Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, February 20, 1897, Page 6

‘A STRANGE WOOING. AM Casper Ath- wold. I was born beautiful, but one day a nurse drop- ped me from her arms down the whole length of the oak staircase. There is no need to say more. Yet I was a happy child. As I grew up I built such castles in the air as other youths build, and in my castle I be- gan to see Kate Norman’s figure, Katie’s dark-eyed, crimson-cheeked face smiling on me from visionary fire- side there, and hear her voice singing lullabies in the far-off future. We met often. She was always kind and friend- ly. I had fancied something more. One day I went in the heat of the afternoon to a shady spot by the river side, my own ground. I lay upon the grass, reading a book, when behind the glossy leaves of the plants which the little ones called “bread and butter bushes” I heard the sparrow-like twit- ter of girls’ voices. “She’ll have him,” said one. “fancy such a bridegroom!” said the other. “All his money couldn’t buy me.” ; “He don’t want you, but Kate,” said the first. “One must be at one’s last prayer to want such: an admirer. No one could like Casper Athwold.” “Of course not,” said the first; “but then he’s rich, and Kate poor enough.” “You are right; no woman could love him; but money will marry anybody.” There was a rustle, a sound of feet on the grass. The chirping voices died away in the distance. ses { shut myself up in the old house, among my books, and shunned the sight of faces and the sound of voices. It was the best thing that a man whom no one could love could do. So the months wore away, Some- times I had met her, but I always look- ed another way, and our pleasant greet- ings had come to an end. I had seen a hurt flush on her face, and taken no heed of it. I had even been dis- courteous—but I loved her just as I had loved her ali along. One day I went to the old lawyer who had had charge of our estate for forty years, and bade him draw me up a will, in which I left all that I pos- sessed to Kate Norman, with a letter which only her hands-were to unseal, only her eyes to read, after I had gone. This was the letter: “Kate Norman: You never cared for me; you could not; once I heard a woman say no woman could; but I Joved you. Had I cherished one faint ray of hope I would have striven to win your heart; but I learned, in time, what folly it was; and, in pity for my- self, held aloof from you. As it is, it gives me some pleasure to think that you will dwell under this roof. When you read this you will pity, not deride, the love of “Casper Athwold.” This note lay unsealed and directed, “To be given to Kate Norman after my death:”’ and the will was also signed and sealed, and I walked home. I WAS IN DANGER. At my door the elm shadows lay thick, and in them stood a bent, crooked figure, clothed in rags, a beg- gar, who began his dolorous whine as I came up: “A little help, just a little; I’m not a strong man, sir; I can’t work like the same. Yer isn’t strong yerself; ye’ll be knowin’ what that is. A wake- ly ould crater that would be thankful for onything—a penny or an ould, coat, or a sup or a bite, yes, sir.” I tossed him a coin. “Go,” I said. “Don’t loiter here.” The man looked at me curiously, as though he had expected more pity from me. The coin had fallen at his feet. He stooped and picked it up. “Yes, it’ll buy a bite,” he said. “Good tuck to ye. It’s not always I ate before { slape.” ‘ I turned and looked at the beggar. He was miserable also. “Come in,” I said. “I'll give you some clothes; you need them sadly.” “It’s nothing but needing with me, sir,” said he. “The likes of me can’t work.” “You have had an accident?” “My father threw me out o’ a win- dow for a joke when he was not so- ber.” I took from my wardrobe garments I had worn, and bade him put them on. Afterwards I gave him food. I called no servant in; no one saw him come or go save myself. He departed blessing me. I watched him out of sight. Then I burst out in a laugh, “He had best go and offer his hand to Kate Norman,” I said. “They would make a well-matched couple. Does he look like me in my clothes, I wonder? They fit him well.” | Then I remembered going out of the oor and down towards the water’s tdge. A boat lay there with the oars in {t, I stepped in and rowed up the river, The tw:light faded, night came on, a dark, moonless night. I had dropped the oars and was drifting sea- ward, lying at the bottom of the boat. I knew that I was in danger, but the knowledge did not affect me. Suddenly a glare of red light flashed over my face, I heard a heavy throb of machinery, then a shrieking whistle, and a stegmer was hard upon my little boat. After that I knew nothing until I came to myself in a strange room, ina strange hotel at Albany. The captaip of the steamer which had run my boat down fancied that to his account lay the fever and delirium which had come upon me, and had me taken care of. It was two