davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-13
HEDRICK.

Hedrick. March 12.-A new time ta-
BILE went into effect ON the darlington
lS5Nyestern a. m;anioht Saturday nioht.
The time Of No. "a the east bound
morning passenger. was changed. from
SLY a.. II. 10 6:03 4. m. The train now
leaves oskaloosa at $40 and reaches
Burlington at 9;1o. making close con-
fnection with a fast Burlington route
train which reaches Chicago at 2p.m.
The time of No. &c. the local freight.
east. was changed from. s:o4 to s:a3.
a new train was also added to the SER
vice ON the Burlington & Northwest
ern. ~
John .Meissner, principal of the pub.
lie schools, is sick and unable to attend
to his duties. Mrs. ii. Matson Is
serving in his Mace s3t'
The REGULAR school e1action is ha;nuss
held Iodav I,bera lIy;fl Ia !, war, linb3
vote as there has been but one ticket
nominated. The ticket IS a non-parti-
san one with the folloWiiillsg 4 candidates:
For directors. j. S. Fryer and ID. Snak-
enburg; for treasurer. III. Brooks.
"A republican caucus has been called
for. this evening AT The normal bsiiid-
ing for the purpose Of nominating cam
didates for the Offices Il, he filed al @be
coming municipal election. The meet
ing is called for Z: 80 o'clock.
Mrs.R. s.. Scott is visiting her dauah-
Ter. Mrs. Vim. White. IN RinDaold
county. '377,' % W.
Rev. Hastings, state, evangelist FOR
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-13
lam, OF Hedrick, were in town last
week on business.

week on business.
Married, at Rev. Hightshoe's home,
in Sigourney, on Tuesday, March 6,
Curt Utterback and Miss Florence,
Gladfelter, both Of that place.
Ray Miller made business trip to
.Glascoe this week.
A number of young folks attended
the party at Mr.. Lang's Tuesday
night. t6sa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-13
ALBA;


Abba, March 9.The funeral OF Dan
Stewart, who committed suicide BY
cutting his throat last Wednesday
morning, was held this afternoon and
a large number of friends attested
their friendship by attending the fun
eral. The remains We're inferred in Oak
View cemetery.
The city council of this city has in
vested $50 of the peoples money in a
new heater, and they expect soon to
haveais in position and have hot water
in the fire engines all the time, doing
away with having to raise steam from
cold water at every alarm of fire. The
heater will be looked after during the
day by the city marshal aud at night
by the nightwatch. Too many towns
the size of 4Nlbia make the mistake
of not enough fire projections: What
the city Should do is to employ d man
whose only duty would be to look after
thesfre engines.
!, While Dan Gholson was out sleigh
riding yesterday his horse took fright
and ran away. The animal came up
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-13
SEYMOUR.

Seymour, March. 13.-Miss Ida Whor-
ton returned home today from Quincy.
Thane Greenleaf spent Sunday in
Seymour.
were married Wednesday, Rev. VIM
terbom officiating.
John Taylor, of Centeryille, SPENT
Sunday with friends. s;,
Mott Sanderes has returned to his
home at Centerville.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-13

attending the bedside of her niece, Mel
lie Warren, who is very i'll with pneu-
monte. Fears are entertained for her
recovery.
Mrs. George Moss departed last Fri-
day for Osborne, Kan, having beeu
summoned there by the serious illness
of her father
Miss Bessie Ralnbo, Of Leando, re-
turned Thursday after a pleasant visit
with her brother, DR.. and Mrs. p. +.
Rambo., ~ b
Mrs. Will Stuber and son Abe visiil
ed last week with friends in Ottum-
wa. s
DIR. B. f. Hyatt, of gottumwa, was
in town Saturday on professional bush
ness. SjN
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-12
XVII.
AN UNsoLvED MYSTERY.

The entire population of Minersvals
and the surrounding country and ada
cent towns was aroused.
Thousands OF men tramped over the
hills in every direction, for miles.
Cordons of searchers were systemat-
ically moved forward and back, sweep
ing like living broom across every
hill, through every hollow, over every
plateau and valley.
Not a cluster Of bushes, not hollow
stump, not a stream or pool well or
shaft, not barn or empty structure
Or any outbuilding was, for miles
around, left unexplored.
During the day the hills were pco-
pled more thickly than were the pleas
ant parks of a populous city on fair
day. All night the hills were red with
nres and afiame with glaring torcaes.
Day and night, night and day. the
search went on and the same ground
was covered repeatedly; but not trace
was discovered, not clue was found.
Hope died within the hearts of the
searchers and their numbers began to
decrease. Some were worn out physi-
cally; some retired because Of their
conviction that further search would
be futile.
Some alleged that the young lady
had disappeared from reasons of her
own. Some did not doubt that the adj
futant had her safely carried off. Some
had no doubt that she had eloped with
oAe of the adjutant's rivals. Some
concluded that she had been captured
ky brigsYds who, IN due time would
demand q raasom. hany did not
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-12

