davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29

agony of earnestness-"th there Is no 9TH
er chance. Charlie is not $3.50 un-
worthy as Mr.. Rowton thinks-he 10
not, indeed and he has always be"
lieved that he would be my uncle's
heir. IL could not take his place. 1t
would be wicked and base / could
never hold up my head II such n thing
were done"
1T would not be your doing" sug-
gested gently. "You would be blame
less. II Colonel Branscombe-"
III he leaves the estate to me l
shall simply hand 1t over at once to
my cousin. You can tell my uncle so,
Mr.. Fort" she exclaimed vehemently;
"then he will see how useless 1t would
be-"
Two or three suggestions occurred to
me. but | had not the heart to put
them before her. II her Intentions
were announced to Colonel Branscombe
he might find another heir, less scru-
pulous and disinterested, or ne might
80 tie up the bequest to his niece as
to stay her too generous hand. With
the knowledge l had gained OF Char
lie, the latter course would certainly
be my advice, II SO unlikely a chance
as being asked should occur.
"You will do your best?" entreated
Miss Branscombo.
Eyes, l will do my BEST" l assented,
not without a guilty consciousness OF
a mental reservation which would
hardly have satisfied Miss Brans-
combe had she guessed at 1t. The
opening of the door behind me and the
rustllng OF silk put an end to the tete-
a-tete. There entered little old lady
with white hair, and the same shadow
Of dread and anxiety which pervaded
the house lurked in her soft dark
eyes. "Mr. Fort-my cousin, Miss
Elmslle," gaid Miss Branscombe, doing
the honors with quiet dignity which
covered her previous agitation. And
at the same moment dinner was an
nounced.
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29
ODD BITS
Ito be contlnued,)

OF Change Left by Customers Help Out
tho Cashiers Salary.
Philadelphia inquirer: Odd bits OF
change thoughtlessly left by customers
form no lnconslderabe part OF the
income of cashiers in certain business
establishments, notably restaurants
saloons, cigar stores and similar placeS
where, during many hours Of each day,
there Is steady rush OF patrons. Il
get SIS a week salary" said cashlerr
"and always count on an additional
SO, or 30 cents per day, through for
gotten change. I do not consider that
| am doing anything dishonest, either.
because | always make an effort to at,
tract the customers attention to the
fact that he Is leaving his change be-
hind. Nine cases cut OF ten l succeed
even II have to send walter to fol-
low the man clear out into the street.
But there are enough OF the tenth
cases to make my receipts foot up alfI
OF the sum weekly have named. The
majority Of them are people In nur-
ry to catch train or car or to keep
an appointment, and they haven't the
time to return, even II they did discov-
er their loss a square or so away. The'
next day they don't care, or at least a,
majority OF them do MOTTO SPEAK about
such a small matter the overlooked
change seldom being more than five or
ten cents, and am just SO much
ahead. The proprietor get ii? Certain
ly not. 1t doesn't belong to him, andl
lust so the money in the cash drawer
balances with the register he Is sat
lsAed." The presiding seniuses OF the
atrical box offices are also OCCASION
ally in pocket through the carelessness
Of ticket purchasers, but with box Of
fice transactions the change, II any.
Is usually In such large amounts that
their opportunities ore fewer and far
ther between,
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29

Mona stanhope Branscombe, splnster,
and her lawful heirs In perpeIuIty for
ever for her sole and separate use,
and Independent OF the control OF any
husband she may hereafter take, and
on the condition that such husband
shall not be Charles umpholby Brans-
combe,"
These were the words dictated to
me In a firm but faint voice by the dy-
Ing Colonel as | sat by the bedside TO
which | was hastily summoned early
In the morning succeeding my arrival,
"All and absolutely" There was no
compromise In the words, no falter IN
tho sick mans tone, only perhaps q
sterner set Of the pale lips as the nat
went forth, showing that the hope
which had fingered so long In the
faithful old heart had died at last,
A silence followed, broken only by
the sound OF my pen as II Travelled rap
Idly over the paper, and, In spite or
my plolhlbo VI Nht pN'iNNo h'bAh ANN
word Of protest or amendment es-
capped my lips. Was not doing the
best I could for her? was conscious
OF a little hutter at my heart as my
hand traced the words, mona STAN
hope Branscombe," and-ior | was not
yet sufficiently practced In my pro-
fession 10 be hardened to such OK
perlences-of an oppressive sense Of
awe and solemnity overshadowing the
scene. It was indeed one of the most
solemn ] have ever witnessed, before
or since.
The first CLEANS Of the summer dawn
came through the open window and
fell full upon the stately figure OF the
dying Colonel, as he lay propped up
by pillows, on the large four-post bed
stead. The rosy light touched, with a
strange incongruous levlty the noble
features upon which was set the ma
jestlc seal Of the King OF Terrors. On
one side OF the Colonels bed stood
the grave physician, his finger on the
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29