weeks since the day last ip my memory. I read that in the paper. There, also, I read this paragraph: “The body found in the woods at —— has been identified by the garments and some personal peculiarities as that of Mr. Casper Athwold, a wealthy citi- zen, who has been missing many days. His funeral takes place this morn- ing.” I dropped the paper in amazement. My own name—the record of my death. Then I burst into a bitter laugh. I understood it. The beggar whom I had clothed had died upon the road. He it was who was that day to be buried under my name. At first it seemed merely a cruel joke. Then the memory of my will and the letter written to Kate Norman flashed upon me. I must reach home and prove myself a living man before it was too late. Weak as I was, I arose and dressed myself, and giving my address to the landlord, left the hotel for the depot; but I reached it only in time to find the train gone. Another hour or 80 must pass. They were ages to me. She would not read that letter while I lived. At last I was off—fairly on my way. In the dark of the evening I alightec at the depot and hurried homeward. There I should find my servants, and, probably, the lawyer, who would find it his duty to secure everything for the future heiress, They would not, I hoped, read the will so soon—yet it was customary. If this had been done, how should I act? How speak? Only a little space lay between the depot and my home. The railroad encroachments had been my mother’s greatest troubles in the last years of her life. Now this fact en- abled me, ill as I was, to reach the house without delay. It was dark, and I met no one. In a moment I knew why. They had assembled in the parlor to hear my will read—for, through the Venetian shut- ters long bars of light fell across the porch; and looking in, unseen myself, I saw Kate Norman, with a letter in her hand, glide through the opposite door. The will had been read. Before I could interpose she would have read the letter also. What should I do?—return as I had come?—change my name?—dwell where no one knew me? It seemed that this were better than to return to the gaping towns-folk’s nine days’ wonder. Worst of all to meet Kate. I turned from the window and hur- ried away—but I was still weak, very weak, and soon my strength gave way. It was just as I reached the churchyard. The road was bare, with no resting- place upon it, but within the gates the soft grass tempted me, and the willow branches seemed to nod a welcome. I cast myself down in the long grass. The crickets chirped all about me. A bird somewhere gave a shriek now and then. I felt my blood on fire; I could not stop thinking; I could not give tired nature her way. I was weary and worn beyond all description. I heard the church clock strike nine. It startled me to think an hour had flown when the same clock struck ten. I lifted up my head to listen, and saw a figure gliding up the path—a wom- an’s figure. It came straight on and cast itself on the grave by which I sat—the grave beneath which the beggar lay whom they had taken for myself—cast itself upon it, sobbing wildly. The shadows hid me. I gazed un- seen upon the mourner. Who ‘was it? Some one who had mistaken the spot, no doubt. She lifted up her head. In the moonlight I saw her face. It was Kate. Had pity brought her there? Could pity make a woman weep so? I drew nearer. She spoke; it was my name she uttered. “Oh, Casper,” she cried, “shall I nev- er hear your dear voice? Can I never tell you how I loved you? Oh, Casper, Casper!” Silence, with the cricket’s chirp amidst it, and the bird’s scream, dawn broke upon my soul. Then I stood be- side her, holding her close and fast. “Do not fear, do not tremble,” I cried. “It is a living Casper who comes to you, and no ghost. Oh, Kate—Kate, you gave tender words to the clay you thought mine, will you bless me wit! them living?” She hid her face in my bosom, and would not look up—would only cling to me with her soft, white hands and sob. And. there we stood alone together amidst the graves, I content to stand there, her hand in mine, her cheek up- on my bosom, until the blessed even- ing-time lengthened itself into eternity. But at last she told me this, that of all men I was to her the best: and when I wonderingly asked her how I might dare dream that this could be, she made only the woman’s answer, “Becausé I love you.” In the moonlight, on that happy night, we went forth from the old graveyard into the world of life, hand in hand, as we have gone together ever since.