Ml, — —^
* * *'•; %■■ & *
1 _ THE butler citizen.
VOL. XXXXI
» SPfeENOIO SPPING DRESS GOODS. g
S fetirg? Assortment, Choice Selections. |r
« THE MODERN STORE-
fvToillkiu iat A f * ii '
m §r°? 1 "'-r?*. 1 T ,; »» y «d s i
c a Monair* and / tiy. . VAn < M
iff Fnll w>lors at<d ft. - i*-s >-v«-!-iab«t. J. - ,
SR«»t«-b ft Kr>ick«vp-jck<:7 .Saltings.many «-x.:la 9 :v«desiZD>. t-. ■
S«e oar n peciiil lice - - ,7 /.I* ' V„" " 'A
'A Pol! a-*ortuieot Veiitt *r.a, Browdclotiw. Covert* Meito... .V: fIP
All tb«- ue* w<?av«, as Folian-. Crepe Dc F -iriv et_" ,
»Fa:.fy ciii» for shirt wa'*' niiti as ->rt«B»:nt, »•»• . i-> > %ar j
Liinc- TKif-t 1- all ool'tri. , ' Ck
Chinn and Habatd *-tsh silk*. *i! rrJors. «-x»r » «c*i qaa ... ar( j W| .
S for prii-#. 27 wi*». -v- irii' ''">» yard S)#
B Near in F'jn!«r;t Si.k at . ..." '.v-nard
?5 s~r '»nr <1 - -V> ia j (
M fJr U "v.« W ?n"«^tyoo* »««tt liere.' W e a M friend, dal!j g, t
In our oilliln«-ry department . AF 1
§EiSLE«-MARDO«F COIPANY, g !
SOUTH KA.II STF.2ET J fJQI 1 :
•gnctzs :?gi l Vs t ' • j Send in Your Mai! Orders « £
->*-* 1 .
f? OS»r.»«ITE HOT6L ARLINGTON.
KE 0 K
j/ [S/ierchant Tailor. |n]
Spring & Summer Suitings
( 4 JUST ARRIVED. { '
y J 142 North Main St.
KEC K |
BYTH BROS. I
[Acrsss fre« F«r«*-rs Nit. Bsok.]
Our Big Line of
Spring Wall Papers j
arc ali i,:-, and are the finest ever shown in Butler.
Prices Are Low.
. Big Loi of Boom Mouldings and Window Blinds. .
EYTH BROS.
[ SPRING CLOTHING. ;
j W,(y are now showing our new styles in Clothing. t
v ' ' They are certainly beautiful. )
f . The famous "Hamburger & Sons" clothing for spring )
excels anything v/e have ever shown. They all have
) .padded shoulders, fiFm fronts, and hand worked button f
) hole*, are fully equal to the very best custom made /
( suit. See our window display of new goods. p j
/ Do not buy old styles in (
i Hats, Caps, Shirts and Neckwear i
> when you can step into our store and get the 1904 goods (
) for the same price. S
S We have a few odds and ends on sale at a great
(hargalq. \
Douthett & Graham, i.
j INCOKPORATRD
■ ll ■- . - -
I J4tiseltore's I
B We wish to announce E
la. Men and Ladies this week. |
l For any price NEW LASTS! H
■ You wish to pay. THE NEW TOES! ■
M ' All the style a shoe can carry. Ease! ■
■ K ;'
I We make a specialty of Men's heavy shoes. Just ■
■ v/hat you want for your early plov/ing. Give us a trial. ■
I HUSELTON'S, r.t.»ry ; I
COOPER CO., |
FINE TAILOHrJ
Are r\ow occupying their
old tit corner of
• tl\e Diamoi\d.
Hnit» from Sirs to soo. I,
ijypj i
i|jiijj ""'Will Flavor.
B%P} At Me, |B*§
SB® term rrtAmti* Cm. .
QB£ WSL K«» T«* u1
Drying preparations simply devel
op dry catarrh; they dry np the secretions,
which adhere to the membrane and decom
pose, causing a far more serious trouble than
the ordinary form of catarrh. AYoid all dry
ing inhalant*, fumes, smokes and snuffs
and use that which cleanses, soothes and
heals. Ely's Cream Balm is such a remedy
and will cure catarrh or cold in the head
easily and pleasantly. A trial size will be
mailed for 10 cents. All druggists sell the
50c. size. Ely Brothers 50 Warren St., N.Y.
The Balm cures without pain, does not
irritate or cause sneezing. It spreads itself
over an irritated and angry surface, reliev
ing immediately the painful inflammation.
With Ely's Cream Balm you are armed
against Nssal Catarrh and Hay Fever.
r THE GREAT "RUB-DOWN." (
FOURFOLD
| LINIMENT.
I For Sore Muscles,
'A Pain in Back,
$ Sore Throat'
| and Sprains.
EAT ALL opu&serra. 2sc : ccc.si.ooS
TBnmi'iT'vf • - rr -rrrtr
r • .
' S:J. " ■
tr BOOK MAILED FHEE.
A. A.) FEVERS, Cencestbra*. InSsmroa
ci.'ua S lion*. Lunz t'cirr. Milk Feter.
