davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15

Sometimes he laid aside his pipe and
whatever work he was engaged upon
and read to her from some immor-
tai noble number. Sometimes the en-
tertainment fell to her and she sang
to him in her glorious contralto voice
music that made him sad. Once he
could stand it no longer. At the end
Of burst of song which filed the lit
tie room-he had risen to his feet
While she sang, compelled to the erect
position by the magnificent melody
as the last notes died away and she
smiled at him triumphant and eXpec-
tant of his praise and his approval, he
hurled himself out of the room and
into the night, wrestling for hours
with the storm which after all was
but trifle to that which ragged in his
bosom. While she, left alone and de-
serted, quailed within the silent room
till she heard him come back.
Often and often when she slept
quietly on one side the thin partition,
he lay awake on the other, and some
times his passion drove him forth to
cool the fever, the fire in his soul in
the icy, wintry air. The struggle
within him preyed upon him, the keen
loving eye of the woman searched his
face, scrutinized him, looked into his
heart, saw what was there.
She determined to end it, deciding
that he must confess his affections.
She had no premonition of the truth
and no consideration Of any evil con-
sequences held her back. She could
give free range to her love and her
devotion. She had the ordering of
their lives and she had the power to
ed the situation growing more and
more impossible. She fancied the
matter easily terminable. She thought
she had only to let him see her heart
in such ways as maiden may, to
bring JOY to his own to make him
speak. She did not dream Of the re-
ality.
One night, therefore, a month or
more after she had come, she re-
solved to end the uncertainty. She
believed the easiest and the quickest
way would be to get him to tell her
why he was there. She naturally sur
missed that the woman of the picture,
which she had never seen since the
first day Of her arrival. was in some
the cause of it; and the only
ls|fiE1i aAf a|'s s||'9 Va s,;s 3lsi
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15

but what do you know?" he asked
quickly, amazed in his turn.
"Old Kirkby, my uncle Robert Matt.
land. told me your story; they said
that you had disappeared from the
haunts of men"
And they were right. What else
was there for me to do? Although in.
nocent Of crime, l was blood guilty.
Il was mad. No punishment could be
visited upon me like that imposed by
the stern, awful. appalling fact. l
swore to prison myself, to have moth
ing more forever to do with mankind
or womankind with whom / was un.
worthy to so associate. to live alone
until God took me. To cherish my
memories, to make such expiation as
I could, to pray daily for forgiveness,
I came here to the widest, the most
inaccessible, the loneliest, spot in the
range. No one ever would come here
| fancied, no one ever did come but
YOU. / was happy after a fashion. or
at least content. l had chosen the
better part. l had work, ! could read,
write, remember and dream. But you
came and since that time life has
been heaven and hell. Heaven be-
cause love you, hell because to love
YOU means disloyalty to the past. to
a woman who loved me. Heaven be.
cause you are here; l can hear your
voice. can see you. your soul Is
snread out before me In its sweetness.
In its purity; hell because l am false
to my determination, to my VOW. to
the love of the past"
"And did you love her SO much,
then?" asked the girl. now fiercely
Jealous and forgetful Of other things
for the moment.
ITS not that" said the man. Il
was not much more than boy, year
or two out of college. l had been In
the mountains a year, this woman
lived in mining camp. she was
fresh clean healthy girl. her father
died and the whole camp fathered her,
looked after her. and all the young
mon in the range for miles on either
eide were in love with her. I sup
rosed that / was too and-well, I won
her from the rest. We had been mar
ried but a few months and part Of
the time my business as a mining en-
eineer had called me away from her.
: can remember the day before Wo
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15

for me. don't deserve 1t, and Il
started on the last journey. I was
going alone again, but she was SC IN
happy over my departure; she chung
to me, pleaded with me, implored me
to take her with me, insisted on go
ing wherever went, would not be
left behind She couldn't bear me out
OF her sight, it seemed. don't know
what there was in me to have In.
spired such devotion, but ! must
speak the truth however 1t may
sound. She seemed wild, crazy about
me. l didn't understand II, frankly I
didn't know what such love was-then
but took her along. Shall not be
honest with you? In spite Of the at.
traction physical, had begun to feel
even then that she was not TIE mate
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15

