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About The Dalles daily chronicle. (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1891)
INNOCENCE. In bonny Scotland, 'cross the Boa Upon a summer's day, A little lass trudged merrily Along the public way. . And for the first time in her life This happy peasant lass Gazed oa the world beyond her home '. In yonder mountain pass. - With beaming face and happy song ; She tripped on toward the town. And reached the borough turnpike gate Ijong ere the sun went down. She gently tapped upon the gate. Afraid to pass it by. And waited patiently without For some one to reply. And when the good old gateman came. With body long and lean. She asked, "Pray, will you tell me, sir. Am I at Aberdeen?" "That's where you are, my bonny lass, ' He answered with a grin. Then can you tell me, sir." she said, "If Peggy is within?" Clifford Howard in Washington Star. A STROKE OF LIGHTNING. "Welcome, stranger. Can you take pot luck with lis? Hi, Jim, bring another ' plate for the gentleman. Just picket your hosa, sir, and make yourself at borne. This is Cap'n Wilson; his brother Dan; my name is Holt. The boys gen erally calls me 'Guvner,' 'cause the gov ernor of this state is named Holt too uvr iciuu vvj iuc buuugll. JlilHU L L, Vic tor Elliott, did you say the name was? Glad to see you. This venison is good; pitch in and help yourself; we've just got through." Such was the greeting received one autumnal evening back in the Seventies by a lone horseman who rode tip to the camp of an engineering party of the Rio Grande railway in Colorado. As the stranger sat eating his supper, thorougli- lv at PUA with t.h in fit 1 Tnn Vinyl namw even heard of n hoar before, the others watched him curiously, wondering who he might be, and his destination where it could be. Fine looking fellow he was, too, about thirty-five years old, with a well knit figure, piercing black eyes, hair the same color, curly as a child's, strong white teeth that gleamed through his mustache, and a lazy, good natured, gentlemanly air that made friends for him so easily. His hands especially at tracted their attention. They were as white, the nails as neatly trimmed, as a woman's. .He ate on, unconscious of their glances, until his appetite was ap peased, then stretched himself face downward on the around watnhinsr tlm fire and talking with the others. Said he: "See my mare over there? Isn't she a beauty? She came from New Mexico. I was down there at a round up several years ago. . Must have been 300 head of horses at the corrals. As I stood idly watching the work I saw a horse vault into the air, clearing an -eight foot fence at a bound, and was off like the wind. Far out on the prairie the vaqueros captured her and brought her in. This is the mare. She was too neat and pretty to be branded, and I bought her for $100 in gold. ' She ought to be tired, for I've ridden her hard to day." As he finished speaking he gave a low, peculiar whistle and the mare whinnied in return, a perfect picture as she stood with mane and tail flying in the breezes, outlined against the foothills. Soon all the men were wrapped in their blankets, feet to the fire, and fast asleep all but One. That one was Elliott. The glowing embers, now and again emitting a crackle and spark as a bit of resin caught fire, pleased his fancy as he lay watching them, his thoughts miles away. He seemed again playing poker in the gambling hell in Bluffville with stacks of chips in front of him, and their musical clink rang in his ears. "vVhat great luck I did have in that jack pot, standing all the raises on a pair of jacks, but when I drew in two more in my three card draw against those pat hands, I felt easier. Guess I cleared five thousand on the afternoon game. Lucky for me I cashed in and "went to supper. I was only in a few hundred when that row came up." He felt of his belt. Yes, the money was safe, strapped around his waist un der his shirt. I wonder if that fellow's dead yet. The contemptible cheat. Thought he eould deal second card on us, did he? Well, it didn't work. Wonder who fired that shot. When the light went out I felt pretty squeamish. He spoke my name; I heard it plainly just as I went out the door, but I didn't stop; I didn't have time; too warm around those dig gings just then. Wonder if those bul lets went through the roof. It helped to increase the confusion, and I didn't want any sheriff's party in that room, not any. Awkward, my dropping that pistol. Wish I had it back again, for I've car ried it so many years. Wonder if I'll find Mollie over at that railroad town. She was to have reached there yester day, and I'm late, but I guess she'll wait How sleepy I amj Dear old Moll" And he slept the sleep 'that only outdoor exercise can give. . , Early dawn found the party break fasted, and Elliott, bidding his hosts gOodby, started once more on the trail to that lonely mountain village where the railroad should bring his loved