davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25

Though great waves OF gloom, at first,
seemed to swell up through the we'll and
submerge me, the glimmering lights of
cloudless night, stealing through the oval
windows at the ends of each hall, enabled
me, after a little, to use my eyes as well
as my hands as i CROPPED.
How those great, winding stairs did
oreak, with a thousand discordant voices,
as if all the disrep table Van Diemen ghosts
We're protesting against my looting their
plumber But no responses came to theso
warnings, save the hollow echoes of a
stripped and vacant house, as | stole down
the fourth and then the third fight.
paused frequently, for suspense catches
the breath even more than eXertion; and
as | stood poised in the very heart of the
vast and dusky tenement | seemed to
inspire some of its spirit, squalid, for the
most part yet now and again vaguely
refined and sweet, like the faint suggestion
that fingers when pure and gentle woman
has passed through prison
At the second landing vital sounds per-
vaded this abominable desolaton, the
patter of little feet, the futter of draperies
passing through the hallway below to bow
window, almost a balcony, that overhung
the garden. | crept nearer and nearer;
/ crouched behind a great newell post as
girls voice called softly:
Edgar, Edgar, are you there?'
@Oh, Hilda," came back an answer from
the garden in tones SO manly, so sincere
they might well belong to Squire Hickss
brave young fellow. "Oh, Hilda is it you
at last? have waited so long. was so
fearful lest your heart might fail at the
last moment. And now, for all you have
endured. for my sake you are coming to
me, DEAR"
Il am coming to you replied the girl
mot for all have endured but for your
dear sake"
And then in a sort of ecstatic antiphony
the lovers talked over their plan to drive
to town to tho house Of Edgar's sister,
where the next day they would be mar
ried, with the ever old, ever new conclu-
sion of living together happily forever
after
But You must wait for another hour at
least. until Pfter midnight" Hilda ey-
pIained, "there is something l must do;
and there was an odd touch of determine
ton in her words.
If it is your things-"
My poor things couldn't delay me but
would not come to you empty handed
Not when my heart is so full?-
But Hlda's mind was evidently set on the
eternal justice Of her purpose, whatever
it might he, and all Of Edgar's plendings for
immediate fight we're futile.
Where are they2" he asked, more, it
seemed. to hold the girl than for any par
ticular interest.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25

The brandy passed the customs officers
beneath their eyes and noses, and they
never suspected thing.
My aunt is delighted with mamma's
centerpiece, which she thinks Is all her
own work and she Is perfectly satished
with the cheap chocolate In the Potin box.
She will certainly buy the house. AND as
for poor CASTOR de Tournettes, lie Is still
ignorant of my sentiments! .,
merely wished to show you. tribe
maliciously perhaps, but perfectly respect,
fully, I assure you, that the truth you talked
40 much about Ia not always expedient TO
tell. Indeed, you would not think 1t was
modest or fitting for lady to issue from
her we'll and travel about through the
world without being adorned and yelled
to certain extent
You had far better trust to woman'e tact,
finesse and taste to render her sociabie,
amiable and even pretty and bewiteh, :,
Ing without losing any OF her natural
eracel Cover her with a little anodyne
In the shape Of few innocent lies and
she may journey freely without fear OF
Thus, dear papa, do not scold me so
severely another time. promise that
will tell only nice, white, innocent little lies.
and you must admit now, yourself that
they make life vastly more agreeable and
easy to livel In fact, there is no getting
along without them! JULIETTE.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
see how excited you get. If you'll move
hack and sit still-r

