davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07

cumltts1 - 20 close the book. The
pastures, as l walked li~ngeringly back
to the house, were heavy with dew,
and discolored the hem Of my white
cotton dress. l must have been a
strange looking girl; my hair hoated
all over my shoulders and down my
back below my waist; nobody had
ever told me that I was growing UP,
and that my locks should be arranged
more neatly. l came with slow steps
round the orner of the house, brushing
my hand softly along the thick dark
box trees; my lightly-shod feet maze
no noise on the gravel as l turned
the corner of the clunlp of thick bushes
which stood at each side of the en-
trance, and advanced toward the heavy
white columns of the porch.
Then l started back and paused
i~rresolutely, for there was a stranger
standing by the door a young man
with bare head and folded arms. |
beg your pardon, Mr.. Martineau, did
l startle you?"
Not in the least, thanks. You-you
can't think how you interest me.
Please don't pause"
at seems a strange thing that up to
that night l had never encountered
any of my uncle's guests, but it is
nevertheless quite true. AS he turned
and caught sight of me, he uttered an
exclamation of surprise.
You startled me- he said.
"'You startled me, too l answered
vaguely, as l looked at him, there came
floating into my mind "reminiscences
of the romances with which l had late
ly filled my head. l thought of the FIRST
meeting between Ivanhoe and Rebecca
as l looked up at him. He took my
hand, drew me to his side, and patted
my hair kindly.
Whose lea little girl are your
he said.
Il felt cruelty wounded and hurt!
There was every eXcuse for him-you
see how small am. nc taller than a
child, my hair was all down my back,
and the light was fading! But l never
thought of that. Picture to yourself
a girl, with a mind just awakened to
a consciousness of womanhood and it's
possibilities, brought face to face with
the first young man she had ever met,
and greeted as l was greeted then! He
must have thought me mad. l burst
into indignant tears, and tore myself
way from him.
"'How dare you-oh, how dare you
speak to me like that?" l cried. 1
can't think how you can insult me SOL
II think he saw then that he had
made a mistake. for he said, BY
George, I beg our pardon!' But |
would not stay another moment. l ran
upstairs to my own room. There I
cried as if my heart would break. I
had deeply realized how neglected !.
was, and there was no one to help mo
to gain redress!"
(TO be c%Ontinued,)
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07

quite by itself, a good way from the
high road, and three miles from the
village. l was never allowed beyond
the grounds without the housekeeper.
Every day the old schoolmaster
from the village came to give me les
sons. 1t was, as you may imagine, a
very old-fashioned education which l
received; but l liked it. My uncle had
a library-neither large nor valuable,
but l read all the books on those
shelves. Robinson Crusoe, Rasselas,
CULVER, the Pilgrims Progress-that
was my only idea of fiction. So the
days and months crept slowly by. My
uncle was often away, and I used to
notice, at those times, a greater anxi-
ETY. on he part Of the "housekeeper to
have an eye on me. and that l should
not go out of bounds. 1 was no doubt
closely watched; but by degrees they
grew to trust me more, for l was very
tractable. Constant isolation made
me dull. quiet, unlike other girls. I
had absolutely no link with the outer
world; l had been distinctly forbidden
to write to the nuns-I knew no one
in England. My uncle used to have
visitors-always men-but these l
never saw. l lived quite apart from
him; his rooms were at the other end
ofShe house. l always had my meals
with the housekeeper."
Pardon my Interruption" said Mr..
Msrtineau, in a low tone. Did you
say you never saw your uncle's
guests?"
Wait 4 minute; 1 am going to tell
you" she replied. When l was be-
tween sixteen and seventeen a change
came about in my world. The old
schoolmaster died. There was a pause
in the regular routine of my days. Left
entirely to my own devices, I used to
wander all over the upper parts Of the
house. In Il Of the a.sics I found a
box full Of books. Some were dull and
,uninteresting, but some werewolf, l
do not think you can have any idea
or what it was to me to become ac-
quainted with Sir Walter Scott, Thac.z-
cray and Lord Lytton. My brain al
most reeled with an accumulation OF
new ideas. I wondered how in the
world l could have remained where
was so long in helpless. stupid ignor-
ance OF life. I soon resolved that l
would bear it no longer. I would
brave my uncle; I would demand my
freedom; I would ask why 1 was
mewed up thus in a corner, away from
all companionship.
Il remember that night wildly. It
was August, sultry and still, and both
atmosphere and sky were beautifully
clear. I had spent the afternoon I'M
der the willows by the brook, gloat-
ing ever my novel till the facing light
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07
SERIOUS HINTS ON DRESS.
With Some Flippant Comments by q
Boston Man,

