davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

which would rid me instantly of any
proximity to this hideous object
flung myself at it-found the knob
turned it and yelled aloud-my foot
had brushed against him. / knew the
difference and 1t sent me palpitating
over the threshold; but no farther.
Love of life had returned with my es-
cape from that awful prison house,
and halted in the semidarkness into
which had plunged, thanking heaven
for the thunder peal which had
drowned my loud cry.
For was not yet safe. He was
still there. He had turned out all
lights but one. He had not seen me
and was going. l could hear the
sound of his feet as he went STUN
bling in his zigzag course towards the
door. Then every sound both on his
part and on mine was lost in a swoop
Of down-falling rain and / remember
nothing more till out of the blackness
before me, he started again into view.
within the open doorway where in the
glare of what he called heavens can
dies he stood, poising himself to meet
the gale which seemed ready to catch
him up and whirl him with other in
consequent things into the void of
nothingness. Then darkness settled
again and / was left alone with Muir
der-all the innocence of my youth
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
SYNOPSIS.

A curious crowd of neighbors invade
the mysterious home of Judge Ostrander,
county Judge and eccentric recluse, fol-
lowing a Veiled woman who proves to be
the widow of a man tried before the judge
and electrocuted for murder years before.
Her daughter is engaged to the judges
son, from whom he Is estranged, but the
murder is between the lovers. She plans
to clear her husbands memory and asks
the judges aid. Deborah Scoville reads
the newspaper clippings telling the story
John ScOville in Dark Hollow, twelve
years before. The judge and Mrs. SEQ
Vile meet at Spencer's Folly and she
shows him how, on the day of the muir
der, she saw the shadow of a man, whit
tling stick and wearing long peaked
cap. The judge engages her and her
daughter Reuther to live with him In his
mysterious home. Deborah and her law
yer. Black, go to the police station and
see the stick used to murder Etheridge.
She discovers a broken knife-blade point
embedded in 1t. Deborah and Reuther go
TO live with the judge. Deborah sees a
portrait of Oliver, the judges son. with a
black band painted across the eyes. That
night she finds, in divers room, a cap
with q peak like the shadowed one, and
a knife with a broken blade-point. Anon
ymous letters and a talk with Miss
Weeks increase her suspicious and fears.
She finds that oliver was in the ravine
on the murder night. Black warns her
limiting at divers guilt. In the court
room the judge is handed an anonymous
note. The note is picked up and read
aloud. A mob follows the Judge to his
home Deborah tells him why suspicion
has been aroused against Oliver.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
OLD STYLES IN PARAsoLS
Quaint Fashions Of Many Years Ago
Seem to Have Returned Again
to Favor.

The quaint styles of parasols used
from 1920 to 1880 have again appeared
Shirrings, puffings, pipings, cordings
and knife-plaitings are used in a vari
ETY. of ways, to emphasize ribs, to out
line cores and to form borders. Many
odd shapes and rich color combina-
tions are seen. Plain, severe styles,
the most prominent being the sand
tones, are seen only with tailored
dresses. There is a tendency to com.
bine materials. In dressy. fancy mod
els, the sand tones are combined with
bright colors. For instance, in one
model of brilliant red there is a Dor.
der and a piping between the shirred
cores. in a rich sand color verging on
gold.
A smart parasol developed In con-
trasting colors has a row of shirring
between the cores. producing q leaf.
like effect. A very pretty parasol has
border of sheer crepe in a contrast
ing color. looped in each section and
caught with a fiat button effect. Bat.
tleship gray is a favorite color, being
used alone in tailored designs, and in
combination with the new reds and
blues in elaborate designs.
Many striking shapes are seen.
Among these is one with wide cores
of richly colored material and narrow
portions in stripes or checks. A clus-
ter of shirring appears at the edge.
OF special interest is the return of
fiat Japanese and Chinese effects, both
plain and richly embroidered. Japanese
prints are in both silk and cotton.
Many Japanese designs have dark Dor
ders. with here and there a delicate
bit of hand embroidery in gold. Some.
times odd-looking velvet birds in or
ange and blue tones are appliqued
over the inside surface of the parasol
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
COMFORT IN FooT-WARMER
Designed for Days When Rain Creates
a Chill Even In Hot Weather
of Summer.

