davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10

But how came you possessed of the
original of the convention" | asked.
"a week before fed from you re-
ceived it by post anonymously, she re-
piled. When compelled by my enemy
to leave you and return here to my true
position, unfortunately left 1t behind,
and knew that, sooner or later, you
must discover it. The man who, with
the Cars authority, held me under
the lash, still holds me, the plaything
of his spite, and threatens that IL | al
low you to come here and occupy your
rightful place as my husband, he will
denounce me to the British Govern
ment as spy. Hence, l am still his
puppet; still held by bond of guilt
that | dare not break asunder."
BE patient" urged Sonia, in a deep.
calm voice. BE patient, and you shall
yet be free"
"Ah! Godfrey" sobbed my wife, her
blanched, fearful face buried in her
hands, you can never, fear, forgive.
After all, Notwithstanding the glamour
that must surround me as Grand Ouch
ess, / am but a mean, despicable wo-
man who foully betrayed you, the man
who loved me. Can you ever forgive
me? Speak! Tell mel"
Yes" answered, fervently pressing
her closely in affectionate embrace.
Then you still love me, Geoffrey?"
she cried, painting, gazing up into my
face
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
with a puzzled expression.

II mean," she answered, in deep,
earnest voice, Il mean that if you will
make full and open confession to Geof-
frey will furnish you with proof pos
Tive of the identity of the murderer of
Dudley Ogle. BY this means only can
you obtain freedom from your bondage
Of guilt
/ my freedoml" echoed my wife. She
was pale as death; her hot, dry lips
moved convulsively, and she glanced at
me in feverish apprehension. How can
you give me my freedom"
by revealing the truth" Sonia an
swred. when you have told Geoff-
rey all, then will disclose the terrible
secret that have selfishly kept from
you because l envied you your happi-
ness"
The silence remained unbroken for
some moments. Ella stood with her
gloved hands clasped before her. The
naughty demeanor of the daughter of
the Romandoffs had entirely forsaken
her; with head bent she stood immova-
BILE as a statue. Terror and despair
showed themselves in her clear, bright
eyes. 1t seemed as though she mis-
trusted this woman of evil repute,
whose assertions half induced her to
confess to me.
Come" Sonia said. Speak, and
freedom, love and happiness are yours. "
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 10, 1898

unpleasant to her ears. "You. were
Jealous of him once she added in a
hard, dry tone"
"Yes," l smiled. "But l am so no
longer"
why? thought from what Ella told
me long ago that you had some cause.
He certainly was one of her admir-
ers."
"Yes, But he's about to be married"
married." she cried wildly, starting
to her feet, her lips moving convulsive-
y. Andrew Beck?"
"Tell me. Do not conceal the truth
longer" cried, anxiously.
mo, Only in Elizaveta's presence
will speak" she answered, in a
strained voice that quivered with vio-
lent emotion. Let us start for Paris
tonight. When the moon rises will
guide you through the forest into Ger
many; we will cross the Jura by the
bridge beyond Absteinen, and from
| Tilsit take train to Berlin. In two days
we can be in Paris. Take me to her."
she said, with sudden eagerness, "and
you both shall learn facts that will as
found you"
| 81 am quite ready" said. 81 knew
you alone would prove my friend"
NO" she answered, regarding me
! gravely. mo, Godfrey. 1t is secret
full of grim realities and ugly revela-
tons which, when disclosed, will, ]
fear, cause you to hate me and count
the truth; you shall therefore be salts
| fed"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
The Liars Convention.

They were talking one evening in
Uncle Silas's country store about hard
winds and strong winds.
Speaking of storms" said Abe Will
cox, 1--WE seen the wind blow SO fast
that 1t blew the town clock back sew
enteen days"
We'll, WE'LL" said Cy Campbell,
perhaps you have seen some strong
blows, but when l lived up in Montana
my neighbor carelessly opened his door
during storm. Well, gentlemen, you
may think I'm a liar, but the wind got
right in behind the door and turned
the house completely inside out!"
"And the mani" gasped several in
one voice.
"Oh. he just sat on the stove, and
the wind carried him fourteen miles
and landed him in the top Of a peach
tree. Pretty soon side Of bacon and
loaf of bread came sailing by, and,
gentlemen, I'm darned If he didn't
light fire and cook his breakfast
right up In that tree,"
Inc CLOCK IN It's excitement struck
thirteen, and the tomatoes turned pale.
THAT was quite windy" drawled
Uncle Silas. chief village liar, as he
carefully emptied his pipe into the su-
gar barrel, that was quite windy, but
out in Nevada friend OF mine started
to leave his house while the wind was
blowing rocks as big As pumpkins
around the town. Now. I don't OK
pect you to believe this. but before he
reached the bottom of the stairs there
wasn't stitch Of clothing left on his
back! (Sensation.) Yes. sir; and then
the wind blew him up against a wall
and flattened him out as thin as a wa
fer. Next day his wife came and pried
him off with a shovel, and
What did she do with him? asked
Abner Johnson.
What did she do with him? Why.
she just busted him off and used him
for door mat" and as the company
slowly filed out of the door each man
shuddered as he eyed the hoary headed
liar with reproachful look.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10

