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Show THAT GIRL of JOHNSON S By JEA.J KATE LVDLVM. AtUktr if Ala Cirl'i Urro U. , Entered Accordin la In the title Act of Concern la tin Yau 1 MO bjr Street A Smith, of line Librarian uI Concre, al WikbincuiB, D. C CHAPTER XVI. Man Propones; God Disposes." Johnson did not die; Hist he lived through the terrible strain upon bis vitality showed that he had an iron constitution, the doctors said; but the men at the tavern shook their beads over it, and looked meaningly at each other. They bad their own opinion of tbe matter; perhaps they knew more than the doctors did; the wise men might open their eyes in amaxement should they choose to tell tbeir suspicions. Johnson was kept under the Influence of opiates for three days and nlghis; he was not left ahum one moment; they fed him on Mrs. Allen's beef tea and drinks, and cared for him as though he were a haby, tbe men aid in half whispers him, with muscles like iron and cords like an ox. Lodie dally carried tbe 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 tbe drenched gardens to each other, or met at the wells. And the women over their tubs, as they washed the clothes np and down, and soaped and rinsed and wrung them In clear water, leaving them to soak till the storm should be over, gossiped about this thet bev hap'd Johnslng," and his girl, and the airs they put on since Lemuel Johnson he who was born In the settlement years ago had come with his girl and his gold to see that his brother should live like other folks, and was not so no 'count an' shericss." Dolores, knowing nothing of these gossiping, and raring nothing for them, had she known, watched her She never comfather untiringly. plained of being tired; she seldom spoke. Young Green had gone home, that moment, bringing the doctors supper, and a half baleful glitter appeared in her eyes as she saw tbe two so utterly unconscious of her presence. Dr. Dunwiddie suddenly sat erect, with his usual quiet dignity; the girl had startled him out of himself; he had forgotten everything but her. 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 gathered up her hair slowly, and stooped to pick up her comb. It had snapped in two. "You two are excellent nurses, Mrs. Allen said, softly, a smile on her lips as she motioned with her bead toward the Dr. Dunwiddie turned at once with Dolores a alight exclamation, and companaged ao that his every-da- y ions would not know him. Dolores saw this in silence; her thoughts were busy, but her lips were dumb. Young Green's eyes had grown wonderfully keen to note the changes of the sweet, pale face, and the shadows of the dark, wondering eyes. For he knew that he loved her. It had come upon him the first night as he stood behind her in the firelight and watched the pure face bent above the 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 tbe 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 tbe river and eat at the worn old bridge at the foot of the roadway. The rain had ceased at last, and Dr. Dunwiddie. who sat at the bedside, his eyes Intent on the face of the girl, so grave and quiet in tho light of the sunset, had raised the tiny window to let in the cool wind from the west. The ckiuds just above the distant peaks parted in sudden relenting after three days and nights of interminable raining, and through the rent the set ting sun flooded the summit with a radiant glory that was dazzling. Dolores, as though roused by the audden rush of the sunbeams, slowly raised her head and looked up to the radiant mountain. Her sad, dark eyes grew softer and deeper in color, and her lips set dose as in sorrow, slowly parted In one of her rare smiles. As she turned her bead the comb an tortoise shell that had been her mother's suddenly slipped from the heavy coll of her hair which, so loosened, fell in a mats of glinting, lustrous, about her. The nurse softly epened the door at arose with the comb In her band, 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 she met full In hers tbe 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 his eyea and looked first at the doctor, then at her. At the doctor's suggestion she spoke to him. Father," she said, slowly, that he might understand. "Father. But the eyes resting on her face had no gleam of pleasure at seeing her there; rather It might be said there was a flash of hatred there as in the old days. Then they drooped again nnd closed, and presently his breathing indicated that he slept. "Miss Johnson, Dr. Dunwiddie said, by and by, as he sat by the winduw 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?" She bowed her head in acquiescence but did not speak. the doc"My dear Miss Johnson, tor's voice was grave, but there was a ring In it, a hidden note that struck her ear as unusual. "My dear Miss Johnson, I believe I 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 recover, lie will be lame always; he will not have quite his old strength, bill he will live and be much his old self again." The grave, attentive face at the head of the bed changed not at all, though the drawn expression disappeared from around the mouth, and tho eyes wen clear and level In their 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, ami womanly, with the shadows of the night gathering around