davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

or she will be worrying about me.
Do you know of some boy l can get
tc carry a line to her?"
The woman went to find messen-
ger, and Margaret wrote her note,
thinking, as she did so, how angry
her aunt would be, for Vaughan Her
rick had been invited to spend Christ
mas eve with them.
The letter was sent, and Margaret
sat down by the bed of the sick
child.
By and by she saw that the child
had opened its eyes and was looking
at her very intently.
1--WE been thinking about the an
gels" he said. 81 saw one, and it
had face just like yours. Are you
one of them? Mother said so, the
ether day, when you brought them
pretty posies."
II am very far from being an an
GEL" answered Margaret, with
smile into the wan little face ON the
pillow. "Shall sing to your"
"Oh, dol" cried the child. "When
you sing, the pain don't hurt So"
She sang an old-time song of
Christmas that told of Christ's birth
in the lowly Bethlehem manager, and
of the chorus in the sky, and the
Star that led the way to where the
young child lay"-sang it so softly,
so tenderly, that the face of the child
who listened lost it's look of pain,
and when the song was ended he
looked up and said:
Il think you must be an angel, for
when / dreamed about them they |
sang like that"
There came a knock at the door. |
The woman went and opened it. A |
man came in. Margaret felt who it |
was without looking up. Her heart |
told her.
John Fosdyke started when he saw
Margaret Leith there. Then a glad,
bright smile came into his face. He
knew, now, who was his unknown
helper in the good work. She put
her hand in his silently. There
seemed to be little need of words.
L.
are poor, weak things.
'How is the little lad?" he asked.
gently, and the mother answered
only with a sob.
He went to the bed and bent over
the sick boy.
81 will soon be well with him."
he said, gravely, reverently, as if in
the actual presence of the Lord of
life and death. And the poor mother
knew that he meant that the little
life was almost ended, and sat CRYING
softly in the shadow.
"Let us pray" he said, and then
he knelt down and made a little
prayer. The prayer held but few
words, And they were simple ones,
but they were eloquent with human
love, and made the heart of the
mother stronger to bear the loss that
was SO near, for there is always COM
fcrt and strength for the soul that j
C in trouble in the thought that 9TH
FRS sympathize with US and share our 1
sorrow.
Sing" the child said, presently, !,
cooking at Margaret.
And Margaret sang a little song
about the land the child was going
% very soon. At the second verse,
John Fosdyke's voice joined hers,
md made it all the sweeter to the I
hid, for the mans heart made itself
elt in the words. AS he sang, he '
hought that here, on the threshold ,
II Heaven, almost, he was looking t
Onward, as if in q dream, to great I
happiness that might come into his {
lie. 1t seemed almost wrong to i
hink of such thing, at such time;
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
She Looked Inrenf!Y ar the Mon.

willed that he should look that way.
Her mind-her soul-call it what you
will, sent a message along the I'M
seen line which some persons tell
us runs between human souls, and
John Fosdyke's soul felt the subtle
and mysterious influence, for he
paused, looked across the street and
up to her window, and bowed, with
a glad light in his face.
"Who is that Fosdyke bowling top
asked her Aunt Diana, from her po-
sition by another window. He may
have meant the bow for me. If he
did, don't thank him for his trouble.
l don't like him. 1 don't care to cult
vate his acquaintance. He isn't my
style, and he can keep his bows for
those who appreciate them"
He was not bowling to you," an
swered Margaret quietly, though a
brighter bit of color came into her
cheek as she said it. "He knows very
well that you do not like him, and
he is not the man to give attentions
of any sort where they are unwel-
come"
From which / am to infer, 1 sup
pose" said Aunt Diana, sharply. 'that
he bows to you because he thinks his
attentions are not unwelcome. Is
that it?''
you are quite right in your con-
clusion," answered Margaret. ~
do like him, and l think he knows it.
1 have never taken any trouble to
conceal my friendship from him. Why
should II"
81 must say that you are the
strangest girl l ever saw" said her
aunt, with ill-concealed displeasure.
you are all dignity and distance
to those in your own set, but you
unbend to this Fosdyke as if you
felt him your equal, if not your SUI
perior." And now there was q strong
suspicion of a sheer in Aunt Diana's
voice. She was intolerant Of any
likes or dislikes but her own.' John
Fosdyke was one of her especial dis
likes, because she felt afraid that
his influence over her niece was. or
might become, stronger than her
own. That influence might possibly
interfere, in time to come, with the
carrying out of a pet plan.
II do consider him my superior"
answered Margaret. ''Of all men
ever knew, l consider him the truest,
the bravest, the manifest. Count
up all the men in what you are
pleased to call our set,' and find
one among them, if you can, who
would do what John Fosdyke has
done"
That's precisely what makes me
consider him fool" said Aunt Di-
ana. "a man who will deliberately
give up the position he might have
had, and the chance to become IA
nous and wealthy and leader of
men, for the sake of preaching to a
set of heathens, is fool and moth
ing more"
"A fool when looked at from your |
standpoint, you forgot to say" said |
Margaret. you forget that all of |
us do not look at these things |
through your spectacles. Instead of ]
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

