davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

that . great 5eSt and laughed. While
they were shouting I slipped between
them and got mp the stairs into .
chamber, where 1 bolted the door and
would not open to them. though they
pounded their fists sore and cursed
at me. At last they began to laugh
and jeer, and called to me they would
60 down and drink my wedding toast
before they broke in the door and
fetched me; and then they betook
themselves to feasting."
Sister Wynfreda bent her head to
murmur . prayer: God forgive me
II have lacked charity in my judg-
ment on the Pagans! II they who
have seen the light can do such deeds.
what can be expected of those who
yet labor under the curse of dark
ness?"
Il do not understand you" Randa-
lin said wearily. sinking on the grass
and passing her hands over her strain
ed eyes. when a man looks with
eyes of longing upon another mans
property, 1t is to be expected that he
will do as much evil as luck allows
him. Though he has got Baddeby,
Norman was c0vetous of Avalcomb.
When his lord, Edric Jarl, was still
King Edmund's man, he twice beset
the castle. and my father twice held
it against him. And his greed was
such that he could not stay away even
nft h0I thA 81
Canute."
It was the nuns turn for bewilder-
ment. The man of Canute? Edric
of Mercia, who is married to the
Kings sister? 1t cannot be that you
know what you say"
Certainly I know what I say" the
girl returned little impatiently. "All
English lords are fraudulent: men can
see that by the state of the country.
Though he be thrice kinsman to the
English King. Edric Jarl has joined
the host Of Canute of Denmark: and
all his men have followed him. But
even that agreement could not hold
Norman back from Avalcomb. He
lay hidden near the gate till he saw
ny father come. in the dusk, from
hunting, when he fell upon him and
slew him. and forced an entrance-the
nithing! When he had Hve-and-fifty
men and my father but twelve!"
She paused. with set lips and head
flung high. The nun got down stimy
beside her and laid q gentle hand upon
upon her knee.
Think not of 1t. my daughter" she
urged. Think of your present need
and of what it behooves us to do. Tell
me how you escaped from the cham
be.. and why you wear these clothes"
Ito be continued.)
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
Gaxes idly out.

scured and she could only wait for
time to unravel the mystery.
On the 25Oth performance Agnes
Carleton celebrated the event BY In
Producing q new gown. In place OF
the white satin, which was beginning
to show the marks Of wear and tear.
she appeared in . handsome black
satin, which caused every woman In
the audience . pang Of jealously and
incidentally got her several newspaper
items.
As usual. Annice stood BY the win
dow. wondering who her unknown ad-
mfrer might be. Lady Gwendolin
gave her customary shrek and Annice
turned with . scream of terror TO BE-
hold the villains wicked work.
Tonight she supplemented her
stage horror with . cry more natural.
Lady Gvendolin fen with her faee
to the audience that they might mar
vel at the play Of her facial express
sion as she slowly died from the
effects Of Maltraver's cruel blow.
There on the back of the black satin
were the marks of q mans anRers
clearly outlined In white.
In . fash It IN came to her. Hugh
Cameron, who played Maltravefs, vss
the only person who left the staee.
He made his exit from the very win
dow out Of which she had been look.
ING. An Of the other characters vera
supposed to enter from the castle q
the opposite side of the staee.
Il VaS IN easy matter to ch0lk H.
leEend While she was having ~
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

wrong has to be rubbed out. and il
you use the rubber too much you
make . sOiled and spoiled picture.
but II you make part Of your smoke
drawing wrong you merely have to
smoke the part again and do it over
and you can make As many changes
as you wish. When the picture is as
good Al you can make il. lay on it q
dampened piece Of paper. press the
paper lightly and take it of. You
will find the smoke picture trans
ferred to the paper and you can keep
il from rubbing OF by spraying IL with
thin gum water as artists do with pen
ell drawings.
II you cannot draw at all you can
still make smoke pictures by cut
ting out animals and human figures
from illustrated papers. wetting them.
sticking them on the plate, smoking
the latter and then remove the paper.
In this way you get white figures on a
black ground. You can make black
figures On . white ground by using
the picture out of which you cut the
figures t1stead Of the figures them
selves.
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
CHAPTER ..

