davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

"Mr. Merton" cried the Prince. ris-
ing. you are good sword and bet
ter gentleman. and l give ye long life
and the girl most to your heart"
Nay. nay, SIR cried |, for the wine
went to the proper spot, and l felt at
least one load off my back since the
early morning. tbs the wrong order. A
toast to his royal highness first!"
There was cry OF applause. But he
would not have it so. And. still in
sisting, We stood there. glasses in hand.
laughing and protesting and all talking
at once. till Acton in his big voice
roared that twas a shame to lose the
chance to drink the wine, and Atherton
cried out:
so 1t is, Then give you them both,
The first gentleman of Europe and the
first gentleman of the last hour,"
Out must come another roar Of ap-
rlause. and so went the toast. And as
the major dipped out the newly made
punch from huge bowl. Acton set the
key for Landlord, fill the flowing bowl"
and we roared out the song into one
/ thiS blduQlu6, win tut
glasses in our hands. turning now to
one. now to another with the glasses
clinklng. some beating time with the
! left hand, till Atherton began march
| ing movement around the table. and We
all must needs fall into line, trampinS
round and round. and yelling out the
brave old song over and over again.
Finally We fopped down into chairs. and
| up jumped Sproat and cried:
AN now, sentI'm'n." and he held up
his glass. now. confus'n / our en'mies.
Egad! I'm bit confusd mesei. no, no!
g Joke! Dye see? S a joke. IS I'm
sinner! Ho. ho, ha! ha,"
"Confus' 'em, II ye like" roared Acton.
but they're brave men. too"
AYE, so tn are. s. til are" cried
the Prince. banging his hand down on
the table with thump and swish that
sent bali OF the bottles crashing on the
floor. i've learned that since I've been
here. And We Britishers always want
good emmy. Eh, ny friends. is't not so.
eh?"
. LIS. 81 lib, i6HhcS9. 'oo' Se
the crowd.
Confusion and good luck to en-"
cried Atherton.
AYE. good luck TO EN-" cried. put
ting my glass high above my head. In
moment Atherton was on the table.
and we standing round him on the floor
trying to reach our glasses up TO his.
Good luck to EN- cried the crowd.
and down went the extraordinary toast
with no heel-taps for at least two in
that jovial gang.
AS they began another scng-those
that could sing more-the young Prince
came round to me and said unsteadily:
"Now's your time, Merton. Out by
the garden, and good luck to ye. don't
know your trouble, but you've got no
harm at our hands," and he held out his
hand. i thanked him and got Acton
away and out into Cherry Street in the
warm sun, and so on by Queen Street to
our boarding house. There ! left him
singing snatches to himself. and. bid
ding him watch out for himself and for
Curtis. If he should come. made my
way to DR.. Lows.
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

During this trip l was III, and being
alone. had only a dragoman for an at
tendant. / rode 500 miles over Morocco
on a mule and lived in a tent, finding
this much pleasanter than the expert
ence Just alluded to. as we could camp
on clear piece OF grass and thus get
away from the dirty natives. | can as-
sure you II avs fatigung to ride seven
and eight hours daily over a painless
country such as Morocco. On this oc-
casion / had Moorish dragoman.
have penetrated China to the great wall
and to the head OF the Yangtse-
Kiang. On this trip my conveyance
was a mule palanquin and my only at
tendants were Chinese servants. My
stopping places were Chinese hotels
where the doors and windows were
made Of rice paper and the door yards
every night were filled with caravans
from Tibet and the north Of China. Ny
journeying through China took place
during the late war
"In the land of the midnight sun
made 1000 miles of Norwegian travel
in a carryall. My latest trip was to
South America. and l am, believe, the
only woman who ever travelled through
that country alone. In fact. l was evil
IDENTIFY looked upon as curiosity. for
South American women do not even
walk the streets alone. much less travel
by themselves. This trip OF 10000 miles
made In fourteen ships and by means
of every conveyance known to that be-
nighted land. | say benighted advised
ly. as the discomforts that must be un-
dergone by sightseers and travellers are
unspeakable, but the scenery Is mag
nificent-the snow-clad Andes being a
sight never to be forgotten. In all my
Journeys l am thorough and painstak-
ing. My practice is to spare no ex-
pense and personal discomfort when
necessary In order to reach the less fire.
quented places. remote from the usual
line of travel In fact, have little pa
thence with those who rush through q
country and call that a visit. Instead
of waiting Indefinitely for party to
be made up l plan my journeys inde-
pendently and go alone. My theory and
practice also is to travel in the very
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