complishment of her plans. One day
she met John Fosdyke at friends.
II have not seen much of Miss
Leith, of late" he said "She is well,
1 hope?"
''Oh, yes, quite WELL" answered
Aunt Diana. "She is $3.50 queer,
you know'-this quite confidential
ly. "She has seemed to lose all rel
ish for society, in the ordinary mean
ing of the word, since Mr.. Herrick
has taken to calling so regularly
Sometimes a girl finds the society of
one person pleasanter than that of
many, you Know" and here she
smiled meaningly. "Of course, you
have heard of what rumor has been
saying about Mr.. Herrick and my
niece?"
II have heard that Mr.. HerricN ad-
mired her, if that is what you mean,"
Fosdyke answered, in a somewhat
constrained tone. To talk about the
woman he loved in this manner was
painful to him in the extreme. But
he wanted to know the truth, SO he
added:
IF congratulations are in order,
please tender mine to Miss Leith.
Am l premature in offering them?"
II must not reveal state secrets"
answered Aunt Diana, looking very
wise. However, 1 will tell her what
you have said, and let me thank you,
for her, for your kind wishes. You
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

being fool because of his devotion
to principle rather than policy, ]
have to admit that he seems to me
something of hero. Quite as much
hero, in fact, as the man who as
serts his bravery on the field of bat
tie. Don't you suppose that John
Fosdyke had hard battle to fight,
in giving up what he has for the
sake of doing what he believes to be
his duty?"
Margaret spoke impetuously, and
her tone told how deeply she felt
what she said.
Aunt Diana's lip curled.
Margaret" she said, facing her
niece Indignantly and accusingly, Il
dc believe you are more than half
in love with this man! The idea of
your persisting in your attempt to
make a hero of him! It's absurd, to
say the least!"
1T may seem SO to you, but it does
not to me-" was the girls quiet re-
spouse. And not another word could
her aunt get from her about this
man whom the worldlywise old lady
looked upon as a fool or fanatic.
Presently Vaughan Herricl came in.
Aunt Diana welcomed him ELUSIVE
ly. Margaret was quietly polite in
her greeting, and her reserved man.
ner had the effect of keeping him at
a distance socially. She did not like
Mr.. Herrick very well. She had never
done so, and after her aunt began
to try her hand at matchmaking be-
tween them, she liked him less than
ever, because it was quite evident
that he was perfectly willing to take
advantage of any victory that Aunt
Diana might happen to win by force
of diplomacy or influence.
I'm love, and in war, man should
control the campaign" Margaret told
herself. HE isn't much of a man
who is willing to let a woman plan
and carry it on for him."
Miss Leith does not seem very
socially inclined this morning." he
said to Aunt Diana, when Margaret
was OuI VI tAC IOoDi IOI d illODuSut l..
Il hope l have not offended her"
1T isn't that" was Aunt Diana's
reply. "She's peculiar. Be blind to
her peculiarities-and be patient"
Il could be as patient as--who was
P Jacob? = that the minister
preached about last Sunday, if
thought l could win her at last" he
answered. Aunt Diana, vexed with
peculiarities, resolved on
She was not going to
lllow her niece, who was poor, to
brow herself away on John Fos-
iyke. She was not going to let |
Ter lose the chance of getting a
ich husband like Vaughan Herrick,
she could have her way about it. |
Iaughan Herrick could give her an !
legant home, and position in So
iety that any girl in her senses
would covet. He would also be kind |
to her. The girl must be
mad to let such a chance go by. One
Ike it might never present itself
gain.
Aunt Diana, however, knowing with
'hom she had to deal, felt that she
aust move carefully. Margaret had
way of having her own will at
ines, and when there was a differ
nee of opinion she often came out
est in the argument; and if Aunt
llama were to urge the advisability
the marriage she had so set her
cart on, she felt quite sure it would
lake her niece all the more stub
orn. Precipitancy might spoil all.
he must work carefully, and in an
ldirect way, to bring about the ac-
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25


