davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05

could ask for her confidence without
indiscretion.
What have you got in there?" he
asked in a low voice coming behind
her just as she shut the basket.
ooh, nothing worthy the honour Of
being shown to your ~highness' she
answered, saucily, facing him with
her hands on the box behind her.
rs it a secret?"
ooh, dear, nO-nOthing so interest
ing"
"Then why may I not see what you
have there?"
at would give you neither pleasure
nor profit"
You misjudge me-. 1 nave a mind
which can derive both from the mean
est things"
My little secret is no mean thing, I
assure you"
Come, Mile, I am dying of curl
osity. Is it something you've had
| given your"
Yes"
Then it's a book. Nothing else
would interest you so much.
NO, it isn't a book.
packet of ~1OWer-seeds?"
mo"
well, I don't know what else you are
interested in, unless it's something for
the poor. Is it soup-tickets, or penny
subscription-cards for a mufin-fght?
Or, l know, it's mustard plasters for
one Of your old women?"
mo, it isn't"
Tell me, then"
IT'S a letter"
ga letter! Oh, and who is it FROM"
Really, sir, don't you think you are
rather presumptuous?'
But you always read your letters
aloud"
But I sha'nt read this one aloud"
said Mile, demurely.
The downward look with which she
said this took Franks breath away.
you don't mean to say it's a love
letter, Millie!" he said with mingled
reproach, disdain and disappointment.
And why not? Is it a sort of thing
that has never come under your notice
before?"
"Oh, I know that silly girls have
them, but l though you had more
sense.
"My dear Frank, you can't gauge my
measure Of sense without seeing my
answer"
well, I hope you don't mean to say
yes If you do, you will let yourself
down in my esteem to an extent you
may perhaps never recover"
Dear me, you make me hesitate"
Il must beg you to do more than
that, Miss Peele; l must beg you to re-
ject this persons advances without
further delay. don't wish to speak
of my feelings, which are frightfully
lacerated at the mere thought of a
rival; but l must make one little stipu-
latiOn; if you do go away and marry
this %ruffian, you must live near enough
to drop over here every morning to
breakfast, for I simply won't submit to
have my coffee made by Mrs. Peele.
She gets angry over it, and joggles it
up and makes it thick; besides, she
never gives me enough sugar. You
don't mind my mentioning this?"
Not at all. What you say is very
reasonable, and shows a lot Of fore
thought"
yes. It's better than having to
forbid the banns. May 1 know the
name of the wretched miscreant?"
Il don't like to tell you. We reign
ing beauties have to be careful. l
always avoid bloodshed in these at
fairs if I can"
"Then I will decimate the neighbour
hood. You little know of what blood
are the Armathwaites."
would you go so far as to deci-
mate London?"
HIM, we'll, that is a matter for my
consideration. Then the hated one is
a degraded cOckney?"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05

that it shall be nc less than five yards
long. and not only veil the face and
drape the hat, but hang down the back
with long streamer ends.
To wear a veil of this sort in a pro
per and becoming manner, it is neces.
sary not only to drape it in a graceful
fashion round the face, but to arrange
the ends or streamers so that they will
enhance the effect. Sometimes the
veil is tied in a loose knot at the back
Of the head, and the ends allowed tC
hang separately. A very popular ia
shiOn, however, is to not only tie the
veil at the back of the head. but also
between the shoulders, fastening the
knots in both cases with jeweled pins
The part of the veil which covers
the face is treated in quite a different
way from the long ends. 1t will often
show a scattering of black and white
spots, while the ends will be either ap
pliQue with lace motifs or embroidered
in some trailing floral design in black
silks. Long white wells are exceedingly
popular and becoming, but the white
is generally relieved with black velvet
dots and appliques of black lace on
the ends.
Quite the smartest design in these
long wells, as we'll as in those of small
er dimensions, is the grape design
The white net is scattered with mum.
bers Of small velvet dots, so arranged
as to form punches of grapes. The dots
however. are introduced in many diff
ferent ways. Sometimes they form
simply the border of the veil, and it is
quite the thing to have the dot in, some
color to match the gown. A black
and white mesh veil with a border OF
tiny royal blue velvet dots, for in
stance, is a popular novelty in Paris
as we'll as another with the dots in
coral pink.
/ A veil Of white Chantilly lace, with
an embroidered border of wisteria
worked in shades Of purple and laven
der, and another Of white lace with a
border embroidered in gay little blue
c~Ornfowers and bright yellow butter
cups, are two distinct novelties which
have lately been imported from Paris.
Il *
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05

