davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Would See Her No More

So. after giving way to violent trans
ports of love and finding out that Amelia
returned his affections. Booth took the adj
vantage of a lucid interval calmly to con-
slider the matter.
Mrs Harris would not consent to the
marriage If he ran away with Amelia
her mother would disown her and cut off
supplies Could he, as a gentleman and
an officer, ask the dear creature, brought
up surrounded by every luxury. to share
his poverty?
No it would be unjust-dishonorable lie
resolved that he would see Amelia no
more
But love proved stronger than prudence.
ae went to see Amelia and opened up his
heart to her, showing her all the misery
which might result to her from such an
imprudent marriage
AS he spoke Mrs. Harris burst from a
closet where she had concealed herself
soundly berated Amelia and drove her
from the room.
Then she said that Booth had spoken
like sensible fellow and finally obtained
from him a promise that he would go to
his regiment and submit to any misery
rather than be the ruin of Amelia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
One Happy Year

For year their lives We're one con-
tinued series of love. health and tran
quality. Existence seemed for them a
calm sea.
Amelia became the mother of another
child-a boy. The child was healthy
and she soon was about again. Their
happiness was, perhaps, too great, for
fortune seemed to grow envious of it.
DR.. Harrison went abroad as tutor
and travelling companion to the son of
a noble earl who had long been his
friend and patron. BY this means Booth
was bereft. not only of the best COM
panion In the world, but of the wisest
counselor.
He began to. go wrong. He hired an
other farm to increase his holdings. 1t
was bad bargain, and whereas at the
end of the first year he had been worth
$50, at the end of the second he was
rather heavily in debt.
Then he needs must set up a coach
1t is true he bought an old coach for
about f12 and had it drawn by his
farm horses-but it was setting up a
coach and all the farmers in the neigh
borhood resented 1t.
The little squires of the region, too,
resented 1t. This farmer Booth set
ting up a coach. indeed" cried their
wives.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
The Beautiful Prisoner

The Justice roundly abused them and
ordered them carried to prison.
It was a terrible place. that prison to
which Booth was carred-all the re-
fuse of humanity seemed to be gathered
there and as he had no money with
which to make a drink-offering to his
fellow prisoners, they began TO persecute
him savagey.
a prisoner named Robinson came to
his assistance and while Booth and he
were talking there was brought into the
prison yard fashionably dressed young
woman of more than ordinary beauty.
She haughtily demanded private room
in the keepers house and shook purse
filled with gold in the face of that func-
tionary which made him her humble serv-
ant.
Booth with astonishment thought that
ir the prisoner he recognized young
lady of good family whom he had for
merly known in society as Miss Mat
thew.
He asked subkeeper if that was not
her name. The keeper replied no; that
her name was Mrs Vincent and that
she was charged with murder. Booth
thought he must have been mistaken.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Miss Matthew's Story


Booths we already know. AS to Miss
Mathews, she was a woman of strong
passions and violent temper.
She had been seduced by villain un-
der promise of marriage. When she
found that he had married another she
sought him out and stabbed him with a
penknife. That was in brief, her story
Now in the old days Miss Mathews had
been in love with Booth and she did not
hesitate to let him know that she loved
him STILL
For week the two lived there in the
prison on terms which would hardly have
pleased the gentle Amelia. When word
was sent to Miss Mathews that the man
she had stabbed was not dead-in fact,
was about as well as overland that she
would now be admitted to bail
lawyer came with a letter from one
of her admirers, a letter containing money
and the order for her liberation. Miss
Mathews Immediately sent for the keeper
and arranged for her own liberation and
for that of Booth also
But just before the two left the prison
who should come rushing in but Amelia
calling out, Where is he? Where is hep
and fainting in the arms of her adored
William.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
The Obliging Secretary

