davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1885-10-10
No, thank you, Mrs. Jones.

"No, thank you, Mrs. Jones.
haven't time; but I hold the invitation
good. You will see enough of me.
And meanwhile, any time you want
berries you are welcome to pick as
many as you wish"
"Well, I neyer!' exclaimed the good
lady, looking first at his disappearing
figure and then at the pail of coveted
berries. Nov tell me just how it
came about, Lottie Adams. Pm dread
full glad to get them berries. But
how did you get acquainted with
Hugh Denham."
Then amid peals of laughter, she
told the story Of her adventure.
"And now Aunt Sally. you must re-
member that | Am a deaf mute. If
Hugh Denham calls here | want you
to remember that particularly"
"Just as you say. child,' answered.
NIlS. cuucS. 1u0 4uod VI AIlu1 tttnAAS
you for adummy. If he could hear
you talk sometimes F! Ooh. dear It'll
come pretty hard ON you to keep still
though, Lottie.'
The sewing circle supper was a sue
cess, and the guests praised the straw
berry shortcake in "a way that caused
| Mrs. Jones' face to beam with satjsfac-
ton.
can l owe it all to you, child" she
said, when they had all gone. II new
er could have made it without them
berries. an l did want to show Betsy
Smith that l could make shortcake as
good as hers, anyway"
The time was near at hand for
Lottie's return to her home.
Hugh Denham had been a constant
visitor at the Jones farm house, never
%suspecting the deceit practiced upon
him, and each evening Lottie well
coined him with an added feeling of
guilt.
PITY is akin to love-" and so Hugh
Denham found it. Compassion for
the supposed unfortunate girl soon ri
pened into d warmer feeling, and one
night he made Mrs. Jones happy by
asking if she thought he could win
her niece for his wife.
Can't tell you nothin' bout it," she
daid, excitedly. "Lottie, Lottie! MI.
Denham is here, and wants ye. You
have my consent, such as tits, and I
wish you success, Mr.. Hugh. Don't
be too hard on her. poor dear she
feels bad enough about it now"
And she disappeared before Lottie
came down the stairs, leaving the
young man in a maze Of establishment.
Lovers vows are the same the world
over whether whispered low in eager,
listening ears, or told by the silent fn-
ger language of the deaf mute; and
Hugh Denllam soon cherished the
hope that his affection was returned.
She would give him no promise ex-
cept toWrite him his answer as soon
as she reached home.
Two days later he received a scented
envelope that contained a confession,
which concluded thus:
And now that I have told you all,
if you can forget the deception which
| cannot excuse you may come and
ask papa"
The Opelousas courier., 1885-10-10
STATION Y.
PERFUNERY soaps, ETC, ETC.
O2ELOUS s FtNALE INSTITUTE,

OoELOUS: FiNALE INSTITUTE.
OpciouSas. 81. Landry Parish, La. -
Ir1'IS Institution will resume duties Monday, Sep
| tenber Ith. 1885, under the immediate supervision
of Nc. NJ. NJ. Hayes and Mrs. III. A. Davis, with com.
peteat assistants. The scholastic year consists Of forty
weeks.
TERMS OF TUITION:
P.epa' at 'ry Department, per month,..".""...$ 80
Academic .......... 10
Music, with use of piano, ..... %
Boa riding. including washing, light and fuel. l6uo
Embroidery, wax flowers, painting, drawing,
etGh. extra, N.M
DISCIPLINE:
the government OF this school Is strict but parental
no hari taSIs or restrictions are imposed. but ever
student must comply with the rules. and must prepare
az to the me sure OF her ability. the lessons assigned.
Our course of study and and noie OF instruction ars
70 TRAIN the min to nab Is of correct thinking aHd
:hn.n,.h iave tig alton. NJ student VIII be allowed 10
euter higher classes without thoroug n preparation P&-
ranrS and guardians may rest assured that me manners.
hea ith and morals of the children and WaraS shall NJ,
Ceve due attention.
No deduction for absence, unless IN case OF Protraet-
I'd illness. The location of the town Is heathfut and
easy OF access. The boarding department Is under
the immediate CHI rye of Mrs. Haye5. Boarders Will
provide themselves with blankets and towels For par.
ticuiarS address
r NJ. NJ HAYES.
j. lily 235}n0V 271q. Pfinaipa.
The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-06-10

