davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

! HER DILEMMA
By MRS. PHILIP CHAMPION DE CRESPIGNY z

Honor" Cynthia said, balancing
herself sideways on tho old balus.
trade overlooking the lake; i won
der what you would do II YOU were in
my position2"
Fab over into the lake" / replied
promptly, "as you VIII IN q minute,
II you ave not careful. and you Will
find 1t very deep water
4 am IN deep water already she
said gently, and / should be more than
glad If you can find a way to help me.
but It wont BE- very easy. ! thought
it such a good idea to start with, but
now 1t doesn't seem To have worked
out very well"
what Ii ~"
ITS Mr.. Peters" she said turning
her face away and looking out dream.
fly across the lake.
"Sull MIR. Peters," / asked with a
little surprise. 1T has been Mr.. Pc.
tiers for quite a long time"
Il don't know If / hayo told you
that he has asked me to marry him
she wen on after a pause.
yes" | said, several times
"a wish people wouldn't ask me TO
marry them" Cynthia said impatient
ly. II never know what to say"
There Is not much choice" | OBJ.
served, You can only say Yes or
No"
That's just what is so tIreaomc,"
she said calmly. II said nothing. Yes
terday he wrote to say he really must
have an answer. He gave me a week
to think 1t over, as he did not wish
to hurry me. But | sent him my an.
swer by post last night
Why did you do that7 II would
have been better to have waited. as
he suggested 1t, TIL the end of the
week, ! think" Cynthia could change
her mind a dozen times In a week.
NO" she answered seriously, ~
sent the answer al once because |
hate to have a thing Of that sort
hanging owe my head"
III you have already sent your an
swer where can .hs difficulty be?
What was IT." | repeated with a lit,
tie Impotence. "Yes. or n07"
Il don't know" she said, gently;
just whore the trouble u.s."
"Cynthia!' | cried sharply DO you
mean to tell me you don't know
whether you have accepted Mr.. Peters
or refused him?"
That Is exactly the state of the
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

ase,' sae replied, with maddenIng So
renity II sent him his answer last
night. and I've no more notion what
IL was" she looked around for an
example, than the a In the moon"
Cynthia" | said slowly. u think
one of us must be mad, and | do not
believe II is l."
Not at all" she retorted briskiy.
III you viii listen I'll tell you exactly
how 1t happened. Mr., Peters has been
Fostering me for an answer for weeks,
and the truth was | could not for the
life OF me make up my mind what to
say. Don't you think he Is a very
nice man, Honor?" she added, looking
at me earnestly.
THAT is just Il; he Is so nice that
hadn't the heart to say: No to him.
but as | never have liked fair hair,
| couldn't be quite sure | wanted to
say Yes Then this letter asking for
a definite answer came like a thunder
bolt.
Il felt quite sure II would be no cas-.
Ter to make up my mind at the end OF
a week, and that the best thing would
be to do It at ace. So | did"
Il am glad to hear It." | remarked
dryiy. II understood you to say you
do not know what you had said"
No more | do. | wrote two letters,
pDn aprAptiny hin, aud A., ..i--
iuslng him, and addressed them ex.
actly alike and shufied them with my
eyes shut, and then | put one In the
fire and the other In the mail"
Which did you put in the mail?"
Il don't know" she answered pla.
cidly, that's just where the fix comes
in"
"Cynthia!" | exclaimed. laughing
against my will, and you call that
making up your mind"
AT first | thought IL was rather a
good idea, OF course the awkward
part is not knowing what | have said
TO him. II | found | had mailed the
wrong one, | should probably have
sent the other after II. And that
wouldn't have mended matters"
There is nothing for II but to face
the situation" | remarked impa-
tientIy.
u don't mind the situation; It's Mr..
Peters | don't want to face" Cynthia
murmured.
could think Of no suggestion, and
silence fell for a moment or two.
Just think Of the un~pleasantness
Of Il, Honor" she remarked. Il have
had : telegram to say he is coming
at three o'clock"
And what are you going to dol"
There was q long pause.
II thought Of going down to Dee
Mrs. Maloney's new baby about theng"
she said At last. M
! half rose to my SeefNNtn indigna-
aa1gfh6n ~ down AHA.
%T3FIM N#V4fIIN 4ItNUFtxMi
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
Pays for Stolen Apples.

