The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, November 23, 1892, Image 6
nr?rn A\/r-n^
B? I KAYtLUJ
OF.
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance of Love, Intrigue and
Crime.
'
~
BY MRS. ALICE P. CARRISTON
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE LIGHTNING'S FLASH IN THE CLEAR SET.
Flora had closed her eyes to conceal
ber tears. She opened them at the instant
Slyme seized her hand and called
her "poor angel."
Seeing the man on his knees, she could I
not comprehend it, and only exclaimed,
simply:
"Are you mad, Mr. Slyme?"
"Yes, 1 nm mad!" Slymq, threw his hair
back with a romantic gesture common to
bim and, he believed, to the poets. "Yes,
I am mad with love and with pity, for I
see your sufferings, pure and noble
victim!"
Flora only stared in blank astonishment.
"Repose yourself with confidence," he
continued, "on a heart that will be a?- i
Toted io yon until death?a heart into
which your tears now roll to its mont
eacred depths."
Flora did not wish her tears to roll to
such a distance, so she dried them.
A man on his knees before the woman
he adores must appear to her either
sublime or ridiculous. Unfortunately
the attitude of Sly me, at once theatrical
and awkward, did not seem snblime to
Flora. To her lively imagination it was
irresistibly ludicrous.
A bright gleam of amusement illumined
her charming countenance; she bit her
lips to conceal it, but it shone out of her
eyes neverthelesa
One should never kueel unless sure of
rising conqueror. Otherwise, like Slyme,
he exposes himself to be laughed at.
T''? " w ITIavo nroralv J
IUB6, mr. oi^iuC} ooiu Xiwawj v?j? i
"This book has evidently bewildered you.
Go and take some rest and we will forget
this; only yon must never forget your* I
elf again in th.s manner."
Slyxne rose. He was livid.
"Mrs. Cleveland," be said, bitterly, "the I
' love of a great beart can never be an
offense. Mine at least would have been
sincere ; mine would liave been faithful;
mine would not have been an infamous
snare!"
The emphasis of these words displayed
o evident an intention, the countenance
of Flora changed immediately. She
moved uneasily on the lounge.
"What do you mean, Mr. Slyme?"
"Nothing, ma'am, which you do not
know, I think," he replied meaningly.
She rose.
*Y<m shall explain your meaning immediately
to me, sir 1" she exclaimed; "or
later, tony husband."
"But your sadness, your tearB," cried
the secretary, in a tone of admirable sincerity;
"these made me 6ure you were
not ignorant of it !**
"Of what? How he hesitates ! Speak,
man!"
"I am not a wretch I I love you and pity
you!?that is all;" and Slyme sighed
rtAAYtlV
"And why do you pity me?"
She spoke haughtily; and though Slyme
had never suspected this imperiousness
of manner or of languttge, he reflected
hurriedly on the point at which he had arrived.
More sure than ever of success,
after a moment ne took from his pocket a
folded letter.
It was the one with which he had proTided
himself to confirm Flora's suspicions,
now awakened for the first time.
In profound silence he unfolded it and
handed it to her. r t .
She hesitated a moment, then seized it.
A single glance recognized the writing,
for she nad often exchanged notes with
\ Cora.
Words of the most burning passion
terminated thus:
"Always a little jealous of Flo; half
vexed at having given her to you. For
she is pretty, and?but // l am beautiiui,
am I not, my beloved? and above all, I
adore you!"
At tb? first word Flora became fearfolly
pale. Finishing, she ottered a fearful
groan, re-read tbe letter, and returned
it to Slyme, as if unconscious of
what she was doing."
For a few seconds she remained motionlese?petrified?her
eyes fixed on vacancy.
A world seemed rolling down and crushing
her heart.
Suddenly she turned, passed with rapid
steps into her boudoir; and Slyme heard
the sound of opening and shutting drawers.
A moment after she reappeared with bat
and cloak, and crossed tbe boudoir witn
the same stroug and rapid step.
Sl.vmo, terrined to death, rushed to
top her.
"Mm. Cleveland!" he criod, throwing
himself before her.
She waved him aside with an imperious
gesture of her hand. He trembled
* and obeyed, and she left the boadoir.
A moment later she was on the avenue,
going toward Broadway.
It was now near mii<night; cold, damp
weather, with the rain falling in great j
droDs. The few pedestrians still on the |
broad pavement turned to follow with
their eyes this majestic lady, whotte gait
seemed hastened by some errand of life
or death.
But in New York nothing is snrprising,
for people witness all manner of
things there. Therefore, the 6trange appearitn<-e
of Flora did not excite any extraordinary
attention.
A few men smiled and nodded; others
threw a few words of raillery at her.
Boih were unheeded alike.
Bea< hing Madison Square, she stopped
near the fountain, 'I ho sound of tbe
falling water can ht her e r. She leaned
against a tree, and gazed into the agitated
pool; then bowing her hend, she sighed a
groaning sigh, and turned back.
