davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

would gladly have passed the young
could regain the hall.
''Stop bit. old chap. l want to read
you line I'm sending to II friend Of
mine at Days. Rather clever letter,
you know"
ClaXton tore himself away and went
back home. What was Miss Carter do
ing? He would have wagered hun
dred that Phelps had called and taken
her out. Confound Phelps!
The story went moro smoothly, stinl-
ulatcd by the rcScntful energy of its
author. From 10 clock until nearly
daylight the typcwsiteI- clicked inces-
sanity. when it stopped clicking, seven
pages of manuscript. much marred by
pencil marks, lay OH the table near at
hand. II was good story, lie felt sure,
although there were two or three de-
tails concerning which he would have
liked 4 conservative opinion. "I'll take
Virginia out for luncheon and read it
to her." he thought. Then he remem-
bered that they had agreed never to
see each other again-voIuntarily, that
is.
The day, which began with his rising
ut noon, dragged along monotonously.
1t was hard to realize that he might
not speak to her over the telephone that
stood on his desk and harder still to be
convinced that she would not call him
UP. Toward midafternoon Claxton I'M
locked drawer and took out the nine
packages Of her letters that represent
ed correspondence of three years. He
must choose the one letter and return
the rest to her.
TO do this he must read every epis-
tie In the nine bundles. Claxton. in
common with most men who write or
act, was sentimentalist, and ne want
ed that the one letter should be the
dearest of all. The first that met his
eye he laid aside In the belief that 1t
would prove the dearest Miss Carter
had penned 1t when he lay Ill of fever
at San Jose de Guatemala. Your ca
bic was repeated to me at Chicago"
was the message. "Otherwise should
nave been with you now. i know that
II your Illness continued you would
need nurse, and | felt that | could
not delegate to strangers the privilege
OF attending you." 1t was n womanly
letter-the letter of q woman mature in
heart and brain--and Claxton pondered
long while before putting 1t aside.
Next came telegram, sent to his
apartments before the telephone had
been installe.d: please come tonight.
Am blue. Have wired Minnie stay
home" A very sweet, dependent lit
tie message. but of course not to be
thought of as the single memento Of
SO close friendship as theirs had
been. 1t was even preferable to retain
the short note which he had always
ascribed to her literary genius rather
than to her feelings. Each thought Of
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27
8lue JAYS.

Blue Jays never go south, but stay
north during the coldest winters. 1t is
said they live to he q hundred years
old. Very few people have ever seen
their nests or young. They can sing a
dozen different tunes. never kill them,
for they once saved my life. had been
lost in the woods for two days. Night
was coming, and 1t began to snow. I
built bough camp. and while cutting
wood cut hollow stub. When split
1t open I found four blue jays and
about bushel Of bread and meat. I
built fire and ate about peck of the
provisions. The jays did not go away.
but came up to the fire and appeared to
enjoy the heat. My feet were cold, and
I commenced to dance to warm them.
Then the birds sang the prettiest Jig
tune I ever heard. The storm lasted
twenty-four hours. When 1t was over
climbed a tall pine. but / came down
mad rs wet hen. had discovered
the lumber camp about fifteen rods dis.
tant.-Lewiston (Ie.) Journal.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

