Image provided by: St. Helens Public Library; St. Helens, OR
About The Columbia register. (Houlton, Columbia County, Or.) 1904-1906 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1905)
7 rr tt m rr 11 inn. t j ti x i is VOL. I. nOULTON,. COLUMMA COUNTY, OltKUON, FRIDAY, FEMIUAKY 10, 19u5. NO. 42. m m CHAPTER VIII. Judllb was quite right : although her word filled ru with fear, they roubl sot destroy, or even weaken, lb fasci nation sbs eerrld over me. Our mar riage day waa Hied. How distinctly 1 remruiber every aspect and event of that ly. Tttt ceremony was, of course, (o t relehrsted at Utile Bethlehem by tli, bride's father. All tbo principal mrnilxrs of tbt conjrefstlou were to li, of lb, party, anil tha Itev. Obadlah Por ter provided tbo entertainment wltb no ulmarl!y ha ml, Wbeu I entered tba arlur 1 found It full of people. Of these two solemn looking ynuni: men, whom I bad often area at chapel, represented tbo g-ntoms-men, and two remarkably eour-bioklni lrk iHixbter of Mm. Humphries, the bridesmaid. Two or three dark-looking esbs were at tha tale, and wben all waa ready we entiled forth. Martha waa standing In (ha ball, holding the bona dir In her band. I had never exchanged a word with her since that night when ahe way laid me upon tha lending; Imb-rd. bad lievrr seen her," except when be waited at meal time. How sorrowfully she looked at ine that tiiornlnrl Aa I passed out Into the garden wltb Mlaa IIjim phrlra upon my arm, aba threw an old ahoo after me. Tha young laJy waa astounded, and I beard ber Waaler pntiae for moment to rrbuka ber for aurh a 'liesthenUh" art. aa be waa hscd to t)b It. Although In the bright of aiimmer, It waa moot miserable morning. From djtt to edge of the horiaoit, the aky was on, of nolfonn leaden hti; there waa a Sua, aoaklng rain, that blurred and blot ted to tha ere every more UUtaut ob ject; tha aatnrated tree kept up a eon atant drip, drip; tha ralyi of every flow r waa mlulatura lake; and ou the point of every leaf and blade of grno quivered globules of water. I -ante pool lay In the graveled path, and the enrtb waa aoddrned. The little chapel waa rhill and gloomy a vault, and tha damp atmosphere duoi otxio ovary object, dimming tha window, and balf-veillug tho cold, gray light that etruggled tbrmigh them. "Not a 'pleasant day for marriage, remarked Mlsa Humphries, solemnly; It waa tha drat remark aha bad addressed to me. "More fitting for a funeral I anwr d drearily. She looked at ma rather strangely, and It certainly must bare aouuded a eine- what at rang, remark In tho mouth of bridegroom. Tbo ceremony, according to the tenets of these people, commenced: and aa I took ber hand, I looked at Judith for tha Drat time that morning. She seemed unconscious of my glance. Her faro waa diathly pale, and very rigid. Ilka one who had nerved herself to a terrible and repulsive task, aa Indeed aho bad. The touch of my baud awoke her from ber ramie. Hht shuddered; but 1 thought there waa less of hardness and morn In her manner, aa well I might, for ber teara war falling fast. Mr. I'orter also waa uot quite him self; he seemed agitated and nervous. To my morbid fancy hla prayer aouuded Ilka a aervlco for the dead. . At Inst. It was all over. The whole party An gathered near the door preparatory to Icnxlng. Judith and her father hnd gone Into a little room that stood uenr the enttaiice, where she hnd left ber wrap ping. I waa the hint. Moodily 1 wits Wotting the ret. when my eye lp prncd to fall upon a miirII glittering object. It was a golden locket. In pick ing It up my Auger pressed the apiing and opened It. What a thrill rnn through me! It contnlned tha portrait of a girl of about 14. It waa the fnco of the chllil-1 bad met In the Normnn gateway! Who had dropped It. or bow had it come liercr Putlng It into my pocket, I resolved to carefully note any person who should appear to or speak of having lost anything. : The rnh conveyed ua home aanln, nnd the dinner waa wnltiug. Toward e'en Inp the company dispersed, but no per eon spoke of a Ion, and tho mystery of the locket remained an luitcrutnhle mystery. I would not make any In quiries for the owner, aa I. had resolved not to part with It. 1 bugged It ra a treasure; and, somehow, amidst the mis ery of that day, It fell upon my heart like a gleam of hope. While waiting at table Mnrtha con trived to slip, a piece of paper Into my brnd. My fingers Instinctively grasped It. Our visitor hnd gone. Judith bad retired to her room to change licr Oreo, and Mr. I'orter waa In hla storeroom. I seined the opportunity to examine the paper. It was a note, hut written In a acrnvl almost Illegible. It ran tbna: "This la my last day hero. I leive to-morrow, ' Always