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.