davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26

Catamount-Merriam, haggars, but
determined rider, far in the lead. There
was no time for salutation.
"What answer?" demanded the lieu
tenant, abruptly and with wide, burn
ing, bloodshot eyes.
"Too late" said Hayne, "too late by
As hours"
"You don't mean," gasped Merriam,
"that they are married already?"
That's what Parry wires" was the
brief response. Here's the dispatch" I"
For moment Merriam sat in saddle,
a daaed, stupefied look in his bloodless
face. Then his eyes closed and he
seemed about to swoon. Hayne sprang
from his painting horse just as Mer-
riam's wearied escorts came numbering
to the spot. Together they lifted him
from his seat and bore him to little
patch of grass, bathed his temples from
their canteens and gave him a goutte
of cognac. They made what frontier
troops call "dry camp" that night,
just there where the two parties met.
There was fuel, little grass, but no
water beyond what they had in their
canteens, and with the contents of one
of these Hayne brewed pot of tea
while one of the men cooked their fru
| gal supper. They needed no other cano-
! py than that of the heavens in that rare,
| dry atmosphere, and with the stars for
night lights and the waning moon to
peep in upon their slumbers later and
start the gaun. coyotes at their queru-
lous, unregarded serenade, the troopers
slept, or seemed to sleep, until dawn.
Twice Hayne awoke to find Merriam
staring with burning eyes at the radiant
vault aloft, but he wanted nothing,
needed nothing. He could not sleep for
thinking, he explained, and when the
morning came the fever was with him
again, and Corporal Tracy galloped
northward along the foothills, a long
days ride, to fetch once more the doc
tor from the cantonment, and with
Wells came the ambulance. The can
tonment lay so miles away to the north,
| Sedgwick a hundred to the southeast.
1t was the nearest port in the storm.
This time Tremaine would have had
fitted UP for him room in the big, airy
hospital, but his better-half intervened.
'It would never do after our having
had him here before" she said. "He
must have his Old room under our roof
and everything he had before-except
| Florence"
But when, after ten days of burning
fever and desperate illness, Randolph
Merriam seemed again to realize where
he was, and how weak he was, and how
good they had been to him, the first
name he whispered, the first thing he
asked for, looked for, seemed to long
for was Florence-and they let her
come.
| fro RE CoNTINuED1
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26

For few minutes hardly a sound
save the deep breathing of three power
full, soldierly men and the feeble gasp
ing of the sufferer broke the stiffness
of the rude shelter. The wounded man
lay propped on Merriam's shoulder, but,
through weakness from his long illness
and the mental excitement of the mo-
ment, the latter's trembling grew so
marked that Whitaker quickly slipped
his left arm under the dropping head
and drew his friend away. McLane
seemed to gain strength from the vigor
of this new support, though he could do
no more than whisper thanks. Present
ly he beckoned to Merriam and pointed
to line on the page.
81 said she was over a." he began,
then Merriam's hand was slipped over
his mouth.
''I'll make any corrections you wish,
but do not speak of what is there" said
he, and with his fountain pen he erased
a word and wrote another. Then the
sufferer nodded. "It is all right now"
| he whispered, and, taking the pen, was
lifted to a half-sitting posture and
feebly, scratchily wrote as follows:
"John Harold McLane, Jr., aged 25;
born June /, 1867, Sacramento, Cal
Died June =, 1892, Mescalero noun
tains, N. NJ" Then, dropping the pen,
he fell back to his rude pillow, pant.
ing and exhausted. Wells quickly gave
him stimulant; then he and Whitaker
affixed their names as witnesses. A mo-
ment later, while the surgeon remained
with his patient, the two young officers
clasped hands outside.
you're weak as child yet, Randy
What is it, old boy?"
'My God! can't afford to be weak
now," was the fierce answer. "I've got
to act-to do as Inever did before. How
long should it take our best rider, our
lightest rider, to reach the railway?
kilograms must go east at once"
"If he take the back trail-the one
you came in by from Sedgwick-fve
days and nights, least count If he &c
around by the cantonment for fresh
horses, perhaps seven"
"My God! my God!" cried Merriam
"Even two days may be too long
You're in command, Billy. I can give
no orders, but that courier must start
before moonrise tonight. Don't ask
me to tell you why"
And within the hour, with a sealed
packet addressed to Capt. Lawrence
Hayne, -th infantry, Fort Sedgwick, a
slim little Irish trooper was Looping, all
alone, iauntily back toward the valley
of the Bravo, smacking his lips in antici-
patton of the good.liquor awaiting him
at Santa Fe Junction the moment his
duty was done. Five days and nights
had he before him of lonely ride
through desolate, almost desert land
stopping only when necessary to feed
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26
CHAPTER ".