—London Sun. In the reign vf Richard Ill. the use of post-horses began in England. GHOSTS AID A SEARCH. TWO SPOOKS ARE BUSY DI- RECTING A DOCTOR. : Missing Man Was Believed to Be Dead but the Spirits Say He Is Only De- mented—Psychical Societies Are 1: coming Interested. R. SAMUEL SPAR- hawk has returned to Burlington, Vt., from a quest in which psychical agents are the chief mentors, says the Pittsburg Dis- patch. It is still in progress. Its ob- ject is the rescue of Dean B. Connor, if he still lives, or to learn his fate, if dead. Mr. Connar was an expert with the calcium light and stereopticon ef- fects. He directed that feature of a successful play during its run in New York. Then he went to the City of Mexico with a theatrical troupe and was stricken with tropical fever. His death and burial were reported and a $2,000 policy was paid to his father, W. H. H. Connor, assistant postmaster of Burlingten. About a year ago P. C. Dodge, who had been a lifelong friend of Mr. Connor, went to Mexico and cpened the grave. The remains that it contained were not those of his friend. Mrs. Hannah Piper, a medium who had been tested by the Society of Psychical Research of Boston, was con- sulted by Mr. Connor’s family and friends. She said that Dean Connor was not dead. Other mediums made ‘They say that the United States and Mexican governments and a large num- ber of persons in allsocieties of psychic- al research are deeply interested and ready to assist in any way possible. While in the various towns the search- ers visited the workhouses, asylums and other institutions, looking for 'clews. At one sitting it was said by “he spirit tH&t Mr. Connor was in a building at work with his hands and that he had on a checkered frock. The details of his appearance were enough to be absolutely correct and some of his physical peculiarities were men- tioned. It was stated that he has lucid intervals and that ‘he has written two letters which he had dropped from a window but which no one found. They say he suffers much mentally but that his mind is clearing. If Mr. Dodge fails in his search, the spirits say, Mr. Connor will return some day of his own accord. : A CONSIDERATE DOG. Saw a Good Hat About to Be Run Over and Carefully Removed It. W. A. Halsey tells a neat dog story, which he says will be verified by Ar- chitect G. A. Staehlin, says the Newark Sunday Call. One breezy morning about ten days ago they were riding down Market street upon the rear of a trolley car when the car passed over a nice, light, soft hat, which had blown between the tracks. The hat was not injured, but the wind gave it a little flirt after the car had passed and dropped it fairly upon one of the rails. A big New York car was com- ing and ahead of it a big mongrel pointer dog was trotting along. The dog glanced at the hat, looked back at the car, and then picking up the hat ee his teeth ran over to the curb and VICTORIA'S NERVE. She Is a Woman of Rare Self-Posses- 2 * sion. A singular fact about Queen Victoria is that she has not only always en- joyed exceptional good health, and that even at her present advanced age she is unusually strong and well, but that she has had more hair-breadth escapes than any other sovereign in history, says the New York Journal. No fewer than seven attempts have been made on her life, and these have been occasions when the queen has seemed face to face with death. Hyde Park was the scene of the first attempt on the queen’s life, which was made by a youth of 17, who on the 10th of July, 1840, fired at her majesty with a pistol. The prince con- sort, to whom the queen had been mar- ried a few months before, happily saw the youth in time to draw his wife down beside him,. so that the ball passed over her head. The mad youth was for some time confined in Bedlam, and was afterward allowed to go to Australia. Only two years passed away before the second attempt, when, al- most on the same spot, a man named Francis fired at the queen as she was again driving with the prince. The shot missed and Francis was sentenced to death for high treason, the sentence being afterward commuted to transpor- tation for life by desire of the queen. Strangely enough, on the very day her majesty’s clemency became known, a hunchback named Bean, a mere youth, made another attempt to injure the queen. He was transported for seven years. Twenty‘one years ago, when the queen was crossing to Gasport from Osborne, there was a collision with the royal yacht, in which three persons per- ished. But once more her life was pre- served. On many other occasions the A TREE THAT IS FOUR THOUSAND YEARS OLD. The above illustration shows the famous chestnut tree of Mount Aetna. is not, for it is all from a single stump, and measures 160 feet in circumference. low, but the tops thrive. It is called the “Hundred Horse Chestnut Tree,” for it It appears like a group of trees, but The lower parts are largely hol- is reputed to have sheltered Jeanne of Aragon and a troop during a heavy storm. Savants have figured it out that it must be from 3,600 to 4,000 years old. like assertions. An investigation led to the belief that Mr. Connor had been taken from the common ward of the hospital and cared for in a private room until he had recovered and was discharged. A Mexican was put in the bed that he had vacated in the com- mon ward, and as the name over the