davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29

room with It's music and flowers? That
cottage hair buried In the pines seems
a truer home than many a brown stone
front on the avenue?"
"Ah, a thousand times" answered
Grace with the frown dying out of her
face. His words were slow and earn
est, but she seemed not to connect
them with the speaker. They put her
into a brown study and she fell to ex-
amining a handful OF sand for garnets.
Watching the search. he continued
even more quietly than before.
Would there be happiness for you
in a little home such as that cottage.
far from town, with all it's parties and
things. where you would be with real
people. where you would be loved and
served by real friends?"
Closer scrutiny Of the sand.
Would you give up that luxurious
life that you have followed for this.
and for a fellow whose every energy
would be turned to your happiness
such a fellow, in fact, as II"
The sand slipped away, and the gar
nets were lost.
ooh, Grace, Grace. would you-could
you-?"
Ding, dong-ding, dong-ding, dong;
twelve o'clock.
II. Parker Baxter awoke with a great
start and looked around astonished. He
had seen the New Year come In Au-
gust.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29
NEW YEARS DAY IN KITCHEN.

Cook will probably have her New
Years callers, and if you are wise you
will close eyes and ears for the Eonce,
o investigate too closely the contents
Of dish or demijohn. For her friends
are hale and hearty, with old fashioned
ideas on the subject of hospitality and
an aversion to such foolish fripperies
as tea or coffee,
If you have a few flowers or ribbons
that you do not need, they will be well
bestowed upon her, and will add to her
attractiveness as she sits in state be-
hind a well filled table in her kitchen
presiding over ONE such scene as
this:
Ting-a-ling-ling,
Mary, there's the basement bell.
GWan now an open the dure."
The kitchenmaid does so, and re-
ports:
Its Mr.. Duffy"
"Arrah! come right in, Mr.. Duffy.
It's tn first ye are, an good luck to
you"
Good luck to you. Miss Kelly.
Shure it's a fine night, God be
praised"
Alvin! Sit down"
Duffy does so, and stares around in
awkward fashion.
AN are ye maxim many calls, Mr..
Duffy"
This is the first. Shure I didn't
lave the dumps till swim"
True for you. An'pwhat will you
have to drink? There's sherry wine
an port wine, an claret wine an soma
whisky"
Mr.. Duffy's dull eye brightens.
"T1l take a little of tn ould stuff"
he says with a grin.
He takes it, but not a little.
will yez have some cake or a sand
wich?"
Have yez arrah a corn bafe sam
wich in tn house,"
"Shure 1 have. Take two of thin"
He does so, and munches till the bell
rings again.
The maid "Mr. Geo
hogan"
Duffy rises with some show of per-
turbation.
Il think III be goin'."
"Arrah don't hurry. Ye know Mr..
Geohogan?"
Il know no good av him"
"Arrah, phat talk have you more?"
Duffy move to the door as the new
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29

sea, an undefinable change of express
sion in those brown eyes looking out
of the albumen paper. Our magma
ton is subject to such unhealthy fiut-
tiers as this, yet most interesting grew
that picture, and H. Parker's eyes and
heart were won, if his reason sane
toned not.
Preposterous and Incredible, The
duck skirt began to nov slightly. as
if stirred by a breeze from the sea. and
the margins Of the picture drew far
Their and farther apart, until on one
side a row Of bath houses came into
view, while on the other the broad,
blue ocean sparkling in the summer
sunlight, More than this, H. Parker
was conscious of a slight odor of salt
in the air, as of seaweed and wet rocks
left by the tide. The distant boom of
breakers, soft at first, grew louder and
nearer. When the girl stepped down
from the drift log to the sand before
his eyes, the doctors smile of incredul-
ity suddenly expired. When she looked
at him and spoke he felt a tremor
in the very marrow of his bones. and
not a tremor wholly OF surprise either.
There he was-on the beach with
her again; not Baxter Of surgical treat
ises and test-tubes. but the summer
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29

