New York Clipper (Oct 1894)

OomWUad, MM, ay Tte Pnim Qimq pouiaimf compuiy (Umltad). Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 1893. NEW YORK, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1894. I VOLUME XLII.-Ne. 33. I Prie* 10 Ctlrtl. IF LIF E'S A S TAGE, wimiff torn Tui KKW TONK oLirriR, BT T. 0. HARRMlaif. It lUe'a s BtaRt, M Afon'a bai la Tulibed agti aaog, We ptej ou paru apnn Its bouda Togelbtr, oM ud jooDg. The cDrtaln rlau on a aceoe Id »t]lcb a cradle ataiida, And tails npon a allTend liead Palled down bj wrlakled bands. Bov nanjmake o( lire a taroe Tbat'B palnfal oft to see! Wbllst otben take tbe leading nics And glre as tragedy. We plaj tbe roles tbat give no choice, And oft against oar wblm; Wltb aobing bearts we oRen plaj A comedy most grim. From yontli to age we etrnt life's stage And play anotber's part; Beneath tbe tinsel of tbe age We bide a weakling's heart BeMnd tbe scenes all hearts are brare, No matter what tbe play; Bnt In the light oor coniage lalls And bids ns tnm away. V life's a stage, how many fall To play their parts and gain A measnre of tbe world's applaaae— It's load, trlampbant airalnt It recks not where we play oor parts, In conntry or In town- Bow many long to hear tbe bell That Tli\-* lUe'a cartaln down I Wllh b'arts ot oak play oat the pans That Fate to yon assigns; If It be tragedy, be bnre, Kor stammer at the llaes. Tbe world looke oo to pnlae or kill- It lies with as to aay If we will ring the cartaln down Upon a rained play. He naly spoke who In tbe snn Saw Avon's waters flow; For him lire waa a stage and he His part played long ago. Lire <s a atage where we enact The diama of the yean; Then let as nobly play car parts Ui smUes and not In (ears. THE SECRET OfTmUGS LER^ CAVE. wRimv iirBBaatr ron na tim toik OLirpait. BT T. WIL90X BKINBTTE. "What bia come over yoo, Jenny f Yon doo't seem to he the same girl at all I" "I am the same girl now as I have ever been, it li ODly yonr jealons natnre tbat dUlorts me Into asoiher being." 'Tea, I am Jealons, Inaanely lealoae, of anything tliatcsn assaU yonr spotless cbaneter. Dot I am Dotjesloas of the man who, It Is very evident, baa come between me and tbe once bright, happy and llibt hearted mile woman who ha« promised to be my wife. Yon're changed ever since this btndsome and dashing Mr. Lancaator baa been hoarding at year aunt's np the slreeL Tbe nelshbon have binted abont hia too marked atientlona to my fatnre *lfe. Oaa yon wonder at my speaking ot the Batter t" "The nelghbo're had belter attend to their own aliairs, and yon to yonr duties at tbe mill. Have yoo taken to spying npon my acllona. Alfred t" "Don't call me Alfred; let It be plain Air., as It Deed to be. I can't prevent the neighbors talking, nn It And my reason ror not being at tbe mill to. olgbt Is becanse mother la not reeling well, and I bad to call In the doctor, and then atay to get hUi praacrlpilon filled." "Yonr mother aick 11 am aorrv r> the girl said qolekly, her batter natnn prevailing, while a look ot aadgeea overspread her fair tealores. She laid one mile band npon her lover's arm. "Forgive mc. Air., It I am oroesto yon," site conilnned, In are. Mntant mood; "bnt I believe I am changed ot lata I don't 4nlte know myself at times. Bnt can I do anyiblng tor yon at the honset" "No, thank yon," said Alfred, In a lighter tone ot TOlce, his heart lightened by her change ot manner, "I left mother sleeping qnlie nicely, and It I conid only Hod Phil Allen I woald let him stay wllh mother llll my shift was thron'—tor I want to re- lera In work and earn all I can. Yon know why, Jenny I" "Don't let ne talk ot thtt now, Alt. At least, wblle yoor mother Is not teAmg well." "1 think It abe cnnid know ot yoor aolloltode re- xrdligher