davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Man Who Didn't Care.


It was the first Of February when
Ackermann's caravan drew into the
ancient city of Damascus. That part
Of the caravan deserted by Nahomed
put out for Cairo Immediately they
struck the regular camel-way. For
tune. George and Ryanne were IN
pitia5le condition, heart and BODY
weary, In rage and tatters. George
now that the haven was assured
dropped his forced buoyancy. his pratt
tie, his tests. He had done all NOR
tai man could to keep up the spirits
of his co-unfortunates; and he saw
that, most of the time, he had wasted
his talents. Ryanne, sullen and mo
rose, often told him to "shut up;
which wasn't exhilarating. And For
tune Viewed his attempts without
sensing them and frequently looked at
him without seeing him. Now, all this
was not particularly comforting to the
man who loved her and was doing
what he could to tighten the dreari.
ness of the journey. He made allow
ances, however; besides suffering I'M
usual privations, Fortune had had a
frightful mental shock. A girl OF her
depth Of character could not be eN'
pectcd to rise Immediately to the old
level. Sometimes, while gathered
about the evening fire, he would look
up to find her sad eyes staring at him.
,Nf hn OF
turn; kind CT clairvoyance blurred
visib!lties, H.: SIZE w"s generally look
ing into her garden ct afentone and
WONDERING We" this horrible dream
would pass Subjects for conVersa-
ton were exhausted IN 40 time. Dig
as he might, George could find moth
ing new; and often he recounted the
same tale twice Of an evening. Sar-
doric laughter from Ryanne.
Ackermann had given them up as
hopeless. He was strong. vain, DOM
ineerng man, kindly at heart, how
ever, but impatient. When he told q
story, he demanded the attention OF
all; so, when Ryanne yawned before
MS eyes, anu TSOlSS NiS" piSIui>' -
the sand, and the girl fell asleep with
her head upon her knees. he drew
off abruptly and left them to their
own devices. He had crossed and re-
crossed the silences so often that he
was no longer capable Of Judging ac-
curately another mans mental pro-
cesscs. That they had had strange
and numbing experience he readily
understood; but now that they were
out Of duress and headed for the
coast. he saw no reason why they
should not act like human beings.
They still put up the small tent for
Fortune, but the rest of them slept
upon the sand, under the stars. Once,
GEORGE awoke as the dawn was gild.
ing the east. Silhouetted against the
sky lie saw Fortune. She was stand
ing straight. her hands pressed at her
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20

sfdes her head tilted baajccs-a tense
attitude. Hs did not know 1t, but
She She was vas asking God why. these things
should be. He threw of hfs blanket
and ran to her. -.
fortune, You mustn't do that. You
viii catch cold"
# cannot sleep" she said simply.
ne took her By the hand and led
her to the tent. Try he said. Then
he did something he had never done
before to any woman save his mother.
He kissed her hand, turned quickly,
and went over to his blanket. She
remained motion1ess before the tent.
The hand fascinated her. From the
hand her gaze travelled to the man
settling himself comfortably under his
blanket. Pity, pity! that
was ever to be her portion; pity!
In Damascus the trio presented
themselves at the one decent hotel,
and but for Ackermann's charges upon
the manager, It is doubtful If he would
have accepted them as guests; for
more suspicious-looking trio he had
never set eyes upon. "a hotel man
weighs person by the quality of his
clothes) Moreover, they carried no
luggage. Alderman went sponsor;
and knowing something Of the integ-
rity Of the rug-hunter, the manager
surrendered. And when George pre-
sentcd his letter OF credit at the I'M
perial Ottoman Bsnk, again 1t was
Alderman who vouched for him. It
had been agreed to say nothing Of the
character Of their adventure. None
Of them wanted to be followed By Gu
rious eyes.
With handful Of British gold in his
pocket, George faced the future hope
fully. He took his companions in
and about town. hunting the shops for
clothing, which after various difficult
ties they succeeded In finding. It was
ll-fitting and cheap, but 1t would serve
till they reached Alexandria or Naples.
"How are you axed?" asked Ry-
anne, gIoomily surveying Georges
shoddy cottonwood suit
"Cash IN hand?"
ayes
about four hundred pounds. At
Naples / can cable. Do you want
any,"
Would you mind advancing me
two months salary?"
"Ryanne, do you really mean to
stick to that proposition"
"It's on my mind just now"
"Well, we'll go back to the bank
and III draw a hundred pounds for
you. You can pay your own expenses
as We go. But what are we going to
do In regard to Fortune7"
"See that she gets safely back to
Mentone."
Suppose she will not go there?"
ITS up to you. Percival; It's all up
to you. You're the gay LNchinvar
from the west. I'm not sure-no one
ever Is regarding woman-but l
think she'll listen to you. She wouldn't
give an ear to q scalawag like me.
This caravan business has put me out
side the pale. I've lost caste"
you're only desperate and discour'
aged; you can pull up straight"
Much obliged"
"You haven't looked at life normal
ly; that's what the matter Is"
(To be continued.)
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20
ST. MARY'S ACADEMY,
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

