davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

l"You can trust the precious pets to me-
Meanwhile, you get dressed ana 'ake
the noon train in. I'll meet you a.
| Davison's at one; Wen lunch tnere'
! 70 to the matinee afterwards, ana thell
home to my house. I'll phone 10 d
couple of the girls, and have FREQ ana
Robert come in for an impromptu
hearts party, You'll stay with me LOT d
few days, any way, won't you 9?
"But Jennie, what will Jack say?'
Bother jack" said the special
friend and her tone admitted or no
reply She stood up. "Come, we must
fix the children"
The Brute's wife led the way up
stairs without another word.
An hour later she sat alone in her
pretty room with a half-packed SUIT
case on the floor, and her heart remem-
bering the sticky, clinging caresses OF
Daisy and Bobby, who had hailed an
unexpected visit to 'grandma's' with
reluctant delight. So they had gone,
and she was going, and Jack would
come home on their wedding-da to
an empty house! She bit her lips to
keep back the tears; freedom was bit
ter-sweet, but she must have 1t!
She penned little note and pinned
it to Jacks smoking jacket, the dear
brown jacket that she had give him
that first Christmas in the new home!
With sudden ramorse she tore the note
of and laid it on the dresser instead;
then she folded the jacket into small,
tight roll, and put it into corner OF
her satchel, for old times sake.
"Now," she breathed, sim ready"
She snapped the case and pulled
down her veil. She went moment to
the kitchen before going out.
"Cook," she said, sim going to town
over night, with Miss Meredith. Have
the dinner at seven, as usual, and don't
forget the cream sauce; you know how
my husband likes it. Good by--be sure
you lock the kitchen windows when
you 60 to bed"
The cook looked up with suspicion in
her eyes.
WAS you sick, fam? thought as
heard you groanin,."
The Brute's wife swept out with con-
scious dignity; but as she walked to
the station she felt like creeping,
guilty thing that belonged to night,
not to day. The train was late. Every
one, from the ticket agent to the white
dog with one ear that lived in the
she'd eyed her, she fancied, with dis
approval. She tried to take courage in
the thought that the children were
happy at her mothers, that her gown
looked we'll, that it was just the day
to go to town, the weather was so
beautiful; but she reached Davison's
almost in tears.
Jennie was late! Had anything hap
pened to the children?
The waiter came to take her order,
but she motioned him away; she was
waiting for a friend. She went over her
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

red cherries and green leaves on a
4 field Of brown. They kissed spas
I medically; they always did, even If
they met seven times day. The
special friend sank down on will
low ottoman.
"Well' she said, II came out on
the first train, SO as to have a whole
long day with you. Let's see-just
: six years ago tonight l was brides
maid in sea green, at your we'd
ding"
oh" cried the Brute's wife, clap
ping her hands. "You remembered"
Her special friend smiled.
"My DEAR how could I forget? The
| day Of all days to you and Jack! Life
| isn't worth living if one leaves senti-
ment out, it becomes IA car of Jug
| gernaut, which brushes your spirit, or
it's like air without oxygen-you can't
! breathe"
The Brute's wife stood on the rug,
turning her wedding ring with nervous
fingers.
Jennie" she said, slack forgot"
SForgot WHAT" asked the special
friend. ITO leave money for the milk
bin, or to order the green's for dinner?
Well, that's married life-it ought to
be perpetual note book, there are so
many things to tease ones memory.
Bah, I wouldn't be you for worlds,
love!"
Jennie was eight and twenty and
single; married life had grown small
in her line of vision.
Moo" stammered the Brute's wife;
The remembered the green's they've
just come; but he forgot our wedding
day!"
The special friend sat aghast.
1.-THE brute!" she cried.
If any proof were lacking, the Brutes
wife now had it. Hadn't her special
friend said so? A little flame of red
crept into each cheek.
1T doesn't matter in the least" she
SAND. II have determined to live my
life without him."
The special friend coughed. She had
always had a secret opinion that Jack
had been meant for her, had not un-
kind fate interviewed.
you don't mean a separation?"
The Brute's wife blazed.
Jennie she cried. show can you?
Put me in the papers and bring in the
reporters and be done with it! No,
never, never!" She stamped her foot.
Jack married him-I'-her voice
broke-"I know he loved me once-in-
deed he did, dear fellow, but-but-oh
l can't say it,"
"But he doesn't now" finished the
special friend sympathetically. "Well,
it's too bad, but you won't miss much.
He hasn't taken you to the theatre but
twice since Christmas, and as for a
supper believe you've forgotten the
taste Of broiled lobster!"
We've always preferred Welsh. rab-
bit at home" said the Rrute's wife
stiffly. "He said I made it so we'll, and
it never got stringy."
"For PHYS sake don't get huffy,"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18
The Story Of a
Braue Man and a Copard
ll1HILE the twilight lasted, Ep-

