davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-01-11
CHAPTER XIV.


The girl was without wraps. her
dress OF some light neccy material
ftting her slender figure exQuisitely.
her head uncovered; within her eyes
Brant imagined he could detect the
CLINT Of tears. She spoke FIRST her
voice faltering slightly.
VIII you kindly permit me to
pass?"
He stepped instantly TO one side.
bowling as be did So
Il beg your pardon for such seeming
rudeness." he said. gravoly. Il have
been seeking you ag the evening. yet
this unexpected meeting caught me
quite unawarcs"
You have been sekng me? That Is
strange. For what reason. pray?"
To achieve what you were once
kind enough 20 suggest as possible
the Formally Of an introduction. It
would seem. however. that fate makes
our meetings informal"
That is your fault. not mine"
I gladly assume all responsibility.
If you will only waive the formality
and accept my friendship"
Her face seemed 10 tighten. while
her lips twitched as II suppressing a
smile. You are very forgetful Did I
not tell you that We Presbyterians are
never guilty OF such indiscretions? ?"
I believe you did. but / doubt your
complete surrender TO the creed"
Doubt! Only our second time OF
meeting and you already venture to
doubt! This can scarcely be construed
into a compliment. fear"
Yet 10 my mind It may prove the
very highest type Of compliment" he
returned, treasured by her manner.
For a certain degree Of independence
In both thought and action is highly
commendable. Indeed. I am going 20
be bold enough TO add that Il was
these very attributes that awakened
my interest IN YOU"
oh, indeed; you cause me to blush
already. My frankness, 1 fear. bids
fair 70 cost me all my friends. and
may even go beyond your pardon, If
the perverse spirit OF my nature so
move me"
The risk OF such catastrophe is
mine, and would gladly dare that
much 10 get away from conventional
commonplace. One advantage Of such
meetings as ours is an immediate in
sight into each others deeper nature.
For one / shall sincerely rejoice II Won
will permit the good fortune OF our
chance meeting to be alone sponsor
for our future friendship. VIII you
not say yes?'
She looked at him with greater
earnestDess. her young face sobered
by the words spoken. Whatever else
she may have seen revealed there. the
countenance bending slightly toward
her was a serious, manly one. insplr-
Ing respect, awakening confidence.
And I do agree" she said, extend
Ing her hand in girllsh impulse. 1T
viii, at least, be a new experience and
therefore worth the trial. win even
endeayor TO restrain my rebellious
spirit. so that you viii not be unduly
shocked"
He laughed. now placed entirely at
his ease. Your need of mercy is ap-
preciated, fair lady. Is it your desire
20 return 10 the hair"
She shook her head positively. "A
cheap, gaudy show, all buster and
vulgarity. Even the dancing is a mere
parody. early tired OF IT,"
Then let US choose the better part.
and sit here on the bench. the night
our own"
He conducted her across the porch
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-01-11

CHAPTER If-Hamuton offers assist
Ance 10 the glrl. aud Is ar first eulrned
because he Is known as "a gambler
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-01-11

CHAPTER IlL-Hampton and the girl
only escape from the Indians Thov fall
exhausted on the plains.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-01-11

CHAPTER IVA company % the sew
cntn cavalry. Lieut.. Erant in command
mo Hampton and the girl on the plains.
snG restore them 10 usciousness.
hampton announces that be proposes to
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
Pictures of American Navy.

In the current number Of Scribner's S
Magazine there is an interesting article
on the pictures Of the American navy.
which r. T. Willis has recently finished
for the decoration of the new armory Of
the Second Battalion, Naval Militia, the
appreciative and complimentary tone Of
which is especially pleasing 70 Mr.. VIII
lis many friends In Washington. where
he was born and brought up. and where
ne learned the rudlments of his art. From
Washington he went to New York and
there studied earnestly and unremittingly
under Robert Blinn until opportunity Of
tered for him 70 so TO Paris. the Mecca
Of ambitious young artists. His life in
Paris was much like that of all other stu
dents, whether successful or unsuccess-
ful. but Mr.. Willis belonged to the for
mer class. and when he turned his face
toward home II was with A future practi-
Cally assured. for his work was already
known on this side of the water: and since
he established his attractive studio on
Lond Island his brush has never been idle.
The subjects that Mr. Willis has chosen
for the decoration Of the new armory are
as fitting as their execution Is clever
They are the fiSht between the Bonhomme
iNlcIdIu ana the scraps, the burning OF
the philadelphia In the harbor Of TripoH
the Constitution pursuing the British feet
the battles OF Lake Erie and Lake Cham
plain. Cen Armstrong In the harbor Of
Faya the Merrimac and the Monitor. the
Merrimac and the Cumberland. the Ala
bama and the Kearsarge the battle Of
Manila Bay. and the return Of the vic
torious quadron after Santiago. the latter
pi,ture being on the walls OF the reception
room.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
DIPLOMATIC AND OFFICIAL LIFE AND EVENTS

