The constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1884-1885, September 29, 1885, Image 1

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I fflBJE™ “ THE CONSTITUTION. 1 VOL. XVIII. WEEKLY EDITION— ATLANTA. GA.. TUESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBE.K 29 1885. PRICE FIVE CENTS. RA.OHEL, A TRUE STORY OF WESTERN FARM LIFE. BY MBS. Ml. V. WILSON. {CopyrigbtIMS by 8.8. McClure, AU right* reserved.] daughter! entered the luge room adjoining the kitchen; which was used u a bed-room by the parents and sitting-room for the family, Mr, It was the middle of a short December after noon. From the scholars In the little log acboolbcuie in the Stillmandistrlctrose a bas king sound ss thsy bent ever their desks, in tent on books or mischief, u the cue might be. The teacher, a good-looking young man of twenty or thereabout:, wu busy with a clue ia arithmetic when a shrill voico called out: '■Teacher, Rachel Stillman’s reading a atory book.” “Bring the book to me, P.aehel,” said the teacher quietly, and the delinquent, a girl of about fourteen, slowly rose, and walking to him placed a much worn, ancient-looking ■volume in his hands. “Why,’ 1 he said, glanc ing at the open page, "it ta the ‘Pilgrim's Frogrers.' No wonder you are interested, Rachel. But you must not read itduring School hours.” The child lifted to his face a pair of large blue eyes, beautiful with their timid wlatful- Sees, at she replied i "I know I oughtn’t, sir, but I wanted to tee bow they got out of Doubting Castle to btd.” Ho smiled. “I will give you the book,” ho Raid, "after school; then you can read it to night at homo.” "Oh, no,” sho whispered, "father won’t let me read story books.” "He surely would not object to this book,” answered tho young teacher, "but I will keep it until recess tomorrow morning; and never fear I Christian and Hopeful will outwit tho •Id giant yet.” The wistful oyea lighted, and with a grate ful smile Rachel returned to her desk. "First-clasa in spelling, take your places,” called the teacher. Rachel belonged to this clast, at did all of the larger scholars, among whom was her brother Thomas, two years older then herself. Tho teacher had promised ■ prise at the end of tho term to tho member of theclsis obtaining the greatest number of head marks, and consequently a good deal of Interest was taken in tho lessons. Rachel had been it tho head of the data tho droning be fore, therefore the now took hor atatloh at tho loot. Tom, her brother, was “head,” and for aoma time no change in position was made, but finally "somebody blundered,” and Rachel, who was one of the good spellers,went up in the long line. Presently another bard word was misted, and this time Rachel walk ed to the head. Tom gave her a spiteful push. "Another mark. Rachel,” said the toacher, "for that is tho last word.” Tho class resum ed their seats, and in a fow minutes school was dismissed for tho day. “Good evening,” said lhe teacher as Racbol and her slater, a pretty, delicate- looking child of 10, paeaod him at the achcol room door, “now don’t worry about Christian, Rachel.” "I won’t,” eho answered, laughing, "I guese he’ll get out. Didn't he stand up to old ApolljonT” ‘.’Like a goed one,” said the teacher, “Hope I’ll come off as well.” £he locked at him Inquiringly, but ho turn- , Sa to hb desk again, and tho sisiers sot out on •V L-i: -bti mu and sco whai-inanner which these children belong. Tho farm Is a large one; tho buildings substantial, and •verylbiug baa a prosperous well-to-do look. Mr. Stillman, the owner ol those broad acres, and father ofjheso three, Tom, Rachel and Busy, ts well as of threo more girls and an other atalwart son—ia a stout, comfortablo looking man of 46 or SO years; comtortabla to look at, but sglaneeatnia ■* ’ Stillman not permitting a Bra kept in any ether room in the house. Mre. Stillman eat down, knitting In hand, aa cloee in the corner as pouible. Elisabeth end Margaret brought out a huge baeket o rags and went to work cutting and (owing carpet tails. Tne younger children were busy with their leeeone at the table where tho lather •it reading hia newspaper. All were eilent, for to have spoken while father was reading would have brought a torrent of wrath on the heed of the offender. At last, however, Mr. Stillman laid down his paper, and addressing Tom, end: “Well, how did you get along at school to day?” “Ob, liaft-rata.'' said the boy,in whole mind that lost bred mark rankled; "but Rachel wu called up.” “How wu that, Rachel?” uld the lather, sharply. Poor girl I deep in the mysteries of "long division” she did not answer, "Rachel,” be reputed, "what were you called up for in school today?” She glanced up reproachfully at Tom. "I wat reading in the ‘Pilgrim’s Progreso’ just a little, father. "It’e no story, its—” "Never mind what it is.” interrupted tho father; "I send you to school to atudy your school books, and I don’t want to bear of your touching any other.” "Miy I bring it homa?” faltered the child. “Brlngil home, indeedi No, ma’am. I guese you can find enough to do at homa. Not a word now," u ho saw ner about to speak, “or you stay at home for good.” The child bent over her elate, but her tears would fall, and at lut a eob burst forth In •pita of her. “Clear out to bed this