Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 17, Number 17, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 16 October 1886 — Page 3

I 1„V*

S'JKWO

rriwhed

BLANCHE SEFTON A Story of Early Days in California.

Out of sheer force of nautical habit the captain put one arm about the post supporting the veranda to steady himself, as he would put his arm around a stay on shipboard. Tho attitude was not lo»t on the "boys," soma of whom put on their "sea legs," staggered about as if trying to maintain thoir footing on deck in a gale of vind, and one leaning over an imaginary vesjfel hide pantomimed a fearful derangement of tho stomach through th» disturbance of the elim nto. "Trim looking craft," sa!d the captain. "Should my by her model and rig she was of American build." "C'oim,\ Cnp," said one of the boyx, "don't be greedy, now you vo got a good thing. Let's have a squint."

Hie captain relinquished tho glnss with some show of reluctance. Jimmy Cook, having adjusted his eye to the instrument, seemed, juicing by his ubsorbtion, to intend remaining as he was for the alternoon. "Tinin'H up!" cried one. "1 move that twenty seconds only bo allowed j\"r man, par p' op," sail another. "Second the motion," uriod a thi -d. "Then there won't, enough to go around before tdiG's do.vn boiv!'' "Motion's moved and seconded," saidaselfconstitu evl chairman. "All in favor, say 'aye contrary mindrnl 'no.' Ths ayrri lmve it. The chair rules the next prep for itself." "No you don't." remarket! the "Cap," coming forward find capturing his glass. "This glass is private property, and not pro bono publico, except at I give tho 'ship news."'

The assembly groaned, and ono alluded to Cap as tin "011 Turk.' "She's a lady," said the captain. "Style quiet and genteel. Uroiul brim straw hat, •veil. No loud trimmings. Nothing Bowery. Cabin (Mwieng r. Boys, tuck in your ihirfs!"

For convenk'Tica a rl comfort tho miner of thaS porioi generally woro his red or pray shirt as a bloti w, omitting tho formality of hto-vii), iti estroai.ty under tho trousers wafatbaftd

Tho captain'.* ordor was obayel "Mr. Rauivin initio his appearance, having boon employed in buttoning himself into starched lineu. A "lx«rler" rem.in led him that he had forgotten his kids, and another, hastily cutting a gigantic collar from a sheet of white paper, arrayed himself therein, remarking as lie did so Mint "his tailor was always delinquent with his dress suit when it wns mo»t wonted," adding reflectively: "However, if a man's hwul was only well divfwd no sensible woman would look any further." "Swijies" produced tho Un horn used to call the lioard-.M-s to their meals, and asked the captain If he should "hail her." "Oh, you're all a lot of smartys now, ain't you:" sftid Rankin. "How do you know who that lady may bo? She may tx wine of you fools' mother or sider or wife, come to hunt you to your holes. At all events, whoever she is, I

BY PRENTICE MULFORD.

[COPYRIGHTED BY THE AUTHOR.

I'". uy. Tt CHAPTER XV.

A WOMA5L .,

At this moment Mr. John Sargent put his head in the doorway and said excitedly: "My goodness gracious sakes alive, boys, there's a woman on horseback coming down the hill

The audience were out of doors in a twinkling. No American woman had ever yet set foot on Bull Bar.

The Bar hill road, for half a milo steeply inclined, was as a red streak set in a dark green ground of chapparal, winding and turning, appearing b?re and disappearing there behind the denser clumps.

