Pittston Gazette

              ESTABLISHED! 850. » VOL. XLV. NO. «:J f Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE CO., PA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1895. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. I9UOO PER ANNUM 1 IN ADVANCE spoko but a few words with him, nnCl did not ask his nartio. Ho wore tho cavalry uniform." your trophies whilo you may, my boy. for stern duty will soon bid you shako off the aspcct of tho beau nnd don the more earnest air of tho soldier." when I camo out any moro than ho would have done one of hits own companions."ho able to assist you. My father is tho commanding officer, you know, and will grant any reasonable request I may ask of him. I might bo able to securo your discharge from tho servico and enablo yon to return to a lifo for which you aro better fitted than you are to perform the duties of a private soldier." ing mo to givo tho name of llichard Brown, of replying to some questions propounded by an officer, and then of raising my nana ana taxing an oatn. A few moments later, with a lot of men, I was taken to a boat and helped on board, and there I fell into a drunken sleep. BILL NYE ON JOKES. Lily Dalo, Rawlins, Wy., writes to know, "Which is proper, the czar of Russia or emperor of Russia, and what is the title of his wife?" JJriva 1894. By The Auth "Well, Sunshine, It Is not at all improbable that If his past history wcro laid beforo you, you would And it a dark one. *Yon must not allow your romantic little brain to picture him a prince In disguise. Come, dinner Is waiting, and I am as hungry as a trooper after a hard day's scout. Attention, .squad! Right face! Forward, march!" "In what language did ho, retort when you reprimanded him?" Lieut. Vandever camo, and was at once located in bachelor quarters and listed for duty. Capt. and Mrs. Colby, as the oldest In point of residence at the post, announced a reception in honor of tho new officer, and on tho evening designated the parlor of tho Colby quarters was well filled with officers and ladles. Lieut. Vandever was introduced to all, and was cordially welcomed into tho society of tho garrison. IIo proved to bo a quite handsome young gentleman, and had brought with him a smile which had no doubt played sad havoc with maidenly hearts at the alma mater on tho historic Hudson, yet beneath tho surface there seemed to lurk an imperious, tyrannical, if not cruel nature, which the smiling face could not entirely conceal. He was studiously polite in his demeanor toward the ladies and endeavored to bo a "hail fellow well met" among tho gentlemen, but a sort of repellant glance which at times shot from his eyes went far toward smothering the warmth with which both gentlemen and ladies would have gladly welcomed him. HE GIVES SOME INFORMATION ON "IIo endeavored to excuse himself for —his—his —his breach of military disci-, plino. Ills words wero respectful, sir, but tho expression on his face was not." HOW THEY ARE WRITTEN The title of czar was given to the emperor of Russia some time in the twelfth oentury. It means a king. The annalists bestowed the title on Vladimir, and his successors have inherited it, together with a burglar proof wood box, in which Vlad used to secrete himself when he heard an anarchist's breath in the entry.[to bb continued.] A Pathetic Icttpr From Oregon Is Re- "In seeking to learn my history I am sure you aro actuated only by pure womanly sympathy. I thank you for this, thank you most sincerely, but I cannot consent to you making an effort to socuro my discharge. I have accepted tho condition in which I am placed as a deserved punishment for wrong doing and as a severe school to teach mo tho right, and under no circumstances would I have my term of enlistment shortened one single day." Alice looked into his eyes for a moment, ana then Degan a new scrutiny of the sketch. Dor thoughts wore not upon the picture, however. She was debating In her own mind tho propriety of pushing her inquiries further. She was burning with ouriositv not unmixed with sympathy to learn why a man of his acquirements and unmistakable refinement should be found In such a humble position. After a few moments' reflection, during which he watched her facc with growing Interest, she sprang from her saddle to tho ground, and requested him to tighten the girth. Whilo ho was doing so she said: Love In a Trifle Vague— Some Remarks ceived, Wherein the Course of True "A look of-pain'at tho unmerited disgrace you had inflicted on him, or ono of contempt?" in the diamond mines. About the Gear of IliiHaia. DqCK Gayly trilling tho air of "Tho Oirl I toft IJchlnd Mo" she led tho way with military stop to tho dining-room, the old colonel marching after her with tho precision of other days. The EndlfM and Peculiar Method* of De* "Contempt, sir. Unmistakable contempt."fruading the Company. young Writor, Bucyrus, O., asks: "Who write the humorous paragraphs for the big morning papors of New York? Thoy must bo very prolifio writers, and I do not see how thoy can think of so many things for 365 days in the year." [Copyright, 1894, by Edgar W. Nye.] "You say no ono is allowed to either enter or leavo tho fenced environ of themines without a permit?" Officially the title was not used till the sixteenth oentury, when as early as 1505 Basil Ivanovitch, the Bon of old man Ivanovitch, assumed the title of Samodershee, or autocrat, and his son, Ivan the Terrible, was crowned czar in 1547. 4( .* • H»« I. *•»*♦ *- t "Out of respcct for your rank, Llotit. Vandever, tho sergeant should havo tried to hide his feelings. I wish to say to you, sir, that Sergt Barrett was a tried and true soldier when yon were a puling Infant in your mother's ftrms. I have known him for many vears, and in all of his long and faithful service this is tho first blot ever cast on his record. Ho Is a -man fitted by education and long service to fill a position alDovc the ono you now oocupy. Sergt. Barrett is a soldier who Is not at all lacking in respeot for his superiors in rank. Were I to meet him and receive and acknowHdgm his salute and on turning around he should salute mo again, I would think he had been drinking, sir, and would pardon his excessive manifestation of respect on that ground. I believe I have nothing more to say to you, sir, further than that your hasty order placing this man under arrest must be instantly revoked."iOR.Au Rights Resei "That is so," replied Mr. Atklnsoa. "You sec, If wo wero not very strict in enforcing this rule, the number of diamonds we should loso would bo enormous. There is, however, one exception. Wo nover Stop a minister of any denomination from entering at any time." Interest In the soldier was at once