Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-01-29
The Bow of Orange Ribbon
A ROMANCE OF NEW YORK
By AMELIA E. BARR
Author of endO her
Copyright by andC Company
BY AMELIA E. BARR

wound the English surgeon declared
beyond mortal Skill And he said to
me, Three times, in the Persian des-
ert, | have cured wounds still worse,
and the Holy One hath given me the
power of healing; and, If He wills, the
young man shall recover That is
what he said, Katherine"
Forever I will love the Jew Though
he fail will love him. So kind he is,
even to those who have not spoken
well, nor done well, to him"
At this moment the family returned
from the morning service, and Bran
rather defiantly drew his sister to his
side Joris was not with them. He
had stopped at the Kings Arms" to
ask if Capt. Hyde was still alive; for,
in spite of everything, the young mans
heroic cheerfulness in the agony of
the preceding night had deeply touch
ed Joris. No one spoke to Katherine;
even her mother was annoyed aid hui
inflated at the social ordeal through
which they had just passed, and she
thought it only reasonable that the err
iAho SoIiI oAouIu DS W Sudic lHG
trial.
AS the time went on poor Katherine
Van Heemskirk shivered and sickened
III the presence Of averted eyes and up
lifted shoulders, and in that chill at
mosphere Of disapproval which sep
arated her from the sympathy and
confidence of her old friends and &C
quaintahces.
1T is thy punishment" said her
mother, bear it bravely and patiently.
In little while, it will be forgot" But
weeks went on, and the wounded men
slowly fought death away from their
pillows, and Katherine did not recover
the place in social estimation which
she had lost through the ungovernable
tempers of her lovers
But nothing i'll lasts forever; and in
three months Neil Semple was in his
office again, wan and worn with fever
and suffering, and wearing his sword
arm in a sling, but still decidedly
World-like and life-like. 1t was evil
dent that public opinion was in large
measure with him, and though in the
Middle Kirk the affair was sure to be
the subject of a reproof, and of a sus-
pension of its highest privileges, yet
it was not difficult to feel the SYM
pathy often given to deeds publicly
censured, but privately admired. Joris
remarked this spirit with a little as
constituent and dissent. He could not
find in his heart any excuse for either
Neil or Hyde; and, when the elder en-
larged with some acerbity upon the
requirements of honor among men,
JCris offended him by replying:
We'll, then, elder, little I think of
that honor which runs not with the
laws of God and country"
Let me tell you, Joris, the voice of
the people is the voice of God in a
measure; and you may see with your
ain cen that it mair that acquits Neil
O. wrong-doing. Man, Joris. would
you punish fair sword-fght wi the
hangman?'
"A better way there is. In the
pillory | would stand these men of
honor, who of their own feelings think
more than of the law of God A very
quick end that punishment would put
to a custom wicked and absurd"
"Weel Joris, we'll haze no quarrel
anent the question. Here comes Neil,
and we'll let the question ia to the
ground. There are wiser men than
either you or | on bath Sides"
Joris nodded gravely, and turned
To "A
than ever he liked him; for, apart
from moral and prudential reasons, it
was easy for the father to forgive an
| unreasonable love for his Katherine.
Also, he was now more anxious for a
marriage between Neil and his daugh-
ter. 1t was indeed the best thing to
fully restore her to the social esteem
OF her own people; for by making her
his wife, Neil would most emphatically
exonerate her from all blame in the
quarrel. Just this far, and no farther
had Neil's three months suffering
aided his suit,-ne had now the full
approval of Joris, backed by the
weight of this social Justification.
But, in spite of these advantages
he was really much farther away from
Katherine. She had heard from Bran
the story of the challenge and thu
fight; heard how patiently Hyde hat
parted Neils attack rather than re
turn it, until Neil had so passionatel.
refused any satisfaction less than hi
life; heard, also, how even at the poin
of death, fainting and falling, Hyd
had tried to protect her ribbon at hi
breast. She never wearied of talllin
with Bran on the subject; she though
of it all day, dreamed of it all night.
And she knew much more about
; than her parents or Joanna supposed
Bran had easily fallen into the habi
Of calling at Cohen's to ask after hi
| patient. At first he saw Miriam often
! ard, when he did, life became heaN
emily thing to Bran Van Heemskirl
? katherine very soon suspected ho'
, matters stood with her brother, an
t gratitude led her to talk with hill
| about the lovely Jewess.
: But for some weeks after the due
/ she could not bear to leave the house
1t was only after both men wer
known to be recovering, that she vel
| tured to kirk; and her experienc
| there was not one which tempted he
2 to try the streets and the stores. How
l ever, no interest is living interest
a community but politics; and ia
more important events had now tn
| public attention. During the previou
7 March, the Stamp Act and the Qua
} tering Act had passed both houses {
Parliament; and Virginia and Mass
! chusetts, conscious of their dangeror
| character, had reused the fears of tn