davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
The kidnaper
BY BARNEY PRESTON.
Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.

Young Mr.. William McVicker was
much given to two things-an ardent
reading of certain pessimistic German
philosophers and to sleep. To many
minds these two pastimes may appear
synonymous, but Billy McVicker, with
al a rather serious parsonage, while he
found them each equally pleasant was
never more awake than when, with
his shortsighted eyes close to one Of
his favorite and well thumbed vol
umes, he absorbed Teutonic reflections
on life In general to his hearts con-
tent.
The philosophical tones were ubiqui-
tous with him. They bulged his pock-
cts or were trundled-if they happened
to. be larger-beneath his arm with a
patience worthy of better things.
Therefore on a certain perfect early
summer day, when Mr.. McVicker
walked slowly down the winding path
that led to the anchorage in the bay,
brown book stuck out of the hip
pocket of his yachting trousers and
lean forehnger rested between the
pages of another, which he carried in
his hand
Between his periods of reading and
sleep Billy McVicker was something
of sailor, and today, with just enough
breeze for spin with a whole sail, he
united the painter of the little tender,
floating at the end of the pier, pushed
off and sculled leisurely to his knock
about, which lay at her moorings In
the bay.
Once aboard the knockabout, the
breeze, TO McVicker's unutterable dis
gust, began to die out. The RULED
surface Of the bay began to take on an
oily smoothness, indicative of the COM
ing calm. McVicker, beholding It,
grunted disgustedly.
However, there would be plenty Of
other days with a good breeze. There
was even a chance that one might
spring up bit later. A patient and
accomplishing soul was Billy McVick-
er-when he was armed with one Of
his philosophical tones.
Therefore he ensconced himself COM
fortably on the cushions Of the cock
pit, opened the volume in his hand
and, forgetful alike Of sun and calm,
was soon engrossed In his reading.
Long and thoughtfully did Mcvicker
follow the text. Then, pausing for a
moment to digest what he had just
been perusing. he was aware that the
second of his pastimes was crying
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06

the other players crowded around to
congratulate her upon the opportunity
she had earned did she seem to realize
what it all meant, and then she ac-
cepted listlessly what the other women
of her profession would have given
years of their life to attain.
She slipped from the stage door alone
to go to the hotel, but as she emerged
Tom stepped forward with outstretch-
ed hands.
II had to come to see you," he said
brokenly. Eat first l vowed that
would stay out of town while you were
here. but ! had to come back, and Pm
glad | did
81 thought that you would be tough
and common. Maggie, like the rest, but
you can't be that and play as you did
tonight That wasn't acting, and when
saw you as you really are. and not as
thought that you would be. want
ed to get up and shout TO you to come
right to me and we'd get married, as
we used to plan when we were chill
dren. Will you come and marry me,
Maggie? I've got fine farm now, and
you'll never regret it, dear"
81 don't think viii regret it,
agreed Maggie happily. but | didn't
think you'd want me, Tom"
you know what they think about
actresses here" he reminded her II
guess thought pretty much the same,
but you-well, when l saw you come
on the stage looking just as you used
to do knew you were my Maggie
stillr'
He clasped her hands, unable to say
more. but Maggie understood To the
Melrose minds all player folk were
followers of the devil Perhaps the in
genuous role she had played had won
Tom. he wanted for his wife the wo-
man she had played. And she knew 1t
would be easy to continue in that role
with Tom as opposite.
She felt that she could continue her
success in that part. and so she let him
kiss her before she pushed him gently
from her with whispered command
to come to the hotel in the morning.
Together they would see Quinlin and
secure the ,lease from her contract
As she entered the hotel the man
ager was waiting for her He had tax
en- from his trunk her contract for the
season. and this be handed to her.
This sets you free. my girl. You
can go to Benjamin and Broadway"
he said smilingly. Pm glad that at
last the Metropolitans have contrib
uted real star to Broadway"
Pm not going to Benjamin" replied
Maggie. It'll play the season out for
you II you want me to, but | made a
real human hit in the part tonight, and
Pm going to keep on playing it for
Tom here In Melrose. Gee, Mr.. Quin-
LIN, I'm glad he didn't see me last
night as the adventures.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
Retained In
the Role.
BY CARL Williams.
Copyrighted, 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.

