davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

Constant dripping will wear away a
stone, and repeated iteration OF the same
idea finally has its effect even upon the
most Independent mind.
Slowly but none the less surely Evelyn
began to let go. To retain her own dig
nifty she was forced to do so. OF spark
ling intellect and vivid personality, she
could not easily assume the role of on
locker, but the lesson was at length
learned, the impossible accomplished, and
she effectually effaced herself.
When the young people voiced their
opinions upon every conceivable subject
when Barbara denounced suffragettes
and Betty with equal ardor defended them
when John misquoted her favorite au-
thor, and Phil labeled the brightest mod
ern essayist as "beastIy commonplace,
don't you know ?'-she said nothing; she
listened with a smile that would have
revealed much to a sympathetic by.
stander.
1t was not that they did not care for
Evelyn-they were sincerely fond Of her
but as a maiden aunt and not as a COM
panion. 1t never occurred to them that
individually she had no existence-that
under their deadly egotism her mind was
being starved to death, her ardent spirit
ground to pieces.
Oddly enough her brother-in-law. lazy,
selfish Tom Reade, understood her better
than all the others. And upon one occa-
sion, when argument had waxed warm
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

and opinions, had flashed back and forth
across the table, he had turned to her,
sitting silent and thoughtful at his side.
and said:
Young fools-aren't they? Not worth
wasting ammunition on them and when
she flushed guiltily he continued:
Don't worry. Evie; won't give you
away. and the rest are TOO blind to see.
Evelyn had been with her sister four
years, years that had taught her II dis
cipline her pride and subdue her ego,
when Gay Travis returned suddenly
from abroad. He had proposed TO Evelyn
the week before her fathers death. and
having been courteously but firmly re-
fused had gone away, seeking in travel
to stifie the restless hopes whose denial
had broken his life. Convinced finally
that 1t was of no use, and like a moth
eager to SINCE its wings again, he re-
turned to America and to Evelyn's nome,
only to learn that she had moved to
Westwood.
A day later found him sitting in Mrs.
Reade's library with Barbara serving
tea and Betty talking witty nothings,
while Evelyn in a big chair by the IRE
listened silently.
Her attitude puzzled him. and he set
himself to unravel II. Her greeting OF
him. for instance. had been kinder than
he had anticipated. but upon the entrance
OF her nieces she had withdrawn INTO
herself and subsidized into mere spec
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

do you think would have any trou-
BILE in leading him around at nightr
Not the least mite"
IF I led him down on the Ice what
would he do?"
''Frisk around like a dog"
And chase the skaters?"
He probably would, If you let MIN
loose"
Mr.. Norton" said the young man al.
ter drawing a long breath, II snouio
want to take your wolf for walk this
evening"
Take him right along.
Should 1t become necessary 10 XII MIN
what would be the damages!
uni don't see why you would nave
to kill him, but If you s. bill VIII
make things right"
"And no one will know about itT
mo one. Say, II you want tnat woit
down on the ice tell me the spot ana the
hour and will have him there
At 7,o'cIock that evening the skaters
began to gather on the pond, and At the
same hour came a report that MI. Nor
toms wolf had escaped from mis- cage
and was roaming about. He mad already
bitten old Mrs. johnson and deacon
Skinner, and other victims would be
heard OF. The skaters began leaving the
pond. They didn't propose TO TAKE any
such risks, The last Of them were just
leaving when Miss Jessie Fayne ana MI.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

Albert Morton came down to the pond
and heard the news.
why, IL that is so then we can't go"
said Mr.. Morton.
But why can't we?' was asked.
Look at the risk! That wolf may be
here any minutei
And he may not be here before next
SUMMER
But IL he is loose Re will certainly
make for the pond
Then let him come. You can protect
me from one old wolf"
But he Is a savage animal. Miss
Fayne."
II came down here to skate, Mr.. Nor
ton, and It will take more than ono old
wolf to drive me home again. If you
are afraid
'oh, no, no, no! 1t is solely on your
account"
But you needn't mind me. Cons on?'
II Mr. Morton was afraid of dogs, which
he certainly was, wasn't it logical that
he would be far more afraid OF a saw
age wolf7 And yet here was young
lady that he was in love with, and intend
ing that very evening to propose to, ban
teFing him on his fears! He had to 60
and yet his teeth chartered al the thought
OF being pulled down and devoured-
Even when they had their skates on
and were ready to start, Ar. Morton lin
gered and listened for the blood-curdling
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

