davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
His Tailsman

She put the money bacy in her pocket,
seeming half to understand, and handed
him the bonbon box 1t was the first
touch of real compassion he had had
and through many wild and stormy
year did he afterward keep that me-
mento of the sympathy of the little
Lady yenitia
Always he kept 1t about him-to him
II was q sort of talisman that told
him the world was not all heartless
and that even into the deepest depths
there may perhaps, stray sunlight
ray of hope.
Just then an attendant came through
the gardens looking for him. The at
tendant handed BERTHE a letter bearing
an English postmark
He said, Excuse me, Petite Refine"
opened the letter and read it. 1t was
miss spelled a hasty scrawl and a
short one. But what 1t said caused
a strong tremor to run through the
Guardsman from head to foot.
''Waht is lt?' asked Lady venitia.
rs 1t anything worse"
Worse" answered Cecil mechanj-
eally, and, tearing the paper into bits.
he ground the pieces beneath his heel
into the earth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
The Bonbon Box

ieH MIN l want to see him-now, to-
nien.-1or we shall go away in the morn
Ihe' SAID the Princess as Cigarette left
the tent.
You have sent for me- said Victor.
as he stood in the preesnce of thu pr,n-
cess and l am glad of the opportunit--
10 see you again ana to restore to YOU
lost chain'
lie took cut the bonbon box and. laving
II on the table. took out the chain. The
frlneess saw the box and started. On
the cover was set in turquoise. ''venetia."
why, that is my name." she cried.
ana you-and you-how could have been
so bllnd2 You are BERTHE Cecil"
Ana you are the little Lady Venetia.
Nenetla had married. on his deathbed
an aged Spanish Prince-married him
out of gratitude for saving her brother.
life in a boar hunt.
BERTHE to all of venetia's entreaties
only said that he was dead" that moth
ing could be done for hin,--he asked onIv
oblivion '
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Only a Filtration

Love making in is'own circles, BERTHE
found a trifle dull. However, he was
Just then sworn to the service of a GER
tain Lady Guenevere. a young beauty
married to an old and exceedingly 1eal-
Gus husband.
It was one of those flirtations in which
the idle rich sometimes indulge-it would
seem out of sheer ennui-pureiy platonic,
but decked out with all the little "fal-
1als'' of a. stronger passion.
They played a sham game. and both
knew that they were shamming-but it
sufficed to amuse.
So the afternoon of the review Beauty
shifted into "mufti' and drove to Rioh-
mond in his mall-phaeton 10 treat the
Lady Guenevere to a dinner
This day Lady Guenevere had gone
down to see a dowager baroness aunt
at Hampton court-really went. She was
never so impudent as to falsify her word,
and with the dowager, who was very
deaf and purblind, dined at Richmond
when the world thought her dining at
Hampton court
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
A Soldier of France

For IL years now Louis Victor had
been a soldier of France. But he was
only corporal This was because his
commanding officer hated him.
AT first 1t had been natural antipa-
thy which had caused the Marquis de
Chateauroy to dislike the recruit and
then many other things happened which
Increased this dislike to hatred
Chateauroy was not a gentleman and
Corp Victor was. The marquis felt it.
Many wild stories, bred of pure imag-
ination, ran through the camp and bar
racks as to who Victor really was. But
they We're oil wrong.
In his leisure moments Victor used
to make little carvings and sell them
to set money to spend upon his COM
rades. 1t was through set of ivory
chessmen that he came into the notice
of the Princess Corona d'Amague, who,
with her suite, was on a visit to AL
elers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Dead to the World

That night he went out to the grave
of Rake and. as he stood there, sudden
ly his brother stood beside him. His
hand fell heavily upon BerlIey's shoul-
der.
''1ave you lived stainless sinee2' was
all he said
God is my wtness-yes,' replied Berk-
ley. "But they told me you We're dead.
81 am dead" replied Cecil; you have
lived honorably-let that suffice
The old Viscount was dead, the eldest
brother was dead. BERTHE was supposed
to be dead and Berkeley was now Lord
Royallieu. BerlSley had recognized Ber-
tie as soon as he had seen him.
What are you going to do, Bertie?'
Nothing; leave Algeria at once-that Is
all / ask" And Corp Victor went back
to the station.
1t was Berkeley, of course, who had done
the forging, and the letter received in
the green alleys of Stephanen by BERTHE
had been the lads confession
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Only One Request