one to him. - Busy with their plans and the repair of their surveying instruments for the day's use, the engineering party did not notice the approach of a band of men whose sudden appearance startled them an hour later. There were seven of them. armed to the teeth with rifles, revolvers and bowie kpives and laden only with the camp equipage of a short journey. The leader courteously inquired if they had seen a tall, dark man dressed in a corduroy suit. The description fitted Elliott so exactly that the newcomers soon elicited the desired information and started on up the valley, simply vouch safing the information that the gentle man had gone on ahead of them and they wished to overtake him. Biding at a slow, easy lope away from the camp where he had spent the night i J and been so hospitably entertained, EOi- , on rexs me exniiaration of tne tresn mountain air and quickened his horse's pace to a gallop. The mare caught the bit in her teeth and away they went, faster and faster. Thus it was that the party riding over the same track, handi capped by having to watch for the im print of the horse's hoofs as they went along, did not catch sight of Elliott until about midday. . The trail, narrow in the foothills, led them to a more traveled road, which showed the marks of a wagon having traveled it. This road led them to an old adobe hut, the roof looking strange to the men accustomed to seeing shingle and board roofs. As the party came nearer to this deserted, home of cowboys in other days they saw Elliott sitting on an empty pork barrel, leaning up against the side of the house, his horse quietly grazing near at hand. When near enough to recognize him the party qnickened their pace, and laughed grimly when they saw him wave his hand at them. For his part he was wondering what had brought them to this out of the way place, but glad of the company on his way should it also prove theirs. When they came nearer he won dered what made them eye him so in tently and kept them all so silent. At a given signal each man of the party cov ered him with a weapon, and the leader, acting as spokesman, commanded him. to hold up his hands. "What in hell has got into you fel lows?" asked Elliott. "Shut up," answered the leader. "El liott, we're dead onto you, and we don't want any talk from you at all. Hank Green lived long enough, night before last to tell who killed him, and you've got to swing for it. Come on, boys." . Elliott's protestations of his innocence were not even listened to. His weapons were taken from him, his hands tied be hind him, and quicker than it takes to tell it one of the party had shinned up a tree which stood handily near and fas tened a lasso to a limb. The empty pork barrel was rolled out under it, turned np on end, and Elliott was stood on it, while one of the men with no gentle hand knotted the rope about his neck, leaning over his saddle to complete the operation. His captors gathered about him and he was commanded to speak out if he had anything to say. Only a slirrht push would have sent the barrel from beneath his feet. He could feel the cold sweat upon his brow, hear the beating of his Heart. It sounded clear and distinct in his ears as he began his farewell speech to nis merciless judges. "Boys," said he, "you are dead wrong. I did not kill Hank Green. That revol ver yon have there was mine, and I did fire those empty chambers, but at no man. I fired them in the air to make the confusion greater after the row to give ns all a chance to escape before the sheriff or any other outriders would dare to come in upon us. I swear that I did not kill that man and I do not know who killed him." A burst of hoarse laughter , was his only response. "As God is my judge, men, I am in nocent. Do you think I would lie about it, standing here on the brink of eter nity? If justice will not free me, will money? I have plenty of it here with me now. What do you say?" "Push the barrel, Bill," cried one - of his persecutors. "Line him out We'll take the money home to Hank Green's woman; that's what we'll do." The old man who acted as leader bad been quietly watching the condemned man's face. A conviction that somehow or other Hank was mistaken forced itself upon him. . "Pardners," said he, "there may be something in this man's proposition af ter all. We followed him here to hang him, but d n me if I don't believe wo have treed the wrong toad. I never heard of this man's doing anything that wan't square. Did any of you?" "Hang him anyway," spoke up one of the men. "No, that's not right, boys. Where is that money, Elliott?"' Taking off the belt as directed, he led the way to one side to try and save his life. It was no use to talk to the party howevar. The best he could do was done. Elliott saw the men mount their horses, and hope rose within his breast as he saw them untie his mare, and bringing, her with them, ride slowly to his side. "Elliott," said the leader, "there are seven of ns. Four think you