The Washington times., 1894-04-20
One EDIToR's LIFE
IN NORTHERN MIcHIelM.

was younger, II not wiser, than am to-
day when went to Apena, afar in the windy
wilds Of northern Michigan, and took charge
OF the morning daily in that dismal lumber
metropolis.
had been living in bright and buoyant
Sioux City. and the long ride through the
deep, funereal pine forests on my journey
had given me the megrims long before got
| of the train at Alpena, town Of IL, 900 pop
ulation, mainly Kanucks.
The night was dark as the doom Of AFRO in
| the fable as I stepped upon the platform. and
the wind came tearing up from Lake Michi-
gan with thunderfuI roar and bursts of
binding rain.
Close by the depot restaurant was made
visible by blinking light, and 1 hurried
through its hospitable portal. Having Sc
cured room and refreshed myself with a
lunch. was preparing to retire, when big,
doube-hsted lumberman clapped me on the
shoulder and said:
'Zee ERE, stranger beant you goin' to yet
up the grog to the lads?'
The lads numbered q round dozen, and
their ages ranged from 60 down to 20 years.
They were arrayed in woolen clothes OF many
colors. Their blouses were bel.ed tightly and
their trousers were tucked into their gray
felt boots. One look at the gang convinced
me that discretion was the better part Of
valor and beckoned them TO the bar.
Just then sharp pistol shot rang out, and
moment later the door few open and man
reeled In. He was deadly pale and stream
of blood was trickllng down his breast.
'sBoys," he began 'I-I''--and be fell In
faint.
"Blawst my bloody h'eye'' cried out
ha Nho hoe
lad in camp. "H'I'll look into this" and
ne ran out Of the door. several of the others
following. A few stayed, however, and ten
Derry lifted the dying man upon table, while
messenger was sent to summon doctor.
The physician came. ''Poor fellow!" he
said, presently; "he is past ell human help"
Scanning the face of his patient more closely,
he staggered back with great cry: 40, God.
it is Bill 1t is my brotherI'' The tears ran
down his cheeks, as he took the hands of Bill
in his own. "0h. brother'' he pleaded,
speak to me once more. and tell me where
you have been during all these years!'
The dying man slowly opened his eyes, a
smile Of recognition curved his lips, and he
murmured: Ben. goodbye. old boyl I'm go
ing. never was here before. I came all the
way from camp to see you, but-but she shot
me, and
who shot you, Bill? Who is she? I'll
have her hearts blood for this devilish deed,''
mo, no, Benz Don't say that-dontl"
But who is this woman, Bill? l must-I
will KNOW hissed the doctor, as he arose and
clinched his hands.
mo, Ben. l can't
Bill gave gasp: his spirit passed beyond
all visible confines, and his murder is q mys-
terry still.
When morning came moved to more civil
ized quarters and went to my work The first
yreeE nassad r-itbo,,t a braat In .ba WANNA,
ony, and then one day, while writing at my
desk, a handsome young Canadian widow
sailed in. She held dainty bit of black lace
to her eyes, and was sobbing as if her heart
was ready to split into flinders
''Pray be seated, madam, 1 said, as arose
to receive her. ''You are weeping. II
trust you have met with no fresh bereave-
nent.f
"Oh. sirr she sobbed, 81 have brought you
a poem on the great sob, greatest loss Of my
hfe," and her whole form seemed to quiver
with agony.
THE loss of your hus sband," ventured.
mo. (sob) bore that bereavement with
fortitude; but this one l cannot bear"
Il have not heard 1 began, when she
interrupted me.
"Oh, sir, you Ger (sob) tainly have heard
that Prince Clawrence is dead ami our deah
British nobility can feel so much more deeply
break sob. breaking with sympathy o. to
think that royalty should hawve its bright
hopes blawsted thus. 1t is too much, too
much, too much,''
was too utterly disguised to remain In her
presence longer. and was ungallant enough
to leave her, that she might wall her woe to
the unresponsive walls.
A few days later was running through my
nHnr
door, and before I could call 'Come in is
opened, and a tall, angular, and very angry
woman stood before me.
You calls your paper moulder of public
h'opinion," she screeched. as she bowled to-
ward me on vengeance bent. I turned pale
in my boots .'You SAYS hits a h'intylechooaI
light 'ouse. witch hit isn't. for hits loathsome
hadder of perdition.".
''Madaml Madam protested, .'there is
some mistake here. 1 never saw you before"
mo; an wen you are through with Mrs.
Hester Jane Hodges, witch the same is me,
you'll never want to see me again. 'Ere's my
'usband sent you a notice of our weddin'.
Hit only covered fortys-even sheets OF fools
cap. and was writ by our parson. Did You
print hit? No; because we are humble
folks. me an my 'usband. Hif we'd belonged
to the hupper crust of creation you'd have
decorated hit with picters of me an my
'usband into the bargain.
But you didn't notice the marriage one
way or t'other. an Miss Stebbins an h h'other
jealous old eifers are beginning to whisper
round that maybe there wasn't no marriagel
Think Of that See the bloomin scandal into
witch your bloody jabberwoek of a sheet as
tumbled me an nv 'usband 'eadlong, An
hi propose to larrup you for hit before hi
leave this h'offlee. you red-eyed reptile. your
At this point of her discourse l suddenly
thought of Daniel o 0Connell and his interview
with an old fishwife. who was past-mistress
of Biilingsgate, and broke furiousiy forth.
''why you parallelopipedl You right-angle
triangle. You procession Of the equinoxes!
You differential calculus! You lost problem
of Euripides. YOU
rip WHAT" she screamed.
''Euripidesi''
rip? You call meme hold rip? Nv
'usband will settle your ash for thatn' and
tore out of the room never to return.
One evening q sallow youth in spectacles
entered my journalistic boudoir and seated
himself timidly, while taking a role of paper
from his pocket. 1 sized him up as a modest
young man, diffident to a degree. honest. un-
conceited, and all that sort O. thing, but was
speedily undeceived.
II have poem here that have written
for your paper. Will you please let me know
If you can use it2''
Iopened the MS. It began as follows:
.'Maid OF Athens, ere we part,
Give, o, give me back my hearth
''Strikes me this poem has been published
before commented
"Never!" responded the young man. 81 rat
tied it off only last night
did, eh? That's strange, What do you
think OF this?" and 1 handed him copy Of
Byron, after turning to the poem in question.