davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-05-19
MAUD OF THE MUCK RAKE.

From the Chicago Reco-d-Herald-
Maud Muller on a summers day
Raked the meadow sweet with hay.
Her pa was not man of wealth,
All that she had was rugged health.
signing. She said: .Confound the luck
I think I'll go TO raking muck.
because she toiled. a wild unrest
And an eager longing filed her breast
Why should have TO work" she
cried.
while Others scorn me in their pride :?
With riches they have never earned ]
Their backs on me are proudly turned
The good Lord never planned things
There's something rotten here below
Can Ida Tarbell I win be
And whack the piutocrats. said she.
The Jodge,appeared upon the. scene
Bringing an odor Of gasoline.
He stopped to buzz the sirl awhile:
She was plump. and he rather liked
he- style
She knew that he possessed wad,
He thought: 'zzow sweet a name IS
Maud!'
He spoke of railroad stocks he had.
The maiden listened and was glad
In tow years, If my luck Is fair,
He said IN be millionaire.
7 travel on passes through the land
Maud sweetIy SAID: eoh. amt thar,
grand.'
las far as rebates go. IN say
That 1 regard them as o. K
"A block Of Standard stock claim
no matter how I got the same
Vow. tell me, Maud, and tell me true,
| Don't I !cok' rather good to you?
Her face against his breast she hic-
Aud gladly answered that he did.
To-day she is the Judges wife
! and lives in style, enjoying life
And oft size wonders IN her pride
Why people can't be satisfied.
why. she complains, do critics
pitch
so foolishly into the rich?
why do they ever scold or sigh
Because the things they need are
] hishe - - 80
Wise Providence has planned atairs-
I'VE rich alas have many cares.
1 @But.whfle noblysbear hesstrain.
.i:vhy. should the onesb below complain
f.eoi an wise words best farss5
lis: take things meesdy3 they aTe,ssss
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11
A sxmnhonx in CA"

Adolph, an Austrian artisan, adored
Anna, an aristorcrat. And Anna adored
Adolph. Another aristocrat. Alfred.
an ambassador. adored Anna. Anna
abhorred Alfred. Alfred addressed
Aana. admitting admiration. ANA as
sumed amaZement. Adolp abjured
Anna. Anna admonished Alfred. AL
fred adopted aggressiveness. Alfred's
audacity alarmed Anna. Alfred at
tempted abducting Anna. Anna.
afraid and agitated. acquainted
Adolph. Adolph accused Alfred. AL
fred. angered, abused Adolph awfully.
Adolph answered Alfred. Alfred at
tackled Adolph. Anna. aghast, aided
Adolph. Adolph and Anna almost an
initiated Alfred. Alfred abdicated abb
solutely. Anna accepted Adolph.
Adolph and Anna abruptly absconded
and abandoned Austria altogether, ar
irving at Antwerp. and always abid-
ing abroad afterward.-Town Topics.
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11
Waste.

For a time we stood without utter
ing single word, stunned to silence
by the incompatible majesty OF the
mighty cataract. The American was
the first to speak
What a wsste?" he exclaimed. with
profound emotion.
He made a few hasty figures on
scrap of paper which he had in his
hand.
DO you know" he said, looking up
after moment, with flushed face and
Frightening eye. there's power here,
ii it were to be converted into cleo
tricity and applied to industrial uses
to earn money enough to force ten
families of three daughters each, or
fifteen families of two daughters each,
into New York Society,""
Under the spell of that vast mass OF
falling water, we could believe him.
Anything seemed possible.-Puck.
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

Down the side of Canaan mountain
is a narrow wooden trough used by
the Garfield Lime company to slide
wood down the mountain. 1t is 500
feet long and at the foot of the noun
tain II passes under the tracks of the
Central New England railroad and
then rises so that the wood is tossed
into the air and falls in pile. says
the New York kilograms correspond
ent at Wins.>d, Conn.
Little Marie Roster. whose father
is woodchopper and who is only six
years old. was with her father while
he was at work on the mountain, At
a time when Roster w9s not watching
her the little one climbed into the
trough and instantly began e slide
down.. Her father heard her Scream.
but he could not reach her. q
workmen at the liYe company's
plant happened to see Marie Shooting
toward them. They gathered at the
end of the chute and waited The
child shot up twenty feet into the
air and fell into the arms of one of
the workmcn. without an injury of
any sort.
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

