davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

amazed young lady who listened to
their plea. 1t was Columbia who Of
fered the most persuasive argument.
He hasn't anybody but his Aunt
Rachel and his father" she said plead
ingly. IAN he keeps your picture back
of a vase, an"
who keeps my picture?" Miss Cur
It's interrupted, her sweet face flush
ing a rose red.
why, John Philips father" Column
bia explained. "I s'pose you didn't
know bout 1t, then?"
mo, 1 didn't know" she said 'T
didn't knowi" she repeated to herself
again and again.
Now you know, an won't you
come, please?" It was John Philip
who pleaded now. Miss Curtis stoop-
ed and took his freckled little face be-
tween her slender white hands. "T'll
think of it, dear" she promised. ''but
1t will be better not to mention your
your proposal to your father"
John Philip did not agree with her,
and that very evening he broke the
news to his unsuspecting father. Co
lumbia, with rare delicacy, had de-
clined to be present
Daddy" John Philip said bluntly,
'I asked her-Columbia an me-"
Philip Brown looked up from his
paper. He was a fine specimen OF
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

manhood-strong OF body and mind.
clean OF heart. and still on tho sunny
side" OF forty.
ASKED whom?" he said Asked
what?"
Miss Curtis. you know. IL asked
her to be my mother"
Philip Brown sat up very straight.
and stared at his small son and heir.
Don't you want herr" the little fell
low said, struggling manfully to keep
back the tears. II said I was sure you
wanted her, same as I'did."
What did she say7" The question
came from between white lips
"She didn't know you had her pic-
ture till Columbia told her. She said
she'd think about II. but I'd better not
tell you I'd asked her to-"
But John Philip was talking to the
empty air: his father was out OF the
room before the last sentence was
finished He had seized his hat ana
vanished.
"Gee!" John Philip said to himself,
we've done It now. I guess-Colum-
bia an mel"
They had. The bride and groom
said so on their wedding day. John
Philips father had suggested that the
orchestra play Hail Columbia" while
the knot was being tied. but. strangs
to say, the bride-elect objected
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

HWo paths wound their tortuous
way about the hill and came out
finally on a small rocky shelf
4 The place commanded an excel
lent view of the level valley and the
river twisting and turning a simmer
ing course many feet below. Far across
the valley on the other side of the river
the pine-covered slopes made cool,
green vista in the July sunshine. The
rocky shelf itself was shaded by two
scraggy frs, which tossed their
branches to the breeze with an Import
ance out of all proportion to their size.
The man toiled slowly up one of these
paths, pausing occasionally to mop his
perspiring brow and to curse detected
ly the blackberry vines which now and
again clutched his trousers. The girl
came up the other path. holding a
fluffy parasol in 50 spiritless a fashion
that the sun streamed full upon her
brown head.
The man reached the rocky shelf first
and seated himself on the very edge,
with his legs dangling over the brink
A few moments later the girl arrived
on the scene, surveyed the mans broad
back a moment. and then said, half in
annoyance, half in embarrassment,
"Oh!"
The man turned about. beheld the
) intruder, and with a cough-the mas
culine haven Of refuge at such time
resumed his study OF the green tints
in the valley below. The girl looked
irresolutely at the man and with equal
irresolution at the path she had just
travelled. Then she sat down. with no
irresolution whatever, beneath one of
the scraggy frs- The tension OF the
silence became oppressive. 1t was the
girl who broke 1t.
"I desire to be alone" she said with
imperious coolness.
The man turned slowly.
You seem to voice my own ideas, "
he said.
why don't you leave, then?" she
asked"
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