head of the bed was not changed Mr. Connor was supposed to have died in- stead of the Mexican. Further inves- tigation convinced friends that after recov from the long run of fever Mr. Cornor’s reason was clouded and he did not not know enough to com- municate with his friends. The medi- um said he was confined in an insti- tution of some kind. The Psychical Society became so positive of its abil- ity to locate him that P. C. Dodge and Dr. Samuel Sparhawk, who was an in- timate acquaintance of Mr. Connor, went to Mexico, and have been work- ing for nearly two months under the guidance of the adepts, who sent them telegraphic suggestions bearing upon the strange case. Consul-General Shaffer at Vera Cruz gave every pos- sible assistance, as did F. R. Guernsey, editor of a paper published in the City of Mexico. In the consultations with Mrs. Piper regarding Mr. Connor’s fate the spirit of an old man has broken through her while in a trance. Her descriptions of Mexico and places and people were accurate to the small- est detail. The medium herself, so it is claimed, has no knowledge of Mex- ico. At times another incorporeal be- ing, apparently a younger man, ex- pressed itself through Mrs. Piper by means of writing. The writing bore no resemblance to the medium’s own chirography. It was that of a well- educated person and gives exact de- scriptions of the country in which Mr. Connor now is. By these directions Mr. Dodge and a searching party have been conducted from the City of Mex- ico through town after town to Orizaba, thence to Puebla, where they now are. Puebla is 120 miles from the City of Mexico, and its scenery, streets and sufroundings have been exactly pic- tured by Mrs. Piper. Telegrams re- ceived at frequent intervals direct the party. They sometimes mention towns by name, oftener by the scenery around them. One message told Mr. Dodge to go up a certain street, turn to the left from a church and proceed toward a hill. With such details the searchers are able to find the exact localities indicated. The Connors fam- ily say the search is not a sensational or‘superstitious experiment. They, with members of the Psychical society, re- gard it as a scientific investigation. deposited it upon the sidewalk near a group of pavers who were working alongside of the courthouse. After put- ting the hat in a safe place’ the dog loped after the big car and took his place in front of it. Mr. Halsey did not see the owner of the hat nor did Mr. Staehlin, but they passed several remarks about the sagacity of the dog, and it is believed they agreed that it would be better not to speak of the incident except to the people who knew them well. A Bad Monkey. Mr. Texter, proprietor of Ulmer park, on Gravesend Beach, L. I., has a mon- key in his menagerie that is credited with some queer pranks. He likes whisky, beer and wine, takes a drink whenever he can get it, and like many of the human species goes on a spree once in a while. That is, he quits his cage and disappears for a time. Wheth- er he leaves the park and goes to Coney island or Bath beach is a question, al- though it is reported he has been seen in both places. If he returns home in the night and finds that he is locked out he gets in by*breaking a pane of glass. That he is bitterly opposed to the Raines law is evident from the fact that one day when a copy of the law was lying in a chair near his cage he came out, tore it into shreds and ate it. Like some human men this monkey is a wife-beater. A much smaller female monkey occupies the cage with him,and her face and head always bear marks of his cuffs and blows. The Circle County. The oddest shaped county among the 3,000 which go to make up the separate divisions of the various states is War- ren county, Tennessee. It lies almost exactly in the geographical center of the state mentioned, and is about as near a perfect circle as any division of land could possibly be. The circle: would be perfect but for the fact that there is a short stretch of the north- ern boundary line which follows a small | stream fora short distance. It is bounded by Cannon, DeKalb, Grundy, Van Buren and White counties and is in no way remarkable except in shape. —St. Louis Republic. At the Author’s Club. “Scribble always was a lucky dog.” “What's he got now?” “Invented a new form of dialect story, a cross between Scotch and and tough’s slang that no one can un- derstand. His fortune’s made.”—Cin- cinnati Tribur > queen has been in great danger, such as when, in August, 1851, her majesty was in a railway accident and when soon after her accession, the horses at- tached to her carriage bolted. On each of these occasions the queen’s self- Possession has been remarkable. Cool- ness and presence of mind have been characteristic of her whenever danger has threatened her. “Great events,” she has said, “always make me calm.” aS ea EAE Linguistie Ability. “How many foreign languages can your wife speak?” “Three—German French and the one she talks to the baby.”