davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
Remarkable Increase.

Tile Iimcs-Disuatc rcprese utativc went
olt 90 talk 20 "a Few merchants about
trade matters. He found all Of them
willing enough 20 talk IL they had had
the time. Tor al were IN high feather
over the blk weeA' 8 work. Figures a.
IL the volume or trade were. or course.
out OF the question, but one Of the Broad
street dealers who IS ~ the head 81
a large concern that had a wonderful dis
play OF holiday goods. said.
j am satisfied that our sales for the
week are az least thirty-fve per cent.
in excess Of our sales for the correspond
ing week OF last year. and We thought
We were doing big things then. Be
cause of the general prosperity. which
IS not confined ID Richmond but extends
all over the country, we expected Inn
mense trade and prepared for a. I am
sure that ninety per cent. OF the mer-
chants OF Richmond did the same thing
and the result was that the stores OF
Richmond on the first day Of December
had q third more goods of all class s
than they held on the first day Of De-
cember. 1906 / can tell at glance that
there are to-day fewer goods in pur
house than there were on Christmas Day
o. last year. Therefore. / say am sure
We have sold thirty-five per cent. more
goods this holiday season than We did
during the last. and I think Il anything
this is an underestimate Another thing
j would like for you to say Ia The Times
Dispatch. because Il is a fact and worthy
OF note, is that the holiday buyers this
year have been asking for. and buying
"a better class OF goods than last year
or any previous year that / know any
thing about SO when the figures come
To- De footed up. ] am sure the dollars
and cents OF 90 will show more than q
thirty-fve per cent increase When
put the increase at that figure 1 mean
the quantity OF goods sold.
This. mind, YOU. refers 10 our own busi-
ness. T am sure that other Broad Street
merchants have done as we'll as we have
] know that all Of them. like us pre-
pared fOr larger trade. and I know from
observation that they have had IL.
have no doubt II you interview every one
ON the street YOU Will hear the same ac-
count Of holiday trade that I have given
you"
further stroll down the street verified
what this gentleman had said
Better Goods.
Tie same story was told ON Main
Street The iewelry dealers laid especial
emphasis on the statement that the buy
ers this year were demanding better
goods than last year. In the jewelry line
less cheap and imitation goods We're
bought than heretofore. and a great deal
more of the better goods
Truly the holiday trade tells in the
strongest kind of language the story OF
general prosperity.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
SOUTH'S WEALTH.;
DUSKY DIAMONDS
Inoxhaustablc Coal Fields In the
South That Have Merely
Been Scratched.

BALTIMORE. MD. December eo-Esti-
mating the coal output OF the United
states in 1906 at about 43o ooo. 600 tons MT.
Frederick Z. Sawsrd. OF New York. an
authority in that field. presents IN this
weeks issue OF the Manufacturers Rec
ord an estimate Of the output ia the
Southern States. as follows.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
RECORDS BROKEN
IN MARKET TRADE
Business This Year Far Ahead
of That During Last Christ
mas Season.
PEOPLE ARE BUYING MORE
Higher Prices Do Not Seem to
Brighten Them-What
Clerks Say.

The Richmond market men never had
better Christmas trade than they have
onpoycd for tho past week. and will con-
unue TO enjoy FOR tomorrow Tho
market men always expect hcsvy business
about Christmas time. and they prepare
for II by laying in the necessary stocks
OF all manner or good things to eat This
year they mad every reason % look for
larger trade than usual The main rea-
SON may be- summed up iu two words
general prosperity The word general
is used advisedly. and it means i'm this
connection. that tho enlarged ability to
buy good things FOR the big Christmas
dinners is not confined To "a few lucky
individuals. but is general
Bankers merchants Manufacturers.
mechanics. laborers everybody who has
had any preteutions 10. business Of any
kind. has made more money IN 1906 than
they accumulated in 1915. Wages have
been increased in almost every line more
men and women have had employment.
more have money 20 spend in the Christ
mas market than at any Christmas time
IN a decade or moro. No wonder the
men who sell fruits and vegetables but
ter and eggs, meats and game oysters
and turkeys. geese and chickens mate
rails OF which TO make pies and cakes and
good things in general have had a rush
OF Chrfstmas trade
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
Improving Roads

