davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08
AT THE FANCY
DRESS PARTY:
BY J. PH11PoT WHITMAN.

miss Slater" he commenced. pull
ing on his mask, II have been seek.
ing for an interview with you all
the evening""
Madge gasped and stared wildly at
her companion. What did it all
mean? She looked away to where
Charles II. was dancing-indeed she
had been following the gay figure
with her eyes all the time-and again
at the Monk.
There could be no doubt about It.
Jack was by her side. Apparently
she and Amy were not the only ones
who had exchanged costumes!
But how dare Jack seek an appoint
ment with Amy Slater! He had been
looking for her the whole evening,
had he! She clenched her hands
hard. She would keep her identity
secret and learn the extent of his vii
lainy.
What was Jack saying?
-"I have tried to see her several
times, but all to no purpose; and
this evening, unknown to her, we
danced together-she is dressed as
Gypsy Queen, you know
(Madge's heart bounded as the full
truth dawned upon her.)
But although l feel she must have
recognized me when ventured to
speak few words of love to her."
continued her companion, '*she re-
pulsed me coldly and abruptly left
me- !.
(Madge mentally begged her
friends pardon for her recent unjust
suspicions.)
And so knowing the costume you
were to appear in tonight contin-
ued the Monk, with delightful inno-
cence, II resolved to seek you out
and ask for your help in the matter,
as you are such a friend of Madge's."
"You know I love her." (Madge
Fsighed rapturously.) "And I am
sure the little girl loves me-" ("she
does," said Madge, sotto voce.) 'fYou
| will help me in this matter; won't
you? And will pardon me for asking
! this Of your
- He waited anxiously for her reply.
She temporised.
Are you sure you really love her?'
she said, with degree of feeling in
her voice which surprised her COM
panion.
Love her!" said Jack, vehemently.
In a voice full of emotion which he
tried in vain to repress. "You can't
|
dancing with that confounded Grena-
dier over there!" Then, hesitatingiy:
'And do you think-do you think
that she cares for me?"
II think she does," said the Girton
Girl, as she lifted her mask.
''Madge!" said Jack.
! copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles)
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08
CHAPTER XIII.
Trapped.

It was the evening of the ball at
Admiralty House. W1nstanley, with
a pleasurabre anticipation of what it
was to do for him, was dressing for
dinner when his man brought him a
little perfumed note. He recognized
the perfume with some slight disfavor
as he took it and broke the seal. What
could Countess Ilka have to say to
him, after their parting at the Hospital
ball? He had kept out Of her way ever
since. The note now was brief one,
and he ran his eyes over 1t in haste.
IT am almost ashamed to write to
you. feel did what must have been
objectionable in your eyes. And I
fear made mischief that am Deep
ly sorry for. A bird of the air has told
me. I can set it right, know can, in
a mere moment. Will you let me tell
you how? There are people coming
to dinner with me; come too, If you
possibly can. If not, just step in at my
place on the way to Admiralty House.
A word to the beaxer'w will be sufficient.
Come, or shall think I have lost all
your respect
Noel Winstanley twisted the note in
his fingers and thought. He was din
ing with the Government House party,
but he could readily step in at the
house on the front on his way to the
dockyard.:' If she really guessed the
secret he thought no one had. suspect
ed-if she were serious In Offering to
set it right? Women understood each
other after all better than men could.
She might be his: best help AT all
events, he wanted to- know what she
had to say about 1T; And it was too
bad to let the poor woman think he
had a contempt for her. because; she
had lost her head that night :. No
doubt it had been the mere impulse of
excitement and emotion. and she had
been sorry and ashamed, Of It ever
since. He would go, II any case, Just
to hear what she meant. .* II i :<: ~ ~ /
And so, when dinner was over, he
took his way round by the front. Mrs
Kenyon had asked .if he would not
have lift in the carriage, but 40 had
declined. He need mot get to the ball
before the second q dance his dance
with: Ursula. He. would have plenty OF
time just. to; call. 81, response to
Countess Ilka's request. and hear what
she had tos tell
~ "a Cont tlnued: y75
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08
REMARKS I 4|'Rl'| < BY j. *:>
:. =. E1T4E POSTMASTER
BY HAYDEN CHURCH.