to' be beard of at No. 8 Itnckatraw'a building, Cumdon Town, Take care of yourself. God bless you. . , MAHTIIA." So I waa deprived of my only fileud. I wna now utterly alone In the llon'a den. A now feeling of fear and deno tation fell npon my heart CHAPTER IX. 1 could endure It no longer, and ao I fled. One month after my wedding night I left that roof forever. Upon what passed during that month my llpa are aealed. To no living being shall I ever reveal the story of my sufferings during those thirty-one days. On the night of tho 81st of August, I crept out of my chamber, ascended to the bora' room and. unsetu and unheard by them, opened their window and de scended to the garden br mean of tha pear tre. Vividly did or frightful dream come back upon me at -that roo- tueut, and I almost expected to aee tha red snake wltb hi glittering eyea writh ing round some leafy branch. But 1 rtarhed lh, ground in aafety. wltLout encountering any object, fanciful or rab in less tbsn three minute more I waa In the high road, a vagabond, homeless luteal but a free man. All my worldly possession were the ault of clothe 1 wore, and my wedding ault aod a rhauge of linen that I carried tied np In a t un- die. It waa a brlicnt moonlight nL-ht. I cast on farewell glance npon the only home I bad ever known and walled swiftly onward. I made toward Itury. I passed Lit tle llethlehem. ami thought, with a shud der, of my marriage day. Then I en tered the town, ami took the street that led me pt the old Abbey ruin. I had lieier seen them since that October night. I stopped at the old Norman gate way, and pee ml luto It shadowa, almost epH'tlug to encounter the sweet, (ale fact again. Hut all wa silent and deserted -not a eoul wa in sight. Whither wa I going? I waa going to Martha. I hnd carefully preserved ber note. 1 knew h would give me a hel ter until con 14 obtain some kind of employment. When I reached the ncit town I would sell the bundle of clothe, and the money would provide me with food and lodging on the way. 1 bad no conception of the road, but 1 resolved that I would tke the one down which I had seen her disappear. She aald that she understood that to be the right one. I would follow lu ber aleps. The day was just dawning when came uimmi a large, old-fashioned vlllnge. Unused to violent exercise, and exhaust ed for want of food, for bad enteo m.ihlng since dinner time lh day before, my step began to Aug. I looked round some place to rest; there was no fign of llf. In any of the housesall aeemed buried la sleep. 1 walked slowly ou until I came to a little awing gate, which led to the village church an ancient looking building, embossed In tree. Here, 1 thought, is a quiet apot where I ran rest a little while. , I opened the gate, and passed through. It waa a pretty, (inlet snot. I could not have found a .better for an hour a rest. There wa a heavy dew upon the Innjt grass, so I stretched myself upon a blisb, Hat tombstone, and placed my bun dle beneath my head. I waa very wenry, and In aplte of the cold air of the dawn, that made me shiver, I fell fast asleep, wltb tha twittering of the waking bird sounding In my ear. Wben 1 awoke the sun waa shining brightly, and the bird were In full song. For a moment I could not comprehend my position. 1 aat up and looked round, but my doubt were only of a second. Then I knelt down against my atone bed and offered up a thanksgiving for my deliverance, and a fervent prayer for my future safety. Whnu I rose from my kntee I became conscious thnt I waa not alone. Seated upon a tomb a little distance from me, and attentively watching me, wai an old gentleman dressed like a repe.-ta-ble fanner. "liood morning, young min.". be suld. In a cheery voice; "you've Imd rather 'a rokl bed. I'm thinking. I suppose you've been traveling all night f "Ye, sir," I nuswercd. "From r.iiry." "Why, that Isn't more than ten miles! You should have had a little more rlccp In your hod, my lad, nnd have stinted about this time. Knough to give you your ilvath of cold to lie out here and go to sleep iu the dew. You don't look very strong, either. Wherever you're going, you won't get on now till you've had a bit of breakfast." I colored up at the mention of break fast. I had not a farthing of money, nnd until I could dispose of the con tents of my bundle, I could not procure mouthful. I thanked him, took up my bundle, wished him good morning aud turned to go. "Stop, atop! come here a minute," be called out. I advanced a few steps nearer to him. He scrutinized roe more carefully thah ever, with the expression of a man who waa about to make a proposition of doubtful prudence. "Here, herel you shall come aud break fast with me," he