patients pulse; on the other a splenu.u
deerhound nestled his head against the
masters cold hand A group of anx-
ious domestlcs hung together at the
end of the long ROOM out OF earshot,
and watched with silent but eager zeal
for the opportunity Of rendering any
Of the little last services to their be-
loved master
The Colonel's voice broke the still
ness as I raised my head, at the con-
cluslon Of my task.
This, my last will and testament"
he said with emphasis. remains In
your charge, Mr., err"
Fort" | interpolated quietly.
"Mr. Fort" repeated the Colonel,
until the day OF my funeral, when you
will read 1t to those concerned"
II accept the charge" said, and as
I spoke the sense Of awe and soemnlty
already upon me deepened, and made
me feel the words to be sacred pledge.
Was It fofeshadowlng OF all which
that trust was to involve in the un-
guessed future?
"The signature" was beginning,
when sign from the doctor stopped
me- saw that Colonel Dranscombe's
head had fallen back and that his eyes
had closed. Had the end come, after
all, before Forest Lea could be saved
from the ruthless hands Of Charlie
Branscombe?
It seemed so indeed for the next few
minutes; then the efforts OF the skill
ful physician proved successful and
the ebblng life came slowly back again,
The eyelids quivered, the pallld lips
moved.
DR., Marshall beckoned me to his
side.
"He cannot sign yet" he whispered.
Was he an adherent Of Charles?
Keep near at hand, We will call you
when he has rallied sufficiently for the
effort"
retired-unwillingly, ! must con-
Hess-and the long day dragged slowly
on. without the summons which l was
momentarlly expecting, Miss Brans-
combe and Miss Elmslle appeared at
the breakfast table and did the honors
courteously but grayely. Evidently
they knew OF the Cc4oLel's more crit
ical state, and Miss, Mona at least knew
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29
CHAPTER Nv

But how could | tell Miss Brans-
combe that things were going exactly
contrary TO her wishes, and that, too,
without the falntest effort on my part
to stay their course? How could I lot
her know that II only Ave minutes
more of strength aud power were glV-I
en- back to the nervelesB hand Of the
old man upstairs, she would most as
suredly supplant her cousin Charles
and become the mistress Of Forest Lea
and Branscombe, and "all the lands,
messuages, and tenements thereuntQ
appertalnIngW was coward, l
know, but could not bring myself to
run all the risks. Of the disclosure or
to change the confidence with which
she had honored me Into dlstrust and
Indignation.
And there was something dangerous
ly sweet In the secret understanding
with this lovely young gIrl--the very,
embodiment OF innocence and purity,
as she appeared to me-a very Una In
deed. was thoroughly conversant
with the ordinary type OF society"
young ladies; | had nirted with a oor-
tain number OF nlneteenth-century
young women; and although with, as
now knew, a large reserve-fund OF
genuine sentiment In my nature to
draw upon, l had never yet been
tempted to ideallze one Of the free
hammered sirens, who called me by ap-,
proprlate nlcknames, wrested ave-
pound notes from me with stand and
deliver" determination at bazaars,
betted and won brooches and gloves
at Hurllngham and Sandown. I had
never been In love- sometimes be-.
Ieved | never should be. will not
say that had not sometimes beneath
the light, frothy surface regretful
hankerlng after the supreme ex-
perlence missing from my thirty years.
OF life.
Miss Mona Branscombe came upon
me as a revelatlon-a thing apart from
all my exemplars of her sex. She
dwelt In shrine Of her own, the saint
already OF my deepest devotion.
Towards evening an answer to a tel
egram | had dispatched to the oflcO
was put into my hands, II was from
Mr. james Rowton, our second in COM
mand, who had returned unexpectedly
from the Continent, He bade me re-
main at Forest Lea until the business
on which | had been summoned was
satisfactorily concluded. This relieved
me OF all responsibility or anxiety as
to my absence from town, and was
glad. / was curious / said to myself,
to gee the play played out-nothing
more It was a matter Of professional
interest and experience, not personal
by any means,
Miss Branscombe watched me as =
read the message, her face pale to the
lips. she was In that state OF ner-
yous excitement when everything
alarms. / hastened to explain.
"My partner has come back from
Germany" | said. ut is relief to
lnow that he is In London again. I
had not expected him 80 soon; and
Mr.. Rowton, senior Is still confined to
his room"
ITO be contlnued.)
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29

