davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

she did, not so very long ago, sure
ly she would have some sympathetic
word for him now.
Presently Aunt Diana came back,
and soon he went away with a grave
face, and disappointed look in his
eyes.
Margaret saw the look and under
stood what it meant.
He is blind, willfully blind" she
said to herself, as he went down the
street. She could hardly keep back
Ter tears. Surely he might see the
truth-if he would
"Yes, he is blind" she repeated,
this time aloud-she had forgotten
that Aunt Diana was in the room.
Did you speak to me?" asked her
aunt.
No, I was talking to myself" an
swered Margaret, feeling so miser-
able that she cared very little if Aunt
Diana knew what her thoughts were.
She got up and went out of the room,
with such a sorrowful look in her
face that the woman who was watch
ing her keenly knew the visit of
John Fosdske had given her no pleas
ure. The willy matchmaker congratu-
lated herself accordingly. She felt
sure that the paths of these two
persons had diverged so WILDLY that
they would never run together again.
By and by Vaughan HerMck came
in. But Margaret had gone out.
Il shall never win her." he said to
Aunt Diana, after he had asked for
her niece. 81 seem to know her less
and less each time l meet her."
Have PATIENCE" counseled Aunt
Diana. ''The world was not made in
q day, and such women as Margaret
are not to be won all at once"
''Or never" said Herrick, discour-
agedly.
Aunt Diana had never been more
thoroughly disguised and out of pa
thence with her niece than she was
when she found that she had taken
to visiting the poor.
She argued with her about the
fOolishness of the "whim,'' as she
called it. What good would come of
it? What would ''our set' say when
this latest proof of Margaret's eccen-
tricity was brought to it's notice?
las to that, l care. very little, or
not at ALL" answered Margaret. ut
may do but little good, but it will
certainly do no harm, and to do a
little good is much better than to
do none at ALL"
So she kept on with the work she
had undertaken. At first it was hard,
and almost repulsive, in many of it's
features. But by and by she found
that there was real pleasure in try
ing to help others. And it was not
long until she began to get more
pleasure out of her life, because of
what she was doing, than she had ever
found in the idle round of fashion
able existence. John Fosdyke's en-
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

heart-claims you, but our hearts are
often so selfish that they prompt
us to lay claim to that to which we
have no right"
'The king may always claim his.
own, they say" she answered, smil-
ing softly and half unconsciously
into his face, in the great, absorbing
happiness that was flooding her soul
MY heart was yours long ago,
john" and then she put her hand in
bis as if it held her heart, and she
was giving it into his keeping for alb
time to come.
Are you sure you will not regret
what you lose in casting your lot
with mine?"
II think only of what I gain" she
answered. There is no loss
And then the bells rang out again.
jubilantly, tunefully, and they seemed
tc say:
"Peace, Good Will! Peace, Good
Will" till all the night was filed
with the sound, and the two hearts.
that were henceforth to be one took
up the refrain, and it has not yet
died away in them, and, please God,
it never will.-The Housewife, New
York.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

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.
don't like him. l 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, l 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. '"I
do like him, and think he knows it.
L have never taken any trouble to
conceal my friendship from him. Why
should II"
81 must say that you are the
strangest girl 1 ever saw" said her
aunt, with ill-concealed displeasure.
-1You 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
rerior." And now there was strong
suspicion of sheer in Aunt Diana's
voice. She was intolerant of any
likes or dislikes but her own. John
Fosd, Ike was one of her especial dis
likes. because she felt afraid that
might become, stronger than her
own. That influence might possibly
interfere, in time to come, with the
carrying out of a pet plan.
81 do consider him my SUPERIOR
answered Margaret. ''Of all men !
ever knew, 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 a 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 Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

mas gladness came floating in at the
window of room high up in a poor
old tenement house, where two wom-
en- sat by bed whereon sick child
lay, tossing about restlessly, and
moaning in the delirium of fever
that was burning it's little life away.
One of these women was the child's
mother. The other was Margaret
Leith.
Poor little thing!" the mother
moaned, as she bent above the bed,
and her tears fell fast on the thin,
white face already bright with the
radiance shining out through the
open gates of the Other World. I'm
afraid he isn't going to live the night
out. II wish you'd stay with me,
ma'am. It's too much to ask of
you, I know, butt never had any
thing to do with death, before, and
il seems as if l could bear it bet
ter if you were here. You've been
so kind to me, ma'am, that you see
l take liberties that 1 ought not to;
but you'll pardon me for it, I'm sure,
for it's because of the trouble.
Sometimes 1 think I'd go crazy if it
wasn't for your kind face and your
comforting words, ma'am."
Il will stay" answered Margaret.
''But / must send word to my aunt,
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
He Wenf AsOay sUifb a Crave Face.