And how came you here-when you
are looked for at the house?" Alicia de-
manded severely.
Paul Redmond laughed. Because 1
had rather be here" he retorted. My
traps have gone on houseward to an
nounce me-but / heard so much of
that 'tom-boy granddaughter on the
way from town, when my guide, Deacon
Estis, who fetched me by the short cut
to show Newell, several things-said.
that she is, right now, a-feeshing,' /
simply had to come and see for my
self"
How long since?" Alicia asked. her
face scarlet. Redmond laughed again.
The point is-immaterial." he said.
Just now the burning question is How
shall l get down?'"
That's easy-put up the rails-and
go away" Alicia said.
Redmond shook his head. 'I can't
trust you-the rails might slip" he
said. II know a better way-but first
fling me your fish,
Obediently Alicia swung him her
gasping prize. He at once slipped a
timber pronged twig through its gills.
and anchored 1t comfortably In the
stream, saying. Let the example bear
fruit, Miss Alicia. Don't give any of
your ldLer CdpllNeS IleeQleSS agony.
You don't seem to care about me-
I'm very uncomfortable" Alicia said
with spirit. IF you won't put UP the
rails, at least go away. the water els
deep-still-"
"You are not going into It," Red
mond said quickly, stepping upon the
leaning trunk and clinging fast to 1t
with one arm. He held the other out
toward her, saying with twinkle,
"One, two, threel Here we gol Jumpi
I'll catch you right as a trivet."
st won't jumpi" Alicia said with
her grandest air.
Redmond looked at her severely.
"You will jumpl" he repeated. "and
right straight off. It's going to rain
like fun in about twenty minutes-and
unless you take me to the house
shall get very wet
at think you are-despicable" Alicia
pouted But as he looked at her. smil-
ing more roguishly than ever. she
gave a spring. was caught, and swung
safe to the bank. There Redmond
said to her, her eyes fairly dancing.
IT don't know Sukey-but really she
should have come along-she would
certainly have got points on-landing
a minister"
Which proved to be prophetic. Six
months later Alicia Blair was Alicia
Redmond. and not only resigned to
the change. but happy over it
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23
HER GREAT CATCH
By Martha McCulloch Williams

and was moreover pretty well off?
Madame Blair had an eye to the main
chance, the same as the ungodly-she
had broken up the affair between Alicia
and that scatter-b Drained young Clark
son with a mighty high hand. Clark
son was poor, and likely to stay so,
but then Alicia would have plenty for
two.
She had not been very much in love
with Billy Clarkson until Grand
mother Blair had come between them.
She was not in love with the real Billy
even now, but cherished passionately
an ideal she called by Billys name.
Naturally she resented Redmond and
all his works. Quite. as naturally she
had inveig1ed the coy yet willing Susan
into this hong visit. with a set purpose
Of hinging the pair at each others
heads, and If possible comprising an
engagement before a fortnight passed.
The creek was less than half a mile
away-with Blair fields on either side
OF 1t. Alicia knew every bend and rip
pie of it, and loved them as well as
she knew them. She meant to fish first
the Blue Hole. which lay just inside the
upper water gate, going thence down
stream and ending at the lower gate.
so as to go home by the big road.
Only a blind track ran past the up-
per gate. Stragglers never found IL
out, not even the most inveterate fish
ermen who might be lured by this ex-
ceptional morning. with water in Just
the right stage. Something in the day
made Alicia want to sing. She did not
do it, being firmly of opinion that fish
have ears and are mighty wary of hu-
man sounds. And to-day she was bent
on catching the patriarch of the pool,
a big trout, known to inhabit 1t this
three years or more, which quite dis
dained to notice the most artistic flies
of the gentlemen sportsmen, or their
liveliest minnows. His special haunt
was beneath the roots of the big bend
ing sycamore, which leaned far out
over the stream. Without tremor she
climbed into the trees low crotch by
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

pathway of loosely laid rails, estab-
ished herself as comfortably as pos
sible, and dropped her hook right in
front of the big fellows nose.
She was too intent on sport to hear
a little stified laugh. Indeed she had
no consciousness of anything just then
but the matter in hand. She had cast
q little way from where the trout
broke-for perhaps two minutes the
float lay aggravatingly expressionless,
simply drifting q bit in the eddy Of
the pool. Then it went under with a
rush-to come up two yards away, and
go down again almost instantly. The
trout, bold from long impupity, had
swallowed the hook.
Alicia did not try to haul him in at
once Instead she let him play up
stream and down-taking in the slack
with bare hands, and letting 1t go back
with rush that must have bewildered
her captive. After a ten minutes fight
she hauled in her quarry. two pounds
Of cleaning silver, and, holding him
fast, made TO scramble down to the
bank.
Dismay smote her as she turned
about. The rails had slipped down.
She was fairly entrapped. The tree
crotch overhung the water, which was,
she knew, well over her head. AL
though she could swim a little, she
did not like to risk plunge, yet there
seemed no alternative. The landward
side of the big trunk was not to be
reached from where she sat. She made
an impatient little swing OF her catch,
saying, "Therel You'll get back in
the water after all-and take me with
you. I think I'll tie you to me and
make you swim out"
Better not!" a mans voice said a
little way of. ''I don't believe he
would swim out, he'd rather keep you
down at the bottom"
"Then come and take me down."
Alicia said disdainfully, angry beyond
words that anything masculine could
thus calmly contemplate her plight in
stead Of flying to the rescue. She heard
long, firm steps approaching. BY
craning her neck severely she saw a
man, young, handsome. well set up,
evidently an athlete, and fashionably
dressed. 80 you are Alicia Blair-my
hostess in part"
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23
06e MANY LIVED GOD
By Barry Preston

