davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14
Somebody's wife? Who?

Somebody's wife? Who?
 Every dull pulse began to hammer in Mortimer's head. In his excitement he stepped halfway into the corridor, then skipped nimbly back. closing his | door without q sound.
 Sylvia Landis. by all that's hoiyw he breathed to himself and sat down rather suddenly on the edge of the bed.
 After awhile he rose and crept to the door, opened It, glued his eyes to the crack fin time to catch a glimpse of Siward entering his own corridor alone
 And that night Mortimer, lying awake in bed busy with schemes, be came conscious of definite idea. It took shape and matured so suddenly that it actually shocked his moral sense. Then it scared him.
 "But-but that is blackmail." he whispered aloud. "A man cant do that sort of thing. What the devil ever put it into my head? And there are men 1 know-women, too scOundrelly blackguards. who'd use that informa- tion somehow and make 1t pay too. The scOundrels.'
 He squirmed down among the bed clothes with a sudden shiver, but the night had turned warm.
 ''ScoundreISr' he said. with milder emphasis. "Blackmailers! Contempti- ble pupsr'
 He fell asleep an hour later. mutteT- ing something incoherent about scOun- drelS and blaci.man.
 And meanwhile in the darkened house from all round came the nOiGe of knocking on doors, sounds of people stirring. q low voice here and there, lights breaking out from transoms. the thud of rubber shod heels. the rattle of cartridges from the echOing gun room. For the guests at Shotover were awaking lest the wet sky. whitening behind the east. ring with the whim- pering wedges of wild fowl rushing seaward over empty blinds
 
 The unusual stiffness Of the house in the late morning sunshine was pleas ant to Miss Lands. She had risen very late. unconscious Of the stir and movement before dawn. and 1t was only when a maid told her as she came from her bath that she remem- bered the projected point shooting and concluded with an odd. happy sense of relief that she was almost alone in the house.
 4 little later. giaBeins from her bed room window for a falfIlmeat of the promise of the sun which a glimpse Of blue sky hcralde,i. she saw Leila Mortimer settling herself in the for ward seat Of motor car and Beverly Plank ciimhing in besIsle her. and she watched Plank steer the big machine across the vet lawn while the machfn- ISt swung himself into the t0nneau. and away they roliesL faster. faster. rushing out info the misty hlnterIand where the long streak of distant forest already began to brighten. edged with I the first rays of uateEy sunshine. So she had the big house to herself. ' eveFy bit 0f t. and with it freedom frora Obligatioa- frun comment. frUn . dsuand e ex2cti81. freedom from -s- ' strziat. lfterty to roan abosr u rad | tO dream. to f5e- to reme-ter- An l that vzs what she nee1e1-a cuiet h.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

between Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Nor timer. And it was not question as to which would be good to him." ob- served Major Belwether, with his mis- leading and benevolent mirth. 'It was which would be goodest quickestr'
 And Mrs. Mortimer, abandoning Cap- tain Voucher by the same token. dis played certain warning notices per fectly comprehensive to her husband, and at first he was inclined to recog- nize defeat.
 But the general unsuccess which had so faithfully attended him recently had aroused the long dormant desire for general review of the situation with his wife-perhaps even the fur tive hope of some conjugal arrange ment tending toward an exchange of views concerning possible alliance.
 The evening previous. to his intense disgust. host. hostess and guests had retired early in view of the point shooting at dawn, for not only was there to be no point shooting for him. but he had risen from the card table heavily hit, and. besides, for the first time his apples and port had disagreed with him.
 As he had not risen until midday, he was not sleepy. Books were an aver sion equaled only by distaste for his own company. frritated. bored, he had perforce sulkily entered the ele- vator and passed to his room. where there was nothing on earth for him to do except to thumb over last week sporting periodicals and smoke himself stupid.
 But it required more than that to en- snare the goddess of slumber. He walked about the room haunted of slow thoughts: he stood at the rain smeared pane. fat fingers resting on the glass. The richly favored cigar grew distaste- ful. and if he could not smoke. what. in plty's name. was he to do?
 For hours he sat in his room or paced the four walls. doubtful. cha grined. furious by turns. Once he drew
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14
 SIX