- =
Melrose was agog with excitement.
The local billposter was hanging the
paper of the Denham Repertoire COM
pany for three night run. And Mag
gle Denhain hailed from Melrose.
Margaret Denham" she was billed,
but MeIrose recognized her.
1t was the first time that what Mel
rose called "a real theater troupe" had
visited the little town. This In itself
would have meant much, but Maggie
in addition created an epoch in town
history.
MeIrose could not know that she was
to be star only for this brief engage
ment in Melrose. Maggie had happen
ed to mention that she had been born
in Melrose, and the astute manager
had changed the name Of the company
from the Metropolitan to Denhem Re-
pertoire company for the three night
stay.
He well knew the value of local
name in a small town. Occasionally
Maggie had let fall some scrap Of in
formation as to her departure from the
town that told the rest Of the old story
of the girl who had run away from
home to go upon the stage.
Maggie's story differed from most,
for she had succeeded in achieving her
ambition. She had become a fairly
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
A Woman Soldier.

Eleonore Prochaska, born March IL,
1875, at Potsdam, was the daughter Of
a sergeant After being brought up In
the military orphanage Of that town
she became a cook in some citizens
house. When the great war against
Napoleon broke out In 1913 she was
led away by enthusiasm to quit her
town secretly. BY selling her poor be-
longings she procured male attire and
weapons and enlisted under the name
Of August REM in the Lutzow corps.
On account of her tall, slender figure
her sex was not discovered until she
was MORALLY wounded. This happened
In the encounter in the Gohrde forest,
Regierungsbezirk, Luneburg, Kreis
Dannenberg. Sept 16, 1918. The Prus-
SLAMS were there attempting to storm
a hill occupied by the French, she act
ing as a drummer In 1868 monu-
ment in memory of her was erected in
the churchyard at Dannenberg and an
other in 1889 in the old churchyard OF
Potsdam.-London Sketch.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
Ice Sport For Danish Children,

In Denmark one of the favorite
forms of exercise on the ice is a game
wherein the skaters can have their
fun and also the tots who prefer to
ride upon sleds.
A large pole is fixed upright in the
middle of the frozen pond, and cross
beam is attached. the whole affair be-
ing kept from toppling over by means
Of a large wagon wheel. through whose
hub the upright pole Is thrust and
which lies fat upon the ice. To the
end of the longer section of the trans
verse beam a string of sleds is at
tached. and then eight or ten Of the
large lads and lassies begin to skate in
circle. pushing the beam around
with them. while the little fellows
climb on the sleds.
Around and around they go, faster
and faster, amid shouts of delight, I'M
til the string of sleds is flung out
across the ice like the lash of long
whip. It often becomes necessary for
those who are furnishing the motive
power to slacken speed in order to let
the coasters get back into better po-
sition, centrifugal force having stretch
ed them out sometimes almost to the
banks Of the ake.-Path1nder.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
HA Got thu Ticket.

''Seamen's return" tickets are issued
by most British railways at seaport
towns to sailors at reduced rates. A
rather well groomed young man de-
manded one to Birmingham; the book
ing clerk at Hull demurred.
"'Seamen's returns are only issued
to Sailors" he snapped.
"Well, Pm sailor" was the reply.
81 have only your word for that"
said the clerk. How am to know It
is correctT'
Glow are you to known" came the
answer why, you leather necked,
swivel eyed son of a sea cook, If you
feel my starboard boom running foul
Of your headlights you'll know I've
been doing more than sit on a stool
bleating all my life, and you'll haul In
your jaw tackle a bit"
"Give him the ticket" said the pas
senger superintendent, who had over
heard the dialogue; "hes sailor, right
enough. "-London Scraps.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06

