skimmed the tinging ice. followed by the hurrahs and han 1 clapping of the crowd, restored to all hispid | kingship. Ned looked on. and was aware I •f such an inward volcano of rage and j hatred ns scorched-his heart within him. I There is no speaking of these things. | The mere truth is that these extreme rages of great passion, whether they be of love or hate. are so rare that no words! have been coined for tl|cm. We find words for the commonplace, because all men and women have felt it. But the little hate is irs common as glass, and the ;» >at is, happily, its rare as the Koh moor. • With that plienomeu.'d ami unnaniable hate, Ned Blane watched his blackguard rival as lie swam in perfect grace and mercurial swiftness on the frozen sur-face-of-the pool. The mere presence of the man was enough; but the popular applause choked him as if with sulphurous • shea. ’ There was nt the south end of the •licet of water-n mill wheel, now frozen and act, but it had been working until jeaterdny. and ncur it the ice was known to be quaggy and unsafe. The bases of the horseshoe line were drawn nwny from this unsound spot of Ice. and in thejmiddle of it was n low poat with n cross-piece upon it, and on ♦lie croas piece was pasted a strip of paper, whereon wr.a printed tiie word “dangerous.” Now that day, <hy of late, Hackett had been drinking. •nd this sign of danger hired him nearer •nd nearer. He did things iu spirituous, recklessness which be would not have dared tp do had he been altogether sober, for In that state his nerves were n<>t to turn aghast at very simple matters. But now he was so sure of everything that. In spite of warning cries, ho must fweds go swimming and sailing nearer

By DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.

CHAPTER XXIV. -On a spring morning the wind was clanging and the belts xverc pealing, and rent-clouds (•barged oyer tho chill blue field of the sky al such a pace that the random gleams of sunshine cast between them swept hill and dale with a hirdlike speed. The strong sunshine breasted tlie heathy hills and climbed them at a flash; the shadow crept in its rear, and the iiVw bright racer leaped behind the of the cloudy shade, as if it. Shadrach, ’standing at the door of his mother’s cottage, clad iu his Sunday best, with a white favor in his coat, and his hands enshrouded in monstrous gloves of Berlin thread, fixed his new hat with an air of resolution. ’as if prepared to hold to it in any extremity of the wind's boisterous jollity. "1 tek it." he said, turning to Hepzibah, who stood behind in a summer.WenstmiMuutwhite muslin and a very triumph iira bonnet -"I rok it as tt kind of honor as ain't often depte the likes of lutz.” "I should think it,” answered Hepzibah. She spoke almost snappishly, being engaged with a hairpin and a refractory glove-button, but she looked up a second later with a frank and smiling face. "Yes," said Shadrach’s mother, hovering about Hepzibah and touching her here and there with decided fingers, and retiring with her head on one side to observe the artistic effect of each stroke. "It's a thing as you'd ought to remeiiLb< rs to your dyin’ day. Shadrach. To be tied by tho same words—-it's a noble honor. Shadrach, and. I hope as it bespeaks well for your future." “Ankorc to that, I says, ina'ain!” said Hepzibah's mother, who was weak like Shadrach, whilst Shadrach’s mother was jm'kily de< ided, like Hepzibali. "Hepzibah.” she added solicitously, "you’re lookin’ a bit coldish already. You'll be froze in that book muslin afore you reach the church. Y'ou'd better have a shawl across your shoulders." "Rubbidge!" said Shadrach’s mother. “The wind’ll keep ’em warm enough. It's time we started, ain't it. Shadrach'.'" Shadrach, with difficulty unbuttoning his emit, drew from an inner pocket a great turnip of a watch and consulted it with pride. "Thcer's a good three-quarters yet.” he nuswered. "Thecr's no use in arriving before iverybody. Ned and his good lady'll be on the stroke o’ time, 1 bet. Nayther too soon nor yet too late, that’s Ned’s method.” “Well, then, shut the door and sit down,” said his mother; "and for goodness mercy’s sake let me button up your .coat! You'd leave all your finger tips 1' the button holes." , - "Thecr’s many curious things ns comesto pass,” said Hepzibah, sealing herself with a slow, angular precision, mid spreading out tho book muslin with careful hands, "as nobody nd iver dream on, aud this is one of 'em." "Ah!” returned Shadrach, "Mister Ned's got the: wish of .his heart nt limt, and I’m gay and glad of it. Her hold him off and on a longish time, though. Her might ha’ got it over this time Inst year, without seemin' anyhow uncommon. I’ve no mind to speak ill o’ them as is departed ” "Departed!” repeated his mother, cutting him short with an air of disdain. "I wonder how you can use such a word about such a crectur! A miler, as was took by judgment! And you may sny what you like, Shadrach, I shall plver think it anythin' but a straightfor'nrd Ilyin’ 1' the face o’ Brovidonce as Mister Ned should ha’ tried to fish him out again. He was meant to be drowned, an’ he was dfowned; nnd what'S meant to be, in spite of a(l tlie Neds i’ the world. Ami as for ‘departed,’ all 1 got to say is. you might know bettor thnn try to turn your own mothor.'s stomach on your weddin' morning'.” "I used tire word." said Shadrach, meekly, "because 1 didn’t wish to be too hard upon him.” “Let him rest, poor c/ootiir!" put in Hepzibah with unexpected gentleness. “He was a fine figure of n man, but he'd got a bit too much of his grnndfeyther nnd feytlier in him. Ho hnd nothin' to do with the mnkln* of either, o' them. *o far as I knewd, nnd Them Above’ll know how far he was to be made to answer." “Thnl is oudoubtedly the way to look at it,” returned, tlie Bard, "ondoubtedly the way to look nt it?' “Time we was off, Shadrach," said Hepzibah. Thry passed out nt the door and over

