6 Copyright, 1899, by J, B. Llpptncott Company. All rights reserved. CHAPTER I. Doctor Francis Brodnar rapidly puct-d the richly carpeted floor of his spai'ions parlor office, his brow clouded *nd his massive jaw clenched. His countenance, usually serene and trust inspiring. had for the moment lost its kindliness, and was forbidding almost to repulsiveness. A patient viewing him from the operating table would, it likely, unless possessed of superior ««rve, have succumbed to heart fail ure; at best he would have demanded wotlier appointment; for by some •tavic reversion the good doctor had •apparently returned to savagery of a virulent type. When he paused ab ruptly before the clock and suffered k(« jaws, to relax, the spectacular re sults were even worse. He glared vin dictively at the placid timepiece and .fnancd fiercely his heavy mustache. "Four o'clock! four o'clock!" he ex •ciaimed, "and this is her last day!" The sentence ended in something like ■* groan. •"Well," replied a voice near at hand, "there must be last days for everybody and everything." The voice was full and musical, with a shading of melan choly. The speaker stood in the door my, hat and cane in hand. "If this were my last day of bachelorhood, 1 don't think I could have stated it so woefully,norhave I put as much despair 'lnto the sentence. How are you, Frank? Why, what is the matter?"' lu? continued, entering the room slowly as the other remained mot ionless, gaz ing silently towards him. "Don't know me? Sorry to see me? Y'ou are glar ing?" "Dick Somers!" The name burs* from the doctor's lips, and lie rushed on his visitor, seizing and wringing the proffered hand. Again he stopped, his whole soul in his face and eyes. "Well," said Somers, cheerfully, "wli.it is on your mind, old man? Five years Is a long time and Paris was a gay place; but live years and Richmond are not enough, surely, to effect such a change as this! And I shall have use again for that hand, perhaps, bones ■ and all, so—" "The last days of your bachelorhood —you said the last days of your bach elorhood. did you not? Then you are sti?l a bachelor, Dick?" "Well, yes," and Somers smiled wist fully into his friend's face. "The same olti Brodnar," he continued, "headlong, enthusiastic, impetuous! What new wbeme is afoot now? Do you want to offer me up on the altar of matrimony? It i so, I draw the line there. Why, con found it, man, what is the matter with you?" he added; for the other, still retaining his hand, continued to regard Aiitu in deep thought. "Sit down," said the doctor, drawing 'him towards a chair—"sit down." And •Somers perforce accepted the seat. "■Dick"—and the professional man •t»>od over him—"l will welcome you formally to-morrow, but to-day you are the most welcome man on earth. I sup ;pofe<? I am headlong, enthusiastic and impulsive, but I am true, am I not? — *true to my friends?" '"True? As truth itself, old fellow." And Somers, who had taken a cigar from a box on the table by his side, sus pended the lighted match over the weed as he looked up. "Anybody been «ajsting a doubt on that point?" "And honorable?" *"As honor!" "Vou would take my word unsup ported for any amount, would you Botl" Somers looked affectionately into th« flushed, eager face above him and serious. "I would take your word, Frank, against the world, except in •one event—" "And that?" "Well, if you speak disparagingly of yourself, Frank." Their hands met im ipuisively. "Dick, don't laugh at me or think me out of my senses, but tell me seriously —ts there any reason why you may not be married to-night?" Somers started "to rise, a queer look upon his face. "Sit down," said the doctor, with 'both hands on his shoulders. "Answer nije frankly." "Heavens! man, are you in your right ««naes?—but yes, this is only the same obi Brodnar." "You do not answer, Dick. You are treating me lightly, and I am desperate ly in earnest." "Well, then, old fellow, I will answer you seriously. There is no reason on •God's earth why I may not marry to '•lig-bt. No heart will break, no trust b* shattered, no one will care. Yes, —my mother." He lifted his fine tioe towards his friend. It wore again characteristic half-wistful, hall tt»o«iking smile. "You would not care, either, Dick? Not if by marrying you obliged a friend rnlio loves you? Not if by marrying you enabled him to defeat a piece of villainy planned against the life and welfare of one of his dear friends? &'ot if it defeated a cowardly enemy? Ob, don't you see my whole soul is in >Miis matter?" The doctor resumed his • agitated pacing. "Wouldn't it be best for me to kill iiim—in