davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

to him that it knelled the passing of his
own soul.
For a moment ne hesitated. then stole
quickly down the corridor. and. coming
to the room where Brother Colomb be
mad been at work, looked furtively IN
There was no one there.
Before leaving the room Brother Co
lombe had heaped fresh logs in the
stove. They cracked and sputtereG and
cast a cheerful glow over the stone
floor. The reelection OF the flames
danced upon the gloomy walls: the
irons which Brother Colombo had placed
in front of the stove were almost red
hot.
Brother Hyacinthe looked round with
an air OF satisfaction. seized several
pieces of the rough. thick cloth. and a
handful of shavings. and pushed them
In a moment the cloth and shavings
began TO fare up. They would die away
900 quickly 90 do any harm.
He thrust one end Of long wooden
bench in the stove. put the other end
against the wooden wall, and went
away. No one would come near the
place for at least a quarter of an hour.
veyed Brother Colombe's half-hearted
attempt at work with malicious salts
faction. So absorbed were the monks
Z in their devotions that at first they no
ticod nothing; then. the acrid smell oil
burning cloth and wood brought them
ba clk to that earth from which they had
: SO completely detached themselves. AS
4 the smoke grew thicker and thicker
they suddenly realized that the monas-
terry was on FIRE, and. even in an cmeT-
I gency like this, not daring 10 speak
/ looked pitfully at one another. An an
Gent monk motioned to them TO follow
/ him. and, one by one they glided away
/ through the film of gray smoke 10 seek
I for water.
| Brother Colombo was the last TO leave
: the corridor. He had suddenly become
/ absorbed in his efforts TO repair the
/ damage done TO the painting: and was
/ insensible to the approach Of the ire un-
\ I'll the smoke entered his nostrils anc
made him cough. When he looked NJ
/ he found himself IN world OF gray
/ smoke. through which flashed the fiery
eyes of Brother HyaciEthe.
| AS Brother Hyacinthe pointed a men
J acing finger in the direction of Brother
| Colombe's little room, II suddenly dawn
| ed upon the good monk that he was re
| sponsible for the catastrophe which haS
1 happened Hastily rising he placed Z
| sheet of paper over his beloved painting
and glIded through the gray mist towar'
| the door. He was unable TO find it.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

Only AZ that time did BROTHER Colombo
find peace. for. of a sIighter build than
Brother Hyacinthe, the toll. fasting and
privations OF the day wore out his frail
body until he slept as soundly as a little
child. Often. however. Brother Hya-
cinthe. rising from his pallet, and pac-
ing with noiseless. tiger steps the wood
en- floor of the dormitory, raised his
gnarled and knotted hands. muttering
imprecations against this woman whom
he hated. After these outbursts. how
ever. he always sought the Abbot, con-
fessed his sin, did penance, and received
absolution. only to struggle once more
against the malign influence Of the
woman who had slain his soul. Nc
woman was ever allowed 10 set foot in
Mahota-no woman save one; and she
came unbidden. unseen, was always be-
tween these two men who had fed from
her and the world. 1t seemed as IL she
resented their escape from her tolls, her
CIrcean allurements. and had resolved
that there should be no escape. Meek
Brother Colombo bore his sufferings I'M
fiinchlngly; when he thought of this
woman il was with childlike pity and
love Although he prayed increasingly
that her soul might once more become
white. he inflicted upon himself the Sc
verest possible penances. always re-
sarded her with loving tendencies and
scourged his suffering body to win her
future salvation.
Brother Hyacinthe passed slowly
along the corridor. goaded TO madness
that Brother Colombo prayed for MN
he did not want to be prayed for oy
Brother Colombo. There was still the
memory OF that woman between them
the woman who prosecuted them both
He could see her now. the siren eyes
the cleaning white shoulders. the love
illness of her lips, the slender ringers
which dragged him down to hell. He
cursed her-cursed her-cursed her, anc
strobe on. If he could only revisit the
world, how he would rend her limb from
limb, disfigure that fair face, crush hei
lying loneliness into the dusti IL he
could only meet her again! Only once
| Only once! He would take Brother Co
lombe's hot irons and scar her eyes out
Ah-h-hi II it were possiblel II II were
possik'ei
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

