Evening Star Newspaper, December 5, 1891, Page 7

STREET IN ANACO OADSIDE. SKETCHES. = Village of Anacostia and Its Historic Surroundings. WHERE POET PAYNE LIVED. we Changes of Kecent Years— The Beginning of Anacosiia—Khe Neighboring Settlement of Hillsdale — Where Frederick Douglass Lives—Victuresque Views From the Hills, ANACOSTIA AND HILLSDALE ARE + mg the most promising of Washing- ton’s suburbs, and they possess some attrac- tior : that are not to be found elsewhere in this Vicinity. The towns themselves are not old by ap~ means, but their environs are rich in Bistor- i ‘Therefore a visit to and a stroll exen on. - of Ith street southeast. Py .ug across this structure, pleasing scenes fre witnessed on every side. To the right are the Navy Yard, the Arsenal or Greenleaf’ Point, the Potomac and the inia hills be- Yond. Moving the eye slowly toward the left, it rests successively on Geisboro’ and Poplar Points. Im:ediately in front are Anacostia and Hillsdale, the heights of the latter, with Iences, making a pieasing Townrd the left one # ridge and the valley of d to view. the southern end of the bridge, a you tothe junction of Harti treets, Anacostia, the former, lly the western end of the unning eastward toward the latter, which was once running south- ward toward t yium. The dividing line between Harrison street and Good Hope road is about 300 feet east of Taylor street, While Morris road separates Anacostia from Hillsdal THE BEGINNING OF ANACOSTIA. Forty years ago the site of Anacostia was farm lands, and was owned by one Enoch Tucker. It formeriy belonged to the Marberry estate, and was part of the “Chichester” tract. There were 250 acres in the Tucker farm, a good part of whic was cultivated for truck purposes. Mr. Tucker did not attend to the rm work bi however, for he was em- mith in the navy yard. ed or worked on the ‘The Tucker farm house stood alone r ently, occupied which was ori, old Mariboro into building lots, nam- otia. It continued to be Known by this name until 1965, when it was re- christened Uniontown, which iatter name it re- tained unui 1869, when the original name was resumed. ‘The first house ¢rested in the new town after the subdivision was completed was the old two- story brick on Harrison street, now occupied by Weigel’s store and bakery. George F. Pyle’s grocery store, nearly adjoining on the west, f00n followed. Bat the oldest house within the limits of the town today is the old Fox mansion on the south side of Jefferson street, which was built A pied by W. H. Richards, e residence of Dr. A. M. attractive new residence A 'y old building is the small frame structure on Harrison street, a little west of Anderson's blacksmith sop.’ This house was built by James Buckley, who was bridgekeeper im the days of tol: The town is growing rapidiy, and handsome buildings meet the eye in every direction. Many new Luildings are now in course of eon- struction and business is generaily very active. The population, which is almost white, will aggregate 3,500. colored families in the plac ‘THE MASONIC HALL. The old and new Masonic Hall buildings fare Bish © good contrast between the sleepy old of adecade agoand the live, bustli te and was completed last year Yt & cost of $15,000. ‘The first stor; ® public hall. The second story is use iL. provided with churches and THE CHURCHES. ‘The new Episcopal Church, corner of Wash- jc walls, which are low, are built of Potomac Blue stove, trimmed with red sand stone, the of slate, being quite elaborate and exten- It will cost, when completed, $12,000. The Methodist Church ison the corner and Pierce streets, directly opposit ic Hall. The Baptist Church is on Jef ite street between Fillmore and Polk. ‘The oman Catholic Church is on the north- corner of Washington and Fillmore streets, n the opposite corner, on a terrace, being the Episcopal Church. The fine new public school house on Jeffer- between Fillmore and Pierce streets, dedi- ted last summer, bas accommodations for Par! wn (well named), the home of the late Christie, down ‘on Harrison | sketches of it before its destruction, which Presented to the readers of Tar Stan. The north end of the old honse is also shown in one of the pictures. The tree was over one hundred years old at its death. Before its de- cay it measured fifteen fect around the trunk, and its old branches overtopped every tree in the vicinity. The rustic seat that used to en- circle ita trunk is securely preserved as a pre- cious heirloom in the attic of the old house. The late George W. Talburtt, the then pro- prictor of the Talburtt estate, was the friend WHERE “TOME, SWERT HOME” WAS WRITTEN. and boon companion of Payne. Although there was quite a disparity in their ages, Payne being much the elder, there was something in their natures that drew them toward each other. Perhaps it was the love of music, for which they were both noted. And ‘then each was of a convivial turn, and each played and sang well.. Both were bach- elors when the famous song was written, and their companionship was almost insepar- able. They would sit for hours together of a summer evening under the spreading branches of the old tree, singing and playing favorite airs, and it is 2'matter of neighburhood gossip that jolly old Bacchus looked on approvingly casi ‘THE OLD PAYNE TREE WITH NORTH END OF OLD ‘TALBURTT HOUSE. that Mr. Talburtt, who was ided Payne very ‘materially with his song. At any rate it was sung and re- sung by them many times before its introduc- tion to the public. In this connection I must correct error. Ithas been repeatedly si newspapers that the original manuscript of “4 Sweet Home” is in the possession of the Talburtt family. Ihave been informed by a member of the family. who ought to