Amelia took an opportunity to hint to
the doctor her suspicious of James, max
ing him promise that he would say moth
ing to her husband, and the doctor
changed his mind about getting foreign
orders for the captain. The story of
General David and Major Usiah was well
known to the doctor.
DR.. Harrison tried his influence with
his old friend the earl, and the earl in
troduced him tola secretary of state. The
secretary was most obliging and said that
he would be delighted to have Booth
ordered to active duty and would look to
it that he was promoted for his gallant
ry at Gibraltar.
II am especially glad to be able TO
oblige you. DOCTOR" said the secretary,
because we are anxious to bring in as
mayor of your town Colonel Tromping-
ton. You know how hard he is run and
we know that it is in your power to do
the business and turn the scale. If you
will do so YOU may have anything in
reason >,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Bailed Out

But he was bailed. For the matter of
Booths arrest lad caused DR.. Harrison
to come up to town and an investiga-
ton convinced him that Booth had been
slandered.
The doetor, from reliable persons, had
learned the true state OF affairs. He went
to the bailiff's with friend and bailed
William out
He gave him good lecture, however,
and made him promise never to gamble
again before he liberated him.
He took Booth home to Amelia and
the children and they were a very merry
and happy party that evening.
Colonel James dropped in and the doc
tor not having yet penetrated that mans
designs, received him with warmth as a
friend of Booths.
Booth, too, was far from guessing that
James was anything else but his real
friend and accepted without question the
colonels declaration that he had been
unavoidably delayed in rescuing him from
jail and that he was coming to his as
sistance when the doctor got him out.
Amelia kept her own counsel.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Things at Their Worst

She had just arrived in London, had
found that William was in prison and
had flown to him.
Miss Mathews bit her lip, but found an
opportunity to whisper the captain aside
that he must call upon her at certain
address or she would expose him to Amel-
ia. Booth made the promise, which he had
no idea of keeping and did not keep.
So now behold Amelia and the captain
settled with three children in a dingy
London lodging house. without money and
without friends. Things looked black
indeed
just as things We're at their very worst
Booth happened to encounter his old
friend, Captain James. When James knew
of his necessities the generous soldier
pressed a ESQ note upon his old com
rade and promised to call upon him.
Also his wife should call and see Amelia
for his wife was an old friend of Amel-
las, none other than that Miss Bath,
whom Amelia had known SO well at Mont
pelier.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Pretty as a Picture

z mrs. HARRIS, a woman of large
MI property down in Wiltshire, had
D two daughters Elzabeth-or Bet
ty-and Amelia.
Betty was several years her sisters SEN
Tor. was not pretty nor of a very good
temper. Amelia was pretty as picture
a very pretty picture-had most angelic
disposition and many admirers.
1t was, perhaps, this latter asset rather
than her sisters good looks or good dis
position, which caused Betty so heartily
TO dislike Amelia.
When Lieutenant Booth of the Royal
army, who happened to be stationed near
the town where Mrs. Harris had house,
saw and fell iii love with Amelia, Miss
Betty took a stronger dislike to her sister
than ever.
For William Booth was as handsome
and as gay a fellow as wore the King
livery and "had a way with him. Amelia
fell in love with Booth, of course.
But the lieutenant was poor-he had lit
tie but pay and that little he was not the
sort of a, man to save or increase; while
Amelia would probably inherit half her
mothers fortune.
He knew that Mrs. Harris would not
readily consent to her daughter marrying
a penniless lieutenant and that she, and
all the world, would say that he sought
Amelia for her money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
At Heart a Villain

Booth told James his whole story. not
emitting his foolish intrigue with Miss
Mathews. James declared that he would
seS that Miss Mathews did not bother him
he knew Miss Mathews.
In very fact he did, for Captain James
was the friend who had sent the money to
release her from jail and James was as
deeply infatuated with Miss Mathews as
Miss Mathews was with Booth.
Booth thought that, now he had met
James, he saw a way out of his troubles.
But they were only beginning For James
had been repulsed by Miss Mathews and
was furiously jealous of Booth.
Also when he saw Amelia his flighty
heart was captured again and he began
to plot against her.
He and his wife lived together like well
bred strangers. neither pretending any
love for the other. James had many good
qualities. but in some respects he was a
villain
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
A Waste of Valuable Time