see how excited you get. If you'll move
back and sit still"
She moved back, she sat still, in that
curiously crouched position, her eyes glis-
tening with wilddesire. He raised his hand
he lowered it, once, twice, thrice, with a
studied doubt that must have been mad
dening to her Then, with deft jerk, he
slipped the string, and luminous stream
of diamonds flowed slowly into pool Of
liquid fire on the table.
A pool of liquid fire from some unknown
world, its brlliancy affected the nerves
like electricity. / seemed to be looking
into the glow of crater where passions
were seething.
1t seemed, too, as if my gaze was fixed
and held by an enormous eye, magnetic,
hypnotic, blotting out the persons and par
tionlars Of the snene, sugges ting, imnelling
coercing me to fulfil its evil will. l own,
am a lawless man, Injured to desperate
chances and disciplined to desperate deeds
if their legal consequences threaten; but
never had even dreamed could do what
for the moment now fairly burned to do
under the combined and concentrated
fascination of those Internal diamonds.
know that was examining the oblong
opening between the rooms with grim cal
culation. know that the muscles of nv
legs were posing for a spring. 1 know
that the muscles of my arms were straining
to strike, to choke. Then there was
sharp report and a cloud of smoke shut
off the obsessing magic of the gems.
When next looked l was myself again,
and this is what I saw: The old man lay
dead in his chair, his face horribly distorted
from sudden fear, the blood slowly oozing
from bullet wound directly over the heart.
And stretched across the table, her face
among the diamonds, her hands dripping
with them, as with drops of water, was the
old woman. cooling inarticuately. like a
mother to her child.
What should do? The spell, il any there
were other than the lust that comes from
unhoped for opportunity, was gone. The
diamonds were as repugnant to me as the
hideous dead. the more hideous living.
What should do, thief with scruples, a
marauder with shame?
And then thought of the girl upstairs,
waiting to regain her own as best she could
since the hopes of justice assisting her
were so sluggish and scant The hour of
her tryst must be near at hand.
Suppose she should conclude that the old
folks had gone to bed and descend to
prosecute her search. Suppose she should
encounter that insane and murderous
virago in the next room, nursing her spoils
in the very presence of her dead victim.
thought of this young girl, az sweet
and pretty a one as you could see in month
Of Sundays; thought Of the brave young
fellow waiting patiently without to carry
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25

.Down in the middle room OF the basement.
as usual; the old stewards room. l have
been listening, have been watching from
the laundry window Oh, it is so despic-
able so degrading, Edgar. 1t seems as
if could never get so far away as to be
free from the muck, the contagion. Be
sides. am frightened-I really am"
And yet you tarry-"
81 must. 1t is for the best for our best,
remember. Be patient and l will come,
never to 60"
So swiftly did the girl leave the window
and pass through the hall up the stairs that
her dress swept against me, her hand famed
my cheek as | crouched by the post, and
vet, accustomed to the darkness as she
was, her absorption was so intense that
she did not observe me. My breath caught
convulsiveiy again rs heard her close one
of the front room doors, and then, bracing
myself to act | deliberated what that &C.
ton should be.
Should ascend or descend; seek the girl
or her kindred? The choice was not hard
to make.
Admitting that she was determined to
take the diamonds with her in her flight it
was evident from the time she had demanded
that they were not yet within her reach.
1t might be that the pair downstairs at
that very moment were quarreling over
their possession.
At all events, II Hilda was aiting for
them to retire in order to get access to the
diamonds, it was presumable that they had
access to them now. Therefore, to the
laundry l would 60
slipped down Shiny steps and over
rniry pavement, past a faint line of light
under Intel and through the next sue
ceeding door on that side Of the basement
hall, and as l paused pantingly, l knew
the 10Y a mole must feel over its instructive
accuracy, for | was in the laundry surely
enough.
could discern a row of stationary tubs,
and yes, above them, there was an oblong
slit of a window. a shaft rather for ven
tation through which came a glimmer
and a murmur from the next room.
leaped as noiselessly as cat, and in an
other instant was looking down on scene
Hogarthian in it's dscordant colors and
repulsive characters
single candle, burning on a table in
the center OF the room. showed man and
a woman seated on either side, talking
voubly with frequent gesture and heads
thrust forward, An evil and dirty old
man he surely was; powerfully built, with
hurly shoulders and great knotted hands.
his head and neck thickly covered with a
white mop of hair, his faco almost con-
cealed by grizzled beard, slovenly flowing.
He held before the woman a small leather
bag, dangling it up and down, just beyond
her reach, as one might tantalize child.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
R3lSlilTl3;]g Oh;
IlElElIflS&l!Q3j