The Fall Of the House Of Erode.
AS the blackness of the midsummer
nfght paled. the broken towers and
wrecked walls Of the monastery loom
ed up dim and stark in the gray light.
Through breach in the m0ss-grOwn
wall. the first sunbeam stole In and
pointed q bright finger across the
cloiser garth at the charred spot in
the center, where missals and parch-
ment rolls had made a roaring fire to
xarm the invaders blood-stained
hands.
AS the lark rose through the bright
ening air to greet the coming day, q
woman in the tunic and cowl of nun
opened what was left of the wicket
gate in the one unbattered wall. She
struck q note in perfect harmony with
her surroundings, as she stood under
the crumbling arch, peering out into
the towering lane.
Like the struggling hedges that
were half buried under a net of wild
roses. red and white. the path was
half ehaced by gross: but beyond.
her eye could follow the straight line
OF the great Roman road over marsh
and meadow and hilltop.
Between the dark walls of oak and
beech, it cleaned as white as the
Milky Way. The nun was able to
trace its course up the slope of the
last hill. Just beyond the crest, q
pail of smoke was spread over a burn
ing village. Shivering the nun turned
her face back to the desolate peace
of the ruins.
Now is it clear to all men why q
bloody cloud was hung over the land
in the year that Ethelred came to the
throne" she said. Il feel as the
blessed dead might feel should they
be forced to leave the shelter of their
graves and look out upon the world"
Rising from its knees beside q bed
of herbs, a second figure in faded
robes approached the gate. Sister
Sexberga was very old. much older
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

II you can draw even q little bit
you can make pretty pictures Of . new
and interesting sort in . very easy
way. The picture Is made on any
nat surface that you can hold In .
gas, lamp or candle fame without
burning or cracking. A piece Of tin
or sheet zinc will do. or china plate.
earthen pie dish or pane Of glass. II
you use tin or zinc. take care that you
do not burn your fingers. as q piece Of
metal gets hot all over. though only
q part of it is In contact with the
fame. On the other hand, n you use
porcelain or glass. especially the lat
ter, you must pass 1t quickly through
or Just above the fame to avoid crack
ing It by heating one spot too strong
ly, and repeat the operation until a
large . spot Is you need is blackened
evenly.
Draw your picture with . pin or .
pointed stick. which will scrape away
the SCOT from the white china or
bright metal 80 that you cannot draw
very well II simply this-you can
alter the picture until you get II right
Every pencil line that II drawn
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
SHE WANTED TO KNOW.

Then When She Found Out All
About Il She Was Unhappy.
John Billus. I found this photo
graph in the inside pocket of an old
vest Of yours hanging up in the closet
I'd like an explanation. Whose is it?''
Cant you see it's an old picture.
Maria? What's the use of stirring up
memories that"
Il want to know whose picture that
is"
Rather a pleasant-faced girl isn't
she!"
Il want to know her name."
NO jealous fury in that counte.
nance. is there?''
Whose is it,"
Its . portrait of a girl I used to
think a great deal of, and"
Her name, sir?"
We'll, you sat for 1t yourself,
Maria, about nineteen years ago; but
to tell the truth I always did think
the pleasing expression was q littls
overdone. Put on your spectacles
and look at 1t again, and then com
pare it with the reflection in that mir.
ror over there and see-what are you
getting mad about?"
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

2E2I0KSZ2z 2zIW
~ ms .M4MQ6IW'

scene with Miss Carleton. Then when
he ned from the consequence Of his
murderous assault he could rub out
the chalk marks.
Only the black satin dress had
been out OF his calculations. When
he had grappled with Lady Gwen.
dolin. the chalk from his imperfectly
cleaned fingers had left their mark.
On the old white dress they had not
been noticeable.
All through the last act the inci-
dent kept running through her head.
She liked Cameron very much. bet
ter than anyone else In the company.
He had been 20 kind to her In many
little ways. 20 deferential. she could
not believe that he had sought to
insult her. She could not even i'm
agine him doing such . thing even
for . joke. He Was not that sort
OF . man.
It hurt her to think that he had .
hand In this joke. Just a. the curtain
fell at the close Of the act she turned
to Cameron.
II should like to speak to you
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
How Ioads undress.