aroused. He had not noticed her approach, so deeply interested was ho in his work, and she reined in her pony a few yards distant from where ho sat to study him. There was a pleased expression on her face when she noted that he was a handsome young man with a frank, honest face, neat and tidy In dress, and wearing an air of in- CHAFTER IL CHAPTER L INTBODUCTION. The soldier artist resumed his scat as Alice rode away, and sat and watched her until a bend in the trail hid her from his eyes. lie had often seen the young girl at a distance and had admired her graceful figure and light, 6pringy step, but had never beforo had an opportunity to closely observe her face. As she sat on her pony bowed over his sketch ho had studied her features, and ho thought he had never seen so beautiful a girl. Her sunny disposition flashed softly from her laughing blue eyes, and the lingering echoes of her low, sweet voice re sounded in his cars in pleasing melody long after she had gone. Everybody writes them. It is not a member of the staff who does the humorous paragraphs of a metropolitan paper generally. About 50 bright writers in New York, connected with other publications very often, buy cigars with CRAIG, in territory ol Ivan the Terrible, as most students of history are aware, ruled with great cruelty and a rod of iron about 8 feet long, the other end of which was kept hot over an alcohol stova This stove oonsumed every 24 hours a half gallon of aloohol and Ivan the other half. if Mexico, da upon a a mesa, 01 eoe of table i, overlook- She historic "I believe you lose a great many precious Btonos, do you notf" "We reckon," said Mr. Atkinson, "although we take every prcoautlon, that exactly one-quarter of the diamonds found in our mines are stolen." volley of the 'o Grande. The view from e fort b lly picturle. The long _ .ch of river, grass - carpeted MC*y dotted a groves of ton wood "Can you tell mo how thla la managedf" "There are endless methods of defrauding the oompany," said Mr. Atkinson. "Ono very common among the natives is to swallow the stono. A short time ago one of those gentlemon swallowed diamonds weighing 910 tarats and valued at over £1,000. One day I was watching a number of men sorting the blue ground when suddenly tho overseer rushed up and seized a man by tho throat, but it was too late. Ho gavo a gulp, and the stono was gono. Then another way the natives have Is to cut a hole In their flesh and bury the diamonds in it Ivan, which Is John in the English, was called also Ivan IV. He died at the age of 65, and the average reign of a czar since then has beeMiut 18 years. Thirteen yean ago last spring the czar was assassinated by means of a bomb tendered him by an admirer from out of town. A full account of the assassination was published exclusively in the Laramie Daily Boomerang, that being its first issue; terms, $10 per year; weekly, $8; terms of advertising made known on application and promise not to tell anybody else. Ivan carried on wars with Tartary, and in 1550 introduced the tartar emetic into their midst Soon afterward they threw up the sponge. Alice was at the party and was exquisitely lovely in her dress of purest white. _ ' She was the especial idol of tho ladies of tho garrison, and there was moro than one dissatisfied look on tho more matronly faces when it was observed that Vandever seemed to be greatly smitten with her charming presence and graco of manner. IIo was devoted in his attentions to tho fair girl, so much so, in fact, that his assiduity really annoyed her, and to escape him she excused herself at the earliest moment consistent with politeness and went to her homo. There was a marked stir in the social circles of the garrison when an official communication from tho wtw department to tho commanding officer advised him that Mr. Alfred Talbott Vandever, a recent graduate from West Point, had been commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to II troop. Sixth cavalry, then stationed at Fort Craig. Lieut. Vandever was coming under orders to report to Col. San ford for duty. "It may be presumptuous for me to do so, Mr. Brown, but I must aek you a question even at tho risk of being thought impertinent. When I tell you I am greatly astonished to find one of your qualifications among men so far beneath you in intellect and refined tastes, I feol that you will see in my interest somo palliation for my action. May I venturo to ask if there is a secret connected with the cause of your thus banishing yourself from the ranks of lifo in which you aro fitted to move?" trees, the low adobe houses of the Mexican rancheros, the great black bowlders and 'monuments of lav» rock across the stream, set in beds of mosquito bushes and cactus, far away to the eastward the bold towering peaks of the San Andreas and Oscura ranges, to the southward the Fra Cristobel and to the westward the Magdalena and the San Mateo ranges of mountains, all contribute to a picture so fascinating in its ruggod grandeur and beauty that it would seem as mockery for the most gifted artist to presume to transfer its details to oanvas. Stung to tho quick at this official rebuke, tho lieutenant sought his quarters. An order was at once sent to tha non-commissioned officer annulling the verbal order of arrest, and directing him to report to the first sergeant of his iroop for duty. "When a worker leaves the mine, no other man la allowed near him, either behind or In front, so that be may have no chanoe of passing a stone to a confederate I remember one day a man, on oomlng out of the mlno, told tho overseer that the workman who was following him, and happened to be his brother, had found a largo diamond. Consequently directly he appeared he was searched. It was discovered that ho had concealed in his loin cloth a stone weighing 428% carats. That man was tried and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. We use our conviots to sort tho blue ground for tho third and fourth time for diamonds, and when I tell you that, among othor things, we allow those convicts a minimum of throe quarters of a pound of moat a day besides soup I think you will own that they are not badly used." Lieut. Vandever and Miss Sanford frequently met, and it dk not take the young officer long- to learn that any attention shown her outside the bounds of ordinary politeness and courtesy would lDe met with marked displeasure. He was really desperately in love with the beautiful girl, and did not despair of arousing- in her heart a responsive pmotion; but her attitude toward him told hiyi all too plainly tftat he could never pain her favor through the medltun of light flattery and gallant attention which had proved so effective In transitory lore affairs at "The Point." He soon ceased to force his attentions unon her. and tried to bo content to wait and hope. lie felt that his sh.