davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31

Once or twice Jack passed, but he
never paid any attention to the blind
man. Once he went to the theater
with another girl. and once he was
with woman whose laughter made
the blind man shiver, it was so hard.
The blind man often wished that the
man and Elaine might meet when they
were alone.
but weeks rolled by and passed into
months, and he never attained his
wish. And gradually new interests
came into his mind. He had almost
forgotten Jack and Elaine until one
afternoon-late one wet, foggy after
noon.
The blind mans post was in the lit
tie sheltered way between the stairs
and the street. People who passed
almost brushed the blind man This
afternoon the streets were almost de-
serted, and hardly a soul went up or
came down the stairs.
Suddenly the blind mans keen ears
heard the click Of Jacks footsteps
in the street. He knew that Jack was
coming into the little place where he
sat, with the purpose of ascending the
stairs. But then he heard the man
stop, and knew what was happening:
he was buying a paper to take in the
train.
And just at that instant he heard
the footsteps of Elaine coming down
the stairs.
The blind man shifted his position
a little, SO that he sat right in the
path of the girl. She stopped. A
girls mind is not weighty thing al
ways, and Elaine had evidently almost
forgotten the past.
you are in the way, blind man."
she said impatiently. will you kind
ly let me pass?"
gan to move slowly back. Everything
in the world now depended upon the
factor of time. The blind man was
very slow in moving.
Suddenly he heard the girl start,
and a shrill petition was in her voice.
LeI me pass Leu ue pass dl
once, blind mani"
At that instant the blind man could
hear the clickety-clack of Jacks foot
steps upon the sidewalk.
20 let me pass, blind mani" sobbed
the girl; and then the blind man heard
the start that the man gave.
For just an instant the blind mans
heart was in his mouth. The next, he
knew that Jack had taken Elaine in
his arms in the street, yes, right in
the very presence of the blind man.
Darling, forgive mel" he heard the
man whisper.
20 Jack, l have been so unhappy
all this long time"
But you love me?"
always, Jack!"
"And we will never be parted again?
There!-there!"
20 hush, Jack! The blind man will
hear u.s."
= the blind mani" said Jack.
But the blind man felt something
papery dropped into his hand, which
closed on it. do you know what
that is, blind MANI" inquired the girl.
"A one-dollar bill" mumbled the
blind man.
"A five," said Elaine. For you have
brought me luck after all, and l al
most love you, you dear blind mani"
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31

Several days later there appeared
; in a metropolitan paper an article
1 concerning Ralph Whitney. 1t was
diatribe of ridicule rather than of
scandal. The young legislators po-
| fitical achievements were burlesqued
and his personality was sarcastically
caricatured. 1t was story to ex-
asperate man, to bring upon him
the merciless chatting of his friends
and to do no real damage to his repu-
tation for ability and integrity.
The evening after it appeared
Ralph Whitney went to see Marian
Lewis
Have you read Nthis?' he asked
abruptly as she entered the room
where he was waiting for her. He
held the paper in his hand. His eyes
were shining.
Yes, have read II"
1T is a glorious article; the most
fortunate lampoon ever directed
against me-. When l first read 1t I
was furious, l could have beaten the
person who wrote 1t. But now
Marian. l am a free man, free to tell
you l love you, to ask you to marry
me. When she read the story,
Stella sent for me. She told me that
the paper had shown her the deprav-
ity Of my nature and the infamy Of
my legislative record, and her re-
spect for me was gone. tried to
explain that the story was only a
piece of ridicule. She refused to be-
lisve me. and insisted that l was a
villain, boodler and a CRATER. She
also informed me that she had plans
for a career of her own, political or
social, or both-I could not under.
stand exactly wat she meant - and
that her association with a discred-
tied person like myself would be in.
judicious to that greatly desired ca.
reer. Marian, now | can tell you"
Wait minute. Let me tell you
something. II wrote that abusive
story
Your"
Il intended that you should know
at once that | was the author of 1t. |
wrote 1t to make you dislike me, to
show you that Stella was the girl for
you to love. thought when you
knew that had treated you treacher-
| ously you would care again for her,
| because she was to you the symbol of
goodness, the influence which would
lead you to the heights. | wrote the
story to give you the gentle influence
| of an innocent girl It never occurred
| to me that her love for you was so
poor thing that column of sar.
casm could kill it,"
| He put his hand under her chin and
raised her face till her eyes met his.
Did it never occur to you, clever lit.
tie girl, that the real companionship
of certain wise and good and true
young woman would be an infinitely
better influence than the babyish in
nocence of pretty doll?"
| Marian drew his hand from her
chin and clasped it tightly in both
hers. you don't need an influence"
she asserted. You do not need to
scale moral heights You are already
absolutely perfect
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31

