davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06

], safe in your sacrifice, had not tried to save
you. told my husband why you came to the
city, but he would not believe me. I conjure
you to convince him that told the TRUTH
1t is not always true that men are Drawer in
premeditating herosm than when the time of
action comes Oliver had, even since his inter-
view with Colonel Armytage, wavered from his
determination to die possessed Of this woman's
secret. He had balanced his obligation to her
against his family's grief and his own dread of
death, and which was weightiest he had scarcely
powerful influence of her presence. and in the
knowledge that she appreciated and loved him,
~he felt steeled in his purpose Of keeping his
VOW: He said very quietly: your husband
"And you told what I said?"
ssYes.n
.sYou assured him that it was true9 They
will believe it, and you will be saved?" She
waited with alright for his answer She hon.
estly believed that she hoped he would say
.Yes;' but in her mind was shadowy, awful
fear of what might be the consequences to
herself.
'.It is too late to alter my purpose II I
would" he said, taking her hands in his, and
feeling that they were hot and nervous. "Your
tents now, 1 should not be believed. I have
thought it all over. Ny life is very precious to
me; but mine or yours must go-for what
would be left of yours worth retaining if the
world regarded you as faithless wife? will
die in the flush oe a high resolve. You would
linger, if had proved cowardly, in years of
death. No; have kept my oath and your
secret"
When Mrs. Armytage was once again in her
room, the first gray light of dawn shone into
the window where she sat Her husband had
not returned. The horrible duty of the execu-
tion of the court martial's sentence devolved
on him, and, although he assigned its details to
staff officer. 1t added to his other activities Of
the night and kept him away from her. Soon
she heard the beat of a muffied drum, mark
ing the tread of marching feet. Looking out
through the shutters. she saw a company Of 80
soldiers coming down the street.
In their midst was Oliver Willett.
The first vision of Old Judee was realized
The prophecies of the negress had not been
recalled by the distracted woman. but now she
felt that divers march to death had been
foretold. With dumb, still sense of despair
for her lover, she watched the dreadful pro-
cession until it passed beyond her sight and
hearing.
exclaimed. 81 remember. She saw me riding
on horseback toward wood. She heard me
ceive a way"
She was In condition now in which quietude
was not possible. Her saddle-horse was in
stable near by. She did not consider what she
meant to do, nor hardly realize what she was
doing. Old JUDGES prophecy impelled her.
She hastily dressed herself in her riding habit,
and reached the stable unobserved. There she
saddled and bridled the horse, impetuously
mounted him, and rode in the direction that
beyond the limit of the town, she discerned at
a distance the company just entering grove.
Urging her horse into run she dashed after
them-disappearing into wood just as the
prophecies had professed to see her do in the
second vision.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06

unexpected chance before him to rise in the
world. did service for you last night. and
you're under promise to pay me-to pay me
with promotion in the army. let you get to
the prisoner, who was in my charge, and You
agreed to have your husband make captain
of me-"
"And will keep my promise"
mans first duty's to look out for his own in
terest. That mayD't be scripture, but it's
sense. To put it plain" and here he rested his
her, sit seems to me as If this letters a kind of
written note, payable on demand-payable in
promotion on demand. OF course don't un-
derstand it all. but do know this ISL is love ,
young man that's going to be shot Before
got it had your bare word that IA be made q
captain. Now hold something thatH compel
you to keep your promise"
sergeant. hear me-" There was not trace
of discomposure in her manner: but her bril-
liant eyes seemed to the soldier to be blazing
fault You think dread your showing that
letter to my husband. You are mistaken. If
had it, / would put it in his hands myself. The
man they are going to shoot is not spy. He
came to meet me- and he is going to die because
he has suppressed this evidence That letter
is proof of the truth, and l would use it,
If I could, for his salvation and my destruc-
tion."
s'Your destructlonT'
'Yes: but what of that?'
'.PH tell you what of it, ma'am, as fairs it
concerns me-" Inc sergeant nau peen uuIn
founded at first by her avowal, but he had,
nevertheless, comprehended the new bearing
of the letter. '.lf your husband discarded
you, how could you pay me what you owe
me? Where'd be your power to have me pro-
moted?"
She still sat calmly on her horse; but her
eyes were SO burning in their gaze that the
Sergeant no longer dared to meet them.
'Will you let an innocent man be shot when
you can save him?" she asked.
HE deserves it, doesn't her" and the SER
geant's lack of confidence in his argument was
shown by his retreating step. Its not for
me to go betwixt him and his resolution
Give me the letter implore. You see that
it will give no power over me, for only desire
to make it public" 1
'You do now; ma'am," and the Sergeanfs
tone gained boidness as his argument grew
logical. "but you will not after your lover Is
dead-when no good to him could come OF your
disgrace. Then it will be worth to me-
"How much? Name the sum. and 1 VIII
pay it."
you haven't enough money about you.
ma'am."
Il can obtain it. You shall be paid to-mor-
row.
"What would be your tomorrowif this LETTER
came to light? You'd be homeless, penniles4
for Colonel Armytage would turn you into the
street. We in the ranks know his hard sider-
you don'tr The sound Of drums IN the as
tance was heard, ''They are coming-you mess
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06
CHAPTER ".
SHOOTING THE SUPPOSED SPY

