davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

from St Michaels to Dawson.
An unexpected source of food was
found on the Yukon river the other
day. A party of miners, bent on ex-
periments, chopped a hole and drop
ping their lines in found that they
could bring up very eatable fish. This
fish seemed to be of peculiar variety.
They were something like founders,
fat and broad, with very delicious
meat that was welcome to the camp.
A very good supply was caught in a
few hours, and by the time the hole
had frozen over, as 1t does here In a
few hours. enough fish had been OBJ
tanned for days food for camp OF
twenty men.
1t Is feared that the river may
freeze too deep for cutting purposes,
but this is something which is to be
determined later.
ICE BOATING.
The sail.boat goes very nicely over
land as well as over water, but 1t
needs frozen surface. Several miners
who set out in party, with three
of these boats, declare that they Will
leave the Yukon at Circle City and go
northeast into hitherto untravelled
country ON the very border OF the Ca
madam northeast territory, where
there have been reports Of marvellous
gold finds. After they leave the fu-
kon they intend to drop the runners
and fit wheels to the house-boat, and
from there on to use their sails. TX
they encounter storm they can put
ON the runners again.
The Alaska Commercial Company
announces that IL cannot carry any
more supplies this fall, over whit us
present contracts call for, which are
wholly inadequate to the needs, and
the American Supply Company makes
the same announcement. Driven back
upon their own resources the kiondik-
ers are using their Yankee ingenuity
to save their lives and their fortunes.
But they have got to work quickly or
that terrible famine which Secretary
Bliss promises will be along.
JOHN NJ. WILLIAMS.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

door, and stepping over to the table
where your Bible lies, opened the Book
and read: The days of the years of
your life are numbered Here the
voice grew faint, and the figure closed
the book On your birthday, the hour
and the minute October third
Il lost the voice again, and the figure
melted away, but not until I had
sprung from my couch and followed it,
begging it to tell me more. AS it faded
from sight it repeated: The third of
October' and I fell to the hoor crying
aloud to it."
While he was telling this Miss Ma
rion chung to me with her head buried
in my shoulder, and felt her sobbing:
''My God!" l heard her say, and My
God! My God!" again.
Marion" said Mr.. Percy, speaking
with dry lips, while the strange light
in his eyes fairly froze the blood in my
veins, Il know now that these spirit
messages are more to me than home or
fortune, friends or-wife! They are
sent to guide and warn me- l shall
want you to respect them as much as
l do"
Then, noticing me for the first time,
he motioned me away, and | Withdrew
and left them alone.
That summer Miss Marion busted
herself on her country place, for they
came back to Miss Marionis home to
spend the warm months. 1t was pathe-
tic to see her working all day SO pa
tiently with her poor, and attending SO
faithfully to the wants of her house
hold, yet 80 quiet and sweet with it all.
At evening she and Mr. Percy used to
walk in the grounds, but thought that
Miss Marion did not like these walks,
and after an evening or two | contrived
to be always near them, working at
some bit of needle trimming in the
dusk or attending to a belaited plant.
Miss Marion seemed not to notice me
there, but l knew she saw me, for one
evening she lifted her handkerchief to
her shoulder, which l took as the sign
to follow, and crept cautiously after
them in the darkening paths until
overlook them. Il am surprised, Ma
rion," Mr.. Percy was saying, that you,
with your education, do not believe in
the supernatural. l believe in it and
it's messages so implicitly that were the
voice TO come to me now and command
me to kill you l should do SOL"
A cry burst from Miss Marions lips.
Don't be foolish, Marion" said Mr..
Percy, catching her roughly by the
arm. "You know I exaggerated. But
you drive me to it with your sceptic-
ism and your pleadings. Of course.
love my wife far too well to iniure
her."
After that Miss Marion was quieter
than ever, and so nervous that when I
entered the room l would make a.
scraping or a coughing before knock
ed, so that the poor dear might not
jump and start. 'Mr. Percy is not
very well, Kate" said she one day. DO
you think we can get him away by the
Sd of October "
Then I knew what was in her mind,
poor darling, for it was on October 8,
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

