davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
CHAPTER VI.
WILLIAM


A month afterward l was in San Francisco.
The Ann Mary Ann was creeping on the At
lantic somewhere near the equator, with four
or five weary months still between her and
the Land OF Promise.
San Francisco was then simply a mercan-
tile camp. Buildings were run up as are
booths at a country fair. There was little
idea Of permanently. Everything was OF the
'.makeshift~ order.
had on landing s125. Iresolved TO take
one clear week, with no other purpose ave to
look about, anus myself, II watch for
whatever might turn up.
nut I'D at the best hotel | could find and
paid $50 in advance for a weeks board, which
granted TO ME the then almost unheard OF
luxury Of a niche. called a room, to myself, a
cot bed, a tin washbasin, a coarse towel and
brown soap. True, the walls were but OF
cloth-cotton drilling. They did not shut out
the sound Of voices all around me-, and at
night the shadows OF my adjacent fellow
dodgers were sometimes prominently and
clearly thrown on my canvas from the light
of the candles behind them, displaying them IN
the many unstudied attitudes peculiar to man
on diSrobing for g
Ny right hand ledger had nightly great
difficulty in getting of his boots His figure,
OF heroic size, was 30 thrown on my canvas in
the many irritating and uncomfortable posi-
tons into which a man is compelled ere he can
make his heel bulge from the position 1t has
maintained all day.
One night while so engaged / received an
unexpected visit from him. In the midst OF
a harder tug than usual he lost his balance,
fell over backward against the cloth wall,
which gave way under pressure, and through
the rent he rolled, boot still in hand, into my
room.
Good evening, he said, without changing
his position. Hope l don't inuuder'
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14

consciously done. nor had ever before seen
her show such feeling. For a moment her re-
serve and ha5itual control vanished. She con-
tinued:
John, the real reason l said this Is because
II was forced out Of me. 1t is because you
are going away from me, perhaps forever.
and -
Then she did what none had ever before
seen grown-up Blanche Seton do. She turned
aside. knew she was weeping.
Here was a pretty go. Why, the girl
loved me! And, of course, l loved her-had
loved her for years, had looked on her as
among the impossibles, unconquerables, un-
attainableS Here was the Empress, " the
majestic iceberg, melted into teers Here
was the heaven l had never dared aspire
come to earth-my earth Here was the last
drop in the cup Of bliss to make Eastport
more desirable than ever TO me-and the Ann
Mary Ann to sail tomorrow morning, my
traps all on board, my chest slowed with
clothes, and the interstices filed with tracts
and devotional books, gifts from my numer-
Gus auuts-I was wealthy in aunts then-an
of whom were glad ] was going away.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14

did not actriiIS tnaua -
l NIG -. in the conventional lover
SSat2EIc. There was 10 kissing nor clasping. l
was astonished-more, l had sense enough to
respect the girls emotion. felt intuitively
that she had herself never dreamed of being
BETRAYED into such an avOwal There seem
times. conditions, circumstances occasionally
coming into combination to more human
natures in deeper and lower depths than
those who are moved ever dream exist in
them.
Blanches hand had dropped from my Shout
der. w stood u little apart. l felt | must
say something. and so | made that stupid and
commonplace remark:
Why, Blanche
The tears were being forced back, and l
could feel the Blanche OF old also coming
again and rcSunling her former self, and
sway over self.
John. let's 20 home" said she.
She took my arm. We walked back through
the now quiet and deserted stree: in silence,
AMI passed through the ever h~alf-uprI-d cate,
We halted on the old door stone tut for u
moment. Her eyes and mine met, but in Il
h~alf-ayerted glance. 1 took her land, and,
venturing a timid pressure, said; ~'GoolUight,
Blanche
Good night, John"
IpaSNel out Of the gate, and in the thick
foliage above rung the incesSant affirmation
and contradiction: Katy did. Katy didn't
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14