aald, after a minute' pause. "I like the look of you, and I don't think you're a trump." . I thanked him very much for hi kind ness, which, under the circumstances, 1 certninly hnd not strength of mind enough to decline. We left the church yard and proceeded down a lovely green lune canopied with trees. "I always rise at live," aald the old gentleman, aa. wo walked along; "and, unless It la very bad weather, tnke a, walk aa far va the churchyard. It'a been my custom for mnny years, and, I auppoae, will continue to be ao until aome morning I am carried there, never to come back again. Nothing like exercise, however, aud the early morning air, to delay that title event; but not sleep ing on tombstones,", be added, with a laugh. After about ten minutes' walk ' we stopped before a dor In a blgh garden wall, which my conductor opeued with a key, and facing us at the end of a gar den path waa the prettiest cottage I bad ever aeon, very old-fashioned, and en tirely covered with roses and woodbines, that loaded the whole air with delicious perfume. The garden was beautifully laid out la flower beds; on on side was crsD bouse, oa the other a conserve! I tory, filled with the most brilUut rul- I nrn.1 tilanfa Ttia ravs of tha tuomlCC suu wr, alantlng brightly across the scene, and imoartloa to It the iut Joyously cheerful air. How different to tha bouse I bave just leftr 1 thong til. Pretty place, l.u't UT aald the cU gentleman. "Sweetly pretty, I monnured. i He led the way Into a little low- roofed room, darkened by the overiianf lug Hossom that bung tbkkly over the latticed window. It waa comfortably, Ibdeed, handsomely, famished. The table waa laid for brsakfasL A acoud cup and aaacer and piste were soon produced by a kliid looking, middle-aged woman, and I waa soon sitting before a uUUio tlal meal of egg aud bacon, and cold beef, to be washed dowo by plenty of atrong -coffee. Never bad food been ao grateful to im before, and 1 certainly lid ample justlc, to It. I could per elv, that my host every now aud then .ant a cur km glance at me, aa though 1 presented something of a puxtl to blin. "Now, If I might berpeniiltted to baa- ard a guess, should fancy you wire something In the parson line," be said. leaning back In bis chair. I disclaimed tha honor. "Well, It waa the long hair and the ipieer-looklitg black clothes tint put that idea Into my head: and you look ao sen on for a lad of your years. 1 bave It! You're a school usher." I confessed that bis last guess waa correct. "Ah. poor fellow! No wonder yon look ao miserable!" be aald, compassion ately. "It must be a bard life, and a badly paid oue; and I suppose you ve left your place? Where are you voing now?" "I am going to the city." 'You'vo friend there. 1 eupposeT" "I bave one, air, wbo I think will help me." He must bave thought me very dose and t hurlUh, to be so sparing of my an swers after ila kindness; but the fact is, that 1 wa undecided at the moment w bcther I should make a clean breast of all my trouble to blin; be seemed so kindly hearted that I felt aura bs would pity me. Itut the natural reticence of my disposition, rather than suy feeling of mistrust, prevented me. 'But sou're not going to walk 7 be questioned. "Yes, air. I bare no other means of getting there. I bay a auit of clothe iu tbi bundle, that I Intend to sell as soon as I come to a town," 1 faltered Tha old geutleman paused, aud looked very bard at me seemed, for a moment, to revolte an Idea and then aald, "Iav, the clothe wltb roe. I dou't want to look at them. 1 will lend you Ore dollars. That will take yon to your friend, and leave some money to boot In your pocket. Any time you bring me or send me the money you ehall bave your clothes back again. A mile and a half from here la the railway atation. In half an boor a train will atop there. You will lie able to catch that comfort ably. I will walk a little distance with you. and put you In the right path. Stop a minute, and I'll bring yon the money." Without waiting to listen to my fer vent thanka, he left the room. Never in my life had I felt ao light-hearted aod hopeful. 