same time the old sting also pierced
her heart, and, with a touch of de.
fiance. the young girl answered:
"Tidings of you did come, but they
were not addressed to me-the letter
in which you renounced me and all OF
US"
Your father-not you. What other
answer could l make to his shameful
demand? Either he never knew me,
or he could not have set such a choice
before me-or he knew my decision in
advance, and my refusal was to seal
determined"
We'll. at least you made your choice
promptly enough! You uttered the re-
fusal, and-gave ME up"
mo, Florence, no." William i'm
%petuously answered. 81 did not give
you up, and never will, as long as
breath remains in my body. 1 know
that we are parted for the time, that
there can be no thought of marriage
while l am serving in the Union army.
II NCuiu Dc SApSClllS Lue lmpOSSIU1S
from your father if l were to ask his
consent before the war is over. But
my fear was not vain that the effort
would be made to wrest you from me,
that arrangement and diStruSt would
come between us while / was absent.
You have doubted me, l see, and it was
to destroy this doubt that l took the
dangerous ride here. But you will
now believe in me and my love, my
Florence, as firmly as 1 trust you.
Will you not?"
The last words expressed the utmost
tenderness. He believed so implicitly
in the loyalty of his ~fiancee; and she
A sudden fear awoke in her with the
memory of what had happened and
was yet to ONE William must know
it, yet she could not force her lips to
utter the confession.
She was to be spared the necessity.
While still struggling to find the words
with which to begin her story, Edward
returned and paused on the threshold
in establishment. as he saw the
stranger clasping the young girls hand
so Familiarity in his own. At the first
glance the civilians dress and the dim
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29

clad, ~sun-tanned devotee OF Granite
Head, and the very ardent, though un-
assuming, admirer of Grace Marston.
Her first words confused his thoughts,
he felt a ghostlike atmosphere about
him, but after that the glaring August
sun warmed him through, the sea
breeze exhilerated him, he was filed
with energy and real live happiness.
Dear me-" she was saying, Ito think
that there is nothing better for you to
photograph than a summer girl max
ing a guy Of herself on an old log,
There go those Sewall girls from the
Pines If you hurry you can catch
them to pose in a group for you. I've
heard they are great at t."
"At posing, l suppose" he answered.
mo, Miss Marston. l have graduated
from the snap-'em-whenever-you-can
class and have entered the art school
hence have chosen you for the pic
ture."
"Ha-ha-ha! I appreciate that
laughed the girl as they began to saun-
ter down toward the cliffs, but have
you considered, Mr.. Baxter, the proba-
bility of my breaking the p~late?"
What! An angler, too? l shall
not humor the weakness in you, still,
if you are a summer girl, as your own
confession would indicate"
Pardon me, Mr.. Baxter, you know
l like the assertion better when you let
make it,"
"Of course. Observe that | advance
no statements on the subject myself. l
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29

den. instead of using the main en-
trance, and now, un~announced, hur-
riedly entered the drawing-room. The
young lady involuntarily took a step
ossard the table. on which stood a
bell.
"Florencei"
She started. for she recognized the
voice. then the features. and with a
cry of mingled fear and joy she held
u both arms to him.
William"
He was already at her side and
cIasped her p~assionately in his arms,
exclaiming with a deep sigh:
Thank heaven! At least l have not
lost you!"
Florence chung closely to him, as If
seeking protection. Everything that
had tortured her vanished in her
lovers presence, in the delight of see
ing him, and she eagerly exclaimed:
Have you come at last? Why have
you left me alone SO long-so endlessly
long? | despaired Of your return"
cOulQ not naSten 10 you, replied
William. MY regiment was one of
the first to receive marching orders.
Not a day. not an hour was granted
ME, and every march increased the dis
lance between US. You know what it
cost me to submit to this iron neces-
sity; my letters told you"
Your letters? You wrote to me?"
Then you did not receive them? l
suspected it when no answer came, yet
| still tried every means Of cOmmuni-
eating with you. Florence, we have
been shamefully treated. l have never
had one line from your hand"
From me? I did not WRITE" said
Florence, in a low, hesitating tone.
William, who was still holding her
in close embrace, suddenly released
her and stepped back.
You did not? You have not sent
me a single line during the long
months of our separation? You have
not once attempted to elude the watch
set on your movements? Yet you must
have known that l would make every
effort to send you tidings of me-,
The reproach was felt, but at the
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29

