The Alto Herald (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, February 19, 1909 Page: 3 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Alto Herald and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Stella Hill Memorial Library.
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CHAPTER I.
if Elizabeth did not indulge In liay
tevor every year and consequently
liave to be very careful about breath-
ing where there is vegetation it would
never hnve happened; or, rather, we
would not have been mixed up with it.
1 don't know after all whether it was
not Gabrielle's gold beads that were
to blame just as much as Elizabeth's
hay fever; for if the string had not
broken everything would have been
all right.
Gabrlelle and Elizabeth are friends.
They know each other's inmost
thoughts, and their past lives contain
no reservations whatever from one
another—which seems a little hard
on the men whose pictures they have
framed and preserved as relics.
I am their friend also, but I still
have a few undivulged thoughts, as
well as a modest number of reserva-
tions. My name is Eliza, but I prefer
to spell it Elise, and perhaps I am a
little envious of the other two, having
lost my own alter ego by her mar-
riage and never replaced her. How-
ever, that doesn't belong to the story,
which really begins on the steamer
that carried us to Canada.
Elizabeth liad heard of an island vil-
lage up there where hay fever was tin-
known, and she read us so many ex-
tracts concerning it from a booklet
she kept in her work basket that about
the first of June wo cut adrift from
our respective families and started
off to spend the summer there. We
could do this with propriety, for we
had all passed the pin-feather age, al
though I wish it distinctly understood
we were still a long way from being
stringy about the throat.
We were sitting on the deck of the
steamer watching the moonlight on
the water and enjoying ourselves very
much indeed when a man came around
the corner of the cabin and sat down
near us, as, of course, he had a per-
fect right to do. Suddenly Gabrlelle,
who was next him, jumped up and
clutched my arm.
"Come away," she whispered. "Come
away."
And, of course, we came forthwith.
She was quite pale and trembling
when we reached the cabin, and for a
few minutes was unable to satisfy our
curiosity; but at last she spoke.
"He threw a chair Into the water,"
she said, in an awed voice.
"Oh!" said Elizabeth, with evident
disgust, "is that all? 1 thought It was
something interesting."
"It was quite enough," insisted
Gabrlelle. "I was afraid he might
throw me next. You should have seen
his face and heard him muttering."
"What did he mutter?" Elizabeth
liked the whole of a story or none
at all.
"I couldn't hear. But I think"—Ga-
brlelle glanced around apprehensively
—"I think he's crazy, and I don't like
being on a boat with an unguarded in-
sane man. You never know what they
are going to do. Besides, he looked
at me."
I did not blame him there, for Gab
rielle is well worth looking at, espe-
cially when she is gazing nt the moon
with the uplifted expression she re-
serves for that purpose. I sometimes
wonder why she doesn't think some
man on earth worth it, but she says
distance lends enchantment in such
matters, and I suppose she knows her
own affairs best.
"Perhaps his keeper Is somewhere
around," speculated Elizabeth. "Let's
go back and see If he Is still there."
So we reconnoitereu stealthily, and
saw him sitting quietly smoking "and
not lookjng at all dangerous—a rather
tall, spare man In blue "serge clothes,
with n cap pulled down over his eyes,
and the air of one who Is quite sat-
isfied with his surroundings. It was a
cool night, and the dock was almost
deserted, so he had our secluded cor-
ner behind the cabin all to himself,
and we could stand just outside the
door and examine him at our leisure.
"He looks Just like anybody else."
said Elizabeth, plainly disappointed.
"1 didn't say he had a hump on his
back," returned Gabrlelle, Indignantly.
"I said he threw a chair overboard—
and so he did."
"It Is a new way of beginning a
flirtation," I murmured, "but customs
differ in various places. Perhaps you
should have sent your chair after It.
by way of acknowledging the atten-
tion. Oh!"
For at that moment ho leaned for-
ward, looked with interest at the chair
beside him, felt Its back, and legs,
poised it lightly In the air, and shot
It over the railing into the water bo-
low, where we saw it bobbing In the
foam in our wake.
"There!" triumphed Gabrlelle. "Now
what do you say?"
We said nothing, for Just then he
reached for another chair. This time,
however, ho was not bent on destruc-
tion, for he merely detached a dark
object hanging on Its back. For the
second time Gabrielle clutched my un-
fortunate arm, which was quite bruised
with her attentions.
