davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

and still that internal head stood and
grinned at me!
If did not see Geraldine soon I felt
that / would go mad, so l marched
upstairs until / came to the door of
her room. 1 knocked gently on the
door-there was no soundi / tried the
handle with the same ill-success as
before. This was the last straw. l
confess that l stood at that door and
shouted and screamed and kicked it
pounded on it until 1 sank exhausted
on the fioor-and still no thought of
my real condition entered my head.
1t happened in my present position
that my eyes were just on level with
the keyhole. 1 peeped in. There was
Geraldine. I could see her flainly, and
in another moment l saw her take a
letter from her pocket, kiss 1t passion
ately, and burst into a storm of sobs
and tears. l was so wrought up by this
time that in spite of my fatigue l
jumped to my feet and In another sec
ond / found myself by her side.
She was clad in some soft white
wrapper, her hair all unbound, and
was kneeling with her face in her
arms on a chair. / was inexpressibly
touched by her heartbroken attitude.
| had never been anything but very
formal lover as / said before; however,
1 thought the circumstances might
warrant me in waving a little cere-
mony-especially as she evidently
needed comforter sadly, so / walked
quickly over to her and laid my hand
on her shoulder.
Geraldine" / said. my darling,
am here to help you. Geraldine,
won't you speak to me?"
There was no answer and no inter-
nit to the sobs and tears she was
pouring on my letter. l thought this
was pushing shyness to a distance,
and / had never suspected her of be-
ing shy. However as she made no OBJ
lection to my hand being on her
shoulder I thought that was good
sign, and ! knelt down beside her and
slipped my arm around her neck and
said:
Geraldine, dearest. do not cry so =.
courage = it will be all right"
Pause. Wont you speak TO
me? Please, please Just look at mel
Longer pause. "Geraldine!" I shouted
savagely, look at me at once or I'll
leave you foreyerl"
No movement what did II mean7
rose and dropped into chair. remark
ing: -,
do get up and say something TO me. II
your father comes in here and kills
] me-"
/ 50 I waited and watched her. Pres
emily she raised her beautiful eyes, red
with weeping. fixed them straight on
me without the slightest sign Of rec0R-
milton. not even the fear that would
{ have filled them had 7 been . strang-
~ what could BE- the matter7
4 rushed over 20 the long swinging
mirror lD The corner determined ~ look
81 myself and see what was wrong
stood directly ln front - fhe glass anf
4 glanced az ~ bright surface " mnks
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

Common sense-hard practical COM
-,on sense-is a great and important
factor in this worlds concerns. 1 am
mot a common-sense person myself
though Geraldine will tell you 1 am
man of uncommon sense-but it is to
common-sense people that I address
myself; people, who say. If they ever so
far forgot themselves as to read Rap
naccini's Daughters" for instance or
that other story by the gifted son of
his gifted father, which hides its weird
fascination under the name of Archi-
bald Malmaison, and you ask them If
they like the stories. "Oh, of course
not; never heard of such improbable
things Why! How is it possible for
a man" etc. 1t is to these people 1
write.
I live in the enterprising Western
city of Kalamanti. AS my family and
Geraldines family have lived there
many years, we are all we'll known,
and any of my neighbors, among
whom are judge of the District
Court, a retired major general of the
army, q United States senator, and
other persons of undoubted veracity,
can affirm the truth of the strange in
cidents, of which l am the principal
subject. Geraldine will say that this
is not the only case in which / am the
principal subject-royally assuming for
the once-but digress. Geraldine
SAYS l always take too much time in
getting at the point of the story, and
as Geraldine is the only critic of whom
l am afraid, here goes:
I, James Henry Iiettew, commonly
called Harry, was about 20 years old
in the year of our Lord, 1901. was a
sleepy, and people say, a dreamy, alb
stracted young man. Geraldine thinks
am handsome. She is alone in her belief
unless 1 agree with her in this as in
most things. 1 was possessed of little
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

