,C -J iLt $i.oo a Year, In Advance. " FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR TRUTH." Sinjrle Copy, 5 Cents. VOL. XTV. PLYMOUTH, N. 0.. FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 3, 1903. NO. 24. X J "SO RUNS THE Hmv the steady, steady tramp , Of the myriads of feet, IAs they patter on the dimp Stony pavement of the street, Just a constant patter, patter, And a never-ending clatter, IAs the people who are going and the peo ple who are coming meet; Hushing hither, rushing thither in the dust . and glare and heat, lbuhing here and rushing there, Chatins phantoms in the nir, lAre the worn and weary people who are tramping in the street. ' Hoar the gentle pit-a-pat ; Oi the little maid ot three; Underneath the Leghorn hat, Dimpled, rosy cheeks has she; "While a dozen little others, Little sisters, little brothers, Preeh as mosses over which are cooling waters running free, Pink and white and sweet as roses sweet as any bloom may be, Running hero and running there, Chrt'iig phantoms in the air, lAre the dozen little others and the little v nmu oi three. Jlear the steady step and slow, i .And the humming of a song, , As the lovers come and go i In the tumult of the throng; ; lAud a dozen little bubbles Float upon their seas of troubles. As the lovers with a method, their mcan- derings prolong, 'As the lovers' steps are mingled with the (rapid steps and strong. '.Still the lovers loiter there, Building castles in the air, IAs the lovers' steps are mingled with thft nnantoni cnasinz tnronor. .. oousie u. il onement $T2OJt HE hot, still day had dark- O B O mgnt wnen a young coupie 7 drew rein before the Half- jSiWOW way House. There was a Bound of revelry withfn when Norris irtrew back the door and led the way through the long hall, obstructed "by kegs and chairs, to the little back par lor where occasional lady travelers .were served with such fare as the place" afforded. The cloth on the table was Vlingy and creased; a fly-fan creaked rustily In Its slow revolutions, and a fat pink moth beat against the chimney 'of the oil lamp and finally dropped into he flame' , with a -.sizzle: of burning grease that took away the remnant of Eloiior's waning "appetite. She leaned .Shack in her chair to listen to the music f piano and violin, which kept well ahead of the shunting feet scraping to and I'ro in the dance hall. Sounds oddly familiar," she mur mured. "Kastern airs usually circle out here Sn the course of two or three years," Xorris remarked, uncorking the fizzing god;:. "They sound wonderfully sweet 'way out here, even the dullest of them," the girl answered, with a hint of longing.. "Oh, come, Elenor, you're never get ting homesick at this late hour!" Xor ris laughed. Hut something in his voice made- her look searehingly at his stu diously averted face. ! "You have something to tell me, Xor ris,'' she said, suddenly leaning forward and touching his hand. "Why, as a matter of fact, I have," he answered placidly. "But first drink your coffee. You look tired out." "Something that will hurt me?" she persisted. "Well, not personally. I hope. Drink jour coffee, please, then I'll tell you." She drained the bitter, lukewarm draught submissively, then pushed aside her plate, and folding both hands over the edge of the table, leaned to ward him expectantly. "Well," he began, "there was an ac cident here lr.st night. A man got in a ro- with a Mexican puncher, who ' 'knifed him pretty badly. Seems that the wounded man is from the East. I fcaud that he knew some people we know, among theni Jack Grandls." 1 "Yes. Go on. Something about Jack, isn't it?" "Well, yes. He did speak of Jack's hard luck. Elenor, does- that man still jstaml in my light?" A curious change came over her face, a look which Norris, who thought he knew her every emotion, had never Keen there before. "Does he, Elenor?" he persisted, qui etly, but doggedly. "No, Norris, thank God, no!" she an swered in a voice that hurt him cruelly. "He is only the shadow of the man that once stood in your light." "Yet you once loved him more than .you care for me?" I At bniES5BHQESE WORLD AWAY." Hear the rapid steps and strong, ' Hear the steps of widest scope, Which to earnest men belong; Thrilled by fear and thrilled by hope; In the maelstrom ever busy; Whirling, twirling, growing dizzy, Like the seaman in the whirlpool, clinging to the knotted rope; Jostling, jeering, fighting fearing neither sinner nor the Pope. Fighting here and righting there, Chasing phantoms in the air; Some are winning, others losing losing everything but hope. Hear the step that falters by, Hear the clanking of the cane; Feeble steps and feeble eye, ; ' Weary heart and weary brain; But the all-propelling passion In this throng and din of fashion Keeps the weakened form a-grasping for the things he cannot gain, Keeps the weakened muscles rigid, while his hopes are being slain. And he totters here and there, Chasing phantoms in the air. And he chases fleeing phantoms chasing phantoms with his cane. Hear the steps of old and young, Hear the steps of grave and gay, Firm and feeble steps among Others in the passion play. Here and there are bands