Brother Colombo put down the hot
iron with which he had been pressing
a newly-finished robe, and sighed. Slow
~ the retreating footsteps of Brother
Hyacinthe died away, Then Brother
Colombo, laying aside his work. entered
the corridor and went straight TO his
favortte window seat, where he was IL
Eliminating a missal with pictures Of
saints. For more than a month past
during this hour of recreation he had
painted the Holy Virtin and Child. Even
In his dull heart there was a thrill of
exultation as he thought how full Of
promise the painting was. how it needed
but few more strokes of the brush 10
be complete What was his dismay as
he drew near the window seat to find
that some one had careiessly upset "A
glass OF water over the missal, and that
the LABOR OF more than a month was
practically ruined
Brother Colombo sighed again, and
prayed that he might not in has guilty
heart deem this the work OF an enemy.
Then he took up his brushes and at
tempted to repair the damage
He did not know that a few yards
away Brother Hyacinthe regarded him
with. intense hate, his cowl drawn we'll
over his head, his eyes blazing like Nv
ing Goals When Brother Hyacinthe
saw the meek monk once more resume
his labor, he folded his hands. and, with
SLOW. measured steps. withdrew. As he
went out there were several lay brothers
kneeling before the very stations of the
Cross. a CHASTITY light filtered through
the narrow windows. To him the
ghostly light seemed full Of fiery flame.
for an Irresistible temptation had sud
denly taken possession of him. He
could no longer endure the proximity of
the man he hated-the man who had
rendered IL impossible for him to escape
from all memory of the woman he still
loved. lie would ruin this man and
himself at the same time, and thus
find, way OF escapei
He stole silently through the long cor
ridor. Perpetual vigils, the haunting
presence of the Unseen Woman, the
scanty food and appalling routine OF
his daily life. had done their work. For
the moment he was insane. with all a
madman's cunningi
Alone In the long stone corridor, he
looked carefully around. but there was
no one in sight, for the farm hands OF
the monastery had all gone to their
midday meal. Even the swineherd was
not to be seen. The only sound which
broke the stiffness was the dull, low
moaning of the chapel bell: it seemed
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

When he looked round in bewilder-
ment. the eyes OF Brother Hyacinthe
still glared freely at him.
Again he felt along the walls. and
again missed the door. When he looked
up. Brother Hyacinthe was beside him.
The rules of their order forbade speech;
but ii ever human eyes spoke eiOQuently.
they were the eyes of Brother Colombo
as he gazed up at Brother Hyacin
and placed a trembling hand upon his
arm.
Brother Hyacinthe shook of Brother
Colombe's fingers as If they burned him.
and opened the door. Brother Colombo
followed him thankfully. under the de-
fusion that Brother Hyacinthe was en-
deavoring to save him.
Once outside the door. Brother Hya-
cinthe led the way along the corridor.
hand TO drag Brother Colombo forward
Afler what seemed an interminable
space OF time, they reached Brother CO.
lOmbe's little room in which the FIRE
ragged fercely. Outside they heard the
wild changing of the monastery bell as
II gave the alarm to the surrounding
villages. The narrow stream Of water
IN the valley had run nearly dry. there
were only two large wells In front OF
the monastery. A MINDLESS creaked as
the water was slowly drawn TO the top.
The buckets seemed piufuily small.
Tongues of flame leaped through tho
thickening smoke-wreaths- AT last at
( last" Numbered Brother Hyacinths.
The Devil hath delivered you into my
fingers closed round Brother Colombe's
throat.
Brother Colombo made no resistance.
His last thought was a prayer for the
soul of the woman he had once loved
with an earthly passion IN the agony
OF imminent death. he now saw her clad
in the raiment OF the Shining Ones. Her
eyes loked into his with tender love;
they implored pardon. forgiveness. were
full Of sorrow for the sins OF earth.
Brother Hyacinthe shifted his hold
and grasped Brother Colombo round
the waist to cast him into the blazing
room. Suddenly. he let go his grip ana
staggered against the doorway
/ white hand thrust him into the fiery
/ furnace. he fell backward. the flames
swallowed him up
Brother Colombo felt himself grasped
/ by the soft hand Of woman. She laid
a niger on his lips as she led him forth
/ from the flames. AT the touch o. her
/ healing fingers. he opened his eyes and
/ saw the Gates of the Celestial City
little distance away. despairing
I monks dashed buckets Of water against
/ the monastery walls.
l He was alone.-Black and Whita-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