shames me to say it Of course. but I
wanted better mind, higher soul
That made 1t harder-what l had "a
do. you know"
Yes, I know"
1.-THE only thing could do
when l came to my senses was
to sacrifice myself to her mem,
DRY because she had loved me so; 40
it was she gave up her life for me-,
/ could do no less than be true and
loyal to the remembrance. 1t wasn't
a sacrifice either until you came, but
as soon as you opened your eyes and
looked into mine in the rain and tho
storm upon the rock to which l had
carried you after had fought for you,
! knew that loved You. knew that
the love that had come into my heart
was the love of which had dreamed
that everything that had gone before
was nothing, that had found the one
woman whose soul should mate Nth
NINE"
"And this before l had said q WORD
to you?"
what are words? The heatt
speaks to the heart, the soul whis
pers to the SOUL And so it was With
US. had fought for you. you were
mine, mine. My heart sang it as
painted and struggled over the rocks
carrying you. 1t said the words again
and again as l laid you down here IL
this cabin. 1t repeated them over and
over: mine. mine! 1t says that every
day and hour. And yet honor and
fidelity bid me stay. am free, ye1
bound; free to love you. but not to
take you. My heart says yes, my con-
science no. should despise myself
II l we're false to the love which
my wife bore me. and how could I
offer you a blood stained hand!"
He had drawn very near her white
he spoke; she had risen again and the
two confronted each other. He
stretched out his hand as he asked
that last question, almost as If he he'd
offered 1t to her. She made the best
answer possible to his demand. for be,
fore he could divine what she would
be at, she had seized his hand ant
kissed it and this time 1t was the mar
whose knees gave way He sasl
down in the chair and buried hts feA
In his hands.
CTO BE CoNTLNUEn3
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15

She remembered everything that he
had said to her, and she recalled that
he had once made the remark that
he would treat her as he would have
his wife treated If he had one there.
fore whoever and whatever the pic
ture of this woman was, she was not
his wife. She might have been some
one he had loved. but who had not
loved him. She might have died. She
was jealous Of her, but she did not
fear her.
After long and painful effort the
woman had completed the winter suit
she had made for herself. He had id.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15
CHAPTER XVI.
The Kiss on the Hand.


did it ever occur to you," began
Enid Maitland grayely enough, for she
quite realized the serious nature OF
the impending conversation, did 1t
ever occur to you that you know prac.
tically all about me, while know
practically nothing about you?"
The man bowed his head.
You may have fancied that / was
not aware of it, but in one way or
another you have possessed yourself
of pretty all of my short and, until
l met you, most uneyentful life," she
continued.
Newbold might have answered that
there was one subject which had been
casually introduced by her upon one.
occasion and to which she had never,
again referred. but which was to him
the most important of all subjects cor
;ssstsa Rssh :. ~ T : =.
Armstrong whose name. although
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15

ne mad heard 1t but once, he had not
forgotten, The girl had been frank.
ness itself In following his deft leads
"hen ne talked with her about her.
sell, but she had shown the same re-
ecence in recurring to Armstrong
mat ne had displayed in questioning
her about him. The statement she
had just made as to his acquaintance
with her history was therefore sufi.
GENTLY near the truth to pass IN.
challenged, and once again he erayeIy
bowed in acquiescence.
i have withheld nothing from You.
went on the girl whatever You want.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15