With Some Flippant Comments by u
Boston Man.
We have received a little pamphlet
which we hope has been distributed
widely among our readers, observes
the Boston Journal. The careful study
of it may put an end to doubts that
have embittered households and poi
soned the wells Of domestic happiness.
This little book-we dislike the term
"booklet"-tells in simple language
how to dress your coachman, groom,
butler. doorman and page.
Thus, for instance, the coachman
should wear six buttons on his coat
two on the back at waist and two at
the bottom of the skirt. He should
also have flaps on his pockets. Other
wise he might be mistaken for the
groom, who has no flaps on the pock-
cts and has five buttons in front and
six behind. These buttons should al
ways match the metal trimmings on
the harness. Ardent Bryanites will, Of
course, use silver.
The hat must be silk. There is no
alternative. SLOUGH hats are no longer
worn by the coachman Of our more ex-
elusive citizens, and the more fastidi-
Jus insist that the hat should be a
new one, not a cast-off dicer Of the
master. The coachman, when on duty,
should smoke only cigars. They should
cost at least at the rate of three for
n quarter. Green baiZe cloth anrons
should match your billiard table. Crest
buttons, worn by your servants, should
be ducal. There are several dukes in
England, so there may be a variety in
the device.
BY paying attention to these details
and the advice as to other matters CIV
en- by this pamphlet, you will be
obliged to be more scrupulous as to
your own dress, for it is a sad sight
when the groom is mistaken for the
master.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07
REGULAR
q. Noha1nncdans Has Set In from tie
Island of Crete.

q: Mol,arnmcdans Has Set In from tie
Island of Crete.
A regular exodus of Mohammedans
from Crete has set in, and, as there
seems to be no wy CT stopping It, il
is believed that the Porte will soon
make a virtue of necessity and pass the
word for all true Mussulmans to ..uit
the island. Although large sums of
money have been distributed at Cam
dia among those willing to stay, be-
sides free gifts of timber for the re-
construction of their houses, boats con-
tinue to leave crowded with emigrants.
The news Of Prince Georges visit to
Gambia only gave fresh stimulus to the
exodus, and, at latest accounts, the
prospect was that the whole Mussul-
man population would soon be gone.
The Turks are much distressed at this
state of affairs, and accuse England of
being principally to blame, since she,
of the four powers, has nearly always
been foremost in assuring Turkey that
her rights would be s~afeguarded. It is
ilUL uSulSu Iudl I1Sldl1O LdS -6uuSdV-
ored, in a certain measure, to fulfill
her promises, but, as the Christian Gre
tans seem to have deliberately adopted
the policy of making the island unin-
habitable for Moslems, it is practical
ly impossible for any outside influence
to induce them to remain. 1t is gen.
orally admitted that each family is
worth a considerable sum per annum
IT, the island N taxes and industry,
hut the Christians, having obtained the
upper hand, are resolved to pursue
their advantage to the uttermost, and
to drive all Moslems out of the coun-
try, so far as it lies within their power
to do so. This is. at all events, an ef
fective way Of putting an end to relig,
ious differences.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07


