davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
V.L.BARNES
MZynaHONS BY

questions sne answered: "Oh, moth
ing"
Mr.. Partridge was a little old law
yer, bald and bachelor He re-
celved US with ceremony, bowed us
into his inner Office, where he raised
his eyebrows to his stenographer and
she disappeared. Then he fused an
unusual time over the papers on his
desk, cleared his throat until | began
to feel like coming forward with a
suggestion about drafts on his poor
little bald head, and fell to rubbing his
glasses abstractedly as If making up
his mind how to say whatever it was
he had to say. 10 began to get sus-
piclous. l could see 1t in the way she
sat quite, quite still and held In.
Then it came! The mine-our mine
was up to its neck in water with
every prospect of staying that way.
and We no longer had three thousand
year. 10 didn't vince when the
blow fell. She's like wonderful piece
of steel, anyway. 1t took me some
little while fully to comprehend, so
didn't faint or do anything foolish.
After all, 10 and | had the same
father and mother; It's the only van.
ity | allow myself
Mr.. Partridge threatened to cry,
Instead Of ourselves, as he patiently
explained the details. There was no
hope-he didn't tell us until there was
no hope-the mine was now aban-
doned. An effort had been made to
pump it dry, but 1t was like trying to
pump out the Atlantic ocean.
I'VE have the stock?" 10 asked
quietly.
IT'S not worth the paper it's print
ed on" Mr.. Partridge replied with
groan.
Lock it up just as If 1t WERE" d.
rected 10, and rose to go.
Have you thought"-Mr. Partridge
blew his nose rather inelegantly to
give vent to his feelings-"what you
are going to do to replace that three
thousand a year? Two young, attrac-
tive women left to make a lffing?"
I'm going home. sit down and
think what we're going to do" re-
piled 10.
| began to examine some Japanese
prints on the wall which | knew moth
ing about, just to get command of my
self. was shaking as you do when
you go to your window In the middle
of the night to see the fire-engines
pass.
II don't mind for myself"
10 paused and raised her eyebrows
toward my back. saw 1t quite plain
ly in a mirror set at just the proper
angle. l turned around.
Give been studying Practical Econo-
my, too, Jo." said bravely. Don't
you think I'm going to be game-too?"
10 swept me into her arms as II
some one were trying to steal me
which, Of course, nobody was-and
'patted my cheek.
You're game enough, my dear little
sister, but 1t isn't only Practical Econ
omy we've got to look out for now
it's bringing in something to econo-
mize on" She turned to Mr.. Part
ridge. Here's cir" voice
broke little-"a young, attractive,
weIl-bred girl, who has to get out into
the world and earn her living. We
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23

IAN! now lt's the same thing the 9TH.
or way round. 1t you We're learning
20 ur'Se, and he We're teaching YOU
The position is just the same"
10 shook her head.
"A man with diamond rings wouldn't
be teaching me to drive" she remind.
ca me. Il won't argue it. I'd be ex.
posing myself, for l never heard of
a female demonstrator in the auto.
mobile business. wouldn't be ex.
posed teaching"
YOU certainly wouldn't" remark
ed. thinking of the frumpy professors
who-"But then they sometimes do.
Jo-the professors kiss, mean. I've
Seen it In the papers" She had to
agree with me, too. I'D back you In
any capacity" told her admiringly,
ana the novelty of a female demon
strator might get you the Job"
A female chauffeur" she laughed.
How does 1t sound?"
And from the way she looked at me
| knew she never had considered the
Idea for single minute. I'm sure
Went red, for I'd been In earnest, and
the whole idea seemed so novel and
possible. She leaned forward finally
and clasped her hands. knew from
the attitude that she was resigned
for something.
The trouble is," she unused, ITS
the wrong time Of year to begin to
teach. Another month and all the
schools will be over"
Good" said heartily. so that's
out"
| Just wouldn't think of 10 as a
teacher! She'd grow old and gray,
and have to put spectacles over the
gorgeous eyes, and fall into the habit
of talking theorems and such stuff.
hate theorems!
But then may need time for prep
aration," she went on, not hearing
me, | guess-at least not paying the
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
Gnat's Bite Causes Loss Of Lea,

How dangerous the bite Of an or.
binary gnat may be under special cir.
cumstances even when the best med.
ical assistance is at hand Is shown by
the case OF the wife Of one of the lead.
ing surgeons of Vienna. This lady
was bitten on the ankle while taking
tea on the terrace OF her suburban
villa a few days ago. Inflammation
began on the next day. and despite
local treatment increased so rapidly
that one day later surgical incision
was made. This had to be repeated
on the next day under chloroform.
General blood poisoning had. however,
set in, and consultation Of doctors
finally decided that the only chance Of
saving the lady's life was to amputate
the leg above the knee The opera.
ton was performed six days after the
bite, but the lady Is still In consider
able danger. 1t is supposed that the
gnat must have been infected With
some putrid matter.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
Orioin of SteepIechasino.