ought to die, three do not We have decided to take your valuables and your horse back to Hank's widow and leave you here, just as you are, alive. There ain't much prospect of your getting away, but we won't murder you and we won't set you free. You swore to God you were inno cent Let your God see to it you are freed or, have mercy on your soul. Come on, boys, our job is finished." With that he rode away, the others following him, and none of them looked back as they returned over the way they had come. Off in the distance the men noticed the mare throw up her head and listen a moment and then whinny. One of them setentiously remarked, "She must have beard that whistle, boys, but shell never hear it again on earth." "I've got my boots on to die in, any way," said the man on the barrel, and he smiled grimly as he thought of the bravado of his boyish remark years be fore, that he "didn't want any lingering sickness and death in his." There wasn't a cowardly bone in his body. He really felt relieved when the men had gone, for he at least had his thoughts to himself as long as he lived. There was no one to jeer, no curious spectators around to worry him and he calmly ' awaited the end. He could feel the barrel oscillate beneath his feet, knew that there was but a few inches .slack in the rope, and that a false movement and a slight change in equilibrium meant strangula tion and death. . His card playing proclivities stood him in good stead. He was a good enough poker player to know that the game consisted pure and simple of rela tive calculation of percentages aed op portunities. He who takes his money upon the turn or chances of cards soon learns one lessonto patiently bide his time. The last words of the leader of the party kept constantly recurring to him. It was with no religious sentiment that hs thought of possible deliverance, but with the conviction that he deserved better than a death like this. . Seemingly in sympathy with his situa tion and his mood, the twilight hours now fast approaching brought warning of a storm. He noticed this with pleas ure, for both hunger and thirst had as serted themselves. He awaited the soft, cooling rain which he saw approaching up over the mountains with a feeling of relief. . The leaves had fallen off the tree, winter was so near at hand, and he turned his . face to the sky to catch the fast falling drops upon his face and tongue. The moisture refreshed him, and he felt his courage revive and hope once more spring up within his breast The long roll of distant thunder and the vivid bursts of lightning did not even awe him. It seemed like a great battle, and he pictured himself in the thick of the fight If he only had that chance! How welcome it would be, and how happily he could await the bullet that would send him into the great unknown, and the news be flashed home by the wires, "VictoaElliptt died a hero's death at His post on the held of battle." The center of the storm annrnantKvl nearer. The gusts of wind blew more Frequently ana the ram poured down upon mm uncii ne was wet to the skin. Without warning, there came- a short, quick flash he saw a blaze of light about mm ana an was cnangea. .tie seemed fallins. fallinir into endless then, mounting upward, he rode on the wings or ngtit. . impatiently he seemed blinkinsr his eves, sn that ha min-Vi more plainly this wondrous, beautiful scene, .spams or nre seemed to obliter ate nis Eigne ana uurn into his brain He tried to speak, to cry aloud.'. His heart seemed bursting with an ecstatic joy, but he could not make a sound. Then all was a blank. After a long, long time he seemed to feel the chill that comes over one when the bed clothing is not warm enough in the night. He thought that was what ailed him, and started to reach down his hand and put it up over him. : The move ment brought consciousness. 'How was this? Where was he? Hia mind rvallol the events of the day and the evening storm. How could this be? Here he was sitting upright on the wet ground, his hands tied behind him, aching in every limb. Assuredly still in the land of the living. He looked up over his head. - : It was not a delusion; it was reality. The rope was still about his neck, and there by his side on tho ground, with the other, end tied to it, was the limb of a 'tree. The blaze of light that had seemed so near him a few minutes be fore was in reality a flash of lightning occurring hours ago, for it was now broad . daylight. It had struck that identical tree and freed him. There it stood splintered and broken. He heard a familiar sound near at band. Could he believe his eyes? There was his mare contentedly grazing near by. He whistled to her and she came trotting to him, dragging at the end of a lariat the iron picket to which her capi tors had tied her the night before. It was too much for his feelings, and he broke down and cried like a child when he felt her soft nose on his face expect ing the caress he usually gave her. Heaven