n AOhSy AAAOoAA ~ - = - A.A.sDsS~s
Il 10 no longer fashionable for the
bridal couples to 60 to large cities or
on a trip to Europe for their wedding
Journey. The sentimental period must
be spent in some country place, way
side inn or In some quiet old town. 4
couple who desired to 60 to country
place near by advertised in . paper
that is distributed well over the State
for Just what they would like in the
way of an ideal resort for their honey
moon Not more than q week or ten
days after the advertisement appeared
they received dozen or more answers.
Previous to the wedding the husband
to-be visited several of those whose
letters read the most invitingly and SEE
lected the place he liked the best. The
four weeks they spent there were more
like q story book than reality. The
rooms were large and airy, the table
was exquisite in its cleanliness and the
viands that were spread before them
were deliciously tempting. A horse
and carriage were at their disposal,
the river not more than a mile away,
and scenery and loaflng spots were 70
plentiful that . new one could be found
every day.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-12
XVIII.
TOM CoYNE MAKES A TRADE.

Tom Ceyne was a Freedom Ameri-
can Boy. His parents lived next door
to the Zeniths and naturally enough
Tom lived there also. Quite as natur-
ally the young ladies of the Zenith
household entertained many decided
opinions concerning the average Free
born American Boy; and tho concensus
of opinion among the Misses Zenith
was antagonistic to the Free-born
American Boy and they sometimes ex-
pressed their respective opinion to Tom
personally in language as vigorous,
emphatic and unmistakable as custom
permits the Free-born American Mai
den to make use of. Indeed, there is
no doubt that they sometimes stretched
the permission of custom to its utmost
limits and ceased to stretch that per-
mission with some reluctance, feeling
that justice had not been done in the
case; perhaps even feeling that JUS
tice Is unfair and tyrranical
when she forbids young ladies to en-
ploy all Of the resources of language
concerning the Freedom American
Boy!
Some days after the search for Miss
Stella was abandoned Tom Coyne en-
tered the parental parlor where his
mother was chatting with a neighbor.
His mein was that of a conquerer Of
nations who fully appreciated his own
Importance to historians.
Now, that's what call bargain!"
he said, displaying aint-lock musket
of the oldest pattern extant. The
stock was clumsy, the barrel Of amaz-
ing length, and the calibrs great
enough to carry a peach. But it was q
gun and that satisfied Tom. For its
oddities, it's deformities, he cared
nothing; his boyish ambition had been
to own a gun; this was a gun; he
owned this gun; therefore he was hap
by.
Tom! Where in the world did you
get that?" his mother asked In a dis
couraging tone that was lost on Tom.
Its mine"
Where did you get it,"
Traded for 1t"
What did you trade for it,"
Brownie"
ooh. Tom! You poor foolish boy!
That old gun is not worth fifty cents
and the calf is worth five or six dol
lars! Your father will make you undo
that trade.
"You tell him to not? I'd rather
have this gun n whole drove OF
calves! N it won't eat nuthin' n It
won't cost nuthin' n it will kill rab-
bits like gosh! We can eat rabbits n
I'll see that it kills plenty Of 'em, you
bet! N I'll have more fun with this
gun in a nour than could ever have
with Brownie! A Teller can play with
a gun an enjoy life but no Teller with
good sense can play with calf n have
fun!"
I'm sorry to disappOint you. my boy,
but II is a foolish trade
.Well, mayn't keep 1t to-day"
"You may keep it till your father
comes home and then he may do as he
plsases.
IN you make him let me keep 1t.
Ma: anyway I'll go huntin' now; I've
got powder n shot"
He stuffed his pockets full OF old
newspapers for wadding and proceeded
to load the piece. The gun was 80 long
that he had to thrust the butt several
feet to the rear before the nufzls VA
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-12
ONE DAY IS AS A THOUSAND
WEARS.

