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About The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 1889)
U 1 11UI i 3(ood lyver Slexier. HOOD RIVER, OR.n AUG. 3, 1389. Her Rival's Valentine. But the poison wan her friend In this dira extremity. Its death-dealing power came Into full action Just in thin;, and with a groan Vida loosened her grasp, rolled over, and lay still. Horror-stricken, hut still with sufUcient control of herself no; to make any fcreat dis turbance, riiccbo rose up and staggered from the room. Reaching the head of the stairs she saw that Ruth and her friends had Just left the hall, but the inspector was just entering the door. She glided down, and ere he could ask for Mr. Moore, laid a hand upon his arm. "Come upstairs," she said, "I have some thing to tell you." She took him up and showed him the dead Vida, and told him all she knew. lie list ened like a man to whom a long-sought se cret Is being revealed. "Do not disturb the family," he said when she finished, "but go and quietly bring Mr. Moore to me." Kuth's peace was not disturbed that night They told her that Vida was not well, and would keep her room, and when the morn ing came Mrs. Moore took hertoBriarwood, accompanied by Basil and Mr. Brandreth. They led her to believe at first that a daa gerous Illness had come upon Vida, and aft er a few days that she was dead. Then lit - tie by little the whole of the sad truth was told. Much of it was known to Basil ere he returned. Vida was buried quietly, and the world learnt little of her sins. The spacious In spector saw that no good could come to him by making any fuss about the affair, and Mr. Moore amply compensated him for any loss he could possibly have sustained. "Let her sins be forgotten," the uncle eaid, and In sober truth they were soon laid Aside, and thought as little of as possible. But all could never be quite forgotten, and one evening some seven years later, when Basil Brandreth "Handsome Bran dreth" lie was called was sitting by a win dow at Brlarwood with his loving wlie, he called up the past for a few moments. "I have been thinking, Ituth." he said, that Vida must have been mad, after all." "I do not think so," she answered. "It Is the more merciful thought, dear Buth." "Perhaps so, Basil, but I can look the truth In the face. She loved you, and you passed her by. It made a bad woman of her, and I am net sure that if I had been in her t place that I should have been much hotter." "Ruth I" 'Love is strong, Basil, and kails us to good or evil," she said. "It bore Vida to a grave, but you and me it has carr'.ed Into a very happy land. Let us think of her kind ly." "So be it," he said, and putting his arms obout her, kissed her with all the love aud tenderness she had known in their days of wooing. A word about Kenard. He did not come back on St. Valentine's Day, and when the news of Vkla's death was telegraphed to him, he decided to remain abroad. How much or how little he felt was never known. When at last he did come back he was heart whole. In due time lie chose a fitting maid en for a bride, and is now a happy man. The shadow of Vida rests lightly on Gor donfelis. TUE END. ELSIE'S VIOLKm "Flower's! Who'll buy my flowers?" This was the timid ci j of a little girl of about ten years of ae, who, with a basket of fragrant violets, was wan dering up and down the streets of a large city in America. She was a pretty sight, with her large black eyes and shining curls, and her poor but neat dress. "I do wish somebody would buy my flowers; mamma will wonder why I am away so long. Oh, here comes a sailor man, perhaps he will buy tonie." And gathering up all her courage, she went up to him and said, "Dou't you want to buy some flowers, sir? Doubtless the sailor's bright, cheery face had attracted the little one. "Yes, my little girl; I'll take some of your violets." While she was choosing the bunches lie said: "What is your name, little girl? You seem to be very young to be in the streets alone." "My name is Elsie Graham. Mamma is sick, so I coaxed her to let me 4pick some of our violets, and sell them, so as to make some money." "Well," said the sailor, "you are a very good little girl to try and help vour mother along, and to help you, 1 will take the rest of your flowers." "Oh. thank you, sir; but I must hurry home, mamma will be worried. Good-bye, sailor-man." "Good-bye, my little dearie. God bless the pretty little thing. She re minds me of my owu little daughter, I left at home twenty years ago. God knows where she is now." "Oh! mamma, look at all the money I've got!" With this exclamation Elsie, our little iiower gin bounded into the room where her mother was lying. "Oh, Elsie, darling, are you back safe? I have been so worried for fear something