davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
\ DYING MANS JOKE.
Requests to His Bcncfactors which
Turned Out To be Fictitious.
From the New York World.

From the New York World.
A shabby dressed man in the last stages
of consumption resented himself at one
of the Paris hospitals recently and was
received and cared for. Two days later
strange story ran from enc end of the in
stitution to the other. The conslmntiye, ii
was said. was rich lard owner from the
south of France, who. to eNpiate a life
spent in dehauchery and general wicked
ness, wished to end his days among the
very poor and wretched. II seems he had
secretly procured pen and paper and had
dictated his will to one Ct his fellow pa
tents
He bequeathed all his possessions to the
good people who had sweeteaed his last
moments: 100000 francs TO the director,
.un0 francs to the chief physician, 3un.-
090 francs to the hospital which had so
charitably sheltered Kim, and so on. No
one was forgotten, not even his companions
in misery.
Every patient is solicitously cared for in
the hospital in question, hut this one TO-
ceived a double portion OF attention. ouI
of delicacy all forhCre to speak TO him of
his beouest but all watched over the GER
erous giver with particular tenderness. and.
surrounded by every comfort, he breathed
his last. The brilliant funeral which fol-
lowed was paid for by the hospital which
he had enriched.
But what a sorrowful, Supplying SIR
prise was theirs when they learned at the
end of a week that in the region indicated
as the native place of the deceased. where
his house anG lands, his valuables and
goods We're located, he was utterly I'M
known The anne he lad given was false;
the will he had made was a hoax.
At first all concerned were furious, hut
second thoughts showed them the hunnor-
Gus side of the stupendcus joke of which
they had been the victims, and II laughter
is a cure for ills many such must have
followed in that institution.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
had not tn

heart smote him, and that but for mis-
chievous curiosity to see how l should take
it, he would not have carried the matter so
fer. Be that as ii may-and do not doubt
this any more than l ever doubted the
reality of the affection in which he held
NEON a sudden he raised his hand and
beckoned to me.
1 went down to him gravely, and not
hurriedly. He looked at me with some
signs of confusion In his face. You are
late this morning. he said
Il have been on your majesty's business"
! answered.
Il do not doubt that" ne replied, queru-
lousy, his eyes wandering. Il am mott
am troubled this morning" And after a
fashion he had when he was not at ease,
he ground his heel into the soil and looked
down at the mark. The queen is not we'll.
Silery has seen her and will tell you So
NJ de Sillery, whose constant opposition
to me at the council board l have else
where described, began to affirm it, ! let
him go on for little time and then inter-
rupted him brusIuely: Il think 1t was
you" l said, who nominated Ferret to be
enc of the kings clerks
"Ferret?' he exclaimed reddening at my
tone. while the king, who knew ME we'll,
pricked Up his ears.
And if sou Silery asked, haughtily.
What do you mean
only this" said. That if his majesty
will summon him to the queens closet,
without warning or delay, and ask him in
her presence how much Nine. de Nerneuil
gave him for the kings cipher, her majesty,
l think, will learn something which she
wishes to know"
What" the king cried. You have dis
covered it? But he gave You receipt for
the papers he took
For the papers he took with my knowl-
edge-yes, sire"
.:The rogue. Sllery exclaimed viciousy.
Il will go and fetch him."
Not so-Wth your maJestYS leave, L
said, interposing quickly. M. de Si'lery
NAV say too much or too little. Let
lacEey take a message, bidding him to go
to the queens closet, and he Will suspect
nothing"
The king assented and babe me go and
give the order. When l returned, he asked
me anXiously if l felt sure that the man
would confess. :,
YES, if you pretend to know all, sire"
T answered he will think that madame
has betrayed him.
VERY WE'LL Henry said. Then let Us
so"
But I declined to be present. partly on
the ground that if l We're there the queen
might suspect me of Inspiring the man, ard
rar,Iv because | thought that the rogue
would entertain Il more confident hope of
par,Ior and be more likely to confess. If lie
saw the king alone. l contrved to keep
S;llcry also; and Henry giving the word, as
he mounted the steps, that he should be
back presently, the whole court renamed
in a state of suspense, aware mat some
thing was in progress but in doubt what,
and unable to decide whether l were again
in favor new on trial.
Sillery remained talking to me. princ-
pally on English matters, until the dinner
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
off and rose to his feet.