and nearer to the warning post, trusting to his own swiftness- la carry him harmless over the treacherous ice. Aud Blanc, since one must needs tell the whole truth about hint, stood looking on iiu satisfaction in the certainty that by and by the ice would give way with him, and maybe drown him, and so, rid the earth of a villain .crown pbcyomcnal. Crash! Hackett was through, nml the ice starred right to the feet of the horseshoe line. The people started backward with- a wild stampede, wlmdi-Ket thejsolid floor waltzing like the slow movement of free water' free wind., N.cd Blane held his ground. "Drown ."’ho -said within himself. Then in one mere second —for at such times fancy, will busy herself, and. will get through more work than she will do in a common year—he saw all that might happen from this unnamable villain's death, nml justified himself to Itjt him die, and exulted in the tiling that lay before him. I'p -cariieL Hackett, spouting nnd screaming with struggling arms, and down again he wont, like a stone. The croud yelled and screamed, and went silent. He came up again and clutched nt a square of ice, ami wont down with it. And then and there, with one incredible lightning flash. Blane rend his own heart, and snatched his own salvation.

; the windy heatft, the bridegroom lujtl.v arming the bride. ’“We shall have a run for it yet, I jt*clare'l\cried Shadrach’s mother. "Thcre’e tho carriage a-drivin’ to the church. I can see tlte white faviour on the coachman's bosom.” The wind-swept music of the bells rolled round them, nnd as they reached the gate, panting in indecorous haste, Mary Hackett stepped from the carriage and greeted them with a smile. The last ray of cloud was borne away by the boisterous wind, and the sky shone clear, r.s if I’m- a happy omen.. (The .end.)

AMERICANS IN PERSIA.

