davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23

tel by the compiacent manner in which
their hair was combed and by the il.
terest they found in the scenery which
he had come. by tedious familiarity,
to loathe and scorn.
The actions of two young women
near the door attracted his attention.
From their actions he suddenly gather
ed that they were discussing him-and
in a more or less facetious fashion at
that. They whispered and looked shy
and grinned in q most disconcerting
manner. He turned red about the ears
and began TO wonder fercely why bis
eggs and coffee were so slow In COM
Ing. Then, 10 his CONSERVATION, the
young women, plainly of the serving
class. bore down upon him with abash-
ed smiles. He noticed for the first
time that one Of them was carrying q
very small child in her arms. AS she
came alongside. grinning sheepishly,
she extended the small one toward the
astounded Brock, and said in excellent
old English:
"Good morning, Mr.. Medcroft" Then
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23
All Street Cars Stop Right at the Entrance

come TO regard him as good and ir-
reproachable Samaritan All OF which
goes to prove that divinity shapes
our ends, rough hew them how we
may
I'm sure we shah get on famously,"
he said. as she signified her desire to
return to the compartment i've al
ways longed for nice, agreeable sis
ter-in-law."
Her mission in life. up to q GER
tain stage, IS to make the man appre-
ciate the fact that he has. after all.
been snapped up by small but de-
serving family" she said blithely. ut
is also her duty TO pour oil on troubled
waters and strew flowers along the
connubial highway. so long as her kind
Offices are not resented BY the way,
Roxbury, | am now about to preserve
you from bitter reproaches. You have
forgotten to order coffee and rolls for
your Wife
Great Scott! So have. It's 9
O'Clock" He ordered the coffee and
rolls TO be sent in at once II hope
SUE EdSH L 10 II.
MY dear Roxbury." she said stern
II, 81 raust take you under my wing.
You have much TO accomplish in the
next twenty-four hours, not the least
OF your duties being the subjugation
Of Tootes and Raggles. Toot!es Is IF
teen months old It may interest you
to know. We can't afford TO have Too
ties scream with terror every time
she sees you, and It would be most IN
fortunate if Raggles should growl and
snap at you as he does at all suspicious
strangers. Once in awhile he bites,
too. Do you like babies?'
Yes. TT think do" he said doubt
ingly. Il daresay l could cultivate a
taste for 'em; but I say" with eager
enthusiasm, Il love dogs"
lit may be distinctly in your favor
that Raggles loathes the real Roxbury.
He growls every time that Roxy kisses
Edith"
HAS be ever bitten Roxy for itr'
No obviously. but Roxy has had
TO kick him on several occasions"
How very tiresome-to kick and
kiss at the same timer
"Raggies is very jealous, you under.
stand"
That's more than can say for dear
old Roxy. But I'll try to anticipate
Raggies by compelling Edith to keep
her distance" he said, Sowing dark.
ly. Has it not occurred to you that
Tootles will be pretty-er-much of a
nuisance when It comes to mountain
climbingT He felt his way carefully
in saying this.
"Oh. dear me. Roxbury. Would you
have left the poor little darling al
bome-in all that dreadful HEATH
I'm sure couldn't have been blam-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23


with a rare inspiration. Baby, Kiss
papa-comc, now"
She pushed the infant almost into
Brooks face. He did not observe that
it was a beautiful child and that it
had q look Of terror in its eyes. He
only knew that he was glariug wildly
nj the tiendish nurse. the truth slowly
beating its way into his be-addled
brain. For a full minute he stared as
II petrifed Then. administering a
sickly grin. he sought TO bring his wits
up TO the requirements of the extra
ordinary situation. He lifted his hand
and mumbled: Come. Raggles. I
haven't biscuit. but here. have a roll.
do. Give me "a kiss" He added the
last in most heroic surrender.
The nurse and the maid stared hard
at him. The baby turned in alright
to cling closely to the neck of the for
mer.
Good Lord. sir whispered the
nurse, with a nervous glance about
her, this amt Raggles. sir. This is
a baby"
DO you think I'm blind. madam 81
whispered he savagely II can see it's
a baby. but didn't know there was
to be one. Its father didn't mention it
10 me-"
IT'S a wise father that knows his
own child" said the nurse. with prompt
sarcasm.
81 think they should have prepared
me for this" growled he. as it sup
posed TO be mine? Does-does Mrs.
Medcroft know about it?"
You mean about the baby. sir? OF
course she does. It's hers. Please
don't look SO odd. sir Ny word. sir,
I didn't know you didn't know it, sir!
I wasn't told, was 1. O'Brien? There,
sir. you see. Mrs. Medcroft said l was
to bring ToOtles in to you, sir. She
said
''Tootles?" murmured Brock foot
les and Raggles. dare say there's a
distinction without much of differ
ence. Are you Burton|
Yes. Mr.. Medcroft The nurse.
Won't you take baby for a minute. sir
Just to get acquainted and for appear
anee's sake" She whispered the well
meant entreaty Brock. now well into
the spirit OF the situation. obligingiy
extended his arms. The baby set up
lusty howl of aversion.
For Gods sake. take him back to his
mother" groaned Brock hastily. He
doesn't like strangers. Take him
away
1T isn't a be. sir" whispered the
maid as the nurse prepared TO beat a
hasty retreat with the Medcroft of
spring. Its her. sir"
Brooks face was a study in perplex-
ity as they hurried from the car.
by Georgs:" he muttered. what
next?"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23
CHAPTER Ill
The Sister-in-iaw.


