6 THE OLD PIANO. The old piano, with its yellowed keys. And sagging strings all flecked with mottled rust, Its squat legs carved into grotesqueries, its lid with scratches hidden by the dust- It stands to-day there In the unused room Where all discarded things are idly tlung; With tin- once cherished things it shares its tomb- Hut, ah, the strains it made when it was young! The old "Song Album," dusty, too, and torn, Lies sprawled all carelessly upon the rack, With leaves half opened at the pages worn- Old favorites to which we once turned back, Ola songs, the simple songs that held the heart By reason of their melody and truth; They coax anew the memories that start l-'roin out that fountain head of dreams, our youth. Sometimes she goes, with gentle, noise less tread Into that room, and looks with sad dened eyes Upon the "album" with its leaves out spread Blent into all the dust wherein it lies; And then, as quaintly as they did of old, 11 or fingers touch caressingly the keys And fain would lure from time's relent less hold The days that died with all these mel odies. Then, sifting through the discords that arise— The jangling sounds that mock the cherished tune— There fall soft chords that float out whts perwise And quaver into silence, like a croon. And then she lifts her hands, and turn 3 togo, But stays, a half-voiced word of love to speak, As though the old piano well must know The dreams that bring old roses to her cheek. —W. O.NN t in Chicago Daily Tribune. D'rTamnl By IRVING BACHELLER Author of ' Eben Holden." "Darrei of the Biessed Isles," Etc. II J C Copyright, 1901, by Lottirop Publishing Company.) CH A PTER Xlll. —CoNtin UK I>. Some seconds of brief silence fol lowed. I could hear them slowly drip ping out of eternity in the tick of a watch near me. I felt the stare of many eyes invisible to me. A broad beam of bright light shot through the gloom, resting full upon my face. I started back upon the strong hands behind me. Then I felt my muscles tighten as 1 began to measure the fall end to wonder if I could clear the bayonets. 1 had no doubt 1 was to die shortly, and it mattered not to me how, bound as I was, so that it came soon. For a breath of silence my soul went up to the feet of God for help and hope. Then I bent my knees and leaped. 1 saw much as my body went rushing through the air— an empty grave, its heap of earth be side it, an island of light, walled with candles, in a sea of gloom, faces showing dimly in the edg> of the darkness. "Thank God! I shall clear the bayonets," 1 thought, and struck heavily on a soft mat, covered over with green turf, a little beyond that bristling bed. I staggered backward, falling upon it. To my surprise, it bent beneath me. They were no bayonets, but only shells of painted paper. I got to my feet none the worse for jumping, and as dumfounded as ever a man could be. I stood on a lot of broken turf with which a wide floor had been overlaid. Boards and timbers were cut away, and the grave dug beneath them. I saw cue face among others in the gloom beyond the candle rows—that of his lordship. He v/as coming up a little flight of stairs to where I stood. He moved the candles, making a small passage, and came up to nie. "You're a brave man." said he, in that low, careless tone of his. "And you a coward," was my an swer, for tlu» sight of him had made me luirn with anger. Don't commit yourself on a point like that," said he, quickly, "for, you know, we are not well acquainted. I like your pluck, and I offer you what is gi\en to few here—an explanation." 1!" paused, lighting a cigarette. I stood looking at. him. The cold po liteness ol manner with which he had taken my taunt, his perfect self-mas tery, filled tne with wonder, lie was no callow youth, that man, whoever he might bo. He was boring at the floor with the end of a limber cane as In; continued to address me. "Now, look here," he went on, with a little gesture of Lis left hand, be tween the fingers of which a cigarette was burning. "You are now in the temple of a patriotic society acting with 110 letters patent, but in the good cause of his Most Excellent Majesty King George 111., to whom be health and happiness." As he spoke the name he raised his liat, and a cheer came from all sides of us. "It is gathered this night," he con tinued. "to avenge the death of Lord Itonley, a friend of his Majesty, and of many here present, and an honored member of this order. For his death you, and you alone, are