H TIER the first few days of his
 A arrival at Shotover time had
 / threatened to hang heavily
 A A on Mortimers mottled hands.
 After the second day afield he recog
 nized that his shooting career was practically over. Then Mortimer, not yet done with self indulgence in more convenient forms, cast about him with. in his new limits for occupation be- tween those hours consecrated to the rites of the table and the card room.
 He drove four, but found that 1t numbed his arms and that the sea air made him sleepy. Motor cars agreed with him only when driving with q pretty woman. Forced through ennui to fish off the rocks. he soon tired of the sea perch and rock cod and the malodors of periwinkle and clam.
 Then he took up his headquarters in the reading room on the chance of his wife's moving elsewhere. which she did. unobtrusively carrying Captain Voucher with her in a sudden zeal for billiard practice on rainy mornings now too frequent along the coast.
 Mortimer possessed that mysterious talent, SO common among the financial ly insolvent. for living lavishly on an invisible income. but. plan as he would, he had never been able to increase that income through confidential gossip with men like Quarter or Belwether or even Ferrall. What information his pretty wife might have extracted he did not know. Her income had never visibly increased above the vanishing point. although. Ike himself, she de- nIed herself nothing. One short. lively interview with her had been enough to drive all partnership Ideas out of his head.
 He was always studying women. Years before. Grace Ferrall had snap ped her slim fingers in his face. and here at ShOtover the field was limited Mrs. yendennlng had left. Agatha Caithness was still pale and reticent puzzle. Rena. Kathryn and Eileen tormented him. Marion Page coOlly su fait yawned in his face. There re- mained Sylvia. who. knowing nothing about his species. met him halfway with the sweet and sensitive deference due a somewhat battered and infirm gentleman of forty-eigat. until a sleek aside from Major Belweiher spoiled eyerything. as usual. for hsT. leaving her painfully conscious and perplexed between doubt and disgust
 Meanwhile the wealthy master of Blacks Tells. Beverly Plank. had found enough at Sb0tover Co venture on tentative fnf0rmaIity. There was 10 dcEht that ultimately be must he counted oa fn New York. but mo- body except him wss InnztEently cor iiaI for the event. and so at the little souse party he slipped and sIId from rve-y attemp; ct esaser uUarterS until. 'ollinz smoothly e1oE=A he haaei rifh0zt ur-a dzsconfort somewhere
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14
Copyright 1906, by the Curtis Publishing Company. Copyright, lss, by Robert W. Chambers.

use! do not know myself-this way. My eyes-arc wet. It Is not like me; there is nothing of me in this girl you hold so closely. so confidently. l do care for you--how can I help 1t? How could any woman help 1t? Is not that enough?"
 Until you are a bride-yes."
 "A bride? Stephen. cannot"-
 You cannot help it. Sylvia"
 T must! I have my way to go."
 My way lies that way"
 No, no! 1 cannot do 1t; it is no, best for me-not best for you. I dc care for you: you have taught me how to say 1t. But-you know what 1 have done-and mean to do, and must carry through. Then how can you love a girl like thatT
 Dear, know the woman I love"
 silly. she is what her life has made her-material. passIonately selfish. un able to renounce the root Of all evil Even if this-this happiness were our always-I mean if this madness could last our welded life-I am not good enough. not noble enough. to forget what might have had and put away Is 1t not dreadful to admitf Do you not know that self contempt is part of the price? I have no money. I know what you have. asked. And ii Is enough for a man who remains un married. For I cannot make things do:' cannot 'contriye:' I will not cling to the fringe of things or play that heartbreaking role of the shabby ex- patriated oa the continent. My role in life is to mount to q security too high for any question as to my dominance. Can you take me therey"
 There are other heights. Sylvia
 "HIgherg~
 "Yes. dear"
 "The spiritual. [ know. could not breathe there. If I cared to climb. And have tod yOu what I am-an sin and lace aud smooth skinned selfish ness.- She looked st him wistfully. If you can change me. take me- And she rose. facing him
 T do not give yOu up he said with a savage note hardening his voice. anl II thrilled her Co bear if. and erery drop Of blood ia her body Ieapcd ss she yielded to his arms again. heavy IIddei. trembling. confused. under the piercing sweetness of contact Then her voice. broken. brezthieSs.
 Good night Love me while yUu can and forgive me Good night wherp are weT AIl-aIl this must hare stunned ne. Blinded ne Is thfs ny door or yozrxz Hcsb. am half de1d uifE f-r--+c hz- he-p under the
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

