davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

pOSbcSSeu Oh
"e"' comfort-that he
had known at the last and had for.
given Hugh OF this she could assure
him when he returned. for she could
not really believe-so deep is the heart
Of wcman-that he would not return.
In the days Of vigil she had found re-
lief In the rough, hard work Of the NAL
let. None had intruded in that out of
the way spot. save that one day Mrs.
Halloran. led by curiosity to see the
grave Of the rich man whose whim 1t
had been to be buried on the mountain
side. had found her at her work, and
her Jessica had pledged to silence She
was no fool. was Mrs. Halloran. and
to learn the name Of the dead man was
to put two and two together. Her
motherly heart overlooked to the girl
who worked each day at that self ap.
pointed task. Only the afternoon he.
fore .Jessica had finished carving the
words on the base Of the statue on
which the look Of the startled man
was now resting: II will arise and 60
unto my father"
The gazer turned from the words.
with quick question. TO the mound.
He came close and in the fading light
looked at the name on the low head
stone. SO he had come too late. If
he could only have leArned the truth
earlier. II he might only put back
the hands OF the clock!
Hours went by. At length he rose
TO his feet. bis limbs cramped and stiff
ened, and made his way back to the
lonely cabin on the hillside. There
he found fuel. kindled blaze IN the
fireplace and cooked his frugal supper.
He thought OF the losing battle he
had fought there once before, when
tempest shric&ed without-the battle
which had ended in defeat He
thought of the will he had seen. now
sealed with the great seal Of death
de was the shorn hegcar she the ben
tfciary. What duty she had owed his
father was ended now Desoate she
might be--in need Of n hand to guide
and guaM-but she was beyond the
sense of satisfaction. Was she there
on the mountain Mt that moment?
At last he took Old Despalrs batter
ed violin from the wall and. seating
himself in the open doorway. looking
ncross the mysterious purple Of the
gulches to the skyline sown With
pale stars. drew the bow softly across
the strings. Through manifold varia-
lions the music wandered till at
length there came from the followed
wood M air that was an Unconscious
echo Of forgotten wedding day-"O
perfect love. all human thought tran
scending."
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06


about q white house. He hesltatei n
moment, then walked slowly up the
broad, weed grown garden path to.
ward Its porch. In the half light the
massive silver door plate stood out
clearly. He had known instinctively
that that house had been a part OF his
life, and vet a tremor caught him rs
he read the name-Stires. The intul-
ton that had bent his steps from the
street, the old stirring of dead memory
had brought him to his past at last
This house had been his home!
Hs started. A man In his shirt
sleeves was standing by II half open
side door regarding him narrowly.
thinking Of buyingf' The query
was good humoredly satiric. "Or may
be Just looking the old ranch over with
a view to shakedown"
The trespasser smiled grimly. 1t
was not the first time he had seen that
weather beaten face. "You have CIV
en- up surgery AZ a profession. l see. "
he said.
The other came nearer. looked at
him in a puzzled way. then laughed.
III It Isn't the cove we picked up on
me railrotd track" he said. dog and
all! l thought you were far down the
coast, where it's warmer. Nothing
much doing with you. eh2"
"Nothing much" answered the mar
he addressed. Others might recognize
him % tho black sheep. but this non
descript Waterman whom chance hat
set here could not. He knew him only
as the dlngy vagabond whose broker
bead he had bandaged In the box cur.
I'm In better luck" went on tn,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06


career and his graceess desertion. l
do give and bequeath the sum Of
$1,000 and the memory of his mlsspcnt
youth. The residue Of my estate, real
and personal. do give and bequeath
TO my ward. Jessica Holme"-
The blood swept back to his heart
in a food. Ward. not daughter! He
could still keep the one sweet thing
left him. His love was justified. Tears
Sprang to his eyes, and he laid tho
parchment back and closed the desk.
He hastily brushed the drops away as
the Waterman entered aud set down
two glasses and Il bottle.
There .,ou are. That'll be worth
FIVE miles to you" He poured noislly.
His guest drank. set down the glass
and held out his hand, Good luck"
he said.
The dog thrust cold muzzle into
his hand rs he walked down the gray
ell path slowly, feeling the glow OF the
liquor gratefully. with the grudging
release 1t brought from mental ten
sion. He had not consciously asked
himself whittier now. In some sub.
conscious corner Of his brain this had
been asked and answered. He was
going 10 his father. Not to seek ia
change the stern decree, not to annul
those bitter phrases-"his dissolute ca
rcer, the memory of his misspent
youth" Only to ask his forgiveness
and to make what reparatlon was pos
yible; then 70 go out once more to the
world to fight out his battle.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06
(TO BE CONTINUED
riIE HOUSE OF GOVERNORS.

