davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

Patience Cummings" said she,
"you're very frivolous woman, hut
it's only for this once, you under.
stand" And lifting her trail with one
hand she took the candle in the other
and descended to the sitting room.
.tOughter have some flowers, I ex-
pect," said she, reoklessly breaking of
two OF. the finest blossoms from her
favorite pink rose bush in the window.
Ono at her throat, the other in her
hair. "Now I look something like, .
said she.
At that moment there came loud
knock at the door.
She started guiltily. = 'sWho under
the canopy can it bel" she calculated.
."An' what will they think of mel"
She spied Susan's waterproof hang
ing over chair, and enveloping her
self in it's ample folds she opened the
door very little and looked cautious.
~ out.
"Dont be afraid, Miss Patience; it's
only me-" said hearty voice.
"Oh, how do You. do, Squire Will
lard? You gave me an awful scare.
Won't you come in3" che exclaimed,
opening the door wide.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

iyory white satin faced cloth, trimmed
with galloon in black and gold: Inc
waist is arranged over smooth Innings
itted by single bust darts and closes
in the centre front. The front droors
slightly over the bet in bloute STYLE
rolling back in graduated revers to
show the plastron vest of contrasting
material. The seamless back is smooth
across the shoulders, with the addl'
tional fulness drawn well 10 the cen
tie at the waist line. The fashionable
sleeves are provided with full short
puffs and are completed at the wrists
5y round Aaring cuffs. The CLOSE
fitting collar of white cloth IL decor
ated to match the vest and.revers, and
closes on the left side. A belt of the
material encircles the waist, which
may be substituted, however, for any
one of the pretty leather or metal
belts now in vogue. Waists of this
style are extremely becoming to
youthful figures, and may be devel-
oped prettily in soft woolens or silk.
When made of serviceable materials,
such as serge, camePs hair, cheviot,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

"Pattie, "said he, regarding her ten.
,derly. 81 made q mistake great
many years ago-we won't talk about
that, though. But I always thought q
sight of you, an I've been thinkin'
considerable bout old times lately
an wonderin'if if you didn't-that is il
you wouldp't give me another chance. "
Would shel Did she understand
It all seemed like dream.
She raised her eyes inquiringly.
The squire's face was very near her.
81 want you for my wife, Pattie,
said he softly.
'Oh, Squire Willard, do you really
mean it ?" she exclaimed tremulously.
"Mean it! Why, Pattie?" said the
squire reproachfully.
And his arguments in the affirma-
tive were 80 very conclusive and con.
vincing that Patience felt her doubts
gradually melt away and speedily be.
lieved herself to be the happlest woman
in the world.
In fact they both sailed up into the
seventh heaven of bliss, where they
doubtless would have remained indf.
n1tely but for, Patience's unfortunate
memory. She suddenly withdrew from
her lovers encircling arms.
Squire Willar !" said she, serious
ly. 81 Just forgot myself"
That's all right; / hope you'll for.
get yourself again." returned he.
You'd better forget to call me squire,
too" r
81 amt jokin'," said Patience, with
dignity, can T think I oughter know
bout that widder woman you're goirl'
to marry"
"Widder woman !" cried the squire
in astonishment. 81 amt goin' to
marry any widder, unless you're one. "
"Don't you 60 regular to LinebrooEz
to see q widder with two grown-ul?
daughters" demanded Patience.
"Yes, I do.",answered Ehe squire,
his eyes twinkling, "but ! dunno's In,
'bIiged to marry her # I do."
'tNo. ! s'pose you can 60 around
breakin' women's hearts," returned
Patience, her voice trembling. She
felt that her idol was shattered and
her short-lived happiness ct an end.
"Nog, Pattie," said the squire, re.
pressing an evident inclination tt,
laugh, 'I shouldn't thought you'd be.
lieved any such yarn. I s'posed that
you knew that 1 went over to Line
brook to see Sister Ellen. She lost
her husband six months ago and she'l,
her girls have come there to live"
"Well, if that don't beat all !
dunno's you'll ever forgive me, u
faltered Patience.
swell, Ill try, returned he; ;s'rogeI
I begin now" -
The squire never did anything BY
halves, and certainly the happy
penitent could not complain that hc
was not very thorough in this matte1
of granting absolution.
He, made one demand, however
which was not refused, and on New
Years Day the wedding bells ranG
merrily for the squire aud his bride.
"Well, III be switched" exclaimed
Sister .in-law Susan, '.if Patience aim
sly ono |" $50 'l.r- ~.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
"WHY. PATTIE !" CRIED THE SQUIRE.