ahead and built it. And / must say
it was a. mighty up-to-date and COM
plete livery stable. 1t had everything
into it a livery stable ought to have
except bosses and rigs, so l says,
Orlando l says, whats the use OF
havin' livery stable if you amt got
no bosses and rigs to deliver out to
folks that wants to hire them?' So he
hitched up his pants on one side, and
cooked up his eye, and spit into the
.-.- ...... ~ .----
where was you, anyway" asked
Sim Perkins, in a vexed tone. "Was
you on the seashore, or WIS you on a
ship, or where was your"
1--WE was in Cap'n Orlando Virgins
livery stable, of course" said Uncle
Ashdod. eve was sittin' in the door
way watchin' the waves slap up against
the door sill"
you was, hey? What was it, a
flood?" asked Sim Perkins.
Flood nothin'r' said Uncle Ash
dod. 1T was the ocean-the Atlantic
Ocean. That was where Cap'n Orlan-
do built his livery stable, out on this
island in the Atlantic Ocean, seventy
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14
By Jane Osborn

bowls that would show the wolf had
struck the scent. Away they went up the
river, side by side, she smiling contempt
uously and he glancing back ovsr his
shoulder at brief intervals with an awful
dread in his heart. It was an inhsIited
fear, and he could not control II. OF
sudden, after one Of his glances back. he
caught the girl by the arm and almost
shrieked out:
The wolf! The wolf, He is after u.s."
He can't be!' she replied.
But he was, and II they had looked .
little closer they might have made out
q skater not far behind the animal.
Hes comingi He's comingT' shouted
the young man as he twisted tho girl
about in his excitement.
Then fight him off!'
Three seconds later Mr.. Morton was
skating for the shore, and alone! The
wolf came up and began circling the girl.
as IL preparatory to a spring, but before
he had closed in the skater arrived and
stretched him dead with a bullet from
his pistol
"Oh, Stephen!"
us this you, Jester
The next morning Mr.. Morton went
home. He had neither excuses nor fare
wells. In two months Miss Jessie Fayne
became Stephen Allaire's vita. An n
fair In love and war, but Il q sometimes
mighty hard on the other fellow.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

See here, now, II you prefer that scamp
of a Morton to me just say so and we
will have it over with" Had he done
so his answer would have been:
Mr.. Allaire, you forget yourself, and
until you regain your good sense I'll ex-
cuse you from calling again.
And then he'd have had to go away
and chew the rag and Cupid would have
cornered him and said:
That's it! That's 1t! Go and make a
fool OF yourself and then blame me be-
cause you don't get the girI!''
Stephen Allaire didn't make such a
break as that He never even referred
to the matter, He became acqus inted
with his rival and treated him as one
gentleman does another. He found him
in the Fayne parlor when he called, but
not by single sign did he exhibit The
wrath in his soul.
Miss Jessie was piqucd. She wasn't
making him jealous worth a cent He
was either too sure Of her, or else he
didn't care for her in the way she had
hoped for. It would have done her good
had he raised a row, but he refused to-.
When winter came along 1t was one of
the diversions Of the village to go skating
on the millpond. Mr.. Ailaire was not a
graceful skater. while Miss Jessie was.
So was Mr.. Morton. Before his coming,
Mr.. Allaire and Miss Jessie had always
skated together, and in q good-natured
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

way she had made fun Of his hitch and
his hobbies. After seeing her and Mr.
Morton on the ice together. and hearing
the public praise of them, Mr.. Allaire sell
dom asked her company. He Just laugh
ingIy asserted that he was like an old
crippled horse, and would leave the
pigeon wings and "curly-kews' to a
more graceful partner.
While he was saying these nice things
there was murder in his heart, or some
thing pretty near It He was a dipl.mat,
however, and he watched the game and
smiled.
One evening the livery stable man re-
ceived a caller whom he was surprised to
see. 1t was Mr.. Allaire, and in a care
less way he asked:
r'what about that wolf you nave herey'
'oh, he's a wolf all right was re-
piled.
ct hear he is a very savage beast"
you just ought to see him attack a
piece of beef!"
'If he were muzzled he might be let
out?'
BLESS you, man, he don't need any
muzzle on to walk the street. He il no
more dangerous than an old hen. He's
an old wolf on his last legs. He was
born in captivity, and has played with
children for years. I have to tell Of his
savageness to keep the children away"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14
ST. NICK'S GALOSHES