and yet, God put the thought into his
heart--and God knew!
The song ended just as the bells
in church tower near by began to
ring in the joy of the Christmas
morning.
The child heard them. He half
raised himself in bed, and cried out:
"Oh, the bells! the bells! How glad
they sound!" Then he sank down on
the pillow and was still-very still.
God is here" John Fosdyke said,
in low, grave voice.
Then the poor mother knew the
truth, and flung herself upon the bed
beside her dead child, and cried Bit
terly. Sorrow is the same to the
poor as to the rich, though some
seem to think otherwise.
John Fosdyke went out and found
woman who was willing to help her
poor neighbor in this time of need,
and she came and began to prepare
the child for the grave.
There is nothing you can do,
now" he said to Margaret. 81 think
it would be better for you to go
home now. You can come again to-
morrow, if you like"
There was step on the stair, and
a knock at the door.
Margaret opened it, and Vaughan
Herrick came in.
He started when he saw Fosdyke
there, and a look of disappointment
came into his face. Then he saw
that he was in the presence of
death, and he barred his head rev.
erently, in that silent respect men,
feel for the sorrows of others.
Your aunt sent me for you" he
said. "The carriage is at the door
Will you come?''
John Fosdyke came and stood by
Margaret. She feft his eyes upon her
face. and raised her own to meet them.
"Will you ride, or will you walk?"
he asked.
The question was a simple one, but
it meant great deal 1t meant
that the time had come for her to
make her choice, or rather, to de-
clare the choice she had already
made.
She felt the full import of the
words, and so did Vaughan Herrick,
and he waited for her answer as the
decision of his fate.
Il will walk-with you," she an
swered, and John Fosdyke knew that
she was thinking of the path through
life, and the words were the sweet
est ones he had ever listened to.
Vaughan Herrick said not a word.
but bowed silently and went out. He
knew that her decision was one from
which there was no appeal. He ac-
copied it as such. His heart was
out of tune with the Christmas bells,
as he drove home alone along the
white streets.
Side by side Margaret Leith and
John Fosdyke went out into the
night.
For some time neither spoke. At
last he said:
"You are sure of your heart, Mar
garrett"
very sure, john" she answered,
earnestly.
IF you walk with me it may be
through rough places and up hill.
Have you thought of that?"
Il have thought of it all, john"
she answered, softly. 81 am not
afraid. Where you go, 1 can"
Then he drew her face close to
his and kissed her, while the bells
rang out glad peal from steeple
overhead. They seemed to know
what joy had come to these two in
that blessed Christmas morning, and
we're glad because of it.
II am almost frightened at what
have dared to do" he said. MY
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

LEITH stood
by the window, looking
out upon a street full of
corners and goers. Gay
laugh and merry jest
made little ripples of
sound above the deeper
murmur of the tide of
life that seemed break
ing at her feet.
Suddenly she caught
sight of a form in the
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
1t was Christmas eve.

it was Christmas eve.
The world was clad in white robes
for the birthday of its King. The
streets were full of sounds of mirth
and melody. An echo of the Christ
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28
A GOOD YEAR REPORTED.
Baptist Missionary Union Receiver
Increased Amount for For
= eign Missions.

St. Paul, Mimi, May 22.-Over 500
delegates have already registered at
the headquarters of the Baptist
church anniversaries and more than
200 additional came in on the morning
trains, A meeting of the Women's
Auxiliary societies was held prior to
the main meeting Wednesday, but lit
tie of Importance was done. At ten
o'clock the first regular session of the
eighty-ffth annual convention of the
American Baptist Missionary union
commenced with devotional exercises
following which came the annual ad-
dress Of President Hon. II. Kirke Por-
ter, of Pennsylvania, the report of the
executive committee, which was pre-
scented by the secretary. DR.. Henry c..
Mabie; an address by Charles w. Per-
kins, chairman of the executive COM
mittee, and the treasurer's report.
There were in the foreign field during
the year 1901, supported by this So
ciety, 2.4s6 preachers and 2,312 church
es, with membership of 22S,749 and
1877 1896 sunday school scholars and 49,
2s3 persons were baptized during the
year. The amount contributed for
this work during the year was $751;
447, an increase of $50, 100 over the year
1900
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28

