THE TIMID MAN I
♦
By JULIA A. ROBINSON.
Hiram Brlggs wanted a wife. He
wanted one badly, for he was living
alone, and he knew very little about
housekeeping, although he was a first
class farmer. He owned one of the
beet of farms, horses, cattle and a fine
house, nicely furnished, and with every
modern improvement—everything, in
fact, was his except the one thing
needful, a worthy helpmeet.
Hiram knew just the girl he want
ed to marry. He had long loved her
in secret, but was too bashful to pop
the question. From his corner pew
in the church he watched her as she
sang in the choir, voice ris
ing above the others. Sometimes he
found courage to walk home with her,
but he always left her at the gate with
out the decisive word, but with a timid
glance of love that Sally did not re
sent. He would walk past her house
evenings, longing for boldness to go
up to the door and knock, then would
go back to his lonely home, to dream of
her.
Sally lived alone, and she was a good
housekeeper, bright and witty, and
the best of company. There was ev
ery reason why these two should join
forces, if only Hiram could have made
the first move. Sally would have been
perfectly willing—if Illram would ask
her.
'Sometimes it happens that circum
stances favor the faint-hearted, and
circumstances helped Hiram at last.
He had been to town to buy grain and
was returning home just before sun
set. It was a pleasant ride, and he let
Prince walk up the long hills while
he mused, thinking of the wife he
would have some day. Yes, he would ask
Bally to marry him —he always said
that until he came face to face with
her, when his tongue refused to speak.
Her bright face would make the home
cheerful. It was a happy future that
he pictured, but he had seen that
picture many times with his mind's
eye, and had come no nearer to the
realization of it.
He had reached the top of the hill
where he (always stopped for a rest,
for from this point Sally's house was
visible, a mile away. Sometimes he
would see her in the dooryard, and
*he would wave to him, then he would
tide on perfectly happy. Prince
■stood still of his own accord. But as
Hiram looked across the fields he saw
something that made him start in fear.
Fire! Sally's house was burning!
Was she at home? Did she know?
The house stood by itself In a hol
low, far away from neighbors. Had
anyone seen the fire and come to help
lier?
Hiram grasped the reins and
touched the whip to Prince's back.
Never in all his life had the horse
traveled so fast as he now flew over
that mile of country road.
The house was nearly burned to the
ground when Hiram reached it. There
was Sally trying to put out the
flames and to save a few of her cher
ished belongings, lugging great buckets
of water from the cistern, with only
two small boys, who had been attract
ed by the smoke, to help her.
Jumping from the wagon, Hiram
rushed up to her and canghf.her. Jn
his arms. She was so wearied that
she clung to him with a stifled cry, but
with a feeling of comfort and protec
tion.
"Cheer up, Sally!" he cried. "Ain't
it nice I happened round in the nick
o' time?" He was feeling strong now,
and the feeling of her arms clinging
to him took away all his fear.
"Your house is gone and all there is
in It. 'Tain't no use trying to save
anything, and 'tain't necessary. My
bouse is big enough fur us both. It's
been waiting for you a long time, Sal
-1 ly. I always meant It for you."
He carried her to the wagon and
ceated her by his side, and she had
not spoken a word, but he knew by the
feeling of her arms clinging to him
that she was willing.
He took up the reins. "Go 'lang,
Prince!" he called, "and be quick about
It." Then he turned to her with the
old shy look. "Mebbe 'tain't quite the
fair thing to take you so sudden," he
blurted. But I've wanted you all the
time, Sally, only I hain't darst to ask
you."
Sally blushed and the laughter came
back into her eyes through her tears,
with a roguish look she answered, as
she crept a little closer, "Mebbe you
never would have got the courage to
ask me, Hiram, if the old house hadn't
burned down, so I shall have to count
that as one of my blessings."
Her lips were so near, and so smil
ing that he could not help kissing
them.
(Copyright, 1919, by the McClure Newspa
per Syndicate.)
New Observatory in Arizona.