off and rose to his feet.
Here he is at last" he said barely look
ing at lie. Now, if you Will, dear heart,
ask him your questions. I have rad no
communication with hun, as you know, Tor
/ have been with you since morning..
The queen, whose face was flushed with
fever, made fretful movement, Out oiu
not answer.
DO you wish me to ask him?' Henry
said with admirable patience.
IF you think it is worth while, she NUT
tered turning sullenly and cycling me from
the middle of her pillows with disdaih ana
ill-temper.
Il will. then" he answered, and he turn
ed to me. M. de Rosny," he said. in
formal tone, which even without the I'M
accustomed monsieur cut me to the heart
"be good enough to tell the queen now the
KEY to my secret cipher, which L intrusted
to you, has come to be IN Mime. de YER
neuiHS possession.
I looked at him in the profoundest as
toni shment, and for moment renamed
silent, trying to collect my thoughts under
this unexpected blow. The queen saw my
hesitation and laughed spitefully. Il am
afraid sire" she said. that you have over
rated this gentlemans ingenuity though
doubtless it has been much exercised III
your service.
Henrv's face grew red with vexation.
Speak. man. he cried. "How came she
Mime. de Verneuil?" / said.
The queen laughed again. Had you not
scornfully land tell him what to say?
Fore God. madame the king cried
passionately. you try me too far. Have
/ not told you a hundred times. and sworn
to you that / did not give Nine de Yer
neuil this key?
IF you did not give Ter that" the
queen muttered. suuenly, picking at the
silken ccverlid which lay on her feet,
you have given her all else. You cannot
deny 1t"
Henry let a gesture of despair escape
him. Are we to go back to that, he
said Then turning to me: Tell her he
said between MS teeth; land tell me.
Ventre Saint Gris-are you dumb. man.?
Discerning nothing for it at the mo-
mcnt save to bow before this storm, whi1h
had arisen 50 suddenly. and from quarter
the least expected. l fastened to comply.
/ had not projected far with my story,
hovever-which fell short, OF course, OF
explaining how the key came to be in
Nine de Verreui!s hands-hefore 1 saw
that il won no Credencc with the queen.
but rather confirmed Ter in her belief that
the king mad given to another what he
had denied to her And more. j saw that
in proportion as the tale failed TO convince
her il excited tine kings wrath anu disap-
roiutment He several times cut me short
with expressions of the utmost Impotence
and at last. when | came to lame con-
clusion-since | could explain nothing eX-
cept that the key was gone-he could re
strain himself no longer. In tone in
which he had never addressed me before.
he asked me Why / had not on the in
staut. communicated the loss to him: and
when | woui have defended myself by
adducing the reason | had given above,
overwhelmed me with abuse and reproach-
es, which, they We're uttered in the
queens presence. and would be repeated.
/ knew to the CGnciuiS and GaliS&is OF
her suite who had no occasion to love me,
carried a double sting.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02

will be in vain. know she has IT; and II
the king did not give 1t to her. who did,
THAT is the question, madame" l said.
Is one e eas MY nnoW ak h sne
But perhaps, madame, she Will not an
sWer," ! ventured.
Then command her to answer in the
kings name!' the queen replied, her
cheeks burning with fever. And II she
will not, then has the king no prisons-no
letters smooth enough for those dainty
ankles?'
This was a home question, and Henry,
who never showed to less advantage than
when he stood between two women, cast
sheepish glance at me- Unfortunately
the queen caught the look, which was not
intended for her; and on the instant II
awoke all her former suspicious. Suppos-
ing that she had discovered our collusion,
she flung herself back with cry OF rage,
and. bursting into passion OF tears, gave
way to frantic reproaches, Walins anu
throwing herself about with violence
which could not but injure one in her con-
dition.
The king stared at her for moment IN
sheer dismay. Then mis- chagrin turned 10
a ger which, as he dared not vent IL on
her. took my direction. He pointed I'M
petuously to the door. Begone, SIT: ne
said in q passion, and with the utmost
han shress. You have done mischief
enough here. God grant that we see the
end of it. Go-go!' he continued, quite be-
side himself with fury. Send Galigal here'
ana 90 you 20 W youl iouSiho uiA'ih ~"
hear from me-!
Overwhelmed and almost stupefied by
the catastrophe, 1 found my way out, L
hardly knew how, and, sending In the
woman, made my escape from the ante
chamber But hasten as l might. my dis
order, patent to d hundred curious eyes,
betrayed me; and, if it did not disclose as
much as l feared or the inquisitiVe desired,
told more than any had looked to learn.
Within an hour it was known at Nemours
that his majesty had dismissed me with
high words-some said with a blow; and
half a dozen courierS We're on the ROAD 10
Paris with the news.
In my place some might have given up
all for lost; but in addition to sense OF
rectitude, and the consciousness or desert
l had 20 support me an intimate KNOWLEDGE
Of the kings temper; which, though had
never suffered from 1T to this extent De
fore | knew to be on occasion as not as
his anger was short lived, and his disposi-
ton generous. L had hoped, therefore-ai-
though / saw dull faces enough among my
suite and some pale ones-that the KING
repentance would oVertake his anger, ana
it's consequences ou:strp any that might
flow from his wrath. But though l was not
altogether at fault in this. i failed 10 take
into account one thing-I mean henry $
anxiety on the queens account her coh-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
USED TO BE HIS WIFE.
A Matter-0f-Fact View of n Serious
Situation.


