davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Delta independent., 1914-10-02

fore his vision. He viewed the world
as in glass, darkly.
He was aware OF decently fur
nished minister's study; of two wit
nesses in the guise of unassuming
womenfolk of the minister's house
hold; of the Rev. Mr.. Wright himself
as a benevolent voice rolling sono-
rously forth from a black-clad pres
ence: of the woman OF his heart stand
ing opposite him: OF questions asked
and responses made; OF ring that
was magically conjured from some
store apparently maintained against
precisely similar emergencies; OF a
hand that took the hand that was to be
his wife's and placed It in his; OF his
clumsy and witless bungling with the
task Of fitting that ring to the. finger
OF his sweetheart's hand
And then he was aware OF a door
that banged violently in the hallway;
of the sound of mans voice making
some indistinguishable demand; that
Roses hand was euddenly whipped
away. before he could ct on the ring:
that the study door was flung open and
that this animal OF n Marrophat had
precipitated himself into the room.
He opened his mouth to protest
and Marrophat silenced him with u
cry.
You fool! Drop that ringi Stop
this farce! Don't you know whom
you're marrying? That woman is Ju-
dith Trine. you idiot-not Rosei"
Blankly Alan turned 10 the girl
Her flaming face, her sullen eyes,
her very pose. from which the man
ner OF Rose had dropped like q cast
garment. confessed the truth OF Mar
rophat's assertion. And as II this were
not enough. Judith confessed It doubly
with q sudden outbreak OF such rage
as never Socid have been brewed in
Roses gentle nature.
You devil!" she cried-and threw
herself In front of Marrophat with .
spring ms 1.-THE A. that OF leopardess.
Take warning now from me: keep
out of my way forever after this-or
take the consequences! God knows,"
she painted. why don't kill you as
you stand!"
He was In her way. between her and
the open door. Sho gave him NO
chance TO move aside. but seized him
so fercely by the wrists that he In
stinctively lifted to protect himself.
and she fairly threw him half a dozen
feet from her. He brought up with
q crash against the wall even as the
door slammed behind the girl
When Alan. the first to recover.
gained the sidewalk. she was already
In the taxicab. Whatever reward she
had promised the man, he whipped his
machine away as II from the fear OF
sudden death.
And darting from the house hard
on the minister's heels. Marrophat
leaped into his own car and. as IL he
had not heard her threat or received
substantial proof OF her earnestness,
tore on In pursuit.
The Delta independent., 1914-10-02

She Appeared Anxious to Escape
Without Being Seen.
now; we fooled them handily-thanks
to your faith and bravery, sweetheart!
and everything Is going to be well
with us from now on. Over in Jersey
the minister is waiting now to marry
US; and down at the White Star dock
the boat is waiting that is to carry us
off to England the moment we're mar
ried. Think OF that-and that love
you. Nothing can possibly break the
strength of that combination!"
For another minute che rested as
she had ever since sinking into her
corner of the taxicab-moveless, taut,
unresponsive.
Then long sigh shook her to her
very heart, and of sudden the small
fist in Alan's grasp relaxed and her.
face turned to his like q flower to
the sun, a face transigured. its lips
now soft and yielding. its eyes un-
closed and smiling into his smile
all misty with unshed tears.
Alan" she breathed gently. 1T
can't be true! I'm trying so hard to
believe-but all the while I know It
can't be true!"
He converted a skeptic With the
mute eloquence of his lips
Head upon his shoulder. the girl
clung passionately to him. "Tell me
again that you love mel" she prayed
Promise me you'll never let anything
come between US. Promise me, Alan
hx hi al
ways, dear!"
Can you doubt will be kind?" he
murmured reproachfully.
Il am afraid :" she whispered.
How could / be anything else, Low.
ing you as do?"
Il am afraid :"
why should / be unkind to your"
ut isn't that. I'm just
afraid"
"Of whatw
"Of losing you"
But that can never bel"
"You can't be sure. What II you
were to find you'd been mistaken"
She caught her breath and added
hastily-"That you didn't really love
me. mean"
"Oh. that's ridiculous!"
II can't be sure. Nothing in life II
permanent. What is love? Illusion OF
the senses! What is happiness? A
will-o'-the-wisp! What is life? A
make-believe!"
"Dearest!" He held her more close
ly still You are nervous and over
wrought You don't know what you're
tv<r -
saying. But say that it's So
that life is all make-believe. Then
nake-believe you love me-" /.
"Oh. but l do, dol"
And make-belIeve for a little we've
caught the will-o othe-wisp-onlyf for a
little-until you wake up and realize
that It's all real and true"
She closed her eyes again: YES"
she breathed, you are right. Let's
make-believe It's all true for little
longer =. and forget -. :"
He could by no means account for
this strange humor; but he did his
best to comfort her. none the less ten.
derly because of his mystifcation. And
for long time she let illusion blind
her, resting quietly in his arms, max.
ing believe
Only on approaching the Twenty.
third street ferry they must needs
rouse and sit apart constrainedly for
fear some one might glance through
the window and surprise their secret.
AS II one needed the evidence Of
caress exchanged to know that they
were loverH. who had eyes to see the
flushed loveliness OF the girl shrink.
ing back in her corner or wit to inter.
pret the radiant happiness that shons
In Alan's face - he bent forward and
The Delta independent., 1914-10-02
Copyright, 1914. by Louis Joseph Vance

