davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

I'M HE soft smell of thawing snow was in
the air, proclaiming April to the
RNrMTNI senses of the lumbermen as unmistak.
SzGg ably as could any calendar
The ice had gone out of the big
Aspohegan with rush. There was an air of ex
pectatlon about the camp. Everything was ready
1or start downstream. The hands who had
Gil winter been chopping and hauling in the deep
woods were about to begin the more toilsome
and perilous task of driving" the logs down the
swollen river to the great booms and unrestine
mills about its mouth. One thing only remained
TO be done ere the drive could get under way.
Inc huge brow of logs overhangng the stream
had yet to be released. To whom would fall the
task OF accomplishing its release, was question
still undecided
Inc perils OF "stream-drving" on a bad river
nave been dwelt upon, | suppose, by every writ
er VINO mas occupied his pen at all with the life
OF the lumber camps But to the daring back
woodsman there seldom falls task more haz.
ardous than that of cutting loose a brow of
logs when the logs have been piled in the form
OF what is called a "rough-and-tumble landing. +"
Such landing is constructed by driving long
timbers into the mud at the waters edge, below
steep piece of bank. Along the inner side of
these are laid horizontally certain number Of
logs, to form a water front; and into the space
behind are tumbled helterskelter from the tons
OF the bank the logs OF the winters choppinp.
1t is very simple and expeditions way of sto1-
ing the logs. But when the ice has run out. and
1t is time to start the lumber downstream, then
comes trouble The piles sustaining the whole
vast weight of the brow have to be cut away
and the problem that confronts the chopper Is
how to escape the terrific rush of the falling
logs.
Hughey MoEvey, the boss of the Aspohepau
camp, swinging an AK (rather as badge of Of
flee than because he thought he might want Ia
chop anything), sauntered down to the waters
edge and took final official glance at the brow
OF logs. Its foundations had been laid while Ne
ENey was down with a touch Of fever, and he
was i'll satisfied with them For perhaps the
fftieth time he shook his head and grumbled
Its goin' to be resky job gittin' them logi
clear" Then he rejoined the little cluster o.
men on top Of the bank.
As he did 50, tall girl with splendid red hail
came out of the camp and stepped up TO his side
This was Lamette, the boss only daughter, whC
had that morning driven over from the settle
ments in the back country, to bring him som,
comforts of mended Woolens and to bid eth,
drive" Godspeed. From McElgey the girl in
heTited her vivid hair and her superb proper
tions and from her mother, who had been on,
Laurette Beadheu, of Graude Anse, she got hel
mirthful black eyes and her smooth, dusky com
plexion, which formed striking a contrast Il
her radiant tresses. little conscious of al
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

voice; and, seeing the furious scorn in her face
Reddin silently turned away.
Laurettes scorn was sharpened by a sense of
the bitterest disappointment. She had allowed
herself to give her heart to a coward, whom she
had fancied hero. As she turned to her father
big tears forced themselves into her eyes. But
the episode had passed quickly; and her distress
was not observed, all attention now turned to
Goodine and his perous undertaking. Only
McElvey who had suspected the girls senti-
ments for some time, said, in an undertone, Jim
Reddin amt no coward, and don't you forget it,,
sis. But it is queer the way he'll just take any
thing at all from Bill Goodine. It's somethin'
don't of us understand"
81 reckon he does well to be scared of him, :"
said Laurette with her head very high in the
air.
BY this time Goodine had formed his plans,
and had got to work. At first he called in the
assistance of two other axemen, to cut certain
of the piles which had no great strain upon
them. This done, the assistants returned to safe
quarters; and then Bill warly reviewed the sit
uation. HE knows what he's about" murmured
McElvey, with appreciation, as Bill attacked an
other pile, cut it two-thrds through, and left
| it So Then he severed completely huge tim
Der far on the left front of the landing. There
remained but two piles to withstand the main
push of the logs One of these was in the centre,
the other little to the right-on which side the
chopper had to make his escape when the logs
began to 60 This latter pile Goodine now cut
halfway through. Feeling himself the hero of
the hour, he handled his axe brilliantly, and soon
forgot his indignation against Laurette. At
length he attacked the centre pile, the key to
the whole structure.
Everybody. at this point, held his breath
Loud sounded the measured axe-strokes over the
rush of the swollen river No one moved but
Reddin, and no one but Laurette noticed his
movement. His skilled eye had detected dan.
ger which none of the rest perceived He drew
close to the brow and moved little way down
the bank.
"What can ne be up to-" wondered Laurette;
and then she shifted angrily because she had
thought about him at all.
Goodine dealt a few cautious strokes upon the
central pile, paused a moment or two to recon
noitre, and then rC ewed his attack. Reddn be-
came very fdgety. He watched the logs, and
shouted, earnestly
Better come out O. that right now, and finish
on this ere nigh pile"
Goodine looked up, eyed first his adviser then
very narrowly the logs, and answered, tersely
Il "Go to-"
That's just like the both of EN-" muttered
McElvey as Goodne turned and resumed his
chopping,
AT this moment there came a sullen, tearing
sound and the top of the near pile, which had
been half cut through, began to lean slowly
slowly, A yell of desperate warning arose. Good
inc dropped his axe, turned like lightning, anC
made tremendous leap for safety. He gained
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