"Well, 7 guess I will, seein' that's
what come over for, responded the
visitor. reaching out hand in friend
ly greeting.
Patience couldn't extt nd hers very
far on account of that old waterproof,
but did the best she could under the
circumstances.
"The folks have all gone away" she
informed him, rather stifay. She
wasn't at all sure that she didn't wish
her visitor away, too.
'Yes,,I saw 'em. go by" said the
squire, who had been divesting him
self Of his overcout, "an' I noticed you
wasn't along, 80 I thought I'D come
over. But maybe you were going out"
he added, regarding her with an ex.
preston of perplexity on his genial
face. '.-s<sepzS ...
He recollected with some embarrass-
ment that she hadn't asked him to take
off his overcoat-or sit down--and
somehow she didn't look very cordia
standing there in that long black thing
hanging around her.
"I don't. wanter hinder you," he
continued.
"I5wasn't thinkin' of goin' cut" re-
piled Patience, and then she laughed.
"Now, what's the joke" asked the
squire. looking somewhat relieved at
this sudden change in demeanor Oh
her part. 49,.
II guess I don't seem over'n above
polite" said Patience apologetically,
"but I couldn't keep from laughing to
think OF goin' out in this rig, " and she
threw of the cloak and stood smiling
and blushing before the squire.
"Why. Pattie!" cried the squire,
using the old familiar name uncon'
sciously, 'you look pretty's pic
ture." .
81 guess you'll think I'm fool,
said she.
: "I guess not, he returned "Seems
to me I've seen you wear that dress
before"
81 didn't s'pose you'd remember, "
murmured she. ,>
"Don't seems though twas more'n
week since you wore it to that party
over to our house." he continued in u
reminiscent tone.
,"Don't it?" she returned family,
her eyes downcast.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

Christmas Day passed uneventfully.
There was the usual turkey and plum
pudding, and little else to remind one
that it was holiday. The members
of the family were reserving them.
selves for evening, when they were
going to Linebrook to attend Christ.
mas festival held in the church, the
principal feature of which was a
Christmas tree. ~ ~
Patience had never seen one and
would have enjoyed going, but there
wasn't room for her in the sleigh, and
besides it never seemed to occur to
her brother or his wrfe that the sold
maid" could be interested in any sort
of amusement.
"Now, Patience Cummings, there's
no mopir' lowed" che soliloquized,
trying to dispel the forlorn feeling
that came over her as she came back
into the big empty sitting room after
seeing the family off.
"You're jest goin' to fetch some
cider'n apples, an pop some corn an
have real good time"
Acting on this resolution, she
brought in from the pantry dish OF
rosy checked apples and ears OF yellow
corn. She was just seating herself to
shell the corn when she started up
with smile on her face. .. W..
"Why shouldn't II" she exclaimed !;
Christmas don't come none too
often! - >.
Lighting a candle she went up to
her little room under the caves. She
put the light down on IN old fash
ioned mahogany bureau, and, opening
her closet door, took down her two
and only highly priced silk gowns.
One, q delicate dove color, had been
her mothers wedding gown, and with
slight alterations from time to time
had served Patience on those rare oc-
casions when something extraordinary
in the way of dress was required.
The other was q steady-goiug black
silk.
She regarded them lovingly, but
critically withal.
"'Twould be more sensible to put
on the black" she argued, smoothing
the ruchings in neck and sleeves.
"But the others more dress sy-an'
I've good mind to wear it. No
KNOWN when I'll get another chance.
I bIieve will"
And she resolutely replaced the
black dress on it's pegs, and hastily
for the room was cold-arrayed her
self in the more pretentious garb OF
former days. .r...
That done she arranged her still
abundant fair hair high up on her
head, and putin high topped shell
comb-also her mother's--and regard
ed herself approvingly in the small
looking glass.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
WINTER STYLES.
NEW BAsQUEs AND WAISTS FOR
WOMEN AND MISSES.
Modish Basque In Which q New
Color Scheme Is Exquisitely
Blended-Simple and
Stylish Waists.