-irm of manner was irresistible—doz- dozens of girls had told him so In moonlight wanderings—and he did not doubt that at some future day the fair girl would strike her colors and capitulate. Ivan the Terrible was- a very plain man, and clocks were not a success until after his death. At a border military post the officers and their families live in a little world of their own. The social circle at one of these remote garrisons may best be described as a military family, the members of which are drawn Into close relationship by isolation from the great busy world to the eastward. Within the limits of this circle the strongest ties of friendship are formed, and the frequent social parties which servo as oases to break the monotony in the desert of garrison life seem more as family gatherings than fashionable affairs. A brotherly and sisterly feeling exists among the officers and ladies whose lot is east so far away from the borders of civilization, and when by The young officer evidently classed Alice in the same category with the frivolous young ladies without whose presence life at West Point would have to him been unendurable. Ilis vanity told him that while the girl with modest instinct treated him shyly at the first meeting she could not long resist his charms, and would soon listen to his protestations of alleged love as rapturously as a score of girls had done during his cadetship. llence, at their every future meeting he aimed his every shaft of wit, eloquence, compliment and flattery at the citadel of her young heart, and was really surprised at her failure to open wide its gate and bid him enter as its conqueror. She treated him with marked politeness at all times, yet in her heart wished that their meetings might bo as the visits of angels In the olden adage. "I fully appreciate the spirit of curiosity which prompts tho question, Miss Sanford, and I really regret that my reply may deface any romantic mental picture you may have drawn of mo. I have nothing to conceal from the 'world." He captured Astrakhan, Kasan and parts of Siberia. He also made war on the Poles and Swedes. ALICE, TirK colonel's daughter. SELLING JOKES. He preferred war as a means of longevity to life on a bomb infested throna tellectual refinement which seemed sadly out of place In one whoso lot was cast among the rough soldiers of the ranks. It mast be remembered that I write of the days just following the closo of our great civil war, when the ranks of the regular army on the frontier were made up of rough, illiterate men largely fished from the slums of the eastern cities, many of them having fled to the west and buried themselves in the army under assumed names to escape the consequences of crime. Alice Sanford had never dreamed the barracks of the privato soldiers sheltered a man of artistio tastes, and the spectaclc presented of a soldier wielding the pcncil of the artist was to her a revelation. their joke money. Each week they write 20 to 50 of these paragraphs, and then taking them in their market basket go out and dispose of them. In 1724 Peter the Qreat added to the title of czar that of imperator, with an advanoe in pay, horse feed and stationery. The wife of the czar was then called the ozarina, bnt now she is styled imperatritza. All of the buildings of this remote border garrison were built of adobes, or sun-dried bricks of Mexican manufacture, officers' quarters, barracks for the enlisted men, storehouses, stables, etc., being but one story In height. Around the post ran a line of earthworks thrown up during the civil war when Indian and confederate foe alike coveted its possession. The buildings formed a hollow square around a level parade ground some twenty acres in extent, and in the center during the occupancy of the fort stood a tall flagstaff from the top of whioh, every day in the year from sunrise to nunsot gun, the stars and stripes floated proudly In the semi-tropical breezes. "Then will you not tell me something of yourself. If your story bo one you can properly intrust with a stranger? I ask for no confidence, Mr. Brown, and assure you that curiosity alone feeds my nature—with, perhaps, a feeling of friendly sympathy for a fellow artist." They go to tho keenest editor first, and he takes what suits him. Then they go to one who is a little loss alert with what is left, and so on till the lot is disposed of. It would be amusing to give here the order in which the different papers are arranged in the mind of the joke writer and the name of the last editor they go to, but I do not dare do it here, though 1 have been let into the secret by friends who are in the busines&Among the Russians the czar is called hassoodar and other epithets behind his back. "How do the natives get rid of the •tones they steal?" I asked. "Thero aro at tho cape," repliod Mr. Atkinson, ''a sot of men known as the I. D. B. 's—that is, illicit diamond buyers—who lay thomselves out to purchase the stolen Jewels. Of courso there is a heavy penalty attaohed to their oonviction, but so profitable is this business that there aro any number of men ready to run the risk. I will tell you of a most curious occurrence I onco witnessed to illustrate this. I was watching the departure of a gang of oonvicts by train, ond among them I recognized a man who had Just rocelvod a sontone© of seven years' penal servltudo for illicit diamond buying. Ho was marching in singlo file with tho other prisoners, while on tho other side of the fence separating tho convicts from tho public stood a magnificent onrrlaco and pair whoso occupants, three ladies dressed in tho height of fashion, were waving adieu. These three ladies turned out to bo the illicit diamond buyer's wife and daughtors. Thomas B. Reed of Portland, Ma, is styled the American czar, or hassoodar. Tom the Terrible would also be a good He reflected a moment with downeast eyes, then looking in her face replied:"I will tell you my story, though It may lessen me In your esteem, and undermine any good opinion you may have formed of mo. It can bo told In a very few words. In the first place, my name is not Brown." CHAPTER m. It was not long before It began to bo whispered about that Lieut. Vandever was tyrannical and Imperiously lordly In his treatment of tho men who came under his supervision when he served as officer of the guard, and had been at times insulting in nis rotations mm the men of his own troop in the quarters. No complaints were made, however, and tho rumors were lightly treated until one day Sergt Barrett, an old trooper who had grown gray