Horace Richardson, for many years
a leading grocer, but now retired, is
In receipt of a letter mailed in this
city from an unknown writer, reading;
"Mr. Richardson, when | was a girl,
a few years ago, / was in your store,
with other girls. ] took some apples
unknown to you, which we ate. l
didn't know 1t was wrong. but | have
learned since | grew older, and in
close 25 cents in stamps, which will
fuzzy repay you for all loss by my
act"
No name Is signed to the letter, but
the writer adds: You do not know
who / am, but II we both go to
heaven then you will know.'--In-
dianapolis News.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

experience. He reminds me of an in
cident that took place in a barber
shop the other day.
In this quiet. busy shop a man
who was getting shaved suddenly ut
tered "A loud oath.
Hang YOU he exclaimed. You've
cut my chin twice now. If you cant
shave better than this, every regular
customer will leave you
But the young barber pushed the
mans head back on the velvet rest,
aud laughed.
"'Oh, no., he said. No fear of that.
toners yet. | only shave strangers
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
THE oRoWTH or Fi1HEs.
Males Attain Their Maturity Earlier
Than Females.

There Is now In course OF arrange
ment In the Central hail Of the Nat.
ural History musenm at South Ken
siHgton, says the London Daily Graph
ic, a most interesting exhibition Illus
trating some Of the principal features
Of the fishery investigation work Of
the Marine Biological association, to.
ward the support OF which the char
ceIlor Of the e~Xchequer was recently
asked to increase the government
grant. Specimens Of pollack are on
view showing the annual growth rate
IN the English channel. which varies
from about one and a half TO two and
a half inches at the age Of three
to four mouths to 2112 inches at the
end Of the sixth sammer. A series
Of scales takea from the same fish at
various periods are also exhibited In
illustration Of another method Of de.
termtning the age Of fish, In like
moHHer a number of place taken from
the bays and estuarieS on the east
coast Of England, the English channel
and the southern part of the North
sea are OF exhibition, an examination
showing that for the first three years
the growth rate of both males and fe-
males Is practically identical, and
that after that period the growth Of
the males is slower than that of fe.
males, a circumstance which Is as
ISOLATED with the earlier maturity of
the males.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
When the Seas BEGAN.

Prof. c. M. Woodward, in his presi.
dental address to the American As
ISOLATION for the Advancement Of
Science last December, remarked that
recent pendulum observations, which
indicate the variations Of gravity.
have justified the conclusions Of Prof.
Dana concerning the permanence of
the continents and oceans. The
earth's crust is found to be more
dense beneath the oceans than be.
meath the continents, and Il Il -.
lieved that the distinction between
sea and land has its basis In the
hetercgeneity Of the material com.
posing the interior Of the earth. The
determining conditions arose in the
original aggregation Of that part n
the primitive nebula which formed
the earth. The ocean basins after.
ward gradually subsided, and the can.
tinental masses gradually rose. Win
many fluctuations, but upon the whole
they have neve exchanged places.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
Handy Spool Holder.

of wire bent to shape, the upper
edge formed into a pin, with a co.
operating hook, by which 1t lis Sc
cured to the garment, where it a
be more conveniently reached. The
spool of cotton being used is slip.
ped over the lower rod, where 1t is
firmly held, the rod being made
of spring wire. AS each needleful of
thread is used another is quickly pro-
cured without the necessity of reach
ing to the table for the spool or hunt,
ing it on the floor.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
Cemetery Watch Houses.

Some workmen were tearing down
a little stone hut in the corner of the
cemetery.
This Is one Of the few of the GENE
terry watch houses" said the superin-
tendent, left In America. With its
disappearance only the Vermont ones
will remain.
Cemetery watch houses were built
to prevent body s%natching. Body
s%natching In the past. you know, was
a very common crime. The watchers
in the watch houses caught many a
body snatcher crouched In a grave
feverishly hacking open a coffin by his
lanterns yellow light.
Nowadays physicians get their
cadayers legally and body snatchtng
is an obsolete crime. But here aud
there in cemetery stands a
ruined watch house, a reminder Of the
days when your mothers corpse was
not safe"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
The Only Cat She Had, Too.