eyes-a trick of hers, Dear Dolliel
She's gone now. dreamed OF her last
night; dreamed that her arms were
about my neck and that she was kiss
Ing me and calling me her soldier
boy"
Was she willing for you to 90 to
war;" l asked. Like the doctor, was
not sure OF his mental condition.
Eyes, willing In way. She felt
that 1t was right for me to go, and
right ls law with Dollie."
went away then, but an hour later
having bribed a good woman over tho
way to let me have a plllow-her last
one-I returned to his side. It seemed
to me that he had failed during my
absence and the troubled look In his
eyes was intensified.
When I had put the pillow under his
head and bathed his face, he said,
gratefully:
"How very kind you are! Your
touch minds me Of mothers"
Then I knew he was watching me-
but he did not speak for long time
and when he did It was not to me:
Father In heaven, let me see Dollie
once more; please send her to me-"
could not stand either the words
or the pathos In the voice. I must
help answer that prayer II possible
BY and by said:
"Could you tell me where to send for
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29
CHAPTER II.-(ContInued.J

CHAPTER II.-(Contnued,)
"You are Mr., Rowtons-er-broth-
err" she asked, without replying to my
remark,
mo" I answered; 81 am his junior
partner"
"He Ia III, believer
"Iio has been Ill., but Is recovering,
He was not able to come today" l
added, with a shade OF pique In my
mind Was she regrettlng that had
taken the place of Rowton, who was
probably well known to her,
II am sorry-for his Illness" she
caid, "but glad that he-that--that-"
ntammerlng and sitting down sudden
y-I thlnk because she was trembling
too much to stand. "Mr--"
Fort" | suggested quietly.
"Mr Fort--I beg your pardon" she
said, hurriedly; "but-tho time is 30
short--l-am so anxious to say some
thing to you, I hardly know how
with Increasing nervousness-"but !
must say II, I''-raislng her eyes once
more to mine-."I think l may speak
TO you, You will not think II strange"
II shall be only too glad to be OF use
TO you" / responded, with hardly-re-
pressed eagerness.
"Mr Rowton," she said more calmly,
~is prejudlced, You-oh, | must say II
plainly-have been sent for to make
my dear uncle's will; we all know it--it
"a no secret Mr., Fort, want to tell
you that if-if he should wish to Int
me"-a sweet faint flush dawned over
her pale cheeks--'ln the place which
should be my couslns-Mr. Charles
Branscombes-I could never consent
TO wrong hlm-never! It'seems dread
ful to talk about II, know, but thOre
10 no other way. VIII You say what
you can for Charlie-Mr, Branscombo
and persuade my uncle not to do him
this injustice? know that lawyers
can suggest a great deal at such times
.--and you see"-wrlnging her hands In
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29

My hands and skirts were dabbed In
blood; my heart was faint within me-
For long hours l had tasted and work
ed; into my ears had been poured tho
most tender Of last messages; the most
heart-breaklng tales.
"You ought to rest llttle," said the
rough but kindly voice Of an old sur
geon; "only, II you can stand up a
minute longer-there is q case over
here / want you to see. In silence l
followed him to small church build
ing that had been turned into an hos
pital. Every pew was bed OF pain;
blood drlpped from between the altar
rails; even the alsles were partially
blocked with the wrecks OF humanity.
II is In scene like this that one ap-
preclates the "other side" OF war
The surgeon led me straight to the
singers stand and pointed to a young
man In shoulder straps, whose blonde
Icurls were matted and whose beautiful
blue eyes, beautiful even in their pain,
roved restlessly over the walls and
ceiling. He was lying fat on his back
with only prayer book for pillow.
saw at glance that an arm was
gone, The fingers of the other hand
worked nervously.
"I.can't make out whether he Is In
his right mind or not" the surgeon
said In an undertone, Maybe You can
tell"
/ kneeled and laid my hand on his
brow. He seemed not to have noticed
me before Now he turned started,
wondering gaze on me. His lips moved,
but at first could not catch the
words. BY and by made out;
II want Dollle, Please bring Dollle
here" Again: II will give all have
to the one who will bring me Dollle."
Who is Dollle?" l asked, gently,
still smoothing his forehead.
He looked up with almost a smile In
his eyes, and asked naively:
Don't you know Dollle?"
II am afraid don't" l said, and l
smiled little, too.
"Dollle Is my sweetheart" he an
swered moment later, His face was
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29