whose business warrants an audience 1t
is a great responsibility. and the dusky
Cerberus has used it for the advancement
Of his church
Evary visitor Is stopped in the ante
chamber and informed that the chief Is
in. but much engaged at present Will
the visitor kindly wait. and while he is
waiting the devoted churchman produces
package OF tickets which he proceeds
to offer to the Unsuspecting stranger. II
he buys some. the chief is soon at leisure.
and the caller is promptly ushered in; If
he refuses, he is allowed 20 wait until,
/ hopeless of obtaining an audience on that
day. he takes himself Off There are some
visitors who refuse the tickets and who.
not suspecting the cause. have never been
admitted to the chiefs inner Office. Others
who have bought generously OF the mes
sengers wares do not have TO- walt a
moment after the cash is paid over but
are placed first on the list and precede
those less munihcent
This extortion worked very well until
an old chum and college mate OF the chief
i'm question after calling repeatedly at his
Office and failing TO gain admittance.
wrote asking why he gave himself such
lOrdly airs and whom and where he could
be seen. Mr.. Cerberus was summoned TO
the presence and interrogated. put
through the third degre. in fact. until
finally confession was wrung from him,
and now there are no more tickets TO be
bought in that department. The way OF
the visitor has become easier. but the
way Of the Cerberus Is hard. for he has
been cast down from the pedestal which
he occupied In the church and is no longer
rated above his fellow-members.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
GRAYBIRD CHIVALRY.
How Member of Feathered Tribe
Enjoys Deed of Kindness.

EhJogS Deeu OF Kindness.
From an article in Outing Magazine.
Ny attention was attracted one day 10
the actions Of two graybirds on the lawn
before me- They were feasting on a
crumb Of bread The male bird would
pick eff small pieces and drop them into
the upturned mouth of the female bird
After each tiny morsel was swallowed
they would chirp and hop about a little.
then the feeding would be resumed.
The male bird did not eat any OF the
crumbs, nor did the female bird pick up
any for herself The male bird was de-
lighted with the pleasure afforded him
in catering to his mate. and she grace
fully manifested her appreciation Of hts
kindness.
l had never seen a more beautiful IL
lustration Of self-sacrihce. love, dnd devo-
ton; nor had / ever seen generosity ac-
cepted for loves sweet sake" in a more
becoming manner
] was charmed by the beautiful love
lesson being acted by the happy little
birds, and said 10 myself: How prettyl
How much like human beings"
This reflection was hardly impressed
upon my mind when a third graybird
swooped down from a nearby telegraph
wire, picked up the crumb Of bread, and
carried it away; thus selhshiy depriving
two creatures OF its own species Of their
source Of happiness.
My sympathies went out to the inno-
cent little sufferers and again / solilo-
quized: Yes indeed how true. Alas,
too true. So much like human beings d"
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14

likely that there will be another change
in this embassy before the fan, as Com
mander NeboIsine, TIE naval attache, who
made 50 many warm friends during his
service here. has gone to Russia, where
his family have already preceded him,
and it is hardly expected that he viii re-
turn.
Baron de Bode IS almost an Engllshman
In appearance point Of view, and his
mastery Of the English language which
is no small wonder. for his mother was
of English birth and his gTeat-graHd-
mother. the wife of the first de Bode TO
settle in Russia. the daughter Of an
English squire Before receiving his
present appointment, Baron de Bode was
attached to the suite Of the Grand Duke
Nicholas. and his detail here is a promo
ton, the reward for faithful service. Lit
tie is known here of Baron Stael de Hol-
stein, save that he comes from the Baltic
provinces, where his family owns large
estate, and that he has been connected
with the Russian diplomatic service since
he reached his majority.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
Definition of "Grnss widow {,

