davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
BACK TO LIFE

she had had Mysteries from looking at its
blank face.
See" she cried, clutching the door
jamb, ''can you blame me? What girl
brought up to dances and music and
theaters could drop to this without going
half mad?'
He went to her quietly. Soothingly, he
patted her arm, gradually drawing her
away as he did it.
Il know" he said gently. And come!
Now you're going to pack. You'll go back
to your mother-until We see what can
be DONE
Until you sell the placer she insisted.
He nodded. thinking IL better to lie to
her outright than to tell he- a truth
which would undoubtedly cause a break.
down. Later, she would be better able to
stand It.
And you'll sail away on that O'Clock
train tomorrow morning." he chat,ed
divertinsiy. Back to civilzat ation.-
Back to life" she caught nm.
He turned from her sharply. A look
OF pain shot over his face. Then she
had hated his beloved west-hat,a n,
from the first! She had ionged for the
superficial life she had left. She had
seen no wonder in the boundIess
prairie!
And she actually thought he could
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

smile.
"Only for just a little time, Mr.. Car.
roll." she explained. Just while I stay
on here at Aunt Helen's. You see, aunty
is such dear. but I can't seem to make
her understand that I'm tired out, that
really want to rest; so she's gone and
routed every eligible nice young man
hereabouts. and wished him onto me, as
it were. She simply sees to it that
there's tons and oodles of them at the
house every minute of the day to take
me motoring or out on the river or golf
ing" she ended with droll little inti-
mate nudge.
''oh, see.' said he. trying to laugh
naturally.
"And I so want to rest" she went on.
Just go out in the woods and laze around
and read and poke about by myself.
I've picked you out because you're so
nice and understanding about things, and
also because I know you're Ievel-headed
and not the least likely to fall in love
with me. I'm not your kind bit.
well. If you just would be engaged to
me the rest Of the time I'm here, don't
you see it would let me do all these
things? You could be very devoted to me,
come every morning and afternoon to
take me somewhere. and just get me
out of sight of the house and then you'd
be free to do as you like. 1t will only
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
MERELY MPORA AIRY

| ing rather too much of you, Mr.. Carroll
Jimmy. IL that happens to be his name. -
he said g avely. And as to staying
here, I like it; yes, really. It'll keep the
others away Oh, I've made 'erp think
I'm terribly jealous of you. They're
scared to come around when I'm here.
and that gives you a chance to read.
Don't mind me. Go on with that book
you're reading. I'll finish the morning
paper. I'm Just the bulwarks. you know.
to keep the rest away"
She smiled at him and let her hand
rest on his arm for a moment.
You're a perfect dear-Jimmy.'' said
she.
Then he brought her the ring. It was
a beautiful stone. She caught her breath.
"why-why-'' she began demurringly.
He laughed easily.
Must have an engagement ring to
make It look all fair and above board.
you know he explained as he slipped
it on her slim finger.
But the expense" she demonstrated.
Again he laughed.
Got IL OF a friend OF mine" he ex-
planned Just left a deposit which get
back when I return II. We must OBJ
serve the conventions, mustn't we?''
Its a beauty" she declared.
Jimmy smothered something he was
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
By LAURA KIRKMAN

I 1t seemed that there must be one for
him now.
But through the long day none came.
"Open the door," he said at night, when
the shadows were beginning to steal
over the prairie. You fellows needn't
stay with me- I'm all right"
He was glad when they all cleared out.
Quietly. he lay on his bed with his eyes
wandering out over the plain. The dark
ness fell at last. Pitch-blackness came.
Johnnie darling he was saving to
himself. as she used TO say it. "Oh.
Johnnie darling!''
Or was some one else saying It? Sud-
denly IL seemed to him that a voice in
the pitch-blackness about him was say
,, ing it. He propped himself up on his
elbow. Yes, there it was again:
Johnnie darlingr'
And his own lips were closed! He sat
up straight now.
"Pearl!' he cried. in the threatenins
voice of child. who, IL disappointed. will
60 into wild, inconsolable. hysterical.
crying.
But there was no disappointment in
store for him: Pearl was really there In
the darkness beside him.
With a broken cry, she few to him.
She sobbed herself still in his arms
II took the next train back-after writ
ing that letter." she whispered. "Oh,
Johnnie darling. i missed you so-and
our life out here-and. yes-and the
silence, I have been deaf, before. Oh,
I love II, nowi Don't leave II, darling!
Let Us stay here, always you and r.
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