thusiasm had taken possession of
her. She felt that she was not only
helping those with whom she came
in contact, but she was helping him.
If she could not work by his side,
she could at least do something to
help him and his work in way he
might know nothing about, but the
doing of it might make his own work
lighter, in some indirect way.
At first, perhaps, she did it for his
sake, or because it was his work, and
sharing it with him, even without his
knowledge, seemed to establish a
common bond of interest between
them. But it was not long, as L have
said, before she began to love the
work for it's own sake. When a man
CT woman does something to help
his or her fellowmen, life is broad
ened Iby it, and the world suddenly
seems fuller of deeper, grander
meanings and possibilities. A kin
ship of interests brings us close to
the heart of things. We wake up to
the fact that to live means something
more than mere existence. There are
others in the world quite as impor-
tant as ourselves. They have sor-
rows and joys we can share with
them. We can help them, and they
can help us.
In her round of work she did not
meet John Fosdyke, but she heard
good deal about him.
And what she heard was something
to make her glad and proud. He was
indeed sowing good seed. She won
dered if he knew as well as she did
the amount of good he was doing.
And he heard of her, but he did
not know who it was that came TO
the homes of the poor and the sick
with comforting words, and help in
time of need; for her work was done
as quietly and unobtrusively as his
own.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19


being fool because of his devotion
to principle rather than policy, 1
have to admit that he seems to me
something of hero. Quite as much
a 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 hall
in love with this man! The idea OF
your persisting in your attempt to
make hero of him! It's absurd, to
say the least!"
ut 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 worldly-wise old lady
looked upon as fool or fanatic.
Presently Vaughan Herrick 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
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.
''In love, and in war, a man should
control the campaign" Margaret told
herself. ''He isn't much of man
who is willing to let 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 out of the room for moment.
Il hope l have not offended her."
1T isn't that" was Aunt Diana's
reply. "She's peculiar. Be blind to
her northumberland be patient"
Il could be as patient as-who was
it? = jacob that the minister
preached about last Sunday, if L
thought | could win her at last" he
answered. Aunt Diana, vexed with
Margaret's peculiarities, resolved on
diplomacy. She was not going to
allow her niece, who was poor, to
throw herself away on John Eos
dyke. She was not going to let
her lose the chance of getting a
rich husband like Vaughan Herrick,
if she could have her way about it.
Vaughan Herrick could give her an
elegant home, and a position in So
oiety that any girl in her senses
would covet. He would also be a kind
husband to her. The girl must be
mad to let such chance go by. One
like it might never present itself
again.
Aunt Diana, however, knowing with
whom she had to deal, felt that she
a way of having her own will at
times, and when there was differ
ence of opinion she often came out
best in the argument; and if Aunt
Diana were to urge the advisability
of the marriage she had so set her
heart on, she felt quite sure it would
make her niece all the more stub
born. Precipitancy might spoil all.
She must work carefully, and in an
indirect way, to bring about the ac-
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

or she will be worrying about me.
Do you know of some boy | can get
tC. carry line to her?"
The woman went to find a 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 it's eyes and was looking
al her very intently.
"I've 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
other day, when you brought them
pretty posies."
81 am very far from being an an
GEL" answered Margaret, with u
smile into the wan little face on the
pillow. "Shall L sing to you?"
'sOh, 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 tendsrly, that the face of the child
who listened lost its look of pain,
and when the song was ended he
looked up and said:
Il think you must be an angel, for
when I dreamed about them they
sang like that"
There came 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.
When heart speaks to heart, words
are poor, weak things.
"How is the little lad?" he asked,
gently, and the mother answered
only with sob.
He went to the bed and bent over
the sick boy.
''It 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
fort and strength for the soul that
il in trouble in the thought that 9TH
ers sympathize with us and share our
sorrow.
"Sing," the child said, presently,
looking at Margaret.
And Margaret sang little song
about the land the child was going
to very soon. At the second verse,
John Fosdyke's voice joined hers,
and made it all the sweeter to the
child, for the mans heart made itself
felt in the words. AS he sang, he
thought that here, on the threshold
of Heaven, almost, he was looking
forward, as if in dream, to great
happiness that might come into his
life. 1t seemed almost wrong ia
think of such thing, at such time;
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

