Pittston Gazette

              ESTABLISHED 18SO. » VOL. XLIII. NO. SO. i Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Vi lley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE CO., PA., FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 29, 1893. * Weekly Local and Famil/ Journal i #1.50 PER ANSI M I IN ADVANCE WIRING'S PERIL. stables and gun-shed and whistling away over the dismal expanse of flat, wet, ditch-tangled fields towards the swamp. But the cockney's spirits were blithe as the clouds were black. As was usual when he or any other servitor w&s in attendance on Waring-, the reward had been munificent. lie had lunched at Cassidy's at the lieutenant's expense while that officer and his friends were similarly occupied at the more exclusive Moreau's. He had stabled the team at the quartermaster's while he had personally attended the matinee at the St. Charles, which was more to his taste than Booth and high tragedy. He had sauntered about the Tattersalls and smoked Waring's cigars and patronized the jockeys gathered there for the spring meeting on the Metairie, but promptly on time was awaiting the return of the party from their drive and lolling about the ladies' entrance to the St. Charles hotel, wh»n he became aware, as the lamps were being lighted and the dusk of the evening gave place to lively illumination, that two men had passed and repassed the open portals several times, and that they were eying him curiously, and chattering to each other in French. One of them he presently recognized as the little "frog-eatJr." who occupied the old house on the levee, Lascelles, the husband of the pretty French woman he and the lieutenant had dragged out of the mud that very morning and had driven up to the ola D'Hervilly place on Rampart street. Even as he was wondering how cabby got out of his scrape and chuckling with satisfaction over the scientific manner in which Mr Waring had floored that worthy. Mr. Jeffers was surprised to find himself most civilly accosted by old Lascelles. who had been informed, he said, by madame his wife, of the heroic services rendered her that morning by M Jeffers and M. le Capitaine. He begged of the former the acceptance of the small douceur which he slipped into the Englishman's accustomed palm, and inquired when he might hope to see the brave captain and disembarrass himself of his burden of gratitude. wake, that he was going only to tlie sally-port or perhaps over to Waring's quarters, but she slept peacefully and never stirred, so noiselessly he slipped out on the gallery and down the stairs and stalked boldly out into the raging storm, guided by the dim light burning in Waring's room. Ananias was sleeping curled up on a rug in front of the open fireplace, and Cram stirred him up with his foot. The negro rolled lazily over, witli a stretch and yawn. "Ciroom indoors this morning, Mr. Pierce. Is Waring home?" " No, sir: Ananias told me when he brought me up my coffee " door, and now tnrew it open. Cram strode into the wide hall-way straight to a door of the east side. It was locked. "Open this, Alphonse," he said. ready washed out. Bending forward to dodge the blinding storm, the party pushed along the embankment until at la6t the avenues and alleys to the right gave proof of better drainage. At Rampart street they separated, Pierce going on to report the tragedy to the police. Cram turning to his right and following the broad thoroughfare another mile, until Jeffers, indicating a big, old-fashioned, broad-galleried southern house standing in the midst of grounds once trim and handsome, but now showing signs of neglect and penury, simply said: " 'Ere, sir." And here the party dismounted. I'll go with you. Say nothing about this matter yet." little of the John Rogers idear in mo as most any honest farmer yon will find in Buncombe county,N. C., U. S. A., which is my address. BILL NYE AT THE FAIR Reynolds was gone but a moment. A little later Cram and the aid were at the St. Charles rotunda, their cards sent up to the Allertons' rooms. Presently down came the bell-boy. Would the gentlemen walk up to the parlor? This was awkward. They wanted to see Allerton himself, and Cram felt morally confident that Miss Flora Gwendolen would be on hand to welcome and chat with so distinguished a looking fellow as Reynolds. There was no help for it, however. It would be possible to draw off the head of the family after a Wief call upon the ladies. Just as they were leaving the marble-floored rotunda, a short, swarthy man in "pepper-and-salt" business suit touched Cram on the arm, begged a word, and handed him a card. A LETTER FROM FATHER TO SON TELLING ALL ABOUT IT. Bu Gapt. Charles R. Kino. Astkor of "BunTea Buck," "A« krmj PtrtU," "A Soldier'! Secret," Etc. I D "I have not the key. It is ever with M'sieu' Lascelles. It is his library." Bat I have wandered from the World's fair, and possibly you are glad of it, for the papers are infested with it now most all the time, but it is the biggest thing I ever saw, and I shall be 63 next frost. r£'X ~  Cram stepped back, gave one vigorous kick with a heavy riding-boot, and the frail door flew open with a crash. For a moment the darkness was such that no object could be distinguished within. The negro servant hung back, trembling from some indefinable dread. The captain, his hand on the door-knob, stepped quickly into the gloomy apartment, Pierce close at his heels. A broad, flat-topped desk stood in the center of the room. Some shelves and books were dimly visible against the wall. Some of the drawers of the desk were open, and there was a litter of papers on the desk, and others were strewn in the big rattan chair, some on the floor. Two studentlamps could be dimly distinguished, one on *he big desk, another on a little reading-table placed not far from the south window, whose blinds, half open, admitted almost the only light that entered the room. With its head near this reading-table and faintly visible, a bamboo lounge stretched its length towards the southward windows, where all was darkness, and something vague and indistinguishable lay extended upon the lounge. Cram marched half-way across the floor, then stopped short, glanced down, stepped quickly to one side, shifting his heavily-booted foot as though to avoid some such muddy pool as those encountered without. Or, Rather, Referring to It Occasionally at Long Intervals, When Other Topics Have (Owrriffcl, MB, ky J. B. Uppincott A On., u4 p«k- H*b*4 ky (pedal arruj (CONTINUED.) Been Exhausted—Doing the Midway We took a tent and picuie near the grounds. Quite a number of the wealthy people do that way. I stand it better than your mother does, as I was in the war and slept many of a night uuder a rhododendron bush and had to dress and undress for four years in the presence of the shocked and horrified moon. "Did Mr. Waring take any arms with him?" queried the captain. ( C?D -f Plalcauce and Spending a Pleasant Day. "Isn't her mother with her, and, being in mourning, doesn't she have to stay in her latticed loge instead of promenading in the foyer and drinking that two-headaches-for-a-picayune punch?" queried Ferry, eager for a diversion.