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Show THAT GIRL of JOHNSONS 2J y JEA.fi K.A TE LXVLXfi. Amtkm Ai i Cirl't Hero. Sit. Entered Aoeordin to Act of Confrere is tbe Veer 1)M0 by Street k Smith. In tbe Othee of the Librarian of Consreae, at Waabt&Kioa. D. C. CHAPTER XVI. Man Propose; God Disposes. Johnson did not die; that be lived through the terrible strain upon his vitality showed that he had an iron constitution, the doctors said; but the men at the tavern shook their heads over It, and looked meaningly at each other. They had their own opinion of the matter; perhaps they knew more than the doctors did; the wire men might, open their eyes In amazement ahcrtfld they choose to tell their suspicions. Johnson was kept under the Influence of opiates for three days and nights; he was not left alone one moment; they fed him on Mrs. Allen's beef tea and drinks, and cared for him as though he were a baby, the men said in half whispers him, with muscles like Iron and cords like an ox. Lodie daily carried I he news, brief Items briefly told in his measured tones as they gathered in the outer room of the tavern of an evening, or called now and then across the drenched gardens to each other, or met at the wells. And the women over their tubs, as they washed the clothes up and down, and soaped and rinsed and wrung them in dear water, leaving them to soak till the storm should be over, gossiped about "this ttiet hev bap'd Jobnsing," and his girl, and the airs they put on since Lemuel Johnson be who was born in the settlement years ago had ome with his girl and his gold to see that his brother should live like other folks, and was not so no 'count an shef'less. Dolores, knowing nothing of these goMiipiugs, and caring nothing for them, had she known, watdied her She never comfather untiringly. plained of being tired; she Beldom spoke. Young Green had gone home, but he came over every day, bringing gentle messages and delicacies. For three days Johnson lay in this stupor ao like death, scarcely stirring, not opening his eyes; his face was thin and drawn, his eyes sunken and hollow; his hair, a fewdays before so lightly sprinkled with gray, had grown suddenly white. He had companaged so that his every-daions would not know him. Dolores saw this in silence; her thoughts were busy, but her lips were dumb. Young Greens eyes had grown wonderfully keen to note the changes of the sweet, pale face, and the shadows of the dark, wondering eyes. For be knew that he loved her. It had come upon him the first night sis be stood behind her In the firelight and watched the pure face bent above tbe book on her knees. It had come almost like a blow at first, Jmt full of a sweetness that was full of pain also, she was so high above him, she had never a thought of love, she had never even known what love was as others knew It In the home life. And there was a tenderness in the thought of how he he. the first one in the world to show her what' love might be 'would prove to her the depth of its tenderness and holiness At sunset the third day the rain ceased, and the mist dragged itself brokenly across the peaks of the mountains; the hills were loud with the cry of the swollen river in the valley, and the cascades shouted aloud as they leaped the riven sides of the mountains to join the river and eat at the worn old bridge at the foot of the roadway. The rain had ceased at last, and I)r. Dunwiddie, who tat at the bedside, his eyes intent on the face of the girl, so grave and quiet light of the sunset, had raised the tiny window to let in the cool wind from the west. The clouds just aho e the distant peaks parted in sudden rtlenting after three days and nights of interminable raining, and through the rent the set- y Dolores slowly raised her head., ting sun flooded the summit with a radiant glory that was dazzling. Dolores, as though roused by the sadden rush of the sunbeams, slowly raised ber head and looked up to tbe radiant mountain. Her sad. dark eyes grew softer and deeper in color, and ber lip set close as in sorrow, slowly parted In one of her rare smiled. As ahe turned her head tbe comb an tortoise shell that had been ber mother's suddenly slipped from the heavy coll of her hair which, so loosened, fell In a mass of beauty, glinting, lustrous, about her. The nurse softly Opened the door at that moment, bringing the hector's supper, and a half baleful glitter appeared In her eyes as she saw the two so utterly unconscious of her presupce. Dr. Dunwiddie suddenly sat ererf, with his usual quiet dignity; the girl bad startled him out of himself; he but her. had forgotten everything Her grave face, with its solemn eyes, touched by the sunset, framed by the heavy tresses of loosened hair, was like an exquisite Madonna, and he held his breath In admiration and mute wonder. As he noticed Mrs Allen, however, he regained his composure, while Dolores gaihered up her hair slowly, and stooped to pick np her comb. It had snapped in two. You two are excellent nurses, Mrs. Allen said, softly, a smile on her lips toward as she motioned with her he-athe bed. Dr. Dunwiddie turned at once with a slight exclamation, and