VA7H1LE the twilight lasted Ep-
w roth's eyes were busy with
the whirling winter land
scape. Its placid monotony fitted his
mood. for on it he could superimpose
without hinderance the brilliant pic
lures Of his fancy. Again and again,
so actually that his lips curved in
greeting, the form of the girl toward
whom he was travelling rose before
him. Now only her shy, flushed face
and slender shoulders showed through
rift in the underbrush: now the
whole delicate, poised body swaying
toward him from some bit of wind
swept road.
He had not seen the girl since he
had written her Of his love. She would
be at the station to meet him-he was
sure Of that. He could see her there
quite clearly in the darkening window
pane, could see himself shouldering his
way toward her; but from the final
moment when he should stand before
her. sl1oalA take her hand, his imagin-
alton veered to lose itself in the rep
etition of detail.
The moment-that crucial moment
was still unpictured when, with shr,te
he reused himself and rang for thu
porter to make up his berth. AS he
gathered together his handbag and
magazines, the man in the section OPP
posts his own beckoned to him. and
Eproth, with murmured word of
thanks, dropped into the proffered
seat.
pulled his suit-cases out Of the way of
Eproth's feet, answering the word ef-
fusively. He was little man, over
blond and over-rosy. with the eager
cordially of manner which marks the
travelling salesman.
Eyes, I stay on till noon tomorrow"
he acknowledged to the others ques-
ton. bad way to spend Christmas
You going hon1e?'
The stranger nodded. II always 60
Get home in the morning. Mrs. Clark
my wife you Know
HIS hand went to his watch-c chain;
but the porter had finished and Eproth
rose. Through the curtains Of his berth
he could see the drummer pull out his
watch, open it, and stare long and
steadily at that which fitted inside it's
case.
And she lcakes a hero out Of him."
he mary eled. Veil, my little girl
49," there w:; satisfaction in the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

Fred, pausing to relight his cigar
looked at her curiously, and Tor the
rest of the evening called her Mrs.
Mason very pointedly. She felt that
she hated him.
After they had all gone, she sat on
the bed In Jennie's room while she
brushed her hair. Jennie had only
tiny pigtail that never needed brush
ins; it hung down her back now like
an abbreviated Chinese cue.
.Ada, Fred is in love with you yet,
do believed"
els he? Then he needn't be-the
prig! He isn't worth Jacks little
finger"
Her special friend bridled.
"At least" she said stifiy, he would
have been considerate and kind"
The Brute's wife looked down at her
lap as If it were a most interesting
map Of South America She yawned
counterfeit yawn.
81 guess I'll go to bed" she said,
rising.
"Do, dear, you must feel worn out.
How worry ages one! You look years
older; but never mind, rest now, and
I'll send breakfast up to you IN the
morning"
The Brutes wife reached her room to
throw herself on the bed in passion
Of tears.
He's brute!" she kept whispering.
she sat through the night wet-eyed
and sleepless. till the dawn, gray ana
cold, swept over her face as she opened
the window.
ooh" she gasped, 81 can't stay an
other minute. want to go home"
! With stealthy steps she repacked her
grip, her heart beating at every sound.
She looked at her watch; it was six
O'Clock. and no one would be stirring
for an hour. She wrote on the back of
one Of her cards:
Dear Jennie:
I'm obliged to leave early. Thanks for
lovely time. Come to lunch on We'd
nesday. ADA.
Then she took up her satchel and
stepped out into the gloom Of the hall,
slipping the card under Jennie's door
as she passed.
The stairway was dark, but she got
down quickly and unclaimed the front
door as If it were the gate of Paradise
which she had shut against herself. In
tho vestibules opposite, white capped
maids were busy with cloth and brush.
and the early morning air caressed her
hot forehead and blazing cheeks like a
cool, friendly hand.
She was one Of six passengers on the
home bound train, all sleepy save her.
self! but she felt like. a child going
back, to receive whipping, perhaps,
but to be comforted with sugarplums
afterward. When she reached the little
UNCOVERED station she was all smiles.
she left her satchel with the porter,
and hurried up the hill. She paused
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

