Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 8, 1903, Page 16

FLOWER O' THE CORN, By 5. R. CROCKETT. S (Copyright, 1002, by 8. R. Orackett,) CHAPTER VIII My Daughter Yvette. The village of La Cavalerie lles well out upon the plain face of the great Causse de Larzae. The strange nameleons and ridges of rock surrouuding It constitute natural defenses which for many years had been assiduously strengthened by the Camisards. As Maurice Raith approached the place for the first time he saw a wonderful sight. Hundreds of men, women and children were engaged In bullding up, even as the Israel- ites had done of old time, the bulwarks of thelr Zion. The men had their guns and swords close at hand as they worked. Many of them wielded the trowel or mixed the mortar with pistols in their belts and great basket-hilted swords a-swing by their sides. Thus for many years were the high Cevennes held against the king. The women were running to bring lime and sand. The very children fetched the water in pails, or, ap though they played a game, carried building stones on hand- ts. Meanwhile, a little erefted above the rest, an old man stood and intoned a chapter of the bible fn a loud voice or with uplifted hand led the solemn psalm. The entrenchments, Maurice soon ob- sorved, were laid out with the natural eye of a soldler, and the aide of the duke of Marlborough soon found himself thinking with more respect of the armed peasants who could thus keep at bay the soldlers of the first military power in Christendom. But, being & young man, Mauzice Raith thought of other things besides the military ordering and entrenchment of the village of La Cavalerfe. The heart within him leaped up with a eertain rejaicing to know that he was 8o mear the girl whom of all others bad power to move him. It was ; o his delight that she did not know it. His dispositions were soon made. For Flower-o'-the-Corn as well as himself the night had been a disturbed one. He would leave her to her repose till the evening. Then it was certain that she would come out to breathe the high air of the cause, with the clean, tart grip in it. When that occurred he would be near* ta thank her for baying saved bis life. That would be an opportunity mot lo be lost. Morcover, he wotld find out whether or no she recognized him. Maurice Raith had scarcely set foot upon the wide, closely-crepped space, which in an English or €cott!sh village would have been called the “green ’ ihan he was halled trom atar by his henchuen, Billy Marshall. The Gorporal of Carerorians was standing by one of the cart wheols with a carefully packed bundle of ¢lotlies on the ground before him. A dozen men were round about him. He carried a huge thorn stick in his hand, and was making vallant pacses to de- fend his position. ‘Maister,” he cried, soon as he caught sight of Maurice, “thae blackyards will n: even let your honor's brecks alane—no - though I hae telled tham till I was tired that they are a’ ye hae to cover your nakedness, and Bet has glen them the office in their ain lingo!" A man with the blood trickling. down from a& broken head came running to Maurice, holding a ¢léth to his brow. ‘This mad fellow of yours," he said in rapid and imperfect French; *will not give up your clothes to be brushed. 1 had the orders to attend to your outfit from Jean Cavaller bimself. I dare not face the gen- eral u 1 can inferm him that I bave obeyed his Instructions. Yet this savage has broken my head for me—the head of an 'm soldier of his m;y: ards and Protestant of for yu‘ repute.' Maurice laughed a little, but, Instantly chegking himself, in remembrance of his self-chosen s as Plerre the wagoner, he apologized humbly, at once hastening to pateh up the wound and attempting to pacify the belligerent Billy. But this was somewhat easier sald than done. For the deeps of Billy Marehall were aroused by what he considered the uncalled. for shameless plunder of his master's goods §nd chattels. He felt that eo much good, and warlike gear was being delib- erately thrown away on & pack of psalm- einglng knaves. But with ‘Bet on one side and Maurice Raith on the other, the wrathful Bill was finally removed to the stables, protesting all the way that he was more than a match for ‘all the cheatery Frenchies in crea- tion. ! By this time It was more than suspected that Master Billy had been looking upon the redness of that which remained of the lquor In the lower part of my Lord Marl- borough's false-bottomed casks. A tall and somewhat dignified man, wha after the rescue of Maurice's uniform had drawn upon himself the gypsy's anger by oontinuing to follow them to the stable, mow came forward, as if to offer some advice. » “I .would advise you to' takg yourselt oft,” ‘sald Maurice; “my man s somewhat irritable and uncertain, at best. He § not acquainted with the language and is apt to take offense even where no offense is meant. His wite and I will attend to the horses ourselves *“But,” sald the man, speaking In a hesi- tating manner, and In a tone of apology, “here are also my own horses. Who will see to them Whose horses are they? much astonished. “Will your highness do me the honor to nter?” sald the man, taking his hat from ~his head am fhe hostler of this place, and I have the commands of Jean Cavaller himsel? to lodge both you and your equip- age