He had just returned from tourney
around the world He knew that the
beautiful girl he had left behind him a
year before was waiting for him, says
Life It was. therefore, with the most
ecstatic feeling of joy that upon his ar
rival he presented himself at her house.
After the first bewildering and glad
some greeting, they sat on the sofa to-
gether He was about to kiss her. when
she saidf
"One moment. darling Since you have
been away, father, who. as You know, is
a banker, has been convicted by tho
money probers. and is now in JAIL"
II had heard something about it,
Mother has turned suffragette and yes
terday while trying to break into Con-
gress was locked up"
"fndeed!''
Sister has become a Futurist and is
doing the decorations for the Blooming
dale Insane asylum
How Interesting, but
Brother got his divorce yesterday and
has gone into temporary bankruptcy in
order to get out of paying his alimony.
Now you may kiss me"
He folded her reproachfully In his
arms.
1T seems pity, dear" he said, as he
imprinted upon her ruby lips the impas-
stoned emblem of long-deferred love,
that you should delay this joy just to
tell me the ordinary things that are likely
at any time to happen to any New York
family In good standing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
CL AS SIC
IN A P A G E
Copyright. 1918. by irving King. All rights

Copyright, 1913 by irving King. All rights
reserved.)
'Amelia" was Fieldings last story. 1t
was written four years after Tom Jones, -
and while it has all the marks of genius
the critics agree that they are the marks
of a genius already beginning to fall into
its decay. As one careful student of Field
Ing SAYS:
Amelia bears the same relation to
Tom Jones' as the Odyssey of Homer
hears to the Illiad'."
But it is only the critics who can see
this. To the ordinary reader Amelia is
much easier reading than the long drawn
out "Tom Jones'-and is much more de-
cent, too.
True, even in "Amelia" Fielding calls
spade a spade occasionally with a frank
ness which, to us moderns, at least is
rather startling. But he does not make
lest of illicit amours in this story as lie
does In tom Jones" and seems altogcth-
er to regard life with more seriousness.
As a matter of fact, Fielding was rapid
" aging and was in ill-health when he
wrote Amelia" and things were begin
ming to look different to him
Sir Walter Scott and Thaekeray ap-
plauded "Amelia" to the slsies-and they
applauded "Tom JONES' too-and why
should we be more squeamish than they?
Still, Fielding is not an author TO be placed
In the hands of the young person.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
A Full Confession

William made now full confession to
Amelia, even telling her of the Miss
Mathews incident and of his fears that
that woman would keep her word and
expose him to his wife-an exposure
which he now made himself.
Amelia sweetly told him that she had
known all for some time-Miss Mathews
had written to her as she had threat
ened. But feeling sure that her hus-
bands error had been due to momentary
weakness and that he had broken off all
association with Miss Mathews she for
gave him without being asked.
Booth was overwhelmed by his wife $
magnanimity and vowed there was not
such another angel in all the world But
he could not pay Trant and DR.. Harri-
son was temporarily absent from town
The next day Trant had him arrested
and carried to baliffs house. Dr. Har-
rison returned to London and hastened to
his protege.
The bailiff came into the room where
Booth and the doctor were talking and
said that prisoner upstairs, who thought
himself dying, wanted to see a clergy
man.
The doctor went to the prisoner It
was that same Robinson who had cheat
ed Booth out of his guinea when the
captain was first sent to jail
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Ugly Rumors

Various rumors had been spread
abroad concerning Amelia and Will
liam. 1t was generally reported that
Booth was dead and some had said
that Amelia was dead also.
Then by some persons unknown
many rumors had been circulated de-
rogatory to Booths character. Dr..
Harrison advised that they return to
England as soon as possible.
In the will of Mrs. Harris Amelia
had been left f1Oo. This the doctor had
forwarded to a Banker in Paris and
Booth could draw it upon his arrival
in the French capital
AS soon as Amelia was able to travel
they set out for Paris and from there
hurried ON to England and down into
Wiltshire, Amelia being anxious to see
her boy again.
The child had been taken by DR.. Har-
rison to live when Mrs. Harris died and
with that good clergyman they found
him well and hearty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Trying To Get Active Service