West Twenty-iirst Street" but the
tyre Enthusiastically belonged to the ma
chino which still remained Il fixture
ut Miss Carter's. The tale was one
that she lad sent over his signature to
nn editor Of whose opinion she had felt
certain, and it had in consequence been
returned To him when that gentleman
had clasScd it as unavailable" "I
thought you'd get II check" Virginia
had confessed. "and I knew you'd
src?d it without considering why's and
w;!"""fDr2s. It's just like Phelps. He
wa" enthusiastic over the plot when
told , io him last week.
Virginia" lie had demonstrated, 'It
was Hike Offering me charity"
'N9nsCrSc. | shouldn't have thought
of handins; you money. l simply wrote
story for YOU that YOU might have
written yourself ii YOU had taken
tiInc.'
Taken. time, Good Lord how much
time lie had taken that year in Just
such dlseouraGing. unrcmuncrative la
Dor! How unhappy haal,ad been and
how awfully, awfully hard up! He
hadn't begun spending every evening
with her then. and he hadn't begun
selling whatever lie wrote either: No
body ever did-at first" she had as
Surcd lin.
For twenty minutes tlaXton sat ST.
lcntly ON his chair Island iii The middle
of IL sea of letters. His fingers clung
to the rejected manuscript, but his eyes
looked beyond it into The past. All the
half forgotten history of his love for
Virginia Carter had been recalled TO
him with wonderful vividness-her un-
varying g3oGneSs, the sweetness Of
their intercourse. the crstwhilc strength
of his affection for her. \ ships clock
IN the adjoining room struck 2. the
nautical fashion Of saying that the hour
was ,, and with quick resolution he be-
gan climbing into his evening clothes.
''fvc come 10 take you TO dinner" he
said 10 Miss Carter when she respond
cd to his pressure on the button mt her
door.
$50 you were lonely, too?" she asked
him.
Lonely? BY George, and those let
ters"-
She was too clever girl not to seem
surprised, and he could not look
through the sides Of her trunk into the
tray where reposed several packages
Of his letters to her, unsearched, un-
touched, since first they had been read
and laid away.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

you, dropping into the waters or my
heart, produces ever widening circles
Of tender recollection"
Then there was an envelope from
her, on the back of which he had COM
posed fragment of verse. 1t began:
Thou art SO dear to me. my love
So dear and. oh, so necessary!
Claxton remembered that she had
priced the poem above anything else
he had given her. "It is so fine to be
thought necessary she had said.
In this manner he progressed through
five Of the nine packages. Each letter
seemed more desirable than the rest,
and every moment made Il selection
less easy. This scrawl was n reassur-
ance which she had penciled on the
leaf Of her programme at the theater;
that sheet of blue paper bore the first
words of affection he had ever received
from her.
At the bottom Of the lfth bundle was
long envelope with the name of
publishing company on its upper left
hand corner. The postmark was over
two years old. Rejected manuscript"
ClaXton concluded, tossing ii to one
side contemptuously. That had come
back I'm the days when rejected manu-
scripts had not been half so rare as
good dinners or money with which to
pay rent. Something approaching GU
riosity made him pick up the envelope
again and draw the contents from It's
mouth. The story that lay before him
was headed. From Frank Claxton 211
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27
The One
Letter
By
CLAIMING POLLOCK
Copyright, 1904, by Claiming Pollock
okoko*o&o&okko&o&o&o

After they had come to an under
standing Frank ClaXton took Virginia
Carter to dinner at Giovani's. This un-
derstanding, the result Of many misun-
derstandings, put an end to their en-
gagement, and they chose to hold the
wake over their dead love Mt the tiny
restaurant where 1t had been born.
Neither talked much during the meal.
and when either spoke. for some rea-
son not easily explained, It was in n
very low tone. The man said, Il sup
pose had better return your letters?
There must be great many of
them,' responded the girl, the corners
of her mouth trembling into faint
smile.
Yes In-in three years.
II shall send yours tomorrow-that
Is, l shall send all but one should like
to keep one-in memoriam. May I?'
eff may"
Certainly. a fair exchange you
know
Claxton left her at the door of her
apartment something less than an hour
later. On the way to his own home he
marveled that he should regret what
had happened so little The petty quar-
rels Of the past few months had worn
out his endurance, he thought, and rem
dered him Indifferent to their culmina-
ton. He wondered how she felt about
1t. At all events, the separation would
leave him with more time-more time
to work, more time to devote to the
friends he had neglected since he had
begun caring for her. =
In the matter Of the Quarrels he did
not consider himself blameless. He
realized this, and admired himself q bit
for the inherent generosity which pre-
vented his holding her solely to ac-
count
Claxton reached his "place" in rather
a relieved frame Of mind. He opened
the door with key fastened to silver
ring that she had given him on his
birthday and walked straight across
the library to his typewriter. Beside
the machine was tiny cushion she
had made for him to rest his elbow
upon when he was reading copy" He
recalled that II had come wrapped In
numberless pieces Of paper, each one
1nclosed inside the other, like the eggs
In Chinese puzzle. That was about
the time that the interest aroused by
bis tale Of Central American life bad
opensd the hearts Of editors toward
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

