davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30

Iftey TOQC take tfle aCl7ld ODeT the hills.
shoot again and make the shot good
one"
"True, we cannot be sure"
Gas matter of fact, the more I
think Of it the less believe them. It
seems more as if they were the thieves.
| This may have been traveller who
knew where we were and was trying
to reach our place for shelter. Ontro
is handy enough for robbers whether
they be French or Prussian."
True again." said the man with the
lantern "Let US Join In the search
SO while Vandal and his two fellow
travellers scrambled slowly down their
side Of the ravine the other three, ac-
customed to the spot, went more rap
idly.
And these held still another advan-
| tage in the lantern, which aided them
greatly in the descent and the subse-
quent search.
"And / say again, Volner," said the
young man with the lantern, "this may
be another plot against one we love-
| - hot tbC Pr SApSClCu Ills
arrival has been unaccountnbly delay
ed. He was not at Treble yesterday.
Could he have come by way OF Ontro,
think you?"
HE might, he might" said the man
called Volner. "He and his lovely
princess and the sweet Princess Marie
-ah, that Deneslia should hold trail
tors to these three! But Casparin came
yesterday = from Berlin, he told me.
He was at me again about the rent
money. Heaven! How can 1 pay what
he demands?"
'There is something mysterious late
~ about Casparin," said Debbisk.
"Think you there is any foundation for
sus"-
"Hush! You are speaking of the
brother of the prince. Here! What
have we here? A man, and a young
One.'
Fandal, Reber and Robello were still
some few feet away as the lantern
swung low over the white upturned
face of Buckford Wallace, and the
three agriculturists bent to examine
the handsome features.
"Aly faith in God.H exclaimed Vol
ner. THAT young man looks not like
thief"
Nevertheless such he is, and Moth
ing else. In his pockets you will find
nearly. thousand francs he stole from
our room at the inn at Ontro.'
And did you know the fellow" ask
ed Debbisk.
Know him! He is wanted just now
by the Paris police. We had, in fact,
journeyed from Paris to find him."
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30

Something wrong, surely" replied a
younger man, but one no less muscular.
They ran to the edge OF the ravine
and listened
Something crashing through the
| trees" said the elder. "a man or a
horse has fallen. And hear the voices
opposite! There seems quite n party
Of them"
The ravine was not wide, and the
voices of the Frenchmen could be
| plainly heard
Il am sure shot the DEVIL yandal
was saying. 'IIe fell at once"
well, he found nice deep place
to fall into," said Robello, with a
laugh. "How are you ever going to be
sure of the result of your shot?
Especially when we all fired to-
gether" added 'Reber.
ooh. as to that. it makes little diff
ference who shcs him. The thing is to
get rid Of him. We must find him and
make certain there is no failure this
time"
What! Go down into that beasts
| uole! QuerleQ RODell0.
go down! or course Do you think
the fool will come up and tell us how
hard he is hit {" &
WELL" the elderly man across the
ravine said to his companions, lit
seems to be an uneven fight. Three
against one, and the one down in the
ditch. Come! Light your lantern. Deb
bisk. and we will join the search. If
mistake not, those fellows are
+, Frenchmen. trust few Of those fell
lows. can tell you."
What, therefore, was the surprise of
Vandal and his companions to see a
bright light not more than 40 feet
away from him on the opposite side of
the gulf
"Ho, therew came the voice of the
farmer. Who are you, and what do
you want on my premises!'
Your premises! Do you call a nest
like this premises!" laughed Vandal.
We'll, then, to tell you the truth, we
are three travelling gentlemen, and we
want thief. In fact, we want him
very much"
'Oh. thief! What sort of thief?
From PrussiaW
Il know not whence he is. 1 know
that at Ontro he robbed u.s."
"At Ontro?"
The farmers whispered together.
"Can it be Robard who has been bold
enough to rob these men and flee to
our woods for Shelter? No; Robard
never did that"
But he may not have thus intended
Perhaps he was on the way to the
Green forest"
AYE. perhaps. But, after all, how
do we know these fellows speak the
truth? If twas really the rascal Ro-
bard down there, would say to them
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30
The Use. OF the Sword.