a-playing, Hither, thither, footsteps straying; All is toil and all is tumult, disappointment holds the sway; Some aie winning, some are losing jnst so runs the world away. All are rushing here and there, Chasing phantoms in the air; And we say, and say it truly "Just so runs the world awav." iddle, in Birmingham (Ala.) Age-Herald. Helen F. Huntington.' "Yes I loved him even more than I love you, and he slighted and wounded my love " She paused and searched his eyes, which were very gentle and also very grave. "Norris, you know a lot about life, but you'll never in the world believe what that awakening cost me!" There were tears in her voice, but her eyes were hard and bright vs polished stone. "But that is all past and done with now?" "Forever. What have you to tell me about Jack?" "He is here in this house, hurt. Strange to say, he recognized me at once last night. He asked for you, and that la why I brought you here; because it seemed heartless to deny a dying man." For the space of ten long heart-beats she looked speechlessly into his eyes, her face paling and reddening in wave like succession. "He is not dying surely!" She whis pered so low that it was impossible to hear her voice, but the thought was clearly written In her eyes. "They are afraid so. In any other case I should not have brought you here. I think I had better prepare him for your presence while you wait here." But she Avould not be left alone. They met the surgeon at the door of the sick-room. "He is still under the influence of morphia," he informed them briefly. "I'll leave his door ajar. When he wakes you can go In." Norris stepped softly within the bare little lean-to where the yellow candle flame diffused a pallid glow on the face of the man who had once stood in his light. It was a very j-oung face and singularly' handsome in spite of its deathly pallor and Its deep shadows of pain and weariness. Norris knew his rival's history intimately his reckless good-fellowship, the Intemperance and weaknesses which had made him un worthy of Elenor's love. Even then, in the presence of death, it hurt him to know that she had once loved him ab solutely. The sleeper felt the presence beside him, but he did not open his eyes until Norris had returned to Elenor, still leaving the door ajar, so that he heard her question and the man's answer.- "Will -he live long?" asked Elenor. "Not longer than to-night," Norris told her cauily yet not without honest regret. "Norris. if he should die not knowing that I still cared enough to come to him at this hour it would hurt me as long as I live." "Would it, Elenor?" Norris asked tonelessly. "Ah, the pity of it! You still care, even knowing him to be un worthy, knowing that he never cared enough to keep himself from unclean uess for your sake." "Don't, Norris!" she implored, In a voice that brought a rush of tears to the wounded man's eyes. For a few seconds there 'was no sound to be heard, then the silence was broken by a woman's sob and a man's contrite plea for forgiveness. "It hurts mo to know that you still care," said the low, pained voice of Norris. "No, no, Norris, j-ou mistake," she protested piteously. "I don't care in that way. But now that he is dying I cannot forget all that he has been to me." "I understand. You want him to know to comfort his last hour. Elenor, if I were dying, one word of love from you would save me. It would bring me back from the dead!" To Jack, listening hungrily, her love had never seemed so sweet. It seemed now that nothing in the world could recompense him for the loss of that lov which he had so recklessly squan dered with the blind prodigality of in consequent youth. Yet honor was not dead . within him. All the heroism prisoner under the dress of worldliness and self-indulgence rose up to strengthen his silent vow of atonement, the resolve to yield to that other man tlie love which was his by right of worth. Presently Elenor heard a slight move ment in the sickroom, and went quickly to the door. Norris followed her quiet ly and took his place beside her while she leaned over the bed to look at the pallid face which revived the memory of a love that needed but an awaken ing touch to set it free. Suddenly Elenor stooped and taking his face be tween her hands kissed his lips. A great sweetness came Into Jack's face, a peace and radiance unspeakable, which reflected itself in Elenor's tsar less eyes. Norris squared his shoulders against the "wall and looked down at them silently, unseeingly, for it seemed to" him that tangible things had sud denly slipped away from him, leaving him at the brink of nothingness, with those two looking down at him from the brink of some far-off haven of bliss. At last Jack's voice, brought him back to life with a start of ago nized recollection. "I wanted so much to see you," he was saying, very slowly and earnestly, "We were such good friends in the old days, weren't we, Elenor? I want to ask a service of you, something that I would not trust to any one else. Will you write a letter for me before I die to the woman I love?" Elenor's head lifted, and her face grew whiter than before, but the look of tenderness did not