davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

ing Mary that she was an actress now and had to hustle. Then MT. Langdon had to be told all about it, and the re- suit was we had to run three blocks to get in at the stage door before they be- gan to keep tabs on the late comeTs MT. Langdon was to go with mother and Mrs. Page, and soon spotted them up in the balcony, for the man. agement doesn't hand out boxes for the families of it's front row of the chorus. but in one of the boxes I did see a familiar face-that of Dave Pollock. He was all gotten up in soup and fish, but he was alone, and l could see that he was taking Mary all in, and then some Mary had told me a lot about him, and the piker way he'd acted, and she'd also told me lot about Mir. Lang don, so decided that I wouldn't put her wise to the fact that Pollock was there, but would let her play to the balcony, which she did She was so pretty and so happy that she got a silly song over big, and even the tenor had the decency to make her go on and take a curtain with him, which was enough to turn the head of any of the chorus. But Mary was scared blue in stead of pleased, and she was so fun ny and old fashioned and startled by her own success. that the little old green-eyed monster didn't hit any of the girls, and there wasn't a single catty hint in our room. Everybody just made fuss over her till Mary fairly cried, she was so happy. And the part that seemed to please her most was that she had seen Langdon applauding his hands off up stairs
 ''Did you join your mother and Mrs. Page after the show?" interrupted Langdon warningly; and with start Amy brought herself back from her "reminiscences and turned to him with smile.
 That was the big idea" she said.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
By FREDERICK LEWIS, Author of What Hap

Under the careless words there was sudden deeper note of sincerity, and her eyes were alight with pity and af- lection when she caught glimpse of the defendant. who tried to smile at her. In fact, so intent was she upon the prisoner that she took the oath carelessly, and the moment she was on the stand turned to the judge and said:
 T don't know what am supposed to do, your Honor, but I want to tell you right here, that Mary Page is the best, and the bravest and the truest girl in the whole wide world"
 For the first time the judge smiled; then he leaned forward and said kindly:
 ''The Court appreciates your admira- tion for the prisoner. but you must confine your remarks, while on the stand, to the answers to questions which will be asked you"
 "Oh, yes, was told that" she an- swered readily. tfBut I forgot" Then turning to Langdon she added cheerily, Fire away, Mir. Langdon, I'm all ready"
 A little gust of laughter that was like a west wind sweeping through the haze of bitterness of old tragedies rip pied through the court, and the young est juryman settled his tie with a ges- ture that was as natural as it was un- conscious when Amy's bright apprais- ing eyes rested for an instant upon him. Then Langdon, coming close to the witness stand said quietly:
 Miss Barton, you know the defend ant, Mary Page, do you?"
 ''Why, of course I do, you goatl" she answered with bubbling laugh that found an echo in the room. But Lang don frowned, and his voice was more harsh as he said. Please answer yes, or no, and remember that if you want to aid Miss Page, you must make your answers short and to the point" The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

But it hit the rocks, for when Mary and hustled into our glad rags and started for the door we bumped square ly into the stage manager and MT. Pol lock-the latter all done up to kill, even to top hat. oh. Miss Page sings out Ecky Chats the manager) here's a gentleman from your home town. that wants to take you out to supper and see you home in a buzz wagon He laughed hastily as he spoke, and I could feel Mary's hand go cold as ice as she grabbed mine and says. I have no desire to take supper with MT. Pol lock. either now or at any other time come. Amy But that made old Ecky sore. for there's nothing that's so good for show in his estimation as to have few of the top-hatted crowd take the girls out to supper. so he began to roar like a bull and shouts, Whats this? Are you crazy? But Pollock inter- rupted him-there was a quick business of being hurt to the heart; the misun- derstood soul-and the chivalry stunt was pulled off without a break. Then he says, Miss Page is quite within her rights. I do not wish an unwilling guest Perhaps my moment of renew ing her acquaintance was inopportune, and he stalks away for all the world like the heavy in the third act But old Ecky was up in the air, and he began rowing Mary for fair. He told her. the poor dog. that it was her beauty. not her talent. that got the house. and added, Its your business here to be civil to your admirers and go to sup per when they ask you. If you're goin' to ride high horse I've got no use for you in this show"
 Did Miss Page answer him?"
 No. I think she was too mortified, and old Ecky. thinlxin that silence meant consent, told her to stay there till he brought MT. Pollock back. The minute his back was turned I gave Mary the cue to get away quick, but we didn't have to. for just then MT. Langdon came in, and we beat it for him. We didn't have time to tell him what had happened before old Ecky came back with MT. Pollock and they both stopped short when they saw MT. Langdon with us. and then MT. Pol lock drawls out, You see this Miss Page is not so virtuous as she pre- tends. She's not even particular in her
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