Her breast beneath its lace ana
flimsy muslin, heaved and fell. Her
fingers hitched themselves nervously in
the trimming OF her gown. Then, at
last, with sudden resolve, she turned,
and with terror-stricken eyes turned
upon me, said in English, in low, fall
tering tone:
ITO confess to you. Godfrey, will
cause you to hate. an! even to curse
me. After to-day fear we shall part
never again to meet"
"No, no." | cried, advancing to take
her soft hand in mine. Tell me your
secret. Then let us hear what Sonia has
to reveal"
"Ah! mine is wretched, horrible
story of duplicity," my wife faltered,
standing in an attitude of deep dejec-
ton. although ! am Grand Ouch
ess, the bearer of an Imperial name.
can hope for neither pity nor mercy
from you or from the world outside"
"Why?"
Because l have foully deceived you.
/ am spy!"
"A spy" gasped, amazed, What
do you mea1?"
Listen; will tell you," she answer
ed in hard, strained voice, swaying
slowly forward and clutching at the Ia
BILE for support. Three years ago,
when my mother, the Grand Duchess
Nicholas, was stu alive, we were
spending some mcnths, as usual at our
Winter villa that faced the Mediterra-
mean at st. Eugene, close to Algiers,
and my mother engaged as valet de
chambre an Englishman. Soon this
man grew, suppose, to admire me. He
pestered me with hateful attentions,
and at last had the audacity TO declare
his love. AS may be readily imagined,
| scornfully rejected him, treated him
with contempt, and finding that he still
continued his protestations, meeting
me when l went out for walks along
the sea road to Algiers or under the
palms and orange groves in the Jar
din Marengo, Lone day. in fit of i'll
temper, disclosed to my mother the
|
low was at once discharged, but before
he left for Europe he wrote me a let
ter full of bitter reproach and express
ed his determination to some day
wreak vengeance upon me as well as
upon a young Englishman whom he
suspected that loved. His suspicious,
however, were entirely unfounded. l.,
known at home and throughout all our
family by the pet name of "Tcherno-
okaya," or Sparkling eyes," a nick
name taken from our Russian poet.
Lermontoff, had met this young Eng
lishman quite casually when one day,
while passing through the Kasbah, l
was insulted by two half drunken
Arabs, and he had escorted me home.
Then, when we parted, he had told me
that he was staying at the Hotel de la
Regence, opposite the great white
mosque, and gave me his name 1t
was Dudley Ogle."
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10

good. would have stopped the treatment
then, bat nay friends insisted on fair trial
for il.
~ took no other medicine, so that II
any good resulted we could trace 1t to
DR.. Williams Pink Pills for Pale People.
"imasine my JOY when change came
about. My muscles relaxed and my SUI
fcring was lessened.
AT the end Of three months could sit
Up, could lift myself up, and was no
longer helped.
walk, something the doctors had said l
would never do again.
al took the pills for two years in all.
When began l was helpless as new
born baby. Now enjoy good heaNh."
The cure Of Miss Osborne created much
talk in Richmond. Great quantities Of
DR.. Williams Pink Pills for PAX People
were sold there, and the druggists had fre-
quent Inquiries for "the medicine that
cured Miss Osborne"
Such cures by DR.. Williams Pink Pills
for Pale People In cases where the local
physicians have exhausted their skill, are Of
daily occurrence In all Parts OF the country.
The wonderful power this vegetable rem
edy possesses over the blood and the nef-
vous system makes 1t perfect cure for .
long list Of diseases, some Of them among
the most terrible that afflict humanity.
All druggists sell DR.. Williams Pink Pills
for Pale People. One box for so cents, o.
SIX boxes for $3.50.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10

