The Cedarville Herald, Volume 12, Numbers 27-52

The Cedarville Herald, W. B. BLAIR, PubUlhtr. CEDARVILLE, : : : O B i a ENDURANCE. AlWwijTOr la iWpetXoot bloom, WWHow »a aodTeztd by drenchingahower*, .I f thorn of petal* and perfume, Still keapalta bud* for other hour* To boratin flower*. And when tb**un laugh* out anew, What «o(t, pink hemUpherea it erect*, When blu*hlng rotes wet with dew . Untold within their oool retreat* Bewildering tweetsI The wildcat tempeit they withstood, These buds bo delicate and frail) Bat what o f him Inweakermood. Whose foam against hlahope* prevail. When storms asaollf Shall these aarrlea, O faithless one) And then, disheartened, lack the power To trnat to-morrow’s ripening ann. - Bor buddedhopes that wait their hour To burst InDower? What profits It to argue long Against life's confilets, void of cheer) Blse npto face tho dreadedwrong, And lot hope’s morning charioteer Dlsarmeth fear! —Caroline p. Howe, In Portland Transcript. A Story of the Late War. B Y BBBrUU fO B IG SBY . Author of, tio.? 1Loyal at Lut,” “ 1ty Lady Faetaa- ‘Ellen’* Great Secret," ’.‘ Fall Amour Thieve*." Etc. Copyright, 1891 , by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Co. CHAPTER XX.—C 01 OTNUF.D. - “ Lot ns stroll down this path, Besant, and intercept him at the gap yonder. We may get something out o f him any­ how.” “ With pleasure* Major,’? and the two officers started for the point suggested. Evidently there was somethingon the Major’s mind, Frank thought, as they j. walked slowly down the path, for he was generally chatty and agreeable enough, hut how seemed moody and dis­ inclined to talk. , “ You seem out of sorts. Major,” Frank said at last, really anxious about his superior’s manner. “ And well 1 may be, Frank. I am very much concerned about Charlie Ful­ ton-—not so much for bis sake as for his father’s, who is an old and tried friend o f many years.” “ Oh, Charlie’s all right, sir,” Frank gaid, confidently. “ You think so. Well, I nm sorry to say I do not. agree-with you. ' Now, I do •natliko'td ask you boys to tell tulcs o f one another out o f school, and I want > you to quite understand that I am actu­ ated by no motives hostile to young Fulton’s interests, so—” “ I quite understand that, Major.” “ Well, do you know any thiug about j a young lady named Lascelles?” ii ' Frank was too amazed to speak. He was certain that not.ano living soul but himself and young1Fulton knew their secret. Fulton, for his own sake, would not have been likely to mention her to 1 1do know that lady, and Mb g o in g to toll yon how and where I made her acquaintance. Bnt first I need yonr word o f honor as a gentleman that yon will never reveal to any one what I may toll you—no, not even if yon stood on yonr oath before a oonrfc- martial." 1 ‘ •I never w ill—so help me Heaven,” the Major declared, with as much solemnity as though he stood before a whole bench of judges. Then Frank related from first to last his adventures with Mary Lascelles, omitting only the little episode o f the garden and her gentle hints o f prefer­ ence for himself, which the honest lad was loth to believe even -now were any thing but sincere. By this time the mounted Btranger had approached—* short, thick-set old man, dressed in the garb o f a minister, with Bible and hymn booh sticking con* spicuonsly out o f his coat-pocket, and mounted on a lank, ill-fed mule. He greeted them warmly as he rode up to them. “ Ah, gentlemen,” he said,, “ it Is in­ deed a blessed privilege to see a North­ ern face in this unhappycountry, where it is a crime to remember,that one once swore fealty to the stars and stripes.” Both officers shook hands with him. “ You are a Northerner?” the Major asked. “ Yes, by birth and education, but the best years of my life have been spent in Tennessee and Georgia, and other Southern States, for a soldier’s path you know is ever a wandering one." “A soldier’s, you say? Have you ever served?” - “ Am I not serving now, friend? Are we not both soldiers—you o f the sword, 1 of the cross?" ■ “ Oh, yes, exactly—I did not look at it hi that light, Mr. — ho paused for the stranger to fill up the blank. Abel Green, or as .the simple folk around here generally dub me—Parson Abo.” “ Well, Mr. Green, l am right glad we have met, not only that it has given me pleasure to.shake hands with a North­ ern man dowri here, but because 1 see a way to utilize our meeting. ” • “ Of course I understand what you mean?’ the minister assented, readily1, “ You would have me preach the Word j to your men up in the woods there?’’ ! “ I am afraid I had no such good in- ! tentions." ' The Major was positively blushing. “ I meant that you would be aaa give you no more MNWWlftltoi 1 h *> a it me to wend my way i» pwea* “Adieu, sir* and God speed you ou yonr journey,” • They watched him ascend the hillside tijl hfe disappeared at a torn in the road, and then started back to camp. “ He sat in his iBddle like a trooper," the Major critically observed} “ and what a splendid physique the old fellow has! Say, Frank, I do honestly think those itinerant preachers are after all the true Boldiers o f Christ, suffering aa they do toil, privation and discomfort in His name. They may be’ illiterate, but, hang me, if they're not Inearnest.” But Frank’s thoughts were on another subject , • “May I speak to Charlie about this unpleasant matter we were .talking oft sir? Perhaps a word o f warning might bring him, to his senses,” “ Certainly not,” was the stern re­ ply. “ My hands are so tied now by promises 1 have given to you and others, that 1 am not in a position to' confront him with proofs o f his folly. Remem­ ber, I rely upon your silence and watchfulness—there must Be no lack o t confidence between us two now or ever again. And your asking me this, re­ minds me to inquire what sort o f a fel­ low is James Lawson, who claims to be a companion o f your early days.” “ Well,” Frank hesitated, for he hated to set the Major against his old play mate by speaking the open truth, “ he's not an intensely moral young man, I believe—in fact—?' “ A bit o f a scamp. Ah, I judged much,” andMojor Hopkinshurried away to his duties. J IIK (fr.KKTKD. THEM WARMLY A8 HE RODE t’l- TO THEM me some valu- perhaps willing to give able information.” There was a blank look of disnp- So, j Frank thought, the mystery thickens, and James Lawson is some­ how or other mixed up in it: yet, how the deuce could he ‘ know any thing about it. Surely Charlie Fulton, with all his folly, could never have been so rash as to rise' this worthless fellow as go-between; but such a misfortune was quite possible, for Lawson was in Charlie’s company, and had all the shrewdness to worm himself into the young officer’s confidence, if once the chance were offered him. Meanwhile Itev. Abel Green—or Parson Abe, as his rural •admirers so lovingly called hj,m—was. hustling liis^ old mule along at a very unclerical pace' and using some very unsanctimonious expression every timo the poor beast attempted to slucken its speed, so that in three-quarters of ah hour he was nearly six miles from the spot where his dear compatriots from the North were making ready for their descent on the hospitable inhabitants of Winstan- ley. Turning from the road into the woods at a gap in a fence which seemed familiar to him, ho cantered along tinder the trees till he reached a clear­ ing, where a sight presented itself that would have charmed an artist in its picturesque, aspect—three hundred dis­ mounted Confederate Cavalrymen, re­ clining here and there in little groups, while their horses were busily cropping the sweet grass, which grew on the bank of a stream. Hardly pausing to give tlie sentry the countersign, lie rode straight to n knot o f officers, who bailed him gleefully. “ nulio, Lascelles, whn,t news from the Yanks?” “ Kohl them into bondage like his brethren did Joseph!’’ lie laughed, os be sprang from the saddle with the, elasticity of youth. “ Say,"boys, mother ! was always down on our private thc- ; atrieals, but I allow she’d qlap her >hands if she'd only seen me play this ■pious role to-day.” I A roar of laughter greeted tills brill- j itujt sally, which was somewhat y r t t o w o f Ib a m tofiWktoTflhwr*. w h ew •qaalld houM aa* aallow, unwhale- Mate inhabitants seemed from tfaalr algos o f decay to be unworthy the no­ tice o f friend or foe. No wonder Bragg had not stayed his march to pillage so contemptable a community, as it was really only a settlement o f unhealthy “ cracker” whites, on whom even the slaves looked with contempt. “ No, it isn’t much o f a place,” Lien- tenant Gregory, to whom Frank’s re­ mark had been mode, assented, with an expressive shrug o f the shoulders. “ They say lie was a bold man who first swallowed an oyster, bnt hang me, if he would not be a bolder who laid him­ self to rest in ono of these huts.” “ Y et that may be our .fate," Frgnk prophesied. “ The Lord forbid!” was the pious re­ joinder,. But amid all this squalor, quo house stood high on a hill at the further end o f the village, which boasted greater, pretensions than its humble neighbors. It was a great, square, stone building, utterly without ornament, but roomy and capacious, which never by any pos­ sibility could have .suggested home, but which was large enough to' promise accommodation for a host; and ont of its square, ugly gateway, a tall, spare, middle-aged man was coming at a rapid walk towards the advancing column. “ HrtWflv! HnwHu!” /triad nnn nf 4 anvone nnd ho wasnositivo her name i pointment in the minister’s face, as lie ! , m° ! replaced the liooks he had already i however, by the approach o f a had never dropped from his lips. “ Ah, I see you have heard of her—for ! God’s sake, Frank, 1 hope you are not j mixed np in this scrape?” His tone was : so earnest and sympathetic that Frank's . conscience smote him. j “ I am in no scrape, Major.” ; “No, I was wrong to doubt you, my \ boy} but I was afraid Fulton had drawn you into someconnivance with his guilty •correspondence with this woman.” “ Guilty correspondence! You amaze : me, Major Hopkins.” “ Yet, 1am afraid there is no other; expression that will describe it. With- i out betraying confidence, I can not e x - ; plain to yon what information has reached me, or how I have gained it, • but I know that Fulton met Miss ’ Lascelles in Nashville more than once, and, from something that has just oc *, currcd, I atu suspicious that our every movement is communicated to her, and • through her to others.” “ Oh, sir. Impossible! I would stake! my iife that Charlie Fulton could never j bo so basel” | "“ Nay, yon misunderstand me, Frank. b lr j “ ton’seomp J i man older than the rest, whose stern ! i his capacious pockets. f<.ahirt;s 6,)OWt!<1 tW t he dill not abare ! rest of the drawn from “ I nm sure, if we had time, the men would much profit by your ministra­ tions,” Major Ilopkins explained. “ Ever the same cry—no time in this short life to prepare for the eternity of the next* Well, air, 1do not mean to force my services upon you. Say briefly what I can do for you, for the day wanes and 1 have far to ride.” “ You can tell us, if you have seen •the general merriment. “ Such madcap pricks as these, Lus- 1cellos,” he said, in a grave tone of ox- i postulation, “ do not meet my approval, ■ and 1will not have a repetition of them, i 1Besides, the game is not worth the | i candle, for if those Yanks had found • you out, they would have, veiy proper-1 1ly, strung you up to a hough of the first .t tree they came to, and I can not afford *«..• a j ii /i # i -. a # i » uv-u iivv viiiiii; uuti i yuu iu;i< iiiiu u 3 any thing o f the Confederate forces in , t() i,aVe my best officers run such risks. * these parts, or whether you have heard any thing o f their’ movements." “ Surely I can," was ilie suave reply. “ Bragg's men passed southwards through yonder village—you can jiA t see its smoke in the far distance—ten days ago. There are many (Sod-fearing Unionists living there—they call the I allow*, if you'd played the role in l tragedy, instead of comedy, your | mother would hardly have appreciated j your histrionic ability ns keenly ns you imagine.” The young man was abashed. ‘ ’Besides," the senior continued, "do you tliiulc your action quite in accord­ ance with the high repute for chivalry place W'instanlcy—find they feared...... ............. ...... ........ ... fire and pillage, but the troops were j this corps has ever' enjoyed? However, an(* tl,cY pa&sed them liy un* j as the folly has boon perpetrated let me , , , 1 hear the result of your escapade.” “ That Is good-well, sir, have, you ■ The young man .told 4da storyTBut mor® to teU as? ! somehow or other all the fun seemed to ‘ Why, .ves, I have. Some men who - p,, frozen out o f the adventure by ids criticism. r , i had been out hunting in tlie woods told j superior’s austere p ° not for ono moment suppose that I ; me this morning that they had seen a “ Well, you have done one good thing imagine Colonel Fulton s son could ever \ train of a dozen supply•'wagons which f0P m rit nnv ratc You have drawn txs a traitor. lie has sinned unknow- j they thought would reach W’instanicy , enemy from the weodTinte t h c o S ingly: at least that’s how I read it, j by to-morrow at latest. Now, wouldn’t , Caught in the fascinating toils' of this ! this be a chance for you? How- many : handsome, hut unscrupulous, young woman, lie has allowed himself to be cajoled by her into giving her valuable information. I can picture to myself the halt with which she has played him —the tender inquiries about him and his doings, his whcranlmnte, hjn cr- pectcd journeying* here and there, his friends, his little bits o f Camp news- all so Interesting to one who loves him, Pshaw, it is the did tale o f llelllah over again, and if you and 1 do not put otir heads together, our poor young Sam* son w ill be surely shorn of all hla locks," Frank’s brain seemed in a whir*. “ Major Hopkins," lie said at Inst,"you ashed me a few moments ago. if f knew Miss Lascelles, sad I then evaded your men do you muster?” “ 0b, a mere handful—two companies of infantry—but, did they say how strong the escort was?” “ Just one troop o f cavalry, nothing more, nnd so tuckered up by a long inaroibtliutrtlicy couTcTTiardfy crawl.” “ That’s splendid news, indeed} but are you sure of the direction Bragg’s and we cau bag them by a night attack on Wlnstanlcy as easily as catching rabbits in a net,” As ho strode away, one of the officers slapped Lascelles on tha shoulder, as_ lie gayly cried: “ Don't grizzle, old man. Nat Hawes never had more appreciation o f n prac­ tical joke in Ids nature Ilian there is blood in a Norfolk oyster. In my opin­ ion you have doqe a very plucky, com­ mendable .thing, and there are brighter eyes than old Nat’s w ill gleam approval army was taking?” “Positive, lie was going due south with a big force, in great haste, too, or |when the story's told at Nashville.” you lrniy depend on it our friends’ haras mid. houses >vouid not have roofs over them*" “ And you think that llife villagers Wottld receive Us hospitably?” “ As .Saul did the warrior:* of Midiuh,” was the r.tnunc.i reply; “ and now. os I CHAPTER XII. A SIGHTATTACiL “ IVinstenioy is not much o l a plaou,” Fran!: Besant said, as they marched that September afternoon up the hue dusty street that constituted the main owdy! o dy!” crie o e o f the cracker gentry, coolly, offering a be­ grimed paw to Major Hopkins, a court­ esy which that gentleman pretended not to notice. ' . “ Who is this person coming down the hill?” the officer asked. “ Hira’s Squar’ Dixon, him is. ■We ’uns don’ take much stock in he—kyind o’ peart on his raisin’, an’ thinks his- self betterin' -res’ o’ us.” Squire -Dixon forthwith -rose one hundred per cent, in theMajor’s estima­ tion, a good opinion, which was forth fied ' by his unaffected expressioa of pleasure at the presence o f Northern troops, and his kindly offers o f hospi­ tality. “ I am sorry I kyant house you all,” he said, heartily, “ but your officers will find a welcome in my pore home, an’ your men can take up their quarters in the village church," a proposition which was gratcfidly accepted. All went merry-as a marriage-bclL Considering the times, a bountiful sup­ per -was done ample justice to by the grateful officers, who dkl not fail also to appreciate a box of excellent cigars and un abundance of whisky, which, though forced upon them with a gener­ ous display of' hospitality, they in­ dulged in with moderation. The squire proved himself an admirable host, and won golden opinions from his well- pleased guests. His was a peculiar case, as lie explained to them. Sent as a boy to a school in Massachusetts, he had acquired sentiments which were at variance with the opinions of his neigh­ bors, particularly as regards tho ques­ tion of the abolition o f slavery, o f which lie approved and which, of course, hod made him a marked man in the com­ munity. When tlio war broke ont, though.his sympathies had been entire­ ly with the North, lie had never dared to declare them, though lie was willing now and at all times to sacrifice any tiling in reason to his conviction—any thing, in fact, short of beggaring his family. _His family? Oh, yes, he had a wife nnd three daughters who wero now in Cincinnati, thank flcaven! be­ yond the reach of immediate danger. As tho Major said, when they reached their chambers, Mr. Dixon was alto gather" a most interesting person Lieutenant Cuthbcrtson, of Charlie Ful > c any, was on guard duty: the officers were assigned to a suite of chambers side by side at tlie bade of the mansion overlooking a neg­ lected garden. After a brief chat in tlie Major’s room they retired to rest. But Ilopkins, though he had professed fatigue, was not inclined to follow the example of Ills subordinates: so instead of throwing his weary limbs on the tempting feather-bed ho lit a cigar, put out his lamp, and drew a chair up to his chamber window. It was a brill­ iant moonlight night, almost like /lay in its semi-tropical clearness, anil tbc Major, who was a man of sentiment, looked with unfeigned pleasure on tlie pretty scene Which met his gaze. In front of him lay the garden and orchard; and beyond, a rugged country road winding up the side o f a hill covered with scrub, but whofce top was crowned with lofty forest trees, sharply defined in the white moonlight. rcONTTNUED.] ' Too M«cb Worry* An anxious, listless temper that runs to meet care on its way, that regrets lost opportunities too much, is foolish and should not be indulged. I f you can not be happy in one way be bappy in another, and tjiis facility o f dispo­ sition wants but little »id from philos­ ophy, for health and good humor are almost the whole of the affair. Many run after felicity like an absent-minded man hunting for )iis Jliat while it te on ids head or in his hand. Though some­ times small evils, like tittle insects, in­ flict great -pain, and U single hair tpay stop a powerful bi&chinc, yet tlie chief sbotot o f comfort ties in not suffering trifles to vex Ohe, and In prudently cul­ tivating an undergrowth o f small pleas­ ure. Moreover, fretting, is unamiabfe. A fretting man oir woman Is one of the most unlovable objects, in the world. A wasp is a comfortable companion --}); only stings when disturbed, but tl>* habitual fretter bux?e* i f he doeau’*, sting, and he nev«r takes » day off.-- Texas Kitting*- ' _____IMPERSONAL . —A Mcadville fisherman takes all his carp with a hook and line. His method is to throw bread crumbs on the water and then when the fish get. to feeding nicely to put a good tut crumb on'his hook, being always certain of a bite. —Dc Balzac wasted untold gold upon gaudy jewelry, useless knickr.acks and fantastic “ curios,” which, during liis frequent paroxysms of impccuuiosity, lie resold to sharp-witted dealers at a ruinous loss-—frequently for less than a hundredth part of their original cost —-Iconoclasts have sought to throw- doubt on tho old .John Knox -house in the Canongate o f Edinburgh, as the former home o f tho great Scotch re­ former, but Sir Daniel Wilson, of To­ ronto, the author of “ Old Edinburgh^’ defends the tradition as not inconsis­ tent “ ^Bishop French, o f ’England, who died recently in Arabia, was known as “ that raany-tongued man of Lahore,” for he could preach in English, Persian, Hindustani, Pushto. Hindfei, Taroii and Punjabi, and was an eminent'scholar in Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac, Greek and Latin. ” . . —It is claimed by old people in Kings­ ton, Ontario, that Sir John A. McDon­ ald derived his genius from liih mother, who is said to have been a tall, energet­ ic anil hospitable Highland lady, quick at repartee' and at grasping situations. Both his father and mother, however, were in straitened circumstances and. lived very humbly. Miss Louise Nicolson, of Washing­ ton, better known as Nikita, has lately finished her third tour in Russia, which has lasted over a year and a half. She has visited the principal cities of west­ ern, southern and eastern Russia. Nikita is now in Germany, and will take a well-earned rest atE'rns previous to resuming her vocation. A clever, thrifty little woman at ■ Wichita, Ivan., is the happy possessor of a*new black silk which she earned in the most peculiar way. Every ~time her husband bought twenty-five cents’ worth of cigars she laid a like amount away in a drawer. In less than a year she had enough to buy the sill: and pay for the making and trimmings. —While Mr. Gladstone was confined to his bed during his recent illness, con­ stant inquiries were made for his health by workingmen in the vicinity as well as by his titled neighbors. Mrs. Glad­ stone gave orders’that the men should, in every case, receive courteous atten­ tion, and that tho fullest information of the patient’s condition should bo given them.' —The jewels of that ill-fated Queen, Marie Antoinette, whose tragic death- glorifies a frivolous life, are now on sale in London. The price of a single pair of earrings is SOS,000, but tho stones are of wonderful brilliancy. A large point­ ed drop tut in facets like the pendants of chandeliers is suspended from a large circular diamond by a tiny silver pin, diamond headed. “ A 'L ITTLE NONSENSE." —He—“ So vou wooed and lost, did you?” Ho—“ No, she returned ail my. presents. ”—Epoch. —"Where arc yon going my pretty maid?” “ The other way, good sir,’! she said. And there tho flirtation censed.—Epoch. —“ Miss Fiftliavcniic (to young man.j from the west)—“ Aii, Mr. Kouboi, do1” you sing?" Mr. K. (frankly)—"Yes’m, if there ain’t anybody around with a gun,"—^Washington Post. —Clergyman—“ Were yoa ever tried by fire, young man?” Young Man (re­ cently discharged by employer)—“ No; but I’ve been fired after having been • tried."—N. Y. Morning Journal. —Fly Talk.—First F ly—“ 1H the'rc, Bluebottle! Gome, over here. There’s a keg o f molasses here.” Second F ly— "Molasses he hanged. I know whore tlicr ’s a white and gold parlor /lint’s never been touched,”—N. Y. Sun. —Lawyer Bestpoint—“ Your honor, I ask for a verdict of no cause for action. The plaintiff’s cow didn’t get off the track when the engineer rung his bell," Keyork O’Kehmitzcr (from Podunk)— “ Naither. yer honor, did the engine get off tiie track when the cow rung her bell.” —Emily (reading)—“ Algernon only clasped her the more firmly in his pas,, (donatejimbroce-andrnnireumoist kisses upOnTier averted face-——” Henry iher* lover) — “ How exquisite, Johnny (nndce-4hcrst»faT^“ \Vhy didn’t Teralseher umbrcil&V”—Minneapolis Times, —A Maiden’s Suggestion.—He—“ How pretty fhe-moonlight falls upon the sea and on the bench.” She—“ Yes, but don’t you thirjk it is even more' beauti­ ful still among tlie bowlders awnv from tlie hotel?” It had occurred to her that he, too, might lie bolder over there.— Somerville Journal. —Miss Sweet Tart—“ L see, George dear, that two-seated carriages are now being run by electricity. Couldn’t you manage to get one?” Mr, Aiashed—“ I might try; but what wou*d be the ad­ vantage?” Miss Sweet Tart—“ Whv, yon wouldn’t have to bother with the reins then, would you?”—Colorado Sun. —Clearly Incorrigible.—Discouraged Father—" I don't know wlint to do with the boy, lie gets worse nnd worse all the time.” Friend o f the Family—“ Do you try to develop tlie moral and re­ ligious Side o f his nature?" Discour­ aged FAther—“ Do I? I ’ve whipped that boy a thousand times for not eospipU* ting to memory hh regular twentv-flva verses a day from the Psalmv,’--<i'lii{ *, go Tribune. „