Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Lexington wheatfield. (Lexington, Or.) 1905-19?? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1905)
, n,,i,,i.ii,,i.,i,,i, tit, -M ffTTTTTTTTT The CHAPTER X. (Continued.) She began methodically to remove ev ery article singly, placing them neatly in a heap on the table, after reading or looking at them. Then she turned to the other side, going through it in the same way, and reached the bottom without discovering anything more than Is usually to be found In a lady's desk. With a dis appointed air, she began to replace the articles, when Miss Mailing's address book fell from her shaking hand on to the floor. She stooped to pick it up as It lay open; and, in doing so, she saw the edge of a photograph peeping from the pocket in the cover. She took it out hurriedly, scattering, as she did so, some dead pressed violets on to the table. She shuddered when she raised the tissue paper, for it was the photograph of a grave! She went to the dressing table, where the candles were still burning, to read the name of the photographer at the back of the card. The printing was in a language she did not understand; but she guessed it must ibe Spanish. She turned to the picture again, and in the strong light she could almost make out part of the inscription on the plain headstone. The first name, she was sure, began with the letter "P." In order to assist her, she procured Miss Mailing's magnifying glass, and, with the aid of that, she spelled out the name, or as much of it as she could see. "P-a-u-l-i-n-e" she could clearly trace; then came a blot, followed by "1-1-in-g, d-i-e-d M-a-y 18 ." The remainder of the inscription was undistinguishable. "I never expected this! The grave of Pauline Mailing! Then who Is my mis tress? An adventuress a usurper! And J shall have a hand in dethroning her!" She wiped the perspiration from her white, quivering face, placed the photo graph in her dress, and locked the desk. CHAPTER XI. Jack was by no means heartless, and his conscience pricked him more often than was pleasant with regard to Ethel Mallett. He wondered a little if she had really ceased to care for him, if she had yet found a successor to him, or if pique alone had led her to offer him his free dom. She had sent him back the little ring he put on her finger when they were o happy together, and, with a strange inconsistency, he carried it about with him continually. Just about this time Jack began to think that he ought to call in Bucking ham street, if only to show his gratitude for Mr. Mallett's many past kindnesses, for the old gentleman had often been able and always willing to do Jack a good turn in past days. Once convinced that' he ought to do a thing, Jack did it I The morrow would be the first of Sep- tember, and the house was full of peo ple who had been invited to enjoy the abundant sport Mallingford offered. A number of amiable young men were lounging about the corridors and billiard room all day, who talked of nothing but the probable weather on the morrow, the chances for and against good sport, and the respective merits of their own and other men's guns. Jack obtained a few words with Pauline before breakfast, and carried his point. "I must have several things for to morrow," he said. "I know you would not wish me to be different from others, and I cannot get what I want without going to town myself." Pauline would have dearly liked to go with him, for she had a horrible fear that he would find out something if he should call on. the Malletts. She was not supposed to know of the existence of such people for Jack had never spoken' of them to her so he could net well as him not to call on them; and she could not leave her guests without some very serious reason; consequently she was forced to feign a complacency she was far from feeling as she an' wered: "Of course, if you must go, there is nothing more to be said; but you will nor stay one half-hour longer than is abso lutely necessary? If I don't know where you are, I have sieh a feeling of unrest and anxiety that life becomes a sorrow for the time being." There was honest truth in these words, and Jack was flattered and grateful for her love. He kissed the beautiful lips, and promised to be back at the very earliest moment possible. When Jack was in the train, with a quiet half hour before him for thought, he felt curiously cloyed with the sweets of love, and was ungrateful euough to wish that Pauline would leave the love making a little more in his hands, and that her affection was of a less assertive character. Two or three hours later, when be had 'rushed through the business of the .day and stood in the Malletts' sitting room, shaking