[Copyright, 1SB3, by Edgar W. Nye.] "Any whut, suh?" responded Ananias, rubbing his eyes and still only half awake. Chicago, Sept. 12, 1893. My Dear Henry—You will no doubt be surprised to know that your mother and me has been to the World's fair for a plumb week, seeing it and being seen of it, as you might say. "Any pistol or knife?" "Lord, suh, no. Mr. Waring don't never carry anything o' datsort." ijram eniereu tne gate ana puxiea ft clanging belL The door was almost instantly opened by a colored girl, at whose side, with eager joyous face, was the pretty child he had seen so often playing about the Lascelles homestead, and the eager joyous look faded instantly away. Once I was changing my shirt toward the close of the war, for mother had told me not to dare to return from the war without doing so, when General Lee, a man of good family and generally supposed to have as much real pollish as ery man in the war, come in where I was in a large cotton field and brought 30,000 men with him, ami I never had met any of them before in my life. That's the way a Yankee soldier was treated time and time again. "Suppose she is," answered Pierca, stoutly. "I'm a crank—straight-laced, if you like. It's the fault of my bringing up. But I know, and you know, that that little woman, in her loneliness and in her natural longing for some congenial spirit to commune with, is simply falling madly in love with Sara Waring, and there will be tragedy here before we can stop it." / student lamp was burning low on the center table. There lay among the boo Us and papers a couple of letters, evidently received that day and still unopened. There lay Waring s cigar case, a pretty trifle given him by some far-away friend, with three or four fragrant Havanas temptingly visible. There lay a late magazine, its pages still uncut. Cram looked at the dainty wall clock, ticking merrily away over the mantle. Eleven-thirty-flve! Well, he was too anxious to sleep anyhow, why not wait a few minutes? Waring might come, probably would come. I f no fcao could make its way down by the levee road, there were the late cars from town. They had to make the effort anyhow Cram Btepped to the I had no idear of going all summer owing to the scarcity of stringency here, but by a lucky turn of stock I made $200. I made a bet with an "educated farmer" at home regarding the height of the full "A detective—already?" asked Cram, in surprise. 'DAT CKOSS-HANDLED DAGGER." "She t'ink it M'sieur Vareeng who comes to arrive," explained the smiling colored girl. " Hold the morning report, then, until I come to the ollice. 1 fear we have both first lieutenants to report absent to-day. You and I may have to go to town; so get your breakfast early. We will ride. I doubt if even an ambulance could get through. Tell me, I'ierce, have you spoken to Waring about—about that matter we were discussing? lias he ever given you any idea that he had received warning of any kind from old Lascelles—or any of his friends?" "I was with the chief when Lieut. Pierce came in to report the matter," was the brief response, "and I came here to see your man. lie is reluctant to tell what he knows without your consent. Could you have him leave the horses with your orderly below and come up here a moment?" "Ah! It is Mme. d'Hervilly I wish to see," answered Cram, briefly. "Please take her my card." And, throwing off his dripping rai* coat and toBsing it to Jeffers, who had followed to the veranda, the captain stepped within the hall and held forth his hands to Nin Nin, begging her to come to him who was so good a friend of Mr. Waring. But she would not. The tears of disappointment were in the dark eyes as the little one turned and ran away. Cram could hear the gentle,soothing tones of the mother striving to console her little one—the one widowed and the other orphaned by the tidings he bore. Even then he noted how musical, how full of rich melody, was that soft Creole voice. And then Mme. d'Hervilly appeared, a stately, dignified, picturesque gentlewoman of perhaps fifty years. She greeted him with punctilious civility, but with manner as distant as her words were few. "See here Pierce," asked Ferry, "do you suppose Mrs. Cram would be so loyal a friend to Waring if she thought there was anything wrong in his attentions to Mme. Lascelles? Do mu But that is neither here nor there. It was in Virginia. However, to come back to the fair. I have spent most of the time at the farm machinery egzibbit, where I get more animation and noise for my money than elsewhere. I also love to strole through the pictorial department and wonder what is behind the screen that is over a big painting there. Day after day I excuse myself to mother and go to the dairy awhile, and gradually so on around to where the picture is that has a blanket over it. "Why, certainly, if you wish; but I can't see why," said Cram, surprised. "You will see, sir, in a moment." suppose Cram himself wouldn't speak?" "He has spoken." And then Jeffers, with white, troubled face, appeared, and twisted his wet hat-brim in nervous worriment. "He has? "To me, three days ago; said I had \mown Waring longest and best, perhaps was his most intimate friend, and he though I ought to warn him of what people were say ing." To whom?" " No, sir. I've had no chance to speak, to be sure, and, so far as I could observe, he and Mr. Lascelles seemed on very excellent terms only a few days ago." tduboard, mixed a mild toddy, sipped it reflectively, then lighted a cigar and threw himself into the easy-chair \naaias. rueanvltne, was up and astir Seeing that Cran was looking about in search of a paper-cutter, the boy stepped forward and bent over the table. "Now, what do you want of him?" asked Cram: "Ask him, sir, who Dvas the man who slipped a greenback into his hand at the ladies' entrance last evening. What did he want of him?" Jeffers turned a greenish yellow. His every impulse was to lie. "What have you done?" "Take care," he whispered, and motioned warningly to Pierce. "Come here and open these shutters, Alphonse," were the next words. But once again that prolonged, dismal, mournful howl was heard under the south window, and the negro, seized with uncontrollable panic, turned back and clung trembling to the opposite "Nothing yet; simply because I know Sam Waring so well that I know just what he"d do—go and pull the nose of the man who gossiped about him and her Then we'd have a fight on our hands." "Well, I wish I had spoken myself," said Cram, and turned away. It was a good idear whoever thought of it, for it brings a good many people to the gallery thiat otherwise vvould not come. That morning, with two first lieutenants absent without leave, the report of Light Battery "X" went into the adjutant's office just as its commander and his junior subaltern went out and silently mounted the dripping horses standing in front The two orderlies, with their heads poked through the slit of their ponchos, briskly seated themselves in saddle, and then the colonel hurried forth just in time to hail: "De lieutenant always usesdis, suh," said he, lifting first one paper, then another, searching tinder each. "Don't seem to be yer now, suh. You've seert it, dough, captain—that cross-handled dagger wid the straight blade." "You need not lie, Jeffers," he said, very quietly. "It will do no good. I saw the men. I can teU your master who one of them was, and possibly lay my hands on the second when he is wanted; but I want you to tell and to explain what that greenback meant." and the detective saw it. "Well, we can fight. I suppose, can't ■we?" grown peanut tree by which I  above amount. I bet my stock against his is why I refer to it a# a deal in stocks. I sold the on the hoof for two hundred dollars and some cents. So he will remain at home, and I will tell him about the fair, which is a success.the water color girl. wall. •'I have come on a trying errand," he began, when she held up a slender, jeweled hand. 