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About The Columbia register. (Houlton, Columbia County, Or.) 1904-1906 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1905)
lis leart's Desire Dy SIR WALTER BESANT CHAPTER I. "I will now," Mid the German, "read your statement over, tod you caa lgn It If you Ilk. Kemewber. however, what your eignature may mean. Aa for what I ahall da with it afterward de panda on many thine." "Do what you like with It." replied th Englishman, alowly and huskily. "Send it to the polio la London.-If you Ilk. I don't car what become of It. or of myaatf lthr. For I am tired of It; I give In- No oa knowe what It la lika until you actually com to fight with It." He did not explain what "It" waa: but tha other seemed to understand what he meant, and nodded hla head gravely, though coldly. The two men were a moet curioua couple to look upon, aet among moat re markable aurroundlnga. The acene waa. If possible, more Interesting than the couple in the foreground. For la front there stretched the seashore, the little wares lapping eoftly and creeping alow ly over the level white coral aand; be yond the smooth water lay the coral reef with its breakers; at the back of the eandy shores was a gentle rise of land, covered with grovea of cocoa palms and bananas; among them were clearings planted with fields of sweet potatoes and two or three huts were risible beneath the tree. Again, beyond the level belt rose a great green mountain, fire or all thousand feet high. The time was about an hour before aunset; the air waa warm and soft; the sloping sunshine lay on groTe and clearing, seashore and moun tain aide, forest and green field, making ererythlng glow with a splendid richness and prodigality of color. Aa one saw the place this evening one might aee it every evening, for In New Ireland there la neither summer nor win ter, but always all the year round the promise of spring, the heat of aummer and the fruition of autumn; with no winter at all, except the winter of death, when the branches cease to put forth learea and stretch out white arms, spec tral and threatening, among their living companions in the forest. Oae of the men the German was of colossal proportions, certainly six fe-t In height. He was still quite young well under thirty. Ilia hair was light brown, short and curly; an Immense brown beard covered his face and fell over his chest. His eyes were blue and prominent, and he wore spectacles. His dress was modeled on the dress of the in habitants of these islands. His only robe was a great piece of Feeje'tapn cloth white, decorated with black lotenge and abrown edging; it was rolled once round his waist, descending to his knees, and waa then thrown over hia left shonlder. leaving the right arm bare. The aun had painted this limb a rich warm brown. He wore a cap something like that In vented, and patented for the use of soli taires, by Robinson Crusoe; it waa coni cal in ahape, and made of feathers brightly colored. He had sandals of thin bark tied to his feet by leather thongs, and be wore a kind of leather acarf, from which depended a revolver case, a field glass, a case of instrument and a large waterproof bag. These con atituted his whole possessions, except a thick cotton umorella. This he con stantly carried open. The other was an Englishman. The rough flannel slnrt. which had lost all its buttons and one of its rteeves; the coarse canvas trousers; tlie old boots broken down at heel all spoke of the soil. His gait and carriage sung aloud of plowed fields: his broad and ruddy cheeks, hia reddish-brown hair and beard, spoke of the south or west of England. His age might be about six or eight-and-twenty. His hair hung in masses over his shoul ders, and bis beard was thicker than hi companion's, though not o long. His face, which had been once a square full face, was drawn and haggard; his eyes. which were meant to be frank, were trou bled; and his carriage, which should have been upright and brave, was heavy and dejected. He seemed, aa he stood before the other man, at ouce ashamed and remorseful. "Listen; I will read it carefully and alowly," said the German. "Sit down while I read it. If there is a single word that is not true you can alter that word before you sign." The man sat down obediently ther was a curious slowness about his move ments as well as his speech while the lierman reaa tne document, wnicn was written very closely on two pages of a notebook. "Listen," he said again, "and correct tne when I am wrong." This was the paper which he read on the shore of the Pacific ocean and on the Island of New Ireland one evening In the year 1884: "I, David Lelghan, farmer, of Challa comoe, uevonanire, Deing now on an Island in the Pacific ocean, where I ex pect to be shortly killed and eaten by the cannibals, declare that the following la the whole truth concerning the death of my uncle, Daniel Lelghan. "He Jockeyed mt out of my property he kept on lending me money In large aums and small sums, and making me aien- paper In return, and never let me know how much I owed him; he made me mortgage my land to him; he encour a eed me to drink, and to neglect my farm. At last when I waa head over ears in debt he suddenly brought down the law upon me, foreclosed and took my land. I stayed about tha place) till my money waa nearly all gone. Then I must either starve, or I must become a laborer where I had