On rainy, chilly day a foot-warm.
er is a great comfort to anyone whose
occupation necessitates sitting still
fer long while, and for an invalid
who cannot move about it is specially
useful Here we give a sketch of an
article Of this nature that can very
easily be made with a shallo> wood
en- box of a suitable size and shape.
In constructing it. the lid and front
of the box are removed and the in
terror lined with any kind of soft,
warm material or, better still, should
it be handy, an old piece Of fur.
The exterior of the box is smooth
ly covered with dark green art serge,
turned over at the edges and under.
meath and fastened on with tacks,
and this, by the way, should be done
prior to lining the box The cover
is fastened on at the back and rath-
er more than half way along each side
and there is a large loose flap, bound
at the edge with braid that may be
pulled well over the ankles after the
feet have been placed In the warmer
Castors screwed on at each corner
underneath the box will enable the
foot-warmer to be easily moved about
the floor without lifting it up. The
small sketch on the right of the Illus
tration shows the woodwork prior to
being lined and covered, and indicates
the shape and size of the box that
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
STRAIGHT GIRDLE IS HERE
Tendency Marked In All the Latest
Designs That Have Been Sent
From Paris.

The newest designs sent over from
Paris as forerunners of the spring and
summer styles show a marked ten
dency to straight girdles passed
around the figure directly at the line
where the old waist used to be before
we allowed the natural largeness of
the figure to have its fullest develop
ment there. These belts could not be
worn, with the frock or skirt and sep
arate blouse that shows a small de.
crease OF size between the bust and
the hips.
White or light muslin frocks have a
belt of three-inch black velvet ribbon
which is decided return to the days
when small waists were in fashion.
The empire line is also accentuated in
evening frocks and short jackets, but
one does not yet see it on day frocks.
The individualist may try it out, but
the average dressmaker is content to
work out the return to the normal
waist, which is no slight problem In
Itself.
You may think that the problem of
the women who must get a small
waist Is the most difficult one, as flesh
has way of remaining where it has
gained strong hold, but, after all, the
corsetiere faces the worst of the work
Unless she knows how skillfully to
handle the shaping of a corset and
can contriYe to give it a flexible ap.
pearance at the normal waist line. the
work of the dressmaker is in vain and
the task of the woman who wants a
small waist is almost impossible.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
MUCH JOY IN ANTICIPATION
Its Stimulating Effect Seldom Given
the Credit Which It So Thor
oughly Deserves

Few people realize how much bene-
fit they obtain from anticipation. In
deed. were it not for its stimulating
effect upon our minds half the Joy Of
living would vanish because by look
ing forward into the future and trying
to realize our pleasures and ambitions
before they actually come to US we
largely increase their happy effects.
The man who is unable to anticipate
the future in any way whatever, who
sees no reason in trying to taste his
joys beforehand, who derives no salts
faction in building upon his hopes,
misses a great deal of very wholesome
pleasure. Common sense tells him, so
he argues, that it is unwise to count
upon anything in this life unless it is
actually in his grasp, but then most
OF us get some very real joy at times
in acting contrary to the routine teach
ing of common sense. We do not
mean by this. of course, that 1t is ever
best to ignore our better judgment
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

mend themselves both to the youth
ful wearer and the motherly board of
censors-thus killing the usual num-
Der Of birds in the usual way
1t has a simple little guimpe blouse
of white chiffon or net with tiny self
ruffles to finish the sleeve end and V
neck. Over this is worn a straight
shallow bodice of the taffeta with
shoulder straps cut in one and corded
on the edges. At the waist-a high
one-it is held in under a line of
white and yellow marguerites.
The skirt is gathered full and
trimmed with ruffies set on in fes-
toons, one about the hips, another be-
low the knees, and a deep ON to COM
plete the skirt length. All are applied
under covered cording which makes
q pretty finish. A cluster OF mar
guerites trims one side of the skirt
Another very dainty version of this
design can be evolved through the
use of palest pink taffeta with velvet
pansies for a belt and skirt trim
ming.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
Big Game, Sure.

