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VOL. XIII.
PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1902.
NO: 34.
YESTERDAY;
It is not far to yesterday,
And there we turn our eyes
To where the good, glad memories
In pleasing pictures rise.
The faded roses of to-day
Grow red and rich with dew,
And where gray clouds are spreading now
We sec the skies of blue.
J 11st down the way is yesterday
There sunshine always beams;
To-day we close our eyes and see
Our yesterday in dreams;
To-day wc hear the long-dead song,
And now we understand
Its cadence, and know why it made
Our yesterday all grand.
A Love Story.
-T v EGG IE COUSINS and Mau-
I , -J rice Blount had been close
I friends as long as the former
could remember. In casting
mental glances back across those
years of aft'ectiou and close union be
tween thorn I -often wondered what
had prompted their intimacy in the
lirst place. Blount was some live
years older than ConsiiiP. being a
staid, rather matter-of-fact man of
thirty at the time when fate threw the
two friends into Ihe constant society
of Monica and Maudie Finlay, the col
onel's orphaned nieces. Blount, how
ever, was a captain and Cousins mere
ly a lieutenant. He was extremely
boyish for his age, seldom taking any
thing seriously. The whole world
seemed to be to him "one huge joke,"
as he himself expressed it, but it was
his hearty laughter, his mischievous
pranks and his good-natured tempera
ment that endeared him to all his fel
low officers. But first and foremost in
the young man's heart stood Maurice
Blount. This affection was fully re
turned, and they Avere known as the
"Inseparables."
Of course it Avas almost a foregone
conclusion that the arrival of Monica
and Maudie on the scone Avas bound
to make a difference to one or other of
thr two officers, "although they had
hitherto been knoAvn to declare that
neither intended to marry, and that
each found all be could desire iu the
close comradeship of the other. But
it. was more than unfortunate that thev
should simultaneously lose their hearts
over the younger of the sisters. Mau
die. Monica Avas, if anything, lovelier
than Maudie, Iicjr gray eyes were full
of a Avinsooie wistfulness that Avon the
hearts of every one of us. always ex
cepting those of the "Inseparables."'
It Avas apparently lo bo in their af
fairs, of the heart as in all things
Cousins followed in his senior's foot
steps, laying his hand and fortune at
the feet of Maudie Finlay.
It was a puzzle how they came lo
pass over the SAveeter. gentler, elder
sister, to fall victims to the boisterous,
rather torcboyish charms of the
younger.
Maudie only tossed her head at them,
delighting in their devotion, Avhich
was clearly of the faithful-dog-fetch-and-carry
order, merely because it
gratified her vanity, she having pre
viously been Avell informed that
neither Captain Blount nor Lieuten
ant Cousins had ever been knoAvn to
fall in love before.
I Avas on sick leave at 4he time this
tv as happening, but I heard it all.
with somewhat exaggerated details,
when I rejoined, and, the odd part of
the business appeared to be that hot!)
apparently saAv through the girl they
worshiped:
The elder man had Joon heard re
buking the younger for his foolishness
In allowing himself to be played Avith
by the heartless coquette, and the
younger man had been seen persuad
ing Blount not to go near 'the fascinat
ing Maudie on various occasions. It
was mysterious, to say the least.
At dances they vied with each other
in obtaining the greatest number from
the -younger Miss FinJay. At picnics
they outdid each other to the best of
their abilities In carrying tempting
dishes to Miss Maudie, in seeing after
her comfort in every possible Avay.
Neither of them entered for the
"Thread and Needle Race" at the
sports because Maudie could not be
partner to them both.
And all this Avhile Monica was prac
tically left to herself, not that the en
tire regiment behaved as idiotically as
the "Inseparables," but because Mon
A little way to yesterday-To-day
may have its fears,
Yet yesterday it tilled with smiles.
To-morrow has its tears
To-day to-morrow What of them,
When we can find the way
That leads us to the golden land :
The land of yesterday?
It is not far to yesterday,
With glamour of the rose;
With haunting echo of the song
That thrilled us to the close.
To-morrow and to-day will lose
Their darkness and their gloom,
And each will soon be yesterday.
With melody and bloom. .
W. D. Nesbit, in Balfefl Jlmcrican.
P A
By JOHN FORD.
ica, quite early iu the game, gHAe the
others to understand she did not re
quire their attentions. The fellows
chaffed me, saying it Avas only on ac
count of my age that she tolerated my
presence so graciously, that no one
AVould think if she was seen about with
a man old enough to be her father.
