Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 29, Number 25, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 17 December 1898 — Page 8

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A Christmas Moose.

Peggy was charming, but Peggf was chronically unconventional. She had a habit of gently chocking Fifth avenue on an average of once a month and astounding her family about once a week. Tbe troth of tbe matter was, Peggy was simply full of animal spirits, preferred living her own life and laughed at her more dignified family and tbe two dozen lovers who proposed on an average of once a month to her.

There was of course Donald Cotton, whom she took a little more seriously and consequently tormented a little more assiduously. But as that young man had been cursed with an income and a taste for urban life Peggy made no bones about expressing her good, healthy contempt for tbe unillustrious existence he eked out. Clubmen, she said, were always commonplace. She liked men who did things. She liked to see heroism, she said, and manliness and tbe spirit of adventure in her friends. All of which made tbe good natured and easy going Mr. Donald Cotton very unhappy.

Each December Donald was in tbe habit of going up into Maine after moose, and it occurred to bim that a few weeks' absence would not be a bad thing before asking Peggy for tbe nineteenth time to marry him.

Before going up in the woods be naturally had to see Peggy to say goodby, and Peggy, of course, was surrftanded by the usual facetious circle when he called. He doggedly sat tbem out, however, and got hold of Peggy's hand somehow and told her he was going away. "Where?" said Peggy, wincing for a moment, and then nonchalantly pulling her hand away. "Up in the Maine woods after moose," said Donald. "Oh, is that all!" said Peggy, reoov ering herself, with fine scorn. "Moose hunting is awfully dangerous work," said Donald, "and something might happen." "Dangerous for what, you silly boy? Chilblains?" said tbe unfeeling Peggy. "Charlie Blown was killed by a bull mooee last winter," said Donald oheerfully.

Peggy laugbod. "Why, I know a girl, a little, dimpled, pink and white girl, who goes moose shooting. She's a cousin of mine up in Montreal, and she goes to Mattawa every winter. And what is worse, sir, on second thoughts I think I ehall go with her this Christmas and show you that moose shooting isn't so dreadfully dangerous," "*T "Peggy!" said Donald, trying to catch her. "And what is more," said Peggy, slipping away and getting on the other side of the table, "what is more, I'm going to sou if I can't get a bigger mooso than you. No, you needn't- look horrified. I shot a mountain goat once,

I

"PKQGYl" 8AH) DONALD. TRYING TO CATCH

HRB.

and I've been shark fishing in Florida, and I walked through Mott street one midnight, so moose don't count You go up to Maino and I'll go to Mattawa, and we shall sea who'll bring home the biggest horns."

Don Id knew it was madness, but he also knew it was no use to expostulate. He called at Peggy's bouse the noxt, evening, but Peggy was gone. A sense of loneliness stole over him as he walked home through tbe falling snow, his face set with a great purpose. He would go after her. Something might happen to hot. Supposing she got lost In those northern woods—yes, he would most certainly go after her.

He bad already lost one day. By 9 o'clock the next morning he was speeding toward Montreal fast as steam could carry him. At Montreal he caught the transcontinental night express and at daybreak stepped out at the little town of Mattawa, on the bead waters of tho Ottawa. Here he made inquiries about the Montveal party.

They had passed through Mattawa the day before, bad picktd up six Indian guides there and gone north to Semiscamingm

Two hours later a party of one, with three guides, was on its way north. At Gordon Creek the party of one was told that a party of six Indians, a white man

1

FOR BEST JOB PRINTING

Seasonable Story by Arthur J, Stringer-^ Copyrighted, 1898, by the Author.

As every oni In Greater New York' and twogirla in blanket suits bad the knew or ongbt to bave known when ^&y before started oat through the bush. Miss Peggy Weatberington decided to Donald followed tip the trail. Tbe do a tbing it was usually done.

mercury went down below the zero mark, Temiecamingue took on its first ice, and snow fell often through tbe night In two days he came upon a camp which bad been broken up but a few bours before. Later in the day they struck high, rolling country. During tbe afternoon tbey beard rifle shots, and before dusk tbey came xyxra moose tracks and a well tramped "yard."

That night over the campfire Donald remembered it was Christmas eve. A Christmas alone in tbenortbern Laurentians ie not a cheerful thing.

But Christmas morning broke clear and cold. Before tbe sun was over tbe dark pine tops tbey were following up the moose tracks over a rough and

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BIS FINGER WAS SHAKING OK THB TRIGGER OF HIS WINCHESTER.

broken country. Tbe tracks skirted a frozen lake, and then went up a high rooky plateau. Donald knew these high ridges were the haunts of moose in winter.