through calling the rest of us all the names in his vocabulary. So when it
 came to one bit where the fat tenor
 had to choose a girl out of the chorus
 to sing an encore with him, Mary got
 the chance, and made good, too. But
 that was afterwards.'
 "Well, suppose you tell us what oc- cured on the day The Blue Feather
 opened"
 "Oh, the day was the same as any other opening day. We'd rehearsed half the night and started in at eight thirty in the morning. Somebody had sent set of scenery that was back wards and the leads had to learn their
 business all over again, and the hats for the chorus turned up the wrong
 color. The stage manager had grouch
 and the orchestra got all mixed up on
 the encores, and we were all tired to
 death and wished we were dead. It's
 always like that few hours before the overture on an opening night, so
 Mary and I were mighty glad to slip
 out home and rest an hour before go-
 ing back to make up We didn't dare
 stay long, though, for being late is the
 worst sin in the box at a ow-shop,
 so it was round about seven when we got on our lids and were ready to beat it back. Just when we were leaving, though mother came running in and said, Oh, Mary, Philip Langdon is here and he wants to see you just minute
 before you leave At that Mary lights all the lamps in her eyes, and went into the sitting room with me a close second.
 MT. Langdon was there talking to Mrs. Page and when we came in she called out. Mary. Philip has given up his practice in New Town and has come here to live At that he came over and took Mary's hand in both of his and said, Please be glad, Mary. l
 heard that Pollock had gone into busi-
 ness here and I worried so about you, l felt I had to come. Let me be your
 friend and protector, even if I can't be anything more. won't you. Mary?' oh,
 but you oughtn't to give up your prac- tice. Phil she said. beginning, just like
 a woman, to kick against the thing that pleased her most. You-you-may not like it here.' But he laughed at that,
 and they began to talk so much that l got worried and butted in by remind
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

he swung about and came out in the hall where I had the door all nicely opened for him. I told him sweetly that I'd opened it for him to get out but I'd be shot before it ever opened to let him in again He glared at me. but he didn't say anything. and as soon as he was out of sight I ran back to the sitting room, to find Mary in a dead faint. It was such long time before she came round, and then she was so dazed and terrified that we were all scared to death, and swore a solemn VOW then and there that I'd be the busiest little stage mother and cha peron and advice giver to Mary that any girl ever had"
 Her voice, which in spite of the care- less slang had a vibrant sweetness that carried conviction, suddenly trembled, and the quick tears filled her eyes as, turning to Mary, she cried eagerly:
 And, Mary, I've kept my word, haven't I? Haven't I?"
 Mary nodded, smiling through her own tears, and the spectators who throughout the breezy testimony of the young actress had been in gales of laughter, suddenly sobered. They saw the brave heart under the butterfly ex- terior and realized the wisdom and the goodness behind the vulgar words.
 But Langdon. seeing the judge frown at this shattering of legal prece- dent, asked his next question quickly.
 You and Miss Page did secure posi- tions in the same company. did you not?"
 "Oh, yes, in The Blue Feather. You see, I'd made up my mind that it was both of us or none, but we didn't have any trouble. because while I'd had the experience Mary had the looks, so we were booked up for rehearsals in a week or so. Mary took to it like a duck to water. and made hit with the stage manager before he'd got
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