know, that there ia no foundation, in fact for this story. Payne was careless about such things, and it is more than probable that the manu- script went into the waste basket. Payne was a wanderer, without a home, and his loneliness, compared with th the household in which he was than a common guest, doubtless suggested the idea of the song. THE TALBURTT-PAYNE HOUSE. That Payne and Talburtt were very fond of each other is proven by the fact that they Janned for the erection of a residence for their Joint occupancy. Payne selected the site and ‘alburtt built the house, but fate had decreed that this was as far as their scheme should go. In 1841 the poet died in Tunis, Africa, he hav- ing been appointed United States consul to that place by Presideut Van Buren. The sad and sudden loss of his dear friend, and the consequent failure of their plans, had a marked effect on the future of Mr. Talburtt. Instead of Mr. Payne, he took for his com- panion and helpmate through life’s journey one of the best and most accomplished young women of this section. They lived happily in the new house until Mr. Talburtt's death in 1865. The widow is now a resident of North- east Washington, enjoying, in ber advancin years, the society of her children and grand- children and the esteem of her neighbors. ‘The Talburtt-Payne house is beautifully situ- ated on Maple avenue and is now the home of Mr. H. A. ion ‘upied by the Talburtts. Mr. Griswold has changed the out- lines materially, especially tue front exposure. ‘The ancient Talburtt mansion down on the river's side, which, by the way, can be reached by a lane which forms a continuation of Morris ‘oad, yet belongs to Mrs. Talburtt, but a man named Allen, basa lease of it aad’ works the land ase truck farm. ‘The Woodruff cottage, on the water's side, a little east of Talburtt’s, is an old historie place. Mrs. Woodruff was the mother of George W. Talburtt by her first marriage. ‘Anacostia is distinctively a white community, although the population of the surrounding villages of Hillsdale, Stantontown, Garfield, &c., are made up largely of colored folks. It isa harmonious, law-abiding community, and Tam told that the arrest of one of its citizens for a crime is of rare occurrence. It has doubtless been noticed that the older streets were named after the Presidents of the United States. A post office was first established in Anacostia in 1849, John Lloyd Leing the first postmaster. ‘The office was discontinued in 1858, and was re- established in 1865 unde the name of Union- town. The name of the office was again changed to Anacostia in 1369. MILLSDALE. Morris (formerly “New Cut") road is the dividing line between Anacostia and Hillsdale. ‘The latter is a comparatively new settlement. Ita site was a houseless woodland thirty years ago, with the exception of Poplar Point, which was many generations since the home of sturdy old farmer Jas. Barry. Howard avenue leads down to the old place, and should you decide to visit it you find there some will of} of the bricks of the ruin of the old mansion house, torn down many ago. The place got its name of Poplar it from the great number of poplar trees fag: Sisal witesasen’ as Th were” petating' to as it were, Sotiner grander. “h lacge row ol Lomb used to separate the Bar this ith th that “ir. Maswell” A TIMID WOMAN. A GREAT BREAK IN A LIFE’S MONOTONY. WRITTEN FOR THE EVENING STAR BY OOTAVE THANET. (Copyrighted. } OHAPTER L VER HAD THERE BEEN A SEPTEM- ber like that in all the autumns of Judith Cres life. The last day she went out toa little knoll edged by sycamore trees only to gaze about the farm for the sheer joy of pos- session. Yet she was not used to love the farm: born atimid and gregarious soul, she was op- pressed by solitude. For twenty-two years that long hedge of poplars had looked to her as sho fancied a prison stockade might look to a con- vict. Her eyes wearied of the billowy levels, tossing like an ocean about the trig, four- roomed house and huge unpainted barns; they wearied of the dusty currant bushes and the unfruitfnl orchard. Most of all they wearied of the one everlasting, relentless face of nature. Therefore she spent hours daily nursing a pitiful little show of flowers such as had grown in the moist seashore garjlens of her youth and wilted under the fierce Iowa summers. In- doors she cut out pictures from the illustrated journals that at rare intervals came into her nds and pasted them on her unplastered w She learned to make paper flowers. She hankered after the dazzling but unattain- able loveliness of wax flowers in oval glass cases. She subscribed to a semi-weekly house- hold magazine named the Homestead, reading and rereading (in her hunger for companion- ship) the “Correspondence Column,” wherein subscribers exchanged impartially their domes- tic trials, their spiritual wrestlings, the puzzles of rural etiquette and the best fashionsof wash- ing blankets or raising a ‘sponge. ” Occasionally in that oft-studied column would appear a paragraph like t! I would like to ask the sister from Marr if she makes her choco- late frosting with the whites of eggs or boils it, and please send a recipe for preventing rabbits gnawing the rovebushes. Lvcerra.” Or, “I dearly love to get the Homestead. I ‘enjoy all the sisters way. Erminie writes most beautifully! Please write again, Erminie, and Jet us know how to bear our crosses in the right spirit. I would be obliged, also, for a remedy how to prevent hair falling out. Lucerra.” When she read these Mrs. Crest would blush with pleasure and feel the intoxicating delights of fame, for she was Lucetta. But for most of the time there was only work to break the loneliness. To be sure, there was plenty of work and had been all through