his way out of his cage the slaughter
would be something terrible.
The rumor that Miss Jessie Fayne was
hesitating between two lovers had some
foundation. She was not engaged to
young Stephen Allaire, of the village
bank, but everybody said it would make
a match. For months he had had no
rival. Then young Albert Morton came
from the city to visit relatives. He was
to have visited only two weeks, but the
fortnight went past and another and an
other, and he still fingered. He hal been
introduced to Miss Jessie and had fallen
in love.
There was no doubt that Mr.. Allaire
was a good catch. He was a young man
of irreproachable character, and his po-
sition socially and financially was good.
II anyone said that the girl had no right
to take up with a strange god he must
also admit that. there never was n girl
yet who was not inclined TO fiirt a bit
And there never was one and never will
be who did not long to make the man she
loved bit Jealous.
Mr.. Allaire was jealous. A widower
seventy years old can be made SO Jealous
that he will tear down fences and set
straw stacks on fire. Mr.. Allaire was
Jealous, but he had pride and diplomacy.
When he heard the rumors floating
around he did not 20 to Miss Jessie and
say:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

must be as spectator and not as par
ticipant.
She could discuss Barbara's lilac or
candle or Betty's embroidered wolfe with
enthusiasm, but order one for herself,
drape her own graceful body in some of
the dainty stuffs she Observation-Disclosures!
She did not give up the fight suoilely.
She was too spirited to fall out Of the
ranks at command, and for time she
strove bravely to keep her footing and
remain in touch with the social life flow
ing SO pleasantly about her, but almost
imperceptibly the family had impressed
their viewpoint upon their friends, and
her invitations came almost entirely from
older people.
She who had been the leader OF an en-
We'd set at home, found herself making
a languid fourth at whist tables where
ancient dowagers wrangled and revoked,
or dragging through dull dinners, partner
to some tagged old man more interested
in his meal than the slight. aristocratic
woman beside him. She was expected to
satisfy herself with book clubs, charity,
and music.
When Alicia entertained for her daugh-
tiers Evelyn helped her with the sand-
witches and salads, assisted the girls to
dress, and then, tired of body and mind,
retired to her own room to listen the
night through to music whose echoes
awoke longings that nobody about her
seemed either to divine or understand.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

a month later he got a bad attack Of
this here what you might call Great
American Urge. He reckoned other
folks was doin' things he couldn't af-
ford to do, and il irked him. Ash
dod, he says, I wish / could afford
to travel around on trips the way 9TH
or folks does Well, you can'tP |
says. I know it. he says with sigh,
I can't because the cost of Twin is so
high. Cost of livery stables is so
high, you meant l says. Livery sta
bles is all right he says, and l always
wanted one, but there's other things
a man ought to have to keep up with
the times. / wish I'd built me a yacht
instead of a livery stable. ! always
hankered for a nice, ship-shape yacht
of my own he says; and wish-I
wish I'd built a hull to this livery
stable while was about it. If l had
hull under her, and couple of good
masts, and a main sail to her, and a
jib, she be some use to me. l could
sail her around and enjoy things. But
with butter thirty-four cents a pound
and eggs twenty cents a dozen, l can't
afford it,"
"And look at what you have to pay
for meat" said Sim Perkins.
$50 he started right in raisin' the
livery stable on jsck-screws,' Uncle
Ashdod continued, "and begun buildin'
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14
Sim Perkins Conversation Lead Not FolIowed by Uncle
Ashdod Who Prefers to Reminisce ON Good Old
Times and the Contentment "That Was
(Copyright. lsl3)