B. B. JUPKAIVi. l4nu«, Injuries.
CVtUM i tlliPUinn!l*fi>.
C. «?. > W»K K THROAT, <lnla»*. Eirixootlr, •
cc*w J Dlitcoiier.
B..U, GrnW.
R.K.ifOl'Um, f<,li.. InflitPtiia. InfUmri
ctrus) f.unic., Pi <- n ru- i'ri um n n I».
F. P.KOIJO, Ilrllyarhd. Wlad-Blown.
ctltxsS IHnrrhca, D»«<-n*erT.
0.0. Prefect* MISCARRIAGE.
gfc2i}KIDSEY * BLABDEK DISOBDEHB.
I, I. >Mil\ DISKAWFI, Monsc, Eruption;,,
ci-an f t Irrrn, Orea»«. Farcjr.
J. H.2BAD C'OMIITIO\. Nlarlns Co*t.
ccssii i indication. htomx-h hiamrn.
«*:. each; RUSIe (Jam, T<-n Spedflrat, IV>ok. Ae.. *7.
At tlniggl*! *, or «ent jfi-oJ'! on recftlpt of price.
Humplm/n" Medicine Co, Ck/r. V/Ullaia & John
Btrc«u, Hew /or it.
t'yes Examinee Frea of Charge
R. L. KIRKPATRICK,
Jeweler and Gradua'e Optician
S'-xt Door to Court H mw: Butler, J'o.
L. C. WICK,
LUfIBGR.
-si
jC. F. T. Pape,<
NIIIWIIIII 1 HI <ITIN MI \
iJEWELER| {
S 121 E. Jefferson Street. /
V v/*
i HlctrJkey fj
Qt!i
ifc; Leading Photographer, 09
| Old Postofiice Building, 0
Butter, Pa.
M. A. BERKIMER,
Funeral Director,
?+5 S. MAIN ST., BUTLER, PA.
r HUGH L. CONNELLY,
/
f
V/holesale Dealer In
Fine Whiskies
For Medicinal Purposes,
Bell Pnone 273
People's Phone 578.
316 East Jefferson Street
Buni.tß. P/>
W s. & WICK.
}
(
OIEAf/RBH l?(
Uotizo nii'l Workiit l.ittnbor "f »'.l Klnil
I htttr*. hn<l
on W.-ii <:tu» h »; m«aitr.
(tthr.f ttoU Yht'l
ir Oonnlnttbam uml Moun n Mt«
n«>*r Went !•»»»! l>»poi.
UnTI.CU
t J+ i- i-H' '. rr4 r-r t y-I-rW-H"i4-K v .'
lill ALICE of OLD if
111 VINCENNES II
4"- '.X
By MAUP.ICE THOMPSON
'J- C*f?rishu 1550. Ij <K*. CC-V- C&!<t Af.'Y 14-
CHAPTER 11.
A LETT Eli PllCii Al'An.
0. LTnOUGII Father Beret wan
#* for man..' years a missionary
on thi Wabash, most of the
time- it Vine line*. tho fact
that no m.' n'.ion of liim can bo found
in the records is not stranger than
many other things connected with the
ol<l town's history. He was. like nearly
all the men of his catting in that day,
a self effacing and modest hero, ap
parently quite unaware that lie de
served attention. lie and Father
Gibault, whose name is so beautifully
and nobly connected with the stirring
achievement* of Colonel George Rogers
Clark, were close friends and often
companions. Probably Father Gibault
himself, whose fame will never fade,
would have been today as obscure r.s
Father lierc-t bat for the opportunity
given him by Clark to fix his name in
the list of heroic patriots who agisted
in winning the great northwest from
the English.
Vincennes, even in the earliest days
of its history, somehow kept up eom
munication and, considering the cir
cum stances, close relations with New
Orleans. It was much nearer Detroit,
but the Louisiana colony si. >d n< xt to
France in the imagination and longing
of priests, voyageurs, coureurs de bois
and reckless adventurers who had
Latin blood in their veins. Father
Kerot first came to Yin'" from
New Orleans, the voyage i:p the Missis
sippi, Ohio and Wabash in a j ;?ogue
lasting through a whole summer and
far Into the autumn. Since his arrival
the post had experienced many vicissi
tudes, and at the time in which our
story opens the British government
claimed right of dominion over the
great territory drained by (he Wabash,
a»d, indeed, over a large, Indefinitely
outlined part of the North American
continent lying above Mexico, a claim
just then being vigorously questioned,
flintlock in hand, by tho Anglo-Ameri
can colonic*.
Of course the handful of French peo- \
pie at Vlnceimes. BO far away from ■
every center of Information and
"Berc -in <.l Utter for yon, )'ttli<.r."
Wholly occupied with their trading,
trapping oqd missionary work, wore
Jute finding eut that war existed be
tween Kits.land and her colonies. Nor
did It really matter much with them,
one way or another. They felt secure
In their lonely situation, and so went
on selling their trinkets, weapons, do
mestic implements, blankets and In
toxicating tyqnors to the Indian*. v»hont
(hey held hound to them with a power
Hover possessed by any other white
dwellers lu the wilderness. Father
Beret was probably subordinate to
Fattier Gibault. At all events the lat
ter appears to have had nominal charge
of Vliicenues, and It can scarcely bo
doubted that he lclt l attu i Berut on
the SViibash while he went to live and
labor for n time ut Kusluiskia, beyond
the plains of Illinois.
