davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27

The baron's daughter, the fair Adel- heid who stood near her father, was d young woman of exquisite beauty and the only surviving child of the Baron Validating.
 Near her stood a young man, fair haired, tall. muscular. with a face and head like a Greek god He wore the uniform of captain of Swiss mercen- aries in the service of the Emperor, and such he was.
 He had been on leave visiting his na- tive Switzerland and was now return ing to join his colors at Mantua, when chance had thrown him into the com pany of the baron and his daughter-or perhaps it was not wholly chance which had directed the young soldier in the course which he took toward Mantua.
 For, some time before, being on leave in Switzerland, and in the neighbor- hood of the castle of Adelheid's aunt where the young lady was on a visit, the young soldier had had the good for tune to save the life of the heiress of Willading when her mountain climb ing propensities had placed il in jeopardy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Love and a Handicap

The old baron had vainly offered the youth reward for his daring act and held him in grateful esteem and friend ship. But Adelheid loved the Captain Sigismund and he loved her. This however. was unknown to the baron, who had not the least suspicion that an unknown officer of mercenaries could presume to aspire to the hand of the heiress of his broad lands and an- cient line.
 Nor did Sigismuna aspire so high. He felt that a great gulf lay between him and Adelheid, and had within him a dark secret which told him that, how ever high he might rise, however famous by deeds of arms he might be- come, his birth was such as to for ever prevent him from becoming the husband of the girl he loved.
 And Adeheid. deeply as she loved felt that her father, to whom she was pas sionately devoted, would never consent to her union with a nameless adventurer, and even her own mind from the preju- dices of birth and education, regarded the barrier between herself and her lover as insuperable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Fierce Encounters

IL was at that moment that Balthazar called for assistance and at the sound of strength its direction was diverted, and a lion. But too late 10 reach those who were about to cast the headsman from the gangway. he was just in time 10 catch the body by it's garments when actually sailing through the air. By great effort of strength it's dicetion was diverted. and instead of alighting in the water, Bal thazar as he was swept back on deck. encountered the angry combatants who, driven back on the two nobles, forced tbe whole four over the side into the lake
 Nieklaus and Baptiste went overheard flercely grapp1ing each other. After the storm was over their bodies were found upon the shore, still locked in the fierce embrace of death old as they were, and violently as the waves and winds battled upon the surface of the lake, the baron and Sig Grimaldi, though the ves- sel drfted away from them, managed to keep themselves above water by their strong swimming. Masso called to his dog, which immediately sprang overheard after the swimmers, while Sigismnnd also hurled himself into the lake 10 try and effect a rescue,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Raron's probIesn

A weighty problem was old Melicor de Willading revolving in his mind as he accompanied his host toword the cas- tie. During the storm upon the lake, when, after rescuins the baron, Sigis- mund had fallen, apparently lifeless. 10 the deck, Adelheid. who had become ill an flystereal state owing to the peril of her father and her lover. had suddenly confided to the former that she loved the young soldier and was beloved by him in return.
 So excited had she been at the time that she was scarcely aware of what she said, and after the excitement had subsided and the danger was over neither she nor her father had referred 10 the matter
 But now the baron, filled with the fresh gratitude which came from the saving by the recollection that Sigismund had before saved the life of his daughter vas saying to himself. why should he not forget his pride and the preJudiees of his cast by allowing Adeheid to marry with so noble youth?
 Sigsmund came, he supposed, of q burgher class with which no Wilading had ever mated. The world would talk but what of the world2 His love for his only surviving child was so great that her happiness appeared to him to over balance all things else.
 Should not q Baron Willading do as he pleased any wayP" thought the old man thus bringing even his pride of an cestry to argue on the side of the lovers. We'll, he would talk with his daughter further and also consult his friend Bolnas about the matter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Sigismund's S Paternity }