'Not without involving a woman's name " "Yes, I know. Where is it?" asked Cram "That'll do." "Send one of the men for the post surgeon at once, then come back here," said the captain, and Pierce hastened to the gate. As he returned, the west shutters were beinc thrown ODen. There •Oh good Lord. Pierce, was there ever a row without a woman an fond?" "Pardon. Fermettez — Mme. Lascelles," she called, and before Cram could find words to interpose, a servant was speeding to summon the very woman he had hoped not to have to see. "Tain't yer, suh, now. Can't find it yer, nohow." Then Jeffers broke down and merely blubbered. 'That's a worm-eaten witticism. Ferry and you're too decent a fellow, as a rule to be cynical I've got to speak to Waring, and I don't know how to do it I want your advice." "Here they come now," said Jeffers, promptly pocketing the money and springing forward to knuckle his hatbrim and stand at the horses' heads. All grace and animation, Mr. Waring had assisted his friends to alight, had promised to join them in the ladies' parlor in ten minutes, had sprung to the seat again, signaling Jeffers to tumble up behind, and then had driven rapidly away through Carondelet street to the broad avenue beyond. Here he tossed the reins to Jeffers, disappeared a moment, and came back with a little Indian-made basket filled to overflowing with exquisite double violets rich with fragrance. "Well, then, Mr. Waring probably took a knife, after all." "Hi meant no 'arm, air. Hi never dreamed there was hanythinjf wrong. 'Twas Mr. Lascelles, sir. 'E said 'e came to thank me for 'elping 'is lady, sir. Then 'e wanted to see Mr. Warink. sir." "Oh, Cram! one minute." And Cram reined about and rode to the side of the post commander, who stood under the shelter of the broad gallery. "No, suh, I don't t'ink so. I never knowed him to use it befo' away from de room." "Oh, madam," he murmured low, hurriedly, "I deplore my-Ignorance. I cannot speak French. Try to understand me. Mr. Lascelles Is home, dangerously stricken. I fear the worst. You must tell her." I bought excursion tickets on the railroad at a scandalous low price and got here fresh and comfortable, with several doughnuts over and above what we needed. I have et doughnuts soaked in coffee now for most a week, and I shall never care for them again. Mother cooked a pillercase full before we started, and I begin to yearn for vegetables, to tell the plain truth with the natural finish on it. "Well, my advice is Punch's: 'Don't' He'Ho' here's Dryden. Thought you were on court duty up at headquarters to-day. old man Come in and have a wet?" Mr Ferry had seen some happy days at Fortress Monroe when the ships of her majesty's navy lay off the Hygeia and the gallants of England lay to at the bar, and Ferry rejoiced in the vernacular of the nnited service, so far as be could learn it, as practiced abroad "I wouldn't say anything about this to anyone at headquarters except Reynolds. There's no one else on the staff to whom Waring would ply, ifthere?""Anybody else been here?" said Cram. "Oh! dey was all in yer, suh, dis afternoon, but Mr. Doyle he was sent for, suh, and had to go." "Why didn't you tell me of this before?" demanded the oaptain, sternly. "You know what happened this morning."" 'Omel La bas? C est impossible." "It is true," he burst in, for the swish of &ilken skirt was heard down the long passage. "II est mort—mort," he whispered, mustering up what little French he knew and then cursing himself for an imbecile. "No one, sir. Reynolds is the only man I can think of." A step and the rattle of a sword were heard on the gallery without The door opened, and in came Merton of the infantry, officer of the day. "Hi didn't want to 'are Mr. Warink suspected, sir," was poor Jeffers' halftearful explanation, as Mr. Allerton suddenly entered the little hall-way room. "Will you send an orderly back with word as soon as yon know?" I suppose you are having a good time at New Roshell, and I send you what I can spare, but hope you will not tell your artist friends how I made the raise. I was bluffed into it by a man that came to our neighborhood and liegun to farm it with a high hand and tell about "intelligent farming." He called on me when he first come to borrow some sweet potato seed, and I was not at home at the ime, being away pricing a bull that I heard wa9 for sale down the river, so he left his card. "Yes, sir, the moment I hear. And-d —shall I send you word from—there" —and Cram nodded northward, and then, In a lower tone, "as to Doyle?" "Hello, Waring!" he began. "Oh, it's you, is it, captain? Isn't Waring back? I saw the light, and came up to chin with him a moment Beastly night, isn't it?" "Mort! O ciel!" The words came with a shriek of anguish from the lips of the elder woman and were echoed by a scream from beyond. In an instant, wild-eyed, horror-stricken, Emilie Lascelles had sprung up to her tottering mother's side. "Thanks. Just had one over at Merlon's. Hear you've been having review and all that sort of thing down here," said the infantryman, as he lolled back In an easy-chair and planted his bootheels on the gallery rail. "Glad I got out of it Court met and adjourned at ten, so I came home. How'd Waring get off?' The grave, troubled faces caught his eye at once. IN THE MIDWAY PLAISAXCE. I was also much pleased with Eli Musser's egzibbit of buggies and phavturns Eli is a man of enterprise and a general oner, as they say here. I went to school with him. ■ ivo mis to Mrs Cram for me. at: .?II the captain I'll drop in to than lim in a couple of hours, and— Lien. Jeffers," he said, and Jeffers ha; pocketed another greenback, and had driven briskly homeward, well content with the result of his day's labors, and without having mentioned to Mr. Waring the fact that Lascelles had been at the hotel making inquiries for him. A day so profitable and so pleasant Jeffers had not enjoyed since his arrival at the barracks, and he was humming away in high good humor, all reckless of the rising storm, when the gruff voioe of Sergt Schwartz disturbed him: "Oh, damn Doyle! I