U'rcm the Lynn Itcm)
The proposition to bring the governors
OF the States together once year, for Il
conference on matters pertaining to the
states as whole. has much to COM
mend II To be sure. they have no pow
er to make laws or to do things outside
Inc HE Of their duties. hat II can vrAd-
iiy be understood that such a conference
W"n'd tend toward II more perfect union.
Tor they could make recommendations TO
their legislatures that would be pro-
ductive OF good. The States are not as
much alike as they might be. Customs
vary. and what might he good public
policy In one State would no. be prac-
uc"h'e In aother. State sovereignty and
national unity have been antoEonistic
ever since the adoption OF the const,tu-
ton, and annual assemblings OF tho gov
ernors might have tendency TO reduce
the friction and accomplish a more per-
fectly adjusted condition. There are
many things Of common concern that
would furnish topics for consideration.
and their dicussion during tho session
of tho blouse Governors" as II IL pro-
posed to name It. could not fall to be
productive Of good. There hes been one
such meeting and possibly more. ana to
repeat tho experiment would do no
harm,
rOuNVAlN pENa AT HrR Epn ypnnas
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

,iNc pall.It. % lrendcrgast stood on
the threshold Of the lonely cabin. senti.
mel over tho mounds Ut yellow gravel
that marked his toll.
The returned wandcrer had met with
a distinct surprise In the town. As he
passed through the streets more than
one had nodded or had spoken his
name, and the recognition had sent
glow to his cheek and a lightness to
his step.
Since the daring feat in the automo-
bile the tone Of the gossip had changed.
Ills name was no longer connected
with the slulce robberies. The lucky
find, too, constituted q material boom
for Smoky Mountain and bettered the
stock in Its hydraulic enterprises, and
this had been written on the credit
side Of the ledger. opinion, so all pow
crful in new community, had altered.
All this he who had been the outcast
could not guess, but he felt the change
with satisfaction.
Till the sun was low he sat In the
cabin thinking. at length he called
tie dog and fastened it in Its accus-
toned place and began slowly to climb
the steep ascent toward the Knob.
When nc came to q certain vine grown
trail that met the main path he turned
aside. Here lay the spot where he had
first spoken with her. face to face.
Here she had told him there was moth
ing in his past which could not be
buried and forgotten.
As he parted the bushes and stepped
into the narrow space beside the jut-
ting ledge he stopped short with an
exclamation. The place was no longer
| a tangle Of vines. A grave had been
| lately made there. and behind 1t. fresh
chseled in the rock. vas n statue--a
| figure seated chin OH hand, IS II re-
garGing the nearby mound. As in
dream he realized that its features
were his own. Awestruck. tho living
man drew near.
1t was Jcssica's conception Of the
procigal son as she had modelled 1t IN
Aniston in her blindness. after Hugh's
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

spidcry framework, OF the long black
railroad bridge that hung above "the
hole" The warning light from a sigma,
post threw a crimson splash on the
ground. Its green pane cast pallor on
bearded face turned out over the
gloomy water
ut was here" he said aloud. He
stood moment his hands clinchcd.
"Thc new life began here. Here. then.
Is where the old life ended" From
where ne stood he could see blossom
five miles away. He set his shoulders.
wh.stled to the small dog that nosed
near by and set of at a quick pace
down the road
Once in the streets he turned up his
coat collar and settled the brim Of his
felt hat more closely over his eyes. He
crossed an open square ana presently
came to the gate Of Gothic chape! set
we'll back from the street Its great
rose window was alight. for on this
evening was to be held memorial
service for the old man whose money
had built the pile. who had died fort
night before In distant sanitarium.
He turned at the sound Of wheels,
and the blur shocked itself apart to re
veal a kindly face that looked at him
for an instant framed in the window
Of n passing carriage. Inside the car"
riage Bishop Ludlow settled back.
with a sigh. "Only face on the pave
ment," he said to his wife. but 1t re-
minded me somehow Of Harry Sander
| SON.
How strange 1t u.s." she said-the
bishop had no secrets from his wife
never word or Il sign. and every
thing in his study Just as he left 1t.
what can you do. John? 1t Is four
months ago now. and the parish needs
a rector"
He did not reply for moment. The
question touched the trouble that was
ever present in his mind.
II know" he said at length. II may
have failed In my whole duty, but
haven't known how to tell David
Sti-es, especially since we heard Of his
illness. had written to him-the
whole story. The ink was not dry on
the paper when the letter camo from
Jcssica telling us Of his DEATH
Behind them rs they talked the
man on the pavement WAS walking or
fevcrishly. the dog following with a
reluctant whine.
At last he came to wide. dark
lawn set thick with aspens clustering
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06