and yet, God put the thought into hss
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,.
III 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
! a 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
q 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.
| viii 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 simple one, but
it meant a 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
garet?'
VERY sure, john" she answered,
earnestly.
eff you walk with me it may be
through rough places and up hill.
Have you thought of that?'
81 have thought of it all, John"
she answered, softly. 81 am not
afraid. Where you go, I can"
Then he drew her face close to
his and kissed her, while the bells
rang out u glad peal from steeple
overhead. They seemed to know
what .a1y had come to these two in
that blessed Christmas morning, and
were glad because of it.
81 am almost frightened at what I
have dared to do" he said. My
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

complishment of her plans. One day
she met John Fosdyke at friends.
81 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. Herricll
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?"
81 have heard that Mr.. Herrich adj
mired her, if that is what you mean,' IS
Fosdyke answered, in somewhat
cons trained 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 premature in offering them?"
81 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 Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

will not say that have told you any
thing, will you? Really, l haven't,
you know. They do not care to be
gossiped about as engaged lovers,
just yet
Il shall say nothing answered
John Fosdyke.
Aunt Diana congratulated herself
on the success of her diplomacy She
saw that he believed that Margaret
and Mr.. Herrick were engaged, and,
believing that, he would not be like
ly to say or do anything that would
interfere with the accomplishment
of her plans.
''Why doesn't your hero, Fosdyke,
call occasionally, as he used TOP
asked Aunt Diana, one day. HE
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

crowd that stirred her pulses TO a
swifter beat. Her eyes lost the list
less look that had been in them while
she watched with woman's mere
idle curiosity the tide of humanity
surging past. Here was some one
for her interest to center itself
about. With this person upon whom
TO fasten her thoughts, she forgot
the throng of which he was part.
II wonder. if there is any truth in
the theory of soul telegraphy?" she
thought, with a bright, soft light
gathering in her eyes, as she watched
the man about whom her thoughts
had centered themselves. He said
he half believed it. 1 will put it to
the test"
She looked intently at the man who
had driven her idle mood away, and
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
Ole
KINGS OWN
A Christmas Story
of the City * *
By EBEN E. RExFoRD.


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 Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
Tt was Christmas eve.

The world was clad in white robes
for the birthday of it's King. The
streets were full of sounds of mirth
and melody. An echo of the Christ
The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-02-07

want to see him. He says he has
opened it to stay and no more natural
and ingenious mechanic can be found
in this village than he Is on any piece
of work of any complication.
Frank S. Brown passed last week
and over last Sunday with friends and
relatives IN New York City and Nor
walk.
Major Walter Burnham gains in
strength slowly. On. pleasant days he
is seen riding on short drives but most
of the time he confines himself to his
home.
A. G.. Caskey came home on Tuesday
of last week with Fox Skin No. IL as
hounds.
Sherman Cogswell, with his usual
alacrity, took advantage Of the light
snow which covered the ground the
later part of last week and1delivered
to several families loads of that
choice hickory and oak mountain
wood for which his hills have been
noted for years Of producing. None
better can be found.
Herman Hoffman is one of the few
Christian street farmers who still has
limited supply Of potatoes of first
class quality for sale at reasonable
PRICE. IL UllcTc dEc OOl1cIS: Uucy dic
holding for higher prices. Some of
the land on that street is well adapted
to good growth and finest quality
Apples are tout of sight," II there
are any, owners are so afraid of their
neighbors as to shrink from proclaim.
ing the fact Of ownership.
Ernest Brown of Litchtield passed
Thursday night Of last week in this
place and on Friday with William
McHan tried his luck at fishing on
Lake Waramaug, but with small sue
cess, and he returned to his home by
evening train of Friday, not richer ir
| fish but satisfied in meeting many Of
| his former acquaintanceS here.
Mr. and Mrs A. M. Morgan were ir
Danbury over last Sunday.
The mention of E. f. Brague's thir(
marriage in local papers, last week
seems to have been noticed by editor
throughout the state and we read j
also in the New York Daily World o
last Friday. 1t seems to be quite ;
wonder that it is possible for a maj
toHhave three wives in five years, bu
we hope his last venture will be one o
long life and perfect satisfaction t.
both and that the visit again Of tn
Death Angel to his abode may be il
the far distant future.