ton by getting provisions up there for
themselves. 1t would interest and
sometimes amuse you, were 1t not so
tragic. to observe how speedily neces-
sity has made invention possible in
the rigging up and getting together of
quaint craft for the navigation of the
Yukon river.
At this writing the Yukon is what
is called navigable, but this does not
mean that you can steam up 1t In your
launch and arrive at Circle City and
Dawson and be adjacent to Skaguay
and Juneau at your pleasure, but 1t
means that the Yukon Is not yet en-
tirely closed. There 1t lies, sea OF
mud partly frozen, with chunks OF ice
Embedded in it and all covered by
furry of snow. That is the beginning
of winter in the Klondike!
October is the first winter month
here. We had a taste OF it in Sep
TENDER. but now the cold is on us
heart and soul, and while st. Michaels
does not suffer, because steamships
reach here internationally all the year
round. it is almost within shouting
distance Of the great region where fam
inc and frost prevail. -
REINDEER SLEDGES.
The government has planted reindeer
here for the transportation OF provis-
ions and has supplied the reservations
at St. Michaels, Circle City and Bircn
Creek with reindeer for far inland
travel all winter. But although there
are 1,5OO of these grown animals they
are yet wholly inadequate to supply the
thousands who have reached the Klon-
like during the last two months.
The great problem Is to get provisions
to the interior. AS Mrs. Barber, res
taurant owner, says: 1T is great
country for gold. No one need worry
about that. The gold Is there all right,
and there is lots of 1t scattered around
to give everybody that goes up there
q living, but the trouble is to get pro-
visions. There are good many things
not to be had at any price. and for the
cheapest canned goods, like peas and
beans, you pay 81 can"
Everyone who travels to the Klon-
dixie now makes himself into a trans
portatio7 company. There are few
hardy miners who are not deferred by
the cold weather, and who are starting
for the gold fields, intending to live
here all winter. But these are about
the only ones that are going on mining
business. Others are starting with lots
of eatables, knowing that they will
make a fortune as great as any gold
mine II they can once reach Circle
City and Dawson with their wares.
These need peculiar kind OF boat"
to go over the frozen ground.
A new craft has sprung into exist
ence for use in the Klondike. 1t Is call
ed the sail-house boat 1t consists Of
a little shanty which is mounted upon
runners. To the front Of each is adj
justed big sail. and the entire struct-
ure IL then launched upon the snowy
surface Of the ground and Is set going
81 the action Of the wind upon the sails
exactly 1ike sboak
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

oilers t1ve arctic dogs "a ax f1,ese
WAGONS and then they az called dos
carts Ct overland wagons but as thesa
animals are very scarce here inst now
they are forced to get some other meth
cd OF I0comotion.
NEEDED HOUSES.
Another crying need is for houaaa
Any little shanty will do, but if musi
have q roof and sides. Miners who
have been to the Klondike know This
and have advised all those who start
out to take their houses with them
These houses are on wheels, like gypsy
carts. They have rooms in them. di-
vided by curtains; and in the different
rooms cooking and other household op-
erations are carried on. When the
miner is ready to start he has force
of twenty men to lift his shanty upon
his broad rollers, to which the sail is
then adjusted by long poles and simple
mechanical contrivances.
A sailor, usually a Norwegian, is
employed to manipulate the sail, and
by turning 1t this way and that, so as
to catch the wind, it can be made to
carry the wagon over the surface of
the ground as rapidly as it carries
boat in the water, and, with certain
winds, much more SO.
A miner who came in the other day
to ST. Michaels reported that in getting
across country. taking a short cut
from the bay down to ST. Michaels, he
was caught in a severe wind, so strong
as to carry him along as if he were
borne in the teeth OF a tornado. With
great difficulty he managed to unstrap
a heavy pole which was under his
cart and which he had intended to use
for tent purposes later. With the pole
he managed to get an anchorage into
the sand and so prevent himself from
being ripped along the face Of the earth
at speed so terrific that he could not
keep his breath.
A great many of these crafts are
being built for use on the Yukon as
soon as it becomes frozen from the
very bay to st. Miehaels. This will
not be long, and by the time you
read this letter, doubtless, these boats
will be in operation on the Yukon
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

s. Is 4 - =, g S113k rIhe
=, yo6 kneW that
- Il. ten ~ Katie. !.
ehcDf ~ head but Nv eyes told
Katie" she whispered. Il know
from your eyes when you tell me
wrong. / have been dreadfully wicked,
Katie" whispered she, .but am going
to live and be good. Ged will forgive!
God will forgive Where is Mr.. Percy ~
Outside, Miss, waiting
TO be forgiven. Oh. Katie, I can
not wait to see him. Pray first for me,
Katie, as you did when was little
child. Pray that may be made whittier
than snow. That was the little song
you used to sing ct night. Sing,
Katie"
With tears rolling down my face I
sang. Then mistress stopped me.
Katie, l ought to be punished; must
be punished! Promise me that you will
tell the world my wicked story: tell it
SO that shall hear it again and read
it. Promise me, Katie"
I nodded.
Now call Mr.. Percy. Tell him that
will be well again; that both our sins
have found expiation in self-crucifix-
ion."
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