Mission chiffoniers of weathered oak
Or Of the wood stained to a delightful
dark green tone are replacing rapidly
the light oak or other highly polished
pieces of the same kind. These are
in many quaint styles, with handles of
antique brass or handwrought iron.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05

Wash silks in a variety Of light,
tasteful combinations of colors and al
SO in white are very reasonable at As
cents a yard.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05
MiIady's Gloves.

The woman who wants her rings to
last we'll must not wear them under
gloves. So says the jeweler. But if
you decide that gloves are a necessity,
as probably you will, he adds, then
send your rings twice a year to be
o~verhauled. The reason for this warn
ing is that the constant friction of the
glove wears the tiny points that hold
the stones in place, and the result is
that the stones fall out unless con-
stantly looked after. The wearer
might not detect a loose stone, but the
. jeweler would at once, and by a little
timely intervention might prevent the
loss OF a valuable gem.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05
ct Ceteras.

Ribbon ruches appear as trimmings
for gowns and skirts and wraps.
Silk and satin sashes, very wide and
elegant in texture, are conspicuous in
recently imported accessories.
It is considered more swagger to
a blue, green, gray, Or red hat
with a black gown than a black hat.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05

come IN red, dark green and other
colored leather, and the prices are
from $3.50 to $3.50.
Covered dishes in sterling silver,
with handles of ebony. are copied in
quadruple plate in every detail. These
have a dull finished appearance, and
the patterns follow the very smartest
styles in artistic silverware.
Cuff and collar boxes Of burnt wood
have unusually pretty designs to
recommend them. Scarlet peoples or
green stain is very effective, and all
kinds Of college emblems ornament
other colored boxes.
Dressing slippers, made of quilted
satin, have large satin bows ornament
ing them and smart little buckles
fastening them to the dainty white or
delicately colored slippers.
Slightly different in style from the
favOrite kimono dressing sack is a
very pretty one of half length, made of
pompadour silk. The sleeves are cut
into extremely deep points hanging
down gracefully to the end Of the gar
ment, and the fronts bordered with
bands Of iv~ory-white liberty satin are
also finished in long exaggerated
points.
Made all in n piece is a corset
cover and underskirt Of French main
sock. 1t is trimmed with diagonal in
sertions of Valenciennes lace to the
waist, where it is gathered into a belt
of wide beading and a narrow wash
satin ribbon if pale blue color draws
it in to the figure. The short skirt
has a deep founce, with the lace inser-
tons and an edging Of the Valencien-
mes lace.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05
Rather

A new gown is Of pale blue nuns
yelling, heightened in effect with red
panne velvet-and a vivid red at that.
The skirt has circular tucks about
four inches apart and two inches wide.
These tUcks begin below the hips
above is a yoke Of black Russian lace.
The yoke is inter-Tun with red baby
velvet ribbon. The border of the skirt
is finished with two ruffies, bound
with red panne. three inches wide.
The back of the waist has two slot
ted seams over red panne, sloping
from each shoulder to the center Of the
waist line. The fronts open over a
full red panne vest tucked l~engthwise
with pale blue silk, very narrow tucks,
and many Of them.
The stock is Of red panne stitched
with pale blue and with little stole
ends embroidered in blue and red silk
and edged with narrow black lace.
A red panne collarette is worn with
this bodice and gives a fine dash to
the entire effect. 1t is shoulder width
and is pointed in the back. IT is wide
enough on each side in the front to
meet the red panne vest and is cut in
stoles a half yard long. These stoles
are appliQued with black Russian lace.
The edges are finished with narrow
black lace run with pale blue baby vel
vet ribbon. The back Of the collar
carries out the same trimming.
The sleeves are elbow length, in
slot tuckings " red panne, the slots
being carried into a finishing rufle of
the material. This rufie is edged
with narrow black lace. The under
Hungarian sleeves are Of red panne.
This bodice "a be worn with an
open pointed neck by substituting an
under surplice of red chiffon over pale
blue liberty silk for the vest. The I'M
dersleeves can be omitted to accord
with occasions Of wear.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05

come in red, dark green and other
colored leather, and the prices are
from $3.50 to $3.50.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-05
japanese Touches.