fade from her eyes. "Yes, Jack," she answered brave--, ly, with an uugovernorable tremor of her low voice. "If I die, I want her to know what she has been to me. I was never quite sure about her until lately. Tell her how it is with me. They say there is always hope to the very last, and if I live " "If you live!" Elenor repeated in a strange voice. . "Jack, shall I ask her to come to you?" "No. She is not free to come." , "Married?" Elenor whispered. Jack nodded. "But I know that she once loved me. Tell her that if I live, the memory of her love will help me to become the man she once believed me to be and that it will keep me strong and pure as long as I live." There was a long silence, then Elenor rose from the seat she had taken beside him, and at the same time the surgeon returned. He put his hand on Jack s wrist and smiled. "Good!" he approved. You're doing well. Ticked up tremendously during the last half hour. Nothing much to worry about now but the loss of blood. I think, by the way, that these young people had better leave you for the present, because I want you to put in the next twenty-four hours in a straight sleep." Elenor paused outside the door and turned to look at Norris. "He didn't give me her address," she murmured. 'Never mind about that," said he buoyantly. "Jack will live to write his own letter." 'Norris," she began in a voice that trembled slightly. "Everything has turned out so much better than we could have arranged it. I am glad for his sake that the other woman exists." 'And for mine," Norris put in im pulsively. Suddenly she smiled, this time with out bitterness or pain, and put her hands on his shoulders. "Norris," she said, "you are the dearest fellow in the world." New York Times. Few men undervalue themselves, es pecially when they are suing for dam ages. The sweetness of revenge is often only sugar-coated. The Power ot flot ara I Streams of water are often obliter ated by walls of lava 100 feet thick, and sometimes inland mountain lakes are almost immediately formed by blocking up the water in this way. Walls of hot lava have melted down rocks and small peaks that have stood in their way. They have also pre served almost intact ordinary articles and converted other things into totally different substances. When the lava stream overwhelmed the town of Terre del Greco in 1704 the glass panes of the windows in the houses were turned into transparent stony substances, while articles of brass, copper, silver and iron were completely rearranged in their structural formation and actu ally sublimed and refined of all base metals. Sometimes torrents of water and mud pour forth from the volcanoes instead of molten rock or lava, and ar ticles in nature are preserved in these streams better than in the lava beds. The streams of mud lava are generally quicker in their movements than the heavier mass of molten rocks, and they work destruction of an appalling na ture, but they cover the country with a substance which makes plant life thrive Instead of turning the land into a barren, rocky waste. A torrent of mud lava poured forth from Vesuvius in 1G22 and overwhelmed the villages of Ottajano and Massa, burying houses and inhabitants in its quick flood. On the surface of this stream of mud veg etation quickly sprang up and flour ished and. the site of the villages was soon a scene of rich vegetable life. Sev eral of the volcanoes in Java pour down streams of mud lava at periodic intervals, and In the Andes there are several volcanoes which inundate the country with the same kind of mate rial. New York Times. The Housefly Short Lived. ' The housefly and blue bottle fly, the bane of the housekeeper, are short lived at best. The excitement of es caping extermination, and rearing their young rounds but an existence of twenty-four hours. Nature, in appreciation of their short career, has provided them with compound eyes, which see about on all sides, a marvelously acute scent and a facility of flight which is the aggravation of him who dozes at noonday and who tries to catch that one fly. When autumn comes the death knell of millions of flies has sounded. They make no preparation for winter. The majority die, and their insignificaut bodies are blown away by the passing breeze. A few hardy survivors linger in cracks in the walls, creep under the door frames or in crev ices in the woodwork. It is probable that eggs are laid, larvae hatched; and other flies creep from the metamor phosed maggots during the winter. But some naturalists assert that-the few lingering flies are the parents of the multitude that appear in the warm days of June. The eggs they lay are numberless. Prophetic of L.og8 of America. At the coronation of George III. the Dukes of Normandy and Aquitabic (the last relic of English dominion in France) appeared for the last time. The largest jewel in the crown is said to have fallen out during the ceremony, which is believed to have foretold the loss of America. When the pious King was about to receive the holy com munion he took off his crown, a cus tom which has been followed by later sovereigns, and now appears in the rubric. Something: New in ndless