strongly for recognition. In other
words, Billy McVicker was beautifully
and luxuriously drowsy.
The breeze by this time had died out
completely. The sun was becoming
intentionally hot. Mr.. McVicker re-
tired to the diminutive cuddy, half
closed the doors to shut out the re-
fiected glare Of the sun on the quiet
water and. curling himself up. lost
himself in profound and dreamless
slumber.
He was awakened by the noisy rat
tie OF the sail and the squeak of the
blocks as the peak was hoisted. Lazily
he opened his eyes, and as he did so
his ear caught the sound Of light foot
falls on the deck.
! This was followed by loud splash
as the knockabouts mornings were
thrown off and the sharp cracking of
the sail as 1t filed With these sounds
also came the tapping Of water about
the bow, which told him plainly that
the knockabout was under way.
He yawned lazily and collected his
scattered wits. Why should the sail
be up and the knockabout starting out
Of the bay? There was no reason
whatever, he told himself.
The footballs sounded along the deck
again, thudded into the cockpit and
Immediately McVicker realized that
his kidnaper. whoever it might be. had
taken the tiller for at once the knock
about heeled sharply and went scud-
ding out of the bay toward the sound
beyond
by George, this is pretty cool and
nervy," McVicker observed to himself,
and then he crept to the cuddy doors
and through a crack peered cautiously
aft.
One glance was sufficient to make MT
Mcvicker gasp in whole souled sur.
prise, for there by the ttller stoo6
Helen Weldon. who was spending the
week with the Grays and for whom,
ever since her first appearance at Bay
port the summer before, Billy Nc
Wicker had evinced something decided
" more than a passing interest.
With a covert chuckle he drew away
from his peephole at the doors, rubbed
the sleep from his eyes and smoothed
down his tumbled hair as best ne
could.
Then he pushed open the doors ana
stepped calmly into the cockpit, with
the gravest of bows to the startled
young woman by the tiller.
And startled she undoubtedly was
SO startled, indeed, that sheet and tiller
alike slipped from her grasp, and the
knockabout. left to its own devices,
came suddenly into the wind with a
great tapping of sail and rafting OF
sheets.
"Ohr' said the girl in amazement
Again McVicker bowed
you'll pardon my intrusion, won't
your said he. ''I'm mighty sorry
frightened you; but, you see, there was
really no other way Of making my
presence known, and it would have
been a shame to miss this chance OF
sail with you.''
where did you come from, and
what on earth are you doing hereT"
she asked. To cover her evident en-
barrassment she began trimming in
the sheet and putting the neglected
boat on her course again.
81 came from the cuddy," said Nc
Wicker gravely. "and. as to what l am
doing, well, am waiting at present for
an invitation to finish your sail with
you"
"How do you happen to be aboard
this knockabout, anyway she per-
sisted.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06

"No," said Dever quietly. ut isn't
quite all. Who was her escort2 Who
was the manY
A great wrath shook Berresford from
head TO feet He whirled around upon
his companion, white to the lips.
''YouP' he cried. "You, Ronald Deveri
l saw you distinctly. You were the
manp'
Dever spoke in level and command
ing voice. "Comel Let us walk still
a little farther. Neither you nor / can
afford to invite public comment.
hope to prove to you that you have
been mistaken"
Startled, but incredulous, Berresford
accepted the suggestion.
"What made you turn, like another
Enoch Arden, and leave the placer
Dever asked.
Because. being supplanted in my abb
sence, / was another Enoch Ardenp
came the reply. passionately spoken.
"Listen. After you went abroad FL
sizes cousin came to live with her.
They were of the same height and gen.
eral appearance, although when con-
sidered together they do not look alike
l fell in love with Laura She has
been my wife for three years, and-a
mighty sweet wife she is. VIII you
dine with us tonight, Berresford"
Berresford flushed and trembled like
a girl "It was she-not Elsie-that l
saw with your
"Assuredly, as you might have dis
covered had you been less impulsive
in your fight. He mentioned their ad-
dress. "We'l expect you at g."
mo, no; must go at once to Elsie
If she will listen, If she will forgive
me. But there may now be some other
person, some other claim"
"There isn't any one but you.
don't think there ever would or will
be. But come to dinner at 8, as said
Elsie is just now visiting at our
home"
"WhatP' shouted Berresford. "Give
me that card with your address-quick!
HI, cabbyl Double fare If you make
good timel Wait until g. indeed. Well.
/ guess notw
Then he was being driven swiftly
southwark and for him all the world
the gracious, sweet, delicious. spring
time world-was full Of the waving Of
lilac plumes the president fragrance
Of lilac blossoms.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06


