Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / May 10, 1908, edition 2 / Page 2
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.CHARLOTTE DAILY OBSERVER, MAY 10, 1DC3. BY IDA ; CXIFTOX. HIXSHA W. Once upn a time aa th good old fashioned - story txok always - say and' It has not ' been so very .jnaay year ago, there lived, In one of thoae great, wonderfur cities ot the West, ' which spring ap aa if by magic, and row at a giant' atrides, a most wtn- some girl, whoe perfect magnetic beautr created as much atir wherever , she went aa if a real and trniy-prln- ' ss had arrived MilUcent McMatn Her father. Jacob McMath. ' had gona to Missouri in 'If n one of the many , boat-shaped white covered ' ' waaons that crawled. .-: snake-like, . across the. vast prairies from one of - our-Southern States, but a year later he went on to California. HIa mode . of travel In those days was quite un- , like that of later years, when In nm i own oerfectlv. luxuriously appointed nrlvatA car. he traveled over one of ' the. finest railroad systems of the world, and of which he was presi dent Many hard strenuous years of grind ing toll, and poverty of an undiluted kind, lay back in his past, before he had "struck it rich." He was reput - ed to fbe "close ftrted" In a deal, but generosity Itself to those in trouble. . He waa an observant man, and a forceful, magnetic speaker. His per sonality made itself felt, no matter how distlnrulshed or learned the gathering. He was, as w use tha ex itrassion nowadays, relative .to a man .niia-bred. a JiselX-made" man And in the making, the maker had assimilated much of the refinement and wisdom of others, without .their , ' foibles. He exacted and gave In re tarn a scrupulous honesty from his uw men. Slow to anger, he was -low to relent. In 154. he met at a friend's an ambitious young woman, extremely pretty, whom he fell In t -with "at first sight." But the young and talented school teacher; whose father had come West from Louisiana, had many suitors. But, believing In the old adage "faint heart na'er -won fair lady," he won by his nndannted nersistence. the heart of thla dark-eyed Southerner. And to ' her self denial, tact and undaunted courage much of the great fortune he amassed, was due. Wnen baa juck mim and mora bad luck, she ' ac knowledged no defeat. Socially ambi tion shs lived to see the day when her reign, as queen socially. In one of our largest cities was undisputed. ; Tt waa when little MlUieent was ' hot four years of age, the tide turned la their fortune, and brought a hlgh ... water mark of wealth from the "Risky Jane" mine, which he had wished to abandon. Ibut which his , wife persuaded him not to sell. The child when a little older was . not sent to school, but had private tutors In many languages. 6he was also taught fencing, dancing and horse back riding. A trained nurse watched carefully over her hea'th, -.- and Mrs. Cale, an educated, com ' petent Englishwoman was her nurse, and constant attendant. . As a child, her rooms were beauti ful. As a young girl they were more than beautiful, but as a young wo man who was soon to make her debut, the prospective heiress to the Mc Math millions, they were really mar velously, exquisitely wonderful. It bad taken months to makv the mellowed toned rugs, which artists of not had designed. Some of the pic tures represented years of toll, to some well known genius, and fabu Krus prices paid. The daintily cano pled bed, with Its gorgeous work manship, had once pillowed the beau tiful head of one of France's unhap py, but brilliant, princesses Off a by gone eentnry. And the gold articles on her dresser were set with tiny diamonds, and priceless pearls with her mono, gram. . Her gowns were dreams of loveliness, made 4y modistes of note, In many countries. Th lace for some of these gowns took months to com plete woven Into the marveloualy beautiful designs, with Its Intricate webb-llk tracery, then th. pattern was destroyed. She walked with a rare grace and talked with a charm as great. There waa that. In the poise of the small bit hpeiy head that gave her a cer tain distinction, such as those who by centuries of undisputed authority and power, hav given to royalty an Inherited dignity. From her mother, ah had Inherited unlimited tact, and from her father, a keen sense of hu mor. Added to thes admirable traits, wld travel and a kindly heart, made her not only socially a success, but cnarvelously so. Sh was beautiful, too. The paper always called her "Th beautiful Miss MoMath" with a beauty that on did not soon forget. Picture a slender girl with complexion of rose-Ilk tint and transparency. With full warmly ted, adorably tender lips, which smiled wlnsomely at one, or compassionately curved in sympathy. Her hair was brown, with a golden tint In It waves, as If th sunshine lingered In It loath to go glorious, wonderful hair,' that gleamed and glistened with a marvelous burnished light! But It waa to her eyes that men mad goems and quoted beauti ful verse that artist raved over, and that made men lose their heart a They wer beautiful eyes, of a lumin ous grayish blue. Her straight b'uck brows, and long Intensely black lashes mad them appear like velvet. When excited, they grew wondroualy dark. . Three quickly speeding years mark ed th night of tin- sine Milllcnt's brilliant debut, which event had In terested two nations. Many were the aoltors who cam from far and near to meet the, charming young beauty. There wer foreign statesmen, diplo mats, rich and handsome young JMn-ntmi wun a 'Ong line Of rlean- jrencn count, an Italian nobleman, with an unpronounceable name, men . old enough to be her grandfather, fell madly, desperately in lore with her. At last a rich and dashing young , Brazilian, whom she met when travel- . ing in South America, seemed, so aaid th newspaper, to find some favor in her eve He had been Governor of one of th Brazilian State. And It : was said of him that he was tbs most accomplished Ifngutst In 'any of the official circle of that country. He was exceedingly handsome, and , hla Veen, practical us)nes ability that had brought him jet a comparative ly young roan so large a fortune, ap pealed to Jacob McMath more than tha fortune Itself. ' The papers said they are most wlse that Mr. McMath approved of hls21a ug filer bcom ing th wife of th Honorable . PeQraca Carva'ho Rodrigue. t The invitations were out for a mag nincent. dinner, the McMath senler, wer "t give.