the twenty-two yeara. Josiua, ber husband, was @ good farmer, but for a long while ‘“un- merciful disaster followed fast and followed faster. Once he bad been swept clean of all save hope by acyclone; once he had escaped only by a hair's breudth losing his farm through the fraud of a friend. ‘Twenty-two years ago he had sai Never mind, Judy, just let me make a few thousand dollars and You shan’t have to work on the farm. I'll sell out and buy a store in town and be postmaster.” All his life Joshua had craved the leisurely honors of Office. He, too, was social. He liked to talk and he had a gift for telling stori the years tho%e two simple creatures had stocked that store I will not try tocount. At firstevery Sunday night. They bought a book on bookkeeping and un arithme- tic, and it was (but principle would not allow anything so like a game on Sunday) an exciting diversion to practice making change with the numbered counters of _pastebourd left by a tramping farm hand. They did not dream that thedingy red and blue and white disks were no less than wicked poker chips. Judith hacked them into the proper sizes and num- bered them neatly so that they repre- sented all the subsidiary coin. By con- sequence Mrs. Crest’s extraordinary swift- ness and accuracy in changing a dollar for, sa} three dozen eggsat 1734 cents a dozen, or thres pounds of butter at 23 cents a pound, were the marvel of the Delmar shopkeepers. From coin to bank notes the transition is casy—in theory; ascarcity of notes made it less easy in prac- tice, but by dint of years’ study the pair came to know the look and feel of a bank note well enough to enable Joshua to detect a very poor counterfeit two-dollar bill at a county fair. From that day dated a reputation for shrewd- ness that he no more deserved than he did the gallows. But the years slowly had dragged hope and dreams away together. The little cuildren came; they died, one after another, and the desolate mother felt, deep down in her heart, that a doctor near enough to come daily might have saved them. Then, when the keenness of their grief was blunted and they went for com- fort to their old funcies, me and in their savings had been wrenched from them. The man would have given up the fight in despair, Dut the woman clung to her shadowy hopes the more tenaciously. Fi ir industry conquered, reat crop of 1891 had increased their savings beyond the amount necessary to pay off the last installment of the mortgage; they would actually have some hun- dreds in mou ix thousand dollars and over stood to Joshtin Crest's credit at the bank. “Only,” said Judith to Myron Dwight, “I cayn’'t help feeling kinder scary till the 3d of October is past and gone.” Myron was considered the cleverest young man in Delmar or the county. He had been to lowa City to the university; he went every year to Chicago to buy his goods,which added to his knowledge of the world aud improved his toilets: he was talked about for the le; ture. He was to be Joshua's partner. Myron was almost like a gon to Judith. She had Joved him, petted him, prayed for him, and no one except his mother kuew so well what things he liked best toeat. Myron's mother was Judith’s best friend—why should I make & secret of i She was the admired Erminie of the Homestead. She was a widow with this one child, whom she had educated out of the proceeds of a tiny bake shop and an infi- nite ingenuity. They lived in Delmar. To live in Delmar may uot seem to the world a Drilliant lot, Delmar being a fiat inland Towa town, but beside the lonely farm life a town with two churches, a bank and shops looked like a populous paradise. In Delmar one could see people every day just by looking out of the window. “Seems like I couldn't wait to get to Del- mar,” said Judith, “*but I cayn't feel to be quite happy tall after the 3d. on looks at her kindly from the height of his ‘six fect two inches. She is such a wee creature, in a black frock made (but he does not know it) after a pattern from the Homestead, with her little peaked, wistful, timid face, her mild blue eyes and forehead, wrinkled by the constant lifting of her eyebrows, peering out to see distant objects on those wide and lonely sla plains. Her eyebrows are thin and gray, and so | °! 1s her hair, which she curls on @ slate pencil to resemble the hair of the ladies of Delmar. It hair if she would not disfig- | “Yes,” says Myron, “Lollard is» hard man to deal witb, but you’ have the money in the Delmar Bank all righ “Itain't in the Delmar Bank, it is in the other bank, Mr. Starling’s bank at Ranford.” Myron’s’ black brows met. ‘Why, Uncle Joshua certainly told me be was going to put it in the Delmar Bank.” “Well, he did start to put it there, but he happened to hear Mr. Maxwell was a drinking man— ‘Maxwell! Why, he never was drunk in bis He is as teniperate a man as ever lived and as honest.” “Joshua didn’t hear anything about his hon- esty, but it was this way, Joshua bad gone to Delmar with that money and be met Mr. Starling in town; well, 1 guess Mr. Starling fome up to him aud congratulated him on the high price he got for his wheat and it’s being likely ‘our corn would do well, too; and Joshua told him what he got and how he was on his bie f to put it in the bank. And someway, that led them into talking "bout Mr. Maxwell aud Mr. Starling suid he was sorry Maxwell, was ot jor party; and it come out t sometimes took a glass of beer himself. Mr. Starling seemed to feel real ‘him | *rry about it” (ta occupy a commanding sition, magnificent views of Washington aad the country around being obtained from their summit. residences grace the most elevated points, among others being those of Mr. Messer, Lawyor Sherwood and Dr. Grant of the internal revenue