He smiled with calm insolence.
Because" said he, II wish to be
here. Besides, this is my puddla. I
found 1t first"
The girls eyes narrowed and she
pursued her lips.
This particular nook is Of my dis
covering. kindly remember" said she.
Possession is nine points OF the
law" he returned.
The girls eyes looked across the
valley to the ragged Hne Of hills, over
which heecy bits OF white clouds drift
ed lazily. Her parasol was tapping
nervously an exposed root OF the dr.
do you mind telling me why you
came up here this afternoon?" she
asked.
For the same reason a murderer IL
drawn to the 'scene Of his crime, by
some horrible fascination, I suppose,
he explained.
The girl smiled grimly.
"You admit it was crime. then7"
"Mea culpa. mea culpa," he said !;
inca most heinous culpa!"
She frowned. ITS scarcely humor-
ous," she chided-
1T Is tragic" he eeclared. He turned
to her suddenly and his face was grave.
why did you conner" he asked.
'T wanted to be-to be alone with my
dead" she said almost wistfully.
He Strengthened up. His tone was
eager.
You're sure it's dead?" he asked.
Quite So" said she. "As a mur-
derer. you're decidedly effective"
Are you sure" said he. sit isn't
stunned or shamming? Are you GER
tain it won't come to life again?"
The girl sighed.
1T is dead = stone dead" she said
with touch Of sadness in her voice.
'I thought" he remarked. that love
had as many lives as a cat-that one
might cruelty maltreat It and yet it
would survive"
There is limit to all things. even
the forbearance Of leve." she said.
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

exclaimed eagerly. There's too many
Of US now and"
'Wen,' Mrs. Noah interrupted,
you can stay to breakfast, and then
I'll go with you to the home." The
child had crept thus quickly into a
warm corner of the grim lady's heart.
She was eating her oatmeal when
John Philips father came down to
breakfast. and asked so kindly,
Whose little girl is this?" that Co
lumbia's heart went out to him then
and there.
II don't know she said simply in
reply to his question, they amt found
out yet at the home, but know how
old ] am: I'm going on seven; I'm lit
tie, but maybe I'd do for him." she
nodded cheerily at John Philip, till
he got really, truly one"
"A really. truly what?" Mr.. Brown
asked smilingly.
Why a mother, of course I
learned how TO be one from Mis-
Jones-she has eight children-she
lives near the home. You just help
'em be good, an they will, cause you
love 'em SO. It's awful nice to have
mother" she said wistfully. Il
asked Tommy Jones If he didn't
think so. an he said, Sure thingv"
John Philip tried to scowl, but his
forehead refused to pucker, and when
his father said, "Shall we let her
adopt you, my SOM" he laughed out
right. ''We-we-might give her a
try" he stammered.
An so it happened that Columbia
Farley entered the Brown family ION
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

Copyright. 1904. by Martha McCulloch-
Williams.)
~ on can stay for the preacher II
you nke-rm going fishing"
u Alicia said, stabbing the spring
4 air viciously with her rod
II was a long reed, cut from the cane
brakes down on the river, innocent Of
reel and equipped with a homemade
line. a cork float and bullet sinkers
above the cheap hook. Her frock. a
clean but faded calico, was short
enough TO show stout leather shoes,
with a glimpse Of home-knit stockings
above. But none OF these things
dimmed sparkling eyes, or paled the
wild-rose flush in delicately nodded
cheeks. Alicia was q beauty quite IN
dependent Of clothes-her dearest
friends admitted It. Susan Kates, to
whom she had spoken, was pretty in
a way. but largely by the help Of arti-
fee.
Susan was also pious-just the girl
for a preachers wife, all Brush Creek
neighborhoOd declared. Hence, when
II was known that the new Methodist
minister was a bachelor and some
thing Of a beau the amen-corner sis
tiers all agreed that IT was a clear case
Of providential interference. Susan her
self shared their opinion, albeit she was
too wise 10 say so. She had come the
day before to spend week with Alicia.
although the Blair homestead was but
three miles from her fathers farm.
Madame Blair, Alicia's grandmother
and guardian. was the leading spirit
in Methodism thereabouts-as such she
had sent word to the Reverend Paul
Redford TO make her house his home
until he could suit himself better"
The Invitation made gossip, of course.
Madame was a keen one, she meant
70 marry of that fighty Alicial The
new preacher would be sacrificed to
her before he fairly knew it. Didn't
somebody say he had been to college,
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

