Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 8, Number 14, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 22 September 1877 — Page 6

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THE .MAIL

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PAPER I UR I HE PEOPLE.

THE BUMK COS!CERT,

Well, Tom. my boy, I must say

good-by,

l'vfh 1 a wondei ful visit here Enjoyed it, too well as I coiild Away from all that my heart hoi as dear. Maybe I're been a trifle rough—

A little awkward, your wire won id say— And very likely I'vemi-fted the bint A yonr city polish day by day.

But somehow, Tom, though the same old root Sheltered us both when we were boy*.. And the name dear mother-love watched us both,

Sharing our childish griels and Joys, Yet yon are almost astraager now Yonr ways and mine are an far apart As though we never had tnrowm an arm

About each other with loving heart.

Yonr city home is UU1UP W W» Your wife find children are fair to Me, You couldn't btfeathein the little cot,

The little home, tlmt belongs to me. And I am lost In your grand large house. And daxed with wealth on every side,

Lua I hardly know my brother- Tom, In the midst of so much stately pride.

Yes, the concert was *ran-1, last night. Ha 1 w% Tnp nfflvifr *pl*ndid bat. no yon know, AlybearlkwpHon^lijg.tlieeveningthroagh, f-or nnot !ifr concert, so sweet and low

Ti,af mavb» it won'dn'r pleaw the ear ur^souuttimuand grand asyou. But to Its music—la«gi if you will—

My heart and thoughts must ever be true.

••t I Kliut my eves in lh l»al! last n!gbt -3 (For the clash of tb» music wearied me), And clow to mv heart, this vision came—

The same sweet ptct ure I always see: In the vlue-clad porch of a cottage home, Half In saadow unci half in sun, $ A mother chant ng her lullaby,

Kocking to rest ner little one.

And soft and sweet as the music fell From tlife m" titer's lips, I heard the coo ©f my baby girl, as with drowsy tongue

She echoed the song with "Goo-a-goo. Together they sang, tne mothor and babe, •l My wire and child, by the cottage door.

Ah! tlmt Is the concert, brother Tom, My ears ate aching to hear once more.

Bo now good bye. And I wish you wo 1, And many a year of wraith and gain. You were born to b? rich and gay

I am content to be po anil plhiti,^. And I go back to my country home .:i:i With a love that absence has strengthened too— ,, Back to th» concert ail my own— i.

Mother'ssingiugand babyVCM).

[Harpers' Magazine—October.]

-Raspberry Island.

*!TOLD TO ME BY DORA.

CONSTANCE P. WOOLSON.

'Helen and I were two poor teaobers earning onr living in a city public •nhool. Many teachers are poor, but we were especially so, in tbat we had no home to RO to during vacations, and no invitations to any one else's home lor if you bavt* a bome, people will invite you with more or lew readiness if you Oa've none, th^y will not—on the principle of timilia .vmilibrts, I suppose. It wM the A rat of July, term time was ©vor, and we w«re expecting to spend our vacation In the same third story back room where we had spent the winter. But Helen was delicate, of a finer tfbrc than I w:i», and one sultry evening she broke down, end began to sob •lowly, without (shedding a tear, In the most hopeless kind of way. There was not a breath nf air stirring In our close room the hot odors from the court below came up with stifling power we had not even ice water, for we were ecodomizing with the idea of taking lessons in languages, and fitting ourselves for higher positions. But such hopes, real enough In the strong winter, seemed to have the life taken out of them now. I had not thought of breaking down myself, but -when Helen gave way, I suddenly teemed to see where we were—on the •wift down hill road to fever, despair, Insanity, and death. instantly decided that we must go away somewhere. But where? We had not money •nough to take us into the summer, •inoe we were obliged to retain our voom and our furniture in readiness for the fall term if we went, thereforo, it suust be as workers, receiving wagoi. But what oould we 1o? We were alnady tired out. I borrowed a Gaily paper and scanned its columns. We will not take servants' places,' I thought, •nor will we run sewing machines. What we want is fresh air and entire change of employment,' The following wlvertisement met my eye: |ir ANTKI—Girls to pick raspberries.