TN the first large engraving q mod
ish basque is delineated, intro.
duciag dainty color scheme so
& e1quisitely blended as to be pro-
.nounced au fait. Theematerials select
ed, writes May Manton, are hand
some novelty, the ground, gray, while
the stripe shows gray and green with
the me1est thread Of yellow inter
woven. The revers are of velvet in q
shade known as forest green, and the
full vest, deep girdle and collar are
fashioned in canary-oolored silk, one
Of the most popular colors OF the sea-
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

perfect gem, uniform in size. 4
lower band must be set with the 9l1
own birthstone aud the upper one u
the birthstone OF her fiance. b
That is to say, il shc chanced tqs
born in February and the other
October, tho diamond would be q
rounded by opals and amethysts.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

some folks can always take thinks
easy" Ss..
II don't think you need talk like
that, Susan. returned Patien ce. "I'm
always willin' to help, an / calculate
to pay my way"
'Rumphl" retorted Susan, with an
aggressive sniff. ''What do old maids
know bout the cares of housekeepin', (,
/ likesto know" ~ %sG.r.
.Now, Susan" ssid Patience, the
color rising in her delicate face, 'if
you cay SO I'll go right out in the
kitchen this minute an take hold OF
the bakin'.' ~:
.Well, / should think you'd know
that I'd rather you'd keep at work on
that snit OF Jim's. There he is wesrin'
his last pair Of pants an i expect any
minute when he'll come through the
knees, to say nothin' of the, seat, re.
turned Susan in sggrieved tones. Il
never did see such young ones he is
for, wearing out clothes. she continued
complacently, her voice softening, for
little Jim was her one weakness.
phe elder woman sighed as she bent
over her work.
Patience" she said to herself,
s'seems though they must know I'd
need lot or they wouldn't given me
that name"
Susan in the meantime had gone out
into the kitchen and was stirring
round in a lively manner, among the
cooking utensils. MAXIM things
hum, as her more easy going husband
was wont to remark.
Presently Patience became aware,
from the cessation OF domestic clatter,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
STYLISH HAT AND BONNET.

A stylish hat is made Of black Fel-s
vet. It has q sailor Icrown and q fat
brim which is slightly peaked up atl
one side. The trimming 10 Of puffs and
plaitings OF long pile plush. a large
cluster OF forget.me-nots is mingled
with the loops4of.the trimming. and g!
smaller cluster is attached tothe ms
der side of the brim close to the hair
A stylish bonnet is made of velvet
closely shirred over a-.framesand left
with projecting edge, upon which e
gathered q frill OF fancy velvet ribbon.
in contrasting color. The trimming
is OF rosettes Of velvet with bird OF
paradise feathers. a wide brimmed
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
TIMEI TIM E!

It's time to be merry
TO cross DER the ferry,
The troublesome ferry of Care;
For voices are singing,
And joy-bells are ringing,
And dthere's love and there's peace in the air!
6sA~reSi-e ~
It's time for forgetting
The griefs that were fretting,
To slip from the sorrow and sigh;
@ TO read the old story
KS And see the old glory
{ OF the Star in the Bethlehem sky.
y It's time for good feeling
Loves sweetest revealing; ..
The world rolls in music along; -
And souls-they are winter,
And burdens are lighter,
And life has the lilt Of song! {
.. - IF. L. Stanton.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
THREE RINGS ~ ONE.

