davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
ConsOling Phoebe

"Why, Lawrence" she said as he
handed her a candle and she looked up
the passage, there is a light in your
room"
only Slimp,' he replied; ''he has y
deed to copy and he is late over 1t.
He will not be here at breakfast"
THAT is good news replied Honor
and ran lightly up the stairs and
Popped her head into Phoebe's room.
She found that Dutch faced shallow
minded young woamn awake and there
were tears in Phoebe's eyes. She had
been crying because Lawrence Haugh-
ton would not let her sit up with him
to wait for Honor
Poor Phoebe was desperately in love
with Lawrence and showed Il. Law
renee hated the sight of her and
showed it.
He was desperately in love with
Honor-and showed it. Honor cared
not farthing for Lawrence-and
showed it.
Miss Jane loved nobody except her
brother, despised Phoebe and dislik ed
Honor because Honor held her brothers
love. And she showed her feelings.
So there was the happy household.
wherein only Honor was always cheer
full. smiling and self-controlled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Cleared of the Charge

With this evidence in his possession.
Royden started for Westleigh Towers.
He rode along the shore and ne and
his horse were caught and overwhelmed
by the inrushing tide
Some fishermen rescued Royden and,
bore him to the castle. where he was
revived. Then came an attack of ty-
phoid fever and he hung between life
and death.
But before he was taken sick he
wrcte to Gabriel Myddleton. whom he
had known and befriended in America,
TO come home.
The strange lady at Westleigh was
Gabriefs wife, sent back from Amer
lea because only the air of England
could save her life, and concealed and
cared for by Royden
Also before Roydens Illness Haugh-
ton tried t oblackmail him with the
fragments of information. he had ac-
cumulated. believing him to be Gabriel.
But Royden laughed Haughton to
scorn. He had been Royden sydney.
but had taken the name of Keith upon
receiving large legacy and Westleigh
Towers, to which was attached that
condition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Fugitive From Justice

The lloody coat was shown at the
tlial. 1t was clear case of circumstan-
tial evidence. and of course the jury con-
victed Gabriel.
While lying under sentence of death
this same Margaret Territ. through the
connivance OF her lover who was warden
OF the jail and whom she married two
days after the escape, managed by con-
veying female attire to the prisoner to
effect his escape from prison.
It was rumored he had escaped to
America, but no certain tidings OF him
came to England,
The destruction OF the will in Old
Myddleton's secretary made no difference,
for the lawyer had a duplicate one which
he had carried away with him.
BY this win all that vast amount of
boarded wealth which was now spoken of
as "Old Myddletons money went-as
well as valuable real estate--to the de-
ceased miser's sister, Lady Lawrence,
a widow now living in India, and, be-
sides Gabriel. the old mans only blood
kin alive.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

Gabriel's mother had been a Craven
a portionless young lady of good fam
lily. She had brother and sister long
dead.
But her brother had left daughter,
Honor Craven. and her sister had left a
daughter. Phoebe Owens. which two
young ladies now sat among the Myd-
dleton heirs prospective, waiting for
the lightning of Lady Lawrence's will
to strike.
AS for old Sir Henry Lawrence-he
was a very rich old baronet when alive
he had sister and brother, both of
whom long dead. left heirs.
Her sister married Mr.. Haughton of
"fhe Barches,' Kinbury, and he died
and she died. And now their two chill
dren were lawyer Haughton. also of
The Larches." who practiced in Kin
bury. and his sister. an austers spinster
named Jane, who kept house for him.
Sir Hervey's sister married Mr. Trent,
and when Mr.. and Mrs. Trent both died
they left two sons. who died likewise
having begotten. the one Miss Theodore
Trent, and the other Capt. Hervey Myd-
dleton Trent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
A CL AS SIC
IN A P A G E

Mary Cecil Hay wrote many stories, but
her best, and best known novel is 'Old
Myddleton's Money" THE Arunlel Mot
toe was another popular work of hers,
but taking it all in all "old Myddleton's
Money was the best. The novel was at
once a 'best seller" Of the times-it was
published in 1S74-and brought its author
fame and money.
It is easy to see the indluenee of
Dickens in "Old Myddleton's Money.
Slimp in Uriah Heep and the languid cap
tain and Theodore are very "Dickensy.'
Miss Hays novels are all wholesome.
The good triumphed and the wicked re-
formed Only in "Old Myddleton's
Money" she evidently conceived such a
dislike to Slimp that she killed him in
his iniquity.
In the 7O's everybody read "old Myd-
dleton's Money'-and many read it now,
as the well thumbed copies in the public
libraries show. It is a curious fact that
Miss Hay, while popular in England. was
still more popular in Australia and the
United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Mrs. Payte's Intrusion