responsible, and, we suspect, under circumstances of no credit to your sword. Many of our people have been cut off from their comrades and slain by cowardly Ktealtli, h;ive been led into ambush and cruelly cut to pieces by overwhelming number, have bren shut in prison and done to death by starvation or by stabs of a!: 11 ii'e <»i •in your country. conk-lit Willi the weapons of a soldier, you hare even resorted to the barbarity of the poison-wasp. "Par don me, but you Yankees do not seem to have any mercy or fairness for a foe. We shall give you better treat ment. You shall not be killed like a rat in a trap. You shall have a chance for your life. Had you halted, had you been a coward, you would not have been worthy to fight in this arena. You would not have come where you are standing, and possibly even now your grave'would have been filled, li you survive the ordeal that is to come, I hope it will prove an example to you of the honor that is due to bravery, of the fairness due a foe." Many voices spoke the word "Amen" as he stopped, turning to beckon in to the gloom about us. 1 was now quite over my confusion. I began to look about me and get my bearings. 1 could hear a stir in the crowd beyond the lights, and a murmur of voices. Ite flecting lanterns from many pillars near by shot their rays upon me. I stood on a platform, some 30 feet square, in the middle of a large room Its floor was on a level with the faces of the many who stood pressing to the row of lights. Here, I took it,l was to fight for my life. I was looking at the yawning grave in the corner of this arena, when four men ascended with swords and pistols. One of thent removed the shackles, letting my hands free. I thanked him as he tossed them aside. I was thinking of D'ri, and, shading my eyes, looked off in the gloom to see if I could discover him. I called his name, but heard no answer. His lordship came over to me, bringing a new sword. He held the glittering blade before me, its hilt in his right hand, its point resting on the fingers of his left. "It 's good," said he, quietly; "try it." It was a beautiful weapon, its guard and pommel and quillons sparkling with wrought-silver, its grip of yel low leather laced with blue silk. The glow and the feel of it filled me with a joy I had not known since my father gave me the sword of my childhood. It drove the despair out of me, and I was a new man. "Well, how do you find it?" said he, impatiently. "I am satisfied," was my reply. He helped me take off my blouse and waistcoat, and then I rolled my sleeves to the elbow. The hum of voices had grown louder. I could hear men offer ing to bet and others bantering for odds. "We *ll know soon," said a voice near me, "whether he could have killed Ronley in a fair fight." I turned to look at those few in the arena. There were half a dozen of them now, surrounding my adversary, a man taller than the rest, with a heavy neck and brawny arms and shoulders. He had come out of the crowd unobserved by me. He also was stripped to the shirt, and had rolled up his sleeves, and was trying the steel. He had a red, bristling mus tache and overhanging brows and a vulgar face —not that of a man who settles his quarrel with the sword. 1 judged a club or a dagger would have been better suited to his genius. But, among fighters, it is easy to be fooled by a face. In a moment the others had gone save his lordship and that portly bald-headed man I had heard him re buke as "Sir Charles." My adversary met me at the center of the arena, where we shook hands. I could see, or thought I could, that he was entering upon a business new to him, for there was in his manner an indication of un steady nerves. "Gentlemen, are you ready?" said his lordship. But there are reasons why the story of what came after should be none of my telling. I leave it to other and bet ter eyes that were not looking between flashes of steel, as mine were. And then one has never a fair view of his fights. CHAPTER XIV. This is the story of Corporal Darius Olin, touching his adventure in the Temple of the Avengers, at some un known place in upper Canada, on the night of August 12, 1813, and particu larly the ordeals of the sword, the slide, and the bayonet to which Capt. Ramon Bell was subjected that night, as told to Adjutant Asarius Church, at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y.: "Soon es I see whut wus up, I gin a powerful lift on thet air shackle-chain. I felt 'er give 'n' bust. A couple o' men clim' int.' the seat front uv us, 'n' the hosses started hell bent. I sot up with my hands 'hind uv me 'n the wagin. I kep' 'em there tight 'n' stiff, es ef the iron wus holding' uv 'em. Could n't git. no chance t' say nuthin' t' Ray. Hustled us upstairs, 'n' when we come in t' thet air big room (hey tuk him one way an' me 'not her. "I did n't hev no idee where I wus. Felt 'em run a chain through my arms, careful, efter they sot me down. I sot still fer mebbe five minutes. Seemed fo ev'rybody 'd gone out o' the place. Could n't. hear nuthin' nowhere. I le* down the chain jest es ca-areful es I could, 'n' tuk off the blindfold. 