office, Treasury Depart- Here M: latest hired man, who was to be married toa girl in Sweden and had told her about the courtship. Axel was to buy the farm. Most of allshe feared tramps at harvest time; s! feared them #0 much that she had secretly bonght a second-hand pistol that would not fire, which she locked up ina drawer, and she was on the whole rather more afraid of its ex- ploding than of the tramps. For a while she watcued the tall, light figure bounding between the rows of corn with the pensive admiration of age for youth's activity then she walked slowly, a little stiffly, back to the house. It would soon be time for Joshua’ supper; perhaps Myron wouid st to supper, too, anus would be worth while i rake pant cakes. CHAPTER IL. But when half an hour later Joshua's shadow fell ucross the threshold there was no tall young fellow behind him. Joshua stood in the door- way to watch her. The kitchen was large and sunny and Judith had papered it with her own hands. Had ae F rT not been bought of a pedier to whom Judith had paid tribute be- cause she was alone in the house, and he had “such fierce kinder eyes,” it probably would not have been a remnant of a pattern used in & country “opera house,” nor represented flowers of such startling size and color, nor needed to be eked out by a blue and gold ceiling paper. But Joshua said that paper was good quality; and he ad- mired it with a trusting heart. He was a short, rather stout, florid little man whose gray hair was brushed back from a large fore- head, and whoee blue eyes were as innocent as achild’s. Ho stooped a little, because he had bent over a plow handle so much in his youth. He wore a short gray beard, but his mouth was bare and usually was attractive in its kindly, half humorous smile. ‘Tonight he watched bis wife gravely. But his first words were -cheer- ful enough. “Mother, Axel’s money will be here all right next month, and he can pay twelve hundred down and’ the rest on two, three and four years’ time.” “That's good,” said Mrs. Crest, “but why didn’t Myron come back with you, father?” “He said he guessed he'd better hurry home.” The old man did not look at her; he walked across the floor to the sink and began pumping. All the while he was conscious of his wife'seyes on dPathers did Myron tell thing about “Father, ron you anything about that bank? Joshua's face was over the tin basin; a great splashing noise came to her, mingled with a grunt that the bank was all right; but Joshua's neck, fair where the sun had not touched it, grew redder and redder. “Father, I jest know he did!” cried; “he thinks Starling’s bank ain't safe. ‘hat’s Myron wouldn't stop to supper; he didn't to be questioned.’ “Mother, you're the scariest critter alive. Starling is'@ good boy; he is the superintend- ent—no, that's his brother, but he is a pro- fessor; and he traight temperance man, and Lain’t going to believe a word agin him.” Judith was trying to fry her cakes, the grease sputtered and hissed on the griddle and spat- tered on her bure wrisi; she did not even know that it had burned her. Her mild eyes were glowing, she trembled, and-her gentle voice was eharpened by pain as she answeresl: “ he did talk to you. Oh, father, don't, don't hide anything from me \ “ain't hiding nothing, mother; Myron, he thought you'd worry +o, that’s all; and ‘tain’ much he said; he’s young and thinks he knows itall. Jest because some Chicago feller with his boots blacked has been stuiting Myron, he thinks Steve Starling, we've all knowed from a boy, is going to bust up. “Father, for heaven's sake, what did Myron why want say’ “Well, if you'll be any wiser for hearin’, he heard Steve had been speculating in buckets in Chicago,” said the old man with a visible pride over bis own fluency with the terms of finance. has been going long or else he hus been short on wheat and kiting notes and lost money, but I don't word of it myself.” Judith took up the cakes with shaking hands; she laid the plate on the table and put the grid- die further back on th roach Joshua, Never ied had he ween his wife then. s “Joshua,” she said, “if we losé that money it means we'll have to spend all our days working on a mortgaged farm. If we cayn’t pay up the third he can foreclose on us; and you know he is mean enough to do it, and if we borrow the money to pay him we shall have to work it out ‘That's the best can happen to us, the worst we'll be turned out—on the prairie—no ways at all can we go to town, and how many years— oh, father — “Hush, hush, Judy”—he tried to soothe her, ihe | Alick, I guess, Mr. Crest.” I al i i not known to any one. I'd be a litte careful if I was you, talking about bankers’ credit these days. You'bave been fooled by some smart ndrebuffed Joshua climbed into Had he gone to Myron he would discovered that it was suspected that it Was under the names of other men that all Starling’s speculations were made; but Joshua Tegarded Myron as the cause of his griefs. He toid Judith that he had been laughed at for his pains and that the bank was as good as gold. But he did not convince her, and in- deed, as he repeated the conversations to her, they lost something of their potency as ap- provers of Starling. The next day she would havo walked to Del- marto consult with Myron had she not heard from:a passing neighbor that he was gone Chicago. She said nothing to Joshua, but at night he said to her: “Tomorrow I got to go to the Hallers to help them thresh, they're dretful behind with their wheat, and I cayn't feel it’s Christian to let them two boys that ain't got no father mabbe lose « lot of wheat ‘cause they ain't got help enough at the threshing machin but day ayfter I'ma goin’ to see Myron and to give him a check to draw out that money. I sent