The uses to which the sword has
been put seem to have been almost as
varied as its appearance when we re-
call the anecdote told of Charlemagne,
who said, as he used the pommel Of his
sword to put his stamp on treaties, II
sign them with this end, and with the
other l will take care that they are
kept"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30
Easily Accounted For.

Blobbs-He says he would rather
fight than eat.
Slobbs-Pugnacious, eh?
Blobbs-No; Observation-Disclosures
Record.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30

About 100000 trees are annually
planted by Swedish school children un-
der the guidance Of their teachers.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30

There should be sunshine in the
house, even on cloudy day.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30
CHAPTER XII
SHEEP AND WOLVES.

sHEEP AND WOLVES. Fs'''
T HOSE pistol shots were heard
Il by three men who were walk
ES.SSHSS ing slowly along bypath
aS Sa which led from the main road
through well titled farm that skirted
the opposite side of the rayine from
that on which the pursuit of Buckford
had taken place. His wild ride had
ended just too soon, for not more than
hundred yards farther there was a
turn in the road and bridge which
would have carried him almost into
the very presence Of these men and
within sight Of the lighted windows of
the large and comfortable farmhouse
where they dwelt.
"Hark" said one, an elderly appear-
Ing man Of solid build and undonbted
strength of arm. 'Shots across the
gorge! a cry! What do you make of
that?'
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS
Copyright, 1900, by Se,oard ". Hopkins.

o.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30

The farmer sent him heGdlong to the
bottom Of the Tapine.
tolls and hurried toward the lights that
streamed from the windows of the
house.
AS they approached and their heavy
tread was heard on the paths around
the house the door was thrown sud
denly open, and girl appeared there
in.
"Have you found the sheep, father|
she asked in a sweet voice.
Steep! We have found sheep and
The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1902-09-27
THE WRONG ROLL.

Immediately after wedding
which took place in Washington
the best man started for South
Africa, where he remained more
than year. On his return, says a
writer in Harper's Magazine, he
was given a dinner and wore even
ing clothes foS the first time since
the wedding.
Iu the midstN f the evening, fumb-
ling in his wais\ Coat pocket, he as
tonished himself a9d his friends by
pulling out a hundred dollar bill.
Where had it come fromS> A sud-
den thought flashed across his
mind.
The next morning he went to the
clergyman who had married his
friends.
"Do you remember marrying Mr..
Armitage and Miss Bently about
year ago?"
"Oh, perfectly" replied the clergy
anan. Il see them constantly at
my church."
"Well, will you pardon me if [
ask you a delicate question in strict
confidence. How much did you
receive as your fee?"
Il will return frankness with
frankness, returned the clergyman,
smiling whimsically. at was the
strangest fee that ever came my
way. After the ceremony the best
man, with a profusion of thanks,
slipped into my hand a small silver
of plug tobacco wrapped in a wad
of paraffin papern'
The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1902-09-27
AWFUL POSSIBILITY.

The chief executive. at the clo.e
of a winter day, sat in the family
sitting room, gazing at the flicker
ing shadows on the wall and think
ing.
The voice of the mistress of the
White house broke upon his revere.
Theodore" she said, 1.-The room
is getting cold. Will you please
put a little coal in the crater
MY DEAR he replied, you
know | am member of the FIRE
means union, do you not?"
yes"
"Well, l received word today we
have gone on a strike. If you want
that fire poked you will have to do
it yourself"
The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1902-09-27
MEDICINE IN BOMBAY.

A Swedish consul at Bombay
SAYS that because Of their fear of
sanitary inspection and modern
methods of preventing and curing
diseases the natives of India in vast
numbers are victims of plague. In
consequence Of the hatred and fear
of hospitals and medical men the
population of Bombay has decreased
10000 in the last ten years, while
the increase in the whole of India
In the same time was about 10 per
cent. Bombay now has 100000
people. The hospital and general
medical service in India are of the
best and do much good in the at
fected districts in spite of the pre-
JUDGE which prevails against such
things The plague is generally
fatal without the most skillful
medical attention. The, natives III
their ignorance seek &My to be left
to die in peace. I4e ancient ira
ditions of the country are extremely
difficult, almost impossible, to
eradicate
The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1902-09-27
TO DECREASE WEIGHT.