been a master, or I must go away and find work somewhere else. I had but thirty pounds left In the world, and I made up my mind to go away. It waa a day In October of the year 1880. I went to aee my uncle and begged him to lend me thirty pounds more to start me In Canada. Bald my uncle I ahall not forget hla words 'Nephew David,' he said, grinning, 'you've been a fool and lost your money. I ve been a wise man and kept mine. Do you think I am going to give you more money to fool away 7 f wonder I did not kill him thea and there. He eat In hla room at (5 rat nor, hla account books before him, and he looked up and laugh ed at me while he as Id It, Jingling the money that was In his pocket. And I waa hla nephew, and by hia art a and practice he'd Jockeyed me out of a farm of three hundred acre, moat of It good land, with the brook runnlug through It and a mill upon It. "I remember very welt what I said to him never mind what It waa but 1 warrant he laughed no longer, though he kept up hia bullying to the end, and told ine to go to destruction my owo way, and the further from my native parish the better. "So I left him and walked away through Watereourt to John Exon'a Inn, where I aat all that day drinking. I told nobody what had happened, but they guessed very well that I'd had a quarrel with my uncle, and all the world knew by that time how he'd got my land Into his own possession, "About G o'clock In the evening Harry Rabjahns, the blacksmith, came to the Inn, and Grandfather Derge with him. and they had a mug of cider apiece. And then I began to talk to them about my own affair. I said I should go away that very evening. I ahould walk to Bovey Tracey, I aald; I should take the train to Newton-Abbot, and o to Bris tol, where I should find a ship bound for foreign parts. That was what I said, and perhaps It waa lucky I aald ao much. But I don't know, because the verdict of the jury I never heard. "We shook hands and I came away Twaa then about eight, and there was a half-moon. Aa I crossed the green the thought came Into my bead that I was a fool to go to Bristol when Plymouth and Falmouth were nearer and would suit my purpose better. I could walk to Ply mouth easy, and ao save the railway money. Therefore I revolved to change my plan, and instead of turning to the left I turned to the right and walked across the church ysrd, and took the road which goes to TYidilicombe. "It waa only a chance, mark you, that I took that road. I did not know, and I did not suspect, that my uncle had ridden over to Ashburton after I left him. All a chance It was. I never thought to meet him; and he might have been living till now If It hadn't been for that chance." The man who was listening groaned loud at thia point Ibe first two miles or the road Is a narrow lane between high hedges. Pre ently I pawed through I ley tree Gate, nd so out where the road runs over the pen down, and here I began to think what I would do if I had my uncle be fore me; and the blood came Into my eyes, and I clutched the cudgel hard Who do you think put that thought into my head? The evil one. Why did he put that thought into my head? Because the very man was riding along the road on his way home, and because I waa go ing to meet him in about ten minutes. CHAPTER II. I heard the footsteps of his pony long way off. I was in the middle of the open road when I saw him coming along in the moonlight I stood still And wait ed for him. 'Murder him! Murder him" whispered a voice in my ear. Whose voice was that? The evil one's voice, "My stick was a thick, heavy cudgel with a knob. I grasped It by the end tr.d waited. He did not see me. He was looking straight before him, think ing, I suppose, how he had done well to get the nephew ont of the way he had robbed and ruined. So, as he came up to n.a I lifted my arm and struck him on the head once, saying, 'Give me back my land, villain!' But I do not know whether he heard me or saw me; for he fell to the ground without a word or a groan. "He fell, I say, from his pony clean on to the ground, his feet slipping away from the stirrups. His face was white. I stood beside him, waiting to see if he would recover. I hoped he would, be cause it is a dreadful thing to think that you have murdered a man, even when you are still hot with rage. If be would only recover a little and sit np, I thought, I should be a bappy man. But he did not He lay quite still and cold. Then I began to think that if I were caught I should be hanged. Would they suspect me? Fortunately, no one had seen me take that road. I must go away a quickly as I could, and leave no trace or sign that would make them suspect me. "Then I thought that If I were to rob him, people would be leas inclined to think of me; because, though I might murder the man who had ruined me. they wonld never believe that I would rob him. "I felt la hla pocket. There waa his watch; no, I would not touch his watch. There waa some loose ailver, which I left. There waa a bag contalulug money. I know not how much, but It waa a light bag. This I took. Also h had under hla arm a good-elaed tin box In a blue bag, such aa lawyer carry. Th box I knew would contain hla paper, and his paper were hla money. Ho 1 thought I would do aa much anUchUf to hla prop erty a I could, and 1 took that box. Thea I went away, leaving him, ther. Ita hla whit cheek and gray hair. and hi eye wide open. I felt sick when I looked at thoa