For . marvel Of economy you win
never beat the toad. He eats his own
clothes. says . devout lover Of that
harmless and Shiny creature. At Ger
tain seasons he begins to undress. He
begins by rubbing his elbows hard
against his sides. and pressing down
ward. In a second the old suit lursts
open along his back. and he keeps on
rubbing until he has worked 1t al In
folds on his sides and hips; then he
seizes one of his hind legs and begins
to haul on one leg of his trousers, and
next the other leg Is served In the
same way. OF course . brand new
suit is discovered by this disr0bing
process. Before he takes on the rest
Of his old clothes he folds his trous-
ers up quite neatly and swallows
them. Then, by raising and lowering
his head, and swallowing little by
little, he hauls OF his coat until he
comes to the sleeves. Grasping one
of these with the opposite hand, he
drags it OF, wrong side out, and swal-
lows 1t also. rubbing his neck at the
same time, so that his collar, cravat
and, In fact, every vestige Of his old
suit, disappear altogether.
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

''Master!" he muttered. Master?
Have they gone!"
In IN instant Sister Wynfreda was
on her knees beside him. rs 1t the
English you mean? Did they beset
the castle?"
Slowly the mans clouded eyes
cleared. The Sisters" he muir
INJURED. Il had the intention-to get
to you-but r fell" His words died
away in q whisper, and his eyelids
dropped. Sister Sexberga turned again
to seek her restorative. Sister Wyn-
freda leaned over and shook him.
Answer me. first. Where is your
master! And young Fridtjof? And
your mistress?"
He shrank from her touch with .
gasp of pain. Dead" he muttered.
"Dead-at the gate-Frode and the
boy-the raven-starvers cut them
down like saplings."
And Randalin?"
Il heard her scream as the English
man seized her-Leofwinesson had
her round the waist-they knocked
me on the head. then-I-I-" Again
his voice died away.
Sister Wynfreda made no attempt to
recall him. Mechanically she held his
head SO that her companion might
pour the liquid down his throat. That
done, she brought water and band
ages. and stood by. absent-eyed and
in silence, while Sexberga found his
wounds and dressed them. 1t was
the older woman who spoke first.
The fate of this maiden lies heavy
on your mind. beloved" she said ten
derly; ''and I would have you know
that my heart also is sOrrOwful. For
all that she is the fruit of darkness.
it was permitted by the Lord that
Randalin. FrOde's daughter. should be
born with q light in her soul. II was
in my prayers that We might be en-
abled to feed that light as it wefe q
sacred lamp. to the end that In Gods
good time the spreading glory Of its
brightness might deliver her from the
shadows forever"
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

Annice Wheatley strolled to the
window and gazed idly out. This was
strictly in accordance with the In
structions conveyed in the little blue
covered book of typewriting which
read:
and I will explain 1t al to you.
Gertrude walks to window r and
gazes idly out-)"
Considering that this was the 217th
time she had done this the view from
the window had lost somewhat Of its
novelty.
She knew exactly what she would
see there. At her right would be .
huge electric calcium pouring tts
green rays upon her white dress. It
had been decided that green would
be better than blue. The moon had
been green ever since the night when
the stage manager had arrived at this
decision.
There were also q couple Of stage
braces holding up the scenery, and
sometimes q couple OF stage hands In
very dirty shirt sleeves lent anima-
tion to the view.
Tonight the men were absent and
Annice was able to give her whole
attention to the noor, on which some
one had chalked Il love you" in .
clear print
She wondered idly who might have
done this. Some stage hand. prob
ably considering 1t . good joke.
Surely NO one would make such IN
open confession and expect to be
taken seriously.
She was still wondering when she
heard the cue which Was her signal
to turn with Q cry Of horror to per-
ceive Lady Gwendolin PROSTATE upon
the floor, struck down BY Hugh Dc
Maltravers, who in private life Was .
most unvillain-like villain.
After that 1t was busy time until
the fall of the curtain. when she had
to run for the dressing room for .
change for the third-act costume. She
gave the chalk marks no further
thought until the following evening.
There, again. were the eloquent
words, neatly chalked for her inspec'
ton. She was the only one required
to use the window. She could not
suppose that the message was meant
for any one else.
Gradually the legend began to an
noy her. Every evening the same
words appeared, only to disappear be-
fore It came time to make the change
for the next act.
She complained to the stage mana
ger, but that ofncial could offer no
practical suggestion. He was certain
it was none of the stage boys and
that was all the satisfaction she could
obtain.
The matter both annoyed and inter.
ested her. It takes but little to make
talk In . company, and she wisely
held her peace; but she kept . sharp
eye out in the hope Of discovering the
offender.
She even made . practice Of run
ming to the window the moment the
curtain fell in the hope Of discovering
the writer erasing the lines. but by
that time the marks had been OBJ
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
Salary Regular, Anyhow.