- Never- had so many flowers be-n ordered, and It was ru mored that on th night of April the 2Cth. when the dinner was to be glv- of DsMgM en, the engagement of MlUieent to the brilliant vpung foreigner' was'- to be announcefT.4 The public waa intensely. absorbingly interested in this clear eyed, -winsome - girl,, .; unpolld. v by adulation and money. , The afternoon of the ZSth came. and with it, the astounding news that electrified the reading public ana tne friends of the (beautiful Miss McMath that she baft early that morning married her father's private secre tary, Mr. Raymond Bray, a man of gentle birth, much culture, and poor as the proverbial "church mouse," as compared with his bride. They had sailed for England later in the morn Ing, accompanied by Mrs. Cale. - .Jo a reporter at the steamer, who In some way known only to report' ers found out of the marriage and who requested an Interview, aha had replied that she had none for him. but simply stated that "for years she naa lovea atr, urmy, out inai ner father did not think the match bril llant enough. She had married for love, the greatest thing on earth." That waa alL - For love she bad then relinquished exalted position, fortune -all for love, as the quaint old song of the beautiful long ago has it, la the Gateway of Delight!" So that beautiful spring morning she sailed to a new far-away home. leaving a palace, a father angered beyond belief, who would be slow to relentTand a mother"" who"alded ' with her daughter, but whosa husband for bade her even as much as writ her. Personally he liked Mr. Bray. ' He admired him. But also hs had plan ned this other marriage,, which was to unite the ancient and brilliant Rod rigues family- with Its illustrious name, and marvelous fortune, - with the newer and equally as wealthy McMath family of the new world. And th years crept on, as the years have a way of doing, and' seven passed slowly by to the lonely ' old man, for deep down In his . heart, Jacob MCMatn wanted nis aaugmer. And, at the beginning of the seventh year, Mrs. McMath died quietly one sunny morning, and he was entirely alone. Alone pitifully alone! CHAPTER II. In a large Southern city It had been sullenly raining for two days. But. as if ashamed of this outburst of temper, capricious April suddenly burst forth into one of her rare smiles. The tender green grass shimmered like the rays of a costly diamond, with April's tears in th radiance of tho sun. The birds sang Jubilantly. In the little old-faahloned square about the city's most ancient and most beautiful church. Trinity, the crocuses starred with gold the green grass. The tall mac Dusnes snowed tinges of lavender, and th tulips saucllv nodded, whil th "Star of Bethlehem" aamed whltely from th emerald sheen of grass. On this same street, which was one of the city's most fashionable. Just three blocks away, straight to tho north, were several of th city's hand somest residences. Neated between two Of the most Im nosing was a tiny brown cottage, like a. wee. homely brown sparrow. In the t'mldst of birds of paradise. Th house had been used as a gathering place a kind of club for the artists of the city until a month previous, when they had been notified that the widow of the young owner, an Englishman, was coming to take poaiesslon And she had arrived, a girlish young widow, with a marvelous beauty of face and carriage, and a voice of rare charm. And, since she had . become soloist at Trinity, there was not a seat unoccupied. In this llttl cottage, that change able April morning, a wee maid of five, was having her golden locks curled by a motherly old woman, who happened to be Mrs. Cale, who had sailed eight years before with the lit tle maid's mother, Mrs. Bray, and whom as Mllllcent McMath sh had nursed as a child. "Nursle," as Marjorle called Mrs. Cale, had been telling her a most won derful fairy story. In it was a delight fill little princess, who had th dls tressing habit of running away. She was always looking for the fairies that live in th flowers In the woods. But one day, she was found by a Merc looking old ogre, with an awful tem per, and but one tooth. But, If his temper was crooked, his heart was all right. He and the little Princess be came very good friends. He had never naa any one to love him before. He carried the Iktl Princes back horn and th King wanted to give, him a nanasome gift, but all he asked, waa that she. should come to see him some time. It was quite a long story. I nave lert out some and very thrill Ing, but even "on tooth ogres" can ' quue oiveri one's mind wnen a snarl is reached, in golden curls. So jvursie round out. And. diplomat that sne waa h changed her tactics. "B still, darling," sh crned, "and If th sun comes out. you mar so with mother when she goea to practice her beautiful ong for Sunday. And you can sit In th llttl square, and