Some years before the time Of speaking a priest upon his deathbed had written to Grimaldi saying that the we'll known smuggler. Bartolomeo Contini. was his highness' son. and begging that he try and redeem him from his evil ways, an agent of Gontni's has visited the Doge and showed him what he believed 10 be proofs of the paternity of the smuggler.
 Contni refusing to return to the respec- table walks of life. Grimaldi had sent him ring to be shown should he ever hs placed in q position similar to that in which he now stood.
 Balthazar now stepped forward and declared that he believed that Sigismund and not Masso was the son of the Dose. m the exercise of his office there had come into his custody q man who had with him when condemned a male child of tender years Balthazar's own son had just died in the retreat, where he had placed him. but he had not as yas communicated the fact to his wife. feaTs ing the effects Of her grief
 The prisoner, extracting this informa- ton from Balthazar, and learning that the office of headsman was hereditary, begged him to take the infant and bring him np as his own. He declared that he had stolen the child from an enemy in Italy who had robbed him Of the girl he loved and went 10 the block saying that hls revenge was now complete. Bal thazar placed the child with the same family which had formerly cared for his own son and had never revealed the se- cref tO his wife.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
BaItI,azar Seized

The intelligence that Balthazer was on board produced q solemn and deep si- lenee. That fact however, furnished con elusive evidence of the cause of their peril to the minds of these untutored men as a mathematician could have received from his happiest demonstrations.
 The stiffness was broken by a general demand that Baptists point out the man. He obeyed and Balthazar, who was standing now in the waist of the vessel apart form those who could have at least attempted his protection. Was seized bv Pppo, Conrad and a few others and car ried toward the side of the bark.
 The headsman called loudly upon the uobles for assistance. but the nobles were at that time trying to quiet a fierce quar- rel which had broken out between Bap- tiste and Nicklaus Wagner, the rich mer- chant of Berne. For, turning from point ing out The heaGsman Haptiste had come face to face with the merchant with whom he had already had an altercation con- corning the jetisoning of the cargo and now the fury> which had been pent lip in his breast found vent and he struck tue merchant full In the face. The two grap- pied and Grimaldi and Willading hurried to separate them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
A Gathering Tempest

Grimaldi ffowned but. ashamed to Let himself be disturbed by an allusion SD vague and perhaps so unpremeditated, his brow regalned it's habitual composure and he was continuing the conversation when Masso remarked that he was far from content at the aspect of the weather and appealed to the Augustine. asking if il was usual 10 see so deep q calm upon the lake at that late season.
 This called at once attention to the oninous lock of the weather for though deep calm bfooded over the lake out of the dark and cloudy night. fierce storm seemed to the praeticed eye gather ing it's mountain fo; ces to sweep down upon them
 Masso, seeing that no time was 70 be wasted, aroused the sleeping master of the bark and his crew. and. even as he did so, a hot puff of wind came suddenly across the water and then died away again. II was too late to try and make port by the use Of sweeps. even had rot the overloaded condition of the vessel rem dered such a toll too heightened and la borious to lie resorted to under the pres ent exigencies.
 The gathering tempest broke upon the devoted bark and there was at first q scene of wild confusion. Baptiste, over come with terror. gave his orders con fusedly, and was evidently not equal to the sudden call of the situation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Masso Accused

Then Masso was examined Il was brought out that from a distance. before the storm had set ill, some of Nilading's party had seen a figure like hts accom- nanying an unknown traveller. which tray- eler was now supposed to have been Coils.
 In the midst of the storm Masso and his dog had joined the syillading party and accompanied them to the convent Masso declared that he had parted froit the traveller with whom he had been seen and who really was Colis-some tinle before he met the baron's party. He haughtily denied Knowledge of the mer- der.
 And now that we are beyond tho bounds where customs are levied 1 will show you my trade" said he. He called to him Nettuno and, turning back the long hair Of the animal showed beneath it a belt from which ne took a splendid collection of jewels. "rhese,' said he, "I bought in Geneva and have a ensto- mer for them in Milan. DO you suppose that d man with such wealth as this il, his possession would commit murder for the possessions of Jacques eolis9"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Doge of Genoa,