in tho service, went to headquarters and asked for an Interview with the commanding officer. Ills request was promptly granted, for CoL Sanford was always accessible to the men under him. Tho old sergeant entered the offloe, and removing his cap and saluting the commander stood like a statue awaiting permission to speak. A few days after their first meeting, while the soldier artist was near the same spot making a sketch of Mount Solcdad, a prominent peak of the San Andreas rango, Alice came upon him again. Long before she reached the spot where ho sat sho 'had seen him bending over his work. With girlish impulsiveness sho determined to endeavor to learn something of him, and rode directly up to him. Those who think that Mr. Pulitzer writes all the original humorous nonpariel Jokes in Tho World and Mr. Dana those that appear in The Sun make a great mistake Sometimes there will be a week at a time when neither of these gentlemen writes a joke for the paper, for by the time they have entertained visitors, shown them the new job press and how to piok a business card out of its jaws without leaving a thumb on tho forms, written a scathing editorial, a Christmas poem and a few book reviews, attended an old settler's meeting, made a kettle of composition for the rollers and outlined the polioy of the croquet column for the ensuing day, read tho proof and prepared the hotel arrivals for press, it is time to go home. The Boldier becoming aware of her presence glanced up from his work, and, noting that it was the daughter of the commanding officer who had approached him, quickly arose to his feet, removed his cap and silently waited for her to address him should she desire to do so. At the time of which I write the fort was garrisoned by four troops of cavalry, two companies of infantry and a battery of light artillery. The commanding officer. Col. Elmore Sanford, was a dignified, gruff old veteran who had grown gray in the service of his ■country, a strict disciplinarian who exacted with unflinching severity the performance of every duty from of■ficers and men aliko with promptness ■and precision. Every infraction of military rules met with swift punishment, whether the offender wore tho goldlaoed uniform of the officer or tho plain £&rb of tho private soldier.- -Us possessed a volcanic temper, at times, ■when angered, storming and swearing like a madman, then as quickly subsiding into his usual state of icy dignity. Those most familiar with his moods met these fit ml -utbursts of passion with no though* of resentment, for "I was very sure of that," 6he said with a sunny smile. "Brown Is too common a name for such an uncommon man." "And yet Illustrious men have borne It. I recall ono long slnoe dead whose tireless soul with knapsack strapped upon Its back is yet reported to be on an extended march. My true name Is Edward Thornton. I assumed the name I now bear when I enlisted. "I am sorry I disturbed you," she said. "Will you permit mo to look at tho sketch you arc making?" "If I disturb you, you must frankly tell me so and I will go away," she said. "I sketch a great deal myself, and naturally take a deep Interest In an art I love so well." "It is as yet far from complete," ho quietly responded, "and I fear you may not be able to form an intelligent idea of what its appcaranco will be when the details aro filled in. I began it but an hoar ago." ''The detective department nover arrests a man for tho first oScnse, but if he la suspected of buying stolen jewels a black man is got to offer him sorno stones, and if he buys them the samo native goes to htm tho second time, and if he again booomee a purchaser ho is sent the third time and makes an appointment to meet him in a certain bouso. Should he keep tho appointment he is taken into a room that either has a falso wall or a grating in the celling, from one of which positions two dotoctives will watch the transaction, and dlroctly the buyer has paid for tho diamond and has it in his possession the detectives enter tho room and seUo him." "My mother died when I was but a year old and a few months later my father followed her, leaving me In the care of a very wealthy aunt in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. She was my father's only sister, and took mo to her own luxurious home and reared me as her own child, lavishing upon me her deepest lovo. I was all sho had to love, and from childhood the dear, good woman fairly Idolized mo and gratified my every wish. When I reached a proper ago competent teachers were secured for mo, and, developing a love for study, I progressed so rapidly that at the early ago of seventeen I was the possessor of a liberal education and fitted to fill a responsible position In the business world. As I before told you, I acquired a deep lovo for drawing and painting, for which I am now truly thankful, for tho only real pleasure I now derive from life I find amid these western solitudes with my sketch book and pencils. i\ "You do not disturb mo In tho least, Miss Sanford," ho replied. "As but a private soldier I deem It an honor that tho daughter of my commander should Uko an interest In my poor efforts. And you, also, are of artlstio tastes? Do you not find rare subject matter for your pencil in this wildly boautiful oountry?" He handed her tho picture, and 6ho sat for some moments closely studying it, occasionally casting her eyes across the intervening desert to the Fra Cristobel range. TTTE SOLDIER ABTIBT BESUMED HIS SEAT. that Immovable decree, a military order, an officer ls transferred to a distant post the departure of himself and family. If he be married, creates a break In the family circle which is as sincerely mourned as would bo the departure for a far distant point of a member of a homo circle in privato life. The remaining members of a military family suffer a sense of bereavement which can scarcely be conceived by those not familiar with garrison llfo, and the departure of a member is as sincerely mourned as if bound to those to whom he bids an indefinite farewell by tics of blood. A great many people think that if they get down to The Sun office at half after 7 they will find Mr. Dana sweeping out his office and putting a fresh newspaper in his canary cage, but this is not the oasa For several years he has been enabled to hire this work dona He also lives in summer on a little private island, and by the time he rows over to New York he claims that he has had all the exercise he needs. THE STRAW BUCK. "What Is It, sergeant?" the oolonel asked. name for him. He is undoubtedly a dangerous man and subversive of everything under a republican form of government—that is good to eat "Sir, I have been a soldier for