Strange to say, the journey back to
the Mescalero seemed to benefit rather
than injure Merriam. The doctor vain
ly endeavored to restrain him-to in
duce him to shorten the long days
marches, but Merriam declared he was
never so well as when in the saddle, and
that nothing wearied him so much as
waiting. If anything, he seemed less
jaded than his physician when, on the
third day, they reached the bivouac of
the little command, and Billy Whit
taker welcomed them to q supper of
bacon and frijoles, and calmed Mer-
RAMS feverish impatience by the news
that the civilian who had so desired to
see him was still alive, conscious, but
sinking rather than gaining. The min
ers' camp was mile away. The dead
had been buried, and the feud dropped
with the brief prayers with which the
bullet-riddled body was consigned to
earth. Wells first duty lay with the
two troopers, who were in bitter plight,
and no morsel Of food passed his lips
until he had ministered to them. Then
Merriam had to wait until he had swal-
lowed some coffee, and then, taking
Whitaker with them, they rode for
ward to branch of the canyon, where
at nightfall they came in view of the
fires of the little camp. Wells made
prompt examination of the wounded
man, and came out from the rude shell
ter under which he lay, q anced at
Whitaker and shook his head. Pres
emily, with a dazed look on his face,
Merriam reappeared. billie" said he,
''stand here and see that there are no
eavesdroppers. I-know some of this
poor fellows people, and he has mes
sages to send" The two OF three hang
ers-on took the hint and slouched away.
81 may need you to witness his state
ment later" he whispered. "Come in
if call, but let no one else hear u.s."
For half an hour the low murmur of
voices came from within the 'shack," as
darkness settled down upon the scene.
Then both Wells and Whitaker were
summoned, and by the dim light of a
camp lantern they knelt beside the pal
let of the dying man. ''You know both
these gentlemen, by reputation, al
least" said Merriam, gently, though his
eyes were cleaning, his lips quiyering
and his hands trembling with some
strong and strange emotion. "In their
presence 1 desire you to read over this
statement that / have written from
your dictation. If it's entirely right
say so, sign it, and they will witness
your signature, but will have no knowl'
edge Of its contents"
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26

and water and rub down his horse,
build his little fire and cook his slab
of bacon and brew the battered pot of
coffee, and snatch such sleep under the
stars as was possible, braving Indians,
1attlesnakes or mountain lions without
a tremor, for the sake of an Irishman's
pride in his troop, his love of dangerous
duty and his full assurance of good
time at the journeys end.
Another day and rude grave was
dug in the canyon, and the doctor read
the simple service of the church over
the shrouded form of the young pros
pector; and then, against that doctors
wishes, but not without his reluctant
consent, Lieut.. Merriam, with an escort
of two troopers, started in person to
ride by the shortest trail to Sedgwick.
1t was now the 9th of June. It would
take him nearly week to reach and
cross the Santa Clara. 1t might take
him eight days to Sedgwick, and every
hour seemed day. Meantime DR..
Wells set about having litters made for
the two wounded troopers, and by the
tenth of the month had them safely in
hospital at the cantonment. He found
Tremaine looking anxious, even an
| gered, Mrs. Tremaine troubled on more
than one account, apparently, and Flor
ence pale and languid.
"Did Mr.. Merriam send no letter."
asked Mrs. Tremaine, after he had told
something of their experiences.
'There was no time to write. He
begged me to give you his love and graf
itude, to give it to all, and to say he
would write in full the moment he got
to Sedgwick. Oh, yes, he is better
much better, but the nervous strain
may bring on return of the fever"
said the doctor. Something of solemn
consequence, Wells knew not what,
had carried Merriam back to the rail-
way, He might have to go east at once.
But Randy never reached the railway.
Hayne received and read in startled
amaze the contents of the packet
brought by the courier, and sent at
once from the junction two telegraphic
messages-one to Mr.. Ned Parry, of the
firm of Graeme, Rayburn & Parry, OF
Chicago; the other to Mr.. Abraham
Mellen, New York city; received from
the latter neither acknowledgment nor
reply, and from the former the briei
words; "The marriage took place As
hours ago."
| Without any delay, taking only q
single orderly, Capt. Hayne rode away
northwestward, past the Santa Clara
past the old Mission, and SO mountain.
ward until the blue barrier of the Mes
calero turned to gray and green, and
almost within its shadows, just as this
second setting sun dropped behind iti
massive crest, he met the trio from thu
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26
fro BE CONTINUED
PRESENCE OF MIND.
An Actor Who Was Equal to the DC
CuSiOn.