Dolores Your fathef will recover." arose with the comb in her hand, her hair falling around her, her eyes dark as though tears were in them, her As she turned her lips shut close. eyes toward the bed Bhe met full In hers the weak gaze of her father. Only for a moment, however, for the eyes closed almost immediately as though the light hurt them, but In that moment Dolores once more faced his soul with hers. Once more her father opened hla eyes and looked first at the doctor, then at her. At tbe doctor's suggestion she spoke to blm. Father, ahe said, slowly, that he "Father. might understand. But the eyes resting on her face had no gleam of pleasure at seeing her there; rather It might be said there was a Rash of hatred there as in the old days. Then they drooped again and doted, and presently his breathing Indicated that ne slept. Miss Johnson, Dr. Dunwiddie said, by and by, as he sal by the window eating the supper Mrs. Allen had brought him. ' I told you the other day that it was possible your father would not recover; do you remember?" bhe bowed her bead in acquiescence but did not speak. "My dear Miss Johnson, the doctor's voice was grave, tint there was a ring in it, a hidden note that struck her ear as unusual. "My dear Miss Johnson, I believe am safe in saying that your father will sleep through the night a natural, quiet slumber, without the aid, of opiates, and if he does he will ret over lie will be lame always; he will not hate quite his old strength, lmt he will live and be much his old self again. The grate, attentive face at the head ot the lied changed not at all. though the drawn 'expression disappeared from around the mouth, and the eyes were t lear and level in their 1 gaze. For a moment Dr. Dunwiddie was uncertain whether or not the girl was glad of the news. She gave no sign, and said not a word, but stood grave, and stately, and womanly, with the shadows of the night gathering around her, stealing along the bed. i across the fa e of the sleeper, and up and up toward her face. Suddenly they clutched at her throat, tightening their hold, like iron hands, ever contracting, growing tinner, unyielding; a thousand iron hands were on her. a thousand elfish voices, shrill and wild and weird, tilled the corners of the room, the house; filled the darkness, crowding it upon her, till it seemed as though she wow suffocating, till it seemed as though she would die. Loud and weird and terrible they were to her, filling her ears, shouting of the evil that had come through hatred and malice, and of what would follow upon ao evil a deed. The hands were tightening tbelr hold, they were struggling one with another for the mastery; a dozen hands were torn from her throat only to be Instantly replaced by others stronger and firmer. She caught at she fought them, and struggled, against them, but she dared not cry for help. This that she was suffering no one must know; they would know soori enoqgh every one. The voices grew wilder about her; (hey shouted In elfish glee; their .words ran in together unmeaningly except one or two close to her ear. that whispered, with deadly meaning; When your father Is well enough " to prove-pt- o prove Then slowly she came out of this t - babal of noises; they grew faintor and fainter, and died away among the pices; the hands about ber throat relaxed.- She looked around to aee If the were safe; she was dazed, bewll-Iercbut her one thought was that bo ore must know. Some one spoke! to her, and ahe looked up steadily, crowding down the dumb terror dm her heart Dr. Dunwiddie was stand- mg beside ber with his hand on ber arm "Mrs Allen," he said, quietly, you will take my place for a few minutes. Miss Johnson must breathe some of this pure, sweet air after the storm." lie opened the door and stepped with Dolores down on the standing listlessly in the doorway, never showing that he had seen the flitting expression of was it triumphT on the woman's face as she passed into the silent bedroom. "How pleasant everything Is after the storm, aa.d Dr. Dunwiddie, with a smile, as he entered the house a few minutes later Adding to himself as he the room beyond: It was over fatigue, and shall not happen again And I think you will bear watching, as well as some others, door-stone- , Mrg. Aljen. CHAPTER XVII. The Freaks of a Woman. The sunlight flooded the mountains and the quiet settlement; the sky waa deeply blue; the pines along the bank beside Dolores' window stirred softly In the low wind that stole down from the summit laden with spicy odors. Down in the valley the river ran riot, shouting its jubilate as It swirled under the rotten bridge and whirled In mad eddies up the coarse grass along its banks. Dr. Dunwiddie, standing in the door of the tavern, inhaling deep draughts of the odorous, piny air, watched Dolores with grave, intent eyes uqtll she turned from the doorway aqd entered the quiet house; then he turned away arid no one ever knew of what he was thinking, or the thoughts that would come of bis friend over in the town who was leaving this girl In his cars with the utmost confidence the girl he well know, whom Charlie loved. And should he betray his