Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 2, 1894, Page 19

CLARENCE, By Bret Harte. (Copyright, PART I.—CHAPTER IL 0 laugh that instinctively broke from Plarence’s lips was so sincere and unaffected ¢hat the man was disconcerted, and at last Joined 1, a littlo shamefacedly. The grotesque blunder of being taken for a fugitive from Justice relieved Clarence’s mind from its acute tension, he was momentarily diverted, and It was not until the boatman had de- parted and he was again alone that it seemed 2o have any collateral significance. Then an uneasy recollection of Susy's threat that she had the power to put his wife in Fort Alcatraz came across him. Could she have already warned the muni- @lpal authorities and this man—but he quickly femembered any action from such a warning could only have been taken by the United States marshal, and not by a civic official, and dismissed the idea. Nevertheless, when the stage with its half- spent lamps still burning dimly against the morning light swept round the curve and rolled heavily up to the rude shanty which served as conch offic he became watchful A single yawning individual in its doorw recelved a few letters and parcels, but C enco was evidently the only waliting pas ger. Any hope that he might have enter tained that his mysterious predecessor would emerge from some seclusion at that moment, was disappointed. As he ectered the coach he made a rapid survey of his fellow travelers, but satisfled himself that the stranger was not among them. They were mainiy small traders or farmers, a miner or two, and apparently a Spanish-American of better degree and personality. Possib'y the circumstance that men of this class usually prefer to travel on horseback nd were rarely seen in public conveyances attracted his attention, and their eyes met more than once, in mutual curlosity, Presently Clarence addressed a remark to him in Spanish. He replied fluently and cour teously, but at the next stopping place he asked & question of the expressman in an unmistakable Missouri accent. Clarence’s curiosity was satisfied; he was evident'y ore of tho-o early American ettlers Wwho had been so long domiciled in southern California as to adopt the speech as well as the habiliments of the Spaniard. The eonversation fell upon the political news of the previous night, or rather seemed to be lazily continued from some previous moro excited discussion, in which one of the contestants, a red-bearded miner, had sub- sided into an occasional growl of surly dis- sent. It struck Clarence that the Missourian had been an amused auditor and even, judging from a twinkle in his eye, a mischievous instigator of the controversy. He was not surprised, therefore, when the man turned to him with a certain courtesy, and said: “And what, sir, is the political feeling in your district?” But Clarence was in no mcod to be drawn, and replied, almost curtly, that as he had come only from San Francisco they were probably as well informed on that subject as himself. A auick and searching glance from the stranger's oye made him regret it, but in the silence that ensued the red-bearded pas- genger, evidently still rankling at heart, saw his opportunity. Slapping his huge hands on his knees and leaning far forward, until he seemed to plunge his flaming beard—like a firebrand— into the controversy, he sald, grimly: “Well! I kin tell you, gen'I'men, this! Tt ain’t goin’ to be no matter wot's the political feeling here or thar—it ain't goin' to be no matter wot's state’s rights and wot's fedral ¢ wights—it ain’t goin’ to be no question whether. the gov'ment's got the right to re- love its own soldiers that those secesh is eging_in Fort Sumter or whether they haven't—but the first gun that's fired at the flag blows the chains off every d—n nigger south of Mason and Dixon’s line! You hear me! I'm shoutin’ There was an angry start in one or two of the seats, One man caught at the swinging ide strap and half rose, and then all as suddenly subsided. Every eye was turned to an insignificant figure in the back seat. It was a woman holding a child on her lap and gazing out of the window with her sex’s profound un- concern fn politics. Clarence understood the rude chivalry of the road well enough to comprehend that this unconseious but omnipotent figure had, more than once that day, controlled the passions of the disputants. They dropped back wearlly to thelr seats and thelr mutterings rolled off in the rattle of the wheels. Clarence glanced at the Missourian. He was regarding the red-bearded miner with a singular curlosity. The rain had ceased, but the afternoon shadows were deepening when they at last roached Fair Plains, where Clarence expected to take horse to tho rancho. He was as- tonished, however, to learn that all the horses in the stable wero engaged, but re- membeting that some of his own stock were in pasturage with a tenant at Fair Plains and that he should probably have a better sel tion, he turned his steps thither. Passing out of the stable yard he recog- nized the Missourian's voice in whispered gonversation with the proprictor, but the two men withdrew into the shadow as he approached. An ill-defined uneasiness came over him; ho knew the proprictor—who also seemed to know the Missourian, and this evident avoid- 1804, YOU WILL NOT. ance of him was significant. Perhaps his reputation as a doubtful unionist had pre- ceded him, but this would not account for thelr conduct in a district so strongly south- ern In eympathy as Fair Plains. More impressed by the occurrence than he cared to admit, when, at last, after some de- lay, he had secured his norse and was once more in the saddle, he kept a sharp look- out for his quondam companion. But here another chrcumstance added to his suspicions; there was a main road lead- ing to Santa Inez, the next town, and the rancho, and this Clarence had purposely taken In order to watch (he Missourian but there was a cut-off directly to tke rancho, known only to habitues of the Tancho. After a few moments' rapid riding on a mustang much superior to any in the hotel stables, he was satisfied that the