All hCNOE W hO was tut OCS
cnsiOn.
1t will be remembered that in the
farcical comedy, "Never Again." at the
very end of the play, the stage is sud
denly darl0ened just as the schoolmas-
ter and his wife return. The object in
darkening it is to get rid of this pair of
detestable bores. The people are all on
the stage, but, of course, the darkness
hides them.
The schoolmaster's voice is heard at
one of the entrances.
"Oh, they have all gone home," he
says, "the room is dark"
Then he and his tiresome wife go
away and the lights are turned up, dis
closing the rest of the company scat
tered about the stage.
At recent matinee one of the
rear windows of the opera house stage
happened to be without shade. When
the electric lights were turned out a
sudden ray of sunshine streamed
through this window and made the
stage as bright as day.
AT the proper entrance appeared the
schoolmaster. Probably he was
stumped when he saw the stage, but he
concealed his feelings.
"Ha!' he calmly said, "they have near
ly all gone home-the room is almost
dark"
Then he made his exit and the cleo
trio lights chased the sunlight from the
boards.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26
FORECAST.

Ta1re back. take back the harsh word now;
Consider 1t unspoken;
Break. hreak, though late, the angry VOW
That better far were broken.
The stream Of death will bear away
The object of thy passion;
Oh. then, obliterate to-day
The thought of his transgression.
Forget the little Ill. revealed
AS though by hates intention;
Remember all the good, concealed
A though by loves invention.
Tho hour may come when thou wilt stand
Unsheltered, and unshriven;
forgiveness price is in thy hand,
To-day let 1t be given.
With hatred in the heart at last
Bethink thee of his terror
Whose alienated gaze were cast
On loves eternal mirror.
Thou might'st endure the sight Of woe
The scoff1ng-the, derision-
But where thou dost expect to go
How couldst thou bear the vision?
Edward N. Pomeroy. In Youths Com
paniOn.
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26
His Parting Admonition.


The following amusing passage took
place between counsel and witness in
disputed will ease.
"Did your father give you no parting
admonition
"He never gave much away at any
time"
81 mean to say what were his last
words?" 't'
"They don't concern you"
'Trhey not only concern me, sir" said
the barrister severely, "but they con-
cern the whole court"
"0b, all right" was the reply. Father
said, Don't have no trouble when I'm
gone, Jim, COS lawyers is the biggest
thieves unhung. .'"-Leisure Hours.
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26
An Ant auoter.

A student had been up for examina-
ton in Scripture, and failed so utterly
that the examiner got exasperated.
Finally the latter asked him if there
was any text in the whole Bible he
could quote. The student pondered and
then repeated: "And Judas went out
and hanged himself" "Is there any
other verse you know in the Bible?'
the examiner asked. "Yes; Go thou
and do likewise" There was sol
emn pause, and the examination ended
right there.-Golden DAYS,
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26
An Army Wife.
By CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyrighted. 1896. by F. reuuysOn Neely.l
SYNOPSIS.

Chapter I. Fannie McLane, a young
widow. is invited to visit the Graftons
at Fort Sedgwick. Her sister tries to dis
auade her, as Randolph Merriam. (whom
she had Tilted for old McLane) and his bride
are stationed there.
Chapter u.-Fannie McLane's wedding
causes family feeling. A few months later
she, while travelling with her husband,
meets Merriam, on his wedding trip.
Chapter III.-Some time previous to this
Merriam had gone on a government sur
vey, fallen ill., and had been nursed by Mrs.
Tremaine and daughter Florence. 1t is
during the convalescing period that the
conversation with which the next chap
ter opens takes place between Capt. Tre-
maine and his wife.
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26
Took Money with Him.

Easterner-I am looking for man
named Smarth, who came here from our
section some years ago.
Westerner-Look along among those
palaces on New street. He has prob
ably made fortune by this time.
Eastener-He had money when he
came here. "
Westerner-Oh! Look in the poor
house.--N. Y. Weekly.
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26

-Asafoetida is said to be a preventive
OF diseases. but think Of the eatment!
Washington Democrat.
The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26

IA shaggy camel may bear smooth
burden. Rams Horn.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
A ROMANCE PUNCTURED.
Sergeant Tendy and Nellie Fetters
Not Married After All.