trust to bis friend? Should he prove a traitor? Should lie let this kindly feeling for this brave, beautiful, womanly girl grow Into more than merely friendly feeling, know ing of his friends thought of the girl? Could he be capable of that? She was, to he sure, a wonderful girl, shut In by her surroundings, but growing menially thousands of miles beyond them. She was a woman a man Bhould be proud1 to own ai a friend and more in spite of her strange, unfriendly life In the stolid little mountain settlement. But and there was a graver line of thought, a sudden deepening of the lines of nobility around the set month under the black mustache would the love of even such a woman atone In any degree for the Jobs of manhood, tbe stain of a traitor? Charlie had left In his hands the care of the girl he loved, and he would never he straightened himself up to his full height In the low and doorway unconsciously clenched his hands tye would never betray his friend. Charlie was worthy even Dolores Johnson, and he would never he guilty of even an attempt to eome between him and the woman he loved, be she though she might, a woman with the sticigth and depth and nobility of ehaiaeter which the daughter of this mountain blacksmith possessed. Then he turned, and the face was 3 grave, as apparently unconcerned as usual, as t'inthy tailed him to Join the family at the table .Jones said among his comrades that Johnson's ill luck had brought good luck to him, for during the years ho had lived i here, rever in fore had m many such nun us now sought Ins lodging. (To be continued ) Her Favor. the aeroeautiial pioneer will lever discuss living ilia-him s with new simper men, hut on I'T topn s lie is not s() petit ei.t lie talked the o.llier day atsnit his Appeaiartce S 1 in utrolcv but-noo- "Among tin memories of my hov lie said, "there is one ood episode that is partii ularly vivid It is a conveisation that I overheard one morning between two women. The women were talking about babies size, weight, health and so forth. was a week old "'Why when said the first woman. '1 via.- - such a little baby that they put me in a quart IKt and put the lid on over me. "The other woman was amazed horrified. 'And did you live? she asked. " They say 1 did, her friend answered. " 'Well, well, well,' exclaimed the second woman, and she gianced at the other almost doubtful. hood," A Nile A Village. traveler of the upper Nile thus describes a typical native village: The houses are built of Nile mud. each house accommodating a family of no matter of what size, the Inhabitants qf each village almost all related to each other, comprising sometimes several hundreds of people. Their streets are littered with filth, animals of every kind obstruct one's path, dogs groWI and snarl at the appearance and Intrusion of a stranger; women rush about, hiding their faces in their vashmaks lest a white man should ' behold their features. Flies in swarms settle on the children and lay their eggs on their eyelids, unwashed. because they believe it to be contrary to their religion to wash or remove the flies from tbeir eyes." the Two Captains By W. CLARK RUSSELL. gun ship, and say four hundred nd fifty of a crew? A single broaaaido-woulblow us Into riba. At four oclock n the afternoon th frigate was still In chase, but tho light breeze and the keen entry of the brig had helped her as though with the t:ft of an auxiliary screw, and now when you looked at the you saw that she was sunk to but still she hung astern, a full majestic moon of canvas deadly la resolved pursuit. Ain't the wind scanting," Bald Grindal to Captain Pope, creasing hla nose and snuffling as he brought bis wicked eyes to hear on his commander. We may have it out of southeast, answered Pope, I shall keep all on. everything abroad, dead before It until we can sail her into darkness which can't be far off; though fire seize that sun! dye notice how slow he always is lp his going when nights wanted in a hurry? It was a famous saying of Nelson,, that at sea a gixul deal must be left to chance, and very often chance, which ts another name for fortune, will show mercy to the undeserving even to pirates, though a meritorious frigate has been sweating astern all day in their wake. For by six o'clock the sky southeast wss painted a threatening dark gray with a mass of loose stuff sulkily scaling off it; and now it was that both Pope and Crystal stood waiting breathlessly; it waa lite or death to them; they stared into the horizon and their faces looked Each their tremendous intentions. man as he gazed saw the brig filled warsmen and his owa witn men-ocorpse crimsoning the white plant with a great bullet wound in his head. No! those starving master mariners had hoisted the abhorred flag for a fortune, not for a gibbet. Then with no further scanting the wind shilted ajl of a sudden slap with the run of the swell. "Starboard your helm! Starboard your helm!" roared Pope. "See what are they doing yonder?" Such a cheer as a man reprieved from death would send up to heaven or being a scoundrel pirate would send dowh to the devil, broke from Pope's deep throat as he dropped the telescope and turned to Crystal. The frigate with a shift of wind had down helm and was bracing her yards up to join the two vessels out of sight beShe had hind the rim of the sea. abandoned the pursuit. With a huge oath Crystal dashed his cap on to the deck, shouting, "What an escape!" Scarce had he said this when all hands began to see what had happened and they fell mad. The decks were covered with dancing figures, the air was split with' their hideous roars of joy. man-of;w- her-port- Copyright, IT. by P F. ColIir. I CHAPTER XII. Continued. 