upon their brows the seal OF silence
Some faces were good. some bad. some
divinely peaceful and happy. others ola
bolically wicked. But upon them all
was the ineffaceable brand which sep
arated them from their fellows These
men had voluntarily quilted the world
for living tomb; whether they regret
ted II or not. there was no retracing
their steps What use had the world
for a man who was false TO his obIlga-
uons2 II he left the monastery he
would be Stunned and despised; II he
remained there he condemned himself
10 perpetual silence. shut out all the
sweetness of living. became practically
a dead man. who still walked the earth
brooding over the wrongs or sufferings
OF his past life.
The monks entered their dormitories
at 8. rose at 2 in the morning.
and worshiped for three hours in the
monastery chapel. Then they went
forth into the fields after a scanty
breakfast of bread and water, and lab
ored until midday. There was a short
rest for recreation after dinner. and the
monotonous round began again until the
evening meal. The cost OF each monk s
food was about a half-penny a day. The
Brethren made their own clothes and
shoes. An absolute familiarity with
death had robbed IL of all terrors. II
q monk died he was carried coffinIess
in his brown robe TO the graveyard,
there
To take his All
OF deep and liquid rest, forgetful Of all i'll
That was all. He was made one with
nature. His place knew him no more.
When the MONDAY bell rang Brother
Hyacinthe. tall, swarthy. muscular,
thin, laid down his saw with an air OF
relief folded his hands. and walked
slowly in the direction OF the monas-
terry. once on the threshold. he raised
his eyes to the sky with a despairing
look, gave an expressive shrug OF his
brawny shoulders, and went down the
long passage which led to the corridor
where the monks assembled for their
hour Of recreation. Halfway down the
corridor he stopped 20 gaze through an
open door-the door OF a meanly-fur-
nished little room in which a great
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10
n T ALFWAY up the valley rose the
Fl Trappist Monastery OF Mahota
4 4 Although the first SHOWS Of win

Air Wal up tne valley rose the
RI Trappist Monastery OF Mahota
\ = Although the first SHOWS Of win
ter had just fallen, the Ottawa
River was not yet frozen. In spite Of
the perpetual silence OF the Brethren, in
the outbuildings OF the monastery there
were signs OF active preparations for the
coming cold. The cattle had been called
mp from distant fields, and the lay
brother vino usually spent the late sum-
xner and autumn peeling potatoes in the
open air at the back Of the monastery
now sought shelter by the kitchen stove
from the keen cold of coming winter.
On the hills surrounding the monas-
terry serried rows of naples stood leaf
less and rigid, the dull green of occa-
sional pines showing somberly against
the leaden sky. Habitants. bringing
milk 20 the cheese factory, shook their
heads knowingly as they prophesied the
rapidly approaching snow faIl-a blanket
of white which would shut them from
the outer world until spring. The COM
ing of the snow always brought with it
q feeling OF awe. although they were
prcvisioned TO stand a winter siege. and
would lie as snugly In their little houses
during the winter as squirrels In nest.
Inside the monastery barn. the monks
were busily engaged knocking up stalls
for the large herd Of cows 10 be fed and
sheltered there. Most Of the monks had
tied their brown robes round their
waists: the only sounds which broke the
etillness were the occasional buzz of a
saw or the ringing OF a hammer on a
nail head. The rules Of their order for
bade the monks 10 speak. They worked
an silence, only leaving off at intervals
70 wipe the sweat from their orows as
the monastery bell tolied every quarter
of an hour 10 remind them that they
were mortal In the little burial ground
of the monastery there was also half
du1 grave which served 20 fuliIl the
same purpose. When a monk feared
death he went into the graveyard and
Law down in the half-hlled grave. Then
he came back TO bis work and prayed
in silence as he toiled
II was a hard life Of constant inter
cesston. prayer. and work Most OF tho
monks. who labored in the barn bore
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