Girls select boarding and day
school. Thoroughly modern and cul-
tural in curriculum, methods of in
ton and environment. English, mu-
sic and commercial courses offer every
facility to acquire a complete, practi-
cal and refined education. Positions
secured on completion of either the
one or two year course Of the business
department which offers special adj
vantages. Boys under twelve admit
ted to day school.
The Sisters of the Holy Cross.
July 22nd. 2 mos.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20

ROBERT S. BARRETT, President.
and General Manager.
HOWARD w. SMITH, Secretary and
Treasurer.
TERMS:-Daily, l year, $500
Six Months, $3.50. Three Months,
S1.25. One month, 43 cents. One week
10 cents.
Entered at the Postoffice of Alex
andria, Virginia as secondclass mat
ter.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20
ARRESTS MAN FOR SUFFERING

Atlantic City, Aug. 20.-Arrested
for suffering is the unique expert
cnce of Frank Pontaine, employed in
q local barber shop.
Poataine was standing on a street
corner, when a policeman asked him
what he was doing there. The i'm
pedillcnt in Pontaine's speech, always
troublesome, became so pronounced at
his fear of arrest that he was abso-
lutely dumb, and he was locked up.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20

bpildine ships for use in the coastwlse
trade. This amendment would nave a
Dit the American ship yards in open
and free competition with the ship
wards of the world, and would under
existinp conditions of labor, cost OF
living and tariff duties, have operated
most disastrously to the Newport
News shipyards. | did not believe the
amendment was just, and gave my
reasons for it in the speech | made to
which your letter refers. Almost all
nations reserve their coastwise ship
ping for their own ships. Our coast
wise shipping is prosperous, and it is
rendering the public good service at
fair prices. l saw no reason why it
should be struck down. led the fight
against this amendment and it was de-
feated. i am sure I rendered great
service to your city and its shipyards
in doing so, and | was able to do so
witlo out violating my convictions as a
Democrat or the principles of the
Democratic party.
"The second amendment of Mr.. Will
liams provided that american citizens
desi; ing to engage in the foreign
tradc over the high seas might buy
their ships in the open market wher-
ever they could get them cheaper. At
present, you know, American registry
cannot be had for a vessel even on the
high seas and engaged solely III the
foreign trade unless the ship is built in
an american ship yard. Under the
conditions existing in this country, as
above indicated, it has been found that
the American shipyards wre unable to
build ships for this foreign trade as
cheaply as they could be built in for
eign shipyards. For this, and no
doubt other causes, we have had no
ships on the high seas. We are TAX
ing nothing from our shipyards, and
are ;rying without doing that to give
an opportunity to American citizens
10 .@me extent at least, to transport
American products in ships flying the
Amc "ican flag. supported that second
amendment, which as | have stated,
take3 from our shipyards nothing,and
which l hope will contribute something
aowards the restoration of our ship
ping on the high seas. This course was
not only in accordance with my con-
victons as to what was wise and just,
but was in accordance with the policy
outlined in the Democratic platform
and IN the speech of acceptance of our
presidential nominee. The bill at the
same time provided for admission into
the United States free of duties of all
commodities necessary for building
and repairing ships. Under this legis-
lation our shipyards retain monopoly
Of shipbuilding for the coastwise trade
and ere given the right to import ship
building commodities free of duty. It
is to be hoped that they will soon be
able to organize their yards and train
their artisans so as to be able to
compete with foreign shipyards for
ships of all kinds.
~ am sure that the great body of
your people when they understand
this matter will take the same view
of it that you take. In any event, l
have the satisfaction of knowing that
l have discharged my duty in accord
ance with my own conscience and judg
ment, and l have no apologies to make
to any one"
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20
ADMINISTRATION NOTICE.

Having qualified as administratiS
of the estate of John NJ. Young, all
persons having claims against said
estate are requested to present the
same to me, properly verified for pay
mept and all persons indebted to said
estate are thereby notified to make
promnt settlement of the same with
me.
MARY E. YOUNG, Admx.,
627 south Alfred.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20
BUILDING UP MERCHANT MA
RINE

In the Panama canal bill whlch re-
Gently passed the Senate there were
two amendments introduced by Sena-
tor Williams which caused great deal
of discussion, not only in the Senate
but in the newspapers throughout the
country. Senator Martin, Of Virginia
who took an important part in the
framing of the bill has come in for
some criticism which is no doubt due
to the fact that his action was not
thoroughly understood. He has writ
ten a letter in which he states his
views on this subject and this letter is
so clear and in accord with the Demo-
cratic platform that we reprint por-
tions of it. Senator Martin says:
"The American flag has disappeared
from the high seas, and for many
wears our platforms have demanded,
and the people have cried out for some
thing which will restore the Amerl-
can merchant marine on the high seas.
The principles of our party forbid the
granting of subsidies. The old policy
of preferential rates in the duties on
commodities brought in by American
ships can no longer be applied because
Of our treaties with all the great COM
mercial countries of the world. What
then, can we do to restore American
ships on the high seas? The claim of
the Democratic party for many years
has been that the policy of protection
initiated against the reastabllshment
of our ships on the high seas, and the
belief has been expressed that we
should have what is called free ships
that is to say, that American citizens
desiring to engage in the shipping bus
mess should be permitted to buy their
ships in foreign markets. l cannot say
that this has been established as a
Democratic doctrine, because there mas
always been some difference about 1t,
but there has been strong,lndeea d
greatly preponderating opinion IN the
Democratic party that something on
the line of free ships should be done.
Our platform recently adopted in Bal
timore calls on the party to do some
thing for our shipping. Cur nominee
for the presidency, in discussing this
matter in his speech of acceptance,
SAYS, relative to the revival of our
shipping:
we shall not manage the revival
by the mere paltry device of tolls We
must build and buy ships in competi-
ton with the world. We can do it
we will but give ourselves leave s.
'To meet this demand that some
ing be done for the revival of our
ipping, Mr.. Williams offered two
lendmcnts. The first one provided
1t American citizens engaging in the
astwise trade should be permitted
purchase in the markets Of the
orld, where they might buy then
eapest, such ships as they desired L
y and use them in the coastwist
ade. Now, as you know, the Amer.
an shipyards have a monopoly O.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-20

PUBLISHED DAILY.
The Alexandria Gazette Corporation.
Gazette Building King Street.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-15

beard free from mustard. and staring At him
Rrfmly.
70 prevent your being intruded upon7" he asked
with an ugly. mirthiess laugh. you're a movies.
I guess"
After . moments sii.ne. he went to the door.
hung Il open. and shuotsd:
''Biii. come here. Brlr-
A younger man bawled a reply and came swiftly
Nickel heard the one called BIZ sharply sEeiaim.
heard the others persuasive tones. thourh ns
could not distinguish What ne said.
We'll. Jsm. rs Ereat-if ~ works" eommsntsd
BIZ a length.
Both OF them entered N. room J.m srssrse
Nickel eurtiy 10 get up.
Look here. my man" he began. we've q pro-
position for you. Accept q and veil let you 20
and give you = sovereign besides. Refuse. and. the
police viii Be sent for
~wot r. IT, Esspsd Nickel Strike M. Tn sni
Wot g. u7f
IL g. this. Upstairs there us, an ola rsnus-
man who r. extremely ul lie has Just made q
nsv VIII You may know that Two witnesses are
required for a viii Ny brother here would BE-
ons-I uish you 20 bs the other"
and that's siT qusrisd Nickel IN astonish-
msnt
"Thsrs I'll. said len. noddinr -.ro.puss ,bi.
NJ Onsiov's ul-your appearance miEht disturb
him. We want you 10 as him siEn. but ws don't
want him 20 SEE you. 10 might give him a shock
You must BE- prepared 20 swear In a court o. Law
hat you aaW him siEn he name. and that you
witnessed the signatures 10 you aErrs7"
IN course I 90 flarllafen NlrAel. amlinH
vita relief Nat ArrinEton's ny nine. an rt
siEn % anywhere. fa ths ola gent ready. siff
BIZ disappsarsd FOR fftssn minutes or 20. Nietsi
sat On me sdEs q e chair tEiriinE his bat steam
inF Jem rtEardef him thouEhtfuily.
"Hfrht" cried Bill over the b~anisfsra
Cons ur" NODDED Jsm.
Nickel climbed me stairs On hirh feather Hs
luck was IN. he thought: - ovsr-rins-Eoo
biz
IN. room len noddsa 10 him 10 snt.r -as but
fimly ut Hs heard Bn1 say NJ. Onsiow-
here 70 ne ssenud wftnssa. e. ~ entered BID
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-15

