davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
"She's a Witehl"

live, Mrs. Zemanowski attacked Mrs.
Short on the street and scratched her
till the blood ran down her wrinkled
old cheeks.
Mrs. Short had Mrs. Zemanowsh
arrested, and Mrs. Zemanowski made
her plea. 1t appeared from the eEi'
dence that she had obeyed her husband
in attacking Mrs. Short.
Fines Husband.
Under the Pennsylvania law a wife
Is held to be coerced when ordered by
her husband to commit an unlawful
act, so Mrs. Zemanowski was dis
charged, and the husband as the cuI-
pable assailant, was fined one dollar
A woman who owned a black cat
and white dog was accused of being
witch by a neighbor whose child
had died.
Witnesses testified in court that
the cat and dog had been seen parad.
ing the streets at night, their bodies
glowing sphorescently! Also that
they had heard two animals converse
with one another in human speech.
Cures and Failure.
A father and mother of 20 children,
II Of whom had died, made a public
statement, not long ago, that these
children had all been killed by witch
craft. To save their three surviving
children, cuttings from their nails and
hair were put in newspaper and
burned.
All three had been failing in health.
the parents announced, but after that
they soon got well!
But, alas, for the faith in Pennsyl-
yania's witchcraft devotees! Mrs.
Zemanowski's voice hasn't improved
the least bit since she scratched old
Mrs. Short!
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
Birdie! want to talk to you"

Birdie! / want to talk to you"
Say it quick, them" said Birdie
over her shoulder. The doors open in
three minutes"
II can't tell you how grateful I am.
This is no place to talk to you. win
you let me walk home with you to-
night after your works done?"
Twill II" said Birdie. turning to face
him. 81 will not. TIL swell mob has
shook you, an good thing it is. You
was travelin' with bunch of racers.
when you was only built for medium
speed. Now you're got your chance to
fresh start and don't you ever think
I'm going to be the one to let you
spoil it by beginnin' to walk out with
a dinin'-room Lizzie like me-
Don't say that, Birdie" Ted put in
tits the TRUTH" affirmed Birdie
"Not that l amt a perfectly respect
able girrul, and We know it. I'm a
good slob, but folks would be tickled
for the chance to say that you had
nobody to go with but the likes av
me. If l was to let you walk home
with me tonight, yuh might be askin
to call next week. Inside half year.
if yuh was lonesome enough, yuh'd ask
me to marry yuh. And b'gorra." she
said softly, looking down at her I'm
lovely. red hands, I'm dead scared
I'd do it. Get back to work, Ted Ter
rill. and hold yer head up high, and
when yuh say your prayers tonight
thank your lucky stars amt hussy."
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
"BIess Your Heart, Yuh Amt Chang ed Bit"

They teach you everything from
DRAWN birds with tail feathers to
plain and fancy penmanship. In fact,
they teach everything in the writin'
line except forgery, an / amt SO
sure they haven't coorse in that"
81 don't care" whimpered Minnie
Wenzel suddenly, sinking in limp
heap on the floor. 81 had to do it. I'm
marrying a swell fellow and girls
got to have some clothes that don't
look like a Bird Center dressmaker's
work. He's got three sisters. saw
their pictures and they're coming to
the wedding. They're the kind that
wear low-necked dresses in the eve
ming, and have their hair and nails
done down town. / haven't got a thing
but my looks. Could l go to New
York dressed like a rube? On the
square, 10, / worked here six years
and never took a sou. But things got
away from me- The tailor wouldn't
finish my suit unless l paid him fifty
dollars down. / only took fifty at
first, intending to pay it back. Honest
to goodness, 10, / did"
"Cut it out" said 10 Haley, "and get
up. l was going to give you check
for your wedding, though ! hadn't
counted on no three hundred. Well
call it square. And l hope you'll be
happy, but don't gamble on it. You'll
be goin' through your mans pockets
before you're married a year. You
can take your hat and fade. I'd like
to know how I'm ever going to square
this thing with Ted and Birdie"
can me standin' here gassin' while
them fool girls in the dinin'-room
can't set a table decent, and dinner
in less than ten minutes" cried Birdie,
rushing off. Ted mumbled something
unintelligihIe and was after her.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26