with a doctor bending over him. One
movement told him that his leg was
broken He lay bac.-. closing his eyes
In pain.
Dlmly, he saw figures flying about wait
ing on him. He was conscious of some
ones puttering yer the fire. Another Of
the boys Strengthened his pillow. Still
another asked him IL there was anything
he wanted.
Anything he wantec, He managed to
laugh-but not a pl assnt laugh. Couldn't
the fellow hear his heart crying out for
soMething-somethi- & that was far away
and didn't care abou, him? He longed
to hear her voice speaking his name.
Sh- always put a darling onto the
Johnnie" His head burned for the
touch of her cool fingers.
he looked up quickly into the face of
the boy who had ASK, to be of servi-e
There's not a Ietter?" he inquired
eagerly.
But even as he asked II he remembered
that there couldn't possibly be one so
soon again. 1t was just the wish for one
that had. for the moment, made such
thing seem a possibility.
AL that night he lay tossing and think
ing Of her.
There's not a letter7' he asked again
In the morning.
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

about to say. He, too. would play fair
He wouldn't take any advantages un.
duly.
So the days slipped past. Alicia began
to look rested. The color flooded back
to her rather pale cheeks. Her spirits
rose. She bantered her erstwhile fiance
numerically at times.
What shall we have our breaking
quarrel about?" she would ask. shall
1t be religion. or literature. or music, or
the shape OF my nose. or the way you
cock your head on one side? It's only a
week away now. and we must tell the
same story"
They were coming up from the golf
club in the soft dusk of the early autumn
evening.
Jimmy stopped short.
Lets don't quarrel" he said so earn
estly that she looked at him almost
startled. Then she laughed.
Jimmy, you old dear. you don't have
to say all these nice things" she de-
clared. You've been nice enough doing
what you have for me-
He swallowed miserably and plodded
on beside her in silence.
Its been such a beautiful time since
we've been engaged, so quiet and-rest-
full, said she.
1T has been more than that" said he
in those earlier tones of his.
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

There you go again" she Knocked.
Again words rushed to Jimmy's tongue,
but again he bit them down and decided
to play fair.
They decided to quarrel about where
they should live: she would stick out for
the city and he for out here in the coun-
try. They'd have it hot and heavy and
shed throw his ring in his very face.
The fourth green on the course was the
chosen spot. Thither they repaired and
had the most delicious quarrel imagin-
able. She was leaving for home early
next morning.
Alicia said: well. now it's all settled
and we've quarrelled. Here's your old
ring
And she handed it TO him very gracious
ly, and even let her fingers lie in his for
a moment.
You're the very incest man was ever
engaged to. and thank you. oh. so much" &"
she said. as she arose TO leave.
I've had the time OF my life" said
Carroll. almost glumly. as he thought
that this was the end OF 1t all
still saying the nice things to the Bit
ter end. aren't you she taunted.
Il mean EN-" said he.
She smiled prettiIy and bobbed her head
to one side to look at him with a certain
archness
You couldn't fall in love with me if
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
Copyright, lslI.)

SopstAshAB AsALJ
There was something about Alicia Far.
rar-a certain frankness of eyes, and
speech-that would make you decidedly
prone to trust her. Alicia, you could be
sure, was a girl who would play fair.
Jimmy Carroll, coming of the links with
her, and strolling across the green to.
ward the club house, was sure of that
He was sure of other things, too. among
them that he loved her very much and
that he had known her far too short a
time to yet let it be known.
Therefore. he was very much surprised
when Alicia stopped abruptly. and with
never a prelude of warning. said quietly:
Would you mind awfuIly much being
engaged to me, Mr.. Carroll?"
Jimmy's heart skipped about three
beats; then it pounded SO violently to
make up for lost time that 1t sent the hot
blood surgmg into mis- cneeKs and his
heck and even his ears.
'.Mind?" he echoed, about to declare
that such a thing was to be devoutly
Wished, but beyond his widest dreams.
But before he could voice these choice
md sacred feelings, Alicia was speaking
lgain. quickly, with a rueful. tired little
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

