davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30

particular make abis to be traced fir Cherry Linton.
 His pale face and peculiar nervous manner on hts arrival at the range; ali were overwhelming testimony to his guilt, ana there could hardly be conceived d simpler case to prove thtn this partieulaf one the crown had undertaken. In spite Of all. Leonard protested he was absolutely innocent. He pleaded '.not guilty" and swore that although hs had left Talbot in fernzy of passion. he had not raised finger against him. At first Alice. numb with horror, a, one by one the startling array of con. yincing proofs were brought like spec. tres before her, allowed herself to be- fieve her,lover had been led away by pas.
 sion and committed the act in riornen, of @nsdness, but as the days of the ear. Her investigations dragged along their weary length. she watched the face oi her lover as he stood upright in the dock, calm and fearless, and she read
 the light of truth in his eyes when hs said calmly:
 "1 swear before God and the whoi, world, am innocenti"
 The day he was committed for trial she left tho Court House, her eyes burn. ing with an unnatural briiliAnce, She was convinced that he was falsely ae. cused, and thereupoh determined to meva
 heaven and earth itself to prove 1t. The fact that she was only a frail woman did not deter her lh the least the enorn1ity of the difficult task had nc | terror for her. She undertook to unfaveI | unaided mystery that would have taxed l the powers of the keenest and most ex. perienced detective.
 For two whole days she wandered ur | and down the route Leonard had tray ersed oh the day of the tragedy, examln- | ing every inch of the ground, in the dim 1 hope of discovering a elew that would
 lead to the real truth, But no success I attended her efforts.
 l On the morning of the third day an Idea suddenly occurred to her, and her l heart began to beat with a new-found hope. Today was Saturday. It was only
 a tiny glimmer-a chance In million of
 1t ever leading to correct solution, but
 1t became indelibly imprinted in her mind and she would see it through.
 She accordingly made her way to the place where her fathers body had been
 found. and seating herself on a rustic
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30
J V $ T P H l. s

~ - E smiled at her across the table and che flashed 6 look of saucy
 defiance back. and said:
 "so you think 1t has been . great success9"
 ''Why of course it has--don't you think so7" he answered with an intonation of surprise.
 She lowered her eyelids until he could only see a fringe Of datR lashes along She pallor of her cheek. and said slowly: 'sYes. 1 think 1t has-for once pure pla- tonics have been tried and found possi- bie''
 You wers always the doubter." he said triumphantly. ESQ you admit that you were wrong
 ''I admit that In our case it has worked ell right. but I still think that as a gen. eral rule 1t Is Q very dangerous experi- ment'
 ''Wen, you eee was quite right, and it is just year today since we formed our contract-and for one hope that this time five years will see it still in existence"
 She thoughtfuily drew patterns on the tablecloth with a fork. and still kept her eyes down.
 Five years is a long tIme," she said. s'Did it never occur to you that this may
 
 might want to marry, and then our re- spective husband or wife might object f'' ''Yes, but l don't want to marry don't Intend to marry, don't believe in it, as you know perfectly well. and you have always said that you quite agreed with me-
 ''Well. 1t is the natural fate oe ell mankind and womankihd, too and I do not see any reason why you should escape it,"
 ''But what is the use of spelling the present by vague imaginings of what may happen and probably never wiil?" She made TO reply, and he looked at her down-bent head, wondering as he 60 often did-whether all women were alike, and why they could never rest content with things as they were without pug Eling and worrying over some mythical future into which 1t was impossible to see.
 Personally, he was perfectly content
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30