Whats wrong? Are you hurt
the thing takes fire
"Cheerful." Eproth commented.
His own courage was the higher for an
audience even of one. Lets be men
about it anyhow. We haven't tried to
get out yet. Here, we'll have some
light on the subject"
He drew a match from his pocket
and struck it cautiously. AS it's blue
flame sputtered up, he laughed to find
that the high, shuddering voice be-
longed to Clark, the little, over blond,
over rosy drummer-not over-rosy
now, but chalk white in the light.
"Oh, it's you, is it," Eproth ques-
toned. well, this isn't much Of a
way of spending Christmas. If we're
going to get free of this place"
He held the match out at arms
length, so that it cast faint illumina-
ton across their prison The space
was perhaps ten feet long and six in
width. At one end a man could sit
erect; at the other, earth and wreck
age pIcSSeU HdIu lOSStAcT. "A Col
floor formed the roof in part, and by
its sagging beams one could guess the
tons Of wreckage piled above. The
match burned at Eproth's fingers. and
he let it fall.
I'D light another, but I've only
three" he explained. II guess we'll
have to feel for it. Careful, though!
Something might jar loose"
One on either side, the two started
along the. walls of their prison, ex-
ploring it with hating hands. Every
where solid surface met their touch
wheels, rails, and timbers close
packed, SO that scarcely hand could
slide between them.
well have to dig for it," Eproth
announced when they had twice made
the circuit.
| He drew out his penknife and set to
work, whistling. The ground was
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

note to Jack; it was very short and
mysterious.
Jack:
I've gone to town with Jennie for
while. Don't write or come. II your
cold is bad. take some quinine ana
don't forget to water the rubber plant.
| ADA.
1t was almost laughable; how JACK
would stare! It wasn't quite the way
they did in books, but then melodra-
mates were silly in real life. She sal
waiting, drumming on the pollsned
/ table with her gloved fingers TIL Jen-
ME came in, smiling.
! "The Riddles are all right" she said
airily. 'I've phoned to all the girls
and Rob is going to bring his cousin.
I've tickets for The Thoroughbred.
Now We'll have lunch-fm starving
for an oyster patty!"
Her mirth was infectious, but some
how it wore of. They were late at the
theatre, and "The Thoroughbred" was
tommy -rot-the heroine sweeping,
up-to date creation who needed q
straight Jacket. There was just one
part that made the Bfutes VIE slt
forward, breathless--the hero, who was
married to sweet, blossomy lt1ie
thing, left her In moment OF anger
to droop and fade away on her stem'
till remorse brought him back. IT was
a happy ending, but 1t was nerve
racking! It stretched the emotions out
like rubber bands, so that when they
snapped back they hurt. The special
(; friend was wrathful.
"Three dollars for that! 1t was like
pie made of dried apples! Come, wen
order the ices FOR tonight-or would
you have just frappe?"
The Brute's wife assented miserably.
| It was after six, and Jack was Whirring
home on the train; she tried to follow
his movements, and kept looking at her
watch till she saw the twelve numbers
at once through her tears, like snake
fence around tiny crystal pond. Jen-
ME ratified on, unconscious.
goodness" she cried, well be late
for dinner! Come, Ada, told the girls
to get over early!"
The evening was like a nightmare;
they came they laughed, they talked,
they played hearts till midnight. They
all asked her where her husband was,
and told her she looked quite "gone"
about something; 1t must be spring
fever-the kind one gets in the fall.
When they began to tell one another
old love stories Of the boy-and-gi
period, it grew positively painful. Fred
had been her own first sweetheart.
"Do you remember the valentines,
Ada?" he laughed. Hearts all stuck
with arrows; and the candies-it's a
wonder they didn't give you chronic
indigestion! And then Jack came along
and spoiled it all, the brute!"
She recoiled as from blow.
"you mustn't call him that" she
said sharply. "He-he isn't!"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