Yankee Enterprise Is Noticeable in the Shah's Dominion. ‘‘Persia, I dare say, Is a country little known to a majority of the people here, but your countrymen, ncvcrlheh tss, aro very much in evidence there in the commercial sense,” said Sir Charles •Hess, who was In 1892 the British consul-general for south Persia. Sir Charles is here on a visit, and is staying at the Albemarle, says the New York Commercial Advertiser. "When I was consul to South Persia," he continued, “I frequently commented in my reports on America’s growrng-firade in--that country, -and I made particular mention of your practical methods, because 1 believed they deserved tho attention of the leading business men in England. "A year ago I visited Persia, nnd, although 1 was not much surprised, I was certainly amused at the wonderful energy and originality America had displayed in pushing her trade interests since I was there as consul. I found that American merchants had opened up commercial museums in most of the groat centers of Persian trade, so that the natives could sec for themselves all the e-la.-i.ses of goods that, are to be had from this side and your merchants had been advised to study carefully the form in which their Persian customers like to receive their wares. At the commercial museums, too, I was surprised to find Americans who could speak Persian fluently, -ready to answer all questions that relate to the goods exhibited. "Russia is, of course, England’s chief foreign competitor (jommerel.illy,” Sir Charles continued, "and her trade influence- in Persia is largely on the increase, She has only recently, too, smarted a regular steamship service between Odessa and the Persian gulf. Tho Russian Steam Navigation company supplies the ships, but it is known that the Russian, government has wmkrtakem to subsidize the venture for a term of years. "Ru.-sia. t o, is Persia’s dominant creditor,- and is credited with a very fdirewd piece of business in cannection with-n Persian dean. -The money was borrowed in Paris at a low rate of interest, and lent to Teheran at a high rate; so that the wily Muscovite, without putting hand in pocket, draws a snug little annual income from Persia, which is, of course, not wealthy enough to borrow cheaply. "Persia, however, has a great commercial future. The country is immensely rich in natural resources, and the greater part of its cultivation will rct-ft in the hands of either England or Rt:.s-ia. If America, too, continues to. pursue her enterprising commrclal methods there, it is quite possible that che may become a third party in tnw trade development of the country. To gain such a’ place would certainly be worthy of America's best efforts.’

Radium and Millennium.

There seem to lie no limits to the strange ideas which the new pi'ipciph’ of radio-activity may compel us to accept, says an English expert. Dr. Rutherford has recently shown that I’adlum 'CoinpoutKls project atoms into kurrounding space with a velocity of twenty thousand miles a second, a speed which no other form of matter has been known to reach. A train going at sixty miles an hour — a mile a ifiinuto—travels one-sixtieth of-ft mile per second,;-so that the' radium emanation flies one million two hundred thousand time’s as fast as an expx’ess train. Nevertheless, we are not yet prepared for the view that radio-ac-tive emanations from the sun give poor mortals on the planet headache. More likely are the causes business worries, want of fresh air and the fiscal question. public and private. But perhaps tho most advanced conception is that of M. Gustave le Boh, the French physicist, who, after discussing the "Energy Intra-Atomic” of atoms, forsees a millennium when “an illimitable source of |M>wer wilt bo placed at the sen Ice of humanity, without price, and man will no longer need to work for It. Tho poor will thin be equal to the rich, and the social xtuestion will trouble us no more" —unleiA, possibly, which le Bon seems to have over looked, some Yankee trust got hold of the whole supply. We fancy a few thousand years may (Japso before mankind lias yoked the atoms to his machines.

Now Arms for Soldiers.

Within three years tlie United States army nnd militia will be armed with the new Springfield magazine rifle. The hundreds of thousands of krag-jorgen-sen guns on hand will eventually have to be broken up as valueless.

California’s First Prune Tree.

The first prune tree was plant^d z iu California in 1870 by a Frcnehinnn. who brought the tree to this country from France. The first orchard—of ten acres—began to yield In 1875.

Colombia and Her Many Changes.

Colombia has bad seven constitutions and the title of the republic hns beeiv changed three times. . - A snob's Idea of a superior person is one who has more money thnu himself.

The difficulties which encountered Washington when he took up his great trust as commander-in-chief of the continents army were most complicated and immense. The theater of the straggle was a vast one, geographically, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to 'South Carolina, while the whqle population was only three millions—not very much greater than that of the State of Michigan, and not so great into a million as that of Illinois. Out of this small, scattering and peaceful [lopulption an army was to be raised, organized and equipped capable of contending with the chief military and maritime power of the globe. And it was not to be a struggle between government nnd government, between one nation and another. It was a rebellion, nnd there was really no central authority, no arms or warlike stores, no navy, no treasury or financial system or responsibility. It

MARTHA WASHINGTON.