best style obtainable, as the best is
often bad enough
During the twenty years in which
have been traveller | have sailed in
sixty ships and have been 100 times
through the different custom houses and
have also been In every noted harbor in
the world. Among the famous places
have visited have been in ever
1000 mosques, temples and churches,
besides the fine art galleries. museums,
botanical and geological gardens in the
world. My travels have taken me on all
of the highest railroads In the world.
I crossed the Andes at an elevation OF
1866 feet without experiencing any
trouble from mountain sickness. | have
iourneyed through all the largest and
most noted railroad tunnels and on and
through the famous canals Of the world
My many journeys have enabled me
to attend the nine largest expositions
that have been held. The number Of
miles l have covered in railroad travel
ing alcne would encrcle the globe sew
erai times. and yet have never travel
ed on more than five trains that were
not on schedule time, nor have l ever
In my life been too late to catch train
or boat. and have never lost my bag
gage.
opal rings. and often dine with thirteen
at the table. I have never yet met with
an accident en- land or sea-"
Celeste Miller was born in Princeton.
Ill. She is the daughter of the late
Henry F. siiiier. an early settler OF Illi-
nois man of large fortune. who was
noted above all else for his sterling In
tegrity OF character Mr.. Miller was
descended from a German family OF
rank. Miss Miller's great1uncle on the
side was Governor Bfgelow, OF
This combination OF the
best and most sterling elements has
given this intrepid and courageous trav-
eler the traits that have distinguished
her ancestors.
Miss Miller was educated at Lombard
Galesburg. and at Vassar. Her
is exceedingly pleasing. her
manner being marked by a fine and in
variable courtesy.
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

perhaps. helps to account for the fact
that he has not the position in public
esteem to which he Is undoubtedly enti-
tied. Such thing should not interfere
with fame. but 1t does. Here Is an in
stance OF how Mr.. Bierce stood in his
own light when earnest people were on
their knees to him. begging him to help
them and himself. ! have never been a
person addicted to taking my own ad-
vice. and SO in one of my changes Of
occupation | found myself on the edi-
torial staff OF a popular London maya
zine. | was thus in a position to give
practical effect TO my ng-cherished
admiration for Bierces work. and
therefore determined TO bestow upon an
appreciative public all the stories of
his ] could get hold of. | wrote to him
In California. sent him n copy Of the
magazine that he might see that 1t was
we'll gotten up. illustrated by the best
artists. and written for by celebrated
perple. We could. at that time. have
assured him Of an audience approaching
half million OF readers. and We we're
willing to pay his own price for what
he sen. US. II he had preference for
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

any particular artist In America.
France, or England. We would secure
that illustrator II we could. This seems
to me almost an ideal state Of things be-
tween author and editor. SO far as this
imperfect world goes.
Mr.. Bierce. however. objected to the
name Of the publishers on the cover. He
said that they had recently got out
book Of his. and had changed the name
OF 1t from Tales of Soldiers and Civil
ians' to In the Midst OF Life. l an
swered that the publishers had nothing
to do with the conduct Of the maga-
zine. and that had had nothing TO do
with changing the title of his book.
Therefore would he please let us have
the stories We were yearning for? Be
sides this, had book publisher ready
10 pay for and publish his volume when
the stories had run their course in the
periodical. an arrangement which lit
erary agent would have charged him 10
per cent fer making. but which l was too
glad TO do for nothing. But Mr.. Bicrce
was not to be cajoled by my sophistry.
He wouldn't let US have the stories
ard he didn't
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
CHAPTER Xxx.

