davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12
Whitrige's Burglar.

and pushed and turned, but his ef-
forts were not rewarded.
Now, in the 25 years of his life he
had learned that locks are very human;
that they resent harsh treatment and
are susceptible to kindness and per-
suasion, so he gave this particular
one good long breathing spell, ap-
preached it again as though he were
afraid of disturbing it and turned it so
gently that had it been sleeping it
would hardly have been awakened.
He went just so far and stopped. He
gave it violent jerk and a forceful
jam-all to no avail. Again he rested
and again attacked the obstinate mech
anism only to confess himself utterly
beaten.
He thought of arousing the family,
but peering through the frosted glass
into the dimly lighted hall he saw thu
the family had retired for the night.
The idea of being found in such a po-
sition was repulsive to him. After
what had occurred wss he to confess
that he had been conquered by door
knob? He certainly was not, or at
least until all hope was gone. He re-
membered that she had said that her
father was in town and would be at
home at - o'clock. It was an hour
yet, but he believed that he could per-
suade the old gentleman to hold his
peace, and that was worth long and
weary waiting.
One more attack on the door knob
convinced Whitridge OF the uselessness
OF further efforts at freedom, so he
settled down in corner and made
himself as comfortable as possible
under the circumstances. AS he sat
there on the floor of the dark vestibule
he forgot his unpleasant predicament
and fell to thinking of her, and as he
thought OF her he forgot all elsa.
The sleeping man was awakened by
gentle dig in the ribs, and he opened
his eyes into the dim glare Of dark
lantern. He tried to raise himself. bpt
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12


he was forced back to prostrate con-
.dition. He would have cried out, but
heavy hand was clasped over his
mouth.
From the blackness behind the Ian
tern came hoarse whisper:
Ssh! Mr.. Whitridge, it's me, Gro
gan, who you got of. You amt goin'
to be hurt.
Whitridge was wide awake now, and
the situation came to him in fash.
He recalled his one client. and, though
he realized the mans mission at the
Walton house, be felt that to him Gro
gan WAS messenger sent from heaven
to release him from the tolls. The
weight was removed from the chest
and the hand from his mouth after
another admonitory Ssh"
The lawyer got to his knees and
leaning toward the dark form OF his
quoudam client seized the grimy hand
and squeezed it afectionately. "Can't
you get me ont, Grogan?" he whis-
pered..
There was a chuckle. The light
quivered in evidence OF the amusement
of the man who held it.
Cant you:" repeated Whitridge:
SSH" Groyan answered. Turn
about 'ud be fair play, seein' ez you
saved me once from the Jug"
But I'm not a burglar" Whitridge
expostulatea.
''It looks suspicious, WAS the re-
ply. The light quivered again and
more violently. "You seem anxious
to get away without row.
Whitridge was in no mood for jok-
ing.
"Now, see here, Grogan," he said,
s:I did you good turn not long ago,
as you remember. 1 got you off when
really had reason to believe you
guilty. As
"Oh, but that was plea O. yours,
Mister WHIT
'Fang the plea!''
"S-sh!'
stAll that ask is that you silence
your conscience, disregard your suspi-
cions and let me so my way"
II can't. 1t looks like we're both
caught" said the burglar. Whitridge
heard muttered oath and reference
to the door knob.
Cant You open it," he asked.
"No," answered Grogan. 'I might
have once, but it's been jammed all
out O. shape. I cant go back, nuther. u
'sHow in the world did you get in?''
"Whv, NE an me pal come through
the cellar window, of course. He
stayed below and gathered mp the sill,
yer while I went upstairs. I goes
into room there, an hardly was ]
at work till I hears woman begin tc
git restless. Had it been a man I'd
STAYED, for a manila mostly cover ur
his head and lay still, but woman
alters yells. So [ sneaked. Bill, he
went through the wiuder with the
main part Of the swag an all the tools
an come this way. Here I am. Gne
doors closed, so I can't 60 back
t'other can't OPEN
This is a pretty kettle Of fish,
moaned Whitridge.
Fish? Burglars you mean," re
torted Grogan. "But where's YOU
; swag?"
"See here, Grogan, said Whitridge
Il got in here honestly, and I'm goin:
to get out honestly. These people ar
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12