The young man descended certain steps of stone, a little crumbling and hollowed out in spoon fashion in the middle, with use and wont, and presently found himselt in wide stables. The ficor was of hard- trodden rth, black and glossy like & blacksmith's apren, not at all like the lime." stone of the Causses or the floury foot. fog®which it ‘natura)ly makes. There was plenty ot light, however, for on the further side the stables gave upon a little steep ravine, or cleft In the Causse, and withal A cheerful sound of horses moving thelr blinkers and headstalls as they jerkes thelr necks upward and whisked about the more easlly to reach their mahger feed or the hay in the racks above. On pegs here and there were hung sad- ald Maurice, | | also whet | his family. And it wi B S, idea that the possession of it might tell in his favor, if he were apprebended as a spy. 1t had, however, Béen enclosed in the same hiding place as the fleld plece sent to the Camisards by the states general of Hol- land, 80 that the chances were small indeed that it would do him much good should he have fallen into the hands of M. le Mare- chal de Montrevel. He had, however, some- what carelessly tossed the bundle in at the | last moment, chiefly with a sort of disin- clination to cut ail tles which bound him | to his old life. Maurice saw td it first of all that Billy and his wife were comfortable according to their simple and easy standard. In these regions, as in Spain, enly travelers of the highest consideration ever thought of as- | cending to the second floor where dwelt | In half-baronical state the Innkeeper and though Plerre knew it pot, a proof that some hint of his quality had alrcady leaked out that he thus re- celved the invitation of his host the “Bon Chretien.” In this Bllly M hall was induced to | ingly, but more as it she were making an THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SU NDAY, MARCH 8, 1908. “Indeed.” entreated Maurice, who fore saw dificulties If the landlord showid go about Introducing him the accredited ambassador of the allies, “I who am come among you am but the servant of a servant —one Plerre of Roche-a-Bayard and Hoo! 1 am no great person—a poor Flemish car ter only, and deserve but your plainest fare.” But even se he spoke he was conscious that the girl's eyes were upon him. A smile slowly formed itself upon her lips, which of themselves were graclous, knowl- edgable, but more than a little seornful “Let me see your hands!” she said sud- denly Maurice Ralth, struck with sudden fear that he would not be as successtul in pre- serving his incognito as he had haped, obe- diently stretched cut his hand. She did not take it in her palm, but let it lie lightly on the back of her wrist. Then with her othcr hand she turned the young man's fingers over, letting the points rest a moment on the soft palm of her hand, yet not caress- experiment. Then quite suddenly she lifted her eyes to his and gave him (as it were) full vol- ley. They were not broken bits of the blue | of heaven forewandered and lost like those of Flower-o'-the-Corn. Rather great, storm- | dark, ultra-passionate they scemed, the | kind of eyes which forever seem to swim in tears that are never shed—angry tears mostly, yet capable, too, upon occaslon, of melting to a singular, unexpected tender- ness, invincibly touching because so rare. 'Ah, Master Plerre—Master Plerre, th withal an She dropped the cloak on the floor, gave her héad a light, careless shake 5o that the hat tumbled off of its own acord, and stood bowing before him, a quiet smile upon her lips and ber hand upon her heart, after the manner of one that takes as a thing of course the applause of a crowded theater The young man remained amazed and abashed. He was silent, chiefly because he did not know how much this girl might know, nor what might be her meaning in thus laying bare his poor artifices and selfs concealments, bowed again more mockingly than to drink to our better acquaint- ever. Shall 1 have the honor to lead your honor to your honor's chamber?” she sald. Then Maurice Raith, who, though on two occasiotis had acted the ninny, where girls were concerned was very far indeed from being cne, recovered himself. “Madam,” he sald with a superb bow, | “I am deeply indebted for the Instruction | you have afforded me, and I shall not fail to profit by it—when next I enter an inn and-find myself served by a pretty walting ‘woman!" But the finesse, though by no means thrown away, was utterly rejected by Mis- tress Yvette. ““No,” she eald, pouting her lips pet- tishly, and patting the floor discontentedly with her little slippery foot, hat will not do. You are a gentleman masquerading as & wagoner. I, on the other hand, am a lit- tle village girl—" 0 “With the features of an angel and the HE SEEum.. VERY NEAR. hY ‘0 GROW DIZZY IN A MIST OF PERFUMED BREATH. TWO GREAT E b o M%‘ | / i YES, MOIST AND LUMINOUS, WERE lay himself down on the straw. They left him using the bundle of Maurice's regimen- tals as a pillow, and even in sleep de- nouncing fire and slaughter against anyone who should attempt to despoll him of it. As was her custom, Bet composed herself stolidly to watch her Lusband through the pleasure to wake. She herself had tasted nothing since the night before. Yet she neyer onee thought of preparing food for