THE MEETING BY TIE vAUXHALL GAR
DENs.
" HE shrewd chirurgeor no sooner
| saw me than he took me into a
little back room. and there We
| sat most OF the afternoon, lay
ing out the plan for Arnold's abduction.
The house at No s, which the traitor
occupied. had a garden that ran down
! to the waters of the Hudson and was
surrounded by high board fence. Low
had the whole plan, though he could not
take active part, as he must be ready in
the future for many such affairs, and
had thus to keep himself above all
chance of suspicion.
The plan was simple enough. An op-
ening had already been made in the high
board fence by the water. The boards
could be taken out at a moments no.
tice. We. Acton, Curtis. and l. were to
approach the garden In boat with some
trusty oarsmen. proceed through the
hole in the fence. thence through a win
dow into the rear of the house, opened
for US by an American soldier, who had
got himself employed by Arnold on the
ground of desertion from our lines. Ar
mold himself was to be taken out of his
bed, gagged, put into huge bag. and
carried OFT to the boat. Thence TO Pau
lus' Hook across the river, and into our
lines.
It was simple plan and one that
would have worked as it has worked be-
fore, but for fatality. that has more TO
do with making history than thousands
OF great minds.
And so ut dusk / left Low with a long
shake OF the hand and walked slowly and
carefully through the little streets so
muddy ard narrow. SO foul with the
smell Of burnt houses and soaked refuse
that 1t sickened one in those strangely
hot and heavy days.
Thence ! came to Mrs. Hodges, and
found Acton just returned again from
the neighborhood OF No. Broadway,
where he had been anxiously watching
for Curtis. l told him that / fancied |
had chance of catching Hazeltine from
something | had heard by going up to
the top OF the towu-the more shame to
me- again that | looked into his blue
eyes and told him the s,ory--but | can
not help it, nor could l then. IT was
an affair of my own and another, and |
could not share It with him. So that
he agreed to wait for Curtis till 10
o'clock, bringing him on with him; but
il he did not come then. 10 follow me
himself TO Vauxhall Gardens, for l told
him the place. ]. in turn. was to get
back as soon as possible to his place in
an angle OF two houses where we
watched for our anxiously expected
friend.
] set out and wandered along Broad
way to Vesey Street. and thence down
that muddy and unkempt thoroughfare
among the burnt houses up Barclay
Street to the college, now a prison. and
thence by Chambers Street to Vauxhall
Gardens. There I stopped and looked
about. 1t must be near 8, and she had
selected as deserted spot as could well
be found around the city. Beyond the
gardens all was wilderness and trees
and muddy roads. and nasty mist hung
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
NEWS AND GOSSIP ABOUT NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSPAPER MEN,

names. and If any man should be asham-
ed of his work. ! think the humorist is
the man. When a humorlst
changes from one paper to another. un-
less the step is one considerably higher.
people say that he is worn out, and
when people begin to make such asser-
tions he might as well be worn out
Surely William J. Hampton does not
come under this last description. or any
thing like it. Since his removal TO New
York he has leaped 20 the front, both
as u humorous and serious writer. The
New York magazines teen with his
work. and he must be decidedly on Easy
Street Yet the newspaper men of
Washington may well doubt If he will
ever do much brighter or better work
than his "Jedge WaXem" letters in the
dear departed washington Critic"
Robert Barr. formerly noted Amcri-
can newspaper man. and now of London.
is onn Of the many intense admirers of
the literary genius of Ambrose Bierce.
OF Washington. He has said some very
handsome things about 'Bierce. irclud-
ing perhaps even the suggestion that
Bierre lis 200 full OF original hell TO
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

succaed in a Presbyterian world" Barr
also goes into a comparison between the
work of Kipling and Biorce. He says:
Mr.. Cowley places the two men about
on level, as far as mental gifts are
concerned. and gives us the poem and
names the story to prove bis contention.
With this contention | am in perfect ac-
cord. | sven go further and say that
Bierces Invocation is a more notable
poem than the 'Recessional,' and that
Bierce's The Watcher by the Dead is a
more notable story than Without Bene-
fit OF Clergy Bierce and Kip
ling set out on their literary
careers on almost identical lines.
kiplinE as young man was a reporter
on a paper in India; Bierce as a young
man was reporter on a paper in Cali
fornia. each as nearly as possible equally
remote from London. Each packed up
his little bag of tricks. and without
rluch surplus cash came to London; each
had genius and humor. both scarce ar
ticles IN London, the great market for
them. Bierce settled down in Hamp-
stead; Kipling settled down near Char
ing Cross. Both men were under thirty
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