that of rejected draft, and not that
of the actual defensive alliance that
had received the signature of Emperor
William"
Then it was actually this message
of yours that prevented war;" gasped,
in profound astonishment.
Yes" she answered Before re-
ceipt of my telegram all preparations
were being made for the commence
ment of hostilities, but on its arrival
the Car at once eountermanded the
mobilization order, and Europe was
thereby spared the terrible and bloody
conflict"
Her astounding disclosures held me
dumbfounded. l remembered vividly
how, during our lunch at the Ship.
Dudley had risen and gone out to the
bar to speak to an acquaintance. 1t
was at that moment, having stolen the
document from me, he glanced at its
register number and initiated II upon
the dummy with which Ella had pro-
vided him.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10

two clerks in Russian pay at your
Foreign Office in order that on a GER
tain day you should carry the pre-
cious document In your pocket,
and how he had prepared the
dummy envelope sealed with your
Minister'S seal. At last, after striving
long and vainly against the perform
ance of this ignominious action that
knew must reflect on your honesty,
was compelled to submit.
Il deceived you," she went on in a
hard, monotonous voice. But only
because l loved you so fondly and
dreaded that this man who had long
ago vowed to wreck my life would ex-
pose and thus part us. Once it was
thought that the secret convention
would be sent to Warnham Hall, and I
was compelled to go down there and
devise some means of obtaining it. l
found Dudley staying in the village,
and we returned to London together.
The end must soon come, | knew.
Therefore, lived on in daily terror of
what must follow. At last the day
the Foreign Office and fitch from you
the bond OF nations. After breakfast
| stood out on the lawn by the sunny
rivers brink, contemplating suicide
rather than your ruin, when there
rowed up to the steps Dudley Ogle,
who hailed me, inviting me to pull up
to Windsor, and there lunch with him.
At once | accepted, and after embark
ing told him of my dilemma, and be-
sought his assistance. Without
thought of the consequences he resolv-
ed to commit the theft for my sake
and when l had fully explained ali the
facts and gwen him the dummy en-
velope that the cunning thief of the
'Okhrannoe Otdelenie' had prepared,
he turned the boat and put me ashore
at the Nook, afterW ard rowing rapidly
down to Shepperton to change and go
at once to London"
HE did this because he loved your
l exclaimed sternly.
NO" she answered, reassuringly.
Poor Dudley was simply my friend
He called on you and extracted the
document from your pocket while you
lunched together, because he saw in
what a dilemma I was. He knew
loved you dearly, and never once spoke
single word of affection to me.
From Waterloo station he tele-
graphed to me that he had successfully
secured the agreement and handed il
to the chief of Spies An hour after
ward, fearing that you might suspect
me, | telegraphed to you at Shepperton
to dine with us, we'll knowing that al
ready the text of the convention was at
that moment being transmitted to St
Petersburg, and that war was immi-
nent. You came; you kissed me.
loved you dearer than life. Suddenly
while we were at dinner, and you were
laughing, happy and unconscious Of
the conspiracy against the peace OF
Europe, thought flashed across my
mind. 1t occurred to me as l sat by
your side, that l would, using the Sc
cret cipher l had been provided with
telegraph to st. Petersburg in the
name of the chief of spies, assuring
our Foreign Department that mistake
had been made. l sent message stat
| ing that the text of the convention al
ready sent had been discovered to be
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
CHAPTER XXxII.
THE oUTCAsT.