"It's my bag!" she exclaimed. "My
new shopping bag. I left it hanging
on my chair—and he's opening It!
Oh, the wretch!"
The "wretch" proceeded to Investi-
gate the contents of the bag. and
carefully examined each article as he
drew It forth. First a pair of gloves,
and then a handkerchief, which he
held critically to Ills nose after scru-
tinizing the monogram.
"I hope lie likes It!" ejaculated
Gabrlelle, in nn indignant whisper.
Next a small powder puff and a bit
of chamois skin (regarded with tol-
erant amusement), a stubby pencil
minus a point and much dented from
thoughtful biting (having been used
to calculate our expenses), 25 cents.
"And J thought, miss," she con-
cluded, "that as you have i room to
yourself, perhaps you would In- ho kind
as to let her have the siai" berth,
since It Is the only one on the boat.
Would you mind obliging h<-i '''
I did mind very much, and was
about to say so In no utn ertaln lan-
guage when the stewardess twitched
my skirt warningly.
"That's her," she whispe red, "over
there under the light. Speak low, if
you please, miss, and don i go for to
refuse the poor dear a be<! -don't,
now."
I looked In the direction Indicated,
and felt glad 1 had not spoken. It was
a comparatively young face which
rested against the back of the chair,
but so pale, so worn, so unutterably
weary, that one wondered instinctively
what blow fate had seen lit to deal
this woman to so rob her of her girl-
hood. The pitiless glare of the elec-
tric light fell directly upon her, ac-
centuating the purplo shadows be-
neath her eyes and the hollows In her
cheeks, while her listless pose sug-
gested heartslckness as well as fa-
tigue. One hand lay on the arm of her
chair, and as I advanced toward her
I noticed the gleam of her wedding
ring.
"The stewardess tells me you have
no stateroom," I said. "I an) alone,
and shall be glad to share mine with
you."
The heavy lids lifted slowly, and I
found myself looking Into a pair of
wistful dark eyes with an unanswered
question in thim.
"Thank you," she said, In a sweet,
low voice. "You are most kind. I
J
Shot
Over the Railing Into the Water.
three street car tickets, a latch key,
and a square card, at which he looked
long and earnestly.
"It Is a good thing you wear your
money around your nock," remarked
Elizabeth, but Gabrlelle pointed an
outraged linger at the unconscious
blue serge back.
"It Is our picture," she said—"we
three together. Did you ever!"
Finding the moonlight not bright
enough for his purpose, he moved
nearer the cabin window, happening
as he did so to glance behind him.
Springing to his feet, he lifted his
cap and advanced towards us, bag In
hand, but with one accord wo turned
and fled. It was best to take no
chances within reach of his hands. We
had no desire to follow tho chairs over
the railing.
I went with Gabrielle and Elizabeth
to their stnteroom, where we spent
some time iu discussing the strange
incident and the fact that our picture
was still In tho supposed lunatic's pos-
session. At length I hnde them good-
night and set out to find my own
berth, as we had not been fortunato
enough to get adjoining rooms.
In the saloon I found the steward-
ess, who at once accosted me, with an
apologetic cough.
_"Oh, If you please, miss," she said,
"could I speak to you?"
The burden of her speech was a re-
quest that 1 share my stateroom with
a lady who had not been able to se-
cure one, and who was much fatigued.
know It Is not pleasant to share one's
room with a stranger, but I will come
gladly, for I am very tired. My hus-
bnnd—"
She paused abruptly and a faint col-
or tinged her cheeks as a man ap-
proached and bent over her with an
unmistakable air of possession.
"It's no use, Juliet," ho said; "I
can't get you a stateroom at any price,
and you are regularly done up, too!
We must manage with one of these
sofas."
"It is all right, dear," she replied
gently. "This young lady is good
enough to offer to share her room with
with me. My husband, Mr. Graham,
Miss "
I supplied the namo and bowed to
Mr. Graham, looking curiously at him
as I listened to his effusive thanks.