inexarably silent. One was the pres
ent atate Of his affections and the
other was the Why and wherefore Of
his lonely life. She knew beyond per.
adventure that he loved her, but she
had no faint suspicion even as to the
reason why he had become recluse!
He had never given her the slightest
'clew to his past save that admission
that he had known Kirkby which was
in itself nothing definitive and which
she never connected with that pack
age of letters which she still kept
with her.
The mans mind was too active and
fertile to be satisfied with manual
labor alone, the books that he had
written were scientific treatises in the
main. One was learned discussion
of the fauna and flora of the noun
tains. Another was an exhaustive &C.
count of the mineral resources and
geological formations of the range.
He had only to allow a whisper. a
suspicion Of his discovery Of gold and
silver In the mountains to escape him,
and the canons and crests alike would
be filled with eager prospectors. Still
q third work was scientific analysis
Of the water powers in the canons.
He had willingly allowed her to
read them all. Much Of them she
found technical and, aside from the
fact that he had written them, unin.
teresting. But there was one book
remaining in which he simply dis
cussed the mountains In the various
seasons Of the year; when the SHOWS
covered them, when the grass and the
moss came again, when the flowers
bloomed, when autumn touched the
trees. There was the soul Of the
man. poetry expressed In prose. man.
like but none the less poetry for that.
This book pored owe (. she questioned
him about 1t; they discussed it as they
discussed Keats and the other poets.
Those were happy evenings. She
on one side Of the FIRE sewing, her
finger wound with cloth to hold his
rant thimble, fashioning for herself
acme winter garments cut Of a gay
colored, red, white and black ancient
and eyuuisitely woven Navajo blank
ct. soft and pliable almost as an old
,ashioasd piece of satin--priceless II
she had but known lt-which he put
"a, har disposal While on the other
s;ae ,f ne same llomely blaze he
,made Tor her out Of the skins of some
., The animals that he had killed, a
shape!sss foot COVERING hali mecca
sin AID wholly leggin. which she
could wear ove' her shoes in her
short excursions sreund the plateau
and which would keep her feet warm
and comfortable,
r.rmission he smoked as he
~ anioune ths hour, putting
.,ide the past ana the ,usui" gu ~
\ .few nomsats s'ls'n'' y eohten''
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15

itself at the thought Of that woman.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15
CHAPTER xN--.(Continued).

He did not know that Women
have learned through centuries OF
weakness that fine art of concealment
which man has never mastered. She
never let him see what she thought Of
him. Yet he was not without sus-
picion; if that suspicion grew to GER
tainty, would he control himself then?
At first he had sought to keep out
of her way, but shP had compelled
aim to come In. The room that was
Kitchen and bed room and store room
for him was cheerless and somewhat
cold, Save al night or when he was
busy with other tasks outside they
lived togethed In the great room. 1t
was always warm, 1T was always
bright It was always cheerful, there.
The little piles of manuscript she
had noted were books that he had
written. He made IO effort to con-
ceal such things frori her. He talked
frankly enough about his life in the
hills, indeed there was no POSSIBLE
- y, - MI
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15

Armstrong whose name. although
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03

hard-fought fields, but the Sixth Corps broke the line at Petersburgh. To General Wright and his brave men alone belongs the glory and those upon whom General Grant unwittingly bestows it are the last men living to claim honors not theirs by their own achievements.
 "The truth is mighty and will pre- vail"
 The error in history that it is here sought to correct is contained in these words of General Grant, found on page AT of his Memoirs
 "At that hour Ia quarter to five a. m.) Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed, brushed the abattis from their front as they advanced under a heavy fire of musketrv and artillery, and went without f1inching directly on till they mounted the parapets and threw themselves into the enemy's line"
 Had General Grant forgotten the words of his official report of the battle {?
 They were these
 General Wright penetrated the line with his whole Corps, sweeping every UtlIuB D6lOfG ulLug dDu bO us l6Ib GOWaruS Hatcher's Run, capturing many guns and several thousand prisoners.
 General Meade, the commander of the Army of the Potomac, said in hls official report
 "Major- General Wright attacked at 4 a. m., carrying everything before him. taking possession of the enemy's strong line of works and capturing many guns and prisoners. After carrying the enemys lines in his front and reaching the Boydtown plank road, Major General Wright turned TO his left and swept down the enemy's line of intrenchments till near Hatcher's Run, when meeting the head of the Twenty-fourth Corps l (Ord's) General Wright retraced his steps and advanced on the Boydtown | plank road toward Petersburgh, en. countering the enemy in an inner line of works immediately around the city"
 When, General Grants Memoirs were published, the paragraph at issue struck me as remarkable, but its inconsistency was explained by the first lines quoted in the beginning of this article. The evident intention was to break tbe line wherever possible and, as it proved, d, the only corps that did accomplish this was the Sixth. But General Grant said differently. Written by any other pen than his it would have no weight, but
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03
NORFOLK

