6 MODERATE AMBITION. I'm Jos a-keepln' even; which is doln' purty good. Haven't made the fortune that 1 used to hope I would. Haven't caused the trump ot fame o'er distant hills to sound, But kin alius face the music when the | landlord comes around. I've had my share of sunshine an' I seen the flowers smile; Have the rheumatiz, but only fur a little while. An' when I come to quit this scene of hope an' likewise doubt, I'll hardly leave enough fur lawyer folks to light about. I have had my disappointments an' I've had my silent fears. But I reckon that the laughs will easy balance all the tears; It ain't a brilliant record, but I want It understood That I'm still a-keepin' even, which i* doin' purty good. —Washington Star. MA ROSE OFM NORMANDY A WILLIAM R. A. WILSON L CHAPTER XXI. WHEREIN A BATTLE IS FOUGHT AND AKIESKO COMES OFF VICTO RIOUS. The prisoners slept little that night. Both Renee and Tonti ha<l undergone a nervous excitement during the day sufficient to keep every fiber tingling, he at the discovery of her love for him, she upon learning the truth from the lips of Madame Bizard. Now that the heat of his encounter with Miron had subsided, Tonti fell into a slough of despair. Escape seemed impossible. Renee's fate became more hideous now that he knew her secret. Even the satisfaction of dying together was denied them. Renee was happy, re joicing in the restoration to his proper place of the lover she had vainly sought to forget; unmindful of the ter rible ordeals the future might have for her; believing vaguely that the dis covery of her lover's faithfulness was not for naught; that a means of es cape would be accorded to them. Akiesko alone of the three prisoners had neither hope nor fear. He faced the dawn of the day of suffering with the stoicism of his race. He knew that he would be sacrificed first, in or der to whet the appetite of the people for blood so that the torture of Tonti would be a lesson of greater enjoy ment to this captors. Help, unless it came within a very few hours, could not rescue him, even if it were to ar rive before Tonti's turn came. A feel ing akin to sorrow invaded his savage heart at the thought of the disappoint ment and injury that would come to Salle Salle from the loss of Tonti. A feeling of pity for the white girl, whose days thenceforward would be a death in life, then followed. Last of all, the hatred of his tribe against his enemies surged across his mind, obliterating all other feelings, and his thoughts were filled with plans how to endure his pains bravely and give defiance to them until the very last. Thua passed the weary hours of darkness to the three captives. The camp was astir at dawn, and the sound of voices and din of preparation for the day's festivities smote ominously upon their ears. Food was served to each at breakfast time. After noon they were summoned to the begin ning of the santurnalia of bestial cruelty. In an open place in the center of the town were gathered the Indians, who ranged themselves in an elongated cir cle, down the center of which were piled at intervals seven brush heaps ready for lighting. Equidistant from each end a small scaffold some six feet front the ground had been built. On one of them Miron had reserved a seat, one on each side of himself for Renee and Tonti, so situated that they would be witnesses of the ensuing scene. He greeted them with a sar donic smile, and wished them all man ner of pleasure during the coming hours. Tonti's hands were securely bound, but his feet were free. They were scarcely settled when an opening in the throng on the opposite side was made and through it Akiesko was led, with every mark of respect and attention from those attending him. His escort consisted of some .10 or 10 of the young men of the tribe, who advanced singing and dancing. The prisoner strode along haughtily in their midst, clad in a magnificent beaver robe, with a string of polished multicolored shells about his neck and a smaller one placed like a wreath or crown about his head. He was greet ed by a friendly shout from the wait ing crowd. The procession marched about the edges of the throng, so that all could catch a glimpse of the con damned. Finally they conducted him to a log placed In the center of the open space and In- was seated, pood was set before him, migamlte, squashes. venison and fruit. As his wrists were bound, one of the chief men was deputed to feed hint. "Here, my nephew," he said gravely and in the kindest tones, "eat of this food your friends have prepared for you It will give >ou strength. Eat tuid have no far, for no one Is doine you any harm llehold thyself now among thy kindred and thy friends " When thU portion of the repast was finished, a do« which had been placed in