davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-04-06
BY JAMES /. FORD

| man would have thrown up his job then
and there. but he had been saving money
for nearly year in the hope that Ara
bella would marry him, and now. at the
very moment when the tones of her voice
told him how dear he was to her, she was
entreating him to throw up his only
chance of making living. He was still
wavering in his mind when Mr.. Simpkrs
the president of the club. appeared on the
scene eseorting, with much ceremony. his
mother. the Dowager Mrs. Simpkins, for
years the janitress of a large building on
lower Broadway. and a person of most
exalted position in colored society.
Take my seat, Mis- Simpkins." cried
the young man. as he rose respectfully
from the window seat. for not only was
Mrs. Simpkins one of the most imposing
and influential social forces in the town
but her son. Israel. was veritable power
IN the great sleeping car world
What makes you look so gIum. Ara
bella?' said the old lady, as she thank
fully accepted the invitation and peered
over the top of her nickelpIated specs at
the young girl beside her.
I've just had a terrible omen. Mis-
Simpkins." replied Arabella. land / don'f
want my Charlie to take dat day run out
to Buffalo no more-dere's def awaitin'
him dere, shuah's you born. 1 dreamt [
seen nothin but spiders, and in Ge
mornin' when I got up and stepped into
der butcher shop fer to get my party a
couple of pork chops l seen a big rat
skatin across de flo wifi hunk o. liver
in his mouf Everyone of dem tings- sig
nifes treachery, and enemies, and mis-
fortune"
Land o Gosheni" exclaimed the elder
woman, who was noted far and wide for
her skill in the Interpretation of dreams.
You seen a rat with piece O. liver. and
dreamed of spiders. and don't know what
ter do? What does de rat play? He plays
four. What does de liver play. but seven
teen. The spider he play ffty-four You
go long now and play that gig before der
sun go down.,
The next afternoon while Charlie, from
whose face almost every sign of anxiety
had disappeared, was attending TO his
duties on the day run between Utica and
Syracuse, Arabela was making her way
into the back room of the cigar store to
learn the result of the drawing on which
she had staked the few dollars which
they had determined to venture Miss Sin
coe was coming out just as she went in,
her brow wrfnkled with annoyance and
note of petulant anger in her voice rs
she exclaimed: -Jes' my luck again.
hit de fust two numbers right, four an
seventeen, but / got de last one wrong
1 played ffty-nine, count of a tub of
water l seen when l was comm down lie
alley, and it done come out ifty-four in
stead. Why, what's de matter wifi you,
Arabella. You look all struck of a heap
And it is a matter of record that Ma
Sincoe was bridesmaid at the wedding
that took place Six weeks later. partly
because OF her long intimacy with the
bride, but chiefly because both of the con-
tracting parties firmly believed that her
presence would bring good luck to their
union.
Copyright, 1902, by James L. Ford.)
The Washington times., 1902-04-06

pleasure that went straight to Arabella'3
heart.
81 had to get my party home from dc
t'eater,' she replied, and then added, CO..
quettishly, Besides, I wa'ant anxious
about you, COS l never 'spected you'd get
in till tomorrer. What brung you here
all of a sudden? l reckon it's Car'line
had her charm for you"
"Car'1ine," exclaimed Charlie. 81 hain't
so much as passed a word wifi her de
whole evening Car'line amt nuthin' to
me. Arabella." he concluded. with so
much earnestness that the young girls
heart began to beat quicker in her breast
and a broad, honest smile lit up her face.
Let's go an set down spell. Use
done tuckered out, workin' and fussin
over dat party O. mine. Seems as if
nuthin' wouldn't please her ternight, of
all nights of de year"
"Wif de greatest pleasure" replied
Charlie. offering his arm with a degree
of ceremony and elegance that would
have done credit to the hero of a society
drama
Now those who imagine that ball such
ii
would attract rough element and pos
sibly end in a fight with razors have
great deal to learn about that particular
grade of society. In point of dress and
department. the Knights of Mirth's ball
was characterized by an air of distinction
and elegance that was not unlike that
which might be looked for al Assembly
ball and which would have proved a great
surprise to those persons who derive their
ideas of colorcd society from the pictures
in the comic papers.
One of the strongest characteristics of
the negro race is its tendency to lift it
self to its native surroundings whenever
opportunity occurs, and this tendency is
certain to assert itself in such externals
as speech. dress and manner. Put a
young colored boy into a Saratoga hotel,
or clubhouse, where he will be brought
into contact with gentlemen as well as
blackguards, and in nine cases out of
ten, he will pick up and adapt for his
own use the manners of the best bred
and the language of the best-educated of
those persons whom he is called upon to
serve. At the same time, the rough man
ners and coarse speech of the black
guards whom he meets will roll off him
without leaving the slightest taint. On the
other hand let a young Harvard graduate
of Caucasian blood frequent such places
and he is certain to deteriorate both in
manners and in morals.
1t is a great mistake to describe the
negro as initiative. He is receptive and
absorptive. and that, too. of the best that
he car find.
The scene therefore, in Abraham Lin
coin Hall. even when the music was the |
maddest and the dancing the fastest, was |
one of perfect decorum, and as Charlie |
with Arabella on his arm. walked proudly |
down the length of the ballroom. bowling |
right and left in acknowledgment of |
friendly greetings. the manners of all |
were far more suggestive of Fifth Ave
nue. than of the Bowery
Charlie" said Arabella. earnestly, as
they seated themselves in cool window
The Washington times., 1902-04-06