1 left her In port," replied Captain Bland, "and Im here waiting for her. fopo fell back with a wild look at Crystal, and struck bis thigh a slap , tbit sounded like a shot. Good mercy!" cried he with a dull, face. Tls a small world, Captain Bland. The Madre's the ship w are waiting for. rather pale The bearded skipper looked under h frown, with his black slow eyes at him, gathered his beard to a point in a leisurely clutch of his fist, and said. Without smiling, "We must go Into partnership, at which Crystal broke latq a more genuine explosion of laughter than Pope had ever beard y from his lips. f Who is this gentleman? said Captain Bland. "Captain Crystal, my chief officer, answered Pope. I believe we have met, said Captain Blar.d. "Wasn't you once master of a little barque with a cargo for . London from Jamaica? The William Pitt." said Crystal. I boarded you off Turk's Island." Crystal frowned, reflected, and anrecollect. Your visit swered, 'Yes, was brief, and your usage handsome. You bad nothing aboard good for us, said Captain Bland "Pray step below. said Pope, who wore a face of ehagr.n. "Grindal. see that that boat s crew, have plenty of grog to toast us in, and he went down the companion steps. Captain Bland and Captain Crystal following The cabin servant placed drink and cigars on the table, and the three captains filled, then chinked glasses, and smoked. See here, Captain Bland." cried Pope, there are two of us on this job. What do you say to this, that the ship which first falls in with the Madre will be the vessel that takes her? If were alongside of her and you heave in sight and come bowling down upon us hey, Captain Bland?" "If you are pillaging her, and 1 come King-down- 1 Copyright, 17. by Dodd. Mead ft Co. of grog apiece, the two captains went on deck. It was not until five bells, half-pas- t two, that tbe three sail sprang into sight ahead; two showing from dhe deck before the third. It was prain they were keeping company and sailed close together. Pope and Grindal had been watching the ships on the bow through the telescope intently for some time In silence, when Grindal exclaimed: The little 'un to the right is a schooner. She's under small canvas while tothur shows aM she's got to spread, and the amidship vessel," he added after a pause, letting the glass sink from his eye and speaking in a hollow voice, while he fastened his wicked bloodshot gaze on the commanders countenance, Is a frigate as I should say by the hlsie of the taws'ls, of all fifty guns." Quick! the glass! shouted Pope. He wrenched it with the violence of a sudden passion of excitement out of the boatswain's hands, looked, and in a note of thunder bawled: Its an English frigate, as you say, convoying the Madre. thats aloft, and the schooner Julia Morton Is her prize, by hCave.n! He then rushed aft, roaring, "Shift your helm two points; let the, shift be gradual! Grindal, trim with caution! on! All of A hellish trap to stumble a sudden, too! He was blood red with sensations and passions Pope was perfectly right; but then no seaman aided by a glass could have mistaken, the schooner was undoubtedly the beautiful fabric commanded by Captain Bland, and the t gone anship with her swered in every minute point to the description Pope had received of the Madre de Dios. Damnation! she's after us," bellowed Crystal. And sure enough the frigate might be seen with yards slowly squaring, rounding slowly out from her consorts, and as she brought her bow d f j CHAPTER XIV. "Heres to our brave little sweetheartl upon the scene, then," said Captain Bland, with a peculiar glow in his dusky eye, "I will make off. Tis a rule of mine never to interfere In any good business that may be doing by my friends." So!" cried Pope,, his face lighting up, each of us then has his chance, our and no man can ak for more, hand on that bargain, friend; ami he stretched his arm. Captain Bland gravely squeezed Captain Pope's fingers. "A prosperous voyage. Captain." CHAPTER XIII. Madre. Nothing answering to the description of the Madre hove in sight. Pope had not known until he met Captain Bland that ships from Cadiz fur two ur three ears in succession had been taken by pirates. lie consulted with Crystal, and they agreed it was possib!e that the commander of the Madre, fearing to he plundered, had shaped a course for the Horn widely remote from that pursued by his predecessors. Fotlr days had passed since the Julia Morton parted company. Pope at dinner. A and Crystal were beef steamed upon the salt of piece table; a boiled fowl lay before Crystal; on a little brass tray, suspended from tbe upper deck, swung