davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

life. badly want bailing out. I call
you Darling ! have no right TO call
you Darling. darling. Oh. this bench
Is hard, Not so hard as the bench VIII
be tomorrow morning, unless some re-
sponsible householder comes round to-
night and explains that it is a mistake
But have no one in my extremity. Of.
indeed, anywhere. I ask no mercy. I
deserve all l get. Few men can say
that. 1 think my mind is wandering.
Farewell. May you be happy Think
CT me sometimes in my lonely cell. Oh.
my broken heart. Farewell forever,
BERTHE 80
'P. S.-Any time viii do. Of course.
but get Mr.. Rowen to come as soon as
you can. dear"
She read this pathetic document
twice through her tears. and then.
dinner, she hurried on her hat and coat
All the Dlots on his noble nature were
erased, and he shone forth martyr to
her nasty temper. WHAT was all that
behavior during the AFTERNOONS, which
seemed curious at the time, bat a proof
or the untamable ardor of his love?
How he must have suffered for her on
the doorstep And now She pictured
him m chains. with cropped hair, and
stamped all over with horrtd arrows
On. why did she ever speak haFShly 10
him? She hurried down to her father,
who had just come in, and explained
thai BERTHE had been wrongfuily 1mpriS-
oned throush her felt and he must
come round and get him out at Gree,
without waiting for the carriage One
never knew what 4 wasted minute
would mean in dealing with the swift.
relentless fury of British law
Mr. Rowen was skeDtical. but. az
every body assured him that Bertic had
Undoubtedly been marched on. he con-
scented 20 so. and Eva insisted on going.
4 no ~ - CDIf16
reparation- On the way she had ap-
palling visions of the hard bench.
drunken criminals. bread-and- water. the
tread-mill. oakum- picking. degradau on-
and penal Se-Vitude. And Il was she
who had given she order which had
brought Il eli on,
police station A constable saiu. Yes.
there was young gent who had been
brought in that afternoon For forgery,
he thought: but. on looking up a larye
ing Then he remembered Yes. %
course the superintendent had declined
TO take the charge and had simply de-
tanned the man pending inquiries at the
house he was alleged TO have annoyed.
Eva shuddered at hearing BERTHE colby
referred 10 as the man" Then she
heard voices from the next room
Somebody-was Il Bertie2 Yes. II waa
Bertie-cried Misery
Somebody else. with brutal laugh.
some torture? She ciung r To- her f "a bssr
Misery on that handvs said the other
voice--the brutal one-with a fendish
ehuclSle. Was it thumb-screws7
I'm tell i'm you're ere, sir said the
constable He opened the door and
Looked into the room where BERTHE. in an
armchair with a cigar in his mouth.
was playing halfpenny nap with the gu
perirtendent in charge
Somebody TO see you, sir
Right! said BERTHE. and canss out
''Huno Eva"
"Bertie..'
Darling. how you must have sufSeredF'
he sighed. 1T is all over now dear.
Let us forgive and forget. I was not
without blame rnyseif.s.-
New York Press
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31
Friendship of Maceo Saved
Himself and Family from Death
at Hands of Cruel Spaniards

ed their kandkerchiefs at the frfsadly
iards claimed we were friendly toward
the Cubans. and from that day until
1 got my family and that OF my broth
CT on the island on a blockade run
ner. we were never free from being
spied upon.
Gomez Spoke Truly.
TT was just as Gomez said. The war
had broken out IN all it's fury and we
were -tsht between the contendIng
forces, where one day the spaniar.s
helped themselves to what we had
and another day the cubans wcuS. do
likewise.
''Yrs had harvested our crops and
were preparing them for thel market
as rapidly as possible. when one day.
eight years ago the first OF last Sep
TENDER. a large band of SpaDiards and
about the same number of cubans met
in our valley.
The Cubans took shelter in the rear
of my field hands quarters. The Span
iards charged dlagonaIly across the
valley upon them After a fight OF
from a half or three-quarters OF an
hour the Cubans drove the spaniards
out of the valley, but not unit my
field hands quarters had been de-
stroyed
Next morning I was out showing
them how it was best 10 rebuild. when
two OF General Gomez's scouts rode up
in haste and told me to get the women
and children 10 the mountains as quick
II as possible. as the Spaniards were
coming to arrest my brother and me for
aiding the Cubans the day before.
In the meantime the brute weyIer
had sworn in the rim raff' Of the ISL
and. calling them loyal Cubans-that
Is. loyal TO Spain. He had given them
carte blanch to rob, murder. and pill
lage from friend OF foe. They cut US
of from getting into any city where
there was an American consul
Il happened to think that MY fore
man had been sworn into the Cuban
army. also that Gomez was in the ex-
treme western end of the province ad-
joining ours on the east That Is
Santa Clara. 1 called my foreman and
asked him II he could get n message
to Gomez for help. He said Re could.
and he-message Gomezsent me was 800
mounted Cubans. BY midnight I had
my brothers wife and four little chill
dren in a wagon. Ny wife. daughters.
and I had mounted our horses, and the
Cubans escorted US TO the Cuban signal
station. where blockade runners came
In. 1 got the families on for the States
and returned. to find in my absence all
my property had been destroyed Be
tween s7.Oc0 and $500 worth of tobacco
and about the same amount OF sugar
had been confiscated. and every build
ing burned. my stock driven away. and
my twin brothers dead and horribly
mutilated body was lying IN front OF
our once beautiful home"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