T had an appointment with the old man, but he was scrapping with one of his romantic leads'-you could hear them clear out to the front hall-and it was long time before I could per- suade his little cerebus to go in and tell him was waiting. At any rate. he came out at last blowing blasts of red fire after the actor-and then he saw Mary Talk about lions and lambs! Why, he purred when he saw her, and he was so sweet to me I al- most got a leading lady's contract out of him before he woke up, and began to ask me questions about Mary. Something in the way he looked when l said she was out for a job, made me wish was full sized chaperon, but when he said to send her in to talk to him, he might be able to place us both,' l didn't dare turn down the chance of a double meal ticket, so I went out and Mary went in.'
 Was there any one in the office at the time?''
 NO, the off1ceboy beat it as soon as the actor had gone, and the 'stenog' had already deserted the keys, so we had the suite to ourselves. That was what made me leery. At any rate, when Mary was in the private office I sneaked up and played the keyhole game to finish. It was Yale lock, so couldn't get an eyefull, but I've been there myself too often not to know the sort of note that manager gets into his voice when he's putting on the soft pedal and telling you that you're peach and he'll star you next season if you'll only be nice to him. could hear him getting confidential. too, and Mary's voice sounded so frightened I took my longest and best hat-pin, and began to turn the knob a little at a time to see if the door was locked. It wasn't, thank goodness, and when I heard Mary shriek and say, Let me
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

hint of rebuke startled Amy, and the tears rushed into her eyes as she said plaintively:
 'Tll try. but it sounded so funny for YOU to ask ME if I knew my best friend"
 That's all right; I understand. Now will you please tell the court just when and how you first met Miss Pager"
 Tt was some years ago, and she and her mother came to our apartment with a note from Cousin Alice Cowes who lived in New Town. Cousin Alice had sent them to us because she knew we had an extra room we wanted to rent, and she thought that could help Mary land job"
 What sort of-er-position?"
 'In the merry y-merry-that is, on the stage. I'd been across the foots my self for couple of seasons and Cousin Alice said Mary wanted to become an actress and thought I could show her how to make the rounds. It's tough proposition getting a job in New York with no friends and no pull," she add ed, nodding her head wisely toward the jury like some pert little robin, but Langdon hastened to interrupt her philosophical utterances.
 "Will you tell the court, please, Miss Barton. about the first position secured by Miss Page and of the events that led up to it?"
 Well. it just happened that the day Mary hit the big town I had a date with Webster, the real boss of the mu- sical comedies. Of course he isn't the sort that you'd want to send your lit- tie sister from the country to see, but too much hedging don't go in the show business worth whoop. You've got to trust to a sharp tongue and a hat-pin till you show them where they get off, and once they're wise, they treat you all right. Webster was like that, but if he promises you part he plays fair, so I never was afraid to buck his off, fice-boy even on a busy day. We'll, when Mary told me she had hanker- ing for grease paint and six weeks of being sworn at in rehearsals, l said she'd better come right along with me. and maybe Webster would let us do a sister act by getting us jobs in the same chorus. Mary was tickled to death. so off we went.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27

go!' I shouted. Barton to the rescue!' Cor I would have if I hadn't been too mad to shout anything) and double quicked into the room in time to see Webster holding Mary in his arms and telling her that pretty girls were made to be kissed, and not to be a silly little fool. By the time he got that far I had an inch or so of my hat pin in his arm just above the elbow, and what he said then wouldn't be polite to repeat. At any rate, Mary and I beat 1t while the going was good. and Mary was so upset we decided to go right home in- stead of calling on any of the other managers. That was how we happen ed to run into Dave Pollock"
 Where did you meet MT. Pollock?"
 "Oh, he was on the job at the apart ment when we got home. Playing the humble but persistent swain-Wanted to lay his fortune at her feet and give her life of gilded ease. He pleaded all that sort of soft-music stuff, and told her she didn't realize how cruel the world was to girl (men always say that) and how she would suffer to see her mother growing old and lack
 