cumstances, the withdrawal from the imme-
/ diate range of Eastports petty g~oSsipping,
meddlesome sphere, seemed to place me in
another world, whose standard of life, action,
motive and impulse were entirely different
from this In that kiss l seemed to feel
Blanche's purity Of soul and depth Of
Affections nature luxuriant in every
department of being, capable of q tenn
pestuous abandonment, yet capable also of
perfect control at any moment Of ecstacy.
Externally it was but the pressure Of a rich
pair of lips, but if there be within US other
and finer senses than our material ones,
these seemed in that momentary contact TO
absorb and retain a portion OF the intel
lectual and spiritual richness and nobility
of that girls being. Nor did her act make
me bold or preSuming. On the contrary it
seemed to bring me a realization Of respect
almost amounting to reverence for Blanche
Seton. which l had never felt before. 1t
seemed to me as an inspiration to become
more manly, more courageous, more ener-
getic: not the inspiration Of a moment, but
one TO remain by me many a year after. Her
cares, too. had in it something OF mother
hood. something l longed for, but found not
al EOillt. SlLitlnllS "uASh CNNAl ANh 49,
as a neutrality-suspicious. against degrade
ton.
Perhaps you think I'm very boldr said
she.
Il think l understand you" l replied.
Il believe YOU do. Otherwise, l could not
do as l have done. You must feel yourself
very much complimented, too" sue added, in
T. lighter tone, ''for you are the first OF your
lex l ever kissed in my life
Here l wanted much TO say something very
polite and gallant. But all the words coming
into my mind for such expression seemed TO
SAVIOR so much Of the mawkiSh novel that l
felt it a proclamation. l said, quite without
premeditation: Il thank YOU" On the whole,
l think | said about the best thing | could.
Nv tongue was not so tied afterward.
Hand in hand we walked to and fro on Q
level. grassy space lying along the edge OF
the bluff overlooking the COve's waters. We
talked-well, of things belonging TO our W
world-as if We were navigating together
rivers, creeks and inlets, barred 10 the ma
= ;Sr;fy Snow now she e isG the conversation
on these subjects to divert my attention and
ease my mind of the strain to which 1t had
been recently subjected.
The village clock struck two. These are
unseemly hours for Eastport," said Blanche.
I'VE must go home"
We walked again to the half-Opened gate,
and again parted, not without another kiss
this one mutual.
Between us passed neither pledge nor bond,
spoken or inferred. We parted as if but for
a day. Branches last words were, "Remem-
Der, now, your promise"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
Msditinal,
From ll5 Lbs. TO Isl 7,
Tothe CutieuFa Remedies 1--WE yru
Ny Happiness, and Ny Life. "F'Is

A day never passes that 7 A.
speak kindly Of the CUrICuES ETvHA think A.,
year, ago all %! a dozen lIrJns ~ NJ
meek, ranging III size from a -.o'lael a
orange. lhe large ONES We're ~, Sple T. !,
al and painful 10 bear. people n, --,sIuul 70
they saw me In disgust, and | y-a. sscv a.
on the street or In society FLyS,1SSEC
treatment, n all medicines AZ shtnn
Q In a OF despair t-st =. cs,
CtkA KEkEDiE-CUTICURA. the grrs, Ite ~
81. .sitsSSh SoAP. an exquisite sIi. 10
nel, s@1ishally' aHd CUTICuRl RnS5,ns'
new Blood Purifier, internally. ,GtIDo.EtN
las ] call them gradually di.srr 80 sGA.S
large ones broke in Gbou, two go AK
ing lang; quantities OF matter. lesySttSas
scars In my meek today 10 tell tbes.s0AS
suffering. Ny weight then w. IsS Jy :
and fifteen sickly pounds: ms NJ SHe hg&
hundred and sixIy-one solid b,s aos
and my height is only five feet ~! ras
my travels / praised the CrTIrrV, Isaa
North, south, East and West. To SShh9
kESEpiEs " my health, my han, .sHSI
my NE. pF9mlnent New York dntgc-s y
ME the other day. DO YOU sin H. ,>sS ~
REMEDIES; you look 10 be IN s-s'lr
Ny reply was, Il DO and shall aig. AeIs
never known what sickness I, 80, "a.
ced using the CuTICUEG REyEplE, "~Ss
| am laughed al by prsiSiug them 4, ,Sraa
acquainted with their merits, hUi PNis ;,
they Will come In their Segs~ sr4rlV4-
same a. those that Use them. :, t-dt1
whom ! have told. May the i,,. oso a..
there shall he a large C%uTICUEl sgrrSy ~;
every city IN the world, for the bench! I9lNs
NY. where The CUrlcJRA kENErlp Nj 10
only, ~ that there will * ran.ly - -
entering s drug store. "0' v us
L. q. Box ln;- ~, N"N".>
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14