FOINE NIGHT, GOD BE PRAISED.
conner enters, and the two men nod to
each other in a surly fashion.
Good night says Duffy.
Cook follows him I o the door, and
her sibilant whisper can be heard
plainly.
why don't you like him. Mr..
Duffy"
"shure he's a scab. An. besides.
he's from Tyrone. 1 niver give a coun-
ty Tyrone man more than tn tip av me
finger"
And the basement door clangs be-
hind him.
Mr.. Geohogan partakes freely Of re-
freshment, and is proposing marriage
when a new batch of callers arrive.
"Givan wild you now" says Cook.
pleased and fiustered, AN come back
whin your sober tomorrow. Here comes
the Donnelly's."
From this time on me room becomes
a rendezvous for Cooks many ac-
quaintances.
The policeman looks in the door to
exchange his good wishes Tor bite and
sup" the grocery clerk drops in, the
ice man calls, and as the new year is
ushered in with bells and songs and
horns and shouts. Cooks guests are
there. to aid in the send off."-New
York Herald.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29

IOdIhAI y.
was merely going to say that if you are
a summer girl of the approved, news
paper-joke sort, your likeness upon
the plate could not fail to produce the
effect that it mas upon-er-men's
hearts, to wit-complete fracture"
Why, l am surprised at you," said
Grace, a faint blush hardly perceptible
under the healthy tan which she had
found no difficulty in acquiring at
Granite Head.
H. Parker studied her face in its
mock severity and watched the dainty
little hand go up to push back some
annoying hair that blew across her
eyes. A great wave of admiration for
that noble girl rose up in his breast
admiration very unlike that with
which he had heard his brilliant class
mates proclaim their knowledge. His
heart told him, Il love her" Why not
let mis- heart be heard?
They strolled along together to the
music of the sea H. Parker felt that
there was melody even in the scream
ing of the gulls overhead. He Won
dered why it had never seemed so be-
fore.
Let US sit up there under the big
rock" suggested Grace, pointing to the
nearest of the cliffs which leaned for
ward over the sand and made a cosy
shelter from the sun. Here the sand
ry-oc oNn1 Tho nInro ~nffOnoJ o,I A.
view of cheap cottages and decrepit
bath houses cut off, while the whole
stretch of beach on the right lay be-
fore them like a broad white highway.
Grace sat with her back against the
rock, and at her side reclined the doc
tor, full length upon the sand.
Are you ever serious, Miss Mars
TOM" quoth he with but a trace Of
that quality in his own tone.
Sometimes"
"On what rare occasions would it be
possible for one to find you in that
mood?"
"Oh, well, I'm not naturally so, you
know, but once in a while when some
thing goes wrong to induce it 1 get
very serious-even blue-and as I al
ways end by finding out what a silly,
useless creature l am, there is very lit
tie enjoyment in being serious. Please
let's not be serious, Mr.. Baxter"
Never more light-minded in my
life, Miss Marston-never. But tell me
how You deduct your conclusion which
O a silly, useless creature.
very clever at showing ~fallacies in
reasoning"
We'll, unless because l live a use
less life. Just look at my diary for a
winter. Just look it through and see
If you find anything accomplished,
anything improving or worthy. Dances
-calls-teas, over and ove again. Do
you call that sort of thing living? The
people l meet day by day there; do 1 !
know them, are they friends, do they
me? No, it's all vanity-artif-
waste Of time"
Grace was serious enough now and
out to sea with a frown upon
her brows as dark as any that ever
lowered there.
A pause and her companion spoke.
1T may be vanity for some, but not
for you, Miss Marston. Society fur
1ishes a field for superficial character
breed and thrive in, but yours is
good and strong and sincere"
Il have begun to forget and disre-
gard what it naturally is. l am tired
Of that life. 1 love the woods and
seattle open air and the sense
freedom; freedom to go where I
please, be as I wan to be, choose COM
3~aniors that 1 like"
Then the view Of cliffs and breakers
5 pleasanter than the brilliant ball
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29
RI Hcnncr's Sons
CHAPTER uI.-(Continued.,

CHAPTER l1.-QContinued.)
Il believe you, Edward" she said
In a low tone. II will be ready this
evening"
Edward raised her hands 10 his lips
and rose.
Thanks, And now one favor more!
Captain Wilson asks permission to pay
his respects to you. VIII you receive
him."
Not now. | nust go to my father.
The captain will excuse ne il receive
him later"
AS you please. And when may l
see my uncle?"
"As soon as he wakes. | am ex-
pecting the doctor. He promised to
come toward evening and bring Doctor
Blackwood. who is to reach the city
this morning. Perhaps he can give
me hope"
Hope? You know as we'll as that
it Is only a question of time. a short
addition to the days of life. The ply
sicians have left us no doubt on that
score. But l won't detain you from
the sick-room now. FAREWELL | shall
hope to see my uncle in half an hour"
He kissed her hand again, and left
the room.
Florence remained alone. She, too.
had risen, and now. slowly approach
Ing the fountain, bent over it's basin.
The sultry air oppressed her till her
breathing almost failed. Perhaps it
was also the burden of dread OF the
coming hours and the torturing de-
cision which they must bring.
The water leaped and FLASHED. The
fragrance of the flowers stole softly
and sweetly to her. While her ewes
mechanically followed the falling
drops, their pattering and the fra
GRANGE wove a dreamy haze of remem-
brance about her and led her back
into the past-thls last year, which at
first had promised her so much happi-
ness, only to bring such bitter suffer-
ing.
Even this brief period of bliss had
at first cost a struggle. She was
obliged to conquer a prejudice of her
followed the formers serious illness
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29
BY NJ. S. Jameson.