The Grand National, though the
chief event Of the steeplechasing
world, was not established until 1889,
because the steeplechase is a late de-
velopment of horse racing introduced
about a century ago from Ireland. 1t
was originally, as the name implies, a
cross country contest between hunting
men, who made some distant church
steeple their winning post. The ear
lest recorded match of the kind was
run in 1852, from Buttevant church to
the spire Of ST. Leger church. in coun.
ty Cork. But what is considered the
first regular steeplechase" followed
the festivity OF an Irish hunt dinner
In 1SO3.-Westminster Gazette. :.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
Why Number 10 Repeated.

Why does the telephone operator al.
ways repeat the number called for by
a subscriber? This question probably
has occurred to nearly every one, and
the answer is given in The New York
Telephone Review. The reason Is
that the calling party" may have an
opportunity to correct the operator
IL she makes an error. The operators,
however, are trained to expect some
kind Of an answer. Their attention
being keyed up to receive a possible
correction in case they make a mis-.
take, it would be Of great assistance
If they were given a polite thank
you" Or some other affirmative answer
in case they repeat the number cor.
rectly.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
BIG NAME FOR SMALL BOAT
Youngster Felt He Had Right to 1t,
Seeing What His PIaymates Had
Called Theirs.

The small boy Of the family had just
become the owner of a 14-foot row
boat and, after the custom which pre-
walls on Great South bay, was entitled
to the title Of Captain" Because
Of his new dignity he assumed crit
ical attitude His first discovery that
things were out of killer on the bay
was announced to his father when he
came from tour Of inspection.
Pop said he, there's two duck.
ing skiffs in the canal, neither more'n
about ten feet long, and just big
enough for one man, and what do you
think they are named?"
Tell me, son."
One is 'Dreadnought L. and the
other Is 'Dreadnought H."
What are you going to call your
boat?"
Il think I'll call her Tndomitable.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
Expected a "Rippina" Time.

A merry schoolboy was about to
spend his vacation on his GRANDPA
theirs farm. He expected to enjoy a
great and glorious time. The day
before his departure, his mother, pass.
ing his room, saw him kneeling be-
side chair in the corner with his
head bowed. AS the lad was still in
the same position when she repassed
the door, some ten minutes later, the
mother stopped.
well, Richard, what are you do
ing?'
The boy looked up pleasantly.
I'm most through" he announced,
with deprecatory wave Of the hand.
Then after another moment or 80 Of
silence, I'm just getting my prayers
said up before 60 to grandpa's In the
country. 'spect I'll be too busy to
say 'em there" he explained.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23

have to decide the best way she can
do that to reflect credit upon herself
and her family"
"And yourself? What are you go.
ing to do?" he asked after minute.
He rubbed his eyeglasses so hard
one snapped and the broken piece fell
to the floor where 1t lay unnoticed
There are thousand things | can
do" 10 smiled.
Don't try to be too brave, my
DEAR" Mr.. Partridge replied. "The
reaction will only come harder He
could see right through anybody just
as if they were newly-scrubbed pane
of glass. Now, I'm not rich, but
want you always to look upon me as
YOUR protector and come to me. I
will help, heart, head and money
bag"
10 put out her hand suddenly, and
the handclasp was like that of two
pals.
"And remember. too. my dear girls,
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
Difference Between Them.

