davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Vita the Duke de Mora

In the great reception room. high studded and resonant as church, there was a suggestion of the hothouse and the drying room as well. Great heat and abundant light; white wainseoting, white marble statues, immense windows, noth- ing confined or close and yet an equabe atmosphere well fitted to encompass the existence of some delicate oYer-refined, nervous mortal.
 Jenkins expanded with that sunlight Of wealth; he saluted with Good morn- ing, boys" the powdered Swiss with the broad gold baldric and the footman in short clothes and blue and gold liYeries, he touched lightly with his fingers the great cage of monkeys capering about with shrill cries and darted whistlng up the white marble stairs covered with a carpet soft and dense as a lawn to the dukes apartments, which he entered without ceremony.
 and, after a few more directions, dis missed the costumer, The president of the Council of State was standing with his back to the fire dressed in a blue fur trimmed jacket which heightened by it's soft reflection the strength and haughti- ness of his face The bearing and manner of De Mora were then thought to be per lection itself, high breeding carried to its last word. All the dandies of Paris copied his mannerisms of speech and gesture and his clothes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Joyeuse Instructs Paul

NJ Joyeuse the neighbor of Andre
 Maranne was, as has been said, & clerk in the office of Hemmerlinque & Son. One day he remarked, in regard to one of the firms loans to half-civilized power. that it was "skinning the heath en A little too close" The remark reached the ears of his employers and the old clerk found himself out of job. He did not have the courage to let the people at home know; he was in despair and thought of everything, even suicide. Paul de Gery heard of the affair. the Hemmerlingues and the Nabob kept pretty close watch upon each others affairs, and finding himself in need of instructions with regard to accounts Paul went to the tenement where M. Joyeuse lived and engaged him as in-
 structor at a salary which brought joy
 to the old mans heart and prosperity to the household.
 Paul took his lesson at his instruc- tors home and so became intimate with the family and with the budding play
 wright on the floor above.
 Things had been going on smoothly for some time when, one evening as he was leaving the Joyeuse tenement
 Paul was invited by Andre to ascend to the floor above-he had something important to say. Paul followed Andre at loss to account for his strange man. ner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Nabob's Eyes Opened

One day Gery set before the Nabob a true statement of his affairs. He showed him how he was being swindleo and robbed at every turn. He said that he could not longer occupy position ir which he was "obliged to look on at the sacking of the summer palace without having the power to stop it." Jansonulet said that he knew what was, and had been taking place. He saw it all now But he had gone so far that he could not retreat just at that time.
 His arch enemy, Hemmeringue, had triumphed over him and had induced the Bey to put an embargo upon his property in Tunis. He must win that Corsican election at all hazards and, as his fortune which he had brought to Paris had been nearly exhausted by the rapacity of his hangers-on, he must save the millions which were still his in Tunis.
 He had expected to get the cross of the Legion of Honor for the founding of Jenkins Children's Nursing insti- tution, but he had been overlooked Jenkins it was who had been deco rated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Refusal and q Parting

''I am working at the trade of photog- raphy for living" replied Andre cold ly, while I wait"
 Wait for what-literary success?' and the doctor sneered. Do not be foolish I will take you to the Nabob-your for tune shall be made"
 No" said Andre emphatically.
 'Beware!" cried the doctor, ito break with me is to break also with your mother. She and I are one.'
 The young man turned pale, and then "If my mother cares to come and see me, I shall certainly be very happy. But my determination to remain apart from you-to have nothing to do with you-is irrevocable."
 win you tell me why?"
 No"
 The face of the doctor assumed a sav- age and cunning expression; those who knew him as the good natured, open hearted Jenkins would not at that mo- ment have recognized him.
 "Adieu." said he, and was gone. Let us hurry out of this poverty-tricker tenement house, this unfashionahle suualid quarter, and get back among the palaces and the fashionable and the wealthy and the titled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Corsican Election