some genteel way—say —" "No; Wiling is still a crime, but mat rimony isn't—though often more im moral. And killing would settle with 'but one, while matrimony wipes out Uwhole crowd." "Which, unfortuaately, includes me, ■SJL L & uess well—but there you go again, Frank! Sit down, and I will be serious. Only—you will let me inquire into the details of this marriage which you have evidently planned forme —a man may inquire about his own marriage, may he not?" Somers' voice was now plain tive. The doctor did not answer on the moment, but walked to the window and gazed gloomily into the blue spring skies towards which the budding trees of the old capitol were lifting their arms in welcome. "Of course, it is absurd. Dick," he said, coming back, "and is obliged to strike you so; but, do you know, I be lieve that friendship is the one undy ing bond of our race. All others have their limitations —even love of man and woman burns itself out. I believe that somewhere between men such a friendship as this exists: to love where another loves instantly and forever; to hate where he hates blindly and im placably; to hold his honor higher and sweeter than life, his happiness above one's own; to feel this holy affection so strong that it permeates every qual ity of mind and body, and makes us in truth that which we believe our friend to be. In such a friendship, Dick, self perishes. We look into the eyes of our friend and say 'Command!' We do not question; we trust implicitly, blindly; and if we err—" "Life is black forever!" Somers had arisen, and, taking liis friend's hand, was regarding with affection his flushed face. "That is Frank Brodnar indeed," he continued. "You mean it, my dear fellow; and I am satisfied that if after five years of separation I should enter this room and say: 'My boy, if you have no previous engagement and the way is clear, you will do me a great kindness by' stepping down the street and letting me marry you out of hand to a friend who is being or has been vic timized'—wait, I am in earnest —you would take up your hat, smooth your hair, and join me before I reached the street or you had remembered ITie madam and babies at home. But, my dear fellow, I haven't the ability to throw myself headlong into a plot. It is constitutional that I do not excite easily. 1 must find my way up to par by stages; while you, you were born above par. You may guess from my metaphor what I have been doing of rli rli v a 2 i I //\ n ftvr {A h p\ §H) |¥fj U SOMERS WAS LOOKING WITH DEEP INTEREST INTO THE SPEAK ER'S PACE. late, but it doesn't follow that I never reach the point of high tension. Nor does it follow that I am a cold blooded friend. A little sluggish blood some times saves a friendship. Sit down and tell me all about it." "And that is just what I may not do." Somers studied the gloomy face a moment in silence. "You may at least tell me what you would have me do, Frank." "I would have you come here to night, let me blindfold you, take you to a certain room in this city have per formed over you a ceremony which will unite you to a perfectly honorable woman, leave you there with her until dawn, when I shall bring you away. I would have you ask me no question now or hereafter touching this mat ter; have you regard this woman to night as a holy charge and treat her with the reverence and respect you should yield to your dead sister; and never from this moment until the day comes when I may release you—and that may be near or far —would I have you seek to discover her name or place of living. By your marriage contract you obtain no rights whatever over the woman or her property—l assure you she will claim nothing of you—and when the time comes for her to ask an honorable divorce at your hands—a mere matter of a few years, I think— you are to grant it openly and freely. More than this I may not tell you." Somers had leaned forwaru upon the table and was looking with deep interest into the speaker's face. "It sounds like an Elizabethan ro mance, or a chapter from 'Don Caesar de Ba/.an.' I am approaching par." And then he added gravely: "You have not forgotten that my mother and yours were somehow cousins, and—" "I have not. Nor have I forgotten that a friend's name and honor are sacred whether he is or is not of kindred blood. And I have not for gotten that the woman herself—this woman of whom I speak—confers an honor with her blind trust. There has been my chief difficulty, Dick. CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1901. In these days It la hard to And a man into whose hand.i you may place a young: woman and say to her: 'Trust