ing between them, of how the young
wife had died while Dollie was babe
and Of the almost constant prayer OF
the child for her fathers safety since
he entered the army.
She was lovely child, with her
fathers blonde curls and fine blue
eyes.
Donald Dee did not die, and few
days later he was taken home to the
mother love and care awaiting him
there.
l am now grandmother to Dollie's
children, for you must know Donald
and l celebrated our next Fourth in
far more pleasing manner than the one
a year before, and Dollle has long been
my sweetheart as well as his,
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29
CHAPTER III.

my estates Of Forest Lea and
Branscombe, moneys in furds, mort
cages, ETC., all and absolutely, with
the exception OF the general legaoies
aforementioned, In trust for my niece,
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29
SWEETHEART

Perhaps the morning never dawned
on sadder scene than on July 4th,
'63, when over the blood-sodden leld
OF Gettysburg the light began to break
Could all the history OF the wounded
and dead have been written never be-
fore had been such a chronicle Of ro-
nance and tragedy, but 1t was not;
only now and then leaf as 1t were,
has been written and preserved-thls
one by an army nurse.
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29

Dollle? Maybe she would come to you
II 1t is not too far, and should tell
her how much you need her."
It was a hazardous thing to say. We
did not often dare make such sugges-
tions, for, Of course, few comparative
ly, could come, and 1t did not do to
raise false hopes. However felt
confident that he could not live many
hours, and his pleadings touched me
inexpressibly, even amid the scene
and sights surrounding.
At the question ho flashed me such
look.
"Wlll your"
That was ALL but oh, the intensity OF
1t! Write to s. B. Sterling, ,Sterllng's
Corners, Pennsylvania"
was not In the least doubt OF his
sanity at the moment, but before
could trace the words In my notebook,
his gaze was once more on the cell
Ing, and he was babbllng OF mother
and Dollle.
Reluctantly l brought myself to
search his pockets, finding, strange to
say. only notebook with the name In
gilt letters on the cover: Donald
Dee."
My letter was brief, only this:
Donald Dee Is dangerously wounded
and calls ceaselessly for Dollle."
1t was memorable Fourth OF July
one never to be forgotten by the poor
fellows suffering through the hot, in
terminable hours, or the busy surgeons
and nurses, who never paused in their
work Of molstenlng hot lips, bathing
throbblng brows, washing out gaping
wounds, receiving last messages, writ
ing letters home;" In short, doing what
they could when everything was to
do.
AS soon as possible we had the
young captain removed to more COM
Portable quarters. His wounds were
doing fairly we'll, but the surgeon said
the shock had been too much for his
nervous system; he might or might not
live. Everything, l should say, de-
pends upon the nursing" he added,
looking meanlngly at me-
II will do my best for him till Dol
lie comes" l made answer, but my
heart misgave me; did not think she
would come, and II she dld-well, the
future was velled, as futures are apt to
be.
Day by day he wasted away. AL
though I prepared him fairly decent
Hutchinson gazette., 1899-06-29
"I WANT DoLLIE."


very grave now. "And, oh, how she
cried when l came away! Poor Dol
liei"
A few moments l busted myself In
trying to make him more comfortable;
then he broke out again:
IF only could see her just a few
minutes 1t would be heaven on earth.
Maybe she would come II she knew
am sick. am sick, amt II"
"What ails me? l feel SO queer and
sore all over and"
"There" he suddenly interrupted
hlmself-"if you look quick you will
seq Dollies head up there when the
light shines on that lamp. Look!
Why, how natural her curls, and she
lSSniles OF me out Of the corners Of hSr
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-31
NO NEWSPAPERS IN TROY.
Ths Everyday Life Of III, Arclenl ciy Had No
Chonclsr.