the present is very charming, and you are certainly the most satisfactory of
 And you are the most ideal pal that any man could desire"
 That being so. think ws hAA better adjourn our Mutual Admiration Society or we shall bs late. I only hope you will continue In the same mind"
 "of course l shall-why shouldn't IT. he demanded
 "oh. no reason ct all, except-oh, nothing. let Us go." she said hurriedly. rising as sho spoke.
 Re sprang up and came round to help her with her cloak. When he could nc longer see her face, Miss Davenant's s smile became mora decided, in fact in anyone less pretty 1t might almost have been termed a grin" and keen observer would hnve guessed that she perhaps did not believe so implicitly as her compan- Ion In the purely platonic theory. in spite of the fact that she pretended to do SO
 A few weeks later Miss Davenant was entertaining a visitor al her fat--it wat depressing November afternoon, and outside in the street the rain fell with that persistent depressing drizzle which Is characteristic of London-not a good thorouBh downpour but c steady drip drip, drip; which makes everythina sloppy, takes hair out of curl. and etraikhtens feathers and otherwise afflicts the temper of the feminine mind, and euFiously enough, of the masculine, too although they are exempt from the bur dens of ""r's and feathers.
 But comfort, warmth and light reignet supreme In the little drawing room. and the good-lookinE long-limbed youth whr stretched himself lazily In a chair, while his pretty hostess busied herself with the teastAble, looked the generalization ot eontentment
 It was curious fact that when in the presence of Clarlce the majority of men wore a satisfied and generally pleased with-themselves-and-e air. She possessed that subtle power which some women seem to be born with and others can never acquire, of making a man feel satisfied with himself--a feeling of being appreciated and understood which acts aa balm to the male mind.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30

I am te do, shut up here all alone7" you won't be alone; lots of people | come to see you, and you will soon be
 well enough to go out again, and then we cah meet as we used to. You see, while you were so Ill 1t was different. You don't really want me now"
 Don't l." he said slowly. Don't I? I am not sure about that" well, don't see anything else for 1t but fer you to get we'll as quickly as pos- | sible. One must consider public opinion little you know, and We do not con- sider 1t much" He looked down at her dark head with
 its rippllng hair. ''I do. I see ono way that I can see a great deal more of you. every day and always pression. What do you mean. Denis?" T mean we might get married. Clarice, you have tried mo ns a friend for year, don't you think you might try me for husband now7''
 "But you don't want to get married, you only want to be pals"
 well. can't wo be pals just the same and more than evor?" Then, changing his tone he said earn eEtiy:
 "Clarice. look at n1e-tell me. couldn't you care for mo little that way--is 1t too piatonic for you ever to think of me in the light of lover?'' She raised her eyes and looked at him, and they told him ali he wanted to know. He held out his arms she rose and putt ting her hands on his shoulders, said softly:
 'It has always been that way with me, Denis--only I thought you never would feel the same'' He put his arm round her and drew her head down onto his shoulder "f think 1t has always been that way
 with me, too only I was such an ass ] never knew #. and thought we were only just pals. and we shall be pals any, way, sha'n't we?" "Yes. always, only moro 90 than ever" and she put her arms around his neck and sealed their contract with q kiss.
 And 1t lasted more than Ave years after all
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30
BY BEATRICE
 M. STUDDY
You are An angel. "

You are An angel" A fortnight later Denis Miiief4<fow con. valescent-sat in big arm chair before blazing ire and watched the clock and the door alternately.
 Half past four. She sad she would be here by four-what Ia the matter, I won- der1 Hang this pipe, the beastly thing, has gone out again" ffe threw it down ffstfully, and at that moment the door opened and ClArlce came In. "At last" he said. T thought you were never coming. You said four, and 1t Is half-past four now," in an aggrieved voice.
 T am sorry. I could not help 1t. Mrs. carlton came to see mo and could not get away.
 Mrs. oafltoh=ineddiinE old busybody, what did she Want7' on, she came In to give me some Ad- vice, that was all--she has very good in. tentions and means to be kind. Tier Kindness seems to have had c depressing effect" Denis said. ''You have been crying"
 She turned away her face and began rather listlessly to poke the fire.
 You need not poke the fire out" he continued. What did Mrs. Carlton say, something about me, I suppose?"
 Well, she said-oh. that of course it was very kind Of me to como and Took after you when you were Ill, and that of course she understood that we were very great friends, but that was not a hospi. , tai nurse, ana that was young, and-- And"--
 Very pretty" he put in. well, go on."
 Hhe hiushed and continued: And that people would talk-and that they think 1t has gone a little too far, and that some people may even refuse | to know me any more" Denis got Up and etood with hls back to the fire. ''old beast" he said 'I expected some. thing of thls soft only e narfow-minded old gossip like that would say such things; none ot your real friends would think of it"
 "eut still, Denis, you rec you are nearly well now ana do not want mo so much, and think perhaps had better not come any mora"
 Yes. do, want you more. What
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30
B s Fl F U R L. ESS