While they We're all waiting in the
big drawingroom. starting every time the
door opened, thinking it might be Lady
Lawrence, a servant came to say that a
lady wished to see Miss Craven.
Before Honor could reply little Miss
Payte stood in the doorway. looking won
deringly about her
She still wore the shabby black gown
she had assumed for the funeral OF
Mrs Dlsbrow, and her head was sur
mounted by broad-brimmed black straw
hat for which, in June. there might have
been an excuse
Theodora Trent turned her back and
said with well-feigned ignorance: II won
der who this person can be? | always
knew Honor had strange acquaintances
but 1 hardly supposed she would encour-
age them to follow her here,
Honor" whispered the captain, dis
patch her quick; suppose Lady Lawrnece
should come"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Asking for a LAWYER

Mrs. Payte, said Haughton coldly II
have no doubt Miss Craven will come
down stairs to you"
Il don't want her down STAIRS cried
tn curious looking old woman, Il want
her here"
Il am listening, Mrs Payte," said
Honor. kindly.
We'll, | find l have some law bust
ness to do, and have come to London
to get it done. I kept Lady Lawrence's
address you showed me this morning
Was 1t not lucky? So I came to find
you. want you to get me a lawyer-a
London man."
THAT gentleman by the fire., said
Honor. indicating Mr.. Stafford, 'is a
lawyer"
ASK him IL he will help me- said Mrs.
Payte. Honor did so, and with an appear
ance of some reluctance Mr.. Stafford
consented.
That's all right. I will send you my
address as soon as / am settled. Bring
the lawyer to me-" Anr the little woman
was gone:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Hints From the Lawyer

Lady Lawrence's attorney, Mr.. STAFF
ford, had been among the heirs before
they came up to London and given them
hints.
Lady Lawrence liked people who
dressed plainly. So all the women, ex-
cept Honor, were dressed with distressing
plainness-and very curious they looked
Honor wore her .'best dress''-which
was not plain-and let it go at that
Mr.. Stafford had told the captain that
Lady Lawrence liked people who were
unaffected and 'natural"-so Hervey
tried his best to appear that way-and
very curious he appeared.
Mr.. Haughton had been told that her
ladyship liked people to appear good
natured and cheerful, and Lawrence
made heroic efforts to appear so. Even
Jane tried to smile now and then by way
of practice. 1t was a ghastly failure
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Bidden to a Picnic

The next day after the dinner at
Deergrove there was a picnic at Alb
botsmoor. Lady Lawrence had written
from India to say that she wanted all
the prospective heirs to assemble there
and have their pictures taken in a
group, with the facade of the old build
ing for a background.
Mrs. Trent had invited Royden to be
present and to bring friend" Much
to the disgust of Theodore and her
mother and to the mild disapproval
of Captain Trent, the friend whom
Keith brought was old Mrs Payte.
Mrs. Payte was sharp-ey sharp
featured, sharp-tongued little old wom-
an, who had for the past year occu-
pied a cottage called East Cottage, near
Kinbury. With her was living her
friend. Mrs. Disbrow, an invalid rep
idly sinking toward the grave.
All the time that Honor could spare
from her duties at The Larches she
spent in attendance upon the invalid
whom she thought Mrs. Payte treated
with harshness.
All, little did Honor know, of the
Kindness to her sick friend which Mrs.
Payte showed when nobody was by.
Mrs. Payte always put her worst side
out when company was present.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
INDIGESTION is
ROUNDLY SCORED