don't care if he never—" But here the commander of the post regained control of himself, and with parting wave of the hand turned back to his office. "Is anything wrong?" he inquired, anxiously. "I hope Waring is all right. I tried to induce him not to start, but he said he had promised and must go." "Waring isn't back yet I look for him bv the eleven-thirty car," answered the captain. was light when he reentered the room, and this was what he saw: On the China matting, running from underneath the sofa, fed by heavy drops from above, a dark wet stain. On the lounge, stretched at full length, a stiffening human shape, a yellow white, parchment-like face above the black clothing, a bluish, half-opened mouth whose yellow teeth showed savagely, a fallen chin and Jaw, covered with the gray stubble of unshaved beard, and two Btaring, sightless, ghastly eyes, fixed and upturned as though in agonized appeal. Stonedead — murdered, doubtless—all that was left of the little Frenchman, Lascelles.A STIFFF.NTXO HTTMA5 8HAPB "Why, that's in. No Waring there, but a half dozen poor devils half drowned and more'tthalf drunk, one of your men among 'em. We had to put him into the guard-house to keep him from murdering Dawson, the head-quarters clerk. There's been some kind of a row." "When? gasped. What mean you?" she "What time did he leave you. Mr. Allerton?" asked Cram, controling as much as possible the tremor of his voice. Inthe tapestry and rag carpet department there is a good deal that is expensive, but pretty well wore out, I should say. Our schoolteacher, Mr. Pilcher, that you stumped on how long it would take A, B and C to get their share of a grindstone used off if A paid twothirds, B one-sixth and C had one-sixth charged, but did not pay for it, provided A and U took turns turning ttie grindstone and C riding on it with an old ax, and 6 per cent interest on money, is at the fair. Riding single file up tho levee, for the city road wa* one long pool, with the swollen river on their left, and the slanting torrents of rain obscuring all objects on the other hand, the party made its way for several squares without exchanging a word. Presently the leading file came opposite the high wall of the Lascelles place. The green latticed gate stood open—an unusual thing—and both officers bent low over their pommels and gazed along the dark, rain-swept, alley to the pillared portico dimly seen beyond. Not a soul was in sight The water was already on a level with the banquette, and would soon be running across and into the gate. A vagabond dog skulking about the place gave vent to a mournful howL A sudden thought struck the captain. He led the way down the slope and forded across to the north side, the others fallowing. "Mme. Lascelles," he sadly spoke, "I had hoped to spare you this, but it is too late now. Mr. Lascelles was found lying on the sofa in his library this morning, lie had died hours before, during the night." fTKST AND rrFKc E GAZED BIXEXTXT "Soon after the storm broke,—about nine-thirty, I should say. He tried to get a cab earlier, but the drivers wouldn't agree to go down for anything less than a small fortune. Luckily, his Creole friends had a carriage.'' "His what?" I've got it yet. What should I do with it, Henry? I have no place to keep it and hate to send it back to him, for it was done in a friendly way, and he did not mean to be anything but social, I take it. "Sorry to hear that Who is the And then he had to spring and catch the fainting woman in his arms. She was still moaning and only semi-conscious when the old family doctor and her brother, Pierre d'Hervilly, arrived. Half an hour later Cram astonished the aids-de-camp and other bored staff officials by appearing at the general loafing room at headquarters. To the chorus of inquiry as to what brought him up in such a storm he made brief reply, and then asked immediately to speak with the adjutant general and Lieut. Reynolds, and, to the disgust and mystification of all the others, he disappeared with these into an adjoining room. There he briefly told the former of the murder, and then asked for a word with the junior. "Kane. He said Dawson was lying about his officer, and he wouldn't stand it" man?" Afterward he sent over for me to come and see him at once if I could. He wanted to have me sit up with him over night, as he was confined to his bed, he said, and "suffering intensely with some terrible eruption." I made what's called an examination and found he had been chawed ap with what we call' 'jiggers." Jiggers, you rickolect, is a red bug about the size of a grain of red pepper and can hardly be seen with the nakid eye. But the place he soon makes on the surface of an "intelligent farmer" can be seen across the fair ground easy. "His friends from near the barracks. They were here when we came down into the rotunda to smoke after dinner." "Chewers, you wiU rebort at vonst to Capt Cram." He got our districk to believe that we ought to send him there "to get new idears in school govermunt and rashional methods." I met him here with a big red badge on, and he had shaved off his John C. Calhoun whiskers, that used to bile up over his collar like a mass of red top busting out through a crack in the sidewalk and kind of give me the impression always that he had a pelt on him like a red Irish setter except where he shaved. "Kane!" exclaimed Cram, rising, "why, he's one of our best, I ne,ver heard of his being riotous before." "Who says I will?" said Jeffers, cheerfuUy, though bent on mischief, but was awed into instant silence at seeing that veteran step quickly back, stand attention, and raise his hand In salute, for there came Cram himself. Pierce with him. Cram felt his legs and feet grow cold and a chill run up his spine. "Who were they? Did you catch their names?" "He's riotous enough to-night. He wanted to lick aU six of our fellows, and If I hadn't got there when I did they would probably have kicked him into a pulp. All were drunk; Kane, too, I should say; and as for Dawson, he was just limp." All that day the storm raped In fury; the levee road was blocked in places by the boughs torn from overhanging1 trees, and here, there and everywhere turned Into a quagmire by the torrents that could find no adequate egress to the northward swamps. For over a mile above the barracks it looked like one vast canal, and by nine o'clock it was utterly impassable. No cars were running on the dilapidated road to the "half-way house," whatever they might be doing beyond. There was only one means of communication between the garrison and the town, and that on horseback along the crest of the levee, and people in the secondstory windows of the store and dwelling houses along the other side of the way, driven aloft by the drenched condition of the ground floor, were surprised to see the number of times some Yankee soldier or other made the dismal trip.. mm, with a party or lour, was perhaps the first. Before the dripping sentries of the old guard were relieved at nine o'clock every man and woman at the barracks was aware that foul murder