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^ ^ ISSUED SBMI-VEEKL^ lThTori8T'8 sons, Pnbiiiheri. } % <familg $<nig|japtr: jfor tht gramation of Iht galitltal, Social, ^gritnllaral, and (Eammtctial gnosis aj, the gaaplt. TgEIMi^y^U??lS)5 AI<clt' ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVlLLE. 8. O., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1904. NO,oT ^ LITTLE A ROMANCE OF TH GREAT LORD HAWKE" CYRUS TOVW ~ Author of "Commodore Paul Jones,' I. Copyright, 1901, by IX A CHAPTER XIV. GRAFTON TO THE RESCUE. Jk TTENDED by his captors, Denis de Vitre, in the hateful uniform of the English army, stood bound and facing the governor and his staff in the great hall of the castle. The sunlight sparkled in through the long, ? narrow lancet windows with their leaded, diamond-shaped panes, and made strange traceries upon the polished oaken floor. Pictures of the for mer governors of New France looked down upon the little scene from the walls. There was the dauntless Champlain, the veteran La Barre, the courtly du Quesne, and, conspicuous among the rest, the grim, eagle-like figure of - the greatest of all?old Frontenac. The history of the province waa somehow summed up In that old vaulted chamber, and de Vitre felt as if he were on trial before the heroism of the past as well as the disorganization of the present. "Monsieur de Vitre, you are accused of having betrayed your country by piloting the English ships up the river," began the governor. "And who is my accuser, Monsieur de Ramesay?" answered de Vitre, boldly. "Common report" "And does common report, sir, outweigh the word of honor of an officer and a gentleman?" "Do you deny the charge, monsieur?" "Sir, upon my word of honor, I declare It to be false in every particular!" "But. sir, you were seen, recognized by officers stationed on Cap-Tourmente, on the forward part of the first English ship to pass the promontory. There was a group of English officers _ around you. You seemed to be pointing?Is It no so, Maj. 8t Luc?" . < in/ioa/? fnifl air T anur Mnn. 11 IB 1UULVU wu?| ?* .. ? ieur de Vitre myself," answered the officer, promptly. "If Monsieur St Luc had seen me one-half hour sooner he would have noticed me standing on the rail of the ship with a rope around my neck, ? about to be hanged as a common felon for refusing to show the way to the English." "Can this be true, sir?" asked the governor in surprise. "On my faith it is. I give you my word, sir." "We don't accept the word of a man accused of treachery, sir. Although I have no doubt you were on the rail, as you say, yet I have also no doubt but that the presence of the rope proved efficacious." "Mon Dieu, what an infamous charge!" cried de Vitre, white with rage and passlci} at this Insult, striving to break away from his guards. The governor watched him coolly until he ceased to struggle; then, nonchalantly taking a pinch of snufl; "Be calm, monsieur," he added. "I might have taken your word, but there is another circumstance which must be explained, and which makes it difficult to credit your story. The dress you wear?it is an English coat." "May it please Monsieur le Gouverneur," spoke up the sergeant, "I saw him in the front rank of the English as they charged us. He carried a musKei in nis nana. "That is true," answered de Vitre, "I was there." "Did you discharge the musket?" "Yes, Monsieur le Chevalier?that is, I had done sc." "At the troops of France?" "Yes, but " A roar of rage swept through the hall as the men heard this damning admission. "Why hear any more, Monsieur le Chevalier?" burst out Capt. Rouvigny, voicing the thought of the others. "If he be not a self-convicted traitor, let him be shot as a deserter." "Messieurs, you must hear me! You shall!" exclaimed de Vitre. "I have been a prisoner in the English fleet. Through the connivance or a soldier in their marine I procured this uniform. I escaped from the ship last night I hoped to reach the town and warn you and Monsieur de Montcalm of the expected attack on the town before morning, but I found it impossible to get away. I was compelled to stay in the ranks, and with difficulty escaped detection. I posed as a rpneeade or I would have been killed out of hand. My gun was not loaded with ball. I looked carefully to that, gentlemen. 