London. August 3-(Special )-In a leo
ture on the subject of "Diet and Dyspep-
sia, DR.. Josiah Oldfield amazed his hear
ers with the statement that, in his opin-
ion. many man had been hanged as a
result of the judge having a fit of indi-
gestion.
Indigestion, the doctor added, was the
cause of half the worlds misery Crime
was said to be caused by intemperance.
but in his opinion intemperance was Sec
ondary to indigestion.
1T is said" added DIR. Oldfield, that
marriages are made in heaven. That NAV
be true, but certainly many marriages.
are marred at the breakfast table and
anyone who gets up in the morning with
a furred tongue and a bad temper should
be at once put in seclusion and treated as
a patient He should not be allowed to
spoil lifes harmonies by his intrusion Of
dyspeptic cantankerousness."
Seen after the lecture by Daily News
repr resentative, DIR. Odfeld criticised the
assertion of Professor Gautier of the
Sorbonne, that vegetarianism was un-
suited to the requirements or the activi-
ties OF European peoples, and that 1t re-
duces energy, weakens the will power.
and renders the brain less alert
MY experience of life," said DIR. Old-'
field, lis that a right and natural diet
tends to improve will power and quick
ness OF devicion. AS in the case of EdI-
son-to mention but one example-it has
been proved that the finest workers of the
world, the brightest and sharpest intel
lects are those who stand by a frrita rio !,
diet.
MIR. Gauter states that he considers
wine suitable beverage. / agree with
him, and regard wine as an exceedingly
valuable drink il the general rule is OH
served that 1t should be slipped, and not
gulped. If man must gulp it down he
had far better drink turpentine."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Mrs. Trent's Three Claims

The hostess, Mrs. Trent, was a large,
ianguld woman, elegantly dressed. She
mad three claims to individuality, and
only three-a fine figure, a great am
bition socially and an ove1weening
pride in her only child
Theodore had clear cut features like
her mothers, and her eyes were of the
same light blue. But her lips were
still more naughty in their curves and
even little colder in their rest
Captain Hervey Trent had been Sc
lected by his aunt as husband for her
only daughter. not only because she felt
pretty sure that he would inherit Old
Myddleton's money. but also because he
was in every way suitable for son-in-
law
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Coaching a Poor Relation

Poor child" said Mrs. Trent as she
touched with her plump hand the arm
of Royden Keith. "she is always de
trop with with Hervey and Theodora. ;,
Then to Honor, MY nephew offered
you his arm, Honor--you should have
taken it, my dear"
You will be tired presently of telling
me what to do" replied Honor. "or
what ! should not do-will you not?"
Not If you try to learn" was the
bennignat reply; Theodore and | Will
be patient with you to the end and
Captain Heryey is. really ANXIOUS to
have you study Appearances
Honor laughed-she was always good
humored, always ready with a quiet re :
ply to her nagging relatives--a reply
nor bitter but just good natured
reparte.
Royqen Keith was amused--i,lore, he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Disagreeable Mrs. Payte

She had come to East Cottage osten-
siby for the benefit the country air
might do Mrs. Disbrow. Somehow she
rapidly became acquainted with all the
best jeojle' in the neighborhood, and
was especially attentive to the Myddle-
ton heirs, whose story seemed much to
interest her
She was always inquiring about the
unpleasant subject, and Theodore de-
clared that she was "a disagreeable old
creature, always poking her nose into
other peoples business
1T was impossible to snub the inquisi-
tive, fussng old woman, and she said
sharp things which made her hearers
vince.
Old Mrs Payte had taken fancy to
Royden, and though she and Honor not
infrequently had mild little "spats" it
was easy to see that Honor was favor
ite of hers. too.
1t was this curious, meddesome old
woman whom Royden Keith chose to
bring to the Abbotsmoor picnic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
The Terms of the Will

BY the terms of the will Lady Law
fence was to have everything for her
life, and at her death could devise the
property, personal and real, to any one
or all of the heirs of her late husband
and the heirs of Gabriels mother, the
wife of Old NIyddleton's only brother.
l.9dy Lawrence was childless. and
Gabriel had been the only child oe
his parents, both of whom had long been
dead.
So the little group of heirs eSpectant
of Old Myddleton's money. who now
so anxiously awaited the making Of Lady
I.awrence's will. were no blood relation
at all to the dead miser.
But each and every one of them had
Middleton as middle name, thought-
fully bestowed upon them by their Par
ents in baptism as gentle reminder
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Honor Has Her Doubts