minute, Rachel,” (aid her lather, “I want no sniveling here." Upstairs in the cold, dark room, what bitter thoughts surged through tho childish brain. Mr. Stillman loved his wife and children, although you may not think ao. Ho wanted them to be happy, but in hag way. He must choose their pleasune. If they could not find pleasure in the things that pleated him It wu not hie fault. It wu their perveruneu. And as no two loule are alike, the attempt to fit a number of them by the same pattern neces sarily caused a good deal ol pain to tho aoule undergoing tha tyrant operatloa. Mrs. Still- rain's sensitive organisation wu completely crushed; her eldest daughter’s nearly to. Martha, the second daughter, refusing to bo shaped — '' *— ’— - young the _ ■ close, thin tipi and keen grey eyes, would convince an observant person that he could and would make it very uncc intertable tor any person In bis power Who might differ trom him In opinion or ven ture to dispute his authority. Just now ha is chstting pleasantly about tomorrow's work with hie hired man, and pays no attention to the children who pue him on their way to the house. Indoors, Mrt.SUllmen, a slender, fair-haired woman who looks at if aha owad the world an apology for being It It, le preparing supper,be- Ing assisted by her two daughter!, Elisabeth, a ead-iecfil woman of 24 and Margaret, a girl of 18, with her father’s determined mouth and chin and her mother’s largo blue eyosand fair hair. The clock etruek four aa the school girls entered the kitchen, a 1st go room, which in winter did duty u both dining-room and kitchen. “Run in the room, girls,” said the mother, "and get warm i supports about ready." "Oh, we’re not cold, mother,” said Rachel. "Let me bene up your things, Susy. Mother, I cot another beau mark.'* The mother smiled, "I hope you or Tom Will get the prise,” she laid, “where is he?” She was Interrupted by a stamping ot feet si lh« door was thrown opan and tha men, follow ed by Tom, entered tho kitchen. “Supper is ready,” said Mra. Stillman. “We Were just going to eallyou.” "Well, I guise it'll keep till we’re ready,” said Mr. Stillman, roughly. "Rachel, bring some water. The bucket ia empty, of course. Margaret, where's the washbasin? Nothing In its place, as usual! Flty there wun’t two or three more girl* leyin’ shout.’’ Nobcdy answered this tirade. Tha hired man picked no tha basin, Margaret handed a tows), Rachal cams with the water and soon tha family gathered about the well epread table. "I tell you." remarked Mr. Stillman after a Tew mouthful! of the savory food had put him in apparently a better humor, “I think we’ll have fine weather fer hog killing by next week, and I never had shatter lot ot hogs, •Itber.” “Oh, father,” laid Margaret, “don’t butcher next week. Friday is Christmas, and—’’ ‘‘Christmas,” interrupted her father. “Well, don’t we always butcher then?” "Yes, I know." answered the girl, her lips trembling in spite of her effort to oontrol her- aell, “but, father, wo never enjoyed the heli- days and I thought maybe this year ” “W* will do this year as w* always hava," broke in the fsther-angrily. "I suppose,” with a look et hie wife that made the poor women shrink as from a blow, "this is some of your plant. You and your girls want to go gadding around the conntry.” “Mother never laid anything about It,” said Margaret, her temper ruing. “Bat nobody else takes Christmas time to do their hardest and dirtiest work.” “Will you buih?” thundered tha lather. "What do I ears how anybody alaa dots; I am muter here* * Nobody spoke stain. Tha assertion was not to be disputed. He was master, and wall hi* mile and daughter knew it. Foot Mrs. Still man. Two fortunate baby girls had dlsd a tew weeka after their birth and tha tears the mother shed ever the liUla coffins wars not baifio bitter, u there that tail oa their inno cent laces when first they ware held to her When on thie evening Use father had proved bis authority bie two elder daughters nee from lhe table, and taking a couple of large ■lark and cold, but no words wars spoken ex- reptto tha aaimala, aa tha girls harried lhrough the milking and hastened back to tha kitchen where Rachel and tha mother cleared sway tha supper things and mad# needful preparation Mr next morning's breakfast. When the milk htd been pat away and all things were ia order Mrs. Stillman and her [e pretty daughter of hie employer, and per- laded her that by eloping with him she [would be more happily situated at all events Ithan ebo would at home. The mesalliance an gered Mr. Btlllman greatly, and einco the marriage, which htd token place a year agp. all interocuree with the dleobodlent daaqluer had been forbidden. gtiwIWB wee evident ho would have some troublo iu completing it. Bo far Rachel had given him no tronblo. She and Buiaa were only babios in hie opinion, and as be ordered thou about be no more thought of their feeling! than he did of those ol the hones he worked. tertained Mr. BtOIman, Jim, tho glrli and th,o carpet rtgs escaped Into the kltehen. "But epring wes near, and,“thought Marga ret, “he can’s keep nsont of tha spare room in srarm weather; and, besides, we will havo all out-of-doors.” June came with her blue aklei, her singing birds, her wealth of beauty. But tharo ires no time et BtIUman’s to enjoy It. A