hear tne birds sing, and see all th beau tiful flowers." "Really Nursle," sh exclaimed de lightedly, her reat dark eyes shining with excitement. "H'pect Ml see the or with on tooth. I wonder If I win o scared," she added mualna-lv. At last her hair was nronerlv curl. ed and getting "Lady Ruth." her big uoii. sn ciaspea ner closely, as she went out to see If "th sun had come out. ;- t-: i ns mile. Charge gone, th nurse busied herself, about straightening the tiny bad room. Sh had lust finished her task, and gone Into an adjoining room, i nn tna aoor opened to admit a slender woman In black Mllllcent iicuajn nray,-wh herself on th couch drawn ud In front I tne open nr place, where earlier Ini . . m l ui a ay a wood nr had given of Its warmth and cheer, tint now waa a bed or ashes. That phrase, "Ashes of roses,", kept recurring to her. Like roses In their sweetness, had been her life, simply lived in th little English village wher her husband wrot for the magazine fnd taught La (In In a boys school there. Occasionally they would go up to London for some new play, or to hear some good music. Her English friends and she bad many oeggea ner to com to their rnsmifl cent country homes, as sh did before her .marriage,, or to even nend a "week end" In London with them, but she was far too proud to accept their noepitaiiiy. ana not able to return It In Uk manner. Pew tourists had com tft tha llttl vtJla wher aha uvea, ror there was nothing of especi al Interest to make them include it U their Itinerary, and so sh had got ten t see but few horn friends. But on day she thought of it this" morn ing It had been la April, sh had gone up to London to do some shop ping, ana coming oat on of th shop. ah had espied Judge Gray, on of th dearest friends of -her mother and fatn er. "Uncle Dick.7 she pad always called the fatherly old bachelor, and! she had screamed his name out loudlv that mornlnsr. that those about her had turned, and looked about in j. startled excitement, as It half fearing! accident,. . a-' - He had been amased.5 but delight- ad. when ah had spoken to him. and he had found out that It waa "ul unmeant- hv had walked on to kotM h.fnr. mln to tha steamer to sall home. Her father, kinll foold not allow her mother to talk of her, although h knew that la his heart he ws nuns! 7 w ... -unci vcw na ner moiner, viica taiaeaoi ner. naa aia ner mum- er was terythln. She had not been well for a long time. He had promised to go to ner motner as soon as ne landed and tell her that he had aeeni her MlUieent. That she was well and she had named her littler girl. Marjorle, after her. It comforted ner now to know that she had had this news her beautiful mother for ah , khew Judge Gray was a man of hi word. and that h had delivered ;th. ms - sage. , A month afterwards sh had read In the Bnglish edlUon of The Herald of her mother's sudden death. and. that aam day her husband was brought home, crushed In an accident. in which he had succeeded in saving a child's life, at th loss of his own. Rhm waa crvlna- now as if her heart! would break.. Mr. Cale from an ad - joining room nearu ner mm. dhoi . ... i. ci cam In and sat down on in age oi t ha. oouch--- fatherl" v. -rT writ hlmr Mr. Cale. Why not suacested. "He must D wneiy, smcei your mother went away." - reopie - . never died to Mrs. Cale. . They "went away" to a mor . beautiful, place, where there was absolute peac and J9y, ana ret-r tt, A . . ... . . "I couldn't," Mllllcent cried. TH has sent all my letters back un opened. H thinks I had planned all th time to elope, when you knew, Nursle, I went that morning into th lihrarv . to tell father I could not marry the Honorable De Oraca and that they must not announce our en- l gagement that night, because I didn't I i i i v. ra.MAn aiima in if asked him, what mad him so white he looked positively 111 ana men u told m he had loved m for years and he said father Bad set hla heart on this other marriage. H had been to him and told him of his lov for And then tbld him 1 naa never lnved inr one but him. Which you know was quit true, and w decided then and there to be married, and you went with ua No. Nursle, I want to see him more than any thing, but I couldn't write him. And. Nursle. I want to talk to 'you about something else. Our finances aren't any too great and I wish you would get you a place as nouse keeper. I can pay you so little, but honestly Marjorle and I couldn't very well live without you "out w win try." Mrs. Cale had been stroking the soft beautiful brown balr with strong, yet tender hands, until from sheer . ex- haustion the long lashes drooped over the tired eyes, and Mrs. McMatn sleeping, "Poor child!" Mrs. Cale said corn-, passionately, "she mlsst-s her people so," as she softly drew down the shades, and tiptoed out of the room. Much to Marjorle' intense delight, the sun hone brilliantly that after noon. She skipped merrily by her mother's side, a dainty little figure In white, with her sheer white hat of mull. . . , She listened gravely to the choir awhile. She loved music passionately, and eagerly she listened to her moth er's beautiful voice, a it soared bird- Ilk above all the others. Tnen sne slipped quietly out In the little square about th church, where sne. was in i the habit of playing. Acroea the street was a stately colonial mansion. 11 had a beautiful lawn that sloped down to the street's, edge, with a wilderness of flowers. 