3 = pa I - e
! l6i y 1lIa NJ III i IA 4 q = /:
" sf(o c6kc mTG8Ik s ana ~ 81 y rs d.
eef Z bottle that stood on fkS 7lf6I4 af
my side. II fell With 3 crash.
With cry 81: fear Miss Marion
dropped the glass IN her hand and
rushed from the room. giving me time
to make my escape by the other door.
let Miss Marion undress herself
alone that night, for the trembling In
my arms and knees was such that /
dared not go to her. But slept out
side her door, and when she tried to
open it once in the night gave it 4
little push shut again, enough to
brighten her, poor thing, but could
not do OF erwise, knowing all did.
And all night the door of the study
doomed before her eyes! Shut as Miss
Marion had slammed it, while behind
lay-that of which was too awful for
me to think. How lived till morning
/ cannot now tell at all.
1t was not my sweet-faced mistress
that came down to breakfast next day,
but a hatchetfaced thing that I should
never have known.
Kate, have you called your master
YETI" she asked me.
mo, Miss Marion" said, hiding my
face behind the tea things / was carry
ing. do so at once" said she, then
hesitating. she said quietly: NO, I
will call him myself"
'Shail-snail I go with you Miss Ma
rion?" asked. But she turned on me
so quickly that shrank back and let
her pass alone up the hall.
The next minute there was wild
cry in the house and the voice of Miss
Marion rang out: Percy, Percy, are
you awake? Percy, Percy"
The other servants as we'll as myself
heard it, too, and we crowded around
the door. There, in his armchair, sat
master, with his head leaning against
Miss Marion's scarlet morning robe,
and she chatting his temples and saying
to him: Percy! Percy! Percy! am
SO glad!"
Masters face was pale, but his eyes
were open, and he smiled as she spoke
to him.
Thank you," he said softly, "and
forgive me! When you left me last
night 1 must have fallen asleep; faint
ed, perhaps, l was SO worn with-that
horrid vision! And while l slept, for
| did not wake until l heard you CALL
ing, dreamt again, and saw the fool
ishness of it all-the awful wickedness
of it! Forgive me, darling, and we
will begin over again. That hateful
third of October shall be turned into a
day of thanksgiving and joy for us.
Little darling, why don't you speak to
me? Marion! Marion!"
But little mistress heard him not.
She had sunk to the floor, with her
arms thrown over her head, and look
of death in her face.
When our old doctor found her. an
hour later, he shook his head. "It is q
severe attack of the heart" he said to
Mr.. Percy, "and she must be kept quiet
She is weak as DEATH
For two days and nights I watched
her, and then falling asleep one night,
l awoke to see a queer thing, between
my half-closed lids. Sitting up in bed
was Miss Marion, looking around the
room. And she who was too weak to
breathe an hour before, got up and ran
to the door and locked it, pulling the
heavy bolt firm. Then with quick step
she crossed the room to her dresses,
within foot of me, and took out. lit
tel box. In it lay two small white
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03
BURNT CLAY MAKES GOOD ROADS.
Missouri Professor Recommends IL FOE
Improving Country Highways.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
The utilization OF burnt clsys as a road
material Is mentioned in the last Missouri
geological report as subject that should
be fully discussed. Some OF the railroads
are already using burnt clay for ballast
in preference 70 rock. sand or gravel. with
good results so that the extension OF the
use of this material for roadways Is in
reality beyond the experimental stage.
Professor Wheeler says in his report ON
clays that, while II Is not so good al
tough rock for the heavy traffic OF cities,
it would be desirable for country roads.
where the teams are few and the loads
light. 1t can be prepared wherever the
clay il. and often by the roadside. and ~
the heaviest roads are those IN clay soils.
these may be made to furnish the mates
III ~ theix own imprqt sment.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

On the frst Of Jllpe, 1887, Miss Mar
ion and ! made nh take.
BY M. E. ANDERSON.