teryal in this hurrying youth of hers | to catch her breath once more and stand still and look back day or two and remember
 So to, breakfast all alone was de licious; to stroll unhurried to the side board and leisurely choose among the fresh cool fruits: tO loiter ove- rream jug and cereal; to saunter out into the freshness of the world and breathe 1t and feel the sun warming cheek and throat and the little breezes from a sunlit sea stirring the bright strands of her hair.
 Out over the rain wet odorous grass she picked her way. skirts swung high above the delicate contour of ankle and limb. following q little descending path she knew full of rocky angles swept by pendant sprays of black berry, and then down under the Jut- ting rock, south through thickets of wild cherry along the crags. until be- fore her the way opened downward
 
 glimmered white hot in the sun.
 From his bedroom window Mortimer peeped forth. following her progress with a leer.
 As she descended. noticing the rifts of bronzing seaweed piled along the tide mark. her foot dlslodged a tiny triangle of rock. which rolled chatter ing and ringing below. and as she sprang ligttly to the sand a man. ly- ing full length and motionless as the heaped seaweed. raised himself on one arm, turning his sun dazzled eyes on her.
 The dull shock of surprise halted her as Siward rose 10 his feet. still dazed. the sand running from his brown shooting clothes over his tightly strap ped puttees.
 Have you the faintest idea that I supposed you were hereT she asked briefly. Then. frank in her disap- polntment. she looked up at the cliffs overhead. where her line of retreat lay. Why did you not % with the OthersT' she added. unsmiling.
 'I-don't know. will. if you wish He had coIored slowly. the frank dis appointment ia her face penetrating his surprise. and now he turned around instlnctively. also looking for tbe path of retreat.
 Wait" she said. aware of her own crude attitude and confused by 1t. "Wait a moment. Mir Siward. I don't mean to drive you away ~Its self exile" be said quietly quite voluntary. assure you"
 "Mr. Siwardr' And as he looked up cOolly: Have you nothing more friendly to say to met Is your friendship for me 90 limited that my first caprice oversteps the boundsy T meant no crfticiSm-- Wait. Mir Siuapi- as he moved slowly toward the path You force me to say Other things which you have no night to bear. After last night-- the vivid tint grew in her face--after such a night Is it not natural for a girl !. to creep OI SoEnewheTe by herself and try to think a mftIsY~
 He had turned fuII on her The an svering colOr erept to his forehead -Is that EhyT he asked ssOvIy.
 aIs t n0t a rezsozT-
 Tt vas mT reason fer being bers-
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

"Tll draw that line," he said, talk ing her in his arms.
 TT beg you will draw it quickly, Mir. Slward."
 q do; 1t passes through your heart and miner'
 againi You are compromising your self, you know. warn you that you are committing yourself"
 "So are you. Look at me!'
 In his arms, her own arms pressed against his breast. resisting. she raised her splendid youthful eyes. and through and through her shot pulse on pulse until every nerve seemed to be aquiver.
 While I'm still sane," he said. with dry catch in hts throat, before l tell you that love you look at me-
 T will if you wish." she said. with a trembling smile. but it is useless"
 That Is what I shall nnd out in time. You must meet my eyes. That is well. That is frank and sweet"
 And useless-truly 1t is. Please don't tell me-anythIng"
 "You will not listenY'
 There Is no chance for you if you mean love. IT tell you in time. you see. I am utterly friyolous-qulte self ish and mercenary."
 'I take my chance
 ''No: give you none. Why do you s..rs.-- -r..s. H.~ something if it be worth anything Whatever it costs. 1t is worth it tO me. And do not love you- In so short a time how could IF
 Then in his arms she fen a-trem- bling. Something blinded her eyes. and she turned her head sharply. only to encounter his lips on hers in a deep. clInging embrace that left her dazel. still resisting with the fragments of breath and voice.
 Not aeain-I beE-you- Let me 90 now. It is not best- Oh. truly. truly 1t is al wrong with us now She bent her head blinded with tears. swayfng stunned. then. with brezthless sound. turned in his arms to meet his IiTS. Der hands contracting in his. and. con fronting. thsy paused. susPending the crisis yoang faces close and hearts a9re-
 Sylvia I lore req.
 For an instant their lips ciung She had rsndesed hIu his kiss. Then trem- bizgiy. Tt n useless svea rkSush bved youl-
 say ff-
 ~T da~
 -s4y E--
 Fl csszct. Ari t s 70 use-aol
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