II during the excavations by Schlie-
mann on the sites of Troy, Mycene and
ether Greek cities he had dug up a few
newspapers, providing there had been
any In the old days when these towns
were in their prime, says the ST. Louis
Globe Democrat, what floods OF light
they would have thrown upon the do
ings and life OF the people OF THAR To-
cality in their time. They would have
told a more vivid tale of the customs.
passions and ambitions OF the denizens
OF those old towns OF thirty or forty
centuries ago than WAS ever impaired
by the urns and obelisks which have
b en- brought TO the light.
%enophon has many of the qualities
CT a reporter. His style is direct. gos-
sipy and picturesque. He makes that
eight hundred or thousand miles OF
the retreat of the Ten Thousand up the
valley Of the Tigrs to the Black Sea
familiar ground to modern readers.
Caesars SIMPLE, pointed and concen-
Erated narrative has made the cam
paign i'm Gaul enact itself over again TO
sixty generations OF men. Yet IL
modern newspaper reporter or two had
been present with those old Greeks and
Romans they would have thrown side
lights on the events and conditions
which would have reconstructed the
whole scheme OF society of those far
off days.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-31
AN ANCIENT CANOE.
II Is 200 Years Old and Was Once Used b,
IniIsns.

A very interesting relic OF the days
when life in New England was far from
enjoying the peaceful, placid existence
il does today, now floats on the lake
which crowns the summit of Long
Mountain in Otis, Mass. says the W'n-
sted Citizen.
The relic is a dug-out canoe IS feet
in length, hewed or burned from pine
log. Although its present owner A. B.
Heath, estimates it's age at over 'No
hundred years. IL is today perfect. save
for slight signs OF decay along
what might be termed it's gunwale. II
was undoubtedly used by members OK
the Pequabuck. Waramaug or Shin1e
daug tribes Of Indians, who in colonial
days built their camp fires and pitche
their wigwams among the hills Of west
ern Connecticut and Massachusetts. IL
may even have carried the warlike Pc
quots, some OF whom are known to
have wandered into this region aftcs
their crushing defeats by the colonlsts
along the coast. At any rate IL shows
unmistakable marks OF Indian handi-
work.
Mr.. Heath found the canoe forty
years ago.
The lake. whose marshy shores have
won IL the unpicturesque name of Mud
Pond, lies in the midst OF thick woods
three miles from the nearest house.
Only the wood birds nesting in the
great trees whose branches are reflect
ed in the clear. still waters and an oc-
casiOnal fisherman know it's romantic
beauties. IL is said 70 have been fav-
orite camping ground for the New Eng
land tribes in early days.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-31
CASE OF CAPT. CARTER.
VIII Be Considered by The Cablns Next Week
0Dnlon OF Army DjficsS

Washington, ID. c., Aug 31-Perhaps
the most importans matter which the
President and cabinet will have TO con-
s.der next week will be the case of
Capt. O. M. Carter. Atty.-Gen. Griggs.
who is digesting 1t. is expected TO make
his report upon vt to the President on
his return. The present expectation is
that he will report that the court mar
tai proceedings and sentence should be
approved, and also that contractors
and others implicated should be prose-
cuted.
The latest argument in behalf Of
Capt. Carter by Mr.. Wayne MacVeagh
seems to be regarded in cabinet circles
chiefly important as showing that
the President was justified by the con-
Trajectory arguments over the case and
the strong assertion that Carter was
innocent, i'm delaying final action until
he could receive ali that could be said
and give IL due consideration. Presi-
dent Mckinley. II is stated, has deter
mined to end the matter next month.
ana this is said 70 be actually the earli-
est thine az which he could have done
so with due regard for the reports OF all
concerned.
Since the day that Capt. Carter
pleaded the statute OF limtat ons, ar
my officers generally have believed him
guilty. and this belief has gradually
spread until VI is accepted by most
members OF the administration. ana
unless Atty.-Gen. Griggs should diSap-
point general expectation, " will be en-
bodied in his report which viii be fol-
bowed by the Presidents approval.