signifies the coming of a secret enemy
and that the liver is also an omen OF dis
aster, therefore, poor Arabella could not
for the life OF her help regarding it as a
confirmation of her dream of the night
before. Then, Charlie had suddenly
changed his ear, and that meant that
something was going to happen very soon,
and this omen, taken in connection with
her dream and the rat, made her feel
that that something was likely to prove
disaster.
sudden suspicion shot through her
mind, cutting into her heaIu like knife
and leaving her red lips pale ashy gray
The Washington times., 1902-04-06
THE GIRL WHO STOLE SOUVENIRS
By FREDERICK w. WEEDT.

come out, wave dashed in, and brought
the momentous interview to sudden
close
few hours later steamer passed and
asked a question by flags; and there were
replies by flags. Then the other steamer,
not satisfied. drew up another color com
binatiOn. and our captain politely pre-
pared to do the same The yes" flag
was to occupy a prominent position in
this reply. but the yes" flag could not
be found. as it reposed at that moment in
the girls stateroom.
The captain said several miserable
things about the officer who, it seems,
had these minor details of the ships
wardrobe in charge. He also expressed 2
desire that the officer might go tO-but
there is no reason for repeating, as the
scene was painful enough at the time.
and long remembered by those who had
the misfortune to be in the neighborhood
AS the captain outlined the case loudly
and carefully, copiOusly sprinkling it with
forcible expletives, she was at no loss 10
discover what it was all about, and.
knowing herself to be the cause, suffered
accordingly.
The deck boy, who was near her,
sweeping off the waves that now and
then washed overheard and eddied around
the six legs of her steamer chair, said
that the captain would probably end by
killing the officer.
II the girl had not been tied, she
would have rushed up and interposed and
created an elaborate and beautiful scandal
in which the whole ship would have wal
lowed with delight.
The deck boy then related how on
former trip mate had been put in irons
for losing a piece of rope, and how he
had then been tied TO the mast near the
top as an example. He really had mag
nifcent imagination. this deck boy. and
added narrowing details as he went along.
The top of the mast was just at this
moment swinging back and forth through
an arc of air about fifty feet long. and
the mere thought Of her officer tied up
their made the girl feel dizzy.
The cabin boy stirred up her feelings
to their innermost depths. The stirring
process caused one thing to rise and make
itself known-that she loved the officer.
She had never felt that before.
The same thing happens when you stir
around pool with a stick. Large. pure
air bubbles rise up from the bottom and
shoot out into recognition. If you
handn't stuck your cane into the mud
The Washington times., 1902-04-06
Two Men; "H Little StOru."

These ought We to do, and not TO leave
the others undone"
A pale young man sat down on A bench
IN the park behind the reservoir on
Forty-second Street. He put torn bag
OF tools under the bench.
y small, redfaced man came behind
him. He stopped to steal the bag.
The pale man turned. and said in a sIo-v
tired way: Drop that. 1t amt worth
stealing"
The ruddy man said: Not if you're
lookin'."
The pale man set the bag at his feet
and said.
It's poor business You're IN"
You don't look as if yours was spv
better He sat down. What's your
calm" ?"
m an ironworker: bridge work.
DON'T look strong enough"
Ihat So I'm just out of Bellevue
Hospital; got hurt three months age.
grinned.
What hospital?''
Sing Sing
What? Jail?"
u.s. AANt hsid III winter. ether There's
a society helps a fellow after you qujt
that hospital. Gives you good clothes,
too"
Clothes? Is that so?"
Gets you work.
''Work-good God! I wish they'd gel nee
some"
You amt bad enough. Go and grab
somethin Get short sentence: first
crime Come out. and get looked after
by nice ladies'
My Godn'
Didn't they do nothin for you when
you got out of that hospital?"
No; why the devil should they? In
only an honest mechanic. Are you goin' go
lie felt his loneliness.
Yes; I've got to go after that b.
It'll give me time to look about me. Gosh.
but you look bad Good-b by
The ruddy man rose, looked pach,
jingled the few coins in his pocket. hest
tated, and walked away whistling
The pale man sat stiH en- the bench.
staring down at tha ragged bag OF tools
at his feet.-S Weir Mitchell in the Cea-
tury
The Washington times., 1902-04-06