dropped her program and handing her
a new one each. time. all beautifully
filed u3 with his own initials and the
various pet names he enjoyed in hap
pier times. But it was all OF no use.
Next day he appeared at the door at
o'clock and rang. The footman had
had strict orders.
Miss Rowen at homer"
No sir"
Mrs. Rowen?"
NO, sir
Mr.. Rowen?''
mo SIR
ANY OF the little Rowens7
mo, sir
The nurse. perhapsT'
No, sir"
"Ahi"
Shall I say you called. sir7''
"Oh, no; I'm expected! Didn't they
tell your"
Very good. sir" With difficulty the
footman repressed a smile. As BERTHE
showed no signs Of going. he was puz-
zled. The situation was new What
does a well-trained servant do when a
popular guest. not n tramp, refuses to
leave the doorstep7
Don't keep the door OPEN" said Ber-
tie: there's a draft"
Very good. sir" The sootman put his
hand over his mouth.
''Oh. by the way, john"
Yes, SIR
You might just mention that am
here"
Very good. sir And he went to the
drawing room. IT was Mrs. Rowen's at
home day, fact which Berthe knew.
Eva was entertaining two early ar
rivals. At least. IL wasn't really enter
tanning. but that is Stsat IL is called
Solemnly. John announced, Mr. BERTHE
Pnkinghame is on the doorstep, Miss
Eva BIT her lip You told him Mr..
Rowen was not at homer
Yes. Miss"
That win do" John retired, solemn
~. and Eva congratulated herself on
her happy idea Of pretending that he
came to see her father. 1t saved awk-
ward explanations. BERTHE stood outside
and studied the beautiful brass knocker
A carriage drove UP and two ladies
got out. He knew them, shook hands,
and rang the bell John appeared. The
elder OF the two asked II Mrs. Rowen
was at home. John looked at Berthe.
hesitated for fraction Of a second, and
said. Yes. ma'am.''
The two stepped inside, expecting Ber-
tie TO follow; but he only said. rs Mrs.
Rowen at homer"
John coughed and said, mo. sir"
Miss Rosen?" mo. sir"
Mr.. Rowen?" No, sir"
Any OF the little Rowens1" mo.
sir"
THE nurses pefaaps7'' mo, sir"
Very well. shut the door-there's a
draught." he sighed.
And. in the drawing-room, Eva had TO
invent elaborate explanations on the
spur Of the moment OF the unhappy po-
sition OF dear Mr.. Pilkinghame. He
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