a kettle neur by and boiled, wa, produced, and beluit cut into pieces couvwuleut »u», lu procuud tc the prisoner to taste. Upon bin hav ing done so tlie remains of liis feast v*cre removed. His hands were loosed and he was invited to sing. A hush fell upon the multitude as he arose to give utterance to his death-song. Straight and firm h« stood with out stretched arms, from which the folds of beaver skin fell in graceful lines. His head was proudly raised, his eyes looking above the crowd eastward to ward the land of his birth. His voice, now quavering in a strange, weird minor cadence, rising and falling, lin gering on the words with a pathetic tenderness, now full and strong in sonorous monotone, rapidly delivered, penetrated to the farthest ranks of his foes. "I see afar the wigwams of my peo ple. The smoke rises from a thousand camp-fires and the woods are filled with the countless moccasin prints of the hunters. They creep here and there through the forests. The deer and bear fall in multitudes before them. -Where are the waters dark with fish but yesterday? The streams are there, but the fish have gone, for the Mohegans have passed by and taken them all. There are no hunters like them anywhere. All other na tions are but as children whom they have taught to U3e the bow and spear. Were they to leave their own coun try, all the rest of the world would starve, for there would be no game left. The sun here is dim, but there it is always bright, for my people do no evil and the sunlight never fails them. The wind blows fresh and bends the tops of the waving maize fields, for there the harvests are ever full. The Iroquois plants his seed and but one appears. The Mohegan drops his into the ground and lo! a thousand sprout from one. I see the council fires ablaze, and around them sit the wisest of all men. To their feet come the chiefs of other nations and crouch, waiting to hear the wisdom that falls from their lips. There is the source of all knowledge and cunning; that of all other people is but foolishness. Above their heads hang the scalp-locks of their enemies, thick as the leaves of the forest in summer, for there are none so brave as they, the sound of whose name makes their enemies to tremble and be afraid." Thus sang the helpless prisoner, boasting in the presence of his foes of the prowess of his tribe. As his song progressed, his body swayed to the rhythm of his voice. Soon he moved in stately measure to and fro, as he described the delights of his own country, the pleasures of his own peo ple. Then the theme was changed, the steps were quickened, and the words flowed faster as the deeds of the mighty warriors were rehearsed and his own achievements were boast fully proclaimed. "But among them one place is empty. It is that of Akiesko, the greatest sachem of them all. 'Where is Akiesko, our brother?' they ask of one another. 'There is none so brave or wise as lie.' 'He is gone,' says one, 'to the wilderness where live the igno rant Iroquois. He has taken pity on their blindness and will teach them many things. They cannot hunt; they cannot fish; they are but squaws fit only to sit and pound the maize be tween two stones. He will show them how to live. They have no courage. At the barking of a wolf they run; the sound of an owl at night causes them to tremble.' " The movements of the singer became more rapid and he passed gradually around the open space. One by one the fires were lighted, and each of the surrounding crowd armed himself with a piece of bark; lighting one end of this, they waited. The motion of his jlance gradually loosened the robe around the prisoner, which he allowed to slip off and he continued his steps naked. As he passed along, the wait ing blazing, bits of bark in the hands of his tormentors were applied to hi 3 back, his arms, and his legs, inflicting painful burns. The victim did not wince, but went on faster and faster, never stopping his song for an instant. "Akiesko will show the poor Iroquois how to live. He will also show them how to die. They will drink of his blood; and their own, which is only water, will become thick and red. They will eat his heart and it will make them men; they will be squaws and children no longer, but will be come warriors. My brothers, Akiesko is going to die. Amuse yourselves boldly around him; he fears neither tortures nor death." The dance became faster and more furious. A growing excitement moved the throng, a shout of delight went up as one buck ran behind the prisoner, and pressed against his back the red hot head of an ax; the sight of the smoke arising from the burning flesh and the odor that was wafted to their nostrils served further to stimulate the luinds of the onlookers. Renee shuddered and closed