health ehewonld apeedlly recover. I am afraid abe Is worrying over aomethlng. Bat yon have evaded my qneslloa. I most ask yon please not to permit this man to show yon so man? attentions. He la a flne gentleman, and when mch aa he attempts to come between promlked nan and wife It looke snsplcloas. I'd give np my life to nuke yon happy, Jenny, bnt his perslstoocy In tel. lowing yon abont enhances the mystery sarronod- log him." "What do yon mean by mviterv, Alfred t" "Be Is aeldom seen abont dnring tbe day, and I have beard tba weavers say he freqnenu tbe bar moms and otber qnestlonabls resorts nntll they close for Ibe night, and sometimes has to be helped <o yonr aanvs. I am not a tale bearer, bnt I speak tor yonr own good, and tor tbe last time. Nothing can comeof yonr knowing this man; I feel It la my l>nrt. A weight ot some Impending tnnble cp- preaata me, and I cannot shake It off. Bnt now I lo'end to trust all to the tntnra.and I'll wait llll yoo are once more the old, traatlog, loving, gentle Jean; who said she'd be a wearer's wife, and who ■Islied tor no grander aiailon In life than to ahare II wllh ibe man who loved her well enongh to lay ■be world at her feet," "tint I is aal vertv, MMer Ama f'< Alfred sou Jenny wen itanduig by the poroh a( Ibe bonse where Jenoy Mnlrhead's paienu Uved. ine of those pretty lltue cottage* that made the "■Xnatnetof Brampton so ooty and plotansqM— Brampton, a Oonrlthlng mill town, made np of tbe betlerclaas ot weiveis, etc, who made good wages, were thrifty of habit, and atrlved to own their own little bomesleada. AUced Uorton was the only eon ot a widow, wheat hnsbaod had died six years prior to the opening ot our story, leaving a mortgage npon tbe boose In wbleb they lived, and whloh the son ttmggled raanfally to wipe cot, aad iheo bring to It as his wife prttty Jennet Hnlr head. As ibrystood together talking they had not noticed the approach of anyone, and they were both aianied at the halt wblipered acntenoe: "Hilt I rt aat i/eratV, lIMrr JOfnil ?'• ■Ob, lf« TOO, Phil, la ft," Slid Alfred, wlib a light iMgh. .'Well, I'm glad yn are here, for I father had been a strong friend to Ur. Morion, the elder, and— "Star gating, moonbathlng, or wbati" Jennrt started. Mr. Lancaster with bis soft, gracefnl tread, bad come opoa bor quite nuawatvs. A Blight Dash snirascd her checks, and her heart began to beat wildly. "How yon startled me, Mr. Lanaaaier I" she lilured; "bnt-ln reply to yonr qoesilon-l was doing neither. Mr. Morion baa Juit left me, and I was about to retire." "Hortont" he qnerlod. "Ah, yes-tbe weaver." "Bnt an honest gentleman;" ahe qnlokly replied, her soul in armB. "Really, that la accepted wllbont qoestlon. We will not disonss bin now. It you pleaie. Apropos, I was too precipitate. Twenty-fonr boors may so- compllsh mucb, I must resort to aome ot my old dodges, and remove Ibis lover from my path, cnraeblmt Andaonriouponthatjadewhotnmed np at aoch a time as Ibis I" "Span yonr ouiaea, Bobby, or Ihoy may coma home to yoo," hiaaed a female voice In hIa ears. He tamed with a muttered Imprecation, cangbl tbe apeaker by the arm, and poahed her wltbln the abadow ot eomo trees, "Touahedevin yon've followed me sgaln, have yont Now, oat wlUi It; what do you want!" "I want what evenbody wanis—moneyl" ■The laat time I gave yon money yon promised to trouble me no more. And now yon ptusae me— want yon to slop at my bouse tonight nnlU I re. torn." ■Yes^r, hot I wants ter see yer. Mister Alfred. Ter lads'n all seed a spenil, an' ter sperrtt chinned ter <iasdy man, Mister Lancaster, an' be got Jes' 's wits's ter splrrlt neiaelt." "Ton must not talk like that, PblL Then are no apin Is nowadays. Come wlthmeaptotbebonae,and don't talk nonsense. Oood night, Jenny, little