YY Good wnges and board. Apply to H. antlers, No. 4U Bath Street." I laid down the paper. Helen, let us go and pick raspberries,' I said. She •bleoted but I knew she would object, and was prepared for her. Throw away your fine ladyism for a few weeks, Helen. No one need ever know where we have been, and it may save our lives.' I had undeniable arguments on my side at the moment, in the shape of the heat, the flies, and the odors of the «OQrt below. They prevailed and so the next morning we went down to No. "•fen 19 Bath Street, and found, not H. Ehlens, ,j trot his wife, a plump, broadly smiling

Herman woman, who was staying with ber cousin across the way, overlooking -i. 4lie canal, during the progress of ber

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husband's little scheme. II. Khlers was ^own at the month of the river, attendHig to the loading of a schooner, but Vau Ehlers could represent hitn well «Bd heartily. What did the ladies please to want

To pick berries,' I replied. But you cant biik,' said the Frau, mod humoredly 'too leedle hands, toddle*.' 'Small hands will pick the more quickly,' I answmed. 'What are the wages, and woere is the place •Wagesfair.'replied Mrs.Ehlers,allp-

Mng by that pobit with easy vo'ubliity '^iebends upon now much yon do but Helnrich Is alwajs fiiir, ferry fair. And the place is heffen, a totumer island withlotely woods and flowers/

And berries,' I added. Yea,' said the Frau, abandoning nat)|t« and returning to bu^iirts rawa-

^Seoonfewwjae was long, the aestions nuiny, but I was determined, and rau Shlera shrewd enough to aee that the places, even raspberry picking plaoes, were for some reason coveted by these pale thin American girls in their plain worn clothea and carefully uiended ores, into which she could hardly put two of ber plutnp, beringed, .jerons fingers.

Jow many persons will there ber I i?oulred. •About fselty. all rirla, e*Rspt»lx zdQn or

to da the beny work,' replied

ie'Fr*u. It will all be ferry respectaleddlea only goot girls there II einwill not permit any Oder. And the

uuuskeeper

will be a frent of mine, a

afxa woman,who will haf charge of \ou atL' ":4

And the rooms «Goot rooms w* beelt Two glrU haf room toeedder. I tell you what— know Monster HwmnsT' Mr. im» was a city lumber tnfrrbant. koew itim by eight. Y«« as*k said the Frau be will tell vou lit,'

afl righ

TERRE

Mr. Hamms, being interr^sted, did •ouch for the raspberry colony be had famished tbe lumber for building the barrack*. He scanned us for a moment from b&bind his ledgers, and no doubt said to himself, •Seamstresses, or school teachers. It will do thwm good, poor things!'

So it was arranged, and the next week with home trepidation we started. No body came down to the dock to say good by to ns,and we were glad of it our few acquaintances (we ban no friends) were out of the hot city days ago. The steamer sailed away into tbe broad lake, and turned her prdw northward. At the end of two days we were left on a rude dock running out from a low, treeless islank,'With one long poi'it of main land opposite. That isl&na and that mainland are all changed now, but then their wildness was unoroken save by the smoke of tbe two steamers passing twice a week, one from the east, one from the west, and both bound for the farther north. The raspberry enterprise in which wo were engaged was a scheme of three German Jews they made a thousand dollars each out of it tbat summer, and flooded the We*t with jam. Afterward other islands and other hands took up the business, and it fell, together with its jam, into disrepute, both being decidedly overdone. But we were the pioneers, and stake my work for it that onr jam was all eaten.

Did von ever see raspberries? I do not mean a lew in a city market, or on a Mend's table in a glass dish, or even a large basketful ready for the preserving kettle but I mean raspberries by the bushel, by the barrel, in red heaps, five feet high, the juice running over every thing and into every thing, the whole air heavy with their fruity perfume. That is the way we saw them on Rasp berry Island. They were wild red berries, small "ized, large grained, and sweet, picked from the raspberry thickets and tangles and jungles that overran the whole island with their rampant thorny web, subduing the bushes and small troes under them, so tbat they meekly served as props, forgetting their own ideas of growing, and blossoming and forming their seeds humbly, as well as they could, under the shadow of the conquering vines. Large trees there were none. Had the raspberries killed them? Ooe could easily imagine tbat they might do it. But perhaps a forest fire had swept over tne ground and burned every thing, as often happens on the lakes, and then before tne trees could start again, even as little saplings, the raspberries were upon them, and kept them down with tiieir long interlacing arms and a set purpose, from one white beach to tbe other.

Near the shore the workmen sent up by Eir.ers had erected a long rough building—an exaggerated shanty, with a broad central hall, and a row of little rooms on each side separated by board

Kerry

artitions. This was the home of tbe girls. In the central hall we ate our meals, in the little rooms we slept. There were no bedsteads, only bunks filled witu clean straw, and German wool coverlets of various bright hnes in place of sheets and blankets but each girl had a small pillow and white pillow case. The Frau had hesitated a little over this luxury, but ffnally decided to give it| on the principle that good sleep ives good work, she could make it up other wavs. There was a German baker there of her sending, who underr stood how to make bread which was remarkable filling for the price, and the girls could have raspberry pies whenever they wanted them. But they did not want them. When you have been boiling raspberries all day long, and skimming them, and canning them, and lifting heavy pans up to the swinging kettles with the juice running up your arms when yon nave been standing in a marsh of tbem, and have breathed their strong rank fragrance hour after hour, you will not care for pies. Helen said this when the German baker came through the open berry house every morning, affably offering to make the dainties in question. Her remark was addressed in an under tone to me, for we kept by ourselves as much as we could among the crowd of berry workers, who had come from all the lower lake pofts, sent up by two of the partners, who

tbemselve*

selected them.