her, stealing along the bed. across the face of the sleeper, and up and up toward her face. Suddenly they clutched at her throat, tightening their hold, like Iron bands, ever contracting, growing firmer, unyielding; a thousand iron hands were on her. a thousand elfish voices, shrill and wild and weird, filled the corners of the room, the house; filled the darkness, crowding it upon her, till it seemed as though she wero 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 so evil a deed. The hands were tightening their 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 them, and struggled, she fought against them, but she dared not cry for help. This that she was suffering no one must know; they would know soon enough every one. The voices grew wilder about her; they 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 to prove Then slowly she came out of till the Two Captains i d. By W. CLARK RUSSELL door-ston- over-fatigu- CHAPTER XVII. The Freaks of a Woman. Tbe sunlight flooded the mountains and the quiet sell lenient; the aky was deeply blue; the pines along the bank beside Dolores window stirred softly in the low wind that stole down from the summit laden with apicy 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 banka. Dr. Dunwiddie, standing In the door of the tavern, Inhaling deep draughts of the odoroua, piny air, watched Dolores with grave, Intent eyea until she turned from the doorway and entered the quiet house; then he turned away and 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 hla cars with the utmost confidence the girl he well know, whom Charlie loved. And should he betray hla trust to his friend? Should he prove a traitor? Should he let this kindly feeling for this brave, beautiful, womanly girl grow Into more than merely friendly feeling, knowing of hla friend's thought of the girl? Could he be capable of that? She was, to be sure, a wonderful girl, shut In by her surroundings, but growing mentally thousands of miles beyond them. She was a woman a man ahould be proud to own as 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 audden deepening of the Unea of nobility around the net mouth under the black mustache would the love of even such a woman atone In any degree for the loss of manhood, the stain of a traitor? Charlie had left in hla hands the care of the girl he loved, and he would never he straightened himself up to hla full height in the low doorway and unconsciously clenched his hands he would never betray his friend. Charlie was worthy even Dolores Johnson, and he would never lie guilty of even an attempt to conic between him and the woman ho hived, be she though she might, a woman with the strength and depth and nobility of which tbe daughter of this mountain blackamith possessed. Then he turned, and the face was grave, as apparently unconcerned as usual, as Clnthy called him to join the family at the table. Jones said among his comrades that Johnson's 111 luck had brought good luck to him, for during the years he had lived there, never before had so many surh men as now sought his lodging. (To he continued.) u Appearance in Her Favor. 1. Langley. the aeronautical pioneer will never discuss flying machines with newspaper men, but on other topics he is not so reticent, lie talked the other day about his boyS. hood. "Atnot'g the memories of my boyhood. be said, "there is one odd episode that is partieiilarly vivid. It is a conversation that I overheard one morning between two women. The women were talking about bahies their size, weight, health and so forth. 'Why when 1 was a week old.' said the first woman. 'I was suc-- a little baby that they put me ill a quart IKit and put the lid on over me.' The other woman was amazed And did you live? the horrified. asked. They say I did, her friend answered. ''Well, well, well, exrlalmed the second woman, and she gianced at the other almost doubtful." A Nile Village. A traveler of the upiier Nile thus describes a typical native village; The houses are built of Kile mud. each house accommodating a family of no matter of what size, the inhabitants gf 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 ones path, dogs growl and snarl at the and intrusion of a stranger; women rush alioiit. hiding their faces in their yashmaks lest a white man should behold their features. Files in swarinM settle on liie children and lay their eggs on their eyelids, unwashed. heniiixe they believe It to be contrary to their religion to wash or remove the (liei from their eyes." Cmitikt, I . ISVT. be P. F. Colli!. $ CHAPTER In port, t left her replied Captain Bland, and Im here wailing for her." Pope fell back with a wild look at Crystal, and struck his thigh a slap that sounded like a shot. "Good mercy! cried he with a dull, rather pale face. " Tla a small world. Captain Bland. The Madre's the ship wt are waiting for." The bearded skipper looked under a frown, with hla black slow eyea at him, gathered bis beard to a point In a leisurely clutch of hla flHt. and said, without smiling, We must go Into partnership," at which Crystal broke lato a more genuine explosion of lauRhter than Pope had ever beard fly from his lips. "Who la this gentleman? said Captain Bland. ; "Captain Crystal, my chief officer," answered Pope. "I believe we have met," said Captain