An actor at the Players club in New
York said the other dey:
Il heard in London a good one On
Joe Coyne, the American idol Of the
British stage. Coyne, you know, can't
sing a note.
1T seems that Nine. Pavlova, the
Russian dancer, wrote in the visitors
book at the Peacock inn in Rowsley:
"T dance because l must.-Anns
Pavlova.'
"Coyne. on weekend trip to Had.
don hall, put up at the Peacock inn
himself. In looking over the visitors
book he saw Pavlova's pretty auto
graph, and took up pen and wrote:
"T sing because ! can't. Coyne'."
Washington Star.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
How much salary shan I nane.a
asked eXcitedlY-

How much salary shan nane!a
asked excitedly.
She doesn't want much" 10 said
with hauteur-just that, truly-not
hearing my question, anyhow not an
sWerlng it. Well, should say she
would let any one name the salary.
Where does she expect 10 GET"
| was jabbing my chest with my
two foretingers and distorting my face
70 make 10 see was it, because she
didn't seem to listen to what said
My goodness" she exclaimed. DO
you qualify for all that" She looked
at the paper helplessly-the only
time ever saw 10 helpless about any
thing.
You've always told me that good
looks are a matter Of opinion" re-
piled. so barring looks and Swimming
IN on golf"-I know my A-B-abs o.
golf; drive fairly. but I'm too wig
ely to putt-"why I think might
venture to say I do qualify for the
rest. You see she doesn't say I've
got to do all those thing; I've just
got to speak EN-"
Don't bite of your words. Loulis,"
she said in that calm. cool way Of
hers that's lots more effective than
slap. Breath Is cheap"
III remember, DEAR" promised.
Id have promised her anything right
at that minute.
You're not tactful." she contra
dicted fatty. although she always tells
me never to contradict anything fat.
ly.
y could be If tried" returned.
II know the rules"
y wonder II she would consider you
a musician, and if she would think
you could sing? You've slapped ct
everything generally, but"
I'm sure could squeeze H." I told
her. She only prefers music!lA
who can sing"
Now 10 knows my throat is regu-
lar Trilby throat. The bridge Of my
nose Is good and my diaphragm
from tennis and swimming-is almost
as good as Tetrazzini's.
Nervous prostration!" she musec
finally, gazing at the lines she didn't
see. "A vampire who'll take the best
Of you and will leave you high and
dry In the same condition as herself
| guess not"
why have the constitution Of an
OK" | argued. Il haven't a nerve In
my body. L"
Not now" she interrupted.
Please, may try? May I at least
answer it," l pleaded
1T won't do any harm to answer
it." she agreed, and bounced upon
her so suddenly with a kiss that It
landed on her nose, but" She held
up foreflnger. Oh! why not write
an advertisement yourself, dictate
your own terms, and let somebody
come to you?"
"Oh, I say, 10. but that's two birds
in the BUSH" I was thinking of the
salary part
mo harm trying" she smiled, land
I would call It another iron In the
fire. You haven't the bird in the hand
yet, and anyhow it may not be at all
the kind of bird that am going to
like"
You will notice that she said IT"
instead Of "you." I suppose she knew
the salary part made me blind as Ia
which kind Of a bird 1t was.
True" l said. trying to look az
wise as she did.
went to the desk to write one ad.
vertisement and answer the other.
OF course I answered first. l chewed
the end OF the pen-staff refectivelN
which I know is awfully bad form
Then l looked at 10.
do you Think" I asked, II dare
name three thousand year?"
RIO RE CONTINYIED,
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
New Life.Savlnq Jacket.

A public test was recently carried
out in the Thames, at London, Eng.
land, of a new life-saving jacket. Dur.
ing the demonstration this apparatus
was used by a woman and three men.
The garment consists OF loose sack.
about the length Of an ordinary loungs
Jacket, having a ribbing fitted with a
substance OF greater buoyancy than
cork. It Is so constructed that the
heads of the users are completely on,
of water, thus permitting them 70 taka
food while in the water.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23
that the better looking woman |