'T was all dark; could n't see my hand afore me. Crep' 'long the floor. See 'twas covered with sawdust. Tuk off m' boots, 'n' got tip on m' feet, 'n' walked careful. Did n' dast holler t' Ray. Cal'lated when the squabble come I'd bo ready t' dew business. All t' once I felt a slant, 'n the floor. 'T was kind o' slip'ry, 'n' I begun 't slide. Feet went out from under me 'n' sot me down quick. Tried t' ketch holt o' suthin'. Could n't hang on; kep' goin' faster. Fust I knew I'd slid int' some kind uv a box. Let me down quicker 'n scat, over thet air grease a little ways. I out with my tew hands 'n' bore ag'in' the sides o' th' box pow erful 'n' stopped myself. Then I up with these here feet o' mine. See the top o' the box wa'n't much more 'n a foot above me. Tried t' crawl up ay'in. Coulrl n't men it. Hum thing CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1905. slanted luk Tup's hill. Hung on awhile, cipherin' es hard es I knew how. Hearn suthin' go kerslap. Seem so the hull place trembled. Raised up my head, 'll' peeked over my stumick down the box. A bar o' light stuck in away down. Let my self go careful till I c'u'd see my nose in it. Then I got over on my shoul der 'n' braced on the sides o' the box, back 'g'in' one side 'll' knees 'g'in' t'other. See 'twas a knot-hole where the light cum in, 'bout es big es a man's wrist. Peeked through, 'n' see a lot o' lights 'n' folks, 'n' hearn 'em talkin'. Ray he stud on a platform facin' a big. powerful-lookin' cuss. Hed their coats 'n' vests off, 'n' sleeves rolled up, 'n' swords ready. See there wus goin' t' be a fight. Hed t.' snicker —wa'n' no way I c'u'd help it, fer, Judas Priest! I knew dum well they wa'n't a single one of tlieni air British ers c'u'd stan'' 'fore 'im. Thet air mis'able spindlin' devil 1 tol' ye 'bout — feller et he»l the women—he stud back o' Ray. Hed his hand up luk thet. 'Fight!' he says, 'n' they got 't work, 'n' the crowd begun t' jam up 'n' holler. The big feller he come et Ray es ef he wus goin' t' cut him in tew. Ray he tuk it easy 'n' rassled the sword of the big chap round 'n' round es ef it wus WENT OUT O' THET AIR THING LUK A BULLET EUGZAC'LY. tied t' hisn. Fust I knew he med a quick lunge 'n' pricked 'im 'n the arm. Big chap was a leetle shy then. Did n't come up t' the scratch es smart 'n' sassy es he'd orter. Ray went efter 'im hammer 'll' tongs. Thet air long slim waist o' hisn swayed 'n' bent luk a stalk o' barley. He did luk joe mightyful han'some—wish 't ye c'u'd 'a' seen 'im thet air night. Hair wus jest es shiny es gold 'n the light o' them candles. He'd feint, an' t' other 'd dodge. Judas Priest! seemed so he put the p'int o' the sword all over thet air big cuss. C'u'd 'a' killed 'im a dozen times, but I see he did n't want t' dew it. Kep' prickin' 'im ev'ry lunge 'n' druv 'im off the boards —tum- bled 'im head over heels intl the crowd. Tlieni air devils threw up their hats 'n' stomped 'n' hollered powerful, es ef 't were might? fun t' see a man cut t' pieces. Wall, they tuk up another man, quicker 'n the fust, but he wa'n' nowhere near s' big 'n' cordy. Wa'n't only one crack o' the swords in thet air fight. Could n't hardly say Jack Robinson 'fore the cuss hed fell. Ray hurt him bad, I guess, for they hed t' pick 'im up 'n' carry 'im off luk a baby. Guess the boy see 'the hed a good many to lick, 'n' hed n't better waste no power a-foolin'. All t' once thet air low-lived, spindlin', mis'able devil he come t' the edge o' the platform 'n' belt up his hand. Soon 's they stopped yellin' he says: 'Gentlemen,' he says, 'sorry t' tell ye thet the man fer the next bout hes got away. We left him securely fastened up 'n the fust cham ber. Have hed the building searched, but ain't able t' find him. He must hev gone down the slide. 