the nuns had never seen me in. But
there was no help for 1t. l never
asked who or what was my uncle; but
he must have come vested with full
authority, for the nuns never hesltated
to resign me to him. l remember o
l chung round the neck of each, n
promised to come back soon. MY lis
tress was unbounded, but it changed to
terro: when l beheld my uncle.
Il had never seen a man but the old
confessor and Jean Baptiste LerouX,
who dug the garden. This new arrival
was not at all calculated to impress a
child favorably. He was a stout man
with a short red beard, red hair, and
very small, t%winkling, pig-like black
eyes. His expression was cunning and
cruel; and, to make matters worse.
could not understand a word he said.
He was English. l was to all intents
and purposes French. He did not con-
slider it at all worth his while to at
tempt to cajole me in any way. He
packed me into a carriage, needless OF
my screams and tears; and so we
drove away in the dusk, the pelting
rain descending in a binding mist and
hiding the beloved convent walls from
my poor aching eyes.
II have very faint recollections Of
my journey to England; but the one
thing which l distinctly remember is
that we always travelled by night. l
remember. too, that my uncle twice
boxed my ars-onc when he told me
to leave off crying and did not. once
when l stumbled over his foot; but,
what with being always in tears, and
always travelling in the dark. my idea
Of our route is very in%distinct.
Il remember at last starting from
sleep at the sound of bolts and bars
being withdrawn, and seeing a glare
OF lamplight and a woman's face, mid
dle-aged and rather kindly. My uncle
dragged me out of the carriage and
handed me over to her, blinking with
sleep. dusty with travel, half crying
with fatigue. l think she put me to
bed at once. At first, any converse
ton between US was very difficult. as
l could not understand anything she
said. and l was quite determined not
to learn English, which stood con
demned il my eyes as the language of
my uncle. At last, however. l had OF
course to give in, and to acquire by
GLOW degrees, a knowledge of col
lcquial English.
1T was a dilapidated house. and. l
am sure. in a most out-of-the-way
placa-there was no railway for sew
eral miles. There was a small village,
and a tiny church in a very bad state
Of repair. l did not even remember
the name Of the clergyman"
Pardon me-" interrupted Mr.. Mar
tineau; ''but, from the way you were
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07
Mr.. Leroy is away?"
CIV Cnot1.-b

MI. Leroy is away?"
I'm Scotland"
Il am very sorry for that" she said
earnestly.
$50 am I, if it gives you inconven-
ience," asserted Mr.. Martineau; but 1
am his partner-can't l do something
for you? l will endearor to compen-
safe for lack of capacity by extra dill
gence."
you must know" she said afteeban-
other short pause, during which she
seemed to be making up her mind, sit
is a very difficult task that I have to
set you. l want you to tell ME who
l am"
"Ah-really," returned the young
melancholy nod of the head, really,
you know. I'm afraid l can't oblige you
there!"
"Did you ever hear Of anything so
ridiculous?" she said, laughing. Have
you ever thought how remarkably
queer you would feel if you didn't
know who you were?"
I'm afraid I've never thought of
such a thing" he admitted, almost
with reluctance. 1T seems rather like
a nightmare, doesn't it,"
That's exactly what it Is like" she
said; only a nightmare which lasts
for years is exceptionally trying. /
feel as If l should like to wake up
now! ! thought that Mr.. Leroy might
be able to wake me-" There was a
touch Of rueful melancholy in the last
words.
If ycu won't consider my curiosity
impertirent." said Mr.. Martineau, with
infinite solemnity, may l ask in what
manner you thought he would set
about it,"
He made my fathers WILL" ex-
planned the lady client, land l thought
he might in consequence be able to
tell me my fathers name"
Il admit the extreme probability Of
your theory" returned the young man;
"but-forgive my obtuseness-if you
are sure of your fathers identity,
why should you hesitate about your
own?"
"Oh, you don't understand at ALL"
she exclaimed with conviction. "The
affair is by no means SO simple as all
that. ! wonder"-she put her head on
one side and looked wistfully at him
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07
to tell me when you expect Mr.. Leloy
home"
CHAPTER II.

The young mar was delighted with
this little ebullition. He was now abb
solutely resolved not to par, with her
until he was obliged.
Il am an unlucky fellow to be mis-
understood" he replied. II meant to
convey to you a delicate hin. that the
longer you talked the more l should
be pleased, but you turned my mean
ing upside down. Do forgive me and
sit down again! l shall be quite dis
appointed if you CO." he went on. as
she hesitated. You surely won't
make 1t such a serious matter? l was
half IN joke, and thought you appreci-
ated the humor Of the situation"
I was very silly to take o%ffenss,S
said the lady client with decision.
Now I will sit down and tell you all
about it; but really l thought you felt
me an infictioE. 1t is very warm, you
know"
1T is; but this old office keeps pref
" cool. 1t is dark and low"
lie rose and lowered the Venetian
blind, then resumed his seat with an
attitude Of deep attention.
Now, Miss Lilbourne."
All, | wish | were certain that it
IS Miss" she lamented. THAT is one
of the things that l don't know!"
Hc raised eyes to hers with another
strange, furtive look.
Oh" he said, you do not even
know whether you are married or sin
gle?"
mot the least in the world" she
said. shaking her head and laughing.
The plot t~hickens." said Mr.. Mar
tincau. please proceed to explain"
The first place that I can remern-
ber,' said Marguerite Lilbournc, lis a
french convent. 1t was very happy
there. The nuns made much OF me;
the sun used always to shine-at least,
cannot remember any wet days but
one. They called me always Bebe or
La Petite-I never knew any other
name.
They taught me to read and write,
but | do not remember once writing my
name. No letters ever reached me;
chiidlike, | expected none. | knew of
no world beyond the convent gates.
There were no children there except
me. | never wondered how l came
there-it was home-it had always
been so. l believe they told me that l
was an orphan, but for me the word
had no meaning-I had no desire for a
father and mother. because, in M ex,
perlence, there were no such things.
Ito be continued.)
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07
U.-(Continued