would happen to me or you." "Yes, mamma, safe and sound, with a pocketful of money, and lots of good things," said Elsie, putting her basket down aud kissing her mother. "Just see, mamma, one dollar and fifty cents, beside the good tilings in tlio hasket," said she, holding out the money for her mother to see. "A nice sailor-man bought all I had left, just as it was getting so dark. 1 knew I must come home, and I wanted to sell them all so much. Now, mamma, lie still and rest, and I'll soon have a good supper reaily for you." After they had partaken of their sim ple evening meal, Elsie said, "Mamma, if you are not too tired, will you tell mo all about my sailor grandpa?" "Well, my dear, when I was a little girl, I lived in a village on the coast of England, and my father used t to go away on long voyages. When I was about ten years old, he went away on a trip from which he would not return in two years. My dear mother ilreatlod to have him go she knew the dangers of the sea aud feared he might never come home again. The evening he bade us good-bye. I picked him some of our violets, he put them in his buttonhole, and said lie would keep t'iem always to remember his little Etsie. My mother and I stood at the door, and watched him until he was out of sight; then she took me in her arms and wept the whole night. That was t:e last time we ever saw him. Ter years passed, and we had received r', tidings. But one day a sailor came, and told us that the vessel on which my father had sailed, had been lost at sea. and all on board had perished. After this sad news, mother seemed to pine away,, and her one desire whs to go away from the cruel sea. I had been married to your father in the meantime, and we took her to the pretty little village ol E . There she died. Soon after you were born, dear. Then your father having heard so much of America induced me to come here. When we arrived, we went to one of the large cities. But I had never lived in the city, and I kept pining for the country, so finally having saved enough money, he bought this little home. One of the things which I had brought from our old home in England was some roots of our violets. I planted some in this little garden, and so we have had them ever since. We lived happily enough until the day that 3'our poor father was brought home dead. Only think, ju-t two years ago. Elsie, what should I have done without my little sunbeiV during that dark time? But for yor, I would have been willing to die. Only for your sake, I must live aud struggle on, as best I can. Oh, . my darling, it almost breaks my heart to think that you must go in the streets and earn u living, while I lie here, helpless." Overcome with feelings which she could not control, the sick woman's form shook with sobs. I Little Elsie tried to comfort her mother, saying: "Oh, mamma dear, don't cry, you have your little Elsie, and this nice house and garden." "Yes, my pet, but how long shall we be able to keep it? If I don't get well, we will be obliged to move to the city, where I may rind employment." The next morning little Elsie was up betimes gathering and arranging her slender stock of flowers. After mak ing her mother comfortable, shestarted out with her basket on her arm. Either people were in a hurry this morning, or they did not care for flowers, for our little flower girl walked around until afternoon, and succeeded in rinding but a few pur chasers. Just as she was about to give up in despair, and go home, she spied her sailor acquaintance on the opposite corner, and she hurried across to speak to him. "Hello, my hearty," said the old sailor, "here you are again, bless your prettv face! But your load seems to be rather heavy to daT. I'll take some of your flowers, to lighten it a bit." "Oh, thank you, sir; but I'd rather you wouldn't because because, you might think that 1 only spoke to you so that you would buy some of my flowers. I was so glad to see you again that I couldn't help but speak." "Ah! my little maiden, 1 am right glad that you like the old sailor. Would you mind if I walked home with you? 1 should like to see the garden where those pretty violets grow." "Oh, I should like it ever so much, sir." The two trudged along, the old man beguiling the time by telling her stories of sailor life. "But now tell mo something about yourself, little one.". 