MIN.
Somehow the detective story he had
intended to begin did not fly from his
finger tips as speedily as lie had ex-
pected. The first paragraph, after
writing which, he told himself, things
would so better, stood alorc OH the
page, a succession of stilted and unin-
viting sentences.
mot in the mood" he confessed at
last and strolled down Broadway to his
club. The boy at the door didn't know
him. and when, after satisfying the stu
pid fellow Of his membership. he saun-
tered into the lounging room he was
in an exceedingly unpleasant humor.
Parsons been here this evening?' he
inquired brusQuely OF an attendant.
'No. sir" replied the man. ''IIe does
not come very often now, sir. Married.
l believe"
ClaXton cursed Parsons from the bot
tom of his soul.
"Graham?" he asked.
"Mr. Graham was in about q week
ago. We don't sec him more than once
Fortnight
"Frnny." unused ClnXton. by George,
wonder If there's any one in the
place."
There was. in the writing room
Frederick Ford Ferguson youth just
coaNing n timorous Elustache into eX-
istencc and tolerated only for the sake
Of lis rathcr, Major Ferguson former
ly Of the Ninth infantry. Claxton
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27
Fertilizer
Information.

You are doubtless debating the
best and most economical plan for
fertilizing this years crop. We be-
licvc that the only economy to be
practiccd in fertiIiz, r. is to use the
pest, and while there are Others as
good, we do not believe that there
are any that are any better than
the old well known and thoroughly
tested Wando brands.
Our advice to our planter friends
is to use less and use the best. We
will see to it that no man sells YOU
for less than we do. We carry a
large stock on hand in our ware
house in Union, and are prepared
to deliver to any shipping point i'm
the state in ten ton lots or more.
If you do not use 10 tons yourself,
get two or three of your neighbors
to go in with you and have your
fertilizers delivered to you at your
most convenient depot. Will be
glad to do business with you.
Union Grocery Co
High grade fertilizers at lowest prices.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27
Money Saved.

We can refer you to dozens
of our satisfied customers
who can tell you that they
saved money by buying their
Cow Feed from us. We are
imposition to give you sdecial-
ly close prices on cotton seed
meal and hulls in any quanti-
ties from 100 pounds to 20
car loads. There is no better
or more economical feed to
be had than hullS and meal.
A little money saved on
every little purchase amounts
to a great deal in the end, and
besides giving specially at
tractiVe prices on hullS and
meal, we give trading stamps
with every cash purchase.
Union Grocery Co.
Handlers of everything to eat for
man and beast.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

One kind Of race prejudice Is to be
commended. and that is prejudice
against the horse race.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

Some people do not care so much for
dancing since they have discovered that
it is not wicked.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

Don't waste any sympathy over the
tceman. He is probably In the coal
business now.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

Some people have to be proud or
they would have no claim whatever to
distinction.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27
PERT PARAGRAPHS.

Those men who have forgotten how
they felt when they were recovering
from swearing off last year have prob
ably sworn off again this year.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-27

1t Is easy for the man who is max
ing nothing to save half Of what he
makes.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
WILL PLAY ONE WEEK.
Breckenridge Stock Company En-
eagement at Mankato Theatre.

The Breckenridge Stock company will
play at the Mankato Theatre all of
next week. The company is highly
spoken of by the press. The follow
ing is from The Hot Springs iArk.)
Daily Sentinel Record:
"The Breckenridge Stock company
closed weeks engagement last night
and the patrons of the theatre will re-
greet to see the company leave, for they
have delighted hundreds by their clever
work in the excellent productions offered
No better repertoire company ever ap.
peared in this city, and when they re.
turn they will be accorded the same
large attendance that has greeted them
at each performance during their en-
gagement. The company comprises some
of the best people in the profession
chief among whom is Mr.. Charles Breck-
enridge, the eccentric comedian"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
He Was Weary Of the World;
Ill and Discouraged.
Tragedy Was Enacted Just
Before the Noon Hour.
minated to an Acquaintance
What Was to Happen.

