davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-01-18

poor artist whom she loved. preferring
poverty with him to riches with the
sutton favored by her mother-a rich
man with nothing but his wealth TO
recommend him. It was Martha, too.
who comforted the girl when her mother
refused TO have anything more to do
with her, sending back her letters IN
opened and turning a deaf ear TO her
entreaties for forgiveness
Perhaps if Violet Mitchell had real
lied how absolute was the poverty IN
v hich her marriage would plunge her
she might have paused. But she never
believed that her mother would really
carry out the threat Of considering her
daughter dead on the day she changed
her name; and. too. she had unlimited
faith IN her husbands talents winning
him a name and fortune. But she was
mistaken in her expectations Her
mother carried out her threat 30 the
letter. Her husband might perhaps
have justified her faith in him had not
death interviewed. He caught q fever
and died two years after their marriage
The widow with her tiny baby and the
faithful Martha left the Itcle Italian
town where they had been living. and
came to London 4 little house in q
dreary suburban road was taken. and
here Violet DaITymDIe eked out her mi
mute income by giving music lessons
She had given up all hope Of her
mothers forgiveness When Philip was
a few weeks old she had sent his pho
tograph to his grandmother, writing be
meath the picture Of the smiling baby
face. With Philips love 10 granny"
But the photograph was returned, 7
have no child. SO can have no grand
child" being the reply 10 the tender
little message.
And since then. even when her husband
died. Violet DalrympIe had no longer
tried TO obtain what she believed to be
impossible. She did not even know
where her mother lived now, for she had
given up the house at Brighton. and for
hidden her whereabouts TO be made
known
But TO return TO the party. The idea
of having it was Philips, and re was
stimulated thereto by the pleasure he
had had at a party given by one OF his
friends 'I want a party for PhjIsey.
he said, when he came home, and his
birthday. the twenty-slzth Of Decem-
Der. was decided on as being suitable
cay. Martha had made all the cake and
custarGs: a friend Of hers who kept q
greeuETocer's shop had given the tree.
she and Mrs. DaIyrmPle together had
made numerous HJgle presents 80 hang
ou it, and Philip had devoted the six
pence given him by Martha last birth
day and boarded jealousy ever since, To
helping to buy sweets for it,
Philip fay coutentedly by his mother's
side. and counted on his fingers tin,
delightful things he had seen being pre-
pared.
Cakes; choclEy- flags: eracI,a-s-'' he
murmurcd deIghtedIy. Then he stop
/ red suddenly and a puzzled look re-
/ placed the smile on his face.
Mother he said. why can't have
a granny 10 come 20 my party?''
+ Mrs. DaIrympIe hesitated How couIt
she tel this baby of the years OF stub.
/ born unforgIveness and hardness Of hear
that had denied him granny. how ex
plain. though living. being as dead /,
The Washington times., 1903-01-18

whose proud face was quivefs 4
emotion, whose somewhalt sterY E9i1
was trembling as it said.
Violet, my child. 1 havv found you
at last Can you forgive me?"
Things were almost too wonderful to
be true. Philip thought; but it really
was true He was washed and dressed
in time for the party, and such a party
never had been known in that street
before Mrs. Mitchell sent the car
riage back to her house with note to
the housekeeper, and when it returned
it was full of the most delicious sweets
and cakes and jellies and toys of every
description.
I was going TO take them to the
chiIdren's hospital tomorrow" she ex-
planned, but We viii buy some more
for them and use these for Philip s
party today"
Philip felt that he was the happiest
The Washington times., 1903-01-18

70 "aiJ tiif me mex day Because II ne
brings me granny To-Day lhere is no pres
eIt Tor neT on the tTee-
6o1 "4o'HFi was quite posl1lFe Iiia' no
granny "ouid come ana 'hat 40 present
H'7el De PROVIDED LOT neF-
fH'ilp was silent Out not convinced
tA''si u'"i'''' " men 1iOlLeI went 70 ne
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2-''- -'--'-'L7 ''S--'i' i0' " nun
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80 1ri'-
E'o
The Washington times., 1903-01-18
CLIMBS OVER THE CAPITOL DOME.

