davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-05-01
CITY NEWS AND VIEWS

n. b. orr. of Oklahoma city. was
business visitor today.
e " Bowl. OF Enid. WAS transact
ing business here today.
a business visitor today.
W. A. Thompson. Of Marietta, was
A N Robertson of Nadul. was
transactipg business here today.
n : Suggs Of Berwyn. was trans.
acting busine.s in the civ today
f. A. Bates. of Durant. was among
dav
Ioe can returned today from an
nytopdod WISH vim relatives in Gecr-
= ums I,pited Stotns field agent
. L. I.f AI4riaffE a. AftHlIl
noes
olI,bnma City ,ynro registered here
toIoy
q ~ short business man of Lind
saw was transacting business in Ard
more today
Total rainfall for the month of April,
according To records on file at the To-
cal observatory was Ijg inches
Mr. and Mrs G. A. Ueushaw, Of Ok
ahoma city were in the city last
more before her marriage.
There will be regular rehearsal Of
the Chamber of Commerce band at
the court house tonight TN rehcar-
sal will begin at $50 o'clock.
ass, has purchased the Randol Cafe
D. from Mrs Mabel Wilson and assumed
charge this morning Mrs. Wilson will
'sull conduct the hotel
& Mrs viii Prater, who has been visit
, ing friends at Marshall, Texas. AM
/ .days. will return tonight She will D,
. accompanied by Mrs JAY Pratcr anC
little son. p. j.. Jr.
There was heavy dew throughouI
Ithis section last night but no fros
il was Icpor:ed The gtmosphere at
y dusI, Iast night gave every promise o
material d,marp to gardens
J. W Johnson. of Milo. was transact
ing business in the city today. Il,
, reports that fine conditions prevail
s throughout this section and that crop
@ are well advanced. although he say
cotton.
.. Forms for the concrete pillars an,
!. beams are being put in place for tn
% foundation OF the Simpson building
n and the walls will soon be well unde
% way The contractors hope to hay
owners by November /.
, Work has been begun on the AndeI
,- son and kress buildings on West Mai
- street The buildings will be remod
eled and practically rebuilt Just VIII
y. will occupy them when completed /
,' not known hut It is understood tina
a. the owners have several application
' on file.
. Kid Jones. Sam McClendon and Han
~ ~ Wilson. charged with operating an
~ conducting gambling games at Wirt
DO waived examining trials In count
ID, court yesterday afternoon. and wer
~ hound over 10 the district court 20
trial under $500 bond each
\ meeting o' the members of tl
Fourth Ward civic League TO max
yIs c,lI,d f,r v,Jrs.d,,. ,icr, n, H.,
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-05-01

Try the wan: ads for service.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-05-01

SiN men are being souch, ay deputy
sheriff, on charge, filed yesterday
afternoon With ptruty Court Clerk
Spears. charging them with fraud u
connection with board bills The sis
named iu the charges are j. &. Davis.
j h Hughes J T. Carter Charley
Sargent. columbus Sargent and } ".
stevens The proprietor OF o board
inc house o. Writ filed the charges.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05

ISOLATION from this fact After all.
she decided, love would last but a
few years, even If she married the
other. and after that the only oppo-
sition 10 Jack would be removed.
Accordingly, before she could
change her mind, she wrote a long
letter 10 Jack. accepting his pro-
pOsal, and mailed il. She told her
mother Of her decision and tile
look Of pleasure which her an
nouncement brought forth was al
most worth the sacrifice OF her love.
But the letter had barely started on
its long journey southwark before
she was sorry she had written IT,.
But il was too late, she had taken
step which she felt could never
be retraced
To say Jack was Overjoyed when
he received the letter would be put
ting it mildly indeed. Tor the first
time he brought forth the photo
graph he had tucked away and
showed IL proudly TO his brother
officers, all of whom CONGRATULATED
him and wished him happiness. His
face took on a smiling expression
which caused wonder about the
quarters for a long time, but when
the reason was noised among the
officers the wonder ceased.
DeVrie was not told OF the vic
tory of his rival. The officers and
men did not mingle 10 any extent,
and the news did not travel between
them. Besides. who was there TO
know that Thomas happiness had
been accomplished at the cost Of
that of DeVrie? And so he, sweat
ing under the work he did as a pri-
vate. still had hope that some day
he would marry Catherine Lorring.
Three days after she had posted
the fateful Letter TO Jack. Catherine
wrote a long letter to Cyril, explain
ing the situation IN detail, telling
him that she loved him alone, but
that for a number of reasons which
were not TO be disputed she could
not marry him. one morning, in
going through a sack of mail, Jack
came upon the letter.
Dear Cyril" il began, very prop
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05
He Knew What to Do When He Read the
Letters From Sweetheart to His Rival.
By WILLIAM K. GRIMM.