Chain. The latest form of the endless chain Is that devised by a contributor to the English newspapers who incloses with his articles a polite letter and two dozen stamps. If the article is found to be unsuitable he wishes the editor to use one of the stamps in forwarding it, with the letter and remaining stamps, to the next on a list of twenty four other editors, who is requested to do the same, and so on until stamps and editors are equally exhausted. Beginning: and End. -- 'A certain gilded youth, seriously smitten by the charm and grace of a demure-looking country damsel, ven tured to remark: "How I wish you would give me that ring upon your finger. It exactly resembles my love for you it has no ena." "Excuse me, sir," replied the fair one, "I think I will keep it, for it is also emblematic of my love for you it has no begin ning.' The manufacture of artificial rubies, which in appearance are as good as the natural stones, is now a fact. FEARED CliY WAd UiotKOYED. Natural Alarm of New Yorkers Resid ing in Mexico. From Mexico City there comes in a private letter this story of how the rumor became current there in April of the destruction of. New York: "On the afternoon of the 3d inst. there was a rumor here of a terrible earthquake and cyclone in New York. Everybody talked about it, and each one had a ' worse tale to tell; half New York was destroyed, with 1,000,- 000 people. Think of my anxiety! I was afraid to telegraph. At last I made up my mind to do so, but when 1 reached the cable office they showed me a telegram just received in reply i to an inquiry, which read: 'Not a word of truth in it.' I was greatly re lieved. It seems that two Spaniards who live here and who had been on a visit to Europe returned to New York that day. They are known among their friends here as 'Earthquake' and 'Cyclone,' and are besides great eaters. One of their friends in New York tele graphed to a friend here: " 'Earthquake and Cyclone arrived; have swallowed up half New York.' t "This was the cause of the whole thing." FICKLENESS OF AMERICANS. Fads Less Furious and More Lasting With the English. "It may sound trite and perhaps un pleasing for an Englishman to say that you Americans are peculiar in a good many respects, but I am com pelled to express that conviction, all the same," said a Liverpool manufac turer who was in Washington a short time ago. "When I was in this coun try the last time, about eight years ago, the bicycle was an amazing craze over here. One could hardly get along the streets for the wheels. Women as well as men were riding the bicycle all over America, andjbe newspapers were filled with bicycle jokes. Washington, particularly, as I remember, was tremendously taken up with the bicycle, and there were scores of bicycle establishments all over the city. Now, on this visit, I find that the bicycle has all but dis appeared from the United States, so far as riding for pleasure is concern ed. Men are still using the wheel strictly for business purposes, but riding for pleasure has gone alto gether out of date, and it is positively rare to see a woman on a wheel. And that's why I can't rerrain from ex pressing the opinion that Americans are peculiar in their" enthusiasms. They took the bicycle up, made a posi tive craze of it for a few years, and then dropped it like the proverbial hot potato. We didn't take the bi cycle up so quickly in England as you did here, but the machine is still in great vogue all over England and the continent, and there are more rider9 taking up the roads all the time. The women cling to the pleasures of the wheel tenaciously on the other side, and, in general, the thing is not a fad over there, but a settled and permanent thing. "It is the same with roller skating. I can remember years ago when roller skating was a prodigious fad over here. There were rinks in every city in the country, and young and old took a try at the thing. Then, all of a sudden, the craze disappeared, and the roller skating rinks were closed up almost as suddenly as most of them were opened. Now the roller skating business was never a dis tinct craze on the other side, but there have always been roller-skating rinks going since the skates we.r invented, and plenty of them are still in exist ence in England and on the continent. There are tens of thousands of peo ple over there who en jay the exer cise, and probably thr roller-skating rinks will go on indefinitely. "It is for these reasons that I haven't much confidence in the con tinuation of the automobile fad in the States. I believe that the Americans will become tired of the horseless carriages aftr a while, just as they did of the bicycle. "When the ma chines gradually become within the reach of the most moderate purses, I am afraid that the bubble will col--lapse. The Americans are unequal led for taking up new things and drop ping them again. In all other re spects wholly admirable. I can't help believing that the Americans are in many respects more mercurial than the French, and more prone to tire quickly of a fad than any other na tion on earth." Washington Post.

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