The Prophet returned with his pitch
er full to dripping, Of sparkling spring
water, carrying it with as much care as
IL each drop was a pearl of great price,
to lose which would be an offense
against that Son for whose coming he
waited in confidence.
Entering the chamber Of the Sacred
Virgin, he found Miss Stella lying uS-
on the ground, crazed from pain add
fever.
He placed the pitcher upon a sto4,
tenderly took into his arms the PRE-
cious charge delivered to his keepiEg
by that deity he served so soulfullk,
and laid her upon the bed. Taking
both of her fevered, restless hands in
his own he murmured:
"'He restoreth my SOUL He lead
eth me into tie paths of righteousness
for His names sake. Yea, though I
walk through the valley Of the shadow
Of death 1 will fear no evil, for Thou
art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they
with me; Thy rod andThy staff they
comfort me- Surely goodness and mer-
cy shall follow me all the days of my
life; and / will dwell in the house Of
the Lord forever. For In the time Of
trouble He shall hide me in His pa
vilion; in the secret Of His tabernacle
shall He hide me; He shall set me upon
a rock. Let not your heart be trou-
lied ;ye believe in God, believe also in
me-"
There was soothing In his voice, his
words, his touch; or perhaps 1t was
only in the fact. Of human presence;
and she was claimed. She began to
talk upon subjects familiar to her.
Sometimes it was to her sisters: some
times to Bell Morton; most of ALL to
the adjutant.
After a time the Prophet released her
hands and repaired to the altar before
which he so frequently prayed, and
again communed in his simple, reliant
way with that Father whose will ruled
his soul; whose benificence and love he
gratefully and devoutly acknowledged;
whose favor and protection for the
Virgin he besought in fervent words.
Surely the prayer was heard by the
Supreme Protector! When the suppl
cant arose the water caught his sight
and he remembered the purpose for
which 1t was desired. He took the
ptlCncT Anu pOuIcu Inv AiCou, PuIC
cooling contents upon the bound limb
of the delirious sufferer until the band
ages were thoroughly saturated; and
from that hour he kept them SO, day
and night, toilingly caring for her with
4 patient tenderness born Of that love
which is deeper and greater than the
love of youth and maiden, because 1t
was q love of sacred duty and rever-
entail Difference to the will Of Him in
whom was Liked the faith Of the loving
servant
That service was the purest religion.
It was the willing, joyful obedience Of
the trustful disciple who regarded the
sufferer as the One Chosen, the one
taken out from among all His crea-
lures, to give to the Sons OF earth that
Son whose first coming had opened to
all the gates Of eternal life and whose
second coming was to purify the earth,
free the world from sin and emanci-
pate men from temptation.
The dtyout nurse never forsook the
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-12

could pour into 1t the tremendous
charge of powder that he held in his
palm. Having deposited the powder in
the barrel he stood the piece erect and
ratified the butt on the floor to settle
the charge into the chamber. Finding
that he could not, owing to the altitude
OF the muzzle, keep the gun perpendic-
ular while he drove the wadding home,
he mounted an upholstered chair and
started a roll of paper down the long
bore. Then q nav difficulty was en-
countered; the hammer could not be
drawn without inclining the gun, the
length Of the gun added to the length
or the hammer exceeding the height OK
the ceiling; and Tom had an idea that
the powder must be kept level in the
chamber or something would happen!
Therefore the gun must not be inclined
until the wadding was packed upon tho
powder. Climbing down from the chair
he went to the porch and stood the gun
on the ground, SO that there was only
cloud for the hammer to penetrate.
Having rammed the wad home with
a vigorous and willing arm Tom sent
= handful of shot rafting down upon
IL anu allST lRc lCdQCu pCllCto NJ oSAs
another section of newspaper. Throw
ing the gun across his left arm he pro-
ceeded to prime it by pouring powder
into the pan which he uncovered for
that purpose. Captain Zenith was sit
ting on his own porch reading the
Scranton Republican and Toms prim-
ing movement brought him into range
and he cried:
Tom! Don't point that thing this
way!"
Beg your pardon, Captain, didn't
notice any one!" and the gun was
shifted with the muZzle toward the
parlor window, bringing the sports
mans mother into range.
What are you going to shoot, Tom?'
Captain Zenith inquired, rebels. de-
serters or provost marshall"
Rabbits! n you bet I'll kill a drove
OF 'em! l know where they're thicker
n hens teeth"
"If you kill for market you may
bring me two brace"
How much IL you give?"
Market price"
''All right, don't know how much
that is, but I'll find out + you don't
know. N say, Captain Zenith, I've
just traded Brownie for this gun n Ma
says t Pap won't femme keep it. Won't
you tell Pap t he oughtta femme keep
it?"
Yes, Tom, I'll talk it over with him
and help you If l can"
Thank you Captain. You're brick
if yer girls is sassy. l tell you them
girls of yours is terrors n l don't see
how you get along Twin in the same
house with 'em. It's bad enough Twin
next door. Carrie isn't so bad, but l
wish a bushel that Moliie was boy
for about a nour! I'd enjoy the occa-
sion by givin' her mighty good lick
in to last her for life an make her re-
spect boys as long as she lives. Now
Stell was different! She'd give Teller
fits fer tricks, but she'd treat him nice,
too; n shed help Teller over fence
T she did scold him fer clim'in'. l al
ways liked her n l always liked you,
too, Captain, n I'm awful sorry Stells
lost"
Thank you, Tom," the Captain an
swered with tears in his eyes, and in
tones that told Of an aching heart.
Tom proudly shouldered his artillery
and took up his march of happiness to
the scene of anticipated conquest and
glorious slaughter.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-12
XIX.
XIX.
THE PROPHET AND THE VIRGIN