men, thence to Moscow, to ST. Peters,
burg and then around through Russia by
the great Siberian railway to Pekin.
Japan Corea. back again to China and
Japan and then home by the Empress
boats to Vancouver. How long shall |
be gone? Oh, | never set myself a time
limit. | am governed entirely, by the
attractiveness of the country l am WIS.,
iting. Sometimes | enjoy lingering in
definitely and again find little that In
duces me to prolong my stay at some
one point, SO this time | may be away
from six months to year. / am look
ing forward with much pleasure and in
terest to my coming trip through 81
beria. 1t is wonderful country, with
its huge forests, the Lena River, which
is larger than the Mississippi, and many
other features of intense interest. A
surprising thing to me Is the crude
ideas held by many untraveled persons
regarding the more remote countries
OF the globe. l am often asked Ques-
tions which indicate that the questioner
imagines that dwellers in distant lands
are a set of savages, wearing feathers
most ridiculous notion, II the truth
were known, these far-away cities
which are mere name to many. as un-
substantial as dreamland. abound in
beautiful buildings, modern conveniences
and handsomely gowned women who
would never dream OF appearing In pub
lie in shirtwaists as we do.
Yes. have an ample opportunity to
study human nature from every point
OF view, as | meet thousands Of people
every year. ! find often that my repu-
tation as a traveller has preceded me,
as / have been written up In the prin-
cipal newspapers all over the world on
account of my journeys Some time, per-
haps. | shall find time TO write about
ii all. A few incidents eulled from here
and there may be of interest. l rode
all over Palestine and Syria on all
Arabian horse; 1t was midsummer and
the heat was simply unspeakable. l
stopped in the native houses and in the
Greek converts. which were SO full of
all kinds % insects that existence was
torture. Many a time have / slept
with geese and sheep for roommates.
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
She Has Practically Spent Her
Whole Life Touring Over the
World--All Continents Visit
edaRd Many Perils EncouRt-
ered---Always Goes Alone.
Her Plans For the Future.
HICAGo possesses the distinction

- HICAGO possesses the distinction
of having as one of its resi-
~ dents the greatest woman tray-
eler in the world. Miss Celeste
]. Miller lays claim to this title, AMI.
as her own story shows, has won IL
honestly. Besides being the greatest
woman tourist. her career forms a
striking and remarkable instance OF
what it is possible for a woman to at
tain by dnt OF indomitable determina-
tion. grit and courage. Not only this,
but her long and perilous Journeys have
been made entirely alone
According to her own statements. the
passion for travelling. which has COM
pletely dominated her life, had it's con-
ception at quite an early age.
My mother died when l was eleven
years old" said Miss Miller. "A more
timid child than l or one more lacking
in self-reliance could scarcely be imag-
ined. 1t is to my father. man of
strong and determined character. that
owe the training that has made me am
ply able to take care of myself under
any and all circumstances and to make
my long journeys entirely alone. / rely
solely upon myself and have no fear
of meeting any obstacle which / have
not the power to successfully cope with.
When a young girl, in my early teens.
the trip OF 100 miles or so from my home
The Washington times., 1902-06-29

