Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, May 28, 1898, Page 6

* ae * * It was not often that Afra and her hostess indulged in unnecessary confi- dences. Beta Mansfield had heard Mrs, Packenham’s story from her uncle, and feeling that it was far from being a matter for common conversation, con- tented herself with such fragments of iuiormation the forsaken bride and her faithful friend chose to impart. Beta liked Mr, Cleayland, whose fidel- ity to the lonely girl in her anomalous positicn elevated him in her eyes. “My uncle wrote of you as if you were his own child,” Miss Mazstield said, as she laid a letter upon Afra’s knee from the good old man. “He was my father's friend and mar- ried him to my dear mother. He hela me in his arms at the font, and taught my brother almost ything he knew. Mother's family discarded her because she accepted my father, She was very pretty, but delicate—never intended for the rough life she had to encounter. Kut she often told me that she never regretted her choice. We were very poor; but life is simple in the wilds; and we were perfectly happy until she died. That was the beginning of our troubles. I went south, to the good sisters at the Mission, while Jack re- mained with father. Then my aunt of- fered to provide for me, and father would have liked me to return home: But his death changed everything, and my brother and I resolved to live to- gether. We could have been very hap- py again—indeed, we were very happy, until Aunt Ma died. It wa that time when Mr. Packenham joined Jack, but I remained with the Sisters. My brother, however, made a terrible mis about the mine. He wrote such Jetters to me about his new friend, whom he loved and had such confi- dence and pride in, that I longed to see Mr. Packenham. Oh, [ was young and igno t—how could I tell how things would turn out?” “When that awful accident happened, and I went home, I thought Jack had not said a word too much. Then his but I can hardly d ribe but it seemed. if there were two Derecks, the one who was everything to—to—love—and his oppo- site. While we were together—by J ‘s bedside—he was gentle, consid- erate and generous to a fault, making nothing of the | of his money. He promised Jack that he would watch over me until death, and offered to mar- ry me then and there. It was his own suggestion, although he a: t he was entrapped into could I do? My brother was dying. My father, brother and my aunt, who would have given me a home, were all gone. I had no money left, and as there was nothing but beggary before me, I had, seemingly, no choice. Nor was there any time to deliberate, for Father Dud ras obliged to go, and— we were ma The excitement al- most killed my brother; and Dereck”-- her face crimsoned—“Dereck helped me to nurse him, Then two telegrams arrived, which seemed to come be- tween us and alter his whole nature. ‘The look t was in his eyes when he le me prepare to accompany him to inglund and take leave of my dying ther, terrified me. I could not do it. The man who could look and speak s¢x-prejudice, and next as being one of the most gifted teachers of her day. Had she not taught that handsome girl who lived with her so well that the lat- ter was obtaining big prices for her replicas of subjects in the National gal- lery, besides having exhibited a picture or two of her own inspiration? Per-! what did he wish, could he put his de- haps it would not be too much to say that Afra’ was as happy in her new life as ever she had been in that old one, the memory of which was fraught With such terrible recollections: Mr. Cleavland was her devoted friend —Afra could pick and choose her friends now. Although she limited her friendships, she always had a bright smile and a cheery word for the man who acted as medium between her and her shadowy husband. Not that Mr. Packenham ever wrote to his legal ad- viser; but letters of credit came home and were duly acknowledged. So the time went by, and it seemed impossible to predict how it would all end. + * * * * * * “You tell me she is altered. I dare say I shall not know her.” Mr. Packenham had returned with- out a word of warning, and walked into Cleayland’s rooms as coolly as it he had left only on the previous day, although more than two years hatl passed since he had suddénly departed for America. The already-popular barrister noted with mingled sensations how much his friend had changed. Two years’ wild wanderings, with unlimited wealth at his command, had brought out all that was base in the man’s nature, as Mr. Cleavland saw with sorrow. Mrs. Packenham has adapted her-} self to her condition,” he replied. sa queer one, “Her condition—eh? It’s isn’t it? About as odd as they make them in book “extremely “What does wife?” “She never poses—she has not in- formed the world of y ‘our treatinent.” Dereck leaned back to laugh “By Jove!” he exclaimed. ‘She won't look upon my return as an unmixed blessing,” he added er a pause. “We have not discu She is beginning to make her w “Ah, she wants to support herself! Soon be able to do it?” “Hardly—women’s work is badly paid.” “She can live on precious little,” Der- eck said—‘about as much as I usually drop in one night at nap.” “She has had sutficient—I saw to that.” Dereck’s hard and evil-looking eyes scanned the set face for something he did not find. “You see her often?” Mr. Packenham queried. “Not oftener than necessary. I occa- sionally attend Miss Manstields’ ‘At Homes.’ One meets very clever people there.” “Humph! She can hold her own then, amongst them?” “She can—and something more.” “Handsome—she had a kind of wild beauty, I remember.” “Mrs. Packenham is a lovely young Imost unexampled, vis she pose as—maid o1 that was not the man I had loved, el stranger. I stayed with 1y Lrother, who seemed to rally. “After a time Jack sold the farm, but not the mine, for no one would make him an offer for it, and by easy stages we made our way to the coast. Father Fletcher came with us, for I could nev: er haye accemplished the journey with Jack by myself. The passage home swallowed up almost all our money; } but the doctor said my brother must travel in comfort if he wished to reach England alive, and see me in my hus- band’s home. After we passed Made- grew fearfully cold. Oh, you can form no idea of how it seemed to nip us up—we had never felt damp cold before! But Jack lived through it and reached this gloomy, dismal London alive. Then he wrote to Dereck again and again, praying and begging him to come over. Oh, I can’. bear to think of it! Then our money dwindled, and my brother’s cold be- came worse, and—he died. Beta, there are memories that are dreadful to re eali—I haye had my share!” Afra paused, sved. and a long silence en- It was Beta who at length broke it he acknowledges you as his she remarked, “and supplies your wants.” “Flings me what he has most of and cares least for,” Afra returned, in a tone which Miss Mansfield well under- stood. “I take what I think I am en- titled to—not one farthing more!” “When he return Beta queried. Afra rose from her seat and walked to the further end of the studio. “The Dereck Packenham I knew is dead and buried,” she answered. “The man who ruthlessly fiung me aside— who failed me in my uttermost need—is a being with whom I have only such legal dealings as are absolutely neces- sary. If he returned and stood here to- morrow, I would calmly tell him so.” “Divorce him?” Beta could tell by the infiection of Mrs. Packenham’s yoice, how her sug- gesticn was taken. “We will not discuss that phase of the question,” she replied. CHAPTE™ V. Summer and winter, spring and au- tumn—for Beta Mansfield was an en- thusiastic and hard worker—passed ewiftly in her great studio. She was making herself a name, primarily as a successful portrait painter, one whose “I suppose I must see her,’ Dereck said, as if he were granting a favor. “It would be only just to her and to 's blood was boiling with- For “nearly three years this in him. man had ignored the woman he had vowed to leve and cherish. She had lived blamelessly in the sight of the world, worked hard at an art for which she had developed an unexpected apti- tude, and been seemingly happy. Now this wreck had returned to trouble her, and he—Cleayland—was powerless to help her. “She does not know I have returned,” Mr. Packenham remarked. “Did you inform her?’ inquired the other. “No. How could I, when I did not know where she was to be found?” Mr, Cleayland was silent, and the other continued: “Look here, Harry. I treated that girl badly—too badly to hope for for- giveness. “I have never heard her say so.” “But I did—and you know I did.” “You thought differently when we last spoke upon the subject.” Dereck rose and paced the room. His friend saw how the mark of a lowered nature and an enfeebled physique was upon him, and was silent. “Will you come along with me? Ij must see her, although I am almost ashamed to do so.” The reply did not come with the bar- rister’s usual celerity. It was hard to comply with a request which seemed to awaken a lot of conflicting emotions, After a pause of a few minutes he replied, coldly: “As your man of business, and one who has hitherto acted between you— yes, I will go.” “Thank you, old man! I don’t care in what capacity, so that you do come. Harry Cleavland, I acted like a fool.” “You did,” the lawyer agreed;’ and in his heart he thought him a fool still for expecting, as he undoubtedly appeared to do, that the woman whom he had so cruelly wronged would accept the re- compense he had to offer for that wrong. “You did not ask me what I did with myself in the Wild West?’ Mr. Pack- enham remarked, as if dismissing all other matters from his thoughts. “Did you ‘give me time?’ his friend asked. “I learned life out there,” Dereck said, with a reckless laugh. “You boys who hang about here have no idea of what life is. Out there, where civiliza- “And are you the better for it ” “No—hang it!” Packenham respond- ed. “I was haunted everywhere by the telegram—‘My brother died during the night!"