'Well, sir, papa is dead, ho was a carpenter, , and one day one day he fell from a big ladder, and then he was brought home dead. Mamma ha3 not been well since. Before papa died we moved into this nice little cottage where we live now. Mamma does not like it as well as I do, because when she was a little girl like me, she used to live by the sea, and she always likes to oe near it. juatuma s latner was a sailor, I guess that was the reason why I like you so much." "Where did your mother live, when she was small?" "I think it was in C . sir. in En-rland " "In O ?" said the old man, startineback in sur prise. "If it should be, if it only could dc, my daugnter? ' "liere Is where I liv3, sir," said Elsie, as thev reached a little, old-fashioned cottage, stand ing in the center of a large garden. In front of the house were beds of lovely English violets, which gave forth a most delightful odor. Behind the house were a Targe number of fruit trees, now in full blossom. As soon as Elsie opened the door, sailor Ben's eyes fell on u picture hanging on the wall; he recognized it as one which had been taken of his wife in the hap py days when they lived in England. When the door opened, aud Elsie's mother came into the room, he tried to rise, but could not. She looked at the sailor for some time, without say ing a word; but after long and earnest gazing at his face, she cried: "Father, oh father, have you como back to me at last?" "Yes, my daughter, como home never to leave you again," said the old man, with tears running down his cheeks. "Now, mamma, you will get well won't you?" And in her excitement little Elsie ran from her mother to her grandfather, saying, "Oh! I am so happy! But dear uie, I have forgot ten that you and grandfather must want your tea, so I must get it ready." "What, do you make the tea?" said her newh"-founil grandfather. "Yes, indeed, sue is quite a little housekeep er;" said her mother fondly. They sat up until a late hour, talking about the past. "Hov was it, father, that they brought back the report that you were lost? "Well, my dear, you know the ship was wrecked, and all of our crew, except one sailor and myself, perished. We managed to swim to an island, and stayed there until we were picked up by a vessel bound for Africa. When we landed there, one Gay my com panion and I were lost in the jungle. We were taken captives by some Afri can tribes, and held as prisoners for quite a w hile, but finally we succeeded in making our escape. When we reached the sea coast, we found em ployment on board of a vessel bound for England. Old Tim Lockhart and I must liave been the only survivors of the wreck, and the vessel returning from Africa, must have brought the tidings that finally reached you. I arrived at home to find it occupied by strangers. No one seemed to, know anything about' you, except that you had married, and that vyoii had all gone away together. I left ti e place wholly disheartened. Jim was made first mate and I captain of a ship bound for this city, and I was just going round to see the sights when I happened to spy little Elsie. 1 noticed her pretty violets, and they reminded me of those which yrew in our garden, and of which your mother was so fond. Elsie remind 1 me of you when yov were her age. I came tiiis after noon to have a chat with 'my little flower-girl,' as I called her, not daring to hope that I might find my daughter again." "Oh father, to think that the very trial which I thought so hard to bear, has brought you back to me. It w as a hard thing for me to let Elsie sell lloiersin tue street. But there was no help for it, for ever since my hus band died, we have been getting poor er and poorer, and sometimes we have been almost without food." "My dear daughter, you shall not know want any more, if God is willing to spare me yet for a few years." "Oh, mam ma. I shall never like any flowers half as well us I do violets, because they brought me my kind old grandpa," said the happy little girl, caressing the old sailor, on whose knee she had been sitting all the while he was talking to her mother. "But, my daugnter it is twelve o'clock, and 1 am afraid our little Elsie will lose all her roses, if she stays up so late. Let us thank our heavenly father that he has brought mo safe home arain." And kneeling down, the old man poured out his soul in thanksgiving to God. As soon as Jiiisie's mother was able to travel, they went back to England in sailor Ben's ship. But old Tim Lockhart -who rejoiced with all his heart at his mate's good fortune de clared himself weary of a sea-faring life, aud purchasing Mrs. Graham's neat cottage, with its garden, orchard and fields, settled down there for the remainder of his days, with his house hold gods around him. The last re membrance the Grahams had of Amer ica, was the sight of the ex-sailor in the garb of a truck gardener, his wrin kled face one tangle of tears and smiles as, on the morning of their departure, he leaned over the rail fence, waving them a farewell with his red bandanna and wishing Uifr.m "God-speed," while he whistled "Nancy Lee, to conceal his feelings. Little Elsie was soon a great favorite with the sailors on board the