'But It was not the flowers which Interested Marjorle to-day, but an old gentleman stand ing at one of the second story win dows. He had snow whit hair; and he looked like like the ogre that nursle had told about. "S'posln' It waa him!" With a thrill of delight, not unmlngled with fear, she decided to run away and see If It was really. RhA started across the street, but paused In hesitancy, and retraced her tens to where a fat old woman aat sleepily In the warm sunshine. "fticui afternoon." Marjorle said, In her prettiest nr. J'" would you be kind fnough to deliver a message for me. one naa Bor rowed this phrase from Mr. Cale. "If a pretty, lady come out of the church, th vry prettiest you ever saw," she said Impressively "with black gown, with blue eyes that look gray (here the ft woman amlled, for It eemed funny to her. 'a black gown with blue eyes')" please tll her that her little daughter" haa gon across th street." . . "All right," the woman responded good humoredly. But somehow she did not seem to feel the responaiblllty of Jhe message, a Marjorl .would ha"Cros your '"heart !,r th little girl said with much solemnity. "Cross my heart." the woman af firmed. . Much relieved, Marjorl set out happily across the way. Sh loit ered a llttl in in now wtmra patha. "The flower were so lovely," sh remarked out loud. But deep down In her heart,. h knew It waa only an excuse lor not facing th 0"'' . . '.t.-t. 1 But Om Ot ner nioinw. vu. cam to her rescue, en aacenaea iot SteT. and standing on tlptoo pressed tha eleCtrtC Den. ner sunimuiia w answered by an imposing looking but ler In maroon livery. ; "1 the ogre at homer1 h polite ly asked. . - . "Th . I didn't quit understand Madame," h replied gravely, al though there was a merry twinkle tn his eyes. 5 - ' . Tha e-entleman with th whit pJtTr" fWwer--na-ada explanation to a servant so of course sh couldn't tell htm how cam her to know h wa th ogr. "Whom shall . I tell htm.wlahe to see him?" he asked deferentially. "Just -a llttl girl." Th Llttl Princes In tha story had no name. . "Perhap you wouldn't mind going up with me." h said; "h Is In his private sitting room. "I will go with you." sh answered I graciously as sh daintily ascended the richly carpeted stairs. . " Tha man knocked at the door. "Enter!: a shrill vole demanded. Th child trembled. There could be no mistake. On th other -side of I that door th ogr of Nursle's story, must surely bet. A young lady to set you." th I man announced and noiselessly with- I drew.. ' I ThretdTffiaftr-Unrtd vrar erect, t with black eye that seemed to plerc through - and through-: on, arose. "To e tne." h faltered, f It had been a long time sins a child had been to see him! There waa some thing indefinable, but strangely alike i In this child' expression to om on i b used to know In tn . Beautiful - 1 Long Ago. There was no beautiful i To-day for him. "who sent your he demanded sol brusquely. Ha waa rich "beyond the I oreama of avarice" Sinew fnmlnr ooom, many seemed to b aware of this fact. Another, begging letter ha wo.ona, she replied bravely la a !!?htc"dJ Zc JooW ' m 2." iS.??. ,a ?hurc" Mh u I?"."- . "other is , practicing over " 1 W" 1 giower- "OhJ n Indeed CepUn' ursI (told ma ihnm nnarhat a T l1a Princess got to be friends with, only jun m piaio - utile girl and mougnt maybe you'wera one, Tou n in a castle, you know. " X ara real glad you have teeth, though," she said with an air of relief. "I think you i "'s"i mvo. peen scary looking If you i naa but- on. Uk Nursle's - Sh called it "oge. tasked In a a-ratlfll tna v.- i u He,",w "urprlsing- himself, as "" " DI tne outier. who had lZ . .1 v". ""mething. When had h."hA tore1 I " MrT can't your h K?'Z'?i - : M - - hl, -V eat i hi? .k.i- n.rm' of i ?Lf haIr' an1v Li i?J??A 'rra ."hen sh mVt ba going ChV iTC . I m lost . a Sf; iP t.hln.k.1 fen hS'v&XftJS LTIZPVL" my heart.' she'd t.ii C t' would ba terrihfv tA tt ... i-.. 1 after that wouldn't it?" she said so i kjb rini.Bi.. . w . .. . ... : mat ne iouna -Himself smil- . ; . r -zxr -lks-that way-to Tne,Tj r wZJ!".J?rar' ow; I cPt nurlt since father went "Went awayiwher. ' tVZl surety no mm M'.u I . : mmi t . Kin part long irom a winsome child lik thla" - "To live with th angels" was the unexpected but reverent reply made so softly he had to stooD to catch 1 r ' ' IlW rv . I. - ..."Mo."W ! w hippy w i-l w " ism nr. We " " ""x:jr9 are sorry lots of mtrgiri"inrVMVwfu1 to one , arose, to ma. "T v.nn wu" P maa at me for thlnklne- von T'f. l na didn't, hav but WI course I didnt knowt Vour teeth and eye both." Ananic you. inAjirt r a uv ..... Jf0" ' mother whenever she comes ennren to let you com nd lt with a lonely old man." ' no beautiful - time," she 'u enooK hands .with hint " oodbye. and as sh left th room '- oaca. tuie naa told Tlm- to Bo on anead. The "old gentleman" had rung for - him to ... . - "f oun "dy across the TQ lo a'n' her some flow, ers. She turned back to wave her hand to the ' ogre." But her little heart contracted with a " sudden spasm of com passion, for he was '"f; v. uP-toed 'tly to him and kissed him gently, then hurried down the . 