hepself which Billy would be unable to par. take. She would sit and watch that no harm befel him in these strange places, per- fectly assured that her lord, awaking to | find himself in a strait betwixt the deep sea of a racking headache and the devil of a temper, would certainly inflict corporal punishment upon her. At the fnvitation of Martin Foy, landlord of the Bon Chretien, Maurice mounted the stairs, which ascended circularly at an angle of the stabies. To those unacquainted with the plan of such southern houses it might have been remarkable how at each turn of the stairs the remembrance of the strange entrance hall beneath was blotted out. At the first the ammonical stable smell was suddenly left behind. At the second—there in front of the ascending guest was a fringed mat lying on the little landing. At the third turn, lo! Maurice found himself in a wide hall with door lighted from the front, with an outlook upon a courtyard in which was & judas tree In full leat with seats of wicker and rustic branches set out, while here and there in the shade stood small round tables —pleasantly retired—all showing a degree of refinement to which Maurice had been a stranger ever since he Jeft those Inns upon the great roads of England which are justly held to be the wonder of the world. But, notwithstanding, considering that he wa France and had just mounted up from a ble, what wonder is it that, Martin Foy still plloting him, Maurice stood suddenly aghast when, at the opening of a door, a girl stood before him. She wore . dress of some rough surfaced stuff, excellently made curve of her lithe young figure. as she stood, there wi something excessively active, vigorous dles and accoutrements of war all ready for | feline. use. For the Camisards obtaiped many of thelr most celebrated successes simply by | the speed with which they were able move from one place to another. Still higher rows of iron head pieces winked as the level sbafts of sunlight fell through the narrow, triangular openings in the wall above each horse's head. At tha farther end, in the widest and best stalls, were placed in the order the nine horses of Plefre the wagoner, while opposite, in a kind of square alcdve, empty, swept and sarnished with good, clean straw, Billy the &Ypsy and his wife tet had made their en- campment. The package of clothes which had been the cause of the loud disagree- ment without, was carefully stowed away in the corner bebind Billy. Maurice recog- nized the bundle as containing his best to statt uniforms, which he had taken with | for this I beg of you, Yv el to do bim el bonor.” bim ac the last moment, with some v | { She wore a simple pomegranite flower, red as blood, among the coplous heaped masses of her hair. It gave she needed no other ornament ‘My daughter, Yvette!" said the landlord of “Bon Chretlen” for an introduction The girl did not move at all. Only her red lips parted slightly and she threw inte her great black eyes something for a mo- ment personal to Maurice Raith that he never forgot his is that Mons Plern have heard, have been commended to care for (to the everlasting honor of this house) by Jean of whom you Cavalier himeel?, during his sojourn among | us. He has brought us both arms and dis patches from our alll { hours of the day t111 it should be her lord's | in one of the most remote corners of | which fitted every | Motionless | a suggestion of | to her dark | beauty a Spanish suggestion, and, Indeed, | something | sald Martiyp Foy, “he whom I | roulier, the carrier,” trilled the girl, halt laughingly, half scornfully, “good master wagoner—I am glad to make your acquaint- ance.” “And I also am honored,” sald Maurice, speaking roughly, “it is a pleacure to me to be here. The wine is better and (Eirls are prettier than they are in my part of the country. What more can a man want? And that reminds me—upon word I had forgot, go bring me a can of the best, lass. Wine seals friendship, they say —or perbaps because you are so pretty, vould prefer to seal it in another He approached the girl with one arm out- stretched, his whiplash caught up in the | wageners when they encounter the prettiest serving maid of an inn. But Yveite Foy 414 not move an inch, nor did the nalf- scornful expression of her oyes change. Some time before her father had disap- peared down one of the many passages which led from the landing where they had met. “I will see that your room Is prepared, he had sald. “Yvette will show you the way when you are ready.” The two young people were all alone Yet in spite of this direct assault, Yvette Foy stood with her hand still on the latch of the door. “Ab, no,” she sald, “that might take 'n Frances, the pastor's daughter of Geneva, but mot Yvette Foy. Good Master Wag- oner, who have only a couple of blisters on your rein fingers where the skin should be hard as horn. And these pretty, dainty hands were never in any man’s service. I wot."" She laughed loud her contralto that it was almost like the tremolo of an organ. There was a certain palpitating quiver about | thetically thrilled the listener somewhere | within bim, somewhere very close to the | seat of his being “‘Beside, all belng said and done, | not do it well,” she said Yvette Foy, that never had the chances of you it better! See!" of his yielding hand, set his groad, much ! head, hiding the great ! her darkling hair. She snatched a great wagoner's coat, threw it about her shoulders, with quick, nervous fingers. Then she threw forward her right foot | and brought it down with a slight, but un- mistekable, stamp upon the floor, holding the whip at arm’s length from her, the butt deflantly set upon the ground with all the alrs of a devil of a fellow. “Faith of a dog,” she cried, “if you be not the prettiest girl I have seen In a quin- taine of Sundays! Strike my liver and buttoning 1t of the morth, and | ette my daughter, | pillars of Hercules very evident upon it— lights if 1 do not think so! There! And there! And there!" she cried, k loudly on the back of her own hand that serve for a beginning—and now," flung down a broad Spanish dollar with the 4 “there is what will give us the where- [} the | my | other, in the traditional attitude of jolly | So deep and rich was | it which sympa- | do | “1 myself, poor an orange-wench at a theater—I could do | And she tcok thelong carter's whip out | worn hat on the back of her small, shapely | heaped masses of | called a houpelande and | | manners of a great lady!" sald Maurice | Raith, quickly, bowing complacently in his turn. The girl laughed and not so contemptu- ously as before. "‘Ah, that is better,” she sald. I will not betray you. You*shall be Plerre the Wag- oner tq all the world and you will. But to me—" " T ol she paused. “Anything you please!" she said, with strange etraight eyes and fixed smile. There fell a silence between them which endured longer than Maurice Raith felt to be altogether comfortable. Yvette Foy ap- peared to wait for something to be said on his side. But since he did not speak, she reverted suddenly to her former scoffing manner. ‘My father will be waiting for us,'' she said. “Permit me to conduct his honor, the ambassador, to his apartments!" he questioned, seeing that CHAPTER IX. To Love and To Hate. The auberge of the “Bom Chretien” in the village of La Cavalerie, in the district of the Cevennes, held by the rebel Cami- sards, had on a time been the residence of the ancient Prior ot the order of the Monks Templar, who had indeed buflt the walls and first held possession of the town. As usual, the innkeeper was the richest man in the little commune, though not for the usual reason. He had not originally belonged to La Cavalerie, but being of the Camisard opinion he had transported him- self and his family from the town of Millau some ten years before. ‘It was whispered that his wife, now dead, had mot been equally zealous with himself, and that she had lived long emough to Indoctrinate the little Yvette with her opinions. “Maurice's room in the “Bon Chretien" was large, and to the Engish eye, some. what bare. But the flower-wreathed bal cony, with its outlook upon white road and gray parapeted wall, made up for all else. In the chamber they found Martin Foy with his own hands putting the finish. ing touches to the arrangement; You will find your sheets aired,” he sald, “aad there is a bell upon the table which you will be good enough to ring without the door If you are in need of anything.” “But,” sald Maurice, “this will not do. I am but a poor wagoner of Flanders and I have no right nor desire to occupy the best room in the house.” “Sir,” sald Martin Foy, bowing gravely, “permit me—for this cause lefs I the best business within the walls of Millau—for | this cause counted all but loss Uross that I | might win,Christ. And shall I not give the | best room.in my pcor house to the man | who, counting mot his life dear, brought | the cannon from the states general of Hol- | | | land to the poor folk in sore travail on these mbuntain tops?" As Martin Foy spoke there came instinet- | ively a kind of chant into his velce, which Maurice had learned to recognize as the | sign-manual of the Camisard prophet or high preacher. It was 12 o'clock and be: neath came the sound of a chanted psalm. Martin Foy started and went rapldly to- ward the door. “It is the hout of prayer.” he sald. "God forgive me, 1 had forgotten. Will you ac company me and hear the new preacher from Geneva expound the way? No? You are wearied and Would repose. Well, on a future occasion he will refresh your heart with such expositions of the true inward ness of scripture as have never been yet heard upon the Cevennes, I leave you to my daughter. Let her find you the where- withal to sustain the body, while I go else- where to seek for the better sustenance of the soul!” Yvette Foy followed her father with her eyes as he went out through the door. She did not smile. Rather there ‘was an ex- ceeding bitterness in her great dark eye “Let us go out into the clean, wholesome alr,” she sald. Maurice followed her out on the balcony. There was something intensely attractive bout this girl. She seemed created for allurement. She walked like some Aholah or Aholibah, scarlet-lipped, Ilithe-limbed, certain of her attractive power. Give her but silk for serge, red heels for home- cobbled shoes, and there had not been a prouder or a fairer court lady under the raying splendor of the Eflde-Boeuf. The balcony upon which Maurice anil Yvette Foy emerged was not proper to his room alone. It went all about the house, except, that is, on the side which over- looked the street. Yvette led the way to the corner