1 swear to you I threw it away at the first moment and ran to Join my friends. As there is a God in Heaven, Monsieur le Chevalier, I speak the truth! I beg you to hold me until you can communicate with the English and verify my statement." "We cannot hold the town a week, Monsieur de Vitre," returned the gov~ ernor quickly. "And to defer your punishment until the English take us would mean to let you escape scotfree. Frankly, I do not believe your story. What say you, gentlemen?" "No, no, he Is a traitor! Away with bim!" cried one and another. "Gentlemen, if I ever escape from this predicament," answered de Vitre boldly, "rest assured that you shall answer to me for your words and actions!" "This is idle talk, monsieur," said try* " \ FRANCE T E DAYS WHEN "THE WAS KING OF THE SEA JSEND BRADY i " "Reoben James," "For the Freedom >ea," etc. ' J pp. itoa ft Co., Kew York. the governor severely; "as the commajidant of the garrison I shall order you to be shot at once, upon your own admissions, which you have failed to explain to our satisfaction, if there is no one here who will protest, or say a word in your defence." "I will do that, Monsieur le Chevalier!" a clear voice cried out from the other end of the ball, as Anne de Rohan, followed by Josette, entered the door and advanced before the chevalier. "Mademoiselle de Rohan!" exclaimed the governor in great surprise, rising to his feet the while, and bowing profoundly before her, a movement which of course, was emulated by all the officers. "Here is no place for ladies." "I am a witness in the case, Monsieur de ttamesay. Am I in time to save the life and honor of a brave man?" "Ti)ie serves you, mademoiselle, but otherwise your effort is impossible. Monsieur de Vitre was seen this morning in the English ranks in their uniform?Indeed he has it on now. He bore arms against us in the field. He adm its it He is believed to have acted as pilot for the English ships." " TIs false, sir!" Interrupted the* girl. "Thank God for that word, mademoiselle!" cried de Vitre. "If you believe in me I can face the rest of the world undaunted." "Silence, Monsieur de Vitre!?Why say you this, mademoiselle?" asked the governor. "Because there is an English officer wounded and a prisoner In my house, who has learned by chance of Monsieur de Vitre's predicament and who vows that he is innocent; that he did not pilot the ships; that he refused to do so even at the peril of his life, and that he had been held a close prisoner on the English ships since his capture. "Dr. Arnoux dressed the young Englishman's wounds. He is a captain in i>? VmrHch now. When he recovered consciousness I mentioned Monsieur de Vitre's predicament, and he insisted that 1 must come to tell you this story, and if you doubted it I was to ask you to send an officer to question him." "Why came he not himself, then?" "He is too severely wounded, sir, and the doctor forbade him to move." "Be seated, mademoiselle. Let us withdraw, gentlemen, and consider this communication for a moment," said the governor, after reflecting deeply for a short time. The Chevalier de Ramesay and his officers stepped to the other end of the apartment and intently consulted together, leaving Anne standing near de Vitre and his guards. "O mademoiselle," cried de Vitre to her, addressing her despite the presence of the soldiers, "this is a public place in which to address you, but I stand in the shadow of death and I must needs take any opportunity which fate provides me. You have long known of my devotion to you. I have riot disguised it nor do I wish to make 'urther protestations to you. 1 only want to thank you, as a man dy* Krovo ctnn/) vnil hflVP taken In attempting to save not only my life, but what is dearer to me?my honor. Thank Capt Grafton, too, for his good words, though I feel they will be useless. The evidence against me is strong. This cursed uniform is tire last straw. Rankling under the defeat of the morning, and with the certainty of surrender before them, they are too bitter to weigh well what they are doing. They want a scapegoat, and here is one ready to hand. Mademoiselle, one last favor. It means but little perhaps to you but much to me. I cannot go to you. Will you not reach hither your hand?" "They must not kill you, Monsieur de Vitrei 'Tis most unjust!" cried the girl piteously, stepping over to him. "As for my hand?" She stretched it out, and, though he was bound and tied, nothing could have exceeded the courtly grace with which he bent over it and pressed a long kiss upon it. She held it tightly against his lips. "There is my hand, monsieur!" she exclaimed, as the soldiers withdrew a little, r it of consideration for her evident grief. "I would that my heart went with it." "Monsieur de Vitre, mademoiselle," said the governor, returning to hie seat, "we have carefully considered the testimony of Mademoiselle de Rohan and are of the