The children flew into the house, and
up to Mr.. Browns sitting-room. Be-
hind tall vase John Philip found the
object of his search. For a moment
Columbia gazed at 1t with wondering
eyes. why, it's hertz she shouted,
with more force than grammar. IT'S
my Miss Curtis! She lives near the
home. Course she's awful NIGEL" She
gazed long and lovingly at the picture.
Say" she said at last, "s'pose we get
her for. your mother?"
Thereupon followed a discussion of
ways and means, and 1t was not until
after luncheon that the committee Of
two set forth in quest of mother for
John Philip 1t was a very startled and
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

I'm terribly afraid there's q spark
Of life yet" said he. TT would be
frightful to bury the poor chap alive.
1t seems to me we should try resusci-
tation first
I'm afraid It's too late" she said
coldly. 1T Is far easier to destroy
than to resurrect."
quite so, quite soI" said hs un-
easily. "Oh. say" he burst out, con-
tritely. you don't really mean It's ell
of. You don't mean you'll let that
miserable tiff Of yesterday morning
end everything. do your
The girl arose.
Il came up here to be alone" she
said. TT Is evident I must seek soli-
tude elsewhere"
He jumped to his feet.
I'm CO." he said "You may have
the cliff to yourself. But before I
leave want to ask you favor. When
you bury the dead. you'll not forget
it entirely, will you? You'll remember
that for a day-for day"
He stopped and looked at her.
''Oh, WELL" he said contritely, '1t was
all my fault anyway. I have no right
to ask favors. Good-by."
He moved down the winding path.
The blackberry vines caught at his
clothes, but he forgot to curse them
Halfway down the path he heard rapid
footsteps behind him He turned and
beheld the girl hurrying after him. Her
face was crimson and her eyes refused
to meet his.
whats up?" he asked her cheerfulIy.
"Oh," she said. II tried to bury
him and he wasn't-oh, can't you un-
derstand?''
They wended their way back to the
little rocky cliff and sat down together
beneath one Of the scraggy frs. They
were chattering happily
At did really think had done It that
time he confessed
you are a dear. old stupid" she
averred, as she smoothed his hair.
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

probation" and later was taken into
full membership"
1t was on a Saturday morning. a
month or more after Columbia had
been received into full membership,
that the children were playing to-
gether in the garden.
Il guess I'll go wadin' this after
noon," John Philip announced, Aunt
Rachel would just worry If / told her,
and daddy won't be home for lunch,
so I can't ask him.
I'm 'fraid you'll be drown-ded,
dear" the little mother said anxious
ly (John Philip did not object to
"dearing" in private), IAN / don't be-
lieve you'd better CO."
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

''Pooh!" John Philip reJoined. You
amt my mother. l amt had a mother
since / was born"
mo" she sighed, 'if you had real
ly, truly one, l guess you'd have to
mind. Your father might get you one"
John Philip grinned. He's too busy"
he said, "but know one I'd like to get.
Last summer we was down at Cove
Inlet three weeks-daddy an mean
there was a jolly nice girl there, an
we liked her awful well-daddy an me
an we took her picture one day
snap shot mean daddy. did. He's got
it yet; come up to his room. an I'll
hunt for It."
The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23
Copyright. 1904. by Harriet c. Can
field-)