had been done during the night, and that old Lascelles, slain by some unknown hand, slashed and hacked in a dozen places, according to the stories afloat, lay in his gloomy old library up the levee road, with a flood already a foot deep wiping out from the grounds about the house all traces of his assailants. Dr. Denslow, in examining the body, found just one deep, downward stab, entering above the upper rib and doubtless reaching the heart—a stab made by a long, straight, sharp, two-edged blade. He had been dead evidently some hours when discovered by Cram, who had now gone to town to warn the authorities, old Brax meantime having taken upon himself the responsibility of placing a guard at the house, with orders to keep Alphonse and his mother in and everybody else out. "Only one. I was introduced as they were about to drive away. A little old fellow with elaborate manners—a M. Lascelles." "Did Mr. Waring come back with you?" was the first question. "No, sir; Hi left Mr. Warink on Canal street 'E said 'e'd be back to thank the capt'in in a little while, sir, and 'e' sent these for the capt'in's lady." "Would you mind going down and letting me talk with Kane? I never knew him to be troublesome before, though he sometimes drank a little. He was on pass this evening. "Joyce," 6aid ho to his orderly, "dismount and go in there and ring at the door. Ask if Mr. Lascelles is home. If not, auk if m&dame has any message she would like to send to town, or if we can be of any service." "Yes, with him and one other. Seemed to be a friend of Lascelles. Drove off in a closed carriage with a driver all done up in rubber and oilskin, who said he perfectly knew the road. Why, what's gone amiss?" "And Waring drove away with him?" This man—his name was Bertram Whangleathers—had jigger terraces all over him and welts of hectic flushes and uice red gopher holes and perara dog villages till the cows come home. I never saw such a sight since I was born. His back looked like the fortifications around Vicksburg. Now he is all dressed up and has been shaved in the Palmer House barber shop, where they have a silver dollar in each square of the floor. Since times is so demonetized they have put plate glass mirrors on the ceiling so as to double the volume of silver coin on the floor. This is more like congress than anything I ever knew a barber to do. Reynolds was a character. Tall, handsome and distinguished, he had served throughout the war as a volunteer, doing no end of good work, and getting many a word of praise, but, afall his service was as a staff officer, it was his general who reaped the reward of his labors. He had risen, of course, to the rank of major in the staff in the volunteers, and everybody had prophesied that hC* would be appointed a major in the adjutant or inspeotor general's department in the permanent establishment But there were not enough places by any means, and the few vacancies went to men who knew better how to work for themselves. "Take a lieutenancy now, and we will fix you 'jy and by," was the suggestion, and sO it resulted that here he was three years after the war wearing the modest strap of a second lieutenant, doing the duties and accepting the responsibilities of a far higher grade, and being patronized by seniors who were as much his inferiors in rank as they were in ability during the war days. Everybody said it was a shame, and nobody helped to better his lot. He was a man whose counsel was valuable on all manner of subjects. Among other things, he was well versed in all that pertained to the code of honor as it existed in the ante-bellum days,— had himself been "out," and, as was well known, had but recently officiated as second for an officer who had need of his services. He and Warinff were friends from the start, and Cram counted on tidings of his absent subaltern in appealing to him. Great, therefore, was his consternation when in reply to his inquiry Reynolds promptly answered that he had neither seen nor heard from Waring In over forty-eight hours. This was a facer. AFTEB HUL Cram took the beautiful basket of violets with dubious hand, though his eyes kindled when he noted their prolusion and fragrance. Nell loved violets, and it was like Waring to remember so bountifully her fondness for "Well, it's raining cats and dogs captain, but come along. If you can stand it I can." The soldier was gone but a moment, and came hurrying back, a negro boy, holding a long fold of matting over his head to shed the rain, chasing at his heels. It was Alphonse. "Hub?—Cram's wagon," laughed Ferry, rather uncomfortably, however.A few minutes later the sergeant of the guard threw open one of the wooden compartments in the guard-house, and there sat Kane, his face buried in his hands. And all day long the 6torm beat upon the substantial buildings of the old barracks and flooded the low ground about the sheds and stables. Drills for the infantry were necessarily suspended, several sentries even being taken off their posts. The men clustered in the sauad-rooms and listened with more or less credulity to the theories and confirmatory statements of fact as related by the imaginative or loquacious of their number. The majority of the officers gathered under the flaring lamp-lights at the sutler's store and occupied themselves pretty much as did their inferiors in grade, though poker and punch—specialties of Mr. Finkbein, the sutler—lent additional color to the stories in circulation.He would talk with me in a lucid way for a few minutes, and then he would leap out of bed and back up aginst a wall of what he calls "lincruster waiter" and agitate himself with a look of deleerious joy. "Oh, Lord, yes, I know that. Didn't I see him driving Mme. Lascelles up Rampart street as I came down in the mule car?" . liem. "M'sieu' not yet of return," said he. in labored translation of his negro French, "and madame remain chez Mme. d'llervilly. I am alone wiz my mudder, and she has fear." But I am wandering away from the fair again. "What detained him? Did he send no word?" I was going to say that Mr. Pilcher was going to take me to see a specially spicy dance on the Midway pleasents Tuesday, but mother said she would not permit me to do so. I said to her sort of spirited and annoyed: "You read the papers and get lots of fool notions in your head, I think, for such a nice old lady as you seem like. Prob'ly," I said, winking at Pilcher, "you have made an erroneous of yourself regarding this dance." And then Pierce and Ferry looked at each other, startled. " 'E said nothink, and sent nothink but the basket, sir. 'E said a couple of hours, now I think of it, Bir. 