Moses Briggs, postmaster at SCOTS:
Vile, stood in the back room Of the
post Office sorting mail. Briggs was
a tall man. andSSa thin angular one,
whose clothes did not fit him: He
looked wretchedly libby as he stood
there in: his shirt-sleeves, with his
faded Observation-Disclosures.
From where ~ stood, behind the
row of ptgeonholes, each with its
initial letter, briggs could : look
through into thAEfront room beyond.
1t originally hadNbeen fitted up as a
general shop; < b1t now the showcases
were covered with al thick dust, and
the cloth draperles which had shield
ed the dry goodsSon} the side shelves
hung moth-eatenMsand in tatters No
one ever came INTO the "shop', now
except to get hts.mail. The fireplace
was filled with .Hubbis and all that
remained to shoW where a social cir
Gle of men had1p jokedv~ and told
stories was one Iickety chair, with a
broken leg. Thu place had gone to
seed. %{SE.>
Moses Briggs Vas sorting the after
noon mail. He worked mechanically,
pausing only occasionally to puzzle
over the supersGription of letter.
Soon there was only one left in his
hand, and as he0read it's address he
gave start Of surprise. *'To the
Postmaster at Scottsville," he read
aloud; then walked slowly into the
back part Of theroom and sat down
at a table; with his letter in front Of
him. n
As he sat. there the light from a
window at the side Of the room shone
full upon his face. His forehead was
furrowed with deep wrinkles, his eyes
were bloodshot: and had no luster in
them. His noseSwas sharp and red,
and on each side of it were tell-tale
patches of tiny pink veins.
The postmaster picked up the let
ter and tore it onen slowly, using his
long forednger Az a paper.knife. : In
side were a return envelope, stamped;
a typewritten letter, and a printed
slip. with blank spaces. The letter
was addressed the Postmaster r''
and it was signed, Briggs noticed, by
''The Golconda Life Insurance Com
pany," of New York.
Dear Sir" it began. May we re-
quest you to favor us by answering
the few questions on the inclosed
inquiry sheet and returning it to us?
The person named has just proposed
to us for policy of insurance, and
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08

Yes, they had \ quarreled-really
quarreled this time. He had called
twice, and each time she had refused
to see him. What had made her so
perverse! Madge's big brown eyes
brimmed over with tears.
Now she could not go to Mrs. Alb
bott's fancy dress party. For she. and
Jack Cartwright were going together
and had planned the costumes they
should wear.
After some indecision she resolved
to go after all. She would persuade
her cousin, Amy Slater, to exchange
costumes with her. (Amy, she re-
membered, had greatly admired her
Gypsy gown And dressed in her
cousins Girton costume, perhaps she
might even dance with Jack, unknown
to him.
/. To take pen and ink was the work
OF moment; and after several at
tempts letter was produced, of which
the following is an extract;
II know you will do as I wish,
dear Amy; and the Gipsy costume
would suit you splendidly. I feel /
simply cannot wear it now, after Jack
and I have quarreled-you will under
stand, won't you, dear? So if you
could let me have your Girton cos
tune in exchange, I should be ever so
much Obliged"
To which voluminous reply was
received, the substance Of which was:
Certainly, DEAR"
The night of the dance arrived in
due course. But to two people, at
least, the previous "a hours seemed
the longest they had ever, ever expert
enced. The hall was in a blaze Of
light. The masked dancers, in their
gay costumes made veritable kaleid-
oscope of color.
Madge, masked, and completely dis
guised in her borrowed Girton cap and
gown, entered with her aunt and
cousin, the latter wearing. Madge's
Gipsy Queen costume.
Jack had planned to wear Charles
II. costume. She caught sight of him
at once. Her heart beat wildly as the
Merry Monarch, with barely-a- glance,
passed the Gipsy by. Had it gone
so far as this? Was she nothing to
Jack now?
A tall Monk came towards them
in the meantime and begged a dance
of. Amy. Leaning lightly on the
Monks arm, her cousin joined the
throng Of merry dancers. The next
moment Charles H. stood before her.
MAY I have the pleasure of this
dance? he said. =
The little Girton Girl whirled bliss.
fully round in the arms of the bril-.
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08

liant Charles II. Was she not with
her Jack, she said to herself, as she
gave her companions arm just the
least suspicion Of squeeze. And
yet how cold he seemed. But, how
could he know who she was? -,
Should she raise her mask? She
decided she would not. At present
it was sufficient to find herself again
with him; even under these strange
circumstances. Perhaps he would
detect her, even under her disguise.
But the music came to close, and
Charles II. calmly brought his part
ner back to her friends, and re.
signed +her to- the: Monk, who claimed
her for the next dance.
would you rather sit this out?"
suggested the Monk, noticing his com.
panion's detected air, and secretly re-
joicing at her reply that she would
much prefer to Dc SO. +. 4 ~
: For Madge all the Joy had gone out
of the evening. How she had, hoped
that during the dance Jack would rec.
ognize her! She .blushed even now
at the thought Of the, encouraging
words she had, said to him. which he
had .parried with light laugh. Still
IT ] he had not recognized. her, there
was q certain amount Of consolation
In. the fact that her Jack had not: at
tempted to firt with an unknown. girl.
She grasped at that straw OF comfort.
], The Monk led her to !. cosy, Sc.
cluded corner, and they seated them:
selves. Madge reused herself with IN
effort and looked at her companion.
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08