stranger must have taken the cut-off. Putting spurs to his horse he trusted still to precede him to the rancho—if that was his destination. As he dashed along the familiar road, by ® strange perversity of fancy lostead of think- ing of his purpose he found himself recalling the first time he had ridden that way in the Qush of hls youth and hopefulness. The girl sweetheart he was then golng to vejoin was uow the wife of another; the ‘woman who had been her guardian was now hig own wife. He had accepted without a the young girl's dereliction, but i was ugin her revelation that he was now to confront the dereliction of his own this was the reward of his youthful by Dret Harte) trust and loyalty! A bitter laugh broke from his lips. It was part of his still youthful self-delusion that he belleved himself wiser | and stronger for it. | It was quite dark when he reachied the upper field or first terrace of the rancho. He could see the white walls of the casa rising dimly out of the green sea of early wild grasses, like a phantom island Tt was here that the “cut-off”" joined the main road—now the only one that led to the | casa. He was satisfied that no one could | have preceded him from Fair Plains; but it | was true that he must take precautions against his own discovery. Digmounting near a _clump of willows he unsaddled and unbridled his horse, and with a | cut of the riata over its haunches sent it | flying across the field in the direction of a band of feeding mustangs, wiich it presently joined. Then, keeping well in the shadow | of a belt of scrub oaks, he skirted the long | lesser terrace of the casa, intending to ap- proach the house by way of the old garden and corral. A drizzling rain, occasionally driven by the wind Into long, misty, curtain-like wav obscured the prospect and favored his de sign. He reached the low adobe wall of the corral in safety; looking over he could detect, in spite of the darkness, that a number of | the horses were of alien brands, and even recognized one or two from the Santa Inez district. The vague outlines of buggies and carry- alls filled the long shed beside the stables. | There was company at the casa—so far Susy was right. Nevertheless, lingering still by the wall of the old garden, for the deepening of night, his nervous feverishness was again invaded | and benumbed by sullen memories. There | was the opening left by the old grille in the | wall, behind which Mrs. Peyton stood on the morning when he thought he was leaving the rancho forever—where he had first | clasped her in his arms, and stayed; a turn | of the head, a moment’s indecision, a single | evening. | wife, and the significant of a lofty, Inspiring, yet delicate spirit—a Boadicen—indeed, he might say a Joan of Aro—in the person of their charming hostess, Mrs, Brant! Not only were they favored by her soclal and hospitable ministration, but by her active and_enthusiastie co-operation in the glorious work they had In hand correspondence and earnest advocacy that they were to be favored tonight with the atd | and counsel of one of the most distinguished and powerful men in the southern district n!i California, Judge Beeswinger of Los Angeles He had not the honor of that gentleman's personal acquaintance; he believed he was not far wrong in saying that this was also the | misfortune of every gentleman present, but the name Itself was a tower of strength. He would go further and say that Mrs. herselt was personally unacquainted him, but that it was through the fervor. poetry, grace and genius of her correspond- ence with that gentleman that they were to have the honor of his presence that very 1t was understood that advices had been received of his departure, and that he might be expected at Robles at any moment. “But what proof have we of Judge Bees- winger's soundness?”’ sald a lazy southern voice at the conclusion of Colonel Starbottle's periods. *Nobody here seems to know him by sight; is it not risky to admit a man to our meeting whom we are unable to identity ?"* “1 reckon nobody but a fool or some pry- ing mudsill of a Yankee would trust his skin here,” returned another, “and if he did we'd know what to do with him.” But Clarence's attention was riveted on his speech passed him as unheeded as had the colonel's rhetoric. She was looking very handsome, and slightly | flushed, with a proud light in her eyes that he had never seen before. Absorbed in the discussion, she seemed be paying little attention to Captaiu , as she rose suddenly to her fect. Judge Beeswinger will be attzadel here by Mr. MacNiel of the Fair Plains hotel, who will vouch for him and introduce him,” she said in a clear volce which rang with an im- periousness that Clarence well remembered, ““The judge was to arrive by the coach from Martinez to Fair Plains, and is due now." But Is there no gentleman to introduce him? Must we take him on the word of a common trader—by Jove, a whisky seller!” continued the previous voice sneeringly. “On the word of a lady, Mr. Brooks,” to Pinck- said A BURST OF APPLAUSE. glance of a languorous eye had brought this culmination, And now he stood again before that ruined grille, his house and lands, even his name misused by a mad, scheming adventuress, and himself a creeping spy of his own dis- honor. He turned with a bitter smile again to the garden. A few dark red castilian roses still | leaned forward and swayed in the wind with | dripping leaves. It was here that the first morning of his arrival he had kissed Susy; the perfume and color of her pink skin came back to him with a sudden shock as he stood there; he caught at the flower, drew it toward him, and inhaled its odor in a long breath that left him faint and leaning against the wall, Then again he smiled, but this time more wickedly—in what he believed in his cyni- clsm had sprung up the first instinct of revenge! It was now dark enough for him to ven- ture across the carriage road and make his | way to the rear of the house. His first characteristic instinct had been to enter openly at his own front gate, but the terri- | ble temptation to overhear and watch the conspiracy