It Is a curious fact that religion and
the power of rum and brandy worked
together successfully for a long time
In giving the French yofjts inmost üb
joliMt; IrtHtlenco over tho wild and sav
age men by whom they were always
surround id. The good priests depre
cated the traffic In liquors and tried
hard to control It, but soldiers of fot
♦>tnp and ruckles* traders were ifi tho
fnnjorlly, their interests taking preced
ence of all spiritual demands and car
rying everything along. What could
the brave missionaries do. hut make the
very best o£ a perilous situation?
But if the effect of ruiu as a bev
erage had strong allurement for tho
white man, It made an absolute slave
of the Indian, who never hesitated for
a moment to undertake any task, no
matter how hard, bear tU|y piivittl"i(,
yven tho most terrible, or brave any
danger, although It might demand
reck hits desperation, If In the end n
well tilled bottle or Jug appeared as
Ills reward.
Of course the traders did not over
look such a li'jurce of power. Alcohol}#
jl'iuot became their Implement of nl
most magical work lu controlling tho
lives, labors and resources of the In
dians. The priests, with their captlvat
itig story of the cross, had a large In
fluence in softening savin;-' nutureu
and averting many an awful danger,
hut, when everything else failed, rum
always came to the rescue of a threat
ened French post.
; We need not wonder, thou, when we
are told that Father Beret made no
, sign of distress or disapproval upon
[ being Informed of the arrival of a
J boat loaded with rum, brandy or gin.
It was Rene de Itonvllle who brought
the news, the same Itene already tnen
, tinned as having given the priest a
plate of squirrels, lie was sitting on
■ the doorsill of Father Beret's hut
when the old man reached it after his
Visit at the Konsslllon home and held
In his hand a letter which he appeared
proud to deliver.
"A battcau and seven men with n
canto of liquor came during the rain,"
. lie said, rising and taking off ids cu
rlous cap, which, made of an animal's
j skin, had a tall Jauntily dangling from
Its crown tip, "and here Is n letter for
you, father. The battcau is from New
Orleans, Eight men started with It.
but one went ashore to hunt and was
killed by an Indian."
Father Beret took the letter without
apparent Interest and said:
"Thank you, my son, sit down again;
t •
BUTLER, PA., THURSDAY, APRIL 11, KOi.
io.i! is not wetter than the
stools inside: I will sit by you."
The.wind had driven a flood of rain
into the cabin through the op*.*!i door,
water twluk! *d in puddles here
ind there on ti: ■ floor's puncheons.
Tlic;. sat down side by side. Father
Per.': f. ring the le;ter in an absent
11.!:, i d way.
•'!! l.e a JoiSy tii.ie of it toainht'
J i, • i'. ■ Ronville rem.iikid; "a ro.-.riu.i
"\,'liy do you -ay that, my y h':" l!;?
priest dersanded,
• Tie wine and the H v-a* ti.<
reply. "Alach tlriuk Lug v.'.ii i-e ,i« ue.
The men have ail h-.'ii >. y :.e:v (at
fc-.uie time, you know, and are as
thirsty as sand. Ti '-y are u; :1 . c
ready to enjoy them-3c-l> :s down at the
river house."
"Ali. the poor so;:i-i'' sighed Father
Beret, speaking as on : v.'!; iioagiiis
were wandering f r a*
"Why don* j n re.. 1 your letter,
Father':" Rene added.
The priest started. t.:: :i d the soiled
square of paper over in hi••• hand, tiien
thrust It inside his robe.
"It can wait," he said. Then, chang
ing his voice: "The squirrels you gave
.me were excellent, my on. It was
good of you to think of me," he added,
laying his hand on Rene's arm.
"Oh, I'm glad If 1 have pleased you,
Father Beret, for you are so kind to
me always, and to everybody. W'bcn I
killed the squirrels 1 said to myself:
These are young, Juicy and tender;
Father Beret must have these.' so 1
brought them along."
The young man rose to go, for he
was somehow impressed that Father
Beret must wish opportunity to read
bis 1 tier and would prefer to be left
alone with it. But the priest puil.d
him down again.
"Stay awhile," he said 4 "I have not
had a talk with you for some time."
Ilene looked a tritlo uneasy.
"You will not drink any tonight, my
son," Father Beret added. "You must
not. I>o you hear?"
The young man's eyes and mouth at
onee began to have a sullen expres
sion. Evidently he was not pleased and
felt rebellious, but it was hard for him
i to resist Father Iteret, whom he loved,
as did every soul In the post. The
priest's voice was sweet and gentle,
yet positive to a degree. Rene did not
say a word.
"Promise me that you will not taste
liquor this night," Father Beret went
on, grasping the young man's arm
(Irmly. "Promise me, my sou; promise
me."
