davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-11-21
CHAPTER VIII.
THE PORTRAIT.


Sprague was seated before his easel
arranging his palette for the morn
ing's work. The unfinished portrait of
Agnes Murdoch looked down upon him
with eyes of living beauty. Occasional
~ the artist would bestow deft
touch upon the glowing canvas and
would retire TO distance to note with
critical eye the new effect. Then he
would consult his watch in nervous i'm
patience; and, going to the window,
he would glance anxiously up and
down the street. Once or twice the
rumble of wheels caused him to look
up in glad expectancy, which gradual
ly gave way to gloomy discomfort as
the noise died away in The distance.
At length hope seemed to depart al
together from the young mans breast.
He threw down his brushes, gave up all
pretense of work and drifted off into
brown study. His eyes, fixed upon
those of the portrait, had troubled
look in them-so troubled that it was
clearly out of all proportion to the
professionals disappointment ola paint
er kept waiting for n fair subject.
So absorbed did he become in his
gloomy meditntions. that, when at last
carriage stopped before the house.
the artist did not hear it. But when,
presently. gentle tap sounded upon
the door of the studio, he sprang to bis
feet as if he had received an electric
shock.
Perhaps he had; for it was followed
by q rapid current of delicious thrills
tingling through every nerve and ef-
fecting in his whole being sudden
and marvellous transformation. At
once the furrowed brow was smooth;
the dropping lips were wreathed in
smiles; the troubled look gave way to
one of glad welcome.
For she had come at last. There she
stood, with laughing brown eyes and
glowing cheeks. when Sprague threw
open the door. Alas, as usual, she was
accompanied by her maid. Never mind;
was it not enough to have her there at
all, to bask in the sunshine OF her
smile, to look into the dangerous
depths Of those soul-stirring eyes, to
listen to the ripping of her silvery
voice?
'Ifear am little late, Mr.. Sprague;
! am sorry to have kept you waiting.
But you see this is how it was"
What mattercd it to him now how it
was? Was she not there? An eternity
of suspense and misery would have
been wiped out by that single entran-
cling fact. Her words beat upon his ear
like rap'urous melody; he drank them
in, hardly conscious of their meaning.
Agnes Murdoch. followed by her
maid, proceeded at once to the dress
ing-room set apart for the use OF the
artists models. When she returned,
dressed for the sitting, she assumed un-
der Sprague's directions the pose Of he
portrait. while the artist critically ar
ranged her draperies and adjusted the
shades and screens.
The maid had remained in the dress
ing-room.
"And so these are positively the last
final touches, are they, Mr.. Sprague?"
asked the young girl. mischieyously,
after few minutes. "You artistsseem
to be quite as uncertain about your
farewell appearances as any famous nc
tress or singer"
The artist looked up quickly AZ the
girl spoke. An expression Of pain
crossed his features. -
The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-11-21