A woman went to Justice Mlller's
court the other afternoon and said 10
Glen Ehlinecr, the clerk, according to
the Kansas City Times;
Il want you to come right out to
my house and arrest my husband
Why" asked the clerk.
He got drunk yesterday. hit his
boss and got fired" said the woman.
Then he came home and killed the
cat--and it's the only cat I've got left"
We'll, | can't arrest a man for kill.
ing a cat" Mr., Ehlinger replied, but
III tell what | raj do. | know where
you can get another cat"
The woman took the address and
left.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

Record Produced by Human voice.
of 10000 words per hour, against the
Morse Instruments 400.
In photographing the voice a micro
phone is substituted for the transmit
ter and the vibrations nus a mirror
In the receiver to ~oscillate, while the
tones are reproduced on paper in such
a way as to indicate the quality OF
the speakers voice; black and strong
for a strong voice; small and fine for
a weak voice. The instrument will be
useful in testing voices and also show
ing their development under cultiva-
ton.
Another adaptation of the system,
explains Popular Mechanics, is its use
in conjunction with a vibrator which
makes vowel sounds audible to the
deaf. The possibilities of the appa-
ratus in this field are unlimited and
its practical efficiency has already
been demonstrated in the case of sew
ers deaf and dumb persons.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
PREVENTS LOSING SPOOL.
Simple Attachment for Keeping It
Where It's Wanted.

Dressmakers, tailors and others
who do a great deal Of sewing will
be interested in the spool holder
shown in the illustration below. A
resident of Honolulu is responsible for
the invention.
AS a rule dressmakers are in the
habit Of continually losing their
spool of cotton. Generally the spool
Is placed on a nearby table, where
1t can be readily knocked off and
lost.
This simple little spool holder
was designed especially to guard
against such accidents. 1t is made
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

Fresh evidence Of the disappear.
ance Of Lake Tchad in Central Africa
has lately been accumulated. Cant.
Tilho OF the Anglo-French Boundary
Commission says that the form and
area Of the lake have undergone great
changes since the explorations Of
Barth and Nachtigal. 40 to 80 years
ago. It ID now navigable only In GER
tain places, and boats frequently run
aground. The tendency seems to be
toward the development Of I vast
marsh pa ~ rite o. the lake. ii.
though hair y century 10 it, sreet
waves = stormy ws1ther rave Il the
ap6saranfS nA s.lSs
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

pHoToeRApHlNo THE VOICE.
Made Possible by the High Speed c
egraph System.

The vDice camera, by means OF
which speech is recorded photograph
.cally in wave.like lines, was made
possible by the h~igh-speed telegraph
system. By this system writing Is
recorded Geographically at the rate
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

at spelling its name. Here are a few:
Whitplock, Winter Pitlock, Widow
Paddock. Witter Pollock, Witter Pelog,
Whytlock. Wytlock. Witter Pistlock.
Wylapittock, Wypticlock. Witeopite-
lock. Wittipetlock, Psytolock. Pwyto.
petlock, Anytopetlock, Flytopetlock.
Wytopills, Wyte Pedlock, White Oak
Paddock. Wytoporetock. Witipidlock.
Westapitlock, Whetlock, Wytopillock,
Mitaplock, WestapitIock. wadopitiocs,
Paddock and Weetopcdlock. The
place is commonly known among the
woodsmen As Pitlock.-Rangor Nevs.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
A voTE-IN-THE-sLoT MACHINE.
Young Italian Invents an Ingenious
Device.

A new and e%ngenious machine for
recording votes is the 'psephograph,"
the invention of a young Italian, Sig
nor Boggiano. By its aid 1000 votes
can be recorded per hour. Its opera
ton is very simple. Only n disc is
used, and the voter drops it into the
slot of his choice. The disc rolls
through the machine, registering in
its passage the vote for a particular
candidate, or merely marking Yes"
NO." or "Abstaining from voting"
when a division on a particular ques-
ton is to be taken. and at the same
time adding one to the total number
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
PARABLE FROM THE RUSSIAN.
Wen Might We All Say ~, Too, Am
But a Sinner"

Ivan Oyanovich was a ~housebreak.
er and for a long time success at.
Tended IN his crimes. but at last he
was taken and sent to Siberia. There
he r. NAMED II years.
he had gone to Siberia a hardened
and bitter man. He returned home
Kind and humble, for In those barren
wastes God had revealed his truth to
him, God had softened his heart.
And Ivan OyanoVich, in order TO
atone for his many crimes, took the
little money he had saved In prison
and set forth on the long pilgrimage
to Jerusalem.
After many hardshIps he reached
the holy city. lie saw the sepulcher,
the mount, the garden. And the bur.
den Of his sins was lightcned and he
wCpt any prayed.
One day a bcggar asked him for
aims.
i have nothing, brother"
Dog, you Iie,'
""" NV "iH6"l hhlu'h Hp"h 'iiF
aged pilgrim with his ir%on-shod staff.
searched Lin, and finding that he had
indeed no money, made off.
But Ivan I%yanevitch lay by the road.
side, blood flowing from a great
wound In bis head, All night he lay
there in the cold and in the morning
they found him and took him to q hos.
pital It was said that he would die.
As he lay dying six v]agabonds, the
bcggar among them. were brought
into the room and ranged at his bed
side.
Tell us, Ivan %Ivanovich," said the
project, which Of these men struck
Won dpwn-Fpr nuo than, ~ uua-an1
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
Orderly.