About the time that Ave received our
marching orders I noticed that Monica
had become rather paler than usual,
naturally I Avondered at it and whether
our move to Egypt had anything to do
Avith it. Then oue day I saAV Blount
looking at her; Monica's face was half
turned from him, and the view he had
of it Avas perfect, I felt sure. I knew
her profile so-Avell and could fancy any
man's heart being stirred by its
beauty; for all that I Avas puzzled by
the look in Blount's eyes and his lips
Avero set in a hard straight line across
his teeth. Then, for one brief mo
ment Monica lifted her sad gray 03-es
to his, and he sighed. The next she
Avas goue, and Ileggie Cousins slipped
his arm through that of his friend,
pulling him round Avith a jerk, and
they both laughed. The laugh I
thought a nervous one.
Soon after that Ave sailed.
The campaign of ISO Avas the first
active service young Cousins had ever
seen, and I Avas interested in him and
his impressions more than in those1 of
our fellow officers. He Avas wildly ex
cited on the voyage out, and by con
trast his very excitement appeared to
make tin.1 captain's manner more staid,
reserved and unobtrusive. They Avere
not. however, quite so much together
as they had been formerly, and it nat
urally became the subject of comment.
'Blount is jealous, I believe," said
one.
"More likely Cousins has been bitten
by the green-eyed monster. If they
are both in love Avith Maudie Finlay
I should say that the captain would
stand the greater chance of Avinning
her. and Cousins knows if," said an
other. Already avo spoke of the love affair
of the "Inseparables" Avitii an if."
Cousins, like every subaltern leav
ing home and England for he first
time, had his ambitions, dreamed his
dreams in all of which ''Heroes,"
"Medals." "Victoria Crosses" and pro
motiouligured largely in a delightful
jumble, and all in connection Avith
himself. And avIio has not dreamed
those dreams on the voyage cut? Who
has not looked back on those dreams
with a Aveary smile of resignation, ac
knowledging, reluctantly enough, that
things are not Avhat they seemed on
the voyage home?
As I had expected the campaign
was not of very long duration, neither
Avas. it of deadly peril or full of the
trials and sufferings so many expedi
tions are entirely made up of. There
Avas the usual amount of trouble, work
and endurance to put up with, the fa
tiguing marches being the most active
part of it, and I felt almost sorry for
our juniors who had expected so much
most sorry, not knowing what was to
come, for young Cousins.
Our. . wounded were few, our dead
fewer; the most terrible part being
that many fell victims to a dread dis
ease, losing their lives, if not in actual
conflict with the enemy, nevertheless
while obeying the call of duty.
However, it is of oue battle I wish
to write, no other event having any
bearing on my story.
It Avas a Saturday, the 19(h of Sep
tember, and Ave were roused from
sleep at 3 a. m. We had lain down on
the sand and among the halfa grass,
too tired and Avorn out to think of ene
mies other than human, of vipers.
scorpions and such like. Four o'clock
found us creeping along in the dark,
uncertain of what Ave might come
upon, but Avhen the rays of the early
sun came to our aid a disappointment
AA'as in store for us. We discerned
K to our right, but not all the noise
of the cavalry, nor the rumbling of
horse batteries awoke 1he apparently
sleeping Dervish camp.
We were unopposed.
The reason was soon forthcoming.
Wad Bishara had taken his men to
Hafir in the dead of night.
No rest Avas gh'en us, no break in
the long march; our orders were to ad
vance tAvo miles further, and then Ave
faced Hafir. It was nearly 7 o'clock
before we opened fire on the Der
vishes, but it Avas not till later in the
day, till the lead came splashing at
regular inten-als into the water to our
right, rattling like hail against the
gunboats, and bullets came flying
through the air, that I chanced to
come upon the "Inseparables." I saw
them standing side by side, their faces
turned to the enemy. Suddenly, as I
looked, young Cousins sprang forward
and threw his senior on the ground
with the force which he hurled him
self upon him, and then-the most
tragic event of the day Reggie Cou
sins rolled over mortally wounded at
our feet!
Quick as lighting I turned. Just in
the nick of time.
The Dervish soldier who had crept
unaAvare upon us, half hidden in the
long grass, had turned his weapon
upon me.
But I was before him.
I take a sort of grim satisfaction in
chronicling the event, in those few
words. Had I stayed a moment long
er nothing could have prevented me
from cutting the dead body of Cous
ins' murderer to a thousand pieces.
With Blount's help I got the young
fellow lo the rear, and, once i safety,
stooped to see what could be done for
him. The Captain knelt with his face
burled in both his hands, doAArn which
the blood was trickling. He had re
ceived a wound as we lifted the boy
to carry him away. I did not realize
hoAv bad and serious a one it was.
Cousins opened his eyes and his lips
moved.
"You are hurt," he said, looking at
his chum. "I I wanted to save your
life. Have I failed?"
Blount was sobbing in a heart-broken
fashion.
"Steady yourself, old man," I whis
pered, "and speak to him."
"It was Maudie." Cousins continued.