From the Memphis Avalanche.
l sat in tine Sheriff's office talking with
him about a man in his charge who was to
be hanged three days later, when a woman
was announced, and in walked a female
who had passed fifty. Her face was wrin-
killed., her hair thin and white and her voice
seemed to come out of reed as she asked:
"Hev yo' got man in this yere prison
named Thomas Jackson?'
'Yes'rn,' remarked the official
Did he kill somebody about three
months ago.
He did, ma'am
"And has he bin tried for murder and
sentenced to be hung?'
He is TO he hung on Friday. ma
"He is, eh?' she Quered she took
pipe from her pocket and proceeded to fill
and light. Ar yo the man who is Soln TO
hang him.
Il shall have to carry out the law"
"YaaS, of co'se. Folks hey got to be
hung, and We hev got to hey other folks
to hang EN-. How does Tom bar up under
it?'
Very well, indeed, ma'am. L think he
will die like man..
He will, Ell? Wall, that's more'n he
ever lived. Toms allus bin mighty onery.'
Are you relative?"
USED to be his wife, but done left him.
Yaas, lived with Tom fur sixteen vars.
And you have come TO say farewell to
him.
NO, sir. I'm on my way to Collinsville,
and thought I'd jest run in fur mint
No, don't care to see him, but yo' kin say
/ called
"N es'm.''
And that I'm sorry he's to be hung"
"Yes'm.''
But that as long as he's got to be hung
and can't get out of it thar haint no use
in fussin' round"
"Yesm.''
IF he axes fur anythin' mo- yo' kin say
that I'm well; cur boy Sam ar well; the
dawg ar dead, and I've jest put in two
acres of con and am gettin' ready to go to
camp meetin' next week. That's ALL Some
felix's hev got to be hung, and other folks
Rev TO hang EN-, and Tom Jackson might
jest as we'll BE putin in his time on the
gallus as loafin' around and wishin' he was
rich
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
8 Lake with Il Lead Bottom.

From the 81. Louis Republic.
Dubuque county. Iowa, boasts the posses
sion OF the most unique subte!ranean lake
in the wo~ld-an underground body OF wa
ter with bottom formed throughout Of
pllre crystals Of lead. The farm upon, or
rather under, which this curious lake is
situated is near the city OF Dubuque. in the
heart of the lead regions which MADE that
portion OF the northwest territory famous
before the opening of the present century.
The prospectors who discovered the cavern
in which this lcad-bottUlnca lake * stu
ateti had sunk a shaft c.'b feet before strik-
ing il. They attempted to drain the lake,
or pump il dry, SO as tc get 2t TIE ieaG;
but We're disappointed to find IL connecled
with the Mississippi river.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02

hour, which came and went, neglected by
ALL At length, when the curiosity of the
mass of couriers, who did not dare to in
terrupt us, had been raised by delay to an
almost intolerable pitch, the king returned,
with signs of disorder in his bearing, and,
crossing the terrace in half dozen strides,
drew me hastily, along with Sillery, into
the grove of white mulberry trees. There
we were no sooner hidden in part though
not completely, than he threw his arms
about me and embraced me with the warm
es. expressions. "Ah, my friend he said,
putting me from him at last what shall
l say to you?'
The queen is satisfied, sire?'
Perfectly, and desires to be commended
to YOU.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
Ambiguity That Evoked q Smile.