THE PROPHET AND THE VIRGIN.
81 am the voice of one crying out in
the wilderness, saying, Prepare We the
way of the Lord; make his path
straight.
The words at first apparently away.
away, miles away, then close at hand,
aroused the fainting girl and she open
ed her eyes and saw the Prophet
standing over her.
From childhood the Prophet had
been Miss Stella's familiar terror. Now,
when she was weak, exhausted, Grip
pied and helpless, tho sight of him,
there. was more terrifying than would
have been a sight of the spectre in un-
clad bones and she tainted again.
1.-THE time is ripe! Father! Thou hast
revealed unto me the Virgin! His
chosen one whom all creatures and
men and angels shall hallow. The
virgin whom He hath blessed"
Once more she heard that deep voice
and awoke to find herself clasped in
the strong bare arms of the Prophet as
he bore her toward the ironclad door
of the stone hut. Her terror was now
SO great that instead Of depriving her
of her consciousness as before, 1t
reused all her faculties to their high
est. She made an effort to release
herself but he was unconscious of her
purpose and chung to her with tender
care. She continued her struggles a.
she said
"You are the good Prophet, John the
Baptist, are you not?"
He hath revealed it unto thee. Thou
art the Inspired Mother; no man hath
revealed it unto thee. / am that
Prophet; but no man is good; God Is
good"
please take me home?"
God hath prepared for thee habi-
tation for the nativity of His Son; For
as the lightning cometh out of the east
and shineth even unto the west, so also
shall the coming Of the Son of Man be-
Once was He born in a manger as it is
recorded in the sacred books of his
chosen apostles; now shall he be born
in q cave as it is enormously written
that he was aforetime."
"Oh, take me home; please take me
home? / am hurt and am lost"
who can understand the deep mys-
teries of God, save them to whom He
hath revealed them? He hath chosen
thee from among all thy sex and now
art thou revealed unto me whom He
hath preserved, commanding me to
minister unto thee that His name may
be glorifed."
II must treat him as crazy man"
she said mentally; then, aloud: Since
1t ID Gods will that you should minis
ter to me, bring me to the water and
then hasten to town and bring some
ono skilled in surgery for l am badly
hurt
Blessed among women and forever
| to be revered among men art thou,
since thou art the second Mother of the
Son. Surely it is His win that shall
minister unto thee"
She now felt assured that he meant
| her no harm; that he regarded her "a
sacred and himself Is hei servant. but
his answsr raised Q fear that he co.,
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-12