with an oath under his breath he sprang upon
his adversary
Smoothly and instantaneousy a shadow
Reddin eluded the attack. And now his face
lost its set look OF injury and assumed smile
of cheerful interest Bill Goodine, in spite of
his huge bulk had the elasticity and dash of
panther; but his quickness was nothing to that
of Reddin. Once or twice the latter parried,
with seeming ease, his most destructive lunges,
but more often he contented himself with NOV
ing aside like fash of light. Presently Good
inc cried~out---
''Why don't yer fight like a man, stidder skip.
pin out O. the road like flea"
"'Cause l don't want to hurt you" laughed
Reddin.
But that little boastful laugh delayed his
movements, and Goodine was upon him. Two
or three terrible short-arm blows were exchanged,
and then the two men grappled
"Let 'em be-" ordered McElvey. "They'd bet
ter wrastle than fight"
For second or two, nay, for perhaps whole
minute, it looked to the spectators as if Reddn
must be crushed helpless in Bills tremendous
embrace. Then it began to dawn on them that
Reddin had captured the more deadly hold
Then the dim rumors of Reddin's marvellous
strength began to gather credence it was
seen how his grip seemed to dominate that of
his great opponent.
For several minutes the straining antagonists
swayed about the ring. Then suddenly Reddin
Strengthened himself and Bills hold slipped for
an instant. Before he could recover it Reddn
had stopped, secured lower. grip, and in mo-
ment hurled his adversary clear over his shou-
der. roar of applause went up from the spec
tators and Goodine, after trying to rise lay
still and groaned "l'm licked, Jim. I've had
enough"
The boss soon pronounced that Bills shoulder
was dislocated, and that he'd have to go back
to the settlements to be doctored This being
the case, Laurette said to him benevolently
after her horse was harnessed to the pung, "I'm
sorry I can't ask you to drive me home, though
Won did cut out the logs, Bill But l reckon
tin be the next best thing fur you if drive you
home. An Jim Reddinl come along, maybe,
to Kind of look after the both Of us"
To which proposition poor Bill grnned rath-
er ghastly assent
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

Upon this Bill came staggering back, and gazed
about him triumphantly
Il guess I'm your teamster, eh, Laurette?" he
murmured. But, to his astonishment, Laurette
did not seem to hear him. She was casting
quick glances of anger and disappointment in
the direction OF Jim Reddn, who leaned on
sled-stake and appeared to take no interest in
the proceedings Goodine flushed with jealous
wrath, and about to fling some gibe at Red
din, when McElvey remarked
That's all very well, sis; and it has kinder
simphed matters a lot, But I'm thinkin' you'd
better have another one of the boys to fall back
on. This ere's an unusual ticklish job; and the
feller as does it'll be lucky if he comes off with
whole skin"
At these words so plain an expression of relief
went over Laurette's face that Bill Goodine
could not contain himself.
! Jim Reddin dasnt do it," he muttered to
her, fercey.
The girl drew herself up. II never said he
dast,Y she replied An what's Jim Reddin to
me, I'd like to know And then, being furious
at Jim, at herself, and at Goodine, she was on
the point of telling the latter that he shouldn't
drive her home, anyway, when she reflected that
this would excite comment, and restrained her
self. But Reddin who imagined that the whole
thing WAS a scheme on Laurette's part for get.
ting out of her promise to him, and who felt,
consequently, if the heavens were falling
about his ears, had caught Goodness mention Of
".
What's that about Jim Reddin?"
Laurette gazing at him in a way that
pierced his jealous pain and ,nrilled his heart
strangely; and as he looked at her he began to
forget Bill Goodine altogether But Goodine was
not to be forgotten.
'I said" he cried in a loud voice "that You,
Jim Reddin, jest dasnt cut out them logs You
think yourself some pumpins you do; but ye're
coward" And, swinging his great form round
! insolently Goodine picked up his AK and saun,
tered down the bank
Now Laurette, as we'll as most of the hands
looked to see this insult promptly resented in
the only way consistent with honor Reddin.
though tenderhearted and slow to anger was
regarded being with the possible exception OF
Goodine, the strongest man in that section OF
the country. He had proved his daring by MANY
a bold feat in the rapids and the jams; and his
prowess as fighter had been displayed moro
than once when a backwoods bully required a
thrashing But now he gave the Aspohegan camr
genuine surprise. First, the blood left his
face, his eyes grew small and piercing, and his
hands clinched spasmodcally as he took couple
of steps after Goodine's retreatng figure. Then
his face flushed scarlet, and he turned to Lau
rette with a look of absolutely piteous appeal
II can't fight him." he tried to explain, husk
lily. "You don't understand. ] amt afeaTd OF
him, nor of any man. But ] vowed to his moth
er I'd be good to the lad, and"
"Oh, reckon | quite understand, Mr.. Red
din" interrupted the girl, in a hard. cleal
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20
CHAPTER II.
AFTER THE STORM.