Victor had far forgotten that he
was no longer a gentleman but merely
a corporal of Chasseurs, that he had
refused money from the princess In
consequence he had several interviews
some accidental-with the princess.
She recognized in the corporal the
gentleman who had once been used to
courts. And he, for the first time, felt
a Wild desire to go back to his old life
and battle against fate-to regain his
lost position in order that he might be-
come an equal of the Princess Corona.
The princess told him that her broth
er, who was shortly to arrive in Al
gicrs was a man of influence ,and she
was sure the corporal might be rescued
from his present position.
But Victor said: Madam, the only
thing I ask of you is that you will
never interest anyone in my behalf. l
de sire to be, as I am now-forgotte
One day he received a shock, He
passed in the street tall Englishman
who he had once been known as
"Rock"-now the Duke of Lyoness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
PLAYING False

But NJ Baroni said: '.That woulu be
compounding a felony"-and went out of
the hotel with Cecil
But Baroni was playing false. In the
shadow of some building he had some
officers of the law stationed and sud-
denly they sprang forth and tried to
put the ''nippers' onte the Hon Berthe
tried to handcuff him before streetfui
of people.
H,nraged, aroused, BERTHE exerted all his
strength in an almost maniacal frenzy
and, striking right and left, broke away
from his captors and fled.
1T was a long. wild chase through the
night out into the open country and then
into the forest.
But BERTHE finally eluded his pursuers.
The Hon. Bertie Cecil, the darling of So
ciety and the pride of the guards. was
a fugitive from justice'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Petite Refine

There was rage among those who had
backed Forest king-it was only too
evident that he had been "doctored" !"
But in the heart of BERTHE Cecil was
only the calmness of despair. He
looked into an abyss. He had backed
his mount and himself heavily as he
dared to.
He got away from the crowd, wan
dered into the gardens of tthe Ste
phanien. and sought solitude in the
dense green alleys.
As he sat there alone-looking into
the abyss-there came a gentle touch
upon his arm. He looked up to see
sanding by him "a dainty. delicate little
form.
1t was the little Lady Venitia, the
hilf-sister of his friend Rockingham,
the child of the Duke of Lyoness by a
late marriage. She was only years
old, but they called her Petite Refine
because her grand, imperial manners
which were very amusingg in a child.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Unforgotten Love

In the shadow of his tent BERTHE stood
looking down upon Berkeley, who was
weeping Historically.
Say no more" said BERTHE. lit has
been well for me that l have suffered
these things For myself-if you do In
deed repent and feel that you owe me any
debt, pay it by letting your life be strong
in truth and fair in honor"
In an English woodland, musical with
the song of birds, the Vircount Royallieu
rode with his bride.
ut was worth banishment for this re-
turn" he said. 1T was worth the trial
/ rave had to learn the love that l
know"
"Hush," replied the briae-once the lit
tie Lady Venitia-"think of her love-"
He bent over and kissed her. But out
upon the desert in a monument bearing
the inscription Cigarette, Enfant de
PArmee soldat de Ia France"
Next weeks one page classic will be
"The Collegians,' by Gerald Griffin.
Copyright, 1914, by Irving King.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Copyright, 1911, by Irving
rights reserved.s

Copyright, 1911, by Irving King. All
rights reserved.e
This is the most popular, as it is the
best, of the stories written by that un-
conventional and erratic genius-for
she was a genius-who called herself
Ouida.
In it the descriptions of English
high life" are what all such descrip-
iions by Ouida are-eXaggerated and
overdrawn. No guardsmen were ever
quite like those of Ouida. When she
seals with the aristocracy there Is a
sote that jars-we have an uneasy sus-
pioton that it is the lady's maid who is
writing.
But in Under Two Flags" her de-
seription of life In the French army of
occupation of Algeria under the sec
ond empire is wonderfully vivid and
convincing. In Cigarette she created a
character wild and alluring, into which
she seemed to put her own soul.
Then. in the story. there is the fas-
cination of a continued rush of incident,
a piling up Of situations and some
most excellent pieces of descriptive
work. It's dramatic force is great
1t is a story which, once begun,
forces the reader to go on to the
end. The blemishes of irre1igion and
neurotioism are there. but the story is
the one by which Ouida will be remem-
bered
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
That Letter From England