wile that la to be." "Oood nigbl, Alt., dear. And If I can be ot any service, let me know, please." Then, aa her lover paaaed through the gate, abe lightly ran down and called him t>ack. "Alt., pleaae don't mind me, for I wish—Ob, I wish tor you to trust me, and believe that my love Is all yours. Air,, I feel strangely ap- piehenalve, sow tbat yoo are a>>out to leave me i" "Pshaw I Don't let that halt wlited boy'a tongue unnerve tbe dearest and aweetest girl Ibat over Uved. Klaa me good night, Jenny; Pbll's not look- ing." A bnrrled clasp ot the hand, a qnlckly exchanged kiBS, and tbe lovers parted. She watched hli Ull form aa ltdlsappesred In the darknoa beyond, and breathed a fervent prayer tor bis well being, tier soul wss torn with conmcting emotions. For the past few days of her life abe bad llsieoed to words ot adulatlon'and latteiy from the lipe ot one she bad known bnt a tew short weeke. Robert Lan. caster, tbe stranger, had tempted her with honeyed speecho, and to tbe simple maiden bis words had engendered a doubt as to the true teellngs with which aha regarded berapproacbing marriage wltb Alfred Morton, nia well rhneen language, dint, ted bearing, air of rrtlsemeni and atyllsb appear- ance had wronght std bavuc wllh the geniJe maiden who had never been beyond the cognty Ibat gave her birth. And she could not help mentally con- tnatlngthlsnewcomerwllhherlover. Tberewas a something strongly lacking In the former that was very mnch In evidence m Ibe latier-Ihe up- right and noble qnalltles ot true manhood. Altred and she had been playnaie*, achooltallowa; b*r have you forgotten Ibat yoo promised to eee nu this evenlngt Let Ibis night's dlaconne be one never to be forgntien, for I—I may never eee you again. I ibink ot niumlng to theolty tomorrow or the next day, and —" "So ooon 1" eiclalmed fenny. "Why, I—I —" "Ton thought I woold atay here all Snmmerr go I at lint Intended, bnt circomatancea have ariaen calling me away at once. What matt*re Itt Ton will not mlas me, and I, wlih tbe cares and burdens ot business, will vainly striTS to forget tbat I leave In Brampton the one brlsbt and beauutnl memory ot my lite. Believe me. If I could only hope to leave hehlnri me one who will lonetlmes think ot ms kindly, whose eyes will molatsn when I am gone, whose heart will send np dally a prayer for me, some of tbe bitterness of my existence would be sweetened by the thoogbt." "Mr. I^ncaaier, I uaure yon. It It will lighten the cares of yor lite, I will ever breathe a prayer for yonrancceaa; I will always harbor a kindly wish for yon; a wlab that I " "A wish that yoo night ahare all with mat Oh, Jennet—torglre me, Mlaa Mnlrhead. But may I hope there la yeta cbanee to win yon; that you love me; tbat you —" "Stop, air, atop I" cried the girt, diadalntully. "Tbia la ungeneroni In yoo I You well know that I am Ibe promised wife of another nan. lie Is bnt a weaver, yet without deception. Forgive me. It I have wonnded jonr feelings, but If I havs top gotten myself while llatcslng to yoor decelKul word!, tailed In mydnilesasMr. Hottna'aafllaaoed wife. It waa because-becanae— Oh, air, leave me! I know not wbat I aay—leave me I Good nighi, air; good nlihti" She ran baallly np the atepaof tbe booee, lomed, whispered In tear broken tones; "Oood nlgbt and goodbye ror ever," and was gone. He beard tbe key turned In tbe lock, and a hard, crael smile lurked about the eonmi ot bis month, "I almost had her then," he BOIMna. "It I nsa dtploawy she nay not beoomaths wsavan wit*. seek to mio me—asking me for more moneyl" "Who has a iMtler right, Bobhy t Ain't I yuan, and ain't yon mine "No, and you know It. We're dlvorcsdi" "That's a devilish lie, Bobby, and don't washi" said the woman, with a cunning leer. "Oh, no, Bobby, yoo