"HERE are various kinds of objec-
tionable people in the world.
Their sins range all the way from
fattering to horse stealing. But
! there is one vice which is more practical
ly disagreeab!e than all the others put to-
! gether. | refer to souvenir collecting.
The girl | am telling you of was witty,
bright and pretty. and she stole souve-
Mrs. She had never been on an ocean
steamer before, and therefore she had de-
cided that she ought to have something to
remember her first trip by. But everything
was screwed or tied fast. except a few
articles that would hardly add to the
charm of young girls boudoir. This was
unfortunate. as you will see.
! After the girl had unsuccessfully
roamed about the ship for four days with
the souvenir craze strong upon her some
thing happened-a wave dashed over the
port bow of the ship. 1t wiped away ev-
/ erything in its path and left remnants of
one of the lifeboats clinging to the davits
! Then it climbed into the box holding
the signal flags and from this point took
hand in the destinies of the girl In
this way: 1t thoroughly waterlogged the
| signal flags and necessitated their drying
the next day.
The officer who had charge of this Il
have forgotten whether his grade was one
or two, but he was good to look upon and
also in love with the girl, having known
her before he went to seal ordered the
flags to be strung along to dry on a rope
stretched parallel with the deck and about
three feet above it.
In the code each consonant of the
alphabet is represented by a flag. There
is one which marks the letter &C" and
also means yes" 1t IS a pointed flag,
blue ground with white ball. or white
flag with red ball, | have forgotten
which; but it doesn't matter. The officer
had shown this particular flag to the girl
the day before, because it was the in
itiaI Of her Christian name.
The morning when the flags were hung
out to dry was chilly. but the girl pos
sessing superabundant amount of vital
its, tdiHt Oil Lt'h anu oh" hNi Niit'AANN"
The wind must have frozen her intellect,
for realizing that she was alone, she came
to the conclusion that there were flags
enough for the ship, plus one, and that
particular one had been placed there
proyidentially for her to steal; only she
did not call it by that ugly term.
The yes flag, which, as | said before,
was also the initial of her name. was
hanging there among the others, but she
soon had it hidden under her ulster.
On her way back to the cabin she met
the officer. who made her stop and speak
to him.
He turned the conversation deftly from
the weather to love. He said that no one
had ever loved as he. Which was orig
inal That he had known her a long time.
Which was true. That she by her hard
heartedness, had drive him to a life on
the ocean wave. Which was partly true.
That he would be her slave for life.
Which was absolutely untrue.
He was in earnest. thoroughly in earn
est; so much so that he never saw the
tip of the flag dangling out below the
tightly buttoned ulster.
Before her answer had u chance to
The Washington times., 1902-04-06
HAT,s de priee q dem part-