larger croo than usual had been put in and extra hands employed. Not In the house. Why, there were five women, counting ten-year old Busy and the poor, dalleate mother. Whit extra help could they seed, although washing and cook-, lag must be dona for all tho men? You no “heads” could be got lor low srages if the farmer boarded thorn and had their washing dona; and what else had the women to do? True, mother was not aa strong as she used to be, but she did not complain. Bhe was only more shadowy and quiet than ever; and Mr. Stillman told hie daughters to “stir” around themselves, and not let mother do all tha work. “Ob, dear.” said Margaret, one morning a* •he and Rachel were bending over the srash- tubs while mother, Elisabeth and Susy did the churning and baking and prepared dinner, “i wish we could go to the picnle on tho Fourth,- every body ’» going.’' “Maybe we can,"said Rachal liopsfully. “1 beard father say he would not out the wheat until about the sixth, end also Margaret. I hoard him say your calf wet worth $10. If ha J lvea you tha money you can get e new white:. rsss end I might wear your old. It is so small for you." Margaret laughed. “The calf ts mint,”' ahe said, “it would have died if I had not token care ol it, and lather gave it to mo so I will have a new dress and you shall have my old one.” Out In tho barnyard as the girls talked and worked, Mr. Stillman and Tom were putting the pretty calf in the wegon preparatory to taking it to tho butoher. When the girls went In to dinner the men had finished theirs and wero lounging about in the shady yard enjoying their “nooning." As they entered the dining room Mr. Still- Aiijr ruunii ciui i.'.uistuutnif -wu, was ell mino; at least you said so.” A a ako spoke eho opened the paper and tin- rolled a piece of cheap lawr, bright yellow, with blue llowcro. With an angry gesture eho throw it on tho fioor and left the room. Mr. Stillman stood a moment smued. Then turning to Itacbcl ho said: “You can havo tho drese, Rachel. I’ll teach Margaret a ii>«aon.” “I don’t went it,” ebo said. “It was bought with Margaret’* money. Why didn’t yon givo her her money? When you' solj Tom’: pigs ho had his money to do as he plcafed “Nice girls,these o! yours,mn'Jicr,’- said Mr. Stillman to liis frightened wife. "They’ll be limning us out of doors next. “You pick up that gcods, Miss.” Rachel obediently took up tho lawn and bs pan to fold it. “That call was niico,”ho weld on, “I only meant to pay Margaret for caring for it.” “You tbonid havo said so, then,” answered hia daughter, facing him wi h eyea os keen a hia own, “out you told her if sho could raise i' sho could lie vu it, and, of course; sho though ycu meant what vc i said.” Tho Oaths, raised Lla hand as if t strike hi ri.’d, then, as oho did not drop her «. res, h Stillman's on their way snd ottered the girls scots in llicir wagon, but the offer was not ac cepted. “The women folks,’’ Mr. Stillmau said,“bad to get ready for tho hnrvcst bands,” and there was moro cooking and churning and washing rs tho days wont on. No wonder Mrs. Stillman grew weaker until even Mr. Stillman noticed it and brought hor a bottle of bitters Ail night Mr. BUllman watched by hie wifo*s bedside or walked reitlessly up and down the long back parch. It could not be Hie wifowae not dying; tha wu only tired. Yea, that wu it, Mr. Stillmau; she wu tired, and rest wu coming. When Martha earns the mother who had to longed for her dia not recognize her. ‘‘Mother! motherl” cried the daughter in anguish. The mother looked at her with dim eyu that uw no more of earth, and muttered essbetosisd upon her pillow: “Hurry, girls 1 ob, hurry, it’s almost 12, end father will bo in aoen.” Then she grew qniet, only her restless bends, which her daughters vainly strove to hold, kept retching cut us if trying to grup at the unknosrn land eha wu so soon to enter. Just u the euu roso in the morning Mra. Btlll man “entered her rest." Her husband seemed stunned by the terrlblo •heck. With haggard fees and trembling limbs he bent overhis dud wile. “I loved her ee,” he uld, “how could eho lure me?” Ah, Mr. Stillman, you are by no means the first person who huleiicd to care for their beloved once until too late. Life went on u usual at Stillman's after tho . mother bad gone; for a little while the father bad been kinder, but u time went on old hab its were resumed. Elizabeth wont Mstlcssly about, evidently failing in hulth. Margaret wu growing every day more defi ant toward her father, and constantly quir riled with Tom, who, now that hfi gentle mother’* influence was no Ihoro felt, grew every day more meddlesome and overbearing toward hia siatera. The summer following Mn.Stillman’s duth Mre. Lansing's eldest eon Frank took unto himull a wile, and lata In tno fall the neigh borhood wu electriOed with tho entirely un looked lor marriage of Mr, Btillnian to Mre. I.tnsing. Her boys on learning ol hor Inten tions hid remonstrated urnutiy with her,but •he uld! “You boye do not need mo now and those girls are geinj; to destruction. Think of be men some day. They must bo treated with more consideration. At an early age John, two years older than Elisabeth, wu given a •hare in the stock and land to cultivate tor bimulf, so that when at the age 21 he married the daughter of a