looked at the paper again with painful
1ntentness. 1t was Cancelled. therefore
had been paid without question. Yet
the man it had robbed had stamped 1t
with that venomous hallmark. Clearly
the law had not stepped in. for here he
was at liberty, owning bis name. lie
had been let go, then. dlsowned. to car
ry his badge OF crime here into the will
derness.' And how had he lived since
then?
He stumbled to chair and sat
down. his frame rigid. He thought
of the robbed sluice In the ghlch be
low, OF his own unhappy adventure OF
the night How could he tell what he
had done-what he might do! Min
utcs went by us he sat motionless, bis
mind catching strange KALEIDOSCOPE
pictures that fed past him Into the
void. At length he rose and went to
the window. Far down the hillside a
faint line through the mist spnnned
the gulch bottom. A groan burst from
his lips.
THAT Is the hydraulic ilumc." he
there in the past again and again,
Some was stolen two nights ago. How
do / know but that ! am the thief"
Was that what Prcndergast had meant
by the ''safc way to beat the game:'
A SILVER ran over him. How do
know" no thought. II can see my
self--the evil side Of me-when the
dark had fallen waking and active.
sec myself creeping down there, steal
ing from shadow to shadow. to scoop
the gold from the rifles when the
moon IL under u cloud. see men
sitting from dark to daylight with
loaded riGes across their knees watch
ms. see fash Of Gre. hear re-
port, ! see myself there by the sluict
boyes, dead. shot down In the act Of
thief. making good the name mer
know me by.'
The figure vt Jessica came bef0r,
him. standing In her soft white gown
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

"Hugh has patd II" at once. During
these last few days the impulse to tell
all that she had concealed had been al.
most irresistible. Now the barrier had
fallen. The secret she had reprcssed 80
long came forth In rush Of sentences
that left him mute and amazed.
II should have told you before" she
ended, but ! didn't knOw--I wasn't
sure She broke down for very Joy.
he looked at her with eyes unnat'
urally bright. "Tell me every thing
Jessicaw he said. "Everything. from
the beginning"
"He was young and irresponsible.
Jessica." said the old man. money al
Ways came 80 easily. He didn't realize
what he was doing when he signed
that draft. He has learned lesson out
in tho world. 1t won't hurt his career
In the end. for no one but you and |
and one other knows 1t. Thank God!
If his memory comes back"-
"Oh. It wiilv' she breathed. ut must!
That day ON the Knob he only needed
the clew! When ! tell him who | am
be will know me- He will remember 1t
oil. am sure-sure! VIII you let me
bring him to you?" she added softly.
YES" he said. pressing her hand,
tomorrow. shall be stronger then"
She rose and lighted the lamp, shad-
ing 1t from his eyes.
DO you remember the will, Jessi.
ca" he asked her presently-"the will
| drew the day he came back7 You
never knew, but ! signed 1.-THE night
Of your wedding. Harry Sanderson
was right. my dear, wasn't he?
II wish now ! hadn't signed 1t. Jes.
sica," be added. II must set 1t right!
l must set 1t rghtv' He watched her
with q smile on bis face. II will rest
now" he said. And she adjusted the
pillows and turned the lamp low.
Crossing the room, she stepped through
tfe long window on to the porch aud
stood leaning on the railing Tho
words Of the Biblical narrative nached
through her mind: "And he arose and
came to his father. But when he wal
yet = great way OF his father saw
him and had compassion and ran and
fell on bic neck and kissed him." 81
Hugh's father would meet him nowi
Harry had labored, spurred by 4
aerce haste to make requital. TIL the
last ounce Of the rich pocket" had
been washed and the whole taken Il
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