unobserved—that fascination com- mon to deceived humanity to witness its own shame—had grown upon him. He knew that a word or gesture of explanation, apol- ogy, appeal, or even terror from his wife would check his rage and weaken his pur- pose. His perfect knowledge of the house and the security of its inmates would enable him from some obscure landing or gallery to participate in any secret conclave they might hold in the patio—the only place suitable for 50 numerous a rendezvous. The ab- sence of light in the few external windows pointed to this central gathering. And hs had already conceived his plan of entrance. Gaining the rear wall of the casa he began cautiously to skirt its brambly base, until he had reached a long, oven-like window, half obliterated by a monstrous passion vine. It was the window of what had bnce been | Mrs. Peyton’s boudoir; the window by which he had once forced an entrance to the house when it was in the hands of the squatters; the window from which Susy had signalled her Spanish lover; the window whose grating had broken the neck of Judge Peyton's pre- sumed assassin. But these recollections no longer delayed him; the moment for action had arrived. He knew that since the tragedy the boudoir had been dismantied and shunned; the serv- ants believed it to be haunted by the ass: sin’s ghost. With the aid of the passion vine the in- gross was easy. The interlor window was open; the rustle of dark leaves on the bare | floor as he entered, and the whirr of a frightened bird by his ear told the story of its desolation and the source of £he strange noises that had been heard there. The door leading to the corridor was lightly bolted, merely to keep it from rat- tling In the wind. Slipping the bolt with the blade of his pocket knife, he peered into the dark passage. The light streaming under a door to the left and the sound of voices convinced him that his con- jecture was right, and the meeting was gathered on the broad balconies around the patio. Ho knew that a narrow gallery, faced with venetian blinds to exclude the sun, looked down upon them. He managed to | gain it without discovery; luckily the biinds were still down. Between the siats, himself invisible, he could hear and see everything that occurred, Yet even at this supreme moment the | first thing that struck him was the almost | ludicrous contrast between the appearance of the meeting and its tremendous object. Whether he was influenced by any pre- vious boyish conception of a cloudy and gloomy conspiracy he did not know, but he | was for an instant almost disconcerted by the apparent levity and festivity of the con- clave, Decanters and glasses stood on small tables before them; nearly all were drinking and smoking. They comprised fifteen or twenty men, some whose faces were famillar to him. Occupying a characteristically central posi- tion was the famous Colonel Starbottle of Virginia. Jaunty and youthful looking in his | mask-like, beardless face, expressive and dig- | nified in his middle-aged port and carriage, | he alone retained something of the importance —albeit slightly theatrical and affected—of the occasion Clarence, in his first hurrled glance, had rot observed his wife, and for a moment had felt relteved. But as Colonel Starbottle arose at that moment, and with a studiously chivalrous and courtly manner turned to his right, he saw that she was sitting at the further end of the balcony, and that a man, whom he recognized | as Captain Pinckney, was standing beside her. The blood quickly tightened around his heart, but left him cold and observant It was seldom, (ndeed, remarked Colonel | Starbottle, placing his fat white fingers in | the frill of his shirt front, that a movement like this was graced with the actual presence | viduality | enthusiasm | eyes, Captaln Pinckney, with a slight gertur toward Mrs, Brant, “‘who answers for both.” Clarence had started siightly at his wife's voice and the information it conveyed. His tellow ~assenger and the confidant of MacNiel was the man they were expecting. If they had recognized him (Clarence) would they not warn the company of his proximity? He held his breath as the sound of volces came from the outer gate of the court yard. Mrs. Brant rose, but at the same moment the gate swung open and a man entered. It was the Missourian. He turned with an old-fashioned courtesy to the single woman standing on the balcony. “My fair correspondent, I believe! I am Judge Beeswinger. Your agent, MacNeil, passed me through your guards at the gate, but I did not deem it advisable to bring him into this assembly of gentlemen without your further consideration. I trust I was right The quiet dignity and self-possession, the quaint, old-fashioned cclonial precision of speech, modified by a soft Virginian intona- tion, and, above all, some singular indi- in the man himself, produced a profound sensation and seemed to suddenly give this gathering an impressiveness it had lacked before. For an instant Clarence forgot himself and his personal wrongs in the shock of in- dignation he felt at this potent addition to the ranks of his enemies. He saw his wife's eyes sparkle with pride over her a quisition, and noticed that Pinckney cast a disturbed glance at the newcomer. The stranger ascended the few steps to the balcony and took Mrs. Brant's hand with profound courtesy. “Introduce me to my colleagues—dis- tinctly and separately. It behooves a man at such a moment to know to whom he in- trusts his life and honor, and the life and honor of his cause.” It was evidently no mere formal courtesy of the stranger. As he stepped forward along the balcony, and under Mrs. Brant's graceful guidance was introduced to each of the members, he not only listened with scrupulous care and attention to the name | and profession of each man, but bent upon him a clear, searching glance that to photograph him in his two exceptions. He passed Colonel Starbottle’s expanding shirt frill with a bow of elaborate precision and said: ~ “Colonel Starbottle’s fame re- quires neither introduction nor explanation.” He stopped before Captain Pinckney and paused. “An officer