neighboring farmer, ho bad a “right good atart'' in life. But his sister toiled early and late, wuhlng, Ironing, milking, churning, baking, nursing tho young children, in short, sharing u tar u •he could her mother’s labors for her board and a scanty, grudgingly given wardrobe. She wu 21 now end had never in her lift known whet It wu to poseen a five dollar bill. There arc many Mr, Stillmans. Are thoyhonut men? If the son bad a right to wages had not the daughter? I leave the qnution with you. Poor Rachel carried a heavy heart to school next morning. Tha Tinker's wonderful alia- S ory to her vivid imagination wu very real. nd now to luvs her hero In that awiul dun geon, never to know how ho escaped, wu al most more than the could bur. “Here, Rachel," uld the teacher when the time for recess came, "here la your book." Ho held it toward her but the did not tako it. “Father," aha uld, then aobtehoked her ut terance. The young man lookadat her silent ly a moment, then be said,“I am so interested in Christian, Rachal, that 1 will read aloud if you will listen.” In all her life Rachal never forget their readings it recuses end noons, which luted not only until Christian ruehad tha Celestial City, but until Chriatiana snd her children joined him. And her gratitude to her young teuber would hava surely awakened love if lhe bad bun a few years older. When in March the term cloud, not ever the prize u best speller—a beautiful copy of tho Pilgrim’s Frogrus—consoled her. Ae for tho tucker, he wu only gild tho winter’e work, which had bun undertaken solely to lurntsh means for the pnmlt of bis proleuion, wu over. He liked some of his scholar! very much, Ruhel upuislly, tho wu zo intelligent, so grateful, and whan, with blue eyes swimming in tears, she said good- bye, he did for a second feel sorry to luvo hor, and told her so. "You ought to have sun Rube an’ Susy cryin' when old Grey bid ns good-bye," uld Tom at home tha evening of that lut day of school. “Did yon cry?” uked Margaret. “Gaeu not. I’m glad school’s out. Heps I’ll not have to go next winter,” uld Tom. “Igueuyou won't," answered Margaret. "You’re smart enough now, bub.” Bha always called him "bob” whan aha wanted to vex him. “But old Grgy, u you called him, will make hia mark in the world, sec If ha doesn’t.” Tha entrance of Mr. Btillman closed the con versation, end Tom want oat banging tbs door after him. No wonder Margaret wu getting ill-natured. Tha winter sru a long dull au- eon in tho Btillman horns. Evan bar enjoy ment at tha few social gatherings she wu al lowed to attend in the neighborhood, wu marred by tha knowledge that eh* could not entertain her young friend! in torn. Once or twice she had attempted to fix up tbs spars room and have a fir* tbsre for company bat her fether had forbidden it. “I’d like to know,” be uid, "why tha set- tin' room ain't good enough. Ilyour company can’t sit with the family they can • i away, Miss.” _nd "they" stayed away, generally after oasviait. Mr. Stillman wu notasnect nua host, upuialiy fer young people. And a young minuter who cam* home from meeting one.Bunday with Elisabeth presence. A few week, afterwards Elizabeth heard of hie departure for a distant part of the state, and bar face became sadder than aver. Jim Lansing, tha son of a widow neighbor, who managed a good sized firm sad two gown sons with equal .kill, -u more sueeoaa- Ha generally brought hia mother along on his vwta, and while, she, with ready wit, an- and fold the girls to keep "mothhr out of tho kitchen,"whioh they. Indeed, tried hard to do. But the mother could not rut. There wu eo much lo do. Tho girls could not get along, and Elisabeth wu not well, eho knew, for the patient elder daughter seemed drooping, and a hopeless look bad settled ou her face u if for life. At lut there name a morning, about the middle of July, when mother did not riso to breakfast. "Hadn’t wa better und for Dr. Lewis, father.” Mid Elizabeth. "O, no, your mother did noteleop. it wu so hot lut night. Bhe’ll bo up directly. Keep her out of the kitchen, and see you bars a f ood dinner on time. we’ll bay* to work to niib today, an’ I am expectin’ a etorm; the air‘cell like it." Twelve o’clock came. Dinner for a dozen hungry men wu on the table, and still Mrs. Stillman wss in bed. While the men were esting Rachel slipped to to her mother. Bb* found her awake, bat her flashed cheeks end bright eyu startled the girl. ”0, mother,” the erled, "yon matt bays the doctor, you are so tick.” "No, no, dear,” tha mother answered, "father la too busy now, ho couldn't taka time. You run oyer to Mrs. Lansing after dinner, I’m not much sick, but I would like to sec her." Rachel returned to the dining-room. “Take the fly-brash, Rachel," laid her father, ‘‘Susy’s no aocouat." Poor, tired little Busy crimseaed to tho roots of her heir u she bended Rachel the brush. When dinner wu ovsr Mr. Btillman glanced - biajwite'o room. She scorned stuping and be did not go In. "Mother hun’l eaten a bite today, father,” laid Rachal. "I wish ehe’d have the doctor.” “Well,” said Mr. Btillman, tmpstiantly “if she's no better by morning I f ll und for him." Not stopping to ut Rachel went ball a mil* through the July sun for Mrs. Lansing. Tha men had gone to tbair work when lhe return ed. Mergaret wu doing up the