When p, A. Bjorkman and e J.
Wicklund, two notorious gamblers, re-
Gently paid visit to the city of Sund-
svall, all hotel and restaurant keepers
agreed to serve no food to those gen.
tlemen, and the agreement was lived
up to so strictly that they had to leave
the city without doing any business.
Fifteen of King Oscars poems have
been translated into French by Mr..
Synnestvedt, son Of the vice consul
OF Sweden and Norway in Paris, and
an illustrated edition of them will
soon appear. The preface to the vol
ume will be written by Claretie and
Prudhomme.
A 26-pound herring was caught in a
fish trap in HUSKY river, Ostergotland.
The car of Russia has made G. L. P.
Winroth, the postmaster in Malmo, a
knight of the order of St. Anna, third
class
The Gothenburg Commercial club
holds that it is superfuous to esta blish
Swedish consular service in Norway.
According to this organization, all that
is necessary is joint laws granting ell
Norwegian end Swedish scamen equal
rights in both countries.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28
Illinois Veterans.

Rock Island, ILL.,, May 22.-The pa
rade incident to the G. A. r. encamp-
ment on Wednesday included about
1850 people, old soldiers, United States
artillery from Rock. Island arsenal,
Illinois and Iowa militia, members of
the G. A. r. auxiliary societies asd citi-
zens. The grand army sent a congratu-
latory catlegram to President Palma,
of Cuba. Judge H. M. Trimble, Of
Princeton, was nominated for COM
mander; ]. NJ. Vernon, of Chicago, for
senior vice commander; NJ. E. Ewing,
of Neoga, for junior vice commander,
and Rev. A. r. Matthes, of Canton, for
chaplain.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28
ROUND ABOUT THE STATE.

Minneapolis ice cream makers have
advanced prices.
Health Commissioner Ohage of St.
Paul has resigned.
Ground has been broken for the
new hospital at Crookston.
The office and lumber sheds of
Canada & Yates burned at Osakis.
The Northern Pacific railroad has Sc
cured terminal rights in Saltwater.
Henry Hill, who died in Minneapo-
lis, left an estate of nearly 100000.
Major Henderson of Minneapolis
was chosen commander of the Loyal
Legion.
Two rural free delivery routes have
been ordered established at St. Peter,
Nicollet county, MIMI, service to be-
gin July 1.
Work has begun on new bank.
The building is expected to be ready
June 1. The State Bank of Wanda
was organized May S.
The ball game between the Du-
luth high school and Minneapolis Cen
trail high broke up in a row, and the
game was given to Duluth.
William Anderson, who recently
| burglarized Nutting's grocery store
at Faribault, pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to the reformatory.
The city council of Austin has vot-
ed the Southern Minnesota normal
college of this city $4,000, to be used
! in the construction of new building.
Henry e. Harris, author of the nov
| ell, 'The King of Andora," died of pto-
maine at Duluth. He was at work on
another novel at the time of his
death.
Mrs. Ethel Searles of St. Paul,
MIMI, arrived in Golden, Colorado,
and found her 12-year-old boy an in
for boys.
Duluth, Minneapolis and Chicago
capitalists have organized what will
be known as the Saskatchewan Valley
Land company, with capitalization
of So, 100000.
A request submitted by Mime
! apolis brewing company to have its
gallon measure tested has develop the
fact that Minnesota has no standard
beer measure.
Workman in the St. Paul shops Of
the Omaha are planning a boycot1
against beef under an agreement
binding the signers not to eat bee
for thirty days.
Claims amounting to $14,S25 have
been filed against the city of Moor
head for personal injury and damage:
to the threshing machines which fel
through a bridge.
The lighting of the Minneapolis
Elks' carnival, which opens in thi:
city on June 2, seems likely to b.
the most profligate illumination eve1
attempted in the west.
The Spencer Grain company ha
purchased sixteen country elevator
along the Hastings & Dakota division
of the Milwaukee road formerly con
trolled by S. Strong & Co.
Five boys made their escape iron
the state training school at Re-
Wing recently-Walter Freeze, Lam
bert Waller, Edward Hagman, JAG
J Reed and Carl Fagelstrom.
Governor Van SAINT has appointe
sixty-nine delegates to represent Mn
nesota at the national conference O
charities and corrections in Detroit
, Mich, May % to June 3.
{ "A couple of prisoners took their dc
parture from the Crookston Jail Wee
nesday night without waiting to tax
| formal leave of the authorities. Th
men had filed their way out.
The body of newly born infan
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28