three or four bottles, containing as many different aorta of liquor. Pope, after receiving a leg of fowl upon bla plate. Instead of falling to, sat eyeing bis companion steadfastly. "Crystal, said he, "I have made up my mind to quit this barren, cursedly and go for hopeless scene the Antilles. It Is s horrible disappointment. but we must face It like men. Before I take this fresh step I will call tbe crew aft and hold a council with them. Theyll expect It," said Crystal, helpibg himself to a glass of the Earls champagne. Just then the boatswain called through the skylight; "Three sail, right ahead, are reported from the t'gallant yard. air. Heading for us." Right," and the boatswain's ugly j face vanished. I After swallowing another tumbler The guns to bear upon the Gypsy, flash! and her most intelligible hint of thunder veiled the fok'sie in blue powder smoke The brig was put dead before the wind. Her toiled in frantic lia-t- e. ami in a frenzy of desire to for well did they know t!,e penalty that n any ot them would have to pay if tint shapelv cloud of soft, swelling w ii teness brought the grinning urn. lei y of the hull below within easy reach of the Gypsy h, iq Mars "I expert that Bland has touched." n;s Crv tal fiercely to Dope, whle the two captains .stood together near the wheel watching their "Does he lofty, swaying pursuer gain on ns?" "No. answered Dope, with the sudof conviction. den decision "But curse seize thm swell! Is it the fore-- i miner of a calm? Then we are dead men. Johnny Or. is there wind behind it?" "I believe see wind in that sky," answered Crystal, looking into the southeast. "What shall you do if she overhauls us?" "Strike, answered Pope. "I'll not be taken alive, said CrysSo help me God. 1 will shoot tal. myself when you strike, if, after fighting them, I am alive. I'll not swing. Again the frigate tried the range, to no purpose All the pirates looking as one man could not see where the shot hit the water. There could be no question that the Gypsy was not only holding her own, but that she was distancing her pursuer. When her people made sure of this, their savage exultations broke out They filled cans of gin and rum, and Pope, flourishing a glassful, roared out; Here's to our brave little sweetheart Here's to her darling heels, my lhds. Drink to her drink to her! And a roaring huzza went up from the crew. If they're fcoing to broach the liquor casks in this fashion." muttered Crystal in Pope's ear. making a dreadful face as he slowly turned his eyes from the frigate, therell be no fighting when fighting's wanted." "Therell he no fighting anyhow, answered Poie. What! with a flfty- - 6P 'V" : The Thetis, West Indiaman. Nothing happened the next two days. The crew were bitterly disappointed by the escape of the Madre. They admitted that their corpniander That sort had not deceived them of fortune over which the black star trembles had admitted them to a sight of the object of their cruise; but for Bland and his accursed schooner, the Spaniard might have been theirs However, it was to he the next ship; Captain Pope iiad sworn It. Captain Crystal had echoed the oath The men. deleated in their greed, wild to cot money ami end the dangerous cruise, were furiously determined. it was a Sunday morning, fair and peaceful; one of those sweet, warm mornings which at sea make you think of the glad music of the moun- ing lark, while memory calls up the woodland scene, the dusty road, the little highway inn. Crystal had eome up from breakfast, Yivnig Pope at table and Grindal, relieved from his watch on deck, was roiling forward, when a loud, deaf voice, sang Iron) the y aril, "Sail ho' " (To In continued ) Artificial Babies. ha mvinted a mechanical of ladies Baby designed for the when traveling, who well to secure the sole use of a compartment of a A u-- c railway carriage, liereis an extract rum his printed circular: "Common traveling infants yielding intermittent cr.cs of fear, and capable of being put into the pocket, ins.; second class, crying not too loudly, hut lamentably and insupportably, 20s ; third da--s- . lull squallers, with a very piercing and aggravating voice of five octaves. 2; the same ar2 6s.; ranged as a prompt repeater, fifth class, first quality, capable of 3. These babies fontinued squalling, can not only be set going in a moment i as indeed can most living ones), but they can also be stopped as quickly, which the natural ones cannot Answers. Caustic Criticism. Munklttrick. editor of Judge, tells a good story of one of hi neighbors otit in the wilds of New Jersey. The said neighbor, while In a preparatory school, concluded that he would one day startle the world with his lofty literary style. Having devoured many work of rhetoric, he finally landed In Harvard, where he determined to begin with his "startling" tactic. He prepared, at great length, an essay that he says e he eonriderert a masterpiece of and lofty style. When it came back he was quite astonished to find the following brief criticism written aerosR its face in large R. K. snh-lim- blue-penc- letters: "Dont il you think you took a pretty long run for so short a slide?" New York Time. |