Il played in the sunny garden,
amongst the thyme and rosemary, the
climbing roses, the lilies, the sweet
basil, and the scarlet anemones. l said
my prayers in the dim chapel, and
went to rest in my tiny cell.
This lasted till I was ten years old.
one day it rained heavily. AS l have
said, 1t was the only wet day that l
remember. Soon after our midday din
ner the great bell changed at the gate,
a very unusual occurrence. Sister Ursu-
line went to the gate, and l remember
mat one or two curious nuns and l
were peeping through the grille when
she came back, in evident agitation,
and sought the mother superior. l was
carried OIL by one of the nuns, my con-
slant playfellow, a sweet Of
fifty, with the heart Of a child. She
Kissed me lovingly as she held me in
her arms. l remember it all so well!
Sister Desiree,' l whispered, thou
art crying
No, no, Bebe.' she said; it is moth
ing! am rightly punished. My af-
1ectlon for thee has grown too deep,
beloVed--it is earthly. l know tLcu
wilt be taken from me; it Is but just
Il did not understand her then. I
was wonderfully childish for my ten
years. But you cannot think how WV
IDLY l recall it-how | should remem-
Der every stone of the dea. old con-
vent, every path in the sunny gar
den!".
You make me feel as if 1 could
see 1t all mysclf-you interest me ex-
tremely," said Mr.. Martineau. PRAY
go on"
well that was my last day with
the nuns. 1t was the very last happy
day Of my life. They told me present.
ly that my uncle had come for me. NV
uncle! The words conveyed no impress
sion TO my mind. Who was he? did
not want him. 1 declined. with thanks,
the honor of relationship. When ley
made me understand that it was not a
matter for my choice at all, that I
must 90 with him, it was terrible. l
threw myself into such a passion as
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07
Il wonder If might tell you a
about it?"

Il wonder If l might tell you all
about it,"
Smiles was a fool when he said she
was nothing to look at" inwardly COM
mented Mr.. Martineau. II never saw
such a pretty mouth in my life. loud
he added: Il shall be only too grateful
IL you will so far honor me-"
1T will take some time" she said,
d%oubtfully; land suppose, after all, l
have troubled you for nothing?"
How could that be-"
WELL" she answered, blushing and
laughing, ut is best to be quite frank.
III tell you what mean. l have been
saving up none for a long time for
this purpose, and supposing, when l
have done my story, you find that to
do what want you to do will cost
more money than l have to spend, will
you tell me so, please? l know SO lit
tie about the law. and SO fortn."
Certainly l will tell you: but If you
merely want a will searched for, l can
assure you"
II keep on telling you that you don't
understand" she cried, il. patiently.
Let me tell you all about it,"
Il am all attention; but, before you
commence, would it greatly inconven-
fence you to tell me who you at present
imagine yourself to be, or, If you have.
no ideas upon the subject, under what
title do you choose It present to be
KNOWN"
Yes" she ~rejoined. Il will tell you
what l am acknowledgements Lii
bourne; but whether that is my real
name or not I cannot tell you. l do
not think it is?"
"Why not?" he asked, with a sudden
start.
81 will tell you'll am Just going to
begin
Thanks. All l have to suggest ia
that you begin at the beginning, and
that you don't attempt to tell me moro
than one thing at a time. / know you
will excuse me-, but even ladies are
mortal, and have their besetting sins,
among which is usually the total in
ability to tell a story. Try TO prove
yourself an exception to the rule"
The lady client was offended. She
took up her umbrella and rose.
* am a novice in the art OF nar-a-
ton" she said, with . haughtiness
which he did not expect erom her, 'and
l might irritate your high strung
nerves. / had better wish you good
morning, and will only trouble YOU
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07
I.