word to Starling by Axel yesterday.” She thanked him warmly and did not oxpress the fear tormenting her that the notice would in some undiscerned way defeat all their inten- tiona. ‘That night she slept ill. She rose early and tried to cheer herself by making Joshua's favor- ite German coffee cake to be ready against his returnat night, She set her sponge and waa arrived at the stage of dough, when Myron Dwight rode up on his fast horse. Myron looked cheerful, but the horse shook flecks of foam off his nostrils as he tossed his head. Myron asked for Joshua and rode away on a gallop, singing out: “Tell you ail about it when come aunt Judith Judith waited until dark, keeping supper hot. She sat on the doorstep and thought. It seemed to her that she had never thought in that way before during her life. ‘The moon was in the sky when afar, on the sea of prairie, she discerned Myron Dwight coming alone. With a sinking heart she saw that he came in the direction of Ranford and that he was riding a tired horse. He must pass tne house to reach the Delmar road. She waited for him. “Won't you come in and havea cup of coffee, Myron?” she begged. ‘I got hot on the ave “you been so long? Oh, Myron, please tell me; please don’t put me of Myron’s faco changed. “You're right,” he muttered. Then in a louder tone: “‘I won't put You off, aunty, I have been to Ranford with Uncle Josh and—well, we got there after bank- ing hours and couid do nothing. Icouldn’t get Unele Josh away from that infernal machine. But he is going buck to Ranford first thing next morning andsoam L In fact, I shall go and see mother and take the train’ over there to- night.” h, Myron, is the bank going to bust?” “I guess not before we get our money out, Aunt Judy. Well, good-by.” As she ‘watched him out of sight the same tense look wasin her face that had been there while she sat on the step thinkin, Joshua came, no long time aft. to talk in a rambling way about the day's work und how tired the horses were, and she made no effort to question him, but presently he broke out with a groan: “Judy, Kot to you. I guess Myron wes right about Btarlin “Yeu, I guess he was.” ‘He has been looking him up in Chicago. He does speculate and he has lost mone} Crest He got his name down and he ain't got good cre: at ali, mother. And they got Maxwell there real high credit.” “How do they ever find out?” “I guess the lawyers tell ‘em; they don't mind spying and telling on folks.’ It is a mighty neer looking book—sorter looks like a algebra. ell, Judy, we went to Ranford and we got there too late, but lam going to be there to- morrow. Don't you sboter it me a hot breakfast, though want’ It was not like Judy to pass this over in si- lence, yet sho made no protest. Presently Joshtia said that he would go to bed. “Good night,” said Judith. She came over to him and Kissed his forehead. “You know I know you did all you could, Joshua, don't you?" she “T guess we ain't goin’ to begin now, whatever happens, Judy,” said we are old folks to have to begin again, mother. I kinder wonder at taking that money of me; he must a’ how things was with him—but I guess he was hopeful; good thing they all was sayin’ at the threshin’ today, how uncommon strong I was for my years. So if we do have to quarrel “but— stroking’ her ‘withered hand and patting it— | be; ‘come now, it will be ail right, we'll go fast h. 1 didn’t know you wanted it so awful it!” she screamed, while the tience of years seemed to break down and er words ‘rushed ‘airie fire spreads, “wanted it! Father, you ain't got no idee what it means to me to get out of this loneliness and be with God’s folks again! I ain't had a peace- fal day since the children died. I couidn’t work hard enough to stop my thinking! I was scared all the while. I never said nothing "bout it, for what good would it do? We'd got to live’ out on the farm, it would only pester you and you hind enough’to stand, butall day I'd been thiuk- ing, what about the horses, what about the reaper? when it was going, and I'd see you Drought home all bloody. If I'd a’soul to speak to it wouldn't abeea so bad, but I knew we couldn't afford a girl and how'd we get one if we could? And every time the wind blowed I was expecting a cyclone.” “Why, Judy, and you so brave when we did have a eyelone! “I had got to be brave then, but I was awful cared inside; but when Iseen it coming and you off, Thad to loose the horses, for knew the barn would go, and I go: what I could down cellar, ‘cause 1 knew that wus the safest place. But'l am always afraid of it coming again. But I won't mind ita bitin town, there's so many people. what it will be to be where I’ can see the neigh- bors passing and go to church Sunday without riding! I'll have Myron, that's most like son to me—he was born the same day of the | mouth as our little Jo, father, and e's got the same sweet disposition and eyes jest like Jo’s don't you remember?” mother,” said the old man, sigh- minds was the same vision e love and joy and grief of their youth, “Now, father, it seems like I couldn't ran no risks. Myron and me are foolish, there i taking the money out and ther me, father, won't you take it out?’ He had never denied her anything and he id not deny her now; he was frightened at Ler range excitement aud told hor to sit down aud he would finish getting supper. “And, I tell you what I'll do, mother,” said he "ul go to town tomorrow, though beft the Lord I don't know how to take the time, and T'll inquire ‘round and if there is any talk "bout the bank being bud, I'll draw the money s] But, you see, I hate to make mischief for Star- ling, who is a good bos, running down his ba 80 | jest got to go cautious, ain't I? And it is sight of money to draw out at a whacl ain't it? Mebbe we'd better sorter warning, do like we'd be done by, you know, be it a good ready. What do you think?” ‘I think you'd better go and Myron says” “Myron don’t know everything, mother,” answered her husband in a piqued tone. “You don't seem to guess I got any judgment of my own. She caw she had made ami toussure him that she whow good his judgment was and the like things that wives ay to their hi but there was « little rankle disliked Ob, Teayn’t tell you | 't going to have to,” said Judith. cheered the dispirited man, nor did he see the placid look fade from her face as long as he was awake to see. CHAPTER IIL After he slept she crept out of bed and dressed herself quietly. She opened a closet and a drawer, taking something out of each. ‘The moonlight filled the room. At the door the paused to look at the sleeper, whose face was palo in that bloodless radiance. Her look was tenderer than a caress. With infinite cau- n she moved down the uncarpeted, creaking stairs. She stole about the kitchen in her stock- ing feet until she had placed the simple meal which Joshua desired on the table. “’Cause maybe 1 might be prevented from getting home and there ain’t no need for him to go hungry,” she thought. Her preparations completed, she wrapped a thick shawl about her, her decent black bonnet under ber chin and went out into the moonlight. She locked the door behind her, although not without, pondering whether this could be safe, sinco there was the risk of fire, but there was the risk of thieves and murder- ersas well, and another door and the windows in for escape if the house took fire, refore she locked it in the end. All she carried with her was black satin bag (em- broidered with a crimson flower), which had deci iven her by Mra. Dwight Inside she ill kept the card bearing the inscription, Erminie to Lucetta,”” dare say she'll think’ it's dretful wicked, but caynt help it. There ain't no other way,” thought the old woman. She stood for a second locking about the farm bathed in moonlight. A silver pathway narrowed over the expanse of wheat stubble into the horizon prospective. One could faintly distinguish the color of the leaves on the pop- lar trees and the yellow sides of the bulging haymows. A dottéd line of fire swept across the silver path, the west-bound train. “Oh, rie me, oh, dearic, me!” groaned Judith. “I got to stop him before he runs away !" She had thought it all out,and while she shivered with fright and anguish she did not hesitate once. Huddled in her shaw! she opened the barn door and went to the colt’s stall. Hor eyes traveled wistfully to the farm horses munch- ing their corn, only her eyes,for she knew they wore too tired for a midnight ride. Trembling i ble colt, distracting his at- ossible by some corn and feet as her short tossed his head keeping as far from his un arms would Jet her. ‘The colt and lashed his Jeat what | ug to | bad slipped her hand it | garden and he ate Flt j i i E H F elt i i be ne Fy i i QUEER ROADS IN CHINA, (Curtesities of Travel and Postal Service in the ‘Minister Denby has just sent to the Depart- ‘ment of State a very interesting description of roads in China. Outside of the cities they are of the most primitive nature, being merely Lines of ruts across the fields. In summer they are fathomless, impassable bogs, and travel, except on foot, is practically suspended. The Pig-tailed orientals have never taken much trouble with road making, partly because throughout the greater part of their country the plains area network of watcrways, natural and while human tabor for carry « came | burdens has always been preferred to that of | beasts over the narrow an circuitous mountain t, well-dressed man, with a neat traveling in his hand. He had observed Judith’s grotesque antics already. “Mad,” was his de- cision, perhaps, for he started nervously and essayed to edge by her. “Mr. Starling.” spoke the old woman in her quavering, eweet pipe; “Mr. Stariing, my hus- band tried togetour money from you this afternoon and you wouldn't give it to him. Will you please give it to me?” “Why, Mrs. Crest, I didn’t recognize you,” exclaimed the banker, smoothing his brow. ‘Yes, Mr. Crest came after the bank was closed. the tomorrow morning at 9it got to have it now.” She in her little black bag. “But, my dear madam, I haven't got it with me, I don't carry the bank in my pocket. “Ttell you 1 got to have my money. You “I want it now. I shan’t carry it away—oh, for the Lord’s sake be | ‘T) merciful to us, Mr. Starling; it's everything Joshua and me has caved working bard for thirty years. We'll lose our farm if we don't have ii.” ler voice rose shrilly end there were people back on the platform now. ie “You fool! I haven't got it,” he snarled, pushing her aside. He could bear the whistle of the approaching train for Chicago, it was stopping at Delmar, five miles away. Instead of recoiling she flung lerself on him and simultaneously he felt the icy rim of « re- Volver at his car. “Then God havo merey on your wicked soul, for you are adead man,” cried Judith Crest. “I give you time for one prayer—uuless you move.” He could see her fuce set in a ghastly fixity of despair and resolve, the pistol was cold as the grave, worse, there wus a hideous wriggle about the thing, as’ if the desperate creature's hand tremble it if her finger slipped! Ho rolled his eyes at her; he did not venture to move his head. “Wily can’t you waite our check?” ‘Never mind my check, I cayn’t wait.” Wait!” he cried frantically. “Suppose I . How much is It’s six thousand, two kun——” “Well, take that infernal thing off my head and I will get it for you.” “You got to get it with it on your head. I don't trust you. You got the use of your hands. Take the money out