N F had been caught in such a situa-
 tion by anybody but John Benton I
 should have been terribly annoyed
 There I was sitting on the floor of the nursery. with hair tumbled, my face red. and great rent aeress the front of my skirt. where 1t had been caught by a nall a few minutes before during a fierce blind-man's- -biuif serisnmage
 My little sister Alice was having a party and of course had to assist In entertain Eng the guests There were just ie seven boys and five girls When John Benton tapped at the deer said ''Coins iA," oaretessly. suposlns t was enc Of the ssrvHnts
 ''T beg your pardeA Mise LatsuF. They said should find you hers. But per haps Fhave made some mistake"
 ..Not at all Mir Benton" said I. as scrambled to my feet. we are pleased Go see you Sit down on--on the piano stool. The ehalrB have been taken Into ths other room. We have been playing blind-mRn's-bur
 .T-I received this invitation" went On ,efr~ Benton. taking an envelope from hts pocket.
 The giit-edged card within read: adiss Latour requests the pleasure of
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30
sv JOHN MANDEvILLE
~~s~@~@~N~ @~ %S~fz~ ~ft%es0< <N~%~'

Somehow. I forgot ali about the thief, Will ms tather--everythihg as I threw myself down by the side of John Benton and pressed my handkerchief over tho red stain.
 "tohn, Johnl What is it7 Where are you hurt7 Oh, father, he lA killed." 1 screamed "What shall do?"
 will never believe again that John Benton was ever Dashfut for he just put one of his hands on the back of my head, pulled my face dewn to his and whis- pereai
 ''DO just what you are doing now: and AS ye0 have commenced to call me John, de 10 all the rest of yeuF life and let mS call yeu Lou
 There was sudden disturbance. The thief AAa broken away rom Wiil.
 ''1t Ia net AeFisus," sAia John. sitting up. That fellew cut his hand In some way while opening the bureau and he rubbed the blood all over my shirt: that's an.'
 bit my lip and gave John a look that should have frozen him It did not have the proper effect. however, for he followed me upstairs to the nursery, where the racket of play had rendered the children oblivious to the disturbance below.
 As he took Stella on his knee he said:
 You must sing Birdie on Tree for us again, will you?" 'lsss, I will sing 1t for you but you must tlss Lou for me now. She has diven me lots and lots of tandy."
 "Yes, think SO, said John. And Pu tiss her for you" And he actually did it
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30

with the present and could not understand | why che was not equally 50.
 Few men probably would have been sur prised that ho was-for over a year the [ girl sitting opposite him had been his con- sant companion-and few weeks passed without seeing them together, either dln- ing. luuching or spending long hours in Clarice Davenant's little drawing room, discussing various subjects of vital in- terest to themselves, although of very Lt- tie moment to the outside world. | Although only B, Miss Davenant was entirely alone in the world. and in spite Of Mrs. Grundy, she elected to live a per- fectly independent life, without the as- distance of the usual chAper9na l Naturally unconventional her fife had tended to make her more SO and her con- tract. made a year ago with Denis Mixer, to be ''1ust pals" and no more and no less, as if they were men. instead of . good looking bachelor of Ss and an extremely pretty woman, had been carried out as thoroughly as she did everything she sn- tered into.
 | At nrUt their somewhat cratic actions
 had caused much gossip and speculation among their mutual acQuaintances, but as | time wore on people were content Co let them alone, finding that they seemed to be quite oblivlous to outside opinion, and they had adhered rigidly to the terms ot their contract. Their dinner tonight was
 held to celebrate its nrst anniversary. Claflee looked sweet enough to have tempted any man to lapse into levesriak. iriE, however platonic hts Intentions, as she laAnt back In her chair, q little smile eurvlng her perfect lips.
 Denis Miller, as he looked at her, won. dered for a moment why she was still | without the golden cirolet of matrimony round her slim finger. He knew that more than one man had tried to tempt her e forsake her Independent life for that os 'double harness" but without success. Well" he said, breaking the silencA that had fallen between them. what are you thinking ot-etill worrying ever the futureT"
 She laughed and reused herself from her reverie.
 Nothing at RIl,' she said, T was just dreaming In an aimless kind of way. At any rates whatever comes aftarwards,
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30
BY VIVIAN GREY