There were some middle aged women, some mothers with half grown daughters, but most of tbem were girls,a large number of Germans and a few Americans, but no Irish the Maloney and M'Gutre element was absent. Instead, we had the Indians, who hovered about the outskirts of our camp in a brown clond. The Cbippewas of that mainlaud opposite had no idea, probably,why these young white squaws came suddenly up in a bidy, boiled berries, and went back again. But they are not an inquisitive race they receive the goods the gods bestow, with joyful calm. It was a gala time for oould they uot buy three of tbe baker's superb white loaves for a paltry canoe load oflheirfine but tiresome potatoes? And lor half a doaen lake trottt and white fish could they not obtain most remarkable glass beads of various colors? It was indeed wvnderfbl. Arter a while the Indian women and girle did all tbe gathering, comiuginto the berry bouse soon after dawn, and patiently waiting with their its fu 1 of the red trui until bark baskets

hope, leddies.

of vancy.' It waa. Horrible work, all of

tbe weighers were ready to begin. were glad to be relieved from our daily struggle with *)e thorns our calico dresses were iu tailors, and our bduris scratched. We would much rather boil, we said, and we went to work with alacritv. But the alacrity did not last long. *Jt was a remarkable fact that those who lioiled wanted to $or those who sorted wanted to weigb, those who weighed wanted to mash and changing the divisions made no difference: the wishing alt began again. Dia viii nut do,'said Mr.Simon J*cotwhn, tie partner in charge—a little dajk •»Kiare«« fat man* who Wfcsifl i^neraFextrfmfely affable, and oii Sundays eveu came out with a crimson satin scarf in honor of the Christian berry girls whose holiday it was. But, though affable, he was also strictly punctilious in regard to weights and measures. 'The boilers boils one veek, and then cans, tbe cauners take tbe plaiu of the sorter*, tbe sorters veighs, theveighers boil, ard all for von veek,' he announced, taking hla pipe from his mouth, and holding out his fat

it,'said

Helen, looking at her foaangun«d arma. But there are varieties, and I am always fencing

the

other variety. Good heav

ens! Dora, shall we ever see the end of these pulpy,. squirming, rolling, bubbling, sticky, stewing, masby, hateful, jalap smelling berries Did we ever do anvthing but boil tbem? shall we ever do'anythi&g or moat we boil on all our lives?

But on Sundays there was nwU No work wa* done from dawn to twilight, when the Monday kettles were put on. Helen and 1 wandered down the beach for miles. Although It was midsummer, there was no withering heat, only blithe* some golden sunshine, and the air was so dry'that we wight liavealept out under the stars. •k~

only

During these weeks tbe

perron the housekeeper

with whom we had formed acquaintance which went beyond the chance worda of mere propinquity, waa Barnes, the sealer. He was a silent man, prematurely old, with bowed ahouldera and mild ffcoe, and so near-sighted that he went about with his head bent forward, as if to be nearer to persona and things. His business was to seal up our cans and jars of jam, and stamp them with a soaring crest devised by the partners for tbe edification of the public. And well he did bis work. No tools were provided for him there wss nothing but the kettle of wax yet in a few days he had planned and made a set of ingenious little contrivances, with which he executed his task with the most delicate neatneas and accuracv. Helen and I were filling cans that week, and we watched him as he quietly tried his experiments and adjusted his little inventions, stooping his curved shoulders over the table, preoocupied and absorbed. 'They are perfect,' said Helen, with genuine admiration, as the first can received its wax, its trimming, and its stamp—nothing wasted, no daubing, every letter clear. Barnes looked up surprised he had not noticed that we were near him. He had straightened himself for a moment, and passed his hand over his short gray hair. Yes,' he said, with a quiet pride,41 think they will do.'

After that we often spoke to him. There was something in bis face which attracted us, or rather which made us feci easy while talking to him. (We were both rather fond of talking.) And besides, with all his mildness, we saw tbat he scarcely noticed us, that be would rather not talk and that piqued us.

Inventors are always like that,' said Helen. •Heis only an ingenious mechanic, Helen.'

With a turn for experiment that is invention. Only one inventor in a thous snd succeeds. He is one of tbe thousand.'