hands with both father and daughter and exchanging cordial greet ings, he felt as if he had been living in a hot house of affections for the past weeks, and bad just regained the invig orating open air, where the hardier, healthier class of feelings flourish. He wondered a little at Mr. Mallett's geniality, knowing nothing of Ethel's eenerosity in taking toe entire responsl l.ilitv of their separation upon herself, and still less of her father's hope that ah had got rid of a nameless nobody just in time to leave the road dear for i - a i i a luttor more wormy i ,u Zifc's Secret, OR A BITTER RECKONING By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEMB way; and Jack felt somewhat piqued that Mr. Mallett should make so light of the whole business. But he did not let his annoyance ap pear upon the surface. He told of the success of the paintings for Lord Sum mers, of his hopes for the future, of the gay life at Mallingford, and impressed his hearers with the fact that he was brimming over with good fortune and happiness. Ethel did not say much; but she ap peared to be quietly, kindly interested; and, though she was paler than she used to be, she did not give one the idea of a love-lorn damsel. She sat listening to the conversation, and wondering if her father woiild touch on the subject of their identity during Jack's visit; but Mr. Mallett did not wish to be made the topic of gossip among Miss Mailing's guests, and therefore kept his own coun sel. When Jack was about to leave, Mr. Mallett decided to walk part of the way with him, and accordingly went down stairs first Jack turned, with the door handle in his hand, to thank Ethel for what she had done yet hardly to thank her, either. "I can't go without thanking you for being so candid with me, Ethel," he said. "Of course I was very surprised when I received your letter breaking off the engagement; but equally of course there was nothing for me to do but ac quiesce in your wish." Ethel felt how ungenerous this remark was, seeing that his neglect had led to what had happened; but she would not be driven into reproaching him, and so give him cause to justify himself. Her feelings were too real to bear dissec tion, and she avoided the discussion. "That is all passed," she said, grave ly; "better let it rest" Though she did not say one word in self-defense, there was a world of re proach in the subdued tones of her ad vice; though her speech was so indif ferent, her whole manner asserted her right to be considered more than blame less throughout the affair. Jack felt miserably small under her calm gaze, and his respect for her was vastly Increased by this little passage at arms; and, as he was carried by the af ternoon express back to Mallingford Park, he could not shake from his mind the fable of the dog and the shadow. CHAPTER XIL The rain was coming down in torrents, and there was a general expression of disappointment on the men's faces round the breakfast table at Mallingford Park. "But you know it is really too bad," Cecil Danesford observed to Miss Mail ing. "Your head man had fixed to-day for the north end covers, and he says they are the best on the whole estate; and now this rain comes and spoils the whole thing. It is annoying, you must allow." "Poor creatures men!" said the Hon. Miss Collins, reflectively. "The comfort of their lives depends a upon the one amusement of the hour. Deprive them of that and they are stranded helplessly. Glad I'm a woman!" "Well, I hope you will have got over the first rush of slaughter by the 17th," Pauline Interposed, bringing the conver sation back to the original object. "Why by the 17th?" several asked. "Because I shall then attain my long- deferred majority, and dear old Lord Summers insists that there will be a big affair on the happy occasion." "A ball? Delightful!" exclaimed the ladies. "And I shan't be here!" mutfered Ce cil His attention was suddenly arrested by an advertisement in the Times, which he held in his hand. "By all that's mysterious!" he exclaim ed; and then he sat gazing at the news paper in mute astonishment. Bertha Collins leaned across, and look ed at the place he was pointing at "How extraordinary!" she exclaimed. "For pity's sake, let us into the mys tery!" Pauline said; and Bertha read out the following advertisement: "'Mallingford Park If this should meet the eye of Sir G. M., he will hear of something to his decided advantage by applying to Messrs. Daws & Raven, 10 Leman street, E. C " There was general astonishment and various were the surmises as to what it could mean. Jack, glancing at Pau line, was surprised to see her agitated and white to the Hps, She motioned to him not to notice It, and fought deter