University of South Carolina Libraries
^ ~ ^ ISSIJEI^EMS-W^ l. m. GRIST & sons, Publishers. J % 4am jig gleirspaper: 4or the promotion of the political, ?ocial, Agricultural, and Commercial Interests of the people. { TERM?no1e<coiv! rl c4 AN CE established 1855. YORKVILLE. S. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1900. NO. 37. THE HOUSE By Sir D'Artagan Isstens, Cadet of i Order of Wassmark and Or Court of Charle MADE INTO A ROMANCE Copyright, ISM, by American Press Ass< CHAPTER XII THE KISS OF THE I'RINCESS. Between two guardsmen we awaited in the cabinet the king's pleasure The eervants and attendants of the palace as we came in had turned after ns with less of pity than interest. The gnardsmen bit their lips and tried not to look like jailers Tom stood erect, his head back a little, smiling at the door of the king's chamber. 1 glowered, with one hand pressed to my side where the hilt of my sword should nave been But cur swords were gone. The door opened, and his royal majesty Rufford of Cloburg limped out His long, lean face was bright with welcome. both hands outstretched to Tom We bent cur knees "Stand up. sny killers?" he said. We stared in amazement, whereat he laughed and. turning to the guardsmen. commended them for the prompt fulfillment of their duty and told them to leave us for awhile. Then he took us to bis inner closet and told a story that rang like music in our ears concerning the English baronet and. very much, the man who killed him The heart of the story was this Shortly after setting the town on the heels of Beverley and the humble cadet they discovered a parchment protruding from the dead nobleman's Docket and this paper, being read by the captain of the guards, disclosed the supposed embassador in his trne colors? those of a spy employed by the government of Bohemia And later the king drew from the sobbing Princess Barbara the assertion that it was nnder the influence of this English knave, and not for any displeasure at her lover of Wassmark. that she bad undertaken her little trip in her coach "And now said the king, placing a hand on the shoulder of each. "I have much pleasure in informing yon that in an hour from now a fete to your honor will begin, and that her majesty and her highness Princess Barbara desire your company in the quadrille " Tom Beverlev. recking little the king's presence, fell upon me with his schoolboy's embrace In the quarters set apart for the gen tlemen of the guard the news of our escape from disgrace and death had set the little squad that bad captured us boisterous with joy The body servants were busy rushing about with decanters and glasses, and rollicking songs rang through the open dorr The whole 50 were there, and on our entrance tbey rose up and cheered Some of the men were already dressed for the fete One in red tights, with a three yard tail, and a green mask all askew on his face, made a merry devil After pledging a few glassee to the un dying trienasnip or 01 gentlemen 1.0m said that he wcnld come with me to my apartments to prepare for the evening ? "A favor to ask of yon. Isstene." he said. I swore I wonld hook him down the moon with my rapier hilt if bis desires were set that way "Then borrow me one of Princess Barbara's court dresses," he whispered. I donned my finest snit and my dress sword and. leaving my friend lolling in the window, strutted forth to seek admittance to the princess With a huge bandage (a silk pillowcase) I made as much of my wounded arm as possible, thereby hoping to touch the hearts of all the ladies in waiting. It and my ~ Barbara qavc mc her hand and I touched my lips to it. danger and adventures so lately passed worked like a charm, and 1 was re reived with cries of delighted welcome Barbara nave me her hand. and. as 1 touched my lips to it. a thrill from the pressure of her tinners stole into me "1 crave the opportunity to say a few words in your ear. princess. " I said, as thonnh the safety of a kingdom hung on it She smiled assent and blushed a little Then I thought of the Hinty hearted Marion, and I sighed, with my eyes on her highness oval chin "1 have something of importance to discuss with the Cavalier Isstens," she whispered to the Countess Vcn Rassfel The ladies arose and left the room "1 await vour pleasure, sir." quoth the princess. I took the liberty, as I had done before, of seating myself near her She was attired in readiness for the dance, and I remembered that the first was to be with me Her eyes rested on my bandaged arm 1 sighed, though it had ceased to pain six hours before. Then I said "Princess, my friend. Tom Beverley, begs of yon a court gown, that he may wear it tonight With a mask covering his face no one OF ISST1S. r+ V of th#? Rnval A VJICCIl iiUUJC, mitguk w. -?