1 am sorry to say we hev no more Yankees. If this man fights any more it will hev t' be a Britisher thet goes ag'in' 'im. Is there a volunteer?' "Ray he runs up 'n' says suthin' right 'n his ear. Could n't hear whut 't wus. Did n' set well. T' other feller he flew mad, V Ray he fetched 'im a cuff, luk thet, with the back uv his hand. Ye see, he did n' know he hed been a-fightin' Yankees, 'n' he did n' like the idee. 'Gentlemen,' says he, I'll fight anybody, but ef this chap ain't a coward, he'll fight me him self.' T' other feller he off with his coat 'n' vest es quick es a flash 'n' picked up a sword. 'Fight, then, ye cub!' says he; an' they flew at each other hell bent fer 'lection. He wa'n' 110 fool with a sword, nuther, I can tell ye, thet air spindlin' cuss. I see Ray hed his han's full. But he wus jes es cool es a green cowcumber, eggzae'ly. Kep' a-cufiin' t' other sword, 'n' let 'im hit 'n' lunge 'n' feint es much es he pleased. See he wus jest a-gettin' his measure, 'n' I knew suthin' wus goin' t' happen purty quick. Fust I knew he ketched Ray by the shirtsleeve with the p'nt us 'is sword 'n' ripped it t' the collar. Scairt me so I bit my tongue watchin' uv 'em. They got locked, 'n' both swords came up t' the hilts t'gether with a swish 'n' a bang luk thet. The blades clung, 'n' they backed off. Then Ray he begun t' feint 'll' lunge 'll' hustle 'im. Quicker 'll seat he gin 'im an awful prick 'n the shoulder. I c'u'd see the blood come, but they kep' a-goin' back 'n' forth 'n' up 'n' down desperit. The red streak 011 thet air feller's shirt kep' a-growin'. Purty quick one side uv 'im wus red an' t' other white. See he wus gettin' weaker 'n' weaker. Ray c'u'd 'a' split 'im t' the navel ef lie'd only hed a min' tew. All t' once lie med a jab at Ray, 'n' threw up 'is han's, 'n' went back a step er tew. luk a hoss with th' I,'lin' staggers, 'll' tum bled bead over heels in thet air open j grave. There wus licit t' pay fer a I minute. T.ot on >in film' over the row o' lights, yellin' luk wildcats, 'n' hauled thet air mis'able. cuss out o' the grave 'n' stud 'im up, 'n' gin 'im a drink o' liquor. In half a minute he up with his han'kerehief 'n' waved it over 'is head t* mek 'eni keep still. Soon 's they wus quiet he up 'n' he says: 'Gentlemen,' says he, 'this 'ere chap lies stood the test o' the sword. Are ve satisfied?' 'We are,' says they—• ev'ry British son uv a ?im they wus there up 'n' hollered. 'Then/ says he, "giv' 'im th' slide.' "Ray he put down 'is sword 'n' picked up 'is coat 'n' vest. Then they grabbed th' lights, 'n' thet 's th' last I see on' 'em there. Purty quick't wus all dark. liearn 'em comin' upstairs 'n goin' 'cross th' floor over my head. 'Gun t' think o' myself a leetle bit then. Knowed I was in thet air slide, an' hed t' ie' go purty quick. Hed n't no idee where it. went tew, but I cal'- lated 1 wus middlin' sure t' know 'fore long. Knowed when 1 le' go 1 wus go in' t' dew some tall slippin' over thet air greased bottom. See a light come down th' box 'n a minute. Hearn somebody speakin' there et the upper end. " 'This 'ere 's th' las' test o' yer courage,' says a man, says he; 'few comes here alive 'n' sound es you be. Ye wus a doomed man. Ye'd hev been shot at daylight, but we gin ye a chance fer yer life. So fur ye 've proved yerself wuthy. Ef ye hold yer courage, ye may yit live. Ef ye flinch, ye 'll land in Heaven. Ef yer life is spared, remember how we honor cour age.' "Then they gin 'im a shove, 'n' I hearn 'im a-comin'. I flopped over 'n' le' go. Shot away luk a strea o' lightnin". Dura thing grew steeper 'n' steeper. Jes' hel' up my ban's 'n' let ergo lickitty split. Jerushy Jane Pep per! jes' luk comin' down a greased pole. Come near tekin' my breath away—did sart'n. Went out o' thet air thing luk a bullet eggzae'ly. Shot int' the air feet foremost. Purty fair slid in' up in the air 'most anywheres, ye know. Alwus come down by the nigh est way. 'Twas darker 'n pitch; could n't see a thing, nut a thing. Hearn Ray come out o' the box 'bove me. Then I come down k'slap in th' water 'n' sunk. Thought I 'd never stop goin' down. 