Still Rene was silent. The men did
not look at each other, but gazed away
across the country beyond tho Wabash
to where a glory from the western sun
flamed on the upp'-r rim of a great
cloud fragment creeping along the hori
zon.
"Eh blen, I must go," said Reno pres
ently, getting to his feet nimbly and
evading Father Beret's hand, which
would have held him.
"Not to tho river house, my son?"
said the priest appeallngly.
"No, not there. I have another letter;
one for M'sleu' Itousslllon. It came by
the boat too. I go to give it to Mine.
Itousslllon,"
Rene d Ronville was a dark, weaih r
stained young fellow, neither tall nor
uh< f, wearing buckskin moccasins,
trousers and tunic. His eyes were dark
brown, keen, quick moving, set well
under heavy brows. A razor had prob
ably never touched his face, and his
thin, curly beard crinkled over his
strongly turned cheeks and chin, while
his mustaches sprang out quite fiercely
above his full lipped, aluio | sensual
moMtli. He looked uny and active, a
mail not to bo lightly reckoned with In
a trial of Isjdily strength and will
power.
Father Beret's face and voice chang
ed on the Instant. lie laughed dryly
mid said, with a sly gleam in Ids eyes:
"You could spend tbo I. ,'eniug pleas
atilljj with Mine. Kont-.il!on and Jean.
Jean, you know, lu a very amusing fel
low,"
Rene brought forth the letter of
which he had spoken and held it Up be
fore Father Beret's face.
"Maybe you think I haven't yuy let
ter for M'bion' Kvusslllou," lio blurted,
f>and maybe you are quite certain that
1 am not going to the house to take the
letter."
"M. Itousslllon Is absent, you know."
Father Beret suggest*!. "Hut cherry
are just as'good while lie's gone
ns when tie's at home, and I happen to
know that there are some particularly
delicious ones in tho pantry of Mine.
itousslllon. Mliv. Alice gavo Uic a
nicy sample, but then | dare say you
do not capo to have your pie served by
her hand. It would interfere with
your appetite. Eh. my son?"
Rene turned short about, wagging
Ills head and laughing, and so wltl| his
back to the prlcgt ho strode away along
the wvt path leading to the Rousslllon
place.
Father Beret gazed after him, Ills
face relaxing to a serious expression
In which n trace of sadness and ({loom
spread like an elusive twilight. He
took uut his letter, but did not glance
ut It, simply holding It tightly gripped
In Ills sinewy right hand. Then Ids
old eyes stared vacantly, as eyes do
when their sight Is cast back many,
many years Into the past. The jpls
slve was froiq beyond the sea—he
I knew the handwriting a waft of the
flowers of Avignon seemed to rise out
i of it, as If by the pressure of his
grasp.
A stoop shouldered, burly man went
by, leading a pair of goats, a kid fol
lowing. He was making haste excited
ly, keeping the gonts at a lively trot.
"Bon Jour, Pere Beret," he flung
out breezily, and walked rapidly on.
I "All, ali; his mind I* busy with the
| newly arrived cargo," .bought the old
' priest, returning tho salutation. "Ills
throat aches for liquor the poor man."
Then he read again the letter's super
i script ion and made a faltering move as
1 If to break tfie seal. His hands trem
-1 bled violently, his face looked gray
and drawn.
"Come on. you brutes," cried the re
ceding man, Jerking the thongs of skin
by which he led t lie goats.
Father Beret rose and turned Into
his damp little hut, where the light
was dim on tho crucifix hanging op
posite tho d»sir against the clay
daubed wall. It was a bare, unsightly,
' clammy room. A rude bed on one sld'-,
n shelf for table and two or three
wooden stool* constituting the fund
turc, while the uneven puncheous of
' j the floor wabbled and clattered under
freni !:o:: i. . . t. - ! ' l;vr i.
V. ■ l;.st be'oru the c«.» u in hut I
1...-1 r.;..sio ill of nos-fairly
biiliking las Iron detertaiuu:i<>:i never
to <;uit for fl moment liis life w.irk as a
rwissionary. Ever since that day he
hod fatrnd it harder to meet the many
and Hem demands of a most difficult
tnd exacting duty. Now the mere
.touch of the paper In hl3 hand gave
him a sense of returning weakness,
dissatisfaction and longing. The home
of his boyhood, the rushing of the
Rhone, a seat in a shady nook cf the
garden, Madeline, his sister, prattling
beside him and his mother singing
somewhere about the house —it all
came back and went over him and
through him. making his heart sink
streugely, while another voice, the
sweetest ever heard—but she was in
effable and her memory a forbidden
fragrance.
Father Beret tottered across the for
lorn little room and knelt before the
crucifix, holding his clasped hands
high, the letter pressed between them.
liis lips moved In prayer, but made
no sound; his whole frame shook vio
lently.
It would be unpardonable desecra
tion to enter the chamber of Father
F.eret's soul and look upon his sacrod
end secret trouble, nor must we even
speculate as to if particulars. The
good old man writhed and wrestled
before the cross for a long time, until
nt hist he Beamed to receive the culm
nesa and strength he prayed for so
fervently. Then he rose, tore the let
ter into pieces so small that not a
word remained whole and squeezed
them so firmly together that they were
compressed Into a tiny, solid ball
which he let fall through a crack be
tween the floor puncheons. After wait
ing twenty years for that letter, hun
gry as his heart was, he did not even
open it when at last "It arrived. He
would never know what message It
bore. The link between him r.nd the
old sweet days was broken forever.