bandages he evinced no surprise what
ever and said in the most mattsr-of-
fact manner:
"'Ask We and ~ shall receiver nc
good thing will he withhold from them
that ask him. Why do the sons OF
men refuse to learn that they should
ask for what they want and want only
that which Is good?"
Miss Stella emptied the remainder OF
the water upon the bandages and asked
the Prophet to bring more which he
did at once without remonstrance or
reluctance. When that was all used
she sent him again. This time he was
gone long and she feared that he had
forgotten her and his errand and had
perhaps gone away for one Of his fire..
Quent evangelizing trips.
Her spirits fell; the gloom Of the
place acted upon her mind. A great
fear of-she knew not what-some-
thing intangible but terrible overcams
her.
The air of the subtsrraneous cell sti-
fed her; the place became an awful
impenetrable prison in the In
accessible bosom Of the earth;
why did not the Prophet return?
Could he have forgotten the Virgin?
Had he wandered away to preach
among the people as he often did?
+. Oh, the horror. the awful horror OF
the place! She could not endure it;
she must escape! She got up to go out
but she had not the strength to stand
up and she fell to the floor. Feebly
she crawled back upon the bed. She
cried aloud for help. She was sure
that hours had passed since the Proph-
cts departure, She would be left there
to perish alone under the earth out OF
the sight of men! Forever out Of the
sight Of men!
An awful agony Of terror was upon
her; the horror was greater than she
could bear; her reason abdicated to
terror; her mind became chaos; deliri-
UNI directed her imagination.
She was no longer alone. She saw
about her a multitude Of living terrors
in distorted forms; hideous dwarfs,
horrible giants. grinning clownish
gnomes,. impish pigmies. ferocious
hobgoblins, inhuman creatures in
human forms, with heads OF
hawks and owls ard ugly birds OF
prey, whose hands and feet were tai
ous, and whose talons and beaks
pinched and pierced and tore her limb!
The whole cave was filled with re-
pulsive reptiles and dangerous beasts.
They hustled and fought each other for
space and opportunity to attack her.
They chung to the walls and hung from
the low roof. She was buried in
writing, wriggling Lizards; bats
whirred and swooped and ducked about
in every direction and some burrowed
In her hair. Kissing serpents crawled
and coiled on every side, lurked among
her garments, and with arched necks
thrust up through coiled and writhing
bodies, darted glistening tongues 1t
her from between sparkling eyes in
dark corners; while rats with beady
eyes and blistering feet scampered over
her quivering body and a thousand
spiders, as big as prattling babes, with
clasped hands formed a circle all about
her and danced, danced, danced, up and
down, all moving at once, up and
down, up and down, all moving alike
and all ready to bite her limb when
the swapping turtles would let 20 OF It.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-05-12
doubt that she lad been murdered and

0OuDt that she FAD been murdered ana
the body securely hidden.
Then came rumors from many dis.
tant places that the young lady had
been discovered at each. Sometimes
She was reported to be ON the stages
sometimes she was a millinery some
times waiter in dining room; some
times clerk; sometimes saleswoman
and once she was in lunatic asylum.
Many OF these rumors were very ex-
plicit. They burdened the telegraph
wires and occupied much space in press
reports. Many newspapers published
unrecognizable pictures of Miss Stella
beside the pictures of the discovered"
and sometimes there really was re-
semblance, which was usually found to
be due to tho skill Of the engravsr or
the artist.
All these rumors were Investigated,
for each really inspired q hope. Many
people have become suddenly crazed
and it would not do to let any hope 60
by ungrasped.
When the volunteer searchers aban-
doned hope and retired from the search
the adjutant begged for a detachment
of cavalry with which to renew the
search and a detachment was detailed
under his command for that purpose
and again, in careful and systematic
manner he secured the whole country,
but with no new results.
When, in the regular course OF their
march they came to the abode of John
the Baptist, they found him 1t his
door with a pitcher of water just
brought from the adjacent spring, and
the adjutant said:
Have you seen or heard anything OF
the young lady who liz lost among the
hills?"
You seek the virgin? The time Is
at 'handi Prepare ye the way of the
Lord; make his path straight I in
deed, baptize you with water, but one
cometh after me who is mightler than
I, the latchet OF whose shoe l am not
worthy to loose. He will baptize you
with the Holy Ghost!"
do you see all these people? They
are looking for young lady who Is
lost. Old man, pull your wits together
and try to remember il you have seen
her."
Yes, Yes; the virgin! Ye seek the
virgin, but your time is not yet! The
time is ripe! There be some standing
here which shall not taste death till
they see the Son of Man coming In his
glory; for he shall come in the clouds
of heaven and all his holy angels with
him. Ye scribes and pharisees, hypo-
critics! Oh, We generation of vipers!
Who hath warned you to fee from the
wrath to Gomez"
ut is useless, He would not remem-
Der, if he had seen her an hour ago"
The thick walled hut with its stone
roof and mailed door was left to its
insane proprietor and the searchers
went onward over the hills. anxicusly
continuing hopeless search.
For full week the adjutant and his
detachment went fruitlessly up and
down among the hills, scanning their
SUBMITS and securing their bases.
Then the troops were ordered back to
camp and the search for the lost Stella
Zenith was ended and her disappear
ance was added to the great catalogue
of unsolvable mysteries.