had not only vindicated his in nocence, but had returned his useful pet to him in his great need of her. Benumbed and sore, it took him near ly an hour to free himself from the cruel ropes, but at last succeeding, he found his oil skin bag over near the adobe house and ate heartily. The spring quenched his thirst, and he felt like a man born anew. It was with a heart full of happiness and gratitude to Almighty God for his miraculous escape that he mounted the horse and continued the journey which had proved so full of incident to him. "I'll be a better husband to Mollie than before, bless her heart, for romim nut here to be with me, expecting to give np AT c - . t - .. ... me unuioris or city me, saia fie, as he rode alone the wav that was m.r.iriu- bringing him to her. "Those drafts that 1 6ent to the bank m Denver last week will come in handy now. We will tm over the ranjre to 'Frisco, and start lif a oyer again. Some day I'll come back here and find out who did kill Hunt Green. 'His wife has that dust She is Welcome to the nsn nf it. Af httKo it'- just as well to get away from that life aiier an,-- una ne roue on content. A wagon train sent over to the railroad town from Bluffville the next weelr broueht back the news of Ellintt'a no- cape, of his meeting with his wife and i., . - i . , . meiruepariureioa piace unknown. The rough mining camp had too much else to attend to to think lontr strange events of the week gone by. Some years afterward it was recalled to them in an unexpected manner Victor Uiiiiotc naa come back, Jiis means and position acquired in his new home nrru tected Jiim from rough treatment, es pecially so when the townspeople learned that he was going over incident after in cident, questioning man after man about the shooting of Hank Green, and 4.1 A. 1 1 J " . . - luui, no mm maae tne wiaow a present of the money taken from' him by force, i His search was in vain. Nothing could be found out about who fired the shot. At his own reouest he wn trier! hs o jury, all the evidence weighed, and he was acquitted or tne charge or murder. In a beautiful home m Snn FVa there is a curious memento hanging in the owner's library. It is a part of a branch of a tree, holding a saddle, bridle and lariat Its history is seldom told you know it and so do I. Warren Chase m ob rani noneer rress. . - They Eat Buketl Xnsn. . . Along the Columbia river a kind of bread is made from a moss timt grows oa tho spruce fir tree. This moss is pre pared by placing it in heaDs, 6Drmklinsr it with water ad permitting it to fer ment. Tuen it is rolled into balls as big ns adman's head, und these are baked in pits. Washington Star. . '' : CANONeiJ. Amid the busy multitude moves she, A queen uncrowned, a saint in earthly guise. With in the clear depth:-, nf her shining eyes Alia on ner pallia iace a r ..-.nancy That seems reflected from the crystal aea Which stretches twixt onr souls and Para dise. ..' Some say that in her heart a sorrow lies Which contradicts her sweet tranquillity. A. victor, no'symbolio palm she bears; Upon her face her triumph's siern she wea .a. peace tnat snowetn all her stainless souL -Enthroned in hearts of erring and of good, Bhe reigns in royalty of womanhood. Yet round her head there shines no anrmlxl Josephine Preston Peabody in Kate "Field's vv asnington. Couldn't Pass the Noie. Mr. Casilear told how he happened to be, in New York a't one time during the war looking out for a gang of counter feiters. To avoid making his presence in tne city conspicuous he put up at a second rate hotel, where he was un known. For some purpose he handed to the clerk at the desk a brand newfifty cent note. It was an issue just out, wth iTCiienu opinner a portrait on it, the like ness having been substituted for a pic ture of Justice with ' her scales, which the forgers had imitated very Buccess- rruiy. The clerk looked at the note with evi dent suspicion, and handed it back. "I never saw anything like that be fore," he said. "It is good, I assure you," replied Mr. Casilear. ' ,"I don't believe it," said the clerk. ."Very well, rejoined Mr. Casilear. "It doesn't matter, though I know it is gooa, because I made it myself." The clerk smiled sardonically. "That is just what occurred to me. he said; "therefore I refused to accept it" Mr. Casilear felt that the joke was on himself, so he treated himself to a bottle of soda water at the bar and left for Washington that evening. New York Sun. A """is half tile American 1ct1o yet there Is p::!y o:.c irc-p;iratIo:i of arsa;iari:la that acts on tlie bii-.vcl.i n::d teaches this i::iirt;iut trouble, and iiiiit is Joy's Vegetable Pju-saparilla. It re lieves it iTi 4 hours, aud an occasional doso prevents return. Ve refer by permission to C.E. Elkinston,.325 Locust Avenue, Sim Francisco; J. II.T.rowu, retaluma; II. S. Winn, Geary Court, Stn rra:icisco, and hundreds of others who hnvo used it i u constipation. Oue letter is a samplo ot hundreds. Elkingtou, writes: "I