"Eh, what's that?' Alan Berresford,
tall, athletic, good looking, swinging at
a rafting pace down the city streets,
flung around as an odor, fraint fra
grant, delicious, assailed his nostrils.
"Lilacs, by JupiterP'
Lilacs In truth. The street stand at
the corner brimmed over with them
great purple swaying plumes Of sweet
ness among their cool, green, smooth,
heart shaped leaves.
sLilacs, sir?" The swarthy skinned
young vender evidently expected a
liberal purchaser.
"Yes-no; wait minute~ And this
prosperous man Of affairs, whose die
tum could shake the board of trade
building over ON Lasalle street to its
foundations, stood looking absently at
the flowers, lost in retrospection.
Lilacsl He saw all at once the quaint
home in a pretty, peaceful country
town. He saw, too, the oyergrown
old garden where the peonies and
gooseberries interlaced silken stems
and briery branches. and farther back
still, Just where the emerald slopes of
the orchard came gently dimpling
down, a secluded green stretch of path
way. At either side row of lilac
bushes grew higher than mans head
"a way of bloom and beauty, of over
whelming fragrance. Lilac lane they
called it. And when the moon rose
and set shifting shadows about the
place it was luminous mosaic of NOV
ing leaves and silvery lights where he
and Elsie walked
''Lilacs, sir?"
"Yes-a lot" Berresford pulled him.
self together with start An, that all
seemed so long agol Had he been let
ting himself drift into sentimental
dream-here in broad daylight. on one
Of the most crowded streets of great
city? He glanced around half guilty.
Then, with a little cynical smile and
shrug Of his shoulders, he turned to
the Greek flower seller. Send those
to my hotel" He motioned to great
earthen jar full of the beautiful blooms.
He penciled name and number on his
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
ESTABLISHED 1876

''Well, believe I own her. At any
rate, there are papers purporting TO be
bill Of sale of her in my desk at
home"
"Your boatg" she cried in amaze
ment "You say this is your boat?"
He nodded. smiling.
sgThen somebody has made a mistake.
Mr. Gray told me to take this boat,
the one at the third buoy from the
pier"
Under ordinary circumstances the
boat at the third buoy would have been
Gray's," said McVicker. "But Hanson
just went out awhile ago, and Pm
afraid you've not taken the empty
mooring buoy, which he left, into your
reckoning"
''And I've come aboard your boat and
taken you out, them" she said, with
an odd expression curling her lips.
"Why didn't you tell me when | first
came aboardT
ITO tell the truth, was asleep in
the cuddy," said he. II made my pres
ence known as soon as was awak-
ened by the Stating of the sail"
well" she said, with decision, I'm
take you back. with profuse apologies.
I'll leave the boat at the moorings just
as l found her, and then you can finish
your interrupted nap" she ended, with
hooking laugh.
Look here" said McVicker; you
have kidnapped me, to say nothing Of
laying yourself liable to charges Of
piracy in stealing my boat. l have
few demands to make In return"
what are theyT she asked, with
light laugh
"In the first place, demand that
you finish your sail in this boat" said
he. And. in the second place.
He paused.
What is the second condition. she
asked.
1.-THE second condition is that you
give me an answer-an affirmative an
swer-to the question asked you after
the dinner at the Grays last Tuesday
night"
The girl flushed. Her head was
turned away,
"And If refuse to comply with the
conditions?" she suggested.
II shall press both the charges Of
piracy and Kidnapping" said he severe
ly.
"Of course l can't face any such
charges as those" she said demurely.
'Take the tiller. please, Billy. This
breeze is getting fawy."
McVicker sprang to her side with q
wonderful light In his eyes. A small
brown volume slipped from his pocket.
caromed off the rail and went over
board with splash, but SO engrossed
was he at that moment that he failed
to notice his loss, nor did he realize
that his choicest tome was bobbing up
and down in the knockabout's wake.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
REFUSING the Cure,

"Cultivate the acquaintance Of WON
en- If you can" said the woman to the
girl. Surround yourself by women.
They are certain protection against
calumny. Women who have many
women friends are never so awfully
much talked about. It's policy"
els that what you have doneT' asked
the girl quietly.
NO" answered the woman. "You
know 1t isn't. I'd rather be dead than
to have to associate with women. -
New York Press.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
Conscientious Bill.