as he lives In your neighborhood we
think that you may be both able and
willing to oblige us with the data re-
quired in such cases." (:
It was. simply the ordinary in.
quiry which most insurance compa-
MES make regarding applicants who
are unknown to them. Briggs had
answered many such, so it was with
out any surprise that he opened the
accompanying form to see which Of
his townsmen had been fortifying
against adversely. AS his eye fell on
the name, however, he laughed aloud,
in his high, .cracked<Svoice. ;. The per.
son inquired about was Moses
Briggs, 40 years of. age;; occupation,
shopkeeper; scottsville: proposing for
s., ,000." = -. =. !; = -
Briggs knew how it had happened.
He remembered now signing. pro
posal for $1,000 in. the "'Golconda,' -
but he had mo- idea Of taking
policy. The local agent Of the
company had asked him to ap-
ply, explaining that. though his. sig
nature bound him to nothing, his pro
posal would swell the .agency's record
|of business for the year: The agent
had bought Brtggsssa q drink that day,
and then proposed his signing as a
personal ,faVor j ,entioning 3 that \ it
would be- better not to give. his oc.
cupatlons as that s. 81 postmaster. " 50
Briggs had signed. and agar" accepted
the agent, court rtesy, and tho result
was thisaset of Squestio ions. { :55 s.
..S To Briggs mind there was some
thing grimly humorous Is the idea 81
writing about himself {, and so he de-
Scideds stoS answer hesZ5 questions. Pull
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08

sing the sheet toward himself, he
dipped his pen into the muddy ink.
The first question was: Does this
person appear to- be in good health ?"
Still. keeping up the jest, the post
master rose, stepped over. to where a
Jagged piece of looking-glass stood on
a shelf, and examined his appearance
therein critically. When be sat down
again, his face was more sober. and.
picking up his pen, he wrote: "No."
els he a man of temperate habits?"
asked the sheet. The reader WINGED
the veriest trifie.e but again wrote
plainly, "No."
Has he always been temperate?
If not, state particulars in Remarks"
The postmaster smiled rather sadly
as he read the question. "Seems as
though they were bound to have it
all out" he muttered aloud, "an',
s'elp me, they shall, tool" He thought
that he would make a rough draft
of what he was going to write, and
set about it in scrawling, shaky
hand. "
"This man." he wrote, "is a plain
drunkard. He has been a drunkard
for the last five years. He began we'll
enough. He married a nice girl here,
and started in keeping shop. He had
three little children-a boy and two,
glrls-but they didn't keep him
straight, and soon he got to abusing
his wife; and when she couldn't stand
1t no, longer she left him. She is now
supporting herself and the children,
while he is despised by everyone. No
one will do business with him now,
except such as have to, and his trade
is all gone. He has a government
position here, which he will probably
lose soon, and that will be the end of
him. He is a wreck, and couldn't pay
the first premium on policy if it
was no more than sixpence. His wife
is getting old before her time, but
people respect her, and pity her chill
dren for having such father. That
is the kind of man Moses Briggs is"
The postmaster laid down his pen
and slowly read over what he had put
ln-hls rough draft.
"That's what I'll write under Re
marks" he said, "just the plain
truth. Then We'll see if they'll want
to issue any policy"
He rose from his chair again, and,
walking over to the window, looked
out. The post Office was built on a
bluff, overlooking a river. The sun
was just setting, and the sky, behind
the distant tree-tops was rose pink.
In the blue above one early star twin
killed. feebly.
The man stood there, drinking in
the scene-the water flashing in the
last dying sunbeams, the grassy slope,
and, over all, the single star. Then
suddenly his frame grew erect, his
eye flashed, and he threw both arms
out straight from the shoulders, his
| fists clenched
It'll be true,'' he muttered, "for I
mean it, and it ca mt do anybody any
hurt If say so. I couldn't take out
a policy anyway. An, seems as
though I'd like to see it written down
that way"
He sat again, and pulled the inquiry
sheet toward him, as he dipped his
pen into the ink. The two questions
with mo- after them seemed less
OFFENSIVE now. Under Remarks he
T wrote. with a firm hand:
!" used to drink hard. Has re-
formed.
I POSTMASTER"
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08