opinion that it is not sufficiently important to cause us to delay the execution. I fear that a few days may see the English in possession of the town, and that, of course, means that you, sir, would es cape an pumsnment. as ior me testimony ot the English officer, he is in , honor bound to extricate his ally from his predicament, and we question " "Who questions the word of Capt Philip Grafton?" cried a stern voice, ar a strangely ill-assorted pair entered th< hall. One of the two was a small slender man, only partially clothed, whose face was ghastly pale and who held his left hand pressed against his right shoulder. He would have falleu to the flcor but that he was supported by he encircling arm of a huge old mar. in the livery of the Rohans. The two were Philip and Jean-Renaud. "Grafton!" cried de Vitre. "Thank God, you have come!" "Jean-Renaud," exclaimed Anne, "how dared you to bring this gentle man here! Against the doctor's orders and mine! His life " "Peace, mademoiselle!" interrupted Grafton. 'T came here because I feared what has happened, that they would not accept your testimony. Your servant but obeyed my orders, he had no choice!" "But your life, monsieur!" said Anne. "I peril it gladly to save the honor of a brave gentleman, though an enemy. Monsieur le Gouverneur, you are about to execute this gentleman?" There was a dead silence in the room. "It is true," answered Mademoiselle de Rohan. "It must not go on!" cried Grafton. "I swear to you on my honor as an ryonflnmon t'nflt Hf Altoloiir Ha JCJU5IIOU gCllllCUJOU IUHI WVUOi?Ui uv Vitre Is innocent! He is no traitor; on the contrary, he deserves your highest commendation. He refused to pilot > ~ PRESSED A LONO KISS UPON IT. the ships in, even though, by the orders of the admiral, he was placed on the rail of the ship with a rope flung around his neck, and men awaited the signal to hang him." Murmurs rose from the officers in the hall. * "Why was he not hanged, then, Sir Englishman?" asked the governor. "Because an English officer interfered, one who hated to see a brave man sacrificed, and through his influence the general, who was his friend, and the admiral, who is his captain, he saved Monsieur de Vitre's life." "Do you Know tnis to De a iact, monsieur?" "I do, monsieur." "Who was the officer that saved hla life?" Il| M The truth in the answer was patent in every line of the blood-stained figure. There was a burst of applause from the officers in the room as his words carried conviction to their hearts. "Who piloted the ships, then?" "Some fishermen, and some of us came up the river without a pilot" "But this uniform?" "I have no doubt that Monsieur de Vitre can explain that. I know that last night he was held a close prisoner on the Sutherland." "Monsieur, forgive the question. I wish to be quite certain. You are not saying this to save an ally" "Sir, I have given you my word of honor, the word of an officer of the king. As God is my judge, I have told the truth! Hold Monsieur de Vitre until you can communicate with Admiral Saunders or Gen. Townshend. Send out a special flag now, and if the facts he tW an I hnvp stated I will answer for them with my own life. You hold me prisoner, sir. I am alone In your power. I would stake anything upon de Vitre's honor. Indeed"?he turned pale and caught at his breast again where the red stains showed under his hand?"I believe that I have staked my life?for " He stopped, his glance wavered toward Anne. "For you?your lover?mademoiselle!" He swayed back and forth and fell heavily to the floor at her feet "Release Monsieur de Vltre!" cried de Ramesay. Anne de Rohan Instantly sank to the floor and knelt by the prostrate form of the English captain, "Ah, mon Dieu!" she cried. "He is dying!" There was a look on her face, In her eyes, for which de Vltre would have given all he possessed. As the soldiers unbound him, he sprang to her side. "You love him!" he cried. "You love him!" CHAPTER XV. "THOU SHALT NOT COVET." ANNE DE ROHAN had admitted to herself as she had watched Grafton before he recovered consciousness that she loved him. If there had been any doubt in her mind of the permanence of her feelings of bygone dayB and their development from the childish devotion to the deep passionate love which filled her soul, the tell-tale kiss she had pressed upon his forehead when she thought him dying would Kor An/1 a Via rnalliyn/l Jia vc UUUCVC1TW uvt* nuu uuv toniuisu it more entirely at that moment when she saw him lying white and still at her feet in the hall. That something of her feeling had expressed Itself In her looks she