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About The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898 | View Entire Issue (June 25, 1896)
ConntuvT, iiw. nr tfJttn- "And you yoo dare to repeat the inwardly lie of a confessed spy. This, than, te what you wished to tell me thia, the intuit lor which you bavc kept me hera, became yon are incapable tf unientanduuj mnelfiah patriotism or devotion even to your own cause ou dan to judge me by your own base, Yankee trading standards. Yes, . it is worthy ol you I" She walked rapidly up and down, and ' then suddenly faced him. "I understand it all! I appreciate your magnanimity now. You are will ing I should join the company of these chivalrous gentlemen in order to give color to your calumnies. Say at once that it was yon who put up this spy to correspond with me to come here in order to entrap me. Yes, entrap me 1 who a moment ago stood up for you before these gentlemen and said you could not lie! Bah!" Struck only by the wild extrava gance of her speech and temper, Clar ence did not know that when women are most illogical they are apt to be most sincere, and from a man's stand point, her unreasoning deductions ap peared to him only as an affectation to gain time for thought, or a theatrical display to dazzle, like Busy's. And he was turning, half contemptuously, away when she again faced him with flashing eyea: "Well, hear me! I accept! I leave here at once to join my own people, my own friends those who understand me put what construction on it that you choose. Bo your worst! You cannot do more to separate us than you have done just now." She left him and ran up the steps, with an extravagant return of her old occasional nymph-like gracefulness the movement of a woman who has never borne children and a swish of her long skirts ftat he remembered for many a day after ib she disappeared in the corridor. Be remained looking after her in dignant, outraged and unconvinced! Then there was a rattling at the gate. He remembered he had locked it. He opened it to the flushed, pink cheeks -and dancing eyes of Susy. The rain was still dripping from her wet cloak, as she swung it from her shoulders. "I know it all, all that's happened," aha burst out, with half girlish exuber ance, and half the actress' declamation. "We met them all in the road, posse and prisoners. Chief Thompson knew me and ' told me all. And so you've done it and you're master in your old house again. Clarence, old boy! Jim said yon wouldn't do it. Said you'd weaken on account of her! But I said No,' I knew yon better, old Clarence, and 1 aaw It in your face, for all your stiffness! He! But for all that I was mighty nervous and uneasy, and I just made Jim tend an excuse to the theater, and we rnthed it down here. "Lordy. but it looks natural to see the old house again! And she yon packed bet off with the others, didn't yon? Tell me, Clarence," in her old appealing voice, "you shook her, toor Dazed and astounded, and yet ex pressing a vague sense of relief with an odd return of hisold tenderness towards (lie willful woman before him, he had silently regarded her until her allusion to his wife recalled him to himself. "Hush!" he said, quickly, with a glance towards the corridor. "Ah!" said Susy, with a malicious smile, "then that's why Capt. Pinck ney was lingering in the rear with the deputy." "Silence! " aaid Clarence, sternly. "Go in there," pointing to the garden mom btlow the balcony, "and wait until your husband comes." He half led, half pushed her into the room which had been his business office and returned to the patio. A hesitating voice from the balcony said: "Clar- ence." . , It was his wife's voice, hut modified and gsutler more like her voice as be had first heard it or at if it were chastened by some reminiscence of those days. . It was his wife's face, too, that looked down on his, paJer than he had seen it since he had entered the house. She wot shawled and hooded, carrying a traveling-bog in her hand. "I am going, Clarence," she said, with gentle gravity, "but not 13 nnger! I even ask you to forgive me for the fool ish words that 1 still think your still more foolish accusation," she emiled faintly, "drugged from me. I am going because 1 know that I have brought, and that while 1 aro here I shall always be bringing upon you the imputation and even the responsibility of my own faith! While I am proud to own it, and, if needs be, suffer for it, X have no right to ruin your prospects, or even innlie you the victim of the slurs that others may cast upon mc. Let us part n.i friends, separated only by our dif ferent