MY visitor this morning was as sweet
and pretty young girl as you could
see in month of Sundays-Miss Hilda
Van Demen. She lives at the old manor
house with her grandparents; the three
are the last of the race, and a good thing.
too, were it not for the saving grace of my
charming client
"She told her story with embarrassment
amid tears, driven through necessity to
me who had known her father we'll. Think
of it, Badger, that poor girl is neglected
starved, kept under restraint by those two
half mad all misery wretches
Il can't tell you all shouldn't tell you
40 much, / suppose-but there are vital
reasons why she should he protected by
the courts. Her father had some sort Of
rnstnd interest in the estate besides, there
are those COMPOUNDED diamonds--a constant
source of pickering between her degraded
relatives, a constant cause, almost believe
Of the unprecedented number of crimes
which have afflicted recently the little
village Of Brazendon.
Possession is nine-tenths Of the law,
you know; besides, surmise and suspicion
are not proof by a long shot and so told
Hilda that the best thing would be for
some brave young fellow to carry her of,
out of hand She blushed prettily, as if
had made chance shot, and yet l can
see she was disappointed so | am going
to stir up the equitable powers of the court
for her, and might better set about it at
once, l guess, than stay doddering here
with you
And Squire Hicks, both his pipe and talk
being out, went out also.
( That settled it. read no more that day.
Having equipped myself with few Of the
simpler tools of the trade, | set out for
Brazendon.
/ BY nightfall had inspected the desolate
old mansion, with its gables, caves, extern
sions, dwindling invitingly in the rear
! to a shed that lad might surmount. BY
| o'clock | was on the high peaked roof,
prying off the hasp Of the crazy scutte
/ 1t was dark in that garret-a sort Of
| dead darkness that made one gasp and
shiver; and my spirits rose as if from
! z Graft of wine when I cautiously
! opened the slide of my lantern. I was in
-! veritable graveyard of household effects;
! boxes, barrels, bundles, trunks, broken
chairs and settles, spinning wheels and
! family portraits, black with dust and decay,
were piled confusedly together.
| Using the utmost care and elaboration,
! / excavated and tunneled through this
rubbish until came to the opening Of a
crooked staircase. Having peered over
and determined that the way was unob-
structed, closed my lantern, crept down
! the steps, and in a moment stood looking
! over the circular baluster rail in the upper
hall.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
MONUMENT ON
lV A SANDBAR
Thaddeus Hyatt Of New York Who
Sent Relief Steamboat to
Kansas IN 1857.

.Forty-eight years ago a New York man
named Thaddeus Hyatt did a wonderful
thing in Kansas which made him talked
about all over that section. Did any OF
you ever hear OF Tbaddeus Hyatt?' asked
Kansas man OF New York crowd that
was showing him the sights.
No one In the crowd had ever heard OF
Mr. Hyatt.
well, continued the Kansas man, there
is a crumblng monument to his memory
on q sandbar In what is now called on tho
maps the Kansas River, but when Hyatt
was out there it was known as the kaw
River. It was not go wide as the Harlem,
but 1t was put down In 1857 as a navi-
gable stream, the only navigable stream
in the State. You can stand on one sids
of the river now and throw your hat across
to the bank opposite.
Hyatt was good type Of the hustlng
fastener when he went out to Kansas,
The country was suffering from grass
hopper plague.
A lot of Eastern people who had gone out
there to seek fortune lived up the Kaw
River, They wanted something to eat.
Hyatt built stes e, 1an,,t Of light draft
vii the the n nee pi Of lie. '"' '0'''
"He named his boat the Lghtfoot She
was to run from Kansas City to Lawrence.
She made only one trip. Her passengers
were men who afterward became famous
in the West The captain OF the boat some
years later was Governor of New Mexico
AS the Lightfoot assembled the Kaw
the people turned out and sauted her.
and when she reached her destination the
town OF Lawrence made the event Holt
day and gave the captain and his passen-
gers ball to commemorate the event,
"On the return trip the Lightfoot struck
a sandbar and stuck. The waters were
rapidly receding. No other boat could get
to her to pull her off. She was finally de-
serted and later dismantled.
But the remains Of the hull are still to
the sand, and few people are stin living
out there who point out the wreck as Thad-
deus Hyatt's monument.
Near the site where the Lightfoot landed
and discharged her relief cargo there was,
until some years ago, huge post which
marked at that point the boundary line
between Missouri and Kansas. On the
Kansas side of the post was the word Free.
dom; on the Missouri side was the word
Slavery
-Of course the railroads killed business
on the Kaw River, but II no railroad had
ever been constructed the Kaw as navi-
gable stream was doomed. 1t had the sandI
but that was about all. Most Of the time
there was not enough water in the course
for canoe.
IF you gentlemen will show me the way,
] want TO open up few bottles to the
memory Of that New Yorker who had the
pluck to go to the relief of Kansas when it
was hungry. We know his name better
than his own town knows It."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25

| her off out of hand and ] swear was JUST
about to go upstairs to warn, regardless
| of consequences, when there was the heavy
tread of men on the front porch, when there
was thunderous rapping on the front door,
and stern voice demanded admittance
| in the name of the law for the purpose
| of serving writs on the occupants.
| 1t was not difficult for me to conclude
that Squire Hicks had stirred up the equi-
| table powers of the court to inquire into
the case of the detention of Hilda Van
Dieman through habeas corpus but the
effect Of this sudden SUNNI ons was eXtraor-
binary upon the old woman in the next
room, calling her back as it did from un-
real delights to sense of her awful pre-
dicament. She raised herself. she listened.
f., she gathered the diamonds hastily into
the bGs and tucked it g way, she looked
around
Then, as il for the first, she saw her hus-
bands corpse. Then, as if for the FIRST
she realized fully what she had done.
With cunning smile she picked up the
revolver from the floor. Still intently
listening. as the sounds above grew louder
and more insistent, she snatched the bag
| of diamonds from her bosom--poor SOUL
, the maternal element was weirdly mingle
in her mainland, in fury Of danger.
loss, ruin, she dashed 1t against the WALL
Again there was a sharp report; again a
thick cloud Of smoke shut of the horrid
scene from view.
The front door slammed. There were
steps In the upper hallway. and waving
lights began to sweep down the basement
steps. 1t was time for me to CO. good
time, and oh, such good reason for going.
l darted out into the hall, crept into
the brioked recess Of the furnace. There I
waited and watched while the Sheriff came
down. while Hilda followed with Squire
Hicks and the faithful Edgar encouraging
and supporting her. Then, as a cry Of
horror co9oentrated all attention on the
CHASTITY exhibit OF avarioe in the stewards
room, slipped up the steps and out into
heart-what?
Why, the bag of diamonds, to be sure. And
now come to the most remarkable incident
OF a somewhat remarkable adventure.
Mrs. Van Diemen, In her last frenzy,
dashed the bag OF diamonds against the
wall 1t 81 ruck the top of the oblo. n open.
ing into tie laundry, and dropped into
my very grasp. OF course, as have said,
tne , diamonds no were repu grant to me, but
reject such a reward of virtue?
Granted that they were possessed ofthe
devil-and now, like Squire Hicks am
not cocksure on the subject-old Gratz
wouldn't mind little thing like that. 4
legion of devils couldn't prevent old Gratz
from realizing, by some hook or crook.
the highest cash price for them.
And so, relying upon old GRATIS superior
diablerie, ! bore the fateful Van Diemen
diamonds back to town.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25

And the woman-I hate to describe her.
had looked with disgust upon him; I
looked with horror upon her.
Though she was undoubtedly younger, far
younger than he, she seemed older. Though
she might have been comelier, far comeier
she was more hide0us.
In his bearing and action there was brut-
ish exultation: in her livid face and deep
set eyes there burned the steady, color
less fame of that intensity which can only
kindle and be kept alive by the consu%e!,tion
Of ones being. physical, mental and spir-
| itual. Think, then, of a creature unsexed,
without feminine graoes or masculine
with horror.
Wouldn't you like some Of them, just
/ a few Of them, just one Of them?" tainted
| the man ds lie ing tii, ba. to ard ire.
! She sat in curiously crouched position,
in which there lurked a menace, her right
hand behind her back. her left hand dart
ing forward and back, eager, yet hest
tating, like a snake. At length she said,
in dull, choked tones:
Just the smallest of them?"
-Oh. no. laughed the man; "youa are COM
ing down in your demands. you are begin
ming to realize what I've told you a thou
| sand times, that you haven't, that You
can never have, any right or title to them,
hey? What are You anyway?-nothing
but secondly. whom married in a mo-
ment OF folly to repent Of 1t for endless
years? chidless, barren secondly too;
Van Diemen only in name. No, never
you cant have the shadow of single one
| of them
you haven't any right or title to them
either" famed the woman. They belong
! to Hilda under the settlement with her
father thirty years ago.
"Yes; but how is she going to get them''
I'm tell"
And III deny; and then slap you into
the asylum. where You belong
Then let me look at them--please,
please do?'
Il don't know about that" deliberated
the man. mockingly, these aren't ordi-
nary diamonds remember. They some
times have a strange effect on a sensitive
SOUL
"A strange effect--how about yourself,
man? Do You think ! am blind, deaf.
dumb? Do you think haven't followed
you, when houses have been burned
strangers have been robbed, yes, and
murder has been done? Don't press me
too hard, or III tell"
And I'll deny. say. Who would believe
a crazy old witch like you, without society.
position. friends--a fright to village brats?
Pah. for what you've seen or heard or
know or can tell-it might be the easiest
way Of getting rid OF you. But still
and he held the bag on high 1T is fun to
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25

was back in my quiet Office, again en-
compassed by the obscure but safe respect
ability of Maecenas Badger. attorney at
law. Gratz had gone away to testify,
Of all things, as an expert in a diamond
valuation case. He had made me financially
easy with small part Of the proceeds
OF the Ra jah's diamonds. and had act ually
advised that should rest from my preda-
tory labors for while. fearful, no doubt
lest my works follow me too closely.
Yet l was not happy. Aspell was upon
me to invade again the forbidden king
dom, to explore again the regions Of the
unknown.
Though not prone to psychological study
OF myself, am convinced that there was
little of avarice or Of that fierce lust for
more diamond, which iio physical! ron
tact with diamonds seems to engender,
in this compelling force. 1t was more a
yearning for the excitement, suspense
wonder and enlight eminent inseparable from
perilous adventure. 1t was more the
mingled charm of wit and chance that keeps
within the whirl of the stock market the
epeculator after he has landed his spoils.
Instead, then, of bucklng down to my
books, l was pacing my Office fretfuly
In the same entry, came slouching in for a
chat and a smoke.
L had curious case come to me just
now" the old fellow began. Il hail you
know, from Brazendon, a dozen miles or
go UP the river. Well, when l was a lad,
the place was predominated, you might say,
by tie Van .Diemens, an ancient family.
once possessing the eat ates and rights OF a
Patroon but gradually reduced to little
more property than the old manor house
and its mess uage.
You are too modern man, Badger. to
believe in any of those i'll defined super.
normal causes such as destiny, doom or
hereditary curse, to which the decay of a
family of consequence was once so apt to
be attribute ed. But, "a for me, | am too
old fashioned to be cock sure. One thing
is cert ain; the Van Dicmens for general iors
have shown a consist ency in going from
bad to worse that seems fatefu
Il remember we boys used &c listen fol
hours To- the fearso me ,.sts, .hs ~iiaSt
.agahonds told of the misdeeds of the
Early Ven Dieuens when smuggling was
considered a gentlemanly avocaton, and
many swift and stanch craft in the Afri-
can trade from this port bore the Jolly
Roger in it's masters locker, convenient
to be snapped from the main truck at just
the right, or rather wrong. moment.
-They whispered that the possession of
bloodstained diamonds of fabulous value
had wrought spell on the family; and
now to hear it limited at again. after half
century of the ommonplace-well, ! don't
know, BAG AIA~ssr don't know.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
Boys Remarkable Escape.
F,,n correspondence Sacramento Z

Firn correspondence Sacramento Bee
Lawrence Brown was struck by lightning
Tuesday while out sailing cattle His right
ear was burned. the lightning went down
his right side burning his leg in several places
and scorchng the leather OF his stirrup,
The horse that he was riding was killed under
him. dropping instantly. and its body did not
show the slightest marx,
The lightning came down pine tree under
which the horse and rider were passing, and
the whole thing occurred in the sunshine
He was about twenty feet from the dead horse
when he recovered consciousness, and his
hat, which was cut by the lightning across
the top, was at a much greater distance.
When he came to himself the first thing be
wanted was water. He crawled to ditch.
and his right side dragged as If .paralyzed.
However, there is none OF that numbness left.
II simply cannot be explained how he
escaped From the path the lightning took
down his body. i would appear that it. pas. .s
ing on the body of the dead animal furnishes
any clue.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-06-01

SEWING School for girls and ladies. Plain
and fancy work. Glasses and private
lessons, afternoon and evenings. Baby
carriage, cradle and high-chair for sale
cheap. Mrs. Mortensen, l2S Gordon st.
11622 6-1 1t