before her own gate, an expectant lightJ
in her eyes, till she remembered with
pang that the Riddles were not there;
but there was Jack. With q sigh, she
fitted her key in the lock.
1t was just seven by the little gilt
clock as she looked into the parlor.
The alabaster boy seemed to throw
her silent greeting. She slipped up
stairs and pushed open her own door.
Jack was there by the window. hold
ing in his hand her torn note. As she
came into the room he turned, and
she saw his face worn and hagsard.
"Ada! was all he said. but no en-
dearment could have meant more.
She came over, and with her hands
in his told him all.
81 worried so,' hs said. mot to finu
you or the children, was like finding
oneself alone in graveyard. Your note
told me nothing. Cook insisted you'd
had spasms. but knew that wasn't
so. I'd bought tickets for The
Thoroughbred'-of course they were
wasted"
She laughed hysterically.
"Jack, dear you did remember, after
ALI" He started at her. "Our wedding
day, dear! You didn't forget-you got
those tickets to surprise ma!"
There was entreaty in her voice. He
shook his head.
II didn't, Ada. BY George, how can
man remember he's been married for
years when he has wife who makes
:; time stand still? didn't remember. I
don't think of those little things; but
l do love you, Ada!"
She stroked his sleeve, repentant.
1T doesn't matter" she said, "now!"
"Ada, I've been tyrannical, guess,
about some things. thought we didn't
need the world and his wife to make us
happy. I've kept you housed too much.
mo, no." she whispered. I'm the
one-Pve been silly"
"well." he said, perhaps we're both
to blame. Let's begin over again with
breakfast"
slack" she said. "1ll go down on the
train with you, and got the kiddies.
Won't that be nice?"
He fumbled in his pocket, and with
a mans idea Of reparation drew out
some bills.
"Here." he said, "stop and buy
gown or q hat"
"A hat like Jennie's. Jack-with
cherries?"
Bother Jennie! She's an old maid
Come to breakfast"
The cook. suspicious-eyed, waited on
them at table. During one Of her exits.
Ada leaned over to whisper to Jack:
a"Say something nice to her! Tell her
the cakes are good. She's not prize.
but it's so hard to, make them stay!"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

frozen and sewn thick with stones IL
needed only an effort to show the i'm
possibility of escape by such means,
but he kept on, rejoicing aloud over
each displaced pebble. He had been
perhaps ten minutes at his task when
Clark clutched at his arm.
"Look..' he gasped. Look"
Across the upper end Of the chamber
had dawned slow flicker of light, now
visible, now withdrawn, as If cur
tain f1uttered between the place and
lay. Watching it. the penknife drop
ped from Eproth's grasp and his
clasped hands pressed lis throat.
"Fire!" he breathed through locked
teeth.
At the word, the drummer flung
himself upon the ground, sobbing with
the abandon of child. Eproth tug
ged at his shoulder.
Get up!" he shouted. Get up,
tell you! We've got to find way out
now!"
But this time the collapses was com
plete. The man was limp in his
grasp and would only raise his head
from time to time to watch the tell
tale light. Eproth left him after a
moment. There was no time for eau
ton now. Desperately he flung his
strength against walls and roof Not
a tremor in the close-set frame of
wood and steel rewarded him. Again
and again he made the round and all
the while the, light within the place
grew steadily from dim to bright No
noice accompanied the change. There
was something uncanny in the quiet
ess of its growth. he sobbing breath
of the drummer was the only sound
audible. Eproth drew farther away
from him in utter scorn.
"You might die like man," he
urged savageiy. Its no worse for you
than for me-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