Rev. H, E. Adriance has closed his summer home and returned to New York.
 Elliott Bond of Winsted, spent sur- day with John Ohristinat.
 Miss Anna K. Shepard, who has been summering in Norfolk, returned to her home in East Orange, N. J., Monday.
 Charles Green entertained a party of friends at roast pig supper at his home Monday evening.
 The annual town meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 2,
 pr. O. L. Thompson, Eugene Smith. Sheppard Homan, A. V. Mabon and Dr. L. o. Bulkley have closed their cottages here and returned to New York.
 Henry Cook has entered the employ of. F. B. Porter.
 Miss MYra Sylvernale. who has been caring for Miss Maria Sheafe, of New York, returned home Tuesday. Mrs. George Clark spent Tuesday in
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03
CANAAN VALLEY

The music of the harvester and ensil- age cutter are heard on every side. Er- nest Lefflngwell being the latest one to build silo.
 Everybody went to the worlds fair" in Ct. Harrington. last week, and pro. nounced it "the best ever"
 Mir. and Mrs. Floyd Canfeld spent a few days in New York recently.
 Stiles Stevens of Hampden, Mass, is spending 8 few days in town, and took in the Ct. Harrington fair.
 Frank Bennett of Livingston Montana called at A. E. Benton's Friday, this be. ing his first to Massachusetts in 36 years. Saturday he started for New Orleans, where after mixing short visit he will return to his home in Montana.
 Mir. Purcell of New York is spending few days with Floyd Garfield.
 It is reported that Mrs. Eva Daggett of New Haven has sold her place in the Valley.
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03
Grand Opera in English. Continued from First PaRe.)

have strictly insisted on ever since, that every word sung, must be clearly enunciated and perfectly comprehensible to every one in the audience, and now it can no longer be said there is no established standard for singing grand opera in English, as the Messrs. Aborn have made standard which is recog. nized today, and accepted by all musical writers and critics.
 "I think all musical critics and observing people will be ready to admit that the presentation of grand opera in English has improved the musical taste. and the love of good music, to a re- markable extentin this country. When the standard operas are presented in adequate style, there is always an enthusiastic response on the part of the public. People who some few years ago thought of grand opera as an ex- elusive form of enjoyment for the rich only have by the production of grand opera in English, learned to enjoy and appreciate the beauties of these master pieces of the great composers. and as one man expressed it to me recently, since have learned co know what good music is, I don't care for the poor stuff; it is like adulterated milk, something to be avoided with pleasure. There is no doubt that the popular musical awaken ing, which one finds in America today, was stimulated. and IS being developed by the presentation of grand opera in English. I think" added Mr Pyke, "that the popularization of grand opera in English is not only an assured but a welcome fact"
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03
h. Minded q Little Bit.