.Judge-You declare that hunger
forced you to break into the dining
room. But you also stole a pair of
boots that were there, What have
you to say to that?
Burglar-That boots do not belong
in the dining room Translated for
Transatlantic Tales from Fliegende
Blatter,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
Poor Horse.

"You look grouchy this morning."
said the first horse, What's the
matter, are you sick?'
yes" replied the other; sick and
disguised. feel like an automo.
bile"
Il heard the ostler telling the boss
yesterday ! was out of order.'"-Phil
adelphia Press.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
Wytopitlock.

Any one of the Indian m Of
Maine is a terror to the postal clerks,
but there Is one that the men of let,
tiers particularly abhor, because of
the many and often absurd ways In
which people spell It. This is Wy.
topitlock-seemingly simple enough.
but In everyday affairs a name strange.
ly twisted and tortured. Wytopttlock
Is a little post office In Reed Planta,
ton. Aroostook county. and the post
master up there has kept q record of
soma IL the more remarkable attempts
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

his crime shall be expiated on the gal.
lows
The eyes Of the dying man closed
and he said in "A Weak, sad voice:
let him go, whoever he may be,
for |. too. am but n criminal"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
A Perfect Gentleman.

But" protested Miss Jokeley. 4 as
sure you the stories I've been telling
you were original with me. l
shouldn't think q gentleman would
doubt my word"
well" answered Brightley. Il con.
slider 1t more ~gentlemaniy to doubt
your wcrd than to believe you old
enough to have originated those
stories"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
Liberty Gone.

Mrs. Asker-The leading mar In the
show we saw last week got married.
After that he left the show and now
he advertises In the dramatic paper
that he is AT liberty"
Mr.. Asker--Hm! | can't zee how he
can be at liberty" II he Il married.
Chicago Daily NsxA,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
Gas and SUNLIGHT Plants.

The taller plant was fol- ced by acety-
lene light. Its growth started at the
same time as the smaller plant, raised
entirely under sunlight.
over the radish grown in the ordinary
way, suffered no apparent deteriora-
ton either in quality or In favor.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

view the victim NJ vot, ~goolishness
CYNTHIA 20 said golemnl, Il am no
going TO do H."
"ito,orr gb, rod tr-.tr..urgfy
"iusf think how borrIbIy ,,opleasan
fl worId he ,or mo IN moot MIN M
having a notion ag 10 which letter
pnt in thc uoat whercs. ynu couI,
be az Innocent an a ,amb and easlI.
gpd ,pt tnctJoptouv I, cnnyor.otion
whether / said Yea or Mo-"
~ am mot aofng m holm vop " said
rising and walking across the gravel
cd tnrracc r., Tho hoInstradn
II nm g1rn vou will whom van thinl
Of # Honor dear she said en,roat
ingly "It ia mt much I am oskIns
Won to do Jsat IN snc Mr. Peters
instead or me yhcp I gholl know
how to meet him and sban't he taker
aback "
II wag cIoae unop thrce o,clock ant
n gcryant cana IN ten mo mat Mr.
pctcrs WINS in The dra wlng.room and
that CYNTHIA could not ho found
Ag the jnferytcw had bnen forced
on me / determined 10 make the best
of n
Cynthia faced me quite pIacIdly on
her return.
"Well?" she said intorrogatlycly
did you see blm?"
"yea | qow him." arguorod
CURLY.
And which letter VAS IL | nut IN
the mail?"
II have no more notion than you
have"
Cynthia opened her eyes.
you mean to tell mo you talked
to him for half an hour and couldn't
find out that much! Weren't there
any symptoms?'
What do you by 'symp,
tomsY"
When he came into tho room did
he look j~ubilnnt-~as If he would like
to stand on his head? Oh did he
LOOK as ii he hadn't shaved for a
week, and never meant to shave
again? Did you ask him If he was
happy
moi" | cried, e~xasperated, NOR did
| ask him II he was good: nor how Old
he was; nor whether he dyes his hair,
nor any other impertinent ques-
ton"
Then 1t seems to me It has all
got to be done over again, and we are
no further thon VIZ were before" she
sa'u ~a's,nel'y, rising from her chair
""u "a'h'hE 10 the WINDOW
! am afraid you will have to face
MIN yourself the next time, Cynthia
l replied gently.
Suppose were to throw myself
his mercy" she said hoperuIly.
turning round after a pause-"tell
him the whole truth, and say ! had
made q mistake--whicheyer way 1t
"as-What do you think he would
ne would certainly have nothing
more TO do with yon,' answered Sc
'oreiy
! 40 wish knew what ! said
'~"u'p'u''u' shohid feel so
"',o 'e'''e"'
lhfee days passed and there was
slEn OF Mr.. Peters Cynthia's spir-
''s oeEon TO dfoop' n | was sur
to notice a little line Of worry
permanently settle itself between her
o'eo'o"S'
Then n afternoon ] found her In
q secluded corner In tears,
on, Honor she sobhed, giving
way altogether, II must have said
No Cant you help me ANYHOW.
Honor? You have never failed me
But what can I dop" I r,r,,oa
helplessly.
Go and see him" she said, des-
perately. Tell him | didn't mean
L, Honor-that | mean Yes for all
he rest Of my life"
Il cant do that" | said at last
but III go and persuade him, II !
to come and see you"
| returned some two hours ,ater
my rather distcsteful mission 10
ind Cynthia by herself In Tho draw.
rs A'hlh' " my NUIlElSp ntr race
Sls wrpafhpd I'm sn,iI,s ,,l -
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
For StranGera Only.