''For Gods sake. sir, say nothing. or whatever Is said may be taken in evi- dence against you. Come quietly With me, and may this shadow pass as quick ly as 1t has descended of you
 Outside the little rural police statiof, a crowd of villagers had already assem' bled. and when Horton with his prisofa' CT was preparing to cross the threshold. woman. pale as death. broke iron, among their ranks. With eyes glazed with horror. she gave one anguished glance at Horton's prisoner. murmuring:
 Leonard, Leonard, how could you have done this7" She then tettered forward and fell In dead faint at his feet.
 The case as 1t stood for the prosecution was perfect when Leonard Chadwick was formally committed for trial at the next assizes Not single link in the chain of evidence was missing to brand him as the author of the crime.
 A witness had sworn On oath that al 1iibo to the minute on tho morning oi May i5 he had seen from the road the deceased and accused together engaged in what seemed to be a violent hlteroAs bots farm.
 Two other important witnesses deposed to seeing from the same position at about 12:15 0 prostrate body lying across the drive.
 Climbing over the gate. they were shocked to find 1t was Farmer Talbot himself, bleeding profusely from gun. shet wound In the back Bending over and endeaveflhg to lend him every aid they distinctly heard him Say, 'This ia the work of Lsenard chadwieki" Be. fore further assistance could be procured life had become extinct
 The medical evidence went to show that the fatal injury had been caused by q partly spent Martini-Henry rifle bullet which had entered the center or tht back and finally lodged fin the Upper re gions of the chest. It was impossible foi the wound to have been self-infiicted.
 There was no direct evidence whatever fin connection with the crime. It wal purely oireumstantial. No one aetuall, saw 1t committed. yet not the slightes doubt existed in any ones mind tha Chadwick was the murderer
 There was the quarrel for the motive the startling discriminating admission 0 the dying man. the poignant fact tha Chadwiek's was the only rife of tha
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30
A VILLAGE MYSTERY ! wvuI


i rife cracks the hum os bullets as they spread through tho air. and the metallic thwack when their further progress was | sometimes stopped by their wouid-be iron destination. / As Leonard and his little following made their way to the firing-point. they were met by sir Samuel. who exclaimed jo. | viaily:
 "Ah. my lads now you must look ss your iaurels. Here comes young Chad. wick with real live 'Martini.AenFy, 1 deciafai'
 | Way was instantly made for him, for not only was he very popular In the vil- lage. but his prowess with firearms was well khnown; so great things were ex- pectsd on his arrival. To everyone's surprise. however, Leon- ard handed his rife to the nearest by stander, with a bag of cartridges. saving he was not feeling well and would not shoot.
 A murnur of delight went round as one after the other each aspiring shhrp. shooter during the next % minutes blazed away to his hearts content with Leon- ards weapon for tho two Lee Mefords'' provided by Sir Samuel were rapidly ex- iiaustinE the patience os the many walt ing their turn.
 Alice was not slow to see that some
 
 have occurred to prevent her lover from indulEing in his favorite sport. and she came over and took his arm.
 There is something wrong with my boy" she said. leading him away from the crowd. "and he must tell me all about 1t this very minute"
 Il cannot, Alice-I cannot. You must not ask me, It Is true am upset, and i have barely had time to make my mind llp as to what my next step shall be. There Is one thing, though, dearest, you must prepare for a separation. I shall have to leave you for a time at least" Leave me, Leonard" she asked, c slight pallor everspreadinR her face. Leave ne-why. what for7' "Only your father"~-- My fatheri then you have been speak, ing to him about me, and high words have passed between You both. I see it all" she easped hurriedly. "Oh, my poor Leon- | ard, and am So sorry you should have suffered mental pain on my account I know exactly what he thinks-the SOB of bank clerk Is not the husband for mo
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30