Down the alleys came the gay laugh
ter of children, companions of the
Petite Refine. size heard, but looking
sorrowfully at BERTHE said! Let me stay
with you."
No, no. my little lady" he replied
with wan smile. Pray go-leave me
alone awhile. I can trust you to be
silent, la Petite Reine?"
Yes" she said slowly and left him.
That letter from England-that letter
from England The man walked away
after a while in a daze. What more had
fate to offer of its bitterness?
That better had been from Berkley,
his dearly loved brother, and it told him,
in an anguish of contrition that the youth
had not got that money to pay his gam
bling debts from the old Viscount-but
in another manners
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
The Princess and the vivandiere

On his way back to Algiers Corp Vic
tor happened to find broken chain which
he had often seen the Princess wearing.
On a trip out into the desert she had
lost it there. He put 1t into the little
b6nbon box which the little Lady Ven
itia had given him so long ago at Baden,
and rode on.
He reached the place where his brigade
was encamped and reported. The MARQUIS
scowled as he received the report.
That night Cigarette, aroused to a
frenzy by the cold manner in which Vic
tor greeted her, forced her way into the
tent occupied by the Princess Corona.
when the Princess was alone, and crying
out He loves you-you silver pheasant
he loves you,' stormed and threatened
even drawing one of her pistols.
Surprised, angered herself at the i'm
pudence of the vivandiere. the Princess
arose to all her patrican self-possession
and command. And yet she was gentle
with Cigarette.
Finally she completely subdned the
vivandiere. The assertion that Corp Vic
tor loved her was treated by the Princess
as merely the jealous fancy Of = cap
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
An Offer of Helm

Il want to know" she said they tell
me you have lost all your money"
They are not far wrong. But who
are they Petite Reine?" asked BERTHE.
20, Prince Alexis, the Due de Lor-
ance-and mama-and everybody"
Very true, my little lady-for once
everybody is right"
She gave a long sigh and then said
II came-please don't be angry-I
came TO offer you some money. And |
want you to take it, 1t is my very
own. Papa gave it to me- to do just
what l pleased with"
She took out of an enameled sweet
meat box 20 napoleons and held them
out TO him.
The childs actions and words touched
Bertie deeply. When he spoke his voice
shook.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Face to Face

Victor sought Cigarette and begged
her to get him ordered out of town.
And Cigarette did get him ordered.
1t was duty upon which the marquis
was only too glad to send him-to bear
dispatches to a distant detachment
through a country swarming with hos
tile Arabs. But he got through with
his dispatches.
He rade into the first station he came
to bearing not only his dispatches but
the dead body of Rake who, in fight
with the Arabs, had been killed de-
Tending his master.
He made a grave for Rake and then
went on to the detachment to which
his dispatches We're addressed.
When, on his return. he stopped again
at the station where poor Rake was
buried he found there a party of tour
lists come to "see the war and met
face to face his brotO Berkleyl He
hoped that Berkeley had not recognized
him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Pecking at the Eagles

Change again to North Africa--to AL
giers. Imagine it-all who have not seen
it-that terraced slope rising from sea
so blue that he who has never gazed
upon it cannot conceive of its blue
ness"
On the left, as you face the city, the
white houses and the hotels of the new
city"-which is not so very new. On the
right the old old town, tumbing down
with its somber castle-like buildings into
the sea.
In the background the mountains and
beyond the mountains the desert. All!
what cooling drafts they serve there In
the oasis of Biskra.
But at the time of our story there was
no hotel at Biskra. Instead, out upon
those wastes were the hordes of the still
untamed Hawk of the Desert Ab-del-
Kader.
France was making new province for
herself and every grain of sand was
6renched in blood. The Hawk" was
pecking at the Eagles of the third Ma
poleon and--well, hawks and eagles are
not equal in combat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

Petite Refine he said. stroking her
hair. 'T thank you from the bottom of
my heart. But. my dear. I cannot take
your money"
She looked so sad and the tears came
Into her eyes.
But" continued Cecil 'T Will tell
you what I will take from you. If you
Will give me that bonbon box Will
take It,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