This property. having been the sub
ject of an interminable lawsuit. had
remained for many years unoccupied,
and was even now beginning to be re-
garded by some of the neighbors as
haunted. when at last it was bought
by DR.. Murdoch. wealthy widower
with an only daughter. For some
months masons and carpenters were
Mt work: and then. one day, the new
occupants entered into possession.
The Murdocks lived quietly but luz
uriously, like people accustomed to
wealth. They had their horses and
carriages. their house at Lenox and at
Newport, and their yacht. Their cir
Gle of acquaintance was large, and
included not only the fashionable set,
but also scientific. literary and art
istic set. For DR.. Murdoch was 4
chemist of national reputation. a
member of several scientific bodies,
and man of great intelligence and
broad culture.
On this particular New Years morn
ing DR.. Murdoch was seated in his
study. apparently absorbed in read
ing the daily papers, pile of which
lay upon his table. His occupation
might perhaps more accurately be de-
s,cribed as skimming the daily papers;
for each journal in turn was subject
ed to a rapid scrutiny, and only a few
columns seemed occasionally to inter-
est the reader.
There was no haste visible in the
doctors actions, each one Of which
appeared to be performed with the
GOODNESS and deliberatien of man
who is not the slave of time; and yet,
so systematic were they. that. all lost
motion being avoided. every operation
was rapidly completed.
In 4 short time the pile of newspa-
pers had been disposed of. and the
doctor. lighting choice cigar. leaned
back in his comfortable armchair and
placedIy pulled the wreaths of fra
grant smoke ccilingward. He was APP
parently satisfied with the world and
with himself. this calm. passionless
man. And yet a sharp observer would
have noted an almost imperceptible
furrow between the eyes. which might
perhaps have indicated only the
healthy mental activity Of an Or
binary man: but which, in one given
so little to outward manifestation of
feeling as Dr. Murdoch. might also
betoken more or less serious annoy
auce or displeasure
While the chemist sat in this pen
sive attitude, there was rustic of
skirts outside, and presently there
came gentle knock at the door Of
the study.
Come in" said Murdoch, removing
the cigar from his lips.
The door opened. admitting tall
and beautiful young girl, evidently
not long out of her teens.
did ] disturb you, father?" she
asked, stepping lightly into the
room.
no, Agnes" replied Murdoch
courteously; las you see, ! am indulg-
ing in a period of dolce far nicnte."
The young girl laughed clear, sill
very laugh, as her eyes fell upon the
of newspapers.
The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-11-21
Icopyrirh. ,sss. BY Frederick A. Stoke. Company


IF the reading of dozen news
papers is dolce far niente, should
think you would welcome hard work
as a pleasant change"
oh" replied her father "the
work l have done ON those has not
amounted to much. i have only
been cleaning the news from the
morning papers.
Yes he added, answering her sur
rrised look. 1t takes a deal of skim
milk to yield little cream"
The last paper which Murdoch had
been examining lay upon the desk be-
fore him. From the closely printed
columns stood out in bold relief the
glaring headlines:
MURDER IN 4 CAB.
MYSTERIOUS ASSASSINATION OF AN
UNKNOWN MAN. IN BROAD
DAYLIGHT.
CABMAN REILLY DENIES ALL
KNOWLEDGE OF THE CRIME.
Miss Murdock's glance rested care.
.lessly upon these words for an in
slant. They aroused in her nothing
more than the mild curiosity which
attaches to events of palpitating hui
man interest, when they have been
CONCEALED in the columns Of the daily
newspapers and served TO palates al
ready stated with sensational YER
bosity.
MARY said you wished to speak to
me-" said the young girl, after n
short pause. II thought l would step
in to see you before going to Mr..
Sprague's."
ITO Sprague's?" inquired Murdoch,
fixing his keen eyes upon the young
girl. ".Ah, yes; l remember he spoke
Of the appointment last night. How
is the portrait coming on?"
at is almost finished. Probably
only one or two more sittings, at the
most. will be necessary"
Agnes seemed slightly embarrassed
by the fixity of her fathers search
ing glance. She settled herself in an
armchair and assumed look of defer
ent expectancy.
Not n word of affection had passed
between father and daughter; not
caress mad been interchanged. The re-
.a.ions between this impassiye man and
his charming daughter were those OF
well-bred, il somewhat distant, relA-
tiyes. On the one hand there was the
uniform courtesy of the man OF the
world toward woman; on the other.
the Difference Of a young girl of good
breeding; toward person much older
than herself. But the note of cordial
and intimate affection between father
and child was absolutely missing.
And yet Agnes Murdoch was natural
~ of an affectionate and expansive ma
ture. During her mothers lifetime the
two women had been inseparable com
panions. united by strong bond of
sympathy.
Mrs. Murdoch had been an invalid
for many years before her death, and
with Agnes had lived either abroad or
in the south Gu1ing much of the time
in order to escape the rigors of the
The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-11-21