did not doubt But it is one thing to admit a fact In the secret recesses of one's own consciousness, or even to look one's feelings, and another to have it proclaimed on the housetops. She bitterly iesented de Vitre's impulsive allegation, and that it was true but enhanced her indignation against him and against herself. How could she, a de Rohan, love this commoner of America? How could she, a French woman, bestow her affection upon an enemy? How could she give her heart to a man who wore another woman's picture above his own? Everything Stood la the way of any future relationship whatever between them. And yet how magnificently he had come to the rescue of de Vitrei How nobly he had stood forth in the hall a moment since! 0 God, It was true! She had betrayed herself; the world would know that she had given away her love to this English officer?an enemy. She felt and saw the pointing Angers of her society; she heard the words "TraltressJ Traitress!" In the air. She would not, she could not! Yet, how he bad looked at her when he clutched her dress with that fevered question, "Are you in love with Monsieur de Vitre?" She was afraid of herself. If hf should recognize her and plead with her could she resist him? No, she feared not, she was sure she could not She loved him too well to do so. Of that point she was absolutely certain, and of another fact consequent upon the41rst, as well. She did not love Denis de Vitre. She admired him?but love, no. And yet here was a safeguard. Bethrothed to him she could better struggle against the pleadings of her heart She did not yet realize what her long dormant feelingB toward Philip would be, or how powerful a hold he was to have upon her. "Monsieur de Vltre," she exclaimed, clearly enough to be heard by all the room, "you forget youijself! How could ( love this stranger, an enemy of France? You are not yourself; these trials have bewildered you, and I have but one answer to your charge. You have asked me again and again to? to?in short, monsieur, are you still?" "Mademoiselle de Rohan!" cried de Vltre, clasping her hand, "Is It?will you " "Monsieur, I esteem you, I regard you, I admire you. I am willing, with the consent of my grandfather the marquis? to-'-be " "Monsieur de Ramesay," cried de Vltre, turning to the little group, who had been regarding the couple Intently, "Mademoiselle de Rohan makes me the happiest of men! She deigns to honor me by promising me her hand." "Look to your English friend, Monsieur de Vltre," promptly answered the governor, "and quickly!" "Maledictions upon me!" cried de Vitre, kneeling beside the two servants. "A surgeon, quick!" The physician, who had been previously summoned, was speedily forthcoming, and under his ministrations the flow of blood was staunched and Grafton presently opened his eyes again. "My friend," cried de Vitre, as Grafton recovered consciousness, "what can I say? What can I do to repay you? On the ship yonder you saved my life. A moment since, in this hall, you saved my honor, and I believe it is to you I owe my greatest happiness." "And what is that?" whispered Grafton. "Mademoiselle has consented to do me the honor of becoming my wife." "Ah!" exclaimed Grafton, as if stricken again. "What is it, what is it?" cried the Frenchman, "what can I do?" "You might have let me die, de yitre. But there, 'tis nothing. Take me hence." "Where will you be taken, monsieur?" asked the governor. "He shall go back to my house," interrupted Anne, "whence he came. And you, Monsieur de Vitre, will ac company " "Your pardon, mademoiselle," said de Ramesay, "I believe Monsieur de Vltre to be Innocent of all the charges that have been made against him, but my duty compels me to detain him in the castle until I can communicate with the English. One of my aides will accompany you home." " 'Tis useless, sir. I have here a faithful guard. If you will have some of your aoldiers bring a litter to carry Monsieur Grafton, It will be enough." "Watch over him well, mademoiselle!" cried de Vltre, as the soldiers bore him from the room. "I owe him much?everything!" "Trust me, monsieur," replied the young girl. "Monsieur le Governor, Lieutenant de Vitre, gentlemen, I bid you adieu!" With a sweeping courtesy she left the room. Attended by Josette and guarded by Jean-Renaud, with brimming eyes and a leaden heart in her bosom, she walked by the litter as the soldiers bore it through the street With downcast head she moved, yet no movement of her wounded charge escaped her. Grafton lay on the stretcher with his eyes closed. Once, as the bearers stumbled, he opened them