1 rose from the chair to take the clothes out of tho handkerchief and smooth them, as they must have lecn somewhat crumpled by doing service as a pillow: also to take out toe t-nange or linen which I could not do without In doing so, my eyes fell upon a portrait, hung in a dark corner of the room. It was that of a woman, with bright au burn hair, transparently fair complevlon, blue eyes, a very beautiful, pensive face, with something In it thnt came back upon me like a memory. . It aeemed to ine thnt 1 had seen thnt face somewhere. While I stood trying to remember, the old gentleman re entered the room. "Ah, you're looking at my poor fcliT portrait," he snid, in a snd voice. "Your daughter', air?"' "Yes my only one." "la she still living V" I asked, some what hesitatingly, "She haa been dead these eighteen years," he answered, sorrowfully. "1 must be mistaken: I was only an infant in nrm at that time," I thought. He gave me the money, but would not listen to my thanks. "Tut. tut!" be snid; "that's nothing. I'd give you more, if I really knew you wn nil right; but I bave been so often tnkeu in that. I'm doubtful of cverylody now. Itut 1 like your looks; but I've liked others thnt have been the property of great vagabonds." (To be continued. 'The New Dispensation. On the staff of one of the Important theological seminaries In Canada la a profcanor who happily Illustrates the phrase, "A gentleman, a scholar and a C'hrUtlan." He Is Mossed with many children whose education is a matter of nffectlouute concern to him. The youngest, a bright little girl, just beginning to be Interested in Hlble study, wait to hlin one dny with a number of perplexing questions as to the way In which the Cnosen People denlt with their enemies. Her tender little hnrt" slirnnk At what seemed to be such awful cruelty. Rather than attempt to answer her directly, her father led her Into the serener atmosphere of the- New Testa ment with Its teaching that one should love their enemies, and so forth. The child listened Intently; but evi dently some big thought was stirring her brain. At last it found utterance. With a huge sigh of relief she snuggled closer In her father's arms, a radiant smile banishing the cloud from her weet countenance as she murmured: Father, God's a great-deal better now than lie used to be, Isn't Hal" Anger la a short madness, NEWS OF THE IEK a a Cc:taed Fern let Csr Easy Readers. - HAFFEKLNGS OF H O CCNT1XENTS A Resum of tha Last Important but Not Last Interesting Events of tho Past Week. The reported resignation of Karon t- kin is denied by St. Petersburg oflkials Huge ice floes fill New York harbor, making navigation difficult and almost impossible. The assassin of the procurator of Finland has been captured. He is a medical student. The. ocean steamer Damara has been wrecked off the coast of Nova Scotia and many Uvea lost. Governor Folk, of Missouri, recom mends additional appropriation for the Iew is and Clark exposition. St. Petersburg workmen threaten to renew the strike unless those engaged in the previous strike are taken back to work. The National Editorial association, which meets in Guthrie. Okla.. in June, will visit the Portland fair after its session is closed. Rapid fire guns mounted on automo bilo cars are to be need by the Russians (or the protection of the Trans-Siberian railroad. Six of these cars have been ordered in Chicago. A blizzard is raging over Northern and Eavtern Texas and rain and sleet falling in many sections of Southern Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee. Thousands of cattle are reported to be guttering and in many cases totally de void of water. The strike haa caaia. spread to Tranecau- The reign Poland. of terror continues in Another Russian squadron is (o sail for the Far East in May. German mine owners have .rejected overtures from the strikers. Heavy rains in Southern California have washed out railway tracks. A n agreement nas been made for a parcels io8t sad quick mail service with Britain and France. All the smaller harbors of the New England coast are frown over and oth ers are blocked with ice noes. A storm of snow and sleet has swept over the South, stopping communica tion and killing cattle and fruit. Soisalon Soininen, procurator general of Finland, has been assassinated by an unknown emissary of the terrorists. Another great storm is raging in New York state and cold weather is predict ed for the entire section east ot the Rocky mountains. llenry B. Miller, cotmul general at Niuchwung, China, will be promoted to one of tlie best Oriental posts on ac count of his good work during the Jap-anepe-Iiuwian war. Au insurrection has broken out in Argentine. Taft recommends a revision of the Philippine tariff. The weather has greatly moderated in the middle states. Atlantic coast ports are blocked with ice and navigation is stopped. The crews of the Russian Black sea fleet are on the verge ot mutiny. It now seems certain that Smoot will be able to retain his seat in the senate. Fire in Birmingham, Alabama, de stroyed property worth not leas than $500,000. The governor and a committee of Massachusetts solons will visit the Lewis and Clark fair. Governor Mead, of Waahintgon, has broken ground for a state building at the Lewis and Clark fair. General Grippenberg has been forced to resign his command in Manchuria and General Myloff will succeed him. Many Poles acre fleeing from Russia into Germany. The entire working population of Poland is on strike. One death and four cases of illness in one Chicago family have .been caused by .supposed ptomaines in canned goals, Sq much money from the interior has been pouring into the New York banka that the clerks cannot count it as fast as it arrives, and some banka We to rent outside vaults to store it. ' The . Japanese are reported - to have forced a breach in the Russian center. The dispatch has been received at St, Petersburg and papers have been . re faed permission to mention it. DOING! IN CONGRESS. Wednesday, February I. Clark (Mont.,) Dillingham and Teller today continued the discus ion of the Joint statehood bill. Proctor reported the agricultural appropriation bill and gave notice that he would ask to have it considered. Bills were passed grant ing certain lands to the Oklahoma Ag ricultural college; amending the land Uwa ao aa to permit settlers on public lands to make transfers for public usee before completing title; amending ex isting laws so as to require captains of passenger Yeesebj to supply information regarding the age and sex of immi grants. The postofnee appropriation bill oc copied the house the major portion of today. Yi lth, an understanding that the discussion of the question shonld be continued tomorrow, the bill waa laid aside and other matters taken np. The conference report on the fortifica tions bill waa adopted. .The bill car ries $6,747,893. Thursday, February 2. The poetoffice appropriation bill was the main topic of discussion in the house today and its consideration waa not completed. During the day bills were passed as follows: Amending the law ao aa to reduce the amount of bond required of agents acting for con signeeson imported goods j providing for the construction of irrigation and reclamation works in certain lakes and rivers in Oregon and California; grant ing certain Jands within the Flathead Indian reservation, Montana, to certain Catholic societies for religious par poeee. The senate spent much of today dis cussing the distribution of ordinary farm and garden seeds by the Agricul tural department. When adjournment was taken consideration of the bill had not been completed. A further con ference was ordered on the fortifications appropriation bill. Friday, February 3. The house today pawed the poetoffice appropriation bill, carrying 1180,787,415. In the senate today Judge Swayne made formal response to the articles of impeachment against him. The an swer was a formidable document in point of sixe. In every case the charge was admitted, but explained from Judge Swayne's point of view, they were not of a character to justify pro ceeding" for impeachment. The senate issued an order requiring the house to file its reply by next Monday, anddi rected that all pleadings shall be in by February 9, that the trial may proceed on February 10. The senate sitting as a court, then adjourned and resumed legislative consideration of the joint statehood-bill. That topic occupied the rest of the day. Saturday, February 4. Long occupied moet of the time given by the senate today-to the statehood bill with a speech in support ot the bill as it stands. There was an extended debate on a provision in the agricul tural appropriation bill relating to for est reservations. The house today passed the diplo matic and consular appropriation bill carrying $2,107,047, which is an in crease of $78,713 over the concurrent appropriation. A number, of minor bills were disposed of by unanimous consent. Monday, February 6. Following weeks of hearings and con sideraton by the committee .on inter state and foreign commerce, the house today began debating the proposed leg' lslation looking to the regulation freight rates. of Deoateon the joint statehood bil closed in the senate today , Tuesday, February 7. Alter a continuous session oi nine hours the senate tonight passed the joint statehood bill. As passed the bill provides for the admission of the states of Oklahoma, to be comprised of Indian Territory and Oklahoma and New Mexico according to the present boundaries, with Arizona eliminated The house devoted the entire dav to delate on the railroad freight bill, with the exception of a few minutes just be fore adjournment, when a message from the president was read recommending a board of survey for the Philippine archipelago. Many Killed at Riga. St. Petersburg , Feb. 3. The latest reports received by CodsuI General Watts, from the American consuls in Russia, indicate a cessation of the trouble in most of the industrial cen ters. The consul at Riga reports that the rioting at that place was precipitat ed by students and rowdies, who fired on the police. The police and troops returned the fire, and 53 persons were killed and 150 wounded. At Reval the soldiers were obliged to defend a factory on Saturday against a . mob. Three strikers were killed. Piles for the Panama' Canal. Washington, Feb. 3. The Isthmian canal commission has awarded a con tract for furnishing fir piles to the American Mercantile company, of La Conner, Wash., amounting to about 200,000. , , READY FOR PEACE Grand Cclcs ktzll insSIIIfy ta Cc; lllll JtlpuX C3 LUCfl TECUM AT Ermr With Nation in Rebellion Reserves Cannot Be Sent to Cop with Those Sent by Japan. London, Feb. 7. The highest au thority is claimed by the St. Petersburg' correspondent of the London Dai I Chronicle for the statement that th grand ducal party has suddenly decided that Russia must sue for peace. The correspondent states that the grand dukes and their supporters have held frequent conferences of late at which they discussed the Far Eastern war and came to the conclusion that the country could not afford to con tinue the war under the present condi- -tiona. The immediate cause for this change of mind on the part of the very men who have right along stood in the way of pesce is said to have been the recent disaster to the Russian arms on the Hun river. Coupled with the news of this defeat has come to the grand dukes the reali sation that they cannot compete with Japan's ability to throw army after army into Manchuria, especially in view of the internal situation, which may render further mobilization of reservist troops almost impossible. The correspondent states that, ac cordingly, the Russian embassy at Paris haa been asked to gain the good will of Great Britain with a view to mitigating the terms which Japan is likely to impose. STREET CAR OVERTURNS. Portland Wreck Causes One Death and Thirty-one Injuries. Portland, Feb. 7. One man was killed and 31 persona injured, some of them fatally, by the wrecking of a car of the Portland Consolidated railway company on the Montavilla line, at the corner of East Twenty-eighth and East Glisan streets, at 7:20 o'clock yes terday morning. The accident oc curred on a sharp curve at the base of a steep incline. The car's momentum waa so great that it was unable to make the turn and waa overturned. There were 66 passengers on the car at tha time of the accident, the majority be ing business men and employes on their way to work in the heart of the city. ' It is a question whether the motor man lost control of the car or whether he did not use the usual precautions until it waa too late. Five blocks from the scene of the accident the car was running at a speed greatly in excess of the rate specified in the city ordinances governing street car traffic.' One pas senger, who stood on the front platform of the car beside the motorman, de clares that no effort was made to gov ern the speed of the car until it was almost rounding the curve. The street car company says the brakes had been set as shown by the fact that the wheels, were worn smooth by sliding. ntnu I i vs nun i . Warlike Talk of High British Official Causes Kaiser to Anger. Berlin, Feb. 7. At the foreign office it was Baid this afternoon that Ger many would ask England for an ex planation of the provocative anti-German speech made at East Leigh, Feb ruary 2, by Arthur II. Lee, civil lord of the admiralty, in which he said that Britain would smash an unnamed en emy in the North sea before that enemy had time to realize that war had been declared. The foreign ollice said : "We hope that nothing will result from Lee's speech. We prefer to be lieve he spoke more as a naval expert than as a statesman or cabinet officer. Yet it is impossible not to put a polit ical construction upon his utterances. We shall, of course, take up the mat ter." Will Fight Near Sandepas. St. Petersburg, Feb 7. Military operations in Manchuria continue at a standstill. No importance is attached by the war office to the Japanese move ments on the Russian center and left, which are regarded as -merely demon strations. General Heisman, a war critic, expresses the opinion that the Russians are not likely to surrender the positions captured northeast of Sande pas, and that a series of encounters there will probably continue until the weather hf favorable for a general ad vance. Russia Wants More Money. . London, Feb. 7. It is stated in well informed financial circles in London that negotiations have been completed for floating a . new Russian loan of $200,000,000, in Paris. The loan will bear interest at tha rate of 5 per cent per annum. The date of the issue has not yet been fixed.