'broad stalrwuv. Simmon stood waiting with a "nose. 01 iiiipi or tne valley. He had been amaxed at his master's affablll- Jy1!IJu wa" to well trained to ex- hi bit any em ot on. WBrn Marjorle macheri the square ".found ' 'old woman at her i X, .r. one her. and uiviaea ner nowers w th h. r n -mother hud not yet come out of fh church. At last the organ's sonorous tones f!ulet- The beautiful voices lifted In , glorious tones of m.imi. i were hushed, . - i it was a very exciteii nit m wn. met ner motner. and told of her thrilling adventure, of the ogre, who turned out to be "Jut fine, and who iivna in a castle." ' CHAPTER HI. , ." ' For three day Mrs. Bray had been very in. The noted doctor wfcnm Mrs. Cale hod called In feared she was on the verge. ..of a. "nervous breakdown." She needed absolute rest and cnange, something to divert her mind from her recent grief, She seemed so listless one morning and so wan. ' Mra CaK became alatmed. . She had almost decided to teiegrapn : Mrs. Bray father, al- inougn en. was a proud old woman. and It was like gall to her spirit to ask for aid. but she then re membered to have seen In a Western paper that Mr. McMath was travel. ing, to te gone an indefinite time, By strict economy she could get on somehow for a month or no. Th rector and his wife had been most kind, but there was no on whom she knew well .enough to go to, She was sitting with her head bowed, losbln deep thought, ... mother, nursle r How's mother, nursle?" the little girl. Marjorle, asked anxiously. . "Tour mother Is very sick. You muaa ba a good little girl and not make any noise to-day." - Then, she added to herself. "If I only could find her father' If she only had money enough to. travel!" . Mrs. Cale arose and went Into the sick room. Th child., left to her self, fell to thinking. Her grand father she knew was lost somewhere, but this country ' was so big and strange. And they wer poor. She remembered when they h and her father used to go up to. London. She would hold tightly to his hand. There wa such a horrid stir and noise If sh only, knew some one to go to! - At last sh thought of "th ogre." Of course sh would go to him. She had never seen him but that one time, but had often thought of him and wondered If he had had a little girl who "went away" like father, be- eauaa ha nan rHad aa that Aav Kha rn har hat and out It nn Than -" ' mCZ.ua Za'"1Z -"- - " " ftiW A th door. "12." She wanted to add "Jefferson' avenue," but those words were bo long she could not spell thm . Now,. If she got - lost, some knd policeman, would tell.. her the way back. . Tightly clutching th : paper, sh ran hurriedly down the walk . and out to the street. Nursle said sh would not be out ofmothef!i..room . . - - - W,." 'j . . ' -.. I th street one went toward Trinity church?- She wondered vaguely. A fat. Jolly policeman wa passing. "Will you please start me right to Trinity church T" sh quaintly said. t "t thought the church mostly started folks right," he said. Jocu larly. Sh did not understand this pleasantry, but h hurried forth In th direction given by a wsv of hla hand, She ran so fast that sh was quite out of . breath - when , she . reached Trinity. Sh had come straight up th street . and crossed th little square. . ' . . . . - Just 'poln he wasn't there! What would she do? The' tears camo Into her eyes. Eh aat down for a moment on the top step of the broad step of th .veranda. . Just at that moment a carriage, drawn by two dashing grey," came around th house. In It waa th old gentleman. Ha gave an abrupt order to th coachman to stop. Why, hr' my little- girl!" he cried, aa he got out. "I thought you had frogotten the old ogr," whimsi cally ;, ' . . ; - . "But I haven t and mother I real sick, and I've run away, and com for you,; 'cans w don't know any body and w will hav to go quick, or nursle will be cared,' she said beseechingly. He looked at tho tear stained little face, and then, lifting her In the, carriage, aaked her wner must thy go?" Sh gav nim m paper with th "8 II" written In th round, childish numbers, and added, "Jefferson avenue; it Is this same street," she said. , ' Do you know," be said, as they started down tn avenue at a brisk pace, "you hav never told m your. name, urn ginr "I'm named, for . my beautiful grandma, who "went, away" when my lather., did Marjorle McMath ormj, . r .r , -. . Th . old gentleman rrew verv wnue. -Marjorle McMath BrayT" he gasped. 1s your mother named MJUicent7" He asked huskily. ,' , The Child replied in tha affirmative. frightened . at th whit face beside ner. . . : "Driva op. h commanded th coachman sharply. it ,Vaa his; only i capo line. . , . At th gate Mrs. Cale. who . had Just missed the child, Waa eagerly looking up and down the street She ran to the carriage and before if seemed hardly, to have stopped was nait smotnenng the child with kisses, oblivious to everything but .that sh was sale,. ,;:: .- - "Here' my nice ' old gentleman. nursle h will hein you." Marlorle saia.. men sne turned. "Mra Cale!" he cried. ". . - -. T Mr. ' HeMath!" aha . trmnA ' "Kut mere waa surprise, delight and re lief in the tone sh uttered his nam. "I want to so my daughter." he said. Is she very lllf- ! want to know whatvyou have don all 'these years, but not now; w can talk aiterwaro." He waa following her un th llttl walk as .he spokei. At .the front door n paused. ' , "The Brazilian .-. nobleman. ' tha Honorable Le Graca Canalho Rodrl guesj, proved to be a bad investment to the lady ; he married. after my aaugnter married Mr; Bray," he ald dryly. "Tou knew beUer than I bow to help her select e, husband." Mr. Cale ' softly opened the door. Mrs. Bray wa awake, but did not turn. Her gloriously golden brown crowned, head, waa pillowed - on her white arm. . Th soft -chirp of a bird outside th narrow windows was th only sound that marred the stillness. A" faint breexe ruffled the liarht curtains at the high, old-fashioned . windows, through which came In delicious sweetness. ,the elusive . subtle fra grance of the lilac. Mrs. Cale stepped aoftly back Into the hall. The old man hurried eager ly but quietly Into' the room. - t "My little girl!" he cried chokingly. At th old familiar words, the old familiar voice, Mr. .Bray turned. . -rmer: sne cried exultantly. It wa three hours later when the noted physician came. He marveled at the decided change for the bettor in nis patient.' Joy had worked a marvelouH transformation. Two weeks later the leading after noon paper stateH tliat. "much to th cltys Intttise regret, Mr. Jacob McMath, the well-known Western multi-millionaire, was leaving In his private car for his palatial home on the Pacific coast.' He had come South for his health, and was much benefited.".