political faiths, but keeping all other faiths together, until God shall settle the right of this struggle. Per haps it may be soou I sometimes think it may be years of agony for all but until then good-by." She had slowly descended thesteps to the patio, looking handsomer than he had ever seen her, and as if sustained and upheld by the enthusiusoi of her crusc. . llcr hand was outstretched toward liis, his heart beating violently; lit another moment he uiifttit have for-gnlU-a ail and clasped her to hit breast. Suddenly the stopped, ber out stretched arm stiffened, her finger m aw mm pointed to the chair on which Susy's cloak was hanging. "What's that?" she said, in a sharp, high, metallic voice. "Who is here? Speak!" "Susy," aaid Clarence. She cast a scathing glance around the patio and then settled her piercing eyes on Clarence with a bitter smile. "Already!" Clarence felt the blood rush to his face at he stammered: "She knew what was happening hen and came to give you warning." "Liar!" "Stop!" aaid Clarence, with a white face. "She came to tell me that Capt Pinckney was still lingering for you in the road." He threw open the gate to let her past. At the swept out the lifted her hand. As she closed the gate there were the white marks of her tour fingers on hit cheek. CHAPTEK IV. For once Susy had not exaggerated. Capt. Pinckney was lingering with the deputy who had charge of him on the trad near the casa. It hnd already been pretty well understood by loth motives and captors that the arris! was limply a legal demonstration, that ihe sympathizing federal judge would undoubtedly order the discharge of the nrisonera on their own recognizances and it was probable that the deputy saw no harm in granting Pinckney's ro piest, which was virtually only a delnj in his own liberation. It is also mwm ble that Pinckney had worked upon the chivalrous sympathies of the man by professing hit disinclination to leave heir devoted colleague, Mrs. Brant, nt the mercy of her antagonistic and cold blooded husband at such a crisis, aud it s to be feared, also, that Clarence, as a oputed lukewarm partisan, excited nn personal sympathy even from his own party. Howbeit, the deputy agreed to delay Pinckney's journey for a parting interview with his fair hostess. Bow far this expressed the real sen- timentt of Capt. Pinckney was never known. Whether his political associa tion with Mrs. Brant hod developed into a warmer solicitude, understood or ig nored by her, and what were his hopes and aspirations regarding bis future was by the course of fate never dis closed. A man of easy ethics but rigid artificialities of honor, nattered and nampered by class prejudice, a so- i-slled "man of the world," with no ex pcrience beyond his own limited circle, vet brave and devoted to that, it were well, perhaps, to leave that last act of his ineffectual life to the simple record of the deputy. Dismount ing.he approached the house from the garden. He was already fa miliar with the low arched doorway which led to the business room, and from which he could gain admittance to the patio. But it so chanced that he entered the dark passage at the mo ment that Clarence had thrust Suay into the business room, and heard its door shut sharply. For an instant he be lieved that Mrs. Brant had taken ref uge there, but as he cautiously moved forward be heard her voice in the patio beyond. Its accents struck him as pleading; an intense curiosity drew him further along the passage. Suddenly ber voice teemed to change to angry denunciation, and the word "Liar" rang upon hia ears. .It was followed by his own name uttered sardonically by Clar ence, the swift rustle of a skirt, the clash of the gate, and then, forgetting everything, he burst into the patio. Clarence was just turning from the gate with the marks of his wife's hand still red on hia white cheek. He saw Cant. Pinckney's eyes upon it, and a faint, half-malicious, half-hysteric smile upon his lips. But without a start or gesture of surprise, he locked the gate, and turning to him, said, with frigid significance; "I thank you for returning so prompt ly, and for recognizing the only thing 1 now require at yonr hands." But Capt. Pinckney had recovered his supercilious eaae with the signifi cant demand. "Yon seem to have had something al ready from another's hand, sir but 1 am at your service," be said, lightly. "You will consider that I have ac- cepted it from you, sir," said Clarence, drawing closer to him with a rigid face. "I suppose it will not be neces sary for me to return it to make you understand me." "Go on," aaid Pinckney, flushing