was found yesterday floating in the
river above the Pike island boom. It
was that of male child, and is be-
ieved to have been drowned.
The president nominated Soren Lis
toe of St. Paul to be consul general
at Rotterdam. He has served as con-
sui at that place for four years, and
the Office was raised in rank to con-
sui general in the diplomatic appro-
priation bill which has just been ap-
proved. This necessitated a new
nomination and confirmation and q
new commission.
No fewer than ia inmates of the
have been paroled within the past
three months. A large number are
always paroled in the spring when it
is easier to secure for them respecta-
BILE homes, but the percentage this
year is heavier than usual, about %
per cent.
At meeting of the Duluth mold
ers, who have been on a strike since
the first of the month, they decided
to give their former employers one
more week in which to come to
terms. If a settlement is not made
they will start a foundry.
Notices were sent out by the state
railroad and warehouse commission
instructing commission firms in Min
nesota to file before June 1 applica.
tons for new licenses. The action is
under a provision of the Grindelar'
law for state supervision of such
| firms.
! Minneapolis millers have refused
the request of their union employe!
for three shifts of men to work eigh1
hours each, to replace the presen
ten and twelve hour arrangement
and the next move of the union will
be awaited with interest by all con
cerned.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28
MINNESOTA NEWS.
Medals Received

Minnesota's winnings at the Buffalo
exposition have been received by Gov
ernor Van SAINT. There are five gold
medals, three silver and one bronze.
The gold medals were received on the
following exhibits. Educational ex-
hlbit in the Minnesota building; but
ter model of the state capitol; display
OF fruit representing Fort Smelling;
collective display of agricultural re-
sources and exhibit of sugar beets.
The silver medals were received for
the exhibit of mineral resources; the
collective exhibit of iron ores illustra-
tive of the iron resources of the state,
and the display of butter. The bronze
medal was for the grain and grass
figure exhibited in the agricultural
BOOTH
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28
News Notes.

C. w. Hayden was run own by a
passenger train and one foot cut off
at Elk River.
Redwood Falls is to have a system
of free baths in connection with the
artificial lake.
Myrtle Lynch, aged years, was
nearly killed by the street cars in
Minneapolis.
w. A. Fahey, a switchman at Two
Harbors was run over by train and
died within an hour.
There is a county seat fight on in
Norman county. Twin Valley wants
to wrest the capitol from Ada.
More than 500 members of the Or
der of the Eastern Star assembled in
St. Paul for the session of the grand
chapter.
A contract was executed in Chicago
whereby the Mankato-St. Peter troll
ley line and electric lighting and heat
ing plant will be financed. Weed &
Williams of New Haven, Conn.,, are
to take 100000 of 5 per cent bonds,
the Knickerbocker Trust company of
New York acting as trustee.
Workmen at the Palisade mill Min
neapolis found the body of man
floating at the rack. An examina-
ton of letters Efound in his pocket
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.

fudge Stubs treated Finnerty like
the almanac does April" SLOWS
that?" "Gave him 30 days."-Indian-
apolis News.
Kate-"How awkward everything
looks that Bertha puts on!" Edith
"Yes, she always dresses becomingly."
Boston Transcript.
Bizzer-"simpkins has smart dog."
Buzzer-"What does he do?" Bizzer-
HE doesn't do anything that Simp-
kins tells him-that's what I mean
when I say he's smart. "-Ohio State
Journal.
An Imitation.-"I will make you re-
greet this day." he Kissed through his
clinched teeth as he left the. room.
I laughed~to myself, for was not de-
ceived. He was not real villain. He
did not turn on his heel.-Judge.
He-"The last time I played football
I remember my face got so knocked
about-wasn't like a face at all in fact
Il thought it never would get better"
Shetland did it? I mean-er-of
course, see it didn't-er-er-Im mean
-"-Punch.
Real Fun.-Lieut:Lovett (sentimen-
tally)-"I've come to say 'good-by.'
I've been ordered to the Philippines"
Miss Giddy-"How jolly! It'll be so
Interesting now to read the lists Of the
killed and wounded" -Philadel
Press:
AS Others See Them.-Old Getrocks
-"Do you know that you have been
publicly referred to as the idle son OF
a successful banker?" Gotrocks, Jr.-
Sand are you aware, sir, that you are
known in our best circles as the IA
Their of the champion amateur base
ball nitcher2 ON Y Journal.