UNITING in a little Office in the base
ment of the Capitol. near the
crypt. an Office which he affection
ateIy calls his den, one may see al
most any day man who has spent thir-
ty-four years of service as a rigger in
the great building, climbing to dizzy
heights on the dome and walking in
pertlous places without so much as a
quayer About him you viii see rope
and other ParaphernaIia used in his
trade In those thirty-foUr years he has
seen many adventures and mishaps;
mishaps that have brought him close TO
death, yet his nerve Is mistaken. and
he is able TO tread in safety along lofty
cornices. the very thought of which is
enough to make an ordinary person
dizzy.
The man is Albert La Porte. His rec
ord speaks for itself. He is known far
and wide as one of the most fearless of
steepIe climbers in the United States.
As his name indicates. Mr.. La Porte
IS OF French descent His extraordin-
airy ability TO work at a high elevation
AlNLiou+ PEI aN7tA'|t-AEa f't.9 AhiNNa- +AN
was developed at an early age. He is as
much at home high in the air as on the
ground Indeed, to use his own words:
Has Never Been Dizzy.
4 have never been dizzy in my life,
and I would as soon work on a scaffold-
/ ing one hundred feet from the ground as
on the ground itself"
Today. at the age of ffty-six years, Mr..
La Porte, despite the many bad falls and
| bruises he has received, is most re-
markable man. from physical point OF
view. He is as active as any Of the men
/ in the employ OF the architect Of the
+ Capitol, ami continues 10 perform his
duties in the same manner as when he
was much younger. Under the average
height and weighing only 132 pounds. his
muscles are of steel. and as quick and
supple as those of a cat.
His eye. too. is piercing. and no
sprinkIiug Of gray has yet appeared in
his jet black hair. One would think his
/ life had been spent ia some easy pur-
suit devoid entirely of peril. rather than
in one Of the most dangerous of employ
ments.
/ Nj La Porte was born in Baltimore
county, Md, and came to Washington
The Washington times., 1903-01-18

ing!' he would have escorted them DO n
to his own horse. and bade them god
speed, even if it cost him his commits
sion
rs that your husband in there?'' he
asked.
She smiled scornfully.
"A brother, perhaps2"
There was no sound, but the look in
her eyes said. No"
Then the colonel choked, for new
thought seized him 'Then-then It
is He was going to say your
lover when the two cavalrymen re
turned from outside the wing.
There is only one window, sir" said
the taller, and that is nailed up. He
could not have escaped there.
''Ha,' grunted the colonel, with sat
isfaction- Then we've got him.
At last he turned and addressed her
sOlemnly
Little woman, for the last time I ask
you-I entreat you-as you value your
life and his. stand aside from that door.
Stand aside,
The rich coronaI of hair was thrown
back, the deep look from under the low
ering Iashes finging into his face a
challenge as across a chasm.
Never" she whispered
Into the chamber poured the return
ed searchers, saIutng. we find no one
colonel-not a soul in the whole house
sir"
'T know better" erowled the colonel
to his men, ramming his sword into the
scabbard. Here" he added sharply
Drag those logs ont on the aoor. Vel
/ set the house on fire. Irag en- out. ]
tell you"
Even then the womun's tndomitabIc
viii was not broken, The color merely
faded from her cheek as she watched
without murTnur two stafvart cavalry
men snatch The blazing logs from the
fireplace, and with vandals' lust for de
struction, heap upon them any pits Of in
/ fammable stuff within reach.
Surround the house!' commanded tn,
/ leader Take every 6raycoat prisoner
Don't let one escape. Co"
Meanwhile the smoke was thickeniug
- gam elAG Itt1Ati N4AtW near the Siits dlll
started to put the weII-worn question
/ But a change had come over her. Side
wise she was swaying, choked. blinded
sinking at her post, yet willing to die
there, confronting her torturer with thai
same look of proud defiance, repulsion
and-gIory, The colonel caught his
breath, then. feeling himself grow gidd!
with the smoke, he threw out his arm
just in time to catch the fainting girl a.
she fell, bearing her aside, and laying
her tenderIy with her head on an otto
man pillow. Returning. he burst opel
the door Of the chamber with might.
wrench
Come out o that. gTayeOatl" he erie,
through the sitting smoke. Come on
and run for your life. I won't shoot
The Washington times., 1903-01-18