Late in the afternoon nothing bad been seen. Tbe Indians pioked a oamp and set to work getting their backwoods Christmas dinner. Donald, however, could not resist tbe fascination of freeh moose tracks. He took bis Winchester and swung up over the hills for a recoflnoiter. After about half an hour's journey through second growth white birch he came to a sudden stop and dropped noiselessly behind a fallen pine. A few winters fli Maine bad given, him all tbe true hunter's alertness of nerve Where the underbrush fringed away into a country of broken rook he bad oaugbt sight of a calf moose. In tbe gathering dusk fee could see it indistinctly moving slowly and cautiously out of tbe shadow of tbe scrub bush. He had plenty of time, so he rested his Winchester on the pine log, taking studious, deliberate and aoourate aim. At that moment tbe moving shadow turned sideways. Donald's rifle fell from his hand, and he took a deep breath. His rifle had been trained on a girl in a blanket suit, and be could see her shouldered rifle pointing down tbe valley. It was Peggy.

The consciousness of this had scarcely swept through his mind when he saw a puff of smoke. Then oame a report, and another, and another. A abort distance up tbe valley he saw a cow moose fall. Then he saw something that sent tbe blood tingling through his veins. Out of tbe underbrush he beheld a huge bull come thundering up the slope straight for the bewildered girl in the blanket suit. As he came tearing up tbe snow in his flight the girl in the blanket suit deliberately dropped on one knee, took aim and fired at the broad breast bearing down on her, not more than 60 feet away.

Donald groaned. He saw that the plucky shot went wide—miles wide. His own finger was shaking on the trigger of his Winchester, for when her life depended upon a shot the responsibility naturally unnerved him.

All he remembered was that he stopped firing when his magazine was empty, although the first ball had torn through the animal's huge lungs. A moment later he bad a oonfused picture of a moose plunging head down into a snowbank stone dead and a girl sitting in the snow, quietly crying. It was the first time be had ever seen Peggy cry.

When she saw who it was, she stopped. "Don—Donald Cotton, how did you come here?" "Why," said Donald, lifting her up out of the snow and brushing the flakes from her wet cheeks, "I just oame up to tell you how dangerous mooee shooting really is"— "Stop, Don, stop, or I'll cry again!" "And also to ask you fear the nineteenth time if you will marry me.".

"It's getting dreadfully dark, Don, dear," said Peggy ten minute* later, "and it's four miles to camp." "Who cares?" said Don.

Three Indian guides never knew why tbey were given three whole bottles of Kentucky Bourbon on a certain Christmas night, and it isn't every one who knows just bow Mrs. Donald Reed Gotten secured the pair of beautifully channeled mooee bonis which bang over her library door.

TO

W. S. MoCOY

All the Latest la Type* aad B«l Effects la 1 1 Printing. rauKmable. Telephone IWf. 11#—

20 SOUTH FIFTH

SPANG & STACK HAVE PROPERTY FOR SALE

TEBKE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL, DECEMBER 17, 1898.

LETTERS THAT NEVER CAME^.a

Tkcr Chssged the Carre«t« of Tw^ Hmppr Live*.

The miscarrying of mail has been a convenient peg to hang romances on since the mails began. Most of tbem, like aO other romances, of course, bave their foundation on facts—facts like the following, for instance:

They met in tbe west one summer. Conditions were favorable, and they saw a deal of each other. The unconventionalities of travel brought them very near together and propinquity did the usual tbing. They loved easily, for they were young, and both were well worth loving. When tbey parted, no vows had been exchanged, but they understood each other and felt that the vows would come naturally. Tbey eaid goodby unsuspectingly, trustfully, with promises to write and to exchange photographs. That was all, but it was enough to build two lives on.

She went her way, be went his. One, two, three, four years passed. Then she beard he was married. Many years after they met, quite by chance, as we say, in a distant city. She had kept up with his life, with his work in the world, with the growth of bis family. She had done this, being a woman. He knew nothing of her, but the meeting was very dear to both Tbey met as old friends meet and talked of old days as friends talk. At last, when be was leaving, she, being the braver, said to him: "Our lives are settled now—you are bappy in your family. I am happy in my work The past can mean very little to either of us, so will you mind telling me why you never wrote why.you never sent your photograph?"

He looked into her eyes a long time srithout speaking then he said: "Will you mind telling me why you sever sent yours?" "I did send it," she said. "And I sent mine, and a letter. "I never got them," she said. "Nor I yours." He paused a moment. "You know I loved you." "And I you," she said gently*^1'Goodby. "Goodbj

And in chat moment was almost the wrong of fate righted. But how many there are which may not be righted!—-Philadelphia Times

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.^

Di«t!nctlona Between Words Parliamentary and Unparliamentary.