or next day, or whenever he likes. Can't
sec him nowl" i called out from nv
drcssing-room in answer TO a summons
from my man, one evening shortly after
my aunt's birthday. s'lt's perfectly
llnpossiDle!' | reiterated, applying my
double hair-brushes vigorously, and 50
oycrpowcring an expostulatory murmur
from Morice outside the closed door.
1t was already 1886 y. M, and was
hurrying through my toilet for dinner
at eight sharp at Sir George Lance
mere's. Sir George had three pretty
daughters, and Lady I.ancemere was
dispo eli to be exceedingly gracious,and
| was getting a little tired Of my bach
elor life, and beginning, like Benedict,
to have certain tender thoughts and
dreams, all prompting me ''how sweet
young Hero was" Una Lancemere
was certainly uncommonly pretty, and
the remembrance or her big innocent
blIe eyes and rose tinted complexion
had made me more particular than usual
in tho choice Of the button-hole which
waited now IN {. glass Of water Oh my
dressing-table.
beg pardon, sr,' said the voice of
the irrepressiDle MOrce once more at
the door; but it's Miss OverLon's but
Ter, sir, and his message is; very pertlck-
ler. and-.n
"All right, Morice; I'm coming In a
minutel'' I returned graciously, as I
put the finishing touch to my white tic,
and emerged from my sanctum in ali
the glory Of my best war-paint-a mes
sage from aunt Martha was not to be
neglected.
"Well, Peters, what is it2 All right
at home, hopeP"
"Eo, Mr.. Herbert; am sorry to say
my mistress is very Ill - very ill In
deedl" replied Peters. ''She was took
at about half.past six with the heart
spirsms, sir--worse than she had ever
seen her, Susan Miles says. I went for
the doctor, sir; and then, by my mis-.
trcss's orders, came for you. She said
1 was to bring you at once; but she
hardly expected you would find her
alive, l was to say.''
"Good heavens, Peters, y exclaimed
sis it as bad as that2" / had forgotten
for the moment my aunt's craze.
Eyes, sir; IT'S very bad,' answered
the old fellow, shaking his head dole.
fully. s'Sha|l l call a cab?n
eyes, yes --at oncol Stay a nomentl
Send Morice to me,'' said, dashinp to
my writing-table and scribbiing a hasty
note
'Excusc-bad news at last moment =
sudden illness --many apologies. -
'Here, Morice; take hanson. de-
liver this note at once, and desire them
to put 1t into Lady I.ancemere's hands
immediately My ooat--here quick
Ready, Petersl" And L was Off, with
out even rcgretful thought for Una
Lancemero and her blue baby-eyes.
Susan Miles, my aunt's maid, met
mo ut tile door OF her room.
"Thank goodness you've come, Mr..
Herbertl'' she exclaimed, whilst tile
tears c3ursed each other down her fur
rowed checks. "She does nothing but
The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-06-10

| boy, ana Heaven Dless you ana .t.ut.
you safe back again"
| With this solemn benediction ] Wa,,
dismissed In the hall found etels
| standing over Il remarkable loollins
black box, q cross between IL child'a cot.
! fin and a viOlin-casc. TINS he haadeti.
with the gravity Of an undsrtuker. iNt,
| my cab.
Strange to say, had never tufult
crossed the Channel, and / had under
! taken the expedition in all the confidence
| OF ignorance. Tho crossing from I}gg,
was calm and short; but it was ;isl
when my difficulties, according t. ny
own calculation, should have been over
! that they really began. ought, I auu.
pose, to have been prepared to hea llc
| French language spoken on French !oI,
| nevertheless it took me quite by sn,.
| prise; SO did tho utter failure OF my
French to convey any impression What,
| ever to tho mind OF the gendarme WHO
barred my pate to the gangway.
"Oui, ou' oui, ic micny--unc cloe{.c,
explained, resisting the ollicial's AZ.
tempt to possess himself of aunt .M.a.-
tha's black box, which l had carefully
secrcted under my travelling ulster.
"Nn'y u pas de Consequence" I con
cluded, with wave Of my dlsengaee(i
hand and a proud impression that [ Mas
speaking French we'll and fluently- ~
ny q Das dc consequence, aa,ussoorr"
The man however was not to be pyc, =.
pitlated; he put me aside with 1i6se
force than politeness whilst he pOar5d
out torrent Of perfectly unintellie iDie
speech before which my feeble effort
went down like reed before a noun.
tain stream.
Ho evidently regarded me with sl.s
picion, for he beckoned to a coupIe OF
his comrades stationed at tho top of Inc
ladder, and pointed, to my intense lU,
noyance, to the miniature sarcophs,gi,s
In its "decent black" I was not, af,er
all, to effect the unobtrusiye landing OF
which had counted.
"C'cst une cloche," repeated mo- 4
loudly-s'al,,e clochel"
The men glared at ME. The eldost
and apparently most important OF The
three demanded something of mo in au
uncompronsing tone which made my
British blood boil
"La cleft on est la clef?'-(s.l'he
key! Where Is the keyp'')
lilo might have been speaking Greek
for anything knew to the contrary |
was reaping tho just reward OF Sins
against the much-despised "Froggic'i
Of my schoolboy days.
"La cleft" imperatlvely repeated lie
Official.
| shook my head desperately. just
then remembered with dismay All ac-
count I had lately read Of an accom-.
plished lady-smuggler who was fo,,n,l
to have secroted somo hundreds Of yards
OF valuable lace in chlld's coffin. /
was evidently suspected Of an intention,
to defraud the revenue.
Pas contTabandein protested. "1'0S
contrabande, ,i'assurei It s.---.-- y Oh,
hang 1t all, caft you see 1t Is ~ clock
you idiots2n-aaI found myself being
The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-06-10
. Numerous Tenants.