more than twenty years, and this Is tho first time I have ever made a complaint. J "You have chosen a beautiful study," Bhe finally said. "In my eyes tho Fra Cristobel is the most attractive of all the ranges which surround ua." "0, yes, indeed I do. I have many sketches I have made about tho fort, and many more from rarely beautiful spots In the mountain ranges hereabouts. You aro sketching Solcdad, I see. May I look at It?" He spoke in Chicago while I was there, and a good Democratic friend of mine asked if it would be proper for ladies to ga "I experience great pleasure in sketching it," ho replied. "This will be my third sketch of the range, and I seem to never tiro of tracing its bold outlines ami copying its rugged details of rock and pine." "What do you do to encourage the honesty of your work people?" I asked. "The natives," replied Mr. Atkinson, "if they find a stone, aro given 7D$ per cent of Its value, while the overseer receives 2X per cent. I said it would if they oonducted themselves properly. "It Ls scarcely started yet," he replied, "but as you aro an artist I neod not point out to you what It lacks to complete It" The following letter comes from the agricultural regiong of Oregon and has many local expressions in it peculiar to the wheat growing country. I have not interfered with the spelling. "Kuk" is a new one on mo, but I judge that it means cook. I would hate to be a czar, net so much on my own aocount, but my wife hates to be blown up, as she firmly believes in the resurrection of the body and would hate to put anybody to needless troubla Returning the picture, with a simple "thank you," she rode homeward. She allowed her pony to walk slowly along the trail and did not even chide him for stopping occasionally to snatch a mouthful of grass as ho loitered along, so buRy were her thoughts with the humble private soldier whom she had just left. She had seen In the yet crude sketch the work of a master hand, and she wondered why It was that one so gifted should bo wearing tho uniform and performing the duties of a soldier. Li Ilis manner was that of tho polished gentleman, his speech refined and pleasing, and his general demeanor was widely different from that of any of the other soldiers with whom she had been brought in contact What could a man of his attainments be doing1 in tho ranks "of the army? The question flashed through her brain, but no reply followed in its wake. A frown swept over her faco, but as quickly vanished at a rebuking thought. "When a native finds a stone in the mines, ho is expectod at oneo to hand it to the overseer, who tnkos It to the manager of tho mine, receiving in exchange a certificate stating tho woight of tho stone and tho namo of the finder. *'0 A prospective addition to the military family is always a matter of much comment. When tho accession is to be thttt of an officer of more or leas service in tho field, his coming Li looked forward to with great pleasure, for in almost, if not quito, every instance ho will bo known to somo of the officers at the post. In somo of tha labyrinthine movements of the great army machine they have been thrown together at different posts, then separated by the official order and sent, unmurmuring, to meet the exigcnciae of the service at widely separated points. When it is announced at a post that Capt. and Mrs. Sinclair are to be stationed there, those who have never met tho expected arrivals are enlightened as to their personal appearance, traits of character and social attainments by those who have been with them at other posts, and tho officer and his lady are received with as warm recognition by those who have never before seen them as by their friends of old. She pa zed upon the picture with great Interest, for overy bold stroko of the pencil and every dellcato shade proclaimed a master's hand. For some moments she stood In rapt admiration, her lips parted and her bright expressive eyes drinking in every detail ol the young artist's work. ~*'t .,v,rr The strawbuck is the person who buoks the straw. He is generally a boy or feeble minded person with a poor outcast of a horse and a fenoe rail The fence rail is attached by each end to ropes and thonce to the traces of the horse (if there aro any traces left of him), and when a pile of straw 5 or 6 '«,ifbigh has accumulated at tho tail of tho machino the strawbuck throws this rail over it and draws it off a few rods, scattering it over the field, where it is burned. "When my education was completed my good aunt supplied mo liberally with money, and in her solicitude for my pleasure and enjoyment paid little attention to my moral training. I was of a lively, fun-loving disposition, and in choosing my companions I selected kindred spirits who would join me In any wild lark that promised sport "Wo also give the convicts who search tho blue ground 2 % per cent on tho value of all stones they find. "-—Women at Home. "Your work is that of the finished artist'," she said. "Where did you learo this?" The Careless Girl. £ho enters your room llko a small whirlwind and never, by any possibility, thinks of closing the door after her, either coming or going. Sho seats herself with tho solm certainty of being wolcome and is utterly oblivious to tho fact that you are at work. ££■— "At my homo in a far eastern state. I dovoloped a taste for drawing when but a child, and every facility for advancement in the art was placed at mv disposal. In both drawing and painting I had tho best instructors to bo found in tho country." FORT CHAIO, they knew the old man never meant the half he said, and that beneath his forbidding exterior rested a soul that was really warm and generous. VANDEVER BEEMKD TO BE OUEATLY "One night at a banquet given in honor of the birthday of a young lady friend of my aunt I listened to tho smiling entreaties of tho fair hostess to drink her health, and accepted from her hand my first glass of wine. Ah! Miss Sanford, the first downward stop toward the depths of drunken degradation Is often taken at tho invitation of a thoughtless fair woman with a glass of sparkling wine in her jeweled hand, when sho little dreams that what she regards as but a trifling act of hospitality is tho seal of doom upon a life that might otherwise bo bright and useful. The wine seemed to flood my soul with Its rosy warmth and to quicken my senses, and other draughts of tho ruby liquid followed until I was taken homo in a carriage supported in my aunt's arms, in a state of stupid intoxication. SMITTEN. would have gone to the captain of my troop, but ho is absent from post on a hunt, and the officer of whom I would 'wnplain is temporarily in command of ihe troop. I do not think, sir, there is a man