new, but full of Home, Sweet Home
and Nearer. My God, to Thee chords
Like a popuia: novel-same old dope
but dished up with a different girl on
the cover. Do YOU get me?'
"Easy!" said Perkins. Reminiscent,
but fresh. Thanks! Perkins will do
the work. Might say it is done already"
"AIl right" said the trusting one.
"I1l leave it to YOU"
He went out, and when he was gone
Perky just Topped into his chair and
groaned. He lay back with his eyes
shut and breathed hard, and then he
got up and began hopping around the
Office on one leg and then on the other
Once in a while he would bend over and
look as if he was going to bite himself
on the leg, and then he would stagger
backward and step on his own foot. He
ended up with one foot in the waste
paper basket and the other so twisted
around his chair leg he couldn't work
it loose. Algy just stared at him with
a silly grin.
"'Smatter?" | asked, not stopping my
work. 'Nutty, or Just plain drunk?"
The minute / said it | was sore on
myself. I'd never been quite so fresh
with Perky, and l hated it, but he
seemed to think redhead might say
anything and not mean it.
I'm in trouble" he says. "I've done
it this time"
Done what and how?" | said
"Put my foot in il" he says Bit of
more than l can chew. Do you know
who that was? That step-light-ladies
mani"
"Mr. Paquin, of Paris" l says, want
ing you to discover new place to cut
some off a stylish gown"
Hes Professor Martin" he says,
with the tin pronounced TAM as in
Paris, and he's the celebrated dancing
master, and he wants new dance
LET him have it" says. THE newer
they are the worse they are, from what
1 read. You don't want to associate
with any newer dance than the old
ones"
That's it," said Perkins sadly. "Tve
promised to associate with it. I've
promised to originate it. Did you see
me dance just now?'
"Was that a dance?" l says. 81
thought it was new disease"
"Was it GRACEFUL" Perkins asks
'Was it voluptuous?"
st was as graceful as a stepladder
crawling under gate" l says. ~To me
it was as voluptuous as an umbrella on
a windy day. Almost, but not quite"
Then it won't do" said Perkins
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

take just a few minutes of your time
each day. and you see how it will keep
the others away and let me do the things
and get the rest / want"
His laugh sounded all right to her this
time.
why. surely" said he. II propose
right here and now"
You're so good? said she. And / ac-
cept you-for the next three weeks she
amended with a chuckle.
"And after that" he asked.
"Oh, we'll quarrel. of course" said she.
land break il on and find out in time
what a mistake we were making
"Of course" said he.
Therefore, it was announced. and her
aunt gave them a jolly little dinner, and
then she was free-free for the first time
since she had come into this Iive-wire
place, where all the nice young men had
been SO anxious to see that she didn't
have a spare minute on her hands. Now.
of course, they fell of for the greater
part. Each morning Jimmy Carroll es-
corted her down the road to the woods,
left her, and went his way. Each day
after lunch it was the same. She was
supposed to be motoring or golfing or on
the river with him.. Rainy days he sat
with her on her aunt's veranda.
But you needn't do this" she said
that first rainy afternoon. This is ask
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
JUZAMME ASSIS is

sadly. "How can man originate a
dance when he don't know how to dance,
anyway. How can he originate an
original dance that is reminiscent of
dances that are not original when he
can't do twostep without an extra
pair of feet? How can he combine the
features OF the turkey trot and the tango
and the maxixie when he hasn't seen
them? Herer' he says, calling Algy.
do you dance1'
Like bird" says Algy.
Meaning turkey?' says |.
Like swallow on the wing" he says.
DO you dance" Perkins asks me.
That's what they called it once
says. II can hop off few tiresome ol
things like the polka and the waltz, but
Pm ashamed to own it."
Good" says Perky. Fine! Go to
the dance. Go with Algy and learn the
nadly voluptuous dances of the hour.
Go and glide with mad joy the warm
Southern steps"
"And then what?" says.
"Phonographi he says, waving his
hand around the room. Perkins re-
clines like sultan-here! You two
dance-here! Perky observes. Perky
studies. Perky originates, inspired by
the sway of draperies and"
"All good except the draperies, they
don't sway-they cling" | says.
So Algy took me to the dances. I've
seen them and, believe me! Honest. if
people had to do these voluptuous tango
things for a living there would be a
high-tide suicide record in a week. Say,
take squint at little me buying real
gown and wondering whether / ought
to wear binders to keep my soul from
being smutted by the sights I'd see, and
taking firm grip on myself so
wouldn't break loose in spasms of joy
Gus abandon! have to laugh.
We went to a roof-me and Algy-
and we had glass of lemo at table to
get our breath. There were folks
dancing.
Gee" l says, we're early. If I'd
known l had time I'd have taken it to
put four more hairpins in my ruby
locks"
"What for?" says Algy.
$50 my hair won't shake down when
we begin the mad, mad tango and the
gay, gay turkey trot. When do they
begin?"
Begin what?" he says.
"The dances. When do they begin to
throw Puritanic virtue to the breeze and
dance the naughty dances?"
when? Why, they're dancing them
now" says Algy.
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