Hurrying up Fifth avenue, she pasted '
her own door, and soon reached the Ellis,
ton mansion.
Arrived there, the unfortunate child
knew not what to do, nor even why she
had come. She had some vague design,
as though to assure beraslf pxlpubly of
her misfortune: 10 touch it with hnr
linger, or i ernaps to una some reason,
tome pretext to <io bt it.
She dropped down on the stone steps
and bid her face in both her hands, vainly
striving to think.
It tt-as past midnight The streets
were deserted; a shower of rain was falling,
and she was chilled to numbness.
A policeman pas-ed by. He turned
and stared nt the young woman, then
took her roughly l?y thr arm.
"What are yon doing here?" he asked,
brutally.
She looked up at him with wondering
eyes.
*1 do not know myself." she answered.
The mau looked more closely nt her,
discovered throng all her confusion a I
nameless refinement and the subtle per*
M ? * "Da * ?nlr nifv nn Vior I
I U III U1 puiltj* JLLU IVVB ^??,7 v? Mv.f
"But, mad.iin, you cannot stay here,"be
rejoined, in a softer voice.
"No?"
Yon must have some great Borrow?"
Tery great."
"Wh is yoar name?"
"Flora Cleveland," she said, simply.
The man looked bewildered.
"Will you tell me where yoa live?" hi
asked.
8he gave the number with perfect simplicity
and perfect indifference. bhe
teemed to be thinking nothing of what
he wag Baying.
"Ah! juBt below here," said the offl(MT.
Yes." she rejoined.
'Will you take my arm?"
She did bo quietly, and they started
slowly down the street.
Eugene had just reached the house, and
heard with stnpefit-d surprise, from the
lips of the lady's maid, the details of hi6
wife's mysterious disappearance, when the
hall rano Tiol^ntlv.
He raahed oat and met his wif? nn
stairs. She had somewhat recovered her
calmness, and as be interrogated her with
a searching glanoe, made a ghastly effort
to smile.
"I was slightly ill and went ont a little,"
she said. "I walked too far and am
somewhat tired."
ft otwithstanding the improbability of
the explanation, he did not hesitate. He
mnrmured a few soft words of reprorch
and placed her in the hands of her moid,
who removed her wet garments.
During that time he called the officer,
ftho remained in the vestibule, and close
!y interrogated him.
On learning where be had found Flora,
Eu?ene knew at once and folly the whole
.ruth.
He went directly to his wife. She had
retired and was trembling in every limb.
One of her bands was resting ontside
;he coverlet.
He rashed to take it. bnt she withdrew
rt; gently, bat with sad and reBolnte digaity.
The simple restore told him they were
leparated forever.
By a tacit arrangement proposed by her,
iad'as tacitlv accepted by him, Flora became
virtually a widow.
He remained for some seconds immovable,
his expression loat in the shadow of
t curtain; then slowly left the chamber.
The idea of lying to defend himjfelt never
occurred to him.
His line of conduct was already ar
ranged?caimiy, memoaicaijy. uui iwo
bine circles had already sunk around his
Byes, and his face wore a waxen pallor.
His hands, joined behind his back,
were clenched together; and the ring he
wore sparkled with their tremulous movement.
After half an hour he stood in the door
of her chamber.
"Flo!" he said.
She turned her eyes gleaming with
(ever upon him.
"Flo, I am ignorant of what yon know,
md I sh 11 not ask you," he continued,
as he stepped into the room and ap
AU ?J U A?t V\A(1 I " T Vl a TTA f^AQfl VAH(
pioauiiou UC* UCU, ? JL u??o WOOU ?''
sriminal toward you, bat perh&pa less so
than you think.
"Terrible circomstances bonnd me with
ron bands. Fate ruled me! But I seek no
palliation. Judge of me a* severely as
rou wish; but I beg of you calm yourself
-preserve yonrselfl
You spoke to me this morning of your
presentiments-of yonr maternal hopes.
Attach yourself to those thoughts, and
rou will always be mistress of your life.
\s for myself, I ahull be whatever you
ffill me?a stranger or a friend. But now
[ feel that my piesence makes you ill. I
will leave you for a time, but not alone.
Would you wish Mrs. Morgan to come to
rou?"
"Yes," 6he murmured, faintly.
"I shall go for her; hut it is not necessary
to tell you there are confidences one
muit reserve from one's dearest friends."
"Except a mother?" She murmured the
question with a supplicating agony, very
painful to see.
TTa of ill noln? 1 or on inaf anf *
I IID JJiOff OUti VU?Wii WM
"Except a mother!" he said. "Bei it bo!"
She turned her face nnd buried it in th?
pillow.
"Your mother returns to-morrow, does
she not?"
She made an affirmative motion of her
head.
"Yon can make your arrangements with
her. I shall accept everything."
"Thank you," she replied, feebly.
He left the room and went to find Mrs.
Morgan, whom be awakened, and briefly
told her his wife had been seized with a
severe nervous attack, the effect of a chili.
The amiable lady ran hastily to Flora
and spent the night with her.