work and Elisabeth and Busy tryisg to make tha poor sick woman comfortable by bathing bar head and fanning ber, while they begged her vain ly to drink the tu they baa brought her. ‘‘Rachel,’’ uid Mrs. Lansing, “I saw Dr. Lewis’ buggy coming down tha road u I came hart, you run out and atop him whan bs gats here.” When abont 4 o’clock tho rain began to foil in torrents Mr. Btillman had tha satisfaction of suing the lut load ol grain just inside the great Darn door,aad taking off bis hat be wiped the moisture off his face exclaiming, “Well, boye, wo beat tha rain; it can poor down now for all I ears." Replacing hia hat on hit bead,ha turned to* -aid the house, and to his surpriu uw tbs wall known figure of Dr. Lewis on tha porch. “Driven in by tba rain,” ha thought) “gases I’ll tst him to set mother.” “Well, doctor,” u he stepped up on the porch, “how are yon? Just got my whut in in time; lucky, wun’t It" “Very,” said tha doctor, gravely, “bnl I just cents Irom your wife’s bedside, sad eha ia, 1 find, very ill. I ought to have bun called ’eg ego.” Mr. Btillman wu etartled. “Why,” ha laid, “doctor, yon can’t think bar dangerous. It's the souther's wukened bar so.” Tha doctor wu eilent a moment. Then he uid slowly t “Mr. BUlluea, It is my duty to tell you that your wife can live at tha farthest but a lew days.” For once ia tbair livu tha man at Stillman's ate a cold sapper end did the milking. Mre. Leasing took the superintendence of every thing on herself. John and his wrifin wtr* sent for nad came, and before morning Jim Lan sing, who had learned tha state or affairs from one of the “bzndi," quietly hitched the horsu to a sragon and went tor Mirths and bar has- ■ trd. Fcsr Martha, who bad not sun bar mother for more than a year. Rachel laying, ‘God had nothing to do with her mother’s death, and eha didn’t think He cored anything lor women anyhow, He just crested them for men’s convenience,’ and then [look at lit tie Buev,the child’s face haunts ms.” “Well,” sitld Jim, “I know things are in a btd fix over there, but it ien’tBnsy • face that haunts me by any muni." Hie mother laughed. “I shall taka good cert of Margaret,” she uid, "the poor girl needs some one to look after her, sho and Elizabeth are both being worked to duth." Time hu slipped four yean more ever tho beads of the SUllmsni—years well improved by Rachel and Suey at tho academy In tne vll- llsge near their father’* farm, years wliieh { aye Margaret’s happiness into Jim Lansing's ee'pirg, brought Susy to the verge of woman- [hood, and made Tom a young man of whom hie siaten wen exlnmoly proud. Even Elizabeth's wan face looks u if life might still hold a little happiness for her, for undor the new wile’s skillful management lifo at Stlll- Imtn’s has taken on a different color. Tho •pan room is metamorphosed into a pretty sitting room for tho young fslki. "We don t want them always with us," says Mrs. Still man u she shows hor husband tbs change ahe has made. That is one ot her pecuUarltfu. She does what eha thinks but without talk, taking it for granted that Mr. Btillman will Tiow matters in the umo light that ehe dost. As for Rachel, she CDjoyed fully the change for the better; but now to Utf ieollne ot bittor- ::c» eho cherished ogaluri nor father wu ad- > • - a touch c-1 contempt, ’ ”c ■©,” ah' “i.-nv una-'iSfonj. btwU will. It mother c-ulu have dual might l.avo been allvo nttll.” ‘ Rachel was mistaken; the row wife did not maneuver or llatlor, but knowing her pis the maintained it u mistresa ol the homo, n •a a aort of upper servant to be snubbed or praised according to tho muter’a humor. And another summer had bun added to Rtohal’s lb years when Tom camo homa from town one she herself had been rocked, sho klssu two dslnty lips and goes down stairs. Some im pulse prompts her to cuter the sitting room Instead of going Into tho parlor where she thinks all the family ars gathered. As eho opens the door the ecu ber tether sitting by the table, where the lamp stands u ot old, and hall turns to go out again, but something ia his attitude touches her. Ho la not reading his paper, ho le looking at something he holds in hia hand. She nollou how gray he is getting, and how ago is tracing lines in hiastern lice. Drawing n**v, she lays: "Are yon aiek, father?” "Ob, no," ho answers,"! was thinking of ycur mother, Raohol,” and he handed her a laded deguerreotype of tho fair young girl who had bun hia bride in the days of his y u<h. "How like Susy, father,” she uid, with tears ■■id; "itwaiii ao you rvjuoiuuvr wm viro/, m I used to all him, that taught our school one winter abont aix yean ago?” ‘‘Yu.” she answered. “Well, I met him in town today. He is one of tho lawyers in the Bandera cus, and ho knew me right off; he’s coming out this cran ing, so look your prattloot, for I tall ycu ho’e a ■martens. I burd some of tho lawyers talk ing about him." "Raohel,” said Suey, u they arrayed thorn- selvcs lor the evening, "you are so hard to plcan this evening; what alia you? You look •o excited.” Rachel smiled! “I was thinking ol old days,” she uld; * ? that is all.” Aid ehe enters the little parlor where Mr. BtUlmen and lhagnut are seated in a perfect, ly self-poesestod manner, uytng as sho ex tendi her bind; “Ocod evening, Teacher, Uowgouthe bat tle with Apollyon?" And