The woman's progress was necessarily slow. Tw enty minutes at least would elapse ero fcho woull reach the store. Tho boarders gathered inn groun on a knoll. Other gan^s of men heuring th:i news conjre^atei on var.ou.H ortions of the Bar. AH eyes were directed upwards. Capt Thompion brought from hi» sea chest a long tarry spyg'nm and atcjulyitig it against a corner of the store for-ussed it on the approaching phenomenon. Tlii«t constituted the captain a temporary authority. His reports from tima to time were eagerly received by the crowd.

well all act as near like gentlo-

men as wo know how. Those who can't better trot oft to work." Mr. Rankin's soutiments made a speedy change in the humor of this before rock loss crowd. As the lady drew nearer the faces of all present assumed a more serious expression. They won' recalled to themselves and drawn to their old eastern homes by the

sight of that oue female figure long ero she ho store. All present kuew that she was an "eastern woman" and the city bred boys declared her a city woman. She sat her horse easily. Her face was lArtly concealed by her broad brimmed straw hat

To the store, of eour*\ she must come. Everything coming to Bull Bar must first ij come to th« store. Tln rood down the hill [f enl«l nt the store door. The store was, in »(Tect tha entrance and exit gate of Ball

Bar. Mr. Rankin kept the gate. Anyone visiting Bull Bar on business, or any one ttoere coming to make inquiry would lie naturally directed to Rankin. In such connection he figuratively kept the keys of the l^ar. He know where every miner lived within a radius of three miles. He knew how they "were doing." He btnked their dust for them in his safe, and in many cases tlieir confidence and social secrets in his breast*

The lady was riding toward a staring, gap* ig, curious crowd, of which I suddenly recalled to myself 1 was one. As she came peaw I turned away and went in the store, iiot dwiring to play the loai. Many others of the "boys" seesuel inlll iced by a similar f«ling, and stole off to vx, still, however,

.' (y^dng much as possible one eye ore* t3*ir «IIOUWTS. Nor IK1 th#r walk ry fast It was a hard conflict enrk^ty and r»wpoct A few loangtl alxwit the store door, thomwlvosi on th« Iwnch.

She had atopfwd

door. I

|rnw only the cxtmnfty of a rwllng habit and I tho Up of a «maH fi*t In tho stimip. I heard j,,K«n a rkar, wwU-toowl asltitiit Mr.

Ivankia If "anyooa kn»w a Mr. Jedediah (lratt in the ueighlwrfeortdL" I brcml Blanche v©k*. anAtWaJkir^-^t MwlUancbe!

Rankin giving her -ctioi» to Pratt8* li* turned toward ms, *This nmn wf" =how yoe where lives,* '•r# his c«K* af wwitbs as I n«de my ^pewnu^e. "That fa, he*s g«oermlly able to •ill, when op."

Herejrwta.: jaa. Hmw wa# fHeodly icx^aiikm ia them. I *aM: tand»«r—«fa* i.valnt

'Uto Beftoa-uliat! ibe Wk- 4m (*id I know not—a jumbW of unmeaning ords, ug w«r each other, for her l«Atnacu: iick at heart

Su torned to RtnkiB, who, with tee b*dbfeq startled and intgrgpfted in

SEFTON

--V

ALL 1ITQHTH RESERVED.]

this unlooked for recognition." Still more startled were they as they saw Blanch?, binding low in the saddle, say something to m? in atone too low for them to hsor, bat at which I recoiled.

Tho-ie words were: "No! not yon, John Hokler! Not my uncle's murderer! I do not wuh your assistance!" "Perhaps I can :ind my way to my uncle'. house alo if soma of you gentlemen will direct me,n she said aloud to the wondering group. M-

Iti&te'M

All present, knew she was an ecutlern woman "I'll show you. ma'a-n. I'm going right that way myself," said Softer. Mr. Softer bore off tin priz*.*

Even in all my misery and stupefaction ai she rode of?. I, or a pari of mvself, wai af fordad a gleam of amuwaieut as tin gentle man who had extemporise 1 th bright shirs, jvipor collar projes in^ beyond his eirs, su 1 deuly discovered that, in his curiosity at Blanche's approach, ha had forgotten to take it ofT. and during hot* colloquy had stood near by, wearing it as if a volunteer ha Ige of idiocy. RecollocSin^ himself, he made a dash at his neck as if stung by a wasp, and flung it in disgust to tho ground. Too late! He had posod before a uly as a ninny, an 1 no man really likes* to do that. "Oh, yuu funny little man!" wa3 Rankfct's parting shot at him as ho slunk o.'Y to his e.aim. "Vou can go up as head fojl now!"