heedlessly from her, leaped across the
room, and snatched up the street gar
ments Rose had dropped at her sisters
entrance.
In another moment she was strug-
Cling madly into them.
Before the shadow of Alan, clinging
to the hook and chain. fell athwart the
The Delta independent., 1914-10-02

I
window, she was dressed and clam
bered out upon the sill.
Sweetheart! My bravest little
woman!"
The hook hung steadily within six
inches of the window-ledge. Alan ex-
tended his arm.
Nothing to fear. except lest hold
you too tight, dear one!"
Without word Judith set her foot
beside his in the hook. surrendered to
his embrace. and closed her eyes.
Immediately they were swung away
from the window, over toward the op-
posite sidewalk, and gently lowered to
the street.
Maybe this isn't good scheme!"
Alan exulted in the innocence of his
heart But think 1t is. And those
workingmen think 1t a great lark-I
told them the simple truth, you see:
that we were eloping!"
J By way of answer Judith breathed
only a word of tenderness.
And that instant the hook paused
and Alan stepped of upon the side
walk.
Safe and sound-and not a soul
over there the wiser as yeti" he de-
clared with a derisive nod toward the
home of Trine. Come along Here's
limousine waiting. In twenty min
utes we'll be at the ferry. in forty over
in Jersey, within an hour married.
within four hours safe at seal"
CHAPTER XVI.
Make-BeIlcve.
For upwards of three-quarters Of an
hour of that golden morning which fol
lowed the night of his return to New
York, Mr. Law was permitted to es
TEEN himself ne happiest of mortals.
And inasmuch as this is not only 8
longer uninterrupted term of happi
ness than is humanity common but lie
more of that emotion than ordinarily
leavens the whole of lifetime. Alan
was perhaps to be envied. even though
establishment when 1t came was sud
den, sharp, and to him unspeakably
shocking swift, unpresaged plunge
from sunlit peaks Of supreme content
to the black depths Of bleak Aver.
nus Of despair.
The beginning of the period was
synchronous with the slam of a taxi.
cab door that shut away a superfluous
world from the company OF two who
loved.
The sound spelled safety as we'll as
success in Alan's understanding
The car slipped smoothly away from
the curb. pursued only by little gust
| Of semi-ironic cheers from the little
| - ,.,I,o x,,l<
messed as well as measurably partici-
pated in the putative elopement from
the house of Trine.
! Vigilant for any indication that their
evasion had had a witness in that
strange home of deathless hatred,
Alan watched it through the little
window in the back of the cab until a
corner blotted out the vision of It;
then with a sigh of relief sank down
by the side of the woman to whom his
every thought. impulse and emotion
were dedicated.
"Rose!" he whispered, and tenta-
lively touched one of the hands that
lay clenched in her lap.
She responded with never sign to
indicate consciousness either OF his
touch or his whisper.
And reminding himself of the strain
imposed upon her by the experience
through which they had just passed
Alan excused her unresponsiveness Oh
grounds Of reaction, and for the time
felt constrained to let his sweetheart
rest and regain her normal poise:
the, was bliss enough for him In the
consciousness that he had won hel
safely away. that nothing now more
than q short hours drive across towr
and by ferry across the Hudson stood
between them and the marriage tha
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-28
THE END.
PIqeon Makes 7oo-Mile Trip.