where they were most remote frum observation, and pointing the young maa to a chair, leaned her elbows negli- gently on the iron railing, her chin on her clasped hands. She Jooked up into his eyes a long while stendily, and in spite of himselt he felt his soul being drawn from him. For so it 1s when eyes that are great and large have that in them which needeth not speech “80," she said slowly, without with- drawing her eyes from his face or allow- ing the spell to be broken, “have you come o far for so little?" ““For me, I do not know what you mean," he said, uneasily. But all the same he did not look at her. And Yvette Foy, the innkeeper's daughter, laughed that low, resonant laugh, like th: gurgling of water underground, “No," she said, “It is not hid from me, as you think. And that thing that has brought you here is not, as they think, to bring them a few guns, a little powder and the greetings of their dear friends and noble allies, who, unloss it suited them, would not stretch out so much as their little finger to help it they were dying of hunger and torture. The poor silly fools are all agog with the hope that next week Marlborough and the Prince Eugene will be camping out on the ridge, there, and King Louls and all the marshals of France eleeping in their deen graves! A wonder, sir, that you can lend yourself for a mo- ment to such deceit! No, and you would not but that you came here—for what? To follow that pale, pink-and-white dafty- downdilly girl, the daughter of the Ger- man pastor. She has no heart, she is an fcicle, a frozen rush from the water edge. She knows neither what it is to love nor what it is to hate.' “And T know both!” she added suddenly, her volce was hardly louder than a whisper, yet far-reaching ltke an echo in a great catbedral. She rose up suddenly and fronted Mau- rice. “Yes, I know both—to love and to hate,” she repeated, and as she spoke she slowly approached him where he stood. All about the terrace the creepers were red and pur- ple. The pair were almost wholly hidden behind them. “Listen,” she sald, in the same low, thrilling voice. “I have not spoken to a man—at least not in this barred peison- house—for five months. What are these yammerers to me? You—you—!" she seized him with quick, vivid hands that left nerv- ous impressions upon his wri you who come from camps and courts and the so- clety of the living—you know. These are not my equals. These are no companions for me." “But,” began Maurice slowly, “Is it not possible that after all—that—" She would not allow him to continue. “I know—I know,” she cried, almost fiercely, “you would say that these men and—their. women—are better than I! Granted! You are right. Infinitely better, higher, purer. But the being they call God made me so. I might have been like your China-of-Dresden maid down there and seen good in all things. Only I am not. It was not so ordained. My father sent mo to Paris to be educated—finished. The school was a kind of Protestant convent without the dresses and without the masses s0 much the duller therefore. But there was another maid in that prison-house— her name, Bugenle La Gracleuse., Her father is now in the Marshal de Montrevel's army. And so long as she remained she and 1 found a way to evade most of the restrictions of the place. She paused to let her memory run over the leaves of the past. “I was there four happy years. I saw the great world. I heard men speak—men who were men—men like you. And at the end of it T came back—to this—to this!" And with great sweep of disdain she en- closed with her arm the circle of little high-roofed houses that cobstituted the tortified village of La Cavalerle. She looked wondrously lovely to Maurice, this girl, vivid, pitiful, of an astonishing and most magnetic beauty. Suddenly some- thing seemed to melt in the young man's heart. it appeared to him that he had been sent on special mission from the great world to comfort this forlorn girl—edu- cated, made to taste the pleasures of life, and then torn from them to be plunged in solitude. Also her eyes were certainly wonderful, that olive skin, at once clear and mat, without polish of service or flush of color, save only the wondrous lips of cardinal red laid like leaves of autumnal scarlet upon the ivory of her face. Above her heaped hair in dark loose masses, eyes deep and lustrous! He made one step toward her. Yvette Foy started and a flush of something like triumph momentarily reddened her cheek. The molst suffusion of her eyes brimmed over. A tear ran slowly down her cheek Maurice's right arm was about her. He had a kerchief in bis left hand. He knew not from whence he had obtained it. But he was wiping away ‘that slowly trickling | drop. Two great eyes, molst and luminous, were very near. The face was very near. He seemed to grow dizzy in & mist of per- fumed breath. The carnation lips were nearer still. The sight and thrill of them seemed to swallow up all else. When suddenly beneath these two, stand- {ng thus, rose the singing note of a mar- velous voice. Maurice let the handkerchief drop. He started back. Yvette Foy, left unsupported, staggered und would have fallen had it not been for the iron of the baicony which she clasped with both hands. Her red lips grew ashen pale with anger. From the balcony Maurice Raith looked down. It was a child's