The engagement ring, which is q
most q fac-simile of the one worn
the modern girls great-grandm mothe|
is, as the illustration shows, real
threerings in one. b
Three slender bands mnst encirc
the finger of the engaged maiden. Ar
each band is studded with jewels of
different sort. z g, s.
The middle band is set with di
mionds, which should be small bl
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
MISSES BLOUSE WAIST.

Kussar blue mohair made the simple
and stylish waist delineated in the
second large illustration and described
by May Manton, The collar, cuffs,
plastron and the wide revers being Of
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
Wien Christmas is Considered Lucky

It is considered particularly lucky
when Christmas falls on sunday and
the reverse when it comes OH Saturday.
The intermediate days are, for the
most part, propltious. 1t is believed
in Devonshire that if the sun shines
bright at noon on Christmas, there
will be q good crop of apples the fol-
lowing autumn. Everyone knows the
other old tradition to Ghe effect that
a green Christmas will make a full
graveyard.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
AN uSu:suA1 STYLE.

ZouaTes and boleros OF every kind
an,l sh 30 IRE sEill.a con .picnops part
of the bodices, but the handkerchief
zol,ave is perhaps the most unusual
style. The materials draped in the de.
sire form IN some indescribable man
ner to give the soft, full effect, and
Persian silk is especially rrettJ for
this purpose, and may form butterfly
puffs at the top Of the sleeves.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

etc, velvet can be used II combine
tion with stylish effect. No better
design can be suggested for every day
Or school wear.
To make this waist for miss IN the
medium size, it will require two sld
one.half yards Of forty:four.inch vide
material. Z. ]. Z Il
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

hat has the edge covered with behyeI
The brim is wider IN the front than
the back, where IL is rolled pp again1I
the crown. The trimming is OF loo1
of velvet and eight Of nine ostric''
tips, the feathers almost concsslln|
the crown.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

her, even if she had passed her thirty
sixth birthday and was "old enough
to know better"
So it is not surprising that Miss
Patience worked buttonholes and
felled seams on little Jim's new suit
with a heavy heart for the remaiRder
OF the day.. .t '..r:.-
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
GLOVES.

The gloves that enjoy the highest
favor have only ono button apiece IN
these days, and even this makes them
almost too long for tho sleeves that
must fail to the knuckies. :.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

REVIVAL .oR AN OLD FASHION.
a pretty revival of the old.time Gus
tom, says the Boston. Globe, is a prd
that sentiment has not passed who4
ont Of fashion. &
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
A Christmas Fact.

The future has golden tinge.
The past, too, may seem pleasant;
But lust about the Christmas tide
Ciere's nothing like the present
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
SEASONABLE JINGLES.
hobbies Trap,

Bobbie's Trap,
Small Bobbie vas a greedy boy,
so meath the mantle shelf
He nIaced an iron trap to catch
old Santa Claus himself.
And when next morning camo, the boy,
So greedy and so bad,
Was very much surprised to get
A spanking from his dad. .
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

Poor Miss Patience. She had secret.
ly admired Nat Willard all her life.
As a handsome young man he had
''kept company" with pretty Pattie
Cummings, but when he had married
his cousin, the old 'squire's ward, Pat
tie had tried to put all thought OF
him out of her heart. But no other
of her numerous beaux had found
favor in her sight. ~
Now, Nat, who had succeeded to his
fathers title, had been widower for
several years, and if his renewed at.
tentions to his old sweetheart had
caused her to build some delightful
aircastles, who can wonder or blame
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

and the sound of voices IN animated
conversation that Susan had O visitor.
After awhile the caller departed and
Susan came into the sitting room in a
state of repressed excitement.
'Don't you think May Barrow's
been here?" she exclaimed.
81 want to know" said Patience, in
pleased surprise. ''I'd like to have
seen May myself. Why didn't you
bring her in here?"
"WelI, l calculated to-" said Susan,
looking little confused, "but we got
to talkin', an all at once May said she
must 60, an told me to give her love
ts' you.
much Obliged, returned Patience,
politely.
.I've got news for you, ventured
Susan, eyeing her doubtfully. "Who
do you suppose is goln' to get mar.
I dunno" replied Pa
! ! | |, |. ! |. |. ! !
She was feeling dis
seeing May.
klder woman from
krownur' daush-
t. Ak OF that?"
g. kht to-" said
Hpgers we're
% head still
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