And now the Nabob went to St. RI mans and prepared great receptld for the Bey. The day came and tll train carrying His Highness slowed Il at the railway station. But 1t did n| stop, and Jansoulet, as he peerd through the window of the carriag g saw the younger Hemmerlingue sittir beside the Bey. The Boy uttered fe harsh words, and the train, gatherir speed, passed on. The Hemmeringu| had again undermined the Nabob.
 The Corsican election, which wa due. must be carried at all hazards nov De Gery went to Corsica in his p; tron's interests. He found that Il Caisse Territoriale was gigani fraud. What property 1t held in CJ sica was worthless, incapable of d. velopment; the millions that Jansoul and those who had been attracted l his name had put into 1t had bee squandered or stolen by the directo of the concern.
 But the election must. be carried, ar carried it was through the use by u Nabob's election agents of large sun of money, by intimidation and ball box stuffing. Jansoulet breathed fir, once more; he knew that his electic would probably be the subject of an il vestigation by the Chamber of Dep, ties, but Mora had promised to see hi through.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Former Friends Now Enemies

This had continued until he was 90 years old. Then, one day being stranded upon the water front of Marseillos with q companion as destitute as himself, the two decided to try an old divining trick to decide whither they should go whither fate pointed them They stuck 6 piece of paper on the rim of hat and twirled the hat upon a stick. The hat stopped and the bit of paper pointed out across the water in the direction of Tunis
 A week later the two men were i1 that African principality. Fortune, which had been so long frovning, now smiled and at present both these golden adventurers were settled in Paris with millions in their possession. One was the Nabob and the other was his former dearest friend, now his bitterest enemy, Hemer- lingue, the head of the great banking house of Hemerlngue x Son.
 Hemerlingue had been established in the capital some time; his business and social position were assured; but the Ma bob was a newcomer, green" open hearted. generous. ambitious of social re- cognition; just the sort of a golden calf Paris delights to crave and so Paris wei comed him eagerly, rapaciously, vora- ciously.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Chat With Monpayon

My dear duke" said Jenkins, "the Honorable Nabob Is coming to Paris, de- termined to become a man of the world, and has taken you for his model. and It would give him infinite delight could he study his model at close quarters.
 "Yes, yes, replied Da Mora, T know all about that-Monpavon has asked leave to bring him to see me. But l prefer to wait and see. I don't say, though, that if | should chance to meet him anywhere else-at the theatre or at somebody re- ception I-''
 70, cried Jenkins eagerly, 'it happens that Mime. Jenkins gives a reception next month-if you would so far condeseend as to honor our poor house
 ''Very well, very we'll" interrupted the minister T will be there"
 From the splendid palace of the duke Dr. Jenkins drove to the club, where the Marquis de MonpaVon had his apart ments. The marquis was at his toilet-it wonderful mystery, which took place be- hind a curtain, with rites known only to his valet. Jenkins fairly forced his way into the outer room, but the alarmed voice of the marquis, from behind the cur tain which closed the door of the inner room commanded him not to come step nearer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
In the Nabob's Palace

But let us get out of this place quick, hop into the doctors carriage and speed away to the refinement and splendor or the Palace Vendome. where the Nabob was giving a breakfast in his newly pur- chased palace.
 A score of persons were assembled in the millonaire's great dining room, where unmistakable evidences of wealth, and new wealth at that. were displayed on every side. It was a strange assortment of men that were gathered there, men representing all ranks of society from the top to the bottom and every country of Europe-yes, of the world almost.
 The master of the house was sort Of giant, sunburned, swarthy, with his head set between his shoulders. his short nose lost in the puffiness of his cheeks, his woolly hair massed like an Astrakhan cap over his low. strong forehead His bristling brows were those of a wildcat in ambush.
 This savage visage was tempered by the lower part of his face where the thick lips parted in fascinating. good hu- mored smile. which gave q sort of St. Vincent de Paul expression to that un- couth ugliness-that original countenance, so oroginal that it forgot to be com monplace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
AlIegory's Significance