him implicitlyl'" Somers smiled slightly. "My dear fellow, don't you see that it is you whom the woman will trust in this Instance, not me? 1 am only to vindicate you." "Then you consent?" "Why, of course! I have no ties to hinder me; and I shall never marry with any serious intentions. As you know, my life chance passed from me when I laid down my commission in the army to become a wanderer. I am here to-day to sign for a small share in some property of my grand mother's, and to-morrow I shall be off again. I do not think I will be inconvenienced much by the fact that I shall leave a bride in Richmond whom I have never seen nor am apt to see; and since it helps you and your friend, why, I am positively happy over the affair. Fact is, Frank, I am about up to par in this matter now." "You make me happy, Dick. True as steel always, but always—always— I wish, old fellow, I might find the missing note in your life." "Satisfy ray ambition, Frank, and you have found it. My people were of the army and navy. You remem ber Somers in Tripoli, and—but this is idle. When that damnable villain Holbin tempted me to embroil myself with the authorities in an act of in subordination the world was rose ate—" "Holbin—Raymond Holbin?" "Why, yes. Had you forgotten tj»e circumstances? I used to rage over it enough in Paris, God knows. Pass the matches, please." Brodnar passed them and moved quickly to the rear of the speaker, lifting his right hand in excitement, his features working convulsively. "It did not help mat ters that they cashiered him for ras cality and pusillanimity, for they had let me resign, and my application for reinstatement lies unacted upon still. Frank, there is the open grave in my life, and the missing note is silent within it." He wheeled his chair about and looked up into his friend's face. "You would help it if you could, I know; and bless you, my boy, for your sympathy. What was it you wanted me to do? Oh, yes, the mar riage. Let U9 got back to that. Am I to make a toilet? But of course—" "You will do as you are. It will be in the dark. But, Dick ; at this mo ment, for the first tinv, the full ex tent of your friendship dawns upon me and 1 see the generous heart beat ing away so faithfully in my behalf. Dick, there was a woman in the af fair between you and Ilolbin; you have never told me of her and I don't ask you now, but if there is a sacrifice in this for you it is not too late —" "Sacrifice? Lead on! I am in the hands of my friends. I am not the first to leap blindfolded into the sea of matrimony, nor shall I be the last. Life Is a cycle and fools beget fools. Besides, I have in my religion some of the fatalism of the east: That which comes to us without our seeking and seemeth right to do, is generally the right thing to do. The falling eocoanut that breaks the sleeping robber's head feeds the starving pil grim." "Well said. And in this adventure, my friend, I take it that you are the cocoanut. I am old-fashioned enough to believe in God, and with His help you may break a villain's head indeed." "But I shall be satisfied if my own isn't broken. By the way, my wife should understand that if this ugly rupture between the south and north involves blows, she may hear of her husband bearing arms against her." "Fiddlesticks! There has been more blood shed in my back office than you will see spilled between the north and south. The people on the streets and up yonder in the capitol are temporarily insane. It w r ill end in wind—my name for oratory." Cheers in the street below, followed by the discharge of a cannon, shook the windows. A boy rushed past, crying an extra. "What does he say?" asked Somers, as Brodnar, who stood near the win dow, lifted his face. "Fort Sumter has surrendered!" CHAPTER 11. « Richard Somers reentered the office of Dr. Brodnar as the clock was strik ing ten. He was in full evening dress and wore a white rose, a Lamarque, upon his lapel. As he stood drawing on his gloves Brodnar regarded him with silent admiration. The straight military figure of good height looked taller than it had. There was no sug gestion of heaviness at any point, but behind the perfect lines lay, as he knew, an amount of strength and nervous force that would with retrain ing rank their owner among the ath letes. But fine as was the framework of the man and his physical development, there was in the face, shadowed at the moment by broad, down-drooping lashes and mustache, patrician ele gance, native refinement and innate nobility that commanded undivided attention. The slightly aquiline fea tures were softened by arched and evenly matched