This story is told in the Macon Herald
Of the late Bishop w. W. Duncan. OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church:
When Bishop Duncan first went TO Tx
as to preside at a conference there he was
suffering severely with hay fever. He
was OF a nervous disposition and refe1red
to his malady with such frequency that #
became bit tiresome TO the preachers A
brother got up to make a report, ard in
the course Of II he used the term grass
widow"
Grass widowl' cried the bishop. I've
heard that expression used half A dozen
times since I've been here. never henrd
it iEfore. VIII you please tell me. sir.
what a grass widow is?''
The offending brother locked as calm
and as serious as an undertaken during
the storm Of laughter which the bishop's
speech had developed. When things quiet
ed down he said. very gently:
"A grass widow, bishop. is woman
whose husband has died with hay feverl''
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
A LONG CARRY.
A Postal Delivery of Almost Two
Thousand Miles.

Thousand Miles.
From Tit-Bits.
The longest, loneliest, and most haz-
ardous postal delivery in the world lies
within the bounds OF the British En-
pire in the far North Of CaLada Dur
ing the winter months-that is 20 So
between October and May-the postal
authorities will not take bulky packets.
even If paid for at letter rates. to places
In the Yukon district beyond the railway
which terminates at White Horse: but
postcards. letters. and single copies-no
one packet to weigh over an ounce-of
newspapers are regularly carried over all
the frost-bound expanse that extends
from the town Of Edmonton. on the Sas-
katchewan River. 10 Fort Mcpherson. on
the Mackenzie. The man in charge OF
the mail has TO travel 1854 dreary miles
IN each direction. He is picked man.
named Cornwall who has had a long
experience as a fur-trader and intrepid
ADVENTURE I'm suharctic regions.
The first 100 miles is covered by horses.
the rest OF the long way by dog train.
From Edmonton 10 Athabasca Landing
on the Athabasca River. consists simply
OF 100 miles Of wagon road, which Corn
wall covers IN three or four days II the
roads are good
At Athabasca Landing. with provisions
dog food and the precious sacks Of mall
the one man and the little team Of
"huskes' begin the long journey north
The first stop is at Fort McMurray.
which is somewhat more than half way
down between Athabasca Landing and
Fort Chippewan. on Lake Athabasca. The
rapids az Fort McMurray are no hind
rance 10 the midwinter mail carrier. for
his route Is over a landscape OF unbroken
white
Giving the people within the trading
post Of Chippewayan their share Of his
majes,y's mail. and leaving Lake Atha-
basca behind, the poStman pushes on due
north. following the Slave River TO Fort
Smith. where in summer almost sixteen
nlleS OF boiling waterfalls makes navl-
cation a burden. But all is silent here
now. the one sound in the still air bang
the call OF The driver hurrying his dogs
ever nOrthward for Fort Resolution
must be gained. Iue Great Slave Lake
crossed. and the eagerly loOked-for let
ters delivered 10 the successive clusters
Of shut-in people waiting for them within
fort walls all down the course Of the
mighty Mackenzie.
Between Edmonton and the arctic there
are only eleven post-offices. but the mail
carrier has TO take as many side trips
of the main line as may be necessary
10 accommodate those settlers who may
have letters posted 10 them. This means
practically n rural free delivery along
the entire Mackenzie basin. a boon which
Is greatly appreciated by the lonely set
tiers.
AloDo bgs tr,-ipe- fo,,-r,s,- 0,,--,,,-.l s.---
for days n Q time the billiards and ice
winds from the cold north For the
greater part Of the distance he has 10 de-
pend for subsistence on game Of his own
shooting. The dogs feed on taIlow and
fish, the weight Of which Is carefully
calculated at the initial point of de-
parture.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
Beauty and the Beast.