friends of mine, and 7 think I'll just
give the alarm -
How about me?" said the burglar.
II don't think they're on my wisitiu'
list"
'But can't I say you are friend of
mine?'
ga pretty time this fer frien's to be
locked up in vestybules, particular with
pockets full O. spoons an things like
this" Grogan held handsome port
folio in the light of the lantern. Il
got it in her room while lookin' fer
jewelry an bills. Kin yeu read?"
He opened the leaves and turned the
light full on page covered with an
gular handwriting. A long silence
followed, during which the burglar
ran his finger along the lines and
spelled out word after word.
"Why, it's about fellow" he NUT.
tered. 'She must a had 'em bad. If
he'd only come back to me-, she says"
Says what?" exclaimed Whitridge,
grasping his companions arm.
Ssh! She says if he'd only come
back she'd accept him an"
Whitridge seized the portfolio. 'It's
woman's diary" he said, roughly,
and you have no right to look at it. "
Then, fixing it in the lantern light
to suit his own eyes, he read the last
entry: Eleven P. m. What fool T
an. I have just refused him; told him
that he was numbskull; ranted about
aims and ambitions; aired all my fine
ideas, and yet when he had gone
listened just to hear his footsteps as
he picked his way along the path to
the street. Women are geese. If
only he would come back I would beg
his forgiveness and accept him. If he
would only come back.
Wbitridge snapped the portfolio
shut and and arose.
"Grogau, he said firmly, eve must
get cut of this at once. Never mind
how. I'll take care of you and plead
your case at another bar.'
"Jest watt" growled the burglar.
'tmebbe-'
A strong hand was laid on his throat,
and he was lifted to his feet and thrown
violently against the door.
There was crash Of glass, femin-
inc scream, followed by an uproar on
the upper floors Of the honse.
"Never mind, Dorothea, ''arose from
the vestibule. 'sIt's only me, Sam
Whitridge. I've got burglar. Hurry
down here and let me out OF this CELL"
SIS it really you, Sam?" came in
frightened tones to Whitridge, who had
Grogan pinned fast in a corner.
"'Elp, miss, 'elp! He's ehokin' me
to deat'r'
eyes, it'sI. Don't be scared"
In answer to these cries Dorothea
Walton, attired in a long driving coat
and carrying a golf club, led g line of
five maids, similarly armed, down the
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12

ers.
The door was Cpl Ihitridse
dragged MS captive N before the
household.
Chow did you get him?'' exclaimed
the girl, her fright having given way
to astonishment.
Don't bother about that now" re-
piled Whitridge, nonchalantly. "Have
You good closet close by"
Dorothea ran to the distant end OF
the hall and threw open door. Whit
ridge pulled the discounted Grogan
after her, while the maids made
threatening demonstration against the
prisoner with their golf clubs.
sPlead 'ard, Mister Whitridge, plead
ard" moaned the burglar as his cap
tor pushed him into the closet, closed
the door and turned the key.
ssWhat does the creature mean"
Compose yourself, Dorothea," re-
piled the young man, coolly. "Flrst
let rs have some lights in the library.
Then shall explain
The suggestion was quickly fol-
lowed, and while the six servants
watched the door behind which lay
the captive, Sam Whitridge explained.
"The man thinks, and rightly, too, "
he said, ''that he has claim on you
and me, inasmuch as he showed this
to me-" He drew the diary from his
pocket aud opened it at the last entry.
sT have been mean enough toread it. -
Dorothea Walton took the portfolio,
looked blaukly at the man and then
at the last page.
"Am forgiven?" Whitridge asked.
The girl seated herself at the table
and seized pen.
s:There is one more entry" she
said. ''Look over my shoulder and
read it,
She glanced at the clock and then
wrote: "Two A. ". He has come
back, and have accepted him, IN.
McA. L., in New York Evening SUM-
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12

Whitridge lived in the suburbs.
When ne made. his confession to me
ne admitted that this was reckless
thing to do wh Il one considered the
inconvenienu. of crossing the ferry,
riding in a trainful of commuters,
Schaoging to trolley car and finally
groping through dark park. But,
as he explained, the heart, like the
wind, goes pretty much where it wills,
and his had tcken up its abode in the
old Walton house some u miles from
the city, and after all it was not so
bad.
Whitridge was such an indolent man
that it seemed to his friends rather
strange that he should have chosen to
worship at shrine that could be
reached only by yeritable pilgrimage.
His laziness was natural and sensible,
for his grandfather had dried up in an
old tea warehouse on Front street and
left him & million. Before that he had
pottered little in law and had even
advanced so far as to defend cele-
brated burglar known as One-eyed
Grogan, who was acquitted because Of
the shrewdness of his counsel's cross
examination and the eloquence of his
plea. Then Whitridge retired from
the bar and took to doing nothing. He
did it we'll.
Such career met the severe disap-
proval of Dorothea Walton, who, like
most women of the suburbs, was cul-
tuued and had ideas. Never having
done any york herself except to study
the labor question from its philosophic
side, she believed that every man
should be busy eight hours of the
twenty-hour.
So when at length Whitridge asked
her to marry him she said abruptly:
<'But you don't work. You ale man
without an aim in life"
s:My grandfather worked and had
ems for me-" Whitridge replied.
tEsery man should do something in
this world, event if it is only driving an
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12
The Wee One