Nlr amount spent on roads during t'ts
present year is about 81 $500 Iu tho nsat-
ter OF making good roads the county ia
practically at a standstiil Very uftlr vr
no permanent work Ia being done All
.ho roads " Ills county as iu Eesd q
The Washington times., 1906-12-02
at Blinds Me and the Sky Seems to Turn to Fire"

still. quite white with fear and wear
mess; finally. however. she rose. and
carrying the frsil body in her arms.
laid II quietly upon the sofa in the
next room. She kneIt watching il for
a time, then went out upon the piazza.
closing the door behind her
And there the fearful tension that
the dread of Weakening him had put
upon her facilities gave way at last.
and the poor girl buried her face in her
hands, and sank down. sobbing con
Nulsively; 20, God o. God what can
/ do, how can / bear it," She gazed
about her wildly. eNclaiming. Il cannot
stand il. and here is no one To help
me, What can ] do?"
Perhaps il WAS the nrsJ real PRAYER
that had ever passed Helen-s lips:
hut the burden Of her sorrow was too
great just then for her to bear alone.
even in thought. She leaned against
the railing of the porch with her arms
stretched ont before her lmplOringiy.
her face uplifted AMI the tears running
down her checks; she poured out one
frantic cry. the only cry that she
could thin,S OF: 30, God. have mercy
uron me, have mercy upon NE! can
not boar il
So she sobbed on. and several min
The Washington times., 1906-12-02
PART II, CHAPTER u-(Contnued)

David in the meantime was crouch
ing I'm the doorway, his gaze uNvd
upon the woman: he did not seem even
TO notice Helens ou:burst, so lost was
all his soul In the other sight tie
saw that the sJranEeT's couvHlslVc eff
forts were weakening, ana he staEEcf-
ed forward with cry. and flung HIM
self forward down on his lIHees beside
her. Mary. Mary" he called. but she
did not heed him, though he clasped
her hands and shook her. gazing into
her face iuplorlngly. Her eyes We're
hxed upon him. but ia was with "a
vacant stare; and then suddenly he
started back with "A cry of horror
Great God. she is dying
The woman made "a sudden fearful
EFFORT To lift herself. struggling and
gasping. her face distorted with fierce
agony. as Il failed she sank back,
and lay painting hard for breath then
a shuddeT passed OpeT her, and while
David still stared. transtiNed, hoarse
rattle came from her thro,-.. and her
features became suddenly Sc, In their
dreadful passion. IN a moment more
an was stIli. and David buried his
face in his hands and sank down upon
the corpse without even moan.
Afterward for fun minute there
was not a sound in the room: Helen's
sobbiug had ceased, she had looked
up and sat staring at the two figures
until al last. with a sudden start or
fright, she sprang up and crept silently
toward them She glanced once ut the
woman's body, and then bent over
David: as she felt that his heart was
still beating, she caught him TO her
bosom, and knelt thus In terror. star
Ing first into his white and tortured
features. and then az the body on the
floor.
Finally. however, she nerved her
self. and though she was trembling
and exhausted. staggered 10 her feet
with her burden holding il tightly IN
her arms she went step by step, slow
" and in silence out of the room.
When she had passed into the next
one she shut the door, and sinking
down upon the sofa, lifted David
broken figure beside her and locked II
In her arms and was still. Thus she
sat without a sound or a motion, her
heart within her torn with fear ana
pain; all through the long hours OF
that night; when the cold. white dawn
came up, she was still pressing MIN
to her bosom, sobbing and whispering
family, "Oh, David, Oh. my poor. poor
David
The Washington times., 1906-12-02