From The Troy IIiles
Ambiguous language often gets the pup
lie speaker as well as writer INTO trouble.
This fact was illustrated in one oil the
Cohoes churches Sunday morning. Inc
preacher was discoursinS on hissiohafy
work in Africa, and was reviewing some
.of the difficulties which confront the mis-
s;onarv to the dark continent. He took oc-
casion to inveigh loudly against the rum
traffic amcng the natives, asserting it did
more harm than the missionary could do
good. why" said the preacher, forty
barrels of rum are sent to Africa to every
missionary" OF course, the real meaning
of the good man sas Obvious, but, never
tbeless q smile went around the church.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02

drew ont. after 4 moments search, a small
packet which she held out toward me.
Take it," she said with a haunting laugh.
1T has served my turn. What the king
gave me l give you.
Seeing that it was the missing key to she
cipher, | swallowed my rage and took it;
and being assured by this time that l could
effect nothing by staying longer, but
should only expose myself TO fresh insults,
| turned on my heel, with rudeness equal
to her own, and, without taking leave
of her, flung the door open and went
cut | heard her threw herself back with
a shriIl laugh of triumph. But as the mo-
ment the door fell to behind me, my
thoughts began to cast about for another
way of escape-this failing-I took little
heed of her, and less of the derisive looks
to which the household, quickly taking the
cue, treated me l passed. 1 flung my
self into the saddle and galloped off, fol-
lowed by Magnah, who presently, to my
surprise blurted out a. clumsy word of con-
/ turned on him in amazement, and,
swearing at him, asked him what he
meant. };
pointing to the packet which l mechan-
ically held in my ,hana.
"And to what purpose? / cried. glad oil
this opportunity of unloading some of my
wrath. II want mot the paper, but the
secret. fool, You may have the paper for
yourself if you will tell me how madame
got it,. ,,
Nevertheless, his words led me to look at
the packet l opened tt, and having salts
fled myself that it contained the original
and not a copy, was putting it up again
when my eyes feel ION a small spot of
blood which marked one corner of the
cover. 1t was not lager than a grain of
corn but it awoke, first, vague associa-
ton and then a memory, which as / rode
grew stronger and more definite, until, on a
sudden, discovery flashed upon me-and the
truth.
/ remembered where l had seen spots of
blood bcfore-on the papers | had handed
to Ferret-and remembered, too. where that
blood had come from. l looked at the cut
now and finding it nearly healed. sprang
in nv saddle. OF a certainty this paper
had gone through my hands that day! 1t
had been among the others; therefore 1t
must have been passed to Ferret inside
another when l first opened the bag! The
rogue. getting it and seeing his opportu-
nitv. and that l did not suspect, had
.toIibtiess secreted it, probably while l was
attending to my hand.
had rot suspected him before because
I had licked off the earlier papers as
handed them to him; and had searched only
among the rest and N the bag for the
missing one Now l wondered that l had
not done So. and seen the truth from the
beginning: and III my iinpaticnce l found
the leagues trough the forest, though the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02

Whoever had stolen II, therefore, another
could be substituted for it. and no one the
worse. SUN 4 VAS UuW Hing tndt The king
should hear of the miScEanCe from q
stranger. AMI be led 20 think me careless;
ard babe Ftrro. he silent about il unless
Henry missed the packet, which might not
happen before my arrival
Wtyn the secretary. who readily aSSented.
hal given me- his receipt and gone, l ques-
t!Cra.i Ai.i-Lau afrcsh and more closely,
but with no result. He had not seen me
place the packet in The portfolio az Calais,
AMI that I had done so I could Vouch only
my own ne usTy, which L knew TO be fat
Hale. IL the metDt,ne, though the mis-
chance annoyed me. / attached no great
iupurtdi &c to il. but anticipating that a
woII Of explanation would satisfy the king,
guI new eli her dispose of other difficult
ties, | dismissed the mater from my mind.
INcrtE-fOUT hours later, however, | was
TUleiy awakened y courier arrived from
Henry. and. surprising ME in the midst OF
my last preparations at the arsenal hand
ed me an order TO attend his majesty: an
order couched in the most absolute and
pcrv.uTtOry terms, and lacking all those
friendly expressions which the king never
failed TO use when he wrote to me. y mis-
sive brief and fCrmaEand so needless.
for was on the point of startng-had not
reached me for years; and coming at this
moment when l had no reason to expect a
reverse of fortune, IT had all the effect of
thuHdcrhJlt in clear sky. l stood
stunned. the words which / was debating
to my secretary dying on my lips. For
knew the king too WELL and had expert
creed his Kindness too lately to attribute
the hgrshnCss of the order to chance or for
getfuncss: and. assured i'll a moment that
/ stood face to face with grave crisis, l
fouud myself hard put to it TO hide my
feelings from thCs" about me.
NcVeEth"Is IS. / did so with an effort; and,
sending for the courier. asked him with an
assumption Cf carciessnrss what was the
latest news at court. Ills answer. in a
n.cTsUrc. GAINED my fears. though IT could
not remove them. lie reported that the
queen had been taken lll-or so the rumor
went.
"Sud IeIly ." ! said.
This morning" he answered.
1.-THE king was with her,
ayes your CNoc!lcuty.'
"GI..I h let h.t long when he sent this
letter.
1T came from her chamber, your excel
lcncy.'
''I}ut-d.d you understand that her majes-
" w.s f. Danger | urged.
~ 10 that. however. the nina could rot
say anything; and l was LETT To nurse my
Coui-ctIrrs during the long ride to toH-
taiurLlyad. where We arrived In she cool OF
tho evening the last stage through III"
forest awakening memories Of past pleas
urc that comhatcd IN vain the disorder and
pppr.tor~luI which HID my spirits Dis
mounting IN tire dusk NJ tic door q: my
ll1rtG-eHts, found = flesh surprise await
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02