took the child in her arms. Inquiries
among the on1ookers told her that he
was lost and repeated questions only
elected from him that he was called
PhIsey. and lived with mother and
Martha.
Il VII! take him home with me" said
the old lady. land on the way we will
call at the police station and give in
formation, his parents are sure to apply
there as soon as they miss him Ny
horses were within an inch of killing
him, and I can do no less than take
charge of him now"
So Philip. after having IS much mud
IS possible wiped of by the apron OF
a friendly woman, was put in the car
rage, still cIasping the little parcel
Once more in safety his terrors Iefs
him and he looked for the frst time at
his companion Surely he had found his
desired
Are you the granny" he asked sud
denly. And when the old lady asked
what he meant. he told her all about the
party. and how much he wanted a gran
ny, and how he had gone out to buy
present for her in case Father Christmas
brought her that day. He explained. too.
how Father Christmas had brought him
once to be mothers little boy, and how
he had no daddy, He showed heT the
bird he had bought for the granny.
Are you the granny TO any little
boy2" he asked finally. and he could not
understand why tears ran down the old
Iady's cheeks. and what she answered
for she spoke in a low whisper, just as If
she were talking to herself. and he could
only hear a word here and there Ny
folly and wickedness." years OF Ionei-
ness, impossible to find them now"
and other unmeaning phrases. But he
felt sure the old lady WIS unhappy. for
when mother was unhappy she often had
tears on her cheeks, so he tried the same
remedy that always cured her
Don't cry. pretty old lady" be whis
pered- as he stroked her cheek with lis
soft little hand "PhiIsey loves you
Shall I ask Father Christmas if you may
be my granny"
But the old lady still cried on, and
Philip began to hunt in his pockets fog
something 10 aIHuSe anu u4StIetA iisi D
though since the lovely bird had no ef-
| feet he was not very hopeful.
This is writing mother put in my
/ pocket for If I got lost" he said, con
I fdentialIy. and held out a carbon which
was written philip Stewart Dalrymplc.
s Stokcton Road. Chaplain.
When the old lady read this, she said
Thank God"' and she kissed Philip
again and again. and told him that she
was his very own granny. She gave no
explanations nor did Philip demand
them. for never had he imagined that a
granny could be so beautiful.
/ The old lady told the coachmau to
drive as quickly as possible to Stoke
ton Road. and Just as Mrs DalrympIe
and Martha had become aware of the
terrible fact that Philip was nowhere TO
/ be found. the carriage drew up outside
! the shabby little house. The footmaI
gave a laundering knock. and in another
instant Philip was in his mothers arms
/ Mother, mother, I went to buy the
| present for the granny to put on the
/ tree and the horse knocked me down
/ and Father Christmas has sent a granny
in time for the party"
| And behind him was a stately figure
The Washington times., 1903-01-18

He would have liked to say: Never
fear. She is too much OF a heroine for
that" But what he did say was, with
much sOlemnity:
so you actually have the audacity to
ask me to allow you to take her across
the Confederate lines on your mere
promise TO return here to captivity
again."
I care little for the effect so long as
it moves you to grant it. am man
Of honor. Let me see her safe among
those who will care for her. and I swear
before Cod, sir. you shall see me back
here ready to undergo any penalty you
may impose, even death-do you under
stand me even death"
do you know. sir. said the colonel,
what it means if I allow you to do this
and you should prove untrue to your
OATH"
The colonel came c1ose-so close that
/ he could see the veined whites Of the
! Confederate's eyes Swear before Al
mighty God that after you have seen
that woman safely over the Confederate
lines you viii return here and become
my prisoner again. Swear it,
7 swear it, said the other soIemnIy
Aud believe yoH-I trust you.
! Gomez
Tell herr" growled the colonel, fol-
| lowing anxiously.
Soon they reached secluded spot in
the little forest.
''wait here said the colonel. I viii
/ bring my bay mare"
| The two sa. down on a log and wait
ed. communing joyfulIy till the colonel
returned, almost by stealth. He had
taken the saddle of and substituted q
blanket. Mount and be quiez about 1t,
/ he ordered
I The soldier Ieaped upou re mare, and
then the colonel lifted t1se frail form
and placed her behind the Confederate
to whom she chung tremblingly.
/ The colonel seemed slow in relfnquish-
ing his grasp upon the captive. and
said, Good by in tones that we're bro
/ ken and tremulous.
/ The girl did not reply for the instant
/ but seized the rough hand. bending down
where she could imprint kiss OF graft
tude upon If.
After fun hour of thought there came
! the sound Of a horse through the wood
+ The colonel arose. drawing his sword
/ trembling with fear that it might moi
be his man-that 1t might be one o.
his own who had come in search of him
/ IN which case explanations would hav,
been a positive torture. or that it nigh
be one Of the enemy. in which case f
meant fight. However. he stepped fozII
ward as ne saw the faint optlines four
ished his sword. and called out. @WH,
goes there?" I
1T is I. coloneIl" came be weIcos
voice
He drew Up beside the ~,
was perfectly speeches. - p
The Washington times., 1903-01-18
- COLONEL DANFORTH, Of the

NOLONEL DANF oRlL1' vi Lii0
Twelfth Massachusetts. sat bolt
upright on his hay charger,
vviDing the dust from a pair Of antique
field classes and swearing mildly Be
fore him was q broad sweep Of Virginia
IowIand. broken here and there by rec
tanguIar clumps Of wood In the drab or
Irdian summer those squares OF sea
brown and yellow looked like very tired
armies depIoyed for action, their brist-
ling beyona.s wagging in the evening
breeze.
Instead. they offered safe ambush. from
which every now and then desperate
knot of gray uniforms plunged out Ovec
the plain, uttered several lcsdsn tnvec-
tives upon astonished detachmenJ5 Of
Union men. and then retired IN pale
obscurity of smoke, leaving eomrsde OF
two twisting and groaning on the hoof
pounded sods-
Into the shelter of these dabs OF hlgn
color the survivors Seemed 20 melt away
and vanish. Though the Union detach-
ment would plunge through the wood ana
come out bewiIdered on the far side not
having found a soul, soon these cIumpS
would send forth another band OF SHIT
mishers.
The colonel watched all this through
his battered binoculars. his eyes mar
rowing beneath drawn bTOws: so that
when he lowered the glass q look OF
rage and wonder shone through the
bronze OF his features
Captain he said to his companion,
IN q voice that was like haTpstrlng
worn out with rough usage, those
sooundreIs are fighting fierce, and no
mistake But I don't understand 1t. In
retreat they seem TO sink into the
bowels Of the wood and disappear,
wonder now
A detachment OF Union cavalry inter
nen+.d the colonel diagonally, and rode
straight on toward cIump OF tail
trees which stood before them
double cross-fre brought down Two OF
the swift riders in the van.
Suddenly, 70 the colonel's amazenent
= commodious white building doomed VI
before him. It seemed to have burst
firm, the earth. and It was almost
QhostIv IN the gloom OF the closing day
colonial in style, 1t was distingul6hee
and typical OF peace and culture It was
home Of Southern gentlefolk The
eoIonel realized that A low fence snd
withsred flower garden fanked the FIsh'
wing.
A bareheaded straggler IN 8 gray uni
form, with a white, bIOod-stained band
age about his brow, was limping toward
the garden girdled wing Of the mansion
and. cutting through a clump OF lilacs
he climbed up to a tall, arched window
Through rift in the curtain there came
a fash of a white hand, up went th'
sash and down again, the refugee
having tumbIed into a room
"Weu. I'm hanged" mutteTed TIT
The Washington times., 1903-01-18

~ He room was quite dark There Is
never much light at I o'clock on
/ q December morning, and the
+bfcl, curtains shut out any faint streaks
of dawn that might have been outside
Ru+ neither light nor darkness mattered
IA one OF the occupants OF the room He
sat Nd in bed; for one moment he
rubbed his fingers IN his sleepy eyes to
rake sure he was quite awake, and then
he proceeded to arouse the other person
in the room. who was still peacefully
sleeping
Mother. mother. wake up! It's ny
birthday, and the day Of my party
Mrs. DaIrvmpIe opened her eyes The
idea OF the coming party did not I'll her
sith the delfrious Joy felt by her small
son. and on so very dark and cold 9
morning she would gladly have slept
little longer. But under certain eircum-
stances sleep is Impossible. and surely
one Of the circumstance IS the arrival IN
ones bed and the planting on ones crest
Of sturdy little boy with very red
cheeks and eyes shining with excitement
one feeble effort did Philips mother
make to render sleep again possible
philip" she said, 1T is not time to
get I'D yet. Go back 20 your own bed
like g good little boy and 60 10 sleep
again. The party is not til 4 O'Clock,
and there is plenty Of time
But Philips plans we're not easily
upset
my eyes are tired OF being shut, -
3. f. Ia
they couldn't keep shut any more. I
want to go down stairs and see the
cakes for tea"
Mrs. DaIrymple resigned herself TO
the Inevitable
Well, you may put On your dress
ing gown aud stay in my bed. Philip, %
she said; but you can't go down stairs
till you are dressed, and there are no
cakes on the table now We have freak
fast and dinner before tea, you know "
The idea that cakes intended for tea
n haIf-past four would hardly be put
on the table IN the early hours Of the
morning had not presented itself to
Philip. so he snuggIed down ~ his
mothers side and talked OF the wonder
ful party 70 which he had looked forward
for weeks. and which was really now
about to happen
The party, which was partly for
Philips birthday and partly for Christ
mas, was to be very small and Of the
simplest description. fer Mrs Dalrymple
was a widow and very poor Indeed
simple as the entertainment was to be
only tea and a tiny Christmas tree-It
is doubtful If she would have consented
TO giving it had not Martha Joined her
entreatIes TO Philips and promised tc
help with all the preparations Martha
thought there was no woman in Lon
con TO compare with her mistress, and
no child in the entire universe worthy
to be spoken OF in the same breath a;
Philip for whom indeed she had al
alteration bordering on idolatry.
Martha entirely managed the little
house in stoketon Road She had lived
with her mistress as maid in the days
before her marriage when she had
known all the luxury that money car
provide She had accompanied hel
when. in direct opposition to the plan.
and wishes Of her worldly wise mother
she had left home secretly to marry tn,
The Washington times., 1903-01-18