What is it, Arthur" she cried .
what is the natter
'Gou came TO see me-" the other
gasped hOarselv. you came TO see
me-and land I was gone
Yes, Arthur" said Helen; you
had gone the night before, and ! could
not find YOU. Then I met this man
that 1 loved. and you wrote that YOU
had torn the thought of me from your
heart; and So"
Again Helen stopped. for the man
had sunk backward with a cry thar
made her heart leap IN freight Ar
thur she exclaimed. taking a step
toward him, and he answered her
with a moan, stretching out his arms
10 her. Great God. Helen. that letter
was a lie"
Helen stopped. rooted 10 the spot.
A lie she whispered family.
Yes. lie,'' cried the other with a
sudden burst OF emotion. leaping up
and starting toward her "He.en. L
have suffered the tortures of he'll. l
loved you-I love YOU now
The girl sprang back. and the blood
rushed 10 her cheeks. Half Instructive
ly she drew her tight dress more tight
Is about her: and the other saw the
The Washington times., 1906-12-02

buried his heau iu his arms and the
gIrl could hear his breathing IN the
stiffness. at last she crcDt across Jn"
room and kneit down beside him, and
whispered softly I'm his ear, You do
not give me your heart any more,
David2"
IL was "a long time before ne an
swored her. and then il was 10 moan.
oh Helen. my heart is broken. ] can
Eive IL To- no one. once ! had strength
ard faith. and could love; but now 1
am lost and ruined and there is moth
ing that can save me dare not
live. and J dare not die. and ! know
not where 10 turn"
lie started up suddenly. clasping his
hands To his forehead and staggering
across the room. crying out. oh, no.
it cannot be Oh. il cannot be, There
must Ice some way of finding pardon,
some way Of winning rightness for a
soul, ON. God. what can / do for
I.eace2" But then again he sank down
and hid his face and sobbed out: In
the face of this nightmaTe-with this
horror fronting me. She cried for
pardon. and none came.
After that there was a long silence.
with Helen crouching in terror by his
side. She heard him groan: 1T Is all
over. IL is hnished-I can fight no
more" and then again came stiffness,
and when she lifted him and gazed into
lis face she knew not which was the
worse. the silent helpless despair that
was upon II. or the torment and the
suffering that had gone before. She
n hAprpfngT q M
pleading with him to have mercy upon
her He asked her family what he
could do. and the poor girl. seeing how
weak and exhausted ne was. could
think OF only the things of the body,
and begged him 10 try TO rest. 1t has
been two nights since you have slept.
she whispered.
Il cannot sleep with this burden upon
my soul" he answered her; but still
she pleaded with him, begging him -as
he loved her; and he yielded to her at
'ast. and broken and helpless as he
was, she half carried him upstairs and
laid him upon the bed as If he had
been "A little child. That seemed to
help little, however. for he only lay
tossing and moaning. 'Oh, God ii must
end. I cannot bear it,
Those were the last words Helen
heard, for the poor girl was exhausted
herself, almost TO faintins; she lay
down. without undressing, and her
head had scarcely touched the pillow
before she was asleep. Ia the mean
time. through the long night watches,
David lay writhing and crying out for
help.
The moon rose dim and red behind
the mOuntaius-iL.had mounted high in
the sky. and the room was bright with
il. when Al last the man rose from the
bed and began swiftly pacing the room,
still muttering 10 himself. He sank
down upon his knees by the window
and gazed up at the silent moon Then
again he rose and turned suddenly.
and after a hurried glance at Helen
went TO the door and passed out. clos
ing il silently behind him. and whis-
pered 10 himself half deliriously.
''Oh. great God, it must end! IL must
end"
1t was more than an hour afterward
The Washington times., 1906-12-02
LHApTER "


Helen stood gazing al the figure in
utter cOusternation for at least half
"a minute before she could find voice.
lHen she bent forward and called 10
H.m wjldIy-"Arthur."
u was the others turn 10 DE start
led then. and DE staggered backward. !.
as he gazed up at Helen his look
showed plainly that he, too. was half
convinced that he was gazing al
phantom OF Eis own mind. and for
long time he stood pressing his hands
90 his heart and unable to make a
sound or a movement When finally
he broke Tie silence hls voice was a
hosrse whisper. Helen" he replied.
what IN heavens name are YOU DONG
Aere?"
And then as the girl answered. This
is my home. Arthur" he gave another
start
You live here with Limc" he gasped.
with him 9' echoed Helen i'm a low
voice. with whom. Arthur"
He answered with thee Mr.. Har-
rison." A look OF anlazement crossed
Helen face. though followed quickly
by d CLEAN OF comprehension. She
had quite forgotten that Arthur knew
LfililHE ABOUT what NLe hdu zone
Arthur she said. Il did not marry
Mir Harrison" then. seeing that he
Was staring AT her in still greater won
der. she went on hastily 1T seems
strange TO go back 10 those old days
now but once ] meant 70 tell you
all about it, Arthur" She paused for
a moment and then went on slowly.
Al the time / was engaged 10 that
man I WAS wTetChed. and when [ saw
YOU the last time-that dreadful time
by the Toad-it was almost more than
} coull bear; SO / took back my wicked
promise of marriage and came TO see
YOU and tell you all about it
A. the girl had been speaking the
other had been. staring at her with
look upcn his face that was indescrib-
able, a look that was more terror than
anything else: he had staggered back,
he Erasped at a tree 10 support him
self Helen saw the look and stopped,
frightened herself.
The Washington times., 1906-12-02

she was weary and almost fainting.
watching through the whole night,
her heart wild with her dread.
And so Inc morning came, and an
other day OF misery. and in the midst
Of II David flung himself down upon
the sofa and buried his face IN his
arms and cried out: "Oh God, nay
God. / cannot stand it. / cannot stand
II. Oh. let me die, / dare not lItt
my head-there is uo hope for me
there is no life for mel dare NOT pray,
II is more than 1 can bear-I am
beaten. l am lost forever" And Helen
fell down upon her knees beside him.
and tore away his hands from his face
and stared at him fraHticany. cx-
claiming David. it is too cruel. Oh.
have mercy upon me- David. IL you
love me-"
de stopped and gazed long and
earnestly into her face, and a look OF
infinite pity came into his eyes; at
last he whispered, in a low voice.
Poor. poor little Helen, OH, Helen.
God help you, what can 1 dO2" tie
paused and afteTward went on trem-
hlingly What have You done tnar
YOU should suffer like this2 You are
right that ii is too crueI-it is another
curse that / have TO bear, For I
knew that l was born 20 suffering
knew that my life was broken and
dying-auG Yet / dared 10 take yours
into Il! And now. what can 1 do 10
save YOU. Helen; can YOU not see that
l dare not Hve?"
David, it. is You who are killing
yourself" the girl moaned In answer
He did not reply. but there came "A
long, long silence, in which he seemed
10 be sinking still deeper: ana when
lie went on IL was in a shudderiug
voice that made Helen's heart stop.
"Oh, IL is no use he gasped. lit is
DO use. Listen. Helen. there was an
other secret that ] kept from you
because il was too fearful; bus ] can
keep l. Lo more, 7 can fight no more
He stopped; the girl had cIutch,d
his arm. and was staring into his face.
whispering his name hOarsely Al last
ne went on IN his cruel despair. Il
knew this years ago. too, and / knew
that l was bringing il upon yOu-lhe
misery OF this Wretched. dying body
Oh, IL hurts-it hurts now" And lie
put his hand over his heart, a. a look
% pain came into his face. 1T cannot
stand much more, my heart" he pant
ed the time must come-they told
ME il would come years ago, And
then-and then"
The man stopped. because he was
looking at Helen; she had not made
a sound, but her face had turned so
white, and her lips were trembling SO
fearIully that he dared not go on: she
gave loud, choking cry aud burst out
wildly, 'Oh, DaVid-David-it is fiend-
ish-you have no right To punish me
so. on, have mercy upon me for Won
are killing me, You have no risht TO
do It, l tell you il is a crime: vou
promised me YOUR love. and if YOU
loved me you would live tor my sake.
and would think OF me! A thing SO
cruel ought not to be-it cannot be
rlghJ-GOd could never have meant a
human soul 10 suffer so, And there
must be pardon in the world. there
must be light-it cannot all be torture
like this" She burst into a flood of
tears and flung herself upon David's
bosom, sobbing again and again. oh
no, no. II is too fearful, oh, save me.
save me-"
He did not answer her: as she look
The Washington times., 1906-12-02

ed up al him again she saw the same
look of fearful woe, and read the cruel
TACT that there was no help, that her
own grief and pleadings were only
deepening the mans wretchedness.
She stared at him Tor "A long time;
ana when She spoke 10 him again it
was with a sudden start, and in
strange, CHASTITY YoiCe-"And then,
David. there is no God2"
He tTemblrd. but the words chOked
him as he tried 10 respond, and his
head dropped; then at last she heard
him moan. "Oh. how can God free
my soul from this madness. how can
he deliver me from such curse 90
Helen could say no mOTe-COuld only
cling To him and sob ina her fright
so the day passed away, and an
other night came; and st.ll the crush
ed and beaten soul was WTithing in
its misery. lost Ia blaclness and des-
pair: and still Helen read il all in his
white and tortured features and drank
the ruII cup of his souls fiery pain
They took no need OF the time. but
IL was long after darkness had fallen;
ana once when the s.ri mad gone up
stairs for "a moment she heard David
pacing about. and then heard "a stifiei
rIy- She rushed down. and stopped
short in the doorway. For the man
was upon his knees. his face uplifted
ln Wild eutreaty on. God. oh mercl-
ful Cod Le sobbed. ''an the days OF
nav life ! have sought FOR righteous
ness. ktb1red aud suffered 10 keep ms
soul alive, And OH. was Il all for this
was 81 10 80 down in blackuess and
night. 10 die beaten man. crushed
and lost" On. / cannot bear IT, I can
not bear Il. IL cannot-it must not
be"'
He sank forward upon the sofa. and
The Washington times., 1906-12-02

utcs PASSED. but there came To- her no
relief: when she thought OF David. OF
mis- breaking body and OF struggling
soul. fl seemed 10 her as if she wera
caugh, IN the grip. Of a ficud. aud that
nc power could save her. She could
only clasp her hands together and
shuddcr. and whisper. what shall 1
do. what shall 7 do
Thus IT WAS thai ,he time sped by.
ana the morning sun rose higher u
front II her, and sEOne down upon the
Will fnd van figure that seem ID lik.
O. phantom of the night She was still
croUChirg in the same position her
iaind as everwronSht AMI nysJeTical
as eve. when "A strange and uneX-
Icct-d event took place. one when
seemed 70 her ar first ln her safe of
fright Ike some deIu~lon OF her mind.
% wls broad daylight then. and
Helen could sre thu uersou plIHl--. she
Took ouiv one glance. and r,el-d and
staggered back as IL 81 were ghos.
al which she was gazing She cr1uched
uy pillar of the porch. trembling IKE
q leaf. and scarcely able u keep her
senses. Learning from side To side aLd
Uo~r.n- put, with her whole a-titude
expressive of IHutterable cons erua-
;i"n. ard even fright. At lasr when
sac mad Euzed uStI e. was no longer
possible for her to think that she was
t.e victim Of madness. SF, stared sud
denly up into tAe air and caught her
forehead iu her hands az l4e same
,.me whispering tD herself in an all
most faiHting voice.
Great heaven. what can fl mean
Can il De IeIl-ciu IL bc Urueg IL is
Arthur
The Washington times., 1906-12-02
: - 1=AUTT1OR OF TIE JUNGLE -

rur. u drunkenness and madness. And
now She iS gone, and il is over, and
ola. why should / live. what can
da"'
Ills voice dropped inJo a moan, and
then again there was "a long silence.
At last Helen whispered in weak.
trembling voice. David. you have
still love: can that be nothing 10 you
Il have no right To love" nc groan-
ed no right To love. and / never had
any. For OH. all my life this vision
has haunted mel knew that nothing
but death could have saved her from
shame! Yes, and / knew. too. that
some day / must find her. / have car
ried the terror OF thai in my heart all
these years. Yet / dared To take your
love. and dared to hy from nay sin;
and then there comes this thunder
boit-oh. merciful heaven. IL is too
much 10 bear, too much TO bear"' lie
sank down again; poor Helen could
find no word of comfort, no utterance
of her own bursting heart except the
same frantic clasp of her love.
So the day went by over that shat
tered life. and each hour the man.
despair grew more black, his grief and
misery more hopeless. The girl watch
ed him and followed him about as if
she had been "a child. but she could
get him 10 take no food. and ID divert
his mind 10 anything else h- dared
not even try. He would sit for hours
writhing i'm his torment. and then
again he would spring up ana pace the
room in agitation, though he was too
weak 10 bear that very long. After
through IL he lay tossing and moan
ing, sometimes shuddering in kind
Of paroNysm of grief-HeIeu. though