 The sharp eye of the Judge detected a belt on the dog Masso exclaimed with surprise-Area or affected-and undid tho second belt. II contained the money and gems of Jacques Coils! To all questions concerning this second belt Masso stu5- bornly said. You must ask the dog
 Then seeing that he was in jeopardy of his life he turned to Grimaldl, and, to the astonishment of the company, who had not known Grimaldi's rank, cried out. "Doge Of Genoa. known as Bartholomew Contui, here is the ring you sent mel, Your power can save my life
 The noge, who had been travelling sin- ply under his family name of Grimaldi. received the statement of Masso with dismaY, but, looking at the ring, declared that he felt that he owed an explanation To those present.
 He had married in Genoa a girl wha, he found out afterward had been forced to the marriage through the ambition Of her family. She died in giving birth to son. The child was stolen by a kinsman of his dead wife's, man with whom she had been in love and who took this man- ner of revenge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
 Masso, or H MaledettO

Forward Pippo, the juggler, amused the passengers of the lower station with his antics, his fortune telling and his Representations; the meek looking passenger, Muller, sat silent and alone, half-concealed amid the cargo. the pas sengers of distinction were gathered aft in a space which seemed by common consent to be left free to them, and up and down a narrow bridge of blanks, which extended above the cargo. walked a rugged, stalwart man of clear, unfinching eye and determined visage, whose garb partook of that of sailor.
 He seemed not to be entirely un- known among the passengers who had addressed him as Masso or sometimes as II Maledetto--both of which names he answered to, seeming to take the latter ill-omened one in good part.
 In fact. in the underworld of the times Masso. or Il Maledetto, was known as reputed smuggler, both by land and sea, and a man much to be feared withal by those who crossed his wrath He was accompanied by a large shaggy dog of the Newfoundland breed, which was called Nettuno. and which seemed devoted to his master.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Masso Refuses Gold

When apepared al the castle he said abruptly to Willading: .'I have come to the castle at your commands, but haY- ing affairs of my own on hand, l must now beg to know your pleasure. Both Signore Grimaldi and the Baron Willad- ing, after expressing at length the obiga- tlons they felt themselves under to Masso, stroYe to press money upon him, and when he politely but firmly refused to accept fl. they begged that he would name some other manner in which they could be of service to him.
 "Gentlemen. returned Masso earnestly and with more of gentle feeling than he was accustomed to disp1ay, tyon are both liberal beyond my desires. ] have come to this castle to do your pleasure, but not in the hope of reward. You have more than suspected that my life is free < and 1 admit it.
 But il ia q mistake 10 suppose that because men quit the nign road which some call honesty in any particular prac- tice, they are without human feeling. l have been useful in saving your lives. slgnoh. and there Is more pleasure ih the, reflection than l should find in the means of earning twice the gold you offer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Coils Found Murdered

The festival ended. the principal char aeters of this story left Vevey for Italy, and the last scene in the drama which was created by their being thrown to- gether was enacted in the Hospice of St. Bernard, d refuge which Grimaldl, Vtl- lading and their party had reached after nearly perishlng in sudden storm which had swept down upon them.
 Masso was there, and so were Pippo, the juggler. and his diserputable eom- panion, Conrad, well as Balthazar. i2 the great hall of the convent sat an off cal of the canton In which the convent stood, and the magistrate of Nevey upon citizen of which town a murder had been committed
 Jacques Coils, after holding off his mar riage with Christine, had fled. After tho storm the body of Coils was found by the monks In the "deadhouse" adjoining g small refuge below the convent
 He had been murdered, and from tho same dead house the monks dragged out Balthazar~ He said that. upon the de- parture of his daughter, he had unknown to her, set out to see that she safely reached the other side of the mountains. He had been overtaken by the storm and had taken shelter in the deadhouse, mis- taking it for the refuge near by. He did not know that the body of Coils was there until the monks came.
 He was searched. but none of the wealth known to have been carried by Jacques was found upon him. Pippo and Conrad answered readily when qneu- toned: no suspicious circumstances could be fastened upon them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
An Unusual Request