There are two ways of doing battle
against disgrace. You may live il
down; or you may run away from il
and hide. The first method is heart.
breaking, but sure. The second can.
not be relied upon because of the un.
comfortable way disgrace has of turn.
ing up at your heels just when you
think you have eluded her in the last
town but one.
Ted Terrill did not choose the first
method. He had it thrust upon him.
After Ted had served his term he
came back home to visit his mothers
grave, intending to take the next train
out. He wore none of the prison pal
Tor that you read about in books, be-
cause he had been shortstop on the
penitentiary all-star baseball team, and
famed for the dexterity with which he
could grab up red-hot grounders The
STORED lock step and the clipped hair
effect also were missing. The super
intendent of Ted's prison had been one
of the reform kind.
You never would have picked Ted
for a criminal. He had none of those
interesting chronological bumps and
depressions that usually are shown to
such frank advantage in the Bertillon
photographs. Ted had been assistant
cashier in the Citizens National bank.
In mad moment he had attempted a
little sleight-of-hand act in which GER
tain Citizens National funds were to
be transformed into certain glittering
shares and back again so quickly that
the examiners couldn't follow it with
their eyes. But Ted was unaccustomed
to these now-you-see-it-and-no
don't feats and his hand slipped The
trick dropped to the floor with an
awful clatter.
Ted had been a Iovable young kid,
six feet high, and blond, with a great
reputation as dresser He had the
first yellow plush hat in our town. 1t
sat on his golden head like a halo
The women all liked Ted Mrs. Dank-
worth, the dashing widow (why will
widows persist in being dashingO.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26

later, somebodyll come along and blab
the whole thing. And say, the older it
gets the worse it sounds, when it does
come out. Stick around here where
you grew up. Ted"
Ted clasped and unclasped his
hands uncomfortably. 81 can't figure
out why you should care how finish"
mo reason" answered 10. mot a
darned one. l wasn't ever in love with
your ma, like the guy on the stage;
and l never owed your pa a cent. So
it amt a guilty conscience. | guess
it's just pure cussedness and a ham
KERN for new investment. I'm curl.
Gus to know how'll you turn out.
You've got the makin's of what the
newspapers call leading citizen, even
if you did fall down once. If I'd ever
had time to get married, which never
will have, first-class hotel bein
more worry and expense than a Pitts
burgh steel magnates whole harem.
I'd have wanted somebody to do the
same for my kid. That sounds slushy,
but it's straight"
81 don't seem to know how to thank
you," began Ted, little husky as to
voice.
Call around tomorrow morning" in.
terrupted 10 Haley, briskly, land Min.
ME Wenzel will show you the ropes.
You and her can work together for
couple of months. After then she's
leaving to make her underwear. and
that. l should think she'd have a bale
of it by this time. Been embroidering
them shimmy things and lunch cloths
back Of the desk when she thought I
wasn't lookin' for the last six months"
Ted came down next morning at
eight o'clock with his nerve between
his teeth and the chip still balanced
lightly on his shoulder. Five minutes
later Minnie Wenzel knocked it off.
When 10 Haley introduced the two
jocularly, knowing that they had origi-
nally met in the First Reader room,
Miss Wenzel acknowledged the intro
duction icily by lifting her left eye
brow slightly and drawing down the
corners of her mouth. Her air of hau-
teur was triumph, considering that
she was handicapped by black sateen
sleeveless.
! wonder how one could best de-
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
$4,000 Man Off Duty.

what beautiful eyes you have!"
'You mustn't say such things to
me-"
''But you have. They're the most
wonderful eyes I've ever seen. And
what glorious hair!"
81 wish you wouldn't talk this way"
Your gown is perfect dream!
While you would look well in anything
you choose to wear, tonight you are
more beautiful than usual"
you're getting silly!"
'No, I'm not! l mean every word
say. Really, you are the most charm
ing creature have ever looked at. If
/ were an artist, how l would long to
paint your Portrait"
81 shall leave you if you don't stop.
Besides, you don't mean half you are
saying"
Il do-indeed, do! You are a glo-
rious beauty. The whiteness of your
hands fairly shames the diamonds you
are wearing!"
George, you must"
But George didn't. He kept right on
raving for two hours, and if the girl
had any sense at all, she must have
wondered what it was the corporation
found in him to pay $4,000 year for.
Detroit Free Press.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26