can't tool me; not any. Iluttohnal- nesB. They tell meabont here you're noahed, trying to entrap rome village maiden. Oo on, bag yonr game, Bobby; but you'll give meTsome stuff, or I'll blow on you. I didnt know yon were here, or I'd t>een aroood sooner. But t didn't ehsse yon op tbu time. I walked from Upton this noon, and ap- plied for work at ibe mill. They wouldn't have me -aald I'd been drinking " "And yon're drank now, curseyoni" "losnthelp It, Bobby; yon kinder hmke me all up when you Bhook me, and then-then I got In tbe waynfdrinking. Thatain lle*atyourdoor,Bobby. But I'll not reproach you tor It. Olve me eome money, and I'll tramp out ot here tonight, and yon may go to the devil, tor all I care." "I've only a tew dollara abont my person, but meet me down by the bridge In an hogr, aad I'll give you a hundred—do yon hearr" "I'm your chicken, Bohhy, In an hour, mind, wllh the hnudred-and tbm I'll nil." "And doD't let aryhody see yon," he oautloned her aa aha moved away, tie bitterly oined the tata that brought hia diacarded wife to Bramptoa. He ihoogbt be could ■felyimat her tUa Uoie, She out ot Ibe way, be could prolong bl* om atay. Bar sodden appearance be'on bim earlier In fs even- log had prompted bin to leavf aooner than be wanted to, bnt now—well, he would stay on at Bnmpion and win Jennet. The Srst move to make waa for money at his u:«rdlai house. PaaslBg by the Mulrtiead Cottage be saw aomethlng bright OS the aldewalk. II was a knife osed by wool pickrn. He was about to paa on, bat be stooped down, plekod np ihs knife, and plated It bis bip poeksL "nere I am, Bobby, dear, right on the bridge Hare yon go: the atoff t" "Tea, It Is here, all In small bllla-nothlng larger than V." The woman took the money, klaaed It, and ohnokled as she placed It the bosom ot her dress. "Now then," continued Lancaster, "gel away from her* qulok u yon can, and stick to yonr bargain." "All right, Bohhy; don't be alarmed. Dot as this will perhsp* be onr Ust meeting. Just give us a tanwell toraver kiss, won't yont" "I have stuck to my part of the agreement, yon adhere to yonn. Oood bye to you tnrevor." "Bobby, you'll give me that klaa, or I don't leave hen to nigbt-aee I" "Ton devil Incarnate I Yon'll defy not What It I take back the money again I" "Ton dun't do It I Yon daan'll Try It, and I'll tall 'am who Dohhy l«ncasler Is, I'll expose you as the gambler, connterfeller and hnrglar that yon an I" "Ourao you i will yon shut up your mouth i" ■'No I 111 slay now to spite you. I'm yonr legal wife, and I've a right—" There wu a sudden ilssh ot something bright, a atlded aorcam, a falling form that was caught by the man, who ton at iTe woman's dress, gruped the roll n| bills and then gave her a posh that sent her over the bridge Into the water. A splaab, a stifled ory, and then oiler sllenoo over all. • •••••« "Altred a murdorer, father i I'll not hellere lit Whom did he mnrdert" "Bone woman unknoim. She appllcti tor work at the mill yesterday, bnt abe amellod ao airongly or liquor, and had anoh a generally bad appearance, that I retnaod her." "But have they proved thia murder—and howl" "By a koltc belonging to Alfred Morton, found hy thoOplon Bridge. KvMoncesotaslrugglesllsbout the place; bloody marts upon the laich ot Mra. Morton'a gate, and npon the gnaa when the villain tried to roh It oil hIa handa or boots. Alfred was seen talking to this woman laat night about nine o'clock. Tbat la all ihB evidnnco. Hut, atrange lo niate, tbe body of the woman hae not yet been found." "Then ih* evidence la not admlaaahio t" "Welt, It acema the woman'a wrap was torn from her shoiildera en's tognd by the hrhlge; a piece of her dreaa waa seen nnuering frnro a nail on a plank ot the bridge. F.vldently, after