her hand against her check and tho
Jasmine Cdors about her. The dream
he had GrnGmed could not bc--nevcr,
never, never. All that was left was
surrender, ignominous fight to scenes
barren of suggestion.
Al that instant Il shining point
caught his eye. IT came FROM the pan
of gravel Oh the doorstep, on which
the rain had been beating. He thrust
the draft into his pocket and seized
double handful Of the gravel. He
plunged it into pail Of water and
held it to the light, 1t sparkle with
coarse. yellow fakes Of gold. lie
dropped the handful with n sharp ex-
tlamution, threw on his coat and rush
I'll from the cabin.
All day. alone on the fog soaked hill
hide, Harry toiied in the trench With
out food or rest.
1t was fair sweet evening. and
the room where .!cssica sat beside
David Stircs' bed. reading aloud to
Rim. WAS flooded with the failing sun
light. Since the old mans seizure In
the night he had been rnuch worse. and
she had scarcely left his room. Today.
however, he had set propped by pI
lows. able to read and chat. and the
deep personal anxiety that had nurlhed
her had yielded.
A knock came at the door. II was
nurse with letters for him from the
mail, and while he opened them les
s.cn laid aside the book and went
slowly down the hall to the sun parlor.
where the doctor stood with the group
gathered after the early supper. chat
ting Of the newest "strike" on the
mountain.
"We'll be famous # we keep on" he
was saying as she looked out Of the
wide windows across the haze where
the sunlight drifted down in dust Of
gold. 1--WE mind to stake out a claim
myself"
1--WE pay you better" said one of the
occupants grimly. Anyway. the whole
Of Smoky mountain was staked in the
excitement year ago. There's no
doubt about this find. suppose"
III s on eXnlDltlOu Ut inc Dduh, tnc
doctor replied. more than $4,000
cached in a crevice in the glacial ago
MS neat as n Christmas stocking"
The talk went on about her.
where is the lucky claim?" some
one asked
"Iust below this ridge" the doctor
replied. 1T Is called the Little Pay.
master
The name caught her ear. The Little
Paymaster? That was the name on the
tree-on Hugh's claim! At that instant
she thought she heard David Stires
calling. She turned and ran quickly w
the long hal. TO his open door
The sight of his face Mt first startled
her, for 1t was held captive Of emotion
but it was an emotion Of Joy. not OF
pain letter nuttered In his grasp
He thrust II into her hands.
"Jessicn," he exclaimed. Hugh has
paid It. He has sent the $1,000. inter
,... md
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

the banl In the town no one had
known of the find. 1t had repaid the
forgery and left him handful Of dol
lars ovcr-enough to take him fav
away from the only thing that made
life worth the effort.
A gradual feeling Of apprehension
had come to .Jcssica AN impression OF
blankness and chill that affected her
strangely She stood still. frightened
at the sudden sense Of utter sound.
essness.
She caught up the lamp and. turning
the wick, approached the bed. She
put out her hand and touched the
wasted one on the cOverlct. Then
eobbing cry came from her lips.
David Stires was gone. A GROWING
toy had goldcned his bitterness at the
last moment. and he had gone away
with his sons face in his heart and
the smile Of welcome on his lips.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06
DEATHS IN 1909
Noted People Removed
During the Year.
AN IMPRESSIVE LIST.