Thirteen-year-old Marion Olram OF
Goldfeld, New, is in her new San
Francisco home today, and so is Dizzy,
according to a dispatch to the Nev
York Sun.
Dizzy is not a homer, but for an OF
binary pigeon 1t has an acute travel
ing sense. 1t followed its little mis-
tress all the 700 miles by train from
Goldfeld to San Francisco. and Their
to her home here. Marion kissed Dizze
good-by at Goldfield and then wept
She looked out of the car window
and there was Dizzy. She took it In
kissed 1t again and tossed 1t out once
more.
But the pigeon wouldn't 60 back
When the Olrams got on the ferry al
Oakland, across the bay from San
Francisco. Dizzy alighted on the girrf
arm.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-28
CHAPTER XXI.
CCpXHNX mn ~ CfONET dEHR HsCW
Remuneration

Remuneration.
On the third day after the singular
trial Of Hetty Castleton in Sara's H.
brary. young Mrs. Wrandall's motor
drew up in front of a lofty office build
ing In lower Broadway: its owner
stepped down from the limousine and
entered the building. A few moments
later she walked briskly into the
splendid offices OF Wrandall & Co..
private bankers and steamship-own-
ers. The clerks in the outer offices
stared for a moment in significant
surprise. and then bowed respectfully
to the beautiful silent partner in the
great concern.
1t was the first time she had been
seer in the offices since the tragic
event hat had served to make her a
member of the firm. A boy at the In
formation desk. somewhat impressed
by her beauty and the trim elegance
of her long black b~road-tail coat, to
say nothing of the dark eyes that
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-28
Island Paradise Of Birds.

On one little island in Gatun lake
formerly known as Lon Hill. before
the impounded waters Of the Chagres
river isolated 1t from the rest OF the
Canal Zone. are more species OF birds
than in any mi locality In the west
ern hemisphere. e. A. Goldman OF the
biological survey. department of agri
culture, In two short collecting trips
to Panama has procured about SOC
different species, and 1t is estimated
that !. larger variety is to be found
within the limits OF the Canal zone
than in any one state in the United
States-about 900.
In the neighborhood Of Gatun. at the
Atlantic entrance of the Canal Zone
no less than $50 species have beer
found.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-28

tton her strength now would be but to
invite weakness. She was strong. He
knew her we'll.
She stood straight and firm for a
few seconds. transfxing Hetty with a
look that seemed to bore into the very
snsII of her, and then spoke.
You ask US to be your judges?"
II ask you to judge not me alone
~but-your son as WE'LL said Hetty,
meeting her look steadily. You can
N pronounce me innocent without
urDrouncing him guilty. 1t will be
hard"
Sara raised her head from her arms.
You know the way into my sitting
Foom. leslie" she said, with singular
-1irecfness. Then she arose and drew
&sC dSure to its full height. Please
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-28

this, living alone and all that sort of
thing. You're young and beautiful
and"
"Oh. thank you. Leslie.| she cried
out sharply.
you see. It's going to be this way:
Hetty will probably marry Booth.
That's on dit, l take 1t. You're depend
ing on her for companionship. Well.
she'll quit you cold after she's mar
ried. She will"
She interrupted him peremptorily.
III Challis did nothing else for me,
Leslie. he at least gave me you to
cherish. Once more, goodbye"
The elevator stopped for her. He
strolled back to his office with a puz.
zled frown on his face. She certainly
was inexplicable!
The angry red faded from he'll
cheeks as she sped homeward in the
automobile. Her thoughts were nc
longer of Leslie but OF another
She sighed and closed her eyes, ant
her cheeks were pale.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-28
The Hollow
BIZ Of Her Hand
George Barr MoCutCheOn
nam M 6/RDD AkHD 81 CO|H94T/