in tho service who feels more respect for his superior officers than 1 Jo, or who is more prompt at recognizing their rank than I when I meet them. Lieut. Vandover came into tho quarters an hour ago just as I was leaving the room, and I saluted him as was my duty. A moment later I was standing on tho porch just outside the door when ho came out, and I assumed tho position of a soldier and waited for him to pass. No officer who has been any length of time in tho service would have desired or expected a repetition of my salute, but tho lieutenant stepped up and shook his fist at me and roughly said: "This Is a protty thing," sho says, taking up a paperwioght from a pile of neatly copied MSS., which an impertinont brooze a moment later scatters wildly about tho room, carrying several of the fluttering pages far out of tho window. Mr. Pike writes like a Mormon and spells with the "whole arm movement," I presume, capitalizing his own name, whilo to tho Deity he gives a lower Case "1" and spells country with a "k." The light of the old commander's military homo was his daughter Alice, his only child, who came as a ray of sunshine into his life but a week before the death of his beloved wife. At the time our story opens Alice was a lovely, little fairy of eighteen, full of lift and spirit, as beautiful in her blonde J»velinef» as the lily bursting from its Imd. She was devotedly attached to hpr stern old father, who, in her society, laid aside his air of military dignity atvl allowed the reflection of his really kint\ heart to play in gonial smiles over his soldierly faoe. lie Idolized the lovely girl, the last priceless gift from his dying wife, a*d to contribute to her hapten e«ss and enjoyment seemed to be the one leading aim of his life. The best Instructors which money could 6ccure tad been brought from the far-away east to look after her instruction, and •when she reached her eighteenth year her education in all necessary branches ■was complete, and she possessed as fine accomplishments as she could have secured in any academy in the land. Born in a border military fort and reared in •the garrisons of the far west, she became imbued with the spirit of adventurotncident to frontier life, and was never eo happy as when dashing over the cactus studded plain or wooded river bottom on her strong-limbed pony or exploring the gulchcs and canyons clcft In tho breasts of the adjacent mountains."And now you are—'** "Now I am Private Brown, an en« listed man of D troop, Sixth cavalry," he replied, with a sad smile. "How awkwardl You shouldn't havo loft it so," sho says reproachfully If you aro very polite and have great control over your feelings, you refrain from reminding her that sho was the cause of tho trouble. But if you do call her attention to this fact sho remarks carelessly, "Was If" She looked into his eyes with a pua■led expression, followed by a shadov His meek spirit and constant reference to his dovout nature would indicate that ho belongs to the ohuroh of Latter Day Saints, and that in Qrass Canyon smokehouses should be worn with a padlock on tho outside: "O, no, not crime," she mused. "Those clear eyes of his mirrored a clear souL lie must not bo classed with those who lurk in the shadow of enlistment to escape tho searching eye of justice. There is a romance 6trcwn along his trail of life. There mutt be. Perhaps It was an affair of the heart. Yes, that must bo tho correct solution of the queer problem. Some cruel fair one In tho far-away east, of which I have read but never 6oen, has crushed his happiness and he fled to the army ranks hoping to meet death at the hands of an Indian foeman. IIow could a girl be so cruel to so handsome a man, and ono so intelligent and refined?" Hut it is different when the announcement is made that a newly created ofllcer will soon knook for admission into the garrison family, ne will come as a stranger to all. Those officers who themselves in turn stepped from the door of tho academy at West roint into tne neia 01 active service as the expected newcomer is about to do, aro well aware of tho mild form of torture which awaits them. They know that Mr. Graduate will burst upon their vision clad in natty attiro which tho purifying breezes have not yot had time to purgo of tho odor of the tailor shop. He will not have been in the garrison a day ere his trunks will have been emptied of their contents, and tho love trophies they contain exhibited to tho seemingly patient group who sit meekly listening to the pretty young man us he Iwmsts of his confluents in tho rosy field of love. They will smile serenely as his velvety tongue purls on, and the tiuio-dimmed canvas of their own memory brightens and presents for their edification the day when they, too, camo gliding Into the service arena in tho same state of Innocent insanity. They will not tell him so in words, but will mentally say to him: Having done all the mlschlof that she possibly could do, she complacently shakes out her skirts and departs, mentally apostrophizing you as cross and stupid and thanking hor lucky stars that sho is not like you. Oh, this over ubiquitous, careless girl! May sho mond her ways as well ns the mischlof sho does is my prayer, so that her days will bo short in tho land and tho ooming generation know her not —St Louis Republic. Okas Kan von Oregon Oc 301894 "Rats? Rats again for dinner?'It's always Rats—I'm si ok of them."—Ones a Week. mister nye deer frend 1 hav red ore published excomunikjtshuns with grate lafter an i no by ure rltin Mint u r a fare an sqare western man an i thot u wood like to hero from this part of the kuiitry 1 am a lover of the lord an 1 am a workln with a thrashin mashene an 1 am what tha cal the straw buck an marandy she kuka In tho kuk wagln an she is also a luver of the lord with grate humility an upritones of hart an i luv that gal with tru krtHliun dovoshun an lie bet a mexlcan sadel agin a paro of baro skin shaps that they ant nun ov tho boys in the flte with mo but the sak gigger ho is tho best six hoss driver an whip hand that ever buked wheet from this Bekshun to the columby river an he kan krak a fli often his off loders ear without makin his pintora wink an marandy sho nose it an he nose that sho noso it an whnts wus he noeo that i nose that she noso hit an the ingeneeor an tho hodlumns an the derrick forkers an tho roustabout an the holo ornery onrogonerated outfit nose that he noso that i noee that he nose that she noeo hit an they aro a sorce of grate anoyance to me an vexashun of apeeret an tha laf an mak that gal friskyrn a dog on bunch gras kayuso i tole our minister about It an hes as good a krishun as ever trid to korel a slner an ho didnt do nothln but