Scientists, Statesmen, Art.
lists, Soldiers, Sailors and Kings
In tho World Of Finance Appear
In the Record-The Roll Includes
Royalty, and Civilians of Eminence
at Home and Abroad.
JANUARY
u. Lily. duchess Of Marlborough daugh.
ter OF tho late Commodore Price Of the
United States navy. in London; aged
81
Il Vice Admiral Rojestvcnsky. command
err OF the Russian baltic feet when an
initiated by Toyo's ships May. 1906, In
the sea of japan. in ST Petersburg;
aged 20.
a. Benoit- Consts mt Coquelin, noted French
actor, In Paris: aged CT.
81. Miss Martha Finley. author of the pop
ular Elsie Books at Elkton. Md;
aged 81.
FEBRUARY.
g. John Gilmer Speed. journalist and au-
thor. at Mendham. N. j.. aged o6.
& Catullus Mendes. noted French poet In
Paris.
Is. Grand Duke Vladimir. uncle Of thu
car of Russia, In St. Petersburg: aged
e.
N. retired at Nice, France: aged &C.
z. Carroll D. Wright. soldier. statistician
and educator. at Worcester. Mass:
aged 60.
Is Rev. DIR. Theodore Cuyler. noted min
lister and author. In Brooklyn: aged 81.
MARCH
I. f. J. CLucky') Baldwin. we'll known
turfman, at Arcadia, Cal: aged 81.
{ John II. Starin. pioneer In river and
harbor transportation. In New York
city: aged 81.
10. Maj. r. l.. G. Zalinski. U. s. A., re-
tired. noted inventor and engineer. in
New York city; aged Co.
16. Elinor MacCartney Lane. author Of
Nancy Stair and other novels. at
LynchburG. Va.
.. Col. William Lamb. soldier editor and
lawyer. hero OF the Confederate de-
tense Of Fort Fisher in 1865. at Nor
folk. Va; aged 49,
APRIL.
( Vice Admiral Cervera, who command
ed the Spanish fleet Mt Santiago in
1885, at Puerta Real, Spain: aged TO-
.. Helena Modjeska. Polish tragedienne
at Bay City. Cal; aged IS.
.. F. Marion Crawford. novelist. at Sor-
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

est and principal.
to the bank to
my account"
For q moment
she stood trans
fixed. The talk
she had nechan-
ically heard leap.
ed into signl0-
canoe. and her
mind ran back to
the hour when
she had left the
draft ut the cab
In. She caught
the old mans
hand and knelt by
his chair, laugh
Ing and crying
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

!. Patrick Henry McCarren, Democratic
leader In Brooklyn borough, New YORK,
IN that city.
J. Col. Theodore A. Dodge y. y. A., re.
tired. noted military writer. In Paris;
aged II.
J. Roar Admiral Henry Erben, T.. s. NJ.
retired. naval hero of the civil war
In New YORK city. aged n. Gen. Oliver
Otis Howard, u. s. A., retired at Bur.
lington. VI. aged TO- Prince Hirobuml
Ito. distinguished Japanese statesman
former resident general of Korea, as.
sasslnoted at Hardin, Manchuria. by
Korean.
NOVEMBER.
T. Gen John j. Coppinger. u. s. A.. re.
tired. civil war and Spanish war vet.
eran. In Washington: aged H.
D. William Torrey Harris. noted philos.
opher and former United States com
missioner of education. at Providence
r. L.. aged a.
y. Lionel Trough. once noted comedian
In London.
8. Richard Watson Glider. author ans
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

rento. Italy: aged
Is. Ethan Allen
Hitchcock. ex-sec-
rotary OF the In
terror. In Wash
ington; aged "a.
Algernon Charles
s " in burne. poet
and essayist. ut
Putney. England
aged Y.
FIX United States
Senator III. Z. But
Ter OF South Caro-
lima. at Columbia,
g. c.: aged 70.
Elk United States
Senator VILLA m
Stewart OF NeVa-
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

g. David A. De Ar
mond. one Of the oldest and bes,
known Democratic members Of con.
gress. at Butler Mo: aged IS
DECEMBER
T. Princess Waldemar, noted member OF
the royal family OF Denmark at Co.
penhagen.
8. George Croker. capitalist, In New
York city. aged So
10. Red Cloud. once notorious as the fght.
ing chief OF the Sioux. at Pine f.idga
reservation; aged SO.
II. King Leopold IL. OF Belgium. n Brus-
sells. aged "a.
Is. Gen. Green b. Raum. civil war vet.
eran. congressman and former COM
missioner OF pensions. In Chicago: aged
20. Grand Duke Michael Nicholaie.
witch. uncle of the car OF Russia. a.
Cannes, France. aged Il
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

early return to
the house In the
aspens. d av d
Stires had point
ed out the distant
Knob as q spot
in " b ic b b Q
would choose to
be buried. and the
wish had been
observed. II er
sorrow for his
death had been
deepened by the
thought that the
end had come too
suddenly for Da-
vid Stlres to ha We
rcinstated his son.
This sorrow had
possessed on e
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

a year ago, and
1t had been pre-
scented for pay
nent in n dis
tantcity. the city
near which he
had been picked
up beside the
railroad track.
The forged name
was the same as
his own. Who
W a s ID a V | q
Stires? His in.
therI Had that
city been his
home once and
that infam Gus
act the forerun.
ner Of his flight
nv avt1o2 Uo