was only a brave anod patriotic people, small iu numbers, without discipline or military experience, without arms nnd without money, rushing thus bare-handed into a conflict‘with the mother country, their own government; a powerful nation, which had recently been raised by the genius of the elder Bitt to the front rank among the great warlike nations of the world —a nation whose military posts and possessions already (lotted the globe, whose victorious navies covcri'd every ocean and sea, whose morning drum beat, ns Webstei* said, was heard round the world. It was against such a power as this that this handful of patriots had thrown down the gage of rebellion and defiance. Washington is known in history as a providential man; that is, a man raised up by Providence to fill a great place and perform a great mission. However this may be. he certainly hnd great parts and great nnd peculiar fitness for the most difficult nnd trying place which he filled in history. He hnd had experience in the previous Indian and French wars, and had proven himself a wise, competent nnd heroic officer. He bad great persona) advantages for command. He was -of fine physique and imposing

GEORGE WASHINGTON UP TO DATE.

That cherry tree episode with a few modern variations. —Philadelphia Ledger. ' ' s nc.c?

WASHINGTON.

presence, a splendid horseman, carrying with him ever the port and air of authority nnd native majesty—an ideal comma nder; So when this noble Virginian appeared before that northern army nud drew his sword as their commander under those Cambridge elms his fame had preceded him and he was received with shouts of welcome and of confidence. Then all men knew it was to be a struggle to the death. Hardly a better instance does history afford of patience under provocation, of dogged determination under difficulties, of unconquerable will and courage, holding on so long and coming out triumphant at last over such mighty opposition. These great qualities, as we have already seen, belonged to the man more than -to thk soldier. It was indeed the great man behind the soldier, the man with the -great patriotic heart, with the wise head, aud tlie lofty, unshaken soul, that brought us through that long and tremendous struggle and gave us our glorious place and opportunity among the nations. No other man on this continent but h« could have done it. Greene, among the geneials of the revolution, would hare come nearest to it, but he would have failed. But in looking over the whole field nnd feeord, in the light of all the facts nnd history, it will be seen that Washington made no military mistakes, that he improved nil his opportunities, that his generalship will stand the test of criticism. He struck whenever he had tin chance, his plans were good, and whencompelled. his retreats wore masterly.

The coach which bore George and Martha Washington from Mount Vernon to Savannah has been removed from the premises of Augustus Frey in New York, .to .Mount Vernon, where it xvill remain hereafter as an exampleof what a firstclass long-distance vehicle was in the eighlbr-nth century. Tlie cbaeli was purchased twenty-five years ngo at the centennial in Philadelphia by Benjamin Richardson of Harlem. After his death twelve years ngo it was purchased by Mr. Frey, who hns hnd it on exhibition ‘ever since. Occasionally it was drawn

in processions, and its ancient color and jenetian blinds always attracted attention. Some time ago Superintendent Dodge of Mount Vernon came to New York, made a careful examination of the coach nnd pronounced it genuine. It was suggested to the ’’Ladies’ Association of the Union” that they secure the conch for the museum at Mount Version, nnd Mr. Frey notified Mr. Dodge that he could have the ancient carriage. The vehicle is said to have been used by Washington on his journey to New York for his first inauguration.

WASHINGTON’S COACH.

He Knew Better.

It was at the corner of Charles street and Mount Royal avenue. The lady who has mercy on beasts and will stand up for them was remonstrating with the colored -driver Who was belaboring the tottering cart horse with a club. “Don't!” exclaimed the lady sharply. “That horse has vertigo.” > “NoTn,” excitedly explained the driver. “He hain’t got fur t’ go ’tall. I'3 jes' drlvin’ ’im up to de coal yard, ou Ma’lan’ avenoo.”—Baltimore American.

Three Doctors’ Opinions.

Buffalo, N. Y., Feb. l.'th.—Physicians have accepted Dodd’s Kidney Bills as the standard remedy for . diseases of the Kidneys and kindred complaints. K. 11. Dunaway, M. D., of Benton, 111., says:— "Dodd’s Kidney Bills cured me of Diabetes.after everything else bad failed and I Was gi.veii up’to die. I have since prescribed, ‘them, in my regular practice for every form of Kidney Trouble and have’rfever as yet known them to fail." . • Jesse Xi._Jdinos, M. D., St. John, .Kansas, says:— "I proscribed Dodd’s Kidney Bills for the title daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mcßride of this place, who stifle rd from Epileptic fits following letina; results were miraculous; I have never seen anything like it.” Roland Williamson, M. D., Yorktown, Ark., iays.:—, "Dodd’s .Kid'iey Pills are the best medicine I know of for all forms of Kidney Disease. I believe iu using the remedy, that relievos ami cures my patients whether ethical or not. and £ always prescribe Dodd’s Kidney Pills nnd can testify that they invariably accomplish a permanent and perfect cure of all Kidney Complaints/’

At the Football Game.