footsteps halted near him, and the
same merry voice exclaimed:
Wait q minute, Jack! Look at this
poor blind mani"
Hurry, then, or we'll be late for the
show" answered another voice,
young mans voice.
The next morning. during the shop
ping hour, the young girl halted in
front of Larkin, and the laughing
voice said, with just catch of tears
in it:
you brought me luck last night,
blind man. can't tell you how happy
l am, but am going to give you this.
1t is one-dollar bill
Thank you, Miss. l know the
value" answered Larkin.
How do you know it isn't five?"
asked the young girl.
Nobody ever gives five to blind
man, Miss" said Larkin.
The young girl went off, laughing
| merrily, and after that Larkin would
hear, once in while, the same merry
voice, and coin would be dropped
into his hat. He came to listen for
it, and when he did not hear it for
weeks together the blind man would
feel disappointed.
Once in while the blind man heard
the footsteps of the young man who
had been with the girl He knew
them, as the blind man knows steps,
by their individuality. There was the
least longer interval than the normal
between the stroke of the heel and the
click of the sole. Larkin was sure
he would always know those footsteps,
Now and again, oftener as the year
went by, he heard the steps of the
young girl and the man as they went
up the stairs to the train which was
to carry them to the theater. And
then one night they came down the
stairs, right at the time when they
: should have been enjoying the play
and the merry voice was sobbint
voice
"I'll never, never speak to you al
long" he heard the girl say, and h'
went home very detected blind man
He did not expect to hear the girf'
voice again, but on the very mex
morning she stood in front of him.
IF l had given you present las
! night you might have brought mi
luck, blind man. she whispered. chok
: ingly. Here, take this! And wisl
me well, blind mani"
3 She put a fifty-cent piece into tn
blind mans nat aud went away.
I Several times she passed him ate
that, but she never left any money Il
! his hat. The blind man fancied tina
= she had taken a dislike to him. One
: or twice she went by up the stairs, i
. the theater hour, with some youn
Z man, but 1t was never Jack. The bin
3 man recognized her voice, and it wa
. never merry any more. even thong
she was laughing.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
SETTLED THE LADY'S CLAIM
Sither Umbrella Was Not Hers or
Alternative Was an Unpleasant
Suggestion.

The portly old lady with the pince-
nez and disappearing mouth, shaded
by fairly perceptible mustache, sat
bolt upright in the ladies' cabin of
the Long Island City ferryboat, accord
ing to the New York Times. Rain was
beginning to patter on the muddy
water of the river, and she glanced
down at her stiff mohair dress with
a look of concern, then around at her
fellow passengers, in vain endeavor
to detect a familiar face. Evidently
there was no one present to come to
her aid when the further shore should
be reached, and the rain was beating
down more heavily each minute. Sud-
denly she leaned forward and mo-
toned to attract the attention Of a
quiet young man who was deeply en-
crossed with the last number of the
Forum.
Sir" she said, with authority. 81
am convinced that you are, by SEINE
mistake, in possession of my UNI
brella."
II think, madam" protested the
young man. with startled blush and
slightly embarrassed laugh, that
the mistake must be yours"
mo mistake at ALL" was the severe
rejoinder 81 am entirely certain of
that handle. 1t is not ten minutes
since l missed it. You must have
picked 1t up"
81 did," admitted the young man,
but"
/ You confess that it is not your
property" she exclaimed. well, to
convince these ladies and gentleman
that I am really retaining my own
property, kindly state where you
found this umbrella"
The young man raised his mild eyes
to her sternly judicial countenance.
Il am sure they will not be hard
to convince" he stated deferentially
1T was in the Holland house barber
shop" And he disappeared in the
crowd
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
STONE EAGLE A WORK OF ART
Remarkable Stone Figure Of Bird a
Legacy Left to State Of Georgia
by Indians.