Il know l was horrid this morning!" walled
the young wife. Il was dreadfully cross to
poor little Enid, and don't really know what
l said TO Sid. But I'd been awake all night,
feeling miserable, Winnie
Winnie, sitting behind the Nottingham lace
curtains IA present from Sid's aunt) in the sit.
ting-room, listened patiently to after.eohoes of
the storm.
Next door the Harris boy was picking OUT
popular airs on the piano. unvaried bass-prang,
prang, angl--accompanying erratic treble.
"Oh, feel so homesick / would give any.
thing for sight of father, and the old place
and the mountains, after having nothing to
look at but these hateful--hateful little houses
all exactly alike, and living in one of them, until
one gets as ugly as it is, and yellow"
Her cousin glanced pitifully at her. She looked
very pretty in her shabby cotton frock-cheap
and ready made for she had never been "cever
at tossing up her things" She was the last
person who should have married a poor man,
as her family had known.
"And fathers never seen Enid And she's
just like him-temper and ALL"
| Prang, prang, prang! from the next door,
"1t's temper" Winnie comforted her, "that
doesn't last"
ct has lastedl He SAID he'd never forgive
me for marrying without his consent. He said
he wouldn't let come home again if he were
dying! And he won't. And that's six years ago.
Three times I've written to him. No answer
comes-no answer"
(Chords from next door,
"I know that PRIDE" Winnie said quietly.
Eyes, so do L; and it will break my heart"
(Chords.)
Hearts don't break" Winnie said regret
fully. "And you've got Sid
(Oh amt it pity that the likes of 'er
Ever took up with the likes OF imp
was the ancient music-hall dtty into which the
Harris boy had now thunderously plunged)
But, of course" pursued Winnie artfully,
'if you don't care for him now"
''Not care for him!" The dark eyes flashed
all the spirit of the girl who had married in
the teeth of opposition, the poor and un1uent
English clerk sent down business to stay with
her fathers quarry agent. "Not care for Sid!
Why, / would rather had him than any"
Letter, M" announced the curt Emily,
founcing in at this juncture Zone for you
and one for Miss Meredith. I found 'em under
the bedroom mat-forgotten, spose."
forgotten"
Yes, in the temper-storm of this morning.
Sid's wife took the handed envelope--grey
with a small crest--which had lain unheeded
under the small mat whilst grief, rage, love, and
penitence had played their parts in turn upon
the stage of little suburban villa
Not always do the Fates select tragic back
ground for a tragic scene. Herein, perhaps is
shown most keenly the dramatic instinct of those
ladies'. And now they had given the cue to wait
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

common only to children, Of talking TO herself
while she played alone.
"Ihisl be nice place for a temper hole
no, this FRS III clear away all these little
green weeds then I'll dig. Oh, there's worml
Deeper than thatp Yes, deeper. Now the little
reddy tree out of the back garden"
IL was a sycamore Seeding with stout stem,
and two crumpled bronze leaves bursting from
their pink sheath. She held IL upright in the
hole she had dug, and shoveled In the earth,
patting IL down firmly with her small palms.
Winnie, shaking duster out of the sitting
room window, smiled down on her, and the child
cried jubiliantly: "The temper's all buried"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

of not meaning, suddenly am" She checked
the echoes of a sob. Quite suddenly feel so
angry, should like to kill the people. D'reckly
-d'reckly afterwards, I'm very sorry, only 1
can't say so, because being vexed at me n scold-
ing me-so then"
"There's clean hankie."
THANK you. Mother says it's my family TEN
per. Once she told me she had it when she was
little girl. Did you ever, Cousin Winnie?"
Cousin Winnie nodded. 1t was her own out
spoken and jealous rage which had sent away
from her the man she should have married; and
the family temper" of the Merediths, of whom
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20
lGlS9