'E was going back to the 'otel to dine with a lady and gent." "I ordered him locked in here by himself, because I feared our fellows would hammer him if he were turned In with them," explained Mr. Merton, and at sound of the voice the prisoner looked up and saw his commander, dripping with wet. Unsteadily he rose to his feet. You know a jigger that even hears a rumor that an "intelligent farmer" is in the county will travel night and day to find , and then there is an erie of £Ood ioeling and a barbecue right afterward. Bertram said he had been painting a picture of a heifer all the day before, and I found that while he was doing it he had been setting on an old dead log. Old dead logs is where jiggers in good standing holds their conclaves. ThaUevening, therefore, it was a comfort to both when Sam came tooling the stylish turnout through the sallyport and his battery chums caught : sight of the Allertons. Pierce was just .returning from stables and Ferry was smoking a pipe of perique on the broad gallery, and both hastened to don their best jackets and doff their best caps to these interesting and interested callers. Cram himself had .gone out for a ride and a think. He always declared his ideas were clearer after a gallop. The band played charmingly The ladies came out and made .a picturesque croquet party on the green carpet of the parade. The officers clustered about and offered laughing wagers on the game. A •dozen romping children were playing joyously around the tall flagstaff. The air was rich with the fragrance of the magnolia and Cape jasmine, and glad .with music and soft and merry voices. Then the stirring bugles rang out their lively summons to the batterymen beyond the wall, The drums of the infantry rolled and rattled their echoing clamor. Th# guard sprang into rank, and their muskets, glistening in the slanting beams of the setting sun, clashed in simultaneous 'present" to the red-sashed officer of the day, and "that official raised his plumed hat to "the lieutenant with the lovely girl by his side and the smiling elders on the back seat as the team once more inade the circuit of the post on the back trip to town, and Miss Flora Allerton clasped her hands and looked enthusiastically up into her escort's face. "Oh, it's all right, I fancy," said Cram, reassuringly. "They were caught by the storm, and wisely stayed uptown. I saw your gate open, so we For a moment Cram was silent. Be glanced at Pierce, as much as to say: Have you no question to ask? but the youngster held his peace. The senioi officer hated to inquire of his Bervant into the details of the day's doings, lie was more than half Indignant at Waring for having taken such advantage of even an implied permission ae to drive off with his equipage and groom in so summary a way. Of oourse Nell had said: "Take it and go;" but Nell could have had no idea of the use »o which the wagon was to be put. If Waring left the garrison with the intention of using the equipage to take Mme. Lascelles driving, it was the most underhand and abominable thing he had ever heard of his doing. It waiunlike him. It couldn't be true. Yet had not Braxton shown him the letter which said he was seen on the levee with her by his side? Had not Dryden further informed every man and woman and child with whom he held converse during the day that he had seen Waring with Cram's team driving Mme. Lascelles up Rampart street, and was not there a story already afloat that old Lascelles had forbidden him ever to darken his threshold again —forbidden madame to drive, danoe, or even speak with him? And was there not already in the post commander's hand a note intimating that M. Lascelles would certainly challenge Waring to instant and mortal combat if Waring had used the wagon as alleged? Jeffers must know about it and could and should tell if required, but Cram simply could not and would not ask the groom to detail the movements of the gentleman. Had not Waring sent word he would be home in two hours and would come to see his battery commander at once? Did not that mean he would explain fully? Cram gulped down the query that rose to his lips. "Captain," he began, thickly, "I'd never have done it in the world, sir. but that blackguard was drunk, sir. and slandering my officer, and I gave him fair warning to quit or I'd hit him. but he kept on." .opped to inquire. V. eU ride over to ime. d'llervilly''s and ask for them, ilow eame your gate open?" "Mo connais pas; 1 dunno. Rare. It was lock' last night." "No," she said, looking me in the eye in a way that made my wind infested whiskers turn gray, "I am making no mistake, father. I was there yesterday myself." "Why, that's odd," said Cram. "Better bolt it now, or all the cattle along the levee will be in there. You can't lock out the water, though. Who had the key besides Mr. Lascelles or madame?"A water color girl from Brooklyn, E. D., painted a self made bull of mine last year, aiming to exhibit the painting at one of the saloons in New York, she said, and she set on a nice mossy log too. 1 told her that a mossy log was pizen for inseoks; but, no, she allowed that she couldn't*ee any, and, in fact, she couldn't see anything smaller than a trestle, for she had been mellowed some by age. "Ye-es? And what did he say?" "He said—I wouldn't believe it, sir— that Mr. Doyle was that drunk that him and some other fellers had lifted him out of the mud and put him to bed up there at—up there at the house, sir, back of Anatole's place. I think the captain knows." [to bk continued.] There is nothing left now for me that is interesting except the people of the Dahomey village, who remind me of a Republican mass meeting in South Carolina."Nobody, sare; but there is muddy foots all over the piazza." Their love had reached that stage where she didn't care whether he mussed her hair or not, such was her trust in Mm. Purely a Supposed Case. "The devil! I'll have to look in for a moment." A nod to Pierce brought him too from the saddle, and the officers handed their reins to the orderlies. Then together they entered the ?ate and strode up the white shell walk, looking curiously about them through the dripping shrubbery. Again that dismal howl was raised, and Pierce, stopping with impatient exclamation, tore liaif a brick from the yielding border of the walk and sent it hurtling through the trees. With his tall between his legs, the brute darted from behind a sheltering bush, scurried away around the corner of the house, glancing fearfully back, then, halting at safe distance, squatted on his haunches and lifted up his mournful voice again. "Ah, you should have steered clear of such company, Kane. Did this happen at Anatole's saloon?" Maybe I will have time to pencil off another letter whilst here, but this one, I know, is rambling, and I have had no time to revise it, for we engaged meals before we started from home, and the man lives of course in Chicago, but it is north of Beloit quite a ways, and our tent is ift South Chicago, which is near Indianapolis. This keeps us on the go except when we lunch on the grounds and give our eggshells to the poor. Her sun kissed tresses stood out in bold relief against his pink shirt, in spite of arhich he had a not unintellectual countenance.There was sounds of revelrv bv nieht after that for several moons, and your mother says that since yoii had the hives she has not saw anything like it. She was a slender girl—so slender that a jigger bite on the shin made her seem to be going the other way. "Yes, sir, and