The exhibition was opened and tf two works of Felica, the bust and tl allegorical group, attracted much atter ton. As Felicia was looking at the grou there came up behind her the Duke ( Mora. What does the allegory signify? he asked-it was the fox being pursued | the hound. Tt means" said Felicia, turi ing a look upon him, that the fox weary of the pursuit-and-is ready to SUI render"
 The next Sunday as the Joyeuse fan fly with Andre and Paul were havin little picnic in a sequestered part ( the Bois de Boulogne, two people c horseback came riding by them down bridle path. Their horses were clos together and the man had one arm aroun his companion as if steadyng her on ht horse. The man was the Duke de Nor. Aline looked at the woman with him ( the two passed and sighed: 'Pot Felician'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
The Bey Gets a Loan

But the Duke was his friend. The Bey was in need of 5,00o,000 francs; he would lend the Boy that amount, a large part of which he had left of the fortune he had brought to Paris-and thus cut the ground from under Hem merlingue.
 Gery must not desert him now at this critical time. And Paul did not de- sert him. The 5,000,000 were loaned to the Bey, who, thereupon. appeared to smile once more upon Jasoulet. He even agreed that upon the oc- casion of his visit to France, which was shortly to take place, he would pay the Nabob visit at Saint Romans and the Nabob planned to receive him there with a splendor which should eclipse the memory of the feast given to His Highness predecessor, six years before. Hemmerlingue seemed to have gotten the worst of it and Jansoulet was again hopeful.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Comes Paul de Gery

After the breakfast each of the syco- plants took an opportunity for private talk with the Nabob-and went away with checks in their pockets-and large ones, too. They grabbed whole handfuis from the Nabob's golden fleece. When they were all gone Jansoulet said to nm self, well, that's all over.' But an other figure emerged from corner ana presented him with a letter. "Another! thought the Nabob
 But it was not "another;' 1t was a young man from Jansoulet's native town, Paul de Gery, son of former magistrate who had helped the Jansoulets in their poverty years before. He was youth of perhaps 20 correctly dressed. with sallow complexion, no beard, regular features and an expression perhaps too serious for his years.
 He bore a letter from Jansoulet's old mother praying that Paul be assisted. lie was an orphan with two small brothers to support and had come to Paris to seek his fortune
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Secret Escapes Jenkins

Monpavon chatted with the doctor through the curtain and told him now wonderfully his famous arsenlcM pills had benefited him. They spoke Of the duke and of the Nabob. Jenkins in- cautiously let out that he was to present Jansoulet to the duke.
 When he betrayed that secret the cur tain was torn aside, and there appeared q tall, gaunt, cadaverous looking old man holding with two claw like, yellow hahus dressing gown to straight but skinny wrinkled and mottled neck.
 The cheeks were flabby and the hair and whskers snow white except where the valet had just laid on the colorins. There was a great, thin arched nose now shin- ing with cold cream and two keen, pierc- ing eyes that were too bright and too youthful for the heavy, wrinkled lids that hung over them All Jenkins patients had those eyes-the "arsenical pearls did the trick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Call nn Felicia RuYS

The marquis was excited. Come, come! cried he are we not met in front or the same porringer? Let there be no nonsnse. l let you have your share, ana l suppose to have mine. l promised that I would present the Nabob to the duke as l presented you long ago. Do not in terfere with my plans"
 Jenkins protested his innocence upon his honor,p and the marquis Grlnned. Honor is a strong word, Jenkins-let us say that we are men of good breeding that is sufficient" After his little con tretemps with the marquis the doctor drove to the stvdio of the sculptress, e. licia Ruys, in the Rue Francois l.
 The daughter of a famous but dissi- pated and improvident father and of an unknown mother, Felicia Ruys had been left q penniless orphan; her father saying with his last breath to Jenkins, Look out for Felicia" But Jenkins, when the girl grew older, had abused his position and had made advances toward her which caused Felicia to hate him, though now established as a successful artist, she endured his visits to her studio.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15