J. Edward Addicks was Condemning
a certain politician. THE man has no
experience he said, and he has not
sense enough TO conceal his lack of
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
The P~sephosraph, a New vote-Record
ing Machine.

of votes polled. The disc drops out
at the back of the machine, explains
London Graphic. and is handed by an
attendant to the next voter. The ma.
chine is already largely used ia Italy.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

i y reported the South Pacific vim
electrify 80 miles across ths dossrt
from Reno. New, TO- Carlln. rour ~
~ pcwsr plants ~ ~ Truckee rivsr
Mn sspply sesl1n ls51 \ SS@ss n
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24
coc,ojatory.

with grace and good taste the plain.
est woman becomes attractive. PEG.
pie actually forget she u not hand
somes-IIsarth and HcmA. x
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-24

Private advces received in this country tend to confirm cable reports
that Cardinal Merry Del Val will retire from the office of secretary of state
for Plus X. 1t is stated that he is to be succeeded by an EngHshspeaking
preate and that MondgnOre Kennedy, rector of the American college at
Rome. may get this high office.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-22

square deal. 10 that she wouldn't be
ashamed of her own name If ever she
found out what 1t was.
About that time fell foul of Muir
ply and Slavin there in Gleneaid. l
never got my eyes on Murphy. you
know. and Slavin was 30 changed by
that big red beard that failed to rec
ognize him. But their actions aroused
my suspicious. and went after them
good and hard l wanted to find out
what they knew, and why those lies
were TOLD on Nolan at the trial. had
an idea they could tell me. So, for
starter tackled slavin, supposing we
were alone, and l was pumping the
facts out Of him successfully by hold
ing gun under his nose. and occa-
sionally Jogging his memory. when
this fellow Murphy got excited, and
chasseed into the game. but happened
to nip his partner instead Of me- In
the course of our little scufhe
CHANGED to catch glimpse Of the fell
lows right hand, and 1t had scar on
the back of 1t that looked mighty ia
miliar. had seen 1t before. and
wanted to see It again. So, when /
got out Of that scrape and the doctor
had dug stray bullet out of my
anatomy, there didn't seem to be any
one left for me to chase excepting
Murphy, for Slavin was dead. l wasn't
exactly sure he was the owner Of that
scar. but l had my suspicious and
wanted to verify them. Having struck
his trail, reached Cheyenne Just
about four hours after he left there
with these dispatches for the Big Horn.
l caught up with the fellow on the
south bank of the Belle Fourche, and
being we'll aware that no threat or
gun play would ever force him to con-
fess the truth, undertook to frighten
him by trickery. brought along
some drawing-paper and drew your ia
TIERS picture in phosphorus and gave
him the benefit in the dark. That
caught Murphy all right, and every
thing was coming my way. He threw
up his hands and even agreed 70 come
in here with me and tell the whole
story, but the poor fellows brain
couldn't stand the strain of the scare
l had given him. He went raving mad
on the Powder; he jumped on me
while l was asleep, and since then
every mile has been a little hell.
That's the whole of 1t to date"
They were up with the pack-train
by now, and the cavalrymen ga7fd
with interest at the new arrivals.