SSvY J HATS de price o dem part
w 5,sss:s. johnson. 5 :''s q. 1sess,,; ss'szss
the butcher shop about IL
In the morning. The birds were s. a pair
: and she shook her head mournfully
Can't do it noways She only gimme
two bones for to do de hull markettins
an get her some bella donna, box O.
dem fancy Roochin cigarettes an pow
der puff Land sakes, Look at dat rat-'
Well, you needn't be scared" said the
butcher carelessly. Rats is just about
as plenty as flies in summer time around
here"
Yes, rcjoined the cclorcd maid sig
niticantly, but dat rat don't mean to you
dc same laik he does to me I'll take half
dozen o dem little chops and you kin
frow in a bit o bone fer de dog
Just outside the cigar store where the
cigarettes were sold. she met her friend
Amanda Sincoe. who was going in for the
purpose of putting ten cents on a policy
gig which had been suggested to her by
dream. The two fell into conversation
and Arabella confessed that she was
feeling very blue indeed and had given up
all idea of attending the annual ball CT
the knights of Mirth, which was.to come
off that evening
Why, whatever ails you?" demanded
Miss Sincoe. Lass time l seen you you
was hayin' a white satin dress made for
this very occasion"
Il know / was" rojoined Arabella with
sad shake OF her head. but lass night
i dreamt seen a great big spider crossin
de ceilin' an half dozen mo walkin
oyah de flo. was jess dreamn' of spid-
ers all night long and you know what dat
means in de book. 1t means treachery.''
"'Spose it does said Miss Sincoe ear
nestly. Amt you jess as likely ter get
treacheried a-walkin' along de street or
a-settin in a chair as you is at de ball?
You come along and don mind no dreams
bout no spiders"
Il dunno but what dere's suthin' in dat
argument" said Miss Johnson as the
force of Miss Sincoes philosophy began to
take hold of her brain: -mebbe | might
step in fer a little spill after | gifts my
party home from de teatre'
''Youse workin' fer dat same party you
was ain y tt Sdll iIt OintE.
Yes, the same one. Oh. likes de life.
When-you onct gets used TO theatrical
folks you don't want nothin' else. Dere's
plenty OF excitement and travel into it
Now, Arabella Johnson is maid OF all
work to Miss Marian Vaughn. who plays
one of the leading parts in a comic opera
on Broadway. Miss Vaughn has had long
experience in domestic as well as profes-
sional matters, and years ago discovered
how TO solve the servant girl problem in
simple and satisfactory manner She
usually spends at least six months of the
year in New York, and during this period
she rents furnished fat in side street
near Sixth Avenue and installs herself
there with Arabella as her handmaid. As
she is late riser, her maid does not have
to bestir herself until 10, when she fixes
up the parlor and dining room, prepares
her mistress breakfast and takes her or
ders for the marketing. In the afternoon.
The Washington times., 1902-04-06
THE SHADOW OF A STAR. Ge BY

having attended to whatever errands may
require her services, she takes a walk
along Sixth Avenue, and in and out OF the
side streets, where the people OF her color
live. Dinner is served at half-past >, and
then she washes the dishes. straightcns
out her little kitchen and makes ready to
enjoy herself. For it is time to go to the
theatre with Miss Vaughn.
So long as she IS permitted to spend
the evening behind the scenes. so long
will she continue to sweep and dust ana
cook and wash dishes. and serve her mis-
tress faithfully and cheerfully; take away
that privilege from her and she would
NOPE and fret. and lose all interest in
her work. At the playhouse she must
assist at Miss Vaughn's toilet. hook hNr
dress and lace her shoes. and see mat
she is ready in time for her cues When
she comes off after her long scene she
must be standing in the wings with a
glass Of whisky and water, and wrap
to throw over her here shoulders Whcp
not thus occupied. she may gossip with
the other maids and dreSsers fully Il
dozen Of whom swarm about the place
while the performance is going on, arl
it is chiefly because of this social priv
ilege that she is perfectly satisfied to re-
main in Miss Vaurhns employ.
You better get dore early" remarked
Miss Siucoe significantly. If You don't
you might find dat Charles of yourn' stole
away by day lisht-colored wench l seen
him talkin' TO"
Charlie won't be dere; his car don't
get in till : in dc mawnin'"
Yes. he will" retorted Amanda. He
gets into de Grand Central Depot at .
tonight My George jess tole me. pey
switched him of from dat car of his'n
onto de Lurlinc what makes de day run
from Buffalo. He'll be at de ball, sure.
COS he's on de flo committee, and you
look out dat Martha Jackson don't cotch
i'm
I'd like to see her try it," remarked
Arabella Anyways. l reckon I'll come.
Where you goin' now? Git some cigar
ettes?"
Not exactly, returned Miss Sincoe, as
she entered the shop. I've Jess got a
room. See you tonight, den. sure" and
with these words she disappeared
through door at the back OF the shop.
leaving Arabella to make her purchases
and return home
When Miss Vaughn went out at
O'Clock for her usual Broadway stroll she
left her maid engaged in the task of dec
Grating the white satin dress with clus-
ters of artificial violets beautifully set
off with a trailing vine of arsenic green.
But if it had been her own shroud that
she was weaving she could not have
looked more disconsolate than she did.
There were two good reasons for her
gloom She had dreamt of spiders, which
signified treachery. all night long, and
had not been out of the house five min
utes before a huge rat bearing piece OF
liver in his mouth had crossed her path.
Now everybody who has any sort OF place
in the colored society that centres about
Sixth Avenue near its juncture with
Broadway knows perfectly well that rat
The Washington times., 1902-04-06