the principal hgure. was made up of youth and
Eayety. As they streamed up the broad aisle.
while the pevs and pillars seemed to brighten on
either side their steps were as bouynat as ~ they
mistook the church for a bsll-rooA and were ready
TO dance hand in hand to the altar. SO brilliant
was the spectacle that few took notice OF a singu-
lar phenomenon that had marked It's entrance.
n the moment when the brides foot touched the
threshold the bell swung heavily IN the tower
above her and sent forth It's deepest knen. The
vibration died away. and returned with prolonged
soiemnlty as she entered the body OF the church.
Good heavensi what an omenr' whispered q
young lady TO her lover.
ION my honor" replied the gentleman. Il be-
ifeve the bell has the good taste 10 toll OF SIS own
accord. What has she 10 do with weddings7 II
you. dearest Julia. were approaching the altar. the
BEN would ring out its merriest peal II has
only a funerai-knell for her"
The bride and most OF her company had been too
much occupied with the hustle OF entrance 20 hear
the forebodinE stroke Of the bei-or. a. least.
20 reject on the sinEularity % such q welcome 10
the altar. They therefore continued 10 advance
with undimished gayety. The gorgeous dresses
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-15

swaying In the box. staring int ~. -, -.
court Every one else became a blur III. coni,
see one face only a bald head. rubicupd sbf,
Ing cheeks. bottle nose. hery red mustsch. IN.
TOP o. q blue tunic. A poffeemap !, -
slsrinE a. Nickel dawninS recoEniuon in his eve.
Nlekels voice quavered. shook. Erew silent
The constable leaned forward. He SPOKE s~gIftIv
eagerly, 90 a tatl-coated Young man who SAT i'm
msdiateiy behind Miss onsiow~s counsel.
Nickel pulled himself together. Examinfnr .oy,.
sci sat down. The witness braced hins.if "a
Mr coiiinghsm's eross-examinstion.
few unimportant questions. then suddenly
you tsrs arrested a, D.nisirh on IN. an..nts
% March Tor theftT"
7 vas" mumbIed Nickel
Taken % Winchester - train
Nickel desperately shook his head
stand up. officer" observed the barristsr
DO you recosniEs the constabIsfs
Nickel nodded The game vas up.
Prom the station you escaped
"Tea sir admitted Nickers souriy.
no you happen 20 know the time the train ar.
rived 81 Winchester
Ten twenty said Nickel quickly an. - ~
ten minutes lite
Then perhaps youu ten mi. how "a "a. yst
came 20 witness = VII ~ ten o'clock "a q houst
situatsd tive miles awayr demanded counsel. wiu
a smile o. Intense satisfaction a. the jury.
Nickel could act Hts knowiedss o. the tin,
Esa limited ~ NJ Jsm onsiova directions hs
acknowledged Realizing necessity drove. ~
burst Into a detailed history Of the ntEht5 90
inEs
you siant -, NJ onno~-s re-. you siaar
se Mn slEn' you cant be sure nat "a ras b
who apoke-
The truth dawnsd on fudes. crowded court snt
On nickel Est % all that hs had been trieksd
NJ. Onsiow died a. 1918 ?. ~. ara ms dsaf
% not sian wis.
Had Nickel HarrinEtou not escaped from justice
Lah De been the tramp they thought Mn. tht
hrdthefa pidt might well havs succeedsd A.
thinEa we're while Jsn and Hul ere suu in prison
Nickel has kscoms Eardensr-With only modsr
ate success 7 fsar-to ths wealthy Miss Onaiog
she trusts be vin run straishtsr shsn he plant
Ma assda
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-15
By A. G.. Greenwood