Now, with Cod's help, he could do his
work to the end.
lie went and stood in the doorway,
leaning against the side. lie looked
toward the "river house," as the in
habitants had named a large shanty
which stood on the bluff of the Wabash
not far from where the road bridge
at present crosses, r.nd saw men gath
ering there.
Meantime Bene do Renville had de
Uvcred Mine. liousullloii's letter with
duo promptness. Of course such a
service demanded pie and claret. What
still better pleased him. Alice chose to
be more amiable than was usually hot
custom when he called. They sat to
gether In tie main room of the house,
where M. IlousSillon kept his books, his
curiosities of Indian manufacture col
lected here and there, and his surplus
firearms, swords, pistols and knives,
ranged not unpleasingly around the
walls.
Of course, along with the letter. Rem;
bore the news, so Interesting to him
self, of the boat's tempting carg'i Just
discharged at tho river houao. Alice
understood her friend's dauger—felt It
in the intense enthusiasm of his voice
and manner. She had once seen the
men carousing on a similar occasion
when she was but a child, and the Im
pression then mnde still remained In
her memory. Instinctively she roolved
to hold Rene by one means or Knotllt-r
nway from the river house If possible.
So she managed to keep him occupied
eating pie, sipping watered claret arid
chatting until night came on and. Mine.
Itoussillon brought In a lamp. Than
he hurriedly snatched his cap from the
lloor beside lilm and got up to gofc
"Come nnd look at my handiwork,"
Alice quickly said; "my shelf of pies,
1 mean." She led him to the pantry,
where n dozen or more of tho cherry
pates were ranged In order. "I made
every one of them this morning aud
baked them; had them all out of the
oven before the rain came up. Don't
you think me a wonder of cleverness
and Industry? Father Beret was polite
enough to Ifcitter me; but jtou—you Just
eat what you want nnd say nothing!
You are not polite, M. liene do Ron
vllle."
"I've been showing you what I
thought tif your goodies," said Hene.
"Eating's better than talking, you
know, HO I'll Just take one more," and
he helped himself. "Isn't that compii
inent enough V"
"A few Much would make me another
hoi day's work," she replied, laughing.
"Pretty talk would l»e cheaper and
more satisfactory In the long run.
Even the flour In these pates I ground
with my own hand In an Indian mor
tar. That wan hard work too."
By 111Im time He no had forgotten the
river house and the liquor. With liof,
tenlng eyes he gazed i\t A)lccH« rounded
cheeks ani\ sh<-ony hair, over which the
light rroin the curious earthen lamp
she bore In her hand flickered iuo»t ef
fectively. He loved her madly, but his
fear of her wan more powerful Ui»i>
hln love. Bhe gave u« opportunity
to what he felt, having ever ready
a quick, bright change of mood and
manner when she saw him plunking up
courage to address her In a sentimental
way. Their (Dilation* had long been
somewhat familiar, which was but nat
ural, considering their youth and the
circumstances of their daily life, but
Alice somehow had kept a certain dis
tance open between them, so that very
warm friendship could not suddenly re
solve Itself Into n U'oubiesome passion
on Iteue's part.
Wo need not attempt to analysts a
young girl's feelings and motives in
such a case. What she does and wh(U
she thinks are mysteries ov<-n to her
own understanding. The influence most
potest in shaping the rudimentary
fliarncter of Alice Tnrleton (culled
tousslllon) had been only such as a
lonely frontier post could generate,
Her associations with men and woiueu
had, with few exceptions, been unprof
itable In an "durational way, while her
reading In M. ItoiisMlllon's little llhrnry
could not have given her any practical
knowledge of manners and life.
Her afl'i-rtlon for Iwas Inlerfred
with by her large wdiulratlon for the
heroic, {nustorful and magnetic knlghtn
who chnrged through the romances of
lie- Houssillon colleetlon. For although
Itene was unquestionably brave and
more than passably handsome, he had
no armor, no war horse, no shining
lance and embossed shield- the dllfer
ence, Indeed, was great.
l'erhaps it wns the light and heat of
Imiiglnntlon sldulng out through Alb-e's
face which gnve her beauty such a fas
clnatlng power. Rene saw It and felt
Its electrical stroke send a sweet shiver
through Ills heart while he stood before
licr.
"You an- very beautiful tonight,
Alice," he presently said, with a sud
denness which took even her alertness
by surprise. A Hush rose to his dark
faro an<l immediately gave way to a
grayish pallor. Ills heart came near
stopping on the Instant, he was so
shocked by his own daring, bill In- laid
ii hand on her hair, stroking It softly,
.lu«t a moment *!>>• Win at n loss,
100 I. Ing a trifle einbarrtiHS"d; then,
with a merry lauch. she stepped aside
and said:
"That sounds better, M. Itene de
Ronviile; much IK'.UT. YOU will be AA
p-.:!:te as Ki.ther H ret after a little
more training."