If you have an enormous appetite
and crafty it you should not won
der at your increasing weight. You
will have to abstain from sugary
and starchy food, from cereals,
cream and butter, all vegetables
containing starch, peas, beans, corn,
&c. Take plenty of exercise and
restrict your sleeping hours Wear
ing corsets will not keep you from
getting feshy if YOU continue to eat
the foods that make fat and do not
take exercise. There is no easy road
for the obese person who desires to
get thin if she would accomplish
tie ob;ect.-Exchange.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-11-27
PITH AND POINT.

If it is true that the good die young,
1t is up to the oldest inhabitant to offer
an explanation.-Chicago Daily News.
To Be Sure.-Reggie-"My girl has
such lovely red lips" Algy-"oh!
pshaw! I'll put mine up against hers
any day."-Detroit Free Press.
"You asked her father for her
hsnd?" yes" "And he refused your"
NO he didn't. He said | could have
both of em."-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Smythe-"Well. / shan't be bothered
by that bore B.jackson for awhile"
Browne-"How so?" Smythe-'I lent
him two dollars observation-disclosures
vile Journal.
She's the worst sort of a gossip"
81 never heard her retailing any scan
DIAL" "No, she leads you on until you
tell it to her by wholesale, and shell
never tell you any in return."-Phila,
delphia Press.
His Wish.-'Don't you wish you had
a million dollars so that you could put
on a Shakespearean play in accordance
with your ideals? NO. answered Mr.
Stormington Barnes; 81 wish | had q
million dollars so that | wouldn't have
to put on Shakespeare at all."--Wash
ington Star.
YES" explained the lawyer, "you &c
through bankruptcy, and it will relieve
you of all financial burdens" SOP
said the man who was in trouble
"What becomes of herr" Her
What do you mean?" MY wife, O
course.'-Philadelphia Inquirer.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-11-27
A SANITARY COMPROMISE.
Washable Curtain Fla br les That May
he Arranged with Charming
Eff CT at the Windows.

When winter winds and storms are
raging out of doors nothing gives
such a delightfully."- warm and home
like air to a room as heavy, rich-toned
window draperies. But they are full
Of possibilities of danger, says the
Ledger Monthly.
Sunshine is not only n of the most
CHEEKY furnishings of a room, but one
of the most valuable purifiers, and it
should be allowed to penetrate to the
farthest corner of every rom in daily
use.
This is impossible with drawn heavy
draperies, or with any fixed arrange
ment of them. But neither is neces-
sary. Make a compromise with utility,
which ought always to be the founda-
ton of beauty. There are any num-
Der of inexpensive washable curtain
fabrics that give charming effects
when simply thrown over a pole and
invisibly fastened in loose, graceful
folds, or suspended by rings to fall in
perpendicular folds to the floor; and
either arrangement allows them to be
drawn back and forth at will to admit
sunshine and fresh air, or shut out the
insinuating cold.
Some of the newest cotton colonial
tapestries are even more artistic than
silk h%angings, because they lack the
sheen of the latter while equally eff
fective in design and coloring. Other
cotton tapestries, tinted Cluny can
vas, and figured Or plain denim give
nearly or quite as handsome effects.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-11-27
NOBODY DANCES NOWADAYS.
Such liz the Opinion of an O1d-Time
Teacher of the T'erpsi-
chOrean Art.

Aman who taught the art of dancing
to the grandmothers of the young peo-
pie of to-day declares that nobody
dances nowadays" says the Chicago
Chronicle. people merely keep time
to music, romp through two-steps,
hurry through waltzes and fret if any
n suggests a quadrille or lanciers.
Grace and dignity are utterly out of
date. Young women don't know how
to courtesy and young men haven't
learned how to bow. As for the old
fashioned, finished steps we used to
take when we "balanced" to our part
ners, why, a man merely shuffles his
foot a little these days and runs in
stead of gliding. I used to think of a
field of wheat swaying in the wind
when I watched a ballroom full of peo-
pie dancing the %lanciers, but now
well, when the two-step made dancing
possible for the unframed the death
knell of grace was sounded.
Nobody dances the Virginia reel
now except as a graceless romp, and
as for the dainty schottisches, the
redowas, the polkas, the Varsoviennes
of u youth, where are they? The
dance is always the index Of manners,
and in a day when everybody dances
the two-step the world has two-step
manners. Istoppped teaching dancing
when the abominable racket came in,
hut even that required a certain
amount of training. Dancing in the
barn gave me the shudders, but either
of these dances was better than what
we have to-day. We shall never be a
nation Of well-mannered people till
dignity and grace are again in favor in
the ballroom"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-11-27