“Why did you .punch the halfback of the opposing team’.-’’ asked the captain. "Because punched halves don’t pass,” answered the- wise fullback.

Deafness Cannot Be Cured

by local applications, as. they cannot reach th# diseased portion of tho ear. There lx only one way to cure deafno-s, and that* is by constitutional remedies. Deafness is caused by an inflamed condition of tho mucous lining of the Eustachian Tula’. When this tube Is Inflamed you have a rumbling sound or Imperfect hearing. and when It Is cntlrebu -loscd. Deafness is tho result, ami unless the inflammation can ba taken out and this tube restored to its normal condition, hearing will bo destroyed forever; n’.no eases out of ten are caused by Catarrh, which Is nothing but an inflamed condition of the mucous surfaces; We will give One Hundred Dollars for any case of Deafness (caused bv catarrh) that cannot bo cured by Hall’s Catarrh Cure. Send for circulars, free. F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. Sold by Druggists, 75c. Hall's Family Pills are the beat.

Parrot Polite to the Last.

“Old Adam Forcpaugli,” said a friend of the veteran showman, “onco had a big white parrot that had learned to say: " ‘One at a time, gentlemen—one- at a time —don’t cntsh.’ —~ "The bird h'ld, of eourse, acquired this sentence from the ticket taker of the show. "Well, one day the parrqt got lost in the country, and Mr. Forep,tugh leaped into his buggy and started out posthaste to hunt l’or jt_ "People here and there who had seen the parrot directed him in his quest, and finally, as he was driving by a cornfield, he was overjoyed to hear a fttmiliar voice. “He got out nnd entered tlie field, and found the.parrot in the middle of a flock of crows that had peeked him till he was almost featheripss. As tht> crows bit and nipped away the parrot, lying on his side, repented over nnd over: "'One at a time, gentlemen—one at a time—don’t crush.’ "

Upset a Tradition.

Naturally, the audience expected the villain to hiss; "Foiled again!" and illnk away. But they reckoned without their villain. Striding to the footlights, he exclaimed: “Sberloekt d once mare!” and with a gucss-I-fooled-you look at the astounded audience be swaggered to the wings.—Puck.

SURE

The Robnit Physique Ctin Stand More Coffee Than n Weak One. A young Virginian -says: “Having a naturally robust constitution far above the average, and not having a nervous temperament, my system was ablg to resist the inroads upon it by the use of coffee for some years, but' finally tlie strain began to telL “For ten years I have been employed l as telegraph operator and typewriter! I»y a railroad in this section, and until two years ago I had used coffee con-, tlnually from the time I was ehfnt years old, nearly 20 years. "The work of operating the tele-; graph key is a great strain upon nerves, and after the day’s work was over I would feel nervous, Irritable, run down, and toward the last suffered greatly from insomnia and neuralgia. As I never Indulged In Intoxicating liquors, drugs or tobacco in any form 1 came to the conclusion that coffee and tea were causing the grad-j ual break-down of my nervous system,, and having read an article in the Medical Magazine on the con/posltion of coffee and Its toxic effects upon the system, I was fully convinced that coffee was the cause o<f my trouble. “Seeing Poslutn spoken of as not having any of the deteriorating effects of coffee I decided to give up the stlm- • ulnnt and give Postum a trial. The re- . suit was agreeably surprising. After a time my nerves became wonderfully strong; I can do all my work nt the telegraph key and typewriter with far greater ease thau ever before. My weight has increased 35 pounds, my gene'al health keeping pace with It, and I am anew man and a better one.’* Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. There's a reason. hook In each pkg„ for the famous Uttie book, “The B#nd to WellvUla.” J