Mrs. George Coale Scott, who was pre-
sented at the English court recently, Is
a grandniece of the late Benjamin Butler
or Ben Butler. as he was universally
known. of silver spoon fame Mrs.
Scott's mother was Harriet Heard and
when her uncle was in Congress and
occupied the great graystone house at
the south Of the Capitol. which looks
more Ike a fortress than It does a private
residence. she presided over his house
hold and there was never a more grace
ful, clever. or beautiful young hostess in
official life here. She was dainty in APP
pearance with wonderful eyes. shaded
by long sweeping lashes, pink cheeks,
and wealth of golden brown hair. which
rippled back from a forehead that even
Psyche might envy but more attractive
and winning than her beauty was her
charm OF manner her sincerity Of pur-
pose
There could be a no more striking con-
trast than there was between Gen. Butler
and his favorite niece. and when they ap-
peared in public every one turned 10 stare
at Beauty and the Beast as they were
not infrequently called and with some
reason since she was a marvel of youth
lN4 ibNtiiltSS anu he kAoNtSQAt III MS
ugliness. with squat. ungainly body. bulg-
ing forehead. bald head and heavy browG
shading narrow. slanting eyes, one of
which was nearly closed but the love and
sympathy between this ugly. yet power
full and brilliant man and his charming
kinswoman were very great and no mat
ter how he thundered In Congress. how
merciless he was toward his enemies.
how severe in the administration Of his
military office. In his own household ne
was the personihcation OF gentleness and
tenderness and untiring I'm his efforts TO
make his family happy and content.
Every one thought Lanier Dunn the
luckiest man in society when he woocd
and won Harriet Heard. but no one ap-
preciated his good fortune more than he
himself did and IL is pleasant 20 chronicle
In this page Of unhappy marriages that
theirs has been most happy. Mrs Scott.
who was a bride OF last year. recalls her
mother both in appearance and manner,
and when she made her debut here under
the chaperonage OF her grandmother a
few seasons back was one Of the most at
tractive girls In society.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
SUPERSTITION OF MAY MARRYING

I which is daughter was concerned over
before the unlucky month should com
/ mence."
/ The evils which have been declared 20
result from marrying IN the "unlucky
/ month are almost immune able. one of
/ the most important. however. Is that the
/ union is likely TO be uuufruitful II. how
/ ever children are born. then say folk
I lore, they viii be OF poor health and
VIII probably die From marriages in
/ May all the BARNS die 0f decay" Apart
/ from these IN consequences In the chill
/ dren. should there DE any. folklore has
/ IL That the coniugal relations Of couples
/ married in May will be most unhappy.
! Taking one thing with another. there
I fore. II is no wonder that many people
/ would almost as soon think Of commit
/ lng suicide as marrying in the fifth
/ month. and X IS asserted that some maids
would even rather remain single than
/ tempt Providence in so reckless a way.
/ HOW came il that this superstitious
/ prejudice arose? Many antiquaries have
/ tndeavored 10 solve the question. but no
altogether satisfactory answer has vet
been given. The Romans, as we know.
/ believed certain days TO be linfavo~q bla
/ Tor the marriage rites. either on account
/ OF the religious character Of those DAVIS
I themselves or Of those which Immediate
/ ly followed. The day after marriage n
woman-Unless she had been a widow
! had 10 go through certain religious cere-
I monies which could not be performed on
particular days. These unsuitable times
/ included many festivals. the CaIends.
Nones and Ides and the whole month of
! MAY.
/ But why May? Plutarch offers three
reasons The first is that Nav being be-
tween April and June. and April being
conSeScr3ted 10 Venus and June to Juno.
those deities. both Of them being pro-
/ pluous 10 marriage. were not TO be slight-
ed His second suggestion is that as In
May there was held the great expiatorv
celebration Of the Lemuria. such a time
was quite unsuitable. This is. perhaps. as
good reason as any. and certainly bet
ter than PlUtarch's third, which is that
May being the month Of old men Mains
a maJoribusl. and June the month of
young men Junius a junioribus). the lat
I ter was to be preferred
Another possible explanation OF the orr
gin OF this prejudice is that was In Nav
I that the festival OF the Bona Dea the
goddess OF chastity was held. but the
probability IS that all these circumstances
played their part in making Nav a month
which the Romans regarded as uDsuit
able FOR the marriage ceremony.
What was originally merely a custom,
developed into a superstition and super
stition dies hard
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14

Nigh on 10 seventy in years. in feelings.
and appearance. your Uncle Joe is as
young and snappy as when he held us all
spelloound in the Senate by his eloquent
speeches. His eyes are as bright. his step
as springy, his smile as irresistible, his
Wit as keen as they were quarter Of a
century ago. and he is as jovially hos
pitable. Life In the Canal Zone agrees
with him and he enjoys II, but then who
wouldn't enjoy life as u member Of the
Canal Commission? for Uncle Sam is
very generous with these officials. Their
salaries are $4,000 q year; they are
given palaces. furnished I'm the most COM
Portable and Fashionable manner possible,
even 10 plate and china. in which TO re-
side; they have the use Of riding and
driving horses and carriages-to make a
long story short. they have only TO touch
the button. and our generous and benign
ant government does the rest. Life in the
tropics even is endurable under these cir
cumstances, and II there is any pity 10
be wasted II should not be bestowed upon
the American officials In Panama"
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
Officials Well Treated