-y j le Time Embassador to the s I of England. I BY THEODORE ROBERTS. i >ciation. will imagine him the dashing soldier that he is." I hnrried on and told of bis disguise in the peasant's skirt and , bodice. She seemed amused. Then she said, "Is that all. Sir Cadet?" She was very near The wonderful perfume of her hair and laces and perhaps the wine I had taken?I know not. but I was lost in the soft glory of her eyes. "Under the circumstances, princess"? "What?" she queried. "Under the circumstances, princess' ?I made bold to touch her hand?"1 may not speak my own petition." I had ridden and suffered and bad lost hope of touching a lady's hand again, and the scent of her hair held the danger of lotus. She smiled?her eyes and her lips?but her white brow rose serene ' 1 "We are glad of your return, "she said. A?./1 r, r\ tt? mu finoora hplrl hprq XIUU UWTf 4?J ? thought of my good sovereign away in Wassmark, and I laughed a little "Sir. " whispered the princess "Madame." 1 replied?"little princess. my heart presumes far " I slipped on to one knee, holding both her hands, and the Princess Barbara leaned and kissed me lightly on my lips. When I returned and found Tom waiting patiently before the pier glass. I thonght me of the court gown. "Where is it?" he asked. I shook my head. "Ho. ho. Isstens! So you are no longer a pet." be jibbed, "even unable to borrow a little apparel." I did not speak, but turned to the wardrobe and smiled So poor Tom was forced to appear in his court suit of pale green silk, his old Flemish lace and bis English sword. He led off the queen and I the Princess Barbara in the opening quaarille. My partner's hand trembled in mine Our eyes met and held We eeemed to : be gliding there Rloue And at one time, ] in crossing, 1 6ighed into her powdered , hair, "Now I will dream of another? until 1 get it.' j Then the grand quadrille ended We , leaned over the ladies' bands, and the j music ceased with a clash I saw little of the princess during the remainder of the evening, but the other ladies of the court were very kind and , pretended not to recognize anyt)f the , other gentlemen They were good j enough to say that not my arm. but my manner of dancing, made plain my ] identity There was little rest for me when 1 < returned I watched the bright sun come in at the curtains and the shadows j slide along the floor Thus I lay until high noon In the clear light of day how my freedom of the night appalled j me! The fumes of the wine, the scent ] of her bair. had left my brain now; but. i curse II. me memory ox au una waa ] still deep in my heart I Oh. princess. ] princess! i Looking over at the corner of my | chamber, where the tapestry took only i a little of the light and the shadow of a < pier glass fell. I could see her slight j figure standing?the red brown buir all i powdered as it bad been in the dance, i the gray eyes questioning, the pale face kind and queenlike i "It is worth a king's game," I muttered. "and the king may hang me for it. but love a princess I do. so God ( help me I" i Then I cursed myself for a fool. 1 might have lain all day. picturing the lady's face and figure and building 1 toppling air castles, had not Tom burst i into my room, looking for his sword ( After the barber had done with me 1 ordered Hagart and rode out in the ; autumn forests The little wild flowers, the odorous ferns and the red and yellow leaves fluttering from the trees all laughed at the song in my heart i And so I staid in the greenwood until ; sunset, listening to the scurrying of partridges, the whispering of the brown oaks and the occasional aud faroff bugle calls in the city At the end of it I untied Hagart's bridle from a i sapling, and, mounting, vowed that 1 would forget the piincess and leave i Cloburg for Flanders or any place where one might die fighting This I had vowed when leaviug Marion The thought came to me. and 1 laughed "Hagart." I said to my black horse "l win stay, ror me princess is so iar above me, and 1 am her very humble cavalier ' And 1 should have been woefully cast down ut the hopelessness of it. but instead 1 went whistling up the avenue that runs through the park For what is there that a man feels far beyond his reach when his best horse is under him and his tried sword swings against his leg! After that 1 became so good a court ier that our embassador in Clcburg begged me to become his secretary So 1 stained my lingers with ink. drew double pay and wrote two letters a day very badly The receptions at court were seldom without me, and. though the princess and 1 spoke little, our eyes tcld many things Tom lieverley was high in favor, and liis majesty decorated him with the white star of the Order of the Royal Hunters One uight. when Tom wan sitting over the wine with me. he said "Did you ever notice. Isstens. how small a thiug lies between the deed for which one man is hung and another crowned V As I bad become since entering on my secretaryship something of a philosopher I nodded assent and replied, "Truly, and sometimes they wonld hang a man and afterward see reason to crown him. " "Which nearly happened in my poor case." said Tom He tilled the bowl of a long pipe with tobacco and lighted it at the Hame of a caudle Smoking had become fashionable in (Jloburg?almost as much so at this time as in London itself. With the fragrant clonds floating about his