A senator from a southern state
always has an abundance of good
southern tales at his command. Here
is one he tells of some friends of his
who were visiting in Savannah. and
who had chartered an old broken.
down hack driven by a negro. The
old fellow was native, and, of course,
was on his job in pointing out all the
places of interest along the route. AS
they logged along out in the suburbs
a squirrel appeared in the road That
was sufficient to arouse intense inter.
est in one of the party, who inquired,
anxiously:
"Do you have any big game around
here?"
"Yes. sub; indeed. suh," replied the
darkey; 1--WE has baseball. ."-Harper's
Magazine
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
POINTS ABOUT EMPIRE FRoCK
Age of Wearer and Lissomeness of
Figure Are Two Things to
Be Considered.

There are two weighty things to
consider before accepting the fashion
for the empire effects in evening
frocks. One is the age of the wearer
and the other the lissomeness of the
figure.
Josephine, the woman who created
the style in order to show off her per.
feet figure. was certainly no longer
young when she became the glass of
fashion for not only France. but the
world She believed that the empire
lines hid whatever marks the years
had traced upon her physique. but
somehow the woman of today, and es.
pecially of America, does not grow
old in the same manner as Josephine
did
For the young and slender all
things are possible One does not
even have to suggest that truth in a
dress epoch when every new style
seems to be especially created for for.
tunate youth. But the women who
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
FOR DANCING FLOOR
WHITE TAFFETA FRockS WILL
SUIT THE YOUNG GIRL.
Should Be Acceptable Both to the
Wearer and Her Mother, Gener-
ally Rather Difficult Thing
to Accomplish.

Fourteen and fifteen are sort of be-
tween-season ages for the growing
girl She is neither a little girl nor a
big one, and her clothes must neces-
sarily express a similar "half-and-
half aspect for consistency's sake. If
they are too childish she herself won t
like them. and If they are "grown-up''
mother won't like them, so nothing
remains but the usual happy medium,
which, 1t must be admitted. is not al
ways judiciously chosen
In the matter of a dancing or party
trock we feel confident in presenting
In the accompanying cut, the very
delectable little white taffeta frock,
which seem in all respects possessed
of the several features that will com.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

gone, and my soul "a very charnel
house.
had to re-enter that closet; had to
take the only means of escape prof
fered. But went through it as we go
through the horrors of nightmare.
l simply did it and escaped all
lightning fash and falling limb, and
the lasso of swirling winds-to find
myself at last lying my full length
along the bridge amid shock of ele-
ments such as nature seldom sports
with. Here clung, for was breath
less, waiting with head buried in my
arm for the rain to abate before l at
tempted a further escape from the
place which held such horror for me!
But no abatement came. and feeling
the bridge shaking under me almost to
cracking, l began to crawl, inch by
inch, along its gaping boards till ]
reached its middle.
There God stopped me.
For, with a clangor as Of rending
worlds, a bolt hot from the zenith,
sped down upon the bluff behind me,
throwing me down again upon my face
and engulfng sense and understand
ing for one wild moment. Then
sprang upright and with a yell of
terror sped across the rocking boards
beneath me to the road, no longer
battling with my desire to look back;
no longer asking myself when and how
that dead man would. be found; no
longer even asking my own duty in
the case; for Spencer's Folly was on
fire and the crime had just seen per
petrated there would sooD be a crime
stricken from the sight of men for
ever.
In the flare of its tremendous burn.
ing l found my way up through the
forest road to my home and into my
fathers presence. He like everybody
else was up that night, and already
alarmed at my continued absence.
"Spencer's Folly is on fire." cried,
as he cast dlsmayed eyes at my pallid
and dripping figure. If you go to the
door, you can see it,"
But told him nothing more.
Perhaps other boys of my age can
understand my silence.
CTO BE CONTINUED9
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
Foot Warmer.

should be used for this purpose. In
the larger sketch. the lining of the
foot-warmer is not shown and this
has been done in order that the way
in which it may be constructed can
be clearly seen.
The cover should, of course, be
made of some of the dark art serge
and lined with fur If possible; for
the use of an invalid, it is an added
comfort If it can be made large
enough to hold a small hot water bot
tie o. even a muff-heater.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
POETRY AT SLUMBER TIME
Right Kind Of Reading viii Compose
the Mind for Proper and Salts
flying Rest.