CHAPTER XVI. WAlUTCf&,

I do not think that "crushing blows," as thoy term tht-m, are felt in their fullest force when first delivered. A wound in a vital part may caus9 at first but little pain. Peop'e arc often ivprcs:itcd a-i overwbalme:l immediately by sudden newj of any great niisfortun*, iSofar as I know by psreonal experlense in such matters, tho "overwhelming," "crushing," agonizing process may hardly commence with tho reception of iti U\VA Its th prolonged mini-working procos* afterward that cau'sss tho misery. It? th pei"j^tiia! going over and over, not the same grannd on which your calamity bassd, but the calamity iteclf, viewed in all mnm *r of situntion«, with ev. varying lights and «hft(le3 uip?ntal operation in chaivtcter kaleidioscopic. Tha pieces are the sanu, bub thoy nit* ever arranging themselves in different form*. This may go on for days, weeks months. 1 bolieve that many a man or woman ha said to themsalva*, whon th?ir great trouble fins- fell on theni "Well, I can bear it," who found a week afterward, that it was too grievo'.u to be borno with patience or resignation. Tho only meiu- of reliof woul 1 lie in dismtaing the matter entirely from one's min i. Unfortunately such matters, with the groat majority, will not bo dismissed. They aro guests uuwelcoma, armed and offonsive, who quarter themselves and come to stay.

When ore we to have the era of mental athletism, wheu minds will arrive at such strength and dexterity as to be able to toss oil a trouble from the brain as they would a rubber ball from the hanJ and forgo5 all about it at pleasure!

I did not go home immediately after Blanche's departure from tho stora. I spent the afternoon wandering aimlewly ovor gulch, flat and mountain—anywhere, so that I was out of sight and sound of human boings. I took no thought of physical exertion. I fled at any sound of labor—the stroke of pick«, the grating of shovels, the rasping of pebbles in the rocker a, and plungod front such indications of human presence into the dens9 growth of chapparal

I had not then met my deepest misery. I had indignation to sustain m?. I was indignant at Blanche, that she also should have tried and condemned me without a hearing. There is a certain buoyancy and stimulus in indignation. It is several degrees above discouragement and despair.

But the mind doesn't seem capable of entertaining fully mora than one emotion at once, So, when my indignation had worn off its finest edge other emotions commenced their play. They seemed all desirous of "having a whack"' at me.

I pass over wonder at Blanche's sudden appearance at curiosity to ascertain how she heard of me and the accusation against me, and at the sodden recollection that the aunt whom she had so frequently visited in New York was by name Pratt, and that probably Jedediah was her husband. I came at Last to my love for the former Blanche Sefton, of Kastport at my grief for ita loss, and at mjr impair as this last prop was thus so soddenty taken from tm. Everything solid seemed to tiave tumbled from under I was alone tnd friendless amid suspicion, growing prejudice, averted faces, whispered lies, and hack of all these stood the being on earth I tor transformed at -rtce from an mk of h- into an unpts »g aad mistaken jodge.

TK-m -rr^ne frrr tb^—rhte for days and iltj: r. 11 jjjf wnpanj—« numerous and busy crowd. They k« p? t'V th? sigl.* of Bia about rinti*# Oil i'X Mtee .-. tet thi ntidred fardndMiat hh» had a hoow }*tt up for

O 4 iswn en the Bar ?a v.» n-. /.t The crowd «m ahwhit.\y tatn^jr to do w.v-^ng for Mfe« Seft. 1 Tl:- aim on -h clodiK»vered erected, Tfch-:-. of Pratt"#, wm» kv.-lad aa if by taiv If Mia Sefton wished a bowlder -f'

same

out of the war tb^r ww ready awl

!.» to remon a Indbid.

Votatwn

went op the monntain, cot yocmg aaplings aad bnilt ber a feoca Pratt's wed mm t^eatied deepsood.