George Gilliland, now secretary to
Senator W. H. Clark. of Montana, was
for six years secretary and political
adviser to the late Senator Brice. also
a millionaire. One day Gilliland was
at the White House and President Nc
Klnley asked him:
What are you doing now, George"
'Oh. I'm in the senate again"
"How's that" asked Mckinley.
I'm secretary to Senator Clark Of
Montana"
We'll, George" said Mckinley, you
certainly display good judgment In
picking out your employers"
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

W1o no prank.
after you have changed" she said SIM
ply.
He bowed, but 1t was with no easy
heart that he awaited her coming on
the dark stage.
She broached the subject directly.
"Mr. Cameron" she demanded. why
do you annoy me by chalking such
absurd sentiments underneath the
window in the second act?"
How did you know!" he countered.
you left chalk marks on Miss Car
leton's black dress this evening" she
explained. Nov I want to know
why you played such an absurd
pranky"
He colored like . guilty school
boy.
believe me-" he said earnestly. 1T
was no prank. I meant It. every word.
One night I stood by the window. The
stage hands were all busy with .
card game at the rear and I knew no
one would see 1t before I came OF
after the murder. I picked . piece
of chalk OF the call board and wrote
the words. You see while play vii.
lain on the stage, am anything but
D bold man OF. Just ~ was going
to sign them I heard the cue that
brought you to the window and had
Just time to whisk around the corner.
I have been trying every night since
then to get the courage to sign my
name, but II It hadn't been for that
blessed dress I never should have
done 90. I mean II, every word OF Il,
Miss Wheatley. Won't you believe
me!"
BY special request Miss Carleton
will wear her black dress 1t the
wedding.
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
How Success sueeeeds.

row success S0ccee0es
Col. Weis was once at Carlsbad with
the treasurer of a Cincinnati brewery
There is a system of "Kur tax" in
Carlsbad. You pay from s. to SO II
you stay over a week, the fund coins
to defray music and improvement ex.
penses. 1t is plain robbery, but can't
be avoided. The tax is graded &C.
cording to your wealth or income, and
the willy Rohemians generally know
who's who. They came to Weis and
asked his occupation.
I'm in the express business"
Watts dat?"
"Oh. We deliver packages, you
know"
So they put Weis down as q wagon
driver and assessed him the very
lowest. although he draws $36. 900 Q
year. The brewery employe gave his
occupation and was hit for the high.
est tax, although his salary was but
$1,000 q year,-Philadelphia Ledger.
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

In the chapel four feeble old voices
raised a chant that trembled and
shook like a quivering heartstring.
Tremulously sweet it drifted out over
the garden and blended with the aroma
in the air. The wounded man smiled
through his pain.
The chant ceased, the waverine
treble dying away in q note of haunt
ing sweetness. The man moaned and
clutched At his wound: and the bowed
figure by his side reused herself to
tend him. Then a grating of rusty
hinges made her turn her head.
Under the crumbling arch. relieved
against the green of the lane beyond,
stood the figure of a slender boy
wrapped in a mantle of scarlet that
bore q strangely familiar look.
Sister Wynfreda rose and took a
step forward. staring at him in bewild-
erment
"Fridtjof!" she questioned.
At the sound Of her voice, the boy
turned and hastened toward her. Then
a great cry burst from Sister Wyn-
freda, for the face under the black
locks was the face of Randalin.
She made a convincing boy. this
daughter of the Vikings. Though she
was sixteen. her graceful body had re-
tanned most of the lines and slender
curves of childhood; and she was long
of limb and broad Of shoulder. A life
out-of-doors had given to her skin a
tone of warm brown. which, in q land
that expected women to be lily-fair,
was like q mask added to her dis
guise. The blackness of her hair was
equally unconnected with Northern
dreams Of beautiful maidens. Some
fair-tressed ancestor back in the past
must have qualified his blood from
the veins of an Irish captive; in no
other way could one account for those
locks. and for her eyes that were of
the grayish blue Of iris petals.
The eyes were . little staring this
morning, rs though still stretched
wide with the horror of the things
they had looked upon; and all the
glowing red blood had ebbed away
from the brown cheeks.
She said In q low voice, NY father
. Ffidtjof :" then stopped
to draw q long hard breath through
her set teeth.
Sister Wynfreda ran to the girl and
caught her tremblingly by the hands.
Praise the Lord that you are de-
livered whole to mel" she breathed.
Gram told us-that they had taken
you"
Gazing at her out of horror-flled
eyes, Randalin stood quite still In her
embrace. Her story came from her
in Jerks. and each fragment seemed
to leave her breathless. though she
spoke slowly.
Il broke away" she said. They
stood around me in q ring. Norman
Leofwinesson said he would carry
me before . priest and marry me, 80
that AvalcOmb might be his lawfully,
whichever king got the victory. I
said by no means would I wed him;
sooner would I slay him. All thought
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
was ready to return home he Was
given . seat beside the driveF-0en
Of Tomorrow.
In the eirell0ht.