well, if those fellows are coming
around to see the old year out they
had better show up pretty soon,"
yaWned H. Parker Baxter as he slam
med down the cover of a ponderous
and gruesome medical book and turned
a pair Of sleepy eyes to the clock, which
was complacently ticking away the
last fifteen minutes Of so. No other
sounds were to be heard, save the oc-
casional settling of the fire in the
CRATE, for the snow lay deep and soft
over the cobble and f1agstone outside.
The old year, after a stormy life, was
dying calmly and beautifully.
To our friend Baxter, one of these
unimpassioned, dusty men who never
Join ill.," this ancient ceremony Of
seeing the old year out appealed but
feebly. He used to say of New Years,
an arbitrarily fixed point in time
which has become the inaugural date
Tor good resolutions, to the necessary
neglect Of all other dates for their
formation" but most of his friends
thought this simply a speech that he
was gratified to make. He was trying
hard to pose as a "rising young phys
lc1an." and IA really acting the part
to himself, as many an ambitious nan
will do.
But however this may be, as the
seconds licked along, H. Parker grew
more and more drowsy. He settled
himself back in the chair, stared at the
fire, and biinked. Then his eyelids
dropped.
"This will never do" says he,
Strengthening up with a jerk and
reaching out to the table for something
to read or look at, Il must keep awake
a few minutes longer" Chance put a
stack of photographs under his hand,
and though they were stale enough he
began to look them over again-inci-
dentally yielding to the comfort of ly-
ing back in the big chair. Some were
portraits of his friends at school and
college, some were old faded prints
that ought to have had romanceS at
tached, but which were really very
prosaic, even to him. Others bore the
brand of the amateurs first attempt
these to be passed by quickly; a few
were the products of his own photo
graphic skill at Granite Head last sum-
m~er-bathers in the surf, the hotel, a
clam bake, etc.-all very fair photo
graphs in their way-but hold here
is n that might be studied critically.
There is no hurry. 1t is too late now
for the jewellers to come. H. Parker
shifts to a still more comfortable posi-
ton and the soft lamp light shines
over his shoulder upon as pretty a lit
tie picture as you would ask to see.
1t is the picture of a ~dark-haired girl,
dressed in a suit of duck. She is stand
ing on a log of driftwood with her
hands behind her and her handsome,
happy face turned squarely to the cam
era. In the developing of this pic
ture H. Parker had conceded that more
care was required than in ordinary
work; he had watched its delicate lines
appear with the enthusiasm of a true
lover of the chemists art. With any
other passion? Possibly, but that was
past and gone four months age.
The young doctor liked that photo
graph, somehow. He had examined it
time and again until he knew its every
detail. 1t did not grow stale like the
others. But tonight there seemed to
be a new light upon it, a new tone in
the unfocused background of sand and
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29
Juvenile LOGIC.

Boy-You are going to fight against
the English, aren't you, Capt. Brown?
Capt. Brown (indignantly)-Fight
the English! What on earth put that
into your head?
Boy-Why, daddy said you were a
horrid Boer!-Punch.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-12-29

Even when man makes his own op-
portunities they are not made to suit
him.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-08-19
WITH THE BUSY BEES.