A rage is on in Paris for japanese
effects in clothes from lingerie to
coats.
When possible, a kimona touch is
given to blouses-and the negligee is
distinctly oriental.
a perfectly lovely negligee is of pink
crepe de chine, made voluminous and
en- traine. 1t has a seamless yoke and
closes at the front under a cascade of
eXquisitely fine lace. The fronts and
the back are attached to the yoke in
big double box plaits.
Over the yoke is a shoulder cape of
lace that is caught up at the edges
with little clusters of pale blue satin
faced velvet ribbon. Under the cas-
cade Of lace on the front are long loops
of the pale blue velvet ribbon, eight
Of them, that descend almost to the
border of the garment.
The sleeves are huge wings, plain
at the shoulder and faring wide with
an outside pointed droop half the
length of the garment.
The lining Of this truly luxurious
garment is soft blue silk.
* X 4
New Idea.
4 spring skirt Of lightweight zibe-
line in dark blue is cut in seven cores,
with an extra gore at the back that is
formed into a big outside box plat
from the waist down to three-Quarters
the length.
OF course, this extra gore is not wide
Just wide enough to afford an ample
plat.
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

love-sick schoolboys over the charms Of
that dear lady to whom one OF us was
less than naught, and to whom the other
could be naught while that f1rst one
lived.
We were still sitting thus before the
kitchen arch when the dawn began to
dim the frelight. and the work or the
new day confronted US. Pinned down,
old Anthony confessed that some two OF
three horses of the Appleby Hundred
stables had escaped the hands OF the for
ayers of both sides; and two fresh ami
mails he fetched for us. OF the twain
one chanced to be Blackstar, the good
beast which had carried me from New
Eerne in the spring: and so l had my
own horse betwixt my knees when [ set
Dick a mile on the road to Salisbury and
bade him farewell.
His last word to me was one of gener-
Gus caution.
Remember, Jack; haste. haste. post
haste is your Watchword. There VIII
be other couriers in from the battle field
at Kings Mountain; and you must hang
and fire your news petard and vanish De-
fore they come to betray you"
Trust me-" said l, eyasively; and so
we parted, ne to gallop eastward. ard |
to charge down peaceably upon that
British outpost we had set abuZz in the
small hours of the night.
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
give moments thought to the feelings

give a moments thought to the feelings
Of others, Captain Ireton?"
This was past all endurance
If had not. should I be here this
momenty' / raved You do make me
sicker than / was, my lady
Yet l say you are selfish she insist
ed What have / done that you should
come here to have yourself hanged for
a spy?"
Let US have plain speech, in Gods
name" / retorted. You know well
enough there'was no better way in whlch
/ could serve you"
do I. indeed mon ami?" she flashed
out. Let me tell you, sir, had she ever
a blush of saving pride. Margery Stair
or Margery Ireton. if you like that bet.
ter-would kill you with her own hand
rather than have it said her husband
died upon a gallowsv'
A sudden light broke in upon me and
l went blind in the horror of it.
God in heaven!" 1 gasped; twas
you. then? I do believe you poisoned
me in that dish Of tea you sent me last
night"
She laughed bitter little laugh that
l hated to think on afterward.
You have a most chivalrous soul,
Captain Ireton I do not wonder you are
so fierce to shake it free Of the poor
body of clay"
But you do not deny itr' 1 cried.
"Of what use would it be? | have said
that I would not have you die shame
fully on the gallows; so 1 may as well
confess to the poppy juice in the tea.
Tell me. Monsieur John: was 1t nasty
bitter?"
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