In consequence of a gift of $OO,OOO
from the late Mrs. H. S. Steward, of
Tucson, as a memorial to her hus
band, a new astronomical observatory
is about to be erected on the campus
of the University of Arizona, at Tuc
son. The principal telescope, a 37-
Inch reflector, was ordered some time
ago, but work on it has been delayed
by the war. The observatory will be
under the direction of Prof. A. E.
Douglass.—Scienrjfic American.
Change Did Him No Good.
Doctor—What you need most is a
change of diet.
Dyspeptic—Come again, Doc! That's
what made me what I am today.
Doctor —What do you mean?
Dyspeptic—Five different cooks in
as Many months.
Hanging Between the Two.
Last summer the Hulman brothers,
at Terre Haute, gave the Rose Poly
technic the grounds for the new
school. The year before that they
gave the land for Calvary cemetery.
One of their townsmen recently met
Herman, the younger brother, on his
way to his farm, which is between the
two pieces of ground above mentioned.
"Well, Herman, he remarked smiling
ly, "I see you've solved that often
disputed question of whether we
should consider our cemeteries or
seminaries of the more importance."
Mr. Hulman looked at him, and then
his eyes twinkled. "Not exactly solved
it," he drawled. "You know where my
farm is. Well, you see. I'm still just
hanging between the two." —Indianap-
olis News.
Another advantage of tortoise shell
glasses -s that they cover up a good
deal of face. —Kansas Industrialist.
SANG REQUIEM OF THE HUN
———
How the Cannon Reared During the
Glorious Offensive of the Forest
of Argonne.
It was night in France and the great
Argonne offensive was on.
The section chiefs grew hoarse
shouting their commands, the gunner
corporals manipulated their sights
with speed and accuracy and the gun
crews eagerly put forth superhuman
effort In serving their pieces which
were being loaded and fired as quickly
a? possible. The terrific detonations
shook the forest which actually seemed
like a live, throbbing, burning monster,
who vomited fire and flame, and roared
inhumanly with its terrible voice.
Every man in the four gun crews was
soon rendered temporarily deaf. Lit
up by the ghastly flashes from the fire
of their own guns, they looked like
veritable devils, their faces gleaming
with fiendish joy as they leaped Into
the pit to shift the gun trail or sprang
to the wheels, at which they tugged
and pulled with might and main. It
was exceedingly tiresome work for the
earnest lads. The rate of fire was so
rapid that it was necessary for them
to pause occasionally in order to per
mit the intensely heated pieces to cool.
It presented a thrilling scene to see,
ir. the dim light of the early dawn, a
stalwart lad, bareheaded, eyes heavy
and red from the burning powder gas, i
his square jaws grimly set a/id shirt
open at the throat, his arms bare to the I
elbows and black with grease, standing j
out there, swabbing out the steaming j
gun with the slender rammer. A ;
lanyard broke from too constant use ;
on one of the guns. Not hesitating a
moment to repair it, the "No. 1" man
simply used his fingers to draw back
the "striker." A lad fell limp and ex
hausted into the gun pit, but was
quickly pulled out of danger, where J
he lay quite still and was undisturbed
by the terrible barrage. Another man |
quickly took his comrade's place.
So the terrible fight continued. The |
great iron orchestra played its terrible j
symphony madly until ten o'clock in
the morning, when the tired musicians
began one by one, to lay aside their
weary instruments, for the score they
had been playing had sent the Fritz
ies scampering over the hills and far
away.
Where Foch Is Second.
Madame la Marechale Foch is com
mander in chief in her own home. She
is said to be a French lady of quiet
and calm determination where the or
der and regularity of her household
are concerned. She dislikes being late
for luncheon, and she dislikes the
marshal being late for luncheon. For
tunately, the marshal dislikes it him
self. On one occasion, when after the
signing of the armistice Foch was en
gaged in prolonged conversation with
allied representatives and the hour for
luncheon had gone by, a message
came into the conference room to say
that Madame la Marechale could
wait no longer for lunch. It may have
been impatience on the part of Ma
dame la Marechale, or perhaps Foch
expected that message, according to a
possible little prearranged stratagem
between monsieur and madame. Need
less to say that, in times of great
pressure, madame makes no demur
when the rules of her household are
just simply ignpr^.