Well, believe mel always thought a
dance was a dance, but it isn't. sat
there and watched the couples on the
floor. and for real merriment give me a
funeral every time. When | danced last
the style was to grab a girl and say a
couple of pleasant words that would set
her smiling and from then on it was
that old gag-"On with the dance, let
Joy be unconhned.s But it is different
now. BY the looks on their faces what
the gent says to the lady when he asks
her to dance is: swell, come on. We
are to be shot at sunrise, but
before that we have to have our
appendices cut out oy a drunk
en- carpenter, so We might as well
begin working up the proper state OF
gloom right now. Come on and get
your dose of dolefulness before they
close the house"
/ had hunch that the turkey tango
thing was so wild and merry that A.
Comstock would shut down on sight, but
it's not It's strictly undertaken busi-
ness. The moment you get on the floor
you leave hope behind and cover your
face with an Il hate to do this, but
somebody has to do the unpleasant jobs"
look, and the gloomier you look the
better. And grace? Gee, You ought
to see the way the mad. mad dancers
stick their hands out in the air and twist
them into limitations of the incurably
withered. The most graceful hand /
saw looked like turkey foot the day
after Thanksgiving. And the dance
Locomotor ataxia woulf be some disease
if it made its victims as ugly as these
dances do. I'll never see a cripple
again without thinking of dances.
Honest, l was disguised. never be-
lieved anyone could ruin anything the
was those dances were ruined. There
were those three or four perfectly good
barroom dances that were originally just
as indecent as anybody could wish, and
that were made and meant for tough
dance halls on the Barbary Coast in
San Francisco, or for a dirty bodegas
in Spain, or for the very rottenest dance
places in Paris, and here were these un-
dertaker-faced ladies and gents spelling
them. 1t was a shame. But it made me
laugh. 1t reminded me of lot of
mourners having perfectly horrible
carouse over one bottle of grape juice in
tub of ice water.
So / went around with Aley from
dance place to dance place, and l tried
them all, and studied them, and then l
went back to report to Perky.
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

lesve it: Even IL he had any other
business. it would be impossible for
him to go. Before he had come out
here to cit at the feet OF Silence and
learn. he had not known what 1t Is to
really live.
work it seemed to whisper 20
him neutrality-suspicious.
you live"
But Pearl had not heard the voice
of ambition. He hoped--believed.-sh
would, but She had failed to. So the
only thing for her was the East
The following morning lie drove net
to the station.
"Good-nyr' he sang out as the train
pulled AWAY.
He STOOD q long time looking after
II. Thea. whistling a tune that had
strange bitches in it, he sprang into
his wagon and turned Demons head
home ward.
When re reached the ranch he nung
the reins over the mares back ami
strode into the house. No doubt one
of the boys would attend to the
horse. He went straight to the little
room OF the back of the house which
had been Pearls There stood her lit
tie white bed. He crossed to the mar
row white enamel thing. and threw
himself on his knees before It.
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
Copyright. lsii.l

John Rand blamed only himself. He
lad known before he asked Pearl to face
anch life with him that only one woman
d a hundred strikes happiness under such
conditions; it was not Pearls fault that
the just didn't happen to be the sort OF
trl that can stand the Great Hush.
Pack your trunk. kid" he said kindly,
batting the bright head that lay defect
sdIy on the round arms. It's got on your
serves. There's Just one thing to do and
hats to get back to civilization I'll try
o follow. girl"
you'll followi" Up came the yellow
head. The blue eyes lighted with hope.
-oh. Johnr' she cried. do you mean
-"
He nodded-frst haif-heartedly, ther
more vigorously and convincingiy.
In heart" was his mental reservation.
Heaven forgive me for the He"
Half wild with JOY, Pearl few at him.
you mustI You mustl" she cried. cling.
ng 70 him. ''oh. now 1 can go happily
FOR must 30, John; this terrible silence
Iut here Is killing me-
She turned and few to the door. With
despair. she flung out her hand to the
initless. barren plain. More than once
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
By ARTHUR COTTONWOOD