the young lasryer springs to hie feet, exclaiming; “Raohelt la it pouible?” And ho bold* her hand end looks into her eyu so long that Busy and Mrs. BUllman declare he foil in lovo then and there. However that may bo, U is certain Mr. Gray thowa a wonderful Interest In the Still- men district during his stay at Maywood. Tho trial is tedlons, but his patience never glvu out. and when some ol the lesryera propose night sessions of court to buten melton hoop- poees it earnestly. "Too hard on tho old judge," ho uid. But all things must end, and tha ease wu at lut decided in favor of Mr, Gny'a client. As Rachal congratulated him on hia victory bo uld with a look that brought the color to her face: How long mutt I stay in Doubting Castle, Rechtl?” Dear me," the answered, “I did not think a premising young lawyer, u lather calls you, aver get into that diemal place.” Than Busy cams In and the young man bads them good-bye, but ho watched an opportu nity to wbiaper in Rachel's ear a promise of • tad u ho traveled homeward I oyea euraed to haunt him persistently. "Who would havo thought,” he eeld to hlmstlf, "eha could havo become •uch a woman? No wonder 1 never could find a girl to suit ms whan aba hu bun my ideal.'* You su ha was trying to psnuads himulf that ha had thought of hor over einco that winter term of school; perhaps ft wu true. Maybe ell unknown to him those eves had bald him. At any rata ha uya they did; dud when Urns after time they drew him back to Blillman’a ha at lut succeeded in making Ra chel believe it, end Urea with the little "key ol | .remise” ehe delivered him from "Doubting Lei ue tako one more look two years later at thi Stillman hotncttfid* Thera Is a family gathering and all tha girls art present—Martha and bar two little ones, Msrgaret with her two boys and Rachal with htrbaby. Busy, a proud young aunt, flita to and fro, now tauing one and now another of the children. Elisabeth, with unwonted brightness in her eyu, looks oa end even laughs a sweat, low laugh at uma ot tha marry mischief. "Well," eaya Margaret, "it deu sum add to think or Lizzie’s lover coming back altar all these yesrs." "Yu,” answered Rachel ia the tame low S ne, "end bow happy she seems. I suppou e wedding will be toon; they have bun pars ted eo long.” The husbands are all present in tke evening, id the old bouu !* foil of light and gayety, Rachal (taps ofl up stain to put baby to baa. As she sits (> tha room wharo ta bar childhood dropping on the lovely face. "Yu, only sho wat prettier,” ha answered. "I have bun thinking ot her so much lately, Recbcl,” he went on; "I cm going to do some thing I think will pleazo her if ehe aeu. I bought that pretty little (arm of Perry’s the other dsy, and I am going to put Martha and her huabend on it. Dick's an Industrious fol. low, but it’s hard gettin on on a rented patoe, and Martha ie worried too much. You don’t think any of the rut would objeet?" and he looked anxiously In her lice. “Objcctl Why, father, they will all be S lad,"and dropping her hud on hie shoulder be puls her arm around him for tho firstitlmo In hirltfr, and u she slips the little daguer reotype In bis hud a sweot puco fills her heart as she thinks "the biltarneu le gone and lova takes its piece.” Alter awhile she joint the group In tho par lor. Thoy aro Hinging, while Busy plays ac> companimenta on tho organ. "Bing ‘Corona tion,’ Susy,” eho uya as she alts down beside her husband. "What is it?” ho uke. "You look annually happy.” “Ahl” the answers, "1 have had a vision oi the land ol Beulah, and Lova is its king." As tho voices joined In tinging the old fa- miliar hymn Mr. Btillman umo quietly in and •ot down to listen. Bo let ue leave Itaohol and ber shtere, hoping that whatever may befall them in the journey of life, "love, for thorn may always be king.” BY M QUAD, From the Detroit Free Frees, As tha sun went down end darkness began to creep over the feu ol tbeurth theeugry roar ol artillery died away snd tho craoklo ol musketry wss lisa spiteful. For awhile tho fighting on the extreme right hung on, to settle the question ol wliosfcoold occupy the old earthworks, but at length dead alienee tell upon tha whole Held. Hllinco? No! It wu illcnoo compared to tha awful rear ol tho long afternoon, bat It wu a silence broken by the screams and groans ud prayers ol wounded men-by Ibo movement ol wagons udartlRery-by the snbdned voices ol 75.0CO men u they camped for the night without fire end anxiously debated the chances lor tomor iw, A sergeant marches off to tha loll at the bead ol half a dozen men, ne drape a man at “poit No, I s and gives him whispered Instructions. It Is the saint at post two, three, low, etc., until tha last man has been et&tloncd, There melt be vigilant, wakeful men between 0 endloewhjle tbo lapajriaULareers away. tint end shell have shattered and riven Its tblok limbs. A quarter o! a century hence Oils tree will bear witness ol tbo terrible sltugglo ol today. “From tills tree to tho edga ol that thicket, and the countersign is ’justice,’ ” whispered tho zer- gcant, and ss be puses on tbo plckot takos up bis beat. Ha counts u ha paisss them by-ons, two, three, lour, five, fix,eeren,eight. What? Corpsetl They are lying on tbogrua eo near tbo path ho tmveu that be can touoh any ot them with his