William Scully, an Englishman, re.
Gently arrived at Lincoln, Illinois to
look after his landed interests, which
In this country exceed 200. 900 acres.
Mi. Scully's wealth Is estimated at $80,-
600 900. IIe has over 300 tenants iii this
country.'' 4. ,5 iS3 b l !. n
The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-06-10

II don't wonder the brutel" / NUT
tered resentfully.
II have felt the change" continued
my aunt. sat my ago ono feels every
thing. But am trying to wean my
self from earthly things, Herbert, and,
as said just now, am anxious to see
that all my affnirs are In order and pre-
pared for what may come at any mo
ment. l have done my best, / think"
-modestly-s't save everybody trou-
BILE, and have explained my wishes as
clearly as can, both In writing and
verbally
Eyes: you have nothing to 'reproach
yourself with on that score,n acaui-
esced, with veiled irony.
III will be for you, Herbert. to see
that they are carried out faithfully. -
concluded my aunt, complacently nc
cepting my remark,
you may trust me, aunt Martha, y
replied. Dr.
Yes, my dear boy, know can.
You are ny hoir, Of course, Herbert, as
l have often told you. Everything is
left to you, excepting the legacies to the
servants. poor things, and q provision
for my niece, Phyllis Mortimer, my
poor sisters only child. have never
seen her; her father quarrelled with me
after poor Annie's death, and then he
died, and the girl grew up amongst her
own relatives OH the other side of the
water. Queer sort Of people they must
be, | fancy, or they wouldn't live at
such place as Calais. They evidently
shared Philip Mortimer's prejudice
against mo, and Of course / could not
force myself upon the child after her
faihor's death; if we had been recon-
ciled before that, it would have been
different. However, Phyllis IS my own
sisters child. the only one left Of our
ialhiiy excepting yourself, and have
thoughC 1t right to remember the rela-
ti0nship and to treat her as my niece in
my Will. have left her one hundred
and fifty pounds a year,;
II am very glad to hear it, aunt Mar
tha," 1 said heartily.
Yes, my dear boy; knew you would
approve" my aunt rejoined. tsAnd
now there is only one thing unsettled
and that isthe clock. am afraidn--
looking anxlOusly at me--''you would
not care to have 1t, although, ,''-with q
tonder glance at the ab0minable instru-
ment--''it chimes only twice III tho day
at twelve o'clock and at six. could
not bear to think Of It's being put away
in a garret or sold TO q second. hand
dealer, or anything Of that sort, Her
bort. If you could have ii in your
chamberSn
Now I had furnished my chambers
with what considered exquisite taste.
| had carefully eschewed Queen Anne
m0nstrOsities and rhubarb colornd abOm-
nations, and stood pledged before my
friends to an anti-nsthotic creed. I
glanced ruefully at tho ugly heavy
framed machine. What q blot 1t
would bo amongst my French mirrors
and satin covered chairs, and how tho
fellows would chaffi And then that
horrible chime! Ishould bo the laugh
The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-06-10
ask for you; there's something OH her
mind. amd she can't be easy till she's