and count it aud put it in my bag. Starling could seo the distant headlight of the train. He ground an oath between bis teeth, but he pulled out his pocket bo; “Walk along nearer the light or strik match on your pants, I cayn't see the bills, the relentless quavering old voice went on, He did light a match, for the desire to get away on that swiftly nearing train overmastered every- thing else. She hitched her bag further down her wrist and so held first one then another match until he had counted out the «um. “Six thousand, one hundred and fifty—silver certificates, yes, they're good. There had ought to be €2 more——" ‘he buzz and rumbie of the train was heard more distinctly. Starling tore a 85 note from ‘8 wad of bank notes and threw it at her. “Now, will you let me go?” “I guess I ain't got no right to keep you. I ain't no change, but I'll send it to Miss Starling. Hold your hands in front of you and you can run.” re minutes later Myron Dwight could not jeve his eyes as they showed bim Judith Weeping on the platform. ; TI tied the colt h, Myron,” she sobbed, ‘up so tight I ¢an’t untiehim, and I'm so fright- . . . . . ened !’ Joshua did not discover his wife's absence in the morning. He supposed she was out in ber 1 breakfast that she had made ready and hurried away through the usual exit of the kitchen door without «us— picion. He was oneof the firet to file into Starling’s bank that morning. The young man at the desk looked at him and then ‘retired for congdltation. with the other young man. |“ to keep up’ farce any longer, said toe Stuer Souagties, ms Crest, we haven't got €600 in the vault. ‘That was the reason why Starling’s bank cloted its doors, some hours earlier ‘than the itive had anticipated. joshun did not speak @ word. He nodded to some men and went out. not quite steadily, to his wagon. Myronand his own wife were standing by it Joshua did not seem “Mother,” said he all that money.’ “No, no, you ain't, father,” said Judith. “I got it all here.’ “She met Starling at thedepot and somehow, she won't tell me how, she got him to give her back the money.” 'This was Myron, who remained bewildered, having considerately put Judith to bed at the hotel without agitating ce by questions. “But, mother, you hadn't got no check, how could you git the money?” said Joshua. Judith was sobbing. “Oh, I guess you won't be able to forgive me. I didn’t have no check; T made him give me the money — She had been taking the notes out of her bag. Myron put his fingers in and drew out the pistol. ‘Ab-b,” he exclaimed, “I perceive. Aunt Judith, you dear little highwayman’ No one elso’ knows of it, uo one else would believe, if know, Mrs. Crest is such a harmless, timid woman, but Myron Dwight, now prospering and helping Joshua to prosper, keeps the pistol in his drawer as a memento. No one else but he knows another interesting fact—that pistol was not loaded! THE EXD. —— ‘What Would The Inference Be? From the Chicago Tribune He was trifle excited as he laid his check down on the cigar stand inthe barber shop and reached in hs pocket for the necessary ange. Where did you get that idiot?” he asked, dicating the’ barber who bad just shaved "aid the proprietor in some sur- ‘Why, he’s one of the best barbers in id he cut you?” didn’t cut me.” equal for courtesy.” . He notices every little thing and pays man the closest attention. When one gets out of his chair— “Then why did he powder my nose so care- fully? What was the inference, sir? I ask fot in thoueand pens? You" discharge his jot in a ni fou i oF you lose my trade.” passes. Roads for militarr purposes seem never to have been thouglit of by the Chinese. The great campaigns of the Mongol and Manchu emperors were conducted with of flying cavalry along no fixed routes. W DISPATCHES USED TO RE CARRIED. China has telegraph lines now, but previous to their introduction intelligence was conveyed to the center of government from outside prov- inces by an elaborate system of post stations. These were placed and . the Mongol emperor, more than 10,000 post stations, with 300,000 norses, espe- cially kept for the use of messengers. In con- nection with the mounted couriers an elaborate System of foot inessengers was also maintained the latter were swift runners and their statiou three milesapart, By them the en: said to have received news from places ten days’ journey distant in twenty-four hours or information from points 100 day« awa: within teu days. Fruit gathered in Peking in thus transmitted to the sum- distant ten days travel, arriving on the evening of the next da Express conriers who carry imperial messages between Gartok and L'Hasa, the capital of ‘Thibet, make the entire distance of 800 mi on horseback in eight days without relief, riding night an: y. Dispatches are placed ide their robes, and the latter are sealed upon their bodies, so that they cannot be removed until the end of the journey, when the seal is broken by the proper official. These messengers ace lifted at the post stations from one horse to another and arrive at their desti- Bation with ‘ked faces and eyes bloodshot andsunken. ‘hey sometimes die on the way from exposure and fatigue. THE ELABORATE SYSTEM OF PosTs for imperial messages in China seems never to have suggested the establishment of a govern- ment postal service for the public at large. All Private correspondence is transmitted by pri- vate post offices, of which there are several rival ertablishments in each ‘These firms employ their own couriers, who travel on borse- back, on foot or by steamer when possible. Between cities, where the business Justifies a regular mounted service, letters and small par- re carried at the rate of seventy-five or eighty miles day. The charges for sraall dis- tances are not excessive, a letter being sent from Peking to Tientsin for about 10 cente. For long distances, however, the postage is disproportionately large.’ The United States legation bas frequent to communicate with missionaries in the interior, particularly in the prov- ince of Shantung. From Peking to Chinanfa, the capital of Shantung, is about 225 miles, aud the usual charge for’ transmitting « letter thither is 40 cents. Competition forces the Porte! establishments to be very careful and re- iable. At river ports at the Lour of the sailing of @ steamer the competition between rival firms in soliciting patronage through their runners is very brisk. That the systems of government and private post should exist w out lending to the construction of proper roads and highways is remarkable. IN NORTHERN CHINA, are not so numerous as in the south, intercommunication has always pre- sented serious difficulties, which no attempt has been made to overcome. The large rivers are to be crossed by ferries only, while the smaller streams must be forded. At the ferries the ferry boats are intentionally constructed with a high side board so that carts cannot be driven on without unhitching. This gives em- ployment toa crowd of augers on in lifting onund off the carts fora compensation. In time of flood there is apt to be no way of cross- ing the streams at all. Where nature bas afforded no convenient impediment bad ebnr- acters sometimes dig holes in the road so as to obtain employment in helping carts through. ee i occasion Was IN LUCK. The Big Things That Fell Into a Spiritualist’s Hands. From the Arkansaw Traveller. A tall, dignified-looking gentleman stood facing an unoccupied bouse on prominent west side street the other day, closely scanning a large white sign which bung on the front door. The house was a handsome modern structure, two stories high, and had evidently been built by some wealthy man for residence purposes, but was now advertised as being “For Rent.” The tall man had just finished taking obser- vations and jotting down the owner's address in animal note book and was turning to leave when a neighbor came along and pleasantly remarked: “It's a pity that a fine house like this should stand idle for such a long time. “Why, how long has it been idle?” “Well. the last tenant moved out two ago, and the owner can't find another who is brave enough to live in there. “What's the matter with it? Danger of col- lapsing “Oh, no. The honse is built solid enough. The great trouble is that 4 “You don’t say!’ “it's a fact. Every Wednesday and Friday, just at midnight, the people of the neighbo: hood are strtled by a series of wild, blood- cnrdling yells, and immediately after that two white fizures ‘appear at the upper windows. T've seen them myself,” and the good man shuddered as he thought of it. “Have you any idea what rental the owner demands for the whole house? “Yes, I beard him say he'd let anybody have it for €5 per month !” “Five dollars a month! Great Crsar! but that's a bargain. Guess I'll take it betore some other fellow gets ahead of me.” “But wouldn't vou be afraid of living ina house infested with spook: “Oh, 'm quite used to them. Iam a spirit- ualist, and, as I hold my seances every Wednes- day and Friday night, ihose spooks will come in very handy.’ You'll excuse me, sir, while I Tourney Problems. Games, Solutichs, Sete ors Notes. HE WASHINGTON CHESS CLUB MEETS every evening at 910 F street Visiters PROBLEM No. 55 (Tourney Problem He. 80h By A. ¥. BOATRITE, Columbus, Ga. pose for Te Evening Swe.) & > Ten (10) pieces. “ White to play en. ma‘ in three (3) moves, PROBLEM No. 56 (Tourney Problem No. Si. ‘S WARD, Washington, D. ©. (Composed for The Evening Star.) Bieck Six (6) pecan White—-Eueht (8) pieces, ‘White to play and mate in two (2) moves. PROBLEM No. 57 (Tourney Problem No. £2. By A. V. BOATRITE, Columbus, Ge. (Composed for The Evening Stam) Biack—Six (6) pieces, wi White Seven (7) pieces. White to play and mate in two @2) moves. PROBLEM No. 58 (Tourney Problem No. 28% By A. V. GISIGER, Washineton, D. ©. (Composed for The Evening Stas.) Black —Seven (7) pieces. White—Seven (7 ‘White to play and mat PROBLEM No. 50. By C. H. WHEELER. S®EZESAAB SES AQB KB QU6 Q¢ Qkt? @ KRG EBS mS w@ i i AKBS KB4 KBS ‘White to play and mate in two (2) moves, PROBLEM No. 60. By C. C. MOORR @#wA t AKKE QU KB KG KES wo i atké KES KKt7 ‘White to play and mate in two (2) moves, PROBLEM No. 61. By J. ©. WARNER @ EE A AtQBS KB} QKS KK @ iii AtKG KBS Ké Qo ‘White to play and mate in three (3) moves, PROBLEM No. 62. By WILLIAM LER @wA 3 atKBs KKtT QKtS kB wi i Atg3 QBS QKte ‘White to play and mate in two (2) moves, GAME No. 23. A sparkling gem by Pollock. CENTRE GAMBIT. White—Dr. Pollock. % jack. Very goand see the owner and sign’ a lease for | Svorinckuns white ninety-nine years.” «Aad he walked off he muttered to himself: e dollarsa month and two full-fledged ghosts to boot. That is indeed « bargain.” ———_ +02 —___ A Sequence, ‘We were married—she and I— In the spring; Bald she, as we settled down In our cottage in the town, “Love, we how begin lifes And of this our sani! domain ‘You are king.” And a happier man than T Ne'er was seen, And the future seemed to be Ever full of bliss for me, - ‘As I told my fairy wife, “Of my fortune and my life ‘Then her mother in our home ‘Took her place. And this life became to me Fall of woes aud misery. ‘Though I dared not raire His Word Was at « Discount. ‘From the Indianapolis Journal. “Gimme a stack o’ blue chips,” said the young man with the rhinestone pin. ‘The dealer looked at him a momeat and re- ma fom resi omnere ret George Washington Lee.’ I have not had the honor of meeting Col. Lee, but be must bee SALVIO GAMBIT. t. ee aon