- lie, .had been- Joined so the tinper went on to suv here ly nw only daughter anrl irmn.i. daughter, who would accompany him home. But carelrswly the paper for. got to mention the. daughter's name. And the-jittle brown couage was Kaln for rent. And many ueonle Wondered where the beautiful young stranger had - gone to,- and many longed to hear ajraln that glorious voice lifted hlirh In wonderful son of pathetic socery. Only the rector and ' hla wife knew the btautlful slngerV romantic life, story and that or the second time she had entered tne . uateway of Delljtht." which is as tof a truth, the verification of the quaint old song's definition love. 'Love, love It la the Gateway of Delight!"- . V' (THE END). ;V For ithe'-Hostess l BY CHARLOTTc? K. IN ORAM. '' - " , A MUSICAL MEDLEY. ' The invitations wer written upon" small sheet of note-paper upon which had been sketched bars of music from some popular song. . '. On arrival th guests received pret ty note-books and pencils, though t he- programme or tne evening remained a mystery until th last guest had ap peared. - When the company Was complete a small table waa produced with a miscellaneous collection of ar ticks and th players Were asked to discover in each object a term used In musical literature. A letter-sheet enclosed in a small envelop stamped and, aaaresseo stooa tor -note;-' a yard-stick for "measure;" a little pitch tn a saucer ror pi ten;- a nan scale, "scale;" a door-key. "key," several pieces of different colored twine, chords:' a thick cane, "staff;" a knife with open blade, "aharp;" , the pot pourri-jar bespoke a "potpourri ;" th choir" was suggested In a quire of paper. ' , - Guesses at 'the hidden meanings were written by the players in their note-books, th answer being placed opposite th number of the object. A copy of a popular song waa awarded to th player who had th longest list of correct answers. The next feature of th programme wa th "symphony - game,' which consisted in seeing who could form In ten minutes th greatest number of words out of the letters .in "sym phony." At th end of th allotted time the lists wer examined and Compared by th hostess; th maker of th longest list received a natty mu- lo-rou in leatner. t Third in th eerie cam "musical physiognomy," Thla gam wa played with twenty-llv photographs or mag- axlne picture of th famous singers of to-day. Atl name on those- por traits wer. cut wy or pasted over JtnditheyjiaumbredJtqeyara It t 4 1 J T SI " aa maa a su a 3 T- s r writing down th nam of th mu sical artist represented. Th player who guessed, the most name correctly received a plaster east-of St Cecelia. This wa followed by a lively compe tition to determine who had, the most acute ear among th company. A member Of th family went to th pi ano and played half m doien bar from each of twelve musical compositions. The ranged from "qoon songs" to Wagner. Each tlm was divided from the other by a pause of two or thre minutes. During. this pause each on tried to recall th nam of th tune. The name wer written In th llttl note-book In th order In which they wer played. Th person guessing the greatest numoer waa given an inter esting book on th stories of Wagne rian opera. The guests received, a "fa vera" bon bons in box shaped Uk musical Instruments, . , When an engine beome overheat ed, whether from insufficient lubrica tion: or defecting circulation of tha water in th radiator. It should b cooled very gradually, wate being supplied to th Jackets In but limited quantltlea ' . ' '. : . ;-'' 1 ' ' T ' ' ' . - .,-' . .. - BY EDWARD A. TKESCOT. '-.' - -H,'r:-' Though : this lathe twentieth century,! wrth universal education and a sup Dosedtv enna-niened. age, on come irn almost daily contact wtth evidence of' witchcraft a . maa of superwtltiona, among both whit and colored.' rich and poor, that not 'only prompts but control) their action. Xef the aver age person ito-day, b they man or woman, high or low, whlta or color ed, if charged wtth superstition, would vehemently deny such a charga In deed. om of those who, after reading this article will scoff at It, will soon er or later, by om act. prove, th cor rectness o th foregoing statement that the average person la mor or leas superstitious, though - only too anxious to deny such to b th case. In this artlcl th - writer xprs no opinion ha ne desire to hke the ideals nor idols of anyone; to ridicule their superstitions or beUef r He ha simply collected th following materi al for a newspaper article, and tt may be added, that, there are hundreds of other instance pf a similar character which could b given. - . ;u r " . - ! - On of th most striking beliefs or su-Derstitlons. -m th use of a bundle of fodder in the finding of the body of -a nerson who has been drowned. In a largo1 majority of th instances wher such a method was resorted to. it will be round that It waa done y both -white and oolored. 