minedly with her emotion. The others were too much absorbed by their curiosity to take much heed, and she bore herself as usual until breakfast was finished. "Will you help Mrs. Sefton and me to finish filling in the cards for the sev enteenth?" she asked Jack, as she left the breakfast room. Jack promised to join them in the boudoir in a quarter of an hour. He did not like to think of Pauline's look. He was a poor struggling artist, who had hitherto lived by the exercise of his un aided talent, and Pauline was a rich high-born woman, his superior in most things that count in this world; yet he would not make her bis wife if he did not believe her life to be spotless and with out flaw. This was the idea that haunt ed him as he recalled her look at the breakfast table. If ever a woman's face expressed suddenly aroused fear, his fiancee had done so when Bertha Col ling read that advertisement In the Times. He went back to the breakfast room be fore he joined Pauline, read the adver tisement again, and copied VUo address into his note book. " I am In the neighborhood with a few moments to spare, I may look them up and see what it means," he decided. Then he followed the ladies to the boudoir. Pauline, still looking unlike her self, wag siting with Mrs. Sefton. Jack said nothing to them, but weut straight to his work of filling In the invitations from the list of names given him. Mrs. fcerton left the room after a time: and Pauline, turning to Jack, put hur hand eutreatingly ou his arm. 1 know what vou are srolnz to ask me; but I can't talk about it just now not to-day. I will tell you to-morrow, or the day after; but don't speuk of it now. I ask it ns a fa vor " Jack felt Dernlexed. lie had exnected the moment they were alone together that she would tell him what had caused her disquiet. He felt unhaDDv and wor ried, yet he could hardly force her to speak upon a subject that evidently dis tresses: ner. "Of course. I don't want to worrv vou. darling," he answered; "but I must cgn fess I am curious, and I shall be glad when you can tell me all without dis tressing yourself." thank you vsry much, dear. And now 1 want to. ask you if there is any one you would like me to send a card to for this ball." Jack flushed as he replied: 'Tea; there are two nennln I nhniiM like you to invite Mr. Mallett and his daughter. They are everything desira ble, or I Bhould not suggest it; and the old gentleman was very kind to me in the days that are gone." "Was the daughter kind. too. Jack?" playfully. Again Jack flushed a little. "I think you are a bit of a witch." he said, with a laugh. "I may as well tell you, and then there will be no secret In my past for you to find out by and by. Yes, she was kind to me, and once thought I liked her well enough to make her my wife; but that was before I met you; you siren!" "xou don't think so now?" "If I did, should I be here?" The rain continued to pour down steadily, and the scratch, scratch of the busy pens went on without interruption. Pauline hiustoed her list first, and sat back In her chair, with a thouehtful. chastened look on her face which" was strangely unlike her usual Imperious air. Jack noted it, and thought her more beautiful, if that were possible, although ne wondered what had brought about so great a change. He felt a forewarning that this was the little cloud in their sky that would darken the whole heavens. "At last!" he exclaimed, as he threw down his pen. 'You have been a good boy," Fauline said, with a smile. "We could not have finished them to-day without your help." "bo I shall lose him, after all. If I can not satisfactorily explain this morning's fright!" she reflected, alone in her dress ing room. "He will not allow a secret be tween us. What can I do? If I con coct a lie to account for It. there may be an advertisement In to-morrow s pa per that will expose it Who can want to find Geoffrey Mailing after allowing me undisputed possession for the last six years? If they find him, they will tell all, and he will claim his inheritance; they cannot want him for anything else. I must discover how much they know, or how can I fight them? I can't trust another; I must do It myself;" and, with these thoughts runing through her mind, she crossed to the bell, which Babette promptly answered. "Babette, I want to run up to London this afternoon, and don't want the whole house to know about it" Babette's eyes flashed with a quick glance of intelligence; but her lids droop ed instantly, and she answered, meekly: "Certainly, mademoiselle." ' "If the people see the brougham leav ing the house, it will set them wonder- Ing ig; io I want you to run down to the village during luncheon and bring back one of the public