Tho man evidently possessed the
vitality his wife lacked. His every
movement Indicated that ho was filled
to the finger tips with vibrant, pulsing
life, and one admired him with the ad-
miration one Involuntarily accords a
perfect specimen of the animal king-
dom, whether man or beast. Perhaps
his lips were a trllle too full and red,
and his teeth rather unpleasantly daz-
zling when they gleamed under his
dark mustache; perhaps, also, thore
was something In his large black eyes
now and then which might cause a
woman to blush and turn aside If he
looked too long at her; but his man-
ner was very gentle as he bent over
his wife, and he collected her wraps
and helped her to rise with genulno
solicitude.
The stewardess was waiting to show
Mrs. Graham the room, and I decided
to remain in the saloon until she had
retired so 1 sat down in a green plush
chair and amused myself watching my
fellow passengers and speculating aa
to their destinations. 1 had just deter-
mined that a fat old lady opposite
was the mother of a large family and
going to visit a married daughter,
when the cabin door opened and Mr,
Graham returned alone.
He raised his hat as he passed,
hesitated a moment, then seated him
self on the arm of an adjoining chair.
"We really owe you a debt of grat-
Itude," he said. "Of course I can get
along perfectly well anywhere, but
Mrs. Graham is not strong. She lias
had a tiresome journey, and to-night
seemed to be the last straw. I sup-
pose you noticed how awfully done
up she was."
"She certainly seethed very tired."
"She will be all right to-morrow, aft-
er a night's rest—thanks to you. We
are going to spend the summer In
Canada. I think tho climate there
will benefit her, it Is so invigorating.
And you? Are you also bound for
Canada, and are you traveling alone?"
I replied somewhat curtly that I
was with friends, for I had no desire
to prolong the conversation. Mr.
Graham, however, lingered with Hie
manner of one who has something on
his mind, but finds expression difficult.
At last lie rose and said good night,
after offering to look out for our bag
gage when he landed in the morning.
"And by the way," he remarked,
carlessly, "don't lie alarmed if my
wITe should talk a bit In her sleep.
She does it now and then, especially
if she is overtired. She Is apt to
dream, I think, and sometine s talks
a lot of gibberish. 1 trust you may
not be disturbed, but I thought I ought
to warn you. Good-night again, and
many thanks.''
So Mrs. Graham talked In lie:1 sleep!
1 thought rather ruefully of my pros-
pects for a peaceful night as I slowly
walked (he length of the cabin—for
mine was an outside stateroom, and
it was necessary to go on deck to
reach it.
The moon shone brilliantly, a path
of silver light falling across tho water,
which rippled and sparkled alluringly.
I was so fascinated by the beauty of
the scene that when I reached my
door 1 did not enter at once, but leaned
over the railing, watching the white
foam that marked our course, anil
quite forgetful of the flight of time,
After a while two men approached
and one of them fitted a key in the
door next mine. A he ntoopo^l to ex-
amine the lock, Hie moonlight shone
full upon his face, and 1 recognized
our friend In blue serge with the
strange aversion to chairs. I wondered
if the person with him was an attend-
ant, and hoped the partition wall was
substantial. I was also conscious of
a strong desire to waken Gabrielle and
Elizabeth and seek shelter with
them.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
The Perfectly Poised Mind.
People who would attain exquisite
mental poise must dive between tho
whltecaps and the waves on the sur-
face of thought, down Into the depths
of their beings, where there Is eternal
calm which no mental tempest -can
disturb.
A perfectly poised mind must be In
frequent communication with the di-
vine. Dwelling upon human qualities
will never bring that perfect mental
balance, that divine serenity, which
makes mere physical beauty unattrac-
tive In comparison.
There is a sweetness, a ripeness, a
divine something about a serene mind
which eludes analysis, but which we
all feel. No wealth can compare with
the benign, satisfying influence which
radiates from an exquisitely poised
personality.
Smoo of our best observatories are
built upon mountain Cops, so that the
great lens which sweeps the heavens
may not bo obscured by the dust, the
dirt, the-mists floating in the atmos-
phere.
In order to shut out the din, the ter-
rible noises which distract the mind;
In order to shut out tho thousand and
one disturbing influences In our stren-
uous life, the things which warp and
twist and distort us. it Is necessary
to rise Into tho higher realm of
thought and feeling, where we can
breathe a purer air, get In closer
touch with tho divine.—Success.