with a sharp exclamation of pain. Instantly she bent over him. As her gaze fell upon his face he slowly turned his head away, as if the sight were too much for him and he could not bear to look upon ber. "Are you In pais, monsieur?" "Ah, Mademoiselle de Couedlc!" he answered, "such pain as I trust you may never know." "Why did you turn your head from me?" "MA/temnlselle." he answered softlv. still not looking at her, "I am thinking of some pregnant words in an old book which I had read to me when I was a child." "And those words, monsieur?" " 'Thou shalt not covet.' You understand the English?" he whispered. "I understand?everything, monsieur." "Monsieur de Vitre," said the governor, "if you give me your parole you may have the freedom of the chateau. I congratulate you first upon your acquittal, and more, monsieur, upon the prize you have gained. Faith, sir, yours is like to be the one victory of the arms of France!" TO BE CONTINUED. XiT'It is seldom one hears an Interesting lie, though the people surely get | enough practice. ^isceltanfous Reading. BATTLES BRING ON RAIN. Campaign In Manchuria Furniahas Renewed Evidence In 8upport of the Theory. Ever since hostilities In the far East have reached the stage where the gTeat guns and heavy ordnance play a leading part in the game, the Information that the operations of the the Russian and Japanese armies have practically come to a standstill owing the "heavy rainfalls" and almost Impassable roads in consequence thereof, Is making Its reappearance In the daily papers at snort intervals. Almost every dispatch from the seat of war bearing news of this character ascribes this "heavy downpour" to the prevailing "rainy season," and predicts that at its close the campaign will be continued with renewed vigor. The war and navy department at Washington are close observers of events at the front, and among other points which attract their particular attention is that of the weather conditions accompanying the operations of the two forces. Official records show that almost every Important action since gun, cannon and mortar have become factors in warfare, was accompanied or followed by thunderstorms or heavy rainfalls; that, In fact, the continuous discharge of firearms and heavy ordnance was the direct cause of this natural phenomenon, ani tha the time or season of the year had no, or at least little, bearing In the matter, since experiments and observations established the fact that heavy bombardments have transformed "dry seasons" Into veritable "seas of rain and mud." The battle of Buena Vista, Mexico, according to the records of the war department, took place on February 22 and 23, 1847. This was in the dry season in that country; there had been no rain for several months before the battle and there was none for several ?~ OKa- 1" ?w - IUU11UIO ai ICI . AIllCV OIIW ?. , ..w .. ever, followed the first day's engagement, two of which were specially remarkable. On the 23d, about one or two hours alter the severe cannonading that took place between 8 and 10 a. m., there was a most violent rainfall for some 10 or 15 minutes. Again in the afternoon, at about the same interval after another period of heavy cannonading another violent shower of rain fell. The fact before mentioned, that no rain had fallen for months before the battle, and that none fell for months after at that place, is almost proof positive not only that the cannonading caused the rain, but that cannonading will bring rain at a time when the atmospheric conditions are apparently in the highest degree unfavorable to the production of that phenomenon through the ordinary operations of nature. The battle of Palo Alto, Mexico, on May 8, 1846, also fought in the dry season, was also followed by rain. The battle or siege of Monterey was fought September 21 to 23, 1846, which, like the dates before mentioned, was In the dry season. The morning of the 21st was bright and beautiful, but "soon after the storming of the two forts, Faderacion and Salado, a violent storm came up," and to Its "unbroken peltIngs" General Woiwi and the Becond division were exposed throughout the night The battle of Contreas was fought on August 19, 1847, at a season when rains were very Infrequent. "Thi battle raged furiously, and for more than three hours the entire force was under a heavy fire. Night at length put an end to the conflict, and a cold rain soon afterward began, to fall In torrents." The battle of Cherubusco was fought the next day, which was bright and clear. The day after it rained heavily. The battle of Molino del Rey, fought on Sept. 8, 