Here is Signor Capitano." he con tinued taking Sisismund by the arm and drawing him forward. Lavish your favors on him. for no practice of mine could have been of use without his bravery If yon give him all your treas ures. even to the richest pearl here he looked significantly toward Adelheid-"yod wii do no more than reason
 A bright blush mantled the cheek of the maiden. and the soldier drew back in the manner in which the guilty retire from notice. The two nobles pretended not to understand the meaning of Masso. and that enismatical person, turning 10 the Genoese. said: 'Signore, you are rich. aged and honorable. and stand high. doubtless in heavens favor-as In that of man. Grant me, then, your blessing ere so away
 As Masso preferred this extraordinary request he lznelt with such an air Of rev erence and sincerity as to leave little choice in the granting of t. and Grimaldi. surprised but not disconcerted. gave hm his benedetion Then the sailor srnug- gler arose. kissed the hand which Grimal- di extended to him and was gone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Herr Muller Talks

Seeing the meek-looking Herr Muller perched among the cargo Sigismund at the command of the Genoese. said These noble gentlemen would be glad If you would take advantage of this oppor- tunity to come down and stretch your lmbs." Herr Muller hesitatingly accepted the proffer
 Are you of Berne or zurich?'' asked the baron.
 "of Berne, Herr Baron'' replied the stranger.
 An" said Willading, there are many Mullers in the Emmen Thai. You travel, like ourselves, to get look at the far famed revels of the Nevasians?"
 That and other affairs have brought me into this honorable company" re- piled Muller. evidently distressed at the personal turn the conversation had talk en; as if wishing to give it a new diree- ton, he turned to the Augustine and said And you father. are journeylng toward thy mountain residence after a visit to the valleys and their people?''
 'Tis a blessed brotherhood" exclaimed the Genoese, crossing himself. 'and all travellers need wish it well"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Sigismund's Confession

Then he confessed to her that so far from coming of the respectable burgher class as the baron supposed. he was the son of Balthazar. the headsman ol Berne; that the office being hereditary ir his family. if his identity were discovered, as il might be at any time, the law would compel him to take up, after his father E death, the office which made it's holder an onteast from human companionship and sympathy
 The distress Of Adeheid now eaualed that of her love She would have flown with him to d land where the cruel Swiss law could not reach them But she felt that her father would never consent 10 their marriage under the circumstances, and to her father she still felt that she owed her first duty.
 When Adelheld communicated the facts to the baron he was filled with sorrow, for he had already begun to look upon Sigismund as q son; but declared that the marriage could never be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Genoese Nobleman Passenger

1t took some time for the noble tray- eler to satisfy the Geneva authorities at the gate, for his passports had not been vised by the authorities of the city he having just arrived there and rushed to catch the boat for Vevey.
 Finally, the Genoese drew forth another document and extended it toward the Genevese officer, saying: 'I had hoped that this would not be necessary" The officer looked at the paper. bowed low, and said. Pray proceed, your high ness"
 Though a swift boat, the greed of Baptiste had so overloaded her that her decks were almost awash and she pro- ceeded but slowly over the ripping waters. Finally, as the sun began to sink toward the tops of the great mountains, the westerly breeze died out entirely and portentious, dull calm fell over the waters with the closing night, leaving the vessel lying motion less and helpless.
 When the sun Is fairly down we shall get the night breeze said Bap- tiste and. with his tired sailors, lay down to catch a short sleep amid the bales and boxes which encountered the deck
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Poke Fun at Herr Muller

But the abhorred person had not been discovered, each intending passenger sue cessfully passing the examination, and especially had the crowd amused itself when quiet, meek looking man, seem ingly of the middle condition of life and of an air altogether calm and unpretend- ing, had passed through the gate.
 Here have we Balthazar at last cried Pippo, a Neapolitan juggler, who was one of the examining committee of the passengers, Hook at the fierce and bloody minded creature." at which words the crowd laughed and the man, who gave his name as Herr Muller, seemed to shrink into himself. And now the vslr- kefreid was speeding up the lake before d westerly breeze which, though it still held true, showed signs of falling.
 For, lured by lust of gain, the mas ter of the bark. who was called Bap- tiste, had added to the delay in the ves- sers sailing by waiting to take on a Genoese noble, Sgnore Gaetano Grim- aldi. and his two attendants, who ar rived at the water gate just as the search for Balthazar being over, the Winkelreid was about to cast off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
Pinno Releases a Secret