Fifty sien with picks aod^Kmito cleared the trail leading fr^ her residence to the store of intercepUng bqpbeiaKLJnipediag bgwMar^

I I

oos evening after knocking o'T work from tho claims, a physical inference that in their estimation. Miss Sefton wouli probably want often to "go shopping," or pwsibly drop down of an evening and have a chat with the boys. If Ttfws Safton had dtsired the enormous bulk of Scrub mountain to be removed, I think the matter would have been serioudy considered. In all this Mr. William Sefter was the lady's self-constitnted right hand man. and even while working on his claim would be seizsd with spasm of anxiety and solicitude in her beh llf. and rush up to Pratt's in a chronic state of fus»-about-and-do-littJene «.

Why did I not seek an interview with Blanche and endeavor to justify myself I did make the attempt, or rather paved the way for on?. I owe! har threa hundred dollars. I sent her the money with interest dua, through Rankin, explaining to him the circumstances under which tho debt was contracted. This, of course, let Rankin into a portion of my secret Fortunately, he was a man who could keep secret1. He realized that there was monev in this kind of banking also, and that cash and con 3d.»nee ofcen go together.

Hia manner toward me in this business was serious and considerate. He seemed to respect the burde he knew I was carrying, and h? was one of tha few with a mind inherently judicial that demanded clear proof before any conviction.

I felt for a whib relieved after having intrusted this commission to Rankia. He said to me nothing of the Pratt matter. But as thoughts can be feit, I knew that h9 sympathized to some extent with my lonesome and miserable situation.

Blanch? sent back, through Rankin, only a formal receioS for th3 money. To my request for an interview she mada the following reply: ."I would prefer not txygje you under the present clrjumstaacei. "BLANCHE SEFTON."

So matters went on for eight or ten days. Broenpr continue absent. Did I find ony consolation in the thought that he misht ba miserable in not finding BLaachj at Marys ville? But what Blanche? His or—min9, I was about to say. The man had been so reticent on the subject, and Blanche herself being hermetically sealed against me, I was still in doubt whether the woman next door was the one I had seen in the play or uot 1 could not visit the store. That ^a1? nS place for in?. My work at the "Bank was quite clom. I kept at work on the river claim, making six or eight dollars per d^y, to which I was perfectly indifferent. Worse, my p6sition while at work gave mo frequent glimpses of Blanche as she flitted in her neat morning dres3 between her own house and Pratt's. She was a rare spectacle to the miners whose claims commanded a view of the situation. I saw thsm at time3 peeping at her from sundry vantage points, as she tripped about, displaying at time 3 a slippered foot and neat ankle, which caused many a heavy sigh.

Whv not write her? I did writo her—page on paj e, telling the whole story, detailing all the misery of my situation, upbraiding her for her injustice and cruelty, and beseeching her for a personal interview. But there was no local postollice delivery oil Bali Bar. Rankin was the only one to whom I coulJ intrust these letters Thai would reveal me to him too much the suppliant. So I would •ceap tho letterx I re-rwvl th m. I found, then, one too harsh. I thrjw it in tho Aire. 1 he next was too humble, too supplicating I threw that in the fire Within twenty-four hours aft -r writing, an 1 tlu nioo.1 I composed iu hai cooled off, I could not find one of tho right tone and temper. lere seem?d no hitting the "golden mean.' Ho they all went in the fire. On the whole, am disposed to think that as good a destina1.01as any for copious and exuberant love letl. r,—and, tike mine, before delivorj'. If you don't think so read your own, say three years old, and look the self that wrote them at that time straight in tho face, and tell me your deliberate opinion of him.

From Rankin I ascertained that Pratt lay most of tho time in a condition bordering on unconsciousness. He had, ho said, "lit up" a little on Blanche's arrival She, ho added, «w a "bully nurse." "What does thj doctor say of himf" 1 auked. "Oh, something scientific," he answered.' "Something he's learned out of his books that nobody can make head nor tail of.' Looks profound to match, especially when he takes his whisky. It's biz—biz, you know.''