ter beneath the lace which lay upon
her white throat.
The artist sat with intent eyes
fixed upon her.
"Of course l shall be pleased to
have you call at any time, Mr..
Sprague," she said, after brief in
slant. @
What more could any sane man ex-
pect modest girl to say? 1t is not 80
much the words spoken as the manner
of their utterance that conveys mean
ing. But it is truism that lover
is not sane man. Sprague was not
vet satisfied. He was about to speak
again, when knock sounded upon
the door.
1t was the hall.boy with letter.
miss Murdoch 2" he inquired, glanc-
ing in the direction Of the young
girl
For me?" exclaimed Agnes, sur
prised.
"Yes, miss; gentleman left it
for YOU"
Agnes took the letter, inspected 1t
curiously for an instant; then, ex-
cusing herself, she tore open the en-
velope and unfolded the note which
it contained.
At once deep flush suffused her
face, and an expression Of annoyance
passed over her features She glanced
up hastily at Sprague, who was APP
Al T. Il IL 1a1 nply
ground o; the picture.
The hall-boy was waiting expect
antly.
There is no answer" said Agnes
quietly.
And as the stern mandates of fash
ion either forbid woman to wear
n pocket, or else decree that it shall
be located in some particularly mac
cessible position, the young
The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-11-21

the unhealthy tissue upon which
worms thrive; 1t brings, and quickly,
II healthy condition Of body. where
worms cannot exist. Price 2Jg at
Hadlcy Drug Company's. 81
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05
Major Andres Diary.

London, April 1.-The diary of Major
Andre, after lying hidden for 100 years,
has been discovered in England. This in
teresting find was made by Lord Grey the
other day while he was going over lot
of old family papers, that probably had
not been disturbed since the conclusion of
the American war of independence. Lord
Grey's great-grandfather was a commander
of British troops in America at that time,
and Andre served on his staff, and this ac-
counts for the diary being in the pos es-
sion of the present peer.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05
CROOK PERSONATES a GIRL.
Nebraska Hotel Clerk Fell in Love and
Wanted to Marry Him.

Denver, Col, Dear Mr.. Crawford:
Since there is no law which permits
two men to marry it will be impossible
for me to consent to become your wife.
You will find all the evidence of my
wOmanly charms which so attracted
you, as well as the form which
you so admired in my room upstairs.
am sorry to blast your fondest wishes,
beg to remain your sister.
Minnie Swift"
That was the reply which Harry R.
Crawford, night clerk of the Midway
hotel at Kearney. Neb., received from
his lady love at the Windsor hotel in
Denver when anticipating an accept
ance of his offer of marriage. Behind
the sarcastic little note is the story
of a shrewd little bunko game.
Last November a handsome, fiaxen-
haired young woman appeared at the
Midway hotel in Kearney, Neb., and
was hired as waitress by Landlord
Casey. She said her name was Minnie
Swift and that she was trying to care
for herself, as her mother was an invalid
and dependent for support upon her
only brother, who was a struggling
mining operator at Cripple Creek.
She had many admirers, among them
w. S. Weaver. a cattle buyer from
Wyoming. After three weeks she ask
ed for leave to stay at home for few
days. Next evening a slender young
man registered az the Midway hotel as
Arthur ]. Swift, Cripple Greek, Colo.
Harry r. Crawford, night clerk, asked
if he was related to Minnie Swift.
'She's my sister," answered the
young man. do you know herr"
When he learned that Minnie was a
waitress at the hotel he inquired eager
ly about her, and obtaining her address
went away. The following morning
he brought a note from Minnie asking
permission to stay at home while her
brother was in town. On the after
noon Of the fifth day he asked Mr..
Casey to cash draft for 'only $780,
The proprietor couldn't, but w. S.
Weaver was only too happy to accom-
modate his sweethearts brother, who
had to leave town that night. Next
day Minnie Swift returned to work.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05
En- &Iish DestrOYinE.