her eyes. Miron noticed it, and, turning to Tonti, said loud enough for her to hear, "Is your seat comfortable, M. Tonti? If not, I have provided another for your use to-morrow. It is a pointed stake. I fear it would be tiresome standing out there on your feet the whole time, as your Mohegan friend is doing." Tonti disdained to reply, but strove to con vey by a look to Akiesko his feelings of sympathy for his sufferings and commendation for his bravery. Gradually the lust for cruelty In the savage breasts broke beyond restraint, i Now one rushes towards the darning figure and, seizing his hand, tears loose a finger-nail; another coining from liehlnd cuts his flesh; Mill another thrusts a pine splinter Into his shoul der and lights it. Cries of exultation :tre heard on all aides Above It all. ' lear, but with waning strength, com- ■ the taunting voice: "The Iroquois are squaw* who shud der at the sigh* of blood They are but children at the torture They can not cause a Mohegan pain." Wilder and wil4*r <*«h*s the danaw, CAME 1 Y PRESS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1905. yet more loud rise the hoarse triumphing cries of the fiendish persecutors. At length the prisoner's vigor shows si?ns of exhaustion. He stumbles and falls, but is up again With a louder tone to his voice and a more agile movement ihnn before. His face is now no longer recognizable. Long thorns have been thrust through his cheeks and forehead, and masses of clotted blood hang from his eye brows. The flesh of his body drops in torn shreds. The surface is covered with an oozing stream of blood. At length he staggers and falls fainting. His tormentors seize him and lay him upon the hot ashes of one of the fires; the pain revives him and he jumps up and passes on. Again he falls. This time they pour fresh water over his burns and wounds and give it to him to drink. The refreshing coolness re calls him once more to life and mis ery. He is dragged up the steps of the scaffold and made to stand erect, his arms stretched over and fastened to a cross-piece, thus suspending him so as to throw his weight upon his wrists. Pandemonium is let loose. The crowd of yelping, screeching demons surrounds the scaffolding. He gazes at them and a smile breaks on his lips, as with eyes glaring with hatred he reviles and mocks them. "Dogs of Iroquois, why do yott not make me cry out with pain, like one of you would do if a bee stung him? It is because I am a Mohegan chief, brave and without fear." Heated stones are now placed be neath the soles of his feet; one stands above and slowly pours boiling water over his head; another now ap proaches and empties a gourd full of the scalding stuff down his throat. A red-hot Iron is passed into each eye, burning the socket empty. A young buck climbs upon the cross-beam and deftly scalps him, holding up the gory trophy to the shrieking throng below. Suddenly a silence. The end is near. Every human voice is stopped, and only the repressed breathing of the in furiated mob is heard. Sightless, quiv ering in awful agony, the prisoner's undaunted will summons his remain ing strength for one last defiance. "Cowards! Dogs!" he gasps, and in the tone issuing from scorched and lacerated lips, one perceives the in tensity of scorn and hatred felt. His head droops; a shiver runs through his frame. At this signal a chief leaps forward with flashing knife and with quick stroke lays bare the still feebly palpitating heart, removes it, and tosses it to the waiting braves, who quickly cut it into tiny pieces and de vour it raw, believing that thereby they each may acquire some of the bravery of the dead prisoner. Another cuts down the body and half a dozen quickly sever arms and feet and legs, throwing these members into the wait ing boiling kettles, to be devoured later by the whole tribe. The head is cut off and brought, a shapeless, blood stained mass, and laid at the feet of Miron. Tonti, sickened at the fearful sight, turned his head away and looked to wards Renee. Her woman's nature had mercifully asserted itself. She had fainted. CHAPTER XXII. SHOWING HOW MIRON HELD A GOOD HAND, BUT POMPON PLAYED THE ACE OF TRUMPS. The captives were led back to their respective prisons after this sickening scene of barbarity, and soon a silence fell upon the camp as though the in habitants were fatigued by the exeile ment of the day and had sought re pose. Renee had nerved herself to wit ness the horrible spectacle and had borne herself bravely throughout un til the last, but when she found herself once more alone and conscious, a re action set in and she became but a weak and trembling woman after all. Tonti, used as he was to the scenes of carnage of civilized warfare, could not repress a shudder as he recalled the recent ordeal. His chief anxiety was now for Renee; for himself he had faced danger and death too many times to experience any fear at their proximity; he would sell his own life as dearly as possible, and promised himself that more than one recruit for the happy hunting-grounds would be started on the long journey thither before they would have him lashed to the stake. He realized that neither of them could hope anything from the mercy of the conite. Their only chance would be through the opportune ar rival in the camp of some party sent out from Fort Niagara in search of them. This was, however, hardly pos sible, as any such expedition would naturally follow along the shore of the lake even as far as Fort Fronte nac, before they would turn back or think of visiting any of the Indian tribes. To be sure. Pompon had sig nalled to him before they arrived at the camp that he would effect a res cue, but he would not have had the time to procure assistance and there was but little reliance to be placed on his ability to achieve anything ahine. The cointe would not allow his people to be deprived by any tricks that he would play, as had ltappeued at the time of their Huron captivity, and, aside from si-me such measure, Tonti feared that for once the little fellow's wit would be lacking. It was while absorbed In these dis consolate thoughts that his quick ear caught the sound of some small object striking against the bark covering of his lodge, lie listened. Again It came and yet again; then It ceased, but soon recommenced Three times three did he fount, and then he under rood It was a signal from his trusty friend, probably produced by lightly tapping with some hard substance ag.tln.it th<- exterior. He repaired to the back wall from whence the sound came, and placing hi* Hps ebsie to It he gave a slight cough, lie then beard a low wblspar: "It U 1, Poutpuu. Uo to your tioot . and s«v If the guard la awake, and make no noise." Tontl did as he was bid, and pee>)- ins out saw the sentinel seated be fore his prison asleep, but in such a position that it "Would be impossible for any one to either enter or leave the place without arousing him. Tonti reported the fact to Pompon, who re plied: "It is well. I will cut a hole in the saplings wide enough to pass you a knife. You can then work from the inside to enlarge the opening while I am employed out here. Madame IMz ard is assisting mademoiselle at this moaient. Make haste." ;aoon Tonti heard a strip of bark cautiously give way, and ere long an opening large enough to admit a hand was made. Through this Pompon passed a knife. "Work diligently, but noiselessly, mon capitaine," he urged, "and we will soon have you freed." Tonti turned to with a will, and be tween them they soon had, by dint of cutting and pulling at the interlacing branches, an aperture formed, through Tonti squeezed liimselt. He seized Pompon's hand in silent pres sure, and the two stood with straining ears, fearful lest the noisa they had been compelled to make had been heard. There was no evidence of this, and they both tiptoed to the back of the lodge in which Renee was con fined and assisted Madame Bizard in her similar endeavors. Pompon in some unaccountable way had placed himself in communication with this poor creature, who, true to her re solve to aid, had entered heartily in to his plan. She had seen to it that the guard at Renee's door received a sleeping potion that Pompon had pre pared out of the contents of his in dispensable pouch, and was thus able to enter without detection, stepping lightly over the sentinel's recumbent figure. Their work was finally accom plished, and Rewee was assisted through the opening and was followed by Madame Bizard. As has been said, the village was bulit upon a plateau overlooking th-j lake. The houses in which the pris oners had been confined were erected within a few feet of the edge of this plateau, which ended in a sheer preci pice some 50 feet above the surface of the water. As assistance and escape were deemed impossible from this di rection, no attempt had been made to guard the rear of the lodges. As the little party stood together, Tonti was puzzled as to their nex» step. Before he could say anything. Pompon ex plained the situation to them. [To Be Continued.] SuK'Kffttvd a Hymn. The Sunday school ofiV-'ers in a large uptown church were conducting a spe cial song service one Sunday afternoon. So interested had they become that the regular time of dismissal slipped past and a number of the more youthful scholars began to grow restive. "Now," said the superintendent, "we will sing another hymn—let some little boy or girl give the number of one he or she wishes to sing." There was a pause for several moments and then a little boy, who had been shuffling his feet in tired impatience for the last half hour, spoke up quite cheerfully: "Please, sir, I would like to sing No. 51." The superintendent smiled and turned to the hymn, then gave a gasp and almost strangled to keep from laughing. The title read: "In a little while we are going home."