he's treatin' somebody else pretty
mean" said Susan, latter all his COM
in here 20. frequent tho last year."
Patience held her head up proudly
at this insinuation. 'I'd have yo1
understand, Susan" said she, "that
Squire Willard's free to marry who
ever he likes, it's nothin' to me !"
"Well, you needn't get hufy bout
it, muttered Susan, as she went out
to resume her onslaught on the pans
and kettles. 5a.. s.,i !. f..
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
Five Little ClIristmas Pigs.

II have basket, to market I'll 60"
"Tll take my glasses, so some style TIL
show -.
"Look at my new knife, to cut bread and
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
Santa Claus Sees Something Wrong.

Santa "There's something
wrong here. A boy with one leg cut
off by thrashing machine, and two
stockings hanging up"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
PATIENCE'S CHRISTMAS.

EAR mel" chirped
Miss Patience Cum
m i n gs, II can't
seem to sense 1t
that it's so near
Christmas.
"Well, ,Iguess you
would if you had as
much to do as /
have, " snapped her
slster-in.law. "But
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

Not sound to break the stiffness,
Reigning throughout the earth.
Save these bells, SO sweetly telling,
OF the Saviour's lowly birth.
sweetly ringing, sweetly ringing.
Do they tell the story old,
Which through all the coming ages,
Shall forever more be told.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23

Hark! upon the calm. still, midnight
= Comes the sound of pealing bells!
Far away their echo sounding.
Ger the hills, and DER the dells.
Over all, heavens canopy
Stars that shine with brilliant light;
Underneath the snowy hillsides,
Glistening through the starry night.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-21
PROGRESS IN IRELAND.

The Irish Land Commission, which was
brought into beng by the Gladstone act
of 1881 for the purpose of deciding what
was equitable between tenant and land
lord, has by later enactment been end owed
with powers to loan money to tenants
to the end that they might become own
ers OF small land holdings. The report
OF the commissioners for the last fiscal
year shows there were 1902 applications
for advances for this purpose aggregating
$2,5Ol.375, OF which 1851. amounting to
81, $50, were granted. The whole
amount OF cash loans MADE by the COM
mission since its creation has been $751;
065, ,000 The total amount repaid by the
purchasing tenants up to this time is
$2,945,0o0, and they have paid IS, ,S97, 400
interest.
This reveals the rate at which former
tenants are becoming proprietors. The
figures of the report become remarkable
when they :ell of the small proportion of
borrowers who have failed to pay up their
obligations. Last fall when the install
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-21

people in our family to run them. One OF the
re easons why wanted TO get down here is be-
cause 1 wanted to see the old flag once more.
"But that's good district You know, the
experts who went in there five or six years
ago all turned it down. But the people there
went right along developing it till they've got
plenty of ore.
"It's big proposition, but it's low grade,
and as you go down it gets better. 1t shows,
besides the gold, 5 10 8 per cent of copper, and
you know that's always good.
mo, it's not very cold there, nothing like so
cold as Butte. Last winter there was only one
time when the thermometer went below zero.
That time it was six below.
"Jim Wardner, the famous miner aud town.
builder, walked into my place up there this
summer, and as he held the pen in this hand
ready to register, said: well, am glad to
see you, Jim He didn't recognize me, and
added that the last time saw him was twenty
six years ago in Cottonwood, when he was
booming some propositions there. 1t was
regular reunion we had.
''Wardner has just sold the Colona mine to
Montreal parties and made a stake again. He
is between Montreal and Rossland now.
Wardner has an enormous number of friends
all over the West, and it is no trouble for him
to get hold of pretty fair mine. Everybody
is glad ne has caught on again"