foot. There aro othen to tbe right and loft, lurUter away. It was here that tho enemy chirped a bat- tery-bereonr forces rallied to preserve lb Grape shot end canister, bullet and bayonet, found vie- tints bore. Home layu II ulcop. worn out with the tremendous confllct-otbcra raved and prayed and cuncd God and man before death released them Irom their lufihrtogi. The picket counts themes be walkt, and nigh escapes hlallps. Tomorrow night some sentinel may nnmecr his muUlited corpse with othors on this lame meadow. Tomorrou night tho autumn winds may vainly seek to rouse him Irom bis death sleep. From tret to thicket and turn. From thicket to tree snd turn. He'mnst watch snd lliton and bo on his guard, but by and by be finds Umo to count again: One-two—Ihree-lour-flvo-ilx-iovcn— eight-nine! What! He counted only eight be- lore! Wu be mistaken, or can the dead ol tho Utlloflold creep and crawl? filx-seven-elgbt-nlnc, Yu, there are nine. In tbe darkness ba had msdo a mistake. NlnolWeli, what matters one more orons Icrs corpse nron a field ol battle? To tbe treo end tnm. To tbo thicket and turn. As he hetde for the tree again the ninth corns* as sume! a sitting position and looks alter him. A moment later It etregglM up, and a figure goes creeping titer the picket, The trea on the meadow Is thick and malted. Ule footfalls give oat no sound. Softly-sofUj- •Uentu tbo shadow of desth-crceplng-croeptng, •nd now he la close upon tho lone picket. There tea gleam ol steel In tbo darkness—a swift and powerful blow, end ha who wu placed to watch will watch no mors. Through tha gap iptas wUl pour In and gkutk about the cam pe; .regiment will baetlcDtly ad vanced to the key position; the ghouls wUl scent plunder and creep up to rob tbe dead. Tba picket bed counted: seven—eight- nine!” • Tbe gbouls will creep from the thicket and count: "-seven-eight-nine!” Thereto no missing corpse. The number hu been mtdo good! ABOVE THE CLOUDS, Vort7*zlx Hilea Covered la tba Abort flptca of lur- tJwftte mttuteo—Ta« Azronzut ¥«ll« a Urtphle 8torj of biz Trip Above the Oloads- Tbo Bxcltemen: of Balloon Tr*vti. um rail tbmkinr or them and tbo dear mother who bed suffered and died, ami the chi bitter ness lieu in her hurt. Beby drops aclrep, and, isytn( him gently in the cradle in which NKCKLAOB Of HUMAN KYE1. From Wublngton Utter. W.E. Curtis, ol tho South American commie, •ten, brought home c number ot curious Jewels which srt supposed to be petrified human eyes. The fimfthsonton scientists are trying to analyse . They were obtained In Peru when there to a vut cemetery on the rainiest strip ol desert which lira between the Andes and tha ice. Ia this magnetic sand where nothing aver cuspid are buried the bodies of millions ol Inras, some ol which, sites a thousand yean, ere to u pet tact a •tote ol preservation u Uu mummies ol Egypt, The Itcis bad a otrtltoattoo superior to that ol •ny prehistoric race, and among other Iota arts to Us preservation ol the human eye, or at least tha dark put ol the eye, for Us whits tisane to never fonnd. Thus (bully tblnp art bembpharfoal In ships and about ball or two thirds of aa Uch ia diame ter, with thin traasiaeaat scales ilka an onion. When fonnd thsy are ofa rusty color like a peb ble, bnt when polbbtd become u clear and beautiful u ember, bolding tag light u well u anepel. Mr. Curtto took bis collection to Tidkay's, to New York, to have them pollsked and set In gold to U wore u a necklace by hto wife, Imagine • necklace ol human eyeg! Bo! TIflaay write* him declining to hero anything It. thcr to do with the fob because three ol hto Uphtoriu who havo boon engaged In polishing tho eyre have boon mtdo Mdonalylll, with symptosu which Indicate tbit they havo been poisoned, end the other workmei Mote to take the risk el finithfo j thqia. NewHavsx, September 27.—Captain Alfred E. Moore hu dropped out of tho military ser vice end gone into aeronautics to pare away his time. Ue is 28 years old, handsome, wealthy and subject to hobbios. Ho weighs about ltd pounds, juit about tho right ballut for a balloonist. A fow weeks ago he told his friends ho wu going to boat all tho records iu ballooning for opetd and saloty. Ho put soma Connecticut Inventive genius into tho construction of his air-ship, and turned out a balloon that astonished tho residents oi Win- •ted, hit homo. Friday ho started hie now craft at Watertown at just 3:40 p. ra., and in jut Ihirty-fivo minutes from that time ho loaded safely on a farm in North Guilford, exactly forty-six miles from where ho ttarted. There wore 8,000 cubic feet ot gu in tho balloon, ono hundred poundi o! sand, a silver- plated eteel grappling anchor, and a draw- rope aa long u one of William M. Eraria’ •on tehees. The balloon basket would make tho hestt of an Italian boarding houaekoopor glad, it wss to roomy. When tho auohor lot tho ship shot skyward so fast that about Uma tha captain wu taking hto second breath ho wsa 1,000 lut In tho air. When hswu ovar Watarburv, rattling along In space attho rate of a mile and a hails min ute, ho wu 6,250 toot high. Tho baromotor, thermometer, comnuo apparatus of his own device in his vest pocket indicated at ono time that ho wu 8,260 foot noarer huvan than tho Waterbary people, over whom ho was whirl ing; that the temperature, which wu