davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19

: "Who was my unknown friend? Would re
ceive one tomorrow?
| "In this fresh accession of interest I arose
dressed myself, and actually ate some dejeuner
"Yes, next day brought the rose again, but
| it could not be mere fancy-my queen-blossom
now had a soupcon of color-was it yellow, or
pink? The shade w&s 80 vague, so delicate, so
exquisite, I could not name it: as we'll try to
define the hue Of baby's flesh
by this time | was thoroughly aroused
went for drive, that day, and woke with a
fresh feeling, the next morning, and the happy
thought, Will my rose come today? and what
color will it bear, this time?'
Yes, it came, and now l could plainly see
that it was not yellow, but the palest flesh tint
And so each day brought one, the last always
deeper by an almost imperceptible shading un-
til in time held in my eager fingers rose
which was all one pink blush, warm and de-
licious.
'Was this the climax? Had reached the
end? And what what did it all mean?
'I felt my cheeks grow as pink as the rose
held while 1 wondered thus; then, half
ashamed, but all aglow with strange pleasure,
/ sprang to my feet, eager again for life and
its joys, anxious to consult my mirror and see
if illness had left me but a wreck of woman.
"Well I not bad, what with the blush
and my Frightening eyes; and that day l took
my maid, and shopped I had not in weeks
you see, l had found an interest in life
again. This daily gift like picture or
poem, growing in beauty before my eyes; yes,
a love-poem- at that I paused.
"Was that what it all meant? Were my
roses daily changing from cold white to this Wv
id blush, intended to convey the story of a love
which must not be expressed in words? If so,
had I-Fred's wife-any right to them? And
who the giver?
Really, my dears, it delicate question
1 put it by, and waited.
"By this time good part of my first month
my first century-was over, and l wondered
how the time had fled so rapidly If the roses
should cease, now-but they didn't. Daily the
long box was laid in my hand, daily the tint
glided, by faint gradations, from pink to car
mine-from carmine to the deepest damask-the
rich warm hue of passion undisguised, un-
checked.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19
- An Ill w i n q


if could clear ten thousand dollars I could buy
house."
'I see! l see!" chuckled the old man. "You
want me to help you out in your love-affair, do
you?
eyes, sir"
''Well let's see. You want ten thousand, do
you? And P. G. H. is going to break about two
points? How much money have you?"
Your son lent me nine hundred, sir" replied
Chambers, producing the check
ooh, he did, did hep chuckled Endicott, Sr
$50 he's interested in the love-affair, too is he?
Let's see. You want ten thousand. That means
you want to go short of about six thousand shares
doesn't it? That's pretty big risk to take" he
said dubously.
81 know it is, sir, but you see I've been ep-
gagged five years now, and don't think it's exact
ly fair to the girl. It's time was doing some
thing about it,"
"Well, guess you're right, my boy. Suppose
we go out and consult the ticker"
They went out into the already crowded Office
and after exchanging few words here and there
finally reached ticker. The broker examined it
for moment, then said to Chambers In a low
tone of voice, "P. G. H, is now quoted at 93B
! How's that?"
"That'l do all right"
Every good. I'll put in your order at once"
Half an hour later the news of the directors
decision became known. At once there a
rush to get rid of p. G. H.. and the stock began
to fall. By one o'clock four thousand shares had
been sold, and it was quoted at 90.
"Shal / buy it in now?" Chambers inquired
of the broker when he stopped in after lunch.
"Do you think it will fall any lower?"
''Sure it will" replied Endcott "It's not 60
ing to stop until it reaches co."
"All right, I'm trusting myself to you. Shall
I drop in later or will you call me up?"
"I1l call you up
"All right Goodbye"
An hour later the broker kept his word.
'Hello, Richard, is that you? P. G. H. quot.
ed at 90. Shall I buy it in for you? It's liable
to rally before the market closes. Very good,
| Goodbye"
An hour later, as Chambers was on his way to
see Endcott, Sr.. he met the son.
"Where have you been all day?" asked Endi-
colt abruptly. ''I've tried to get you on the
phone several times"
"The paper sent me down to Carpenter street
to investigate a murder case"
"Oh That explains it, But how about our
seheme% he asked, anxously,
"Fine. Went short of six thousand shares at
937s and bought them in at 92,'
"Goodl By heaven, Dick you're the best
friend ever hadl'
"Wel, it's an i'll wind-you know the rest
I'm going down to see your father now, and then
I'm off to call on the lady"
The two men shook hands laughed heartily at
their own cleverness, and parted.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19