l used to look forward to ironin' day
just for the pleasure Of pressin' his
fancy shirts for him. Pm that partial
to them swell blends. But dinnaw.
he's changed DOM time has taken
the edge off his hair an complexion.
Not changed his color, do yuh mind,
but dulled it, like gold ring, or the
like, that has furnished"
Ted was seated in the smoker, with
a chip on his shoulder, and sick hor-
ror of encountering someone he knew
in his heart, when 10 Haley, of the
Haley house, got on at Westport.
homeward bound. 10 Haley is the
most eligible bachelor in our town.
and the slipperiest. He has made the
Haley house a gem, so that travelling
men will cut half a dozen towns to
Sunday there. If he should say Jump
through this!" to any girl in our town
she'd jump.
10 Haley strolled leisurely up the
car aisle toward Ted. Ted saw him
coming and sat very still, waiting.
Hello, Ted! How's Ted?" said 10
Haley, casually. And dropped into the
adjoining seat without any more fuss.
Ted wet his lips slightly and tried
| to say something. He had been a
breezy talker. But the words would
not come. 10 Haley made no effort
to cover the situation with a rush of
conversation. He did not seem to
realize that there was any situation to
cover. He champed the end of his
cigar and handed one to Ted.
We'll, you've taken your lickin'.
kid. What you going to do now?"
The rawness of it made Ted vince
ooh, l don't know" he stammered.
''I've got a job half promised in Chi
cago."
What doing?"
Ted laughed short, ugly laugh.
Driving a brewery auto truck"
10 Haley tossed his cigar dexterous-
ly to the opposite corner of his mouth
and squinted thoughtfully along its
bullying sides.
Remember that Wenzel girl that's
kept books for me for the last six
years? She's leaving in couple of
months to marry a New York guy that
travels for ladies' cloaks and suits.
After she goes it's nix with the lady
bookkeepers for me. Not that Minnie
isn't good, straight girl, and honest.
but no girl can keep books with one
eye on a column Of figures and the
other on a travelling man in brown
suit and red necktie, unless she's
cross eyed, and you bet Minnie isn't.
The jobs yours if you want it. Eighty
a month to start on, and board"
'I-can't, 10. Thanks just the
same. I'm going to try to begin all
over again, somewhere else, where no.
body knows me-"
ooh, yes" said 10. Il knew fellow
that did that. After he came out he
grew a beard and wore eyeglasses and
changed his name. Had a quick, crisp
way of talkin', and h. cultivated
drawl and went west and started in
business. Resi- estate, / think. Any
way, the second month he was there
in walks fool he used to know and
bellows: why, if it amt Bill! Hello.
Bill! thought you was doing time
yet That was enough. Ted, you can
black your face and dye your hair and
squint, and some fine day, sooner or
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
Man More Modest.

You would think that the telephone
girl would be the last one to knock her
sex on the use of the phone, wouldn't
you? "A man is more modest than a
woman in the matter of telephoning, 81
declared the girl at the switch in a
New York hotel. "You would think
that a woman would be lot more
modest than a man about having PEG.
pie Overhear her telephone converse
ton. But it is just the other way. You
never hear man talking in public
telephone booth with the door standing
open. Not so with woman. A WON
an never seems to care who overhears
what she has to say. She never takes
any pains to see whether the door to
the booth is closed. She doesn't care
one way or the other. 1t doesn't make
any difference whether the talk is with
her dressmaker or with some man. She
talks right out and all can listen if
they want to. Maybe it isn't so much
that the woman doesn't care as that
she just doesn't think about people
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
WITCHES LIVE IN
KEYSTONE STATE
Cases in PottsviIIe Show Super
stitions That Have Not
Yet Disappeared.
WOMAN LOSES VOICE
Attempts to Effect Cure by Attacking
"Sorceress" and Is Arrested-Hus-
band instigated 1t and Is
Fined 81.

Pottsville, Pa.-"She Is q witch!"
Mrs. Michalina Zemanowski pointed
stubby and shaking forefnger at
Mrs. Katie Short. Her words came
from her throat in hoarse whisper.
and the crowd that thronged Judge
Koch's court gaped, while the word
ran from one to another.
"Her voice is bewitched! The spell
is on her that she cannot speak,"
Mrs. Short huddled down in her
chair, feeble, wrinkled, little old
woman, with crusted scars on her face
of cruel scratches yet unhealed.
"She is WITCH"
Mrs. Zemanowski, charged with hav-
ing ferociously attacked and clawed
Mrs. Short, looked up at the Judge
before whom she was on trial.
Began With Drink.
Mrs. Short, who earns a meager fiv-
ing by making tallow dips, had sold
some one day nearly a year ago to
Mrs Zemanowski. She asked Mrs Ze-
manowski to have drink of whisky.
The invitation was accepted. Soon
after Mrs. Zemanowski's voice began
to fail.
A bad cold? Some disease of the vo-
cal organs? No. In this part of the
state of Pennsylvania they know that
when a thing like that happens It's
witchcraft
s., Mrs Zemankowsh believed, and
as she brocded, her belief grew
stronger till her nights were sleepless
and her days. frantic.
Cure for Witchcraft.
She was in the power of witch,
she said. By and by the very sight
of Mrs. Short made her hysterical.
Conferences were held, in which her
husband and neighbors took part. The
best authorities on witchcraft and its
antidotes agreed that the way to
break the spell" was for the victim
to draw the witch's blood!
So, one bright Sunday morning, in
the little village of Turkey Run, where
the Short and Zemanowski families
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26