—and the girl's eyes. I couldn’t forget them, Cleavland, and they brought me back.” _ The barrister heard Dereck talk, and allowed him to ‘rave on, while a flood of light seemed to be poured upon the past. Packenham had loved this wo- Maik feasting loved her as. well as he was capable of doing—and she, alas, must have loved him! It had been pure affection which had induced her to con- sent to the hasty marriage which had been the beginning of evil. Love had brought her to England with her dying brother—love that was expressed in her eager eyes when Dereck first met her, love that had watched and waited, only to be cruelly slighted. But was affec- tion altogether dead within her? Or would she, woman-like, forgive all that was past and take this man to her heart once more? Women were weak; they pardoned freely. As for himself, sire into words? Mr. Cleavland spent that night in a waking drama. Dereck kept with him until the former felt that he could have gone to the uttermost end of the earth to be freed from his companionsitip. Packenham questioned and cross-ques- tioned the lawyer as to Afra’s daily life, and wondered if he could obtain a glimpse of her, himself unseen. Mr. Cleayland had no photograph of her, a fact which appeared greatly to sur- prise his friend, who, however, listened patiently to the word-portraits which he compelled the reluctant young man to repeat over and over again; indeed, ares seemed never to tire of listen- ing. Then Packenham had his own stories to relate—scores of. them—and shudder- ingly the man of high ideals and pure motives was forced to hear tales of wild, lawless, and to him revolting, ad- venture, until it seemed as if he were passing through some horrible, degrad ing nightmare, At length Mr. Cleayland tore himself away, and, in his lonely chambers, wrote two letters—one to Beta Mans. field, another, enclosed within it, to Mrs. Packenham, Those ‘missives took him hours to compose, yet both could have been writ- ten on one sheet of ordinary paper. He did not sleep much that night, and when he did glide into forgetfulness of the evil day that was before him, it was to fancy himself in the midst ot Comusi riotous rout—fighting and struggling to deliver some veiled form from its horrible surroundings. But the darkest day will have its dawning, and the longest night come to an end. No one could haye guessed that the self-possessed young barrister, who delivered a very telling speech in the courts that morning, w arrassed, or that the legal procedure seemed un- real to him, CHAPTER VI. Dereck Packenham was a man of impulsi and not to be depended upon for any steady course of action. He was always forming fresh plans at un- expected moments; and now, tired of having everything his | unbounded wealth could buy, he set himself to the gaining—or rather, the regaining—of something he had undervalued. Here was a woman, with command of his purse, only taking sums that were, he considered, ridiculously small, and toiling to support herself when he would not have grudged her thousands. Then Cleavland had said, “Mrs. Pack- erham is a lovely young woman.” Packenham knew that his friend’s taste was to be depended upon—but he must judge for himself. Dereck re- membered Afra’s wild-looking eyes; but he remembered that they had their times of softness. Well, well—he was on his way to see her, and an hour would probably turn the balance of his life. “A lovely young woman’—the wite be had discarded on her bridal day. That was the street in which Afra re- sided; it was not a bad one—a little dull, perhaps; but in England dullness and respectability went hand-in-hand. He thought of her as a flash of sunlight in a gloomy place; and, as he mounted ‘the steps of the studio, the contrast be: tween his life and hers struck him with something like compunction. But, if she willed it, all that could be changed. Standing on the steps, watching Cleay- Ignd’s slim ‘figure approach, his thoughts tlew to the Riviera and its | sunshine. If Afra were kind to him | and forgave him, they could be there | in a week—even less. “In time, you see!” Dereck remarked, not caring to talk much—that was to come. In the cold light of the wintry day Cleayland thought his friend looked worn and aged. “You wrote? She knows that we are coming?” Dereck’s voice was muttied rather than subdued. The lawyer, stopping for a moment, replied with a nod, and then the street door was opened. It was but a few steps from the door into the studio, only a heavy portiere shutting it off from the enitrance.. The folds of the curtain concealed for just a moment, a tall, slender form behind. ‘The,men passed on into the open space, and “the locse hanging was swept aside. ' One of them, well acquainted with the place, wheeled round, and Cleavland was holding a warm, firm hand when the husband turned. The eyes Dereck remembered were looking questioningly into these of his friend, and did not glance at him. Mr. Packenham advanced a step, and Afra looked at him. Then she extended to him the hand that Cleavland had just loosened his hold of. “You are welcome!” she said. . “The voice was steady, the eyes were cold, but how lovely she was! “T heard from Mr. Cleaviand that you had returned.’ Afra’s voice was at conventional pitch, and with no under- tone indicating disappointed love or a broken heart—so thought the lawyer. | “You have been in America?” “America—Sandwich Islands—round the world home,” Dereck jerked out disjointedly as he sat down, “You heard, of course?” “I knew you were away—Mr. Cleay- land told me.” “Let us hope so,” she said, ambigu ously. Then ersued a very awkward ana painful silence, and it was Mrs, Pack: enham who broke in, “I have learned how to paint since I last saw you,” she added. “Since IL last saw you!” What a flood of memories went surging through his mind-as he thought of all that had come and gone since the day when She looked into his face with half-territied eyes, and the quick but firm reply up- on her lips—‘I will stay with my brother!” The years that had interyened had been one long and cruel offence against her—one terrible mistake, which it would take all his future life to set right—if it ever could be. hen Miss Mansfield came into the room, and Afra introduced her to Der- eck as her faithful friend. The women drew closer together. Dereck instinct- ively felt that this friend of Afra’s dis- trusted him. Mr. Cleavland talked as if it were in- cumbent that someone must talk, and the three appeared to have much in common. Miss Mansfield seemed to be acquainted with everything—social gos- sip, art, literature—while he, who could command sufficient money to buy the whole street had he been so minded, was compelled to sit and listen. “I met your aunt, Lady Groby, the other evening.” It was Afra who spoke, “She did me the honor to ad- mire my picture which is on view in the Gainsborough Galleries. I have another here—would you care to see it? You know something about paint- ing.” “L?’ he queried, vaguely. “Nothing in the world. But I should like to see anything you have done.” Mrs. Packenham rose to her feet and led the way.to the inner studio, Mr. Cleayland saw the heavy curtain fall behind them, but did not offer to fol- low. Possibly it was her woman’s way of seeking to be alone with the man who stood in so strange a position in regard to her. She had a perfect right to have her wish; but it was as if a blight had fallen upon his existence. Then he thought what a scoundrel he was showing himself to be. Miss Mansfield talked, the lawyer re- ; yet voices, one subdued, the oth- r, calm, penetrating, would force themselves upon his attention. “Oh,” the one said, “I have wanted for nothing, and hope soon to be able to support myself.” This was followed by an inarticulate murmur, “I did not know that I had a right to anything,” was the response. “Mr. Cleavland told me the law of the case.” Then there was another confused sound, during which Beta Mansfiela gave her opinion upin the latest novel of the day and the tendencies thereof, Mr. Cleavland muttered some com- monpiaces in reply, although he was suffering from fierce emotions mean- while. Just then Miss Mansfield’s servant came to tell her that the model wished to see her, and the lawyer was left to himself. Afra’s calm voice was heard to utter: “There is nothing. that can be said.” Prolonged murmuring, which ended almost in a moan, was followed by Mr. Packenham saying: “It was because of what my friend, Mr. Cleavland, told me—I would not have taken it otherwise.” Then came a sound of the stamp of a foot on the polished floor of the studio. “There is no need for this,” was heard in Afra’s voice—‘‘not the slight- est. I have ceased to ask for it, and do not expect it. I have done with you forever.” The man’s reply, as far as could be heard, was faltering. ~ Mr. Cleavland moved towards the door, but a rustling behind him made him turn. Afra had swept back the curtain, and stood looking at him, while Dereck Packenham, his face white and drawn, his eyes flashing, was behind her. “Will you kindly see to any business matters that may require setting right between Mr. Packenham and myself?” she asked the lawyer.. “Hitherto you have acted between us, and I shoula wish you to continue you to do so for the present.” Mr. Cleavland kept his eyes lowered. “I am ready to make all the repara- tion in my power,’ Mr. Packenham said—“everything you wish; ” and his voice trembled. “I have done you a cruel wrong—not one, thousand. I ac- knowledge all, and would gladly give all I possess to undo everything.” “That is impossible,’ Afra broke in, not hastily or angrily, but with calm, incisive tones, which gave additional force to her words. “Best let the past remain undisturbed. We have each made mistakes. Let it be our study to avoid them in future. There is no ques- tion of—of old standpoints. We have gone bevond them.” “But the way to reconciliation and re pentance is not barred,” the man plead- ed—‘“‘all in my power—everything you can desire.” “ANl that I desire is to be left to end my life in peace.” Mrs. Packenham stood between the men, not wavering, or hesitating, calm as if what she was saying were the