the long table with her whitest linen
and her prettiest dishes. Then she
had dressed herself in her best dress
and sat down to wait. She was quite
pale. Mother was q little afraid of
Jerry's folks. She wished Phineas
were here to help her receive them,
but he had been called away unex-
pectedly, and would not be back
much before dinner time. One of the
neighbors had needed him.
Somewhere down the road sounded
the rumble of stage wheels, and
mother got up, n%ervously, and stood
on the floor, listening. 1t was such
a pity Jerry's folks had had to come
up in The stage! Hark!-yes, it was
turning into the lane. 1t was almost
here. She must go to the door and
meet them. A strange, girlish shy
ness swept over the little old figure,
and two spots of pink color bios
somed in her wrinkled cheeks.
The rumble ceased. A confusion of
voices greeted mothers e~ar-sweet,
shrill little voices, with the bubble of
laughter running through them. And
then, above them all, a mans deep
voice called. "Mother! Mother,
where are YOU" What did it all
mean-for it was Johns voice call
ing! 1t was Johns wife getting out
Of the stage, and Johns little chill
dren chattering and %bubbling! Johns
folks!
Mother found herself at the door
in the midst of them all, and her
wonder and faint dismay were
drowned in the sweetness and JOY OF
their coming and the warm rain OF
their kisses on her face.
There were SO many little voices in
her ear, so many little arms around
her neck! And John was there-a
big, bearded John, with little Johns
love in his voice! There was no room
for dismay at all-only joy. It was
later when the mystery had cleared
itself away and it was almost time
for Phineas to come that the dismay
came back. Dear land, what would
Phineas say?
Mother stole away by herself and
looked things in the face. She had
not told John that it was all a mis-
take, and that his letter had gone to
Jerry and Jerry's invitation come to
him. It was all clear enough now to
mother, but she had not told john.
How could she? In a moment the
Joy was overwhelmed in the utter
dismay. For Phineas would be home
soon, very oon
Something must be done. The lit
tie children--if the father should see
Johns children, would they not plead
for him? No, wait--the babies
Johns tiny twin sons! Mother
laughed aloud with delight Of the In
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-11-27

TUT SSS hNN
that build and break
The cloud-pavilions for my sake
This fleeing beauty, high and wild,
Toward which / wonder, as a cnllo.
I thank Thee for the Strengthening Nils
That give bright spirit to the THIS
For blu peaks soaring up apart,
To send down music on the heart;
For tree-tops wavering soft and high,
Writing their peace against the SKY;
For forest farings that have been;
For this Fall rain that shuts me in,
Giving to my low little roof
The sense of home, secure, aloof.
And thanks for mornings stir and light
And for the folding lush of night;
For those, high deities that spread
The star-filled chasm overhead;
For elfin chemistries that yield
The green fires of the April field;
For all the foam and surge of bloom,
For leaves gone glorious to their DOOM
All the wild loneliness that can
Touch the immortal in a man.
Father of Life, I thank Thee, too,
For old acquaintance, near and true
For friends who came into my day
And took the loneliness away;
For faith that held on to the last;
For all sweet memories of the past
Dear memories of my dead that send
Long thoughts of life, and of life's end
That make me know the light conceais
A deeper world than it reveals.
Edwin Markham, in Success.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-11-27