—New York Tribune. ee et CURIOUS. FACTS. More than one-third of the people in this country live in cities, and more than half the doctors are there, too. The great hammer of the Woolwich Gun Works of England weighs forty tons and has a drop of forty-four feet. It takes thirty-seven specially con- structed and equipped steamers to keep the sub-marine telegraph cables of the world in repair, At an annual sweet-pea flower show in Massachusetts recently, no fewer than 116 varieties of this pretty blos- Som were shown. Paper gas pipes are now made. These pipes are claimed to be perfectly gas tight and are said to be much cheaper than iron pipes. The finished portion of the new con- gressional library at Washington has about forty-four miles of shelving, which will accommodate over two mil- lion volumes. The ultimate capacity of the building for books will be up- ward of 4,500,000. volumes, or nearly one hundred miles of shelving. In gratifying contrast to the usual result in the case of public buildings con- | struction is that the total cost of the work will be less by $140,000 than the limit fixed by congress. The largest bridge in the world is the Lion bridge near Sangsang, China. It extends five and a half miles over a part of the Yellow Sea, and is support- ed by three hundred huge stone arches. The Electrical World says that a cer- tain little mechanical device is called inGermany “Automatischespiegelglass- plattenbil zschutzvorrichtung.” As its name clearly indicates, it is an appar- atusforprotecting againstlightningcon- sisting ofplatesofmirrorglassacting au- tomatically. In this country we are ix the habit of calling this simple device a “cutout,” | Disease usually destroys them successivel: Blood is what everyone should bare 3 ood, sow with a thorough course of | oods Sarsaparilla ‘Tho best—in fact the One True Blood Purifier; Hood’s Pills 272 ue"be —_—_————oooo From Different Standpoints. “Whenever I think of Utah,” said Mr. Meekton’s wife, “I can’t repress @ thrill of indignation.” ‘ “Neither can I, Henrietta. But I’m surprised to hear you express such sentiments.” “Surprised! Do you think I could tolerate the manner in which the state has allowed domineering man to mar- ry as many women as he chose?” “J_I didn’t happen to think of that. I supposed you were speaking of the manner in which the women are al- vote.”—Washington Star. How’s Thist We offer One Hundred Dollars reward for any case of catarrh that cannot be cured by Hall’s Catarrh Cure. F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly honorabie in all business transactions and financially able to carry out any obligations made by their firm. West & ‘truax, Wholesale Druggists, To- ledo, O. Walding, Kinnan & Marvin, Wholesale Druggists, ‘1oledo, O. Hall’s Catarrh Cure is taken internally, acting directly upon the blood and mu- cous surfaces of the system. Testimo- nials sent free. Price 75¢ per bottle. Sold by all druggists. Hall’s Family Pills are the best. A Comprehensive Work. “What's his profession?’ said the man with a wide range of taste. “He's an artist.” “Yes; but what kind? Does he dance, paint pictures or walk the tight rope?’—Washington Star. Twins in Size, Shape and Activity. This is what those important little organs, the kidneys, are when healthy. In disorder they may differ in all three particulars. not simultaneously, and one may be active while the other is ‘semi-paralyzed. Give to both a healthful impulse, without exciting them, with Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters, which forestalls such dreadful maladies as Bright’s disease and diabetes. Use the Bitters, also, for malarial, bilious, rheu- matic, nervo bowel and kidney trouble. Mrs. Warmheart—My good man, why do you let your children"go bare- foot? Pat O’Hoolihan—For de_ raison, ma’am., dat I have in my fumily more feet than shoes.—Harper’s Round Ta- ble. I believe Piso’s Cure is the only medicine that will cure consumption.—Anna M. Ross, Williamsport, Pa., Nov. 12, '95. - In Germany the bridal wreath is usually formed of myrtle branches, in Switzerland and Italy of white roses, in Spain of red roses and pinks, in the United States, France and England, of orange blossoms. When bilious or costive eat a Cascaret, candy cathartic; cure guaranteed. 10c, 25c. The manufacture of jewelry in Birming- ham, England, gives constant employment to 14,000 persons. In this work gold valued at $3,750,000, and silver valued at $1,750,000 are annually used. TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY. Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All Druggists refund the money if it fails tocure. 250 A freshJy caught fish has red gills. Those of a fish not recently caught are paler in color, or of a dark purple. Tricky dealers, to make stale fish seem fresh, put beef blood on their gills. FOR 14 CENTS. 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