i would far rather live with vou
even thoush ] had 20 run away
from home. 1T breaks r,.. no.
70 marry another man. - want 10
write your sweetheart Jack
VIII never know" stood out as he
re-read the letter
Jack Thomas was sn bopora ble
man. He did not want IN tale m
talr advantage Of anyone So be
ieft the pile OF letters on the table
ana went over TO his desk. where
ne wrote rapidly. even though his
eyes had suddenly lost their clear
ness.
Dear Catherine" he wrote I'm
my capacity as censor. had 10
read the letter YOU wrote 70 cyril
DeVne Now that 1 understand
the situation I cannot honora bly
TAKE you from him. For that rea-
son 1 enclose herewith a NOTE
"hlch you can show 10 your moth
er' which, I believe. will make il
possible for YOU 10 marry the man
you rove AS fer me, know that
l can never forget you. but il IS bet
yer that two hearts should be happy
than Just one"
Ihen be wrote short note to tho
effect that he had found someone mo
liked better in the little southern
town near tho camp. and begging 70
De excused from the engagement.
This. together with the letter
which had come for DeVrie he
mailed to Catherine Lorring.
When Catherine received them
she felt as though someone had
just presented her with the whole
world. She took the note Jack had
written for her mother, and dutf-
FULLY presented it To the lady for
whom II was intended. At first Mrs.
Lorring was ansry, then. as her
temper cooled. she saw that fate
had been kind to her daughter if
not TO herself.
Well she said, slowly. Il sup
pose now the only man left is your
novelist lover. isn't it?"
Yes" answered Catherine. hap
PLY, looking with smiling eyes at
her mother.
There was a long silence. and
then Mrs. Lorring demanded. wen
what are you standing there for?
Why don't you write him and tell
him the good news"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05

whether she should give him up be
cause her mother insisted that she
should
Catherine had always obeyed tie
wishes Of her parents Even i'm that
most personal OF all choices. the So
lection OF gowns. she had followed
the suggestions OF her mother. and
as I'M that in ain things she Rad let
someone else 10 her thinking for
her So. in the choice Of husband.
She was face so face with the first
time in her life that she really nod
"a desire 90 act in opposition 10 what
her mother commanded.
She sat there for a LONG time,
thinking. She loved cyril DeVrie.
a. that she was sure. she knew he
would be able 20 make her happE.
for ne mad enough money 20 sup
port her in more than comfort. and
his name ON q bool, meant that IL
would become a best seller with
out doubt. ON the other hand, UNI
less she married Jack Thomas, her
mother would have nothing more
TO do with her.
Totally unused TO practIcins the
use Of aor own viii. Catherine fin
ally save up in despair, and wen-
of 20 lee. tears yelling up in eyes.
How she could ever choose she DID
not know. she felt certain that il
she married DeNrie against r r
mothers wishes she would be per-
fectly miserable the rest of her life,
ou the other nand. she was fully as
positively that if she had 10 stay
away from cyril because she had
married Jack she W Guild be equally
unhappy. and there the matter
rested.
The next morning she was still
facing the problem. To make mat
tiers worse. both men were 10 leave
that day. Jack TO become ar officer
and cyril TO tccome a private at q
southern training camp. Each had
expected has answer before he was
20 leave, but both were disap-
pointed. Wait n while, / want 10
be sure she told them. and both
took it hopefully and went off 20
the camp.
Then, after a short time. letters
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05