On the first OF Jllpe, 1887, Miss Mar.
ion and made a mn take.
We were married.
She the mistress and I the maid
took unto ourselves new master; and
though Mr. Percy W. good to us and
lavished his millions bon Miss Marion
yet we knew, both she and l, in less
that tWenty-iour hours, that the world
was not the same for us.
when Miss Marion Langdon and Mr.
Percy Gerard were made one. The
servants hall was empty that night for
Miss Marion in assisted that we all go to
the church to see her married, and
when we came back there was music
for us in the servants hall and dane
ing until light. Miss Marion was the
heiress of all the Langdon estates, and
had it not been for a great aunt she
would have had to live alone, for no
close relatives had she.
| was sent on ahead that night to
Boston with the trunks, and right cosy
l made the rooms for Mr. Percy and
Miss Marion, just the same as l had
done for little Miss ever since l went
into her service as governess, a girl of
sixteen, and she a baby girl of six.
Don't put winter flowers in my bridal
chamber, Kate" she said one day. Get
the bright flowers of autumn. I feel
somehow to-day as if winter were not
so far off," This she said with a little
shiver, I thought, and l suspected the
truth.
Miss Marion, with all her love for
Mr.. Percy, was afaid--yes, afraid! For
Mr.. Percy had his peculiarities, and
they alarmed Miss Marion. Many a
time when they were counting l have
seen her come up to her room shiver-
ering, after he left her of an evening;
yes, shaking as though with a chill.
Yet Miss Marion loved him we'll.
That might was awakened by fear
full shrek from the bridal chamber. 1t
was Mr.. Percey's voice uttering awful
cries of fear, and above his rose Miss
MaTion's voice calling for help "Kate,
Kate where are you Kate?" she was
calling.
When I entered THE room Mr. Percy
lay upon the floor, half dressed, with
his eyes wide open, and his teeth set as
in fits. Clad in a robe and shrinking
far from him, with face like death, was
Miss Marion.
! chafed Mr.. Percy's hands and he
5oon breathed again. Marion, I have
ooked - 1eath," said he-"yes, on
ieathr-a death in life.'
!" cried Miss Marion.
GU do something for him :?
nuIs.,,,tt"
my dreams, Marion"
This one was terri
sarest," coaxed Miss
lor coming back to
you not promise
ID overcome those
Id you not tell me
them all from your
sitting up, with one
looked at my lovely
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

MS
roo1n. k6a7( S6ISSS ia 8;
+ fercys4 and 1Gfg 1laz ~ ID ~
ping to no window I hen< 1Iile ~
say: Do not fear, Percy, darling. n
It comes 10 you again / Will drive Y
away. We will sit mp and walk Tor 4.
you and /, until ten minutes past one
the hour. But Percy, dear, It will nlOt
come; that know, because love you
SO we'll! 1t would be too cruel.
The next day was October 3, the mas
ter's birthday. And by night the house
was filled with guests, FOR Miss Marion
would not allow the Shadow to affect
her. And Mr.. Percy threw it on, too,
and was merry that night, just as he
was when Miss Marion fell in love with
him.
AS the clock hands crept around to-
wards one, I noticed that Mr.. Percy
spoke to Miss Marion, and they beth
stole away to the study. Miss Marion
face was very white, and Mr.. Percy
looked as though cut from marble.
Then I. Kate, did a wicked thing.
But 1t was for love of my mistress! /
ran around the side of the mouse to
where a grapevine clambered up, and
catching it in my hands climbed to
the story above until my eyes were ON
level with the study window.
There, sitting in the middle of the
room, were my master and mistress
waiting. The clocks had all been taken
out of the library, and without know
ing the second of his going, my master
sat calmly there waiting for death.
Opposite him with pale face supported
upon her hand, in her ball room dress,
just as she had left the dancers, was
Miss Marion! Frightened so that
could not keep my hold, l slipped back
down the vine.
ding good-by to Miss Marion and Mr..
Percy, and the old house was ringing
with happy returns for master and
mistress. Death had not sought the
master.
After that Miss Marion was happier,
though l thought she forgive me
THAT she was tride cold towards
Mr. Percy and that she listened with
less patience and showed less solicitude
when he had his queer spells. care
you not convinced now, Percy, that
they are myths, Nightmares"
Quite to the contrary he replied,
"as next October will show you.''
After that for eight years we lived
with the fate of that month hanging
over us. Master thought and spoke of
nothing else. He made all his business
begin and end On that day, and ne
made Miss Marion to do the same, nor
could she persuade him to let her do
otherwise. Her tenants, her trades
people and her servants began to
think her odd, and my porr mistress
groaned under it secretly as a heavy
burden. But never even to me did she
give sign of his weight upon her.
And every year on the night of Octo-
Der they sat up, Miss Marion and
Master Percy. And every year Miss
Marion grew more and more impatient
of the vigil. 81 am afraid I ann not as
young as I once was, Kate" said she,
with a sigh, as l undressed her, worn
out and nervous, after masters birth
day watch.
Then, how shall tell it, but my mis-
tress began to grow strange. She be-
came irritable, and sometimes to me
she uttered hasty words that she
would bite her tongue out rather than
speak again.
Il am SO tired, Kate, 50 tired" she
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