 for her. Then he pulls out his wallet and taps it, saying. All that have is yours. Mary. even if you don't marry me- Business of soft music!"
 Were you in the room while this was going on?"
 "No." she answered, winning a gale of laughter from the courtroom, "but you can't brush your teeth in a New York apartment without the people in the next door fiat hearing you. and ev- erything that Mary said or Dave Pol lock said, might as well have been shouted through a megaphone."
 Did Miss Page seem touched by MT. Pollock's offer?" said Langdon, re- pressing a smile with difficulty.
 No, she stood up to him spunlily and told him fiat where he got off. I'm going to get work she said, but even if didn't my mother and I would never accept any help from you. I nave only one thing to ask. and that is that you leave here at once and do not come again I can't promise not to see you. Mary he said; T must and will Well. at least won't speak to you she said defiantly: and with that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
SYNOPSIS.

Mary rage, actress. is accused of the murder of David Pollock and is defended by her lover, Philip Langdon. Pollock was intoxicated. At Mary'e trial she ad- mits she had the revolver. Her maid testif1es that Mary threatened Pollock with 1t previously, and Mary's leading man duplicates Langdon. How Mary dis appeared from the scene of the crime is a mystery. Brandon tells of strange hand print he saw on Mary's shoulder. Further evidence shows that horror of drink pro- duces temporary insanity in Mary. The defense is ''repressed psychosis." Wit nessAs described Mary's flight from her inc toxicated father and her fathers suicide. Nurse Walton describes tho Kidnapping of Mary by Pollock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
CHAPTER VII.
Stage Aspirations.

"A T or since the famous trial that EN sent the expression ''brain
 storm" spinning down through
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-03

Rev. j. Robinson was a visitor in
town the past week.
Mrs. Ella Cheney of Derby Line
visited her SIS er Sunday.
Stewart Little has rented the Ernest
Moulton farm of O. l.. Kelley.
Margaret Sykes was able to go to
school Monday after her illness
John Shedd of Charleston was busi-
ness visitor in town Wednesday.
Rev. r. Lowe preached a very inter-
esting sermon here Sunday morning.
Mrs. Best pleasantly entertained the
Ladies' Aid society Saturday afternoon.
E. w. Moulton has been in Proctors-
vile and purchased registered Jersey
bull from the Riford farm. This
bull should produce stock of great
butter-making quality as his sire is a
Hood Farm bull.
LOWELL
Alton O'Brien of Eden was in town
Sunday.
| Miss Helen Brahana spent the past
week in Troy.
| CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-03
Reverse Autom obile Case.

In supreme court at Montpelier yes
terday the case Raymond Aiken VS..
Oliver Metcalf, judgment was reversed
and cause remanded in decision writ
ten by Judge Powers. The case grew
out of an automobile accident in the
town of Irasburg, the plaintiff being
injured when struck by a machine
while crossing the street. In the lower
court the verdict was ordered for the
defendant by the court. In his opinion
Judge Powers held that the plaintiff
exercised the care of a prudent man
before he crossed the street, that the
evidence showed that he looked in a
southerly direction before he attempted
to cross the street and failed to see the
automobile which struck him 20 seconds
later. The plaintiff had nearly reached
the other side when struck and would
not have ordinarily been looking for q
machine to be coming from the direc.
tion indicated on the wrong side of the
street.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-03
Costly Fishing for Lowell Men.