SHOOTING THE SUPPOSED SPY.
The place selected for the execution Of the
death sentence on Oliver Willett was in a grove
two miles from the town. The motive in the
selection was to have the spot as near as pos
sible to the section inhabited by Southern SYM
pathizers. that the fate of the supposed spy
might readily become known among them.
The first OF those directly interested in the
event to arrive on the ground was Mrs. Army
tage. She knew the spot chosen, and she
reached it by detour ON her feet horse ahead
of the soldiers afoot She sat still on her
horse, and, hearing the birds sing, fell to mar
yelling that they sang at such dreadful time.
Pleasant sounds seemed to her shamefully out
Of keeping with the occasion. She tried to de-
wise plan of action on behalf of her lover.
One thing alone she had not confessed to her
husband-that divers love of her had been
reciprocated by her. Should she publicly avow
it? What good would it do?
You here, ma'amT
She turned and saw Sergeant Erickson. He
was soldier OF the regular army, and had for
several years been in her husbands regiment.
He continued: You will be seen if you stay.
The prisoner and the squad-the firing squad,
ma'am-are IT more'n five minutes away.
Your husbands coming too. l beg pardon,
but didn't suppose you wanted him to find
you here
Il do not care" she said impassively.
well, ma'am, you said-at least know
young Willetts your lover, and L"
You are ready enough 70 aScr1De the worst
to my interest in him. wish my husband
would be as uncnarltable."
She was speaking meditatively, but seeing
that her words puzzled the Sergeant she added
Il would at this instant give all possess for
proof of what you are SO ready to believe.''
Il can give it to you" and the Sergeant dis
played the letter that had drawn Oliver to the
city, that had been partly burned and hidden,
and that he had given to Major Dimmock. He
held 1t up SO that Mrs. Armytage could see it.
and asked "Isn't this your letter 20 your lover?
'Yes, yes." she eagerly answered. How did
you get it?'
burn it."
"Give it to me-" She reached for it but he
drew it away.
Excuse me. ma'am. I'm man that sees an
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06
CHATTER III.

TWO OF OLD JUDEE's VISIONS REALIZED.
At midnight Mrsl Armytage was the sole
occupant of room in the second story of
the spacious house which Colonel Army-
tage and his staff occupied. The windows
looking out on the same large garden from
which Oliver Willett had been taken as a
spy not long before, were wide open. for the
atmosphere was sultry. Mrs. Armytage sat
by a table. During an hour she had scarcely
stirred from one position. Slowly she had
come to a clear appreciation of what had
happened, and she was waiting, as one
strapped to gull lotine might, with awful
dread-awaiting the fall of the blade-for
her husband to come with the letter that she
felt must ere this have been taken from
Oliver. The II strokes of clock at mid
night sounded to- her unreasonably like
knell; and from that she went into daze
of wondering why the BELLS familiar noise
suggested such an idea to her. As persons
in dreams condense hours into seconds so
her thoughts had wandered far and wide
before the twelfth stroke; and then, looking
up. she saw herr husband standing before
her.
"Not abed yet9'' he said.
That was not Lii Ike what she expected. and
she thought it wis trivial preface for the
real matter; butt he seemed to EXPECT a
reply, and so she said: "How could I
sleep?"
True" he answered, while she listened
with every fiber strai ained to meet an aeeusa-
ton; 'the sad event, of tonight has shaken
my nerves, and they are stronger than
yours.
He kissed her on the forehead. She took
the endearment with "a heart-bound, as an
indication that somehow the calamity had
been averted, and hesitatingly asked.
'.What-what was the result? He eexplained
that"
s"He explained nothing. Itwas not possi-
BILE for him to clear himself. He was caught
at the enemy's headquarters on the night
before an important movement. Probably
he supposed that his acquaintance with YOU
would be plausible excuse for his presence.
and he was brave enough to take the chance.
His bold plan might have been successful
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06
CHAPTER 1.
THE PROPHECY.