~
le-SzsS sunny road.
AEEA He had letters for every one Of the
little yellow-brck houses which stood
back from the tiny front gardens, now
SO gay with golden feather lobea and scarlet
geraniums-for Sunnyside, for Langford Lodge,
for Belvedere; then he turned in at Ty Bach,
which he pronounced Tie-back, and considered q
ridiculous name for a vler, any'ow (How
could he know that homesick Welsh girl had
named 1T in her own tongue The Little House J
on the step, kneelng maid was polishing the
brass frame of the letter box. He dropped two
letters beside her, made "Tut-tut" with the
knoeker and went on TO Cranbrook and Firenze.
child in brown Holland pinafore ran out
to the hall of The Little House.
"I'll take the letters, Emily"
there's one for your ma" said the maid,
and one for Miss Meredith; but don't YOU for.
get what your ma said that you wasn't to 90
into Miss Menedth's room before breakfast this
morning; and keep off my clean step I've lust
done this minute"
The bright look faded from the little girls
face; she picked up the letters and went slowly
upstairs; outside door she paused and tanned.
Mother, there's letter for you. I've put it
under the mat"
Very well, Enid" her mothers voice called
back.
"And-there is letter for Cousin Winnie"
lake it to her, then"-with ring of impa-
tience in her tone
May I!' the little girl cried joyfully. "Oh
may II"
she was STOPPING to pick up the letter when
her name was called again sharply, and the door
was opened by her mother, whose dark. thick
hair curled very prettily over her pink dressing.
Alnf
she had not slept well were blue under her ewes
Enid" came with the educational severity
which such young mothers mete out only to their
eldest-born. ENID, didn't I forbid YOU to 90 to
Cousin Winnie's room this morning as a DUN.
ishment for being naughty Yesterday"
The little girl looked at her ruefully.
But, mother, you said"
Il forgot for the minute You ought to have
reminded me. How dare you pretend to for.
get?"
i didn't pretend" cried the child. flushing
scarlet Il didn't. You said-n | thought YOU
meant" Sobs, rush of furious tears. and
small loot stamped upon the landing 'I didn't
- the little voice rose almost to a shriek-"I
didn't pretend, mother!'
Enid! Temper again." responded the moth
er. Her own cheeks were flushed, and her ewes
shone angrily. Go away at once and remem
Der you're not to speak to anybody until you can
control your"
But already the child was Gathering downstairs
into the strip of back garden; the mother shut
her bedroom door with rattle, and began to
divide her hair before putting it up.
Aren't You rather hard on that kid?" asked
her husband quietly from his end of the room
Above his white collar, and light green shirt.
sleeves, his face, fair and new-shaven, was fresh
and good to look at; but this is not what his
wife noticed today. For it had struck her-and
1t seldom struck her-that Sid could never, never
attain the look of-of her own brothers and the
men they knew.
Whats she been up TOP
Yesterday when l was out, she ran over to plav
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

child at her knee. II wish l could throw my
temper away, bury it in hole
She thought for minute.
Il think perhaps, if l made the hole it might
remind me that I wanted it to be buried Yes
n then / could plant tree in it, like the little
gooseberry bushes of fathers, n then would
call it, the temper-tree' and hen"-triumpant-
whenever | saw it growing should know
the temper was down there, n / couldn't have it,
could II"
She traed out into the garden.
Here she grubbed with a trowel breathing
hard and murmuring, for she had the habit,
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20
Handmade Island

-1PROPOSITI is being considered in
| a Switzerland to build an ,island in the
"a middle of the lake of Neuchatel. In
EN8%SI the lake It seems that there is sub.
U2aa2J merged mountain, the top of which is
only few feet below The surface of the
water. Engineers who have been looking the
matter over claim that it will be very simple
matter to build quite large island with this
mountain as foundation, and will be the means
Of adding quite little land to the Republic and
incidentally some little revenue to the treasury
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

jovial below outside the window urged Sid to
hurry up" and he, with scarcely a goodbye,
caught up hat and umbrella and rushed out to
join Harris on his way to the station.
Winuie's brown eyes, inviting confidence,
turned to the child
"It was only" gulped Enid, 'because I'm
so dreadfully naughty always"
Winnie stroked her hair.
II don't mean to be, n then in the middle
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