you tried she said.
He was silent.
That's why I chose you TO be engaged
to- she added
They walked up the road toward her
aunt's house. At the gate she held out
her hand
Good by she GigEIed nervously
/, Wed have made such a happy couple
! if We only could have agreed"
There was a long driveway leading up
10 the house. suddenly without warning
the girl made queer little sound. turned.
and started quickly up the drive Jimmy
started down the road. He went just
three steps. Then he whirled about and
went tearing up the drive after her. He
caught up with her at the first turn.
where the giant larches lined its either
side. He took ker almost roughly by the
arm.
Don't ever do this to anybody else" he
painted. Darn il, You've made me go
and do it. I've fallen in love with you
despite the fact that couldn't-madly.
desperately. insanely-'
She began to laugh softly.
Well" said she. well, what Of il? It's
just what I've hoped would happen for
the last week. Put back the ring" she
went on. holding out her finger for it,
I'm afraid you'n have to pay your
friend for it, now
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
Copyright. lai.l


NAY, wouldn't it jar you? I've been
-, to a dance with Algyl I've been
to several, and with Algy every
time, and. believe me, ! guess | have
bad the wrong dope about Algy.
The tip l gave myself about Algy,
from the day he entered the Office, was
that he was bunch of fluff done up in
clothing ad. garments. My idea of Algy
was that he was so light he did not dare
wear rubber heels for fear that if he
ever bounced on them, he would never
come down again. l thought he was so
trivial in the upper story that streak
of seriousness as thick as hair would
make him topheavy, but l was dead
wrong. / hadn't seen Algy dance.
| hadn't seen any or me new dances,
if you ask me. The minute ! made up
my mind l was going to be a perfectly
good wife for Perkins-if / could get
hinl-I cut the dance business. l quit
a couple of thousand years ago when
the barn dance was hot stuff IF you're
going to pull down rent payer like
Perky" said to myself, you've got to
:ut the SQUAD business and get in train
ng for the long squabble." l couldn't
see Perky doing a dance. When / tried
could only think of camel on the
ice-busy but not neat, as you may say.
was furnishing my old No. 6, making
4 noise like a busy little rosy-topped
Ttenographer slamming out form letters,
when Perky came in with rush and a
gent. l knew as soon as ! piped his
Eyes that he had a perfectly grand idea
be was giving trial heat, and 1 was
glad, for Perky hadn't originated any
thing for two weeks, and a man that
IS in business as an originator ought to
originate something once a fortnight
DR. quit.
"FineI he was saying to the gent he
lad with him. Game to the right shop.
Perkins originates. Perkins creates"
IFS got to be good" said the easy
nark. Something original, but not too
original Like a popular song-brand
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

"Have you got it?' he asked as !
hung my hat on the hook
We've got it, says. We've got
the SWEETEST little new dance that ever
happened Bring on your Professor
Martini We've got the dance that will
set everybody dancing. Can you do that
awkward stunt that you did the other
day when you ended up in the waste
paper basket"
Il can do it as badly. or worse" says
Perky. Why!"
THAT'S it," says. That's what they
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

want. OF course, not many people are
as stiff jointed as you are, but they'll
learn. They will acquire awkwardness
Or, die in the attempt, II you call il a
new dance"
well call it the Stepladder Glide, .
says Perky, all enthusiasm. The prin-
cipal step will be like woman moving
a stepladder that has pail of water
and saucer of tacks on the top step
inch by inch, and every FIVE inches she
ducks her head to dodge the pail of
water and then takes three steps on her
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
~ Breezy 5UzA9R6 By Ellis parkefB,der

heels because there are tacks in the balls
of her feet. CreatP
"You have the right idea" | says, but
not for the name. Well call it the Sene-
gambian Gooba.'
whats Senegambian Gooba:'
asked Perky.
II never heard of one" says. There
is no such thing, but it is swell name
for new dance 1t sounds like q
dance decent people ought not dance"
"And so they won't? asked Perky.
"And so they will" says.
The Washington herald., 1914-03-15

NAY, wouldn't it jar you? I've beer
- to dance with Algyl I've beer
~ to several, and with Algy ever,