Probably the most difficult and unpleasant of the duties which the speaker of the house of commons is called upon to discharge is that of deciding whether an offensive personal allusion to a member, in the oourse of debate, is or is not a breach of parliamentary decorum. There is no definite rule or order to guide the speaker in this delioate matter. The decision is left entirely to his own taste and discretion. But there has always been a rather ourious distinction drawn between remarks that reflect adversely on a member as a man and on a member as a politician. According to, well established precedeats, tbe former are in all oases considered unparliamentary, while the latter rarely meet with a reprimand from the speaker.

Illustrations of both categories of personal allusions and the light 'in which they are regarded by the occupant of tbe obair were afforded one night in the session of 1896, during the debate on the new rule of procedure in regard to supply. The expressions were applied to a prominent member of tbe opposition and to the leader of the house. It was said of tbe former that he had been "a monumental Instance of inoonsistenoy throughout bis political life."

Here wo have an allusion to a member as a politician. It was met with cries of "Order, order!" and "Withdraw, withdraw from the occupants of tbe opposition benches, but Mr. Speaker Qully stopped the interruption by saying, "Tbehonorable member has not used any unparliamentary language." Later on in the debato the leader of the bouse was told that "by a subterfuge" he was "golhg to palm upon the house a resolution.'" "That," said the speaker, "is hardly proper language to use." The word "subterfuge" was withdrawn by the offending}member, and amid laughter "misapprehension" was substituted in its place.— Nineteenth Century

Moakrata.

Rare old Captain John Smith in his quaint "History of New England and the Summer Isles," published in London in 1624, gives probably the first written ao count of tbe muskrat. He says that "the mussasous is a beast of the form and nature of our (English) water rat and he adds, "some of them smeM exceedingly strong of musk." These animals may be caught in almost any sort of a trap baited with sweet apples or parsnips. Muskrats havfc very strong teeth and can use them on wood effectively, so it is wise to protect all corners and cracks in your wooden traps with pieces of tin or sheet iron. Tbey bave good noses, and can smell an apple a longdistanoe off. Place your traps in the shallow water at tbe edge of the mill pond or stream inhabited by these rats and tbey will doubtless find it without difficulty

Young muskrats are very gentle and playful, and may bo handled without fear. They do not grow fierce with age if reared in oaptivity and accustomed to gentle treatment.—Harper's Round Table.

Mixta* Hla Drtalcs.

There is a story told of Mr. Gladstone which would show that tbe troo meaning of tbe old saying, "Do not mix your drinks," was unknown to tbe great statesman. It is said to have been bis habit to let the wines which were served in the oourse of dinner mobilise at bis elbow and during a pause In the conversation •else the glass that happened to be near est. On one occasion Mr. Gladstone, wbo bad refreshed himself as usual in this hapiasard way. inveighed against tbe practice of mixing winea. It was respectfully pointed out to him that he had been guilty of this very act but he explained to his own satisfaction that to mix wines was to 1111 op half a glass of champagne from tbe port decanter!—Cornhlll Magwrtne.

Too Mactu

**8aw a man undertake to eat four pounds of sponge oake on a wager." "Did be succeed?" "No When be bad eaten about half of It, be was compelled to throw up the sponge --—Ohio State Journal.

Tbe spread of "realism" Is marked fay tbe erne of a man, recorded in aNew York newspaper, who "walked in his sleep because bedraamed that be bad no car far*'

A philosopher In tbe Indianapolis Joornal«observes that money is like liw iha hotter tbe ttme the sooner it is gone.

CHRISTMAS IN CAPE BRETON.

BT MARGHEK1TA ABUX* HAIfU.

[Copyright, 1898, by the Author.] AR off the beaten track of tourist and health seeker lies the twin island territory known as Cape

Breton a connecting link between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. It is cool and pleasant in summer, being swept by tbe sea wind or the

cold blasts from Labrador, but in winter it is discomfort realized. There is bitter cold, aud tbe ocean storm brings with it salt and frozen spray which benumb tbe most powerful. Tbe people are an odd mixture. The first

settlerE

were Basque fishermen and sailors, and these were followed in tbe course oi time by sturdy Scotchmen from the highlands and French peasants from Qpebeo or from tbe faraway fatherland. English sail or 8 and fishermen were added from time to time, so that tbe people of today are a combination impossible to match in the new world. Like all dwellers in a cold climate, they have become devout and conservative. Once they drank bard, but today prohibition covers them with her white banner. Their Christmas day is more like that of the Canadian than of tbe New Eng lander or New Yorker. Religious services are held, and every one turns out in his or her best. Tbe clothing is not what would be called fashionable in American cities, but it is well adapted to tbe cruel climate. Three or four coatE and trousers often mark the man and as many woolen suits the woman.