this he could not see, nor could he STIR
for even a inch the rails which limited
his view.
He had Just made sure of this latter
fact when the use Of the opening
dawned upon him. It was not escape
from that he was as far as ever
but at least it was opportunity. God
willing-the phrase came reverently IN
his peril-God willing she should have
one final message from him; she
should hold her hero worship to the
end.
He drew out his flask and emptied
it tapping it gently on the ground TIL
it was quite dry Then, on a blank
leaf of his notebook, he set about the
composition of his letter. The super
scription was easy: Whoever finds
this, forward it to Alice NJ. Howard,
Rocca City, Pennsylvania" He hesi-
tated a moment before adding: For
the love Of God.
But for the letter itself! my dear
lAlice"-no, he had written her so for
wears. Dear girl'-but that was
commonplace; this must be supreme,
must embody the whole circumference
of their love. He was long time at
the work, and when it was finished
read over what he had written, only
half content.
"Beloved"-that had been his final
choice--"tfis is the last time I shall
call YOU SO. / shall think it to the
J end There has been wreck, and we
are trapped under the ruins. The fire
il coming toward us. Only God-the
God who must comfort you, sweet
heart-can save us from a horrible
death. There is another man in the
trap but he, poor fellow, is crazed with
fear, and can only moan and call upon
This wife and babble Of the torture that
is before u.s. keep silence, for death
by fire means only death from you,
shall think Of you to the end. II shall
love you to the end, and by that fact
1 claim you No other man can come
into your life, for no other man can
lever prove his love as / have proved
it. Remember me. Alice! From death
itself / call to you. From death itself
| I thank you and bless you, dear, for
all you have been to me-
times, dissatisfied. When finally he
had folded his letter in narrow creases
and dropped It through the neck Of
the bottle, he looked across to his COM
panion. After all. the coward had a
wife. He thrust notebook and PEN
Gil toward the other at the length of
an outstretched arm.
|
"I1arA n va, wa Mt IN sand mt, ~ As
sage. have found place where l
can drop It through Quick, though
Clark looked at him DULY, but when
he had grasped the meaning of the
words he seized the proffered pencil
with feverish eagerness. Eproth mo-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

Clark stirred little. They could
see each others faces now, and he
looked up.
But to burnt" he muttered "And
my Wife"
Shed be proud Of you!" cried Ep-
roth brutally 1t hurt intolerably, this
renewed thought of the girl. "See
here, how old are you?"
'How old? Thirty
Thirty! I'm thirty three And you
are married. She's carried your name,
and borne a child to you, while I--oh,
I'm not going to end up here!"
He seized the open knife and struck
it deep into the earth. The blade
snapped under his hand, and he flung
the haft from him with sort Of
laugh.
"Hold hard now! No good in that"
he diminished himself. but il I
could even let her know played the
man.
The chamber had become as bright
as day. At its narrower western end
every chink and Granny gave forth a
light like sunshine, and heavy,
rushing sound like the noise of q
strong wind filled the place Clark
had drawn himself to sitting pos
ture, his head upon his knees, both
hands shutting out the light; but for
Eproth action was imperative. He
crawled to the wider end Of the trap,
seeking not egress so much as the
relief of movement. Wherever a sha-
dow suggested opening, wherever. a
timber slanted as IL force might drive
1t back, he tried his strength.
When at last his hand slipped be-
tween two rails, to find a freer space
beyond them, his breath drew in with
a Joy like the joy of rescue. He
wrenched his arm free and placed hts
face at the opening. Far down, a sheer
drop to its surface, the stars siittered
ldizzily in running water. More than
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-18

He Brutes wife leaned against the
= parlor cabinet, with utter disre-
gard for the dangerous proximity of
her pet Sevres vase. He was a brute!
She had asserted it with tears, after
he had started for the station without
remembering that it was her wedding
day. To wake up after six years of
married life to find one had IA brute
for a husband! Once he had been a
prince, the Prince Charming of her
elrlhood dreams but oh, the terrible
metamorphosis, he was q prince no
longer-he was just q brute!
Two fresh tears started from under
her reclaimed eyelids. but she furtively
wiped them away with a. corner of the
duster. Not even the alabaster boy in
the corner should see her weep. She
wasn't exactly anxious to be strong
minded-strong- minded women were
out of place In suburban homes; but
she didn't intend to be one OF those
meek, miserable mortals-she was
charmed at the alliteration-whose
Nfs became tragedy Of tears.
She might just as we'll stare facts in
tho face. He was brute, and she was
tied to him till the day-after- at
all; but--but what? That "but" was
door Of emancipation, beyond which
lay tho broad. beautiful acres of
woman's liberty. She didn't doubt they
were beautiful; the untried is always
beautiful.
The front door bell rang. It was her
special friend. In q spick and span tall
ormdae and ravishing new hat, with