On the broad top of stony, rain
quilted hill in middle Georgia there
lies very large eagle. concerning
which conflicting stories are told.
The one point that seems to be GER
tain is that the Indians left the eagle
as a legacy to the state. A hundred
years from now it will probably be
found lying on its back, with out
spread wings and tail, even as it lies
today. For it is made Of quartz rocks
so cunningly placed that it would re-
quire pick in a strong mans hands
to displace any one Of them. The
rocks lap and overlap in such a man.
ner as to represent feathers. No ce-
ment holds them in position, and the
stones vary in size, weighing from a
half pound to three or four pounds.
The image rests on a very firm foun-
dalton, for the stonework extends sew
eral feet into the ground.
Once, perhaps twice. treasure-seek-
ing vandals dug into the breast of the
eagle; but the work must have proved
too laborious, for the Giggers gave up
before they had reached the bottom
layer Of overlapping stones
Rough but fairly accurate measure
ments of the bird show the length of
the eagle from the middle of the tail
to the head to be one hundred and two
feet, and from tip to tip Of outspread
wings, one hundred and twenty feet.
The length of the beak is ten feet,
and the height of the body at the cen.
ter of the breast is ten feet. The
eagle lies with its head to the west.
Tradition does not give any salts.
factory explanation of the age or
the meaning Of the great stone mound
It may have had religious significance
to the red men who built it, and II
may be the burial place of some great
chief. It is one of the most mysteri
Gus and most interesting Of prehistor
ic monuments in the United States.-
Youths Companion.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Blind Mans
Luck
BY p. G. ECCLES
Copyright, 1916. by w. G. Chapman.)

VOpyrlgnt, lSlos py w. ". Sndpndnl
please help the blind" was the in
scription on Harry Larkin's placard,
which he wore round his neck as he
sat day after day at the foot of the
elevated stairs. Sometimes a charita-
BILE woman, or a man who was feeling
friendly toward the world, stopped and
deposited a coin. looking sympatheti-
cally at the old man seated with
crossed legs and bowed body, his sight
less eyes peering into vacancy.
To Harry Larkin every footstep con-
veyed its significance. He could tell
the woman shopper from the shopgirl,
the man Of business from the round
er." He knew good part Of his pa
irons, for generally the same people
remembered the blind man. Especial
ly in the theater hour did he come to
recognize the footsteps and the voices
Of those who went by his post
There was the girls voice, for in
stance. 1t was a merry, laughing
voice, and her steps were like fairy's.
The first time she hesitated in front of
him Larkin heard a masculine voice
exclaim impatiently:
Don't waste your money on those
takers, Elaine!"
But Larkin only thanked the young
girl, for beggar is schooled to in
suits. He heard the footsteps of the
girl and the man recede up the stairs.
Then, perhaps a year afterward, he
suddenly fished Elaine and her father
out of the caverns of his memory. For
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Wanted His Orders Direct,

A rather quaint yarn concerns a
certain general officer who was SO
misguided as to take his son with
him as aid, The well-meaning young
man, delivering an order to an artil-
lery brigadier, who was feeling a bit
hverish that morning, unwisely said:
IF you please, my father wants you
to move your guns to so and So"
Very well, my boy" replied the bri-
gadier. Now run along and see what
your mother wants done!"
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Redeemed
From
Bondage
By -
ISOBEL MUIR RANDALL