was my most dangerous opponent ard
with him out of the way I felt could
brave the rest of the household. II 1
could get at Geraldine 1 hoped to per-
suade her to fly with me, and I did
rot doubt once we were safety mar
ried her father would forgive US. or
If he would not, I should not greatly
care, so long as I could have Geral-
dine.
Thinking thus I walked up to the
door and placing my hand on the bell
gave it good strong pull. The little
silver-plated handle did not move an
inch. l rubbed my eyes and tried 1t
Gree moreno effect / then sat down
to consider. Was all the world be-
witched? I racked my brain until the
door opened and one of the children
ran out. She came over to the chair
1 sat in and dropped into my lap. 1
got out of the chair in a second. just
how 1 could not say. l am not over
fond of children of that age.
why Jenniel" 1 cried somewhat in
dignantly, what do you mean by
jumping on my lap in this unceremo-
NOUS manner. Where is Geraldine
Go tell her I want to see her at once"
1 was getting angry, but would you
believe it, that child went on playing
with her doll and completely ignored
me! 1t was too much. 1 wondered If
the whole town were in a conspiracy
to drive me crazy. In despair I re-
solved to see Geraldine at once, and
at the risk of being shot for Il burg
lar L turned to the door the little girl
had fortunately left open and walked
in.
AS 1 entered the hall my foot slipped
on the marble tilling, and fell heavily
against an exquisite bisque head
standing on the newell post. When /
picked myself up, sufficiently sore from
my fall to be convinced that 1t was
real one, the bisque figurehead was
standing safely and smiling at met
was a laughing head-in a way 1 con-
ceived to be particularly exasperating.
l was so excited by this time that /
struck it a furious blow with my fist
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

sessed me. 1 could think of nothing
else. Geraldine says 1 was the most
intensely unsatisfactory lover at this
time that one could imagine, and that
she had serious thoughts of giving me
up for John Haverford
Our love which was a secret affair
and none the less sweet for that, by
the way-was violently opposed to the
heads of both our houses, there being
some grudge between them. Although
L was devoted to her and she to me.
as now know, though l did not at
the time, yet had never dared to take
more of lovers privilege than a re-
spectful salute upon her hand. Geral-
dine was tall and extremely digni-
fed girl, and how she ever came to
meet me clandestinely and write me
those little notes-I have them YETI
don't know. She says she doesn't
eitherl
But to come back to my experiment.
My want of complete success preyed
upon me. l grew thin, lost my appe-
tite, could think of nothing but that.
This, / imagine, was one of the rea-
sons for my final success. Geraldine
says l ought not to have said that as
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

IL is LOO late now. One
afternoon, more than usually
ures, when was about to
consign the volume to the fire as a
false prophet. my sister. who acted as
our Mercury threw a note into my
room from Geraldine. / opened it, /
must confess, rather listlessly.
Good Heaven Her father had dis
covered my last letter he was furi-
ously angry, swore she should marry
John Haverford and she was now
locked in her own room; / would rec
ognize it by the white ribbon hang
ing on the window sill, and 1 must do
something soon, for her father was
terribly angry and she loved me and
me only, her own Harry-and you
know the rest! Geraldine protests
against these unfiattering illusions to
her notes)
What happened moment after, or
how it happened, am not prepared to
| state. One thing | do know, / found
myself in the street, and without
thought of how l came there, was
hurrying toward Geraldine's house.
| With reckless speed l ran heading
| full tilt into lady of my acquaint-
| ance. The conclusion nearly stunned
me. What was my surprise as l has
tily took off my hat to apologize for
my carelessness to see the young lady
calmly walk past me, apparently I'M
conscious of my presence and giving
no evidence of having been in COLI
| sion with mel This rather astonished
me, but Geraldine was so much in my
mind that l dismissed 1t and fastened
on. 1t was not far to her house, and
sure enough, there was a white ribbon
fiuttering from the window I knew to
be hers.
In my reckless desire to do some
thing for her 1 opened the gate and
walked into the yard; that is, 1 found
myself there and of course could have
come no other way. l am not much of
an athlete and could not have jumped
the fence. These reflections did not oc-
cur to me at the time, but the next
thing which happened did astonish me.
While was standing there in
the walk, wondering what to do
next, the front door opened and
old Mr.. Holabird came out. His face
was red with anger, and he was armed
with a thick club. presumably for
brave man-thouGh Geraldine thinks
me a perfect hero-and confess 7
| trernbied However, / walked IN 10
him and said, Mr.. Hoiabird, your
daughter
he absolutely did not see me. and
as he passed me. with excess Of eOur-
age ! laid my hand upon his arm, but
he took no more heed Of that than
Of my voice. What could have been
the NATTER
began 10 feel little alarmed, and
gave myself good pinch ~ see " ]
acre awake, the usual ffnpufef ~
people in a Ike situniiop-f5ffaie
| avs thnt no one ever was Oh IKE
situafiOB before certainly VS.
swske Tor ths pinch hurt ue Mar
..eij3ne more and more deeiaen -
"a mo ths beuss. 1be ole eepiAsnan
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