when a young man He was recommend
ed to the architect for his fearIessness in
working at high elevations and general
reliability. His services have become
almost indispensable. and he is retained
through no political influence, but upon
his merits.
One Of the daring feats OF his career
was in 1854, when the knights OF Pythias
held their national conclaYe IN this city.
With the consent of the Capitol Archi-
uect, Mr.. La Porte placed ten I00-candIe-
power electric lights on the bronze stat
ue of Freedom surmounting the dome,
The distance frol. the ground TO the
statue is 275 feet. and the ascent was
made without rope or scaffolding-z
most difficult undertaking. At the base
of the statue is a circular rest two feet
broad. Upon this Mr.. La Porte was
obliged 10 stand and balance himself
Then, reaching high above his head. he
removed the supports that held the
lights in place.
This much was accomplished while the
crowd below stood breathIess with
amazement- Then, to the astontshment
Of everyone, he proceeded to climb the
statue itself As he reached the head
he stopped, stood erect upon the shout
ders, and dofed his hat to the throng in
the plaza below.
Fell Thirty Feet.
In 1887 Mr.. La Porte received fau
which nearly ended his career. He was
experimenting the erection of a seat
folding at the head Of the east stairway
leading TO the rotunda. when the rigging
gave away and he was dashed head
foremost 30 the stone door below. dig
lance Of about thirty feet
Fellow workmen rushed to his side
and he was carried. bleeding and inseu-
sible. TO the hospital wagon and thence
TO the hospital. Blood poured from his
eyes, ears, and mouth and the surgeons
at first gave little hope for his recovery.
He vas unconscious for thirty-six hours,
during which time several severe
! scalp wounds were sewed up and a frac-
| tured jaw treated. His remarkable vi
tally finally tTiumphed and 10 the sur
prise OF the attending physicians he re-
covered. Within two months he was
| back again at the Capitol performing his
duties in the same easy, care-fFee man
FER as OF old.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1903-10-23

wells and have suspended drilling or
erations till a pumping plant can be
installed.
The Big Gun Co. has just brought
in two fine oilers on their holdings
northeast of the city. The manage
ment of this young company is doing
some tall hustling and the Big Gun
will soon be one .of the strictly frst
class propositions in the field.
Mrs. A. F, Mcmillan of Springfield
Mo-, has joined her husband, who is
manager of the Bonnie Oil Co.
A good we'll is reported the first OF
the week on the Tennis land. south
west of the city three miles.
The Denning company is getting
the material On the ground to drill
on the Schmoker land, southeast OF
Chanute.
The Petrolia Co. is drilling on the
Strange land, southeast of Chanute.
They should be down to the sand
about the last of the week.
Captain Stewart of Humboldt, was
in the city Tuesday and Wednesday
on oil business. The Captain has be-
come qnite wealty by reason of the
oil development but he seems the
same genial, companionable man of
old.
Isaac and q. B. Cautield of Colorado
and Fred Taylor of Detroit, Mich,
are hustling in this territory for some
good lease holdings on which to try
their luck as developers.
Judge w. L. Gross of Springfield,
ILL.,, is 10 the city visiting his son, Il.
l.. Gross.