Studying the fgure& thirst. He punched an electric button with his
 ieshy thumb and TrJwIed around. waiting Nobody came. He punched again and loosed at his watch It as tonished him fo find the hour was g o'clock In the morning That discOv- cry. however. only appeared tO in crease his thirst He oieued the hall door. rreTared to descend into the depths of the horse and raid a side board and as he thrust his heavy head out into the lighted eurrfdor bis eyes fen upon tEo f<ureS standing at the oTe1 dunr q heszroom- One vas S
 ward. that was plain Who w1s the giri he lad kESzeIE One os the maids.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

s's Dfeat''ed a'paa- ft." be observed lazily and closed his eyeS. and neither taunts nor teers nor questions nor fragments Of shell flung with intent to hit stirred him from his inmobility.
 She tired of the attempt presently and sat silent. elbows on her thighs. hands prOppiBg her chin Thoughts vague as the htful breeze arose. Iin- gered and Ike the breeze. faded. dis solved into calm. through which, ca- denced by the far beat Of the ebb tide, her heart echoed heating the steady intervals Of time A long while after ward a small cloud foated across the sun. and in the sudden shadow on the world doubt sSunded It's tiny voice. anI her ears IisteEed- and the euchant- Eent faded and died away.
 TrErsr- zv-n.s n. e~-H at the man lying there Her eTss con sidsred hIn-ho~ long she dfd nos
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

out a memOran- dun book and stood under a lighted scOnce studying the fig ures His losses at Shoto yer staggered him. but he had look etl to his wife heretofore in such emergen- cieS
 Ills uneasi nesS had pro dacei a raging
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

light again. If you take me again, my knees will give way. And must find my door. Oh, the ghastly imprudence of it! Good night, good night. I-I love veal"
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

dune he found a place for hlm- self. and while she watched him indignantly he curled up in the sunshine and. dropping 2 his head on the hot sand. calmly closed his eyes.
 Upon my ord!" she breathed aloud.
 He unciosed his eyes. Now you may dream: .-z.. --sa ma.a
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-14

TT esasss; Asa f s 70 use-oo
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-16
Filing of Township Plats.

Notice is hereby given that frac-
tional plat of township rs north OF
range E.. B. M, embracing SEQ
lions 4, 5, s, 1, 8. .. Is, II. 10,
10. 20, 81, 20. 80. 81 and 80. will
be oflicially filed in this ofilce Thurs
day, the 21st day Of May. 1908.
The state Of Idaho has prefer
ence right of selection within this
township for period of 60 days as
against all persons excepting bona
fide settlers of date prior to said
last named date. Such settlers have
preference right as against the state,
and all other persons, for a period OF
90 days from the date Of fling OF
said plat.
T. H. BARTLETT, Register.
Lewiston, Idaho, April s, 1908.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-16
Ito be Contlnued.)
Notice of Sale of School Bonds.

NOuce OF 0dle OF OCuOOl 0OuUSs
Notice Is hereby given that the
board of School District No. A OF
Nez Perez county, Idaho, will receive
bids for coupon bonds amounting to
eight hundred dollars ($800.00) to
be payable July LIST, 1913, said
bonds to be in denomination Of four
hundred dollars each and to bear in
terest at not to exceed per cent per
annum. interest to be paid semi-an-
nually. Sealed bids will be received
by said school board at the Office OF
the clerk at Chesley, Idaho, on or be-
fore the 14th day OF May, 1908.
The board reserves the right to
reject any and all bids. The money
received from the sale of said bonds
is to be used for the purpose of
building and furnishing school
house in said District No. a..
THOMAS WEBB.
ID SOD Apr IA to May 14)
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-16