/ by some strange telepathy And
such is the hope OF those in love
that each time he looked al the pic
ture he became more confident that
he would win her.
Cyril. too, had photograph. pro
tectci from all harm, which he car
ried in safe place He. too. spent
hours i'm gazing at the likeness OF
the girl hack home" and he. like
Jack. was given greater hope bv
those sacred moments he spent with
the pictures DeNrie had that
capacity for emotion which comes
from living in the artificial. atmOs-
phere of the writer of best sellers -
and he suffered more than did the
censor in his separation from the
sirl he loveo. But each suffered
Lncomplainingly. knowing that il
was necessary in the service OF his
country
Catherine was torn between two
emotions. She was glad that she
was able TO postpone the evil day
when she must make her choice:
and she was sorry that she could
not get that dreadful INDIGESTION Of,
her shoulders. Time and again she
resolved 20 disregard the wishes Of
ner mother and family in the great
er regard for the dictates OF her
own heart. and as many times she
reversed her decision because she
felt selfish 10 deprive her mother Of
her greatest desire.
She wrote friendly, impartial let
tiers 10 both her suitors at the camp,
telling the home news, and always
ending with some statement which
could be taken ambIguously either
favorably or not, according To the
reader. So il was that although
Jack Thomas read both the letters
10 himself and those 10 his rival, ne
was constantly under the impress
sion that his suit would win. And
although DeVrie was the reader
only of his own letters, he gathered
from them a hopeful suggestion.
Then, one day. Catherine made
ND her mind. She would marry
Jack, ana thus please her mother.
She could still be friendly with
Cyril, and might gather some con-
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05

began 20 como from the camp ard
she answered them
In completrs the organization
for the training camp. jack
Thomas was put ON the censorship
board, mainly because ne was an
oflSer. and because he had a knowl-
edge OF affairs which made him ft
the post exactly Every letter that
entered or left the camp, with the
exception Of official communica-
uOns. had 10 pass through his
hands. Intensive training had be
gun, and il was imperative that
nothing should leak out.
There were letters from mothers
and sweethearts. there were letters
from fathers and friends. Some few
had 20 have PASSAGES stricken out,
Dut on the whole there was little
that required censoring. one clause
which appeared in many of the
outgoing letters was invariably can
celled, upon orders from Washing
ton. Our letters here are cen
sored" never sot 10y. because au-
thorities believed that if no lxnowl-
edge as TO the censorship leaked
opt some would-be spies in the
camp might De caught
Jack himself wrote letters, and he
alone had the privilege of sending
out letter without first allowing
someone else 10 read IT, And be
cause OF this privilege. he was very
careful lest because there was no
check against him, he should UNI
Willingly reveal secrets which were
lest withheld. So matters stood for
the first weeks of the training in
the south.
Each night as Jack lay down in
his tent 10 much needed rest, he
thought OF the girl back north, 10
whom ne hoped some day to lie
married. Her photograph was al
ways with him. a small picture Of
her face, carefully framed and
protected, which he carried inside
his coat. where it could never be-
come lost At odd mome nts, hc
would draw out the photograph and
lock at il long and earnestly, almost
as if lie could speak to its original
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05
Taking Dictahon

ball nine. But having been born
with a silver spoon in his mouth, he
was president Of the Seaside Coun-
| try club and captain of the Succas-
suna golf team. For he was a nat
ural leader and an instructive mix
err The girls Of his acquaintance
said that he was "a peach" and the
men, without exception. designated
/ him as a blamed good scout"
( Which, without doubt, establishes
his right to be the hero of a love
story.
And Betty Baxter, on her part,
made an undeniably good heroine.
| She was pretty, a good dancer, an
excellent tennis player and a swim
mer OF more than local renown. But
she was a poor stenOgrapher.
The fact that Betty even attempt
/ ed stenOgraphy is a story in itself.
Two years before the Baxters and
! the Vreelands had lived side by
/ side in one Of New Jerseys most ex-
elusive suburbs. Betty drove her
own car to meet her father at the
railroad station, and i'm the evening
/ Mr.. Baxter and Mr.. Vreeland, ST.,
sat on the porch Of the Baxter home
and discussed stocks and bonds.
while Miss Baxter and Mr.. Vreeland,
| jr., wandered off around the corner
and talked about the latest dance at
! the club. or the color of Bettys eyes.
And then something had happened
which swept away the Baxter for
| tune as if it had been "a mere chick
en- house in the path of the Johns
| town flood, leaving the father crush
| ed and purposeless and the daughter
stunned with the realization Of sud
/ den poverty. Francis had asked her
| TO marry him then. but she had
| shaken her head rather sadly and
had told him how impossible it was
You are only asking me out of
pity" she had said. II must find
something TO do"
= So she had gone TO a business
school which promises TO teach i'm
three months what other schools
teach in a year. and, having been
| duly graduated, she was given a
position in a Wall ST. office. The
next day she was discharged. In
the evening of that same day. Fran
els decided that his business had
! grown so much that he needed a
personal stenographer, and Betty
accepted the position. Since then
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05
THE SENSE OF THE CENSOR