ask for you; there's something OH her
,nmd. and she can't be easy till she's
seen you.''
My aunt was propped up in bed, look :
ing certainly paler than had ever seen
her, but, 80 far as my unprofessional ex I.
perience WENT, not exactly at the point
Of death.
II am glad you have come, Herbert, .
she murnlured weakly. ut Is over for
LIS Time, Doctor Porter says; but my
M .Me hahgs upon y thread "a mere thread.
MS evenings shock is the Oeginnirg
Of the end. 1t is IL solemn warning 10
me, llerbert, Il very solemn warninp
and l must be prepared for ~ sudden
call IA very sudden, cali It nay IL
When was so i'll just now, 1 picture d
the whole scene. the confusion. your ,i,,,
tress. Herbert"
i bowed my head, whilst ouenr
choking sensation in my throat pla
vented my usual parrying repartee.
And | felt" continued my aunt,
tilat. IN all The circumstances, the one
lnlhg lett me to be anxious ahout-ti.a .a
clock, you know--.mght be owe look G,'
or forgotten at that time. 1t was on
my mind III that agony, Herbert: and
no" ! am determined, whilst have
strength, to settle the poor thing in IL
new home before | 20 lnyself.', S,he
spoke as II the clock were a living crea.
turc. ut Will be an effort, Herbert
she went on, the tears filling her eye,
but | shall feel happier for it. And
delays are dangerous. | want you tt
Take the clock ut once over to Cala,s
find out your cousin PHYLLIS, and dellyai
it into her own hands. Then come ba /,
and report to mo how she received il
do you wish me to go now?" | I'D.
CURED, looking, now that my alarm va.
over. Il llLtlo regretfully down at ,Dy
dress.suit.
Yes" replied my aunt. 81 will nnt
risk another day; thrt terrible spas
may return at any moment. and in lDi
weakened state---n
Eyes, yes,' interrupted hastil Y
taking out my. w;tcn VT is neal !
nine O'Clock u have missed the evei.
ing mail. but can 60 IN the mornins,
cross by the early boat, an1 come back
in tue afternoon. shall get back ~
dinner-time-that is" amended, putt
Ing myself up in my glib program by q
sudden remembrance, "if have no de-
lay in finding Miss Mortimer. You
have her address, supposep"
well, no, haven't; but the MORT.
mers have been for some years at Gala
You might find out at the Englisl
bankers, should say, or the Consu 4
perhaps
"Oh, 1T will be all rightl'' l replied
81 shall have no difficulty in unearthnp
them. have no doubt.h
81 don't see any necessity for yOni
hurrying back so quickly, Herbert, R
observed my aunt, whose spirits waf,
rising; ''you might stay and and mH kc
your Cousins acquaintance, and tell mc
all about her, whether she is like Anl,ig
or has the M1ortimers' noso--a slQri
snub nose, quite different from Our fam.
lily ROman-a very comlnon nose, ii
fact. hope Annio's Child has escaped
| it; and -er-E Herbert, should like Il
hear how the family receive the cloch.'
That WAS the real secret; aunt Maltil
The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-06-10
AUNT MAnrHA,s OLoUK.

you know, my dear Uerbert,' said
my aunt Martha, ''that In the precari-
Gus stale Of my health, with my life
hanging nS 1T we're, upon q thread, It
bchoves me TO sec that all my affairs are
in order.n fN}.
"Certainly,n / responded, with duti-
full but difficult gravity. e.
My aunt was only q little past Middle
age, weighed eleven stone two, had Il
color like 4 peOny, and q waist which
measured twenty-eigEt inclles--was, in
truth. III full health and yignr. and
likely 10 live to q ripe old ag. so that
her tavOrite fiction that she wi,s Tile vic
tim Of hopeless and mysterious nal
ady, and might at any moment shuttle
Off this mortal coil, was without TIE
slightest foundation III fact. Never
thelcss She derived much enjoyment
from the illuslon, and delighted i'll the
contemplation OF her own premature
decease, and in pcrpetually going over
all tlle details Of her intorment and
other cheerful accessories Of the supreme
event.
She mas . . dear cid soul, and ! .":a.s
indebted to her for much of the happ-
ness Of my childhood and the easy ell
joyment OF my youth. owed her both
affection and duty and paid them heart
lily; but L must confess found it diff
cult to respond bec0mingly to tho con.
stantly recurring claims on my sympa-
thy with reference to this death bed
bogy Of hers. The perpetual cry OF
"Wolf!n had hardened me, suppose.
'These anniversaries are solemn
things" my aunt observed, shaking her
head and siglling profoundly. 81 can
not disguise from myself, Herbert, that
shall i'll all probability never sec an
other birthday. Before the second OF
Marc!i comes ro.nd again shall most
likely be mouldering in tho silent
tOmD.n
''Whirr-r gurr-rr ~ boOm-bOom
-bangi" sounded from the dim corner
immediately behind my scat.
"Good lieavensl'' exclaimed, spring
ing to NY feet, ana turning round so as
to face the enemy. "What on earth
was tllatr E,uiething exploded"
My aunt sa still, perfectly unmoyed
and placid.
"That, my hear boy" she explained,
'is your grandfather's clock"
"A clockI" l echoed. "Is that all2
thought it was an internal machine.
What, III tho name OF all that's dabol-
ical. Is the matter with the thingp"
"Tho chime is out Of Order," aunt
Martha replied. 1.-THE olockmaker says
it is worn out; but ii used to have the
sweetest, clearest tone. l remember it
when was Il child"
"1t's a liideous discord now!" L le.
marked, with some as,in.us, for was /,
good deal RULED at having made such a
donkey of myself in my first alarm
II am very fond Of tho old clock, .
said my aunt plaintively. ''lt Is asso
cialed with the happiest days Of my
life, and its chime altered as 1t is
brings back my dear father's voice Iie
WAS 4 martinez with regard to punctu
ality. and that dear old clock kept time
for the whole house. 1t has always
clrcc trcf' ~ wv bod rcor,. liLed tr
The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-06-10