<<xyTJIAT'S fellow to do when
Af he's smashed--down and
wv out, you know? He must
do somAthing you know"
This question was put by the Hon.
BERTHE Cecil, second son of the Viscount
RoyalIieu, to his companion. the Mar
ouis of Rockingham, heir of the Duke
of Lyoness, as those two giant dandies
Of the guard were riding back from
review of the Household Cavalry.
g two officers were dressed in the
1did uniform of the guards, shin
eastplates, white, scarlet and
plumes-a1l that could make
airy uniform dazzling and impress
fore and behind their magnificent
gers stretched the long lines of the
st Life" and the bands of the
sehold Cavalry played mellowly in
the rear.
The Hon. BERTHE was the darling of
society and the pride of the guards
He stood feet . in his stockings, was
of splendid physique. had complex
ion SIS fair as a woman's and eyes which
we're shaded by long lashes.
He was known among his associates
as Beauty" and his perfect and Ian
guid manners were the envy and the
despair of the young dandies who tried
to copy them
AS for the women, they found him
"sirnpl Irresistible" and flung showers
of scented billets-doux around him. He
was a noted steeplechase rider and a
hunting man with as fine a stud as
vas in England He showered gold
about him and lived with a reckless
prod1gality.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

madness 1t was that brought him back
there he could not tell.
He left the Kursaal and went out into
the street to be touched upon the arm
and to hear the voice of Rake say: "I
have been following you. 1 know. Come
with me- l will save you."
Exhausted, hopeless, he allowed Rake
to do as he listed with him. Rake took
him to the stables. Forest King stood
ready saddled and Rakes horse also.
Mount" said Rake.
After having stripped off his domino
Cecil mechanically obeyed. Then they
rode forth into the darkness-those two.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
One Last Waltz

BERTHE knew he had but a short time
He put on the domino and entered the
hall. He went about the room, the Vene-
tian mask covering his features.
He saw a domino wearing a bunch of
scarlet japonicas. 1t had been agreed
that that was to be the signal. He went
up and said: You promised me this
waltz. I have kept my engagement
And then for the last time he whirled
away with the Lady Guenevere. What
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Why He Went

Louisville Herald.

FrOm the Louisville Herald.
whats the matter. Willie?p asked
his mother as the lad entered the house
weeping.
The boy across the way hit me- he
replied.
"oh. well. wouldn't It,"
she returned. SHOW thu ~ e q
little man"
Il amt crying for thaA ort-
ed
Then what are yot Ql.ue -
"He ran into the Hu1c re
could get at him."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Charged With Forgery

For moment the "seraph" glared at
the note broker and then said: Let me
see it"
1t was. indeed as Nj Baroni said The
MARQUIS flew into rage. This was some
scoundrelly scheme of oackmailing. Ber-
tie Cecil to be guilty of such an actl Im-
possible.
At first he thought he would kill Ba-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
BY
LOUISE DE LARAMEE
(OUIDA)

tlous child. But she must make another
ellorl 10 have Victor allow her to do
something for him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Beyond His Power to Repay

Berlley was scarcely 20 and was a
small edition of his brother, only that
he had weak mouth
whats up little one; I am in a
deuce of hurry?" asked BERTHE as Berk-
ley came in.
The lad hung his head and said that
ne wanted some money. He had been
playing and had lost heavily.
BERTHE declared that he could not raise
,uch an amount--it was impossible.
"Then go to your friend Rockingham"
answered the boy; borrow it from him
or me--he will let you have any
mount"
THAT cannot do answered BERTHE;
it would be an act of dishonor for me
take advantage of his friendship and
eli from him money which I know
Guild not repay.
3'But go you to your father. Tell him
lat you got into difficulties through
flowing my example. He hates me so
at he win let you have the money
rhs boy went away gfumblins. Hon
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
A CT A S SIC
IN A P A G E

BERTHE Cecil went on duty-bnt the Incl
dent brought home to him the>fact thar
he was smashed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
On the Turn of the Dice

A tall, lightly built man was leaning
aaginst the door Of one of the cafes in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Pride of the Guards

a fellow to do when
w he's he, 1o1, sm'snsa-agTn 1lH@rs Ts m%st "na
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-03-03
Engage in Land Business.