"I I fancied Monica was much the
best and you Avould love her like
I did and I tried to help you by oh,
you know but you wouldn't take
the best always left the best for
me."
"Oh. Iieggie. Ileggie, don't!"
Cousins' eyes fixed themselves on
me.
"It's all up." he said. "Tell Mau
rice not to be long."
With a great sob of unutterable mis
ery Blount fell across the body of his
friend.
a
Every spare moment I had I spent
by Blount's bedside after that. But
life Avas despaired of for him," and
he did not care to stay. Reggie's
dying Avords seemed to haunt us for
nights after, for Ave kneAV Maurice
Avas obeying his chum's last request.
But from the lips of the captain a
very little Avhile before the end I
learned the ansAver to the riddle that
had puzzled us for so long.
It was only a wonderful piece of
self-sacrifice on both their parts. Each
had loved Monica in the depths of his
heart and each had tried to leave her
peerless as they knew her to be for
the other.
"We blinded each other so complete
ly to the true state of affairs," Blount
said with a sad smile, "that I think if
we had gone home we shotild both
have asked Monica to marry us, be
lieving the other to be really in love
with Maudie."
.
Then one day I found myself telling
of the tragedy of Hafir to Monica, and
I told her of the love of the "Insepara
bles." Maudie Avas engaged to be married
to the rector 'of the place.
"It Avill not hurt jou to know it?" I
asked.
I'' was anxious, for she wore so
strangely sad a look.
"It never hurts a AA'oman to know
she has been loved," she said, "even
though it comes too late."
I knew then she had loved as well.
But which of the two, to this day, no
one knows. News.
IS THE SPHINX DOOMED?
Celebrated Egyptian Figure Crumbling
, Under Influences of the New Climate.
The present is a period of the vanish
ing of monuments which have stood
for thousands of years. The other
day Venice lost one of her famous rel
ics of past days, and many another
building in the lOA-ely Queen City of
the Adriatic is threatened with de
struction. And now comes the news that an
eAen more famous, an infinitely more
venerable monument is likely to disap
pear. It is said that the Sphinx, which
has stood on the bank's of the Nile since
the shadowy days of the Pharoahs,
cannot long resist the crumbling oc
casioned by modern conditions in
Egypt.
Since the British have been iu con
trol in Egypt they have altogether
changed the face of the country. Land
that was once desert is now smiling
with verdure. Irrigation has reclaimed
thousands of acres, and the great dam
at Assouan will result in a marvelous
increase in the size of the region under
cultivation.
All this has resulted in so modify
ing the atmosphere of the country that
the dry air, which alloAved the preser
vation of the Sphinx no longer exists.
Every one knows that the preserA'atiou
of the monoliths in London and NeAV
York, hoAvever carefully they bo
watched, cannot be continued indent
nitely, and it is said that' the same
trouble which caused so much discus
sion here in regard to Cleopatra's
Needle is threatened in the case of
the famous figure that has inspired so
many poems and pictures.
The Sphinx was built before the
Great Pyramid, somewhere about 4000
years before Christ. It is a recumbent
man-headed lion, 188 feet long, hewn
out of a natural eminence in the solid
rock, some defects of which are sup
plied by a partial stone casing. There
is a temple in front of it, but all ef
forts to prevent the sand settling over
the building have failed.
In front of the breast of the Sphinx
originally appeared an image of a god,
the weather-Avorn remains of Avhich
may still be made out. The head of
the Sphinx Avas a Avork of art of the
highest type known to the Egyptians,
and finished Avith the greatest care. It
is noAA' greatly mutilated, but, in spite
of all its injuries, its calm, majestic,
pensiA'e expression still appeals to the
most thoughtless of travelers.
Perhaps means may be found to
avert the threatened ruin of this noble
figure, but the battle betAveen modern
conditions and ancient monuments is
one that usually results in only one
Avay. NeAAr York Times.
Domestic Superstitions.
If you sing Avhile making bread, you
Avill cry before it is eaten.
If your apron becomes untied, some
one is speaking of j-ou.
To sit on a chair Avhile it is being
dusted is a sign of money coming.
If a child Avhirls a chair about, it is
a sign he will receive a Avhipping.
When a rocking chair moves about
while "you are rocking, you are going
to have a caller.
When making a bed, if you chance
to forget one of, the sheets you will
hear of a Avcdding in !css than a
week.
Do not twirl a chair on one leg. You
are turning your friends from you.
To walk a chair on its legs, instead
of carrying it, signifies the injury of
a near friend or relative.
For a cliir to creak Avhen you sit
down on it is a sure sign of an acci
dent. If furniture falls off a load avIicu
moving, expect sickness. New York
News.
Permission to Cry.