head he talked of bis old home in Devon. There was a girl there high in rank and verv vonncr whom be had loved He was very careful to avoid all names save that of the Englishman whom he bad eo valiantly killed in the Unicorn's Head For half the night he rambled on in his narrative of old things while I sat, outwardly attentive, grunting ever and anon, but in reality thinking only of a little, amber haired princess. The big clock in my chamber chimed 2 He ceased talking of England and looked at me with his old smile "What color is her hair?" he asked "Red brown?that is. whose hair do you mean?' "The hair of the lady you used to dream about. " he said "Oh, yellow !"T answered. I remem bered the time 1 had called it golden Then Tom wandered off to his bed. taking his pipe and his tobacco with him and leaving uie to dream there in the window seat till sunrise When I looked out at early dawn, a white frost lay over the grass and walls and glistened on the roofs 1 blew out the daring candles, threw aside my clothing and got to bed before 6 When I awoke, to my amazement 1 huhoM r>ld R.pd Hnrdinp errinnins: at One o1 them had a sotaj in memory of the slaying of Willis Howard. me between the curtains of the bed How heartily we embraced and laughed and glared at odp another. a? if we bad been parted for years 1 did not appear pen in band, before the embassador that day. bnt spent my time reading the home letters and listening to Red Harding's stories Harry alcne had heard of my esca pade with Tom Beverley, and he wrote pon the snbject at great length, beseeching me. for the love they bore me in the house of isstens. to take care of my neck. Tears filled my eyes when 1 read my mother's note, and the little message from Marion, which was won flrous humble The captain sent me a poem, most heroic, of his own composing, and they all prayed me t<- come back before Christmas Tom took Red Harding out with him, while 1 wrote many pages in re ply to all these. 1 think my letters muet have been like the works of the rir>nr nnflt nrhn for mnnpv wrote on rw4 ? J ? husbandry, the churcb and state, mili tary matters end Latin prose and was forever verging on bis one dear subject poetry, but nowhere mentioned it So did I write of tbis and that, ever think ing of the princess and tingeing my sentences with her; yet nowhere wrote her name. When 1 finished. it was time for candles. Tom and Red Harding bad not returned, so I put on my cloak and hat and went down into the gardens. Some of the flowers were frozen in their beds and the air was chilly I looked at the royal wing of the palace, where it fronts along the crest of the terrace The windows gleamed out. one by one. as the servants lit the candles. One casement glowed as a red rose before my eyes. 1 stood until all twilight failed?until the stars glinted and the moon swung up above the great woods where I had dreamed. Then 1 turned to go. and in my first step my foot sent something singing along the gravel. 1 stooped and peered low to discover it Then 1 dropped on my knees and felt about with careful fingers After searching for some time I found, on the frozen mold at the edge of the path, a silver buckle set with rubies And the same I had so often seen in the hunting hat of a certain great lady that i held it fondly and went on toward my apartments in the palace Fumes of the Virginian leaf greeted me at the door. and. upon entering, 1 found our old retainer and Tom Beverley - U1., LUllJiUriclUlJ onncu. "What think you?' cried Tom "This cavalier from Isstens ha? been making love to the princess "Truly.' said Red Harding "We met the lady in the garden and walked up and down and arunml. like priests after mass, many times together And her highness showed much interest in uie and all my friends A great soldier ever aims high Tom winked at me aDd asked what 1 held so closely in my fingers. The old lieutenants eyes protruded "By heavens, it is the buckle I saw in the princess hat1' he exclaimed "My dear trend, were there never two buckles made alike V' 1 answered. It was Red Harding's intention to start the following morning on his re turn journey to Clatenburg and as he had not seen enough of the taverns of Cloburg during the day Torn and I took him along after tea Outside we found the uioon obscured and the air turned mild The lieutenant swore roundly, thinking of muddy roads for the morrow The first tavern we came to swung the sign of the Blue Bull It was a little snug place, and. aping foreign fashions, was much frequented by poets and actors, who would come here and scribble their rhymes or voice their parts as the whim took them Some of these gentry were present rohon u-ft entered, and thev made such merry company that we tarried long and drank deep One of them had a song in memory of the slaying of Sir Willi/" Howard, in which he was pleased to call Tom "a valiant, skillful gentleman, the pride of all the town." and Howard "so vile a dog. it did us good to see him tumbled down." We pledged many more glasses to this astonishing poet, and he promised to immortalize