HE War of the Re
bellion had begun.
Missouri was about
evenly balanced
between secession
with the Southern
States and loyalty
with the Northern
States. The time
was August in 1861.
There had been
struggles of legis-
lation over the
question whether
Missouri should 60
10 the South or stay
with the North.
Every city, every
town, and many a
family, was dis
tracted and d.
vided. All was
turbulence. Gen
eral Fremont was
IN command of the
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06
Copyrighted. 1889. All rights reserved.
OrrnuI.t and Preacher Blind.

brfugt0n lhle. NtWs.I
The organist at the Congregational church
last Sabbath was John Burnham, vino, like
the aged preacher that day, is totally blind.
South Boston, Perkins Institute for the
Blind. where he passes greater part Of his
time
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06
A Tail Unfoldcd.

Punxsutawney spirit.I
81 will q plain, unvarnished tail unfold, +"
remarked the blacksnake as it unwound It.
self from the limb of sapling and started
in pursuit Of chipmunk tor its dinner.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
KANSAS KOLLARY.

Kicking Bird is home again; Oklahoma
is all right. the peach crop is all right,
Milt is all right: Who's kicking, bird,
ehs
The total number OF pensioners paid al
the Topeka agency To date Is 80. l92.
who have received the aggregate sum OF
$1,115, 062. 80.
The Lawrence chickens. which at the
news that the conference was TO be held
there took to the kaw bottoms, are
sinking back home again.-A1ilene Re
fector.
The Republicans Of Leavenworth have
nominated Col d. Z. Anthony for
mayor, and somebody expresses rsgres
that the Democrats didn't put I'D DR..
Nicely for that place just TO have some
fun.
Tom Darlington, who lives about nine
miles west of Salina, while digging IN
his well at depth Of eigtty-seven feet,
struck q thirty-seven-iIch vein Of coal.
The people Ia that neizhborhood ara
greatly excited
Kansas Farmer: A Comanche county
correspondent writes: "W heat Is look
ing well, but Is needing rain. Some
farmers are sowing cats Many are stir
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
SUICIDED.
Anthony Republican, 10th

Anthony Republican. 10th.
This morning William Cobb ended his
own life by hanging himself to a rafter
in the second story of his barn. He had
recently bought the George Carrothers
farm six miles northwest of Anthony,
and had only moved out there the first
of this month. He had been respondent
for some days, owing to his wife's i'll
health, and fears of not being able to
find work. This morning he went out
to the barn and awoke the two boys who
slept up stairs, and sent them into the
house. At breakfast time the oldest boy
went to call him, and saw him hanging
in their room. He cut the body down at
once but too late to save life.
Mr.. Cobb came here from San Jose,
Mason county, Illinois, selling farm
there to buy one here. Two years ago
be and his wife visited Ad. Herold here,
and Mrs. Cobbs health improved, so
they concluded to come here and re-
main. He was brother-in-law of Mr..
Herold, and had relatives also in Con-
way Springs. He was about 42 years
old, and leaves wife and five children,
the Oldest being but IA years old. The
funeral will take place at the house at
o'clock tomorrow; burial in the Anthony
cemetery.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
YOUR OWN MISTAKE.