on each side Of the mirror. in
mich was reflected the perpleXed
flee OF perfectly adorable young
lady. stood PHOTOGRAPH in "a white
ivory frame The white ivory
frames were merely in
keeping with the rest OF tho thing.
on the dressing table. The girl who
sat before the mirror looked from
one 20 tho other ard then back
again. that perplexed look never
leaving her face
The photograph ON the young
lady's eft was that Of "a strikingly
handsome man. the collar OF HE
coat showing him 10 be an officer
in the United states army. ON the
other side was the picture of "a man
also. not SO dashingly handsome.
but with a peculiar dreamy eNpres-
sion in his ewes which. strangely
enough. made him one who would
stand out from among other men.
It was from one 20 another of these
two faces that the wistrul eyes
roved
Catherine Lorrius was thinking
hard. Both the young men repre-
ieuted in the white ivory frames
had asked her very importau,
question. ana 10 both she had said
she must have time 90 decide on
dinarily. 81 . girl is I'm love with a
man. she viii accept him withOu,
thinking the master over. i'm fact
has generally decided 90 marry
him before the proposal takes
place. but i'm this case Catherine
was really in love, and yet could
not decide
The man with the dreamy look I'm
his eyes bad quite captivated her
heart. but the army officer had 20
impressed AIRS. Lcrriug that she had
informed her daughter that a de-
Cision in his favor would not only
De a lasting favor 90 her CHAT is,
the mother) bat was also 20 be de-
sired because she lNIrs Lorrins ,
would counteuance no other Ce-
cison That both mcr loved her.
Catherine mad not the slightest
doubt 10 was merely o. question Of
whether she wanted 20 sacrifice her
family for the man she loved, or
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05

Francis Vreeland, head of the
firm Of Vreeland & Co, gazed
frowningly at the typed letter he
held and decided that it was a fail
ure. Under ordinary circumstances,
Mr.. Vreeland would have wrathfully
summoned his stenographer. de-
manded 20 know what business
agency had the audacity 20 thrust
such an example of inefficienCy upon
1 Vreeland < Co, and then would
have told the aforesaid example
kindly but firmly. that her services
were no longer required.
But Mr.. Vreeland did nothing OF
the kind. Instead, he sat himself
before his own glittering machine,
inserted one OF the firms letter
heads, and copied the letter he had
dictated but an hour before. The
changes having been made. he sign
ed his name and pushed a button
on his desk.
Miss Betty Baxter entered the
room. and instantly the sun seemed
20 shine more brightly. In direct
defiance Of the rules of business
etiquette. Betty wore a white dress
with frills at the cuffs and lace al
the neck. Her golden hair was drawn
back, but not because Betty had
any desire to appear businesslike. 1t
happened 10 be the style most be-
coming 10 her. She wore white silk
stockings and white kid pumps; and
when Mr.. Vrerland's eyes rested up
on her, his heart beat a lively tattoo
beneath his manly bosom.
The head of the firm of Vreeland
& Co. was really too young 10 direct
the fortunes of so prosperous a
concern. He was 2S. TO be exact
and if the business had not been in
herited from a Woodworking father
ne would probably have been labor
ing his heart away in a downtown
Office for a salary of something like
$50 a week. But Francis, as his
many friends called him. was one OF
those men who have greatness
thrust upon them: and so he was
the big boss in a big firm with an in
come of something like $4,000 a
year.
If he had been born poor he
probably would have been president
OF the East Side Social club and
captain of the Wannercooper's base
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05
And Francis Finally Obeyed the Command
By Earl Reed Silvers,