not leave him alone when he is Ill to run such risks 1t would not be acting as friend if dld."
 She put her hat and coat on, and pick ing up the bag. returned to the awing room. she rang the bell and whom her maid appeared. said:
 Emily am going out to see friend who Ia Ill. I may not be back till late so I shall not want dinner. You need not set Up for me if am not in by ten"
 The maid withdrew. and Ciarlce moved toward the door. On q table stood a photograph of Denis In a silver frame. She stopped and picked 1t up. and looked at 1t steadfastly for e long time. Then with a half-shamed air she kissed it hastily. and went out
 "If you please, sir. there is . lady here."
 Lady, can't see ladies now. what the dickens do you mean by coming to me with such messages. you--"
 The awe-struck countenance of the faithful James was abruptly withdrawn and was replaced by vision-~outwara- ly perfectly self-possessed. inwardiy the very reverse.
 "Ciafieei'
 Yes, clafies, [ heard such an account Of you from Mir. Clements that decided ShotO Wa1 a6lhAHB IL puI u CVTlE AHN see for myself what was the matter, il fact, 1t was my duty-as O pal"
 What did that ass Clements sayr dld hot mean you to know that was i'll l shall be ali right in day or two"
 He said that you had caught a vety bad cold, and that you had no one hert to look after you. and might get pfeu menia If you were not taken care of; so thought about 1t. and-and could not rest without coming 10 see how you were-yol are not angry, Denis3''
 Her voice shook little and she turnes away, pretending to arrange some meal cine bottles.
 Perhaps he was weak and more de pressed than he had cared to admit but there was something suspiciously likt tears in his eyes, and his mouth quivereC under his Iflustache in a way that 1t wa. probably as well that she did not sec H, caught her hand and carried 1t impet uously to his lips ss he said in e low Veleal
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30
sSsSsSSssss sccaceaoosaeecooo
 occccocccocccocco

~xw TELL. you once and for all it iA " impossible-I would die sooner
 than my daughter should wed a
 pauper." The speaker. old Fara mer Talbot, was white with rage and he more than once threateningly raised . heavy hunting-crop he carried.
 His cornpanion a good-looking young fellow of some two and twenty summers, up to this point had kept his temper dur tng a long harangus of which the aoove was merely the tag. but the last remark proved too much for him.
 'very well, MT. Talbot if this Is your decision, then listen to mine. swear that ! shall marry Alice very soon. and neither you nor any other man will prevent me am poor because circumstances are agfnst me- but I can work. and as Tor your money. you insult me by mentioning it We love one another very dearly, and there's no need to make your miserable wealth stumbling block between us"
 Leonard Chadwick tried to speak calmly but inwardly he was boiling with indigna- ton.
 Don't you dare to give me any of your tnsolence about what you are going to do." Talbot replied In passionate tones. 'tor if I catch you speaking to my daugh@ ter again I.il-Ill horsewhip you-you eortune-huntihg young vagabond!' He made a sudden movement forward as he spoke, his face convulsed With rage, end. raising the crop he carried aimed violent blow at Leonard's head; the latter, stepping back quickly, avoided it's full force. but the stick descended heavily on his right hand. causing him to drop the rife he was carrying to the ground. For q moment he stood irresoiute. ilvid with fury at this attach. then. picking up his weapon. he muttered hoarsely:
 ''You shall hear more about this. sir. You are.. her father, and only that fact keeps ug hands from you now" With these words he stfode rapidly from the apot
 
 The little village of Cherry Linton was all aEog with excitement. Nearly every one who was somebody, and the majority of those who were hot, had turned out to witness the opening Of a grand nsw rife range.
 This was a free gift from Sir Samuel Barnes. who had recently been innbued with the prevalent and laudabie notion that every young fellow ought to be able