them fellers was making so much noise that the dago turned them all out and shut up the shop at eleven o'clock, and that's what made them follow me home In the car and abuse me all the way. I couldn't stand it, sir." "Wouldn't it be lovely"  It was the sweet voice of the maiden that broke the stillness. "if pa should lose all his money? rhen"  Oh, how she murmured! I see no ill feeling or resentment south toward the northern man unless the northern man sits down on a dead log to read "Lorna Doone." Then there is something steals up his trousers legs which arouses the old party spirit. "You would only have laughed at them if your better judgment hadn't been ruined by liquor. Sorry for you, Kane, but you've been drinking just enough to be a nuisance, and must stay where you are for the night. They'll be sorry for what they said in the morning. Did you lock up the others, Mr. Merton?" he asked, as they turned away. She was gazing at his collar button, portunately, and she did not see him turn pale. It Is hardly worth while to waste time on the various theories advanced in the garrison as to the cause and means of the dreadful climax. That Doyle should be away from the post provoked neither comment nor speculation; he was not connected in any way with the tragedy. But the fact that Mr. Waring' was absent all night, coupled with the stories of his devotions to madame, was to several minds prima facie evidence that his was the bloody hand that wrought the deed— that he was now a fugitive from justice, and Mme. Lascelles, beyond doubt, the guilty partner of his flight. Everybody knew by this time of their being together much of the morning: how could people help knowing, when Dryden had seen them? In his elegantly jocular way, Dryden was already condoling with Ferry on the probable loss of his Hatfield clothes, and comforting him with the assurance that they always gave a feller a new black suit to be hanged in, so he might get his duds back after all, only they must get Waring first. Jeffers doubtless would have been besieged with questions but for Cram's foresight: his master had ordered him to accompany him to town. Day before yesterday I had a glass of beer, and the band seemed to play a little bit better than it had before since I have been on the grounds. "my lovey-dovey would adore his tootsey-wootsey for her own sake, wpuldn't he?' "What's wrong, Cram?" I auctioned off some extra furniture the other day, especially yours, as I do not look for you to come home much more. Mother says you have mostly outgrown the home nest and will soon catch on to some other birdling and make a nest of your own. A man also came near falling off the big Ferris wheel 800 feet to the ground, and in every way It was the pleasantest day I have yet saw whilst here. So, goodby. Yours respectfully, your father, "Bead that," said the captain, placing a daintily-written note in the aid-decamp's hand. It was brief but explicit: He cleared his throat. "Dearest," he said, "I should like to inquire, before I make answer to you, whether or not that is a purely hypothetical question?" " Whose dotr Is that?" demanded Cram "Col. Twice have I warned you that the attentions of your Lieut Waring to Mme. Lascelles meant mischief. This morning, under pretense of visiting her mother, she left the house in a cab, but In half an hour was seen driving with Mr. Waring. This has been, as I have reason to know, promptly carried to M. Lascelles by people whom he had em ployed for the purpose. I could have told you last night that M. Lascelles' friends had notified Lieut Waring that a duel would be exact ed should he be seen with madame again, and now It will oertainly come. You have seen Dt to soorn my warnings hitherto, the result is on your head." "All but Dawson, sir. I took him over to the hospital and put a sentry over him. That fellow looks to be verging on Jimjams, and I wouldn't be surprised if he'd been talking as Kane says." Merton might have added, "and it's probably true," but courtesy to his battery friend forbade. Cram did add mentally something to the same effect, but loyalty to his arm of the service kept him silent. At the flag-staff the two officers stopped. " M'sieu' Philippe's; he not now here. He is de brudder to monsieur." She assured him that it wad, whereupon he said yes, he would certainly love her for her own sake under the circumstances she had outlined.—Detroit Tribune.At the steps the captain bent and closely examined them and the floor of the low veranda to which they led. Both were disfigured by muddy footprints. Pierce would have gone still farther in the investigation, but his senior held up a warning hand. You are old enough now to breathe words of love of evenings and wait for some celestial restaurant to come and take your order for meals. I shall always take an interest in you, Henry "Oh," she cried, "isn't It all just too lovely for anything! Why, I think your life here must be like a dream." P. S.—Your mother has just sprained her ankel, and I am with Pilcher this p. m. , Father. But Miss Allerton, as Mrs. Cram had said, sometimes gushed, and life at Jackson barracks was no such dream as it appeared. It was verging toward midnight, but the feeble flame of the watered oil produced a good imitation of gloaming. Anticipated. —you know that—but while there is no confidence shown in the stringency of the times I wish you would borrow mostly of people yon are visiting at New Roshell."Two men have been here," he muttered. " They have tried the door and tried the blinds. Where did you sleep last night, boy?" and with the words he turned suddenly on the negro. " Did you hear no sound?" A Matter of Etiquette. "Hicks is crazy about etiquette. He saw in the paper the other day that in the best circles the wife ladles out the soup, and he has consequently given up soup." "Why?" The sun went down red and angry far across the tawny flood of the rushing river. The night lights were set at the distant bend below. The stars came peeping through a shifting filmy veil. The big trees on the levee and about the flanking towers began to whisper and complain and creak, and the risiiur wind sent lonsr wisps of straggly cloud racing across the sky. The moon rose pallid and wan, hung for awhile over the dense black mass of moss-grown cypress in the eastward swamp, then hid her face behind a heavy bank of clouds, as though reluctant to look upon the wrath to come, for a storm was rising fast and furious to break upon and deluge old Jackson barracks. There was no signature whatever. It was under such circumstances as these that a tall, slender girl sat and wopdered when the man in the easy chair would say something interesting. " Merton, oblige me by saying nothing as to the alleged language about Doyle, will you?" "Who wrote this rot?" asked Eeynolds. "It seems to me I've seen that hand before." Among other things I sold at the auction and fire sale was the heavy mahogany bedstid, which I thought that some lover of the anteek would run up to a fabuliss price. One woman spending the summer near us said