But she was not the dupe of the explanation
Eugene had given her. Women
quickly understand each other in their:
griei.
Nevertheless she asked no confidences
and received none; bat ber tenderness to
the stricken one redoubled.
During tbe silence of that dreadfal
night the only service she could render
her was to make her weep.
Nor did those laggard hours pass less
bitterly for Eugene Cleveland.
He tried to take no rest, but walked up
and down his apartments until daylight
in a sort of frenzy. The distress of this
poor child wonnded him to the heart.
The memories of the past rose before
him. and paused onward in sad procession.
Then the morrow wonld show him
the crushed daughter with her mother?
her loving mother. Mortally stricken in
all her best illusions, in all her deareBt
hopes, in all connection with the buppinesB
of life!
He found he had yet in his heart lively
feelings of pity; yet some remorse in his
conscience."
' Strange to say, this weakness irritated
him, ana he denounced it to himself.
Who had bfltraved him?
This QtieBtion agitated him to an eaoal
degree, oat irom tne tlrst instant he had
cot been deceived in this matter.
The sn den grief and half-crazed conviction
of his wife, her despairing attitude,
and ber silence, could only be explained
by strong assurance and certain
revetaiiou.
After having turned the matter over
and over in his mind, he arrived at the
conclusion that nothing could have
thrown such clear light into his life save
Clara's letters.
He never wrote to Mrs. Elliaton, but
jould not prevent her writing to him, for
to her, as to all women, love without letters
was incomplete.
But the fanlt of Eugene, inexcusable in
a man o his tact, was to have preserved
these let'ere. No one, however, iB perfect,
and ne was an >.rtist. ?
He delighted in these chef d'oeuvres of
p ssion.te eloquence, wm prond of inspiring
them, and he conld not make up his
mind to barn or destroy them.
He examined at once the secret drawer
where he had concealed them, and by
certain signs discovered the lopk had
been t <mpered with. Nevertheless, there
was no letter missing; the arrangement
of them nlone had been disturbed.
His suspicions at once reverted to
Slyme. whose scruples he suspected were
ulif?K4 01%/) In f U a mafnmrt tt? n *n
I UUV nii|^uvt SUM iu buo iuviuuig IUUJ n??o
confirmed beyond lioabt by a letter from
tlto seorettry to his employer.
Ia tact, Blyme, after passing on bit
pnrt a most wretched night, did not feel
bis nerves equal in the morning to meeting
the reception possibly in waiting for
aim at the Lelandg'. His letter was
skillfully penned, to put asleep suspicion
i it had not been fully aroused, and if
Flora had not betrayed him.
[Jit announced hi* acceptance of a lucrative
situation, suddenly offered him in a
iommrrcittl house in Boston. He was
)bliged to decide at once, and to Btart
bat same morning, for fear of losing au
jpporiunity which coul not recur Hgain.
[t concla.'ed with the liveliest gratitude
ind re ret.
Eugene oould not very well reach hi>
orother-jn- aw's secretary to strangle
bim; so he resolved to do the next best
thing. He not only sent him a friendly
letter tbRnkin,'him for all bis kindneea
; > his wife, but a handsome present in
viditton as a testimonial of his sympathy
ind too wishes'
This, however, was a simple precauion,
for he pprehended nothing more
from the venomous reptile, so far beaeath
him, after ho had once shaken him
)ff.
Seeing him deprived of the only weap)n
be could possibly use against him, he
felt pafBesides, so far as he knew,
Slvme ad ost the o ily interest be oonld
1 ire to subspive, for he knew this man
b d do?e nim the compliment of eourtnj
ii'K wtfe.
4it i h? Trail? stMttned him littln ,
V
\ ......
'.ess low, after discoTenng this gentle*
nanlr taste! <
Ah! but the end was not yet. i
1
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE DAUGHTER AND HER MOTHER.
It required on the part of Eugene Cle ve- 1
(and, this same morning, an exertion of 1
ill his courage to perform his duty as a 1
!;entleman in receiving Mr. and Mrs Le> <
and upon their return home. But courage '
had been for some time past his sole regaining
virtue; and this, at least, *he 1
songht never to lose. 1
tt * 3 iv * Viia
lie receiveu tuouu xuudv ^atciuuj??
father and mother-in-law as they descended
from their carriage ?dd entered
die broad hall.
"Mr T Alnr.ri woo *nnr?>i V>rnk*m in TiAalth. '
ice trip, which it naa been nopea would '
senffit, had only wearied him: and now, j
in again entering his own door, he begged ;
to be at once assisted to his sleeping 1
:oom. 1
Mrs. Leland lingered in snrprise at not
seeing her daughter there to meet them, 1
ind cast an inquiring look upon Eugene. {
He informed her that she had been a '
little indisposed since tbe preceding even- '
ng. Notwithstanding the precautions he s
:ook in his language and by his smile, be .
lould not prevent Mrs. Leland from feel- I
Inga lively alarm. f
He did not pretend, however, entirely
to reassure her. Under his reserved and 1
measured-replies, she felt tbe presentment
nf BomA After having ! 1
orerRed him "with, many questions, she
roddenly turned and hurried up stairs.