have been for years subject to bilious headaches and constipa tion. ' Have been to bad for a year back have had to take a physic every other night or else I would have a headache. After taking one bottle of J. V. 8., I am in splendid shape. It has done wonderful things tor me. People similarly troubled should try i 5 and be convinced." Joy's Vegetable' Sarsaparilla Most modern, m.ist effective, largest bottle, same price, L0c .si t for ss.au. For Sale by SNIPES & KINERSLY THE DALLES. OREGON. BEAL MERIT ; PEOPLE Sav the T. (Vmah thing they ever saw. We are not flattered for we known Real Merit wim, win. ah we ask is an honest tual. f?rf onl. V... -.11 .3 S. B. Medicine Mfg. Co., Dufur, Oregon. A Severe Law. The English peo ple look more closely the genuineness of these staples t han we do. In fact, tbey have a law under 'Which they make seizures and de stroy adulterated - " proaucts that are tint what they are represented to be. Under ihik blu!utc thousands of pounds Of tea have been burned because of their wholesale adul teration. Tea, by the way, is one of the most Dotorf . oiifly adulterated articles of commerce. Not .auinc are the bright, vhiny green teas artiS claily colored, but thourands of pounds of 'nb.-ti:ute for tea leaves aro used tnprell tbe bull; of chi-ep tea i; ash, sloe, aud willow '?0!ives"li:-:n3 (hose most commonly ufcd. Again, sweeping from tea warehouses ere colored aud Bold as tea. Even exhausted tea leaves ga'.heied from (bo tea-houses are kept, dried, and made over und find their' way into the cheap teas. The Eiig'U goverTfnicnt attempt toblamp 1hi out by co:tU5ci:t .n; but no tea Is too poorroru-. n;-.l the ro-wln i-, that piobnbly i lie j -r.r,t lea i'cd y auy uaiiun are those uiiM:mcd iu Amcrina. l:eeih's Tea is presented with the gua an y -that it Is u-.icr.lored and unadulterated; i:i fact, tlie MtM-ennvl taa leaf pare and sim--lc. l.a purity fniivre superior strength, aUiut mie third J.ti.; i.f ie beiti? required for n lufusi.itl ihauof the a-rifieial teas, and its fragrance and cxquUl o flavor Is at once ap parent. It will be a i e velatlou to yon. In order that its purity and quality may be guar anteed, it is sold only in pound packages ' 'tearing this trade-mark;' ,; ,' . STIPATION BEECHj&'.'TEA "PureAstiTdhood: Price 60c per pound. For sale at ' - Lieslie Sutler's, THE DALLES, OREGON. Still on Deek. Phoenix Like has Arisen From the Ashes! JAMES WHITE, The Restauranteur Has Opened the Balduiin Hestaurant ON MAIN STREET Where he will be glad to see any and all . of his old patrons. Open day and Night. First class meals twenty -five cents. YOlflV ATTEflTIOIl Is called to the fact that Hugh Glenn, Dealer in Glass, Lime, Plaster, Cement and Building Material of all kinds. Carries the Finest tine of- Picture flouitiings To be found in the City. 72 LCJashington Street. PRINZ & NITSCHKE. DEALERS IN Furniture and Carpets. w livr via iuoiucoo a complete Undertaking Establishment, and aa we are in no way connected with the TTndArt.n1rai-a TVnat -auW V iivo n M is be low accordingly. nememDer our place on second street, next to Moody's bank. - - , A NEW Undertaking Establishment : DEALERS IN:- Hay, Grain Masonic Block, Corner Third and ffeu . Qolumbia flotel, THE DALLES, OREGON. Best Dollar a Day First-CIass Meals, 25 Cents. First Class Hotel in Every Respect. Worth Washington SITUATED AT THE Destined to be the Best Manufacturing Center In the Inland Empire. For Further Information Call at tho Office of ; JOHN PASHEK, Tailor, Next door to Wasco Sun. Madison's Latest System used in cutting garments, and a fit guaranteed each time. Repairing and Cleaning ; Neatly and Quickly Done. , R. B. HOOD, Livery, Feed and Sale Horses Bought and Sold on Commission, and Money Advanced on Horses Left for Sale. OFFICE OF The Dalles and Goldendale Stage Lina freieht must be left at R. B Hood's office the eve ning before. R. B. HOOD, Proprietor. Opposite old Stand. The Dalles, Or. THE Dalles, Portland &. Astoria ITAVIGATI0IT COMPANY'S Elegant Steamer REGULATOR Will leave the foot of Court Street every morning at 7 A. M. for Portland and Way Points Connections Will be Made with the Fast .Steamer DAliltES GITY, At the Foot of the Cascade Locks. For Passenger or Freight Rates, Apply to Agent, or Purser oh Board. ) Office northeast corner of Court and Main street NOTICE. T f 1 r 1 - 1 . ' xv. iicwu tiaa tur eaie a num iter ' improved ranches and unimproved lands in the Grass Valley neighborhood in Sherman county. They will be sold very cheap and on reasonable terms. Mr. French can locate settlers on some good unsettled claims in the same neigh borhood. His address is Grass Valley, Sherman county, Oregon. Hani and Fancy taiies, and Feed. Court Streets. The Dalles.Qregon House on the Coast! None but the Best of. White Help Employed. T. T. Nicholas, Prop. Dalies, Washington HEAD OF NAVIGATION. Best Selling Property of the Season in the Northwest. O.D. TAYLOR, TKEDAILES. 72 WASHINGTON ST., PORTLAND.