most natural thing im the world. “I have no legal right, per- haps, to your money,” she continued, turning towards her husband—“none in the world, although I believe that, morally, my claim is good.” “You have the right to half of what I possess!” Dereck cried, impulsively— “to it all, if you will only fulfil your part of the bond! Cleavland, speak to her! Tell her that she is really and truly my wife—that I—that any repar- ation for past mistakes—”’ He paused, bewildered. “Mrs. Packenham has not questioned her union with you;” and the lawyer spoke in a hesitating, doubtful tone. “Then, Afra, why hesitate? You know you can trust yourself to me,” her husband added. ‘The woman turned very pale as Mr. Cleavland spoke, but now she felt an accession of courage. “That is precisely what I do not know,” she said. ‘The last time I put confidence in you, you failed me. I have to be taught anew.” Dereck stretched out his hands im- ploringly. “Give me the opportunity of teach- “I have come home for good, now,” Packenham added. tion is only skin-deep, men can have work was being recognized in spite of their fling. I had mine.” Afra waited for a moment before re- plying. | ing you?” he pleaded. “Be just to me, and let me have my chance.” (Yo !’e Continued.) pr A Gre 10 es = ee ee _ THE STATE MINNESOTA’S BUILDING A(T THE OMAHA EXPOSITION, One of the Most Uniqae and Attract- ive Structures on the Grounds— Built Entirely of Logs in the Swiss Chatlet Style of Architec- tare—Not Intended for Exhibition Purposes, But as a Rendezvous For Minnesota Visitors ts the Ex- position—Almost All the Material Used Has Been Donated by Minne- i sotians, We illustrate with this the Minnesota building at the Trans-Mississippi Inter- aational Exposition, which is to be held at Omaha, beginning with Jume 1, and continue until December 1. The build- ing is one of the group of state build- ings, occupying a park district on an elevation of ground overlooking the Val-! In this group of ! ley of the Missouri. state buildings is included New York, IXansas, Missouri, Montana, Llinois, Ne- b 1, Wisconsin, Colorado and some other of the Western states. The Min- nesota building differs materially from all these structures, and is likely to prove one of the most unique and av i ve buildings on the grounds. Most ! tractiy of the state buildings, as well as the exposition buildings proper, are built of staff, the material so largely used in the creation of the White City, at Chi- | cago, in 1893. The Minnesota building is designed to be an exposition in itself of some of the products of the staté. It is to be built entirely of logs, in the Swiss chatlet style of architecture, af- ‘group of buildings constitutes one of the greatest architecturai successes seen in this country, fairly rivaling the beauty of the White City displayed at Chicago. While the fund raised for Minnesota’s- representation is less than one-fifth of What was raised for the Word's Colum- bian exposition, thé displays to be made promise to be very effective, aud there will be no more attractive build- ing. than the one here shown. Almos all of the material used in this strue- ture has been generously donated: by the lumbermen of Minnesota and some of the owners of stone quarries, MINNESOTA ITEMS. Interesting Happenings in the North Star State. The flouring mill of Henry Oatman, at Riceford, burned. The loss was heavy. The fire started accidentally from the boiler. The fine rains which fell through- ; out this region recently will help grass. and grain immensely. Young wheat ; looks very well. A new militia company has been | organized at Stillwater, with a mem- | bership f 60. The officers are J. EK. Schow, captain; J. R. Gilder and bk. ; W. Chambers, lieutenants. The Montevideo creamery, just fin- ished, commenced business Tuesday ; morning, with John Flaten, a first- i class experienced butter maker, in ‘ charge. The barn of John D. Morrill, 21-2 milse east of Morristown, was struck by lighting and burned with its con- tents, including two horses, harness, etc. In the case of Pengra vs. Dr. Bert- | hold, of Perham, at Fergus Falls, for mistreatment of a case, a verdict. for the plaintiff of $1,500 was rendered. The doctor will appear. A little son of W. H. Taylor, identi- fied with the mill company at Wells, fell from a load of wheat and broke one of his ribs and it is feared was injured internally, as he got wedged in between the front wheel and wagon box. . THE MINNESOTA BUILDING. ter plans made by MeLeod & Lamer- oux of Minneapolis. The building has a total length of seventy-five feet and a width of forty-two feet, with a veran- da twelve feet wide all around it, mak- ing the greatest length nearly one hun- dred feet and the greatest width sixty- six feet. The building is moet designed for exhibition purposes, but is to be used as a rendezvous for the Minnesota visitors to the exposition. On the first flocr there is a spacious hall forty-two feet by thirty-five feet. In one end is; located the ladies’ parlor, which is thir- | ty Ly twenty feet, and whieh