nearer, leaning over the bed closer
and closer, with a stifled exclamation
of amazement. The man who owned
the cynical smile watched him. a
CLEAN of amusement and triumph in
his eyes. He might. have been a
clever workman showing of new bit
OF his own manufacture to a fellow
artisan who could appreciate its work
ing. He held his peace till the other
had done his scrutiny. Oyer the sleep
ing head the candle passed and re-
passed, leaving no line, or feature 'un-
searched. When the whole had been
looked at the man put down the can
die with long breath and shook his
head slowly, to express his amaze
ment.
my dear friend!" he said, *'but it. is
the man himself! I will not believe
but that you have dressed him so, and
made him sleep to take me in! 1have
studied the face for more than thirty
years, and never yet have found one
man SO like unto another! 1t must be
the work of magic, or it is the man
himself"
The bearded man smiled. He liked
to hear his success applauded. But he
pointed down at the hands that lay
limp and inert upon the coverlet;
Look if those are the hands of the
gentleman" he said. mo officer has
nails like those" The other shifted
the candle nearer and looked again.
The hands were the hands of the
working man-discolored and harden
ed by toll, and the nails were broken
and blackened, and uncared for
through a whole range of years:
II see, see. It is there that one
observes the difference. He must wear
gloves, this man of yours. No one
could mistake those hands for the
hands of the generals friend, if they
saw them
"Hush!" said the other, in sharp
whisper, glancing over his shoulder
fearfully.
AYE, you are right. No names, by
the orders we bear. I should never
have slipped if I had not lost my
mind in astonishment. The mother
who bore either Of them might mis-
take. You will do it-you must>do it,,
when you have an instrument like that
in your hand. It is great good luck
that you should have found him, and
that these two men should have been
the only two on earth who own a
double alike in every respect"
They went out Of the room; softly
closing the door behind them. 1t was
:bolted again noiselessly on the other
side. The second man pointed to the
bolts as the other fastened them.
"You do not find him docile, then, I
see. How if he fails you when the mo-
ment comes?'
The other shrugged his shoulders
carelessly.
"He will not fail me. There is no
fear Of that" he answered. 'When
work I leave no loophole for drawing
back"
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08
THE MAN DRESSMAKER.
Wonderful Creature Before Whom
Great Ladies and Spoiled Ac-
tfesses Alike Bow.

Paris has a man dressmaker, and
he is no ordinary notwithstanding
to the Woman's Home Companion.
He is slim young man with long
nose and big, winsome eyes. Wear
ing a gray frock coat and patent leath-
er shoes-corseted and powdered and
perfumed-he is more than a man; he
is a dressmaker. He is saturated with
dandyism. 1t is not of an offensive
kind. !,
His manners are a strange mixture
of humility and insolence, for he is
at once a salesman and an artist.
And he talks, talks. talks bending
hfs slim body into polite curves s-ges-
ticulating with his thin white hands
rolling his eyes in their painted or
bits, the while he fumbles silks and
velvets and satins and lace and wool.
The mere man who comes into a
dressmakers shop Of an afternoon
in Paris no one goes to the dressmak-
er's save only in the afternoon-be-
gins by sneering at this fantastic crea-
ture. That mood does not last long.
Contempt gives way to admiration.
There is something marvellous in the
way this lord of lace and ribbon dom
mates the women-the royal highness'
as, we'll as the spoiled actress.
He is charming; he is frivolous.
Then of a sudden his face darkens;
he becomes, serious; he stares at her
royal hlghness- studying her form
from head to foot. he smites his brow,
and cries .despairingly::. mo, no! I.
can't see you IN that gown to-day; I
can't see you tn. any gown will
study---an inspiration will. come you
must wait" And royalty goes away
dattered, she knows not why.
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08
Postmaster" "

as he lives In your neighborhood we
think that you may be both able and
willing to oblige us with the data re-
quired in such cases.
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-08
"A Matrimonial Pool.

:, II must have q hundred thousand"
firmly declared the count ~ ~
z . The lady has only fifty thousand =
.=Z Then the deal Is OF. = s.=z
Stay! The girl IS from Utah.
Perhaps she can get another lady or.
two to join. her In this ~thing. :. @ .
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-10
A MAJOR GENERAL
HURT BY A BOMB
Commander Dumbadze, Of the Troops
at sebastopo, Has a Marrow
Escape.

sEBAsToPoL, Oct. 1o,-A bomb
was thrown at Major General DUN
bauze, commander of the troops, as he
was driving to the barracks of the
Brest regiment. The General, who
was slightly wounded, fired on his
assailant. The latter. after a strug-
gle with some soldiers, escaped.
Troops Immediately surrounded the
barracks and the neighborhood and
searched all the houses. 1t is believed
that several persons we're implicated
in the attempt. The Generals coach
man and two orderlies, who were fol
lowing his carriage, were severely
wounded
A bomb was thrown at General Dunn
badze, then colonel, commanding the
Brest regiment, on July 10 last, when
he was leaving the court-martial which
had been trying mutineers Of the Black
Sea fleet at Sebastopol. Dumbadze
was uninjured
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-10

ton, of Chelyan, all representatives tc
the Grand Temple, have arrived, com
pIeting the list of the G. T. represen
tatiyes who we're expected. Mr.. and
Mrs. Bonner Hill, also of Chelyan, are
registered at the Jackson.
Pythian Temple No. S, Of this city.
held a regular meeting at their hall
on Main street last night which was
largely attended by the visiting ladies'.
The meeting was necessarily short, as
the nall had to be vacated In order
that the committee might decorate It
for the meetings of the next three
days. The staff went to Odd Fellows
Hall after the meeting for a rehear-
sal.
Charles Riggle, of Miidebourne, one
o. the energetic workers in the cause
Ct Pythianism in this section of the
State, arrived yesterday morning to
attend the Grand Lodge meeting aud
participate in the social exercises. lie
is the guest of his brother, Mr.. &. II.
Kjggle, on Spring street.
Judge Cyrus W. Hall, without whom
nc grand lodge would be complete, is
quartered at the Watson, where he is
greeting his numerous friends.
Bruce Ash is familiar sight every
where you go. He has attended all OF
the grand lodge meetings for years.
Win A. Strlckler, the leader OF the
Grand Tribunal, is quartered at the
Marietta.
B. F. Stout, of Clarksburg, is on
hand, as member OF the judiciary
Committee. He is accompanied by
his wife, who is a representative TO the
Grand Temple Rathbone Sisters.
Mrs. Manner jenkins, OF Piedmont, is
a guest at the Watson, and will take
part In the social features of the week
as arranged by the Rathbone Sisters.
Mrs. Ice Blnns, of Clarksburs, rep
resenting Fern Leaf Rathbone Temple
C: that city. arrived yesterday and
is the guest of her father.in.law, Dr..
j. H. Binns. on Jefferson street.
Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder, Grand Mis-.
tress Of Finance of the G. T. R. S,
and Mrs. May Fandree, Of Charles,
ton, representing Union Temple No. 8,
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-10


worth. eiaflss tlirg Harry Ellini Cam;
eEon q Regnolds. Charlie TON j.
Hint chatl stot WIG aIorrisi
Charleston 3. Sgoodall Char eston:
b. III Higginb3 thain Charlie tor; i.
II Herndcn. MOSCOW; ii q. Under.
wood, wheeling w. @. Thomas.
Wheeling sIaytna Hahsrheld, Wheel
ing; Sophia Stops Lizzie Houston.
Grace Maxwell. John P. Arburz. chas.
|seibert, Jas. H. Beans, Wheeling; A.
E. Keener, Spencer; ]. B. Canning,
Valley Falls; J. N. Jolliffe, Pine Grove:
Is. L. Morgan, H. E. Wise, B. R. Ktst.
ler, Pine Grove; N c, Prickett and
wife, Ravenswood; R. s. Waters and
wife, L. G. Miller, Lizzie Miller,
Wheeling; c. A. Barlow, Benwood;
WIN. Barlow, Wheeling; Pane RE
del, B. F. Fecke. H. G. Frederick, Fred
Nudemyer, Jacob ]. Benicke, W. H.
Benicke, R. L. shaler, w. D. Bane.
Il. E. Hildebrand, c. W. Hartman, VIM.
r. Falck, VIM. ]. Clark. H. l.. Wagner,
c. E. Wagner, s. E. Falck, Geo. w.
SSchenck, David irwin, Wheeling.
ManIey.
Virgil A. Lewis, Charleston; Miss
Cornelia Bassil, Clarksburg: V Ruck,
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-10
HON. SAMUEL 3. MONTGOMERY GRAND OUTER GUARD

H. Smith, Weston; Geo. R: Winger,
Morgantowu; NJ. B. Park, Mounasville;
I'ictor L. Myers, Moundsyille; J. R.
Porter, Moundsville; M. B. Riggs,
Wheeling; Van. B. Hall, Sutton; W.
Fl. James, Frametown; T. W. Fletcher.
huntsville; R. L. Reed, Boothsvllle;
Il. B. Ash, Warrington; l.. H. Dent
&organtown; Jas. G. Frazer, Morgan
town: S. A. Pell. Wheeling; John J..
Sensenery, Huntington; r Bruce