the mnrder wu committed, the body was cast Into t|io stream, and the walen have carried It down over the dam. Partlea an now aearobing for It." "And yon believe Alfred capable ot cominltting this criraet What moilve could ho have luul I" "My poor lass, men and women are Uio same Ibe worid over I not give me reaaons lo believe hin Innocent, and I'll spend my laat dollar to prove It I" "Oh, dear father, be his friend, tor nip heart MU tns As (a innacmt. For the love yon bear me, rather, 1 aak thIa of you. "Well, my poor laaa, jnr pmr anlro, I'll do all I can tor Alfred. I muii go now, for he la to be ar- raigned at e.BO, and I mnat lie on hand to do my duty. Kesp op noonge, laas, keep up courage." Though a rough man, Mr. Mnlrhead's hsartwaa tnll ot kindness, and aa he pressed hla only child to bis breast and kiMd her lean Blled hie eyes. She saw them, and laid her head upon hla bosom and wept "Father, father," abe aotihed, "you mual do this for me, or my heart will break. Out we are wasting preclona time, Yon go In the court room, and I will try to cheer np poor Mrs. Morton," Rramplon wu sxolled u It had never been before. It waa a atrange oaae. A murder had been nommllled, and everything pointed to Altred Morton u the mnrderer. For two houra of bta time that night As uouM not noooimf, yet swon he had not been In the nelghiiorhood ot the bridge all that day. lie wualnngely agitated when arrealed, but retased to snswer a single question, lie admitted having spoken to tbe woman abont work at Ih* mill, andu to his knIfe-be bad lost It, that wu aO, Acoordlogly, the coroner's )nry found him guilty ot having mnrdered aome unknown woman, whose body bad not yet been tonnd. , And BO a week passed away. The day ot the trial was at hand, and the court house wu full to auRb. cation. Alfred Morton ut on the priaonera' bench, pale and delected, his only trieDd,seemlngly, being hla old, feeble mother, who ut by his aide. Rnl outside there wu a brave girl devoting all her energlea lo unwinding Ihe chain ot olronm sunoes environing the prisoner's guilt. For Mven days she bad haunlsd the aoene of the murder, aided hy a city detective whoae aervlce* ahe had engaged; bnt all lo no avail. Fate wu working agalnal her. Her every eRbrt proved tullle. On tha day ot bar Inver'a trial ahe dressed benelt for the purpose ot Billing by hla aide, hoping that He above woold give her aome Insplmllon—some- thing, anything, to turn the tide In Altred Morton's favor. Joat u she passed through the garden gats, np Ihe street wltb a rush and a ahout came Phil Allen, bla bat In his hand and his long bair atream- Ing behind bin. "Rah I MIM Morehead, I know-/ knoie I" he shouted, "Olve me halt dollar 'n' yer kin know wot I knows." "I will givs yon a halt dollar not to annoy m* now, PbU," she kindly said. "Hera, take It" Thn halt wltl/id lad placed the money betwemi his tsstb, looked at It cantully, and then monlig after Jenny and cigtcbing her by the arm, he cried: "Rermon,Mlu Morehead, kermon; I'll show ysr ter 'ooman—kermon i" Jenny caught bin by the ahouldera, and, forcing bim to look her aquarely In llie face, her heart In her oooih the while, ah* bnrriadly qneatlonod bin u to wbat he meant Tell yer, Mlaa Morehmd," he eald. In a thick, gntl«rai lone, "me 'n< ter boys wu goln' ter play piraus down by icr cavo by ter river. We had t«r chance cos sll's down isr oourt house. Bo we stole Bl Bgdd's boatan'rowsdonr. Wenwe landed'a' went ter go Into tsr cave den wu ter woman I mw chlnnin' ter dandy dat night." Jenny walled to near no mora. Down lb* stisft she storied, taking the neamt road to an old oav* like oponing some boys had ooBslncl«d yaan and years baton, and which Ih* pte*est g*B*r*llai had Bicknamad lb* SDBggln's Oav*. Anivtat lk«i«*