davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

here eternally and yet be human: to age
In soul and see our beloved die and pass
10 lands whittier we cannot hope TO fol-
low; 10 wait while. drop by drop. the
curse of the long centuries falls upon
our imper1shable being, like water slow
dripping on a diamond that ii cannot
wear till they be born anew forgetful
OF us. and again sink from our help
less arms into the void unknOwable.
Think what il is TO see the sins we
sin, the tempting look. the word idle or
unkind-ay, even the selfish thought
or struggle. multiplied ten thousandfold
and more eternal than ourselves. spring
up upon the universal bosom of the
earth to be the bane of a million desti-
MES. while the everlasting finger writes
Its endless count, and a cold voice OF
justice cries in our cOnscience-haunted
solitude: oh, soul unshTiYen, behold
the ripening harvest thy wanton hand
did scatter and long in vain for the wa
ters Of forgetfulness.'
Think what it is to have every earth
ly wisdom. yet to burn unsatished for
the deeper and forbidden draught; 10
gather up all wealth and power and let
them slip again, like children weary of
painted toy; to sweep the Tyre OF
fame. and. maddeneu by it's jangling
music. to stamp it small beneath our
feet; 10 snatch at pleasures goblet and
find its wine Is sand, and, a length, out
worn, 20 cast us down and pray the pitt
less gods with whose stolen garment
We have wrapped ourselves. to take II
back again, and suffer as to stink naked
TO the grave.
such is the life thou askest Leo
Say. wilt thou have il noW?"
IL IL may be shared with thee" he
answered. These woes are born of
loneliness. but then our perfect fellow
ship would turn them into joy"
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

place. and he fell to entreating her to
let them be wed at once and journey uf-
terward
But she said nay. and nay, and nay.
1t should not be. till at length. as though
fearing his pleading. Or that Of her own
heart, she rose and dismissed lis.
An! my Holly" she said 10 me as
We three parted, Il promised thee and
myself some few hours of rest and Of
the happiness of quiet, and thou seest
now my desire has been fulfilled. Those
Old Egyptians We're won't 10 share their
reasts with one grizzly skeleton, but
here l counted four tonight that you
both could see, and they are named
Fear. Suspense, ForebOding, and Love
denied. Doubtless, also, when tfeae are
buried others Will come to haunt US.
and snatch the poor morsel from our
lips.
So hath it even been with me. whose
feet misfortune dogs. Yet 1 hope on
ana now many a barrier lies behind US;
and. Leo, thou hast been tried in the
appointed triple fires. and yet proved
true. Sweet be thy slurabers, o my love,
and sweeter stiI thy dreams, for know.
my soul shall share them. / vow to thee
that tomorrow We'll be happy, ay, to-
morrow without fail"
Why viii she not marry me at once -
asked Leo, when we were alone in
our chamber.
Il think it is because she is afraid,
/ answered.
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

that set upon my brow?" and she point
ed to the faint but lambent light which
glOWed upon her forehead
More. she begaI. slowly TO stroke her
abundant hair. then her breast and
body. Wherever ler fingers passed the
mystic light was born, until in that
darkened room-for the dusk was gath,
ering-she shimmered from head TO
foot like the water OF a phOsphoresceut
sea. a being glorious vet fearful to be
hold Then she waved her hand. and.
save for the gentle radiance on her
brow. became as she had been
Art so sure. nv Holly?" Ayesha re-
peated. Nay. shrink not; that fame
viii not burn thee. Mayhap thou q.
hut imagine it as / have noted thou
dCst imagine many things: for surely
no woman could clothe herself in light
and live, nor has so much as the smell
of fire passed upon my garments"
Then at length my patience was out
worn, and Z grew angry.
Il am sure Of nothing, Ayesha." I
answered, except that thou wilt make
us mad with all these tricks and
changes. say art thou a spirit then2''
I'VE are all spirits" she said. refiec-
lively, "and 7. perhaps, more than some.
VINO can be certain?"
Not l." I answered Yet I i'm
plore. woman or spirit. tell me one
thing Tell me the truth In the be
ginning what vast thou to Leo. and
what was he to thee?'
She looked at me very solemnly and
answered;
Does my memory deceive me. Holly.
or is it ~-ritten In the first book of the
law OF the Hebrews, which once l used
To study. nat the sons of Heaven came
down to the daughters of men. and
found that they were fair?'
1T is So written, / answered.
Then. Holly, might it not have
chanced that once a daughter of Heaven
came down to a man of earth and loved
him well? Might it not chance that for
this great sin, she, who had befouled
her immortal state for him, was doomed
to suffer till, at length. his love, purified
by pain and faithful even to memory.
was permittrd d to redeem her?''
Now at leggth ! saw light and sprang
up eagerly, but in a cold voice she
added
Nay. Holly. cease to question me,
for there are things of which / can but
speak 10 thee in figures and in parallels.
rot to mock and bewilder thee, but be-
cause / must Interpret them as thou
wilt Still Atene thought me no NOR
tai. since she told US that man and
spirit may not mate: and there are mat
tiers in which ] let her judgment weigh
with me- as without doubt, now. as in
other lives, she and that old Sha-nan,
her uncle have wisdom. ay, and fore
sight. So bid my lord press me no
more TO wed him. for it gives me pain
10 say him nay-ah, thou knOwest not
how much.
Moreover. I viii declare myself 10
thee, old friend: Whatever else I be. at
least l am too womanly to listen 70 the
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