of the United States army, I believe? “Yei “Bdu the go the_oath “Yes,” “Very good, sir,” said the stranger, turn- ing away. “You have forgotten one other fact, sir,” Pinckney, with a slightly supercilious seemed memory, with ated at West Point, I think, by rnment, to whom you have taken of allegiance? said alr. “Indeed, what is it?"" “I am, first of all, a native of the state of South Carolina.” A murmur of applause and approval ran round the balcony. Captain Pinckney smiled and exchanged glances with Mrs. Brant, but the stranger quietly returned to the central table beside Colonel Starbottle. “I am not only an unexpected delegate to this august assembly, gentlemen,” he began gravely, “but I am the bearer of perhaps equally unexpected news. By my position in the southern district I am in possession of dispatches received only this morning by pony express. Fort Sumter has heen besieged. The United States flag, carrying relief to the beleaguered garrison, has been fired upon by the state of South Carolina!” A burst of almost hysteric applause and broke from the assembly and made the dim, vauit-like passages and cor- ridors of the casa ring. Cheer after cheer went up to the velled gallery and the misty sky beyond; men mounted on the tables and waved their hands frantically, and in the midst of this bewlidering turbulence of sound and motion Clarence saw his wife mounted on & chair, with burning cheeks and flashing waving her handkerchief like an In- spired priestess. Only the stranger, still standing beside Colonel Starbottle, remained unmoved ard im- passive. Then with an imperative gesture he demanded a sudden silence. ““Convineing and unanimous as this demon- stration is, gentlemen,” he began quietly, “it is my duty, nevertheless, to ask you it you have seriously considered the meaning of the pews I have brought. It is my duty to tell you that it means civil war. It means the clash of arms between two sections of a mighty country, it meaus the disruption of friends, the breaking of family ties, the sepa- ration of fathers and sons, of brothers and ps to the disseverment of husband “It means the sovereignty of the south— and the breaking of a tovenant with low-born traders and abolitionists,” said Captain Pinck- ney. It there are any gentlemen present,” con- tinued the stranger, without heeding the in- It was through her | | they are at liberty to withdraw from the meet- Brant | with | DECEMBER 2, terruption, “who have pledged this state to the support of the south in this emergency, or to the establishment of & Pacific republic in ald and sympathy with It, whose names are on this paper,” he lifted i sheet of paper lying before Colonel StarBottle, “but who now feel that the gravity of thq news demands a more serious considerdtion of the purpose, Ing—giving their honor ,as sout men to keep the in! “Not If I know it,” Inferrupted a stalwart Kentucklan as he rose to his feet and strode down the steps to the patio. 'For,” he added, placing his back against the gateway, shoot the first coward that backs out now A roar of laughter and apprsval followe but was silenced again by the quiet, unim- passioned voice of the stranger. “It on the other hand,” he went on calmly, “you all feel that this news is the fitting ‘culmination and consecration of the hopes, wishes, and plans of this meeting, you whl assert it again, on your own signatures, to_Colonel Starbottle at this table.” When the Kentuckian had arisen Clarence had started from his concealment. When he now saw the eager figures pressing forward to the table he hesitated no longer. Slipping along the passags he reached the staircase which led to the corridor in the rear of the balcony. Descending this rap- idly he not only came upon the backs of the excited crowd around . the table, but even elbowed one of the conspirators aside without being noticed. His wife, who had risen from her chair at the end of the balcony, was already moving towards the table. With a quick move- ment he seized her wrist and threw her bac into the chair again. A cry broke from her 1ips as she recog- nized him, but, still holding her wrist, he stepped quickly between her and the aston- ished crowd. There was a moment of silence, then the ery of “Spy!” and “‘Scize him!” rose quickly, but above all the voice of the Missourian was heard commanding them to stand back. Turning to Clarence, he said quickly “I should know your face, sir. you “The husband of this woman, and the master of this house,’ sald Clarence, aw quickly, but in a voice he hardly recognized as his own. “Stand aside from her, then, unless you are hoping that her danger may protect you,” sald the Kentuckian, significantly drawing his revolver. But Mrs, n gentle- Who are Brant sprang suddenly to her feet beside Clarence. “We are nelther of us cowards, Mr. Brooks, though he speaks the truth—and, more shame to me,"” he added, with a look of savage scorn at Clarence—'is my husban: “But what is your purpose in coming here continued Judge Beeswinger, with his eyes fixed on Clarence. “I have glven you all the information,” said Clarence, quietly, ‘“that is necessary to make you, as a gentleman, leave this house at once “and that is my purpose. It is all the in- formation you will get from me as long as you and your friends insult my wife with your uninvited presence. What I may have to say to you, and each of you hereafter— what T may choose to demand of you, accord- ing to your own code of honor”—he fixed his eyes on Captain Pinckney's—"is another ques- tion and one not usually discussed before a lady.” “Pardon me. ment." It was the volce of Colonel Starbottle; it was the frilled shirt front, the 1ightly but'onel blue coat with its expanding lapels, like burs ing petals, and the smiling mask of that gen- tleman rising above the table and bowing to Clarence Brant and his wife with infinite courtesy. ““The—er—humiliating situation in which we find ourselves, gentlemen—the reluctant wit- ne: of—er—what we trust.is only a tem- poratlidisagreement between our charming hostess’and the—er—gentieman whom she has recognized under the highest title to our con- sideration—is distressing ito us all, and would seem to amply justify that gemtleman's claims to a personal satisfaction, which I know we would all delight to give. But that situation rests upon the supposition that our gathering here was of a purely soclal or festive naturc! “It may be,” continued fhe: colonel, with a blandly reflective air, “that the spectacle of these decafiters and glasses, and the nectar furnished us by our Hebbiike hostess”—he lifted a glass of whisky and water to his lips while he bowed to Mrs. Brant gracefully— “has led the gentleman to such a deduction. But when I suggest to him that our meeting was of a business or private nature, it strikes me that the question of intrusion may be fairly divided between him and ourselves. We may be even justified in view of that privacy in asking him if his—er—entrance of this house was—er—coincident with his ap- pearance among us.'"’ “With my front door in possession of strangers?” said Clarence, more in reply to a sudden, contemptuous glance from his wife than Starbottle’s insinuation. “I entered the house through the window—" “Of my boudoir, where another intruder once broke his neck,” interrupted his wife, with & mocking laugh. “Where I once helped this lady to regain possession of her house when it was held by another party of illegal trespassers, who, however, were content to call themselves ‘jumpers' and did not clalim the privacy of gentlemen.” “Do you mean to imply, sir, Starbottle, haughtily, *‘that— “I mean to imply,” sald Clarence with quiet scorn, ““that I have neither the wish to know nor the slightest concern in any purpose that brought you here, and that when you quit the house you take your secrets and your privacy with you intact, without let or hindrance from me."" “Do you mean to say, Mr. Brant” said Judge Beeswinger, suppressing the angry in- terruption of his fellows with a dominant wave of his hand as he fixed his eyes ou Clarence keenly, “that you have no sympathy with your wife's political sentiments?” “I have already given you the information necessary to make you quit this house, and that is all you have a right to know,” re- turned Clarence with folded arms “But 1 can answer for him, said Mrs, Brant, rising with a quivering voice and curl- ing lip. “There is no sympathy between us. We are as far apart as the poles. We have nothing in common—but tho house, and his name.” ““But you are husband and wife—bound to- gether by a sacred compact!" “A compact!” echoed Mrs. Brant with a bit- ter laugh. “Yes! the compact that binds Sauth Carolina to Massachusetts! The com- pact that links together white and black, the gentleman and the trader—the planter and the poor white—the compact of those United States—Bah!—that has been broken, and so can thi Clarence's face paled. But before he could speak, there was a rapid clattering at the gate and a dismounted vaquero entered ex- citedly. Turning to.Mrs. Brant, he sald hur- rledly: “The casa s surrounded by a rabble of mounted men, and there is one among them even now whe demands admittance in the namea of the law.” “This is your work," sald Brooks, facing Clarence furiously; “you have brought them with you, but, by God, -they shall not save you!" He would have clutohed Clarence, but the powerful arm of Judge Beeswinger inter- vened. Nevertheless he still struggled to reach Clarence, appealing to the others: “Are you fools to stand there ard let him triumph? Don't you see the cowardly Yankee trick he's played upon us?"’ “Ho has not,” said Mrs. Brant, haughtily, “I have no reason to love him or his friends, but T know he does not lie!” “Gentlemen! Gentlemen!” implored Colonel Starbottle, with unctuous persuasion, “‘may I —er—remark—that all this is far from he question. Are we to be alarmed because an awkward rabble, Do matter whence they come, demand entrance here in the name of the law? 1 am not aware of any law in the state of California that we are infringing. By all means—admit them."” The gate was thrown open. A single, thickset man, apparently unarmed, and dressed like an ordinary traveler, followed by half a dozen other equally unpretentious looking men, entered. The leader turned to the balcony. “L am the chief of police of San Francisco. I have warrants for the arrest of Colonel Culpepper, Starbottle, Joshua Brooks, Cap- tain Pinckney, Clarence Brant and Alice, his wife, and others charged with exciting to riot and unlawful practice calculated to dis- turb the peaco of the state of California and its relations with the federal government,” said the leader in a dry, ofticial voice. Clarence started. In’ spite of its monoto- nous utterance it was the voice of the red- bearded controversialist of the stage coach. But where were his characterlstic beard and A moment—a single mo- began Colonel ‘T | 1894, hair? Tovoluntarily Clarence glanced at Judge Beeswinger; that gentleman was quietly re- garding the stranger with an impassive face that betrayed no recognition whatever. ut the city of S8an Francisco has no juris- diction here,” sald Colonel Starbottle, turn- ing a bland smile toward his fellow member: “I am sorry to inform you that you are simply trespassing, sir.’” ‘I am here also as deputy sheriff,” returned the stranger, coolly. “‘We were unable to locate the precise place of the meeting, al- though we knew of its existence. I was sworn fn this morning at Santa Cruz by the Judge of this district, and these gentlemen with me are my posse.” There was a quick movement of resist- ance by the members, which was, however, agaln waved blandly aside by Colonel Star- bottle. Leaning forward in a slightly foren- sic attitude with his fingers on the table, and a shirt frill that seemed to have become of itself erectlle, he sald with pained but polite precision : “I grieve to have to state, s'r, that even that position Is utterly untenable here. I am a lawyer myselt—as my friend here—Judge Beeswinger—eh?