funeral First Ig the procession came the old minister, the late chaplain of Ardmillan’s regiment in his'bands and Genevan gown, the book open in his hand. Then, all clad in white, fair, and tall like an angel, Flower-o'-the-Corn followed, carrying (as was the custom) the babe in her arms, dead, sinless, also clad in white It was her volce which Maurice had heard leading the burial psalm. He was too far away to bear the words of the French psalter, but he well remembered the tune. It was that which had always accompanied the ancient Scottish words of the 121st Psalm, the Psalm of assured peace and purit And they rose to his heart and well nigh to his lips as he listened te the clear volcs of Frances Wellwood, whom he had galled Flower-o'-the-Corn. I to the hills will lift mine eyes. om whence doth come mine ald fety cometh from the Lord Who Heaven and earth hath made. Thy foot He'll not let slide, nor will e slumber that thee Keeps. Behold, He that keeps Israel He siumbers not, nor sieeps Maurice lifted himself up with a certain heave relief. Many things, the imagina- tions of the heart of a man, which had run like a millrace before, had grown sud denly still and joyless. He turned on his heel and went out with out once looking at Yvette Foy (To Be Continued.) OMAHA WHOLESALE MARKET. Condition of Trade and Quotations on Staple and Fancy Produce, Unsettled: fresh stock, M@14%c LIVE POULTRY—Hens, 10G10%c; old roosters, 4gbe; turkeys, 13@15c; ducks, g 9c; geese, S@dc, chickens, per ib., 10§ 10%c. S8SED POULTRY-—Chickens, 114" ic hens, 1:% c; turkeys, 15@18c; ducks, 1@ BUTTER-Packing stock, 12%@13c; choice dairy, In tubs, 1sGlic; separator, Mu2ic. OYSTERS—Standards, per can, 2c; extra Selects, per can, New York Counts, per can, 42¢; bulk, ixtra Selects, per gal., $1.75; , Standard, per gal., $1.3 FROZEN FRESH FISH-Trout, 9@l0c; be; pickerel, 8c; pike, 9c; perch, 6c; buftalo, dressed, 7c; ‘sunfish, d¢; bluefing, c: whitefish, Sc; salmon, agdock, ‘lc; codfish, 'i%c;’ redsnapper ' loc: lobsters, boiled, 'per 1b., #c; lobsters, green, per Ib., dc; bullheads, 10, catneh, 14¢; black bass, 0¢; halibut, lie. BRAN—Per ton, $15.50. HAY—Prices quoted by Omaha Wholesale Dealers' association: Choice No. 1 upland, §7.50; No. 2, §7; medium, $8.50; coarse, 36, Rye 'straw, 8. 'These prices are for huy of od color and quality. Demand fair; re- celpts light CORN—43c. OATS—s9c RYE-—No. 2, 46c. VEGETABLES. CELERY—Kalamazoo, 2%c; Callfornia, per doz., 46@Tbce. POTATOES- Per bu., 0@4sc. S WEET POTATORS—lowa and Kans: NEW per doz., RSLEY—Per dos. bunches, 40c. RROTS--Per doz. bunches, 4c. JCE—Per doz. bunches, 46c. STS—New southern, per dos. bunches, per bu., 40c. BERS—Hothouse, per doz., §..7. PARSNIPS-—Per bu., 4ic. CARRCTS—Per bu., 4c GREEN ONIONS-Southern, bunches, 40c. (NADISHER-Bouthern, per doz. bunches, ) TURNIPS—Per bu.,, #c; Canads rutaba- gas, per Ib., 1%c; new sou‘hern, per doz. bunches, 0 ONIONS--Red Wisconsin, per 1b., 1¥c; white, per Ib., 2isc; Spanish, per crate, $L75 SPINACH-Southern, per doz. bunches, BEANS—Per bu. bue, WAX box, $8; beans, per bu. box, $1.50. CABBAGE—Holland seed, per Ib., 1%c. NAVY BEANS—Per bu., $2.55. ew Florida, per é-basket per doz. string FRUITS, vestern, per bbl, New York stock, $5.2 per bu. box, $1.50. Malagas, per keg, $6.00G7.00. RIES - Per box, #. TROPICAL FRUITS. (ONS—California fancy, $3.25; cholce, $2.75; Jona- California FIGS8—Callfornia, per 10-1b. cartons, c; Turkish, per &-1b. box, 4@isc. ORANGES—California navels, fancy, $3.00 .15; cholce, $2. lfllbedl(ermneln wweets, ; sweet Jaffa, §2.50, DATES—Persian, in 70-1b. boxe: 60c; per case of 30-1b. pkgs.. $2. MISCELLANEOUS, OLD METALS, ETC.—A. B. Alpirn guotes the following prices: lron, country mixed, per ton, $11; iron, stove plate, per ton, 38 copper, 'per Ib., brass, heavy, per Ib., 84c; brass, iight, per Ib., 8%c; lead, per Ib., sci zine, per b’ e MAPLE SUGAR—Ohlo, per Ib., 100, HONEY—Utah, per 24-frame case, $3.%5; bR Rew york # CIDER—Now York, $; per 3%-bbl., $2.60, SAUERKRAUT—Wisconsin, per ' ly-bbl. $2; per bbl, $8.75. PCORN—Per Ib., 2¢ HIDES—No. 1 green, 6%c No. 1 salted, 7c; No. Jpal calf, § 10 12' b8, stho; N ) 6e; ide: horse hides, $§ 12 to 15 Ibs., 6c; dry 25@Tse 'S—Walnuts, No. 1 soft r ib., 15c; hard shell, per b, l4c; No. 2 soft sheli 1b., 13c; No. 2 hard shell, per Ib., 12¢; per 1b, lic; filberts, per Ib., 12c; , soft shell, per Ib., 16c; hard shell, per b, 16¢c; pecans, large, per Ib., 12ec: sraall, per b, 1lc; cocoanuts, per doz., tic; chestnuts, per Ib., 10c; peanuts, per | b%c; roasted peanuts, r Ib., 7c; black walnuts, per bu,, $1; hickory nats, per bu., $1.50; cocoanuts, per 100, $4. per b, WEAPE COMMISSION COMPANY, 110-111 Board of Trade, Omaha, Neb— elephone 1516, CHICAGO, March 7.—WHEAT—There has been a weak wheat market, mostly influ- enced by the prediction of clear weather with no low temperatures, which caused any anxiely overthe recent rains to dis- appear and started the bellef of an early spring. The northwest markets were even weaker than ours, and it is sald raiiroads are refuring to deliver wheat o the mills because of the danger of losing thelr cars. San Franclsco messages say the export demand Is poor there. World's shipments are predicted to.be 10,0000 and an increase on passage I8 expected. Clearances were {219,000 bu. Primary receipts, 420,00 bu. against 435,00 last year; primary shipments 160,000 bu., against 126,000 bu.; northwest recelpts, 262 cars, againet 3i1 last year; local receipts, 31 cars, with one contract estimates for Monday, 30 cars. It s es- timated there will be & decrease in the vis- ible of about 50,000 bu. CORN~—Market was strong early on the general rains, but the near futures were weak. There 'was liberal selling by certain houses, which suggested ten’ sellin and the result was that market lost its early advance. Weakness in wheat also had its influence. There was some open selling of July by Patten. The commission houses sold bot! May and Jul. at New York was a cent lower said 500,000 bu. corn was for re-sale by New York, Baltimore and Philadelphla. Local receipts, 378 cars, with two contract; estl mates for Monday, 260 cars; clearances, 364000 bu. Cash market was {rregular Primary receipts, 620,000 bu., against 38,000 primary shipmenits, 460,000 bu., againat 15, u OATS—Market sympathized with wheat; the first prices were the best ones and there was @ break of %c from the top.There was & good deal of commission house sellin, Cash_situation fs not weak. Western of- ferings are light and the eastern demand good. Local receipts, 287 cars, with 14 con- tract; estimates for Monday, 210 cars; clearances, 15,000 bu. PROVISIONS — Market opened llrung for lard and ribs. Armour was the best buyer of July lard and ribs. Slaughs ter sold May and July ribs, causing & small reaction. ‘frade was quMe general and the market very strong in the face of weak gruin markets. Estimates for Monday. 0 000, Hogs in the west today, 25,900, again: 45,000 last year. Recelpts for the week, 128,004, against 161,79 same week last yea shipments, 18 gainst 43,313 Packing to date since’ F . 118,000, agalnst 116,- 00 last year. WEARE COMMISSION COMPANY. rather London Stock Market, LONDON, March 7.—Closing quotations: Consols, . B New York ral. . 47 do a 91'a| Nor 6| 4o 4% | Ont 101 | Pennsylvania 9 (Rand Mines 1334 | Reading %) do s pid % | do 24 pra 17644 |Southers Raliway 1, do ptd 314 Southern Pacih 90 " Uniop Pacific 36%| do’ pta 4% |United States Stoel ount Atchison’ do ptd Baltimore & Obio hicago G C., M. & St DeBeers Denver & R do ptd Erie do 1st pid do 24 ptd Iiinols Central Leulsyille & Nash M 14 12 SILVER—Uncertain K &7 BAR per ounce. MONEY—3%G3% per cent. The .rate of discount in the open market for short bills is 3%@3% per cert and for three months ollls 1s 312@3% per cent st 224 ket Wk IO 9 TR @T4%e bid 62 No. 2, 6c; Milwaukee Grain Ms MILWAUKEE, March Lower; No. 1 northern northern, Thge; M RYE—Steady: N BARLEY-Dull; s3e. CORN—May, 47%¢ bid o eample, 424 n Market. WHEAT—Cash, No. northern, 7i%¢ S@74%e; Julv DULUTH, March 1 hard, T4de 3 northern, 7 May, OATS—May, Wh%c. CONDITION OF OMAHA'S TRADE Shortage of Freight COars Retarding Both Business and Co'lections. PRICES, HOWEVER, CONTINUE VERY FIRM Jobbers Find that So Far Thi They Have Sold More Goods and & Better Class of Whey e Goods Than Did n Year A The shortage of freight cars (s still have Ing ® very injurious effect upon the general trade situation in the territory tributary to Omaha. Merchante who have been in ths city recently say that the grain elevators are filled with grain and that it Is ime possible to make shipments. As a result there ls no chance for farmers to sell the grain they have o hand Mer-hants fear that because of the scarcity of money théir spring business will be slow in starting sut and that they will lose more or less of it entirely. Collections are, irse, much slower than they would be otherwise, for when retallers have to carry their custom- ers the jobbers In turn have to carry th retallers. Local jobbers say that m i!l" who for many years hava been discountl; thelr bills have ot only lost their discoun this season, but have been obliged to ask for extension of time. The general opinfon 18 that had the seriousness of the situation been realized a short time ago the volume of businees with wholesalers would have been materfally reduced, but as it is mer- chants had bought the big bulk of their €00ds before they realized the true stats of ftairs and now the only problem is how they are to dispose of what they have bought. It is hoped, howevor, that | short time there will no longer be a scar. of money and trade “will then proceed natural course. It cannot be sald that me chants are exactly worrled a the same time they are gettin The markets as a whole held ve last week and quite a few advances wen into effect. It is very evident that there is a firm undertone to the trade and those who ought to know are as confident as ever that present values will be maintainec for some time to come. Another Ady Wholesale grocers enjoyed a very lively trade last week. There was no special fea- tuse, as the demand was for all lines of seasonable goods. One of the most important of the market was the advance in Sukar, amounting to 5c per 100 pounds. The mar- ket on raws is quoted as strong at the ad- vance, The coffee and tea market not changed since last report. Trading Is ac: tive, with prices strong on all grades. There was a little easier tone to the drie¢ frult market last week on the Pacific coast but prices there are still on a parity with eastern markets, Stocks are so small or the coast and so concentrated that there is not much chance for lower prices tc prevail. In fact, an increase in the demand would cause an'advance in prices. The market on canned goods {s without speclal feature, with the possible exception of tomatoes, which are a little weak iv the east. With the freight rates now in of ce in Sugar, anges in has force, however, the possibility of an ensler market in the west is considered rathet remote. The rice market continues very firm ot all_high grade goods and stocks are be- coming more scarce every day. Farinaceous goods, and, in fact, prac. tically all other staples, are selling In_jusi about the same notches they were a week ago. Dry Goods Not So Brisk. There were wiot nearly as many buyers ot the dry goods market week as arrivec the week before. That was partly owing tc the weather and partly to the conditions existing in the country as described above rom that, however, it should e noted that most of the larger buyers have placed their orders and only the smallel merchants, who buy in a Yhand to moutk way, left. In making comparisons witk former years local jobbers find that they have gone away ahead of all previous rec ords and have sold not only more goods but a better c of goods than ever be. fore. Owing to the great success they have had this spring, they are counting on doing business next fall and are pre er and better fall stock! Y a year ago. The market for cotton goods continues firm ard best grades of four-yard cotton: are held at 4%@bc. Other brown go0ul have been advanced in sympathy and a ue clded secarcity of these goods is reporict both with wholesalers and manufacturc.s Advanee in Price of Copper. The hardware market as a whole 18 in & very strong position. Since last report cop per has advanced considerably ana the ae imand is reported. brisk the advance The talk of the trade now is the scarcity of goods and the outlook for an enormo.i spring and summer demand. Local jobbert re all advising their customers to buj rly so to be sure of getting thell stocks at the time they are wanted, anc from the way the orders are coming'in il would look as though the majority of the retallers are taking note of the advice glven Jobbers are calling attention to the slow movement of freight as one of the reasons Why merchants should buy early. According to advices recelved from the country, merchants as a rule had a very satistactory trade on winter lines and are well satisfled and in good condition tor ng in the new season. They all seem to be looking forward to a good summer demand and their orders so far have beer exceptionally large. Good Rubber Weather. The kind of weather that was experienced last week 1s what rubber goods jobbers like to see. There were a good many buyers in the city all the week looking for spring rubbers and in fact jobbers had to work thelr men overtime in order to meet the demand promptly. Rubber clothing as wel as footwear was wanted, so that the trade wae good all around, Mefchants are nlso ordering fall rubbers more freely than they were a short time ago and jobbers do not look for much trou- ble in the future to get retallers to place thelir orders. There Is not much to be sald of the leather goods trade, as this is sort of a be- tween season period. Merchanis are sort ing up their stocks to some extent, but stll éven that class of orders are not very nu- merous. Traveling men are preparing tc start out next month with next fall sam- ples and feel confident that they will do & 0od business from the beginning ¥Frait and Produce. There was a good brisk demand all the week for fraits and vegetables, but there were few changes in ruling prices. There was a better supply of green stuff from the south than there was the weck be- fore and prices were u little more reason- able. In a short time it Is thought the supply will be much larger and that prices Wil move steadily downward. The egg market fluctuated back and forth with receipts, but averaged about the same as the week before, Poultry showed very little change, the supply and demand appar- ently being about equal. Creamery butter is guoted a little higher than It was a Week g0, but while packing stock sold more freely there has been no material change in prices. h evatort 65%c, May, 68%¢; Jaly, 6i%c; 2 cash, il uly, 4 No. 2 cash, i 3%e; July, 3l truck, 41@ ominal rm ot Wik ty; red winter patents $3.3 oy and stralght, 85000 ominally $2.2563.3) Sieady, $2.30 easy; sacked, east track, §1 HAY—Steady; timothy IRON COTTON Tl BAGGING @s HEMP TWINE PKOVIBIONS standard mess $11.50611.56, - 31.00. Pork. lower; fobbing, $18.%. Lard, higher at 391 Dry salt meits (boxed). stendy: extra shorts, clear ribs and short clears, 310, Bacon' (boxed), steady: extra shorts, clear ribs and short clear, $10.87 ME "ALB—Lead. higner al $1.12); onger at #.%5. POULTRY—Turkeys 106@11c; turkeys, 16 BUTTER — Sieady dalry. 15@21%c GE—Lower Spelter, higher; ducks, 15 creamery chickens, Beese, S W6 ke fresh, 1 ipts. Shipments. 304 i 0 118,00 .08 Lb's bu bu bu Flour. Wheat Corn, Oats, 122,000 85,000 Tol TOLEDO, tve, weak T Homx wye; July, Wi OATS-Dull, lower; May March cash, aln and Seed. —~WHEAT—Falsly ac- Talge; May, T6%e; July, Dull March, 344 easler; 45c; May, July, i2e. RYE—No 2 Mc SEED-—Clover. falrly active, steady; April, 87, October. $4: prme timothy, $1.%5, ‘nominal; vrime alsike, $3, nominsl