IFrom the
Shadow
By RALPH HAMILTON
'Copyright. 3919. i»j Western Newspaper Union."
"I am afraid you are a schemer,
Lettie."
"Because I have asked Norma Dal
las to act as my bridesmaid, and be
cause Ernest has chosen Robert Hard
ing as his groomsman?"
"Well, you must admit that the con
junction is peculiar under the cir
cumstances." submitted Norma's
aunt, Mrs. Marston.
"I confess to having purposely
brought it about," admitted Lettie
Brooks, soon to be Mrs. Ernest Vaile.
"I have always felt sorrowful over
the quarrel, misunderstanding, or
whatever it was between Norma, my
dearest friend, and Mr. Harding, whom
I greatly like.
The wedding was only two days dis
tant. It was to be a very simple af
fair. One thing only Lettie had in
sisted on, that they be married in a
little church in what had become a
poor part of the city.
Lettie's fiance was to come from
Worcester, to the north, the day of
the wedding. Robert Harding lived
to the south. Norma Dallas was to
come from a town twenty miles dis
tant. It was a truly informal affair,
for bridesmaid and groomsman were
to go direct to the church. Upon the
auspicious evening Harding took the
train and arrived in Leesville about
six o'clock. The ceremony was to
begin an hour later. He had no sus
picion that he was to meet, for the
first time in a year, the former object
of his heart's true devotion. He had
never forgotten Norma Dallas. They
had become engaged, when abruptly
Norma had grown cold and distant
toward him. Harding was not afford
ed opportunity to penetrate the motive
of this strange change in demeanor.
Harding called a taxicab and was
driven to the church. It was lighted
up and about the doors and within
gathering groups were evident. At
one side was the vestry and Harding
approached it, entered at an open
doorway and gave a great start as he
observed one other dccupant of the
apartment.
"NoVma!" he uttered under his
breath and stood spellbound.
"Yes, it was Norma Dallas, and he
could not analyze the sentient emo
tions that stirred his heart at this un
expected meeting. She was looking
at a picture on the wall of this, the
retiring room of the officiating clergy
man. She turned finally, observed the
newcomer and a quick pallor came
Into her face. Harding regained his
composure first. He advanced and
extended his hand with a pleasant
smile.
"Our friends do not seem to have
yet arrived." he said. "I had not ex
pected to meet you here, Miss Dallas,
although of course I should have re
membered that you were a close friend
of the bride expectant."
Norma fluttered. She was at a loss
what to say, for the unexpected con
frontation bewildered her. It gave her
mingled pain and pleasure. Her eyes
had drooped ..and _her oamo
qulckly. neror? she could find co
herent words to reply there was an
Interruption. The clergyman who was
to officiate at the ceremony entered
the room.
"I presume you are Mr. Harding."
he spoke. "I have received a telephone
message from Mrs. Marston. The wed
ding Is postponed. It appear* that
she has just received a telegram from
the city announcing that Mr. Vail#
has met with an automobile accident.
He Is not seriously injured, yet suf
ficiently so to require his detention
in the city for a day or two."
Norma reached for her wrap. Hard
ing came nearer to her. "Per
haps we had better go and see Miss
Brooks," he suggested. "'I am anxious
to learn something more of Valle's
mishap."
Norma lifted her eyes to his face.
"Mr. Harding," she said tremulously.
"I want to tell you that what hap
pened a year ago was due to a mis
conception on my part. You were
misrepresented to me. and I —it was
all my fault. It took me a long
tJme to find out that I was the vic
tim of a tale bearer and slanderer."
Infinite pathos came into the face
of Harding. She had. then, thought
enough of him to attempt his vindica
tion.
"I am glad you have told me this,"
he said tenderly. "I suspect the
source that was the start of our sep
aration. I have never ceased to regret
it," and just then his glance passing
beyond the vestry door that looked
Into the church a strange suggestion
came to his mind.