tho rand current with little level beaches
uuos alive with working miners. Hundreds
90 c-adles were rocking to and fro The graf
inc 81 the rebbles on the iron bottoms OF their
ton selves sounded like the crashing roar Oh
some great factory. Men were toilng 70 ana
fro with dirt-laden buckets Others were
living in ali manner Of cramped-up POSITIONS
on the bare. steepiy shelving rocks, aIeady
hot from the glare OF the morning sun,
ing from deep c~revices with long spoons, or
rises of iron hoop bent at the end, bits OF
dirt and placing them in pans at their sioe.
At other points men were standing waist
deep in the river. occupied in laying semi
circular walls of stone projecting into the
stream.
Il take this path" said Broener, TO keep
out of the way OF those fellows It's q haru
one. but it pays. Could reach my claim In
ten minutes by the river. This route takes
near an hour. Reason: / mustn't let those
chaus scent cut ny lead. They'd svalanche
me II they should I've got you see, q Dig
thing: Int il they got wind OF II there's no
law could protect me. They're all In EsyP.
tian darkness now. They think all the gola
in the country Is in that dirt hope theyn
think so for some tim 10 come.
Walking down the mountain at varying
ANGLES. we came to a little shelf densely GOV
cred with foliage, about five hundred feet
above the river. Miners at work were
thickly clustered directly below Us
softly now said Broener. stop
here, 50 they won't see Us, and don't talk
loud"
STOPPING, and at times half crawling
through the chapparal. we crossed a shelf,
coming directly on the rocky mountain side
rising an ~overhanging barrier before Us
Fragments Of gray and white rock lay all
about Us they had tumbied down the noun
tain.
Broener sat down on a fragment and whs-
perei TO me:
We are at the mine"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
CHAPTER VII.

II BANK OF NALlfbENIA
In the middle Of September, 1874, / fond
myself located with Broener at his cabin on
the Stanislaus river, where the lower and
rounded foothills merging into the
more abrupt. craggy and higher formations
Of the vast Sierra range. 1t was for me a
great change. Mountains towering all about,
no roads. no wheeled vehicles in Use, only
trails or brtile paths, traversed by horsemen,
our provisions brought from the nearest store,
two miles distant, on mulebark; the vegsta-
ton and flowers entirely different from thoSs
Of the east: the birds Of other species; the
vary air sasIned made 81 other elements 10
was oil another world, and it brought "a me
continually a sensation Of newness
MY boy said Broener, one evening soon
after our arrival, you a % know about
tho mines and mining, ehi All Dew corners
ar, more or less crazy on that subject Now,
II sum it up in a word. The mines are a
h mbug-a gigantic h~umbug."
"A humbug.7
Practically, for threefourths OF those b
dig. YES. The cream Of il won't last over
three or four years. Thousands more are TO
come. Every digger who takes an ounce out
Of the soil takes it out forever. Gold don't
grow ~again-soOn. Then there isn't half a.
much dug as people imagine. One lucky find
blinds everybOdy's eyes TO the nineteen or
twenty nine, or may he more, people who find
just enough u scratch along on It's the
hardest kind Of work. Knocks a mans con-
s~titutiOn over in short metre. No let up, sum-
mer or winter. It's digging, lifting rocks, or
standing in iC-COld water for hours No
recreation but cards, poor whisky, or worse.
You dig out a dollar. and must spend half Of
it for what would cost you but three cents in
the s,ates. The men who are really 10 make
the money are the merchants and land owners-
These IDIOTS all about here are now rally
digging for them. You wonder to hear mo
say this. Not a bright picture, is it Vow,
I'm a lucky miner. You think this about
here Is my claim. We'll, it isn't This dirt
Pile is a blind. Ny real claim Is half q mile
from this spot I'll sho~ it to you tomorrow
AMI reveal you some mysteries
The next day We went 20 the spot he had
indicated. first ascending Scrub mountain, in
the rear u our cabin, az 4 pretty steep in
cIination. and after attaining a height Of
about 1000 fest, going down again
Look down. said Broener, as We came TO
an opening in the manzanita bushes, where
our way led along a steeply jutting Projection
Of the mountain
did 50. The rivers bank-in some places
rocky and steeply inclined in others dentinS
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
CHAPTER ".

SURPRISE.