It was a gleam of sundiiuj that Rankin had resumed this vein of tals with me." Oue morning I found pinned to my door a note without signature, bearing these words: "Better leave Bull Bar. Trouble brewing for you."

I felt that tliin was a friendly warning from Rankin. I felt, also, it portended some secret "vigilante" business regarding myself. ».

What to do I knew not This was a newer blackness to the c'.oud. I was greatly disturbed. I was, I own, terribly afraid of the trouble hanging over mo. I realized fully the temper of the time. I knew how men were dragged from their beds and either hung outright or hung up until they confessed. So had they done to Jo Hatch the year before, because Jo, a poor, whiskysoaked wretch, was suspocted of the robbery of a store safe in which sundry miners kept their dust by favor of the storekeeper. Jo would not confess, despite this horrible torture, and a few months afterward the real plunderers were revealed.

I could not get away. My obligations to Broener forbade it There was in the house at least twenty thousand dollars' worth of quarts. Not knowing what might happen I buried this under the floor. Next day it occurred to me that "under the floor" had become too common a burying spot for treasure, and was, of all places, the first to be sought for by any so disposed. I knew not what might happen, or how long Broener might be absent So I dug it up and buried it at night in a nook without the cabin. Then I left a note for Broener, intimating that in case of my absence I would account to him personally for whatever he might find lining. What did not choc- to say, for did not trust the sacredness of a sealed note to all in Bull Bar.

^CHAPTER XTIL RESCCTL

7 was roughly shaken by the stoolder and ordered to get up! They had stolen into tbe In the dead of night. Adit through the doth side was *11 tbe actual "breaking in** accessary. Tbire were six of them— masked. Tbey said nothing. la two outside the house tn the bands of nit* taptom. Tbey took me to a deeply shaded hollow ia tbe hills about half a mile distant going east from Scrub mountain. Had the country been longer settled it would bare been christened by (Kms allowably profane appellation, with just enoogh dash of infernal flavor to give it a spice. Bat Urn* had be«u no time at Bull Bar tot muck delkate shadings -in expression. Tbey went directly to the paint and called it "HelP* Hollow." Roughly described it

T.ERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL.

a bole, perhaps half an acre in area, tbe wall on three of its irregular sides being of overrock. Their summits, thirty or forty feet in height, were thickly screened by botbea. Save ia tbe direction by wbkh ft w*s entered, there was no sign of Jbesod-

Iivrs ordered to act tin.

den depression until one cams to tho verge of the cliffs overlooking it I said nothing while on the way thither. Any appeal for justice or humanity, I thought then, would be wa .ted on men who were thus teking tha law in their own hands, more to gratify their own brutality than aught else.

Call a dog mad, raise a hue and cry after him, and you furnish rare sport for a class g'ad of sny excu for stoning to death any dog, mad or not mad.

That portion of Bull Bar represented by my six midnight judge* and jurors were hungry for a "little fun." A man had be-n called, if not mad, dangerous. They were atout the good work of relieving their community of the terror, and having some needed recreation beside.

How? By an outrage and disgrace, they proposed putting on me, worse thftn death itself.

Their first act on arriving at the Hollow was to kindle a fire. The effect of the glare on rock, brush and masked men was decidedly dramatic. I think tho "committee" were alive to fuch impressions also, in their own crude way, as gathered from gore-bespattered novels or blood-stained plays, for their proceedings were marked by a certain delilieration and grotesque formality. The intended making a night of it also. Of this the surest evidence was the gallon demijohn carried by one of the "committee."

A ketlle was placed over the fire. Shortly a resiuous odor pervaded the air. Their intent then flashed on me.

Tar and feathers! It seems ns if the spirit of an event and its results for a year in advance can lie felt by one in a single "moment. So, as if by a flash of lightning, did I eo myself thm disgraced, set adrift, wandering in that wretched, humiliating p'ight over the laud, not daring to enter village or town out of pure shame, possibly compelled at last from physical exhaustion to throw myself on the mercy of some one and in the end to le ixinted at ever afterward as one so disgraced, and liable, go where I might, to b? revealed by some meddlesome tattler. As I saw this, one instinct and emotion pervade 1 mo—revenge on these villains.