said that he was the only man in our
suit. The men were forever slap
ping him on the back and asking him
to have little something. Teds good
looks and his clever tongue and a Ger.
tain charming Irish way he had with
him caused him to be taken up by the
smart set. Now, if you've never lived
in a small town you will be much
amused at the idea of it's boasting a
smart set. Which proves your igno.
rance. The small town smart set is
deadly serious about it's smartness
1t likes to take six-hour runs down to
the city to fit a pair of shoes and hear
Caruso. Its clothes are as well made,
and it's scandals as crisp, and it's pace
as hasty, and its golf club as dull as
the clothes and scandals and pace and
golf club of it's city cousins.
The hasty pace killed Ted. He tried
90 keep step in set of young folks
whose fathers had made our town.
And all the time his pocketbook was
yelling, "Whoe!" The young people
ing cars and country-club doings and
ran largely to scarlet upholstered tour
house parties, as small town younger
generations are apt to. When Ted
went to high school half the boys in
his little clique spent their after-school
hours dashing up and down Main
street in their big, gljttering cars, sit
ting slumped down Oh the middle of
their spines in front CT the steering
wheel, their sleeves rolled up, their
hair combed a militant pompadour.
One or the other of them always took
Ted along. 1t is fearfully easy to de-
velop a taste for that kind of thing.
AS he grew older the taste took root
and became habit.
Ted came out after serving his term,
still handsome, spite of all that story
writer's may have taught to the con-
trary. But we'll make this concession
to the old tradition. There was a diff
terence. His radiant blondeur was
dimmed in some intangible. elusive
way. Birdie Callahan, who had worked
in Ted's mothers kitchen for years,
and who had gone back to her old job
at the Haley house after her mistress
death, put it sadly thus:
He was always tn hanson divil.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26

on slips of paper. l might as well
call her in again, and we'll have the
whole blamed thing out"
Minnie Wenzel came. In her hand
were slips of paper, and books with
figures in them, and Ted looked and
saw things written in his own hand
that should not have been there. And
he covered his shamed face with his
two hands and gave thanks that his
mother was dead.
There came three sharp raps at the
office door. The tense figures within
jumped nervously.
Keep out!" called 10 Haley, who
ever you are" Whereupon the door
opened and Birdie Callahan breezed in
Get out. Birdie Callahan" roared
10. You're in the wrong pew"
Birdie closed the door behind her
composedly and came farther into the
room. Pete. tn pastry cook, just tells
me that Minnie Wenzel told tn day
clerk, who told the barkeep, who told
tn janitor, who told tn chef, who told
Pete, that Minnie had caught Ted
stealth some three hundred dollars"
Ted took quick step forward.
Birdie, for heavens sake keep out of
this. You can't make things any bet
ter. You may believe in me, but"
Where's the money!" asked Birdie.
Ted stared at her a moment. his
mouth open ludicrously.
"Why-I--don't-kn he articu-
lated painfully. Il never thought Of
that"
Birdie snorted defiantly. 81 thought
so. Dye know" socially, 81 was Wis.,
itin' with my aunt, Mis- Mulcahy, last
evenin'."
There was a quick rustic of silks
from Minnie WenzePs direction.
Say, look here" began 10 Haley,
impatiently.
Shut up, 10 Haley" snapped Birdie
'As ! was sayin', l was visitin' with
my aunt, Mis- Mulcahy. She does
fancy washin' an ironin' for the swells.
An Minnie Wenzel, there bein' none
sweller, hires her to do up her weddin'
linens. Such smears av hand en-
bribery an Irish crochet she never
see tn likes, Mis- Mulcahy says, and
she's seen a lot. And as a special
treat to the poor ovid soul, why Min
ME WCnzel let's her see some av her
weddin' clo'es. There never yet was
woman who cud resist shown her
weddin' things to every other woman
she cud lay hands on. Well, Mis- Null
cahy, she see that grand trewsow and
she said she never saw tn beat.
Dresses! Well, her going-away suit
alone comes to eighty dollars, for it's
bein' made by Molkowsky, the little
Polish tailor. An her weddin' dress is
satin, do yuh mind! Oh, it was a
real treat for my aunt, Mis- Null
cahy"
Birdie walked over to where Minnie
Wenzel sat, very white and still, and
pointed stubby, red finger in her
face. "'Tis the grand manager We are,
Miss Wenzel. gettin' satins an tailor
mades on yer salary. It takes a
woman, Minnie Wenzel, to see through
woman's thricks."
well, I'll be dinged!" exploded 10
Haley.
"Yuh'd better bel" retorted Birdie
Callahan.
Minnie Wenzel stood up, her lip
caught between her teeth.
Am to understand, 10 Haley, that
you dare to accuse me of taking your
filthy money, instead of that miser-
able ex-con there who has done time? 2"
"Thatll do, Minnie said 10 Haley
gently. That's a-plenty"
prove it," went on Minnie, and then
looked as though she wished she
hadn't.
"A business college edjication is a
grand, foine thing" observed Birdie.
Miss WenZel is graduate av wan.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
PAYS for Ride Of IS Years Ago.