My guide brought me to Sonia after
hours of walking She was glad to see
me, and, together, we went to the house
where she lived The interior was one
square room, with huge brick stove,
the fiat top of which served as bed in
Winter, a low, sloping ceiling with two
small windows with uneven panes of
greenish glass that impaired to the
rays of light melancholy, grayish
tint The bare, miserable place was
ricketty table, and very old, moth
eaten sofa that was once red, but now
If faded brown. Over the door was
nailed cheap, gaudy ikon, and on the
opposite wall was pasted crude wood
tut of His Majesty the Gear.
The room was, indeed, in strange
contrast to the dainty little drawing
Dom in Pembroke road.
While threw myself into chair,
worn out by fatigue, she removed the
Ugly wrapper from her head, and, dis
appearing into little inner den, the
only other room in the house, soon re-
appeared with steaming samovar,
afterward handing me tea with lem
IN.
The pale yellow sun, struggling in
through the thick green panes, fell in
,lanting rays across the carpetless
,oom, and as we sat opposite one an
other slipping our cups we looked at
each other curiously. Ours had, in
Iced, been strange meeting.
She burst out laughing at last.
WELL" she said, Il see you are sur
orised."
81 am. l did not expect you had ex-
changed your life in London for this"
exclaimed.
''Ah! was horribly tired OF inactiv-
ty there. l had spent all my money,
and could do nothing in your country.
It is drawback to be too we'll known, "
she laughed.
"But surely this life is attended by
serious risks" l observed, noticing, as
the sunlight fell across her hair, that
she was still as handsome as ever, not
outstanding her ugly peasant costume
ind clumsy boots.
Eyes," she answered reflectively.
Perhaps, in little while, when l have
made more money l shall leave here
md return to London. One cannot live
without money!
True" l answered. yet life here
must be terribly dull and monotonous
utter Vienna and Paris"
"Ah!" she cried, with the slightest
suspicion Of sigh. "All that l have
'orgotten, long, long ago."
Her eyes were downcast, and 1
thought l detected tears in them.
sazed at her, this woman who was
known in nearly every capital of Eu-
'ope as one of the most daring and en-
erprising adventuresses of the century.
1alf fearing that she might still refuse
% disclose her secret.
She moved slightly, raised her cup to
1er lips with a coquettish air, and on
'etting it down her dark bright eyes
gain met mine with inquiring glance.
Well" she exclaimed, is it not
strange that you. of all men, should be
n Skerstymone?"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
CHAPTER XXI.

One warm morning, while seated out
side "kabak" moodily watching the
Did women in the market selling their
twisted rolls of bread called 'kalach,"
an addressed man approached me, and,
touching his shabby cap respectfully,
pronounced my name with strong
Russian accent, at the same time slow
ly sinking upon the wooden bench be-
side me.
II am fully aware of your high no.
bility's object in visiting Skerstymone.
You are seeking Sonia Korolenko."
yes" replied, in the best Russian
could remember. do you know her
whereabouts? If you take me to her
you shall have handsome reward"
SIS your high nobility well acquaint-
ed with Sonar"
/ replied in the affirmative, offering
him a cigarette from my case. At last
had found one who had met the dark
eyed girl of whom was in search.
you know her." l said. Where is
she?"
In hiding.
Far from here?"
"Well, not very" he answered. 81
could take you to her this very night
if you made it worth my while"
And what is Sonia doing at pres
ent?" inquired, after he had frankly
related to me his position in low tone
so that we might not be overheard by
any eavesdropper or police spy.
"She has always been leader" he
answered, laughing gaily. "She is SO
still"
"A leader of smugglers?" l exclaim-
ed, surprised that the pretty girl who
had been admired in every capital in
Europe should adopt such a hazardous,
/ reckless life.
well, yes, If you choose to call it
So" he said, rather resentfully,
thought 1--WE merely assist our coun-
trymen to escape the police, and they
pay toll for our aid" he added. "She
heard you were inquiring for her here
in Skerstymone, and has sent me as
messenger to take you to her She fears
to come herself"
II looked steadily at the man, and
saw for the first time that, although a
moujik, he was nevertheless a sturdy
adventurer, whose brow was deeply
furrowed by hardship.
and you wish me to pay toll like
the Others" exclaimed with smile.
IF we act as guide we are surely en-
titled to something. There are many
risks" he answered, putting at his Gig
arctic, and examining it with the air
of a connoisseur
How much?"
"The high nobility is rich," he re-
piled. "He was once at the English
Embassy in Petersburg. Let us say
two hundred rubles."
1.-TWO hundred, to be paid only in
Sonia's presence" acquiesced eagerly
Truth to tell, l would have paid five
hundred, or even thousand for safe
conduct to her.
Its bargain" he answered, drain.
ing his glass. Meet me tonight al
ten O'Clock at this place. l hope you
are good walker, for we must travel
by the secret paths. The post-road
would mean arrest for me; it might al.
so go rather hard with you to be found
in my company.
Il can walk well" answered ITO.
night at ten"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
A CRY OF WARNING.

az suffered for years and years with
womb and kidney trouble in their
worst forms.
81 had terrible pains in my aldo
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
[ro BE coNrISuFD.1
The merit of Hoods Sarsaparilla


The merit of Hoods Sarsaparilla
Is literally written in blood.
1t is traced in the vital fluid
OF millions of the human race.
Its positive medicinal merit
And curative power is written
Upon the hearts, and craven upon
The minds of thousands
OF people whom it has cured
And given good health
When there seemed nothing before
Them but darkness and despair.
1t cures all diseases arising
From or promoted by impure
Blood by its intrinsic merit as
The One True Blood Purifier.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
CHAPTER XXXIII.
CONFESSION.