will be | Tastefully Decorated and furnished daintily. It will bea fa- | vorite resting place for the Minnesota | ladies who visit the exposition. The, corresponding room, at the other end of | the building, is to be finished in the | style of a lumber camp, the walls hung | with skins and decorated with trophies of the chase. A wide stairway leads to the second floor, where there are two corresponding rooms. The second floor is surrounded, also, by a veranda, ain- ply shaded by the overhanging reef of the main building. The location of the Minnesota build- ing is one of the best on the ground. It is in clese proximity to the Horticult- ural building, and it is surrounded on every side by floral exhibits. ‘The build- ings in the immediate vicinity, in addi- tion to the Horticultural hall, are the New York, Kansas, Nebraska and Liti- nois state buildings. The legislature of Minnesota made no appropriation for either this building or other representation of the state at the expositien. Early im the current year the attention of Goy. Clough was ight to the fact that Minnesota was likely to be the only state west of the Mississippi river whick would not be represented in this expesition, and he promptly appeinted a commission of representative citizens to devise ways and means an@ to prepare exhibits. ‘fhe commission has succeeded in raising nearly $30,000, and with this the build- ing here shown will be erected, and ex- hibits made in the several departments of the expesition. Minnesota will be represented in the agricultural building with an agricultural and horticultural display, in the Mines and Mining build- ing with a mining display, and will Have Extensive Exhibits in the dairy department and in the api- ary department. An extensive wool ex- hibit is also in preparation, and Minne- sota is to be given the distinction ot presenting one of the two great musical features of the occasion, the production of the oratorio of Isaiah, by Prof, Pat- ton of Minneapolis, with a chorus of 250 Minnesota voices, some of the most distinguished soloists in the country, and ‘Thomas orchestra. The public is just beginning to ap- preciate that the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition is going to far exceed in extent and completeness any- thing of the kind seen in this country with the exception of the World’s Co- lumbian exposition, beld in Chicago in 1893. It will be far more exténsive The barn of Mrs. J. P. Wangsness, containing three horses belonging to H. Henderiekson, was totally destroy- ed by fire at Rushford. The barn was insured, but the horses were at total loss. Peter Meyer, aged 62 years, a well- to~lo farmer, living nine miels east of Caledonia, while returning home from the eity with his wife and son Mon- day afternon, fell dead in his wagon, Death is supposed to have been from heart disease. The ejevaters of the Farmington Grain ard Hay company at Farming- tom, and at Castle Rock have been elosed by the sheirff on attachments sued at the instance of Brooks, | Grittith & Co., of Minneapolis, of elaims ef $14,000. A farmer named Ott, who lives four miles from Echo, killed, his wife with a billy. The couple had been having some family quarrel when Ott pound- ed his wife with his fists for a while, finally taking a billy and using with fatal results. Park Commissioner George H. Haz- gard ofTaylorFalls, has been advised that the National park and Our-door Art association have accepted his in- vitation to visit the Dallies of St. Croix Park in connection with their annual meeting, to be held in Minne- apolis, June 22, 23 and 24. The barn on the farm of Hubert Hillesheim, five miles south east of Sleepy Eye and the largest in this rart of the county, burned Sunday evening with eight lrorses, oats, hay, harnesses and a large number of calves. The family was away at the time. Origin unknown. Loss between $3,00 and $4,000; partly insured. Fire destroyed J. A. Brant's general store and Jens Baggerson’s. residence. at Castle Rock Station recently. The fire caught in the store from a lamp. explosion. The damage was about $3.00, divided as follows; General store stock, $1,000; store building, O. D. Shumway, $3,00; house, Jens Bagger~ son, $00. The town was saved with difficulty. A carpenter giving the name of Pat- rick Claffey, of Hartford, Comm. was shot through the left breast, while at- tempting to break into. the residence of C. Stark, of Ortonville. He was was found in a barn mear by yester- day morning in a critieal condition. The man is a stranger, and claims he was drunk and knew nothing about what he was doing. His recovery is doubtful. Fred Nelson, of Storm Lake, lowa, was arrested at Mankato recently by” sheriff? Banjion, of Storm Lake. Nex son and a companion named Gentle, are charged with burglarizing the depot at Storm Lake, taking $300 in cash and a horse and wagon from an- other party. Gentle left Mankoto Sun- day. but the lowa sheriff is on hia trail. Nelson was located by a love let- than the Centennial exposition In Puil-| toy writen to a girl in Iowa, ] ee E