Well they pestered me to death, and all had
was nine hundred dollars so put the old man S
name to check for ten thousand"
Dead silence followed. Endicott, with great
effort forced himself to continue. "Of course,
I've got to put that money back to his credit as
soon as possible. so when heard about this de-
cision of the directors, I thought Ia see II
couldn't make money on a falling market.
Chambers hesitatingly assented to the propo-
sition.
"Now, then, how are we to keep this from
your father? That's the question" said Cham
bers
Endicott appeared to mediate, then he cried
suddenly, 'I have it! Dick, how many years have
you been engaged to Minnie?"
Chambers flushed. "Well, if fellow hasn't
any money he certainly can't afford wife"
'Of course not" agreed Endicott, enthusiastic-
ally. "And you naturally want to get married
don't you? If you had no rent to pay, you could
easily live on your salary 30 you want ten
thousand to buy house"
'Fine scheme! Only one flaw in it, and that
is the most important thing about it, shan't
buy the house"
"Oh yes. you will. You'll buy it the first of
July with part of Aunt Beckys money"
Aunt Becky's money! Now look here, Joe, !
can't let you do that for me-"
1.-THE deuce! Why not? Haven't got right
to make you a wedding present if | want to?
And until the tlrst OF July you can De picking
out the house you want Oh, deuce take it,
man." as Chambers still hesitated, eth be a
favor to me, because something's got to be ap'
parently done with the ten thousand"
"Wel if you put it that way" said Chambers
finally, 'Ill accept it. But you know I'm awful
ly obliged to you, old fellow"
"Bosh! It's not generosity on my part at all
but purely selfish desire to get out of hole, u
replied Endicott, as he pushed back his chair
"Pll write you a check for nine hundred I've
got right to help you out in your love affairs
you know I guess you'd better be running
around to see the old man now. Great Scott
he cried. as he looked at his watch you'll have
to hurry. It's quarter of ten"
Ten minutes later Chambers walked into the
private Office of the firm of j. r. Endicott
Co., and into the presence of Endicott Sr.
"Good morning, Mr.. Endicott," he said, "I'd
like to do a little business with you today"
"Ah, how-do-you- Richard? Glad tc
see YOU" replied the older man, What kind OF
business is it? Surely nothing to do with the
marketp
"Why, yes. l was given tip this morning
about p G. II. and / understand it's going tc
break about two points today"
"What p. c. II. going to break dom
know whether I'm more surprised at that or al
the fact of your wanting TO dabhle in stocks"
''Well, you see, sir, I've been engaged to Mis-
| Wilson number Of years now. and though
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19

"The directors haven't announced their de-
cison yet, but will do so some time this morning,
certainly not before eleven o'clock Therefore,
P. G. H. won't decline at once You can 90 short
of it about 1870, or earlier, if you want to, and
before the market closes, when you think it has
declined much as it will, you can buy it in.
Do you see?"
Perfectly. How many shares do you want me
to go short OFF,
well, let's see. I've got to get ten thousand,
and then there ought to be something left for
you"
For me? Now, look here, Joe, if go into
this thing, I do it purely for the sake of friend
ship, and not for what I can get out of it,"
Don't be fool" rowled Endcott. "The
deal will of course be made through the old man
he's the most reliable broker on the street
and consequently he will know just how much
money you clear He looks on you as a son; in
fact he thinks almost as much of you as he
does of me" Here Endicott broke off sud
denly and cleared his throat. "Well, hang it,
you've got to appear to do something with it
afterwards. So we must clear more than ten
thousand"
Look, here, Joe, your inside information's all
right, but your way of covering up your tracks
is all wrong"
"Why?" snapped the other, as he viciously
stirred his coffee.
Because, even If we should clear twenty thou
sand which / doubt, and even if had therefore,
ten thousand of my own, how should account
to him for the other ten thousand? You're crazy,
man, and if you want to get ten thousand to-
gether, you'd better let your own name appear
in it,"
"But I tell you can't! IT would kill nv faith
er-' He caught himself up suddenly and APP
piled all his energies to the consumption of a
muffin.
There was silence for moment, then Cham.
bers said, Joe, l don't want to pry into what
isn't my business but it seems to me that if you
didn't make such mystery of things might be
able to help you out"
Endcott toyed with his knife for awhile, then
said suddenly, "Well will tell you, l need
your help, old man. for while can see how TO
get the money, | don't seem to be able to trick
the old man." Endcott paused again, now visi-
bly, embarrassed. well, it's this way" he said
finally "I bet on the races this spring and lost.
! thought l could put them off until July first,
when, as you know, l shall be twenty-five, and
come into the money Aunt Becky left me. But
/ couldn't do it, and-well-I had gotten mixed
up with pretty fast set and they threatened
TO blackmail the old man. You know how proud
he is of the family name, and all that kind OF
bosh."
"And he thinks the world of you" added
Chambers.
eyes, that's the worst of the whole business
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19