The man had some ways that we liked. He was clean be did not use tobacco be had no store of beer like the other workmen, who were Germans. He seemed to be very poor. He bad but few clothes, and they were of the coarsest ^ind. We noticed that he never wore a ooat, not even on Sundays, and we found out that he had none. He did not employ tbe baker's wife, who was the island laundress, but washed bis own clothes on a secluded part of tbe beach at some distance from tbe camp. We came upon bis laundry once by chance during our rambles, and saw the little dock he had made leading out into deeper water, his clothes-line of twisted vine, ar.d bis piece of brown sosp carefully bung from a notched stick in the sand. All tbe other hands bad some possessions of their own of a nondescript character and variety. Tbey had brought old carpet bags, or baskets, or bundles, which hung over their bunks in the berry-house, and were jealously guarded but over the bunk of Barnes there was nothing. The other hands bought the cakes and tarts which the baker made and sold on his own account, but Barnes bought not a crumb. He gave nothing to tbe French half-breed who came over from the mainland sometimes and sang for us in tbe evening. But neither did he stay and listen at the first sound of the song be went quietly away, as though he did not care to hear it. And yet one Sunday morning when be passed us on the beach, and Helen was singing, he stopped at a little distance to listen, with a look of concealed eagerness that betrayed him. I asked him to stay awhile, and be sat down but even then he began to carve a bit of drift-wood, as though he could not stay one moment idle. •Where have you been so far down the beach this morning, Barnes I asked, when Helen bad sung several hymns in her soft sweet voice.

Hunting for agates,' he said, and took a handful of the stones from his pocket for us to look st. Tbey were rough, of course, but besutifullv veined, and we could see tbat tbey had some value.

Why, this will make you quite rich, Barnes,'I said (we always patronized Barnes a little.) 'You might get ten or fifteen dollars, perhaps, in some city for these. They are muoh used for shawl pins.'

He nodded and went on carving, not seeming at all surprised. Tbat was tbe trouble with Barnes—everything we told him he seemed to know before yet it never came out that he knew it until we had said it. There was such a simplicity and humility about the man that we were led on to instruct him as though be had been a child. But be never saw our surprised little failures. He seemed to think of nothing but bis work. With tbe earliest dawn he began, and late at night, when we were all asleep, he was still engaged by the light of the camp fire. He carved various little wooden toys with remsrkable skill he made small bark canoes snd ornamented tbem in tbe Indian fashion he shaped boxes from the bark, and filled tbem with maple sugar which he obtained from the Chippewas by renal ring their nets and knives and rude hoee and all this without infringing at all upon his dally allotted task over tbe sealing kettle.

Women like ascetics not as they like their husbsnds, but as they like the saints. They love to look up, to pay reverence, ana to image perfection (and they are generally very well mistaken, too.) We were all up there on tbe island together, fifty sirls and women, from school teaobers like ourselves down to tbe lower class of seamstresses, milliners' apprentices, and girls employed in shops: There were no honse-maids among us, for they sre a conservative class, snd think highly of their 8nndsy bonnets tbey are not tempted by berryin?, but shop girls bsve more Imsginsrtion. As Frau Ehlers bad promised, the girls were all respectable enough in their way those of German birthJkegl together, aud the lew Americans came with asas much ai (hey fcould, and always mt near us fn the evenings around tbe fire. Barnes waa always there too, for the sake of tbe light, and thus it happened tbat we foil into tbe habit of talking to him and watching him carve. The alight veil of reserve about the man, his poverty, his silence, his mild ways, his extraordinary deftness of touch, his intense, unresting toll, his thin, lined faced aba bent figureall theae drew out the Interest, cunoaity, and pity which ate anch strong influences in the fominine mind. But be did not pay much attention to any of as— Helen and myself or our little band of adherents be was always preoccqpled. My best atoriee (for told stories sometimes in tbe evenings) had no effort upon him. Once, wbeu I had related a fantastic tale of Hoffman's, and all tbe drnl« was spell-bouiHi and frightened, I asked Barnes wbatlie thought of it.

Thought, miss? Well, to tell tbe truth, I did not think of it at all,' replied our carver, in his mild voice.

Another time I particularly asked him to listen, snd then I told my beet tale of pathos all the girls were crying when I elated.

4Now,

Barnes?' I said.

•Well, miss,' said Barnea, bending over a little wooden lamb h» waa carving, making the fleece stand out under his fin* strokes, 'I don't muoh beliavw In sorrow ss long ss a person isn't dead. L*thlmj8Btatay on earth somewhere,

J•?££-, "J -. 1

HAUTE SATURDAY EVENIIS1G MAIlI

safe and alive, and we to know It, and I think we can stand anything.' But death comes to all, Barnea, he takes onr dearest from us,' I said.