Mr.. Murdoch is considerably off when
he calls Kansas the center of population,
but he is right in saying that plurality
of $4,000 demands recognition from the
Republican party.-Kansas City Times.
Mr.. Murdoch did not say anything of
the kind. The blunder must be laid at
the door of the Times own correspond
ent at Topeka. What Mr.. Murdoch did
say was this: The geographical center
of these United States is more than five
hundred miles west of the home of Har-
rison's most western cabinet officer, and
that Kansas in spite Of her solid delega-
ton in congress and in spite Of her
$4,000 Republican majority was being
snubbed
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
THE BEEF COMBINATION.

New York Times.
Since the jointconvention of butchers
and cattle growers was held in st. Louis
last November the bill then devised for
the suppression of the dressed beef bust
ness has been introduced in the legisla-
lures of dozen states, and in one state
and one territory it has become a law.
There is now in session at st. Louis an
other and smaller convention, composed
of prominent members of the legisla-
lures of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska,
Texas. Illinois, Iowa and Arkansas, who
have been appointed and instructed to
consider plans for uniform legislative
action for the overthrow of The combina-
ton said to have been formed by the
four great slaughterers and shippers of
Chicago and Kansas City. These dele
gates have carried with them to St
Louis copies of the inspection bills pend
ing in their several legislatures, and it is
their purpose to agree, if possible, Oh a
measure that shall be pushed TO enact
ment next year.
If the sIaughterers of cattle and ship
pers of beef In Chicago and Kansas City
have combined to depress the price OF
cattle and to exact from consumers a
ring price for beef, the combination
should be broken up. There was
such a com bination when unjust
discrimination in freight rates
on railroads was not forbidden by stat
ute, and large part Of the wealth of the
great packers was obtained by means of
such discrimination. But if such con-
tinuation now exists and is to be attack
ed the attack should be made openly,
and the purpose of those who make it.
should not be disguised. 1t should be
made honestly in behalf Of the people
and not for the benefit and at the insti-
CATION CT the butchers in the cities where
western dressed beef is sold 1t should
be made upon the ground that such
combination is unlawful, and should not
serve as a cover Tor selfish assault upon
the dressed beef business IN the interest
of persons who desire TO substitute for
the transportation of dressed beef the
carrying of live cattle half way across
the continent by nail And above all, it
should not masquerade in the disguise Of
a sanitary movement designed TO pre-
vent the sale OF diseased meat
The bills devised by the butchers and
those who have been induced 10 aid them
provide for the exclusion Of western
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
SPRING.

1
From the Minneapolis Journal.
This paper invariably dates the arrival
of spring from the day on which the
first batch Of spring alleged poetry is laid
on the table. The appearance of spring
poetry is more unfailing harbinger than
a light overcoat or semi-annual tax bills.
1t makes the old Farmers Almanac and
Astronomer Splan entirely useless as IN
struments by which to ascertain the ex-
| act date upon which winter curls his tail
between his legs and sneaks out at the
back door of the universe.
The first batch has been laid and
spring Is here, in all the insolence of a
courted muse and March winds. The
following poem dropped in from no one
knows where, inst as the first snow drop
OF winter gently insinuates into the heart
of the Oldest inhabitant who has pre-
dicted an early winter. The first verse:
Harkl the blue bird, see her yonder
Hear her chlrp, pechu, pechu.
Now, the marten and the swallow
Spring has come again anew.
But after ascertaining that the gentle
goddess is really here, bag and baggage,
to stay until her mother-in-law, summer,
takes her place, the author of the above
few lines is not satisfied. So, after offer
ing few more verses in evidence that
the defendant is really on the spot, he
undertakes to prove that the present
spring is but dollhouse plant which has
usurped the functions of a later month.
The last verse:
This, too soon. it should be April.
But alasl she is too slow.
She Will find when she approaches
March has IA ken all her
1t takes few moments of thoughtful
study to ascertain the beauty of the
above verse. The poet aims to make his
rhymes emblematic of spring-erratic,
irregular and uncertain. He is over
whelmed with the burden of his muse
and his poetry bursts out, like boils, with
the approach Of his subject. Sulphur
and molasses is good for boils.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
THE NEW RAILROAD LAW.