ing. He'll be all right tomorrow
though. to act as coroner and take pos
session on behalf of the government.
Celebrate again tomorrow night on the
proceeds. unless he bursts from impor-
lance in the meanwhile"
Poor old Earl! Give that whisky a
shove. will your"
The two men pulled at their pipes
for some time in silence. Then the
younger said:
Done anything at the store today?"
You bet. Sold all the whisky had.
save the bottle Sanchez stole. to those
poor devils of Indians on a strictly
credit basis? Sold ten cents worth of
beans as well"
There was silence again. which the
elder man broke by saying:
What was that you said about CUT
ting II. young un?"
I'm of for San Pedro tomorrow. I
swear it,
How are you going? In balloon p
Foot it. I suppose; but I'm going. -
Going to leave me stranded here with
that devil. saEchez?"
mo. You're coming. too
And leave the Broncers? No: I
won't"
by Jove. forgot them. Wonder why
they haven't been down. 1 say, think
of Earl. Do you suppose?
mo. Not yet. Look here. Forgot.
Indian brought this in three DAYS ago.
Another sale on the credit system.
Poor, silly devils" Fugard handed a
note to his companion. 1t ran as fol-
lows:
Vale de Dlablo. Dear Fugard
Please send by bearer some ouinine. a
few pounds of powder and shot, SHOW
el, an iron pan Cbasin SHAPED. a garde-
ner's line. and some beans. Have YOU
had any rain? None here. Cattle all
dead but three. Don't like look of UJnky.
! Wish there was a woman here. We are
camping by the Arroyo Belie%s have
struck it rich If so. homes the word al
last. Trust me once more. like a good
chap, or come and take a COW. Hope we
shall be in to wish you a-wen. a
Christmas of sorts. Have you any nitric
acid? If so. send some.-w. Broncer."
The young man kept his eyes fixed on
this note for long time. and when al
length he spoke. it was with twitchine
liz and unsteady voice.
What a queer chap you are. George
bottling this thing up! Why did yo,
do it?''
Because. young 'un." and Fugar,
put kindly hand on his friends Shout
der-'because don't see the way out
and-well, you've kicked yourself enough
over the wretched business Poor ole
Percy. 1t amt all jam being a swind
ling company's agent. is it?'
But 1 swear. George"
Yes. yes. We know all about that
You were swindled, too. +"
''On my honor. George, 1 didn't"
You didn't know. All right. all right
Don't excite yourself-I should hope yol
didn't. indeed. Well. well, never mind
No. no. you're not to blame. sonny. Yo,
little beast Percy. you're sniveIins
Here, take some whisky. Ought to
ashamed of yourself. Wish 1 couI,
SWIVEL like that though. Must be reliev
ing. What was that? Santa CIau
knocking at the door. by Jover' and Flu
gard. giving his friend a final kindly pa
on the shoulder. walked to the outsid
door. and. opening it, let food Of day
light and a cloud of wind-blown san,
into the room.
A stern-faced, weIl-dressed man stoo,
on the doorstep, and close by was
spring wagon with it's wheels buried hal
way up to the hubs in the fine whit
sand OF the sandhill on which the com
pany's Office stood.
) rs this the city Of San Pablo?' aske
= the stranger.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

That's what This and that shanty
over there" answered Fugard. "A bit
sandy, isn't it?' he added. as sudden
cloud of sand blinded the strangers
eyes.
And is that the bay?" asked the new
conner, when he could see again, point
ing to n vast expanse of sand banks.
bisected by narrow channel of water
and stretching miles and miles to a dis
tant line of sea.
That's what" answered Fugard
again. And that think like a drunken.
dislocated centipede is the pier. and
those mountains way back there are the
boundaries of the city. and that chicken
pen marks the site of the city hall. and
we now stand-walk up, gentlemen,
please: no charge-we now stand in that
most populous district of Grand Ave-
nue. and that shanty over there is the
seat of the government. and also a
store or depository of general merchan-
disc, and I'm the storekeper. and who
the devil are you, anyhow
want to see Mr.. Hodgson.' said the
stranger gravely.
! Fugard took the card. Then his bit
ter voice grew menacing as he said:
See here. Mr.. Sheath, of London
You're going to step right UP into that
wagon and get-to he'll if YOU like. but
YOU don't stay here to eat your heart
out while IN around. You're a colonist,
amt your
No
You've bought a magnificent cattle
ranch in London. haven't you?"
No"
Fugard looked at the man as though
he were a monstrosity. Then he said;
wen. then. what in thunder brings
you here?"
Il want to see MIR. Hodgson. IS he
here?'
Yes: he's in there irrigating his in
side Walk in. You're a phenomenon.
Mr.. Sheath. and 1 congratulate you on
it All right III attend to your horses.
I see you've brought your own feed
That's lucky. Not a straw to be had
in the whole city, and our nags ex-
pired in trying to accommodate them
selves to the circumstances. Step right
in"
! The stranger did so.
After nearly an hour OF gentle. steady
work. Fugard left the horses with a
caressing Pat, and made his way TO the
Office again. He paused for moment
on the doorstep. and said:
percy waxeth eloquent to the stran.
ger" Then he entered
Il tell you. sir. it was cruel shame
an outrage. to send those fellows out
here"
Hear, hear" said Fugard.
GLAD you've come in, George" saiC
the boy. as he excitedly STROBE up anC
down on the debris strewn floor. ~
Just been telling Mr.. Sheath about the
Broncers. The company's busted
George. The whole things a swindle
Sir Richard Welcher is in quod. and Mr.
Sheath has come out on behalf of tn
sharehoIders-the widows and orphans
TO settle things up and take over tn
assets"
Take over the assets. echoed Flu
gard. That's good.
Il have letter for the Broncers.
said Sheath. How long have they bee
here?''
"Oh, about forty-I mean two years,
answered Percy.
But why did they stay?" pursue
Sheath.
/ You don't know Willie Broncer,' an
swered Percy, again somewhat feebly.
: Look here. Mr.. Sheath said Fugard
roughly. advancing from the door a
he spoke. and leaning across the table
kindly put yourself in the place o
either OF two brothers, the elder
Mexico Missouri message., 1904-12-22
SENATE PASSES PHILIPPINE BILL;
FINAL VOTE IS "A TO q