London April IA special from
Standerton says tnat the Imperial Light
horse have captured Commandant Prinzloo
and a convoy of % wagons. Commandant
Englebrecht the dispatch says, has sur
rendered. The British are sweeping the
eastern Transvaal clear of everything use
full to the Beers. All standing crops have
been destroyed, but the women and chill
dren are being cared for. Five hundred
of them have been conveyed to Utrecht,
where their wants are well attended to.
Pretoria, April 1.-The Beers derailed
and plundered a freight train near johann
nesburg Saturday night.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05
AntiiInperiaIist Meeting.

Boston, April President McKinleys
administration was denounced and Agui-
naldo's name loudly applauded by large
audience that listened to the sp"akers at
the Antiimperialistic league meeting in
Faneuil hall Saturday night. Colonel
Charles R. Goldman presided, and upon the
platform besides the speakers were Edwin
Atkinson, Erving Winslow, Moorfeld
Storey, Robert Treat Payne and other gen.
tlemen of well known antiimperiaistic
proclivities.
The audience was very enthusiastic and
at times was wrought up to a high pitch
of excitement by remarks of the speak
ers. Colonel Goldman in opening the meet
ing made a forcible address. AS he con-
cluded he presented ex Governor Boutwell,,
who strongly criticized the attitude of the
administration toward the Filipinos.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05

and said that there must be some mis-
take; that her brother was in Denver
closing a mining deal. Weaver, being
unable to go, sent Clerk Crawford with
the girl to Denver to find Arthur Swift
and rectify the error. Weaver paid the
expenses of the trip. Crawford pro-
posed on the train and Minnie promised
him an answer next morning. In the
morning Crawford found the note
given above. He went to the room ad-
joining his, which was occupied by the
girl. On the floor was a corset, a wig
of yellow hair, powder, rouge and curl
ing irons. Crawford notified the police
and went home.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05

they are half boys education. Weak
hearts-are made by fear, not by effort.
Hear the old fellows cheer the young
ones in the arena and believe it, That
is why the croakers who deprecate ath-
letics will never have a respectful audi
ence. That is why the strenuous games
of the track and gridiron will flourish
That is why Beauty, sympathetic and
a-futter, will ever pay tribute of sigh
and alteration to the noble bruises of
Drawn. The wisdom of athletics lies in
the athletes knowledge of his own limit
of endurance. Most have the knowl
edge and few abuse it.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05
Prices Paid Producers.

Poultry and Eggs-Chickens, old, 90
10c per lb. live weight; ducks, 81 per
doz.; geese, dressed, 12c per h.; tur-
keys, live, 10@12c; dressed, 12@13c;
eggs, fresh, s. per case.
Observation-Disclosures, 60c per cwt;
onions, $3.50 per cwt.
Live stock-Beef, live steers, 416c;
dressed, SC; livec ows, 21ac; dressed
~; veal calves, dressed, 1000; NUT
ton, ewes, Sc; wethers, 21ac; hogs, live,
$4,75@5 per cwt.; dressed, 81 per cwt.
Notwithstanding, 10c each;
short wool pelts, 3O@5Oc; medium wool
50@75c; long wool, 75c@S1.
Hides-Green hides and calf skins,
5@6c per lb; dry hides, butcher, 100
12c per Id.
The Spokane mills pay the following
prices for grain, delivered: Club
wheat 44c bulk, 45c sacked; bluestem,
47c bulk, 49c sacked; red, 42c bulk, 44c
sacked.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05
Officers Promoted.

Washington, April 1.-The following
important army appointments were an
nounced at the White House tonight:
To be major general U. S. army-Brig-
adler General Lloyd Wheaton, vice Miles,
promoted to lieutenant general.
To be brigadier generals in the regular
army-Colonel Jacob H. Smith, Seven
teenth U. S. infantry, vice Daggett, re-
tired; Brigadier General Frederick Funs-
ton, U. S. ", vice Wheaton, promoted.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05
His Wish Gained at Last.