all it wanted was some nice heavy brass castors so's that it could be jerked around easy and swep under. So I got a big set at Brightly's place for $2.50 and put them in that night, boring holes in the bedstid to sock them into. You know old wood like that is pretty middling hard, and our auger was injured 18 years ago by my son when he bored into the pasture eleven or nine times for kerosene oil. "All right, then, Pierce; we'll take these over to Mrs. Cram and have a bite ready for Waring on his return," said the stout-hearted fellow, and, in refusing to question his servant, missed the chance of averting catastrophe."Certainly, captain. Good night." "No, sare. I sleep in my bed,—'way back. No, I hear noting,—noting." And now the negro's face was twitching, his eyes staring. Something in the soldier's stern voice told him that there was tragedy in the air. "So have I, and pitched the trash into the fire, as I do everything anonymous that comes my way. But Drax says that this is the second or third, and he's worried about it, and thinks there may be truth in the story." The fact that she was 32 years old made the silence still more oppressive. Then, as the officer of the day's lantern flickered awav in one direction. Cram turned in the other, and presently went climbing up the stairs to the gallery leading to the quarters of his senior first lieutenant. A dim light was shining through the shutters. Cram knocked at the door; no answer. Opening it, he glanced in. The room was unoccupied. A cheap marine clock, ticking between the north windows and the wash-stand, indicated midnight, and the battery commander turned away in vexation of spirit. Lieut. Doyle had no authority to be absent from the post. "He has no wife."—Harper's Bazar. In the uncertain light she saw his lipe move and bent forward eagerly. Too Previous. "Do you call this a band of picked musicians?" said the hotel manager to the leader of a summer band. * And so they bore the beautiful duster of violets, with its mute pledge of fidelity and full explanation, to his rejoicing Nell, and the trio sat and chatted, and one or two visitors came in for awhile and then scurried home as the rain began to plash on the windows, and the bugles and drums and fifes sounded far away at tattoo and more than usually weird and mournful at taps, and finally ten-thirty came, by which time it had been raining torrents, and the wind was lashing the roaring river into foam, and the trees were bowing low before their master, and the levee road was a quagmire, and Cram felt convinced no cab could bring his subaltern home. Yet in his nervousness and anxiety he pulled on his boots, threw his gum coat over his uniform, tiptoed in to bend over Nell's sleeDinc form and whisper, should she "Are we"  His voice was as music in her ears. " If this door is locked, go around and open it from within," said Cram, briefly. Then, as Alphonse disappeared around the north side, he stepped back to the shell walk and followed 6ne of its branches around the other. An instant later Pierce heard him call. Hastening in his wake, the youngster came upon his captain standing under a window, one of whose blinds was hanging partly open, water standing in pools all around him. "As to the duel, or as to the devotions to madame?" asked Beynolds, calmly. "quite alone?" "Oh, Alfred, this is so sudden." "Ach, dot vos so. I bick 'em minesellef," replied the bandmaster. In silence a second time the little party rode away, passing the flooded homestead where lay the murdered man, then, farther on, gazing in mute curiosity at the closed shutters of the premises some infantry satirists had already christened "thd dove-cot." What cared they for him or his objectionable helpmate? Still, they could not JDut note how gloomy and deserted it all appeared, with two feet of water lapping the garden wall. Summoned by his master, Jeffers knuckled his oilskin hat-brim and pointed out the spot where Mr. Waring stood when he knocked the cabman into the mud, but Jeffers'tongue was tied and his cockney volubility gone. The tracks made ibv Cram's waeon up the slope were al- Witha wild exultation in her hear) she tottered across the room, etc.—De troit Tribune. "Well, then, you picked them before they were ripe."—Tit-Bits. "We-11, both, and we thought you would be most apt to know whether a fight was on. Waring promised to return to the post on taps last night. Instead of that, he is gone—God knows where—and the old man, the reputed challenger, lies dead at his home. Isn't that ugly?" Just How. I* This True? "Good morning, your honor," said the cheerful prisoner. "How do you come on today?" Romanticns—I saw the prettiest woman today on the street I ever saw. Prakticus—Who was she? IV. I put in the biggest part of the night boring four holes, your mother trying to hold the old quail trap stiddy whilst I worked, and in the morning it was auctioned off for $1.50. This is a fact and shows how stringency is here on the farm. When Jeffers came driving into barracks on his return from town, his first care, as became the trained groom, was for his horses, and he was rubbing them down and bedding their stalls for the night when the sergeant of the battery guard, lantern in hand, appeared at the door. It was not yet tattoo, but by this time the darkness was intense, the heavens were hid, *nd the wind was moanimr about the Rom.—I don't know. It was dark and storming furiously when the bugles of the battery sounded the reveille, and by the light of the swinging lanterns the men marched away in their canvass stable rig, looking like a column of ghosts. Yet. despite the gale and the torrents of rain, Pierce was in no wise surprised to find Cram at his elbow when the horses were led out to water. Beynold's face grew very grave. "Who last saw Waring, that you know of?" "Finely, sir," replied the Judge curtly, and the prisoner swallowed his cheerfulness.—Truth.Prak.—Of course you don't. No man ever knows the prettiest woman he ever saw.—Detroit Free Press. " Look here," was all he said, and pointed upward. "My man Jeffers left him on Canal street just after dark last night. He was then going to dine with friends at the St. Charles." The sill was above the level of their heads, but both could see that the sash was raised. All was darkness within. That fl u Easy. I reserved the castors while the bedstid was in transit and drove some nails in the auger holes to teach future generations that an old man like me cannot be ground under the iron heel of capital and then fed to the hogs. It may not be a Christian inirit lint flio-rp nhntit ag The Country's Need*. Williamson — You can't guess who gave me this cigar. "It is measures, not men, we want." shouted the stump speaker. " Come with me," was Cram's next order, and the lieutenant followed. Alphonse was unlocking' the front Henderson (getting a whiff of it)—No, but I can guess why he gave it to you.- Brooklyn Life. "Yes." "The Allertons?" "It isn't anything of the kind," exclaimed a summer girl, and she left the place.—Exchange. "Then wait till T soe tW chief. »nd