checked himself and said no more.
While Constance sat idly turning over
the leaves of a book until she saw the
bank officers coming up the street.
Then she arose to go.
President Hartwell and eight trus-
tees, with Tony Osborn. soon entered.
Inc new cashier, or treasurer, was not
present.
Mr.. Hamilton's manner was very
cordial and easy. Well as the several
gentlemen thought they knew him,
they were not prepared for so much
composure and freedom from nervous
ness. rumor of lost identity as the
sequel of his mysterious absence had
already reached them, early as it was
in the day; ard they were. therefore,
prepared to listen without interrupt
tons or EXPLANATIONS. until he had
finished the tale up to the awakening
of his dormant perceptive faculties.
which had occurred, he said, but a
short time previous to his return.
There was a silence of many seconds
ere any one spoke. AT last Mr.. Hart
well said, cautiously:
Did you say your memory had re-
turned to your
Not fully. | remember all of my
past life, think. now, with the excep-
tion of the brief time when the sus-
pension in my ordinary faculties took
place"
You came to yourself in Seattle.
you say?"
Yes"
Can you give us addresses there
where we may be able to learn corrob-
alive facts. Mr. Hamilton"
Il can give you addresses of the
workmen and of the men who owned
the factory, Barnacle & Co; that is
all"
The president took down four or five
addresses given him by Mr.. Hamilton.
NO doubt" said Mr.. Cowdrey. one
of the trustees. You have heard
something of the grave charges made
against you. Indeed, there is. be-
lieve. warrant out for your arrest"
Mr.. Cowdrey knew perfectly well
that there was. but it was an awkward
thing to say to man in his own
house.
Mr.. Hamilton gave a start.
Il did not know that he said; but
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

ing about and setting down her lamp,
for she had started to retire, Il don
feel quite sure that 1t is Vane.
Are you crazy. Constance?"
81 say / have doubt. At all events
he will have to prove his identity, and
he will have to tell me why he went
away before l receive him. About that
| am determined"
What folly is this? Constance, you
are a changed woman
To his vexation she burst into an I'M
comfortable fit of weeping.
II am a most unhappy woman she
sobbed, 81 know that
Unhappy when your husband tor
whom YOU mourned, has just come
back?"
She did not answer, but took up her
lamp and went to her room, her form
shaking with emotion.
When there, she sat down, still and
quiet now, and thought deeply. Then
the sounds of a violin stole across the
fields and reached her, though faintly.
But she did not raise her window for
a moment, as she had sometimes done.
She sat still and listened till the sound
died away and then she retired. But
she did not sleep. She lay all night
thinking, wondering, wondering, fear
ing-what?
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

it is as well. perhaps, that the investi-
cation should be made public. | wish
you would tell me exactly how matters
stand at the bank
A succinct statement was made by
the united accounts of the president
and trustees. and by young Osborn,
whose position at the bank was nomi-
nally that of teller. He was even
shown the altered notes, the letter
thrust under the presidents door. and
Mr.. Simon Lows letter in regard to
Hamiltons having presented one of
them to the National Bank in Boston.
What could have been harder to bear
than this If he were guilty? they
thought, as they watched him gravely
studying the notes and letters.
"The forgery was cleverly done" he
said, handing them back. 81 could
never have detected it any more than
Low did, and Low is above suspicion,
of course. No doubt the matter is
Just as he states it. A man resem-
bling me, doubtless. presented the
note"
But it was you who came to the
bank, anyway"
1t was Tony who spoke at first
seemingly with little doubt clinging
to his mind. But the anyway he
brought out boldly. almost defiantly
as he looked at Mr.. Hamilton, who for
moment lost his composure. He did
not answer at once, and when he did
it was in hesitating way.
81 cannot dispute you. Tony. Would
to Heaven | could. But consider this.
If 1t was | who came there, should l
not have come home? would not my
footsteps have unconsciously brought
me to my own door?'
perhaps not said Mr.. Taylor.
quiet man who had not before spoken.
Il have read of instances of dual life
where everything is changed Mem
ory is a thing apart from conscious
ness. 1t is said to be a function of
matter to be impressed with its own
actions. When an action has been re-
peated many times, or even once,
strongly, the memory of it becomes
stamped upon little cell of the brain.
and the stamp dominates the cell.
When the stimulant again comes. the
cell reacts as it formerly has done.
Now here comes the point in question.
Wnen tne StiinuidHl ldhs' hoAi o'ei
work or worry or other powerful
causes. the cell is useless, the memory
is gone, while other cells continue ac-
tive. perhaps more so than formerly"
Science as applied to bank rob-
berry was something new and startling
to the others. What might not a man
do under these conditions? Atavism
was less strange to consider. And yet
was it not true that human reason was
often insufficient to set against the
commonest delinquency? The gentle
men sitting about the table were non
plussed. all but Mr.. Taylor. who had
faith in his theory. He, evidently, be-
lieyed Mr. Hamilton's statement.
But" said he. ''in the present state
of society there are no provisions
made for this sort of lapse. outside of
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

isn't II appalling" said the new
boarder. ito read the list of awful
crimes that are committed in this
town."
"On the contrary" answered the
philosophical boarder. Il find 1t sin
gularly fascinating. have theory
tfat crimes come In waves. One
week there will be nothing but hold
ups. The next week. perhaps, You
will read of series of embezzle
ments. Then comes a season of con-
fidence games and pocket picking
Just now. of course. there is muir
der wave. won dollar and halt
not long ago by making bet that
there would be three horrible murders
In succession, inside of ten days. And
so II goes. II you watch these things
from n calm. methodical point of view.
you will he surprised to see how &C.
curately you can theorize. and even
forecast, as to the recurring cpl
denies OF crime. each in its turn"
All. yes. Let us not become excited
over these robberies and murders.
Let us philosophize, compare. and ap-
peal to statistics. There is nothing
we can do, you know, to stop them.
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

insanity. and a man so afflicted can do
no less than suffer the consequences
of his acts, however they may have
occurred. At least it is not fair for
others to suffer. The money. II taken
by your own hand, should be refund
Il and"
MIR. Taylor" interrupted the presi-
dent, frowning little. ARE you not a
little fast? The matter as it now
stands is of serious import. 1t Will
have to be Investigated. A warrant
was made out for arrest. and was, or
is now, in the hands of Bruce, the de-
tective. 1t was made out by Justice
Bailey. Sheriff Gray is away on bust
ness. and Bruce acts as his deputy. |
telegraphed Bruce last night, and it Is
nearly time" looking at his watch,
for him to arrive. You must see that
all this naturally follows. Mr.. Hamil-
ton"
otherwise composed. las | said. l
court the closest inquiry. Points may
be evolved which may make it clearer
to myself | thank Mr.. Taylor for his
confidence in me. or. rather, for his
belief in my statement"
"You must not think we doubt 1t,
said the president, more mildly. "'be-
cause we say less. There is no other
course open but to let the matter go
into a natural issue. Too much has
already TRANSFERRED"
you are right, without doubt" said
Hamilton. But you must see that to
one, who has been ignorant of any stir,
who returns to his home. imagining
everything to be in its normal condi'
ton. and who is first confronted by his
own monument, then these suspicious,
it is sufficiently confusing"
Certainly it is said Mr.. Taylor;
though, undoubtedly. Mr.. Hastings is
right" mentally thinking that spe
cialist on mental arrangements would
most likely be summoned. and the In
vestigation be no less interesting and
profitable than necessary.
ITO be continuedD
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11
kLoNpYkER THINKS OF EASTER.
The Frozen North Forgotten in His
Dreams Of Youth.

A gold-seeker in the Klondyke
writes: by the time you receive this
Easter may not be far away. and the
thought of it reminds me of the first
one | passed here. Easter eggs cost
about ten cents apiece, and l could
only afford one for breakfast. When
1 broke it | thought l heard bird
chirp. and looking up saw the barren
rocks and ice-topped mountains no
more. but fruit trees in bloom, thou
sands of miles away. How was that
for keen sight? And from among the
trees wood smoke rose-out OF
kitchen chimney Then out on the
porch of the old farm house came the
hest woman in the world-at that
time-a little faded externally, Eat
with a heart of gold. She called:
.Pe.et-e-er, come to breakf-a-a-st.
Where is that good-for-nothing? oh.
there he is, Peter, come to breakfast
Have you done your chores?' Yep
Now Nope would have been nearer
the truth, for had been hunting Eas-
ter eggs, and the calf was calling
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11
LIKED TO BE pUNNED.
Debtor by No Means Displeased at
Creditors Importantly.

About year ago a junior member
of a prominent firm of lawyers made
a departure from his usual line and
undertook to collect debt due
downtown publisher. The amount in
dispute was $1,000. 1t had been hang
ing fire for long while. and there
seemed very little chance for ever col
lecting it.
1--WE tried every way l can think
Of" said the publisher. Maybe you
can scare the fellow into paying up.
II you can, I'll give you half you col.
lect."
The lawyer took the case and finally
collected the money Then came
tussle with the publisher, who failed
to live up TO his end of the agreement
He paid half of the one thousand dol
lar fee. as promised, but withheld the
remaining $500. For the first two
months the lawyers efforts toward
settlement were conducted in digni-
fed manner. Conservative methods
proving unavailing, he resorted to
system of petty annoyance. Day after
day his errand boy was despatched TO
the publishers office with written OF
verbal request to settle the account
For four months this persecution con
tinued, but at last there came DAY
when in the rush of business the law
yer neglected thus to jog the delin'
uuent's memory. Late in the after
noon he was reminded of the cessation
of hostilities in an unexpected manner.
Into his private office. where he was
engaged in serious consultation
there penetrated a red-headed, wide
eyed boy.
Say" piped the youngster. I'm
from Mr.. Blank, the publisher. He
wants to know why your boy amt
been around to-day to dun him for that
$500 he owes you."-New York Herald.
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

The owner Of the racing automobile
was a novice at the sport. Naturally.
he felt rather mystifed when the ex.
pert driver handed him the following
bill on the morning after the race:
Gasoline, $50; repairs to car, 800;
cutting expenses, $1,000"
What the deuce" said the amateur
owner. "is the meaning of this item,
Cutting expenses"
"Oh, that" observed the chauffeur
carelessly. represents the surgeons
fec for renQvating my mechanic
Judge.
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11
CHAPTER x-continued.

at is hard on you, if you were not
to blame"
Yes, but no one else ought to suf-
fer
'Vane," said his wife, will you tell
us why you went away"
The children had now retired and
the three sat alone together.
81 went on business. Did 1 not tell
you so?"
Yes, you told me so; but that does
not explain why you went away every
May since our marriage and stayed
two weeks. You know and | know
that there was a secret reason for
your going"
1.-The same reasons for not telling
you are still in force. The secret is
not my own. If it were | would tell
you. But the time will come when
can tell you. For the present is it too
much to ask that wife trust her hus-
band?"
Constance turned away as if unsat-
isfed, but in a moment said in low
tone:
You recollected the children's COM
missions, but did you not forget
mine?"
Did 1? Was it not myself was to
bring?"
She did not answer.
WAS there anything else? If so.
have forgotten
You have not brought the same sen
that you took away" she cried. pas
sionately. you are not the same"
He started to his feet as If stung by
her words, but was calm in moment,
and answered reasonably and kindly.
rs not the defect in you. Constance?
/ see none in myself. | feel the same
toward you. 1t is you who are chang
ed"
He arose and locked for his hat and
gloves.
Il will go to the hotel for the pres
emit Is that your wish. Constance?"
She bowed her head and murmured
something about changes to be
made"
What do you mean. Constance, by
turning a man out of his own house in
this way?" burst forth her uncle, as
soon as he was gone.
Uncle Carter" said Constance, fac
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11
CHAPTER XII.
A Meeting of the Bank Officers.


Mr. Hamilton. for so l shall call him
despite the doubts of Constance, evil
IDENTIFY had no intention of deserving
his own Preside for hotel precincts.
He returned early and breakfasted
with the family, much to Mr.. carter
delight and not to the too-e'iueh'
displeasure of his wife, He sun re-
NAMED after Mr.. Carter went 10 MS
office and the children to school, Ior
meeting of the bank directors hau
been called at ten O'Clock at MS own
residence. .,s
In the hour of waiting there was
much serious conversation between
husband and wife. At last he SAID.
81 can see you doubt me. nave
been gone so long; so many trouoies
have INTERVIEWED they have tendeu ~
set Won apart from lie. Is not 'ha'
so?"
perhaps so. ITO
"Tben / would not have you DO 'io-
lence to your feelings. | VIII stay me-.
it is better so for many reasons ~
Won shall live your own life until suon
n time as YOU can truly feel that YOU
love me as YOU once did. l want 10 oe
near the children. want to De heal
YOU. Constance May |? May i nave
the room next to your unclesE
yes" ~
And will you try to love me asalp
he asked gently. yet with an eagerhes'
he could not quite conceal. ~
Love cannot be forced. she an
swered. ,,o,, -yill
but it will come in time If you '''''
let it, oo,,e.ting
But suddenly, evidently recol,es''h he
some resolution he had MADE NC
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

piteously for milk. The old COW, with
full and willing bag, was believing
to beat the band. and Old Bob was
kicking his stall to pieces. while the
chickens were looking reproachfully
at me because | hadn't fed them.
my boyish hands were full in those
days-and work is good for boys. To
the kitchen. | fling my cap due north
and sit down facing the crippled sis
ter, who has the sweetest face that
angels ever smiled to meet. They
have met. both those faces, long ago.
Such Johnny cakes! So crisp and
generous, as into their hot recesses
I plastered the golden butter! Ismell
that coffee now. and l quaff the rich
milk old Bossy gave. Time has turned
backward. and made me boy again,
and the old fellow finds toe much salt
in his egg-some of it has dropped
from his eyes,
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

Some months ago. in chronicling the
killing of a man in one of the mines
around Butte, n local paper remarked
that he had two cousins in the camp.
Next day. within few hours after the
paper was delivered to subscribers,
delegation of eleven appeared in the
office of the paper and Indignantly de-
manded that the story be printed all
over again and printed right.
Whats wrong about it?''
why, you said he had two cous-
ms. We are all cousins of his. Count
u.s."
The correction was made.-Anacon
da Standard.
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

Once more the Easter Rabbit has
arrived TO fulfil his annual mission.
Only day his merry reign will last,
and then-s'.,h is the memorable de-
cree-he must return TO the abode
where Santa Claus. fairies. brownies
and other mysterious friends of little
folk hold goodly company.
with what joyous anticipation
eager eyes have watched for his ap-
pearance at the confectioners win
dows, how many busy little hands
have constructed nests of moss and
twigs for his reception. or have
framed notes of invitation in the
most endearinS terms to this. geper-
Gus little guest! All. indeed. the Eas-
ter Rabbit has won the hearts OF all.
and bids fair to vie even with the ven
cradle Christmas saint in popularity
And now he is here, and has no
doubt. responded most graciously to
all requests and has filled the nests
and pockets of the child world to over
flowing with his gayly colored gifts.
But who is this CHEEKY stranger, at
whose modest knock the doors OF pal
ace and hut alike are opened with a
hearty welcome? We merely know
he is of German descent. but his true
origin and significance time has hid
den from most of us. and to lift the
veil we must wander back thousands
of years into the very heart of the
Fatherland.
1t is still winter; lakes and streams
I1
loath to withdraw it's glistening man
tie from the bleak and dreary fields.
Yet in the heart of the Pagan mother
is Joy; she has heard to-day the note
of songbird and has seen the will
lows stretch forth their silver hooded
buds; there is no doubt Ostara. the
goddess of spring. is on the way.
Gladly she hastens home with the
good tidings. gathers her children
around her and whispers to them
1.-THE hare of Ostara has been here.
little ones. Do you know what that
means? We must prepare for the
Osterfestival. Father is already in
the forest, gathering wood for the fire
that shall greet the kind goddess at
her arrival"
But how did the little hare know.
mother dear"
"Ah, my child" said the mother
smiling. there was no need of it. My
grandsire told me the story OF Os-
tara's hare when was not older than
thou art now. Listen to me. little
ones, and l will tell you what he
said.
Long, long years ago, when the
earth was still young, fearful winter
visited this land Ice and snow would
not cease, and man and beast perish
ed from cold and hunger. All. how
grieved the gentle goddess Ostara
was when she looked down from on
high and beheld the misery of her
children! Well she knew that before
long her reign would begin. and grass
and flowers spring up wherever her
foot touched the ground, and the air
become fragrant with her breath. But,
alas. hope had died within the hearts
of the people, and she longed to com
fort them. oh. for feet messenger
who would spread the news of her
coming over the sorrow stricken land.
tell the buds to come forth and the
birds to build their nests and lift their
voices in a chorus of joy, and bid men
to mourn no longer, but look upon all
The Lamar register., 1906-04-11

1.-TWO Irishmen. filed with the joy Of
living. supplemented by countless
straight whistles, were standing in
front of the uncompleted Knickerbock.
err hotel the other day." said Maclyn
Arbuckle, when the following lila
logue took place:
"''Tis foine building. Mike said
one. saying unsteadily. 'Oi thick Oi'n
buy it,
''Eegorrah, If | were as drunk as
We air, I'd sell it 20 you.' retorted the
other"