Bland. "Wasn't you once master of a little barque with a cargo for London from Kingstown, Jamaica? "The William Pitt said Crystal. "I boarded you off Turk's Island." Crystal frowned, reflected, and answered, Yes, I recollect. Your visit was brief, and your usage handsome." "You had nothing aboard good for us, said Captain Bland. "Pray step below," said .Pope, who wore a face of chagrin. Grlndal, 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 clgara 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 hip which first falls in with the Madre will be tbe vessel that takes her? If we're alongside of her and you heave In sight and come bowling down upon us hey, Captain Bland? "If you are pillaging her, and 1 coma Copyright. iW. by Dodd. ' gun ship, and say foir hundred nd fifty of a crew? A single broaaaldw would blow us into ribs. At four o'clock In the afternoon thw frigate was still In chase, but the light breeze and tbe keen entry of the brig had helped her as though with thw gift of an auxiliary screw, and now r when you looked at the you saw that she was sunk to her' porta, but still she hung astern, a full majestic moon of canvas deadly in resolved pursuit. Aint the wind scanting," said Grlndal to Captain Pope, creasing and snuffling as he brought his wicked eyes to bear on his commander. We may have It out of southeast, answered Pope, I shall keep all on. everything abroad, dead before It nntll we can sail her into darkness which cant be far off; though fire seize that sun! d'ye notice how slow he always is ip his going when nights wanted in a hurry? It was a famous saying of Nelson, that at sea a good deal must be left to chance, and very often chancy which Is 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 oclock the sky southeast was 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 was life or death to them; they stared Into the horizon and their faces looked their tremendous Intentions. Each man as he gazed saw the brig filled! and his own witn corpse crimsoning tbe white plank! with a great bullet wound In his head. No! these starving master mariners had hoisted the abhorred flag for a fortune, not for a gibbet Then with no further scanting thw wind shifted all of a sudden slap with the nin of the swell. Starboard your helm! Starboard See what your helm! roared Pope. 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 the two vessels out of sight beShe had hind the rim of the sea. abandoned the pursuit. With a huge oath Crystal dashed his rap 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 hideout roars of Joy. man-of-wa- 1 bed. but he came over every day, bringing gentle messages and delicacies. For three days Johnson lay in this stupor so like death, scarcely stirring, not opening his eyes; his face was thin and drawn, his eyes sunken and hollow; his hair, a fewedays before so lightly sprinkled with gray, had grown suddenly white. He had babal of itoiM-a- ; teey grew fainter and fainter, and died away among the pices; tho It anils about her throat relaxed. S!.c ii Min d around to aee If was dazed, bewll-Il-icshe were safe; but her one thought was that no ote inuMi know. Some one spoka! to her, and she looked up ateadily, I croAdiijg down tbe dumb terror Ini her heart. Dr. Dunwiddie was stand-ing beside ber with bis hand on her arm. Mrs. Allen, he ssld, 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 allowing that he had seen the flitting expression of was It triumph? on the woman's face as she passed into the silent bedroom. How pleasant everything la after the atorm," said Dr. Dunwiddie, with a smile, as he entered the house a few mlnutea later. Adding to himself as he the room beyond: It was and shall not happen again. And I think you will bear watching, as well as some others, Mrs. Allen." Mead A Co. of grog apiece, the two captains went on deck. It was not until live bells, half-pas- t two, that the three sail sprang into sight ahead; two showing from Ahe deck before the third. It was pTala they were keeping company and sailed close together. Pope and Grlndal had been watching the ships on the bow through the telescope Intently for some time In silence, when Grlndal exclaimed: The little an to the right Is a schooner. Shes under small canvas while t'otbur shows all she's got to spread, and the amldship 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 histe 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 nut of the boatswains hands, looked, and in a note of thunder bawled: Its an English frigate, as you say, convoying the Madre, that's aloft, and the schooner Julia Morton fs her prize, by htfaven! He then rushed aft, roaring, "Shift your helm two points; let the shift be gradual! Grlndal, trim with caution! A hellish trap to stumble on! All of with a sudden, too! He was blood-resensations and passions. Pope was perfectly right; bnt then no seaman aided by a glass could have mistaken; the schooner was undoubtedly the beautiful fabric commanded by Captain Bland, and the gone anship with her swered in every minute point to the description Pope bad 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 half-wreck- fore-topma- st his-nos- to-Joi- CHAPTER XIV. The Thetis, West Indlaman. . Nothing happened the next diswere crew The bitterly appointed by the escape of the