Washington: The Senate Friday by
a vote OF Al to % passed the Philip
pine civil government bill The final
vote was preceded by the presenta.
tion of many amendments and q gen.
eral discussion of them, as well as Of
the provisions of the bill The dis.
cussion was confined quite generally
to the merits of the measure. On some
OF the amendments suggested by Dem
ocratic senators several Western Re
publicans voted in the affirmative, but
Mr.. McCumber was the only Republi
can who voted with the Democrats
against the final passage of the bill
The most notable change made dur
ing the day was the lowering of the
rate of interest on railroad bonds to
be guaranteed by the Philippine gov
eminent from . to per cent.
The bill as passed eXempts from
taxation all bonds issued by the Phil
ippine and Porto Rican government;
authorizes municipalities in the Phil
ippines to incur a bonded indebted
ness amounting to 3 per cent of the
assessed valuation of their property at
per cent interest; authorizes the
Philippine government to incur a
Mexico Missouri message., 1904-12-22
FOUR WITNESSES ATTEST
MARcUM MURDER PLOT
Sister Of Kentucky Feud Victim on
Stand in Damage Suit.

Winchester, Ky: In the trial of the
Marcum damage suit at Winchester
Friday. evidence was brought out de-
signed to show that James Hargis,
Alexander Hargis, Ed Callahan and B.
F. French were in a conspiracy to
bring about James B. Marcums death.
Robert CLANCY and James Mann,
residents OF Breathit county, testi-
fed that James Hargis had offered
them $500 and their freedom from
murder charge hanging over them If
they would kill MarCum. These offers,
1t was sworn, were made just few
weeks before Marcum was assassin
ated. and were made in the private
arsenal over the Hargis store in
Jackson.
Mrs. Mary Johnson, sister of Mar
cum testified that several months
before her brother was killed four
men-Mose Feltner, John Abner,
John Smith and Tom Whitehall lain
in wait all night in a rock quarry 200
yards from the Marcum home to as
sassinate him. She said the warning
was given by Feltner, who had been
befrcnded by Marcum, and who did
not want to see him killed. She said
she went to the quarry early the next
morning and found the men all heav-
lily armed with Winchester rifles and
shotguns. Mrs. Johnson said that the
day before her brother was killed she
saww all of the men and Curtis Jet
and Asbury Spicer with guns, stand
ing across the street from he brothers
home.
John Noble, formerly police judge Of
Jackson, told of the plans formed by
the defendants shortly after the MUIR
der to prove an alibi for Curtis Jet.
The attorneys for the defense during
the former trials held coference with
Hargis, French and Callahan in the
upstairs room of the Hargis store and
1t was agreed that Noble was to go on
the witness stand and swer that he
saw Jet standing on the pavement
when the shooting occurred. Noble
carried out the plans as formed.
Mexico Missouri message., 1904-12-22
MINNEAPOLIS FIRE
LOSS is $4,000
Business Section Of City Saved After
a Most Desperate Fight.

Minneapolis, Mimi: Two fremen
lost their lives, several persons were
injured and property valued at $780,
600 was destroyed by the fire which
started Tuesday night.
The dead are Jacob f. Miller, in
Burance patrolman; John Fellows,
pipeman. The seriously injured are
Fred Klrcheff, substitute pipeman,
burned about face: Tony Wilson. pipe
man, burned about legs; lieutenant
J. p. Barrett, back injured.
For a time the entire retail business
district was threatened, and its es-
cape from destruction was due as
much to the absence of strong wind
as to the efforts of the firemen.
The fire statred In the Photographic
supply house of o. H. Peck & Co.. and
quickly spread to the adjoining build
ings, including the six-story furniture
house of Boutell Bros. one Of the
largest establishments of It's kind in
the Northwest.