She sllpprd past him wh!ie
lug and made her way br.- k a.-'.ihi to
the main room, whence she called to
him:
"Cciae here. I've something to show
you."
lie obeyed, a sheepish trace on Ms
cou::te:;ence betraying his self con
sciousness.
When he came near Alice, she was
taking from its buekliorn hook en the
wail a rapier, one of a beautiful pair
hanging side by side.
"Papa Roussillou gave me these," she
said, with great animation. "He bought
them of :;n Indian who l:nJ kept them
a long time. Where he came across
them he would not tell. But look, how
b". utifui! Did you cv6r see anything
so fine?"
Guard ami hilt were of silver; the
blade, although somewhat corroded,
still showed the fine, wavy lines of
I>a:uascus steel and traces of delicate
engraving, while in the end of the
hilt was set a large oval turquoise.
"A very queer present to sive a
girl." said liene. "What can you do
with them?"
A captivating flash of playfulness
came Into her face and she sprang
backward, giving the sword a semi
circular turn with her wrist. The
blade sent forth a keen hiss as it cut
the air close, very close to Rene's nose.
He Jerked his head aud flung up his
hand.
She laughed merrily, standing beauti
fully poised before him, the rapier's
point slightly elevated. Her short skirt
left her feet and ankles free to show
their graceful proportions and the per
fect pose in which they held her supple
l>ody.
"You see what I can do with the
colechemarde, eh, M. Rene de lloii
ville!" she exclaimed, giving him a
smile which fnlrly blinded him. "No
tice how very near to your neck I can
thrust and yet not touch it. Now!"
She darted the keen point under his
chin and drew it away so quickly that
the stroke was like a glint of sun
light.
"What do you think of that as a nice
and accurate piece of skill?"
She again resumed her pose, the
right foot advanced, the left arm well
back, her lissome, finely developed
body leaning slightly forward.
Rene's hands were up before his face
In a defensive position, palms outward.
Just then a chorus of men's voices
sounded in the distance. The river
The rapier t vat making a erUticraM pat
tern of JUuhing line*.
house was beginning Its carousal with
u song. Alice let fall her sword's point
aud llsteued.
Rene looked about for Bis cap.
"I must be going," lie said.
Another and louder swish of tho
rapier made lilm pirouette and dodge
(gain with great energy.
"Don't," he cried, "that's dangerous.
You'll put out my eyes, I never saw
such a «lrl!"
She lushed at him and kept on whip
ping the air dangerously near his eyes
until she had driven lilm backward
ns far as he could squeeze himself Into
a corner of the room.
Mine. Rousslllon came to the door
from the kitchen sud stood looking In
and laughing, with her hands on her
Ijlps. Hy tlds time the rapier was mak
ing a crisscross pattern of flashing
11 n<* close to the young man's head
while Alice, In Vbe enjoyment of her
exercise, seemed to concentrate nil tho
glowing rays of her beauty In her face,
her eyes (binciitf merrily.
"gult now, Alice," he bogged, half
In fun and half In abject fear. "Fleas®
quit- 1 surrender!"
She thrust to the wall on either sldo
of htm, then springing lightly back
ward apa CO. stood nt guard. Her thick
yellow ltdlr had fallen over her nock
and shoulders In n loose wavy mass,
out of which lier face beamed with a
bewitching effect upon her captive.
Bene, {tlnd enough to have a cessa
tion of his i*«rll, stood laughing dryly,
but tho singing down at the river
house was swelling louder and he
made another movement to go.
"Your surrendered, you remember,"
cried A lice, renewing tho sword play.
"KU down on the chair there and make
yourself comfortable. You are not go
ing down yonder tonight; yon are going
to stay here and talk with me and
Mother KOUSNIIIOU. We are lonesome
and you are go's! company."
A shot rang out keen and clear, there
was a sudden tumult that broke up the
singing, and presently more tiring at
varying intervals cut the night ulr from
the direction of the river.
Jean, the hunchback, came In to say
that therv was a row of some sort. He
U»d IH'II men running across the com
mon as If In pursuit of a fugitive, but
tlie moonlight was so dim that he could
not be sure what It all meant.
Bene picked up his cap nnd bolted
out gf the house.
(TO IIK ro.inNUEn.]
WHY THEY ARE POOR.
Their Ideas are larger than their
purses.
They are easy dupes of schemers and
promoters.
They reverse the maxim, "Duly be
fore pleasure."
They have too many and too expen
sive amusements.
They do not think It worth while to
save nickels and dimes.
They have risked a competence in
trying to get rich quickly.
They allow friends to Impore upon
their good nature and generosity.
They try to do what other* expect of
tin in, not what they can afford.
They prefer to Incur debt rather than
to do work which they consider be
neath them.
They think It will Is time enough to
iK-irlu to save for a rainy day when the
rainy day comes.
They risk all their egg » In oie ; • t
when they are n<>'. in a pu ()<■ to
wnteh or evn'»\>l 11. Huceess.
TEST YOUR SEED CORN.
A Simple Method of Makinjr Sure
That It Im All Rftarht.