she had been taking dictation from
the man whom in the past she had
| been in the habit of taking cOmpli-
ments
From a social standpoint, Betty
was a success. Every clerk in the
office fell head over heels in love
/ with her. and if she had only been
little more responsive, her even
ings would have been one continuous
round of moving pictures, musical
comedies and fruit lemonade. But
Betty didn't care a whoop for all the
clerks in the world To be perfectly
frank, she was head over heels in
! love with her boss.
Whenever she took his dictation
she found herself listening to the
deep rumble of his voice or watch
ing his strong hands as he tapped
7 idly on the desk. Whenever he
summoned her into his office her
heart went on rampage and
I threatened 20 disclose itself TO the
, man who had once asked her TO
marry him. She did whatever work
was required of her, but she didn't
realize how poorly she did it.
/ And so she was rather surprised
when Francis Vreeland. having re-
typed her latest letter, frowned
threateningly upon her as she took
her accustomed place beside his
desk.
Betty" he said, after a long
wait, do you like your work."
She looked up. surprised.
"Of course l do she answered.
"Why?"
| Because everybody's nice here.
and the work isn't hard, and-and
: just because 1 do"
rs it better than in the Wall st.
Officer"
Yes"
You wouldn't like TO change back
again, would you?''
Betty employed an old friends
prerogative.
! why are you putting me through
| the third degree" she asked.
Il just want some information"
Francis leaned forward and tapped
on the desk with his pencil. How
would you like to have another
job?"
/ Two bright spots of rcd suffused
Bettys cheeks and rather startled
light leaped into her eyes.
! do you mean that I haven't done
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05

, satisfactory work here?"
Yes"
Francis spoke rather severely and
the girl before him did not see the
twinkle which lay half hidden in his
{ eyes. She caught her breath sharp
ly.
I'll go now" she said simply.
NO, wait a minute" Francis held
! up his hand Let's be perfectly
frank. Betty" he continued AS a
stenographer you're a mighty pretty
girl, but as a mighty pretty girl you're
failure as a stenographer. I've
known you for a long time, and I'm
older than you, and so I'm going TO
talk to you like a Dutch uncle. You
don't like to take Shorthand, do
your"
NO"
And you haven't made a success
here. have you?"
No" Two big tears bordered
Betty's eyes, but the man chose TO
ignore them.
well, then" Francis continued,
I'D say that you weren't much of a
success in the business world" He
paused and a new light shone sud
denly in his eyes. You weren't
meant to take dictation, were you,
dear?"
There was something in his voice
which caused the tears in Betty's
eyes to disappear.
NO" she answered. I'm not
used to it."
We'll" Francis continued. from
now on you're going to have a new
job. Beginning today I want you TO
dictate TO me-"
How can / do that?"
Every self-respecting wife con-
siders it her especial right TO die
tate 10 her husband" ne explained.
Are you willing to take the new
job. Betty?''
The girl nodded and the man
reached over and took her hand.
Tell me something TO do" he
said II want to see what kind of
boss youll make"
Very slowly Betty rose TO her feet
and held out her arms. Her eyes
searched into the very depths Of
those of Francis Ereeland and found
whaS they were searching for.
Kiss me-" she commanded.
And Francis obeyed the com
! mand.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05
And Catherine did


Two days later Jack came upon 3D.
letter addressed u o familiar HAND
10 Private cyril DeVrie" and DE-
stamp. and closed his ewes as he
opened b. MY own cyril ~ be-
gan. and Jack could read no fur
ther. lie reached for the 30 *"
stamped the official mark on ths
pase.
At & o'clocN when Jack closed
his Office. he walked out aions the
river bank which was within o..
! boundaries OF the camp. Tie stood
looking over the water for a Ions
time. then, from his breast pocl.e-.
he drew a letter. addressed u him
sef.-thc letter which had brought
him tho news eat Do had beer oc-
cepted. From The inside his coa-
he took a small wooden frame fr
which feas the v,eli protected
photograph OF a perfectly adorable
girl
lie read Tho iet,er. then slowly
tore e 10 pieces and threw Il away
Then he looked long and earnestI,
at the picture. Was II his !mazina-
ton, or did he really see n look q
pity in those dark ewes WEotever
4 was, he unfastened tho back os
the frame and withdrew the like
ness. casting the protection into
the river which flowed smoothly
along a short distance away.
The arst motion he made divided
the smile into two sections. The
second separated the picture into
four pieces. The third made ;hc
one-time likeness unrecogniza bic
The fourth sent eight small pieces
Of paper iuttering into the water.
where they were rapidly borne
away
The officer turned about as he
had learned 10 do in his Ions ago
days on the awkward squad.
Strengthened himself. and strods
back TO the camp. AS he passed
up the compony street he heard the
excited voices Of some or the men
saying. Good luck 20 you. CYRIL
She certainly is worth winnin-.
Here's hoping YOU come back 20
her"
And then Jack happened 10 think
Of something. He would have no
one 10 come back 70.