I don't think I could stand that,' answered our oarver. And when I heard him ssy it quietly, snd thought at the same time of hla indomitable toil and courage, I involuntarily hoped that death would not spoil him any treasures he might have, poor fellow! Surely no one haa ever reduced the wants of existence down to a lower point than he had. «Why do yon work so bsrd, Barnes?' ssld Helen one dsy.

It is a habit,' answered the csrver he looked up st ber for sn inetsnt, and then dropped bis head over his task sgain. •What will you do with all these toys —sell them?'

Again he ^looked up this time a slight change had passed over his fane. 'He is annoyed by her questions,' I thought. Bnt no Barnes was quite ready to answer. 'Yes, miss I shall sell them,' he said, holding off a small elephant and looking at it critically through one eye. •I was burned out last spring, and I wans to have a little shop agsln this winter, snd my old mother snd crippled brother to live with me.*.

Did you lose much?' All I hsd in the world, miss.' And you are not very strong, Barnes.' No, miss, not very.' •Overwork?' 'Yes, miss and exposure. I was wrecked on the Mississippi River last year, and wandered along snore and got lost, and took the fever tbat brought me very low.'

On the Mississippi I said in some surprise.

did not know sny one could

be lost on those shores very long.'' Have you ever been there, miss No,' I answered, a little vexed, as we always are at having made ignorant objection.

It's wild there in places,'said Barnes. We were all interested at once in the shop and the little images, the old moth er and tbe crippled brother. We were poor enough, Heaven knows and yet we took up a collection for Barnes it amounted to nearly three dollars, and I was to present it, with a little speech, the nigbt before we all went away. For the day was fixed now, two weeks abead even tbe dried berries would all be gone by that time. We had begun with the hard green fruit, gone through tbe early and the late ripenings, and were now on a large store of dried berries, spread on boards in the sunshine.

The Sunday after we had heard about the shop and the old mother, Clemantha Dewey west up to Barnes and asked him in a low voice if he would lead a prayer-meeting they were to have a mile down tbe beach, herself and five other girls, all occasional Methodists, seized now with a spirit of religion, there being' nothing else to do. Helen and I happened to stand near, and could not help overhearing. Barnes shrank back, and was about to refuse, when, at tbe same moment, bis short sighted eyes made out who we were. His manner changed. Yes, I will come,' he said, slowly and almost fearfully, 'although why you aak me I do not know.'

Because you are SQ,

good, Barnes!'

answered Clemantha,clasping her banda enthusiastically. The girl meant it she and ber five friends baa set up tbe grayhaired carver as a sort of summer spostle/and expected|to revel iu bis exhortations, Clemantha in particular always? saying that she felt better sfter a real

Sry

ood cry. She had no confidence in a religion. Helen and I went to tbat prayer-meeting too, partly because tbe six

Methodists were our admiring adherents on week-daya, and partly because we also wished to see Barnea in a new light: It waa a picturesque sight, the six berry-girls in their Sunday dressea,a few of the Germans, attracted thither by curiosity, and Barnes, without a ooat as usual,in the same poor clothes he always wore, save that hia shirt was clean and newly donned. Tbe outer circle was composed of Indians, who had followed cloeslv, as usual, to see what was going on in the white man's camp they sat on the sapds, silent and attentive, and watched us curiously. A hymn was sung, then one of the girls prayed aloud in a trembling volee for a few momenta another bvmn followed, and Barnes was called upon. He roee and began. It was simple to plainness tbe prayer he offered, tbe every-day language of a plain man it waa commonplaoe too, with one exception, namely, that It dealt only with calm trust ana confidence, it haa no wailing in it, no oontrite repetitions, none of the usual feam and alarma of the remorseful sinner. He prayed with hla eyes closed, his bsnds cfssped over his sunken brMst, bis thin face outlined against the brilliant aunshine. Helen and I were prayer-book people, we bad Newman's Parochial Sermona in our trunk but there was something In the prayerof Barnea tbat impressed us. Is It because he trusts so I said afterward. •Ia it a merit or a dullness never to doubt? Is It because be is so simple-

minded

for

tbat he does not see the miser

ies and hardships snd despair of tbialife of oura I think that is it.' After this, Barnea waa often called upon. I oould see that he tried to eeoape from it, but tbe girls would take no refusal. Oncol heard blm exhort. It was a short address, with nothing new in it, but full of the ssme calm, quiet certainty snd trust. Tbe girls would have liked something more vehement, I doubt not but not having it, they accepted Barnes, and themselves supplied the agitations of the occasion. Barnes used uTlook st them sometimes with a kind of wonder, I thought, but he never Mid anything he let them cry It out. Mr. Simon Jacobeohr observed,of course,thla new developement in his camp, but as tbe girla worked all tbe better, lie did not interfere be even made it an excuse

not sending for 'the viddler,' who

Wasto

bate played out our last week on

the island with merry berry dancee every night, like the hop dances in hop districts, where tbe ssme word felicl tously serves for both work and pleasQf4*s