When we consider that a bushel of
seed corn ought to produce 400 bushels
of corn, worth from $l3O to SIOO, and
that there Is talk of low vitality and
scarcity of good seed In some portions
i
BOX WITH FOLDEIiS.
of the corn belt this year, the Impor
tance of testing hardly needs to be
urged. The lowa experiment station
has adopted a very convenient method
of testing.
In a cigar box are placed folders con
taining samples of corn. The folders
are made by cutting Ave or six thick
nesses of newspaper Into strips 5 by
10 Inches and folding as shown In the
second cut. Moisten the folders thor
oughly before placing the corn in them.
This is important. Pot four or live
thicknesses of-moistened paper In the
bottom of the
box and as
many mqre rv j\
over the sum- / \
pies to prevent j
drying out, and /~r\Ja
tie the cover
down tight. Set *0 y
the box where fOcil
thetemperature
dues not fall Qk (J
below 55 de- N507
grees. I
In two or
three days. If
the folders are ____________
g e t.t 1n g dry, FOLDI;LL CONTAIMXO
moisten by coax,
sprinkling wa
ter over them In the box. At the end
of five days every kernel that has not
sent out vigorous root and stem sprouts
should be counted unfit for seed. The
corn ought to test not less than 04 to
05 per cent.
LITTLE WONDER WORKERS.
Latest Fnet* About Bacteria, the Mi
nute Friends of the Farm.
Decatur, 111.—At the roundup of the
Illinois farmers' state institute, held
here, one of the most Important ad
dresses given was that of Dr. T. Y.
Burrlll of the University of Illinois, In
which he emphasized the Importance
of soil bacteria In successful farming
and stated the latest facts and ideas In
regard to them.
"There are bacteria," said Dr. Bur
rlll, "that live on bare rocks and get
their sustenance from these and from
the air and In their life processes ac
tually store up organic matter—that Is,
they are soil makers, fertility produ
cers, advance agents In the making of
a farm.
"Bacteria put nitrogenous compounds
which are little or not at all utilized
by higher vegetation in available
shape and so contribute to soil fertil
ity in another way. This Is called
nitrification, and the bacteria are nl
trlfylng agents. It hns been found
that In this respect there are two
groups of these workers. One set of
species oxidize ammonia or its units to
nitrites and another set further change
these nitrites to nitrates. A very cu
rious thing Is that these bacteria are
not able to exert their activities In the
presence of soluble organic matter
the very condition most favorable for
most other micro organisms. Even
ammonia in a free state is an antisep
tic to the nitrate formers.
Denltrlficatlon can go on in a com
pact soli, but nitrification requires nlr.
It seems that the stimulating effect of
tillage Is very considerably duo to this
nitrifying activity—that Is, we culti
vate soil In part to favor these peculiar
bacteriological friends. Again, these
latter cannot work in an ackl medium.
Sometimes the application of lime to
certain soils proves to be greatly ad
vantageous, not perhaps because there
Is too little of this substance for plant
food, but because It corrects the acid
ity and permits, among other things,
the nitrifying bacteria to work. Doubt
less stable manure operates to some ex
tent In the saino way, and It also fa
vors these bacteria, after the organic
compounds are partially destroyed, by
assisting In aeration. We see, too, how
tile dralnngo may Indirectly Improve
the productive capacity of the soli by
securing better penetration of air and
so again aid our friends, the nltrlllers.
PoHslbly In the full development of
ngrlcultfurnl science wo shall find more
direct methods In securing the volun
tary services to their highest efllclency
of these mlnuto friends of the farm.
The Rate for the American Royal.
Tho American Uoyal live stock show
Is announced .'o- Oct. 17 to 22, Inclu
sive, at the Kansas t'lty stockyards.
The range car lot Is to be a prominent
feature, with attractive premiums, and
the total of premiums for exhibits will
be 920,000. it Is believed that many
of the line exhibits made at the world's
fair wjll be repeated here. C. It. Thom
as, Kansas City. Is general manager.
THINGS DOfNQ.
An Attempt to Aseertaln if the Coffee
Tree Can He Orown Here.
Uy J. T. MAIIBHALI..
It has been an idea of some of the
people of the department of agriculture
that a hardy species of coffee tree
might be naturalized here by growing
It from seed of the original wild coffee
tree, as that grows In nature, unculti
vated by man, and It Is thought that
the coffee tree of Abyssinia would re
spond better to the environment of the
western hemisphere than the Arabian
stock from which the coffee trees of
the world at present originate. Consul
SUlnner, who has Just returned from a
trip to Abyssinia, completed arrange
mcnts by which seed of the vlld tree
of tho country will be forwarded to the
United States as soon as It call be se
cured from the interior of Abyssinia.
Whatever Its prospect of success, this
project Is certainly an Interesting one
to ttie great army of American coffee
drinkers.
Corn Urowlng Interests.
The corn school wa* one < i ti c most
popular features of the 111 • i>U turn
ers' Institute mcctin fi'ii' -."V . t
crowd. Profe-.sor liuu t !i. .)« .*
college WHS the tnstru"t»r, and L. H.