THE garde listened to his de-
mand for a separate compart-
ment with the detection OF a
capable French attendant who
is ever ready with joint commisera-
ton and Obduracy. No, he was COM
PEELED to inform monsieur the Ameri-
can Ito the dismay Of the pseudo Eng
lishman) 1t would be impossible to ar
range for another compartment. The
train was crowded to its capacity.
Many had been turned away. No. a
louis would not be OF avail. The deep
est grief and anguish filed his soul 10
see the predicament OF monsieur, but
there was no relief.
Brooks miserable affectation Of the
English drawl soon gave way to sharp,
emphatic Americanisms. II was after
8 o'clock and the train was well under
way. The street lamps were getting
fewer and fewer, and the soft fresh
air of the suburbs was rushing through
the window.
But. hang II all, ! can't sit up all
night" growled Brock in exasperated
fnality.
"M'sleur forgets that he has a berth.
II is not the fault of the compegnle
that he is without a bed. Did not
m'Sieur book the compartment HIMSELF
Tres bienl
AS the result OF strong persuasion
the garde consented TO make "the
grand tour OF the train de luxe in
search OF n berth. IL goes without
saying that he was intensely mystided
by Brooks incautious remark that he
would be satisfied with "Rn upper II
he couldn't do any better" For the
life OF him monsieur the garde could
not comprehend the situation. He
went away. shaking his head and look.
ing at the tickets. rs much ms 20 say
that nm American is never satisfied
not even with the best
Brock lowered n window sent in the
passage and sat down. staring blantly
and blacLly out into the whlzzing
night The predicament had come upon
him so suddenly that lie had not until
now found the opportunity to analyze
IL in IT'S entirety. The worst that could
come Of Il, OF course. was the poor COM
fort ot night I'm chair He knew
that Il was II train OF sleeping coaches
All! He suddenly remembered the lug.
gage van! AS last resort he might
find lodging among the trunks.
And then, too. there was something
Irritating In the suspicion that she had
laughed as II II were huge Joke. Per
haps even now she was doubled up in
her narrow couch sitting the giggle
that would not be suppressed.
When the garde came back with
the lugubrlous information that moth
ing. positively nothing, was to be had
II is painful 10 record that Brock swore
in u manner which won the deepest re-
spect Of the trainman.
AT 4 O'Clock in the morning. m'sieur.
an old gentleman and his wife wifi ret
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23

the toast poised half way to her lips,
you're rot, by any chance, engaged.
are you? Appalling thought"
He laughed delightedly. People
won't ask about me. my dear Con-
stance. I'm already married. you
know. But If any one should ask
you're not obliged to answer"
She looked troubled and uncertain.
you may be really married. after ALL"
she speculated. 'Who knows? Poor
old Roxbury wouldn't have had the
tact to inquire"
I'm henpecked bachelor, believe
me-"
For the next quarter Of an hour they
chatted in the liveIiest, most incense,
quential fashion, getting on excellent
terms with each other and arriving al
a fair sense Of appreciation of what lay
ahead of them in the shape of peril and
adventure.
She was the most delightful person
he had ever met as well as being the
most beautiful. There was a sprightly,
ever growing air of self reliance about
her that charmed and treasured him.
She possessed the capacity for divining
the sane and the ridiculous with splen-
did discrimination. Moreover, she
could jest and be serious with an i'm
partial intelligence that gratiied his
vanity without in the least inspiring
the suspicion that she was merely cIev-
er. He became blissfuliy inbued with
the ideathat she had surprised herself
by the discovery that he was really
quite attractive. In fact. be was quite
sincerely pleased with himself-for
hich be may be pardoned If one stops
TO think bow resourcefuI woman of
tact may be if she is very. very pretty.
And, by way of further analogy,
Brock was a thoroughly likable cnap.
besides being handsome and thorough
! bred TO the core It's not betraying a
secret to affirm, coldbIoodedly. that
Miss Fowler had not allied herself with
the enterprise until after she had pin.
ned Roxbury down to facts concerning
Brooks antecedents. She was prop
erly relieved TO find that he came of
a fine old family and that be had led
more than one cotillion In New York.
He experienced a remarkable change
Of front in respect to Roxbury Med
croft before the breakfast was over.
! 1t may have been due to the spell of
her eyes or to the call of her voice,
but II remains Jan Enchallenged fact
/ that be no longer thought Of Mederoft
as a stupid btngler. Instead be had
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23