The summer was not over, bnt the raspberries were. We were toiling now the dried fruit, trying to rejuvenate it Into juiciness. The sugar gave out, bnt »be imperturbable Jacobeohn bought Indian sugar from tbe Joyful natives, snd we bc&edon. Helen and I hsd become meanwhile as brow* a« berries, to use tbe current phrase although why we should say that when berries are never brown, and currants—but tbat has nothing to do with the subject. What I meant to say is tbat we were well and strong, with more tan and flesh than we bad ever had in our lives. Tbe time for departure was drawing sear now. We regretted itj

One morning *11 the German* bad been aent across tbe islsnd to gleai* the few withered berriea still hanging on the bushes for everything went Into thst laatjunofouis. Tbe aien had gone too, all asve Barnes, who wsssesBn* as usual Mr. Jacobsohn was watching the Chicago steamer, which, inrtead of passing ss usos), seemed to be beading toward oor island. 'Yea, she is eoming in,' he said. Rafeel must haf aent up something.' Rafael wss the Chicago partner. Tbe boat touched at our little dock, and three man stepped of! then the steamer turned, and went on to the

north. Our three visitors same up the bank toward the berry-bouse, watched by all our eyee they were rough-looking men. and carried heavy oanea in their hands. Herr Jacobsohn hsd seated himself on a beach. He emoked placidly, but his eyes were alert he haa recognised the calling of the new-comers st a

Srnorant

lance, and waa prepared to be calmly of anything and everything. The eldest of tbe men now took off his bat and made UK a general bow all three were scanning the terry-bouse and the surrounding woods meanwhile with keenest scrutiny. Jacobeohn was the only man present at the moment,

Barnes

having gone to the spring to fill our water pail. Good-day,' said the spokesman. We have come up, Mr. Jacobsohn, after a man named Murdoch—William Murdoch.'

No such person here, I pelieve,' responded Jacobsohn, affably. •Buthe is here, snd you will gsin nothing by concealing him,' said the man. The trail is sure, and at last we have tracked bim home. I call upon you to produce bim.' •How can I projuce what .ees not beie replied our host. Ask the leddies.'

The man surveyed us doubtfully evidently he had not much confidence in petticoats.

There is no such person here,indeed,' said Clemantha, taking upon herself the office of spokeswoman. I know all tbe men's names, and who they are.'

Who are they, then She ran through tbe list, ending with Barnes. •Barnes—who is Barnes?' said the man, pining over the German names of the others.

A saint!' replied Clemantha, dashiug -her berries into one of tbe kettles with enthusiasm 'such ss you have no right even to mention his name, Mr. Scowler.'

Mr. Soowler who certainly did scowl terrifically, but could not help it, as the marks were fixed in bis forehead, looked angrily at her: but she continued serenely at her kettle, her back turned toward him. The other two men, belong-

Clemantha admiringly. The man is here, however,' said the Soowler,'andthis la tbe deecription of him.' He unfolded a paper, ana began to read: *4 William Murdoch, aged for-ty-nine, tall, stoop-sbouldered, narrowchested, witn gray hair, thin face, and slender hands with long fingers. He is very quiet, speaks in a low voice, and has an inventive turn.''

Helen and I looked at each other tbe game impulse was in our minds, namely, to steal away and warn Barnes—to hide him and help bim if we possibly con

Id of course he was the victim of some mistake. But which of us should go? In the meanwhile the men's voice went steadily on until it resched tbe words, 'Murdered, foully murdered.' Clemantha screamed, and started off toward the spring like a wild creature.

Foller that girl,' sail tbe leader, and the Irishmen ran after ber. In a few moments tbe captors returned, with their prisoner, Clemantha following, weeping, behind. Barnes was quiet he seemed just ss usual, save, perhaps, for an added pallor be put tbe pail of water down in ite place, and then stood still in tbe center of our little circle. Jacobsohn,imperturbable bat observant of all, smoked placidly on.

Are you William Murdoch began the Soowler, paper in hand. No,he ain't,' cried Clemantha. He's nothing of the kind he's Barnes.'

Are—you—William—Murdoch said the .soowler again, clothing himself with all the msjesty of tbe law.