I said: "Now, msn. if you do to me what 1 see you msau to do you'd better kill me first, for as suro as you disgrace me in tfhati way, and leave me alive, just so suro will 1 spend the rest of my life in getting even with you. Maybe I don't know you but I'll try and find out, and if I do 111 have your heart's blood, every ore of you. Now be careful, for it's not such a light matter to start a man out for life with blood on his brain, as you'll start me if you do this thing tome!"

These was but one reply from th'? evi lent, master of ceremonies That was, "Gag!" A wad of cloth was thrust in my mouth. I guessed at the leader, from his height, despite an assumed bond of tho shoulders. I took him for "Long Mac."

The party then ranged themselves in line, fronting me, and one, in a thick, mumbling voice, proceeded to inform me that "Tho Committee of Mighty High Binder had thought it best for the good of Bull Bar to start John Holder out of it, and al?o that for the young man's good, and as a token of remembrance, the committee, in behalf of the Bar, would present tho aforesaid John Holder with an entire new suit, which they trusted he would long wear." "So mote it be!" cried all, simultaneously. The next order was: "Refreshments!" And the demijohn again traveled along tbe line.

The next word was "Business!"' I was ordered to take off my clothes. "What are you going to do with that man?" The voice was that of a woman. It

What are you going to do urilh thai man?" came from the top of the cliff opposite the fire. There, clad in white and thrown by tbe blase in full relief against tbe dark background of foliage, stood a female figure.

My own first thought was, A ghost! A similar thought prevailed with tbe party. Not a word was spoken for some skconds. Tbey stood there silent and staring. "What are you going to do with that roanf again demanded the apparition. "Who—who are youf' asked one. He bad forgotten bis assumed voice. It was Bill Sefter. "No matter who I am, now, Mr. Sefter, I demand your release of that man," was tbe reply. "It* tbe gal at Pratt's said a voice, which I recognised as Long Mac's.

Tbe gbost was laid. The committee felt somewhat easier. Still this was a seriaas itvterruption to "basanesH." "Ifin,

ain't agoing to do tbe yoosg

man any hurt,'7 said one of tbe committor, tbe readiest at recovering, bis wffis. "We're onhr here for a sociable little time and "That's a*iief* came from Blanche's Hps with a rigor which savored of her piratical onda "Miss, now you'd better go home," said Long Mac, in the tone be would have assumed towards child. "This te no place for you. I wonder you dare resk yourself in tbesa woods, where thereto bean and GaH-

"Bcars," answered Blanche, oontempt_.n*!y. "All bears are not grirriies! I know you mean that man some mhrWrf. Now. IT lease him." "Shant do it," roared a gruff voice. "Go lgome ypunwit

yon was jgjr wife

:t,

darter I'd start ye blamed quick where ye belong. Go about yer bizaess!" "That's just what I am doing," replied Blanche.

She had a weapon from ths folds of her dress in a twinkling, its shining barrel flashing by the firelight before the eyes of the astonished party below. "The first man of you that moves his hand for his weapon and I'll lire into .the crowd," said she. "I think I can handle this pistol weil enough for that They called me a good shot at the gallery in New York, and I had smaller targets and much farther off than those I have now.11 "By she's got the drop on us, an1 she'll do as she says," muttered one of the committee, who now seemed to feal uncomfortable "it's in her eve."

As the party stood with the fire burning behind them, their figures were thrown in bold relief against its light, and the least movement was visible to Blanche. "Now, gentlemen," she continued, "business, you know. I suppose you think thi? is all very wrong for a woman. But as there seems no man here to ta'ie a defenseless man's part why, a woman had to do it Whatever John Holder has done, whether he bs guilty or not of tho charges against him. is not to be found out by taking him from his bei at night and ?rrying him into these wools to maltreat and torture him. That's ither justice, fairr«36s, nor decency, and you gentlemen know it now that you take a moment to think it over. Would you do what you propose to do to him before his mother! Would you do it before your own mothers? You have forgotten yourselves, gentlemen. Kick over that kettle of tar and go honie, and you will feel more like men to-morrow."