fslSSzS who coming in. the opposite direc-
t45eES& ton. Both men stepped back hastily.
Excuse me-" began Chamers. I-Bless me, if
isn't Endicottl"
''Dick" cried the other. "If this isn't lucky!
l was just going around to your rooms"
''Were you? Save you the trouble then"
Have you had breakfast YETI"
''No"
"Wel let's go around and get something to
to eat"
"All right"
A quarter of an hour later the two men were
seated in a private room of a restaurant, the
breakfast on the table, and the obsequious waiter
at last gone.
What did you want to see me about, Endi-
cott?" asked Chambers, leisurely slipping his cof-
fee.
About deal in the market I've got tip
I'll give you"
"a tip? Now look here, Endicott, you know
I never have anything to do with stocks"
'I'm not asking you to make deal for your
self. just want you to represent me-to CON
duct the deal in your name, you understand, SO
1 won't need to appear in it,"
''Why don't you want to appear in it, Joe?"
ION account of the old man."
whats he got to do with it?"
"Wel 1 can't exactly explain, but l want to
make this deal without his knowing anything
about it."
''You could do it through some other house
than your fathers, you know"
Don't want to take any risks Look here,
what objections have you got to doing this for
mep
"None at all, Joe, only I'd like to know your
reasons for wanting TO keep the thing quiet.
think we have been friends long enough for me
to ask that"
Its just because such friends that |
am trusting you instead of somebody else" En-
dicott toyed with his knife as he spoke, and
kept his eyes fixed upon his plate.
"You're not eating anything Joe," said Cham.
bers, after a moments silence, whats the
matter? Won't you have another chop?"
Don't want anything to eat Look here, Dick,
will you do this for me or wont you?'
"Sure, I'll do it. What is it you want done?'
"Well, saw the Mayor last night, and I've
got inside information in regard to p. c. H. The
directors will pass the regular dividend, and
consequently there win be decline"
"You grasp the situation exactly Now just
how much the decline will be don't know, of
course, but | should say about two points"
Il guess that'll be about right" agreed Endi.
! eott
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19

THAT made it obvious" agreed.
"Then we listened to the band the pier
one night" she continued.
"And L"
''Yes," she interrupted hurriedly, "and l was
fearfully late, and papa was very cross"
"But you weren't" l suggested, although
you pretended to be-"
"Well, not very" she confessed. "You do
what you did that night-rather nicely"
So I did it again.
"Supposing," she said breathessly, eve had
never met"
"Ah!" I breathed. Because honestly I didn't
know whether if I INDUCED in supposition, it
would altogether meet with her approval.
What would you have done" she went on.
"1?" said l. ooh, we'll what would you have
done?" Playing for safety is, I believe, the
correct term.
"What would have done?" she repeated
She paused, Then she looked at me from the
corner of her eye. Oh, woman how limtless is
thy tact! II should never have eloped," she
said softly.
There are moments in life when the past
contains no regrets, nor the future fear. This
was Of them.
After while she replaced hairpin, and
looked up at the sky.
'It's going TO rain," she said tragically.
'Iet il" I said generously. After all, life
can't be full of omens.
''But it will spoil my frock," said Kitty pit
eously
"The back seat has hood" I said, looking
up at the car.
"The back seat" cried Kitty.
''It's that getting wet" / explained.
eff we're going to start" she cried jumping
up. l believe the conversation, which certainly
verged the allegorical, was not to her k-
ing.
"I'n sit in front till it rains anyhow" she
said, with her foot the step.
I smiled, but her back was turned to me, so
she couldn't See
"Now," I said softly, I wrapped rug
round her, Eve start on our long journey to-
gether,"
But we didn't. ''.i s"s
Either the didn't understand poetry, or
didn't understand the car.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19

v-rss. cap and shook hands.
lfst1 "Ohl" she said She seemed rather
surprised
Whats the matter?" said I. Then it struck
me- So kissed her.
TITS beautiful car" she said
gazed at it complacently but modestly
imposed silence.
Miss Belloirs misinterpreted my silence.
Poor boy!" she said softly "hss he been
waiting long,"
"A mere twenty minutes said I.
well" she apologized, you see, I had to
get myself ready"
"say more" entreated; "the explanation
is sufficient"
"Is that sarcasm?" she asked doubtfully.
mo" said L; observance"
Besides" she went on, '1 had to leave
note explaining things"
(Which a matter Of difficulty" l sug.
gested.
mo-" she said; "I said it was you" That
was really rather nice Of her.
You see, we were clipping
"We've got a fine evening for it." / re.
marked.
eyes" she assented. Suppose it had rainedl"
| She shuddered at the thought.
but it hasn't" cried triumphantly "Its
an omen"
"Of our future life," she suggested softly.
"Our" I murmured rapturousy. "You dear"
Kitty sighed-an adorable sigh.
Suppose we quarrel" she remarked.
1--WE shant," l said positively. She looked
remarkably well that evening.
"And when we DID, abe began dreamily
owe shall never get DID, | said.
"But you must get old one day." she insisted
"I, perhaps but you, never At the same
time, didn't see why should get old any
more than she.
"Wel, older" she amended; eve shall have
something to look back upon"
"a life of perfect happiness" I affirmed.
wasn't quite following her.
"That of course" she agreed; ''but I mean
we shall have lived"
Something to tell the" I stopped just in
time. "You mean, our "reminiscences will have
a SAVIOR of romance"
Kitty nodded.
at will make the other girls so jealous, toe"
she smiled
"That you're marrying me?" I, too, smiled.
"Ye-es" she assented, but doubtfully. 'T
meant really of my having an elopement."
''In motor-car," I remarked, adding addi-
tional spice.
Kitty clasped her hands together.
"It's too sweet" she enthused, "for any
thing"
sitting on the stepboard of the car, and the
powder on her face was coming off on my
shoulder.
'cTo think" she said in wonderment, chat a
week ago never knew you existed"
Gas soon as I saw you," said, rising to the
OCCASION 'I wondered how had contrived to. :"
"And then I dropped my handkerchief" she
said
"Weu naturally" said I. swear said it
in all innocence.
indignantly. "oYou know I didn't"
II do now." said I, hedging, "'but didn't
then"
az YOU thought was that sort Of girl
wonder you spoke to me-: said she. head well
"That was precisely the reason,' explained
'Wen. you were disappointed" said Kitty
vindictively.
"Then." she said. after pause, coming close
again. "I introduced you to papa.
"And as soon as ne knew I had car he got
quite friendly" said l. u
'Why, of course" said Kitty, che knew you
were a gentleman then"
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19

IN HERE were three Of them, leisurely sip
ping their afternoon tea in pretty
ls5s=ss==SI little room, whose warm air was per
IASsSNI fumed with roses and moist with the
steam from the singing kettle of the
samovar
early twentes, and her guests just rounding the
next milestone, but still young and fair. One
OF these was telling the story.
Your roses remind me-" she said poising her
slender spoon across the quaint fat cup of
shining Beleek ware-"it was last year, when
was abroad, and, oh, so homesickl The rem
nants of slight attack of Roman fever still
clung to me, and | was low in every way-pulse
temperature, appetite and spirits Fred would
not be able to come for me for nearly two
months yet, and those months seemed centuries
stretching out DULY between myself and happi-
ness
''The good Madame of our pension was very
kind, and tried vainly to tempt my langud pal
ate with her daintiest Dishes but 1 was too
gloomy and distraite to eat them, and too cross,
I fear, to be properly grateful
Zone day, lay on my COUCH believing my
self almost weary of life, my maid brought me
dainty white box, long and narrow.
From whom?' I asked, listlessly.
q" There is no carte, madame; a garcon
brought it,
az opened it, to find rose-just one-pure
and waxen white; the most perfect, most fra
grant or lts KIND. something about 1t made me
think of home-of love-of Fred.
"It brought the tears to my eyes, and gave
the first thrill of life and pleasure had
felt for weeks
'I have received quantities of flowers in my
day, and most have given me pleasure, but the
state was then in made me difficult to please
A set bouquet, all lacepaper and tin-foil, I
would have flung into the fire; mass of bios
SONS that required arranging would have made
me weak and weary; but that one rose
sweet, satisfying, restful, it seemed like
the kiss of a lover in strange land.
"The next day, to my added surprise, the
same thing happened again; but the rose
was of deeper, more creamy hue, though quite
as perfect-a Venus among rosesl
'I had not expected another, and it reused
me from my languor.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19

Then it rained
When I was drenched TO the skin followed
Kitty to the shelter of the hood
This" said Kitty, quite angriy, ''is absurd"
IT'S worse" said l moodly; cts depress-
ing"
Il thought you understood cars" she said bit
ingly.
Really I said, I was getting annoyed.
Unfortunately it's not my own car; it's one
borrowed"
II can't stop here all night, anyhow" she said
decisively.
Even l." I remarked coldly, "had grasped
that"
"A man who lets motorcar master him."
she began exasperatingly.
Passive resistance" I interiected "is a pow.
erful force"
'T shall go home" she said
your home," l informed her Jolly, "is by
my side"
Kitty gathered her skirts about her without
word, and stepped out of the car into pud-
die Woman-lke, she took it as an additional
disaster; whereas it was really part of the
original.
"Ive spot my dress now" she said bitterly.
"And my life," said, following her out of
the car. 80
\"Good-b bye" I said sadly
"The next man I elope with" she said over
her shoulder, will be a man."
"It would be preferable, even, that he were
chauffeur" 1 retorted.
I followed her at a respectful distance till she
entered her old home. Then | lit cigarette
and went back and re-examined the car. Found
lever I had previously overlooked, and drove
home.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19
Among the Ailments

ST@1 HAT most distressing complaint, Bridge,
| which is worse than appendicitis, be-
- cause you can be operated on for the
&sssASI one and there is no cure for the other,
is still raging in Paris, says an English
writer. 1t is endemic It hourishes in the dog
days just as it spreads it's virus in the winter.
Even the holidays make no sort of difference to
it, Bridge never takes holiday. Society folk
are aocking from the capital just now towards
Trouville and Cabourg, Aix-les- Bains, Pombieres,
Vichy and Luchon. But bless you, Bridge viii
90 there too II will take its "cure" like all
the world. But it requires little arranging, Of
course and that is the great social occupation
at this moment. People sort themselves out ac-
cording TO their maladies. The "rheumatics"
20 TO Aix-les- -Bains, the equity and 'throaty" to
Vichy, the "livery" elsewhere. And so the great
question is, "What is your complaint You
name your i'll aud you have your Bridge party
made up; you play with your fellow-sufererA
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19


"a cold bath" exclaimed the second
healthy man. "Ugh! It makes me shudder."
Yes SIR repeated the first healthy man. "a
cold bath-just as the water runs mind you-and
then light breakfast of milk and toast. After
breakfast walk five miles in very light clothes;
IN TACT, L never wear an overcoat all winter. For
dinner eat chop, and after dinner another wall,
OF hVe miles In the evening | have a plain
supper, and am in bed by ten. don't drink and
don't smoke" -N
Well" said the second healthy man. "tbat
wouldn't suit me at all. lie down as long as T
can in the morning Then get up, dress in a
warm ROOM so as to be thoroughly comfortable,
eat a hearty breakfast, and ride to business-for I
never walk or take any exercise if 1 can help It.
AT noon eat big luncheon, and at night / get
outside Of a sixcourse dinner. | smoke fen
cigars day and drink what I please
The first healthy man looked at him in amaze.
ment.
How, then" he exclaimed, "do you account
for the fact that we both so healthy?"
1t must be" said the second healthy man as
he lighted another cigar, because each of us does
what he pleases, in spite of the other"
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-19
A snaII's Pace

A snail's rate of travel was ascertained by ex
periments in Florence. Half dozen snails were
permitted to crawl between two points ten feet
apart. Exact time was kept from the Start to the
finish, and thus the average pace was learned
The figures were then put into tables of ieet
yards, and furlongs, and it was found that Il
would take a snail exactly fourteen days to travel
a mile.