Her name was Aline, but she acted as the feminine head of the household and was known as "Grandmother Ihen there was Elise, IS, and Henriette and Zaza, IA and F respectively. They were very happy household in spite of their limited means and the gray headed little father, who was dreamer as well as an expert accountant, built many airy cas- ties for them.
 It might as well be said now, before we leave the tenement house. that Andre was in love with Elise and that Elise was in love with Andre But they were not to say anything about it or to think of marriage until that great play upon which Andre was engaged, "The Revolt, should be accepted by come manager, and make his fortune They talked contin- ually about that great play-and the un- sophisticated Andre read 1t to Elise as he wrote it. and that actually without abating her love for him, which shows that she must have loved him very much indeed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Sculptress Disheartered

She was engaged in modelling when Jenkins entered unannounced. "oh, its you" she said. II did not hear you ring"
 Her attractive face and her Grecan head gave the woman an attractive, entic- ing appearance and her beauty was in a manner enhanced by her picturesque and unconventional costume and by the look of zeal and artistic condensation with which she regarded her work. But upon the entrance of the doctor her face be- came overcast with an expression of en- hui and wearness through which her bright eyes looked almost fiercely.
 The doctor was humble and concilia- tory, but Felicia had little but scorn and sarcasm for him in return. Jenkins tried to feel her pulse, saying that he was afraid that she had fatigued herself by overwork. But she drew her hand away sharply, saying: Let me alone. l want none of your medicines. I am bored to death. I could kill myself. To be at the beginning of life and to be so dissusted with 1t is hard"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
A CL AS SIC
 IN A P A c E

.aThe Nabob" is one of Daudets best known works and is considered by many critics as the best of his sus- tained efforts. The character drawing in it is wonderful. each character be- ing clear-cut, distinct and as near per lection as any author ever reached It Is the wonderful part of the story. That Daudet drew largely upon real per sons for his characters he himself did not deny, but declared that those who saw, as many did. portraits of well known people even in the minor char acters were wide of the mark. The Duke dc Mora Daudet acknowledged was drawn from the Duke de Morny, and the Nabob was a real person whom the author had once known. That he drew Felicia Ruys from Sarah Bern- hardt he always denied. Daudet had good chance to study De Morny. for he was, at once time. one of the dukes secretaries, and concerning this he tells good story which illustrates the char acter of both men. When the duke gave him his appointment Daudet said: But, sir, l am a Legitimist," That's all right replied the duke, "so Is the Empress" If "The Nabob" is, as the au- thor called 1t, "a picture of the man. ners and morals of the second ern- pire," we must conclude that manners vastly preponderated in those days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15

a wicked face you had all the time, Jen- kins."
 It was an open secret in Paris that the duke had long been fascinated by Felicia, though the sculptress had so far kept the great man. as she had all other of her admirers. at arms length.
 Poor Felicia, her unprotected situa- tion and her paternal and material an tecedents caused her to be regarded by the roues of that brilliant, but immoral society which glttered and intrigued about the throne of the third Napoleon, as q legitimate object of pursuit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
"Working' the Nabob

Had a long talk with the Duke yester- day. said Monpavon. He talked good deal about you" Really" exclaimed the nabob swelling with pride. Yes he would like you to go into this thing " Did he tell you so?' Ask the governor he heard it as we'll as l."
 The .governor'' was little Corsican named Paganetti, manager of the Caisse Territorial of Corsica, a vast financial en- terprise with suite of fine offices and a great safe in which the clerks stored their dinners at the infrequent intervals when they were paid and could afford the lux ury of dining.
 In short it was a great swindle upon it's last legs and Monpavon had made a bargain with Pagenetti and brought him to the nabob's with the intention of using the scheme for the tapping of the golden Pactolus of which Jansoulet was the fountain head.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
DOctOr's Patient Dies

The day before Jenkins had been wit the duke and note had been presente to Mora in the doctors presence. Jenkii caught sight of the handwriting on Il address and noticed the style of pape It was from Felicia. The doctors ey' shone with bale gleam. The duke ha been in poor health recently. the ccnstaI dosing with arsenic was beginning to to upon him. He told the doctor that l must be praced up at any cost.
 The duke was called out of the rool by the duchess and while he was gor Jenkins read the note which the statei man had thrown upon the table. Whe Mora returned. Jenkins, with smilin face, prepared him vial of medicine.
 The day after the little picnic part had seen Mora riding in the Bois wit Felicia all Paris was shocked to hes that the duke was desperately ill. A coI sultation of eminent physicians was calle but the duke died and the medical facult of Paris. both in writing and by word mouth, denounced Jenkins.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
A Changed Marquis