1847, was also followed in the afternoon and evening by a hard rain, as was the battle of Chepultepec, which was fought on Sept. 13, 1847. In the Civil war the occurrence of the phenomenon under discussion was frequent. The battle of Big Bethel may be mentioned as an early Instance. This battle, fought in Eastern Virginia on June 10, 1861, was soon followed by a copious rain. Incessant rains attended General McClellan's campaign in Western Virginia in July, 1861. His troops "had four separate engagements on four days, and before the close of each violent rains fell." The battle of Rich Mountain, fought on July 10, was one of these, and was followed by one or two rainy days. The following engagements, which took place In that part of the country later in the same year, were also each followed quickly by rain: Battle of Carnifax Ferry, Aug. 10, 1861; battle nt ch^nt Mountain. Sept. 13 and 14, 1861; battle of Green Brier, Oct. 3, 1861; battle of Alleghany Summit, Dec. 12, 1861. None of these are classed as great battles, but the firing was apparently sufficient to bring rain. The first battle of Rull Run was fought on July 21, 1861. The day was bright and clear all through, but the next day was one of drenching- rain. As early In the war as the siege of Lexington, Mo., which ended on Sept. 20, 1861, in the surrender of Colonel Mulligan to the Confederates, the fact that heavy artillery firing was usually followed by rain had already been noticed In the west. On the 17th the beleagued garrison was cut off from the river and thus deprived of water; but to encourage the soldiers to hold out as long as possible for the arrival of the expected re-enforcements, it was represented to them by their officers that the cannonading would surely bring rain to quench their thirst. And this prediction was fulfilled; though, unfortunately, they had no way to catch the water which their firing had drawn from the sky except by spreading their blankets to the shower and then wringing them out. In the south, as well as in the east and west, rain followed heavy cannonading. One engagement near Port Pickens, Fla., was an early Instance. Flag Officer William W. McKean, commanding the gulf blockading squadron, In a report to the secretary of the navy, dated November 25, 1861, thus mentions the circumstances. He says: "Sirs: I have the honor to Inform you that on the 22d Inst, a combined attack was made upon the rebels at this place by Colonel Brown, of Ft. Pick lens, and the united states snips Niagara and Richmond, under my command. ... At 10 o'clock, at the firing of the first gun from the fort (the signal agreed upon), the Niagara stood in, followed by the Richmond, and both ships came to anchor. We immediately opened fire. At 6 p. m. a sudden squall came up from the northward and westward, the wind blowing very fresh, with heavy rain," etc. The records show that the following battles or actions were either accompanied or closely followed by rain: Battle of Logan's Crossroads, battle of Ft. Donelson, battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., attack and capture of Roanoke Island, capture of Newbern, N.' C., capture of Ft. Macon, the naval action in Hampton Roads, the capture of New Madrid, Mo., attack on Island No. 10, bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, bombardment and passage of the Vicksburg batteries, battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shlloh, April 6 and 7, 1862, battle of Bull Pasture Mountain, May 8, 1862; battle of Winchester, Va., May 24 and 26, 1862; battle of Cross Keys, June 8, 1862; capture of Yorktown, battle of Williamsburg, fighting on the Chickahominy, battle of Hanover Courthouse, battle of Fair UaKS or seven fines, gunovtu unug on James River, artillery firing In front of Hooker's seven days' fight, battle of Gaines's Mill, battle of Savage's Station, battle of Malvern Hill, battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862; heavy artillery firing at Kelley*s Fort and Rappahannock Station, fight at Bristow Station, second battle of Bull Run, battle Chantily, battle of Antietam, battle of Perryville or Chaplin's Creek, Ky.; battle of Prairie Grove, Ark.; capture of Van Buren, Ark.; battle of Murfresboro or Stone River; battle of Fredericksburg, Va.; battle of Cliancellorsville; battle of Beverly Ford, Va.; battle of Gettysburg, Penn.; affair at Mine Run; destruction of Confederate steamer Nashville; battle of Carney's Bridge, La.; assault on Port Hudson; Porter's passage of the Vlcksburg batteries; battle of Raymond, Miss.; naval action off Charleston Harbor; attack