IKE her. Everybody falls dreadfully
in love with her."
How very amiable of you to permit
ii" he protested calamity. I'm sure
l shall enjoy falling in love- Which
reminds me that I've never had a sis
ter-in-law. They're very nice. I'm told.
It's odd that Medcroft didn't tell me
about you. Would you mind advanc-
ing bit of general information about
yourself-and. may say. about my
family in generals 1t may come
handy"
81 feel as though I had known yeu
for years." she said. frankly returning
his gaze. She leaned forward her ell
bows on the table. her chin in her
hands. I'm merely Edith's sister
We live in Paris-that is. father and l.
I'm three years younger than Edith.
OF course you know how old your
wife is. 50 we won't dwell upon that.
You don't? Then I'd demand it Of
her ] haven't been in Philadelphia
since | was seven, and that's ages ago.
l have no mother. and father is of, in
South America on business. So You
see little sister has to tag after big
sister. OH" She interrupted the re-
cital with an abrupt change of man.
ner. I'm so sorry you've finished
your coffee. Now you'll have to so.
Roxbury always does"
But l haven't finished" he exclaim-
/ ed eagerly. I'm going to have three
or four more pots. You have no idea
how
IFS all right. then" she said. with
her rarest and most confident smile.
"Well Edith asked me to come to
London, for the season. The Rodneys
were in Paris at the time, however,
and they asked me to Join them for a
fortnight in the Tyrol. When said
/ that / was off for a visit with the
with you, l mean-they insisted that
you all should come too. They are
connections in a way, don't you see?
So we accepted. And here we are"
you don't, by any chance, happen
to be engaged to be married. or any
thing OF that sort:'' he ventured
Don't crush me! It's only as safe,
guard. you know. People may ask
| questions"
You are not obliged to answer them
Roxbury," she said. The flush had
deepened in her cheek. 1t convinced
him that she was in love-and engag
ed. He experienced queer sinking
of the heart. you can say that you
don't know, if any one should be Sc
rude as to ask" Suddenly she caught
her breath and stared at him in a sort
Of panic. Heavens" she whispered
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23

ed for leaving her at home" he pro.
tested "She didn't exist until half an
lrour ago. Heavens, how they Go
spring up!'
The remainder of Brooks day was
spent in getting acquainted with his
family, or, rather, his menage. There
were habits and fOibes demands and
restrictions that he had to adapt him
self to with unvarying benignity. He
made friend of Raggles without half
trying. Dogs always took to him, he
admitted modestly. Tootles was less
vulnerable. She howled consistently
at each of his first half dozen ad-
vances. His courage began TO wane
with shocking rapidly. His next half
hearted advances were in reality in
glorious retreats. Spurred on by the
sustaining Constance, he stood by his
guns and at last was gratified to see
faint signs of surrender. BY midday
he had conquered. Tootles permitted
! him to carry her up and down the sta
ton platform (she was too young to
realize the risk she ram. Edith and
Constance, with the beaming nurse
and O'Brien, applauded warmly when
be returned from his first promenade,
bearing Tooties and proudly heeIed by
Raggles. Fond mothers in the crowd
Of hurrying travellers found time to
look upon him and smile. as II to say,
what a nice man" He could almost
hear them saying it, which no doubt
accounted for the intense ruddiness OF
his cheeks.
DO you ever spank herr" he de-
manded once of Mrs. Medcroft after
Tootles had brought tears to his eyes
with potent attack upon his nose.
She caught the light of danger in his
gray eyes and hastily snatched the Of
Tending Tootles from his arms.
Miss Fowler kept him constantly at
work with his eyeglass and his Eng
lish. neither of which he was manag-
ing well enough to please her critical
estimate In fact, he labored all day
with the persistence. IL not the sullen-
ness. Of a hard driven slave. He did
not have time to become tired. There
was always something new 10 be done
or learned or unlearned; his day was
full to overlooking. He was man Of
| family.
! The wife OF his bosom was tranquil
! Iity itself She was enjoying herself
When not amusing herself by watch
ing Brooks misfortunes she was nap
ping OF reading or sending out for coo!
drinks. With all the selfshness OF
dutifuI wife she was content to shift
responsibilities upon that ever conven-
tent and usefUl creature-a detached
sister.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23
HUSBAND
TIRED or Seeing
Her SUFFER
Procured Lydia E. Pinkham's
Vegetable Compound,
which made His Wife
a Well Woman.