A little French photographer took
the picture of the heirs. EIe owned the
cottage which Mrs. Payte rented, and
with his invalid daughter occupied a
part of it.
lie was desperately poor, and his
daughter, the patient and crippled
Marie. was one of the objects of COM
miseration upon whom Honor spent her
time, cheering and comforting her.
Lawrence saw the interest which
Royden took in Honor, and though he
saw that Honor reciprocated that in
forest. This made him furiousy jealous
and more than ever determined to run
down Keith's record and expose him.
One thing about Honor which Royden
saw with deep interest was that. while
all the other heirs united in declaring
that there could be no doubt of Ga
briel Myddletons guilt and spoke OF
him in terms of adherence, Honor al
ways expressed a decided doubt as to
his having committed the crime and
sroke of him with sorrowful compass
sion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Awaiting Lady Lawrence

It was the day before the will was
to be made, and Honor had just time
to get up to London. In Lady Law
renees great house at Kensington she
found the cousins all assembled
They had been there some days, hav-
ing found the house full of servants and
all preparations made for their reception
and entertainment.
Had Lady Lawrence arrived? Yes,
she had arrived that morning in a
great coach with positions and out.
riders and accompanied by an Indian
secretary and several personal attend
ants
But she had gone directly to her room
and sent word that she would not see
her connections until dinner time.
The cousins received Honor con-
temptuously. What chance had she for
the millions when there was the ele-
CANT Theodore, the handsome captain and
a man of business like Mr.. Haughton to
choose from?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

followed Royden to the inn and had
seen all this. Mystery? yes, indeed,
there was mystery.
Who was the lady, young and pale
end evidently in I'll health, who had
gone off in a travelling chariot, appar-
entity belonging to Royden Keith.
This was Slimp's report to his chief
and, having heard it and discussed it,
Haughton gave Slimp another task
along the same lines.
once he had heard Keith say that he
mad once been an attorney. Haugh-
ton directed Slimp to go to London-to
the Temple--and see if any Royden
Keith was ever entered there as bar
rister.
1t may as well be stated right here
that Mr. Slimp did make the investiga-
tion, but found no Royden Keith en-
tered at. the Temple-the nearest he
found was a Royden sydney
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
The Venom at Work

Don't be childish enough to UNDER
value what is told you for your own
good,' said Mrs. Payte calmly.
Then, to Theodore, Has Lady Law
renee acknowledged the photograph yet?'
She is coming to England at Christmas,
and we are to meet her in London
The venom of Theodora's words had
sunk deep into the heart of Honor Cra-
ven, and when little after, Royden
Keith said to her, Miss eCraven, 1 want
you to come and see my home. | want
to entertain for one day there the only
person in the world who can, for me,
make home beautiful" she thought of
the words of her cousin and answered:
"Thank you Mr.. Keith, but l think l
will not come.
Then it is Goodbye" said he sorrow
fully.
yes, it is goodby." returned Honor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Condemned for Murder

~ LID MIDDLETON scraped and
saved and screwed his tenants all
- his life. And then one morning
he was found dead-murdered-in the
wood of the great park which sur
rounded his great and lonely mansion of
Abbotsmoor.
o, he was hard-hearted old skinflint,
and nobody regretted him.
His nephew, Gabriel Myddleton, his
dead brothers son, a boy of 10, who
lived with him, was arrested and tried
and condemned for the murder. But he
"broke jail' and fled to parts unknown
before the sentence could be carried into
execution.
The evidence against Gabriel seemed
very clear. He and his uncle did not
get along very well together-that was
well known.
The harsh, severe, gloomy life of the
old hall was irksome to the lively Gabriel,
and Old Myddleton had but one idea-to
teach Gabriel to scrimp and save and
hoard as he himself had done.
One day the uncle and nephew had a
more than usually violent quarrel and
Gabriel either left the house of his own
accord or was turned out by his uncle.
Myddleton sent at once to summon
his lawyer from the neighboring town
of Kinbury. The lawyer was at Abbots-
moor all day, and when he left the house
at last he met Gabriel returning to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Giving Slimp a Lesson

Royden had, late in the aftrenoop
gone to Abbotsmoor and, strolling
through the park, stopped TO look long
at the facade of the old house.
He had caught Slimp following him
craftily from tree to tree, 'collared"
the man. and breaking off a branch.
had given him good "hidins
Then Keith had gone to roadside
tavern. little frequented now, the Myd-
dleton Arms, and there had met a lady
who. after conversation with MIN, had
departed in travelling chariot. the pos
tihons and footmen to .wich wore
Keith's livery of green and white.
With smarting shoulders simp had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Sworn on Her Deathbed