more fully appears from
plant. reference to which !, 60
made. y her.h.
You are hereby directed ],
ana answer said complain. Z ss ~.
twenty (2o) days after -. NitAia
hereof upon you il ser,ss s asfs!ss
SAID district. and within ,o-.. .'.aia
days II served elsewhere. sns amy lisA
you SO appear and answe, -. nv unlsss
TN VIII appeal to the com, ~ pan
relief demanded in the comn, .or sAs
Attest my hand and the p' .ala
the district court Of the Sec. s.l @
dicial District of the. stats :, - ~
IN and for Nee Perce count =, .o.aa
18th day of March, 1908 ~
(SEAL) w. L. G1rFopn
BY G. E. MoNTE1rH n. S,e.f'
DWIGHT E. HODGE, DepusA
Attorney for PLAINTIFF
Residence and postof,co 80.
Lewiston. Idaho. 1ules
Omar 1s-Apr IS.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-16
Notice to Creditors.

In the Probate Court of Nez Perez
County, Idaho.
In the matter of the estate OF
James A. Conner, deceased.
Notice is hereby given by the un.
dersigned administrator of the es.
tate of James A. Conner deceased, to
the creditors Of, and all persons
having claims against the said de-
ceased, to exhibit them with the
necessary vouchers. within four
months after the first publication OF
this notice, to the said administra-
tor at the court house, the same be-
ing the place for the transaction oil
the business of said estate in Lewis
ton, county Of Nez Perez, state OF
idaho.
Signed and dated at Lewiston,
Idaho. this 9th day Of April, A. d.
1908.
A. e. HINCKLEY. Administrator.
D 30d Apr 10 to May IL.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-16
Notice to Creditors.

In the Probate Court of Nez Perez
County Idaho.
In the matter of the estate of
Charles Hoffman, deceased.
Notice is hereby given by the an
dersigned Administrative OF the will
and estate of Charles Hoffman, de-
ceased, to the creditors Of, and all
persons having claims against the
said deceased to exhibit them, with
the necessary vouchers, within ten
months after the first publication OF
this notice, to the said administra.
trix at Leland, Idaho, the same be-
ing the place for the transaction Of
the business Of said estate, in county
Of Nez Perez, state of Idaho.
Signed and dated at Lewiston
Idaho, this the first day of April
A. D., 1908.
LUCY HOFFMAN,.
D 80 d April 2 to May 2. -
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-16
Sherif's Sale.

SnerlUS sale.
Notice of Foreclosure Sale by Sher-
If.
]. W. Little, plaintiff, VS.. G. w. AL
len, Rosa Allen, w. B. Martin
and Mary e. Martin, defendants.
Under and by virtue OF an
order OF sale and decree of
foreclosure and sale issued
out of the district court of the
state of Idaho. in and for the county
Nez Perez. on the 31st day of March,
A. D., 1908. in the above action,
wherein J. w. Little, the above
named plaintiff, obtained a judg-
ment and decree of foreclosure and
sale against G. w. Allen, Rosa B.
Allen, w. B. Martin and Mary E.
Martin, defendants, on the
30th day of March, A. D.
1908, for the sum of $5,031.7O,
besides interest and accruing costs,
which said decree has been recorded
in Judgment Book - of said court
at page =, am commanded to
sell the certain lots, pieces or par
cells of land, situated, lying and be.
ing in the County Of Nez Perez,
state of Idaho, and bounded and de-
scribed as follows, to-wit:
The east half of the northwest
Iquarter, the southwest quarter OF
the northwest quarter, and the
northeast qus~ser Of the southwes,
quarter of Scion twenty-nine, In
township thrirty-three, north. range
two east OF Boise meridian, Nes
Perce county, state of Idaho, con.
tanning one hundred sixty acres
hereditaments and appurtenances
thereunto belonging or in anywiss
appertaining.
Public notice is hereby given thai
on Friday, the Gath day of April. A
D. 1908, at 10 o'clock a. m. Of that
day, in front of and at the front
door OF the courthouse Of the county
OF Nee Perez. in Lewiston, Idaho,
will in obedience of said order o.
sale and decree Of foreclosure ant
sale. sell the above described proper
ty, or 80 much thereof as may b.
necessary to satisfy said judgment
with interest and costs, etc.. to tn,
highest and best bidder, for the law
full money of the United States.
HARRY LYDON. Sheriff
| BY ]. r. LYDON, Deputy.
Dated April Bird, 1908.
D 22t April to "a.