ns all. CHAPTER XIII. THE TRYST WITH THE PRINCESS. As we were about to leave the place a fellow of the swashbuckler stamp came in with great clashing of his scabbard. He reeled against me, and on the inBtant I felt something plucked from the inside of the open breast of my cloak. "This is a pretty bauble, "he grinned, holding Princess Barbara's buckle in his hand, and even as 1 clutched at him he discovered the great price of the stones and dashed past toward the door With shouts of rage and many threats we all sped after him. the poets dropping their verses and running lustily The street was empty save for the flying figure of the thief With a fair running ground before ns. Tom and 1 kept our wind for the chase, but the rhyme ' writers and Red Harding qpn knlUminrr ftnt onH CTilvinfT f h P1* T LIU UCU UC11U TV lAJfc, vrcaw .. u ? -~0 ? w? swords, mnch to the danger of each other's head. Soon we saw that the man with the bnckle, by the manner of bis rnnning, was much farther in wine than any of our party He stopped frequently to take breath. He fell over twice, and at last, with Tom at bis heels, dashed aside in the doorway of a tall bouse In we went after him like a pack of hounds Then began an awfnl tripping across each other's legs and overturning of tables, for the hall was pitch dark The door slammed shut after the last yelling poet had scrambled in For awhile we had a devil of a time, and when by some unseen agency the candles were lit we had a much worse one. for we found ourselves in a trap of robbers and cutthroats, all garbed and armed like soldiers and gentlemen And the man who had led us here was not so far gone in drink as we bad at 6rst supposed There, in the narrow, richly appointed hall, occurred a woeful tight The inmates were two to our one. but happily, owing to broken furniture and limited space, this gave them little advantage At the very first of it 1 lunged at the thief, who still held Barbara's buckle, and spitted him clean through the side It was but the work of a moment to snatch the trinket from bis twitching fingers and fasten it on my own breast While engaging a bnrley. thick legged rascal across a bench 1 saw with the corner of my eye one of the poets shouting and stabbing at a man of twice bis size They spun about and leaped back and on like crazy men and were both very drunk But presently the scribe changed his rapier to his left band and brought down a cracking broadsword cut on his antagonist's hooa n.hi/>h onripd that little Dassaee of arms Red Harding, after sorely wounding bis man. went back and kicked the door until it fell ont into the street Drugging one of the wounded with us we retreated, and the enemy forbore following After helping our wounded friend to the uearest inn we then returned to the palace, thanking the saints for taking us out of so merry a 6crape alive. I awoke early on the morrow, and in getting out of bed felt a severe pain in my left knee I put my foot to the floor and the agony brought an impatient oath to my lips Dropping back on to the bed I examined the painful joint, and. to my disgust, found it pulled and blue. This is what came of fighting in the dark After the doctor had looked at it and punched the swelling with his lean finger, he shook bis head till the wig settled over one ear "You must go on crutches for a week or two. my good sir. and no more riding nor fencing till the inflammation has gone. ' he said The gentlemen of the guard, who were clustered about, drew down their mouths in eorrow. all feeling that crutches were second only to the coffin. The doctor stamped toward the door, but turned on the threshold and delivered a last remark "Wine or malt liquors'in the system will add to the inflammation. Cavalier Isstens.' He left amid a thunder of groans. Ten minutes after I sat with my foot o sUiair iind nlavpd n i?njnp of rhnnce with Beverley and two of his fellows, and the decanters stood on the table. In the evening the big poet-guardsman came in and found me alone After exchanging commonplaces he began to fidget in bis chair and look at me nneasily "Pray part with it. my friend." I said gayly "By the sword of St Peter, how did you know I had anything to say?" he asked. For answer I passed him a tobacco pipe, knowing that the fashionable habit was strong upon him After blowing out a few wreaths of white smoke ho said "Have yon heard about the letter your king wrote to Princess Barbara?' I shook my head "Some one told me that a few days ago he sent her a letter accusing her of faithlessness." How did the countess come to hear of it ?" I interrupted. The big guardsman blushed and clapped his heels together. "The person who told me heard it from the princess, who does not seem concerned at all." he replied 1 looked ont of the window and bit my lip "She has written back a missive that will not mend matters, and his majesty Rufford is wrathy as the devil." he continued "Which is all passing strange," I said at last "Bat of what interest to me?" The poet grinned and poured a glass of wine. "A health to you, yon sly dog