" ~
The Wee ond Wishes.
wisht was drate BID hg'
,rn nHG nieb;s pt5s at er wasn't S r. mas Eve
I'd make 'em Hollow ~
An, ,an IA on an tell n pa,
So be-s van nai,, Say,
''Now you JUS dare to L1e ~
When 80 out to plal
I wisht
was
4 king!
I wisht T was drate b AUs'
I'd buy some tickets ,.,
AT could see the cir" Oh
dess I'd Jet pa 60,
But ef he made me stu} a'
Ny jogerfy JUS orea ,ite MT
He'd aggeryate an
A king!
I wisht was drate b u. Slns'
know what I'd dc tth
A boy at always chasei ae',
l1l5 udUe - DOUDS
I'd buy big perlicemf c'oO'
A dog, an :en guDt c;4.
Az en- I'd say to Bokj o!niSn'
"You dasn't make n run:
I wisht
was
A king!
I Iwisht was q drate ID Alns'
I'd bring my mamma tiele, ,,.,,
Pa says she's up ERE intHe sSioS'
An 'en he calls me,
His eyes gets full of toaEEIs' 'oo'
En- he don't speak a1sIl.
I dess I'd go an get lat na'
Ef I was not so small
wisht
was
A king! ..;
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12

conn,nno+ 1c lriUnn


in, it Fl we'll that it cannot b be
drawn without digging around it.
Each acn is thus carefully stored IN
a dry bin, perfectly protected from the
weather, most laborious method OF
slowing away crop, a granary tor
each kernel. Yet they never seem to
weary at the work, but so on so dlll'
gently they seem determined tnas
everv acorn in the grove shall be
saved. They are never seen eating
acorns at the time they are storing
them. and it is commonly believed that
thev never eat them OF intend to eat
them. but that the wise birds store
them and protect them solely for the
sake of the worms they are supposed
to contain. And because these worms
are too small for use at the time the
acorns drop, they are shut up like lean
calves and steers each in a separate
stall with abundance of food to grow
bic and fat by the time they will be
most wanted, that is in winter, when
insects are scarce and Stalled worms
mcst valuable. So these woodpeckers
are supposed to be sort OF cattle
raisers, each with a drove OF thou
sands, rivaling the cats that raise gram
and keep herds Of plant lice for milk
COWS. Needless to say, the story IS
not true, though some naturallsts even
balieve i When Emerson was in the
park, having heard the worm story,
and seen the great pine plugged full
of acorns, he asked Gust to pump me,
7 supposel, "Why do the woodpeckers
take the trouble to put acorns into the
bark of the trees?" "For the same
reason" Ireplied, 'stbat bees store
honey and squirrels nuts" But
they tell me, Mr. Muir, that wood
peckers don't eat acorns. :" "Yes, they
do" said, IT have seen them eating
them. During snowstorms they seem
to eat little beside acorns. l have
repeatedly interrupted them at their
meals. and seen the perfectly sound,
half-esten acorns. They eat them IN
the shell as some people eat eggs. y
"Bnt what about the worms?" 81
snnnose % said. "that when they
came to a wormy one they eat both
worm and acorn. Anyhow, they ear
the sound ones when they can't find
anything they like better, and from
the time they store them until they
are used they guard them, and woe to
the squirrel or jay caught stealing"
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12