will fit your manacles. / have been all
day finding out who had 1t. and / am not
sure II will be the right one. after ALL
But II did prove to be the right one;
and when the irons were of | felt moro
like a man and less like baited bear
breath of relief. sT bear my Lord
Charles no malice. but twas a needless
precaution, this ironing of n man who
was never minded to run away.
But you are going to run away, she
said, decisively: "and that as soon as
ever you are able to hold a horse be-
tween your knees. Shall bring you an
other dish of tea? Nay, never look 50
horrined; I shall not poison you this
Stay" I cried. 'You mean that you
are going to help me escape2 Tis a
needless prolonging of the agony. Go
and tell the guards where they can ind
me-"
She stopped midway to the wainscot
door and turned to give me my answer
mo; you are a soldier, and-and viii
not be a gallows-wtdow- Do you near,
sir2 If you are so eager to die, there is
always the battlefield" And with that
she left me.
1 may pass over the two succeeding
days In the silence I was condemned 10
endure through the major part OF them
After that first visit, Margery came only
at stated intervals to bring me food and
drink, and my nurse was an old black
beldame. either deaf and dumb, or else
so newly from the Guinea Coast as TO be
unable to twist her tongue to the Eng
lish.
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

Good Lord" I groaned; "are you a
woman or a flend?"
Either or both as you like to hold me.
sir. But come what might, l said you
. should not die a felon's death. And you
haven't. as yet"
Better thousand times the rope and
tree than that l should rot by inches
here with you to sit by and grid at me.
All, my lady you are having your re-
venge of me-
"Merci, encore. Shall go away and
mo, not that" cold sweat broke
out upon me in sudden childish horror
of the solitude and the darkness and the
fetters. And then 1 added; But 'twould
be angel kindness If you would leave off
torturing me: l am but man. dear
lady, and a sick man at that"
All in a flash her mood changed and
she bent to lay cooling palm on my
throbbing temples.
Poor Monsieur JohnP she said softly;
II meant not to make you suffer more
but rather less" Then she found water
and a napkin to wiring out and bind upon
my aching head.
At the touch and the word of womanly
sympathy I forgot all, and the love-mad-
ness came again to blot out the very
present memory of how she had brought
me to this.
"Ah, that is better-better," 1 sighed.
when the pounding hammers in my tenn
pies gave me some surcease of the
agony.
linen you 1OISlNe meI she asked.
whether jestingly or in earnest could
not tell.
There is none so much to forgive" I
replied. "One hopeless day last summer
put my life in pledge to you and you
in common justice you have the right to
do what you will with it,
"Ah; now you talk more like my old
time Monsieur John with the healing
sword-thrust. But that day you speak of
was not more hopeless for you than for
me-"
II know it," said l. thinking only of
how the lovelesS marriage must grind
upon her. But it must needs be hope
less for both till death steps in to break
the bond"
Again she laughed. that same bitter
little laugh.
Indeed. it was a great wrong you did
that night, sir ! could wish. as heartily
as you, that it might be undone. But
this is idle talk Let me see If this key
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

eyes as condemned man might.
II have my lord-since the day nine
years ggone when L learned that your
kings minions had hanged my rather IN
the regulation
Then it was a farrago of lies you told
me about your adventures in the western
mountainST'
not wholly. 1t was your lordship
good pleasure to send Succors OF powder
and lead to your allies, the western saw
ages. / and three others followed Cap
tain Falconnet and his Indians, and l
have the honor to report that we over
took and exploded them with their own
powder cargo"
And Captain Sir Francis Falconnet
with theInI
II do so hope and trust, my lord.
He turned snort on his heel, and Tor
moment a silence as of death fell upon
the room. Then he took the Ferara from
the table and sought to break 1t over ms
knee; but the good blade, like the cause
It stood for, bent like withe and would
not snap.
Put this spy in irons and clear the
room," he ordered sharply. And this is
how the little drama ended: with the
supper guests crowdlng to the door, with
my lord pacing back and forth at the
table-heau; with two sergeants bearing
me away to await, where and how L
knew not, the word which should e1ace
me and leave clear for my lad DICK the
way to my lady's heart.
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