inc about her. Strange to say. have
never disliked her"
IF you had made the slightest ef-
fort to like us. no doubt we could
have"
MY dear Mr.. W%randall," she inter-
rupted quickly, Il credit you with the
desire to be fair and just to me. You
have tried to like me. You have even
deceived yourself at times. but
why these gentle recriminations? I'VE
merely prolong an unfortunate con-
test between a~ntagonistic natures.
with no hope of genuine peace being
, established. I do not regret thai
am your daughterinlaw, nor do | be-
lieve that you would regret 1t II | had
not been the daughter Of Sebastian
Gooch."
Your father was as little Impress
ed with my son as l was with his
daughter" said Redmond Wrandall
drily. Il am forced to confess that he
was the better Judge. We had the
better of the bargain"
II believe you mean 1t. Mr.. Wran-
DALI" she said. a note Of gratitude in
her voice. Goodbye. Mr.. Carroll
will see you tomorrow" She glanced
quickly about the room. Il shall send
for-for certain articles that are no
longer required in conducting the bus
mess Of Wrandall & Co."
With a quaint little smile. she indi-
Gated the two photographs OF herself.
by Jove, Sara" burst out Leslie
abruptly. "I wish you'd let me have
that Gypsy Nab picture. I've always
been dotty over 1t, don't you know.
Ripping study"
Her lip curled slightly.
"As a matter Of fact" he explained
conclusively, "Chal often said he'd
leave 1t to nae when he died. In a
Joking way. OF course. but I'm SUR he
meant It,"
You may have 1t. Leslie" she said
slowly. 1t is doubtful II he correctly
interpreted the movement of her head
as she uttered the words.
Thanks" said he. I'll hang 1t in
my den, IL you don't object"
I'VE shall expect Mr.. Carol. tomor
row, Sara" said his father. with an all
of inality. Goodbye. May | ask
what plans you are making for the
winter?"
They are very indefinite"
" say. Sara, why don't you gel
) married." asked Leslie. surveying the
Gypsy Nab photograph with undis
guised admiration as he held 1t a
arms length. Ripping" This to tn,
picture.
She paused neal the door to star,
at him for a moment. unutterabl,
scorn in her eyes.
y i've had a notion you were prett,
keen about Brandy Booth" he wen
r on amiably.
She caught her breath. There wa
, an i%nstant's hesitation on her part be
fore she replied.
You have never been very smart a
making love guesses. Leslie" she said
j, It's a trick you haven't acquired"
q He laughed uncomfortably. "Nea
q stroke, that"
Following her into the corridor GU
side the offices. he pushed the elevate
bell for her.
Il meant what | said. Sara" he n
marked, somewhat doggedly. "Yo
ought to get married. Chal didn
- leave much for you to cherish. There
no reason why you should go on liz
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-28