Flora, to spare her mother the first
ihook, had quitted her bed and dressed
herself; and the poor child had even put
?'little, rouge on her pale cheeks. ?nz'ene,
who h*d hastened after his mother*
in-law, himself opened' for her the door
of her daughter s chamber, and then
withdrew.
All that passe d between them at first wa?
? silent interchange of mutual cai esses.
Then the mother seated herself near
her daughter, drew her head on hex
oosom, and looked into the depths of hei
lyes.
"What is the matter?" she asked oadlv.
"Oh, nothing?nothing hopeless! only
fou must love your little Flo more than
ever. Will you not?"
"Yes; but why?"
"I must not worry you; end I must not
wrong myself, either. You know why!"
"Yp.s: hnt I imnlore vou. my darline.
to tell me."
"Very well; I will tell you everything i
But, mother, yon most be as brav# as I ]
?m."
' She boried her head lover still on her
mother's breast, and commenced to recount
to her, in a low voice, withoat
looking up once, the terrible revelation
which haaheen made to her, and which
her husband's avowal had confirmed.
Mrs. Leland did not once interrupt her
daring this cruel recital. She only imprinted
a kiss on her hair from time to
time. ^ ]
mora, who aia sot aura ig ?me nor |
eves to her, as though ahe were ashamed
of another's crime, might have imagined
that she had exaggerated the gravity of
her misfortune, since her mother had re*
oeived the confidence with so much calmoess.
But the calmness of Mrs. Leland
at this terrible moment was that of the
martyrs; for all that could have been
suffered by the Christians under the
claws of the tiger, or on the rack of the
torturer. this mother was suffering at the
hands of her best-beloved daughter.
Her beautiful pale face?her large eyes
upturned to heaven, like those they give
to the pure victims kneeling in the Roman
circus-appeared as though demanding
of Qod if Hs really had any consolation
for such torture.
When Bhe had heard all, she summoned <
ftn cmiTo at. Vi?r rlftnohtpr whn at
Iftst looked up to her -with an expression
of timid uncertainly, embracing hex
more tightly still.
"Well, my darling," said she, atlas^ "il
is a great affliction, it tv true. Yon arc
rixht, notwithstanding; there i> nothing
to despair of."
"Do yon really believe so?"
"Certainly. There is some inconceivable
mystery under all this; bnt be assured
that the evil is not so terrible as it
appears."
My poor mother! but he has acknowledged
it?" 1
"I am better pleased he has acknowledged
it. That proves he has jet some
pride, and some good yet left in bis soul.
Then, too, he feels very muchafflicted; ha
suffers as much us we do. Think of that.
Let ns think of the future, my darling."
They clasped eaoh other's hands, and
smiled at one another to restrain the tears
which filled the <yes of both.
After ? few minutes:
"I must go to your poor father now, my
child," said Mm. Leland, "nnd tben I
would like to repose for half an hour."
"T will VOM to DftDa's TBOm.
Oh, lean walk! I feel agreat cfealbetter."
"I think yon Had better wait a little,
my dear. "Vonr father is reposing aftei
the fatigue* of the journey. I will come
for yon by and by."
"Very well, mamma."
Mrs. Lelaud rose to leave the room. A
the door she turned :
"Be sensible," she said, with another
smile,
"And you also," rejoined Flora, whose
voice failed her.
Mrs. Lei ind hastened to her own
private room, closed and locked the door,
raised her clnsped hands toward HeHven;
then, falling on l>er knees before the bed,
she buried her head in it, and commenced
to weep despairingly. |
Flora, left alone in her room, dropped '
- - * -1 .1 T 1 J ?
upon Qer itDetJB, tll?ucu uci iibuud, niiu
supplicated the Great Throne for strength
to Dear the terrible trial through which
she was passing. 1
Tba npartment occupied by Eugene was
continuous to this chamber. He had been
walking with long strides up nnd down
the room, exj ecting every moment to eao
Mrs. Leland enter.
As the time passed on he tat himself
down and tried to read, but his thoughts :
wondered. His ear eagerly receivadp ,
sgniust his will, the slightest sounds in
the house. If a foot Feemed approaching
him, be rose suddenly and triea to com- '
pose his countenance. When the door of i
the neighboring chamber was opened his i
agony was redoubled. j
He caught the sound of a weary sigh,
then, an iustnnt after, the dull fall of
Mrs. Lei and npon the carpet, then her
despairing sobs. *
Eugene threw from him violently the '
book which be was forcing himself to
read, placing his elbows on the bureau
which was before him, held, for a Ion7
t me, bis pale forehead tightened in hiB
contracted hand*. ^When the Round of
tue sobs abated and ceased, little by little,
he breathed freefc
A little after midday he received this
note:
"My husband's health if hopelessly
broken. He has sent in his resignation to
the directors of tbe bank. He longs for
the country. Warren has placed his
house xt Roxbury at our disposal, and we
depart almost immediately. If you will
permit me to take mv daughter with me
for a few dayB, I shall be grateful to
you. Aonkb L .land."