eye, because they re proached m. I reeled and daggered as left him. "I waa not going to walk along the road. That would hav been a fool's act I turned straight off and struck for the open moor. Intending to make for 1 1 j mouth. And I remembered a place where th box could be hidden away, a safe place, where no on would ever think of looking for It ao that everybody ahould go on believing that th old man had been robbed aa well aa murdered. Thl place waa right over th down, and on th other side. 1 climbed th hill Oa th way I passed the Gray Wether Ston. and I thought I would hid th bag of money In a hoi I knew of at th foot of It. Nobody would look for It ther. Not twenty people In a year ever go near th Gray Wether. Then I walked down the hill on the other aide and got to Crime- pound, wher I meant to hid th other bag with the boi la It "Tell them, If you over get away from thia awful place, that the box lie on th aid nearest Hamll, where three atone piled one above th other make sort of llttt cave. Th stone are In the corner, and are th first you com to on your way down. Ther I put th box. I went on walking all the way without stopping except to alt down bit to Plymouth. There I got a newe- paper, but I could read nothing of the murder. Then I took the train to Fal mouth, and waited ther for three days, and bought a newspaper every day one would surely think that a murder In a quiet country place would be reported bnt I could aot find a single word about my murder. "Then I was able to tak passage on board a German ahlp bound for New York, I got to New York and I stayed there till my money was all gone, which did not tak long. Ther 1 mad the acquaintance of wait men, who told me to go with them, for they were going West They were all. I found, men who had done something, and the police were anxlona to tak them. I never told them what I had done, but tbey knew It was something, and when tbey found out that I knew nothing about robbery and burg lary and couldn't cheat at gambling and the like, they set It down that It must be murder. But they cared nothlug, aud I went along with them." "lour confession, my friend, aald the German, stopping at this point, "of what followed. the horse stealing adven ture, your own escape, and the untimely end of your companions; your honesty lu California, and Its interruption; and your experience of a Californian prison is ail interesting, but I cannot waate paper upou It. I return, therefore, to the ma terial part of the con fission. And with this I conclude." "I desire to state that from the first n.ght that I arrived la New York till now I have every night been visited by the ghost of the man I killed. My uncle rtands beside the bed, whether it Is In a bed In a crowded room, or on the ground in the open, or In a cabin at sea, or on the deck, he always comes every night Ills face la white, and the wound in his forehead Is bleeding. 'Come back to England,' be says, 'and confess the crime.' "I must go back and give myself np to Justice. I will make no more strug gles against my fate. But because I am uncertain whether I ahall lire to get back, and because I know not how to escape from this tsmnd, I wish to have my confesnion witrrcn and algned, ao that if I die the truth may be told." Thus ended the paper. "Ho, aald the big erman, "you ac knowledge thia to be your full and true confession T "I do." "Sign it, then." He produced from his bag a pencil and gave It to the man, who signed, In a trembling hand, "David Leighan." Under the signature the Ger man wrote, "Witnessed by me, Baron Serglu von Holstein." This done, he replaced the note book In bis wallet "The reason why I wanted you to sign the paper to-night," he aald, "is that there seems as If theee might be a chance of your getting away from th island, "How?" "Uok ont to sea." They were almost at the extreme south point of tbo Island the maps call It St. George. In the west the shores of New Britain could be seen, because the aun was just sinking behind them; to th south and the east there was open sea. "I can see nothing. "Look through my glass, then." "I can see a ship a two-masted sail Ing ahlp." "She is In quest of blackbirds. She will probably send a boat ashore. For tunately for you, the people are all gone off to fight You will, therefore, if she does send a boat here, have a chance of getting away. If she sails north, am aends a boat ashore fifty mile or so fur ther ud th coast that boat's crew will be speared. Now, my friend, th auu is about to aet In ten minute It will be dark, and we have neither candle nor matches. Go to your bed and await tha further commands of the II err Ghost your respectable uncle. On th eve of rour departure, If you are to go to-mor row, he will probably be mor peremp tory and mor terrifying than usual. Go to bad. David, and await th Hrr Ghost" (To b continued.) rVYWW :. 