In the eireli0ht
The hre upon the hearth II low.
And there is stiffness everywhere.
Like troubled spirits here and there.
The freight shadows fluttering 90.
And aS the shadows round me creep.
A childish treble breaks the gloom.
And softly from further room
Comes: Nov I lay me d.wn to sleep"
And. somehow. with that little prayer.
And that sweet treble In my ears.
Ny thought goes hack to distant years.
And fingers with a dear one there;
And n I hear the child's amen.
Ny mothers faith comes back to me-
CrOuched at her side I seem to be,
And mother holds my hands again.
Oh. for an hour In that dear place.
Oh. for the peace Of that dear time!
Oh. for that childish trust sublime.
Oh. for q glimpse Of mothers face!
Yet. AZ the shadows round me creep,
l do not seem to be alone
Sweet magic Of that .reble tone.
AnG Now ] lay me down to sleep!.
Eugene Field
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
Improve the Canals.

A movement has been started in
several centers in Europe to improve
the canals, which have been neglected
through the influence of the railroads
just as they have in many American
states.
There are in France 5000 miles Of
canals. Belgium has 1922 miles OF
canals and other waterways. In Hol
land the canals are put to more gen
eral use than they are in other coun
tries.
In England there are 1907 miles of
canals. and it has been pointed out
that the railway companies own 1876
miles Of these canals. The railroad
companies keep the canal rates SO
high that there is no competition be.
tween the canals and the railroads.
There are few canals in any country
that are not fifty years behind the
times.
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18

than her companion, and her face
was a wrinklcd parchment whereon
Time had written some terrible les
sons.
She said gently. I'VE are one with
the dead. beloved sister. Those who
lie under the chancel lay no safer than
We, last night. though the Pagans'
passing tread shook the ground We lay
on. and their songs broke our slum-
bers'
The shadows deepened in the eyes
Of Sister Wynfreda as she turned them
back toward the lane. for her patience
was not yet ripe to perfect mellow
ness.
The peace of the grave can never
be mine while my heart is open to the
sorrows of others" she answered with
sadness. Sister Sexberga, that was
an English band which passed last
aight. I am in utmost fear for the
Danes of Avalc0mb."
They that take the sword shall
perish with the sword" the old nun
quoted, a little sternly. An English
man was despoiled of his lands
when Erode the Dane took AvalcOmb.
II now Frode's turn has come"
Her companion made q gesture Of
entreaty. 1t is not for Erode that
am timorous, dear sister. nor for the
boy. Fridtjof; it is for Randalin. his
daughter"
Sister Sexberga was some time 81
lent. When at last she spoke. it was
but to repeat slowly, 'Randalin, his
daughter. God pity herr"
Sister Wynfreda was no longer lis
tening. She had quilted her hold
upon the gate and taken q step for
ward, straining her eyes. Out OF Q
tall mass of golden bloom At the far
ther end of the lane, an arm clad In
brown homespun had tossed itself for
one delirious instant. Trailing her
robes over the daisied grass. the nun
came upon q wounded man lying face
downward in the tangle.
When the united strength Of the
four arms had turned the limp weight
upon its back, Q cry of astonishment
rose IfOm G8Cu IuIO6t.
The woodward Of Avalcomb!"
The hand Of the Lord hath fallen!"
After q moment the younger woman
said in q trembling voice. The whis-
Per in my heart spoke truly. Dearest
sister. put your arm under here. and
we will get him to his feet and bring
him in. and he viii tell us what has
happened. See! He is shaking OF
his swoon. After he has swallowed
some Of your wine, he will be able to
speak and tell u.s."
Il was muscle-breaking work for
Women's backs, for though he tried in
stinctively to obey their directions,
the man was scarcely conscious: his
arms were Ike lead Jokes upon his
supporters' shoulders. Just within the
gnte their strength gave out, and they
were forced to put him down among
the spicy herbs. There, as one was
pulling OF her threadbare cloak to
make him . pillow. and the other was
startiag after her cordial. he opened
bis eyes.
The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
Double Vision.

See here" exclaimed Benedick's
friend. you'll have to give up your
old ideas of seeing life. You're not
single any more"
''Zhat's all right" gurgled Benedick.
Il don't shee shingle. eizher: shee
dO;.hlo''