Opposite the host sat the Marquis de Monpavon No one would have known him for that mottled specter which had burst upon the view of Jenkins from be- hind the curtain that morning. He now looked a man of superb physique in the prime of life with long, majestic nose and the naughty bearing of a great noble man.
 He belonged to a distinguished family and had wealthy kindred. But he, him. self, was poor enough. The friendship of the Duke de Mora had procured for him a receiver generalship of the first class. But he did not stay long at his post, his health would not permit it-and for the past year had lived in Paris trying to get cured in order to return.
 Gossipng. meddlesome people whispered that his health had nothing to do with it-that there was some trouble over ac- counts. But people will talk The mar quis was a great man and moved in the first circles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Same Ienkins Gnssin

Jenkins made this visit not because he wanted to, but because his wife wanted him to, for Andre Maranne was his wife s son by a former marriage. We have said Dr. Jenkins wife. Through fashionable society in Paris ran subdued rumor that the woman with whom Jenkins lived was not his wife-that the real Mrs Jenkins was living in Ireland.
 But in continuation of this story the doctor could show his marriage notice to the woman he called wife published in the papers, always addressed her as his dear wife, and she was received every where as his wife No one could substan tiate in the least the absurd rumor that the real Mrs. Jenkins was a woman living in Ireland.
 It was only another example of the fact that even the best of men-even the great and good pr, Jenkins-could not entirely escape calumny.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
In IJnfashionable Paris

Leaving the studio of the sculptress pr. Jenkins next drove to quite another quarter of Paris. The coachman couo hardly believe his ears when he heard the order given "6S, Rue St. Ferdinand aux Ternes."
 It was a decidedly unfashionable sub. urb, that quarter, and the carriage al length stopped before a five story tene- ment house at the end of an unfinished street lying between tracts of bare land awaiting prospective buildings or 'strewr with the fragments of former buildings demolished.
 Jenkins ascended to the fifth floor tc the studio which was the living apart ment of a young photographer, Andre Maranne. How the youth ever caught c customer in that out of the way place was a mystery-and, in fact, he did not very often catch one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
Offer for Andre

Andre, tall youth in spectacles. was seated at table writing when the doc tor entered. Good morning. Andre. U M. Jenkins" You see," continued the doctor in a most suave manner, that bear no malice. Your conduct has been most reprehensible. You will not live with us and I should be severe in dealins with you. But 1 am not. Your mother wept-and I am here.
 Andre. l have a position to offer you. At last I have been able to carry out my net seheme-a great nursery for children on my own plans will soon be opened. offer you the superintendency of it at a good salary From the day l married your mother have looked upon you as son I had intended to put your foot in a golden stirrup. Suddenly without ex- panation, you left us. You have no pros pects"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
BY ALPHONSE DAUDET
.................s.......
bob's bust Paul had become acquiant

bobs bust Paul had become acquiant with her He was, in a manner, ia cinated by her brilliancy. but t thought of Aline was a corrective his wandering thoughts.
 However he continued to call up' the seulptress and one day she said him: "You remind me of a school friel I once had-a serious, sensible creatu like yourself. I have not heard fire her for years now, but some things y say seem to come from her lips. S looked like this"-Felicia rapidly dr, a little sketch-it was picture Aline. May I keep this sketch?' asked. and Felicia said yes" light Somehow he hesitated to menti Aline's name to Felicia--to tell t sculptress that he knew her form friend.
 of you should ever meet that gir continued Felicia, love her, marry h' But failing her-failfng her'-and t tanned sphinx looked up into the ey of Paul with a look that was no long an enigma. Paul looked at the sketch and bowed himself out of the house" "