when she's battling with the world
the harder it Is for her to keep hef
footing, Remember." This very
solemnly. Now let me kiss you each
on the forehead just as If were your
father, and don't fail to send for me
morning, noon or night if you neeu
me-"
He jokingly climbed upon a mas
sock to deliver the kiss and even then
10 had to stoop, but 1t LETT us feeiins
that after all we were not so terribly
alone in the world I've often won
dered why he never married.
So, 10 and | sat staring at each otn'
er across the room and tried to pre-
tend that losing three thousand q
year income wasn't anything at all
only so much as a broken vase, to DC
mended when We could get our breath.
JOS eyelashes swept her cheeks anu
I knew she was beginning to think.
It's like so many keys on the
piano." | said finally, breaking ST.
lence that threatened to be tragic.
You try to pick out the ones that VIII
give you the prettiest melody. ana
it's awfully hard" I ended. suddenly
aware of it.
Il suppose I'll teach" 10 said, ana
then She gave way just little. !
never wanted to think I'd have TO
teach"
went down on my knees. took her
hands and made her look at me.
You're not going to do anything
you don't want to do" l said firmly
You're not going to do all the sac
rihcing in this family. You're good'
and firm, and strong. 10. and want
to obey you, but away back IN my
get-up there's a good, strong will OF
my own, and I'm going to have some
say about this. Wait! There are
many more keys on the piano; that
tune tangled a bit, didn't 1t, DEAR
Lets play a game" she suggested.
Lets prospect. We will begin with
the things we would like to do and
see how practical they are, then
Or" interrupted, breathlessly,
write a lot of things on a piece OF
paper and stick pins In to see how
they come out"
Perhaps that's as good way as
any," she answered much to my
amazement. 10 has a dear sense OF
humor
She got up and put aside her hat.
then she picked up the gloves and
pulled them through her fingers while
the long lashes swept her cheeks
again
THE car will have to CO. she said
firmly That Practical Economy GER
tainly had seeped into 10.
Its not so much the money the
car will bring, but the saving OF Its
keep" I said. just to prove that J
knew something Of Practical Econo-
my myself. 4
10 nodded like teacher does when
you've answered the question proper
ly; then a smile parted her beautiful
lips. Il
Louie, you're d DEAR" she said. q
was afraid to say so for fear-youd
be terribly disappointed" q
don't know why she paused unless
she wasn't quite sure just what
she was afraid Of, although she's al
ways so sure of everything. But
goodness! There are street cars to
the Country club.
Perhaps l am" replied. "but 10,
I'm not one, two, three beside YOU"
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-23

slightest attention If she did. "You
see don't know thing about 1t, and
then. too, I'll have to get the posi-
ton"
well, where do l come in in this
scheme of things?" I asked. What
am I to be doing all this time?"
10 drew in her breath sharply as II
something hurt, then put out her
hands as If I had tried to strike her.
Il shall do something!" burst out.
Surely, 10, you don't think I'm a lit
tie ninny and can't?"
you're too young" she began.
young! Bosh!" l wouldn't let her
60 on with that. why, I'm nineteen!"
said it as If I'd been thousand.
my mother was married when she
was nineteen. Why. 10, when she was
as old as you. you were three years
old" I was getting rather mixed,
was so anxious to impress her.
| poor old me-" 10 sighed, then she
laughed so heartily l know l grew
red again. "And I've been thinking
all this time that was just getting
a look-tn on life. Why, I'm an old
maids And here I've never even had
a thought Of getting married"
And, sure enough, she never had.
She never had had as close as a
fourth cousin connection with 70
nance. / looked at her suddenly and
wondered how In the world she had
managed to escape; how she had
kept some one from running of with
her bodily.
u suppose I've wasted my time," 10
went on. II know have thrown away
chances. I might have married long
ago and settled the future for both OF
u.s."
"You might have" I agreed, "but
introspection, dear, won't take the
place of our three thousand a year"
Which argument must have made
Practical Something or other sit up
and take notice. "Now Just don't you
speak to me for ten minutes, and I'll
tell you at the end Of that time what
I am going to do"
put out my hand toward the news
papers just to brush up on the things
there are to be done in this world.
After consideration I selected held
over Transcript as wanted the very
best advice going. The first thing
that met my eye was: "The dancer
who is supposed to have caused the
downfall" I turned over hastily.
After all l was looking for the want
column. Two minutes had not passed
before landed on the very thing:
neutrality-suspicious.. Wealthy WON.
an recovering from nervous pros.
tration, wants young. good.looking,
well-bred, welleducated, well-read,
tactful girl for companion. Must
speak French, bridge. football. base.
ball, automobile and golf. Prefer a
musician who sings. Name your own
salary.
g"Well, I'm IT," / exclaimed with
conviction, and passed the paper on to
10. "You would think that woman
had known my qualifications when she
put that In the paper"
10 read 1t. and do believe she
would have whistled II she had known
how. From her expression I thought
she thought 1t was the very thing
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1913-10-10
UNIQUE COLLECTION.