An exchange recommends the read
ing of a fine soul-felt poem before
retiring for the nights rest. 1t tends
to compose the soul and put it In
harmony with the truth and goodness
of things. A novel will not do that
nor a newspaper. nor anything that
sets the mind in iutter. Read
ing a poem-one of the good old kind
that goes into the heart and has a
nice time there. is like floating down
a quiet stream. past the fragrance Of
mowers and the song of the birds
Never had that experience. Ell? Now.
very shiftless, indeed!
Did you ever try reading Snow
Bound" on an evening when the snow
was piling up the silent deep and
white?" Well, try 1t, when the wealth
er allows. Whittier will give one some
thing for any evening, TennysOn's
Idyls are a little more urgent, but they
are as trapquiIlizing as a gentle arm
aroun6 you. Wordsworth is great. but
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

but, even admitting the fact that az
ticipation is not always the part OF
wisdom. there is no questioning the
fact that it is very delightful to be
unwise in this way at times. If we did
not look forward to what is to come
with hearts full of hope and expec-
fancy how could we get through with
some of the harder days of life? If
we did not depend in so large a meas
ure upon our anticipations how could
we hope to overcome our discourage
ments? Anticipation is in a way the
twin sister of the zest of life-Charles.
ton News and Courier
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
Measures Here and Abroad.

A yard and pound are for an
practical and most scientific purposes"
las the editor Of Nature remarks) the
same in the United States and in Great
Britain. The United States gallon is
only fve-slxths of tho imperial gal
lon, and the United States bushel go
proximately thirty-two-thirty-thir of
the imperial bushel. Our STANDARD
meter is the international pro.u:ype
meter; that of Great Britain is shorter
than ours by six-tentnS of a micron,
or 2.364-hillionths of an inch
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

One day in my restless wanderings
about place which had something of
the nature of shrine to me, l had
noticed that one of the windows Ia
swinging one) overlooking the ravine
moved as the wind took it. Either the
lock had given way or it had not been
properly fastened. If could only
bring myself to disregard the narrow
ness Of the ledge separating the house
from the precipice beneath felt that
could reach this window and sever
the vines sufficiently for my body to
press in; and this l did that night. /
let myself go-I had to-and imme-
.diately found myself standing upright
in a space so narrow / could touch the
walls on either side. 1t was a closet
I had entered, opening into the huge
dining hall, where l had once sat be-
side my father at the one formal meal
Of my life.
remembered that room; it had
made a great impression upon me,
and some light finding its way throug h
the panes of uncurtained glass which
topped each of the three windows over
looking the ravine, soon was able to
find the door leading into the drawing
room.
l had brought small lantern in the
bag slung to my shoulders, but / had
not hitherto dared to use it on ac-
count Of the transparency of the panes
have mentioned; but once in the per.
fectly dark recesses of the room be-
yond, l drew it out, and without the
least fear of detection boldly turned
it upon the small alcove where stood
the object of my alteration. | knelt
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
skunks Enemies of caterpiIlars.

A new field of usefulness has been
found for the much-ridiculed skunk in
the fact that it is vigorous enemy of
the full-grown range caterpillars. Birds
are of no service whatever in destroy
ing these large caterpillars, but skunks
devour quantities of them, and this is
another reason why these little crea-
lures should receive more considera-
tion than they now do.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
CHAPTER xIII-continued.