flies from the inn there. Tell the man to drive to the stable yard in fact, you can come back in it; and let It be there by a quarter past three. "Very good, mademoiselle." Babette's face gleamed with mruel de light behind Pauline's back as she left the room, "So you think you have only to go to Messieurs Daws & Rayen and show your pretty face, and maybe a ten-pound note or so, and they will tell you all about the person who sent them that advertise ment! But you do not outwit a French woman so simply, my good friend! Mr, Daws is quite prepared to receive you with politeness, and to tell you that ha really knows nothing more than that his client, whom he is not at liberty to, name, is anxious to obtain the address of the present Sir Geoffrey;" and the girl chuckled grimly as she went along. "That old Daws wiH hardly risk losing his share of the plunder, even to oblige a sweet, so handsome, so soft-voiced a lady as you, madame!" and she laughed again as she pictured the meeting between her mistress and the lawyer. "I wish I could be there to see!" Pauline stopped to speak to Jack as they cross the hall after luncheon "I shall lie down for the whole after noon; my head is aching so dreadfully, What will you do with yourself, Jock? A wet day is such a terrible infliction in a country house!" "I shall work. It's a week to-day since I touched a brush; it will be a grand opportunity. I should advise your taking a good rest while you can get It," Jack responded, in a matter-of-fact tone, Pauline set her teeth in her underlip and left him, her mind racked with anx iety and fear, "At all cost I must be in a position to tell him something that will not be con tradlcted. I must find out how much those people know before to-night" (To be continued.) GOVERNOR t Makes Use of His Family CAPITOL BUILDING, Peruna ia known from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Letters of congratula tion and commendation testifying to the merits of Peruna as a catarrh rem edy are pouring in from every state in the Union. Dr. Hartman is receiving hundreds of such letters daily. All classes write these letters, from the highest to the lowest. The outdoor laborer, the indoor arti san, the clerk, the editor, the states man, the preacher all agree that Peruna is the catarrh remedy of the age. The statfe and rostrum, recogniz ing catarrh as their greatest enemy, are especially enthuisastic in their praise and testimony. Any man who wishes perfect heal.h must be entirely free from catarrh. Catarrh is well nigh universal. Ftru- na is the best safeguard known. Ask Your Druggist for Free Fish that Change Color. Among the curious observations made by students at the Bermuda Bio logical Station is that some of the In habitants of the water there are able to imitate the color of the rocks and reefs among which they swim. The common fish called the grouper pos sess this power. Its chromatic varia bility runs through a considerable range of colors. A specimen of the octopus vulgaris, after jerking an oar : from the. hand of an Inquisitive nat uralist, escaped pursuit by its ability to imitate the exact shade of any brown or gray neck on which it rest ed. A Light Kemedy. A quack doctor, whose treatment had evidently led to the death of his patient, was examined sternly by the coroner. "What did you give the poor fellow? asked the coroner. "Ipecacuanha, sir." "You might just as well have given him the aurora borealis," said the coro- Ti "Well. sir. that's just what I was go ing to give him when he died." A New One Needed. Mr. Nagget A man is as old as he feels, they say, and I assure you your extravagant ideas make me feel Mrs. Naggett And a woman Is a old as she looks. But, thank goodness, I can never be as old as this bonnet of mine looks. Philadelphia Press. Don't make indifferent pastry and ex pect your children to be healthy. BLOOD POISON The black flasr is an emblem of horror and dread. When it is hoisted fcy an army, the order has gone forth erything' must be destroyed. Helpless women ana cnnaren, as weu as oppos ing" soldiers, meet the same fate, and a trail of desolation, suffering and death is left behind. Contagious Blood Poison is the black flag of the great army of disease. This vile disorder is known as the blackest and most hide ous of all human afflictions, overthrowing its victims and crushing out the life. It is no respecter of persons ; no matter now pure the blood may be , or how innocently the disease is contracted, when this awful virus enters the. circulation the hideous, hateful and humiliating symptoms begin to appear, and the sufferer feels that his very presence is polluting and contaminating. Usually the first sign of the disease is a little sore or ulcer, but as the blood becomes more deeply poisoned the severer symptoms are manifested, the mouth and throat ulcerate, the glands in the groins 8well a red rash breaks out on the body, the hair and eyebrows come out, and often the body is cov ered with copper-colored spots, pustular eruptions and sores. In its worst stages the disease affects the nerves, attacks the bones and sometimes causes tumors to form on the brain, produc- ing insanity and death. Not only those who contract the poison suffer, but unless the virus is driven from the blood the awful taint is handed down to offspring, and they are its innocent victims. Blood Poison is in deed a "black flag." Mercury and Potash, so often used, never can cure the trouble. These minerals merely drive the Symptoms away for awhile and shut the disease up in the system, and when they are left off it returns worse than before. . This treatment notfonly fails tocure blood poison but eats out the delicate lininff of the Stomach and bowels, produces chronic dyspepsia, loosens the teeth and fre quently causes mercurial rheumatism to add to the patient's suffering. S. S. S. , the great vegetable medicine, is the conqueror of this vile disease. It goes down to the very root of the trouble and cures by cleansing the blood of every particle of the poison. S. S. S. .does not hide or , cover up anything PIIRTIV VFPFTARIF is not purely vegetable. When the blood r U n C L T VCUCIMDLC. i3 purfiei and strengthened with this great remedy the symptoms all pass away and no sign of the disease is ever Been again ; nor is there left the least trace to be handed down to posterity. Special book with instructions for self-treatment and any medical advice de sired will be sent without charge to all who write. THE SWIFT SPECIFIC COa. ATLAMTA. CA OF OREGON iPe-ru-na in For Colds SALEM, OREGON A Utter Prom the Ex-Governor of Oregon. The ex-governor of Oregon is an ar dent admirer of Peurna. He keeps it continually in the house. In a letter to Dr. Hartman, he says: State of Oregon, Execmtive Department. The Peruna Medicine Co., Columbus, 0.: Dear Sirs I have had occasion to use your Peruna medicine in my family for colds, and it proved to be an excellent remedy. I have not had occasion to use it for other ailments. Yours very truly, W. M. Lord. It will be noticed that the governor says he has not had occasion to use Peruna for other ailments. The reason for this is, most other ailments begin with a cold. Peruna Almanac for 1906. According to Instructions A British officer, in his expense list on government service, put down: "Porter, twopence." The officer was requested to re port to the war office and receive the following explanation: "While executing public duty re freshments are not chargeable to the nation." "The item does not represent re freshments," replied the ofllcer, "but ft fee to a carrier." "You should have said porterage," was then explained to him. When the officer had occasion to take a hansom, remembering Instructions, he wrote in his account: "Cabbage, 2 shillings." Philadelphia Public Ledger. Good Advice to a Tramp. The autumn night was chill. There was a hint of frost In the air. The tramp's collar was turned up and his nose blue with cold. "I have here 9 cents," he said. "If you will give me one more penny, sir, I can get a bed all to myself." "No, I can't do that," said the stran ger. "But I advise you to ask the gen tleman you are to sleep with for an additional penny. He should give it to you gladly." Minneapolis .Teurnal. The Baltic sea has more wrecks than any other place In the world, the aver age being one wreck a day the year round. that "no quarter " will be given, ev Saveral yean ago I had blood poison and my flesh was In an awful oonaition. Great sores would break out and noth ing I put on them would do any good. My hair and eyebrows fell out and Z wag " a fright." My mouth was so sore X had to live on milk and water. I took Merotfry for a long time and Instead of getting better X continued to grow: worse and my arms and hands beoama olid sores, my legs were drawn so t could not walk and I felt that my time; was short here if I did not get some re lief. I began to use your S. S. S. and it helped me from the start. After taking It awhile the sores all healed, my rheu matism was cured and to-day I am a strong, well man. It got all the mer cury out of my system and it cured me sound and well. ADAM SCHN ABEL, ' Evansville, Ind. No. 211 Mary St, but clears the entire circulation of the virus and puts the system in good healthy condition. It cures safely as well as certainly, because there is not a particle of mineral in it. We offer a re ward of ti.ooo.oo for uroof that S. S. S. t