No. 14.
v »ose of ludiana judged tlie exhibits.
"More good bushels per acre," says
Professor Hume, "is the object of the
study of corn." The discussion follow
ing; Professor Hume's address pointed
toward a prevailing opinion among the
fanners present that seed corn this
year is low in vitality. Thorough test
ing before planting was urged by Pro
fessor Hume. An unusually fine corn
exhibit was brought out by the prizes
offered for the best corn to go as Illi
nois" representation at the St. Louis
fair. The first prize went to the Messrs.
Suvton for white corn of the variety
Farmer's Interest, which will head the
Illinois list at St. Louis.
Stockmen Make Their Wants Known
At L>es Moines 300 members of the
'!eat Producers" association ap
peared before the legislature with a pe
tition in favor of the Delano stock ship
ping bill. At the hearing given by the
house committee on railroads of testi
mony against the bill the railroad men
advanced the arguments that high
speed of stock trains tends to danger
and that fast tratllc had so increased
the cost of moving stock that the re
duction of speed, with consequent re
duction of cost, had becftme a measure
of necessary self defense. The Delano
bill establishes a minimum speed of
twenty miles an hour for stock trains
and obliges the railroad companies to
ißsue return tickets to cattle shippers.
In the discussion before ti-e committee
the stockmen not only demanded the
passage of this bill, but asked that a
meat packing plant be established at
the State Agricultural college to teach
young men the trade. The annual
meeting of the shippers' association,
held the same day, ratified these de- ; ~---;
mands.
A S(W Range Country.
It would appear that stock growing
Is to find a fresh territory in Alaska
which may in time rival the glories of
the old ranges. While the temperature
Is frequently very low, it is claimed
that the absence of severe storms
makes the climnte more kindly to stock
than that of the plains. Present plans
of Washington stock growers contem
plate the transformation of some of
the Aleutian islands, with their wide
areas of rich grass, into great ranges
for cattle and sheep. One thousand
sheep have already been successfully
wintered there. Eight thousand sheep
were recently sent by a company
which Intends to ship large numbers of
both sheep and cattle.
Good I'ena For Home nnd Market.
P. William Kane of New Hampshire
probably knows considerably more
about peas than the next man. Hero
Is what he has said about some of the
newer varieties:
Gradus or Prosperity.—An early
wrinkled, large podded pea of excellent
CLAUDIT
GRADCS AND CLAUDIT PEAH.
quality, maturing from four to eight
days later than the Alaska. Vines two
to three feet high; pods dark green,
large, long and flat, containing five to
seven large peas. Itecommended for
Its size and qunllty, also fine appear
ance In the market as compared with
other early varieties ripening with or
a few days ahead of it,
Clnudlt.—A new early, wrinkled pea.
Vines two and a half feet, pods three
to three and a half Inches long, con
taining six to eight peas. Very pro
line; quality good. Highly recommend
ed for home or market use.
Oklahoma Cattle Breeder* Organise.
Okhthoma has a newly organized
Shorthorn Breeders' association. Pro
fessor Burtls, Stillwater, was elected
president and J. W. Gaudy, Supply,
secretary-treasurer. It Is proposed to
exhibit a herd of Oklahoma Shorthorns
at St I^onls.
Saluting the Lightning.
"You must take off your hat to the
lightning in the South American town
of Quito unless you want to be guilty
of very bad form," states a traveler.
"There the lightning Is deeply respect
ed. Every one removes his hat when
It flushes, no matter If rain Is falling,
and when the streets are busy and
lightning is abundant a grotesque ef
fect Is produced by these salutations,
which seom to be regarded nH a duty
by all well behaved persons."
Rending and Thinking.
The things one merely reads about
never stick. Those on which one
thinks become permanent acquisitions;
hence the man who Is not afraid of
thinking and who does not dread "that
cursed Injur In the dark"' Is at a dis
tinct ndvahtnge on every ground. He
passes the time without being bored,
and ho strengthens his mind. To say
this may no doubt sound slightly prig
gish, but It is none the less true. The
man who can enjoy and make use of
his own thoughts has a herltuge which
can never be alienated. Even blindness
for him loses some of Its terrors.—
London Spectator.
An Kr« For Kye.
"My cook, an old darky, Informed
me one morning: 'Miss Annie, I's goln'
to be married tonight. Is you got ft
present for me?'
" 'But. Marin,' I said, 'you'vo got n
husband alive and haven't been di
vorced. It would bo bigamy!'
"'Well, Miss Annie, I don't care:
he's done blgotted fust.' "-Llpplncott's
Magazine.
(letting Out of Debt.
"What was It your husband wanted
to see me about?" Inquired Mrs. New
llwed's papa.
"I think he wanted to borrow a
couple of hundred dollars from you,"
she said. "He's so anxious to get out
of debt."—Philadelphia I-edger.
Not Needed Below.
"This Is a funny ship."
"llow so?"
"They have no clock In the cabin."
"Oh, no! But they always keep a
watch on the deck."—Stray Stories.
Cutting Him.
"It's cruel of you to snub him. He's
it good sort, If he Is a rough diamond."
"That's the reason he needs cutting."
••-Judge.