Sign here. Mr.. Harrington" he directed. stll
screening the sick man from view.
Nickel signed. Jem touched his arm. - he
left the room ne heard the invaiids voice-very
hollow. very feeble.
Thank you. sir-thank you"
At the foot OF the stairs Jem handed him a
SOVEREIGN.
Don't forset-rins forty-hvs-rs Jus, ten
now" he said. wit a strange insistence. II We
advertise for you. don't fall to answer. You viii
be well paid for your trouble"
tn not forget" promised nickel making for
the door.
lie SUNK out through the drippins Garden and
reached the road.
"Rummyf' he calculated. blins the sovereign.
and then went on his way.
The Onsiow VIII Case occupied the Probate
Court ana the Interest % London for many DAYS
shout three months Afterwards. old onsiow had
been q reciuse and a miser when ne had fallen
il two %nsphews had appeared. Jem and william.
Who took up their abode "a widehanEer COTTAGE.
Their uncle. % appeared. made no secret % MS
dislike % them. conhdinE IN Dr. Pelham. sho At
tended him. his intention Of leaving hs fortune
70 q sister whom he had not seen for nearly
twenty years.
The two brothers produced a viii dated ne
very DAY % their uncies death. under which
the elder. Jem. Inherited ~ nr. onslow's wealth.
n took The old mans lawyer By surprise. % made
ths viii In favor % Miss ousiow waste paper.
Undus influence waa suspected.
II vas the first time nickel had rsad q news
paper for some weeks TIn that moment then.
be missed the brothers advertisements for him.
lie saw one nov IN The Agony column
"wm hs tramp gho attsatsd an old semitic
mans VIM on the nirht 81 March i5. a. wide
hsnFsr cottaEs. communieats win Nessfs-"
Nickis dropped the paper on hs knees ana
STARED cut o. ne window.
TIE Probsts Court vas thronrsd Nickel vs.
On the Dor Eivinr evidences Yes b. bed azs-
bsnsd 90 be raaainE when us sent asked hin
% witness a documsnt Hs had q pound for bic
trcubis. Yss. Ne VS. sure q me time.
"Slns f~orty-avs - vss" hs began. then sud
denly stepped
Nj lever Isv fen win CLASSY eyes he stooa.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-15

along about a third of the aisle. when another
stroke OF the bell seemed TO hiil the church with
a visible gloom. dimming and o~bscuring the bright
pageant TIL IL shone forth again as from a mist.
This time the party wavered. stopped and hud-
died close together. while a slight scream was
heard from some OF the ladies'. and a confused
Whispering among the gentlemen. Thus tossing
to and fro. they might have been fancifully COM
pared 20 a splendid bunch OF flowers suddenly
shaken by a pun OF wind which threatened TO
scatter the leaves OF an old brown. withered rose
on the same stalk with two dewy buds. such being
the emblem OF the widow between her fair young
Bridesmaid. But her heroism was admirable.
She had started with a irrepressible shudder. as
~ the stroke OF the bell had fallen directly on her
heart. then. recovering herself. while her Rtten-
dants were yet In dismay. she took the lead and
paced calmly up the aisle. The bell continued TO
swing. strike and vibrate with the same doieful
regularity as when a corpse H. on It's way 10 the
tomb.
Ny young friends here have their nerves a
little shaken" said the widow. with a smile. 20
the clergyman at the altar. But 50 many we'd
dings have been ushered in with the merriest peal
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-15
THE WEDDING KNELL
By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Of the tme-ths crimson vefvet csafs. the gold
laced hats. the hoop-petticoats the siik. satin. ov-
cade and embroidery. the buckles. canes and
swords. All displayed to the best sdvAntags on
persons suited to such nnery-mads the group sp-
pear more like = bright-eoiored picture than any
thing real But by what perversity of taste had
the artist represented his principal ngurs a. %
wrinkied and dseaysd. while yet he had deoked
her out In the brightest spiender Of attire. - ~
the ioveiiest maiden had suddenly withered Into
age and become q moral 10 the Beautiful around
herr On they went, however. and had ~glittered
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-15

pews near the altar and along the broad aisle
II had been arranged. or possibly It was the Gus
tom OF the day. that the parties should proceed
separately to the church. BY some accident the
bridegroom was q little less punctual than the
widow and her bridal attendants. with whose ar
rival. after this tedious but necessary preface. the
action OF our tale may be said to commence.
The clumsy wheels OF several old fashioned
coaches were heard. and the gentlemen and ladies
composing the bridai-party came through the
church door with the sudden and Gladstone effect
OF a burst OF sunshine. The whole group. RECEIPT