copyright. 1915. by w. g. Chapman.)
No one had ever come after Una
Prince-that is, in the way of lover.
She had never thought much about
herself, for her life was busy one.
Those who knew her and esteemed
her, however, marveled at the vii
lage SWANS who picked out all sorts
and conditions of girls. passing over
the jewel Of the flock, in their esti-
nation.
Una was an orphan and for two
years had been housekeeper for the
Wendells, husband and wife, rich, but
paFsimonious, old, Grabbed, exacting.
They valued her, but they pinned her
down to an irksome servitude. Mrs.
Wendell was an invalid, and the
sheer kindness of Una's heart i'm
PEELED her to be quite daughter to
the ailing capricious old woman out
OF pure sense of duty.
1t was the social side of affairs that
depressed Una. She had been used
to company, entertainments, sleighs
and skating in the wintertime, tennis
and boating in their season.
When her father died she had to
give up all these out of sheer neces-
sity. Mr.. Prince had left next to
nothing and Una went to the city and
found position as typist in stuffy
crowded little office.
1t took year to drive the velvet
bloom from her cheek and the vivac-
ity of a naturally joyous nature from
her eyes. She had sick spell and
her physician ordered her back to
the pure air and unclouded sunshine
of Brookville.
Then the opportunity with the Wen.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
TelllnQ Fresh Eaas.

To ascertain the freshness Of an
egg without breaking. hold it before
o strong light and look directly
through the shell. II the yolk ap-
pears round, and the white surround
ing 1t clear. the chances are that the
egg is fresh. Or drop it into water;
IL the egg sinks quickly and remains
at the bottom it is in all probability
fresh, but If it stands on end it II
doubtful. and quite bad IL it floats.
The shell of a fresh egg looks dull,
while that OF 3 stale one is glossy.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
The Camel.

When man first saw the camel, he
was 30 frightened at his vast size that
he ned away. After a time, perceiv.
Ing the meekness and gentleness of
his temper, he summoned courage
enough to approach him. Soon after.
wards. observing that he was an an.
imal altogether deficient in spirit, he
assumed such boldness as to put q
birdie in his mouth. and to set a child
10 drive him. Use serves to overcome
IL sd.-From Aesop's Fables.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Paper and Ink For Monev

The materials that go to make up
our paper money are gathered togeth-
er from all parts of the world. Part
of the paper fiber is linen rag from
the orient. The silk comes from
China or Italy. The blue ink is made
from German or Canadian cobalt. The
black ink is made from Niagara Falls
acetylene gas smoke, and most of the
green ink is green color mixed in
white zinc sulphite made in Germany.
The red color in the seal is obtained
from pigment imported from Cen
trail America.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
10 Remain Unsettled.

Engineers say that among the
things that win never be settled are
the following: Whether a long screw.
driver is better than a short one of
the same family; whether water
wheels run faster at night than they
DO In the daytime: the best way to
harden steel; which side of the belt
should run next the pulley, and the
right way to lace belts.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Bionesa Of Soul.

1t Is easy TO respond to love and
kindness. but what is our response to
unlovely things when sudden occasion
arises to test the quality of our tenn.
per? The manner of our response,
when we have no time to take a sec
ond thought, is sure indication OF
the character of the individual
Unity
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Hair Singed by liohtnjnu.

A remarkable escape was expert
enced recently by young man in
Stirlingshire. Scotland. He CHANGED
to be out ON moor in the Killearn
district during q thunderstorm. He
was bareheaded, and during the heavy
rainfall his hair got soaked. While
crossing the moor his hair was badly
singed by q fash Of lightning. but 9TH
erwise he escaped injury.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31

The Australian bushmen wish only
shelter from the rain, and II they ca
ind q cave or overhanging rock ting
viii shelter them they will build q
house. II there is no such natur1
shelter they select a place whe1
small trees or bushes grow togetnd
and weave the branches together an
cover them with grass. This forms
roof to keep of the rain.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Ink Eradicator.

A very good way to remove ink
stains from cloth is to wash them
with boiled rice. Rub the rice on the
stains, as you may soap, and wash
with clear water. If the first applica-
ton does not complete the cure repeat
the process. 1t usually works like
magic, even IL stains are perfectly
dry.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Dangerous Employment.

Forty per cent of the high explo-
sive makers and she'll packers IN Ger
many are women. while so per cent Of
the makers of tents. haversacks and
similar equipments also belong to the
same sex, and in the manufacture Of
timed meats and preserves rs per
cent Of those employed are females.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Enouah on Hand.