slightly. "Make your terms. I am ready." "But I'm not," said the unexpected voice of the deputy at the grille of the gateway. "Excuse my interfering, gen tlemen, but this sort o' thing ain't down in my schedule. I've let this gentle man," pointing to Capt. Pinckney. "off for a minit to say good-by to a lady, who, I reckon, haB just ridden off lu her buggy with her servant, wilhout paying by your leave bat I don't cal kerlate to let him inter another business which, like as not, will prevent me from deliverhV his body safe and sound into taiurt. You hear me!" As Clarence opened the gate he added: "I don't want ter spoil sport between gents, hut it's got to come lu after I've done my duty." "I'll meet you, sir, anywhere, and with what weapons you choose," said Pinckney, turning angrily upon Clar ence, " as soon as this farce for which jroU attd your If lends art rtspMtlU is over."" no was Jurlnns at the rcflee-1 tion that Airs, lirant had escaped him. A different thought wus in the bus band's mind. "lint what assurance have I that you aro going on with the dep uty?" lie said, with purposely insulting deliberation. "My word, sir," said Capt Pinckney, sharply. 1 "And If that triht ermlT, there's mine." said the deputy. "For if Ihis gcntlemun swerves to the right or left betwixt this anil Sniitn Inex, I'll blow s hole through iuinr.ywlf! . And that," he added, drprecntutgly, "ia saying good deal for n mi:n who doesn't want to spoil sport, "a 'or ",e matter of Unit, is willing to stand by and see fair piny done at Santa Inez any time to morrow before breakfast." . , "Then I can count on you f, said Clarence, with a sudden impulse, ex tending his hand. The man hesitated a moment, and then grasped It "Well, I wasn't ex pecting that," he said, slowly; "but you look as if you meant business, and if you ain't got anybody else to see you through, I'm thar! 1 suppose this gen tleman will have his friends?" "I shall be then at six with my sec onds," said Pinckney, ourtly. "Lead on." The gate closed behind them. Clar ence looked around the now empty patio, and the silent house, from which be could now see that the servants had been withdrawn to insure the secrecy of the gathering. Cool and collected as he knew he was, he stood still for s moment in hesitation. Then the sound of voices came to his ear from the gar den room, the light frivolity of Susy's laugh, and Hooker's huskier accents. He had forgotten they were there he had even forgotten their existence. Trusting still to hit calmness, he called to Hooker in bit usual voice. That gentleman appeared with a face which his attempts to make uncon cerned and impassive had, however, only deepened his funereal gravity. "I have something to attend to," said Clarence, with a faint smile, "and I must ask you and Susy to excuse me for a little while. She knows the house perfectly, and will call the servants from the annex to provide you Both with refreshments. I will join you a little later." Satisfied from Hooker's manner that they knew nothing of his later interview with Pinckney he turned away and ascended to hit own room. ' lie then threw himself into an arm chair by the dim light of a single candle as if to reflect, but he waa conscious, even then, of bit own calmness and want of excitement and that no re flection was necessary. What he had done and what he intended to do was quite clear; there was no alternative suggested, or to be even sought after. He had that sense of relief which comes with the climax of all great struggleseven of defeat He had never known before how hopeless and continuous had been that struggle un til now it wat over. He had no fear for to-morrow; he would meet it at he bad to-day with the same lingular con sciousness of being equal to the occa sion. There was even no necessity of preparation for it; hia will leaving his fortune to bis wife which seemed a slight thing now in this greater separa tion waa already in hit sate in San Francisco; his pistols were in the next room. He was even slightly disturbed by hit own insanaibUlty and passed into hit wif e't bedroom, partly in the hope of disturbing bis serenity by tome memen to of their post There was no disorder at flight everything was in its place, except the drawer of her desk, which was still open as It she had taken some thing from it aa an afterthought There were letters and papers there some of his own and tome in Capt. Pinckney's handwriting. It did not occur to him to look at them even to justify himself or excuse her. He knew that his hatred of Capt Pinckney waa not so much that he believed him her lover, as his sudden conviction