% HERE was rather stormy scene.
1t was not the first time there
i had been stormy scene. for
Eva, though a dear thing, was
a little apt TO give way to temper.
and BERTHE certainly was lax in his view
OF the duties of a fiance. But not
nearly half the things that people said
of him were true; in this case. for IN
stance. It really was his cousin with
whom he had been seen at a theater
the evening before. But Eva didn't be
lieve him for one moment. And. what's
more. she fully intended not to believe
him so long as he kept up that irrItat-
ing don't care" manner. IS IL he ran
no risk OF losing that priceless jewel.
her love. She meant to show him this
time that he was playing on the edge
OF prec!pice.
She had just denounced him holly at
some length. making IL clear that
henceforth their paths lay far asunder.
Well I suppose that's all we need
say about that" he said. cheerfully. Il
see what You mean. Let's talk OF some
thing more pleasant"
Never speak to me again. she re-
piled. haughtiIy; "and kindly leave the
house,
Il was talking this afternoon" he
said. with an exasperating drawl,
with the man you were engaged TO
the season before last" This was a
shaft he found useful whenever they
parted for ever. Not Mappam, you
know-the other one" She tossed her
head Indignantly.
I've often tried to find out from
him. he went on. whether you left
him or he left you. don't you know"
This was more than anybody could bear.
She was accustomed to his frankness:
IL was one OF his charmsS but this
She hurried TO the door.
Are you going? he said Il suppose
! shall ind you at the WSrdlaws' to-
night? I shall call again tomorrow aft
ernoon."
You shall never come into this house
again she said. nercely.
Then I shall do something that will
make you sorry.
What Will you do?" she asked.
Z" Build me willow cabin at your
gate. and call upon my soul within the
house They do that In Shakespeare.
She turned contemptuously and left
the room, and. finding 1t dull alone, he
went, too.
At the wardlaws' that evening. when
he came uD for his usual six dances.
she was cOidly unaware that she had
ever been introduced TO him. He apollo
gized and brought Lady Wardlaw, who.
though she had known them both since
childhood. performed the necessary GER
emony. Then he discovered that she
was sorry. but hadn't a spare dance on
her program He offered 70 get her an
other one, a nice. clean one. and write
on It himself She declined. so he danced
seven times obtrusively with Maude
Noreham, whom she hated. coming up
at intervals 10 inform her that she had
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31
: BERTE AND THE DOORSTEP-By JOHN WoR1E:

came TO see papa was no good at all.
for they had distinctly heard him ask
Tor everybody. including the nurse. Eva
was very hot and red and changed the
subject.
John announced Lady Wardlaw and
Miss wardIaw.
How do you do. my dear?" said
Lady Wardlaw why ON earth Is poor
Mr.. Pilkinghame sitting on the doorstep?
Such a funny thing TO do in Portrnan
squarei,'
Eva began all over again. and they all
helped TO explain, and Mrs. Rowen
joined In. and there was general re-
joicing at having something exciting 20
discuss. The poor girl was furious, and
after repeated and violent efforts. had
just succeeded in turning the conversa-
ton when John announced Lord Bobby
Dalmainham pronounced Damp.
How do you do?" said Lord Bobby.
1 say. you know, Miss ROwen. what
have you been doing to your young man?
had to step over him. and he only
wagged his head and said. This is what
they do In Shakespeare. Do they?"
So Eva. feeling an almost irresistible
impulse to hurl things about. began
again the same poor. threadbare expIa-
nation, and, glancing by chance out OF
the window, she saw small boys collect
ing and policeman looking on suspi-
ciously from the opposite side OF the
road. 1t was most uncomfortable az
ternoon. The next visitor who arrived
looked deeply concerned and wanted to
know If Mr.. Pilkinghame, having lost
his fortune, had become n gentleman cab
runner; and yet another. who, with
much delicacy, had said nothing openly.
retired with a cup OF tea into corner
and inquired OF n friend whether Eva 3
cruelty had driven,>che poor young man
out Of his mind. 1t was obvious TO all
that the subject was Il sore one. so they
discussed IL under their breath I'm little
groups There was a general impress
sion that Eva had. no doubt. been be-
having badly. and an anxiety TO discover
whether the engagement was at an end
and who was to blame, and wherever
Eva came the conversation changed sud
denly and become commonplace and
strained
You had better let him in" whis-
pered her mother. hurriedly.
'Neveri' she said, clinching her fists
and with difficulty keeping back tears
Of rage.
And through Il all she had 10 smile
and smile and be cheerful and witty.
oh, why didn't these awful people go?
John came in. She looked him with
apprehension. This time he carried a
tea tray. II ought to be mentioned that
he had just been presented with SOW
ereign and a promise of immediate en-
ployment in case OF dismissal
He came up 10 the tea table and held
out the tray.
"Well?" asked Eva
He replied audibly: Mr. Pilkinghane
says, miss. that he viii have his tea
very nicely on the doorstep"
There was a pause in the converse
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31
THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMERICAN X X
X X " PLANTERS EXPERIENCE IN CUBA