Her change OF attitude gave me sick
from me with cry. and looked at m
as II her eyes would burn into my soul
You, YOU" she cried, hoarsely.
I? What OF me?' said l. vaguely.
"You have led me here to decoy him
You have stood here and-and-talke,
to me so that you might do this wretche'
thing"
I?"
You coward she cried. bitterly
And What a fool-what a fool
was." and she sank down on the we
grass in a hysterical fit OF tears AM
| laughter.
But her moods few after one another
too fast to be understood. She was III
in an instant.
Come. Frank, let US go and leave thi:
this wretch to himself"
But listen to me, Deborah. you dc
not understand
DO not dare to speak to me! Whn
can fail to understand"
"But this man is spy whom l an
here to"
Then. If you would not let what yor
have said to me be a great falsehood
unbind him and let him go."
I looked at her standing before me
waiting for my reply. and groaned aloud
at the misery OF 1t. Then she turned
from me with utter contempt and start
ed toward him as he rose to his feet.
I drew my pistol. and, pointing 1t
within two feet of his breast, 1 said:
IF you move but step I'll fire. Mis-
tress PhiIipse. do not touch that man.
so 1t is true, 1t is true, oh. you
coward, You coward" and she wrung
her hands and her voice broke down
completely.
So we stood. misery in my heart and
gloom over all the world for me. when
a figure leaped out from the underbrush.
and heard the voice of Curtis cry out:
80 you've got him. You've got him.
Balfort, at last, l should know that
cape and figure in a crowded"
A piercing cry was his answer, and
the next moment Mistress Philipse was
lying in his arms. crying as IL her heart
would break. ! heard an exclamation
of surprise break from him as he said
in sudden bewilderment:
How came you here. Debby? What
is It? Stop, and tell me the trouble"
"Oh Rob. my dear. dear brother" she
cried. Take me away from this dread
full place. Take me away. and save
Frank from that mani"
saw him make a sudden movement.
He stood moment and then set her
quickly away from him. A stride
brought him up to Hazeltine, and. grasp
inc the man by the arm. he turned him
around so that they stood face to face
God in Heavenn' whispered the as
founded man hoarsely, as Hazeltine
stood looking him in the face without a
word. Curtis gazed at him long and
steacily. as II he were coming out Of a
cream. Then he twirled Hazeltine about
against and locked at his back as the
man stood with his long cape over his
shoulders. A moment, and the dazed
man had turned the other face to face
again.
Great God in Heaven!" he groaned
under his breath.
The Washington times., 1902-06-29
Continued from Third Page.)

twirled around the other. and I stood
waiting as he got uD.
The others jumped forward to him.
But he pushed them hastily aside and
and painting, and grasped my hand. Not
a word did he say for an instant. Then.
turning to the others:
My friends. I is a new thing for
Atherton TO do. But you saw him. lie
could have run me through By stand
ing still, and / say, by God. I'll fight
no more with such mani" Then, turn
ing TO me. he went on: Mr. Merton l
was drunk last night, and what /
said"
Not another word, captain said l.
cot is over. and, thank God. no harm
done. Let the thing die here and now"
They crowded about me and shook my
hand, and said 1 know not what that l
had done. and quite naturally the Prince
said:
And now to Fraunce's Tavern for
breakfast. And, moving off. We left
Eszeltine and his two men on the field
without word. But after passing the
shipyards they went or into Rutgers
Street, and Just before We came to Cow
Foot Hili the Whole party. Acton and
with them. turned suddenly into a gar
der and entered what found later was
the famous Walton Mansion of the Rut-
gers family. where the Prince for the
time lived.
Twas a magnificent mansion, with
rail- alone as large as two ordinary
dwellings. We passed into tine hail and
through II into library. where sat
table covered with bottles and cold
food, enough for q hundred. It seemed 20
me. l could not but express my sur
prise at this plenty and magnificence in
the midst OF so much poverty and
scarcity elsewhere in the city.
''hh, you DO not know how We live."
cried Sproat For whole weeks We eat
nothing but salt beef, and then in comes
q foraging party, aad tho whole town
gorges tor week"
The young Prince took the head OF
the table. and aii set to work in the hot,
murky air. opening bottles and dishing
out the food. No one waited on US, and
We were indeed a 1ovial party, all there
but the doctor. who said he must 90. and
looked at me meaningly as he added.
Come to my office. young man. when
you've eaten. and let me dress your
arm" Indeed, what could be a simpler
way Of completing my plan with him
than by Ills ordinary appointment?
Strange that ! should be sitting with
these enemeis of my country and yet
growing 10 like them, Strange that /
should be deceiving men that. whatever
else they might be. were men OF honor
through and through Strangest of all.
that Atherton could not do enough for
me since my unconscious saving of his
life.
No one referred TO my near arrest,
nor questioned us as to its cause. And
Acton soon had them roaring with
laughter with his quaint remarks and
his joylal songs. The only thing / no.
ticed was a man at the rear door and
another at the front in the hall, both
standing motioniess and evidently
watching to guard that we should not be
surprised.