woman. or the spirit, whom We knew as
She, Hes and Ayesha. Whether i'm fact,
also. or In our imagination only, she had
arisen from the ashes of her hideous
age into the full bloom of perpetual life
and beauty inconceiNable.
These things at least were certain:
Ayesha had achieved the secret OF an
existence so enduring thal for all human
purposes IT might be called unending-
Within certain limitations-such as her
utter inability to fOresee the future
undoubtedly, also. she was endued with
powers that ear only be described as
supernatural
Her rule over tn strange community
among whom she lived was absolute; :;
indeed, its members regarded her as a
goddess, and as such she was wOr-
SHIPPED. After marvellous adventures. the
man who was her very life. l might al
most say her soul. whose being was so
mysteriously inteTtwIned with hers.
whom she loved. also. with the intens-
est human passion Of which woman can
be capable, had sought her out in this
hidden corner of the world.
More. thrice he had proved his un-
alterable fidelity to her. First, by his
rejection of the royal and beautiful, if
Atene. Secondly, by cling
ing to Ayesha when she seemed to be
repulsive TO every natural sense. Third
ly, after that homage scene in the sane
tuary-though with her unutterable per-
fections before his eyes this did not ap-
pear to be so wonderfully steadfast-
ness III the face of her terrible ayowai.
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

way from the caves of Kor to this Cen
tral Asian peak.
I do not know why. as she was so
powerful. she did not come to seek us.
instead of leaving us TO seek her
through 60 many weary years. though
suggest that some superior force for
bade her To do more than companion us
unseen. watching our every act, read
ing our every thought. until at length
We reached the predestined place and
hour. Also. as Will appear. there were
other things of which this is not the
time to speak, whereby I am still more
tortured and perplexed.
in short. ] know nothing. except that
my existence has been intertangled with
one of the great mysteries of the world;
that the glorious being called Ayesha
won the secret of life from whatever
power holds it in its keeping; that she
aliesed-althoush of this. remember, We
have no actual PROOF such life was to
be attained by bathing in a certain ema-
nation. Vapor or essence; that she was
possessed by a passion not easy to- un-
derstand. but terrific in its force and
immortal in its nature. concentrated
upon one other being and one alone
That through this passion also some
angry fate smote her again. again, and
yet again, making of her countless days
burden, and leading the power and
the wisdom which knew all but could
foreknow nothing into abysses of an
guish. suspense, and disappointment
such as-Heaven be thsnked.-we COM
mon men and women are not called upon
to plumb.
For the rest, should human eyes ever
fall upon ii, each reader must form his
own opinion of this history, its true in
depreciation and significance These and
the exact parts played by Atene and
myself ia its development | hope to
sclve shortly. thought not here
Well as / have said. the upshOt of
ii all was that Ayesha was devouTed
with anxiety about Leo. Except in this
matter of marriage. his every wish was
satisfied, and indeed foTestalled. Thus
he was never again asked to share in
any of the ceremonies of the sanctuary,
though indeed, stripped of its rites and
spiritual symbols. the religion of the
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

pleadingS Of my best beloved and not
myself be moved See 1 have set Z.
curb upon desire and drawn it until nv
heart bleeds; but if he pursues. me win
continual words and looks Of burning
love, who knoweth but that ] shall kin
die in his flame and throw the reips of
reason 10 the winds?
'Oh. then together we might race
adown our passions steep; together
dare the torrent that RACES at its feet.
and there perchance be whelmed or
torn asunder Nay, nay. another space
of journeying. but a little space. and
we reach the bridge my wisdom found
and cross it safely, and beyond forever
ride on at ease through the happy
meadows Of our love"
Then he was silent, nor would she
speak more upon the matter. Also
and this was the worst Of it--even now
/ was not sure that she told me the
truth, or. at any rate. all Of 1t. for TO
Ayesha's mind truth was many colored
as are the rays OF light thrown from
the different faces Of a cut jewel. We
never could be certain which shade OF
il she was pleased to present, who.
whether by preference or Of necessity.
as she herself had said, spoke Of such
secrets in figures Of speech and para
bles.
Ii is fact that to this hour 1 do not
know whether Ayesha was spirit or
woman, or as suspect. a blend OF
both. I do not know the limits Of her
powers, or If that elaborate story Of the
beginning Of her love for Leo was true
-wnich, personally, 1 doubt-Or but a
fable, invst4Jed by her mind, and
through IL. as she had limited. pictured
on th' fame for her own hidden pur-
poses.
do not know whether when first we
saw her IN the mountain she was real
ly old ara hideous. or did but put on
that shape in our eyes in order 10 test
her loveT. I do not know whether. as
the priest Oros bore witness-which he
may well have been bidden 20 do-her
spirit passed into the body OF the dead
prizes less Of He's. or whether when she
seemed to perish there so miserabIy her
body and her soul were waited straight
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

"Ay,' she said, while il was permit
ted TO endure. So be il, Leo. In the
spring, when the SHOWS melt. We will
journey together to Libya. and there
thou shalt be bathed in the Fount of
Life, that forbidden essence of which
once thou didst fear to drink. After
ward l VIII wed thee"
THAT place is closed forever. Ayesha.
Not to my feet and thine" she an
swered. Fear not, my love, We're this
mountain heaped thereon. l would blast
a path through it with mine eyes and
lay its secret bare. Oh. would that thou
vast as I am, for then before tomor-
rows sun we'd watch the rolling pillar
thunder by, and thou shouldst taste it's
glory.
But il may not be. Hunger or cold
can starve thee and waters drown;
swords can slay thee. or sickness sap
away thy strength. Had il not been
for the false Atene. who disobeyed my
words, as il was foredoomed that she
should do. by this day we were across
the mountains, or had Travelled north
ward through the frozen desert and the
rivers. Now we must await the melting
Of the SHOWS, for winter is at hand,
and in it. as thou knoYest. no man can
live upon their heights"
Eight months TIL April before we can
start. and how long to cross the noun
tains and all the vast distance beyond,
and thr seas, and the swamps OF Kor?
Why at the best, Ayesha, two years
must go by before we can even find the
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

College % Hes proved pure and harm-
less enough. 1t yas but "a diluted YER
sion of tne Osiris and Isis worship Of
old Egypt. from which it mad been in
herited, mixed with the Central Asian
belief In the transmigratiou or reincar-
nation OF souls and the possibility NJ
drawing near 10 the ultimate Godhead
by holiness Of thought and life
In fact the head priestess and Oracle
was only woshiDed as a representative
Of the Divinity. while the temporal aims
Of the college in practice were confined
10 good works, although il is true that
they still sighed for their lost authority
over the country Of Kaloon. Thus they
had hospitals and during the long and
severe winters. when the tribes OF the
mountain slopes were often driven TO
the verge of starvation. gave literally
to the destitute from their stores Of
food.
Leo liked to be with Ayesha con-
tinualIy' so We spent each evening iu
her company, and much Of the day also.
until she found that this inactivity told
upon him, who for years had been ac-
custOmed TO endure every rig0r Of cIi-
mate in the open air After this came
home TO her-alth0ugh she was always
haunted by terror lest any accident
should befau him-Aycsha insisted upon
his going out TO kin the Wild sheep
and the ibex, which lived in numbers ON
the mountain ridges placing him in the
charge OF the chiefs ana huutsmen of
the tribes, with whom thus he became
Well acquainted. In this exercise, how
ever, ] accompanied him but rarely, as,
II used 100 much, my arm stiu gave me
pain
Once indeed, such au accident did hap
pen / was seated I'm the garden with
Ayesha and watching her. Tier head
rested on her hand. and she was look
ing with her wide eyes, across which
the swift thoughts passed like clouds
over windy sky. or dreams through
the mind Of a sleeper-looking out Va
cantiy toward the mountain SHOWS. Seen
thus her loveliuess vas inexpressibIe,
amazing; merely 10 gaze upon il il was
The Washington times., 1906-01-21
B1 H'BIDEI6 TAGGARD

true or false. that she had won her gifts
and him through some dim. unh0ly pact
with the powers of evil in the fruits
ard consequences Of which he must be
involved the price of her possession.
Yet AVesha was miserable. Even I'm
her lightest moods it was clear 10 me
that those skeletons at the feast Of
which she had spoken were her con-
tinuaI companions. Indeed. when. we
were alone she would acknowledge it in
dark hints and veiled allegories or al
lusions Crushed though her rival, the
KhaHia Atene. might be, also she was
stiH jealous OF her.
Perhaps afraid" would be a better
word, for some instinct seemed to warn
Ayesha that soon or late her hour would
come TO Atene again, and that then it
would be her own turn to drink Of the
bitter waters Of despair.
What troubled her more a thousand
fold however were her fears for Leo.
As may well be understood TO stand in
his intimate relationship TO this half di-
vine and marvellous being. and yet not
to be allowed so much as TO touch ner
lips did not conduce 10 his physical IT
mental well-being. especially as he knew
that the wall Of separation must not be
climbed for AT least two years. Little
wonder that Leo lost appetite. grew
thin and pale. and could not sleep. or
that ne impl0red her continually TO re-
scind her decree and marry him.
But ON this point Ayesha was i'm
movable. Instigated thereto by Leo.
and ! may add my own curiosity. when
We were alone 1 questioned her again
as TO the reasons of this self-denying
ordinance. All she would tell me- how
ever. was that betwa~- them rose the
barrier of Leo's mortality. and that un-
til his physical being had been impreg-
mated with the mysterious virtue OF the
NapOr of Life. it was not wise that she
should take him as a husband.
/ asked her why, seeing that though
a Iong-Iiyed one. she was still a wom-
an. Whereon her face assumed a calm
but terrifying smile. ar she answered.
Art SO sure, my Holly? Tell me,
do your women wear such jewels as
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

an intoXication. Contemplating It, 7 uu-
derstood indeed that like 10 that Of the
tabled Helen. this gift of hers alone
and it was but one of many-must have
caused infinite sorrow. had she ever
been permitted 10 display il 10 tie
world. 1t would have driven humauity
To madness; the men with Iongings and
the women with Jealousy and hate.
And yet. in what did her surprising
beauty lie? Ayeshas face and form
were perfect. il j. true; but so are those
of some other women. Not in these
then did it live alone. but rather. 7
think. especially while what I may call
her human moods We're on her. iu the
soft mystery that dwelt upon her fe4-
lures and gathered and changed in hef
splendid eyes Some such mystery may
be seen. however family. ON the fac-s
of certain of the masterpiece OF this
Greek sculptors. but Ayesha IL clothed
like an ever-present atmosphere sug-
gesting a glory that was not Of earth.
making her divine.
As / gazed at her and wondered
thus. Of a sudden she became terribly
agitated, and. pointing to shoulder
of the mountain miles and miles away.
said.
Look
/ looked. but saw nothing except "a
sheet of distant snow.
Blind fool, canst thou not see that
my lord is i'm danger OF MS life2' she
cried. NAY. / forgot. thou hast no
vision. Take it now from me and look
again and laying her hand from
which a strange numbins current
seemed 10 flow, upon my head, she
muttered some swift words
Instantly my eyes were opened and
not upon the distant mountain. but iu
the air before me as il were. / saw
Leo rolling over and over al grips
with a great snow leopard, while the
chief and huntsmen with him ran round
and round seeking an opportunity 10
pierce the sHVage brute with their
spears and yet leave him unharmed.
u,
The Washington times., 1906-01-21
CHAPTER XIX.
Leo and the Leopard.

During the weeks that followed these
momentous days. often and often 1 won
dered to myself whether a more truly
wTetched being had ever lived than the
The Washington times., 1906-01-21

Go Be Continued Next sunday.)
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-05-07
YoCEGS ROASTED.

c. D. Yornzs. organizer OF the Aneri-
can Federation Of Lsosae, said AZ Ballard
"a. night, concerning the .hInze ssa7-
era 1aion, tSat ''r5c statement puo-
lIshAi ia the Poet 1ntsIlIZsneer has oeso
true and other papers he said we're
worse. Yoonzs Is a characteristics bIad-
der-nouthe,i iahor aziiator, the sort Of
fe!low xh1 doe. lah.1- more harm than
good. HI. s.atemeos ef3ucsrniaE tais
newspaper i Absolutely false, and ne
kne. il xas false 1heu be made IL; for
Tai. Eager IA. not Only printed the news
81 The .hiuzla Teavers' strike, Oct It has
made poollc sizned statement made
a1t written By nenhe 0. the ia.erua-
,.oaal AMI local reAvers' unions. The
rnA,.ar l. 10. Of any larze in portanes,
DO. i, i. s1:h cheap talk a. foEn gs that
tod. to dIscretIs the men whom IL
rnisrep, eeeo.a before the p1olic--Seatile
P.-I., Nay /
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-05-07
TAKE THE PRECURSOR.

A New York conference where social.
lists pre1omin2ted a gentleman com.
planned tia: ,.e socialists had no work.
ing program, and suggested that they
affiliate With the rep1 hlican party and
''aiier converting j, 10 their views pro-
coed to Use it Tor the foundation Of new
republic" The dispatch says that "e1.
element ens1ed" and this speaker took
no further part in the proceedings.
There ia small reason for any one to
get excited about -uch proposition.
The republican .eadera preach the doc.
trine thu. ,rc..s AMI o.he- examinations
are pat II an avoi1able evolution. In.
asmuch q tie republican party adyoca-
t.. plan whereby property is concen.
tra.ed IT, tae hac3s d 4 few, i. would
seem to be particularly appropriate that
when the republican 35c.rine has reach
cd the limii ii the p=op.='s patience, he
socialists aho1'd 'ase charge OF the re-
publican patty which, according to enin.
en-. autnsrity, Is he precursor oi social.
lam.
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-05-07
SUNDAY MORNING WEDDING
At the Home OF mr.. and Mrs. Theo
dore Nelson, East Aberdeen.

At the honr 81 80 a. N. yesterday,
Emil 4. M.lett- and Miss Emile Nelson,
Of this CITY, were united in marriage at
the home Of the brides parents, s3 East
Wi.lkal street. Rev. c. McDermoth
Off :iating. Miss Mamie Mletse and
william Cramnatte acted az bridesmaid
and best man.
FolljEing the ceremony the large com.
pauy Of friends wno witnessed the cere.
mony, p.rtook Of an old. fashioned uei.
Dig breakfast, after which they accom-.
panic the brina party to the Portland
train, where the bride and groom were
properly ric:d.
Mia Nelson is the eldest daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Theodore Nelaon, and Mr..
Milet,e ia president o: the local Cigar.
makers union. Alter they return from
their wedding trip a reception will be
rendered them at the home OF the brides
parents.
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-05-07
CHARGED viTH:LARCcNY.
A Store Clerk Arresfed.::for Stealing
from a Customer and Proprietor.

s. T.. Slough. q life insurance agent,
bough. pair Of panss at the Hub CLOTH
ing store Saturday and, retired to tue
dressing room 10 try them en-. Leaving
his old trousers. in the dressing room.
be STEPPED into the store to examine the
new ones at mirror, and on returning
to the roon toondihis purse. containing
s25. had been abstracied from hie pocket
The purse wss soon found on the foor
mime so gold piece. Mr.. Slough de.
manded his money from the clerk, H.
". Clark, who denied having taken it,
and the loser notified the police.
Officer Miles arrested Clark a. he re.
turned from lunch, and, .having had
former complaints from CUSTOMERS OF the
store claiming TO have been robhed By
Clark, Miles suggested to Chief Christen'
son that his room be:searcned. This was
done, and good. belonging 10 the Hub
were found valued at between so and
$50. Clark then asked the chief 10 &C.
company him to the Atlantic hotel,
where be said he would get money to
square the matter. When taken to the
hotel he spran9 through an open window
and broke for liberty across lots. He
was promptly followed by Chr;s.ianson
to the Harbor dock. where heIas pulled
from under large box
Clark was then turned over 10 Miles
to be taken TO: jail. The officer had
the stolen soods over his arm, and
when they reached the jai. Office tie
prisoner made grab at the clothing 10
remove the store tags. and goi a couple
ii THIN. Officer Miles promptly knocked
him down and recovered the tag-, which
identified the goods as having been taken
from the Hub.
This morning, strange to say, Clark
was released from custody, neither party
alleging 10 have been robbed wanting to
prosecute. To laymau this resem bles
compounding a felony. and while the
prosecuting attorney doubtless had stuff.
cient reasons Tor dismjssing the case, he
owes it TO himself 10 make them public.
Such d.nissals are not Encouraging to
the police in their efforts TO arrest offend.
ers, nor conducive to wholesome regard
for the law.