—I beg your pardon-—' The officer of the law had momentarily started, with his eyes fixed on Judge Bees- winger, who, however, seemed to be quietly writing at the table. “As Judge Beeswinger,” continuzd Colonel Starbottle, “will probably tell you—and, as a jurist himself, he will also probably agree with me when I also inform you—that as the United States government is an aggrieved party, it is a matter for the federal courts to prosecute, and that the only officer we can recognize s the United States marshal for the d'strict. When I add that the marshal, Colonel Crackenthorpe, is ona of my oldest friends, and an active sympathizer with the south in the presert struggle, you will under- stand that any action from him in this mat- ter is exceedingly improbable.’ The general murmur of laughter, rellef and approval was broken by the quiet voice of Judge Beeswinger. “Let me sce your warrant, Sherif!. The officer approached him with a slightly perplexed and constrained air and exhibited the paper. Judge Beeswinger handed it back to him. “Colonel Starbottle Is quite right in his contention,” he said quietly, ““the only officer that this assembly can recognize is the United States marstal or his legal deputy. But Colonel Starbottle is wrong in his supposi- tion that Colonel Crackenthorpe still retains the functions of that office. He was re- moved by the president of the United States, and his successor was appointed and sworn in by the federal judge early this morning.” He paused, and, folding up the paper upon which he had been writing, placed it in the hands of the deputy. “And this," he con- tinued, in the same even voce, “‘constitutes you his deputy and will enable you to carry out your duty in coming here.” “What the devil does this mean, sir? are you?" £u Mr. Deputy ‘Who gasped Colonel Starbottle, recolling nly from the man at his side. I am the new United States marshal for the southern district of California.” (To be Continued.) I TIDE AT GETTYSBURG, Published by Request. A cloud possessed the hollow field, The gathering battle's smoky shield; Athwart the gloom the lightning flashed, And through the cloud some horsemen dashed, And from the heights the thunder pealed, i Then, at the brief command of Lee, Moved out that matchless infantry, With Pickett leading grandly down To rush against the roaring crown Of those dread heights of destiny. Far heard above the angry guns, A _cry across the tumult runs; The voice that through Shiloh’s woods, And Chickamauga's solitudes, The flerce south cheering on her sons. rang Ah, how the withering tempest blew Against the front of Pettigrul A khamsin wind that scorched and singed, Like that infernal flame that fringed The British squares at Waterloo! “‘Once more in Glory's van with me Virginia_cries to Tennessee We two together, come what may, Shall stand upon those works today, The reddest day in history!" But who shall break the guards that walt Before the awful face of fate? The tattered standards of the south Were shriveled at the cannon's mouth, And all her hopes were desolate. In vain the Tennesscean set His breast against the bayonet; In vain Virginia charged and raged, A tigress in her wrath uncaged, Till all the hill was red and wet! Above the bayonets mixed and crossed, Men saw a gray, gigantic ghost Receding throuizh the battle-cloud, And heard across the tempest loud The death-cry of a nation lost! The brave went down! Without disgrace They leaped to Ruin’s red embrace; They only heard Fame's thunder wake, And saw’ the dazzling sunburst break In smiles on Glory's bloody face! LL H. THOMPSON. TIONAL, The enrollment of the University of Chi- cago is now 1,100, and it is expected that it will reach 1,600 before the close of the present year. This will be twice as many as were enrolled last year. Andover Theological seminary for a successor to the late Dr. professor of Homiletics, and the place has been informally offered to Rev. Dr. Charles Cuthbert Hall, pastor of the First Presby- terfan church of Brooklyn. Work on the great Methodist university at Washington will begin next spring. A donation of $250,000 has been made recently with which to construct the first building. Dr. J. J. Robinson, LL.D., who has resigned from the Yale law school, with which he has been connected for twenty years, will become n of a new tchool of philosophy of the Catholic University of America at Washing- ton. His resignation takes effect January 1 and it is expected that he will go %o Wash- ington soon afterward. The new depart- ment of the university will not be opened to students until next fall, when the McMahon hall has been completed. The Board of Education of Passaic, N. J., recently made the teaching of cooking a regu- lar part of the curriculum for the upper grades in the female schools. Last week twenty or thirty girls in oue of the schools made a salad. They then inadvertently ate it, and every blessed one of them was promptly taken sick. Hereafter they will probably glve the manufactured product to the poor. The first colored woman to receive the decree of M. A. in the United States was Miss Mary Patterson, who was graduated from Oberlin college in 1862. In speaking of her, The Woman's Era of Boston says: ‘“The schools of the district have sustained an ir- reparable loss In the death of Miss Patter- son, who for twenty-five years rendered valy ablo service as a teacher. When Oberlin college opened its doors to women she was cour- ageous, indegd, who dared to brave public opinion by taking what was commonly called the gentleman's course, on the principle that it belonged exclusively to the lords of crea- tion, and no women need apply. Only young women of the loftiest ambition and the keen- est thirst for knowledge presented themselves as candidates for the degree of A. B. Miss Patterson was among the first to prove to the world that Greek and the higher mathe matics could be mastered mot only by young women of the favored race, but by their sisters of the oppressed race as well. Noth- ing better reveals the fine spirit, the resolute will and the strong intellectuality of Miss Patterson than her decision to take and com- plete the classical course at that period.” “Equal pay for service™ is the slogan of the women teachers in the Philadelphia schools. _ Although the Board of Bducation allows $950 a year to men, graduates of