'Bill had charge Of the animal TEN"
said the old circus man, "and among
his pets was leopard. the only one we
had with the show, and quite enough
too. This leopard gave Bill more trou-
BILE than all the rest of the menagerie
put together. It was certainly an ugly
brute.
'Well, one day when we were show
ing in the Midlands had come up to
London to arrange about some advance
business. l was eating my dinner in
the hotel when telegram was handed
to me. 1t was from Bill and read:
The leopard has escaped. Providing
about town. What shall l doY
"That was just like Bill. He had to
have explicit directions, even in an
emergency like this. He didn't want
to make a mistake.
81 Immediately wired back to Bill,
Shoot him on the spot / didn't think
any more about it until couple OF
hours later, when l received another
telegram from conscientious, careful
Bill, asking, Which spotT"
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06

Sir James Ross In the course OF his
travels noted curious fact with re-
gard to the penguin-namely, the habit
Of swallowing stones. In one speci-
men he found ten pounds weight of
quartz, granite and trap. Other ami
mails, reptiles, fishes and mammals ex-
hibit the same strange fancy. In a
paper contributed to the proceedings
Of the Bristol Naturalists' society W.
II. Wicks has collected number Of
facts connected with such stomach
stones. The fact noted by Mr.. Wicks
that the pebbles are usually white
quartz is interesting, but does not APP
pear to throw any light on the strange
habit.-London Globe.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
A LIGHT Burden.

A frail little slip of a girl with a
sweet, worn face toiled up the hill
under the weight of a robust infant
who must have weighed nearly as
much as she did
"My dear child" exclaimed a sym
pathetic passerby, you ought not to
carry that big baby. Isn't he dread
fully heavy?"
Heavy? Why, no, indeed, ma'am, "
she smiled "He's my brother"
lfneator
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
Harinq Feet at Worship.

The India Hindoos and Mussulmans
alike wenr both sandals and shoes
(slippers) and the latter boots also.
The sandal (the word is Persian) was
evidently the original covering for the
feet over all southern and eastern
Asia, while the shoe was probably In
troduced into India by the Persians,
Afghans and Mon)gols, together with
the ''tip tilted" CHittite and Etruscan)
boot.
Both are usually made In India Of
leather, but never Of pigskin, and,
while the shoes are always colored red
or yellow, the boots are generally
brightly particolored, both among the
upper classes being also richly en-
broidered in gold and silver and varie-
gated silk thread and with bangles,
bugles and seed pearls after the man
ner of the ancient Persian boots rep
resented on Greek vases.
But. of however rare and costly elab-
grafton. the invariable rule is to re-
move them after entering private
house Just when stepping on to the
mat or carpet on which the visitor
takes his seat. They must be cast on.
the right boot or shoe first, before the
worshiper enters temple or mosque,
and 1t is still regarded as an absolute
PROCLAMATION to attempt to enter either
fully shod.-London Athenaeum-
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
Part Of the Game.

Il come" said the great actress to
the modest lawyer. Ito engage you to
get divorce for me-"
81 suppose you have good case"
said the lawyer.
"a perfect one," responded the &C.
tress.
"And want it got as quietly as pos
sible," said the lawyer.
"Quietly as possiblel | should say
notl What is the use Of getting d.
vorce, I'd like to Know, If there is to
be no advertising In itW
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06


There goes a man who would be
justified in changing his NAME" said
the city salesman. His name is real
ly Doe, and John in the bargain-John
Doe. Moreover, he has sister Jane.
l wonder what kind Of joke their par
ents were trying to perpetrate on those
helpless mortals. Doe as surname
was bad enough without adding to the
offense by lacking on John and Jane
When l first met John Doe didn't
take his name seriously. 1 thought
the man who introduced US was en-
Joying a little pleasantly at my ex-
pense or maybe at the expense Of John
Doe. l smiled. John Doe did not
smile.
You don't believe it, he said. but
unfortunately it is true. am the IA
nous Doe
Later met his sister Jane and the
rest Of that particular Doe family.
They assured me that there are num-
Der of Does in town presume there
are, but 1 trust that in most cases the
old folks had sense enough not to
christen their offspring John and
Jane."-New York Press.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06
Had Al. Proof.

Il wonder If Jones is married"
mo"
"Did you ask himY'
Il didn't have to, | heard him tell
ing what be would do If any wife Of
bis came out in directoire gown"