Hans Christian Andersen. the gentle fabuliSt. often displayed the caprices of lo,Uhle and sensitive child, whose floods of sunshine are followed by del- uges of rain. George Brandes, the Dan- iSh critic, told this story of the soft hearted fairy tale writer:
 Andersen was a child of the people and never, even in his old age. did he lose his wonderful chIldlIke simplicity which. If 1t threw the glamour of fairy IIhnd over his creations, was neverthe- less not without its amusing side.
 He was peculiarly sensitive to crit icism of any kind. One day in cafe 6 friend noticed that be was reading in- tently a spiteful criticism of his work written by an unknown scribbler In a newspaper of no account and said to him:
 "'Surely you don't mind what a newspaper like that may say about your
 Anderson looked up, and the friend 1saw that tears were rolling down his cheeks.
 Yes be said, hesitatingiy, T do mind-just a little"
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03

cut through these obstacles, and volun- teers under the gallant Major Adams of the Rhode Island Artillery were ready to spike and disable, if necessary, or, if possible. to seize and serve the captured guns of the enemy.
 The strength of the Confederate works rendered the occupants positive in the belief that they could not be carried by assault. even by the veterans of the Sixth Corps; but the capture of the intrenched picket line during the fight of the 25th of March rendered the penetration of the main line possible.
 With the report of the signal-gun, the gallant wearers of the Greek Cross sprang to the charge. The entering point of the wedge was driven through the enemy's pickets through the lines cheUa~* de frfss, trenches and breast works, over parapets and into the main works of the enemy. Broader and longer grew the gap, as the base of the living WnS NAANOh AOlnOB anu SoAAduG was the effort of the astounded enemy to stay the overwhelming impetus of the fierce assault. After short but bloody conflict the works were carried Tn the Sixth Corps front, together with many battle flags, numerous guns, and up- wards of 5000 prisoners of war.
 The Ninth Corps on the right and the Second and Twenty fourth on the left, drove the enemy, but not until the Sixth Corps had opened the way for them. Indeed so fierce was the resistance in front of the Ninth Corps that General Parke applied to General Wright for support, and first brigade and then a division was sent to him from the Sixth Corps. This detachment of the Sixth Corps remained with General Parke during the rest of that eventful Sunday, and Iejoined the Corps on the 3rd, when the pursuit of Lees retreating army was begun.
 The Ninth Corps had been fighting hard, and under it's able and dis. tinguished commander, General Parke, had gloriously retrieved the capture of Fort Steadman the week before. It is not sought to rob from it, nor from him, one sprig of the laurols won on many
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03
The ArtIat'a Need.

Do you know what is the great es- sential to the artist-to whoever ere ates? The sense of privacy, the power to isolate his own genius from every thing in the world. to be. absolutely concentrated. To create we must be alone, have strange, unuttered thoughts, just as in the realms of the soul every human being must have moments of complete isolation thoughts. reveries, moods, that cannot be shared with even those we love best. You understand thatr'
 "Yes, do."
 At the bottom we human beings come and depart absolutely alone. Friendship, love, all that we instinc. lively seek to rid ourselves of, this awful solitude of the soul, avail noth- ing We'll. what others shrink from the artist must seek."-owen Johnson in Century Magazine.
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03
An Exclamation.

The steamboat came splashing along her course at full speed, and the nrst thing the passengers knew had crashed head on into the pier
 Mercy" cried a passenger as the bow crashed and the splinters flew. "I wonder what Is the matterT"
 "Nothn'." said Pat. one of the deck hands" "nothin', ma'Rm. It looks to me as if the captain just forgot that we shtop here."-Harper's
Connecticut western news., 1912-10-03
Odd Tins For Lottery.

Stranger tips for choosing lottery numbers have been given than even communications from deceased aunt Grant Dun had from Lord Houghton the following in connection with the death of Sir William Stirling Maxwell in 1878: When he arrived at Venice on his last journey the hotel keeper. seeing his arrive alone. gave him an in- different room. No. 10. When be be- came i'll he was transferred 10 better one. No. 8, and. when he became very i'll, to the best the man had at his dis posal, No. 4. After be died the serv- ants took the numbers 16. B, 4. added 90, the number which stands, as 1t ap- pears, for death in the lottery lam guage. and playing on them won So,OOO francs."-London Standard.