vessel, who called her the "little violet girl." for she had brought with her several plants of violets, and was seldom without one in her hand, or somewhere about her. When they reached England, they bought back their old homestead. Little Elsie never forgot the good the violets had brought her, and when she grew up and mar ried, sho called hep' little baby girl "Violet.' Louis Buhlieis, in Ayneri can Agriculturist. J Fanny So yoo. ae married, Hattie, and have we&!Mi and all its possibili ties? llattie Yes, ray husband is very rich. Fanny And "you enjoy it ad very much? Hattie Very much, in deed. Fannie A ud your husand? Hattie O, well, jou know in this world, dear, we ha re to take the bitter with the sweet WashiMjlon Critic. Nearly Caught. A minister was walking through ft side street not verv far from hs par sonage, says Mr. Grundy (New York), when he observed a girl on the side walk crying. Sho stv-mcd to be about 12 years of age aiid the good pastor felt moved to inquire what might be her loss or grief. "Oh," said the girl, "I have been looking to find a minister who will go to see my mother. Sho is poor and no no of these lit li ministers will go to see her. "I am a miuister," said the rector. "Whare is your mother?'' He took the child's hand. He went along the street, descended to Third avenue and beyond it, and the child turned into a house, going through a hall. The minister went up one flight of stairs and the jrirl beckoned him further on. Something' he saw or felt or had reflected caused him to pause, lie now looked into the child's face again and saw a different light in it from what had appeared on the street. A feeling of fear look possession of him and he said: "I won't go up there without som person I know to accompany mo." The child turned, and running down a few steps seized him fast and said: "If you don't give me money I'll have you arrested for following me home. . lie saw in a moment the situation he was in liable to be paraded in every newspaper of the towp next day for indulgences he had never con ceived, his motives misconstrued, and his family and congregation scandali zed. At that moment he saw the bright badge of a policeman coming up the hall, and supposed himself to be al ready in the meshes of the law. But the man spoke to him by name, told him that ho had followed him under the belief that he was 'deceived, and thereupon arrested the gill and her mother, who followed that line of business and kept respectable men spotted, so to speak, so .as better to decoy them. Tourist (in Dakota) "Did you ever meet Jim Perilow from Connecticut? I think ho came out here." Citizen "Sorter tall, skinnv-lookin1 cuss with red hair?" Tourist "Yes; he was consumptive. When' he left Connecti cut his life was haugingby a thread." Citizen "M'h'm, when he left h're, nardner, his life was hanging by a ropo. lie stole a h;ss." 7'crre llaute Ex press. ' S. H. Contractor Estimates Satisfaction HOOD RIVER. OREGON. RAND & nimmr mran tXS?Good Turnouts and Saddle Horses Always in Readiness on the arrival of trains, for the Accommodation of Pleasure- Seekers, Fishing Parties, Tourists, Etc. . HORSES BOUGHT AND SOLD. Feed and Stabling at the Lowest Possible Rates by the Day, Week, or Month. i"Orilers left at the Mt. Hood hotel will be attended to with promptness and dispatch. Trucking tnd Draying also Done to Order. HAND & HAMILTON, HOOD KIVEE, Oil. IX E. BERDAN, HOUSEMOVINC DONE QUICKLY' AND CHEAPLY. Experienced Workmen. The Best of Machinery. Leave Orders with G. T. Prat her, Hood River, Or. 40-Acre Farms. 5 and 10-Acre Tracts ONE MILE FROM TOWN. -CHOICE- iness licsidencc LOTS. FOR SALE BY K3. R. BONE, Cor. Oak and Second Sts. HOOD RIVER, OREGON. Tfce Celebrated French Care, -!r"APHRODlTlNE";;;r Ik Soi.o is a POSITIVE GUARANTEE to cure an) foimof liernill iiseuse, or any disorder of the generative or Kitus of either ' BEFORE Mnii from the Ar I tR excessive use of Klimulauts, 'Joimceu or Opium vriurougu yomiiltil lUilinTctiou, over lulling eiwc, ,Vr., Midi hh Loss of Hrain I'ower, Wakeful lies, Hearing down I'aim in the Hack, Seminal Weakness, Hysteria.NervouH I'rnstraliou Niw Initi al Emissions, toueorrhmi, Jiizaiuess. Weak Mem ory, l.ohsof Power and Impotency, which if tie ejected often leail to prematuienldnueand inum ity. Price f 1. 00 a bos. 6 boxes for fi.uo Sent by mail on receipt of price. A W It I XT K N J V A tt A ' T V. r. f or Aery ." 00 order, to refund the money if a Pri tiimirnl cure in not effected. Thousand of testimonials from old and ynutiir. of both sexes, permanently cured bv Aphroditimc. Circular free. Address THE APHRO MEDICINE CO. WSSTKRK BRANCH. HOX 27 PORTLAND OU For sale by RLAKEU'V S CLAUK, TUWK -jylums COX, and Builder. Furnished. Guaranteed. ins HAMILTON'S 01 in om i X