—Philadel phia Press. The Smaller the Greater. Pntil the Spanish-American war came surgeons in this country knew but little of the effect of gunshot wounds made by a small calibre bul let fired at a high velocity. The al most pinlike puncture made by a Maus er or a Krag-Jorgensen bullet was some what baffling to them. During the Cuban campaign a surgeon was tak ing Gen. Leonard Wood on a tour of inspection through his hospital ward. "You see," he said, when they came to a soldier whom a Mauser bullet had caught, "this man's wound is serious because it is so small." "Then," replied the general, "I sup pose that if he had no wound at all he would be in a very dangerous condi tion and would probably die."—N. Y. Herald. Faith nnd Work*. A pretty anecdotte is related of a child who was greatly perturbed by the discovery that her brothers had set traps to catch birds. Questioned as to what she had done in the matter, she replied: "I prayed that the traps might not catch the birds." "Anything else?" "Yes," she said, "I then prayed that God would prevent, the birds getting into the traps, and," as if to illustrate the doctrine of faith and works, "I went and kicked the traps to pieces."—Household Words. All At* fill i>rur, "Mrs. Readum was not as popular as usual at the reception given for tliu great author last night." "Why. she usually sshlnes at such events." "But lest night she did not. She had made a mistake and studied up ■in the books (if another author of the same name, but different initials." —Terre Haute Star. lii i«*r fer «*n«*ea. ness—l really think May is In love money? Te»» NO, her husband is rich, but that Isn't what caught her. "What wus It?" "lie hasn't a relative In the world." He'rolt Frio I'rt tier KM II It. "My wife," itrowli d Chnmpley, "1* the most forgetful wain an." "Indeed?" politely queried his friend. "Yes She can Bever remember !u th«* murnltM where I lift my pipi. the ulj|hl before."- Philadelphia Prt#4. 112 Balcom & Lloyd. | I | WE have the best stocked general store in the county 3 and if you are looking for re- 0| j| liable goods at reasonable fi prices, we are ready to serve you with the best to be found. =| p Our reputation for trust- j| j!| worthy goods and fair dealing jl B is too well known to sell any I?! a but high grade goods. |i g Our stock of Queensware and jf !j Chinaware is selected with p| {| great care and we have some g, 1 p of the most handsome dishes 8 f| ever shown in this section, jj |j both in imported and domestic p hj makes. We invite vou to visit || us and look our goods over. ij i m I I I 1 l! Balcom Lloyd. | LOOK ELSEWHERE BUT DON'T FORGET M THESE PRICES AND FACTS AT I | LaBAR'S || 1 H II »< We carry in stock i - ■—— _ ■» Kg gg the largest line of Car- * . t "lium ' C* If pets, Linoleums and S/ £2 Mattings of all kinds 112 W - M |j ever brought to this * 1 £ s, nP ,r ab ' ghnc * rf »< A very large lir.e oi FOR THE E3p »S Lace Curtains that can- ...5 h XreV'Se pHco 3 '" COMFORTABLE LODGING ki jf Art Squares and of fine books in a choice library ?? Rugs of all sizes and select the Ideal pattern of Globe- P* M kind, from the cheap- Wernicke "Elastic" Bookcase. est to the best. I Furnished with bevel French M plate or leaded glass doors. | jg jig Dining Chairs, »»« =*•-= 14 Rockers and GEO. J. LaBAR, £* High Chairs. Bole Ageut for Caiuerou County. ||g| A large and elegant I—————————J line of Tufted and Drop-head Couches. Beauties rml at bargain prices. £4 5$ ft | Ms3o Bedroom Suits, CIC S4O Sideboard, quar- CQfl a* solid oak at 4)zo tered >ak * * ?jj 9-8 Bedroom Suits, COl $."2 Sidebcard, quar- CIC PI solid oak at tend tak jZD ** w * $25 Bed room Suits, COfl $22 Sideboai d, quar- CiC H 14 solid oak ut 4)ZU I tered 0ak,... M *4 A large line of Dressers from I Oh floniers of ull kinds and M || up. ail price*. K4. | | || The finest line of Sewing Machines on the market, §« ij the "DOMESTIC" and "ELI Kll CK.* All diop- II heads and warranted. A Hue line of Dishes, common grade and China, in J* J* sets and by the piece. M r4 As I keep a full line of everything that goes to 9*? If make up a good Furniture store, it is useless to enum- Id erate them all. |£ J(j P'e.ise call and see for yourself that lam telling |g k vot* the truth, and if you don't buy, there ir. no harm H done, as it i> no trouble to show good*.. || GEO. J .LaBAR. 5 T33NTT>3^IX r l'^LT^llVCri-.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers