davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

He seemed to be pulling up, return
ing, evidently to be near Mrs. Casilis
again.
Mrs Casilis was close on the fence
now, riding with overconfidence and
too fast. She was looking at Beatrice
and at the very moment while she
looked Beatrice felt that her poor
worn-out little mare was going to
refuse the fence; she saw an express
sion of triumph rise in the face OF
her rival-her successful rival-and
heard her laugh.
Then all the misery and bitterness
in the jealous wife's heart changed
suddenly into frenzy of hate. All
the little bits of anger that she had
indulged in and repented o In all
her life seemed merely amusing be-
side it. They had been as the wav-
ing of the hand of some hidden, half
sleeping fury, that awoke now, and
showed itself a giant; it took possess
sion OF her and mastered.
xiii her-ride at her, and XIII
her: she shan't triumph"
The evil impulse only lasted a mo-
ment, the turning of wrist and
heel; next second she would have
given her life to stop the mare, but
1t was too late The infamy Of the
act appalled, her; she tugged at the
reins with all her force, but in vain.
The other woman's face, ugly with
fear and spite, seemed close to her
own.
"Oh, God! don't let me do thing
like this" she gasped. kill me, but
don't let me do it! Stop it somehow;
l can't"
She threw all her weight on the
right rein. Next moment there was
shock-a slighter shock than she
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24
DELIVERED BY THE PRESENT

THAT you, Rita?" he called. did
you get my valentine?"
did you send one?" she asked in
surprise. "I have been watching the
carrier, but nothing has come yet,
that is from you. Mr.. TholeL sent
such a funny valentine"
did that man dare send you a
yalentine?" he gasped.
"A satin sachet bag" she ex-
planned. "All covered with cupids,
too"
"Pd like to cover him with
cupids," growled Ned. II didn't send
that kind. | bought you one of those
good old lace paper things that |
used to send you when we were kids
and the quarter that l saved up for
it meant more than the $5 or so that
Tholen spent"
1T may come later" she comforted
Il suppose that the mail was so heavy
that it is delayed"
'I'm afraid not" he said, regret
fully. "They don't send many val
entines now. It's not fashionable,
you know, guess Tholen and /
must be Old-fashioned.
did you see papa?" she question
ed.
Il did," he agreed. II called you
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24
r f G. ALL z D

that he would have passed it over had
1T not been that he was counting on
check from Jones & Bridgeman and
its non-arrival irritated him.
1t was scarcely fair to take it out
on the girl. The work in the office
was heavy at times and she was
scarcely to be blamed for making an
occasional error.
He rang for the new girl and she
marched in, letting the door slam be-
hind. Hedrix glanced in disgust It
the stained blouse, evidently a relic
of party finery, and at the actively
working jaws.
Before you commence to take die
tation will you kindly dispose of that
gum?" he said, sharply. 1T makes
me nervous"
'Not there" he cried a moment
later, as she removed the gum and
stuck it under the seat of her chair
Throw it into the waste basket and
don't ever bring gum into the office
again"
1--WE got dyspepsia" she said.
'The doctor said gotter eat It,"
This is not hospital" he said.
sharply. "If you must pursue such
a course of medical treatment 1
should advise you to seek another po-
sition."
81 guess I can add up IS and s."
she said, pertly. "I don't have to be
told 23." She swept majestically from
the room and presently the cashier
appeared.
Miss Golden demands a days
pay" he said "She says that she
always gets it. Shall l give it to
her?"
Give her anything she wants." he
said, desperately. "only get her out
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

as it's Valentines day."
"I hope that 1t will come" he said
II wanted you to have mine. 1 never
missed before"
"It will come" she insisted. "It
must. I'm so sorry about fathers
answer"
1T means that Well have to run
away" he declared.
II can't" she protested. "I couldn,t
leave father. But I'll never marry M
Tholen, Ned" she promised. "T'li
wait for you until father gives bis
consent. 1t would break my heart n
run away and have him refuse 20 for
give me-"
"Then you'll be an old maid" ba
declared. gloomily, There's no
chance of your fathers changing his
mind"
Don't lose hope" she caIled
"Goodby, dear"
"Goodby," he called. He hung Nm
the receiver reluctantly and had turn
ed away when the bell rang sharnlv
''Well2" he called.
Here's your party" said the girl
to the other subscriber.
This is Howard Musgrave, came
the message. SIS this Mr.. Baxter 70
"Yes." was the short response.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

three times last nigh. to tell you
about it."
What did he say?"
Told me that l must not come
near the house. Now that my money
was gone ! should at least care
enough for you not to spoil your pros
poets by seeking to coax you to marry
a poor man when Tholen was wait
ing"
Med" she cried. Surely he did
not forbid you the house."
That's just what he did," he an
swered, sayagely, "and I'll bet that
he recognized my handwriting on
the envelope and took the valentine
before you could get it,"
Fathers not like that" she cried,
Indignantly "and won't have you
say So"
But l mailed it yesterday after
noon" he persisted, "you should sure
ly have it by now"
1T will come yet" she said, sooth-
ingly, There are three more deliv-
cries"
But l wanted you to get 1t the
first thing in the morning" he said,
bitterly. TITS 90 late now"
tits never too late for Valentines -
she cried in exDostulation. "as lons
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24
A LUCKY MISTAKE

~ R. CARLING reached into the
drawer and drew out large
~ envelope.
The action reminded him
of pamphlet he had promised Darn
ton, so he took out another envelope
and slipped into it the brochure on
scarless surgery which was attract
ing so much comment.
Then the telephone bell rang and
he picked up the receiver to answer
the call before addressing the en-
velopes.
Being a busy practitioner, the in
cident was not brought to mind again
until he encountered Darnton coming
down the hospital steps the next
morning.
II received your book, DOCTOR" the
latter chuckled. Something of de-
parture, isn't it?"
"It's a reprint from my paper in
the Journal of Surgery" he answered
carelessly. you asked for one the
other day, you will remember"
Darnton drew it from his pocket
I II think you made a mistake" he
smiled as he handed it to the other
man.
CARING glanced at the title and
| gasped. This little volume was a
paper bound copy of some poetry
concerning which Miss Sarah Long
wood had asked.
He had sent 1t with a little note
saying that he hoped that the little
volume would interest her. He had
put the letter in the wrong envelope
and 1t had gone to her along with his
brochure.
In this he had specially marked
the report of case in which he had
reduced a hook nose to a respectable
roman outline without leaving a scar.
1t was the case in which Darnton
had expressed interest and to send II
to Miss Longwood of all persons; she
who was the aunt and guardian OF
the girl he loved and the possessor OF
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

was not proud of the Longwood
nose?"
II thought" he stammered. He
could not complete the sentence and
explain that he thought he was send
ing some poems.
II am sorry that you did not speak
Of 1t BEFORE" she went on. II know
that it is ridiculous for an old woman.
like me to care whether her nose Isl
pretty or not, but ever since l was a
child I have hated it. I did not know
that an operation could be performed.
with the certainty that there would
be no scar"
''It is a new treatment" he ex-
planned. "a matter of dressing. /
have had number of similar cases
since that paper was written, but
he wanted to disclaim credit, but the
old lady would not have 1t.
Don't say but" she ordered.
sharply. 81 want yoC to arrange to-
reduce my disagreement just as soon
as you can, and cannot tell you how
grateful l am to YOU"
Val iliG WdIhGu llOlll InO lOOul Inv
a man in daze. 1t was a simple
enough matter to perform the opera
tion, and when the wound was heal
ed it was a very different Miss Long
wood who presided at the wedding of
her niece.
"That's all over" said the new
Mrs. CARING, as the carriage rolled
away from the house. "For time
/ was afraid there was no hope.
Auntie was determined that l shou.
marry Bob Storms, but your lucky
suggestion about surgery carried the
day. However did you come to thini-
Of sending her that article?"
"I didn't" he explained. 1T was
all a mistake"
Don't ever tell her." pleaded Net.
tie. "Let her keep thinking thai
-"
"I won-by a nose." laughed hsz
husband.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

of here. Telephone the agency to
send up a girl who does not chew
gum in office hours"
1t was 4 o'clock before the new girl
came. This one was red-headed and
business-like, and Hedrix eyed her
with approval until he began to die
tate.
You mean they were, don't
you?" she asked. "'They was is
not grammatical"
az am aware of that" he said.
"'There was is correct, however.
That is what laid"
"O," said Miss Cassidy. you speak
dreadfully thick"
Perhaps 1 do" said Hedrix, sharp
ly, but perhaps it is too late to be-
gin to reform now. Kindly take die
tation and withhold comment"
He had to wait until o'clock to
read the letters over, and he labori-
ously corrected with pen those that
had to reach the post at once. Then
he sat down to the typewriter and
picked out a note that ran:
'Dere Mis- Kingsley-Pleasa cim
to the office tomorrow morninf as
usual and forgive me my bad temper.
I have had two girls today and they
are the limit. You can uxe any sort
Nv spelin want and a raise in
salart."
The next morning the golden head
was bowed over the machine as He'd
rix came into the office and peace
entered HerdiX's soul.
"DO Won know - he said 40 Miss
Kinsley brought him the recopied
letters to sign, that that has been
most Illuminating experience to
me?"
81 am glad that you found out" "
she said, simply, "for like the
place"
"And I want you to keep it," he
added Then as she left the room, he
said to himself. Keep it until l can
! make you Mrs. Hedrix."
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

a nose of gigantic proportions!
That settled his chances with Net
tie. Probably she would be as angry
as her aunt Ind neither could be con-
vinced that the whole thing was not
studied insult.
There was only one thing to be
done. He must at east offer an apol-
ogy 1t was late in the afternoon
before his rounds were finished and
he could call at the Longwoods'.
With a nervous perspiration bead
ing his face he rang the bell and
faced the butler.
miss Nettio is not at home," the
servant said, pompously, and Car
ling's heart sank. She would not
even see him, and he must trust to
the cold and formal written explana-
tion.
miss Longwood is at home and
desired to be informed if you called"
went on the butler. CARING started.
He had hoped to make Nettie his in
termediary.
ASK Miss Longwood if she will
see me-" he said, as he passed into
the reception room.
The butler returned to say that she
would be down Immediately and Car
ling f1dgeted through five dreary min
utes, every sixty seconds of which
seemed an hour.
At last she entered, tall, imposing
and severe. CARING sprang to his
feet.
"Nettie is out, DOCTOR" she said in
greeting. But 1 wanted to see you
moment about that book. 1t was
very thoughtful of you"
Carling stared Was there some
chance that a second blunder had
been made somehow? Miss Longwood
motioned him to a seat and took a
| chair near him.
"a great many persons would have
lacked the courage to send it," she
said. "It shows your thoughtfulness
that you took the chance of giving
offense. HoW did you know that ]
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

send Rita valentine"
ITO make up for the one she lost o.
asked Ned. "You know In valentines
1t depends a great deal upon who
sends It."
"I think I can send her valen-
tine that will be fully as acceptable
as yours" he smiled, provided that
you will take it,"
But you have forbidden me the
house." he cried.
"Now l ask you to deliver the val
entine 1 wish to send" he answered.
THAT prohibition was made before
received Rita's valentine. / want to
make this a special delivery"
He rose from his desk and slipped
the loop of a shipping tag over one
of the buttons of Ned's coat. Ned
caught one glimpse of the inscriD-
tion on the card, and he smiled.
"I guess you're right" he said.
Dolly will like this best" and he
buttoned his overcoat carefully over
a tag which read: ITO Miss Rita
Musgrave, A valentine present from
her father Delivered by the Drss-
ent."
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

said Dick, and Beatrice hated him
for having so little tact that he let
his resentment tell in his voice.
She rose impatiently and managed
to lose Dick in the crowd, but he was
waiting by her mare when she was
ready to mount. She hated him more
than ever. Was it her fancy, or was
the same maddening undercurrent of
sympathy and championship in the
manner of every one she had spoken
to?
Wasn't it kind of Lord Farleigh
to lend me telegram" Mrs. Casilis
said as they were together for mo-
ment while the huntsmen threw the
hounds into the cover. do you think
l shall be able to manage him?"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

trice saw her lips move, and guessed
at the words. She did not know If
they were true or not, but she and
the mare would do their best.
She rode her carefully, choosing
easy ground. Ted and his companiol
were ahead She almost lost sight Of
them. The other womans golden
hair flashed in the light before her
eyes and almost blinded her. But the
fox doubled. An easy ride across
grass, and an easy jump over a low
fence, brought her alongside of her
husband and Mrs. Casills Just when
1t seemed they least expected her
They were going gently to cut across
the loop that the hounds were maxi
ing and come up with them couple
of fields ahead Their horses were
close together. They were talking
eagerly as they rode. Farleigh saw
Beatrice first, and his face darkened.
Good heavens! Beatrice, do you
think l need a chaperon?" he asid.
Eyes, do" she said, sharply,
through her clenched teeth.
well, she's undertaken more than
she can manage" and Mrs. Casilis
laughed.
Beatrice was not meant to hear the
words, she knew so much; but her
husband had been meant to hear
them, the other woman dare sneer at
her to him!
This was the end. then; the fight
was lost. Her life was not to be
beautiful any more, but pitiable and
contemplate. Pity and ridicule, that
was what she was to have in future,
instead of love and honor, and she
would have to go on living as if 1t
didn't hurt. She saw all her future
life before her in the few moments it
took to cross the field. An uncared-
for wife, fretting alone at home till
she grew old, or else a wife like 9TH
ers she knew, very smart and much
talked of in the papers, always well
dressed and brilliant and interested
in something, seeing her husband
now and then at other peoples
houses, and all the while loving him
so horribly. And that woman whom
he would never love as he had once
loved her, had been able to shut the
door of the heaven she had just be-
gun to see.
She had swerved aside as Mrs.
Casilis spoke; the meadow they were
crossing lay on hillside and sloped
gently down to her left She was
riding some twenty yards to the right
Of the others, and little ahead of
Mrs. Casilis. Her husband she saw
had left his place at the latter's side
and was about thirty yards lower
down the hill, considerably ahead of
both the others.
Ted was over; Beatrice could just
see his hat over the top of the hedge.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24
r EDRIX threw the letter on his
desk and pressed one of the
call buttons in the wall be-

w EDRIX threw the letter on his
~ desk and pressed one of the
call buttons in the wall be-
side him. The office door
softly opened anG closed and the
junior partner wheeled around in his
swivel chair.
"You wrote that letter to Jones e
Bridgeman?" he asked, The girl in
clihed her head
Look at the way they take it," he
cried, handing to her the letter he
had just flung down. "What do you
think of that?'
The girl read the letter with Grim
soning face. 81 think" she said, as
she handed back the sheet, that they
are making capital out of the mis-
spelled word to divert attention from
the fact that they are not ready to
meet their obligation. They must
know that t-h-i-e-r is a transposition
on the typewriter and not an attempt
to introduce the simplified spelling."
eve are having a great many of
these transpositions," he said, cross
ly. "They are making the firm ridicu-
lous. 1 will tell the cashier to give
you two weeks salary in lieu of a
notice.
He swung back to his desk to avoid
further discussion and the girl left
the room. Presently the office boy
bore the order to the cashier to pay
off Miss Kingsley and put on a new
stenographer.
When he went out to lunch Hedrix
was tempted to stop and countermand
the order as he caught sight of the
golden head bent over the typewriter
He paused, irresolute, for an instant,
then with whispered discipline"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

<<-HERE always comes time
- when mans love
changes"
"Oh, but that's nom
sense, you know; lots Of husbands
and wives really do live happy even
after"
"Of course they do; love may
change for the better but It changes
all the same. A time comes when the
man stops worshiping the woman as
an impossibly superior being, and
knows she is only his fellow creature
after all--not his superior, perhaps
not even his equal. But If the wom-
an is wise, and takes the change as
a matter of course, not resenting the
loss Of worship, but making herself
sweeter and more desirable as a fell
low creature than she was as mere
ideal, then, provided the man is
worth loving, the very best sort of
love begins. But 1t is a dangerous
time. The worst danger is that an
other woman should appear on the
scene in the character of thc impos-
husband has begun to sec faults in
the wife. Such a woman woull have
been no cause of danger before that
time of change, she would be no dan
ger when once 1t was safely passed; I;
but if she chances to appear just at
the dangerous moment, there is no
saying what may happen"
These words weighed heavily on
pretty little Beatrice Farleighs mind
as she rode alone, except for the
guardianship of her groom, to the
meet at Tarent End. They had been
spoken long ago by dear, kindly,
prosy old General Tarent, who knew
the world, but managed somehow to
love it no less for knowing it. That
was before she was married, before
she was engaged even; General
Tarent's preaching had seemed very
wise, but quite far away from her or
her life. for, of course, she had never
meant to marry unless she found that
one man who would not change,
whom all girls dream of and one
woman in a thousand meets.
Well, she was married now, and
Jue JlHle VI CHduSe udu SoIh0' hSl
husband was quite aware of her
faults. He knew she had a temper;
that she could make sharp speeches,
and was not always quite in the right
when she quarreled with her friends.
That was why he laughed at her dis
like of Mrs. Casilis. He had got as
far as laughing at her when he
thought her in the wrong-her words
were no longer the inspired utter
ances of an angel. But he laughed
affectionately; there was no trace of
that sneer that tells woman she
may as well give up the fight, for
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

hounds one after the other took up
the scent and streamed away through
the cover into the open, we'll in front,
but giving every one a chance of a
good start.
After a sharp scamper the hounds
overran the scent, and although the
huntsmen made one or two casts
could not regain 1t, so a fresh cover
was tried, and again with success.
Reynard, driven from his warm bed
by the sound of his enemies, hurried
away against the wind.
Beatrice saw Mrs. Casilis settle her
self in her saddle with an air that
said plainly that she meant to leave
her we'll behind this time. "The mare
can't hold out much longer"-Bea-
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

Casiis had risen front the table. Mrs.
Casilis was very tall and goddess
like, with a delicately arched nose,
and fair hair raised softly from a low
forehead. She was talking with
certain gracious indifference, which
was her characteristic. and became
her. Beatrice turned and caught
Dick looking at her, too.
Mrs. Casills is one Of the most
beautiful women l ever saw" she
said, calmly.
81 don't admire her in the least"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24
~ I'VE me 1894 Main" called
% n Ned Baxter, as he lifted
NJ the receiver from the

At least the telephone was not for
bidden even though he had been told
the day before that he must not call
at the MusgraVe home.
He waited a moment, shifting mis-
weight from one foot to the other
and chafing at the delay. Nervously
ne pressed down the hook to call the
attention of the central office, and
the musical Just a minute" was an
additional aggravation.
Look here" he shouted, when he
had again attracted attention. Il
want the number / called for or the
chief operator. Now take your
choice"
There's a party calling YOU" said
central. Don't you want him?'
"No, don't" he shouted. 81
called my number first. Please get
it."
The musical "Just moment, ,"
came over the wire again and Ned
gritted his teeth. Then there came
another voice, and he straightened
up.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

"Of course" Beatrice said, cheer
fully; TED wouldn't have let you
ride him If thered been any doubt
about it."
She felt. rather than saw, her hus-
bands glance Of shamefaced approval
and resented 1t.
eve will both keep you in sight, ."
she continued, Ito see how you get
on"
At that moment the hounds gave
tongue There was the short pause
of delicious excitement. But the
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

he passed on
When he returned it was tousled
black head that bent over the ma
chine and he stopped at the cashiers
window.
Miss Kingsley gomez" he asked
carelessly.
Eyes, sir. That's Miss Golden. The
Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24

typewriter people sent her up. Miss
Kingsley would not take two weeks
notice. She said she only wanted
what was due her for work done.
Hedrix passed into the inner Of
flee, Somehow he felt very small and
mean. The error was so unimportant