Portland, Cre.-Conscience stricken
over a ride of 80 miles, stolen Is years
ago, stranger walked into the pas
senger station of a railroad here and
said he wanted to expiate his wrongful
deed. At this late day he could not
even be sure of his distance, but after
some discussion laid two silver dollars
on the counter and said he would call
It square If the company would
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
Loyal to Aunt May.

Aunt May was the favorite aunt of
little Ellen. One Cay the former said
to her, naming three other aunts,
Which do you like best, Aunt Anna,
Aunt Emily or Aunt Palmer?" Little
Ellen looked thoughtful a moment and
then said, why, l like Aunt Anna
better than Aunt Palmer. but / don't
like anybody best what isn't you
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
Weeping Willows.

The weeping willows, so-caQed (sci-
entific name S. babylonica), Is ma
tive of China, from which country it
has been taken over most of the
civilized earth. 1t varies in height
and dimensions, according to climate
and soil, and invariably maintains its
dropping habit, the chief cause of it's
attractiveness.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
An EnsIishwoman "soIdier."

The most famous Englishwoman
soldier was DIR. James Barry, who
Joined the medical corps in 1913 and
served at Waterloo and in Crimea. In
1858, after many promotions, she be-
came inspector general, and it was not
until many years later that the fact
that she was woman was discovered.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
A snan.

Tramp-Pm willing to work, boss. if
could get the job l want.
Gentleman (sarcastically)- And that
Is being lineman on a wireless tele
graph, / suppose?
Tramp-No, boss, nothin' absurd
like that. Colcrin' meerschaum pipes
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26
Beer Barred IN Petroarad,

Petrograd.-Even beer is barred
now In Petrograd, the cars new or
der applying to clubs and high-gYade
restaurants as well as to others places.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-26

overhearing her. But at any rate, she
isn't bit secretive about her affairs.
call it immodesty myself"
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1915-04-08
w. F. Stearns helped on Mrs.
Heavlins hen house Saturday.
N. M. N.
East Lone Oak.

The last few days Of warm weather
reminds US that spring is here and
every body is trying to do two days
work in one.
Rev. Spencer filled his regular ap-
pointment at Peru Sunday morning.
Mrs. Lizzie Gerkin, who has been
spending the winter with her sister
near Drexel, arrived here last Sunday
to- make visit to Mrs. Harry Latham.
Miss Bertha Bowers, state worker
of the W. C. T. u, made fine talk
to the people Of Peru Tuesday night.
She also delivered an address at
Double Branches Wednesday night.
Last Sunday was very windy day
and it seemed bad day for farmers.
About 2 o'clock the house of Jess
Chambers was found to be on fire
but they had sufficient help to put it
out. There was plenty of water on
hand and despite the high wind the
flames were extinguished without
serious loss.
Last Sunday Delbert and Fay
Blankenbaker started to visit Miss
Kate and Fay Wheaton who live near
the Black school house. They had
gone only about mile when the
axle to the buggy broke and one of
the wheels dropped off. They de-
cided to postpone their visit to some
future time.
At the school election Tuesday
Grover McCombs was elected to the
school board in the place of Frank
Nafus.
The proposition to build a school
house at the Marias Des Cygnes\
bridge and to change the other dis
tricts so as to equally divide them and
make new districts, was carried in
the Star district, was lost in Pleasant
Valley and was tie in Peru.
PUSSY WILLOW.