Once within the room, he became his
courteous self once more. BE seat
ed" he begged, indicating chair in
the half gloom. AS she took ii, the
room sprang into sudden light. He
had pulled the string which regulated
the curtains over the glazed panes in
the ceiling. Then as quickly all was
gloom again; he had let the string es-
cape from his hand
Half light is better" he muttered
in vague apology.
1t was a weird beginning to an in
terview whose object was as yet in
comprehensive to her. One minute a
binding glimpse of the room whose
details were so varied that many of
them still remained unknown to her
the next, everything swept again into
shadow through which the tall form of
the genius of the place loomed with
melancholy suggestion!
She was relieved when he spoke.
Mrs. Scoville (not Deborah now
have you any confidence in divers
word? Has there ever been anything
in his conversation as you knew it in
Detroit to make you hesitate to re-
ply?" the judge persisted, as she con-
tinued speechless.
mo; nothing. l have every con-
fldence in his assertions. should have
yet, if it were not for this horror"
Forget it for moment. Recall his
effect upon you as man, a prospec-
tive son-in-law-for you meant him to
marry Reuther"
Il trusted him. would trust him in
many ways yet"
Would you trust him enough to be-
lieve that he would tell you the truth
if'you asked him point-blank whether
his hands were clean of crime?"
Yes" The word came in whis.
per; but there was no wavering in It.
She had felt the conviction dart like
an arrow through her mind that Oil,
yer rlight slay a man in his hate
might even conceal his guilt for years
but that he could not lie about II
when brought face to face with an &C
cuser like herself.
he wrote at my request these many
years ago: An experience-the tale
of one awful night, the horrors OF
which, locked within his mind and
mine, have never been revealed TO q
third person. That you should share
our secret now, is not only necessary
but fitting. 1t becomes the widow oi
John Scoville to know what sort of q
man she persists in regarding limo
cent. Wait for me-"
With a quick step he wound his
way among the various encumbering
pieces of furniture to his bedroom
Here he fingered so long that, without
any conscious volition of her own she
found herself on her feet, but she
had not had time to reseat herself
when she beheld him approaching with
the bundle of loose sheets clutched in
his hand.
81 want you sit here and read" saiC
he, laying the manuscript down on 6
small table near the wall under gas
Jet which he Immediately lighted. az
am going back to my own desk. If you
want to speak, you may; l shall not
be working" And she heard his foot
steps retreating again in and ou
among the furniture till he reached his
own chair and sat before his owl
table.
This ended all sound in the room ex
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

cepting the beating of her own heart.
which had become tumultuOus.
Thank God! the manuscript was
legible. divers handwriting pos
sessed the clearness of print. She
had begun to read before she knew it.,
and having begun, she never paused
till she reached the end.
was fifteen. 1t was my birthday
and had my own ideas of how / want
ed to spend it. My hobby was model
ling. My father had no sympathy
with this hobby. To him 1t was a
waste of time better spent in study
or such sports as would fit me for
study. When on the day l mention
had a few hours of freedom, de-
cided to begin the remodeling in clay
of an exquisite statue which had great
ly aroused my admiration.
This statue stood in a forbidden
place. 1t was one of the art treasures
Of the great house on the bluff COM
monty called Spencer's Folly. had
seen this marble once, when dining
there with father, and was so i'm
pressed by its beauty that it haunted
me night and day. The boy of fifteen
would attempt the impossible. l pro-
cured my clay and then awaited my
opportunity. 1t came, as | have said,
on my birthday.
There was no one living in the house
at this time. Mr.. Spencer had gone
West for the winter. The servants
had been dismissed, and the place
closed.
What to every other person in town
would have seemed an insuperable OBJ
stacle to this undertaking, was no OBJ
stacle to me. / knew how to get in
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
To Be in Vouue.

To be in vogue in our skirts we must
have smooth, fiat hip look, with a
decided flare at the hem and, if the
figure permits, the fullness should be
accentuated at the sides and hattened
at front and back. To distinguish this
skirt from the one you wore seven
years ago the dressmaker will proba.
bly, accentuate the wavy look at the
edge by shallow scallop or a slight
lifting at front OF sides
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

takes too much thought; Browning,
too, and Lowell. but Longfellow not so
much. But as easy as smiling is the
humorous kind, like Riley. But there
are hundreds of poems floating about
as sweet as a bush of roses. Take
them in and read them before going
to bed.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

Again has body blow been dealt the
woman who is stout. The large waist
line was her hope to be fashionable,
and If it is taken away what will she
do to be rightly dressed?
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
Ponular GRAY.

Gray Is one of the most popular
shades of the spring 1t is cool and
when it is becoming is really charm.
ing. But there are many types of face
and color that cannot stand gray and
it should be worn, especially in the
paler shades. only after careful
thought
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

have passed the thirty mark must be
clothed also, and it is the women of
forty or over who seem to dominate
the world today. socially, and even
sentimentally, so clothing for her
must be taken into reckoning.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
ruIIe.

Tulle is as much used as ever. II
has made itself a fabric Of necessity.
and it is difficult to imagine a change
in styles great enough to change the
position of .ulle.
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
capes for Summer.

Small military capes viii be worn
In the spring and summer
Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDGYSGOOL
LESSON

(3v e. O. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course. Moody Bible In
stitute. Chicago)