"A lady to see you, sir. She asked
for your uncle, sir, but 1 told her he
was out of town, and then she said
you'd do, SIR"
1T was a great condescension on
her part, Smiles. What might be her
age. do you think, Smiles?"
Her age, sir?"
Yes: l really don't feel inclined to
be bothered by seeing anybody. I'm
In beastly temper this morning-ask
the office boy if I'm not. So would any
ma be If he was tied to a London Of
nee In August-and such an August
as this! I'm pretty comfortable just
at this minute, without my coat and
waistcoat. If I see the lady, l shall
nave to put them on. Query-Is the
lady worth the trouble? That's what l
want to ascertain"
We'll, sir, she's young-very young,
as you might say, SIR"
And what's she like to loo at,
Smiles?"
We'll, sir. I can't say she's much to
look at. No. l can't go as far as that"
III Smiles, rather %ruefully, scratching
the top of his bald head. She's rather
shabby, sir. Not good-looking."
We'll, perhaps she'll improve when
She's old enough to know better. l
suppose l must see her. You show her
In. Smiles. in exactly five minutes
from now-neither more nor less. Do
you hear? The lady's %plainness is
forgiven on the score of youth and in
experience. I'll see her in five min
utes."
Eyes, SIR"
Left to himself, Mr.. Martineau
stretched his long legs, and sighed.
with his face turned to the ceiling.
Its a pretty dear price to pay for a
Junior partnership" he said; ito ne
In London this hot weather, while the
old gentleman is enjoying himself in
the lane O. cakes; but 1 suppose, after
all. l am a lucky dog, and mustn't quar-
rel with my bread and butter" Here
he rose. and stretched an unwilling
arm toward his waistcoat. "Septem-
Der will soon be here" he reflected
more cheerfully, "and then hey for
Clarisdale and Lady Mildred!"
Principally at the expiration of the
nve minutes Smiles opened the door,
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07

and ushered in the lady client. She
vas received by a young man Of stern,
business-like aspect. irreproachably at
tired. who bowed with gravity and po-
likeness. while his rather cold gray
eyes inspected the little figure before
him with a swift scrutiny. His eyes
were deeply set beneath overhanging
brows. which gave rather a repellant
look to the fact-a look that would
convince a keen observer that he was
q man who kept his own secrets. His
fair mustache was not long. but thick;
his hair was also fair, and he was
slightly bald above the forehead. His
complexion was fair and clear, his
nose straight and well-formed: his
air was that of q thorough mar of the
world, with every nov and then a
suggestion Of boredom. He had no
outward characteristic that would JUS
tify one in putting him down as an
attractive man, yet the impression
made by Mr.. Martineau at first sight
~as nearly always favorable; he con-
veyed the idea of being a cultivated
man, and was almost invariably an
Agreeable companion.
A. faint smile Of amusement lowered
aoout his lips as his eyes rested upon
the lady client.
She was small as we'll as young
might be described, in fact, as petite.
She was ~undeniably shabby. Her hat
might have cost a shilling, and was
trimmed with a plain bow Of ribbon.
Her dress was Of cheap dark-colored
cotton. and considerably the worse for
wear. Her gloves were cotton. too:
hut her collar was as white as snow,
and her skin as fresh and clear as IL
she had never been within CHI of
London smoke.
~ she raised q pair of large, dark
eyes to those Of the junior partner a
sudden change swept over his face
neeting expression, such as q man
light wear to whom, in the midst Of
connfort and luxury. came a d~isagreea-
Ne reminder Of the existence OF power
81 and want. The next moment he
VAS offering her q seat and inquiring
politely In what way he could serve
~.
The lady client sat down. Mr.. Mar
&ineau's own seat was placed SO that
nis back was to the light; 1t suited him.
lister TO observe than to be observed.
HI visitor compressed her pretty lips
strong EFFORT TO Ne solemn. and
&exRnnded:
$s y0r M. Martineaug"
Sa6H-antire.y 1t YOUR aerUice.1
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-07
Application of Telephotographs.

Telephotography has recently been
applied to a novel purpose by Italian
engineers in the Alps, south of Mont
Blanc, where the frontier line between
France and Italy lies among the noun
tains. The telephotographic camera
produces a magnified picture of a dis
tant object, and by e of such pic
lures the Italians have been able to
study the details of French forts which
they cannot approach near enough to
photograph with an ordinary camera