Nothing irritates bees 80 much az !
sudden jar.
The best trees to set around the hiv,
are fruit trees.
1t is mistake to let colony of bee,
be overstocked with drones.
Nothing is gained by feeding bee.
when there are plenty of flowers.
When bees build comb in their nat
ural way an excess of drones is usually
produced.
The life of bee depends upon the
work it does. When il works its life il
shortened.
No drones are reared in a colony until
it becomes very strong and the combs
are well filed.
To produce a large crop Of honey bees
should not be allowed to swarm, but
kept together.
Bees have been known to swarm in
a box hive when the hive was only
three-fosrths full.
Each frame of comb in hive should
occupy an inch and a half of space, tax.
ing care to space with exactness.
Pure white comb honey, with very
little propolis on the wood of the sec
tions denotes that they were taken out
n soon as they were filed.
A swarm of bees hived upon full set
of combs at the opening of the honey
season will fill their hive full in a week.
ready for surplus boxes.
At intervals during the summer.
when the bees cannot gather honey.
the queens quit laying and the strength
Of the colony is curtailed.-St. Louis Re
public.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-08-19
The CHICKEN MITE.
There II No Way to Secure Permanent
Relief from the Pest, Except
Eternal Vigilance.

This exceedingly troublesome and
often fatal pest is the cause of many
complaints from those raising chick
ems. The attacks of the pest are not
confined to poultry, as it is often found
III pigeon houses and in the nests of 9TH
er birds about farm buildings. Where
they are numerous they often find
their way to animals confined in the in
tested buildings. The mites are noe
turnal in their habits. During the day
time they are generally in hiding about
the building, but at night they aban-
don their hiding places and seek for
food. Chickens are often prevented
from sleeping at night, and not rarely
forced to abandon their eggs when set
ting. Instances have been recorded
where birds have been killed by this
mite.
There is DO way to receive permanent
relief from the pest. The remedies
must be applied often and thoroughly.
since the insect is able. to live a long
time without eating. Cleanliness must
be observed. The hen manure should
DC frequently removed, as it often
swarms with the pest. If the hen house
is light fumigation by sulphur is very
effective. TO prevent any accident by
nre, float the metal vessel containing
the burning sulphur in tub of water.
After several hours of fumigation, air
the building well before occupancy.
Pure kerosene is also to be recom-
mended. the interior of the buildinp.
including perches, should be well
sprayed with it. After using kerosene
remember to air the building before in
ight.-P. j. PARROT. In
turner's Voice.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-08-19
NOT ALL RELIABLE.
Statistics of China.s Trade shows to
Have an Adverse Dalance-C:oan.
try Not Nearing Bankruptcy.

China now has an adverse trade ball
ance which averages about $24,000,000
annually. According to official reports
TO the state department this balance IS
more apparent than real. There is =
large trade with Corea, Mongolia and
Thibet which does not appear in the
statistics, and it is estimated Sc, 000,-
COO goes back from the Chinese in this
country every year. That China is not
approaching bankruptcy is shown by
the fact Of its remittances for foreign
loans being made by bills of exchange,
and silver is constantly being imported.
It is the custom in the Chinese ports
rs elsewhere % credit merchandise to
the dag of the ship which brings it,.
and thus much of the real American
trade il credited to Great Britain on ac-
count Of the movement through the
Suez canal and the situation Of Hong
Kong u shipping point. Careful scru-
tiny of the figures. however, shows the
United States and Japan are increasing
their trade ia the orient at marvellous
rate, and this increase is directly ut
the expense q Great Britain, France
~ Germany
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-08-19
HIS COURAGE FAILED
10 Was Brave Enoush uatil He
Faced NARY Ann, Then He
Wilted.

It 10 the proud boast of Archie Bruce that
ne 10 q lineal descendant of the great Scot.
tish hero, and, as becomes man of his
blood, he prides himself on his courage. For
several months there has been in his family
Z servant who has completely terrorized
his wife, the latter being the victim and
not the commander of her nerves. There
was a terrible row between mistress and
maid last Saturday, and on Monday morn.
ing Mrs. Bruce said to her husband:
Archie, / cannot stand Mary Jane any
longer. Won't you please discharge her be-
Tore you 60 to business this morning. You
know how afraid of her am"
Certainly" replied Mr. Bruce, with suave
courage, certainly. The crossest creature
that ever cracked a cup or cleaned kettle
cannot COW me-"
The valiant Arch 65ald sometimes sur.
prises himself and his friends BY floating
along on stream of ALTERATION. Procur-
ing his hat and coat, he descended to the
basement kitchen, and in stentorian tones
bravely addressed the servant:
Mary Jane, ahem! must hurry of now.
but, ahem!--A1rs. Bruce asked me to tell
you that she wants, ahem!-to speak to
You after | have gone to the ofice!"-Sap
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