The
Ejrceptiona.1
Equipment
of the California Fig Syrup Co. and the
scientific attainments of its chemists have
rendered possible the production of Syrup
of Figs and Elixir of Senna, in all of its
excellence, by obtaining tho pure medic-
inal principles of plants known to act most
beneficially and combining them most
skillfully, in the right proportions, with
its wholesome and refreshing Syrup of
California Figs,
As there is only one genuine Syrup of
Figs and Elixir of Senna and as the gen-
uine is manufactured by an original
method known to the California Fig Syrup
Co. only, it is always necessary to buy tho
genuine to get, its beneficial effects.
A knowledge of the above facts enables
one to decline imitations or to return them
if, upon viewing the package, the full name
of the California Fig SyrupCo. is not found
printed on the front thereof.
NOT FOR HIM.
"Now, boy, this is important! It's
an invitation to dinner!"
"Thanks, boss. But I can't accept.
Mo dress suit's in hock!"
IN AGONY WITH ECZEMA.
Whole Body a Mass of Raw, Bleeding,
Torturing Humor — Hoped Death
Would End Fearful Suffering.
Devil-Tempted Young Men.
There Is no one so devil-tempted to-
day as the young custodian of the
cash drawer. He Is tempted because
he assumes ho is not paid enough;
tempted because ho cannot Indulge
himself as some who are better paid;
tempted because lie Is vain of a good
appearance: tempted because he
wants to shine socially; tempted be-
cause he loves devotedly and cannot
shower gifts from his thin pocketbook;
tempted because ho is r. neophyte In
forbidden mysteries; tempted, most
of all. by tho desire to emulate some
other apparently successful young
men who have made great "killings"
on the race track or tho stock c*.
change.—Philadelphia Telegraph.
In Despair; Cured by Cuticura.
"Words cannot describe the terrible
eczema I suffered with. It broko out
on my head and kept spreading until
it covered my whole body. I
was almost a solid mass of sores from
head to foot. I looked more liko a
piece of raw beef than a human be-
ing. The pain and agony endured
seemed more than I could bear. Blood
and pus oozed from the great sore on
my scalp, from under my linger nails,
and nearly all over my body. My
cars were so crusted and swollen I
was afraid they would break off.
Every nair in my head len out. I
could not sit down, for my clothes
would stick to tho raw and bleeding
flesh, making me cry out from tho
pain. My family doctor did all he
could, but I got worse and worse. My
condition was awful. I did not think
I could live, and wanted death to
come and end my frightful sufferings.
"In this condition my mother-in-law
begged me to try the Cuticura Kem-
edies. I said I would, but had no hope
of recovery. But oh, what blessed re-
lief I experienced after applying Cuti-
cura Ointment. It cooled the bleeding
and Itching flesh and brought me the
first real sleep I had had in weeks. It
was as grateful as Ice to a burning
tongue. I would bathe with warm
water and Cuticura Soap, then apply
the Ointment freely. I also took Otm-
cura Resolvent for the blood. In a
3hort time the sores stopped running,|
the flesh began to heal, and I knew II
was to get well again. Then the hair™
on my head began to grow, and In a
short time I was completely cured,
i wish I could tell everybody who has
eczema to use Cuticura. Mrs. Wm.
Hunt, 135 Thomas St., Newark, N. J.,
Sept. 28, 1908."
Potter Drug h, Chem. Corp., flolo l'rops., Boston.
The things you really stand for are
revealed to those you run after.
ONLY ONE "IIROMO QUININE"
Tlmt IK I.AXATIVIO IIUOMO Ot'lNINK. l.ook fol
the aiKmitnrn of K. \V. (JHOVK. Used tho World
oyer to Cur« u Cold In une I>ay. '2&c.
Crooks understand the art of Rot-
ting out of financial straits.
Ill] III
§25 "Guara"
KNOWN SINCE 1836 ASRELIABLE
—B-fcl'C (TRADE MARK I
T&CoaB'-ACK
C • CAPSULES
SUPERIOR REMEDYfe«URINARY DISCHARGES^
DRUGGISTS o* .Br MAIL ON "ECEIPTorSOt.
H*PLANT£N&SON. 93HENRY 5T.BROOKLYN N Y.
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McClure & McClure. The Alto Herald (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, February 19, 1909, newspaper, February 19, 1909; Alto, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth214038/m1/3/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stella Hill Memorial Library.