brows and an expres sion indescribable by any other term than that invented by a Paris friend —"the Somers smile." One never ap preciated the value of that smile un til in some moment of emotion the face which wore it grew white and straight, and the level gaze of the man was encountered. Above a white, inclined forehead hair almost black lay in waves, but so closely as to leave visible the outlines of the splendid head. Such was Richard Somers at 28, a man raved over by women, en vied by men, known to but few. "It is better this way," he was say ing of himself; "a man owes something to bis family and his bride in the mat ter of dress, even though h* is not 1 see or be seen. And he owes a gre» deal to himself. By the way. I as sumed that I ara not to be seen —how- ever, is that one of the questions I must not ask?" "Your face is not to be seen, Dick, except in the dark—dimly. But I am glad, nevertheless, that you selected your dress suit; it does seem more in taste. By the way—speaking of Ray mond Holbin—Dick, have you forgot ten that he dated from this state in the army? —God knows where he was born. I see him occasionally in Rich mond, and" Brodnar paused and looked curiously on his companion— "have you ever been told that there is something not unlike in your personal appearance? Don't be offended, old fellow, but, between you and me, there isn't a more unprincipled rascal un hung." Somer's face flushed once and the smi'.e left it. He replied with some constraint: "I did not know that he ever favored Richmond with his presence. I did know, however, that he once lived in this state. His was a presidential ap pointment. His mother years ago wielded considerable influence around Washington, especially among sena tors. As to the likeness, it has been commented on before, and I once fought a boy at school for discovering the fact. Does he make Richmond his home?" "Of late, yes. But I see that you are annoyed. My dear fellow, very ugly people may resemble very handsome ones. Shall we start?" "I am ready." [To Be Continued.) GOOD ADVERTISING. Wild and Ilanjterona Feat Accom plished by an Old-Time Musical Club of llostoti. In the days when advertising was not a colossal business, as it is now, the Mendelssohn Quintette club of Boston engaged Mr. D. 11. Elliot, a Georgian and an ex-confederate offi cer, as advance agent. He entered into the business with dash and aban don, and some of his schemes were delightfully calculated to draw the public eye. Says Thomas Ryan, in his "Recollections of an Old Musician:" We made a little trip to Niagara Falls, and gave two concerts. Imme diately after crossing the bridge over the rapids to Goat island, there used to be a small paper-mill on the right hand side, the walls of which were built directly on the edge of the wild, rushing waters. Elliot went into tlie office of the paper-mill, and asked if they had any objection to his putting up a poster on the walls of the mill over the rapids*. They laughed de risively, and answered: "Go ahead!" We were using, as advertising mate rial at that time, a long, showy streamer, which bore, in black letters shaded by red on a white ground: "Mendelssohn Quintette Club of Bos ton." It was a stunning thing. It could be read a long distance away. Elliot borrowed a skiff, put ail his pasting materials into it, hired some trustworthy men to help, and got the skiff across the bridge and into the water. He then boarded it, with one man to help, and his other assistants on shore paid out a long rope to which the boat was attached until it reached the wall. There he pasted up every letter, and returned to land in safety. It.was a wild and dangerous thing to do, but it paid. The poster could easily be read at the old Grand Trunk railway bridge two miles distant, and all along the Canada shore. Every body went to see it, and it. excited no end of remark. Our point was gained; and as for the poster, it stayed on the wall for two years. MODEL MUNICIPALITY. Dnsseldnrf, Prussia and Its Efficient Management by tbe lons Council. In Prussia the towns present a spec tacle of autonomy and freedom from bureaucratic influence which may well excite our envy. The town council of Dusseldorf, for instance, extends its authority over a far wider sphere than any corresponding body in England, says the London Daily News. The town council is at once town council, school board and poor law authority. The extent of its activity is wonder ful. Waterworks, gas, electric light ing, electric tramways, docks and har bors, slaughter houses, ice manufac tories, cattle markets, cemeteries, art museums, theater, opera