ing-stock Of the club. No, I could not
stand 1t. not oven for aunt Martial
Aunt Martha saw my decision In my
face, and sighed. Evidently hor last
hope died out III that sigh. E
''rhe clock has Il history, IIerbert,n
She said. 1T b longed to our ancestor
Sir john Mordhurst, in the time D'oi Of
Queen Anne. aud ls the last relic Of our
past grandeur. Sir Johns grandson.
Sir Nevil, ran through everything; he
and his son cut off the entail, the es.
tate was sold. and the son died unmar-
ried. The title went Co distant
branch; but they were poor people, and
did not cnre for the empty honor; so
tie family died out. My father was de-
scendcd from them in the female line;
and Tie clock came into his possession
from his mother, and he taught us all
to reverence 1t. Iprizc 1t above all my
other relics. and 30 did Anne--in fact.
it was about the clock that the Morti.
mers and Quarrelled. Philip Mortimer
claimed 1T for Anne--and | llatly re-.
fused to part with it. My father left it
to me; he had no opinion OF Philip Nor
timer, and liz knew | loved the clock
and should take good care Of IL, which
have done"
Perhaps" suggested, Miss Nor
timer--"
"Yes," responded my dear old aunt,
81 have been thinking Of that. Girls
have more reverence Than young men,
and more sentiment too. Phyllis must
have heard her mother speak of the
clock, and for her sake she would value
it,"
"!t would he Il sort Of olive-branch, -
suggested insinia' illgly.
Exactly, agreed my aunt. 'And
] should like TO Chnli"- the dear
Old lady became somewhat involved
when J. am In my coffin, that was at
peace with all the world. and Us specially
with poor Anne's child"
ut would be only right to leave it to
my cousin" urged, with decision.
"Ycs, | think it would be right" as.
sented aunt Martha, with an air OF re-
lief. - Shall send for Preston in the
morning and make codicil to my will. -
Then the cheerful rattle OF cups her.
aided tho entrance Of tea, and enabled
me to change the subject Of conversa.
tion.
"Thank goodness" said to myself,
All hour or two later, rs l drew on my
ONSiSOSV III OiO lldit, loSIoCCu Wy my
aunt's venerable butler and factotum
Peters. II have arranged that matter
Of the clock, and without hurting the
old lady's feelings tool Miss Mortimer's
arc another matter; but they don't con
Germ me-.
''Herberti" called my aunt from the
doorway Of the drawlng-room.
stepped back from the already
opened liall door.
"IIeavcn bless you, my dear boy!o
exclaimed the good soul ieryently.
"Remember, il my symptoms should
come OH tonight, and the worst should
happen hit is angina pcctoris, have rot
q shadow Of douDt-before l have
had time to execute that codicil, you
will hand the clock over to your cousin
Phylllsl Promise me, Herbert!"
II promise faithfully,"I answered,
with fervor; aud then kissed the ru-
| Wltia good nt&hl nod s#pia eit IS.
] IptVI Vlt INTO ne 'aolk Gl3t YCinn.
The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-06-10

The lord intends that our wealti, shalf
be our servant, not our master. 81 3i