I" he cried, and drained the glass. "On second thoughts, Isstens, I ad vise yon to put away that buckle before the king comes to inquire after yoar knee," be said. Then be clattered ont, singing one of bis own songs. In the shadows I was glad to sit alone and think. Could it be that the princess was really ont of love with her sovereign lover I Could it be that she loved some one without a crown and a kingdom?loved him beyond a passing fancy I "Poor fool, cadet." I whispered, "yon are a fitting youth to enliven the dnll days with, but"? And I laughed cynically At that moment a servant entered with a note and candles I held the note unopened until the man left the room, for the little seal was familiar Then I broke the seal and read "Bring me my silver buckle to the garden tomorrow morning Near'the dog fountain at 10. I will await you in the company of my ladies I think you have been thoughtless in the wearing of it.' Upon finishing which my courage and hope fled, and I cursed many things Ten minutes before the appointed hour 1 reached the dog fountain in the palace garden, having hobbled there on my crutches. During the night a light covering of snow, the first of the winter, had fallen The clipped shrubs, the statuary and the roofs of the buildings were shrouded in it. but overhead the sun crawled up the blnest of ekies. But my fool heart was heavy I was lost in meditations not pleasant when there came a soft rustling down the arbored path Turning, I beheld the princess, in a cloak of red cloth and gray fur, nearing me unattended As well as I COUld, WILD ill _y cjuliuco uuuci lxj j shoulders, I bowed, and upon ber reaching iny side. I very humbly kissed her hand Then, withont speaking, I gave her back the silver hat buckle set with rubies. But instead of bending her head and looking at the returned trinket, she lifted her face and surveyed me with her gray eyes. Her glance was kind, and I immediately forgot all the brave vows I bad made to dream no more of the love of one so far above me I know that my voice came huskily and that my eyes pleaded that morning 1 laid bare my heart to the Princess Barbara. And yet she listened with no tinge of anger nor surprise in ber clear eyes, only love?and pity Upon saying my last word 1 turned to hobble away, but ber voice softly recalled me "D'Artagan," she said?then, with her face bowed in ber bands, she sat upon the steps of the fountain and wept The little threads of sunlight through the cedar branches drew a halo about ber hair, and my heart was rent within me, so that my voice deserted me in the anguish of it But presently, going closer, I said "Princess, it is something only to have loved like this, and. before God, I would never have returned to trouble you had I known the full, sweet story of it.' Then she arose and with trembling fingers fastened the silver buckle on my shoulder "And now." she said, trying bravely to smile, "will you promise never to try to see me again and to leave the town if 1 tell you two things?" For answer I bowed my head and drove the tears back on to my soul. "First." she said, "I will never marry king nor prince, nor. God pity me. any man. and, second, you, Sir Cadet. I love with my true heart I' For a bright, bright second her lips pressed mine, her hair was over my eyes, and then she sped away down the arbored path and left me leaning on my heedless crutches. I staid in the garden for several hours, limping up and down the paths or staring away at the trees of the park like one dazed by a blow When Beverley came to have a dish of tea with me in my room, I asked him to get a leave of absence from the king and to come with me to Blaten burg At first he looked at me in piteous amazement; then, leaning closer over the tahie. he put ont his hand on my shoulder and said that he would come. With many excuses, hinting at state trouble and a message from the king. I bade farewell to the court of Cloburg, and. though the ladies in waiting made great ado, Rufford seemed only too pleased at my departure. 1 started >n the journey at midday, a week after our tryst at the dog fountain Tom rode in the coach wiih me (my knee forbade the saddle) and a servant rode alongside on Hagart Poor enough company I made all the first day. and Tom respected my eilence and spent his time between reading a book and staring from the window But on the second day. toward evening, we heard a great rumpus ahead, and the coach came to a standstill Tom got out to see what the matter was. and immediately two pistol shots rang on the frosty air ana past the window went a man in a red cloak reeling in his saddle Tom returned, relating how our former acquaintance of the mountains had tried to hold us up and how a pistol ball somewhere in the leg had been his only satisfaction. After tellina which he coolly returned to his reading of the book, the snow still melting on his boots Wo reached Blatenburg in safety without further adventure. Instead of I riding np t<- the palace we took rooms and stabling for Hagart at the Cavalier's Pride, and next morning sent