'and by them, claimed to be effectual and thoroughly satisfactory. ' In the event of jthdeath .of.on. by ..drowning, a bundl of fodder Is taken soma dis tance up th stream wher the body Is supposed to have-lodged or sunk The fodder is then, thrown 4nto the water, and it course down the stream, watched with Intense interest. It is claimed, that as soon aa th bundl of fodder reaohea th placa wher the body is. It will stop In Its courae and romain, oniv turning in in curreni. The presence of the body in tne wat er immediately below where the fod-. der has toDPd. will b found. In this connection, the following incident was related to th writer by a highly respectable . white man and corrobo rated by thre other who wer pres ent at the time of the experiment. It appeared that a negro who worked on the speaker's place, waa also in charge of th ferry , at that point . There cam a flood and he was told by. his employer not to us the boat, but he did, and with the result that when the boat was onlts way across pi river, the wire breke. Th boat, with Its occupant was swept down th stream. The employer hunted everywhere along the stream for the body of th unfortunate negro, but failed to either see, or hear of him. The third day he watched some of the friends of the negro, both white and colored, throw bundle of fodder Into the water. Down the stream it drifted, followed ry many people along the bank. .Then It stopped near the middle of the stream and there turned around and around, as 'if in a whirl-pool. Some were satisfied, others not, and insist ed upon the throwing of. a bundl of oats into the stream. That was don and after floating down come distance. it "topped Just where the bundle of fodder had stopped. Still not content, some Insisted thqt an old pair of the neRTo'a pants toe , also thrown. Into the water. That waa don and the pants, floating with th current of the loanng wun in current oi inernllrht ,-- . ' 7 J. stopped where the bundl ofJnd naTr? I.T , tIrr,ftc wind, rain, and the bundl of. oats had was Z?mi Z, ?n Te ttnt ..The employer of the negro I " f'S01 ""Jj V'' stream fodder StODDed. then procured pot-hooks nd dragged at the spot , for ' the body. It , wa brought to the surface.' only , to get too from the hooks, and again dis appear. A few-,, flays later the body wan found about 150 - yards " below where t had been first found, 'tt had floated down . the - stream and been caught by a wig on the bank. According to the statement of those who have either tried the experiment or vatehed it when tried by other, one ofth moat curious, yet effective, la that where . woman, shortly after childbirth and death of . Infant, seeks to relieve herself of th milk In hr bosom. She will take a piece of cork, fill It with needles; then wear ' It around her neck and th milk will dis appear. Among tne sam class, mere exist the belief, that In th event of tha suffering ot a child in consequence of teething, the giving to th infant tha water In which a toad-frog ha been boiled, will Instantly give relief. In Ahe following Instance the "writer talked with-th old negro - several ttmes about th matter, and he had al ready told a number of people. That he.. really believe In what h etatea, ' Is evidenced by hi physical condition ince th occurrence, and du perhaps to hi mental anguish in consequenc of his belief. He wa a alav. during which tim he was a carpenter. Sine freedom, he ha done various kind of work and retained the confidence of th whit people of. th community. About five year ago he Incurred th Ill-will of a negro who had worked in a bar and waa known throughout the country among . the negroe. as a "conjurer." Th outcom wa th paralysis of th old negro. H claim that h found In ht.hoe when re moved after th first strok of pa. ralysls, , th powdered dust of, a rat tlesnake, and that It had been Placed there by th negro who wished him bad luck. He ha nver recovered and feel that h never will. . ; ' Another curlou upersUtlon or ba llet among th negroe, 1 that in the event of your wishing another bad luck, the simple taking of sand from the craw of a chicken and placing of It in ayiaL will brtng-bad luck to the pronagalnst . whom th wish 1 made, th instant th last bit of gravl .or sand enter th Vial and All It up accompanied by th wish, , ' ' Among th colored people there is great faith la th belief . that when anyone 1 lck to the extent that they ar connned to tne oeu, mm n a mey can remain propped up with a pillow. lit will continue, whil on th other hand, th instant that th pillow 1 removed, death will ureiy follow. TKayjha fwatairwaa Whal'a .tnnmA wh wera either tired of their Ion vigil or deoired to e suffering end, remov ed th pillow and death instantly fol lowed. ' V.-" y - ' - - On of th most amusing- belief or tmperstitton 1 that about blue-Jay. It U believed that on a Thursday, th blue-Jays "get together" that' 1. large number can b seen together In th tree and a great nolo t made by them.' In th opinion of th most superstitious - colored people, their gathering I preparatory t a trip to hell, to report and confer with the devil In regard to condition generally. Each .one 1 said to carry a tiny plec of aand or gravel In hi bill a a to ken of respect and esteem to his aa tan4c majesty. If the attention of any one of tho who bellev In their visit to th . lower region ; on Friday, 1 called to th fact. that seme - of th blue-Jays did not go, they will assar yon at one that th bine-Jays in question, have been left by. the other, aa sentlnela Th following instances nav bn noted, wher. among the colored peo-j pM In a community, on ha discov ered the too of aa artlcl and though perhaps inclined to bellev a certain on I guilty of th theft or mtsap- proprlatlon, but not wining to mak - fan open Charge against m one bus-- poctea ana in - aneiooa or juuikij convicting the guilty on without th necessity of the accuser making him or herself conspicuous. AB are r quested to meet at certain house at', a specified hour, a apodal invitation being extended to tho auspect At that; hour amusements were first, indulged in, only to, later on, a&aum a spiritual . air. A aiev is then brought in -and spun around on the floor in front of On to do th spinning, and while do- ' mg eo wouia cry. out; ..,.