He returned this simple reply: 8
"You can ><o nothing of which I do not t
approve to-day and alwa>?. I ,
"Eugene Cleveland." ^ j
Mrs. Leland. in fact, having consulted
the inclination and the stre igtb of her J
daughter, hjid determined to remove her t
witho t delay, if pos ible, from thu mi- 6
press ons of the spot where sne had .
suffered bo severely from the presen e
of her busba-id, aod from the uxifortu- I
~ ? ? 1? ? iknin vnntna) o.tn j 4
u>iio eiuuuniMbuicuiux lucu I
tion.
She desired also to meditate in solitude,
in order to decide whut coarse to
take un.ler unexpected iroumstances.
, Finally, she had not the courage to see
Eugene again?it she coal I ever set him
again- until some time had el psed. It
wa- uot without tuixietj that she n waited J
his reply to the request she had addressed ?
bint.
In the midet of the troubled confusion
>f her ideas, she believed him capable of
tlmost anything; and she feared every:hinp
from him.
Eugene's note reassured her.
?l? - ?A in 4* in har /lanohtAT
OU3 UttDiCUCU IV ?vuu * ?v mv?
ind both of them, like two lost creatures
irho cline to the smallest twig, remarked
vith pleasure the kind of respectful
abandonment with which be hnd reposed
:heir destines in their own hnnd.
He spent the remainder of tSe day in
lis counting-room, and when he returned
hey had departed.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE REPTILE TUBNS TO fiTIXfl.
When Flora Cleveland returned to New
fork and her home she there experienced j
he painful impressions of the past, and J
;he somber preoccupation of the future; i
fViAm iritVi )iat nlthnnoh I
Mid DUC l/41/UgU* V?JV>V wwmwrnrn W ?0
n a fragile form, a most powerful con-(
lolation?her first-born child.
Assailed by griet, and even menaced by
lew emotions, she was obliged to relounced
the nursing of her li tie one;
>ut nevertheless she never left him. for
me was jealous even of bis nurse. She
it least wished to be loved bv him.
She loved him with ?n infinite passion.
She loved him because he was her own
>oa and of her blood.
He was the price of her misfortune?of
aer pain.
Sbe loved him because he was her only J
aope of human happiness hereafter.
She loved him because he was as beau- i
liful as the day. And it was true be was
io; for he resembled nis latner?ana sue
loved him also on thai account."' ' '
She tried to concentrate her heart and
ill her thoughts on this dear creature, nn d
it first she thought she had euoceeded. !
She was surprised at herself, afrherown
Tiinquillity, when she saw Cora Elliaton;
for her lively imagination had exhausted,
ix advance, all the sadness which her new
sxistence conld contain.
Bnt when shechad lost the kind of torpor
into which excessive suffering had
plunged her?when her maternal sensaiions
were a little quieted by custom?
Her woman's heart recovered itself in the
mother's
She conld not prevent herself from renewing
her passionate interest in her
graceful tnough terrible husband.
Mrs. Lelana did not retnrn to the city
irith her daughter, but remained in Boxburv.
with her husband.
Flora wrote her quite or ten, However,
and told. her everything that was taking
place. For this wise young woman, ma:nred
by misfortnne, observed everything,
saw everything, and exaggerated
nothing.
She touched, in her letters, on the
most delicate points in the household,
md even on her husband's secret
thoughts, with accurate justice.
Eugene, as yet, was not at all converted,
nor near being so; but it woald be bely'
* ? n v?fa !
LUg uumnu XiOtUio iu omiuubv ?w mid .
tieart, or of any other human being,
i supernatural impassibility.
If the dark ana implacable theories
irhioh Eugene Cleveland had lately made
the law of his existence could triumph I
absolutely, this would be true.
The tri Is he had passed through did j
lot reform him. they only staggered him.
He did not pursue his path with the
lame firmness; he strayed fro his programme.
'
He pitied one of his victims, and, ae
ane wrong always entails another, after
pitying his wife, he came near loving his
jh;k
These two weaknesses bad glided into
lis petrified soul, ns into a marble fount,
ind there took root?two imperceptible
roQts, however.
The child scarcely occupied him moro
;han a few moments every d ly.
He thought of him, however, and
vould ret- rn home a little earlier than
lsual each day than whs hi* habit, neireetly
attracted by the smi'e of that
;resn inc.
The mother was fc* him something more,
ler sufferings, her yonthfnl heroism, had
oucbed him. She bicame in his eyes
lomebody.
He discovered many merits in her. He
>ereeived she was remakably well inormed
for a woman. She understood
lalf a word, knew a great deal, and
[nessed at the remainder.
She had, in fine, that blending grace
ind solidity which gives to the conversaion
of a woman of cultured mind an in:omparable
charm.
She was a lovable creature, and it can
ie understood that she might have many
attractions, even for her husband.