I am,' replied Barnes. We all started we bad not thought it could be we were vaguely taking refuge in twin brothers, and extraordinary likenesses, and so forth.

Escaped from Benton prison 11 a Yes/said Barnes. js-i

And what if be did cried Clemantha, again. He was put in their by mistake, anybody can see that. But if it waa your case, nobody could see it at all, you villianous old wretch!'

Tbe Soowler was enraged by this, bnt keeping himself up as well as he oould with tbe dignity ot his offioe, be went on with tbe interrogatory. Accused and oonvlcted of the murder of Samuel Mark ham, a respectable citizen of eighty years of sge, who was found desd upon his own floor upon the morning of February tbe 10th

Yea,' aaid Barnea. •But people are often fclsely convicted.'said Clemantha. •Ob. are tbey?' replied tbe Soowler, glaring at her with repreesed ferocity.

Yes. they are. when idiots like yoa are on the jury,'' replied the girl. Mr. Jacobeohn regarded her with approval. Ifahe could only chase these men away now with that tongue of bets! His expert sealer might then go on and finish the other cans. He considered the question of adding a email bribe to a

Reward offered, three thousand dollars,' continued tbe Soowler, solemnly and majestically producing a handbill.

Jaoobaohn Instantly gsve it up. He sased at bis aesler mournfully and esgerly. Why hsd he not known of this before? It was better than berries. 'Thedown boat will stop .for us st daylight to-morrow, Murdoch,' said tbe boowler yon will go with us.' Barnes said nothing. Tbe two Irishmen band cuffed him, and then they all sat down in tbe berry-house. Tbe Soowler made some remark about 'dinner.'

No dinner shall yon have,' said Clemantha, fiercely, 'you false swearer— you Lucifer—you son of perdition 1'

Look here, young woman, I'm an officer of tbe law, and no more a false swearer than you are. Goodness knows what poseeaaee the women to use their tongues so 1'eontinued tbe sggrleved official. turning to Jacobsohn for comfort,

But

tbat gentleman waa still gazing at hia sealer: tbat he, Simoa Jaoobeobn, abouid have had a man like tbat—a valuable man with a reward tacked on to blm—in his peaceful berry camp! Witb a reward—alas! alas! He sighed. 'Did he do it, I vonder,' he said, half aloud

No, be did not/ said the six girls. •1 will never believe that you did it,

strong tbe others. It* Soowler looked at her with some attention. Going to teetify for blm, miss?' be asked. 'I wish I oould,' said Helen. 'And we sre not without friends, we two,' abe added. 'We shall do everything we can for him, depend upon it.' She spoke loftily yon would have thought that we had all the lawyers of tb« country st our feet.

But now Barnes looked up. 'You needn't try, miss,' be said, in his usual quiet voice. 'I confess it all. I did it. I stole in upon tbe old man when he was and killed bim with my own

This time we all moved backward In* voluntarily, even Jaoobeobn leaving his place.

Barnes

noted this withdrawal,

can not even say asdly neither did be seem hardened or stolid. Ills eyes fol-

lowed us with a L_„ he was sorry for something but it wss certainly not ibr himself or for his crime. Then I went np to him. 'Did you do it?' I asked, in alow

voice,

looking right

into hla eyes. •Yes,' be snswered, and for the first time a sort of hangdog, defiant expression came over his f*ce. All my soul roee ... med to aer those loni _e would not neea force he bad the horrible skill. I turned away sickened Clemantha and tbe other girls shrank closer together. We all gased at tbe murderer. 'If he did do it,' said Helen, spesklng again, 'he was mad—insane. Crimea are often committed in that way.'

ainst him suddenly I seemed to see doing it craftily witb fine fingers of bis ne

She looked at him, but be shook his head. •No, miss,' he answered, 'I waa not mad at all, no more than yourself. I did it deliberately.' •What foi?' said Jacobeohn. •What for? Why, for money,of 66urae,' replied Barnes, casting down his eyes, and drumming on tbe wooden bench beside him. 'He was rich, you knowbad money in hia safe.' Then he looked up, and this timo there was a creeping expression of greed and ounning on his face which made me shiver. •Yes and it has always been a mystery to me, Murdoflh, why, when you were there on the spot, and the old man was dead, that you dlan't get that safe open witb tbem sharp fingers of yourn, and take that money,' said the Scowler, who bad lighted a pipe, and was refreshing himself as well as he could In the lack of dinner. 'I was interrupted,' said Barnes, slowly—'I was interrupted.' And again he drammed on tbe bench. 'For all that, he is mad,' said Helen, leading me away with a nervous grip on my arm. 'Let us go down to the beach I want to breathe.'