Madre. They admitted that their commander had not deceived them. That sort 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 be the next ship; Captain Pope had sworn It. Captain Crystal had echoed the oath. The t men. defeated in their greed, wild money and 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-in- g lark, while memory calls up thw woodland scene, the dusty road, thw little highway lun. Crystal had come up front breakfast, leaving Pope at table, and Grlndal, relieved front his watch on deck, was rolling forward, when a loud, clear voice, sang front the yard, "Sail ho! (To be continued.) two-days- to-go- "Here's to our bravo little sweetheart! upon the scene, then, said Captain Bland, with a peculiar glow in his dusky eye, I will make off. Tls 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, and no man can ask for more. Your hand on that bargain, friend; and he stretched his arm. Captain Bland gravely squeezed Captain Pope's fingers. A prosperous voyage. Captain." CHAPTER XIII. The 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 for two or three years In succession had been taken by pirates. He consulted with Crystal, and they agreed it was possible that the commander of the Madre. fearing to be plundered, had shaped a course for the Horn widely remote from that pursued by his predecessors. Four days had passed since the Julia Morton parted company. Pope and Crystal were sitting at dinner. A piece of salt beef steamed upon the table; a boiled fowl lay before Crystal; on a little brass tray, suspended from the upper deck, swung three or four bottles, containing as many different sorts of liquor. Pope, after receiving a leg of fowl upon his plate, instead of falling to, sat eyeing his 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 a horrible disappointment. but we must face it like men. Before I take this fresh step I will call the crew aft and hold a council with them. They'll expect it, said Crystal, helping himself to a glass of the Earl's champagne. Just then tho boatswain called through the skylight: Three sail, right ahead, are reported from the ('gallant yard. sir. Heading for us." "Right, and tho boatswain's ugly face vanished. I After swallowing another tumbler guna to bear upon the Gypsy, flash! and her most intelligible hint of thunder veiled the fok'sle in blue powder smoke. The brig was put dead before the wind. Her jieoplc tolled In frantic baste, and in a frenzy of desire to escape; for well did they know the penalty that ninny of them would have to ay if that Hh apply cloud of soft, swelling whiteness astern brought the grinning artillery of the hull below withiu easy reach of the Gypsy's spars. I expect that scoundrel Bland has says Crystal fiercely to peached." Poim. while tho two captains stood together near the wheel watching their Does he lofty, swaying pursuer. gain on us? "No. answered Pope, with tbe sudden decision of conviction. "But curse seize this swell! Is it tbe forerunner of a calm? Then we are dead men. Johnny. Or is there wind behind it? I believe 1 see wind In that sky," answered Crystal, looking into the southeast. What shall you do if she overhauls- us?" "Strike." answered Pope. "lH not be taken alive, said CrysSo help nte 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 kinking 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, roar ed out: "Here's to our brave little sweetheart. Here's to her darling heels, my lads. Drink to her drink to her!" And a roaring huzxa went up from the crew. If they're going to broach the liquor casks in this fashion." muttered Crystal in Pwjie's ear. making a dreadful face as he slowly turned his eyes from the frigate, "there'll be no fighting when fightings wanted." "Tlicre'll he no fighting anyhow answered Pope. "What! with a fifty- - Artificial Babies. genius has invented a mechanical baby designed for the use of ladies, when traveling, wlio wish to securw the sole use of a compartment of a railway carringe. Heredia an extract from his printed circular; "Common traveling infants yielding intermittent cries of fear, and capable of being put into the imckot. 10a.; second class, crying not too loudly, but lamentably and insupportably, 20s.; third class, full squaiiers, with a very piercing and aggravating voiew of five octaves. 2; the same arranged as a prompt repeater, 2 6s.: fifth elass. first quality, capable of 3. These babies continued squalling, cun not only Ik set going in a moment (as Indeed can most living ones), but they can also be stopped as quickly, which the natural ones cannot." Ijondon Answers. A Caustic Criticism. R. K. Munklttrirk. editor of Judge, tells a good story of one of his neighbors out In the wilds of New Jersey. The said neighbor, while in a prepara- tory school, concluded that he would one day startle the world with his lofty literary style. Having devoured many works of rhetoric, he finally landed in Harvard, where he determined to begin with hla "startling tactics. He prepared, at great length, an missy that he aays he considered a masterpiece of sublime and lofty style. When It came back he was quite astonished to find the following brief criticism written l across its face in large blue-penci- letters: Don't you think you took a pretty long run for so short a slide?" New York Times. |