From Wednesdays Daily.
Wallace p Oathoudt, fifty five years
of age, and well known in this city,
shot himself just bofer noon today in
the alley near the Minneopa barn. The
reason for the deed as given by himself,
was his inability to care for his family.
The man has not been right mentally
for several years and of late has been
greatly depressed ana worried concern
ing MS family.
The deed was premeditated and wit
messed by several persons on the street.
Will Davis was coming through the al
ley when the man fell, and thinking he
might shoot again, took the gun from
him. Oathoudt was carried across
Cherry street to the offices of Drs. Hol-
brook and Andrews, but an examina-
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
Governor Robert La Toilette is
Among the Speakers.
Honorable Walter Chandler of
the New York Bar.
Other Entertainers That Will
Please the Public.

The lecture course committee of the
Young Mems Christian association has
decided on the talent for the course for
next season and Secretary Gran mas
made a contract with the Slayton Ly-
ceum Bureau, through their agent Mr..
r. j. Collins, for the six attractions
selected. In view of the liberal support
given the course the past season the
committee is encouraged in securing a
better course for the coming season.
The attractions selected are all new to
Mankato, but have every evidence of
being first class and on the whole are
higher priced than any other course.
Lecture By Governor LaFollette
The course will probably open in Oc-
tober this year with a lecture by the
Hon. Robert M. LaFollette. governor
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
OUTING FOR THE BOYS.
Annual Camp for the Juniors of the
I'm. G. A.

Arrangements have been fully COM
pleted for the camping expedition of
the Junior members of the Young Mems
Christian association. They will pitch
their tents on the same grounds that
they camped on two and three years
ago; which lies on the shore of the
north bay of Lake Washington. Per-
mission was received today from Mr.
+. A. Young, the owner of the proper
ty, to use it this year. The shore is
the best on the lake for bathing as it
has fine sandy bottom and slopes out
very gradually, making it absolutely
safe. The fishing in this bay is as good
if not better than any other part of
Lake Washington. The camp grounds
lie about six feet above the lake level;
amid virgin forest, with large grassy
piece of ground surrounding the tents.
The start for camp will be made from
the Y. NJ C. A. building Thursday
morning, June 10, and will return on
Thursday, June 20, making a full two
weeks stay. The total cost to each
boy for transportation, tents, board,
boats and in fact everything except his
clothes for the two weeks will be six
dollars; which is an exceptionally low
price considering that the best of food is
supplied them at camp. Fresh milk
and eggs are secured on the farm camp
ed on. An experienced cook will ac-
company the camp and give her whole
time looking after the culinary depart
ment. Mr. A. c. Gran, the secretary
of the Y NJ. c. A., will be in charge
of the camp as has been the case in
previous years and this will insure the
safe care of the boys i'm every way. He
will be assisted by several young men
who will accompany the camp and will
be in charge of the boys while out fish
ing and swimming. Regular hours are
set aside each day for swimming, fish
ing and expeditions through the woods
and country round about. Two regu-
lar field days are neld and baseball is
on the program eyeEy day. Anyone
desiring other information in regard to
this outing for their boys would do well
to call on Mr.. Gran at once. 1t is eX-
pected that about twenty-five boys
will constitute the party.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

Mr.. and Mrs. Rodgers Surprised 6y
Friends; Rapidan Mills News
Quite . surprised coupls we're Mr.. anA
Mrs. r. L. Rodgers a tAsif sstuxu flun
MAnkAto to Rapidaa Mills hst Satsr-
day Afternoon. II was their tAirtiStk
anniversary and . pleAuaat surpriss
had been planned for them. About fifty
friends and relatives were present and
all were served with refreshments. A
fine range was presented to Mr.. and
Mrs. Rodgers. All wish them many
more years of married life.
Miss Anna and Ethel Weller spent
Sunday at home.
A hard-fought game of ball took place
at Rapidan Station last Sunday, be-
tween Rapidan and the Sneldons of
Mankato. At the close of the ninth in
ming the score stood six to seven in fav-
or of Mankato. That's playing some, old
Rapidan.
An ice cream social will be given in
M. w. A. hall at Rapidan Station next
Saturday evening, the 10th, and dance
afterwards. Everybody come
The school picnic given by district
No. IL last Thursday was well attended
and enjoyed by all present. Miss Eliza
Wilson has taught the past term. She
has given splendid satisfaction and all
hope she will return for another year.
Louise Mendenhall visited home Sat-
urday and Sunday.
Grace Lindberg, who has been visit
ing her grandparents here, has return
ed to her home in Mankato.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM.
Reception This Evening and Gradua-
ton Tomorrow Evening.