house, con cert halls, hospitals and orphanages are among the many enterprises of the municipality. It is not necessary to promote bills in parliament. What the council thinks good for the town is carried out without delay. There are no vexatious inquiries and in most cases no veto exercised by government departments. It will interest oui readers to learn that loans as a rule are borrowed for 100 years and that the capital invested in some of the working class dwellings is spread ovei a still longer period. The factories in Dusseldorf are distributed round the suburbs. People passing through the central part of the town would nevei suspect their presence. Working peo ple, therefore, it will be seen, passout ward to their work and return into ths town for the evening. A Misnomer. "Pa," said the blooming daugftten of the household. "I wish 3'ou wouldn'-t call young Mr. Softlelgh a popinjay." "And why not?" "Because he isn't a jay, and there doesn't seem to be any hope of hi* 'poppin'.' " —Cleveland Plain Dealer. Peeps. England says she is under no obliga tion to Ireland, says the St. Louis Star, and the green isle sends to her 640,000,- | 000 eggs an&uallj, When a now gets red wheM she cries, and she doesn't care who seen it, that settles it; her grief is sincere.—Atchison Globe. Try Uraln-O! Try Gr«ln-OJ Ask your grocer to-day to show you a pack age of GRAIN-O, the new food drink that takes the place of coffee. The children may drink it without injury as well as the adult. All who try it, like it. GRAIN-0 has that rich seal brown of Mocha or Java, but it is made from puregrains, and the most delicate stomach receives it without distreas. i the price of coffee. 15c. and 25cts. per package. Sold by all grocers. The friends of the opposition candidate are always "heelers."—Washington Post. Supply Inequal to Demand. This is often the case when people strive to be economical, but where one's health is concerned it is false economy to be without simple remedies that cost but moderate prices. When Mr. C. W. Durant was liv ing a.t Leominster, Massachusetts, he wrote: "I have sold several dozens of your Lotion on the strength of its having cured me and several others of Barber's Itch, as I wrote you, and I need a further supply." Almost every druggist has Palmer's Lotion, but if yours does not, send to Solon Palmer, 374 I'earl Street, New York, for samples of Palmer's Lotion and Lotion Soap. Coffee and political principles should have good grounds.—Judge. There la a Class of People Who are injured by the use of coffee. Re cently there has been placed in all the gro cery stores a new preparation called GRAIN-O, made of pure grains, that takes the place of coffee. The most delicate stom ach receives it without distress, and but few can tell it from coffee. It does not co«t over i as much. Children may drink it with great benefit. 15 cts. and 25 cts. per pack age. Try it. Ask for GRAIN-O. CoßghtiK Lead* to Corsnmptlon. Kemp's Balsam will stop the Cough at once. Goto your druggist to-day and get a •ample bottle free. Large bottles 25 and 50 cents. Go at once: delavs are dangerous. Any set is meritorious that is not a misfit. •—Chicago Daily News. A woman is sick—some disease peculiar to her sex is fast developing in her system. She goes to her family physician and tells him a story, but not the whole story. She holds back something, loses her head, becomes agi tated, forgets what she wants to say, and finally conceals what she ought to have told, and this completely mystifies the doctor. Is it a wonder, therefore, that the doctor fails to cure the disease ? Still we cannot blame the woman, for it is very em barrassing to detail some of the symptoms of her suffering, even to her family physician. This is the reason why hundreds of thousands of women are now in corre spondence with Mrs. Pinkham, at Lynn, Mass. To her they can give every symptom, so that when she is rea,dy to advise them she is in possession of more facts from her correspondence with the patient than the physician can possibly obtain through a personal interview. Following we publish a letter from a woman showing the result of a correspondence with Mrs. Pinkham. All such letters are considered absolutely confidential by Mrs. Pinkham, and are never published in any way or manner without the consent in writing of the patient; but hundreds of women are so grateful for the health which Mrs. Pinkham and her medicine have been able to restore to them that they not only consent to publishing their letters, but write asking that this be done in order that other women who suffer may be