regis tered at 85 degree! whan he bid good-bys on tbo fhir grounds, had fallon to 45, and that be wu going in a southcuterly direction for Long Island sound. Ho could sco Now Ha ven in thodistanco, and it appesrod no big ger than a beo hive. Now London loomed over out, but It loomed smaller than a mug wump caucus. Hartford wu simply a (pack. ‘‘When I got above tho clouuo,” said tho Wlnsled aeronaut to your correspondent this evening, “I became somewhat scarod over tho indlealioni oi my eompus, which told n;o I was heading for tho sound. Then I took su observation, and that confirmed my Impres sion. Thero right over the edgo of tho basket seemed Long island sound. Woll, now, I didn't mo much about striking into that body oi water, and I determined to coma down a peg or two to sco precisely wboro I was. I oponed tho valve: suit out hinted tho gss cud down dropped tho ship. At on tlovstion of 3,000 feet above tho earth I shut oil tho flow of gss and wout ttkurryiug aloDg quito merrily. Tito nearer 1 eKino to tho rest of tho human family tho further sway appeared Long Island sound. This removed my sppiebcutttou couceruinr a fall iu tho watgr snd I felt; retly sslo iu that respect. fi^kaMcrpHHsjjihovor Wntorbury 1 rm lev. at' - <*^ length. It »>■ prolty quid in tho cloud. I've found out it is warmer above a’cioud cud below ouo than it Is when jcuarogoing through ft, so I sailed out of that cloud eoout its quickly as I know how. A lew minutes before I hsu concluded to I had dropped a package of circulars advertisiug a new kind of kindling wood, and they wont flying III every direction. By the Unit I hid left tun cloud and dcscendod several hundred fret I caught up with the circulars, and passed them on their wsy to the Cortb, showing that I bad travalctl in a downward diroo- tion faster titan the papers. Threo miles northwest ot Guilford I wsa scaling ovor tho mountains that aro in that ssetiou. I could hcor tho crows cawing. At a height ol 1,500 feet from lit” rnrth t could just make out tho volcoo ol pooplo underneath me. Thoy, 1 should judge, hod just discovered tho ship, and were running wild with excitement. I could rce tho outlines oi tho pooplo hastening bock and forth, and could also faintly hear tho shouts that they wero lenulng up Iu ru> cognition of tho ditcovory of tho air craft.” Tbo ship landed on a form in North Gull* ford, about a stone's throw from Quinnopzugh jako. When tho occupant climbed up out of tbo bukot btlf a hundred ol the inhabitants were on the ground to bid him welcome. A big tres near by famished anehorsgo. It eras concluded blit to remove tbo ship just as it stood, about three quarters full of gu, to tho village green. An ottou •trip of land led from the landing point to tho green, and tbo shin was removed totbeleUcrplsce. To properly weight tho •hip down, so that Ilia removal could bo sully accomplished, n girl, thirteen yoars old, was placed into tho bukot for ballsat. Then tbo procession started. After tbo gu wu 1st out tbo ship wu sont to Now Haven by train. Contain Moore is soon to btro a new rip built in Wlnstcd that ill cost about $1,500, will contain 76,000 cubic foot of gu, will hold iaTSBMnoH and Will have lor its first trip a journey of 1,000 miles, starling somewhere in tho cantor ol Now York atato. IIo likes fast trips and thinks ho can by a little improve ment in sbapo, and tho addition of now steer ing apparatus safely obtain a speed of ISO miles an hour. Ho Intends, however, to work up to this gradually. A WOMAN’S WAYfl. From tba Chcatcrflsld Advertiser, September IS. Tba wind may howl, ths thunder msy roar, death msy coma, but when a woman wall snd truly loves a man she will marry him or dio in tho attempt. James Hunter wu conv.'ctod at ibis term of court of manslaughter. Miss Dora Evans wss sneyo witness to tbo killing and a Disco of Ibo dscousd. Monday morning Hun ter wu sentenced to four yoars in tho stats prison. Friends and kinsmen who had staid by him in tha long snd tedious trial bade him goed bys and went home. Tuosdsy night, while Bhorifl King snd his household wore sleeping the sleep of tho just, suddenly thero ctmo a gentle tap, tap, on tho outer door. Wu li a ghost? No;it was a nymph. Mlat Dora Erins had fled from her home and had como twenly-five miles through tho darknesa and rein to marry her lover, James Hunter. Sheriff King not knowing exactly what to do, put her off till morning. Wednesday morning promptly at 8 o’eioox Jamas Hunter and Dora Evans wars mads roan and wife. Rev. J. W. McKoy per formed tba ceremony in tho jail ball, in the pretence of about 100 spectators—officers, members of tha bar, jurymen, white, colon-1 •cd indifferent. Such U life. The howicMc occurred About a year a*c. .Iiihd Euiatt-r and Georg* W. I. vane ha J a dif ficulty cereral year* before, but they were ap parently on good terms with each other iuat K evious to tbe fatal encounter. On that day, wever, in conaequence of an intuiting re mark made by Hunter in alluiien to Kvan’s wife, Evans knocked him down and punished him. Alter being taken off of him, and while J vans wss leaving tho field, with his mother's arm sround him, «s th« witnesses (or ih« state testified, Hunter ran up to Evans and dis charged the contents of bis pistol into his body, csuiiog almoet instant death.