'N'
"Well, what are YOU going to do nowF'
asked my mother with that expression which
to me said so forcibly: "Oh, this impractical,
inefficient son OF mine"
Il am going TO New York, bag and bag
gage, tomorrow, " said. Don't he alarmed,
/ Shan't hang about home, and | shan't
trouble YOU for many a year To come
intended going TO New York with the gen
eral purpose Of escaping E~astport, whichnOw
was for Inc uncomfortable. What, definitely, |
should do when there, | knew not-save that
in some way | should get to California. OF
money my store was very slender. | was
casting myself on the broad uncertain sea Of
chance.
A boy came TO the house with a note for
me. 1t read:
Meet me tO-night after dark where We last
talked BLANCHE SEXTON"
All day l kept aloof from the village. At
night | went thither. The girl was there now,
all herself. calm and s~elf-pOsSeSSed.
John" said She. Il am going to ask Of
you a favor-a great favor. Will you grant
it,
Anything YOU ask" l said, impulsively.
Anything is a big word. What | ask of
YOU may not hc 50 easy TO grant as you
imagine. / want TO put something in your
hands. What, YOU are not to know until YOU
have left this village. for | feel that YOU will
leave, and that very soon. What YOU receive
from me | want You Ia Use as direct That
is all. Can YOU promise me that
| was eager enough 10 promise. TLs
thought of Blanche Sefton'S asking Of me a
favor-something apparently of more than
ordinary importance, the reelection that she
deemed me worthy OF a serious trust-com-
penSated for all | had recently suffered
She put in my hands a sealed packet. Re
member" said she, not TO lie opened until
YOU are in New York. and when opened its
directions to be implicitly obeycd."
promise wa- my relEy
That's a good boy she said. Now, let
Tue kiss YOU And she did 50.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14

with the vigor and regularity of a piston rod,
setting up at the same time a squeaIng that
rose far above the rest of the clamor and di-
rected every eye upon myself. Mr.. PeL, l
think, enjoyed this, and to prolong it took no
notice of me and sent no one te my assist
ance, though a short time previous he had
found time and opportunity every few min-
utes TO give additional directions regarding
this marine boar chase.
In the midst Of this ridiculous situation NV
eye fell on Blanche Seton. standing by a
wharf post a little apart from the crowd
Her face wore an expression Of sadness
Thse VAS some laughing and guffawing
among the crowd and occasionally mock
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14

Kissing among the young people was In
Passport 4 regular business At their par
ties all the plays had kissing as their grand
aim and end. Indeed, the play seemed
merely as a pretence for the kissing. l had
never looked with much favor upon these
indiScriminate oSculatory melees, and when
forced by circumstances, l had taken part in
them, it was always with 4 feeling Of indif-
ference-almoSt disgust Still. | supposed
that it was the thing to do, since it was a
part of the life around me. | had noticed
that Blanche Seton never participated in
these plays" Blanche vas not q kissabls
girl
shall not attempt by any Of the numerous
hackneyed phrases to describe my sensations
at that moment They would go astray of
my meaning. The time, the place, the cir
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
"CUTICURA REMEDIES

Are a positive cure for every .,-
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Ae sold by all druggists. Putr $50
snts; Hcsolyent, sl.U: soap =. o,r,, -
DRUG AND CHEMICAL Co, k~;o. Nh
tOr How Ia Cure SKIN Disease ~
oNPLEs, Blackheais, Skin B.rm.,h, ,,l-
u" Hunors, Use CCuCUEA SuAr =
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
MACON MEDICINE COMPANY. Macon !

Itafords me pleasure 10 assure NuuilEE
ter using DR.. {. NclAurN celebrated g..
Pills for more than twenty years 10 ny ~
that / regard them ~ being Superior iuHr
have eycr used or have Sccn u'rd lbaua.
hal them Instantly and had 10 ty u'hrn
I have tried a good variety, bat | hh'tHf
had any To act 81 promptly. prui'hbh O
nicely ~ Mclane's. have used ih0m TIe
wife, and children, with the most gra!ila.'
suits. For children. having used ihcE =
own with such easy and happy cn~'LI y,
recommend them 10 u and a. al -
pills do the work-do II promptly. do u o.
and leave no III effects behind. ANsh" p
mover. as u liver cOrreCtOr. aN . i"u'--~
repairing the system for quinine, thor % ?
oil or medicine equal 10 Dr. MClAD'''"
brated Liver FILLS. ] expect Ia Use To- :
long as | live. II they continue as gUd@@
have been In the past.
Yours Truly, FL "iin
Pastor VI. l. Church south. Myer, siaah
Tampa District, Florida COu'eFeDo.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
TEsrsrrGo, CanaiN West
MrQtpr III " nnUs

MEssRS. FLEMING BROS
slrs: Your pills canc all right, and ] a..
they arc a good bilious pin. have ~
great many pills, but ] can say pf
Lanes Pills. Manufactured 10y Fleming =
are genuine and gentlemen J0u haven Va
N sending. Igaye some 81 iIoss Itl
aeighbOr, for q trial. ono 81 my w." (
got three pills. He saidthcy did bclp hN :
isIt the next day like a new mas H"F -
me 10 send for fifty cents worth Tor o. :
Gentlemen, | will DO ali I can 10 Intro
= MclAne'. Liver Pills. manu'Adf
Fleming Brothers. Yours with i',I"h
WN. II. p,sl'
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
HE BANK OF CALIFORNIA
BY PRENTICE MILFORD.