nercely, wl1en you knoN that the az
g 50 near at hand e you cannot
show i WIfeiy respect I shall make you
do so. + win call down the vision
upon you You shall see and suffer as
- do.
~But, Percy, am afraid. You fright
en- me!
Tool" he said contemptuously. .I
might have known how ignorant you
were
Il was once more the eve of the Sd Of
October and masters presentiment was
stronger than ever. 1t was, Walk
with me, Marion, while describe the
vision exactly as it spoke to me. Ma
rion, ann sure the voice will come
again until my poor mistress was
worn to a shadow listening to his lingo.
Mistress wanted to have a birthday
party that year as usual, but on men
ton of it master few in rage. Bet
ter dance on my coffin" said he, and
STROBE out of the dining room, with the
soup still on the table. Miss Marion,
cold and proud, would not follow him;
and after dinner there was a hot time
on the veranda under the reddening
vines. / heard Miss Marion say: But
this is living death for me, Percy.
For year have not seen nor spoken
to a soul except the servants. You are
selfish! You are so sure of your death
that you almost make others wish"
7 ont
of the door in time to see Miss Marion
on one knee, while beside her lay
shattered chair. "You fell yourself,
Marion" said Mr.. Percy, not offering
to raise her. Il dashed the chair to
the floor when you exasperated me.
Your taunts, your
But half crawling, half stumbling,
Miss Marion had dragged herself into
the big hallway and into my arms,
where sobbed with her as though
both our hearts would break.
That night when mistress joined
master in the vigil she dared not re-
fuse, did something that, if Miss Ma
rion had known it, would have driven
me from her service. I crept into the
study by greatest stealth, and hid my
self behind the red curtain that corner
ed off washstand. Scarcely had I
taken up my stand than Miss Marion
entered with master behind her. She
was talking fast in voice so strange
that l peeped out to see if it were she.
She was saying: "You are SO nerv-
GUS tonight, Percy, that l shall give
you a swallow of wine to steady your
nerves. Here in this closet is bottle
of your best claret, all cobweby, which
I have had Kate bring up for you"
Quick as flash she stepped behind
the portiere where l was hidden, and,
reaching up to the shelf, took down
bottle.
held my breath. But she was too
excited to see me, yet 1 could not
breathe, even after she had gone; for
well knew 1 had brought up no bot
tie; and with a horrid sick feeling I
remembered that Miss Marion had sent
me out to gather cobwebs that day,
wherever / could find them.
Mr.. Percy did not notice her, as with
trembling fingers she opened the bottle
and poured the wine into the glass SO
unsteady that she spilled half of it.
"There is only one glass;" said she.
well, you shall drink my health,
Percy, land I-will--drink-y at
forwards"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

would say, just like tired child. I'm
SO tired, Kate, that sometimes wish"
and then a horrid, cruel light came
in her angel eyes, and she put her hand
over them to shut it out.
And master all this time lived in the
shadow Of his fate, reading his strange
books.
But Miss Marion did not often hear
him, for she avoided him. and some-
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03
FORE KNOWLEDGE.
Astrology Enables All to Know
Their Destiny.
Experience is Necessary-Astrolo-
gy Shows When to Push Ahead
and When to Keep Quiet and Let
Others Move First--Birthday Pre-
dictions for the Coming Week

st. Michaels, September 15.-While
Secretary Bliss is facing the awful
problem Of getting provisions up to the
Klondike this winter Alaskan travel
ers are working out their own saly.A-
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-03

Mr.. Percy, seated in his chair, took
the glass and drained it. A minute
later his head sank forward, and before
Miss Marion could lift the glass to her
own lips he was lying there with his
head on the table breathing heavily.
Miss Marion took the bottle and lifted
Il to refill the glass, and distinctly
heard her say: Together, Percy, to-
kether.s But 1t this minute !. leaning