It seems from the latest accounts that
the Tennessee regiment is shy one ro-
nance accredited to it by one of the par
ties in interest. A week or so ago Mrs
Nellie Fetters, of 1885 Mariposa street,
Fresno, became responsible for the pub
lished story that she and Sergeant Jessup
Tendy of the First Tennessee Volunteers
had been married just before the young
soldier sailed for Manila, and that she
was going to join him in the far away
islands of the Pacific as soon as she
could get there by steamer. While tell
ing the story the woman made several
statements that caused doubt of its truth.
1t is true that Mrs. Fetters did ask
the Cupid of the County Clerks office for
a marriage license, but she did not get
one. Soon after the soldiers sailed for
Manila she went back to Fresno and from
there she has been writing and telegraph
ing to John O. Huff cousin of the al
legged husband and a member of the Ten
nessee contingent that has been sent
home. Since the alleged marriage the
from Fresno to Huff: IF you go to Chi
cago | will go that far with you Answer
Immediately. l pay. Nellie Fetters'' An
other dispatch to Huff says: "Will you
wait TIL Thursday night will go East.
Young Soldier Huff does not regard the
proposition with favor. He has a letter
from her in which she intimates that she
Is very DESTROYS of seeing Sergeant
Tendy's mother, and speaks of a great
whom she says is her husband. Huff sent
the woman a dispatch that should set
tie her case forever. 1t was to the eff
feet that he does not want her to send
not to assert that she is the wife of Ser
geant Tendy.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
AROUND THE
CORRIDORS

DR.. F. c. Young of San Jose is at the
Lick.
U. S. Grant Jr. of San Diego is at the
Palace.
DR.. F. W. Hatch of Sacramento is at
the Lick.
Mrs T. R. Sheridan and family of
Roseburg are at the Lick.
Fl. W. Walker, a prominent Willows
merchant, is at the Grand.
S. Wornser, one of Kingsbury's largest
merchants. is at the Lick.
w. w. Douglas, Deputy Controller, of
Sacramento. is at the Grand.
J. Cummins, prominent Sacramento
mining man, is at the Grand.
F. F. Osberton, a well known Colorado
mining man, is at the Palace.
James f. Peck, a prominent MERGED at
torney, is a guest at the Lick
c. e. Tinkham, manager of the Chico
Lumber Company, is at the Grand.
R. B. Purvis, Sheriff of Modesto County
for many years past, is at the lick.
F. P. Mills, a prominent mining man of
Coulterville, is guest at the Occidental
c. stengel, an extensive dairyman of
Fisherman Bay, is registered at the Russ.
H. E. Barber, a well known capitalist
and contractor of Stockton, is at the
Grand.
B. r Mccullough and George R. Stew
art, Crows Landing cattlemen. are at the
Grand.
E. ]. Lyons, ticket agent of the North
ern Pacific Railroad at Portland. is at the
Palace.
r. K. Carter, continent New York
merchant, is among recent arrivals at the
Palace.
J. Leninger, large wheat grower of
Chico. is at the Russ, accompanied by his
wife and son.
A F. Hoffar of st. Louis and A. J.
Shotwell of Denver, we'll known mining
men, are at the Russ.
Mrs. Barber, wife of Colonel Thomas
H Barber of the First New York Regi-
ment now at Honolulu, arrived from New
York yesterday morning and registered
at the Palace. She is accompanied by
Miss Helen Johnson, also of New York.
Mrs Barber will leave for the islands by
the next steamer,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
NOTHING CAN
Be GAINED
BY CONTESTS
Clerk Jordan Has a
Few Votes to Spare.
REPUBLICANS TO RATlFY
CHAIRMAN BREED INTENDS TO
DRIVE THE MORAL HOME.
Every Club in Alameda County Will
Come to Oakland to Join in
the Shouting for
Gage.
REPUBLICANS TO RATIFY
CHAIRMAN BREED INTENDS TO
DRIVE THE MORAL HOME.
Oakland ONCE San Francisco Cali.