All had been arranged, however so that the occupation of the girls father should not come out at the ceremony, though both her parents would have 10 sign the marriage contract. IL was agreed among those now in the secret-Blonay, Willad- ing, Adelheid and Si3snund-that mat ters would be az they were before the disclosure: the young people would ac- cept their hard fate and the journey across the Alps should proceed as if noth- ing had happened.
 A distressing thing occurred the next day in the public square Of Nevey wsen Christine and the young man who was to marry her. Jacques Coils, stood before the city magistrate and Balthazar and his wife stepped forward 10 sign the mar riage contract. Pippo, the juggler, half drunk, came staggering out before the magistrate and cried out that the man about 10 sign the marriage register as chrlstine's father was Balthazar the headsmaa of Berne
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
A Skiljful Rescue

Calmly and sl<lllfully Masso kept heaY- ing line with a moose at the end out board from the bark and then drawing 1t in to try another cast, the while he encouraged his dog by shouting in a voice which could be heard above the roar of the tempest, "Ha, Nettuna! Gall lant Nettuno.
 The two old men were about at their last gasp when the dog and Sigismund reached them. Catching hold of Nettu- nos back, Grinaldi was lowed by the in- telligent anifnau te the vessels sioe and taken on board. while. seizing the baron, Sigismund struggled with his now sense- less burden toward the same place. lie was just giving up in despair when the line which had been so constantly thrown by Masso struck him, and grasping it, he and the inert Validating were hauled on board.
 The old man was with some diff eclty revived, and Sgismund himself was so overcome by his tremendous efforts in bearing the baron to a place of safety that he sank senseess upon the deck. But youth and strong vitality soon hrought him areuni ana ne saw that Masso, now having the bark entirely un- der control Haa leading he- HrrDss the lake toward the Savoy mountains.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27

"has brought up the sad thought of my own poor son. I once had a son, my friend, Il son who was stolen from me tu infancy. who Is still alive l have every reason to believe but lost to me. He is. as far as l can learn, the associate of smugglers and outlaws, Would to heaven that he could have received the blessing
 Nay, he vet may hear of ii, for -eanst thou believe it?-f have thought that Mas
 so may be one of his lawless associates and that some wild desire 10 communi- cate this scene has prompted the strange request I granted.
 The next day Wllading. after con ference with Blonay, told his daughter that he had decided that in spite of the i great difference between their social plans, he would consent to marriage
 between her and Sigsmund. Filled with happiness Adelheid sought an opportuni- ty to communicate the joyful intelligence ! to the young soldier.
 To her surprise and dsmay Sigismund, instead of receiving the news with rap ture, seemed stricken with an agony of despair. "It may not be- he erled-'Yon do not know all-the worst"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
HereiIitarY Doom

IL appeared that when d mere baby Sig smund had been placed by his father with a family in distant canton to be brought up as their own son in order that the boy might escape the hereditary doom of the family. A mock funeral had told the officials of Berne that the son of the headsman was dead.
 Paternal and maternal love had, how ever, induced Sigismunds parents to se- eretly seek out their son and reveal to him. when he grew older, the facts con- corning his birth. The soldier also told Adelheid that he had sister who was to be married the very next day to u young man of Veyey who knew the secret of his parentage but in consideration of large dover had agreed to take her for his wife.
 This sister. Christine. had been living under an assumed name for some time in Vevey, whither her father and mother had now repaired to witness the wedding which was to be d public one, and form part of the festival, for at each such celebration a young couple were mar ried in the great square, and the munici- pality conferred upon them certain sum of money, the which sum Christines pc nurious suitor was anxious to obtain