DR.. Harrison said that Booth must be
got back into the active service of the
army and even approved of James plan
for getting him ordered to duty with
some regiment on foreign service-to the
West Indies, for instance. Amelia de-
clared that il William went on foreign
service she would go with him. That next
day Mrs. James called and, having been
posted by her husband, said that the col
onel was sure of getting Booth ordered to
a regiment In the West Indies and urged
and begged that Mrs. Booth would make
her home with her while her husband
was abroad.
1t was by threats and bribes that James
had got his wife to play this detestable
part for him. But Amelia was firm in
her resolve to accompany her husband
to the West Indies IL he We're ordered
there.
James did not busy himself much in
getting Booth ordered to active duty. If
Amelia would be reasonable and stay at
home while her husband went to the West
Indies-why then he would be very ac-
tive.
But why should he work for Booth S
advantage when success would mean that
Amelia could be carried off 1000 miles from
the colonel who was so infatuated with
her
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03

state of things" AS usual DIR. Harri-
son came to the rescue of the helpless
young couple.
He had a vacant farm--a parsonage
which belonged to his parish-and he
would let it to William. 1t was farm
which required but little stock and
that, he said, would not be wanting
The proposition was accepted with
joyous gratitude and so Captain Booth
became plain farmer Booth and he and
Amelia settled down to what they
imagined would be a long life of rural
simplicity and connubial felicity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
The Price Of Influence

''But / believe your 1ordship knows
replied the doctor, that | am an old
friend of the colonls opponent, Mr..
Fairfield. a man well qualified for the
position The colonel is "a stranger and
from what little conversation l have had
with him is. l believe, a man of very
shallow capacity and no education
We'll" said the secretary, s.if you re-
solve against us I must tell you frankly
that you cannot count upon our aid in
the matter of your friend"
The indignant clergyman went fuming
away and thus all hope for Booth from
that source was lost.
Now another danger came upon Booth
and Amelia That lord who had given
Mrs. Booth the tickets to Ranleagh had
not given up his designs. He was mere
ly laying new traps.
He sent a Captain Trant, who was
known to Booth, to inveigle William into
drinking and playing-and William fell.
Then Trant loaned him money. saying
he could pay at his leisure. Suddenly
Trant wrote to Booth demanding his
money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Friends Again

Miss Mathews, furious at Booths neg
lect. traduced him violently TO James,
telling him that Booth had spoken Ill of
him to her and had said that he tolerated
him for his money.
1t should be said that James was now
a colonel and very wealthy. His brother
in-law, Bath, was also a colonel--but not
wealthy. though comfortably off.
Bath was a man of honor, upright in
every respect, but testy. pompous and a
Thereafter.
James told his brother-in-law Booth had
been abusing him and Bath challenged
Booth. They fought in Hyde Park. and
Bath was wounded
1t was reported that II was James who
had been wounded and Miss Mathews,
seeing the results OF her ISLANDERS. rushed
TO James in a fit Of remorse and confessed
that she had lied to him.
SO James and Booth were friends again
and Bath, who recovered of his wound,
was better friend to the captain than be-
fore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Fair Weather Friends

So when he had obtained the permis-
sion of the governor of Gibraltar to take
mis- wife to Montpelier. William found
himself short of funds and Amelia wrote
to her mother for REMITTANCE.
The letter was answered by Miss Betty.
who said that both she and her mother
were shocked at this demand for money
The marriage with Booth, she said, had
though she forgaye her daughter. she
could not furnish her with money for
an idle and dissolute soldier to spend.
There was much about forgiveness and
praying for her and that sort of thing.
But it was a cold, heartless letter and, in
her weak state threw Amelia in hys-
terics.
Several officers of the garrison had Of
fered before to lend Booth money, and
to them he now applied, telling them the
true state of affairs. But when they
realized that Booth was really poor they
found abundant excuses for not obliging
him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Indpinp at Mont Pellier

But there was one officer in the gar
rison. however, of quite another sort--a
Captain James-who all the more readily
supplied Booth with money because he
knew he needed it, whereas the others
who had been so Willing to accommodate
him when they believed he had married a
fortune and did not need it would not part
with shilling to him when they knew he
really did need it,
So with the money of Captain James,
Amelia and Captain William went to
Montpelier and took modest lodgings
Lodging in the same house was Major
Bath of the army and his sister. a young
lady by no means pretty or overburuened
with intelligence, but to whom the major
was devoted. To Montpelier later came
Captain James, Booths good friend
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
A Fortune Lost