--- - iv -; By Saint Peter by Saint Pauls r. ., v By th Lord who mad ua ale - Let thla alev. befor th guUty," falV .''v -'-.v'y-..;'-.;'.-., t m rWl f Ka sftrtak a W 14 av1t waa "' v vvtvif, ruum 'ci -,wmi . declared cuUtyv--- isV i: t Another way bringing nbout th stfead of th us, of sv Blev rnhhlo in 4 Hat mM.t Aa aa i . . a m . auMii v vuuoaaertiuoo o tipir itual natters, ths accueer takes, BU)i. throurh Whtoh. ntpinr ,hfli been run, and holding u betweoa the " mttar atkrv-k A4 naJ. A. h vmuvuci uu faVSW in irvilb Q( tmnH njkantn Tha - .. a, a ..-A.u 4V ' KtflilV IMS Ml V- ir TH I La WA tha JlAAa . Th foUowlng incident la referred toV not in a spirit of levity nor wlth a de 1M A .Ml.nl. h. II I . ii . . ; anyone, be they whit or colored, but,"' vimvu can attention to tna tact the belief or superatltlon "connected ? with It,-, which came -within : tho 'Ob ervatlon of the wrKer, Th colored people of th county, desired to hav an exhi bl tlon of their material ad- tlon of their prowes In the field of meehanlrfa anA nlBliM iM . ...h as needle work etc.'. They agreed up' on a llttl town with a history and his- ivuiiuiuis. moH m cnint of th exhibition had purchased an old tent that bad been used by a street carnival company. Th question then aroa aa to wher it should be placed. (3 ... . 1 . . - ... ly. proved ineffectual, becau of th. retusai or the owner of th land. Fi nally., it wa decided to place it in a graveyard of a colored church in al most th very heart of th town. Ob jection wa raised by th older mem ber of th church and om of th " residents of th town. Th younger, who had given th permission, con trolMd, and th ten wa erected. Th xhlbit on th opening day waa high ly creditable. Before night however, ther wer Indications of an approach ' ing storm, . When -'Ylle'ht - dlil omA. - with it cam th atom, and th tnt wa blown down.' Tho nevt ninrnlnr h tent -waa straightened, and whil ' some or in cxhlbtu were damaged,1 thos in charg appeared undaunted. Among th older colored people, how ever, there waa. a shaking of head and oMiderabl talk, ' to th effect that not only the blowing down of the tent showed that those in charga had don wrong In desecrating a graveyard and with a. tent that had been used theretofore (nr mia.iinihu performance by a carnival company, further harm would follow. If th tent was not rmoved. Neverthele, that night tho tent was crowded tk present found everything o interest- ma ana enjoyable that they were ua- - imnuiui vi tn element. By ""mid. remained, collapsed. Fortunate I v. no one waa injured, but everything insld wa ruined., Many viewed the? debris (the newt morning, bur no effort waa mad to replace th tent the exhibl- Juhd been 0clared at an end. .The writer cannot but recall an In--tanoe of where, though be had known front childhood, he had. never known wlILIUUK( o man was s respected and loved In th community in.. mm, jet one night when hewas bearing hi. sixtieth birthday J" ZTr M?kti hlm in! hin.r.rti( . 'u"", ot a news-fioS- J hu ln. rera t -uperstl-Hifvt,0th 'okr'' CIaM,, "nd con- dltiona, he mentioned a number of in- elf vwaa mor or - lea .uperstiUoua Beferring to -dreamy especially those bout muddv nt.n ,-m,":.-l"OB .ckn. , theTamily;. r.'.'v" af Sf?i' l.",Unc-- "! then referrt. r" ur" 'a connection with scra. v rtiShVr n Mld tht from fXf 1 -Lhf hmrA hM th com- Ing of a ecreech owl to one' house was a sign that there WMM aeatn m the family, but. that ha h.i until latly laughd at uch an idea ' That hla wlfa .!. w- v... mn 'aea- ?" ?tel had Nuking ort : that Is. traveling men. That night he wa reading when a Jcrewit ' OWl cam to th porcrr- The teal?H-2 - men apok of the iivMim v; I... rf...w , . : " m- "mrcii. ""- Miier ne wna again resrf ng one njght and a screech oil mad I, a number of stumnt. 7 ' lI.m.a'!" - th. room. Hi. wife expressed regret because she regarded th appe,?. of tha owl a an vll omen 'h kiJ h0 Wh.r h aing. Fl nUy, becoming exasperated 1 by th. owl'a rMl.,.n .a, .T . . "f in - ' - vuiiib into - . . . ....i cuuni ana its what nerve-racking crlea. he w. Stnh:h'll,,2 th some nt out wifa w.r;.r.-. xi ming hi d. aTZm... . "n" w,tB" few Quart Partlen" the Latest Thing Washington Herald. ;. v V -8tnca prohlblOon Vent into" effect in Gorgia," aid Jasper J. Horner a bromlnent buslne. man of7AtUnta! G th Baleigh lat night, "a net ronn of aodal amusement has nrur tip. It 1 called th 'ouart !!.rilnr. I "Stranger invited to uch a artV' for th first Urn nr. likely to k pusxled. --After oris experience they nr generally willing to-accept a ,ec-', ond Inviution, ec .) t,a r T" Jhitch treat. Bvery goeat is ?aD posed to tak With him a hi card of admission a quart, of some kind of liquor. Th kind . doe not matter One on th seen of fertlvlty th wet goals' becom th common prop- . erty of all guest. - ' ,.. .-vlvv 1 "' '" . ' . , A IHtEAJI.", . . , Tn visions ot tha dark high! ' .-. ' I hav dreamed of Joy departed '. But a waking dream of 111 and light '. Hath left m broken-hearted. . Aht what Is not a dream by day ' V To him who eyes ar cast . - On Uiinga round him with a ray fumed back pon th pastr . ' ' ; That holy dream-tViat holy dream," ; ' ' n an u ma wens wer enldlng, - Hath cheered me as a lovely beam. :. lonely spirit guiding. , - " What though that light, thro' storm and ' Burnt. . v . . , '- So trembled from afar - f What could ther be mor purely bright In Truth' day etar? . -EDO AR ALLAN POE.
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 10, 1908, edition 2
2
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