Robert Young, ironmonger, Edin-
burgh, who passed away recently,
was known far and wide as a collec-
tor OF horseshoes. Row upon row,
on the walls Of his shop, hung shoes
dating from the time of the Roman
occupation (those having been found
in Monmouthshire) down to the
present day. Among the latter were
included shoes worn on the day Of
the race by such famous derby win
ners as Lord Rosebery's Ladas and
Sir James Miller's Rock Sand. Ev-
cry country in the world, from Chi
ma to Peru, had been laid under
vIi56a- @
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1913-10-10
YOUTHFUL TAFT is MODEST
Youngest Son of tho President SyI.
IDENTIFY Has No Wish 10 Shine
In Reflected Glory.

President Taft tells a story about
Charley, his youngest son, which III
Illustrates the fact that he is real
American boy and gives his father a
little pardonable pride. Charley is
just in long trousers and home from
school for the holidays. BE shirks
none of the responsibilities of being
the son of q president, but does not
seek the limelight.
Charley was gsest at party OF
girls and BOYS Of his own age, and
had been seated at table beside a
little miss who failed 70 catch his
nanie and did not recognize him.
They became sufficiently interested
in each other to make her wish to
know his name.
"What is your nameT she p0
pounded frankly.
"Charley," was the somewhat liE''
tied information which she NceiTC
This satisfied the little gin Soy
time, but Charley is winsome boy
and her interest grew So she pur-
sued the inquiry further by asking
Where do you liveT
"On Pennsylvania avenue" was
the answer to this. It was true, fol
the White House is located on this
thoroughfare.
What does your father do3" pur-
sued TIE young lady in further at
tempt to place her escort, to which
Charley naiyely replied:
@Oh. he has political position
here In Washington
It was from her hostess hat the
young lady finally learned that she
had been sitting with the SON of thu
rrssident
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1913-10-10
SOCIAL INFliCfloNo.

I nave seen men who neigh like Q
horse when you contradict them or
say something they do not under
stand; then the ovsrRold. who make
their own invitation b your hearth ;
the persevering talker, who gives
you his society in large, saturating
doses; the pitiers Of Themselves
perilous class; the frivolous Asmo-
deus, who relies on you to find him
in ropes Of sand to twist; the mono
tones; in short, every stripe Of alb
surdity-these are social infections
which the magistrate cannot cure
or defend you FROM. and which must
be intrusted to the restraining force
of custom, and proverbs and famn-
lar rules of behavior impressed on
young people in their school dAya-
NJ
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1913-10-10
IT SHOOK HIS NERVES.
An Incident That Made q Man Fsea
Queer For Awhile.

Queer For Awhile.
~One night" said a lawyer, "I
was preparing some tedious plead
ings which had to be submitted to
court the following morning, and,
knowing that | would need every
moment of my time, locked my
self in a small private consultation
room in the rear of my suit, where
no chance caller could interrupt me-
The room is very diminutive, with
only one window, looking into q
court, and no furniture except Q
table and two or three chairs. Well,
worked on steadily hour after
hour long after the city had settled
into sleep and silence. The build
ing was so still could hear even sn
occasioHal mouse scamper across
the floor a,one. At last l concluded
the task and, sitting erect In my
chair, began 10 stretch my cramped
limbs.
CAS- DID 50 my eyes happened
to fall on lighted cigsr stump ly-
ing on the carpet not four feet
away, and | stopped stock still, fro
zen with amazement. / do not
smoke. | had been sitting for hours
In that little locked room. ] could
swear that no one had entered; The
window was tightly closed, yet there
right at my feet lay 9 half con-
pmed cigar with great live coal
Still glowing at the end. 1t seems
ridiculous to confess, but a thrill OF
horror ran through me like a gal
vanic shock. A hallucination of any
kind is an appalling thing; it makes
no difference how grotesque or
homely the subject 1t carries such
frightful suggestion of breakdown
In ones mental engine room.
"Wen, / finally summoned up
enough nerve to stoop down and ex-
anime the stump, and what do you
think it was? Why, a tin foil cap
sule from the top Of an ordinary
quart bottle of mucilage. In strip.
ping it off it had assumed the cir
cular twist of . cigar and, the foil
being brown, was just the right col
or. The red seal at the top formed
the coal. and yard or 50 away the
illusion was perfect. I drew a deep
breath Of relief, but It WIS actually
several days before my nerves re-
sumed their normal tension. -
New Orleans Times-Democrat.