spiration. She hurried up to the
lumber-room over the woodshed and
pulled down the long old cradle hat
Phineas had pieced out long ago, to
keep baby toes from meeting when
Jerry lay at one end and little John
at the other. 1t was heavy, but what
did mother care? The strength of
ten slender old women animated her
as she tugged and pulled it down.
Now, the pillows and the little old
log-cabin quilt! As if she did not
know where those were! She ar
ranged them with eager fingers and
pulled the cradle into the kitchen,
for father would come in at the kitch.
en- door. Then mother went back to
Johns folks.
81 want the babies, John-give me
them both for a little while," she
said. mo, don't you come, dear-do
you think I don't know how to take
care of little twin sons?"
She carried them both at once in
the old way. A little head lay warm
against each arm. There was not a
moment to lose if her plan was to
succeed, and she went away swiftly
with her precious load out to the
kitchen, straight to the little old era.
die. There was time to deposit the
babies, one at each end, on the soft,
time-yellowed little pillows, and to
draw the ~log-cabin quilt snugly up
under each tiny pink chin. There
was a minute or two ever to jog the
cradle a few times, and then mother
heard the creak of Phineas' wagon
wheels. She stole softly away and
left Johns babies to do their work
alone. But a prayer was on her lips
"tA little child shall lead them
it's in Thy Book, Lord. Let Johns
little children lead father back tc
John" she prayed silently.
Phineas Quimby was late. The
neighbor had kept him longer thar
he expected, and it fretted him
Neighborly assistance was all right
enough, but on Thanksgiving Day
when your sons folks were coming
home, it was vexing to be kept al
most till dinner-time.
"Get up, Dan; get into a trot, will
ye? DO you want the turkey to b.
all eat up before we get there? Jer
RVS folks won't know what to make
of these doin's; get up, there, pony!'
He ratified home, into the lane, pas
the house to the barn, his mind in
tent on grievances, else he nigh
have cen the peering little faces a
the parlor window-mother had for
gotten those.
Old Dan put up and given hi
Thanksgiving dinner of oats ant
clover-sweet hay, Phineas Quimb,
strobe into the house. A frown wa
on his face. Being Phineas Quimby
this interference with his plans an
noyed him greatly. Jerry's folk
were not plain farmer folks. The,
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-11-27

other. And for John himself there was
the old message-"Your mother is
loving you, John" 1t was always there.
To Jerry she wrote briefly. Jerry
was a busy man, with a hundred out
side interests-outside of mother. His
letters to her were wont to be rare and
short, but there was always a message
to father in them. She missed that in
Johns long, tender letters
"I'm half afraid to WRITE" she
thought, as she took up her pen; "Jer-
RVS folks have SO many rich friends.
and SO many places to go to-Tm afraid
they won't want to come" But she
dipped her pen in the ink and began.
"My dear boy"-she always began
her letters to both M that way-"My
dear boy, your father says to put on
all your bonnets, every one of you, and
come to the old home to keep Thanks
giving. He's quite set upon it. You
know-you haven't forgotten, dear?-
that it is our golden wedding Thanks
giving, and it's time you came! Think
of having a father and mother so years
married and not coming! Your father
says to say he has waited as long as he
| can-and you must come home or he
will disown you! And he is in earnest,
dear! He is hungry for a sight of your
face. And your mother-dear boy,
come right home quick! Iwant to kiss
you ALL"
Both letters were sealed, and then
she directed them in her quavery,
quaint little hand. But her face was
grave enough.
"I'm afraid Jerry's folks won't want
to come, and l don't know what Phin'
cas- would do if they didn't. He's
set his heart. We ought not to have
waited till the last minute-I don't
see why we did. There won't be time
for them to answer-oh, dear, they
haven't been home for so long, and
can't help thinking they won't want
to come now!"
But she went briskly to work with
her preparations. She cooked ant
cooked till the shelves in her neat
pantry groaned under their loads
Jerry's folks could not have cleared
them in a week. She made the mince
pies slle way the boys had Away.
liked them, long ago. She made a mo
lasses sauce for the pudding because
they had been fond of that kind
And she made two little saucer pie!
she had never failed to make, lons
ago. They were pumpkin pies, ant
she crimped the edges carefully.
"Jerry's girls are grown up, ant
maybe they won't car for them
maybe nobody WILL" she thought
"but I always made them for tn
boys, and I said l would to-day. Onl.
l hoped, then, that Johns folk
would come. I hoped till the las
minute"
1t was the last minute now, an
mother had given up. She had Sc