shone through the narrow veil, forgot
the dignity of his Office and went so
far as to politely ask her who she
wanted to see and what name.
please"
The senior clerk rushed forward
and transixed the new boy with a
glare.
"A new boy, Mrs. Wrandall," he
made haste to explain. To the new
boys surprise. the visitor was con-
Quoted with much bowling and scrap
ing into the private offices, where no
one ventured except by special edict
Of the powers.
"Who was IT." he asked. in some
awe, of a veteran s~tenographer who
came up and sneered at him.
Mrs. Challis Wrandall, you little
simpleton." said she. and for once he
failed to snap back.
1t is OF record that for nearly two
whole days, he was polite to every WIS.,
itor who approached him and was
generally worth his salt.
Sara found herself in the close lit
tie room that once had beer her hus-
bands. but was now s~crupulously held
in reserve for her own use. Rather a
waste of space, she felt as she looked
about the Office. The clerk busted an
easy chair and threw open the long
unused desk near the window.
I'VE are very glad TO see you here,
~ l. .-sl aul.. uo., L-,-pt
been used much, as you may observe.
Is there anything l can do for you?"
She continued her critical survey of
the room. Nothing had been changed
since the days when she used to visit
her husband here on occasions of rare
social importance: such as calling to
take him out to luncheon, or to see
that he got safely home on rainy after
moons. The big picture of a steamship
still hung on the wall across the room
Her own photograph. in a silver frame
stood in one Of the recesses Of the
desk. She observed that there was
a clean white blotter there. too; bu'
the Ink wells appeared to be empty
If she was to Judge by the look o
chagrin on the clerks face as he In
spected them. Photographs Of polt
scenes in which Wrandall was a prom
inent figure. hung about the walls
with two or three pictures Of his favor
tie ponies. and one of a ragged gips!
girl with wonderful Eyes. carrying
monkey in a crude wooden cage strap
ped to her back. On closer observa
ton one would have recognized Sara
peculiarly gipsy-like features In tn
face of the girl, and then n woul,
have noticed the caption written II
red Ink at the bottom Of the photo
graph: THE Trumbell's Fancy ORES
Ball, January 10. OF. Sara as Clips,
Nab"
With q start. Sara came Of he
painful reverie. She passed her han,
over her eyes, and seemed thereby t
put the polite senior clerk back int
the picture once more.
mo, thank you. Is Mr.. Redmon
Wrandall down this afternoon"
He came in not ten minutes age
/ Mr.. Leslie Wrandall Is also her,
Shall | tell Mr.. Wrandall you wish I
see him?"
you may tell him that l am her,
l If you please" she said.
- 81 am very sorry about the In
+ wells. madam" murmured the clerl
We've were not expecting"
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-28

Workmen from q picture dealers ca.
a full length portrait In the long liv.
ing-room of her apartment when she
reached home. She had sent to the
country for Booths picture of Hetty.
and was having 1t hung in a conspicu.
GUS place.
Passing the open library door, Sara
paused for an instant to peer within.
Then she wen on down the hall to her
own sitting-room. The canary was
singing glibly in his cage by the win.
dow-side.
She threw aside her furs, and, with
out removing her hat, passed into the
bed-chamber at the left Of the coy lit.
tie boudoir. This was Hetty's room.
Her own was directly opposite. On
the girls dressing-table. leaning
against the broad. low mirror. stood
the unframed photograph Of a man.
With a furtive glance over her shout.
der. Sara crossed to the table and
took up u picture in her gloved
hand. For a long time she stood there
gazing into the frank. ~goodlooking
face of Brandon Booth. She breathed
faster; her hand shook; her eyes
were strained as II by an inward sug-
gestion0f pain.
She shook her head slowly. as II In
final remuneration OF a secret hope or
the Punishment Of an unwelcome de-
sire, and resolutely replaced the pho
tograph. Her lips were almost white
as she turned away and re-entered the
room beyond.
HE belongs to her." she said. I'M
consciously speaking aloud; land he Is
like all men. She must not be unhap-
py."
Presently she entered the library.
She had exchanged her tailor-suit for a
dainty house-gown. Hetty was stili
seated in the big lounging chair, be-
fore the swapping fire, apparently not
having moved since she looked in on
passing a quarter of an hour before
One OF the girls legs was curled up
under her. the other swung loose; an
elbow rested on the arm Of the chair.
and her cheek was in her hand.
Coming softly up from behind, Sara
leaned over the back of the chair and
put her hands under her friends chin.
tenderly, lovingly, Hetty started and
shivered.
"Oh. Sara. how cold your hands
are!"
She grasped them in her own and
fondly stroked them, as II to restore
warmth to the long, slim fingers which
gave the lie to Mrs. Coburn's declara.
tons.
I've been thinking all morning OF
what you and Brandon proposed TO
me last night" said Sara. looking
straight over the girls head, the dark,
dangerous. mysterious glow filling her
eyes. ut is good of you both to wan,
me. but"
Now don't say but Sara" cried
Hetty. I'VE mean 1t. and you must
let US have our way"
1T would be splendid to be neal
t you all the time. dear; it would be
wonderful to live with you as you sc
: generously propose. but l cannot DE-
it. must decline"
And may l ask why you decline t.
= live with me-" demanded Hetty re
sentfully.
t Because I love you so dearly" sale
s Sara
g THE END.