"Her Highness has this moment re-
swered the big Russian concierge,
when, accompanied by Sonia, entered
the hall of the great house in the Ave-
nue. des Champs Elysees, and handed
him a card.
During several minutes we remained
In silence, when, without warning, the
long doors of white and gold were
| flung open by the turnkey who, advance
ing into the room, announced his mis-
tress.
Next instant we were face to face.
"Ah! Godfrey. At last!" she cried,
with flushed cheeks, smile of glad
welcome lighting up her pale counte-
nance as she rushed toward me with
both hands outstretched. A second
later, noticing Sonia, she suddenly halt
ed Instantly change passed over
her face.
Facing Sonia she drew herself up
haughtily, and demanded in a harsh,
angry voice:
| " Wudl, VI dy w i OWC Lllio
sion? should have thought that aft
er what passed you would not dare
come here. But suppose cool audac-
ity is characteristic that must be cul-
tivated by woman of your character"
Sonia rose slowly from her chair her
features haggard and blanched her
head bent slightly, as if in penitence.
| No effort did she make to resent the
bitter, angry words my wife had ut
tered, but in low tone simply replied:
Il have come here with Godfrey, to
tell you the truth
] The truth" echoed the Grand Ouch
ess with whitening contempt. THE
truth from such as you! Who would
believe it,"
Wait! Hear me before you denounce
me-" Sonia urged, ia strange, hollow
voice, that sounded like one speaking
! In the far distance Il do not deny
that my presence may seem unwarrant-
able You love Godfrey, the man who
ano ner, a man You also know" and
her roice faltered; "the man to whom
you denounced me as base and worth
less
"Well?" asked Ella standing stern,
upright, full of calm, unruffled dignity.
She still wore the cool-looking Summer
gown in which she had been driving in
the Bots, and had not removed her
large black hat with it's long ostrich
plumes
"You are quite right, quite right"
Sonia admitted in voice trembling
with emotion. "You were justified to
alas, how black is my heart-hcS
blunted is all the womanly feeling
once possessed, like you. But you
have been nurtured in the lap Of lux
ury, while fed from infancy upon the
offal of slum, and, taught to regard
the world from cynical point of view,
have grown old in evil-doing, and am
now mere derelict in the stream Of
life. Long ago we met, and parted. l
treated you, as did others, as an enc
my. We have now met again, and /,
MISREPRESENTATION and penitent, have
come to atone for the past-to prove
your friend, to beg forgiveness"
My wife shrugged her shoulders with
q gesture of quick Impotence.
"Ah! You don't believe l am in ear
nest" cried the unhappy woman. HAS
1t never occurred to you that l alone
can free you from the bond that has
held you aloof from your husband?'
what do you mean?" cried Ella,
with puzzled expression.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10

cured me of all my pains.
q cannot praise it enough, and cry
aloud to all women that their suffer-
ing is unnecessary; go to your drug
gist and get bottle that you may try
1T anyway. You owe this chance OF
recovery to Yourself. J. STEM
tRD, 22ls Amber St, kensingston,
Phila., Pa.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
Doctors Were
In the Dark.

Il young Ionaans mysterious aDPfetaon PxzSed e0e,y-
body aVho her For sac years she suffered h0Agg
death and her are created a sensation
Wiarus. (Winona, Minn.) 1895-1919, 1898-11-17
sic wojna.

Ma widowni swiata kohczy
sic rzewny dramat,- wojna
hiszpaisko = amerykahska.
Nieszczesliwyni bohaterami
W MIN byli zolnierze, pedzenl
bezlitosnie ma niebezpieczed-
stwa sm;erci-od glodu, cd
zarazliwych chor6b, cd kul
nieprzyjacielskich lub cd Voc
dy-i to wszystko nlby W
celach humanitarnych. ola
uszczesliwienia ludzkoSci,
I jakiz dzisiaj widzimy sku-
tex takiego okrutnego wojo~
wanna?
S}abYm, wyciehczonym
Hiszpanom uEuszczono poto~
XII krwi, wybito ich szere~
Wiarus. (Winona, Minn.) 1895-1919, 1898-11-17
4 NiW POlskich
w AMERYCE.

w BAY CITY, Mich, ze
strony republikahskiej ma
klerka powiatowego zosta}
obrany Polak. p. Danielew-
ski, czyli ,,Daniels,' jak sic
on zwie miedzy Amerykana-
mi. Wiekszost p. Danielew-
skiego podajq.]na 236 g}o.
sow.