After his speech on the colonial test
case had been delivered in the Su-
preme court the other day, and he had
received the congratulations of many
members of the bar and prominent
Senators upon his success, Attorney
General Griggs told me of his first visit
to the Supreme court chamber. 1t was
years ago, when he was a young and
struggling lawyer. He knew no one
in Washington except the Congressman
from his district. This Congressman
took him to the Supreme court room,
and as the slender young lawyer sat
and looked at the nine black-robed JUS
tees and realized that they constitut-
ed the greatest tribunal on earth. he
says he heaved a sigh and said to him
self: Before l die l want the honor
of standing just once before that court
and addressing it upon case of law"
Little did the young lawyer then think
that he was going to have the great
privilege not only of addressing the
court, but of speaking to it as the rep
resentative of the United States gov
eminent upon the most important ques-
ton the court has considered in a GEN
Grafton If not in its history Golfers
Weekly.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05

Much interest has been taken in Val
ley Forge by Pennsylvanians for many
years. Recently the State was induced
TO buy some 2l7 acres of the historic
revolutionary camp ground for park
and the Daughters of the American
Revolution presented to Congress the
subject of making the place a national
park and military rendezvous. a num-
Der of prominent Philadelphians APP
peared before both the House and the
Senate committee to present reasons
for making the most noted camp of the
revolution a natural pleasure ground.
The land can now be purchased at from
800 to $l35 per acre, the largest tract
owned by any one person being PA
acres. The State of Pennsylvania is
ready TO turn over to Congress its hold
ings at the purchase price and an APP
preparation of 100000. it is estimated.
will be ample for the purchase and the
initial expenditures for the park.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05

the Plumason household, and now
seems to enjoy its work. 1t wears a lit
tie harness and is guided by reins
which it carries in its bill. 1t is the
master of several gaiIs, and at the word
of command given by the small child
who is driving it will walk, run, trot, or
come to a standstill. At home in the
country the big rooster often pulls the
cart and its occupant for half a mile or
more without stopping. The queer out
fit is now giving exhibitions at poultry
shows in the West.
The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-04-05

1t is doubtless true, as a writer in the
Atlantic Monthly points out, that the
reading world is getting rather fastidi-
Gus in the matter of the villains it finds
in fiction. The rascal frequently fig
ured as the hero in the fiction of an
earlier day, and the Robin Hoods and
other pleasantly impudent knights of
the road had long popularity. Thanks
to ian improved ethical standard, the
writer of the Atlantic article AYERS, the
modern author, however, is expected
to make his heroic figures good as well
as great. If he makes rascal heroic
and fascinatingly accomplished he must
take pains to stamp him plainly as a
villain and then kill him off with be-
fitting pathos and ignOminy in the last
chapter. 1t would be pleasant to sup
pose that the disappearance Of the he
roic rascal is due to finer ethical stand
ards" but unfortunately the elevated
standards have not awaited to rid the
literary world of much less desirable
characters. The old time self-confessed
rascal was pretty bad, no doubt, and
should not have been left around the
library where boys Of venturesome
spirit could learn to admire him. But
it is exceedingly doubtful If he has not
made way for a much more disreputa-
BILE and shabby parsonage. The SNUG,
self-sufficient, distressingly punctilious
men and women who have appeared in
soma of tha racant ssprob1au nova1cv
and in the so-called historical romances
are much the worst rascals in all fic-
ton. Compared with them, Iago is an
honest man and a gentleman of sensi-
tive honor. These are the men and
women who strain at gnat on ques-
tons of abstract principle and swallow
whole camel in the matter of bad
conduct; who pose as persons of deli
cate scruples and find their scruples
getting in the way of common honesty;
who indulge in strange sOphistries and
by Hall Caine-like inversion of logic
arrive at the conclusion that in many
cases it would be wrong to be right
and right to be wrong, and therefore
quite sanity to be piously wicked all
the time. The punctilious rascal in the
cheap problem novel, the mock-humble
person who narrates the story of his
past life in the historical romance and
the unreal hero of the ordinary trashy
yarn are certainly not so entertaining
as the debonair highwayman of earlier
days, and in a vast majority of cases
they are much worse morally. AS a
general thing the smugger and nicer
they are the more depraving is their
example.