5L In. Tau about yer slmph'oy concerts, with their furbelows aud frills. An' yer recitals aa' yef prodigies, wtth their quaver an their trills Why, fer real soul stirring music, I'd hav you uuderstand, Thee pew-faugled doiu'a ain't a patch on our old Malnevlll aUud. That 'ere band has a history. Way back In alxty-two It marched away with bannera gay to cheer the Bora la Blue, Aa' when th war waa over aad back they'd com to atay Thar warn't aa many, not by half, as when they marched away. Ho w alboat had to mak th hull thing over, so to speak, Aa' w gathered U the school hous fer to practice twice a week; Aa' we'd pared on I coral loo Day, when 'twas hot enough to br lie But we didn't care, when the women fotka 'ud war their hand and anille. iohn Clinton waa th leader (h was Mayor of Malnavlll. too), Aa' of you'd a bit of talent why, he'd get It out o' you; An' there waa Tufta an' Stevens, East t man. Gilky. Oweoa, Shawan, Legge and Cain, Dwlnetl and Shields (the tuba player), Develvua. Witham and McClaln. Of course there's lots of others, their sona and their grandsons la all more'a three handred but them ar th oldest ooe That did th orgaolstn'; but Death' de vastating hand Uas only apared three feller from that first old Malnevllle Band. Aa' then our great band waggto 'twas the regulstion kind With the driver's seat high up In front an' the drummer's up behind. Aa' t'othsr seats sloped grajerly, and well. I'M explain to you By aaylu' they resembled jest a great, big. shaller U. Twas built right here In Malnevllle. an' the blacksmith bossed the Job His surname slips my mem'ry, but his given nsuie was Bob An' old "Daddy" Stearna he made the wheela. so powerful, strong and fit That, thou fir and forty years hav passed, tbey re stroug and stlddy Tit A man la rich In proportion to tha thing ha can afford to let alona. Tb rean. runnln' gear was raller, but th waggta It was red, Aa' feather pkinise. red, whit and blue, adorned each horse's head. Aa' wtth them sit horse prsnclu' with all their might and main, Hlch an Insplrln' spectacle I'll never ae again. They subscribed six hundred dollar fer to fix ut thst old band, But the bulldln' didn't coat much, fer th hull town took a hand, Aa' th Squlr au' th Mayor'd com la whenever work was slack. Aa' th minister 'ud oftea doff bU coal aa' tak a whack. W played or first engagement la th year ef fiftr-aln. Down to Mason, on July th Fourth, th weather It was fin. Aa' aa w started play In', with th drum a goln thr-r-apl That 'ere part of Warren county was a credit to the map. Onc't a week wo gav a concert ao th Malnevllle folks could hesr, An' we Wide a heap o' money at engage ments fur an' near. But at night when home returnlu' we'd wake our kith an' kin, An' rouse the eleepln' echoes with th tralna of "Horn Aglu." Well, the band got so famous they was wanted everywhere, To plar at celtbratlous, air, an' at th County Fair. Aa' at Ibanon an' Wilmington, an' aa fur aa Murrowtown, la fact from aeverat counties did glowla' prals reeoun'. But now the organtaatlon that was one th city 'a pride Is boated up, an' all the boys ar scat tered fur and wide. One' In th legislator, and one'a aa actor great An' one lu Congress represents thia dee trlct of the Stat. An' now the old band waggln. with all Ita glory ahed, Like a faded specter of the paat It stands la Stephen's ahed. An' sometime when children play In It It heave a creaky algb, Aa If longln' for Ita cronies, aud th day that hav goo by. But Ilk th old band waggln', I am ahaky now and old, An' I cal'lat soon to take a trip where all th streets are gold. Bat I feel sure thst some old romrad will grasp m by the hand An' aay, " 'Member how we used to play In that Old Maloerllle Hand?" St Loula Chronicle. HONOR ETHAN ALLEN. SCoaament Erected to the Memory of 'th Hero of Tlconderoge. Thia year on tha holiday known In Vermont aa Bennington Battle Day, there waa dedicated on the farm at one time owned by General Ethan Al len, of Revolutionary fame, a tower In memory of the hero of Tlconderoga. .' jit I r a '. mm i . m-: "if f-' '";.. KTKAN AlXKJf UEMOHIAL TOWKB. Ethan Allen Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior and a direct descendant of7 Ethan Allen, waa' present aa tht official representative of Prealdent Roosevelt The farm, of 800 acre, la located within the limit of the city of Bur lington, about three miles from the City HalL Before th time of tht Revolution It waa owned by a atanch Tot, who on account of hia dialoyalty to the then embryo State of Vermont waa forced to leave the country. Hla eatate waa aubsequcntly confiscated by the State of Vermont and the prop erty turned over to the land commis sioner of the State. By him It waa aold to General Ethan Allen, and he waa living upon It at the time of hla death, In 1780. In 1002 the farm wai purchased by W. J. Van Patten, of Burlington, and he presented that part of the farm known aa Indian Rock, a bluff, from the summit of which the Adlrondncka and Green mountain are seen, to the Vermont Society of the Son of the American Revolution, on condition that they take atcpe without delay to erect on the rock a memorial tower to Vermont' great hero, Ocnernl Ethan Allen. The project wna puahed by tht society with considerable enthusiasm and the necessary funds secured. The tower la of a bold military or der. The dimensions are 40 feet high, 24 feet square at the base and 20 feet at the narrow part, the battlementi being wide enough no that the top coit respond In alze with the bate. Tht name Indian Rock has been giv en to the spot by reason of tht legend, which la aald to be well established, that It was the point of outlook for tha Indiana for long agea before tht whltt man cam Into thia country. Tht rock haa an elevation of nearly 200 feet and afford an txtenalrt view in all directions. Tht children art wearing tht kind of aandala aeen on th feet of Justice In tht picture. t ' Wit, when wt amattura tngagt la It la aomttlmta pretty gnaatl.