Yet, though he had not for one instant
he idea of sacrificing to her the passion
!??> life it ii ciirtam. however.
hat his wife pleased him as a charming
fiend, which she trnly was.
fTO SZ CONTINUED.]
How Hairpins Are Made.
Eairpins are made by automatic and
rery complicated machines. The coiled
vire is put upon drum3, and becomes
itraightened as it feeds itself to the mashine.
It passes along until it reaches
;wo cutterj which point the cuds at the
tame time that they cut it to the length
equired. This piece of wire then slips
ilong an iron plate until it reaches a slot,
through which it is pressed into the reguar
shape. The hairpins are then put
ntoapan and japanned, after which j
they are heated in an oven with a tem
perature of from 3UU to 4UU degrees.
There are but four American factories.
The largest are in Birmingham and
Waterbury, Conn., the others in Philadelphia
and Brooklyn. Five hundred
thousand dollars' worth of hairpins are
annually imported from England, France
and Germany.?New York World.
The OrlglnaF "Turn Coat."
Duke Emmanuel, of Savoy, who
reigned from 1553 to 1580, found himjelf
sorely tried in endeavoring to preserve
his dominions from the aggres*
Hons ot toe rrencn on tne one nana
and of the Spanish on the other, and in
bhe effort to prevent the absorption of
tiis territory by one or the other, was
compelled in turn to aide with bo ;h.
His changes being irequcnt, he humorously
ordered a military coat mcide
which on one side was blue, the color of
the Spanish uniform, and on the other
side white, the mark of the French,
rhe coat was so made that either u aiform
could be worn on the outside, and
:hus he could accommodate himself to'
jircumstances. By a liberal display of
ilever diplomacy?the frequent turning
>f his coat?he saved his dominions and
lave to the world a new word.?Detroit
Free Press.
What are these startling rumors
:oncerning the decline and fall of
McAllister? Are they meant to (lis
furb the autumnal tranquillity or xne
irbiter of fashion, and especially of
orm, as he 6its playing on pastoral
jipcs in the shades of his Newport
arm? Are they the gaspings of
ealousy or the mouthings of ambi/ion?
Does green-eyed Envy walk beilde
the illustrious farmer, as, in his
)road straw hat, decorated with gay
ibbons, he prods the unruly ox with
,he goad, or chases the rugulsh cow
* - ? *? s AU- .
vnen sne oreaxs irom me pun.- jl/ucb
routh promise more activity in the
sonduct of social functions? Does it
igree to show less dictatorial spirit
,han the great man has shown?
Seize the stylus; O pastoral McAllister,
and respond!
COM!MRUS FIRST.
THREE DISCOVERERS AND HOW
THEY GOf TO THIS COUNTRY.
A Very Interesting Article by Professor
Mason, ot the Smithsonian
Institute. Abont the Discovery
ol the New Continent.
OR n. Tsar to nome
hyou will hear the
A praise of Columbus.
J Nevertheless, it 19
certain that the first
bold navigator who
**^^1 set foot on the
American continent was not named
Cbristoforo Colombo. We well know
when and where the Italian first landed
from the Santa Maria on the western
world.
It was on the morning of Friday, the
12th of October, 1492, that clad in
complete armor and carrying in his
hand the royal banner of Spain, Colum
bus descended upon the level shores or
the small island that had iirst greeted
him and which he bad found to be very
fruitful, fresh and verdant and like a
garden full of trees. On touching the
land Columbus and all the Spantards
were present fell upon their knees and
with tears of that deepest" kind men do
not know the cause of, poured forth
their immense thanksgiving to Almighty
Qod. The great business of the day
then commenced, and Columbus, with
the due legal formalities, took possession,
on behalf of the Spanish monarch,
of the island of Guaoibam, which no
forthwith named San Salvador.
Bat this man was "Columbus the
Third" at least, and the Santa Maria
was a tolerably well developed ship
much like that shown in the accompanying
illuitration.
Who was "Columbus the Second!"
A Northman, whose ancestors settled
in Denmark, conquered Norway and
Sweden, then ventured forth to colonize
Iceland and Greenland. As early as the
vear 875 of our era [ncrolf sailed to Ice
land and presently founded the city of
Rqjkiavik. Ten years after Eric the
Red sailed westward and found Greenland.
whose existence had been
i previously reported. Humbolt says:
"While,the caliphate was still flourishing
at Bagdad, and Persia waa still
under the Samannidea, whose age was so
favorable to poetry, America was discovered
by Leif, son of Eric the Red, by
| _ ** ? ??T- - BEEESG
SEA ESKIMOS <
the northern route, and as far aa forty*
* V? i wf TT minnfao TiAi>tK loft.
UUC U^ICCO VUii b T AUlUUkW UVAkU AM MAtude."
(Cosmos. ii., 603.)
We are not perfectly sure of the kind
of vessels in which this bold work was
done, but arctfaeologists hare dug up in
a dozen places around the North Sea remains
of ancient boats older than the
discovery of Iceland.
When you see at the World's Fair
next year a "viking ship1' brought over
by the people of Norway and modeled
after what is known to learned men as
the "Godstad 7iking boat," you will
know how the sailing vessel of "Columbus
the Second" probably looked.
The Godstad boat, as pictured here, is
now set up in the archaeological
museum, in Christiana, Norway. It
was dug up in 1880, by Nicolaysen, at
Godstad. She was entombed in a cir
cular barrow, or burying place, resting
on ber keel and decorated with shields
bung close together aloug tbe rails after
the Norse fashion down to quite recent
*mes. Abaft her mast they bad built
a mortuary chamber of logs with gables
of planks set on end. In this "Davy
Jones's locker" were found the remains
of the dead. It was the custom then for
a mariner to be buried in his boat. This
curious grave bad been looted before
Mr. Nicolajaen's arrival, so be failed to
discover tbe implements of tbe ancient
I CRAFT OF COLUMBOS'fl TIME.
viking. The boat is of oak, clinker
built and nearly eighty feet long. Her
stakes were fastened with iron naiU and
the 8eam9 caulkcd with oakum made of
cow's hairspuu into three-stranded cord.
She was propelled both by oars and canvas.
like the viking boat of the tenth
century, shown here. The oara- were
about twenty feet long, plied through
holec in the aide of the boat, thirty-two
of which can be made out. She had no
dcck and her rudder was hung by a rope
forward of the stern post. The expoI
sition boat, constructed to show exactly
| how she was built and how she was
I ?M.J ?11
I S&lieu will uu iUbVtccviu^.
| Bui. these white navigators found
people living ou tho continent. There!
fore there must have been another CoI
lumbca, if not any more. If y?u take a
map of Alasia jcu find that Behring
Stra't has a pretty little group of island*.,
the Diomedes, juat hall way across?it
could not be a hard forenoon's work to
I
row from the mainland, to these islands,
or even to skate there and back in cold
weather. Savages do cross there now
continually in the most primitive craft.
I have been so fortunate as to obtain
a picture of these primitive boats from
THE GODSTAD VIKING BOAT.
tbe Den of the distinguished artist. Mr.
Henry Elliott, from which a drawing is
here given. Tne natives are crossing the
Bering Strait, pushing off from Diomodes
for Cape Prince of Wales, on the
American side. ' The National Museum
possesses a lumber of these Eskimo
umiaks. I can tell you how they are
made. In that cold land no good boat
timber grows, but the currents in the3
Pacific Ocean bring driftwood, and the
natives harvest it with the greatest care.
They use no nails. If they had nails they
could not use them in driftwood. Besides,
in such a cojd country, the frost
would bite them in two like icicles. But
they have something much better in the
line of fastenings. The Eskimo ship car
penter makes up his frame of driftwood
by tying the bits of -wood together with
tbongs of walrus rawhide and draws over
it'a covering of sealskin prepared in the
best manner to make the material tough
and keep out the water. This umiak we
may consider as the first "Santa Maria."
It floats like an eggshell, ana nas great
sustaining power, holding a family and
all their effects as they move from
place to place. This sort of navigation
must have been going on
hereabouts for a very long time.
Mr. Dall opened shell heaps of great
antiquity lower down the coast. Mr.
Murdock found relics of the Eskimo
many feet below tbe surface in digging
through a gravel bank at Point Barrow.
It does not matter whether or not all the
aborigines of this continent are the descendants
of those who first came over tbe
Arctic waters. That is not the point
now. The certain thing ia that long
before Lief Ericson there were navigators
visiting this continent, and no doubt in
just such a sealskin "Santa Maria" as I
nave described.
Christopher Columbus and his men
dressed somewhat as we do, only they
wore plate armor. They had rude fire
; ' . ^ i i
f
\
1
:R098rN0 THE 8TRATT8.
arms and cannon, and made havoc among
the naked aborigines with their insignificant
shield and bows and arrows.
Lieutenant Ericson's men had no firearms.
They wore armor, however, and
carried the cross bow. Perhaps they
taught the inhabitants they found here
" i
A VIKING SHIP OP THE TENTH CH5TURY.
to u*e this weapon; at any rate, it is in
common use Among the natives or Labrador.
But "Columbus the First" was clad in
all the rude simplicity of Robinson Crusoe.
The reindeer or the fox furnished
him with hat, coat and trousers, and the
seal was the purveyor of bis boots. His
wife was a woman of taste and decorated
his coat with dainty bits of colored fur.
He himself was an artist of no mean
ability and knew how to carve ivory to
perfection. More than all, he was a
skilled sailor, and braved the sea in a
hnAf. whprii no white man has ever ven.
| tured with safety.
All bail, thou Columbus primeval!?
J Atlanta Constitution*
I I !
A Sandwritlng Table.
The accompanying picture shows the
singularly primitive way in which writing
was taught in some places so recently
as sixty years ago. The sand writing
table consists of a plain board with a
ledge.around it and resting upon legs.
Ordinary sand was placed upon the
board, and with the forefinger the pupil
' aa AWa Ia^am tinAn f Kfl
was laugui* tiav^c tuc ickitio u^uu huu
sand.
When the table was full the characters
could be easily obliterated with
small, square boards, used for smoothing
it over. Tne old man, Robfrt
Reevre by name, is now about eighty
years of age, and more than sixty years
ago he learned to write upon this very
tabb during the time he attended the
Simday-school in the Dennington
Church at Ipswich. This sandwritim*
table is said to be the only one still ex
istiDg m ijjQgiaaa.
The Stanford University of California
has begun its second year with 600
students. The freshmen class numbers
270, of them more than oue-third are
from the East. Neariy one-third of the
applicants for admission were rejected.
i .. . \L Vv.'. ),
' ! ' " " .' v-J ' ' * ' "y--' **? ^
A flood Indian.
- *
W&shefcia, or Kills-on-the-Run, whose
portrait is here presented to the readen
of the Free Press, is obe of the sood Indians
who need not die in-order to be
appreciated. He is the umei or me
Shoehones, and lives at the Shoshone
Indian Agency in Wyoming.
He won his name by his prowess as a
mark man, Us aim being unerring. A
few yean ago most of the surrounding
tribes were hostile to the Shoshones, the
allies of the whites. The country was
subject to constant raids and attacks
from armed bands of marauder?. Washe
kia performed many deeds of valor in
defense of bis'"' people. He was never
seriously wounded; a scar which shows
on his chest is from an arrow wound received
from fighting,the Crows. He has
on severd" occasions rendered valuable
aid 'with his warriors to the United
States troops in repelling unfriendly Indians.
In the portrait the head-dress is a war,
bonnet made of eagles' feathers. A.
similar one?it may be the identical one
. ?.was sold in New York for the benefit
of the mission for $80. In hiv left hand ?
he carries the ordinary pipe used by Indiana.
vhich the* manufacture them
selves out of a soft' red siodstone, not
much harder than clay when cat out of
the quany, but which becomes quite
hard when exposed to the atmosphere.
Washebia does not know hit age, but
thinks he is about eighty. His hair is
gray, but he is still erect and walks with
a firm step. ' He has endowed the school
at the Shoshone Indian Agency with 160'
t -ft
M&i
WASHEKTA,
acres of land for the benefit of the
Bishop Talbot School, where the youth , ;j
of his tribe are taoght farming and industrial
art?.?Detroit Free Preu.
r , . , , . . :
The Japanese Persimmon. /
The kaki, or Japanese persimmon, of
-which there are many varieties, baa
proved of value for tbe cotton growing
belt of tbe Bournera oiaies. in tut
Southern States, however, the kaki
thrives better on seedlings of the wild
persimmon than upon the Japanese
roots. While as yet comparatively little
is known in the markets, the kaki is ,
considered of sufficient importance by ' j
the National Department of Agriculture
to justily assistance and encouragement
for its permanent establishment in this
country.
The range of cultivation in the GuU
State* is i^ovr defined for the varieties
positively identified, extending from Key
West, Fla., to Augusta, Ga., aad into
the Carolrnas near the coast. As , far
south as Manatee, Fla., it succeeds admirably
on native stock, and is cultivated
as a special fruit all through central
Florida; but in the northern belt of j
Al? nn'tk fhn MTtrpmA
CQUUUQO^ uvgiuaiu^ n?M* vmv ?...w? .
limit , of orange culture, it is most at
home, althpugh trees hare been injured
by frost where an early season has induced
too free growth. The fruit of
most varieties described is of a bright
orange red or light Vermillion color, in
shape and general appearance resembling
a smooth tomato, and begins to color
when half grown. If gathered before a
frost there is a slight ^stringency next the
skin, but it disappears after bring kept
in the boose a few days or weeks. If
allowed to be sligutly touched by the
frost the flavor is much improved, but
the fruit will not then keep many days.!
Some varieties will remain sound until!
January or Febmary. 7 be nesn is sou,,
rich and sweet, with a slight apncot
flavor. There are many varieties of the; !
persimmon raised in Japan; some are
eaten in a fresh state; others are used
for drying. Samples of dried persimmons
have been sent from Japan, and
they are equal to the be*# Smyrna figs,
but with a peculiar and pleasant aroma.
JAPANESE PER3IM1T0N.
Tbo yaraa-tsuru, here illustrated,
differs in shape from some of the other
varieties of the kaki in being decidedly
pointed. In size it varies from i by 2
to 2 by 3 inches in diameter. The name
' *- ?*" " ? ? ? ?? * 1 aimna von>k
means muuuiaiu ui ?uu uau^?j
meaning mountain, or, literally inter*
preted, wild, and tsuru the stork or
crane. A Japanese poraologist says it is
perhaps the wild progenitor of the large
and more improved variety called tsuru.
During one month recently Japan exported
814,590 gross of matches.
Transformation oftlia Lunch t'onutir
x icua*
W
w r
?Life.