In nearly every churchyard is a shrine to some saint, especially to those connected with the weather. The favorite is that of Mary of tbe Snows, and another Anne, who is said to protect mortals fiom tbe torments of tbe ice. On Christmas day there are always oandles burning in these little shrines and prayers said by wives and daughters whose

husbandE

are on the mainland oz

the rooky, icebound beach. Here, too, is kept up tbe lovely old practice of tbe Christmas carols and "tbe waits." On Christmas eve groups of singers go from house to bouse or else hold pretty ceremonies of song in the village church, while on Christmas day church and bouse alike echo to the familiar tunes of Christmas in both England and France. In tbe afternoon and evening theiw are parlies where games, music and di.noing pass the hours swift ly away.

A touching feature of tbe day is the old French custom of remembering tbe needy. This is done after tbe morning service in church and consists in the young people of families that are prosperous going with appropriate gifts tc the home# of the poor. As yon stand on the village street you will see a handsome, well dressed girl struggling with a bag of flour under her arm and witb bcr brother or betrothed, oarrying in one band a generous basket of potatoes and in tbe other one of fish or meat. Another party will be bringing clothes, dolls and a great Christmas cake, while a third will be laden down with little pieces of raiment, caps and boots for tbe obildren of some poor neighbor.

It is a survival of tbe olden times when the lord of the manor bestowed bis bounty upon ill of his tenants and in its present form is as pretty a way of observing tbe day as anything which can be found. -*.

Something for the New Year. Tb§ world-renowned success of Hostetter's stomach Bitters, and their continued popularity for near half a century as a stomachic, is scarcely more wonderful than the welcome that greets Hostetter's Almanac. This medical treatise is published by tbe Hostetter Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., under their immediate supervision, employing sixty hands in that de-

Ee

artment. The issue of same for 1899 will over eleven millions, printed in nine languages. Refer to a copy of it for valuable and interesting reading concerning health, and numerous testimonials as to the efficacy of Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. The Almanac for 1899 can be obtained, free of cost, from druggists and general country dealers in all parts of the country.

One day in the year, at least, Christmas, you want the best Candy that is made. The placG to get it is at White's, one door east of Root's big

Novelties in Sterling "Silverware at Leeds',

street Come early select your Christmas purchases before the stock is culled, and while everything is fresh. Cut Glass, Gold Watches, for Ladies and Gentlemen, Diamond Rings, Silver Novelties, and everything in the Jewelry line for the holidays.

TO MAKE YOUR SUNDAY DINNER COMPLETE GO TO FIESS & HERMAN, 27 NORTH FOURTH, WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE CHOICEST MEATS OF EVERY

IN A S O A IN S O SAUSAGES OF THEIR OWN MAKE. Telephone 353.

Ao M. BIGGINS. Lawyer,

Telephoned Over McKeea's Bank

W

Mm

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Queen Insuranoe Co. Northern Assurance Co. Delaware Insuranoe Co. Rellanoe Insuranoe Co.

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,,.f Not, as large as Merniod & Jaoard's store, but..-,.,...,,,,,, Large enough lor Terre Haute.

C. A. WILLIAMS

Has the .Largest Line of HOLIDAY GOODS he has ever carried. Can't you select a Christmas gift from this list?

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Watches, Diamonds, Set Rings, Plain Rings, Band Rings, Initial Rings,iVf' Chain Bracelets," gold, silver,

'SdVO

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Mantel Clocks, /'^Emblem Pins, Hall Clocks, ^Lockets, Sleeve Buttons,IstCJOpera Glasses, Lace Buttons, &i|'ISRogers Knives,^ Gents' Chains, -*(:Rogers Porks, Emblem Charms, Rogers Spoons,^/

Shaving Mugs with Brush,

Ladies'Pocket books, Silk Umbrellas,^ Silver Cups for Children, Cut Glass., FINE LINE OF MUSICAL INSTRUnENTS. Handolins, $2.00 and up. Guitars, $2.50 and up.

Ladies' Gold-Filled Watches,$8.00 and up. Ladies'Solid Gold Watches, $18.00 and up. Goods can fee selected now to be delivered at Christmas time. Partial payment can be made.

Fine Watch Repairing and Engraving. All goods engraved free of charge. p,

CM, WILLiAl, 326 Main t4«444444444444444444444

7 B. G. HUDNDT, President. WILLARD KIDDER. Vice-President.' G. A. CONZMAN. Oashler^^^«,i^-/C

Vigo County National-Bank

i. Capital $150,000. ^Surplus $30,000.

-mi

O 5 3 I I E

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624 Main Street. TERRE HAUTE, IND.

MOHTPI|T,IipDBN, FIRE, CYCLONE, LIFE AND ACCIDENT

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416 WILLOW STBBHT,

As be employs tbe best of mechanics in Brick Work, Plastering, Carpentering, Painting, etc., ang will fornish you plans and specifications if wanted.

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Laare orders at 1517 Poplar, Cor. 6tli«*ndl Willow or 901 Main Street.

THE CITY.

IN

1

ms

Room 200 urand Opera House

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