the school of pedagogy In the Central High school, appointed to teach the eleventh and twelfth grades, a young woman graduated from the Normal School and School of Practice s paid only $620 for her first year, and after five years gots but $670 in the eleventh grade and $520 in the twelfth grade. After five years of teaching, there- fore, the salary of a woman teacher in the twelfth grade s $130 less than what & man teacher would be paid fresh from the High school. A strong effort 1s belng made for the increase of the salaries of women principals, and equal energy is to be directed in the way of doing justice to the assistants, many of whom are of marked efficlency, and lack nothing save opportunity to permit them to act as vrin- clpals and draw pay as such, 1s seeking Pease as | TRIED AN EASTERN DRUG Effects of Hasheesh Upon a Young Man About Town, NOW HE KNOWS WHEN HE HAS HAD ENOUGH He Takes It In the Room of a Medleal Student, Sees About Everything on Earth and Then Rolls Homo n A Cab, “DId you ever experience hashessh?” asked a certain young man about town of a Bee reporter one evening during the past week. tive reply, he said half your life. It is the greatest thing I ever run up against, and the sensations of the | oplum smoker is not in it with this peculiar drug. 1 have tried both, and know whereof I | speak. Come over to this corner and I'll tell you all about it, but you must not give me | away. A comfortable settee was found in a dark- ened corner of the Paxton corridor, and after a short pause the young man about town be. gan by saying: “I have a young medical student for a friend, who is about as harum soarum sort of a fellow as you would meet ir a day’s journey. He has recently been visit ing in the east, and stopped at several of the larger cities. His reported escapades have filled our clique with envy, but when he told us about trying the hasheesh we could stand it no longer, and prevailed upon him to send | and get some of the drug so that we all could | have a test of this new form of dissipation. | Finally he did o, and a few evenings ago the stuft came. All the fellows belonging to our crowd were notified, and it was arranged to test the sensations In the medical student's rooms the next evening. At a given hour we assembled hera and went with the young sawbones to his rooms, not many blocks the effects of On receiving a nega “Well, you have lost here we found everything nicely ar- ranged. potted plants here and there, a soft light_diffusing mellow shadows over a table on which an excellent supper had been spread, with just enough plates for our party. As £00n as we were ated the student brought in a box containing several small packages which he opened, and disclosed a greenish compound, which he explained was the de- sired hasheesh. It was in two forms, the powdered and the oleaginous. The powde drug was for smoking, and the other to be eaten with the supper. It was skillfully con- cealed in the sweets and jellies which we had to eat. The medical student gave us a sort of preliminary lecture on the manufacture of the drug, and told us of its effects. Most of it comes from Cairo and Port Said. We Be- came impatient to begin the drugged feast and some impertinent questions shut off the lecture. The first thing we were served with was strong coffee, which our friend explaine would assist in rapidly developing the effects of the hasheesh. If the drug is taken upon an empty stomach, it requires several hours to attain its full sway on the system. TRIED THE DRUG. “After drinking the coffee we were each served with a teaspoonful of the oily com- pound. These doses were flayored with some- ing that tasted pleasant, and as 1 was de- sirous of taking a full dose I acked fcr an:ther spoonful, which was given .me. We pro- ceeded to enjoy a good supper, and when the demistasses of coffee disappeared and we had lighted our cigarettes 1 was beginning to think that our medical friend had played a joke on us or else had tried to hoax us. While we were talking I soon began experi- encing a sense of delightful warmth, and the blood seemed to surge back and forth in my veins with indescribable emotions. Our con- versation had been lively, each mem. ber joking his side partner, and many good stories were told. While listening to one of the stories I found that my atten- tion was beginning to wander and the voice of the speaker seemed to be receding from me, until it soon sounded like it was in an- other room. 1 became drowsy and every thing appeared to be ridiculously funny. One of the perty dropped a goblet and every one laughed immoderately. 1 remembered a joke which I had heard years ago and began laughing until it seemed as if 1 would never stop. 1 turned around to look at the othe of the party, and found that my nearest neighbor resembled a cookoo, not of the Cleveland variety, but the genuine article with feathers. The man next to him slowly took on the appearance of a huge tom cat, his mustache lengthening out into feline whiskers and his eyes assuming a_beautiful yellow. 1 told my nelghbor that he looked like a bird, and he called me a monkey, claiming that I was a near relation to the chimpanzee family. We both laughed, and one of the boys threw his cane across the room. I picked it up and became filled with a wild desire to ride up to the moon on the stick. I reclined in my chair and soon felt myself soaring to unlimited heghts. 1 as- cended slowly over the city, looked down from my point of vantage and could see clouds ot smoke pouring forth from the smelters and large buildings, and felt a sort of relief from all worldly cares. The stick vanished as if by magic, and I thought I was in a balloon. 1 was traveling faster than the wind and thought I was about to enter somo celestial kingdom beretofore unknown to mortals. How long I continued in this state I do not know, but about 10 o'clock I came back to earth and drowsily opened my eyes and passed my hands over my fevered brow, thinking that the drug had worn it- self out, forgetting what the medical student haa told us about its intermittent effects. GOT IN ITS WORK AGAIN. “I concluded that T would go home, but 1 had no more than gained the foot of the stairs until the hasheesh got in its work again, and I aidw't know whether I was afoot or on horseback. My feet seemed to weigh a ton and it required my whole strength to lift them from the sldewalk. Finally I anchored against a convenient lamp- post, and hanging on to it let the chill night air cool my heated head. Then as soon as this attack passed away I became filled with the idea that I was as light as a feather and the least little broeze seemed as if it was going to blow me off the facd of the earth. I wanted to fly, and it- scemed as if my arms had been transformed into wings. 1 tried to walk, but saw a policeman watching me, and knowing that I was stag- gering a good deal I concluded to stop for a while within the friendly shade of a build- ing. I gazed up at the stars, and they seemed to come o near that I wanted to pluck one from Its firmament and fasten it into my coat lapel. 1 became sick, but as soon as the nausea passed off I felt as If I was growjng big and strong enough to lift a six-story ‘building. I wanted to test my strength, ‘and started In to upset a few squatty four-story structures, but before I could accomplish my desires I began growing small, and for a time thought I was no larger than & mouse and was afraid that some dog or cat would pounce upon me and devour me. Them I sat down on the eurb and began weeping over my sad fate. When 1 camo to myself a hackman, whom I knew, was standing over me trying to bring me to and get me to go home. I heard him mut- ter, ‘you d—d fool, you won too much on the election and have not been sober for a week.” 1 told him to take me home and he shoved me into his cab. The noise of the wheels seemed as if hundreds of freight trains were rushing along the paved streets. Then I becamo uncomfortably warm and thought that I was in a house that was on fire. 1 began burning and was wondering how I was going to get out alive when the hack stopped at my residence and the hack- man helped me to my room. I fell on the bed in a stupor, from which T did not awake until about 10 o'clock the next day. I felt pretty tough, 1 can tell you, but I was ter- ribly hungry, and until 1 had stowed away & huge steak I did not begin to realize that 1 was an inhabitant of this mundane sphere, In the afternoon I met the medical student and we compared notes. Strange to say we experienced nearly the same sensations, but he did not have the same distressful after effects that I did, for he did mot take so mich of the stuft. But I want to tell you that I don't go against any more such fool- {shness. I know when I have had enough of a thing, and my advice to you is to let this wtuff severely alone. It may be all right for the heatbep to get a jag on with, but it don't do fof Aative born American citizens,* ) 66 77 144 DR HUMPHREYS' SEEQIFIO ~FOR~ COLDS Dr. A, Conan Doyle, Holmes ot the Lotos O on the first day of my arrival 1 inquired for the highest building. T ascended it in an elevata AL least they assured me It was an elovator. I thought at first 1 had wandered Into the dynas mite gun.” The contrast or of Sherlock ab dinner, sald: ‘‘That the e between an EXPRESS elevator in New York City's high buildings, and an Enge lish LIFT, Is no greater than the contrast bes tween the old-fashioned medicines and Dr. SPECIFIC for COLDS, 2N, CATARRM Soreness in the Head and Ch Throat, General Prostration and Jut why enumerate the kinds of colds that ‘70 reaches; 77" 18 A SPECIFIC from the first chill or shudder to the worst kind of obstinate colds “‘that hang on.* With a vial of thes pocket you need not fe or len char wo are now having) the first symptoms umphiey's RIPPE, 1) and Sore LUE Fover, pleasant pellots in the cold, s In the temp A fow of ¥ Its continued use will complete BE SURE TO GET H-U-M-P-H-R-E-Y-S8." New'y your, damp weather, Ature (such ae will r Cold, and check ver the bottle pleasant druggists, 5 for $1 William pellots—fits your or sent on re- HUMPHREYS' & John streets, FireProof Hotel. CHICAGO, ILLINOI EUROPEAN PLAN, 266 to 274 S. Clark St. . Do LAUGHLIN, Mog". Electrie every Light and Steam room two passenger eley in tors, This hotel has just been thor= oughly renovated and re=furn= ished, It is now than in much ever before. better condition Since its opening, 1888, it the favorite stopping place for out-of- town has been merchants. the wholesale business Qistricts than any lotel in the city. It is a thoroughly fire-proof building, modern in every respect. Rates for rooms, $1.00 per day and upward. Iirst-class restaurant in con- nection, at popular prices, Its location is more convenient to The Mercer Hotel Cor. 12th and Howard Streets, Under new management. will furnish BET- TER MEALS und BETTEL ROOMS (all steam heated and eleetric lighted thin any hotel in Omwiha for the rate of $2.00 per diy. Rooms with bith $250 and $5.00, Try the Mercor next timo you visit the clty. Take the Hurney street it Union Depot to 12th streer. From Webster street Dopot tuko car to Howard street. B. SILLOWAY, Manager, FREE! ) and gend it to - cut THIS OUT oA with your namoand (dress nud wo will serd you thiswatch Ly express for examination. A ‘GUARANTEL for 5 YEARS sentwith it. You examino it and if yon think it o bargain D1y,0ur sample prico §1.85 oidiils, rs. 1t Isthehand- somest and best timekeoper in tho werld for (he money Jand betior than many watches 14 for four times tho price. 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Prematurencss means impotency in_the first stage, 1t s o symptomof seminal weakness and bnrn;:flcls, 1t cail be stopped Lo 20 days by the of Hudyan, "ie new aiscovery was made by the ’{fl“: of theold famos Hudsen Medioal Lasti- Tt 1s thestrongest vitalizer made. Itis very poworful, but harmles. Bold for 8100 goor 6 packages fur §0.00 (plain xes). Written guarentee given for a cure. o buyllxl ll:o::--u% are not on'urflyh x more will bo sent o you freo of all charges. ‘Bend for clrculars and testimonials, Addross HUDSON MEDICAL INSTITUTE, 1032 MARKET 8T., BAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,