It seemed as though the entire
neighborhood had crowded to the
church to witness the marriage cere
mony, mostly humble folks, to whom
such was a break on the monotony of
their dull lives.
"They will be disappointed." spoke
Harding. "Miss Dallas—Norma, do
you still believe in me?"
She placed both her hands on his,
Rhe raised her eyes filled with tears.
"I would trust you with my life!"
she said brokenly.
"Then cement that confidence by
becoming my wife. Those people in
the church will be sadly disappointed.
Let tis prevent that, and at the same
time forget the past in a happier fu
ture.
And a few moments later the wed
ding march swelled and thrilled
through the building.
Was Great Jap Soldier.
Gen. Baron Fukushima. although one
of Japan's most notable military men,
received but scant notice in the Amer
ican press on the occasion of his death
in Tokyo. He began life as a drum
mer boy, and in 1592-93 distinguished
himself by a trip he made on horse
back from Berlin to Vladivostok,
through Russia, Siberia, Mongolia and
Manchuria, a distance of 9,000 miles.
From 1887 up to the time he started
on this famous trip he had been mili
tary attache in Berlin. General
Fukushima was in command of the
Japanese contingent in the war with
China until the fall of Tientsin, and
was general staff officer during the
Boxer troubles. He was staff officer
at headquarters of the Manchurian
army in the Russo-Japanese war in
1904-05. At different times he repre
sented his country in China, India,
Egypt, Turkey, Persia. Caucasia,
Arabia, Turkestan, Burma, Siam and
Aunam.
h
WILSON ENDORSES
SALVATION ARMY.
President Wilson, burdened
hi as he is, found time to cable
hi his endorsement of the Salva-
tion Army Home Service Fund
Campaign, which will be cou
ducted during the week of
May 19-20. The cablegram:
hi Commander Miss E. Booth,
hi Personal, Salvation Army,
hi 120 West Fourteenth street,
hi New York:
hi
I am very much Interested
hi to know that the Salvation
hi Army is about to enter Into a
*4, campaign for a sustaining
h fund. I feel that the Salva-
tion Army needs no commen
dation from me. The love
hi and gratitude it has elicited
hi from the troops is a sufficient
hi evidence of the work it has
1* done, and I feel that I should
)h not so much commend It as to
Hfi congratulate it. Cordially and
hi sincerely yours,
h WOODROW WILSON.
"OUT OF LOVE" CLUB
UNIQUE ORGANIZATION
Members Are Girls Rescued by
Salvation Army.
The "Out of Love" Club is one of
the important club organizations maln-
tained by the Salvation Army in this
country. In every large city where
there is a Salvation Army corps girls
who have been helped back Into the
normal pace of a workaday world are
proud of tht> membership in this club.
Disappointed, loveless girls who do not
forget kindnesses shown them in their
hour of greatest need give out of love
to help other girls receive the same
friendliness. In a simple, quiet way,
this unique idea has been maintained
for over 20 years.
In every large city in the country
there are girls who have needed the
ministrations of the Salvation Army.
After they have been helped and sent
on their way again they become life
members of this club if they so desire.
Only girls are admitted who have giveo
a good account of themselves for at
least one month In the positions found
for them by the Salvation Army after
their release from a hospital or hornet
These girls pledge themselves to keep
alive the spirit of friendliness and
home which the Salvation Army has
spread among them. The girls are
expected to dress in a plain, simple
way, and avoid in any sense of the
word gaudy or tawdry clothing.
Gossiping or tale bearing is tabooed.
If members of the club transgress this
rule they are liable to suspension for
a month or longer. The "Out of Love
Club" is one of the many activities that
will benefit by the success of the Salva
tion Army House Service Fund Cam
paign for .$18,000,000 May 19-20. «•REILLY LiWNslHit» UFFORIHE ®L® M Me,
JRAKE CRTAT / ___ X FN»SS SQMVT
INTRODUCANO REILLY, IL 1 ) RESIST/
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