fortune. and was a well-informed
young man of studious bent, having
read largely in a rather desultory way.
MY favorite study was the spiritual es-
sence, or soul of men, especially my
own
1t is thing. / believe, most people
have-though Geraldine says you have
10 take 1t on faith in the case Of a
great many people. What was 1t (?
Where was it? This pervading, vital
force within me? How did 1t exist
within my body? What kept it there?
was death the result of a disassocia-
ton of the two? Was no man capable
OF ever separating the one from the
o'her? These are but sample of the
Speculations in which I INDUCED. And
actually found myself in the way OF
sowing some of these problems at last.
Rummaglng in the library of de-
ceased philosopher, came across a
treatise on this very subject, by a sage
OF ancient times, the learned Egyptian
Archidechus. No. you will not find
MS name in the encyclopedias. 1 have
purposely altered it, lest anyone should
search for the pamphlet and finding II,
become as I was-but / anticipate.
seized upon the old moth-eaten
parchment volume with avidity.
another copy in existence except the
one l read-and wonderful book treated
vi the spirit or essence of life as dis
.hsulshed from the gross and visible
pooy; the writer held that it was pos
siDle TO separate the one from the 9TH
er' IN other words, according to Archi-
uechus, the spirit might leave the body
ana return to it at pleasure; in fact,
the writer knew of such a case and
mir
lot accomplishing this wonderful feat.
shall not reveal them to you, nor to
Geraldine, though that is the only Sc
Sret do not share with her, so beware
now you confide . me.
VI course, the thing was ridiculous,
no such separation was possible, so 1
easoned. There were the directions,
naowever-they fascinated me. was
slways an imaginative fellow and a
sIeat fryer of all sorts of strange ex-
perlinents, why should I not try this
ole confided my intentions to no
sa's' not even Geraldine. / locked my
1 up In my room and devoured the
az. lu book. Great stress was laid upon
uie Iaith necessary and the condition
vi me mind. 1t was stated that any
rtiolent emotion might be of great as
Iu lance at the final moment of-shall
IAN II dissolution
now | was at peace with all the
toIio except John Haverford. Hayer-
NJ was In love with Geraldine Hola-
~ Dut as ! felt sure OF her affec-
~, sn was not able 10 get up any vio-
- yealousy on his account. Geraldine
solp me II she had known felt so con-
s s,-,l OF her affection she would have
ttbpnsa me with several emotions On
score 81 an exceedingly violent
"1llfe don't believe II.
ApMsNer ] complied with the other
So tiohs, and even coDfrived - 49,
b., reasonable amount Of faith.
49,. toptd not quite manage the sep
aeLs my vital force - one spof f0f Ia.
es.,fsf yhf exert myself - 4 would
h9i break fne t4s. The i1ea Pc
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

was at last satisfied. and he allowed
the current to die down to one of much
less intensity, merely keeping. as he
said, a little on in case of an emerg-
ency. A little! 1t felt like ten tooth
aches run into one, but was so much
less than before that it seemed almost
like caress in the first moment of
relief.
While was standing there helpless
ly wondering what they would do with
me the old man walked up to Gerald
Inc, who stood wringing her hands,
looking at me, with her last hope gone,
too, poor girl, and said:
Come Geraldine, we must go. the
man is dead"
'Liarl" shrieked, but no one heard
me.
And there is no use staying here"
he continued, II tell you you must
Continued on Page Twenty-six
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

a last effort to solve the mystery
Reader, l will solemnly assert that
when / looked in that mirror expecting
to see myself. 1 was not there.
There was nothing reflected there but
the room and contents and Geraldine
beyond, completely oblivious of me.
She had taken a small picture of me
she had and was alternately looking
at it and pressing it to her heart. This
evidence of an affection for me which
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14
THE DISEMBODIED SPIRIT
The Story Of a Manderi1o
Sensation.
By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY.

Author Hohenzolern The Ouberon Touch" For Love Of
Country ''For the Freedom of the Sea - Colonial
Fights and Fighters" Etc.
Copyright 1902. Townsend Brady)
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

it will spoil the de-
nouement. However,
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14

Continued on Page Twenty-six.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-15

self, and at the same time readjustment OF
mans sense of responsibility. We say seems,
because in the vaporous world in which NJ
Maeterlincks intellect moves his guiding prln-
ciple is always yelled. But and then he
gives US something that is tangible. when he
opposes to the familiar complaint We have to
bear the burden Of our past" the wise state
ment that The past asserts itself only in those
whose moral growth has ceased; then and not
till then, does it become redoubtable-" Frag-
ments like this atone for much foggy specula-
ton. for much asking Of questions to which no
profitable answers are given. For the sake OF
such ragments many a reader will doubtless
find ii worth While to turn the pages Of this
book. He may weary of mere words, but now
and then he will feel that he is conversing with
man who has done some reverent and fruit
full thinking on matters Of moment to the
spirit. He will be grateful for such excellent
words as those which NJ. Maeterlinck gives US
on the mystery of death, at page lSl, and for
such a sound and interesting affirmation as the
following passage contains:
our entire moral being. mind no less than
our character, is incapable of living and acting
except in justice. Leaving that, We leave our
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-15

,,o,,ard alludes TO the rigid rules against W.
s H'fi ~ any kind within the limits of the pal
I7i'N ..uba court where the King resides runs
a. - occount is place 50 sacred that II any
"a -,,,,,a 10 strike another there, and only
ia h1ood. his right hand shall be cut off and
stou be committed TO perpetual imprison-
u md fined" IL 1861 the Earl Of Devon
Pc Pc st-Icl a Mr. Culpepper with his cane IN
sl1-I -, Chamber at Whitehall He was fined
.aoeoo All things were done on a grand scale
:. that vast palace. The supply OF 1000 al 'le
y -. +ag1es. for example, was merely heroic
Rad Of fifteen hundred oxen and seven
..a,5 sheep being used in the palace, with
-, meats. poultry, wheat beer wine and SO
:; r-aportion. There was a chapel and
". was 2 cockpit; there was jousting IN the
= and there was batting Of animals In a
-. -o--ar-y account of EliZabeths amuse-
-. when she was in her siXty-seyenth year
- i this passage: Her majesty says she Is
= we'll This daye she appoints frenchman
= 100 faates upon a rope IN the Conduit Court
= 22,.-oyz she hath commanded the bear, the
N and the ape TO he bayted in the Tilt-yard
=. al rbese cheerful memories fade beside that
= .ta one transcendent event associated with
S,-,..+.1,an the execution Of King Charles. Dr.
f,,g,ard traversas the subject in considerable
-; examining With great care the veXed
,-,;on Of the site Of the scaffold, and describ-
= once more the incidents of that memorable
10 He has assembled quotations from many
;nortant sources, and does full justice TO ms
,.I. .rac-sd theme There are some good pages
- cromwell at Whitehall. and due attention is
lid "a othe- notable residents in the palace.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-15
N. MAETERLINCk.
EXAMPLES OF HIS WORK AS PLAY
WRIGHT AND ESSAYIST

SISTER BEATRICE AND ARDIANE AND
BARRIE RLEUE. Two Plays. TRANSLATED INTO
English Verse from the Manuscript OF Maurice
Maeterrck. BY Bernard Mail l2mo, PIP. Nv,
1S3 Dodd. Mead x Co.
THE BURIED TEMPLE. BY Maurice Maeterllhck.
Translated by Alfred Sutro. 12mo PIP. Xxx, $50
Dodd, Mead & Co.
These two volumes afford, when taken to-
gether, an excellent illustration of NJ Maeter-
lincks talent, one shedding light not only on
that which constitutes his merit, but on that
which puts limit to his effectiveness as
writer. Both volumes disclose the action of his
besetting foibIe, a disposition to play rather
vaguely about a theme. Mysticism is in his
blood, and though human nature is his constant
study ii is with great difficulty that he comes to
close quarters with it. He is perhaps most sue
cessful when he is writing prose; in fact. com
parison of the works before US confirms the
judgment expressed more than once in these col
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-15
FICTION
A STRONG STORY OF LOVE AM Disco
PINE.
PLINE.