on defenses of^ Secessionville; attack on Morris Island; attack on General Terry on James Island; bombardment of Ft Wagner; attack on Ft. Sumter; battle of Mission Ridge; Red River campaign; battle of Marks' Mill; battle of Dallas, Ga.; battle of the Wilderness; battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse; battle of North Anne niwor- hnttlo of Cold Harbor or Be thesda Church; battle of Hatcher's Run; fight at Dublin Bridge; battle of Newmarket; battle of the Cedars; the great battle of Nashville and many others. In other parts of the world the same phenomenon has been noticed. The battle of Dresden was fought on August 25 and 27. "On the 27th the battle was renewed under torrents of rain and amid a tempest of hall." The battle of Llgny was fought on June 16. "After the battle the weather was dreadful, the rain fell In torrents." The battle of Waterloo Is said to have been followed after 36 hours by a long rain. Of the battle of Eylau, Feb. 8, the record says: "The action began at daybreak. Two strong columns advanced for the purpose of turning the right and storming the center of the Russians, but they were repulsed In great disorder. About midday a heavy storm of snow began falling, which added to the obscurity caused by the smoke from the burning village of Serpallen." At Madras on June 4,1778, "morning fair, noon cloudy, In the evening rain. N. B.?More than 200 pieces of cannon fired In salutes." "During the siege of Valenciennes by the allied army In the year 1793 it rained violently every day soon after the heavy cannonading began. The allies employed 200 heavy ordnance, and the besieged had about 100, and they were frequently all In action at one time." In the last war between France and Germany the occurrence of storms of rain after battles was specially noticeable, particularly so In the months of August ana sepiemoer, uiiu wc a*>j counts from the battlefields contained many allusions to the subject. For instance, Immediately after the battle of Sedan, at which the French emperor was taken prisoner, a telegram dated Donchery, Sept. 3, reads: [ "It is raining torrents." Again at the bombardment of Strasburg, in a dispatch dated Sept. 8, It says: "There are dally thunderstorms and the Rhine has risen, driving the inhabitants from their cellars." It may be seen that in the Civil war almost every battle of the eastern armies was followed by rain; that rain followed all the grreat battles of the south; that it not only followed single battles; but frequently each engagement of a series; that on land and on the water, In the interior and on the coast, on the Mississippi, on the gulf and on the Atlantic, again and again, storm followed battle and that the phenomenon, confined to no region was also peculiar to no season.?Chicago Chronicle. JW Somehow, when every woman catches sight of herself and husband in a mirror, she is reminded of a story she once read years ago, called "Beauty and the Beast." PARKER RETURN8 THANKS. Democratic Candidate Exolaina the Reason of the Republioan Victory. Judge Parker, on last Wednesday afternoon issued the following address: To the Democracy of the Nation: Our thanks are due to the members of the national committee and to the executive committee in charge of the campaign for most unselfish, capable N and brilliant party service. All that it i was possible for men to do they did, " but our difficulty was beyond the reach of party managers. I am most gratsful to them and wish in this general way to extend my thanks to the workers, as well as the rank and file, all over the country. I know how hard they struggled against overwhelming odds, and I only wish I could take each one by the hand and thank him. Deeply as I regretted leaving the bench at the time of It, in the presence /V# AVA?m.Via1mino> <1afaaf T A n nA? 1a - vi u> ui n iiciiuuif & uv mw ment It. I thougrht it was my duty. Tn the light of my present Information I am now even more confident that I did right. I shall never seek a nomination for public office, but I shall to the best of my ability serve the party that has honored me, and through the party serve my country. The party has in the near future a great mission. Before long the people will realize that the tariff fed trusts and Illegal combinations are absorbing the wealth of the nation. Then they will wish to throw off these leeches, but the Republican party will not aid them to do It, for its leaders appreciate too well the uses to which the moneys of the trusts can be put in political campaigns. When that time comes, and come It will, the people will