the coach back toC'lobnrg On the night of the second day when 1 was sitting alone with Barbara's bat bnckle in my hand, s low knocking came on my door My knee being greatly improved, I crossed the room and admitted a man with his cloak wrapped close abont him. His face was covered, bnt something in the width of his shoulders and the tallness of bis fignre reminded me of a former acquaintance After closing the door behind him he dropped the cloak from his sbonlders and doffed his bat, disclosing to my startled gaze my sovereign. king of Wassmark. "I have called," he said, smiling, "to speak to you on a matter of private interest to both of us. and to another whom it is not necessary to name." I stared at the king with challenging eyes, my heart fluttering and uncertain. my mind made up to a just punishment for my impudence in loving her. His smile took on its old broadness, and be sat himself down on the edge of the bed and motioned me back to my chair "Yon have been a good servant, sir, and a true fighter." he continued, "and have many times saved your king and your country much blood without knowing it You will kindly pass me your sword Mine I have forgotten. " I brought my sword from the corner of the room He bared the blade and looked at the war dents. "It is a right fitting sword to knight a man with," be said, and. requesting me to kneel, which I did as gracefully as possible under the circumstances. / stared at the klny with challenging eyes. be smote me eharply on the shoulder and cried. "In the name of God and by the touch of proved steel I proclaim you a knight of the Royal Order of Wassmark.' "And so honor comes when she is least wanted. " thought 1. and raised his royal hand to my lips without fervor "You are not surprised f he eaid. drawing up his red eyebrows. "Yes. sire. 1 am surprised and hon ored beyond measure.' 1 answered. He pinned the cross of the order on my breast and then handed me a letter But before 1 could open the sheet he snatched it back, saying. "It is from the princess. Sir What's-your-name." I flushed crimson and replied "Very good, your majesty I have no desire to see your private correspondence. " "Come. come, my good Isstens, 1 crave pardon but my pride is still somewhat sore at being crossed in love by my embassador's secretary ' 1 said, nothing to this. "Bnt remember, sir." he continued, "it touches nothing beyond my pride.' "And yet the thing remains hopeless, sire I am but the cudet And bow does a poor sword weigh against a crown V" "You forget.' he said, "that you were bnt now made knight of a great order He get- ready to go against Beverley's return and. with his bat on, asked if I was still of the old. adventurous spirit 1 answered that my sword was always at I)is service "Then postpone yenr visit to Isstens and stand ready for further word from me. he said and bade me a friendly good night When Beverley came in a little past midnight I told him of the change in my plans and something of what the king had mentioned, and. last, of my new honor "Your king is a trne gentleman,' he exclaimed, "and. by heaven, I see into it a little. " "And will yon share this unknown adventure with meV" I asked. "1 would to God 1 could. Isstene, but loyalty to Rnfford holds me out of it.' "What causes you to think that? The king said nothing of it." I answered Whereat he but shook his head and began preparations for his night's rest TO UK CONTINUED. Got TVhat lie Called For. The barroom of a well known hotel was crowded with the thirsty the other evening, and the overworked servers of mixed drinks were beginning to grow a bit testy, when the door swung open and in walked one of those hardtacks who grow fat on had whisky. "I want a drink of the pizenest liquor in the lace." he said. The bartender, weary from the concoction of hundreds of high balls and rlckeys, languidly reached under the counter, and. drawing out a bottle of nlffilinl. fliiiinonin and salt, used for cleaning copper work, set it before the human sponge, who poured himself a liberal drink and gulped down the nauseous stuff. His eyes bulged and a half suppressed sputter escaped from ills lips, but he was game through and through. "Thanks," he said, as he paid his check. "I always did like this hotel. You get here exactly what you call for." And he escaped by the side door, still coughing and sputtering.?Philadelphia Inquirer. TAijKr.tti r.Ar?auiruiii!>s>. Think* There Should be it Halt in Treasury Raid*. Washington Cor. News and Courier. C> I. Talbert's speech, which he delivered a few days ago, is occasioning a good deal of favorable comment among his colleagues in the house. The house being in committee of the whole ou the stale of the union, and having under consideration the bill making appropriations for the service of the postoffice departmeut for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, Mr. Talberl made a speech against raising salaries of the postofiice employes and thus increasing taxes. He said in part: "In considering this appropriation bill for tbe support oflde poslotuce department, however large it may be, we must admit that it is more general in its application than many others which have been made by this congress, and I have sat here and listened very patiently to uppenl after appeal in the interest of those who are employed by the government of the United Stales ' not only in this department, but in all the others. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Munn) made an earnest uppeal, almost witb bears ia hjs- eyes, a while, ago to raise tbe sakoes wf the letter-carriers in tbe large cities and towns, aud he says it is a pity that they should be in the employ of the government for twenty years and ' theu at the end of the tweuty years draw the same salary they did at the start, yet you rarely ever hear of one i ot them resigning, nor is it ofteu the the casein any of the departments of the government. They hold on eternally, still crying for more pay, never satisfied, like unto the horse leech. "Why, my frieud, here are congressmen, some of them have been here for forty years, like my friend from Illinois, Mr. Cauuou, and is it a pity that he is getting no more thau $5,000 a. year now,or ought his pay be increased? I say no. Now, my friend I want to say that these men in the employ of the government, all of them from the president of tbe United States down to the humblest employee of the government, are the best paid people in the world, and yet they are all crying out for an increase of salary, with but a few exceptions. Why, it seems to uie there is nobody upon the floor here except tbe tax consumers, and they push their claims earnestly. I want to ask this question in all candor. Has nobody a representative upon this floor except the office-holder and government employee? Have we all beeu elected here to advocate the claims of the salaried class? Important query and more important tbe answer. Let us see if we cannot find some representutive here who will stand up and represent the taxpayers, tbe m$n who have to pay these euormous sums ; am [ to stand ulone iu this case as in pension frauds? I hope not. "I want to find some man who will stand up here and represent tbe men who follow the plough down in the cotton rows and coru fields of tbe south. (Applause.) I want to find some man who will stand up here and represent tbe men who raise wheat and corn in tbe west, and I want to find some representative, some man on : this floor, who will represent tbe blacksmith at tbe forge, tbe laborers in tbe factory, tbe men in tbe coal mines and iron mines, and tbe carpenter at the | bench, as well as tbe tax consumer and the tax eater?the salaried class?who are ull getting more than tbey ought to now when you consider the ability of the taxpayer to meet these enormous demands. Why, Mr. Chairman, I have never yet known a war/ant to be issued to force a man into the government service, where you say he has to work so hard and gets so little pay for his service. (Laughter and applause.) "Why, sir, no corporation or business institution in tbe world can afford ; to pay such salaries as is paid by this greal government to its employees, with so many privileges and so little labor. i "No, sir, there are always nine more standing at tbe door trying to get in for every one already in. There are hundreds and thousands of tbem outside anxious and eager to get iu where these men are serving such a laborious i term of service for so little wages. Go to the departments of this government today and you will find tbem running over each other, iu each other's way, i and if you want to do some service to tbe taxpayers, introduce a bill that would turn out orfe third and make the other two-thirds do the work, and then you can reduce tbe expenses, and maybe raise the salaries a little bit, but- in the name of conscience stop tnis indecent haste in increasing salaries, where in many instances they are already too high. "I want to say that I have no general criticism to make of the hill that has heen brought in by the postotlice committee, except as to one or two items iu connection with amounts to he paid railroads, and one or two others. I believe it is just, I believe it is right, because it is a service rendered .ill the people. Fourteen millions seems to he a large sum for free delivery iu cities and towns; hut when you *xiend the same privilege to the people in the country, I make no ohjeeion. I took the position in the Fiftythird congress that the people iu the country had as much right to free de lelivery of until as the people iu the cities, for they are the bone and sinew of the country. I then began a war to thai end, and with others in the house, notably Mr. Williams, of .Mississippi, ami Mr. Moses, of Georgia, succeeded iu that congress in gemrig an appropriation of' $20,000 for free delivery in the country to the men who work on the farms and in the work shops, in the fields and at the forge, and this was the beginning of the free rural delivery of any practical kind, which has already resulted in disseminating knowledge into the backwoods of the country home."