that they were alike! He was the male of her species a being antagonistic to himself whom he could fight and crush and revenge himself upon. But most of all he loathed his past not on account of her, but of his own weakness that had made him her dupe, and a misunderstood man to his friends. He had been derelict of duty in his selfish devotion to her; he had stifled his ambition, and under rated his own possibilities no wonder that others had accepted him at his own valuation. Clarence Brant wat a mod est man, but the egotism of modesty is more fatal than that of pretension, far it has the haunting consciousness of su perior virtue. t He reentered bis own room and again threw himself in hit chair. Hia calm waa being succeeded by a physical weariness; he remembered he had not' Slept the night before and he ought to take some rest to be fresh in the early morning. Yet he must also show him self before his self-invited guests, Susy and her husband, or their suspicions would be aroused. He would try to sleep for a little while in the chair, be fore he went downstairs again. He closed hit eyes oddly enough on a dim, dreamy recollection of Susy, of the old days in the little Madrono hollow where she had once given him a ren dezvous. He forgot the maturer and critical uneasiness with which he had then received her coquettish and willful advances which he now knew was the effect of the growing dominance of Mrs. Peyton over him end remembered only her bright youthful eyes, and tin kisses he had pressed upon her soft, fragrant cheeks. The faintness he bad felt when awaiting in the old rose gar den, a few hours ago, seemed to steal on him once more, and to lapse into a delicious drowsiness. He even seemed again to inhale the perfume of the roses. "Clarence!" ' He started. He bad been sleeping but the voice sounded strangely real. A little girlish laugh followed. He sprang to hit feat It wat Susy, stand ing bwtdt UlWsa loir avaa as ihi looked lu the old days! For with a flash of her old audacity, aided by hor perfect knowledge .f the house, and the button of household brvit .-the tint! found, winch dangled frot:, licr iflnllr. us in the old fashion, she hud disinterred one of her old frouks ioui a closet, slipped it on, awl lousei-ing her bitnin hair hnd let It lull in n. pluiK wuves down her buck, it us ?iiyy in her old girltHliness. will: tlu- in-l,i:-; of Hie grown uctresu in the ur-rur'emi-iit of her sliort skirt over her pretty uukles, aud the half uoiiscmus hsc she had tuken. "Poor, dour old I'hirenee." she said with dancing eyes, "1 might have won a dozen pairs of gloves from you v. bile yon slept there. Uut you're lu-ed, diw old lioy and you've hud n I..111I tunc oi' it. Ni mutter you've sliuv :. yum sell n man ut last! aod I'm prom! of you.' Half ashamed of the pleasure lie iVH. even in his cmbnrratsuicut. Clniviuv 'Shimmered: "Hut this cliunjre llti drras!" Susy clapped her hands like a child "I knew it would surprise you! It'sau old frock I won the year 1 went away with aunty. I knew when It was hid den, and fished it out again with these keys, Clarence it seemed to like old timet. Lord! when I was with the old Hs svsa ml asmln to toasts tao ssifiim at U iomo. servants again mid you didn't come ilowu I just felt as if I'd never been away, mid I just rumpugeil free! I; teemed to tne, don't you know, not a if I'd just come but as if I'd always been right here mid it was yon lio'il junt come! Don't you tinder&tanil ? lust na you came wheu mc nml Mttry Koftem were here don't you m:icv.;L'cr iier, Clarence, and how she used to !j gooseberry' for usl well iti'it like that. So I said to Jim 'I tiiu t Know you any more get!' and 1 just slippct' on this frock ami ordered Manueln around, as I used to do and she in fits of laughter I reckon, Clarence, she hasn't laughed as much since I lef. And then I thought of you perhaps worried and flustered yet over things and the change, and I just slipped into the kitchen, aud 1 told old fat Conchita to make some of these tortillas, you know with sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top and I tied on an aprou, and brought 'era up to you on a tray with a glass of that old Catalan wine you used to like. Then I sorter felt frightened when I got here and I didn't hear any noise, and I put the tray down in the hall and peeped in and found you asleep. Sit still, I'll fetch 'em." She tripped out into the passage, returning with the tray which she pit on the table beside Clarence, and th sn landing back a little and wil h li . hands tucked soubrette fashion in th tiny pockets of her aprou, gazed u. him