benefited by their experience. Mrs. Ella Rice, Chelsea, Wis., writes: " DEAR MRS. PINKHAM :—For two years I was troubled with falling' and inflammation of the womb. I suffered very much with bearing-down pains, headache, backache, and was not able to do anything. What 1 endured no one knows but those who have suffered as I did. I could hardly drag myself across the floor. I doctored with the physicians of this town for three months and grew worse instead of better. My husband and friends wished me to write to you, but I had no faith in patent medi cines. At last I became so bad that I concluded to ask your advice. I received an answer at once advising me to take your Vegetable Compound, and I did so. Before I had taken two bottles I felt better, and after I had taken five bottles there was no happier woman on earth, for I was well airaiu. I know that your Vegetable Compound cured me, and I wish and advise every woman who suffers as I did to try Lydia E. Plnknam s Vege table Compound. Believe me always grateful for the recovery of my health."— MßS. ELLA RICE, Chelsea, Wis. npiH Ann Owing to the fact that lome skeptical P™ MrnM« rn ■ VL W ABJI] people have from time to lime questioned ■ '■■■■■■ lit WW #AIIU the genuineness of the testimonial letters ■■■ill * are constantly publishing, we have M I I I I I I deposited with the National City Bank, of Lynn, Mas*., $5,000, ■ ■■■■■■ which will be paid to any person who will show that the above H H B ■ M ■ testimonial is nut genuine, or was published before obtaining the writer's special permission.—LYDlA E. PINKHAM MBDICINB Co. ——oMmwui !!■■■■■■! —mi W.L. DOUGLAS $3 & $3.50 SHOES The real worth of my 53.00 and $3.50 shoes compared with other makes is $4.00 to £5.00. My *4.00 Gilt Edge Line cannot bo B / 'it II equalled at any price. Best In the world for men. c: : ' "to fijl I muke and HA* II more meti'a line ahoca, Goodyear K'' ' 7 Welt (II Prucen), (hun anyolher nmiiulno. lr turerlutlieworld. 1 will puy Si t OOO to uny onv ivhucun 1 prove thai my stntcuieut la uot true. . .•/( (Slcnnli W. I«. Doaglan. I Take no aahatltute? Insist on having W. L. Douglas shoes '/k with natno and price stamped on bottom. Your dealer should keep them ; I give one dealer exclusive sale in each town. If he does not keep them and will not «et them for you, order direct from factory, enclosing price and 25c. extra for carriage. A rta Over 1,000,000 satisfied wearers. New Spring Catalog free. 1 Faat Color Ejelata saad axoiaaivaly. W. k DOUGLAS, Brockton, MaS3. 1 |)B A Llrelr Wake. "T hear thera WM doings at McGhoolip hiin's wake." "Doing*? There wor so matiny foina rights, me boy, thot th' wake wan raypoort ed in the sportin' column."— Indianapolia Press. Beware of Ointments for Catarrh That Contain Mercury, as mercury will surely destroy the sense of smell and completely derange the whole sys tem when en.terifig it through the mucous surfaces. Such articles should never he used except on prescriptions from reputable physicians, as the damage they will do if often ten fold to the good you (ran possibly derive from them. Hall's Catarrh Cure, manufactured by F. J. Chenev & Co., Toledo, 0., contains no mercury, and is taken inter nally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. In buying Hall's Catarrh Cure be sure yon g»t the gen uine. It is taken internally, and made in Toledo, Ohio, by F. J. Cheney SL Co. Testi monials free. Sold by Druggists, price 75c per bottle. Hall's Family Pills are the best. A small degree of wit, accompanied bf good sense, is less tiresome in the long run than a great amount of wit without it.— La Kocnefoucald. Heat for the Bowels. No matter what ails you. headache to a cancer, you will never get well until your bowels are put right. Oascarets help nature, cure you without a gripe or pain, produce easy natural movements, cost you just 19 cents to start getting your health back. Oascarets Candy Cathartic, the genuine, put up in metal boxes, every tablet has C. 0. C. •tamped ou it. Beware of imitations. You know how you hate some people without any particular reason. Well, soma people hate you in the same way—Atchison Globe. Yon Can Get Allen's Foot-Kase FIIEE. \\ rite to-day to Allen S. Olmsted, Leroy, N. V ~ for a FREE sample of Allen's Foot- Ease, a powder to shake into your shoes. It cures chilblains, sweating, damp, swollen, aching feet. It makes New or tight shoes easy. A certain cure for Corns and Run ions. All druggists and shoe stores sell it. 25c. There is a marked difference between ma lic and some piano playing.—Puck.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers