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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1907)
SUNDAY, JUNK 30, 1907. 12 THE MORNING ASTORIAN, ASTORIA, OREGON. THE CONQUEST 1 By BOOTH TARKINGTON, Author of "Cherry," "Montitur B.uelr," EM. COPYRIGHT. 103. Y ' Synopsis of Previous Chapter, CHAPTER 1 Eugene Bantry, a Ca naan (lod.) young- man, who bu bn east to collect returned homo and aatounJi the natives by the foraeous nss of his raiment Hit stepbrother, Joe aged male gossip who dally at emble at the National House tor argument a the good tor nothing at oclate of doubtful character. 11 Eugene's appearance has a pronounced effect upon Mamie Pike, who father. Judge Pike, Is the wealthiest and. most prominent cltlxen of Canaan. Joe worship , Mantle from afar. Eugene Interferes in a snow fight be tween Joe and his holdenlah and very poor girl friend. Ariel Tabor, who is worsted. Ariel hotly resents the tnter ferenoe and slaps Eugene, who sends her home, m Ariel, unbecomingly attired, attends Mamie Pike's ball. IV Joe, concealed behind some plants oa the Pike varan da, watches hungri ly for a glimpse of Mamie, Ariel Is Ignored by most of the guests. Ariel discovers Joe, but shortly afterwards, learning that her uncle, Jonas Tabor, has died suddenly leaves. V The DUy Tocsin of the next day tells of Joe's discovery on the Pike veranda and of his pursuit and escape there from. It also refers to wounds to the bead of himself and of Norbert rot croft, who detected him. Jo retire to the "Beach," a low resort kept by his friend. Mike Sheehan, who dres ses his wound. VI Joe leaves Mike's place. He visits Ariel Tabor, who by th death of her Uncle Jonas ha be come rlco. She wishes Joe to accom pany her and her grandfather to Paria Joe refuses and leaves Canaan to avoid arrest for the trouble at Judge Pike's. VII Joe Is heard from two years later as a ticket seller for a side show. Eugene Bantry also meets him seven years later In a low resort In New Tork. but wisely refrains from adver tising It vm Joe returns to Canaan a full fledged lawyer. Even his father Ignores him, and he is refused accom modations at the National House. DC Joe Is welcomed at the "Beach," and "Happy Fear." one of Joe's admirers, seriously assaults Nashville Corey, a detractor. At the end of Happy term in prison he visits Joe, who now has a law office on th square, with a living room adjoining. Joe has a Urge prac tice, principally among the lower classes, and is frequently attacked by the Tocsin. Joe begins, In his loneli ness, to yield to the seduction of the bottle. Ban try's engagement to Mamie Pike H announced. Bantry 1 now as sociate editor of the Tocsin, owned by Judge Pike. X Joe awakens after a "bad night" with the word, "Remem ber, acro's the Main-street bridge at noon." ringing In his ear. He goe there and is presently Joined by the most beautiful and most beautifully girt he has ever seen. XI She turns out to be Ariel Tabor, arrived In Ca naan the night before from her long sojourn in Paria She has seen Joe as she alighted from the train and, realis ing his condition, had escorted him home after exacting from him a prom ise to meet her the next day (Sunday) across the Main-street bridge at noon. Joe learns that Ariel Is stopping at Judge Pike's home, the Judge having entire charge of her money, etr 'HI Eugene Bantry, although engaged to Mamie, is much smitten with Ariel's charms. Judge Pike tries his usual blustering tactics with Ariel, but sub sides when she tells him that he shall ask him to turn over the care of her estate to Joe Louden. XIII Ariel holds a sort of Informal reception at Judge Pike's and learns that the "tough ele ment" is talking of running Joe for mayor. XIV Happy Fear and Nashville Cory have more trouble. Joe corners Happy and sends Claudine (Mrs. Fear) to meet him. XV Ariel visits Joe's af fairs in hig hands. While there Happy Fear rushes in and announces that he has killed Nashville Cory in self de fense. Joe makes Happy give himself up. XVI Mamie Pike admits to Ariel that she, too has begun to believe in Joe Louden. XVII The Tocsin makes viru lent attacks on Joe Louden and Happy Fear. Mike Sheehan hints that he may shortly have some interesting necrets to. divulge in connection with Judge Pike's affairs. XVIII The Tocsin con tinues its attacks. Judge Pike informs Ariel that her supposed fortune con sits of valueless securities'. CHAPTER XX. NOW, In that blazing noon Ca naan lojiit'u up.ni u strange sight an open carriage whirl ing through Main street be hind two galloping bays, upon, tba back seat a ghostly white old man with closed eyes, supported by two pale la dles, his bead upon the shoulder of the taller, while beside the driver a young man whose coat cud bands were bloody, worked over the hurts of an in jured dog. Bam Warden's whip sang across the horses; lather gathered on their flanks, and Ariel's voice steadily urged on the pace, "Quicker, Earn, If you can." For there was little breath left In the body of Eskew Arp. ; Mamie, almost as white as the old N pan, was silent, but she bad not besl taud In bcr daring now that she bad bfteti $ught to dare. She bad not come to be Ariel's friend and honest follower for nothing, and it was Ma mie wJio bad cried to Joe to lift Eskew Into tie pflA-iage. "lou must come, too," ea'o 1 fid? "We will need you." And so It came to pass that under the sf CANAAN HARPBR O BROTHERS t ; J eye of Canaan Joe Louden rode la Judge Pike' carriage at th bidding of Judge Pike's daughter. Toward Ariel's own house they sped with the stricken octogenarian, for he was "alone In the world" and she would not take him to the cottage where he had lived for many years by himself, a bleak little bouse, a derelict of th "early days" left stranded far down In th town between a woolen mill and the water works. The work men were beginning their dinners un der the big trees, but as Sam Warden drew tn the lathered horse at the gate they set down their tin buckets hastily and ran to help Joe lift the old man out Carefully they bore him into the house and laid him upon a bad In on of the finished rooms. He did not speak or move, and the workmen un covered their heads a they went out. but Joe knew that they were mistaken. "It's all right, Mr. Arp," h said, as Ariel knelt by the bed with water and restorative. "It's all right Dont yon worry." Then the veteran's Hps twitched, and, though hi eyes remained closed, Jo saw that Eskew understood, tor he gasped feebly, "Pos-l-tive-ly no-free seatal" To Mrs. Louden, sewing "at an up stairs window, the sight of her stepson descending from Judge Pike's carriage was Bumcieuuy suiruiug, qui wra sua saw Mamie Pike take Respectability from bis master's anus and carry him tenderly indoors, while Joe and Ariel occupied themselves with Mr. Arp, the good lady sprang to her feet as If she had beeu stung, regurdlesaly sending j r workbasket and Its contents scat-; i ring over the floor and ran down the : ,::lrs three steps at a time. At the front door she met her hus band, entering for his dinner, anil she leaped at him. Had he scent What was it? What had happened? Mr. Louden rubbed his chin beard, In dulging himself in a pause which was like to prove fatal to his companion, finally vouchsafing the Information that the doctor's buggy was just turning the corner. Eskew Arp had suffered a "stroke," It was said, and, In Louden's opinion, was a mighty sick man. His spouse replied In no uncertain terms that she had seen quite that much for herself, urging him to continue, which he did with s deliberation that caused her to recall her wedding day with a gust of passionate self reproach. Pres ently be managed to Interrupt, remind ing ber that her dining room windows commanded as comprehensive a view of the next bouse as did the front steps, and after a time her housewifely duty so far prevailed over ber Indignation at the man's unwholesome stolidity that she followed him down the hall to pre-.! side over the meal, not, however, to partake largely of It herself. Mr. Louden bad no information of! Eugene's mishap, nor had Mrs. Lou den any suspicion that all was not well with the young man, and, hearing blni enter the front door, she called to him that bis dinner was waiting. Eu gene, however, made no reply and went upstairs to bis own apartment with out coming Into the dining room. A small crowd, neighboring children, servants and negroes, had gathered about Ariel's gfite, aud Mrs. Londeu watched the workfugmcn disperse this assembly, gather up their tools and de part. Then Mamie came out of the bouse and. bowing sinily to three old men who were entering the gate as she left It, steppe:! into her carriage and drove away. The newcomers, Colonel FlitToft, Squire Buckulew and Peter Bradbury, glanced at the doctor's bug gy, shook their heads at one another and slowly went up to the porch, where Joe met them. Mrs. Louden uttered a sharp exclamation, for the colonel shook hands with her stepson. Perhaps Flltcroft himself was sur prised. He had offered bis band al most unconsciously, and the greeting was embarrassed and perfunctory, but his two companions, each In turn, gravely followed his lead, and Joe's set face Bushed a little. It was the first time In many years that men of their kind In Canaan had offered him this salutation. "He wouldn't let me send for you," be told them. "He said be knew you'd be here soon without that." And he led the way to Eskew's bedside. Joe and the doctor bad undressed the old man and bad put him Into night gear of Roger Tabor's taken from an antique chest. It was soft and yellow and much more like color than the face above It, for the white balr on the pil low, was not whiter than that Yet there was a strange youtbfulness in the eyes of Eskew, an eerie, inexplicable, luminous, live look. The thin cheeks seemed fuller than they had been for years, and, though the heavier ,llnes of age and sorrow could be seen, they ap peared to have been half, erased. He lay not in sunshine, but In clear light. The windows were open, the curtains restrained, for be bad asked them not to darken the room. The doctor was whispering In a doc tor's way to Ariel at the end of the room opposite the bed when the throe old fellows cauie tu. Noue of them spoke Immediately, aud, though all three cleared their throats with what they meant tor casual cheerfulness to Indicate that the situation was not at all extraordinary or depressing, It was to be seen that the cotouel's chin trem bled under his mustache, aud his com rades showed similar small and uuwUI lug signs of emotion. " Eskew spoke first. "Well, boys?" bs said and smiled. That seemed to make It more difficult for the other. The three whit beads bent silently over th fourth upon th pillow, and Ariel saw waverlngly, for br eyes suddenly filled, that tb colo nel laid his unsteady hand upon Eskew's, which was outside th cover let "It's It's not" said the old soldier gently "It's not on on both sides, Is It Eskew t" Mr. Arp moved his band slightly In answer. "It ain't paralysis," he said. "They call It "shock and exhaustion,' but It's more than that It's just my time. I've beard th call. We've sll been slldln on thin ice this long tlme nd If s broke nnder in" "Eskew, Eskew!" remonstrated Pe ter Brsdbury. "You'd oughtn't to talk that-a-wsy! Yon only kind of over done a little-heat 0' th day, too, and" Peter Interrupted the sick man, with feebl asperity, "did you ever manage to fool me in your liter "No. Eskew," "Well you're not doln It nowl" Two tears suddenly loosed them selves from Squire Buckalew's eyelids despite his hard endeavor to wink them away, and he turned from the bed too late to conceal what had happened. "There alnt any call to feel bad," said Eskew. "It might have happened any time-in the night, maybe-at my bouseand all alone but here's Alrl Tabor brought me to her own boms and tskln car of me. 1 couldn't ask any better way to go, could IT' "I don't know what we'll do," stam mered the colonel, "if you-you talk about goln' away from us, Eskew. We we couldn't get along" "Well. sir. I'm almost kind of glad to think." Mr. Arp murmured, between short straggles for breath, "that It'll be quieter on the National House corner." 1 A, moment later be called the doctor faintly and asked for a restorative. There," be said In a stronger voice tud with a gleam of satisfaction In the vindication of his belief that he was. dying. "I was almost gone then. I know!" He lay panting for a moment then spoke the name of Joe Louden. Joe came quickly to the bedside. "I want you to shake hands with the colonel and Peter and Buckalew." "We did," answered the colonel, In finitely surprised and troubled. "We shook hands outside before we came In." "Do It again," said Eskew. "I want to see you." And Joe, making shift to smile, was suddenly blinded, so that be could not see the wrinkled bands extended to him and was fain to grope for them. "God knows why we didn't all take his band long ago," satd Eskew Arp. "I didn't because I was stubborn. I hated to admit that the argument was against me. I acknowledge It now be fore him and before you and I want the word of It carried!" "It's all right, Mr. Arp." began Joe tremulously. "You mustn't" "nark to me." The old man's voice lifted higher. "If you'd ever whim pered or give back talk or broke out the wrong way it would of been dif ferent, but yon never did. I've watch ed you, and I know. And you've Just gone your own way alone, with the town against you becauee you got a bad name as a boy, and once we'd given you that everything yon did or didn't do we bad to give you a blacker one. Now it's time some one stood by you. Alrie Tabor '11 do that with all ber soul and body. She told me once I thought a good deal of you. She knew. But I want these three old friends of mine to do It too. I was boys with them, and they'll do it I think. They've even stood np fer you against me sometimes, but mostly fer the sake of the argument, I reckon, but now they must do it when there's more to stand against than Just my talk. They saw It all today-the mean est thing I ever knew! I could of stood It nil except that!" Before they could prevent him be had struggled half upright In bed, lifting a clinched fist at the town beyond the windows. "But hT G(x1' when they got so low down they tried to kill your dog"- ne fell back, choking, In Joe's arms, and the physician bent over him, but Eskew was not goue, and Ariel, upon the other side of the room, could hear blm whispering again for the restora tive. She brought It, and when he had taken it went quickly out of doors to the side yard. She sat upon a workman's bench un der the big trees, hidden from the Street shrubbery, and, breathing deep ly of the shaded air, began to cry quiet ly. Through the windows came the quavering voice of the old man, lifted again, insistent a little querulous, but determined. Responses sounded Inter mittently from the colonel, from Peter and from Buckalew, and now and then a sorrowful, yet almost humorous pro test from Joe; aud so she made out that the veteran swore his three com rades to friendship with Joseph Lou den, to lend him their countenance In all matters, to stand by him In weal and woe, to speak only good of him and defend him in the town of Canaan. Thus did Eskew Arp on the verge of parting this life render Justice. The gate clicked, and ArUl saw Eu geue approaching through the shrub bery. Oue of his bauds was bandaged, a thin strip of vourtnhtster crossed his forehead from his left eyebrow to his hair and bis thlu aud agitated face showed several light scratches. "I saw you come out" h said. "I've been waiting to speak to you." "The doctor told us to let him have his way tn whatever bo might ask." Ariel wiped her eyes, fl'm afraid that means" "I dldu't com to talk about Eskew Arp," interrupted Eugeue. "I'm not laboring under auy anxiety about blm. You needn't be afraid; be' too sour to accept bis coug so readily," "Fleas lower your voice," th said, rising quickly and moving away from him toward the bouse; but as be fol lowed. Insisting shsrply that be must ipesk with her, she wslked out of ear shot of the windows and, stopping, turned toward him. "Very well," she Mid. "is It messag from Mamtr At this he filtered and hung fir. "Have you been to se her?" the continued. "I am anxious to know if her gooduf id bravery caused her any any fort at home." "You tu. ( your mind at rest about that" retm, I Eugene, "I was there when th Jouge came home to dinner, I suppose you tear he may hsv bn rough with her for taking my step, brother Into th carriage, n was not On tli contrary, b spoke very quietly to her and went on out toward the sta- ' bles. But I haven't com to you to j talk of Judge Pike either." 1 "No," said Ariel; "I don't care par ticularly to hear of blm, but of Ma mie" "Nor of ber either!" be broke out "I want to talk of your There was no mistaking blm, no possibility of misunderstanding th real passion that shook him, and ber startled eyes betrayed her comprehen sion. "Yes, I se you understand I" b cried bitterly. "That's because you've seen others Hie same way. God help m," he went on, striking his forehead with bis open band, "that young fool of Bradbury told me yout refused him only Vesterday! He wssVoud of even rejection from you! And there's Nor bert aud half a doxen others, perhaps, already since you're been lre." He filing out his arms In ludicrous, savage despair. "And here am 1" "Ah, yea," she cut him off. "It Is of yourself that you wnut to speak after ill, uot of tnc!" "Look here," he vociferated. "Are von going to marry that Joe Londeu? 1 want to know whether you are or rot. He gave me this and this today!" lie touched bis bumlnged hand and plastered forehead. "He ran Into me over me for nothing when I was uot on my guard, struck me down-stamped on me" She turned opon him, cheeks aflame, eyes sparkling and dry. "Mr. Bantry," she cried, "he did a good thing! And now I want you to go home. I want you to go home and try if you can discover anything In yourself that Is worthy of Mamie and of what she showed herself to be this morning! If you can, you will bav found something that I could like!" She went rapidly toward the bouse, and he was senseless enough to follow, babbling: "What do you think I'm made of? You trample on me, as be did! I can't bear everything! I tell you"- But she lifted her band with such Imperious will that he stopped short. Then through the window of the sick room camo clearly the querulous voles: "I tell you It was. I heard him speak Just now-out there In the yard that no account stepbrother of Joe's! What If be Is a hired baud on the Tocsin? He'd better give up his Job snd quit than do what he's done to help make the town think hard of Joe. And what Is he? Why, he's worse than Cory. When that Clnudtue Fear first camo here, Gene Buntry was hangln' around ber himself. Joe knew It and be'd never tell, but I will. I saw 'em buggy rldlu out near Beaver Beach, and she slapped his face fer him. It ought to be told!" "I didn't know that Joe kuew-that" Eugene stammered huskily. "It was It was a long time ago" , "If you understood Joe," sho said In a low voice, "you would know that be-' fore these men leave this house ho will hnve their promise never to tell." His eyes fell miserably, then lifted again, but In her clear and unbearable gaze there shone such a flame of scorn as he could not endure to look upon. For the first time In his life he saw a true light upon himself, and, though the vision was darkling, the revelation was complete. . "Heaven pity you!" she whispered. Eugene found himself alone and stumbled away, his glance uot lifted. He passed his own borne without look ing up and did not see his mother beck oning frantically from a window. Sho ran to the door and called him. lie did not hear her, but went 011 townrd the Tocsin olllce with his head still bent, '..y (Continued Next Sunilay) , Tetter Cured, A lady customer of ours had suffered with tetter for two or three years. It got so bad on her hands that shs could not attend to her household duties. One I ox of Chamberlain's Salve cured her. Chamberlain's medicines give splendid satisfaction In this community. M. H. Rodney k Co., Almond, Ala- Chamber Iain's medicines are for sale by Frank Hart and Leading Druggists. j Fisher Bros, Company Sole Agents for Barbour's and Finlayson's Salmon Twine and Netting Hardware, Iron, Steel and Ship Chand lery. Pipe and Pipe Fittings, Brass Goods, Paints, Oils, Groceries A Complete Line of Fishing, Cannery Logger and Mill Supplies Fisher Bros. Co. 540-550 Bond Street Astoria. - - Oregon I MMIMMMIMHMtHIMIIMMHI MM THE G EM C.F.WISE, Prop. Choice Win., Liquor and Cigars Hot Lnaek at all Bears Carasr Eliveatk ISTOIUA ...Paul Oblonsky's Ruse... f Orhtlnat. Pa u I ohloiiMky, a Russian comedian, having become lufcivstMl with bis cMiiutryiui'ii lu the cause of political lllMrty, left the stage and became a writer lu beluiir of the ttr. While Oblonsky was publishing his pamphlet, which were all eminently mi tin fnc lory to the government, he wn eiigitginl la dlsMMuluatlug literature of uu entirely dUTeretit kind. He made Journeys from bis home to different points to org.inlsiii, advise and encour age different secret societies thut rep tvHciiiiil the most radical eletueut of the revolution. Of course the day came when lie was reported to the po lice as a suspect, but so wary bad he been that the chief would not believe be was a revolutionist. One day a telegram tame to the po lice at Bt Petersburg that a meetlug of revolutionists had been broken up at Moscow and a m mi resembling Paul Oblonsky bud got away. The chief eut at ouoo to Oblousky's house to discover If he was at home. The man who weut ou the erraud knew Oblon sky by sight and as be approached the bouse saw blm sitting , at an upper window. He returned and reported the fact to bis superior. Not long after this a spy of the gov ernment in Warsaw reported that Ob lonsky was one of a band of conspira tors, of which ho (the spy) was also a member. Still doubting the truth of Information Implicating a man who had defended the government, ' the chief sent the snme messenger he hud wcil before to Oblousky's bouse, Ou the wny the messenger met Oblouaky In a carriage driving with his slstov, Tbo chief was puzzled. Those wlV) use spies are never certain but tlitt they are spies of the enemy, However, he telegraphed orders that If at uiiy time Oblousky was seen in Wursuv.' the occurrence bo at once reportud. It) a few days a telegram came announc ing that Oblousky bad been seen enter ing that city from tbo suburbs In a drosky. The Informant was not In the pay of the government; therefore Ob lonsky wits not followed. The chief sent one of bis best men at once to Oblonsky's hoilse, directing blm to mnko sure whether or no Oblonsky wus there. He was to go In and speak with him. blonsky had Heen seen en tering Warsaw an hour before the re ceipt of the t'Jlegrani. He surely would not have bad time to return before the offlclnl could get to his house. As the messenger approached he looked tip at the window where Oblonsky was accustomed to read or write, but he was not there. Entering the bouse, be found Oblonsky's old mother. "I hav called," he said, "to get a copy of your son's last political pam phlet for the chief of police. It Is re ported that there are la It some fea tures objectionable to the government" "Indeed," said the old lady, "I will .all mv son. who will huud you one Glass and Hardwood Merchants Laoch From 11:3s a. m. t i:jo f m. ' 1 Vu and Commercial ORIGOff WW blmseir. Thereupon sh went op stairs, and wbo should com down but Oblonskv himself, with tb pamphlet In bis band. Tb official wished blm good day, took the pamphlet and re turned to th chief. Immediately an order was sent to Warsaw to aend th person wbo bsd seen Oblonsky enter Ing th city to St Petersburg. A man striven th next day wbo declared that be knew Oblonsky well, and be bsd certainly seen htm as he bad reported. The chief sent for Oblonsky ostensibly to discuss the objectionable passag tu bis pamphlet, but really to subject blm to the view of the Informer from Mo. cow. Tb Informer at once declared that Oblonsky was the man be bad seen In tb drosky entering Warsaw. The chief waa now satlsllod that ther bsd been mistake. He gav or der for tb secret police to watch , . tt. tuose Woo naa rcponeu rkciiiiki kmskv. th nk no1 tnai tney miaui uo' revolutionists endeavoring to get ito of a friend of the government One morning an offlttal occupying a high position In the government was found murdered In bis olllce. Among those reported to bave loft the office shortly Imfore the finding of the body was Oblonsky. For the llrst time the chief began to bellev that Oblonsky was a revolutionist, and If so be must be one of the most adroit as well as most dangerous of the lot. The chief did not order Oblonsky's arrest, but surrounded bis bouse with spies. They reported yit every morning and after noon Oblonsky sat at bis window writ ing. But when they reported that with the most careful watching they could uot detect the slightest movement the chief sent an official to arrest him. The official found the suspected man's mother and sister, who declared that Oblonsky was In his room writing tin important article In defense of the government and had given orders that !m was uot to be Interrupted. The olD- clii! bruKheii past them nnd went up utult'M tn tlm rwni Them snt Oblonskv but not a whit startled at the lnterrup-1 .. . . . . . 1 , T lion, ror ne uia not eveu hhik up. n was a dummy, the exact Imaire of Ob lonsky. Oblonsky had loft fit. Peters burg the morning of the assassination and wasvnow being smuggled across the frontier. The moment the ofllclul saw the dum my he remembered having seen Ob lonsky on the mimic stage in a play wboreln It was necessary to make htm appear there wbllo absent changing bis costume. For this purpose a lay figure had ben constructed so nearly like the actor that the closest scrutiny from the audlenc could not detect the tranA Tlia ft our hurl rnnrminnt1 the revolutionist at bis window except ot) the occasion of his having been s ( driving both In 8t. Petersburg' . a.., Warsaw. Bis slstor had taken It t Warsaw tot th purpose of misleading th police. H T. BUUBNH DKAFKlv i :: I I'