Mamma" said four-year-old Ma
gle. who had been assigned the task
rocking the cradle containing her oau
brother, "if the angels have any mol
kids to give away, don't you take EN-
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Showing His Ignorance.

What on earth are you doing? de-
manded the indignant dining-car con.
ductor of the novice waiter; serving
soup on a straight track? Why don't
you wait till we strike curve? You
don't know the first principles Of rail.
roacsny. Puck.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31

You are opposed to capital pu1
ishment?" Yes; even In its milde1
form. don't even approve ~
writer's and speakers who begin ever
other sentence with a capital l.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
rhIs. p.uahters.

Papa-"why. hang 1t. girl. that re
low only earns nine dollars week ]
Pleading Daughter-"Yes; but DADDY
dear. a week passes so quickly wne
you're fond of onx s=otLer. Judge
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Alike In One Respect.
War and friendship admit of no En-
fuses.
Poor Kind of Sympathy.

Sympathy that begins and ends In
Up service is Of little help to any OF
Us.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Wise SAVING

There is more truth than humor in
the saying Of 3ildad that the best way
to keep your word is net tc g.r- T.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Not Qualified.

Gibbs-How are Holsters caught.
Bibbs-Don't ask me, I'm no chorus
girl.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Heart aessa IndlviduaIIstIa.

An English scientist believes there
Is an individually in heart beats affect
ing the handwriting to such a degree
that 1t can be identified when the
writing is msxcified.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Optimistic Thouoh,.

THINGS are not to be estimated by
heir number but by their Importance.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Caught the Habit.

Why were you late?"
MY watch was SLOW
Il know it. That's from going with
you so much
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
Little to Worry About,

Investigation by the geological sur.
vey Of the erosion Of drainage basis
proves that the surface of the coun-
Try is being worn away at the rate OF
about - inch il $50 years.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
The Professions

CHIROPRACT0R
DIR. }. =. SCARBOROUGH,
Lady in Attendance
In Dyches Building, Between Park
and Auditorium
OFFICE HOURS
{ to 1880 q. m. 1880 to p. N.
1900 to $3.50 p. m.
CONSULTATION and Examination Free.
Residence Phone 240 Black
Z. D. & Il. D. MENDENHALL
CIVIL ENGINEERS
Suite 2l2-215 Drane Building
LAKELAND, FLA.
seoephate Land Examinations and
Plant Designs, Earthwork Special
ists, Surveys.
Residence Phone 278 Black.
Once Phone 278 Blue.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-03

a. n - - (
AS the day for the primary election approaches
some candidates in both the old parties and not few
political leaders fear that the party pledge which yo
tiers are required to subscribe to before they are per-
mitted to receive primary ballot will have the effect
OF Keeping men of more or less independent political
tendencies from attending the primaries for fear that
they VIII IN that oath assume moralif nota legal OBJ
legation to support the straight ticket of the party the
candidates of which they helped to select at the pr
mary election.
This would be drawing an entirely too fine point and
1t sincerely to be hoped that voter will permit him
self to be kept away from the polls next Tuesday by
any such scrupe The pledge which voters are required
to sign at the primary polls contains number of
things and the underlying purpose of it is to procure
pure and honest choice and to prevent systematic cut
ting across party lines that the candidates of one
party are selected by the voters of the opposing party
The only statement affecting party regularity which
the voter asked to make is contained in the following
words:
The UNDERSIGNED do sevay swear or affirm that
party.
There is nothing in this which pledges man to vote
straight party ticket even for majority of the
candidates on the ticket of his party as is the case in
some OF the states where the primary laws are more
specific on this point Most men regard themselves
as member of some party even when they have for
years made practice of voting without regard to par
ty lines at the general election There is nothing in
the primary pledge of this state which legally binds
such men to support the whole of ticket which they
have helped to nominate. That being the case there
is not the slightest reason why the voters who are
most independent politically should not take the pri-
mary pledge and at the general election vote with a
clear conscience for the candidates they deem best M
ted for the offices.