The long stay at Gibraltar and the time
spent at Montpelier had so heightened
out the months that at last year had
passed since Amelia left England, and
before they were ready to leave the de-
lightful French oity she gave birth to an
other ehild-a daughter this time.
Amelia wrote to her mother, but re-
ceived no answer. Booth wrote to the
good DIR. Harrison, and the Clergyman an
swered promptly, telling news indeed
Ameha's mother, DR.. Harrison said, was
dead, and had left her whole fortune to
her elder daughter. OF this he would have
apprised them before had Ahe known that
they were ignorant of the circumstances
In fact, until he received Booths letter
he did not know where to address them
If Betty had received any letters from
her sister she had kept the fact secret
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
In Prison Again

Another old friend of Booth s-this time
true one-had he met in London of late,
and that was Annelias foster brother, now
Sergeant Atkinson.
Atkinson had fallen in love with Miss
Bennett and had, in fact. secretly mar
ried her. As Miss Bennett and Amelia
talked Atkinson rushed In to say that
the captain had been arrested.
He had been arrested at the suit Of
several creditors. chief of whom was DR..
Harrison. He was now lodged IN ball
iff's house
It was useless to tell OF Arelia's agony
and of how she rushed to her children
and wept over them As for Booth, when
he found himself in bondage he thought
of Colonel James at once and sent for
him.
James generously went at once to
Booths assistance. bringing with him
another householder. so that the cap
tain might be mailed out.
But the bailff did not know the other
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Many Foolish Things

DR.. Harrison had written letter 10
Boothf from Lyons saying that he was
on HIS way home and that he had re-
ceived the most shocking accounts of
Booths conduct while he had been gone.
He leetured the young man severely and
appeared really angry. Booth and Amelia
concluded that they had lost a very dear
friend and Amelia wept over the loss.
Among other foolish things which
Amelia did was to allow her children to
receive valuable gifts from his lordship-
even a gold watch for the Oldest boy.
DR.. Harrison arrived in London and
sought out the lodgings of Booth and
Amelia. They were out, but he went to
their apartments and there saw the gold
watch and other costly trinkets which his
lordship had given the children. but which
he, of course supposed Booth had pur-
chased.
And Booth owed him two years rent CT
that farmi The old clergyman rushed out
in fury and resolved to discipline Booth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03

Amelia, it appeared, had received let
ter from an unknown person aeauainting
her with her husbands condition, and had
at once set out for Gibraltar. 1t had
probably been sent by Atkinson, through
Booth never knew for sure
As soon as the captain was well enough
he obtained leave and made arrangements
to go to Montpelier infhe south of France,
where not only his own health but the
health of~lis wife, which had been con-
siderably broken by her voyage and the
climate, and her watchings and anxiety,
could be restored in the perfect air.
Amelia had informed the captain that
he was the father Of fine boy and he
was all anxiety to return to England
and see his son. But he was not able to
make the voyage row-he must recuperate
before he ventured to do so, the doctors
said.
Now when Amelia and William had
been married Mrs. Harris sent for her at
torney to make a marriage settlement
upon her daughter.
But the attorney happened to be in
London, and when, after some time, he
returned, the matter was neglected-it
could be attended to at any time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Hard Conditions

Though little pleased with the con-
duct of her sister Amelia resolved to
behave toward her as IL nothing had
happened and she and Booth made
call upon Miss Betty.
Betty received them with solemn
face and insinuated that grief at Ame-
las marriage had caused the death Of
her mother.
In short after hearing for an hour
every malicious insinuation which. a
fertile genius could invent they took
their leave, separating as persons who
would willingly never meet again.
The next morning Eetty sent a letter
to Amelia saying that upon ono con-
dition she would take her to live with
her as sister and provide for her
children.
That condition was that Amelia
would at once separate from that man
who had caused so much mischief in
tho family-meaning> Capt. Villa m
Booth.