laf gol darn him an then i tolo my naybur duchy gibins an hes as good a fro methodist as ever ropt a stear an he tole me to pra but 1 do no an i tak my pen In hand to aak u as man to man wood u pra an bido bl tho wil of tho lord or wood u fol from grase long anuf to nin-k that siik gigger Into go flinders with my buekin ralle as 1 hav Broken Brle-a-brme. It was tho fad to oollect brio-a-brac, and the fair Alice de Beaumont was somewhat of a fadateur. "When I came down from my chamber the next morning feeling as guilty as a felon approaching tho bar of justice, my aunt met mo with a smile, playfully chlded mo for having taken just a drop too much, and cautioned mo tn Vip imrpfnl nnrl not In fntnrn ovorost.1. mate my bibulous powers. That same night 1 again sought tho false cheer of tho wine cup. A young artist accompanied her in her explorations for the quaint and curious, and she thought a great deal of him. There was a time when by asking he might havo shared the De Beaumont millions, but he didn't catch on and went gallivanting away to Europe to get his money by other art than the art of getting it easy. After awhile he came back, and then it oocurred to him to propose to the erstwhile brio-a-brao oolleotor, who was now fadding it in the line of entomologio specimens. " 'What do you inoan, fellow? Do you know who I am? Why do you not salute me?' iS I * Approved. "I tried to explain to him, but he crossly told me to shut up, aud said ho would teaoh mo the respect duo an offioor. lie then placed mo under arrest. Sir, I served as a private soldier for six years and was never in tho guardhouse aa a prisoner, and during my fourteen years' service as a non-commissioned officer I have never until now been under arrost, and it hurts mo, sir. lie humbled mo before some of the men of my troop, but I don't mind that so much as tho disgrace ho has fastened to me." Onoe upon a time a goat perambulated abroad in search of that which he might devour. Thus she mused until she reached her homo. Throwing tho rein to tho orderly In waiting sho softly entered her father's sitting-room and awoke him from the half sleep into which he had fallen in his easy chair by a feathery kiss on the cheek. "Well, Sunshine, did yoy enjoy your ride?" ho asked, drawing her to a seat on his knee and more forcibly returning her kiss. "Lower and lower I went in my downward course, tho demon of drink 6inklng its poisonous talons deeper and deeper Into my soul. No word of rebuke ever fell from my aunt's llpa. She continued to keep my pnrso well filled, tho good creature believing my crop of wild oats would soon be sown and I would then settle down into respectable, sober manhood. Presently ho paused boforo a theatrical billboard. "Ah," exclaimod the goat, with a surprised and gratifiod air, "hero are somo posters which have been formally approved by tho moral crusaders. I was sure"-— sirr oa zed uroN Tins ficturh with GREAT INTEREST. He went at it with vigor, but was repulsed horse, foot and dragoons. of pain, as her father's words were recalled, "tho romance of crime." "Mr. IJrown, I cannot understand. I—I hope-" Ho smiled. —"I should find something good for supper." "Thon you will not have mo?" ho said in tragic tones. "O, very muoh, papa. I rede clear down to the Tafoya ranch six miles bolow, and on my way back I found such a curiosity." "Is that all that passed between you, sergeant?" IIo divined her thoughts in an Instant and quickly responded: "Two years ago this very day—the date is a notable one to mo, for it is tho socond anniversary of my enlistment—I went on a carouse with a oouplo of my boon companions. In a saloon In New York wo met a sergeant of artillery, then attochod to a recruiting office in that city. He was a hand' some, dashing young fellow and I at once took a great fanoy to him and asked him to Join us in our rovols. Retiring to a private room in tho rear of tho saloon I ordered wine, and wo were soon deeply under tho Influence of the seductive liquor. Our potations grew deeper and deeper until my two companions fell into a drunken sleep in their chairs. Saying which, ho fell to and gorged himself.—Detroit Tribune. "No," she replied as she looked him over critically. "I am no longer collecting brio-a-brac." I The picture ol this young ooracr firincess was indelibly stumped upon ho hearts of several of the younger officers of the garrison, yet none of them were suitors for her hand. They knew how her father idolized her and held her as a precious jewel Bet in his crown ol lite for min alone, ana cacn one felt that it would be almost sacrilege to attempt to pluck the gem from Its parent setting and transfer it to another. She had. seemingly, no especial favorite among the young men of the post. The same sweet smile which would set the heart of a young officer throbbing with delight would Illumine her pretty features while bending over the cot of a sick soldier in the hospital, or while thanking the humblest private who had done her a favor. She treated all alike, and came to be looked upon as a treasure which all might admire but none need ever hope to possess—a devoted child whose father so filled every nook of her pure heart that there was no room there for another. "You are eternally picking up curios. What was it this timo? A moss agate, a new species of cactus, a raro flower that you never happened to como onto before, or a magnificently large horned toad?" "That is all, sir. Tho lieutenant used somo language that ho would bo ashamed to use toward a soldier of my service after ho has been in tho army awhile, but I do not oomplain of that. I wish tho disgrace of arrest wiped from my long rcoord, sir, that is all." "No, Miss Sanford, not that. I know what you would say. It is too true thcro ore many soldiers in tho army who enlisted to escape punishment for crlmo, but I can truth fully assure you that I never committed a crime In my life. I confess that tho position In life In which I am ploced is not of my own choosing, that my servile lot Is dls» tasteful to me, yet with uplifted hand I gave myself to my country for five years, and I will faithfully fulfill that obligation no matter how sorely tho task may conflict with my own personal inclinations. In tho ranks of life you occupy a sphere far above ray present one, Miss Sanford, yet you need not fear being tainted by holding cor verse with Private Itrown." An Expressed Wish. That ended it, as might have been expected. —Detroit Free Press. often loud to do an I wiite urc anser with grate anxiety oil 1 am nr doer frend "A sad case, a very sad case, my dear boy, but you will get over it. Just a little campaigning, a little of tho hardship Incident to border military life