Copyright. laSJ
because there amt nobody lives on
that shore anyway. l amt goin' to
worry about folks comm from where
there amt no folks l seen there was
good enough sense in that And fur
thermore, he says, I amt goin' to
worry about folks comm or not be-
cause l amt got no bosses or rigs to
let out to 'em if they did come. And
l amt, goin' to worry about hayin' no
bosses and rigs, because there amt
nobody to come for EN- if / did have
EN-. And l amt goin' to worry no
how, because if there was folks, and
they came, and l did have bosses and
rigs to let out to 'em, there amt no.
where for folks to drive bosses and
rigs. There amt no use woryin' for
what you hain't got and can't have
he says"
IF l was goin' to run livery sta
bic" said Sim Perkins, "Pd want"
You'd want it to be a garage said
Uncle Ashdod. And when you had
garage you'd want couple of fleets
OF ocean liners, just like other folks
want. And you'd want a phonygraft
and a foot-power piano and a steam
yacht and limousine and a palace and
seventeen servants, and then you'd
kick about the high cost of Twin. You
wouldn't be contented with a nice,
cosy, little livery stable that was able
to run itself like Cap'n Orlando's,
would you?'
Yes | would" said Sim Perkins
IF | had a libery stable I'd be better
off than | am. All got is forty or
fifty customers that buy clans, off of
me, but a man with livery stable"
"A man with a livery stable that
don't fetch in money has got to spend
money to keep it up" said Uncle Ash
dod. "A livery stable like that one
Capn Orlando had amt nothin' but
= luxury. The only reason he wanted
livery stable was because other folks
had livery stables. No man is goin'
to think up, out of his own head,
startin' a livery stable on a two-by-
four desert island unless he's took no.
tice of livery stables other folks have.
And got to covetin' EN-. High cost
of Twin kickin' comes mostly from
two-by-four desert island income folks
that want to be decked out in livery
stable luxuries, l reckon. Livery sta
BILE! What a Teller ought to have on
a two-by-four island wasn't a livery
stable but a shanty, and / told Cap'n
Orlando so. says, Orlando, you
amt no idjit, but you're one of these
here fellers that can't be contented I'M
less he's got a lot of fxin's he amt
Oot m real ,se for'n
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14
SUBMERCING EVELYN

Not yet thirty-one, attractive and still
beautiful. to the young people of Alicia's
household she was nevertheless a pro-
nounced old maid. Had they seen her at
home, the center OF her own fashionable
circle, this would not have been, but
the blackswathed. sorrowful woman, who
had dwelt with them for two years, had
in their minds no association with pleas
ure or youth.
Their attitude at first amused Evelyn;
1t seemed incredible in an age permitting
women to be attractive as long as they
SO desired, but by degrees she felt its
deadly effect.
II is difficult to stem a current unalded,
and shut away for years from the pleas
ant life she loved. Evelyn had uncon-
sciously lost the vivid interest in things
that had kept her spirit young. When it
awaked again and she prepared to take
up her old life, it was something of a
shock to find herself regarded with
youthful contemptuous surprise. Even
Alicia, who loved her and who we'll knew
what a series of triumphs her life had
been, shared the young peoples views Of
her awakening.
It was an aggressively youthful nouse-
hold-a household where athletics, motor
ing, cotilIions, and clothes formed the
principal topics of conversation, but to
Evelyn it was all interesting enough I'M
til she discovered that her part IN II
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

tator. 1t was not that she was bored.
Patiently she enjoyed the girls nonsense
it was rather that she felt herself out
side Of il all and apparently did not OBJ
ject. Constructing her with the brilliant.
animated girl she had been, he found her
hard to understand.
While not profound Travis loved Evelyn
devotedly, and for the next week he stud
led her closely. He asked seemingly idle
questions OF the girls-he won the ooys'
opinions upon divers subjects. He
talked earnestly with Mrs. Reade, and
hippantly with her husband. and In the
end he mastered the problem. Once as
sured of this fact he FASTENED in search
OF Evelyn, finding her In the library mend
ing Betty's music. She was sombrely
clad-her hair drawn severely back from
her forehead.
When he entered she looked up care
lessly.
Evelyn" he exclaimed, Il want you to
do me favor"
"a favor. Gay-why. OF course-what
do you want me to dor
81 want you to go upstairs and brush
your hair as you used to-
She stared at him wonderingly.
what an extraordinary request and
why should make myself ridiculousT'
rs 1t ridiculous to make yourself at
tractive7'
Possibly not, but must dress appro-
priately."
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