vaguely at first. but presently with
startling emphasis. that it was the west
ering sun which was shining in at the
high roof windows, that the shackles
were still on, and that my temples were
throbbing with most skull-splitting
headache.
Being fair agasp with astoundment at
this new spinning of rate wheel, 1
sprang UP quickly--and was as quickly
glad to fall back upon the pallet. For
with the upstart heaving nausea came
to supplement the headache, and Tor
lor-- time | lay bat-blind and sick as any
landsman in his first gale at sea-
The sunlight was fading from the
high windows. and / was deep sunk in a
sick mans megrims before aught came
to disturb the silence OF the cobWeDped
garret. From nausea and racking pains
/ had come to the stage or querulous
self-pity. Twas monstrous. this bury
ing man alive. ILL., fettered. uncared-
for, to live or die in utter soltude as as
guess to whom 1 owed this dismal fate,
and was too petulant to speculate upon
it. But the meddler, friend or zoe, who
had bereft me of my chance to die while
I was fit and ready came in for a Turk
ish cursing-the curse that calls down in
all the Osmanli variants the same pangs
in duplicate upon the banned one.
1t was in the midst of one of these i'm
potent fits of malediction that the VAIN
scot door was opened and closed softly,
and light footsteps tiptoed to my bed
side. shut my eyes wlllIully when
voice low and tender asked: Are you
awake Monsieur John?"
1 hope you will hold me forgiven, my
dears. If l confess that what with the
nausea and the headache. the letters and
the solitude, / was rabid enough to rail
at her. Twas so near dusk in the Ill
lighted garret that 1 could not see how
she took it, but she let me know by word
of mouth.
'Merci, monsieur" she said. icily. And
then: Gratitude does not seem to be
among your gifts"
At this I broke out in all sick mans
pettishness.
Gratitude! Mayhap you will tell me
what it is have to be grateful for. All
/ craved was the chance to die as SOL
dier should, and some one must needs
spoil me of that
"Selfish-selfsh always and to the
last" she murmured. '.Do you never
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
CHAPTER XLIII.

IN WHICH DRINK A DISH OF TEA
Being without specific orders what to
do with me, my two sergeant palllus
thrust me into that little den of a strong
room below stairs where mad once
found the master of the house, and one
of them mounted guard while the other
fetched the camp armorer to iron me.
The shackles securely on, l was left to
content me as | could, with the door
ajar and my two jailers hobnobbing be-
fore 1t. Having done all had hoped 10
do, there was nothing for 1t now but 10
wait upon the consequences. 30, nltch-
ing my chair up to the oaken table, |
made pillow OF my fettered wrists and
presently fell adoze.
/ know not what hour of the night IL
was when the half blood Scipio, who was
Mr.. Gilbert Stairs body-servant, came in
and reused me. l started up suddenly
at his touch. making no doubt 1t was my
summons. But the mulatto brought me
nothing worse than cold fowl and a
loaf. with a candle end to see to eat
them by. and dish of hot tea to wash
them down.
| knew well enough whom 1 had to
thank for this, and was set wondering
that my lady's charity was broad enough
to mantle even by this little my latest
sins against the kings cause. None the
less, l ate and drank gratefully. drain
ing the tea dish to the dregs-which, by
the way, were strangely bitter
l had scarce finished picking the bones
of the capon before sleep came again 10
drag at my eyelids, droWslneSs SO
masterful that / could make no head
against it. And so. with the bitter taste
of the tea still on my tongue, fell away
second time into the pit Of forgetful-
ness.
When I awakened from what seemed
in the memory of it the most unresting
sleep / ever had. it was no longer night,
, and l was stretched upon the oaken set
tie in that same lumber garret where
had been bedded through that other
night of hiding. So much / saw at the
waking glance; and then realized.
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
CHAPTER XIII.
IN WHICH MY LORD HAS HIS
MARCHING ORDERS.

Though 1 had passed out of the Brlt-
tsh lines less than a week before in de-
cent good order. save for Colonel Tarle-
tons Ill word, / met with nothing like
the welcome at the outpost camp that q
kings courier had right to expect
But as luck would have it. the first IA
rniliar face / saw was that of Charles
The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
CHAPTER Xiv.

HOW WE CAME no THE BEGINNING
OF THE END.
AS Margery had promised. 1 passed
out of my garret prison and out OF door
on that memorable evening of October
IA to find the British gone from Char
Iotte and the town jubilant with patriotic
joy.
ing bound in honor by the wish of my
dear lady not to follow and give myself
up to the retreating British general, I