Nevertheless for a time, and until he
rad somewhat worn himself out. let Hen
~ proceed Then, taking advantage of the
first pause | interroscd. Reminding MIN
that lie had never had cause to accuse nc
OF carelessnCss before, | recalled the tWen-
ty-tvo years during which 1 had served
him faithfully. and the enmties l mad
incurred for his sake: and having by these
means placed the dis russion on a more
equal footing. ] descended again TO plrticd-
lars and asked respectfully if l might
know on whose authority Nine. dc Yer
ueuil was said to have the cipher.
con her own" the queen cried Eysteri-
ca!ly. Don't Try TO deceive nc, for 1t
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02

her, looked about for one, found that
all the seats except one very low stool
had been removed from the ROOM
This was so like her that 1t did not as
tonish me, and I baffled her malice by
leaning against the wall. This is no or
binary honor-from NJ. de Rosny" she
said, f1outing me with her eyes.
II come on no Ordinary MISSION mad
ame" said, as gravely as 1 could.
tone. Il should have put on new rib
bons, I supposev' 80
"Erom the king madame" I continued,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
Song.

When / an dead. my dearest,
Sing no sad SONGS for me:
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
e.. the green grass al,ivc me
With showers and d2wdrnps Wet;
And If thou wilt. remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.
i shall not sec the shadows,
l shall not feel the rain:
| shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on. as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Happy | may remember,
And haply may forget
CHRISTINA GEpGGINA ROSETTL
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02
When They Turned Away

From the Indianapolis JorHnal.
Unketom-"I hear YOU turned people
away in Jayport.'
Barnes Toimer-"We tried to. bat they
wouldn't go Until they got their money
back
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-22
INGALLS, on TIE PRESIDENT

rHD KANSAS ORATOR STILL MYsTlFlED AT
cI.EyELANDS ADVANCEMENT
St Louis. June 2l.-Ex-serator John J. ingalls, or
Kansas arrived here yesterday on his way TO the
Republican National League Convention In CleVc-
land About President Cleveland and his policy he
said:
He IL one of the incredible Incidents in the poiiti.
cal history of the Nation | see by the dispatches
there is talk of his leading an Independent SOUND
money movement That is ridiculous don Know
what else he has succeeded in, but he mas sue
ceeded most gloriously in destroying his own party
He has reached the lofties' positions WIN III III
ability than any man whom history recoras,, ne
has not the slightest constructive capacity w hvn
he into Office his Ignorance of every p,Dhh ne
question was dense. ahyssmal profound, nut ne
went at them with all the confidence of isn9Iahce.
lie has followed out his tariff scheme uht' ne mas
a deficiency To meet - ,,.,, ,ro,,
He went into ONCE pettifofcing lawyer from
Buffalo and has now one Of the largest ptNh,e
fortunes In the country lie has had no visible
means OF support since then but ofiicehoiding HOW
do YOU associate that with the shrinking honesty
which has characterized him. Now he Is trying 10
bewildcr the country with what he calls the snuh.,
money idea Ills idea Of sound money seems 10
be TO supply deficiencies In the Treasury 10y selling
bonds 10 foreign syndicates at lo', when are nuM
quoted I believe at leS, As say, his success mas
been one OF the incredible things IN American poh'