Then, producing two packages the
dying woman swore that their contents
were true. What they disclosed had
long been on her conscience, and shs
could not die without doing justice to one
much injured.
That widow was Margaret Territs
and the packets contained confession
from her and from her dead father-the
latter made upon his deathbed.
1T was the father who had killed Old
Myddlton and robbed him of the will. He
had hoped that Gabriel would marry his
daughter.
Gabriel, returning for forgiveness to
Abbotsmoor had found his uncle slain
in the wood. had supported him for time
In his arms, and then had gone to the
cottage, where the miner and his daugh-
ter had persuaded him that the evidence
against him was so strong that he must
fly. He did fly and was taken as has
been told.
At the trial Margaret shielding her
father, told only half the truth. But
she did not want to have Gabriel hanged
and SO had aided his escape.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Bitter Words Remembered

But the day before that set by Mr..
Keith for his party at his stately home
of Westleoigh Towers, some 20 miles dis
tant from Kinbury, Honor received u
letter from Mrs. Payte:
Come with me to call upon a friend
at q distance. I shall be at the station
at l o'clock.
Honor met Mrs. Payte, and the old
lady took her to Westleigh Towers,
where there was a large party assem-
bled The Towers was magnificent
estate, and the great building stood close
to the sea.
Honor, being 'in for It," made the
best of the situation. Royden was as
slduous in his attentions to her; but
she remembered the bitter words which
Theodore had repeated to her-thougn
sometimes she reproached herself for be-.
lieving them.
Just before the guests left the Tow
ers Honor found that she had dropped
her handkerchief and went back through
one of the long corridors to look for it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Duty Before Money

All the Myddleton heirs were in Lon
don before the day fixed for the maxi
ing of Lady Lawrence's will. Each had
tried TO steal a march upon the other
and arrive first-all except Honor. who
would not leave Mrs. Disbrow who was
now near death.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Doubts Revived

BY mistake she opened the wrong
door, and found herself looking into
a room where pale young woman
stood meditatively before a fire. Who
was she? Why had she not been pre-
sented to the guests that day?
Hastily and softly closing the door,
Honor went back along the passage and
saw a handkerchief which she thought
hers lying on the floor.
She picked it up. But when she got
home that night and examined it she
found it was another's. Across one cor
ner was the name 'Ahce."
That day Royden had renewed his
suit to her, and she had answered not
SO decidedly as before. But her dis
covery of the presnece in the castle
of the mysterious young woman changed
all her yielding impulses into sorrowufl
despair-and she left him with a quiet
coldness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Found Murdered in the Wood

They stopped a little while talking,
an6 the lawyer, being garrulous old
man, told Gabriel that he had just
erawn a new will for the old man,
Which he had left in Myddleton's sec
retary, and which would leave him penni-
less, instead of a millionaire; adding
word of advice to try and regain the old
mans good opinion before it was too
late.
Next morning the old man was found
murdered in the wood beyond the
shrubbery. The window of his room
he'd been forced open. the lock of the
secretary broken and the win gone.
On the carpet lay Old Myddletons can
dlestiek and the velvet cap he always
wore in the house, and both were stained
with blood.
Evidently the old man had surprised
the burglar at his desk who had struck
him within the room and tried to escape.
But the old man had followed his assail-
ant across the lawn and through the
shIubbery into the wood.
Here there had been another struggle,
which ended with the miser's death.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

Mrs. Payte warned Honor time and
time again that if she stayed longer
with the dying woman she might be too
late for the making of the will.
Honor replied that she would sacrifice
all her chances of Old NIyddleton's money
rather than desert Mrs. Disbrow at sucn
a time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

was fascinated by the bright youth
and beauty. by the naturalness, the
good nature. the sound sense of this
young lady of 10.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
The Reason

From lie Sourire, Paris.
Shells 1t because you think am sc
pretty that you want to marry meT'
He-"No; it's because your parents have
a gramophone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Inspired BY jealousy

Old Mrs. Payte was curious, among
ether things. concerning Lady Lawrence
had any of them ever met her? No.