| From the Globe Democrat.
The amendments to the interstate com
merce act were passed in the closing
hours of the session, and without any ex
tended discussion. They are more i'm
portant in some respects than any other
| legislation of the last congress. since they
provide restrictions and conditions which
must materially affect the whole railroad
business of the country. The origint
act left many things in doubt, both as tC
the rights of the railroads and the duties
of their patrons, which are made plain
by these changes. 1t is provided, for in.
| stance, that public notice must be given
of each advance or reduction in rates,
and that this shall apply to joint rates as
well as to those made by single road.
This implies stability and uniformity;
and it is further provided that any Off
Ger guilty of discriminating in favor of
one shipper over another on any account
or in any degree shall be punished by
both fine and imprisonment.
There are other sections that relate to
the various practices by which shippers
gain unfair and dishonest advantages,
such as underbilling and false repre-
sensations as to the character of goods
made criminal. with heavy penalties at
tached. The most important sections in
this connection are the following:
Any person and any officer or agent of
any corporation or company who shall de-
liver property for transportation TO any
common carrier, subject to the provisions
of this act, or for whom as consignor or
cODsignee any such carrier shall transport
property, who shall knowingly and will
fully, by false billing, false classification,
false weighing, false representation of the
weight, or by any other device or means,
whether with or without the consent or
connivance of the carrier, its agent or
agents, obtain transportation for such
property at less than the regular rates
then established and in force on the line
of transportation, shall be deemed guilty
of fraud.
If any such person, or any officer or
agent Of any such cooperation or company,
shall by payment of money or other thing
of value, solicitation, or otherwise. induce
any common carrier subject to the pro-
visions of this act, or any OF the officers or
agents, to discriminate un1ustly in his, its,
or their favor as against any other con-
signor or cOnsignee in the transportation
of property, or shall aid or abet any COM
mon carrier in any such unjust discrimi-
nation, such person, or such officer or
agent or such corporation or company,
shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor
These provisions are severe, but no
honest shipper will object to them. They
are in the interest of the general public
and against the few who seek special
favors by evasions of the law, or by brib-
ing railroad officials to violate 1t. The
same penalty is prescribed for agents of
the railroads who accept brides or grant
unauthorized advantages. This new law
goes into effect at once, it is well for
both agents and shippers to bear in mind;
and the interstate commerce commission
is clothed with ample Judicial authority
to discover offenses and bring the offend
ers to punishment.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
ring for corn, making garden, etc. Cat
tie and sheep are in fine order"

| ring for corn, making garden, etc. Cat
| tie and sheep are in fine order"
Saturday morning William Cobb endeC
his own life by hanging himself TO ;
rafter in the second story of his barn
six miles west of Anthony. The rasl
act was committed, says the Republican
because of depression of spirits at hi!
wife's long and serious i'll health.
An Abilene paper tells about a hog
rolling a street car over and then up
setting loaded wagon. The size of the
porker as implied in its exploits is not
surprising, however, to those acquainted
with the town. At least it is surmisable
that Topeka will say SO.
The Wellington man who offered 10
wager 81 against 3 cents that no one
could shoulder the 200-pound lump OF
salt lying in front of a store was rather
surprised when Henry Carter put it on
his shoulder with very little effort. The
bet was paid, but 10 more made.
A prisoner in the custody of the sheriff
of kiows county, who was being taken
to the penitentiary via the Union Pacific
to serve a two years sentence for grand
larceny jumped through the window OF
a closet of the car near the Rock Island
crossing in Topeka Friday night and
escaped, although heavily ironed.
At depth of 645 feet, Thursday morn
ing, vein of salt was reached at the
prospect well which promises to be Of
an extra good quality. just how thick
the vein is we are unable TO state. as the
drill is still at work in salt, and at this
writing at depth of seventy-five feet.
4 large plant is to be built Immediately,
on the evaporation plan.-kanopoliS
Journal.
The board Of county commissioners Of
Shawnee county at meeting held
Friday afternoon ordered special cleo
ton for the purpose of voting on the
proposition to issue bonds in the sum of
$3.50. 900 for the building of fridge
across the Kansas river, in the city Of
Topeka, and two additional bridges west
of the city, IN accordance with the
special act of the legislature passed for
that purpose. The election is called for
Tuesday, April l6.-Democrat.