But when we were well out of sight, she did not breathe she cried. 'For I did believe in bim, Dora,' she said 'and I do now. He is insane.' 'Men are sometimes insane through greed,' I replied. 'God help them!'

When tbe other bands came back to tbe camp at noon, there was great commotion, questioning, and surprise. Barnes stood the fire steadily a wooden look bad come over his face. But ho did not seem to suffer be gased off on the lake mostof the time in silence, for hardly any one addressed him directly, although tbe talk surged all around and over him, for the Germans were not sparing of their curiosity and remarks. They prepared dinner, too, for the three captors as well as for tbe rest of us. Clemantha refused to touch a morsel, and her friends followed her example. (Ielen and I could uot eat. But Barnes ate calmly, just as usual.

Wbeu tbe meal was over, nobody went to work again too much had happened. The very Indians had collected, not understanding what It was exactly, but curious. 'Subbose you dell us, now, all apout it,'

Baid

Frau Keller, the housekeeper,

sitting down comfortably, and addressing the Scowler. Yes. yes,' said the others, gathering arouna to listen, for no one had yet heard the ettire story. Herr Jacobsohn himself, having carefully crossed off a half day's wages from all our accounts in his note boob, was ready to bear also. The Scowler hesitated, and glanced toward his prisoner. 'Twas all in the papers,' he said. •Yes, put we bafent seen tbe papers, Sir.'aaid tbe Frau. 'I am sure it ees ferry interesting, and tbe gentloman, Mr. Barnes, will not object. I know. If he haf Or haf not done it, dat makes no difference in the delling.' •Weil,' said the Soowler, in a narrative tone, yielding to this solicitation, and throwing his oesd back as if to recall all tbe details, 'yer see, this old cbap, Sam'el Markham, he lived all alone over bis store, and It was said ho bad a power of money. One nigbt he was seen as late as eleven o'olock on his balcony, and at daylight he was found lying dead on the floor In his own bedroom and there must have been a big struggle, too. Now this fellow you call Barnes was fully proved to have been the man who did it. He lived near, and bis own sctlons betrayed him—murder will out, yer see. He was always a wonderful band at keys and locks, and nice all kinds, and that's bow out of the prisqn this the doors,

curious Jobs of be menaged to spring. AVell, I one after tbe other, with his skeleton keys and tben he takes up one of his fine long hammers, and be goes up to the old msn's bed, and—'

I was watching Barnes, snd saw bim shudder. Helen saw it too. She sprang forward. 'You shall not tell any more In bis presence,' she cried 'it is wicked crueltyr

They all gazed at her. Her eyes were flashing sbe braved tbem all. Barnes had given her one quick glance then his face, too. changed. 'Come,' be said, roughly and barsnly, almost brutally, 'don't make such a fuss about nothing. Look here, I'll tell you tbe whole myself.'

And be did. The girls trembled. Helen burled her fsoe In my lap, the fat housekeeper turned pale, and all tbe men listened eagerly as the horrible story came out. The teller omitted nothing. Heexplaioed and described everything he seemed to take pleasure in making the picture, in ail in brutal details, as complete as possible. It was pbotograpbic. We were spell bound. Ills low voice seemed to us to ring like trumpet, so breathless was our still-

In tbe mean while tbe regular steamer from Detroit bad appeared off the long point, approached our island, and stopped ss ususl. We hardly noticed her. A woman landed, however, and tben we turned our heads and watched her as she came toward our group. What could she want here? Barnes paused ID his narrative. We waited. Tbe woman was at:out thirty-eight years old, I should Judge, and had been very handsome, in a dark, swarthy style of beauty even now she wasatriking In

swarthy style of wasatriking in

•uimi although somewhat coarse. She was showily dressed, snd her great black eyes scanned us with a defiant air as she came near. I glanced at Barnes. He sat perfectly still, and looked steadily down upon the ground. Tbo Scowler and his satellites rose, they seemed to expect some sort of attack but tbe woman passed tbem without notice, and threw herself down upon a bench with a weary air. •No use. Bill,' abe said, addressing Barnes 'needn't play the game any longer. The boy's dead.'

But Barnes remained unmoved. •Who is she?' asked tbe Scowler. 'I'm sure I don't know,' replied the sealer, roughly. 'She has made a mistake in the person, I suppose' •No, I haven'tsaid tbe woman. 'I wish I could I tell you, Bill, tbe thing's over. The boy's dead. A sudden cloud of anguish came over ber face as she spoke sbe threw up ber arms, and wailed and sobbed witb a loud, bitter, real grief. Barnes made a motion as if he would go to her, but the men held bim back. 'LetbiiitaloneP cried the woman, her face covered with falling tears. 'He

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