will wear tne acaaomy glitter rrom you, and you will develop in time into a man of more sturdy mold whose aspirations will crave something more substantial than tho melody of a softly sung love ditty or tho giggling smile of a simpering schoolgirl. Those withered bouquets 1 tearing the distinguishing names of llose and Blanche and Agnes and Katie and other fair uniform worshipers now so precious to you, will soon find lodgment in tho coal scuttle; those daintily perfumed notes will go upward in tho smoke of the grate; tho oft-kissed photos will lie neglected in your trunk in the storeroom, and tho memory of the dear butterflies who cared little for you, but who loved to flutter around your gray uniform and hurl glances of defiance at pouting rivals, will bo but as a hazy dream, which you will not in your maturer sense care for memory to produco in too strong coloring. You will not bo so fastidious in dressing for tho saddlo and tho field as you wero in dressing1 for tho ballroom, or to keep an appointment with the latest 'plump quail' who had fallen a viotlm to your military air and brass buttons. Enjoy A Devote# of Browning. an 1 llv with ml foks In eras kanyon but if n wil rite to Biggn Sherman county oregon i wil git it thatH whar i buck whet to James Tikis "Some of Browning's works?" repeated the gentlemanly book store clerk. Certainly, ma'am. Which volumes did you want?" "O, no, papa, none of those. I ooulfi never place this ono with my collection. It Is not of tho geological, floral nor reptllo species, papa; but a living, moving, breathing—human being." It is rather late now to answer this letter, bat yon will gain nothing by personal violence, Mr. Pike, and your rival might turn upon you, for you know that oven the wheelbarrow will turn when trodden upon, aud ho might disfigure you. "If it will in any manner Booth© your wounded feelings, sergeant, I will say to you that I havo known you for a long time and havo always regarded you as a model soldier. You can go to your quarters. I will look Into tho matter." "Oh " sivid Mrs Nurich languidly, "wrap me ap a quarter of a dozen."— Chicago Record. "A Mexican freak, eh? And what was It like?" "No, nor was It a Mexican. You are a horribly poor guesser, papa. It was a soldier, a private soldier of tho post. I came upon him while ho was sketching the Fra Cristobel range, and when I asked if I might look at his sketch I really expected to see nothing but awkward, ill-shaped work. You can Imagine my surprise when I observed that he was an artist of no ordinary skill. Ohl there must bo such a romance connected with his life. Have you ever discovered men of refined tastes in the ranks, papa, driven there by romantic causes?" The Part of Wlndom. Tho sergeant saluted and retlrod, and an orderly was dispatched to summon Lieut. Vandever to headquarters. Tho young officer had from his window seen tho sergeant leave tho office, and" Instinctively felt that his unwarranted action had been reported to tho colonel. lie entered tho commander's presonoo with a timid air, and seated himself in a chair pushod toward him. Bido your time, James, and all will bo well. Would it not pay yon to travel the downward road a few weeks and thus interest Miranda in you? Some girls soom to in€d a man to reform and prefer the lovely debauchee and rewey to a correct person, as they yearn for the excitement of ennobling a bad man. If you think sho is of a romantic turn of mind, you might do this. It will not bo a disagreeable task by any moans. "The sergeant then suggested a walk, but I told him that gentlemen of our standing should .ride, and I ordered a carriage and wo drove away. Wo Btopped at various drinking places about tho city, and I became wild with my frequent potations and ready to second any proposition that tho sergeant might make. "1 do sincerely crave your forg-lv. ness," she warmly exclaimed. "It was but a passing thought, and even lDefore you Interrupted me your eyes told mo tho suspicion wronged you. Hut it surely could havo lDeen no ordinary cause that Induced you to enter tho Ho—Oh, yes; my book is being  lated into various European languages. "Lieutenant, you have placed Sorgt. Harrett of your troop under arrest." " 'Como and enlist with me, old fellow,' he said. 'You will havo nothing to do but wear a uniform and hang around with me looking for rccrnltn, and wo will havo a glorious time in this gay city.' Sho—Really? Well, I hope they'll translate it into English somo day. One lovely morning,in the month of September, 1806, while returning from {• gallop down the valley of the Rio Orande, Miss Sanford rode up a gulch onto the mesa about a mile below tho ,fort. As she came out upon the higher ground she observed a young soldier Bitting upon a rock near tho trail busily iengaged in sketching. She was herself a clever artist and passionately liood of drawlnur from nature, and her If you are ignorant of how to lead auch a life, you can get a popular book that will holp yon, entitled "Half Hours With a Rewoy; or, Whero Is My Jag Tonight?" by the Earl of Tinktum Linistoro, published by Moorohouso, Greens, Follows, Ohampney & Co. (Ltd.), Northeast Bishop's Gate street, Ludgate Hill and Hobnrn, N. W., London, E O., England. "Yes, sir, for showing mo dlsrespoct." "In what manner?" army?" Wife—Dearest, I am sure I hear burdown stairs. Well Armed. "Yes, tho romance of crime. Tho service and an assumed name have nerved as a barrier between many a criminal and the outraged laws. Who is this fellow?" "It was a result of youthful folly, Miss Sanford. I owe my present condition in life entirely to my own youthful folly." » - "IIo failed to salute me when I passed him, and retorted when I reprimanded him." Husband (standing up)—Then let me tit them. "In my irresponsible stato I agreed to his proposition and ordered tho driver to take us to tho stroet and the number ho named. I havo a dim, Indistinct recollection of ascending a stairway siiUDortod by tho sertreant, of him tell- "Ilad he not saluted you in a proper and respectful manner but a moment before?" "You excite my curiosity, Mr. Drown, and a woman's curiosity, when not gratified, is like a rankling thorn In her side, you know. Will you not trust mo with vour storv? Perhaps I may Wifo—Mercy, you are not going down as you are? "Well, Tommy, have you learned anything at school?" "O, I am sure this man is not a criminal. papa. You would share that belief with me wero you to seq him. I Husband—Havo no fears, my pet. I will put on the bath robe yon gave me. —Clothier and Furnisher. "Yes, sir, but thon I was entering the quarters. lie did not reeognlze mo "Yes, sir; I've learned to wear a Inng protector in the seat of my pants.• Ufe.