TcoPYRl0HrED sT TIE AUTHOR ALL RIGHTS RI
SERVED
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
CHAPTER /.
MYSELF.

father. b / wa
eighteen. failed first
ia business, next IN
health. and finally
lied Nv mother
tngu kept boarders
support the family,
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
EtrNrNl HRns

FtFsiNG BROS r5
Dear Sirs :-fncioScd you vi ma ON
Tor " lIich you will please seed ~" lhy'e
DR.. { acl-n.'s liver rms. ItfuN
ycr;ycd the pay for IL" laNtl"" u"ir
lone me more good than I could ctF'
s.ci much better now than ! have " ~
ETy. PUT SriTTr =,
West saBdLO'.S 3
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14
AVOID

" SOON ITNE .La
and We NIL ..ai you by return ne. =,
he's genuine Dr. &. Mri@ne Sc e'eD'N
nils AID eight handsome ara. q
FLEMING Bros !itt'V-|'
For Sal. by rotail druGsisu
,urc tho McLano's Pill1 you eaI.
-adc mt Pittsburgh. Pa. lhs
.orf.its are mado mt ST. Lo''A
and Wheeling. w. Va.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14

name II
John Holder.
{ was torn
and bued in
PASSPORT, u
seaport town
CrC Of great
rpute in the
"a hale fish
cry. Ny
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-14

Soi a Liquid, SHLf
Dr. Po,ndT. Fro
from InETioHs
Drug, and WoHaor
7tors
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-09
J CHAPTER x.
THE ADVERTISEMENT.

In the whole of Dick Murridge's future
life, whether that be long or short, one day
will stand out in his memory as the most un-
]u ky Every man who has been weak and
wicked thinks that the day when he was
found out is the most unlueky day in his life
Or course he should consider that the day
when he first left the path of virtue was
really that day; but to arrive at that conclu-
sion implies return to that thorny path
y it'll what used to be called heart and soul,
viii is, / believe, rare. The wicked man
not infrequently turns away from his wick
edness, so many forces acting upon him in
the direction Of Righteousness; but it is sell
dom indeed that he regards the lodges,
tricks, cheats and receptions Of the past
with aught but complacency. There was
nothing. at first to rouse special apprehen-
,ions His father was gloomy at breakfast;
re had lost his clerk as well as his sixty
rounds, and the clerk was by far the
more serious loss; also he could not I'M
derstand. in spite of his own maxims.
how the girl could possibly have done it
and what she meant by avowing the worst
piece of evidence against her, and then bid
ding him take up the case himself But to
his son he said nothing to alarm him. Dick
accepted his fathers silence as proof that
nothing more was going to be done Norah
would 1e forgiven, he fondly thought. AS
If Mr.. Murridge was the kind of man to sit
down satisfied with SO strange thing as
this unexplainedl Dick like many crafty
PERSONS. was a great fool. In fact, the
whole history of crime shows remarkable
development of the imaginative faculty go
ing parallel with great craftiness, which
prevents its possessors from seeing things in
their right proportions SO that they FIRE.
duently get caught in their own nets And
as if Norah was the kind of girl to accept
IA srent the 4 morning. for the third time.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-09
"sELF OR BEARER
BY WALTER BESANT. q
Author of s'AU Sorts and Conditions OF
Men, 'Ihe Captain $ Roonl,'' etc:
CONTINUED from last aoeeG.

Then Mr.. Murridge came back and shut the
door.
"Norah, he said walking up and down
the room in considerable agita ton, "a very
curious thing has happened
What is that?"
II have been robbed"
"Oh, how dreadful! Is it muchg"
Il have been robbed-treacherou
robbed" he added, as if most robberies were
open handed and friendly, of sixty pounds,
by means of five forged checks, payable to
bearer"
"Oh!"
Each was for twelve pounds Now,
listen. Three were brought to the bank and
cashed by one mana man who spoke a
foreign accent. and who can be easily identi-
fed He presented them on the third, the
sixth and thirteenth of this month"
Well" said Norah, "if he can be identi-
fed. you ought to be able to find him.
"One also one of the forged checks, was
presented on Friday, the 18th, at a quarter
past twelve. by young lady, Mr.. Muir
ridge watched the effect of his words, and
spoke very slowly sit was check for
twelve pounds, payable to bearer. 1t was
cashed by a young lady. What is the mat
ter Norahs" for the girl had turned white
and reeled as if she was about to faint
Nothing. Go on. 1t is nothing" But
she was white and frightened, and she trem-
bled, and was fain to sit down. Norah was
Dad actress.