TT Is now realized that nothing could be
gained by the fusionists by making
contest against the Republican County
Clerk, Frank Jordan, who was reelected
by over 800 majority. AS the votes came
in the margin between Jordan and his OPP
ponent T. L. Stoddard, was very narrow
and there were whispers among the ~
sionists of fraud At the close Jordan
drew well ahead, and as the fuS1onStS
had watchers at the polls as well as the
Republicans, it is an admission or care
lessness and Indifference to suggest THAT
their man was counted out. Especially
is this the case in view of Tue fact tnaI
the Union County Committee boasted
before and after election of the Wonoer-
fully successful efforts 1t put forth TO pre-
vent illegal voting. and unfair counting,
The campaign of County Clerk JORDAN
was the most bitterly. contested OF any
on the ticket. Jordan four years ago was
ing his term of office this organIzatlon
fell apart, and Jordan's half was fougnt
by the other half. The Independent Re
publicans also Endorsed Jordan's oppo-
nent. He also had to fight the Democrats,
Populists and Silver Republicans IN ms
own ward he had the bitterest fight OF
all. Owing to the unpleasantness IN the
Hilborn-Metcalf contest Jordan only car
ried the primary election by SIX votes,
died away last Tuesday, Jordan feeling
the full benefit of it. However, the
doughty Clerk did not despair, but BY al
liability and hard work he won enough IN
diViduaI votes in workshops, on trains, IN
factories, in offices and in the hidden dis
tricts of the county to land himself
winner.
Chairman Breed of the Republican
County Central Committee is preparing
for the grandest ratification demonstra-
ton that Alameda County has ever seen.
II intend to drive home the moral Of last
Tuesday" said Mr.. Breed this afternoon.
"This duty on the part of Republicans
cannot be treated slightly. We must once
and forever demonstrate that Maguireism
is dead issue and that intelligence and
conservatism are synonyms for Republ1-
canism. Every Republican club in the
county will be invited to Oakland for the
occasion. There will be two mass meet
ings and enough fireworks to burn up the
in all probability it will be one week from
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 10.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
McLaUGHLIN's GOOD WORK.

\ OW that the campaign is over, the verdict rem
N dered and approved, it is natural that those
who bore the burden and heat OF the Gay should
receive proper acknowledgment. Prominent among
rhese is Major Frank Mclaughlin chairman OF the
Republican State Committee. From the first he had
been active, and the closing hours found him I'M
weared in the arduous work. When success crowned
bis efc-t = jubilant. His only hope had been
that the party to which he is devoted would secure
an affirmation of the principles it upholds through
the election of the who stand for these prin-
cples.
Possibly the position of Major Mclaughlin is
unique He is not in politics for the qualification Of
personal ambitions. While the time he devotes to
partisan matters is something OF affairs can
iii afford to devote the interests of the public he
freely gives this time The highest honors within
the power OF his party to bestow have been offered
him. and he has declined them. His declaration that
he desires no Office is sincere, his devotion to
bringing about the triumph of Republicans has been
unremitting and unselhsh.
Apparently the most the party can do for the Major
is to tender an informal vote of thanks 1t has no
substantial rewards which it could induce him to take
large part of the credit of victory must be given
him. and with this, and the sense of duty well per-
formed, he is content.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
BIG Debt COMPROMISED.

An order was made by Judge Coffey
yesterday permitting Mrs. Jane l.. Stan
ford to compromise the Indebtedness due
the Stanford estate from the estate of the
late Judge James Shafter The amount
of the Indebtedness is S77.551. The amount
is secured by mortgage upon two tracts
of land and a chattel mortgage upon 700
head of cattle. The land was subject to
the lien of a prior mortgage and has sub
seouentIy been conveyed to the Point
Reeves Land Company. Judge Cofey has
authorized Mrs. Stanford to accept pay
nent of accrued interest amounting to
$1,000 and a mortgage of SIS 900 on a part
of the Rancho Tomales.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
miss shields Owned the Shell.

The shell found by Harry Murray at the
late residence of Mrs. Shields on Virginia
avenue is claimed by Miss Julia Shields
as being her property.
She said it was given to her by a young
and at present on hoard the PetreI Her
desire for curios prompted Reed to bring
her the shell about four years ago, and
during all this time neither herself nor
her mother had any idea that the shell
was loaded or in any way dangerous. 1t
was left at the residence in the hurry and
hustle of the Shields removal.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
For Stealing a Diamond.

Harry Reiman, a newsboy, was yester-
day held to answer before the Superior
Court by Judge Low on charge of grand
larceny in $1,000 bonds. A similar charge
against William Murphy will be heard
Monday. The boy was accused of stealing
a diamond worth 500 from Julius Van
VIiet ieWeIer 1852 Market street. and
Murphy is accused of stealing it from the
bow, after which 1t was lost.