Middletown, Pal had headache,
backache and such awful bearing down
pains that / could not be on my feet at
times and ] had organic Inflammation so
badly that was not able to do my work.
I could not get a good meal for my hus-
band and one child. My neighbors said
they thought my suffering was terrible.
"My husband got tired of seeing me
suffer and one night went to the drug
store and got me bottle of Lydia E.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound and
told me ! must take il. can't tell you
all suffered and can't tell you all that
your medicine has done for me. was
greatly benefited from the first and it
has made me a well woman. can do
all my homework and even helped some
Of my friends as well. l think it is q
wonderful help TO ell suffering women.
| have got several 10 take IL after see
ing what il has done for me. Mrs.
EMMA EsPENsHADE, 219 East Main St,
Middletown, Pa
The Pinkhan record is aproud andhon-
orable one. 1t is a record OF constant
victory over the obstinate ills Of woman
ills that deal out despair. 1t is an es-
tablished fact that Lydia E. Pinkham's
Vegetable Compound has restored
health to thousands of such suffering
women. Why don't you try it if you
need such a medicine?
II Jon want special advice write to
Lydia z. Pinkham Medicine Co. (confl-
dentiaD Lynn, Mass. Your letter will
be opened, read and answered by q
woman and held In strict confidence.
Advertisement
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23

lGNACd lOl " llN anu StAl0 AN-NS
frankly:
You'll pardon me, I'm sure, but !
can't understand how ! was so short
sighted as to marry your sister,
'We!l, you see, you didn't catch a
glimpse of me until after you were
married" she rallied. 81 was in the Sa-
cred Heart convent, you remember"
"Ah, that explains the oversight.
am considered an unusually discrimi-
mating person. Let me sec: I married
a Miss Fowler. didn't II"
YES, Roxbury-four years ago in
London, at St Georges. in Hanover
square, at 4 o'clock on a Saturday.
Didn't they tell you all that?"
~ don't think they said anything
about it being O'Clock. I'm glad to
know the awful details. believe me-
Thanks! Do you know / decided you
were an American the instant l saw
you in the door" be went on, quite ir-
releyantly.
How clever OF you, Roxburyr
''Oh. say. Miss Fowler. I'm not such
an ass as ! looll-really I'm not I'm
trying to look like
Ssh! II you want me to believe
you are not the ass you think you look
be careful what you say. Remember /
am not Miss Fowler to you. am Con-
stance-someumes Connie Can you
remember that. Roxbury:"
He drew a long breath. lob, say.
Connie, I'd much rather be plain Brock
TO you"
please don't forget that am doing
this for my sister. not for myself by
any manner of means" she said stifly.
He flushed painfully. conscious of the
rebuke
please overlook my faults for the
time being" he said III Go better.
You see. I've been rather overcome By
the sense Of my own importance. I'm
not used TO being the head of an es-
tablishmeDt II has dazed me. a great
many things have happened TO me
since left the Care de rEst last
night" He was considerate in not re
ferring to his unhappy mode of tray
cling. For instance. I've completely
lost my head" He might have said
that, but that would have sounded com
monplace and earthly.
One does. you know, when he loses
bis identity" she said sympatheticaIly.
Edith says you are ripping and all
that sort Of thing" she went on bur
riedly, in perfect mimicry. "You come
very highly recommended as a broth
er-in-law."
Are you TO be with US until the end
Of the play?''
Yes. The ROdneys are my friends,
not Edits. Katherine Rodney was liz
the convent with ne. We see a great
deal Of each other. I'm sure ron win
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23