The committer wore irrosolute. Blanche stood there rigid, her eye upon them and her pistol ready.

The tension was becoming painful. No jury's verdict was over more eagerly awaited. "Come, gentlemen, you will take the gag from that man's mouth and then leave him," she said, in accents more winning than those in which she had first spokon. You will, I'm sure?" "Let the gal have her own way," said one.

This expression of opinion was as the first, crack in the dam to bo undermine 1. "Don't believe in leiu' humbugged bv a woman," was the remark from tha committeeman, who had previously broach?. I Ills' rigorous views as to marital and family discipline. "Won't she rou3e tho wholo Bar whether we go or not? Anyway, I've got enough for one night," was tho reply.

She did not, stir from lur post or uncock her pistol. Evidently she held herself in eadmess either for war or persuasion.

Soma ono pulled the gag from my month. The committee tiled slowly out- of the hollow. One haSi'ily returae.l, remarking as he glanced up at Blanche, "flcuse me, miss but wo forgot thi?." He seized the demijohn and bore it off. "Mr. Seftorl Mf. Seflerl" called dut Blanche,

Sefter forgot his disgu'se and stopped. "Why, it is really you, Mr. Sefter," said Blanche. Softer pulled hi usolf up for another s^ai t, as if he was anxious to get away from tho locality of r-o many blundering selfrevelations. "Mr. Sefter, when next you organize a conspiracy remember that the walls of cloth bouses near together ive very Large er.ra—lhat is, when a woman's inside one of tbem," was Blanche's parting remark. "Yes'm," answered Sefter, in tho t.rie of corrected child, as he went stumbling off with the demijohn.

They wowone, Blanche and myself stood facing each othar. The situation was embarrassing. Perhaps some lingering fiend of like spint with the committee poppe:l into my head tho thought: Should I now exclaim in the gush of the old-fashioned noval, "My preserver How can I thank you?"' etc, I was irritated now at being "sav^d" by Blanche Sefton.

But I had soon to do something. I noticed that Blanche was unsteady on ber feet She caught at a sapling, stood there a moment, and then sat down.

She was suffering from the ordeal she had undergone- and the nervous relaxation that must follow such extreme tension.

I gained the cliff summit. She was weak— almost unable to stand, and said on my proffer of assistance: "You must see me home, I believe."

E 7T0

BE CONTINUKD NEXT WEKK.

The President of the Cambridge, Mass,, Fire Ins. Co., recommends flood's Sursaparilla as a building up and strengthening remedy1. .f

"Stepped off" is a New York phrase for getting married.

Mr. Jacob Froehlich, a well-known tailor of Cincinnati, Q.,af*er suffering for years with rheumatism, was cured in a short time by the use of St. Jacobs Oil.

The 'salary of the mayor of New York is 810,000.

t-''~

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Xi-t

always uniform,

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Itch and scratches of every kind cured in 15 minutes by Woolford's Sanitary Lotion. Use no other. This never fails. Sold by Armstrong's Union Depot Pharmacy. Warranted. 50c. tf.

ftM,.c

Nervousness, Weakened

»,*:? ,i\. t1?: *.:'.

4^. TF V,-* -X-,

Most EJwlfrnt.

J. J. Atkins, Chief of Police, Knoxville. Tenn., writes: "My family and I aro beneficiaries of your most excellent medicine, I)r. Kings New. Discovery for Consumption lmve found it to be all thnt you claim for it, desire to testify to its virtue. My friends to whom I have recommended* it, praise it at every opportunity."

I)r. King Now Discovery for Consumption is guaranteed to cure Coughs, Colds, Broucliitis, Asthma, Croup and every affection of Throat, Chest and Lungs. Trial Bottles Kiec at Cook, Hell it "Lowry's Drugstore. Large Size, $1.

Bra co Up.