THE WAY OF ESCAPE A Novel BY Graham
Travers Margaret Todd NJ. D. 12mo. PIP VI
37S d. Appleton x Co.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-15

THE BURIED TEMPLE. BY Maurice Maeterlinck
Translated by Alfred Sutro l2mo, PIP Ky, S5o
Doad. Mcad 8: Co.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-15

.-1yt- STORY OF CHARITIES. BY Cecil Head
I'm Illustrated by Herbert Railton. Medlse-
1-si Towns Sgries) l2no, ~. NJ, Sol. The Mac
milan CCnlI.ar
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-05
CANTEEN ARGUMENT
Paymaster General Of the Army
Adds His Testimony to That
of Other Officers.

Washington, Dec. 4.-General Bates,
paymaster general of the army, has
sent a communication to Adjutant
General COrbin in regard TO the army
canteen, in which he says
The claim of the war department in
recommending the restoration of the
canteen 10 the army that during the
operation of the canteen law the dis
cipline of the army was superior, de-
sertionS much less, and that there were
fewer fines and forfeitures by court
martialS on account of breaches of
military discipline resulting from the
use of Intoxicating liquors by men. ap-
pears to be fully borne out by the
records of the paymaster generals Of
fee
These records show that the paymas-
ters of the army collected from Is, 600
enlisted men (regulars) during the last
year in which the cantecn was in force
on account of the soldiers home dues.
fines and .forfeitures, s62 69S, while dur
ing the fiscal year 1902, since the abol-
ishment of the canteen, there was col
lected by paymasters from about 7e.-
600 enlisted men (negul9rs1 ION the same
account, $632, 125.
The fact, therefore. appears undis-
putable by the figures that the fine
forfeitures imposed upon and collected
from the enlisted men of the army
were vastly increased during the year
subsequent to the adjustment of the
canteen, which increase cannot be well
attributed to any other cause than the
effects of an uncontrolled liquor traffic
in connection with military posts
which traffic apepars to seriously affect
the discipline and morals, of the army"
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-05
SECRETARY HlTCHCOCKS DECISION
WAS A HARD BLOW TO OIL DRILLERS

men are ordered away, they viii con-
tinue the fight for what they believe is
riShtfully their own by virtue of loca-
ton under the mineral laws of the
United States. and VIII carry the con-
test to the United States supreme court
If need be-
The only ground directly involved in
the case just decided is the section on
which the Union Pacific struck a flow
Of oil while drilling well for water
about two years ago. The scene OF the
discovery is directly opposite the Spring
Valley coal mine of the company. and
distant only a few hundred yards.
Alternate Sections Open.
It is generally believed that the sec
retary's opinion that the land in quss-
ton is principally valued for its coal,
and is, therefore, excepted from the
railroad grant as oil land: that the
company cannot be denied a patent.
and that the oil company cannot longer
prospect for oil thereon, is not Well
taken.
AS the railroad company owns alter
nate sections only. the decision does not
prevent the prospecting for oil on the
open government sections, so that the
oil industry in the Uinta fields, al
though given a severe setback, viii not
be ruined entirely. However, prospect
ing has been done on a large scale on
the railroad sections and, as If now ap-
pears, at a total loss TO the operators
Of probably 100000.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-05
CONFIDENTIAL CLERK
DIES BY HIS OWN HAND

Philadelphia, Dec. 4-Howard T.
Goodwin, treasurer of the Columbia
Mining company, and confidential clerk
of the firm of J. G. Cassatt & Co,
bankers and brokers. committed sui
eide in the office of that firm in the
Arcade building, Fifteenth and Market
streets, last night, by shooting himself
in the head. He was found early to-
day lying on a lounge in the rear of
fee by a Waterman. Mr.. Goodwin had
a revolver grasped tightly in his right
hand and the lounge was saturated
with blood which had flowed from the
wound in his head. Mr.. Goodwin was
performing some work in the office
when the clerks departed shortly after
O'Clock last evening. That was the
last seen of him alive. At the Office
of Cassatt & Co. today il was said no
cause for the suicide could be given.