through the mountainous regions, was
bitterly infected with rowing bands OF
bandits.
IF you were a stranger on the Island
you had to hire the Spanish soldiers to
guard you from tcwr, to town-where
there were no railroads-and pay them
so cents per day and rations.
MY wife, daughters. brothers and my
self had all been brought up on the
plains Of Nebraska and South Dakota.
and were all good shots.
MY daughter was the only child 1
had, and 1 brought her up exactly as
would have brought up a boy. to ride
on horseback. shoot a revolver and rife
as good as any of the plainsrhen.
SO when we took these long horseback
rides. instead OF hiring the Spanish SOL
diers to guard us. we took our Win
chesters and revolvers and were our
own guards.
"One might've had been gone from
my brothers house three days-we en-
camped at night to the south OF high
mountain. We learned afterward this
mountain had an altitude of 1850 feet
A Beautiful Valley.
Next morning. after drinking our
strong cup Of coffee and eating two
or three oranges, that usually compos-
ed our Cuban breakfast, we saddled up
and rode to the base OF the mountain
and skirted II along its face until we
came to a narrow ravine that carried
us winding down through to its north
ern side.
Here we rode into the most beautiful
valley we had ever seen. It was bloom
ing in all the beauty and fragrance of
/ the tropical landscape.
MY wife and daughter. with one &C
cord. clasped their hands and exclaim-
ed: oh. IL we could only find place
like this to build a home we would live
here always. We would never care 70
see cold Nebraska again
In the meantime my brother was rid
ing over the eastern end of~the valley
| When he came back to US he told US Il
was wild OF uncultivated land and was
undoubtedly yet in the hands Of the
Spanish government. and If we liked 81
we could probably buy it cheap.
For the rest of that forenoon-my
brother being our guide-we rode direct
~ north until about noon; from high
eminence We looked down upon the
northern coast of the island into city
that my brother said at once was the
city OF Matanzas.
I'VE rode into the city and looked up
the governor for that province We
described this valley TO him. He sent
out civil engineers and had it surveyed.
II measured one mile and fifteen rods
from east to west. and lacked one rod
Of being a mile north and south.
| He offered this whole valley to us
for-what would be In our money-s1 .OS7
We paid him the cash and took posses
sion at once. although we did not re-
ceive our deed until twenty months
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

later. as that had to be sent to Madrid,
Spain. for the signature of the authori-
ties there
Il got twenty-five natives, with their
families, and set them at work roofing
up and grubbing the land, getting it
under state of cultivation. My brother
had sold his home in Puerto del Rio,
and we joined together to make US
both a beautiful home for our old age.
Everything was prospecting, our home
was built. our tobacco warehouse and
dry house were up. we had small set
of sugar grinding machinery, and thirty
six COWS. eight yoke of heavy draft
cattle. and twelve horses. In fact, the
foundation for our nice little fortune
had been carefully laid. when one morn
ing in the fall of 1884 1 was leading
two horses from the corral in the
west end Of the valley. 1 looked to the
east and saw coming down n narrow
down into our valley band of about
twenty-five mounted men.
Had Small Arsenal.
II have neglected to say that I had
added to my armament twenty-five
Springfield breech-loading guns, and
twice week 1 would call my men to
the house and drill them at the manual
of arms. and twice a month 1 would
take them out and give them target
practice, as at this time they knew
nothing of the use of firearms. / die
this so that If we ever became wealthy
enough to attract the attention of the
banditti we would be able TO protect
ourselves.
81 watched these horsemen as they
wendell their way slowly down the
mountain side. i saw the sun glisten-
ing on their arms. 1 knew they were
armed men and also knew they were
not Spanish soldiers, on account of their
dress.
II supposed. OF course, they were one
OF the numerous bands of bandits about
to make us the first call I gave the
signal for my men to rally to the house.
mounted one of the horses 1 was
leading and rode as fast as l could
to the house. When 1 got there found
my men assembled.
My brother took charge of them
and armed them. l ran to our little
armory, as l called It. and grabbed my
wife's belt of weapons and my daugh-
ter's. At this time we did not dare to
go one rod from the house for fear of
a descent OF, the bandits. handed my
wifes weapons to her and said: Emma.
place them on you as quickly as pos
sible. I think there are bandits coming
She hesitated a moment, then shook
her head and said: MOI ] don't think
it is best. besides / would advise you
to take yours off also. II they are
really bandits and see we are all armed.
women and all. It MIGHT invite them
to commit some depreciation they other
wise would not commit. besides George
has the men armed. He can protect
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

can't take you by surprise. they Elm
let you alone. as they do not Ike to
fight for what they GET
Il supposed. OF course. the American
consul general knew what was going on.
He was placed there for that purpose,
so 1 rode back home. 1 told my people.
and we all went to work with renewed
energy to get our first paying crop in
and ready for the market Our crop
wac nearly ready TO harvest.
we had heard that Maceo had or
ganized a band Of several hundred Gu
bans in the west and was coming
through the country destroying every
plantation that would be Of the slight
est benefit to Spain. We heard all sorts
Of ramors. but paid no attention TO them.
believing the consul general, know
ing our Isolated po-.tion out there in
the country. would give us warning If
there was any danger.
Coming of Troops.
'.One morning 1 was sitting on the
cloud Of dust in the sky 10 the west
ward. Ny experience during the war
with the south assured me It was caused
by soldiers.
Both families came out on the We
ranGa and watched IT hour after hour.
until about an hour after noon, when
column. of four horscmen broke into the
valley to the west. Column after column
followed in rerid successful. They rode
directly to ms growing crop. which at
this time only lacked week or ten days
Of the harvest.
AS they were about to ride into IL.
turned to. my people and said: My
God; that Is Antonio Maceo With his
raiders. and they are going 20 destroy
our crop. when they have promised us
they would protect US. Just then the
leader took OFF his hat and swung 1t
about his head HIS whole columns
halted away la * in the ravine to the
west as far as 1 could see. The head OF
the column wheeled towards tie south
east and went away on their erraCd OF
destruction. leaving my plantation clone
standing In his whole line OF march
through three provinces. We recognized
Maceo as the leader.
We were very grateful to him for
leaving our crop standing. Had he de-
stroyed it it would have simply put
US out OF business. as we had not monsy
enough left TO have replaced the to-
bacco plants.
las 1t happened. it would have been
better for US in the end II he had de-
stroyed some of our crop or driven on
some of our stock. because following
in his rear. reporting back TO Havana
.he destruction Maceo was doing. were
the Spanish scouts.
They reported, OF course. that ny
plantation bad beeen left standing. and
because my brothers little chIldren-as
any Of yours would do-swung or wav-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31
Col. Ewing's Brother Killed,
Property Seized, and Fortune
Ruined in Cuban-Spanish War

IT HERE drifted into washington
few days ago a man. apparently
sixty years old, weary and sore
Of foot as a result of tramping through
the country in search of employment.
This nomad gives the name OF Col. VIII
liam Ewing. who served in the civil war
with the Federal forces.
Ewing enlisted iii the Seventeenth
United States Infantry. and served under
General Meades command, when Cen
eral Lee met the Union forces at Gettys-
burg. Immediately after the war Colonel
Ewing removed to Nebraska, where he
owned a farm. He sold his farm. and in
$780, he and his family sailed for Cuba.
where his brother had lived for seven
years. He purchased land in the island
and converted IT into a farm He pros
pered until the outbreak of hostilities
between the insurgents and Spain. when
his crops were devasted and his half
brother and family murdered.
In the course Of Colonel Ewing's .ex-
periences in Cuba he became acquainted
with Maceo. Garcia. and Gomez. who be-
came Cuban generals 1t was because of
the friendship extended him by them, he
declares. that the Spanish sought his
ruin.
Colonel Ewing tells the following story
of his life and experiences in Cuba:
Sold Nebraska Home.
'fI was living in one of the extreme
northeast counties In Nebraska. Late
IN the fall of 1890 three men from st.
Joseph came our way and made me an
offer for my land. stock and implements.
II had q twin brother. He had gone
to Cuba in 1888 under contract to
build the depots and fort houses along
the Pinto del Rio and Matanzas Rail-
road.
HE liked the country so well he kept
writing to US to leave Nebraska and
come where we could raise three crops
In one year IL we wanted to do so.
After settling up my property in Ne
braska I found that in all my life
had saved just 1880 On the advice
OF my wife and daughter 1 wrote my
brother that we would be there some
time IN December of that year uSsO).
1t was on December Is when we reach
ed Havana
MY brother met US at the wharf and
the next morning we rode oCt to his
beautiful little home in Pinto del RIO
province. where we found he had far
more beautiful home than we had ever
seen in Nebraska
1T seemed to US first like going to
bed in cold bleak winters night and
awakened the next morning in the
midst Of delightful midsummer. The
climate ut this time Of the year is de-
lightful.
Early in January of 1891 we used 20
take long horseback rides all over the
western end of the island.
AT the time I speak OF the whole
island of Cuba. from east to west,