Ield-)
IT Ohm PHILIP BROWN sat up
YER straight n his end OF tia
h-ss lfast thls- Mrs Rachel
- NDah- at the other end, could no.
see his little bare feet playing tag be-
meath The table
Aunt Rachel looks just Ike my
chic-zel hawk-allywav she would If
she y ore- spit curls" be said 10 him
self with q little chuckla- Il bet
But John Philips bet was never re-
corded for Susan aDpsared just then.
red and EigEIns-
Mrs Noah stirred at her reproving-
" I did not ring" she said sternly-
No p, 1 know you didn't. but she
shes here. an"
Sho?' take your apron from your
mouth and talk connectedly. Who is
here2T
-COlumbis- Columbia Farley. She
says that's her name, ma'am, an she's
from the Orphans Home little
mite Of a thing, an that funnyl" Here
Susan retired again behind her apron
What does she want2" Mrs Noah
asked grimly.
Wen, ma'am,~ Susan exploded.
she wants TO stay
stay" her mistress repeated
blankly. while John Philip, unre-
proved, scuirmed with delight Here
was something doing at lasti
Yes'm-T Susan went on, she's
had her eye on this house she SAYS.
for z long time, but It want till this
morning that she decided she'd live
with YOU She's settin' on her satcheI
out in the kitchen"
Mrs Noah fairly snorted with as
tonishment and Indignation Much
obliged 10 her, I'm sure" she said
sarcasically, and may ask what de-
cided her in our favor?'
1t was John Philip, ma'am," Susan
said, choking with laughter. She
she says she wants 10 be a mother TO
John Philips face matched his hair
IN color now; even the freckles took
on a nvelier red "Cousarn her" he
said under his breath
Any mOre2" his aunt asked with
the air Of one prepared for the worst
Nes'm; she asked what your name
was, an when 1 said Mrs. Noah she
was that surprised. She said she'd
heard about you an Mr.. Noah at Sun
day school, but she had no idee you
was livin' yet"
Anything more? Ny oatmeal is
getting cold. Don't stand there gig
Cling like an idot."
She wondered how old you was.
ma'am, an when 1 said 1 didn't know
she thought she could tell by lookIn'
at your teeth, like the hired man at
the home done when he bought a
horse"
A great wave Of color rolled over
Mrs Noah's face, and broke on the
beach Of spit curls" outlining her
high forehead. Bring her in" she
said, closing her thin lips tightly over
her store teeth.
Susan disappeared. and a moment
later ushered Columbia Farley into
the august presence or her mistress
She was truly "a mite of a thing"
with great, dark eyes, and a most en-
gaging smile.
How do you do, Mrs Noahf" she
said, holding out her hand in a quaint,
old-fashioned way. To John Philips
surprise, his aunt took the little hand
IN hers.
$50 you'd like to live here?" she said,
not unkindly.
''Yet. awful welli Don't you need
ne?" she asked naively.
Il think not" Mrs. Noah said-very
gently for her-"and besides couldn't
take you without the consent Of the
matron at the home"
'Oh. she won't care!" the little girl
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-14
IS PL, AIMING
BICFIANGIES
Judge Parker Not Satisfied With
Management 81 Campaign ii
Certain Quarters.
CANDIDATE. TO TAKE STUMP. .I
List Of Speakers ill Campaign
Includes Also the n all,es Of
Cleveland and Bryan. 55#

,lS(By Associated Press. \

T Il
EsOPus. N. y, Sept $13-Judgo Parker
expects to 90 to New York on Thursday r'i'i
and to return on Friday. No announce
ment has been made eEas I Q tho arrange
8,nents for tho trip and Judge Parker,s :
son for leaving Rosenlonnt wa s z not
knowli to-day, Is understood stt7 cd that
5lla will take partnlants in /. some a2 New
York. hotel and confer with political
$iricnd " SssS. q h So .tsi!. z.
4 For several days, It has been rumored
that Jud 90 SParke was planning q trip
10 M ew, York 5 to call upon tho members
of tho National Committee and other
managers OF tho campaign. was
said also that he might t remain there
and take a hand In the running Of the
campaign. for tho purpose Of bringing
about more lla rmonious relations between
tho men at Headquarters. but It Is be-
5lieved here that the candidate instead of
strengthening out real or imaginary diff
,ferenccs, has under consideration inpor-
stant plans Of campaigning intended to
change completely the working fmethods
I III some sections OF the country.
Results OF the Maine election. are graft
flying to, the Judge and his political
friends who visited Roscmount to-day.
Those who have talked with him say he
is greatly pleased at the largely In
creased Democratic vote and feels that
there was Il sentiment displayed there
which may ;le expected to- develop
throughout the country and show n$more
material form in doubtful States # 5s5ts,