Speaking OF Panama" said an officer
recently returned from that infant re-
public. 'our consul general. Arnold Shank
lin' has taken strong hold upon the gen.
eral fancy. His popularity began when
he first reported there. nearly three years
ago. and has been on the Increase ever
since. He is tactful, resourceful. agree
able, and he knows how TO manage those
people down there as though he had been
born among them Some men are born
TO diplomacy. and some have diplomacy
thrust upon them. Mr. Shanklln belongs
TO the former class. He would be a diplo-
mat in whatever position he was placed.
whether It was as schOolmaster in a log
cabin schoolhouse in the wilds. or a
member of the Presidents Cabinet. and
another thing much In his favor IS that
ne puts the interests Of his country and
MS countrymen far ahead OF his personal
interests. He is an oasis in an arid spot.
tather bountlful 10 all the good and
bad Americans that blow into Panama.
Another official who IS as popular in
Panama as he is everywhere he sets his
foot Is Senator Blackburn. dear. old Joe
Blackburn, Of Kentucky who is a men,
Der OF the Isthmian Canal Commission.
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
No Occasion to Swear.

negro laborer at work on one of the
houses being built in the West End, sweat
streaming from every pore OF his black
skin. was hurting every epithet az his
command Mt Old Sol in the early after
noon of a hot day last week The air was
lurid With his profanity which was both
picturesque ana descriptive.
Come Jake" called out the foreman
from his shady resting place under a
spreading tree. quit that swearing. I
won't stand for such language among
you men"
"All right. boss: all right" replied
Jake, 'but ] has notis'd dat a man can
stand heap a sun when he's a-settin'
in de shade"
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
DIRT THAT'S GOLD.
Value of Property in London Com
pared with New York.

'HAHt VI HEnptFt! IN Lonuon COM
pared with New York.
From the New York World.
a four-line- cable dispatch in the Sunday
World said:
The city Of London proper covers one
square mile and the capitalized value OF
the property within it's borders represents
A.250, ,00o,o00. which. It is claimed. estab-
fishes it as the richest area in the world. p"
A comparison between London and New
York values Is difficult owing to the diff
ference between IeasehoIders In the ono
city and freeholds in the other.
But it may be questioned whether a
square mile Of lower New York has not
passed in valuation even the financial cen
ter Of the world. Making deduction for
its narrow streets and is public buildings.
the portion OF LOndons 66S city" acres
actually occupied by private property
may be All acres, averaging 100000 an
acre, nearly SO a square foot.
For small key" plot in lower New
York, not on Broadway or Wall street a
price as high as S2S.C00.OOO an acre has
been paid. For a plot Of considerable size
in the best part Of Wall street $50. .OOO. 600
an acre would eagerly be offered. but no
such plot has been sold in a generate
and none Is in the market. The so-calIed
sale OF the old cUstom-house was so scan
dalous and exceptional as 10 form no
criterion. AS high as Sl1.0O0.0 600 an acre
was paid even before the recent real es-
tate advances FOR part Of the Flatiron
site on Madison Square. A square mile
Of lower New York bouDdad COW - a..
north by Beach. Walker. and Canal
streets and on the east by a line drawn
from the Bowery to Fulton Market. would
contain the most remarkable group of
business buildings in the world It would
crowd old London very close in the mat
ter of capitalized value and might per
haps surpass IT,
The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
Traditions.
From Puck

From Puck
The traveller entered the woods OF Geor-
gia with the traditions Of the locality
strong upon him.
"A close shaver' he exclaimed. when
some hogs had chased him up a conven-
lent sycamore. for he thought Of them as
razorbacks.
Imagine his astonishment when he saw
none Of the beasts sJropping themselves
against the trees
I'VE are modern safety razorbackS.'. '..
explained the swine, divining his thought.
and require no stropping or honing.'
Ii was with a saddening sense of the
mutability of things that he at length
came away from those regions OF song
and story.