turn to the Democratic party for relief, and the party should be ready?ready with an organ'zatlon of patriotic citizens covering every election district, who are willing fo work toj- the love of the cause?an organization supported by sa many town, city, county-and state o:flcers as we are able to elect in the meantime. We entered this canvass wlvh every ndrthem, western and eastern state, nave one, in Republican control. This gave to that party a large army of officeholders reaching Into every hamlet, many of whom gladly followed the examples set for them by the members of the president's cabinet: in devoting their time and service to the % party. To accomplish much In this direction however, we must forget the difficulties of the post. If any one inspects his neighbor of treachery, let him not hint of his suspicion. If he knows he has deserted us, let him not tell It. Our forces have been weakened by division. We have quarreled at times over non-essentials. If we would help the people, if we would furnish an organisation through which they may be relieved of a party that has grown so corrupt that It will gladly enter Into narmersnip wun irusu iu kcui? uwueys for election purposes, we must forget the difficulties of the past nnd begin this day to build up wherever it may be needed a broad and effective organization. And we must by constant teaching, through the pross and from the platform, apprise the people of the way the vicious tariff circle works,' We must bring home to them at other than election times, the fact that moneys contributed to the Republican oarty by the trusts is not only dishonest money, but it is given that the trusts may, without hindrance!, take a much larger sum from the people. In the presence of a defeat that would take away all personal ambition, were it true that otherwise it potsesaed me, I do not hesitate to say that in my opinion the greatest moral question which now confronts us is: Shall the trusts and corporations be prevented from contributing money to control or to aid in controlling elections? Such service as I can render la that or any other direction will be gladly rendered. And I beg the co-operation as 4 fellow worker of every Democrat in the country. (Signed) Alton B. Pxr.'C*b. The History op Sheep.?Of all domestic animals the sheep haa from time immemorial, been moat closely associated with mankind. An erudite author sixty years afro, having laboriously collated an assortment of allusions to sheep made by sacred and profane writers, concluded that "the history of these animals is so .'.nterwoven with the history of man that they never existed in a wild state at all." Biblical history from the time of Abel is full of allusions to the docks which formed the chief possessions of the Jewish people and their neighbors. The spoils of war and the tribute of vassal Kings largely consisted of sheep Thus we read that Mesha, King of Moab, was a sheep master, and rendered unto the King of Israel an hundred thousand rams with the wool. Moses after his victory over the Midianites obtained as loot no less than 675,000 sheep, and long before the Christian era sheep were cultivated in Western Europe. Spain and Italy possessed them from an unknown period, although long after Rome was founded the Inhabitants had not learned to sheer the fleece; and, until the time of Pliny, the practice of plucking it from the skin was not wholly al>andoned, so long that the humble shepherds of Syria preceded, in their knowledge of necessary arts, the future conquerors of their country^? Outing. The Imp Hoax.?This brazen im:;x>sture on the credulity of the English public was the result of a wager between the Duke of Montague and another nobleman in 17411. In discussing the amazing gullibility of the English people the former declared that If one were to advertise ft well that he would jump into a quart bottle ail London would go to see him do it. The wager being made, an advertisement was inserted in all of the leading papers promising that the feat would be performed on a certain date at the Haymarket theater. Ori the appointed day the theater wan packed from pit to dome, and many hundreds were turned from the doors. The supposed magician appeared on the stnge and had the temerity to state that If the audience would pay double the price he would enter a pint bottle, shown on the stage table, Instead of the quart flask, as furnished. He then hurriedly escaped by the stage door. A riot resulted, in which the theater was badly wrecked, and the duke and his companion had to leave town until the excitement was well | over. ?