y
You are man without am bition--a
man who might as well not be living
at;aI1. You. =.
'eIt seems to ME you are just a little
hard,' he interrupted, reproachfullv.
cot course you know [ like you,
Dorothea went on more kindly. "But
it seems 80 much nobler for man to
say to a woman: T shall slave all day
in the Office for you,' tlal I've got
million and am willing to sharei with
YOU Now, doesn't it?'
s:I think the average woman woald
say, sI'll share the million; don't bother
about the Office was the grim re-
ply.
Dorothea flushed.
"You consider me an average
woman, then?"
''No, no!'' cried Whitridge. "And if
you will II shall slave for you. I'll go
down town and plod along on the law,
and we can live on what l make
''Now you talk foolishly," said she,
81 do not demand work for works
sake, but.it,seems to me that for a
man to be without an occupation IN
these times shows a lack Of brains. ;"
''But it takes great deal of brains
to do nothing and to do itrespectablv.
And after all, I don't think you can
say that I am very bad
ssNo. And that's where more trouble
comes. You are not even reformable.
A woman might devote herself to the
work of reforming man, but you Of
fer nothing but mere money
"And love-" Whitridge blurted out,
and he was overcome with confusioie
He blushed and began to tear nervous
ly at the lapels of his coat. But his
embarrassment served to emphasize
his honesty and sincerity.
The girl recognized this and said
kindly: :sI know am foolish, Sam,
out have queer ideas, perhaps. So
don't talk of it any more"
''Then good night said he, rising
abruptly from his chair and holding
out his hand.
"Good night" said she. 81 trust
You will be able to find your way tc
the street without trouble. It is very
dark
'sI have travelled the path otter
enough to know it." he said with 8
forced laugh. 81 guess I shall not
have much reason to follow it otter
after this.'
Whitridge turned and walked from
the room. Dorothea Walton stood a.
he had left her, gazing abstractedl,
into the fire. She heard the door clos'
with bang few minutes later, and b,
a sudden impulse she ran up to he
room, turned out the light and peeret
out into the darkness. If she expected
to get glimpse Of Whitridge as h
disappeared into the blackness or t.
hear the gravel ccunching beneath hi
feet, she was disappointed. She close'
e window with a crash.
Dorothea Walton's disappointment
$d its origin in door knob, one 0
ese modern contrivances that az
5Sh a bane to the man who calls
T. len Whitridge reached the hall b
80 on his oyercoat and hat, opene'
Re first door and closed it benin
m. This left him standing in III
stibule. He seized the knob of tn
ter door. turned it and pulled, bu
no avail. Then he turned the Ano
hother way and pulled, but the doc
not. bulge. ,Ee turned and pusbe'
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12
Mistakes in HairdressinS.

Fashion is the cause of most Of the
errors of taste we make, whether IL
respect to our costumes or our hait
ARRANGEMENTS. Hundreds OF girls
adopt the newest style, which can only
suit q small percentage of them, slnca
faces and figures are so various. Gym
thia looks beautiful-tall, slim, grace
ful. classic-featured Cynthia = with
her golden hair simply rippled bacs!
from the brow and coiled in splfal
knot at the extreme back of her head;
Janet. the round-nosed, sa]low little
lassie who is Cynthia's friend, must
then sacrifice the curly fringe which
softened the effect Of her sloped fore
head and tie her dark locks back to the
Greek knot behind, Just because 20 %
looks so aWfuHy lice l 'ess'sa =
case Then comes in difficult ques-
ton for Cynthia to decide. Is she TO
tell Janet that she had made a mis-
take. to suggest that classic probe
is needed by such hairdressing, there
by saying, practically, 81 am beauti-
full. but You are plain" or IS she 10
let her friend continue in ignorance
of her error?
If friendship is the cause OF some
such instances, the love for fashion re-
suits in many more. Society folk take
to dressing the hair high, IN the
court manner, and they are necessarily
initiated by the assistants in leading
millinery establishments (for hats and
bonnets have to be built to suit tie
latest coifures), but why should Woni'
an all over the world begin to do ike
wises The plain effect of the har
drawn tightly up from the back OF tEe
neck looks remarkablyugly under the
sailor hat in which the country girl Is
mostly seen; that there are coils h! :
den in the crown will not make up Tor
the loss OF them below. The mae
critic D, obably asks, in tones OF deep
anxiety:s What has become OF all MISS
Frivels' pretty hair?'
Psychologists know that the cha.-
acter is expressed by the shape OF tic
head. and that where one person has
a graceful fall from the summit OF oEe
crown to the nape, another will have
series of undulations. Girls often
complain: '!Ay hair won't keep up Il
I try to DO it up hi igh," or low US
the case may be, which proves tt"
the head is not suited to the style m
ficted upon it.
Only careful consideration OF, me
matter will teach woman IN What
fashion it is best for her to dress her
hair. She must study the Guestlo +
looking-glass in hand: and can ask
advice from all her artistic minded
friends if she cannot trust ner ON
judgment, il d but when the decision = has Is
been arrived at, let her abide by u
deferentially and decline to make her.
self ridiculous by the adoption OF
STYLES absolutely unsuited to her lace
and figure. -Philadelphia Times.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12
A yoman's Clever Idea.