Ends mother had been one, was by.word in
the two counties.
II don't believe" pursued little Enid thought.
fully "that father everd
I'm sure he never'd," agreed Winnie Mere.
dith drily.
''N' when you did, were you sorry afterwards?'
Very sorry, Enid-oh, sorricr than you knowl
But being sorry doesn't do much them
~ wish knew what / could dol" unused the
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20

III soft smell of thawing snow was in
the air, proclaiming April to the
senses of the lumbermen as unmistak.
ably as could any calendar.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20
CHAPTER /.

he postman-unconscious messenger of
the Fates-turned briskly down the
sunny road
He had letters for every one Of the
little Nhlln1r .hrinl. hnnsna ,rhinh sLnnd
Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-14
MAN is JARED AND
HIS APPENDIX MOVES
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
CLEVELAND, July 13.-The first
authentic case in the annals of Ohio
medical practice of the appendix
changing it's position in the human
body as the result of fall is brought
to light in the death yesterda.- at Lake
side hospital of Franklin Pierce Koer-
ner, fifty years old.
Koerner was a plumber. Nearly a
year ago he fell against scantling
and was severely shaken. In week,
however he was at work again. Last
November he became very sick and
the physicians diagnosed his case as
appendicitis. He was removed to
Lakeside hospital for an operation.
The surge 1s made the usual in
cision, but did not find the appendix.
1t proved to be three or four inches
above the natural location. The delay
caused by this unexpected develop
ment made the operation last fifteen
minutes longer than ordinarily and the
shock proved more than his system
could stand.
Since November Koerner has had
three other operations, but they
proved useless His case, it is
thought, will settle long debated
anatomical question. 1t seems to
prove that under certain conditions the
position of the appendix can be changed
by heavy jar to the body.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-14
BENEFACTOR TO
COMING GENERATIONS

Special to The Herald.
MARION, Ohio, July 13.-There wan
dered through this illage last week an
old tramp, who u generation or two
hence may come to he regarded as a
second "Appleseed Johnny" He is
planting nut trees, SO that the youth
of the land in years I come will not
be deprived of shellbarks and walnuts.
Not many years ago there was hardly
a farm in the east that did not have at
least one walnut tree and there was not
a Stream which did not have growing
along it's banks hundreds of shellbark
and hickory trees.
The demand for black walnut timber
and the need for hickory wood in car
riage manufacturing has mad. both
these varieties of trees Exceedingly
scarce, and it will not be long before
the joy of gathering the nats will be
lost to most children.
During the last three years the old
tramp has been planting thousands of
nuts. He seeks the out-of-way spots,
since he wants the trees to have fair
chance to grow. The re cky sides of
hills, the abandoned land at the edges
of creeks are ought out and when their
benefactor is but a memory brown
checked youngsters will rap the fruits
of his kindness and bless him.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-14
MAN DROWNED IN A
BARREL IN A SPRING

Special to The Herald.
SUMMIT, N j., July 13.-Having fallen
headlong into barrel which had been
set in the ground to catch spring water,
and being unable to double up his body
so as to get his head to the surface
Frederick Erler was drowned near the
home of his employer, John B. Dunster.
in Bernardsvlle. His body was found in
the spring by some one who had gone
there to draw water. The feet alone We're
above the surface, and it was with Diff
ficuty the body was removed.
The face and hands of Erler, who was
known Familiarity here as Dutch Fred,
showed plainly the desperate struggle he
had made to get out of the barrel Its
narrowness and the slippery sides, how
ever. had prevented it. He could not
even get his head above water to cry for
help.
The police think Erler went to the
spring to get a drink. The barrel was
filed almost to the top. Instead OF using
the cup he knelt beside the barrel and
leaned over. He lost his balance and
toppled headlong into the water None
of the members of the Dunster family
heard him cry when he plunged; neither
did any one hear the splash.
Erler was so years old. He had lived
in Bernardsville forty years. He was
thrifty. and out of his small wages mad
saved money 5000 of which is on deposit
in a savings bank in Morristown. IT he
has relatives his acduaintances In Ber-
nardsville do not know who they are or
where they live.