with a mischievous smile. It was impossible not to smile bar! as he nibbled the criBp Mexican ca'.. and drank the old mission wine. An. Susy's tongue trilled an aceouipan incut to bis thanks, "Lord! it seems so nice to lie uere juat you and mc, Clarence Li e in t'.i old dnys with nobody naggiii' ;. Ttoopiu' round after you. l)j;.'t ! greedy, Clarence, hut give n cfct.' ihe took one and finished the drt-g.su his i.i.r.is. r (To be continued .) BUSINESS LOCALS. When you want bargains go to the racket store. I have monev to loan at 8 tier cen interest on good farm or personal security. J. M. Rauston. Maiton Block, Albany, Or. Measure your rooms accurately and bring aize in feet and Inches with you. It costs you nothing to have your car pets tewed by hand by the Albany Furniture Co., Albany, Oregon. Ladies, I Invite your attention to my new and extensive line of floweret fancy straws and beautiful ribbons., Opening day about the first of April. MlBB A. Dl'H'J.ND Ladies cloth, all wool, 36 inches wide, 29 cts. per yard cash, at Read, Pea cock & Cn.'a. During our closing out sale no goods will be sold except for spot cash. Read, Peacock & Co. muies, aims Duuiond oilers you better bargains in buis than ever be fore. Trimmed hats from (1 to $5. Bailors, 20c and up. Look lu nt the windows as you puss by. The Ladies' Bazaar, of Albany, Or. will tend a fashion plate, of the latest styles, to all persons who write to them mentioning the Express. Their stood of goods is better than ever this year. Call on them when In Albauy. Young man, you are thinking some thing about your sweetheart, and you will want to look nice when In her presence, so buy the latest styles ol clothing at Baker's. lie has the price way down to suit your rsedy cash. rxIST with a bio m. BlsskwsU's Genuine Ball b Durham la In a dsn by Itself. You will and one aounon Inside ouob two ouuoe sal, and two cou pons hulas saob four tunes bat of Blackwell's Genuine Durham Smoking Tobacco Bnvahoo of this oelobrmUd toboooo and read tb noupon- Wttlab lives aiiatof valasols prosontt and how to get Uism. Victors Are Best. Victor Non Puncturable running wheel on earth. The best is the cheape&t in the end. Largest stock of Becond-hand wheels on the coast. Everything as represented. Write for list. Headquarters for sundries and athletic goodp, 1 30 Sixth Street and 311 Alder Street, Portland, Oregon. OVERMAN WHEEL COMPANY. W. B. Kehnan, Manager. H. Y. Kirkpatrick, Local Agent, Lebanon, Oregon. Albany Furniture Co, (INCORPORATED) BALTIMORE BLOCK, Albany, Oregon. Furniture, Carpets, Linoleums, matting, etc. Pictures and Picture molding. - Undertaking a Specialty. Oregon Central k Eastern, XI. It. CO. Yaquina Bay Route. Connecting at Yaijiiina Buy with tiie ban Francisco slid squint liny Mteanwliiu tympany. SteuDskip "Farallon" Sails from Vsquint Hav every cisht days for San Francisco, Coos Bay, Port Orfortl, Trinidad and Humboldt Buy. Passenger Accommoda tions Unsurpassed. Shortest Route Between the Willamette Valley and California. Fare trom Albany and Points West to San Francisco: Cabin I 0 Oil Steerage 4 00 To Coos Bay snd Fort Orford : Cabin I 6 00 To Humboldt Bay: Cabin I 8 00 Round Trip Hood for 80 Days Siecisl. RIVER DIVISION. Steamers "ALBANY" and "WM. M. HOAG," newiy furnished, leave Albany daily, except Saturdays, at 8 a. m., arriving ut PortlanuVtlie same day at 6 p. . Returning, boats leave Portland same ilavs as above at 6 a. m,, arriving at Albany at 7:46 p.m. J. C. Mayo, Edwih Htosk, Bup't Kiver Division, Manager. H. B. Sacry, 11. h. Waldss, Ag't. 0i KevereHouse Agent, Depot Albany, To The Mothers. You have nice children, you know, and nothing pleases them better than a nice nobby suit of clothes that keeps them warm and healthy. linker has them and for but little money. Can you stand tl.00 for a suit of clothes, or up to $4.00? All these low prioes you will Ind at Blrtm Baker's. Tire, No. 103, is the lightest BARBER SHOP Best Shave, Hair Gut or Bhnuipoo B. F. KIRK'S Shaving Parlor. NEXT DOOR TO 8T. t'HAHLEH HOTEL. Elegant Baths. Children Kindly Treated. Ladies Hair Dressing a Specialty. eavatrsL. DftlQN SVATIHT. COPYRIGHTS, at. or Information fcnS fnu Htntllwuilr will tit HUNK a CO.. Hi Broadway, New You. Oldut burtse for Hairing pahmti In America. Erery patent ulcus out by ua li brought bofon) tbpuuUobriiotiosvfitn tree ot otaanis is las mntm Urffftft dfwtlattoti of wit twiTTntlflrt paper in ths wor.d, fctticniilillr lllmtrated, iulcllliin( t.mn flhmiM bit vUliout lu WAPklr, 3.00 h"r; f ;.r-JslyfTjoit!.n, A'.dnw, MU.'JJTtt CO,, MlfiUI TattllM WN .lillntll. 4 eoltntlflo Amerloin I H a TJ