A young woman who went to a AA'om
an at the head of a large philanthropic
institution on behalf of an unfortunate
person .was unsuccessful in her ef
forts. The head of the institution, a
corpulent, Tvheezy person, said: "No,
no; I can't consent to do that. It is
outside my line, and I don't approve
of it." Seeing the crestfallen air of
the applicant she added: "But you're
a nice girl, and any time you want to
have a good cry you just come right
here; you'll be welcome, my dear."
"Thank you; that's a kind of hospital
ity I rarely meet with," replied the
young woaian. The billowy person
beamed complacently. The touch of
satire was utterly lost on her. New
York Press.
Women may be lacking in logic, but
they make up for it in instinct.
THAT FLy
In fluent speech vociferous
You objurgate that fly; .
You style him most pestiferous-1- ?
And still he hovers, nigh, -v '
With maddeninpertinacity
He lingers near your face,
' With confident audacity .
Settles ever in one place.
Ills appetite's insatiate;
Upon your cheek he's glued;
Apparently he never ate
Of such ambrosial food.
You strike at him in frenzied ire
With well-djrected aim
Whizz! he's oft like a house afire, .
But he comes back just the 6ame.
Yrour futile rage, oh, angry man,
You'd better far resign
And give, with all the grace you can.
The fly a chance to dine.
A noisy buzz oC victory,
And lo, he speeds away, "
To come again in elfin glee '
' And feast another day!' -Eugene
Rose, in the New Yrk Sun.
a e s
. .' '; 1 -' r
"So Guy boy has. recovered.' "Yes.
The lucky fellow Va's t6o" ptfor to be
operated on.' Life. " -
A Sheffield bootmalief displays this
notice, in his window:..; "Don'yp wish
you were in my shoes?'' Tjt-Blts.
Fnnniness "Ypit , say ;th.. evening
wore 011.' Wat did' it' AVea'r?" 'Smart
Why, -the close of dayf of course."
.University fit Minnespctyf P.u.n,ch;BowL
'"Loye me.litfte; Jovelme loHg,"r
Was the 'burden of Fiis "song, ;
: 'And the!maW4imadtdcCtorCL. "
'".How about Avhen.you.are short?"
' - Philadelphia Beeord. '
Uncle George " fllnrry', '.I suppose
you keep-a cash ..qeexmnt?" ,; Ilarry
"No, Uncle George,, I .haven't, got so
far as that, but I keep' ah expense ac
count." Postbn Transer4pt'Vit'
' An' that's jes't'wftV'in'-'hoiiw' go
. Atlanta Constitution. -
It Hvas at a ' i'aslrtoinb'Wijrarding
house, and they. ha(laies' drains for
lunch. She ..sjio.ke. to: Abe genilemaa
next to lier ','And. do..you like, calves'
brains, ilr.' pbuioVr. 'Valway try to
feel content wifirwlra'i; -I ha'c;'fcadam.,
Tit-Bits. .?.V. . v',.5
Mrs. Stubb-i"Xiiis is. sstraji&Q, John.
I thought the people on this block
Avcre immensely Avealthy, and now I
find them sitting 'around in -patched
clothing." ' Hiv Stnbb 'iTkatls noth
ing, Maria; they are expecting. JLbe tax
assessor." Chicago News.
"So he got out rrn .injunction against
your company," avo say pityingly;
"why didn't you forestall him by get
ting an injunction to prevent the issu
ance of liis injunction V" "I couldn't;
you see he was slick enough to get out
an injunction against iny getting out
an injunction against bis injunction!"
Baltimore Herald.
"You must abandon ' nil business
cares for the future," fays the' physi
cian. "But I fear that I have not yet
accumulated sufficient money," pro
tests the'multi-millioaire. "Sutficient?"
repeats the doctor. "Why, my dear
sir, you lutA-e enough money , ta pay
physicians' fees for the rest of your
life:" Balitmore American.
"There is as muchnourisnment in one
banana," declares 'the amateur scien
tist, "as there is in one pound of beef.
This being so, I do not see why the
people do not eat more bananas."
"They will," asserts the magnate.
"They will, as soon as some one cor
ners bananas and figures out some
way to make 100 per cent, profit on
each one." Baltimore American.
Indisputable.
On the-lsacks of a rivulet near Stra
bane is a stone with this 'singular in
scription, which wis no dpfet Intended!
for the informatfqn of strangers travel
ing by the road: " "Take notiee, that
Avhen this stone is out. ut slgjit it ia
not safe to ford, the river." JTbis re
calls the famous finger post which is
said to have been erected by jprder of
a surveyor of roads in Kent: 'This is
a bridle-path to Faversnam." If you
can't read this, you had better keep the
main road." London Graphic.
Instruction in the art of reading rail
way time tables is now being given to.
his pupils by a schoolmaster In Silesia.
An' lots o p?ace;jve borsQw;
It's hartpin-ess Jest' not ftSfMloAV
i W hat s cominl ouatt