State papers contain the following !:
On complaint of Lamoille County Fish
and Game Warden ]. T. Stevens, two
men have been forced to pay three
separate times for fishing in Cory
pond. private preserve in Eden. The
men are Volney Par ker and David
Burgess of Lowell. The men were
caught fishing in the pond by R. l..
Fairbanks and others who leased the
pond. When arraigned before Justice
F. P. Collins of Eden Mills they plead
ed guilty of fishing during the closed
season, Parker paying S17.19 and Bur-
CESS paying SIG 80. Next day they
were hauled up for fishing without
licenses, and each paid $1,000 for that.
Having settled the second time, they
were called upon to settle for private
damages, when each was forced to pay
S25. States Attorney, M. P. Maurice
prosecuted
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-03
VERMONT NOTES

Corporal Trevor P. Jones of the Oath
Canadian battalion in the overseas
service, formerly craftsman in the
Fairbanks Scale company's plant at St
Johrsbury, has been killed in action
in the trenches in France.
JAS T. .Sabin, ,secretarysof the Vermont
Mutual Life Insurance company, has
served 50 years with the company. He
commenced his employment under
Charles Dewey. secretary, and succeed
ed Mr.. Dewey in 1871 and since that
time has held the office continuously.
John P Egan, who opened the only
saloon IN Middlesex Monday, was
taken to Waterbury to the insane
asylum Tuesday, The excitement is
thought to have caused the return Of
the maIady which caused his confne.
ment for six months at the asylum
nine years ago.
Charles Lynde's suit against Merton
Doolittle for $4,000 for the alleged
alienation of the affections of Mrs.
Lynde came to an unexpected end in
county court at Brattleboro Monday,
when Attorney Ernest w. Gibson,
Lynde's counsel, announced discon.
tinuance of the case.
By accepting an increase of ten cents
an hour instead of 35 cents, as they
had asked and by being granted recog
milton as union, $50 laborers in the
Howe Scale Works at Rutland ended
their weeks strike Monday night The
special police and deputy sheriffs, who
have been guarding the plant, were
removed.
Secretary of State Guy w. Baile'
announces that the automobile fees fo
the last three months amounted t.
May 1 to 500, 872. "a, Miscellaneous
fees amounted to 81, O33 10. The liquo
license fees were S9,759, and The
charter fees $1,000 The total il
Sill, ,685. 49, The number of autos
licensed in the past three months i
| 7,101. During the entire year of 191!
there were II 499 cars licensed
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-03
Methodist Episcopal Church Notes.
REV. I. A. RANNEY, Pastor
You are cordially invited to attend
all services.

You are cordially invited to attend
all services.
Morning worship, 1O.45.
Sunday school, IL O'Clock.
Epworth League, 6 o'clock.
Evening service at o'clock.
The text of the morning sermon was
Ditches - We may lay our plans but
if we work without Goo all of our
effort will come to naught. We choose
our own course, work in our own way,
and when misfortune Overtakes US we
curse Providence. Man is to have
part in doing Gods work in this
world and he must do it in accordance
with the will of the Ruler of the uni
verse. God will never do for US what
we can do and ought to do for our
selves. God interposes his power only
after men have done their part The
work we are called to do may seem
useless, unreasonable and absurd, but
| God has His reason for demanding it of
US. We ought to be more earnest in
our religion, We play at it too mucf
How much do people think our religion
is worth judging by what we do and
say? AS a church and as individuals
there are bitches which need digging
and we shou'd d be hard at work prepar-
ing for the showers of the future
The evening talk on text taken from
! Proverbs 1925 drew lessons to he
learned from one of our IN Hest
insects. They show foresight. provid-
ing themselves in summer for the
winter time. They recognize their
opportunities and make the most of
them. Everyone has a season fol
shaping his future although to some
this may be shorter than to others.
Man seems never to have learned the
value of time One-half of his under
takngs fail because he spent so much
time talking and planning where if be
would go to work he would be surprised
to see what he could accomplish
There is one thing for which we must
find time and that is to prepare fol
eternity If there be no preparation
here we shall have no promise fol
another opportunity.
One hundred and one in our Sunday
school. Come and make the number
more next Sunday.
We are having interesting and help
ful Epworth League meetings and oul
young people are urged and olde.
people invited to attend that they ma!
help and receive help.
Remember the prayer meeting OF
Thursday evening. Come and help dis
a ditch.