Lewis Graffunder of this city, and
brother, G. L. Graffunder of Cotton
wood, Mimi, have bought land Of
flee in Cottonwood and will engage
in the real estate business. They
will operate with Iowa and Mime
sofa land. They will also act as
agents for the National Realty Com
pany of Washington, D. G. Lewis
expects to leave today for Cotton
wood. His brother has been resid-
ing in Minnesota the past five years,
living at St. James until recently
The Graffunder boys are we'll and
favorably known in this city and
they have many friends here who
will wish them success.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-03-03
COOK TELLS
STORY OF DR|S-
COLL KILLING
Man Accused in Winterest Trial
Testifes Gun Went Off During
Struggle.

Winterset, March Ed. Cook.
who is on trial for the killing of
Charles Driscoll, took the witness
stand in his own defense Saturday.
He told how he shot Driscoll to
death when Driscoll came home un-
expectedly and found him in his
home, and swore that he shot to
save his own life. He declared
Driscoll picked up the shotgun and
aimed it at him. The fact that the
safety device was on, he testified
saved him. Cook said he struck the
gun and it was discharged in the
air.
Cook could tell little of the strug
gle for possession Of the weapon
that followed. He said he did MOI
know how the third and fatal sho
was fired. but admitted the gur
might have been in his hands.
An interesting statement Of Cook
was that when Driscoll fell, Mrs
Driscoll stopped beside the body
moment and said:
Now life is worth living"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-03-03
FOR CROOKED CREEK
ELECTR|F|cATION
President Homer Loring Wants
Thirty Thousand Dollars to
Assist in Work.

Homer Loring, president of the
Crooked Creek Railroad & Coal COM
pany, was in Webster City few
days ago and made the statement to
members of the commercial league
that if the road did not receive some
assistance from Webster City and
Lehigh and the farmers along the
line, business would soon be sus-
pended. He said interest on the
bonds was now due and that the
stockholders were tired of putting
up money to keep trains running.
He insisted that crisis had been
reached and that if something was
not done soon operations would be
suspended. On Thursday party
Of representative citizens, composed
of ]. G. Sullivan, c. H. Clifton, F.
l.. Greeley, J. w. Sheldon, G. C.
Tucker and w. l.. Whitman, went
to Des Moines to confer with Mr..
Loring. They were told that it
would be necessary for Webster
City and Lehigh and the interven-
ing country to raise by some means
about $4,000 to insure the contin-
ued operation Of the road. That it
would not pay unless electrified and
the owners were not disposed to put
in all tho money for electrification.
Mr.. Loring agreed to electrify the
road and run a car from Lehigh and
return every two hours, but he
would not guarantee such service
for any length Of time. The direct
ors of the commercial league held
a meeting Friday night to talk the
subject over and concluded to call
a mass meeting for last night to lay
the matter before the people OF
Webster City and determine what
could be done. But yesterday Secre-
tary Paine received a letter from
Lehigh to the effect that that town
did not feel like doing anything un
less the road would agree to extend
the line west of Lehigh and connect
with the road going to Fort Dodge
and Des Moines, hence the meeting
for last night has been declared off
as the commercial league do no
know exactly what can be present
ed to the people in the way of in
| ducements.
If the train service on the Crook
ed Creek would be discontinued !
would be quite expensive to the Ma
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-03-03
THE HIGH WIND
CAUSES ACCIDENT
Williams Farmer Blown From Road
way; Sustains Serious Injuries
as Result.

AS Walter Flemming, farmer
living two miles north of Williams,
was driving to that town Saturday
afternoon about 1880 O'Clock, the
empty hay rack was blown from the
running gear of the wagon by the
violent wind and turned. complete
ly over upon the unfortunate man.
Chas. Duffy was driving at some
distance behind Mr.. Flemming and
had observed him driving. His at
tention being called elsewhere for a
few moments, he was astonished up
on looking again to see the rack
turned completely over in the road
with the team nowhere in sight
He called assistance and the uncon-
scious man was taken at once to DR..
O'Connor's office in Williams, after
wards being removed to the home
of Mrs. Robertson, relative of Mr..
Flemming. He never regained
consciousness until about five
o'clock Saturday and was bleeding
profusely at the nose and mouth
and unable to talk. 1t was feared
at that time that grave internal
injuries had been received. Nc
news had been received from the
injured man today.