'Fore I come up I hearn Ray rip int' th' water nigh me. I come up 'n' shook my head, 'n' waited. Judas Priest! thought he wus drownded, sart'n. Seemed so I 'd bust out 'n' cry there 'n th' water waitin' fer thet air boy. Soon es I hearn a flop I hed my ban's on 'im. " 'Who be you?' says he. " 'D'ri,' says I. " 'Tired out,' saye he; 'can't swim a stroke. Guess I'll hev t' got' th' bottom.' " [To Be Continued.] HORSE VERSUS" MANPOWER. La 1111 «»li-<)«vner Hail a Slnipli' Solu tion for "Ilooptep'a" Difll «*ult Problem. Easterly from Bath, Me., among the coast islands, runs a crooked and intri cate channel, through which ply small steamers carrying freight and passen gers as far as Boothbay harbor. There are many bays and narrows along the way, says Youth's Companion, and the confused tides beget unruly currents which have given the channel the name of "Hell Gale Passage." A "resorter" living near the Booth bay end of the route received word last summer that some friends would be down 011 the Sunday boat from Boston, reaching Bath in the evening. Unfor tunately there was no small steamer connecting with it, and no way for them to come over until Monday. Not wishing to leave them to the tender mercies of a hotel, the resorter ap plied to a neighboring native for aid. "Capt. Hiram," he said, "can I get you togo over to Bath, Sunday even ing, with your launch, to meet some friends and bring them over?" Capt. Hiram reflected. He wanted to oblige, but he hated to go. "Well, now, Mr. Barton," he said at last, "I tell you how it is. You come to git over there to upper Hurl-Get, and tliey's some consid'able of a tide makes up through there, come to git it a-headin' you. I ain't only got seven horse-power in my lanch, and I dunno as she'd really go up against that. I don't really believe I'd care to try togo through upper Hurl-Get with only jest seven horse-power. But I'll tell you what 1 will do. I'll lend you my dory if you want to row over." Twain <IIKI (.ill WIIO Didn't I.IIUKII. Mark Twain once expressed the fol lowing sentiments to a young woman who had not smiled at a thing he had said during an impromptu reception in his honor at Bryn Mawr college to which his daughter bad invited him. All the young ladies but one were in a state of great glee during the humor ist's address —all but one bad laughed heartily at every witty remark. Just as Twain finished, he turned to the joung woman who had not laughed, and said, in an undertone: "You ara the only sensible one here. I have not said a single amusing thing. If it were nqt for the conspicuousness of it I would like to press your hand."— -j Success. No T'liitli in Antoinoliile. An action for damages alleged to have been received in an automobile accident was reccsitly brought in an ad joining county. A woman had been thrown from a carriage, the horse at tached to which was frightened by an automobile. She landed in a ditch and was not dangerously injured. Upon being assisted to her feet, it is related, some one spoke of calling a doctor and suggested a physician who visits liis patients in an automobile. The injure*! woman protested, saying: "No, don't call him. I don't want an automobile doctor. Get me a torse doctor."—Utica Observer. - - a | Balcora & Lloyd. | | ====== 1 ft 1 Xi I I WE have the best stocked general store in the county [i and if you are looking for re- J liable goods at reasonable L If prices, we are ready to serve || you with the best to be found, ri Our * reputation for trust- fjj ,1 worthy goods and fair dealing ] is too well known to sell any l! but high grade goods. I! I rtj Our stock of Queensware and (j, Chinaware is selected with great care and we have some of the most handsome dishes ] j ever shown in this section, fl both in imported and domestic p makes. We invite you to visit us and look our goods over. Sj I I i i i hi i - ii| I Balcom & Lloyd. J I LOOK ELSEWHERE ~ N T or T E s T r E | ILABAKSI *> S3O Bedroom Suits, solid ' 4O 91deboard > quartered vj <jfe S2B Bedroom Suits, solid fr*)l S3B Sideboard, quartered <flC ?4 J oak at 4>ZI oak 3>ZO Lj & $25 Bedroom Suits, solid J2Q f 22^ deb °ard, quartered £ [A A large line of Dressers from Chiffloniers of all kinds and -V rY I 8 U P- prices. $ A large and elegant line of Tufted and Drop-head * Couches. Beauties and at bargain prices. « vL The finest line of Sewing Machines on the market, jyl the "Domestic" and "Kldredge". All drop heads and YJ 2 7 warranted. j#j( Tf A fine line of Dishes, common grade and China, in $8 sets and by the piece. «J & As I keep a full line of everything that goes to make * up a good Furniture store, it is useless to enumerate them * aIL & J Please call and see for yourself that I am teliing you 7r *!, the tiuth, and if you don't buy, there is no harm done, as .. Tit is no trouble to show goods. w l GEO. J. La BAR. h * v
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