seat. 81 want you to stay here in New
York and no. take dat day run on der
Lurline." Then she told him all about
her dream of the night before, and of the
rat that had crossed her path with the
piece of liver in its mouth. Don't take
dat rum" she pleaded. earnestly, "for
dere's def at de oder end, shuah's you's
a-settin here. Didn't dey done change
you de mint l dreamed o dem spiders?
And doesn't a spider mean treachery?
And doesn't rat mean a secret enemy?
And doesn't de liver mean danger every
time?
Don't talk no such nonsense, said
Charlie, trying to force n laugh, but it
was plain that his sweetheart's words had
made deep impression on him. He had
attributed his change from the profitable
night run. yielding an average of quar-
ter of dollar for each passenger, to the
day trip, with its comparatively scanty
harvest OF dimes, to the Vaccinations of
some secret enemy. and Arabella's dream
of spiders and encounter with the liver
bearing rat created in him a feeling Of
The Washington times., 1902-04-06

of Mirth has always been regarded as
one of the most select social orGani-
cations in the town. Its president is
Israel Simpkins, Ethe steward of a pri-
vate car used by The greatest railroad
magnate in the land and its member
ship includes not only the very cream
of the sleeping car and clubhouse ele-
ment but also the best of the cOnser-
vative old janitor set, and one or Two
Of the few whitepolled retainers who
are still TO be found in certain old
fashioned New York houses.
1t was nearly midnight when Miss John
son entered the ballroom at Abraham
The Washington times., 1902-04-06
A Telling Shot.
By MARY A. KING.

n RADFORD had three weaknesses at
X Lenox that summer each one ex-
- eellent in its way; but combined
they combined against him.
There's no harm in a camera. except to
a pocketbook; there's no harm in a hi
cycle; there's surely no harm in a girl.
But the girl had said. DO you know.
Mr.. Bradford, you look unusually well on
a wheel"
That was why Bradford had been busy
for two days with his best instantaneous
shutter and very long string.
He chose an old road. little frequented
by riders and drivers, where he would not
be liable to interruption, and spent a
great deal OF time in choosing the best
point of view and fixing the tripod firmly
The focusing was again matter for the
incest judgment. Then he set the shutter,
drew the slide, and laid the long string
which he had attached to the shutter
lightly across the road, and fastened the
strings end 10 a little bush in such
way that the pressure of the wheel across
it would set the shutter off without jar
ring the camera. Then he gave a few
touches to his hair. mounted his wheel
and took short run through the trees,
coming back and passing neatly across
the string. He had scowled at the cam
era.
III try it again." said Bradford, set
ting the shutter and putting in another
plate. 'Ill keep my mind on her, and
then 1 won't worry about the shutter so
much
He thought of her as he wheeled off to
take another start, and in thinking he
leaned forward and passed the brown
string at a scorching gait. And she
hates scorching," he murmured discour-
agedly.
He set the camera once more. It's
the last time l can try today" he mused,
glancing at the long shadows and the fad
ing sky. TN take a good, long run and
come back easily in a graceful position,
with my face neither turned to the lens
nor quite away from it, and | won't do
any thinking. and that way | may get
telling shot"
But IS Bradford came along he saw a
little basket phaeton in front of him pass
slowly across the brown string in the
roadway and disappear among the shli-
cws of the woods. And Bradford spoke
about it feelngly.
'I'n just see what I've got" he re-
marked to the men as he went into the
dark room after dinner, because | prom
ised one to q friend. but carriage came
along and spoiled my only good chance.
Say you want TO come in with me? ~Vell,"
and he and an idler entered the stuffy lit
tie closet.
They're just what expected" he con-
tinued, as the first two exposures came
up swiftly out of the mysterious fog.
The first has beastly expression. youu
see, and the second is John Gilpin's ride
to Ware. The third is a little slower in
because the light got so thin, and
l don't care about it, anyway. It's won
der that horse cleared the string He
might have tangled his foot in it and
brought the camera down smash. People
oughn't to go driving carelessly like that
along an untrequented road. All, here it
comes! Cad, but it's going to he a pretty
negative, AS soft as velvet; focus was a
little too sharp on those others. and here
they've had the brass to come along and
take my plate. It's man and girl, of
COURSE" The disdain increased in Brad