two miles from nowhere, as you might
say. Virgins Island, it was called,
and it belonged to Cap'n Orlando, and
it had belonged to his pa, and to his
grandpap, and to his great-grandpap.
and to"
"All the way back to ADAM" said
Sim Perkins restlessly.
"Purty NIGH" said Uncle Ashdod'
"And 'twasn't much of an island no
how. Twas bout as big as a livery
stable, so when Cap'n Orlando got the
livery stable built on it there wasn't
no room for nothing else. The livery
stable plumb covered the whull island.
Stuck over in one place, / remem-
Der. So
"Why did tn crazy idjit build a
livery stable on an island like that?
asked Sim Perkins with evaporation.
"Seventy-two miles from land and no
room for nothin' on the island but the
stable? l can't sec
Because that was the only island
he had said Uncle Ashdod.
"Why didn't he build it on some
other lands" asked Sim Perkins.
Because that island was the only
land he had" said Uncle Ashdod. Il
spoke to Cap'n Orlando about that
myself, because it seemed sort OF
funny to me. Why in tarnation did
you come way out here TO this island
to build a livery stable, Orlando? l
says. WE'LL says he, 4 always reck-
oned that when got old Id quit
sailorin' and run a livery stable, and
when l got old and was ready to build
I didn't have but enough money to
build the stable, and none to buy
ground to put it on, but owned this
island. My pa had owned it and
"And so on back to Adam, if not
further" said Sim Perkins.
"Yup! Or words to that effect
said Uncle Ashdod. And he says,
so what's the use wantin' what you
can't have. The way to be happy is
to be contented with what you got.
he says, so come out here and built
me livery stable y"
"And no bosses! And no rigs! And
no began Sim Perkins.
so l told him." said Uncle Ashdod.
81 says that very thing in them same
words, or others equally good. You
'tarnal old idjitp l says, you amt got
enough sense to chew hay" l says.
You amt got no HOSES and you amt
got no rigs, and if you did have no.
body would come seventy-two miles
from shore to hire rig from you.
There amt no reason for me to
worry whether they would come sew
enty-two miles from Shore he says,
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

a hull under II, and there wasn't 10
special reason to do it, so far as I
could see, except that it was mors
than he could afford. Bein' a good
American he couldn't be happy unless
he was payin' for somethin' he couldn't
afford"
Il don't believe a word" Sim Per-
kins began.
$50 when he got the foatin' livery
stable launched" continued Uncle Ash
dod, "hc- had a mortgage on her 50
big she was top heavy and she turned
right over, bottom side up. Me and
him swum out from under and ve
clum up on the fiat bottom of the hall.
Now says, I hope you'll be con-
tented for awhileP"
"And was hep asked Sim Perkins.
"Was her" said Uncle Ashdod. He
drew hisself up, and looked at that
fat bottom of the hull, and he says,
'GeeP he says; 'Geel Amt she leveis
Wouldn't she make a great speed
track? Soon as the high cost of livin
drops he says, I'm goin' to buy me
an automobile So he bought one"
But the high cost of Twin amt
dropped" said Sim Perkins, in puzs
zled tone. "You said-he said as soon
As"
whats that got to do with III
asked Uncle Ashdod.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

-1HEN Evelyn Doane's parents died
w suddenly. within a week of each
other, the shock was so over
whelming that her sisters suggestion to
sell her town house and go to live with
her was accepted gratefully. To be alone
was more than Evelyn could endure. and
she looked TO Alicia's cheerful young
household to help her bear her bereave-
ment.
In a surprisingly short time everything
was arranged, and it was not until she
had looked her last upon her familiar old
home that the first doub: as to the wis
dom of her accession assailed her.
But Mrs Reade was SO thoughtful, the
Young people so affectionate, that her
fears soon vanished, and from a strictly
material standpoint she was certainly
well placed. Everything was done for
her comfort. and during the early months
of her bereavement, nothing else mat
tered.
At the end of her second year, however,
when her nerves had regained their tone
and she began to feel an interest in living
once more, she made the startling dis
covery that during her deep mourning
the family had by unanimous consent laid
her gently but firmly upon the shelf
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

kTTHIs high cost of living"
said Sim Perkins, who
= liked to talk on subjects of
importance, "is crowdin' the race to
the wall"
THAT sof" said Uncle Ashdod care
Iessly. "Well, as 1 was a-goin' to say,
this here Cap'n Orlando Virgins
wasn't no idjit. The only trouble with
him was that he wasn't content. So
he looked at this island l was tellin'
you about" ~ - -...
"You never said a word about an
island" said Sim Perkins angrily.
"You never said a word about no
Cap'n Orlando Virgins. You just
start out and yank yarn in by the
seat of the breeches, and"
"See herep said Uncle Ashdod. "ln
the first place a yarn don't have no
breeches, and in the second place l
says to Cap'n Orlando, says, 'Cap'n,
this here island amt big enough"
Big enough for what?" asked Sim
Perkins, in spite of himself.
Big enough for livery stable,"
said Uncle Ashdod. "And it wasn't
And I told him so. But he went right