This evening will be held at the Nor
man school the annual reception to the
alumni and the graduating class given
by the faculty. Every graduate of the
school is invited with husband or wife
and it is hoped that all will attend
Invitations have been sent out to all
resident alumni whose addresses are at
the school, but any who have not re-
ceived them are as cordially invited. The
parents of the members of the gradual
ing class are also invited.
Tomorrow evening the regular COM
mencement exercises will be held in
the assembly hall of the school, The
public is invited No cards will be re-
quired and no seats will be reserved.
The program follows:
Invocation; Commencement March,
Bartlett, Girls Glee club. Address,
The Modern Armor," Hon. w. S. Ham
mond. Song-Sing, Smile, Slumber,
Violin Obligato, Mr.. Ambrosch), Miss
Barbara Mansfield, 'O5.
Presentation of diplomas, Hon. John
A. johnson, governor of Minnesota.
Song, The Shoogy Shoe, Ambrose,
Spring Song, Smith, Girls Glee club
Benediction.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
DELAY PREVENTED A WRECK
Great Western Train Ran Into Sand
Pile Monday Evening.

Through a delay of few seconds a
wreck was averted on the ST. Louis and
Great Western roads between Minneap-
oils and st. Paul Monday night. The
Great Western train from Mankato, due
in Minneapolis at 1880, ran into a
washdown from sand bank short
distance out of st. Paul and plowed
across the st. Louis right of way about
where the trains were due to pass. The
st. Louis train was behind and was
stopped within about 100 yards of the
Great Western derailed cars.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
ton of the wound showed there was no
chance of saving mis- life.
Was Depressed in Spirits.

Mr.. Oathoudt was cousin of the
Chittenden brothers of this city, and
had been staying at the home of Jay
Chittenden at 2l3 Poplar street. He
wrote some letters this morning, one
of them presumably to his wife, and
just before noon went out to mail them.
He stopped to talk to Israel Cole a
few minutes in front of the Arcade sa-
loon, and remarked to him that he was
depressed and not feeling we'll, and for
him not to be surprised if anything un-
usual happened. Oathoudt then walked
up Cherry street as far as the Mime
opa barn, where he shot himself in the
breast, the ball entering the muscles
of the heart. Several persons witnessed
the act.
the gun with which the deed was
done was number 80, and was pur-
chased this morning at j. A. Lewis &
Sons hardware store. Oathoudt was an
old friend of Mr.. Lewis, and stated to
him that he was going away for few
weeks and wanted the gun for that pur-
pose.
Leaves a Widow and Two Children.
Oathoudt's widow and two children
live near Winnebago City, and another
daughter lives at Idagrove, Oregon His
father, who is well to do, lives at RAN
dali, Minnesota, and brother lives near
Lake Crystal. Mrs. w. P. Spaulding,
who formerly lived in Mankato, but is
now dead, was sister Word mas been
sent, to his father at Randall
Oathoudt is said to have been a mem.
Der OF the Masonic lodge at st. Peter
Mr.. Oathoudt and family resided in
West Mankato for many years. Two
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09
ANENT THE CREAMERY.
Manager Veisel Takes Exceptions e
Remarks Of Or. Edwards.

A. L. Veigel, manager of the Man
kato creamery, takes exceptions to the
remarks of Health Officer Edwards,
made at recent meeting of the coun-
Gil, in which he stated that ga cream
cry is a public nuisance and the dir
lest thing extant."
Mr.. Veigel writes The Free Press as
follows:
'We wish to invite the mayor and
city council to visit our creamery and
if they find as much smell as they do
at the average barn, | for one will give
up the Rock street lot. But l nope Mr..
Edwards will visit creamery before he
makes any more silly remarks to the
city council"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09

years ago they went to Seattle, but
returned and Oathoudt became separat-
ed from his family, VINO went to Win.
nebago City to live. He has lived in
Mankato ever since. He has not been
well, having tendency to st. vitas
dance.
At four o'clock this afternoon Oath
oudt was still alive but the chances OF
recovery were slim. His father was ex-
pected to arrive here tonight.
Oatnoudt was taken to the hospital
late this afternoon.