1laC WHICH QlQ come next was even
more amazing than the unexpected adj
vent of Tootles. He barely had recoy-
cred his quanimity-with his coffee
when a young lady entered the car.
That Of itself was not much to speak
of. but what followed was something
that not even he could have dreamed
OF if he had been given the chance. He
afterward recalled in some distress of
mind that his second quick glance at
the newcomer developed into little less
than rude stare of admiration. Small
wonder, let it be advanced in his de-
Tense.
She was astoundingly fair TO look
Upon-dazzlingly, it might be said. with
some support to the adjective. More
over, she was looking directly into his
eyes from her unstable position near
the door. What was more, a shy, even
mischievous. smile crept into her face
as her glance caught his. Never had
he seen d more exquisite face than
hers. Never had he looked upon a
more perfect picture of grace and love
I illness Undergraduates She was
{
and recognition, ard yet he could have
sworn he had not seen her before in his
life. AS if he could have forgotten
such q face! : sudden sense of en-
chantment swept over him. indescriba-
{ bic yet delicious
/ She was coming toward him. still
smiling shyly. her lips parted. as If
she were breathing quickly from fear
or another emotion. He set down his
coffee cup without regard to taste or
direction, his gaze fixed upon the trim,
slender figure in blue. He now saw
that her dark eyes were filed with a
soft seriousness that belied her brave
smile. A delicate pink had come into
her clear. high bred face The hest
fancy of the gentlewoman enveioped
her with a mantle that shielded her
from any suspicion of boIdness. Brock
struggled to his feet, amazement writ.
ten in his face.
Good morning. Roxbury," she said
in the most impersonal OF greetings
Her smile deepened as the blankness
increased in his face In the most
casual. matter of fact manner she ap
propriated the chair across the table
from his. please sit down, Roxy"
He sat down abruptly. For a single
tense, abashed moment they looked
searchingly into each others eyes.
Are you Raggles?" he asked po
ntely.
You poor man" she cried. aghast
"Raggles is Ediths French poodle
Has no one told you of the poodle 2
She half whispered this. He began t.
adore her Mt that very moment, a cir
cumstance well worth remembering.
No one has told me of you. for tina
matter" he apologized thrilling witt
a delight such as he had never known
before. Would you mind whisperin:
to me just who you are? Am l sup
posed to he your father-or whatT'
1T is all so delightfully."- casual, ism
it," she said. Il daresay they forgo
to tell you that you are n man of fam
lily. Didn't they mention me in an,
way at all?" She pouted very pretily
NO. they ignored you and Raggle
and Tootles. Are there any more i
my family that haven't metz
You see. we got to the station quit
a bit ahead OF Edith. That's how yo
happened to miss meeting us. We say
you there. however. recognized 20
by your clothes. You seemed very ur
happy. Oh. forgot! You wanted t
know who I am. Well. l am your sis
ter-in-law."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23
CHAPTER w.
81 am Constance.n

~HE ordered coffee and toast while
- he sat there figuring it out.
- When the waiter departed he
leaned forward and said quite
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23

All the news all the time-The Argus.
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-05-30

| Taking advantage of the presence
in Washington of Commissioner JAS
H. Wallis of Idaho, Senator James H.
Brady, as president of the TRANSMITS
sissippi Congress, commissioned that
official to represent him at an impor-
tant session of the educational COM
mittee Of the national drainage con-
gress, which was held here May %
and q.
This committee, representing SO
states, with population of $4,000, 900
was received at the White House by
President Wilson and afterwards by
Vice President Marshall, Speaker
Champ Clark, Secretary of War Gar
rison, Secretary Of Interior Lane and
Secretary of Agriculture Houston. All
these officials listened attentively to
the purposes of the committee in
Washington, while the President re-
ceived the resolutions adopted by the
body and promised to give them every
consideration. Commissioner Wallis
told the gathering of the aid given by
the last Idaho legislature in the work
of retaining swampy lands in the
north part of the state, and the great
impetus given the good roads move
ment throughout Idaho.
The resolutions presented to the
president ask his aid and the aid of
congress for the reclamation of
swamp and overflow lands and arid
lands, and the creation of a bureau,
under the welfare clause of the Con-
stitution, which will put in effect at
the earliest possible moment such |
plans for cooperation with the sever
al states and such other agencies, as |
will meet with the needs of the sever
al localities of the United States. The |
most effectual and direct means is |
thought to be the establishment of |
department of public works, with |
secretary in charge thereof, who shall |
be member of the presidents cabi-
net.