You are feeling depressed, your appetite is poor, you are bothered with Headache, you are fidgetty, nervous, and Rcneraliy out of sorts, and want to brace up. ft race up, but not with stimulants, spring medicines, or hitters, which have for tlielr basds very cheap*, bad whisky, and which stimulate you for an hour, and then leave you in worfecondition than K'forc. What you want is an alterative that, will purify your blood, start, healthy action of the Liver and Kidneys, restore your vitality, and give renewed health and strength. Such a medicine you will find iu Electric Bitters, and only ."0 cents a bottle at Cook, Bell & Unvry. (3)

Hucklen's Arnica Salvo.

The Best Salve in the world for Cut.s. Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fever Sores, Tetter, Chapped Hands, Chilblains, Corns, and ail skin eruptions, and positively cures Plies, or no pay required. It Is guaranteed to give perfect, satisfaction, or money refunded. 25c. per box. For sale by Cook «fc Bell. (tf.)

JpOR DYSPEPSIA,

iri. Mental and Physical Exliaustion,

INDIGESTION, Etc.

"'It

M"'"

AC 11) PHOSPHATE

A liquid preparation of the phosphates unci phosphoric icid.'

K.ecommended by physicians. It maices a delicious drinK. i'lnvigp'Jitif'g* and strength•p in^. d^unphlct free. 'M&For sale by all dealers. Ituinrord Chemical Works. Providence. 11.

ltKYVAlii: »r IMITATION*.

CATARRH

HEADS

-FEVER

Cream Balm it not a liquid, tnuff or ponder. No injurious drugs. No offensive odor. Applied into each nostril is quickly absorbed

A Quick Relief. A Positive Cure. 00 cent* at Druggltti by mall, rqflitered,

MARK.

ECZEMA ERADICATED.

Gentlemen—It fal dae jm to tmf thai I IWnk 1 *m entirely weil of ecxema after harta* Swfft'a Specific. I bare been troubled with It retr

WaUcSOTlikvb*., Feb. tt, J**. B*T. JAKES V. M. MORKIS. Tnadae OB Blooand Skis DiaaaaMnaOed free. Tan Swirr Srertne Co., Drawer 3, Atlanta, Ga.

cent*

Send for Circular mad TestimoHiaJs. Ely Brotkirs, Drigglsti, Owigo, N. I,

MADAME MORA'S CORSETS.

MOST COMFOBTAJlLE AND FEltrEorriTTiNcr Merchant* Mjr thoy give better satisfaction than any corset they over •old. Priwmaker* recommend them for thoir flno •hope. Caonet break over hip*. At*P*rtl«ml«rly liked hy

Xftdiea of fnfifipirt.The ''^0 TOUR" and hare the PATWT

TWITE Jlxcx.

—^conrert tho open

ban the popular too•AH.* Stukiji. which eon be Instantly token

out.

WITHOUT

cumjro

OKr

BETH. No other* ha*o tho celebrated

Vreach

C«nrrf

B«a4. Bewam of Imitation* Offered to derrtre tbo public. For aalo by alt leading tfcal-

Manufactured by L. KRAn CO.,

none. Birmingham, Conn, fne,

O. ritepatrick 1 Leonard St., S. T»

adame Mora's lladame Mora'* me Mora's Comfort Hip.

MeuU «ix ccnt* Jor portaee^wl recipvw free. eontly box «»f Komi* which will hHp nil. of either *ex. t* more money rl«hl

mi it

away than anything el*c In the worl«. Fortnnex awnli the worker* absolutely "tire. Term* ft ailed free. TrtieA .. Ai»n»*t«» M®

fiisstg

IHue in my face atace

At tbe begteatag of coid w«atbcr laat fall made a atignt appearance, bat weot away and baa never ntoroed. 8.8.8. no doobt broke hop: at lea* pot my *y»tem to good condition aadlntwelL It atoo benefited mjr wife greatly in caae of aJck headache, and made a pcrfect one of a braaktacoat aftny Safe Usee yar olddaagl^liMA miniBer.

but npriog.