A very pretty and amiable young
woman OF the District, 'born and
raised'' in Georgetown, held down for
seven years, aud up to the begin
ming of the present administration, a
very comfortable departmental billet.
When she lost her place, more than a
wear ago. she sat down and thought
out schemes to earn living. She
had no trade, couldn't handle type
writer, knew nothing about steno-
graphic pothooks, hadn't the least idea
how to trim hat or make dress. Her
only proficiency consisted in her abil-
ity as a clerk. and she didn't care to
take So or $!-a-week clerkship out
of the governmental service. Finally
she hit upon a plan. She realized that
the average woman regards it as a
considerable task to go to the hair
dresser's to have her hair shampooed.
So the youns woman decided to be-
como visiting hair shampooer. She
had scores of women friends, among
whom she was very popular, and she
sent each Of them a neatly printed
circular, containing the information
that she was about to embark in the
business of shampooing women's
hair. After SIZE sent out the circulars
she went around and saw the women
to whom they had been sent. She was
welcomed by all of them, to a won.
an, with the greatest Of cordiailty,
and she started on her rounds
with her shampooing outfit in q
neat little satchel. The business was
| 90 from the start, at the rate Of
so centsper shampoo. From the
- ac sha has made more
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12
THE OLD OAK.

His feet laid hold of the mari and earth, his
head was in the sky.
He had seen thousand bulb and burst, be
had seen thousand die.
And none knew when he begun to he-of
trees that grew on that ground
Lord Of the wood, king OF the oaks, monarch
OF all around.
And towering so high over others the wind
in his branches roared,
Ye5 lever a limb did the tempest break or
shatter bouSh that scared,
Only the ripe young acorns it flung to the
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12
.uau Sue did as . So'et ni-s

mONtY Iut4N SN6 Ni.I a9 q SO'o liz =
clerk, and just now she has more pat
rous than she can attend to. She
keeps governmental hours, and she
averages SIS a day. She has started
regular system of bookkeeping ac-
cording to the calendar, and is ez-
pected to visit all of her patrons every
month o. six weeks. She rejoices IN
the independence which the nature OF
her occupation gives her, and has no
vearning whatever to re-enter the en-
plov of Uncle Sam. Washington Star.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12
Emerson and the Eocdpeckcr Story.

No squirrel works harder at his
pine-nut harvest than the carpenter
woodpeckers in autumn at their acorn
harvest, says John Muir in the At
lantic, drilling holes in the thick, curly
bark Of the yellow pine and incense
cedar, in which to store the crop for
,vj,.4crsse, a if-la- f-iaz--a -far each acorn 50,
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12

earth at its knees,
And they sprang up themselves in their sea-
son. a belt Of protecting trees.
But at length when the esto-ms were over and
still was the forest dell,
Cnbattered, unbeaten, unb-okcn, lie bowed
himself and fell.
And the breadth of that mighty clearing,
when the giant had gone from his
place.
Was like to .ihe scene of a hundred oaks in
the waste OF itszempty space.
60 = Hall Caine.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12

augie worms uI s ne tound that MS
one little bird Was consuming from
fourteen to eighteen yards of angle
worms day. Tcp was too much for
his patience, pal and proceeded to sub,
stitute the more easily managed diet
OF bread and milk and other delicacies
which were, however, not nearly so
much to Miss Robins taste.
Wanting to discover whether he had
been catering to family Of abnormal
appetites, our friend took to watching
the methods of a real mother bird, and
found that she fed her young every
two minutes. He then consulted the
learned books upon birds, and dis
covered that fourteen yards of worms
a day with meals every two minutes is
the average rate Of feeding fedglings.
He has therefore quite decided that
he does not care to take up raising
birds by hand. Boston Transcript.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-12
ror.cions atitle Robins.

A woula-be pi.itanthropist relates
his experiences tryRg to play mo1nec
to nest Of little1t'Dlns, Who' oy some
accident had be{aaepflreo o! tneit
rightful mothers s}care. he oll'Gentiy
set to work dirgs,g angle worms, and
supposed that ae was 1uinlllng ms
whole dutyswhen one OF the poor lltle
songsters died. upon examination oi
the body, which; was reduced 20 SKIN
and bone. the f}ster parent came to
the conclusion Alat it must have died
of starvation.
Deeply grievai at his shortcoming,
he redorbled l; + efforts, determined
to a. least save a;e other two. It was
MT long, howe yer, before a second
one died, evi.sntly Of the same
malady. The 81 man then resolved
that whateverzzsA third one died Of
it should not be starvation, and took
off his coat andkent to work in ear: