davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
=. =. The Problems of Violet Strange =. -.

were only just beginning to take in.
Smitten with despair. for these girls were
her life. she gave one wild leap and sank
on her knees before Alicia
20. speak," she began. Forgive me,
and"
A tremble seized her throat; she ceased
to speak and let fall her partially up
lifted hands. The CHEEKY sound Of mems
voices had drifted In from the terrace.
and the figure of Capt. Holiday could
be seen passing by. The shudder which
self to Alicia Driscoll. and the former
rising quickly. the two women surveyed
each other. possibly for the first time,
with open soul and a complete under
standing.
'Caroline!" murmured the ore
alicia" pleaded the other.
Caroline, trust me-" said Alicia Dris-
coll in that moving voice of hers, which
more than her beauty caught and re-
tanned all hearts. you have served me
i'll, but 1t was not all undeserved Girls"
she went on, cycling both them and her
father with the usefulness of break
ing heart. neither Caroline nor myself
is worthy of Capt. Holidays love.
mine is perhaps a worse one. The
ring-the scarf-the diamond pins-I
took them all-took them IL I did not
retain them. A curse has been over my
life-the curse of a longing I could not
combat. But love was working a change
in me- Since L have known Capt Hol-
liday-but that's all over 1 was made
to think I could be happy with such
memories in my life. L shall never
marry now--or touch Jewels again-my
own or another's Father. father. you
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

and go through all the stages from the
primordial to barbarism. You don't ex-
pect boys to be civilized. do you?"
well, L"
you might as we'll expect eggs to
crow. No; you've got to take boys as
they are. and learn to know them as
they are"
Naturally Aunt Sarah" said Mrs.
Schofeld. II know PenroI."
"Penrod." said Aunt Sarah solemnly,
does your father understand you?"
"Ma'am?"
About as much as he'd understand
Sitting Bull" she laughed. And I'll
are. Penrod. Her real belief Is that
you're a novice in convent"
"Ma'am?"
Aunt Sarah"
II know she thinks that. because
whenever you don't behave like a
your father really believes that you're
a decorous we'll trained. young bust
ness man. and whenever you don't live
up to that standard you get on his
nerves and he thinks you need wal
looping. Does whipping do you any
good. Penrod?"
Ma am?"
Go on and finish the lemonade; fill
yourself up uncomfortably." said the
old lady. You're twelve years old and
you ought to be happy-if you aren't
anything else. It's taken over nine
some hundreds Of thousands of years Of
other things to produce you. and there
you sit,"
'Ma'am?"
It'll be your turn to think and strug-
gle and muss things up for the better
Aunt Sarah Grim. Drink your lemon
ade!"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

won't go back on your girl! I couldn't
see Caroline suffer for what I have
done. You will pardon me and he'll
help
Her voice choked She flung herself
Into her fathers arms; his head bent
over hers, and for an instant not a soul
in the room moved. Then Miss Hugh
son gave a spring and caught her by
the hand.
I'VE are inseparable," said she, and
kissed the hand. murmuring. Now is
our time to show it"
Then other lips fell upon those cold
warm under these embraces. And then
tear 1t came from the hard eye of
Caroline, and remained a sacred secret
between the two.
You have your pendantT
Mr.. Driscolfs suffering eye shown
down on Violet Stranges uplifted face
as she advanced to say goodbye, pre-
paratory to departure.
Yes" she acknowledged, but hardly,
1 fear. your gratitude"
And the answer astonished her.
Il am not sure that the real Alicia
will not make her father happier than
the unreal one has ever done"
And Capt. Holiday"
He may come to feel the same"
Then I do not quit in disgracer"
You depart with my thanks"
When a certain parsonage was told
OF the success of Miss Strange's latest
maneuver, he remarked:
me little one progresses. We shall
nave to give her a case of prime i'm
portance next"
Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

to succeeding groups. protesting aston
ishment to find it unknown. 1t had
been all the go" she explained. at the
Long Shore casino for fully two sea-
sons. She pronounced SLOW" a fancy
dance" executed during an intermission
by Baby Rennsdale and George Bas-
sett. giving 1t as her opinion that Miss
Rennsdale and Mr.. Bassett were dead
ones" and she expressed surprise that
the punch bowl contained lemonade and
not champagne.
The dancing continued, the new step
gaining instantly in popularity. fresh
Der. The word ''step" Is somewhat mis-
leading. nothing done with the feet
being vital to the evolutions introduced
by Fanchon. Fanchon's dance came
from the orient by a roundabout way
pausing in Spain, taking on Gallo
frankness in gallantry at the Bal Bull
lier in Paris. combining with relative
from the South Seas encountered in
San Francisco. favoring itself with a
care-free negroid abandon in New Or
leans. and accommodating, too, something
inexpressible from Mexico and South
America. 1t kept, throughout its trav-
els. to the underworld or to circles
where nature is extremely frank and
rank. until at last it reached the dives
of New York, when it Immediately
broke out in what is called civilized
society. Thereafter. it spread, in vari-
ously modified forms, to watering
places and thence-carried b. hundreds
of older male and female Fanchons-
over the country, being eagerly adopted
everywhere and made wholly pure and
respectable by the supreme moral axiom
that anything Is all right II enough
people do it. Everybody was doing it.
Not quite everybody. It was. perhaps.
some test of this dance that earth could
furnish no more horrifying sight than
that Of children doing it.
Earth. assisted by Fanchon, was fur
nishing this sight at Penrods party. BY
the time ice cream and cake arrived about
half the guests had either been initiated
into the mysteries by Fanchon or were
learning by imitation: and the education
Of the other half was resumed with the
dancing. when the attendant ladies' I'M
conscious Of what was happening, with
drew into the house for tea
That orchestra's a dead one" Fanchon
remarked to Penrod. We ought to liven
them up a little
She approached the musicians.
Don't you know" she asked the leader,
the slingo sligo slide'7"
The leader giggled. nodded. raped with
his bow upon his violin. and Penrod fol-
lowing Fanchon back upon the dancing
floor. blindly brushed with his elbow a
solitary little figure standing aloof on the
lawn at the edge Of the platform.
1t was Marjorie.
In no mood to approve OF anything in
troduced by Fanchon, she had scornfully
refused. from the first. to dance the new
step" and. because of its bonfire popu-
larity. found herself neglected in a society
where she had reigned as beauty and
belle. FaithleSs Penrod. daZed by the
sweeping Fanchon. had utterly forgotten
the amber curis; he had not once asked
Of Indignation had been growing brighter
in her eyes. though Maurice Levyes defec-
ton to the lady from New York had not
famed this flame. From the moment
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

learned the meaning of hatred at first
sight.
Fanchon leaned close to Penrod and
whispered in his ear: Don't you for
get"
Penrod blushed.
Marjorie saw that blush. Her lovely
eyes opened even wider. and in them
there began to grow light. 1t was
the light of Indignation; at least peo-
pie whose eyes glow with that light
always call 1t Indignation.
Roderick Magsworth Bits. jr. ap-
preached Fanchon when she had made
her curtsey to Mrs. schofield. Fanchon
whispered In Roderick's ear, also.
Your hair is pretty. Roddy. Don't
forget what you said yesterday"
Roderick likewise blushed. Maurice
Levy, captivated by the newcomers
appearance. pressed close to Roderick.
GIVE us an introduction, Roddy."
Roddy being either reluctant or I'M
able to perform the rite. Fanchon took
presently very favorably impressed
with Maurice. receiving the Information
that his tie had been brought by his
papa from Skoone's; whereupon she
privately informed him that she liked
wavy hair, and arranged to dance with
him. Fanchon also thought sandy hair
attractive, Sam Williams discovered a
few minutes later, and SO catholic was
her taste that a ring of boys quite en-
circled her before the musicians in the
yard struck up their thrilling march
and Mrs Schofeld brought Penrod to
escort the lady from out Of town to the
dancing pavilion.
Headed by this pair, the children
sought partners and paraded solemnly
out ofShe front door and round a cor
ner Of the house. There they found the
gay marquee, with the small orchestra
seated on the lawn at one side of 1t,
and punch bowl Of lemonade inviting
attention under a tree. Decorously the
small couples stepped upon the plat
form, one after another, and began to
dance.
Its not much like children's party
in our day" Mrs. Williams said to PEN
rods mother. Wed have been play
ing Quaker meeting clap in, clap
out or going to Jerusalem. 1 suppose
Things change so quickly" said Mrs.
Schof1eld. Imagine asking that little
Fanchon Gelbraith to play London
bridge Penrod seems to be having {
difficult time with her, poor boy; he
wasn't a shining light in the dancing
class"
However. Penrod's difficulty was not
precisely of the kind his mother sup
posed. Fanchon was showing him a
new step. which she taught her next
partner. in turn. continuing instructions
crowded the floor, and in the kaleido-
scopic tumble of bobbing heads and in
terminating figures her extremely diff
ferent style of motion was unobserved
by the older people, who looked on.
nodding time benevolent1y.
Fanchon fascinated girls as well as
boys. Many of the former eagerly
sought her acquaintance and thronged
about her between the dances, when
accepting the difference due a cosmop-
olite and oracle of the mode, she
gave demonstrations of the new step
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

Don't you love the Rue de la Paix?"
Penrod wandered in a labyrinth. II
was his first meeting with one of those
grown-up little girls. wonderful prod
uct of the winter apartment and sum-
mer hotels, and Fanchon. an only child
was star of the brand. He began to
feel resentful.
Il suppose" she went on. TN find
Some nice people called yesterday
though. Do you know the Magsworth
Bittses? Will Roddy be at your
party?"
81 guess he will returned Penrod
finding this Ineligible. The mutt"
This bit of ruff1anism had curious
effect Fanchon looked upon him with
sudden favor.
II like you, Penrod" she said. in an
odd way, and whatever else there may
have been in her manner, there GER
tainly was no shyness.
Penrod was shaken.
Yes. do" She stepped spt1 l. closer eSer SC SC
pretty"
he had been by her previous mysteries
but his confusion was of distinctly
alluring nature-he wanted more OF 1t
Looking Intentionally into another per
sons eyes is an act unknown to child
hood, and Periods discovery that II
could be done was sensational. He had
never thought of looking into the eyes
of Marjorie Jones.
For long time, despite all anguish
contumely and Maurice Levy. he had
secretly thought of Marjorie. with pa
thetic consistency. as his "beau"-though
that is not how he would have spelled
1t. Marjorie was beautiful; her curls
were long and the color of amber: her
nose was straight, and her freckles
were honest She was much prettier
than this accomplished visitor. But
beauty is not all.
ct do" breathed Fanchon softly
She seemed to him. then, a fairy crea-
ture from some roster world than this.
Penrod was enslaved He swallowed,
coughed and said disjointedly:
'rWell-I don't care-if you W. mt to-
1 Just as soon."
wen dance together" said Fanchon,
"at your party.
IT guess So I Just as soon"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

stood before the mirror in new bloom,
feeling encouraged to hope that his re-
sem blance to his father was not so
strong as Aunt Sarah seemed to think.
Then came from the yard a sound Of
tuning acknowledgements of fiddle,
Groom of cello. a falling triangle ring
ing and tinkling to the floor; and he
turned pale
Chosen guests began to arrive, while
Penrod. suffering from stage fright and
perspiration. stood beside his mother
in the drawing room to receive them
He greeted unfamiliar acquaintances
and intimate fellow criminals with the
same frigidity. murmuring. M glad to
see "" to all alike. largely increaing
the embarrassment which always pre-
walls at the beginning of children's fes-
tivities.
His unnatural pomp and circumstance
had so thoroughly upset him, in truth
that Marjorie Jones received distinct
shock. now to be related. Doctor
had baptized Penrod. came in for mo-
ment to congratulate the boy. and had
Just moved away when it was Mar
1orie's turn. in the line of children to
speak to Penrod. She gave him what
she considered forgiving look and,
because Of the occasion. addressed him
in perfectly courteous manner.
Il wish you many happy returns Of
the day. Penrod."
THANK you, sir" he returned, follow
ing Doctor Thorpe with CLASSY stare.
in which there was absolutely no re-
cognttion of Marjorie. Then he greeted
Maurice Levy, ON glad to see ""
Dumfounded, Marjorie turned aside
and stood near. observing Penrod with
gravity. 1t was the first great sur
had seemed to place his character
somewhere between that of the pro-
fessional rioter and that of the orang-
outang; nevertheless, her manner, at
times. just limited a consciousness that
this Caliban was her property. Where
fore she stared at him incredulously.
as his head bobbed up and down in
the dancing-school bow. greeting his
guests. Then she heard an adult voice
near her exclaim:
What an exquisite child"
Marjorie glanced up. a little con-
sciously-though she was used to it
naturally curious to ascertain who
Williams mother who spoke, address,
ing Mrs. Rassett. both being present
to help Mrs. Schofield make the fes-
tivities festive.
Exquisite"
Here was a second heavy surprise
for Marjorie: They were not looking
at her They were looking. with BEAM
ing approval, at girl she had never
seen, a dark and modish stranger OF
singularly composed and yet modest
aspect. Her downcast eyes. becoming in
one thus entering crowded room, were
all that produced the effect of mod
esty, counteracting something about
her which might have seemed too as
sured She was very slender. very
ening to the other girls: 1t was of
knowing picturesqueness wholly un-
familiar to them.
Marjorie's lovely eyes dilated; she
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

bird type. The youngest is barren of
everything but a rare beauty and a
passion for pleasure. Between the two
Is mother-spirit bigger than that of
the first one-a mother whose children
swarm out of the Sums and shops.
and all untoward places wherein youth
SO unhappily finds itself. Roger Gale
himself is rare and lovable man.
Just as each of these girls is a perfect
development of the kind of woman for
whom she stands the world over. The
unobtrusive underthought of this finely
balanced realism Is that Roger Gale is
projecting himself as one of the in
Vulnerable world forces of the future
through these three lines Of individu-
ality. II a novel takes rank according
to the measure of its fidelity in re-
f.ecting any outstanding phase of hui
man moment. and according to an
acute sense of dramatic impulse cou
pied with workmanly skill in story
building. then Mr.. Poole has written
modern American novel of great dis
tinction. Without any possibility Of
denial. he has achieved a most inter
esting one.
A Diversity OF CREATURES. BY
Rudyard Kipling. author OF Kim"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01

she had trusted most, stepped quickly
forward. and quivering with vague
sibilities, she TREMENDOUSLY remarked:
I'VE did not sleep together last night.
You had to come into my room to get
my slippers. Why did you do this? What
was in your mind. Gardiner"
A steady look. a low laugh choked
with many emotions. answered her.
DO you want me to reply, Alicia? Or
shall we let it pass?"
1t was Mr.. Driscoll who spoke. Alicia
had shrunk back. almost to where a lit
tie figure was covering with wide eyes
fixed in something like terror on the
aroused fathers face.
Then hear me-" murmured the girl.
entrapped and suddenly desperate. Il
wore Alicia's slippers and / took the
jewels because it was time that an end
should come to your mutual dissimula-
ton. had lover-she took him. I had
faith In life. in honor and in friendship.
She destroyed all. A thief-she has
dared to aspire to him, And you con-
doned her fault You. with your craven
restoration of her booty, thought the
matter cleared and her a fit mate for a
man of highest honor"
Miss West"-no one had ever heard
the tone In Mr.. Driscoll's voice before.
before you say another word this hand
never returned any ones booty or had
anything to do with the restoration of
any distracted article. You have been
caught in net. Miss West. from which
you cannot escape by slandering my
innocent daughter"
Innocent" All the tragedy latent in
this peculiar girls nature blazed forth
in the word. Alicia, face me. Are Won
innocent? Who took the Dempsey coraIs
and that diamond from the TIFFANY
tray?"
TT is not necessary for Alicia TO an
swer." the father interposed. with NOT
unnatural heat. Miss West stands self
convicted"
How about Lady Pagets scarf? Twas
not there that night
you are n woman of wiIes That
could be managed by one bent on an
elaborate scheme of revenge"
"And so could the abstraction of Mrs.
Barnum's ve-hundred-d dollar handker-
chief by one who sat in the next hoy -
chimed in Miss Hughson, edging away
from the friend to whose honor she
would have pinned her faith an hour
before. Il remember now seeing her
lean over the railing to adjust the old
lady's shawl"
With n start, Caroline West turned a
tragic gaze upon the speaker.
You think me guilty of all because
of what I did last ntght?"
why shouldn't II"
"And you, Anna?"
Alicia has my sympathy" murmured
Miss Benedict.
But l have told you my provocation
You cannot believe that am guilty of
her sin: not II you look at her as 1
am looking now
But their chances hardly followed her
pointing finger Her friends-the COM
rades OF her youth. the inseparables with
their secret oath-one and all held them
selves aloof. struck by the perfdy they
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
CHAPTER II.

Aunt Sarah's a funny old lady"
Penrod observed. on the way back to
the town. What's she want me to give
papa this old sling for? Last thing she
said was to be sure not forget to give
1t to him. He don't want it. and she
said herself 1t amt any good. She's
older than you or papa. isn't she?"
about fifty years older" answered
Mrs. Schof1eld, turning upon him stare
of perplexity. Don't cut into the
leather with your new knife. dear: the
livery man might ask US to pay if
No. 1 wouldn't serape the paint off. ell
ther-or white your shoe with it.
Couldn't you put it up until we get
homer
We goin' straight home?"
No. We're going to stop at Mrs. Gel
braith's and ask strange little girl to
come to your party this afternoon"
"Who?"
Her name Is Fanchon. She's Mrs.
Gelbraith's little niece. She lives in
New York and has come to visit here
You must be very nice to her, Penrod !:
she doesn't know the children here, and
you must help to keep her from feeling
lonely at your party
When they reached Mrs. Gelbraith's
Penrod sat bumped upon a gilt chair
during the lengthy exchange of greet
ings between his mother and Mrs. Gel
braith. Penrod twisted his legs, his
cap and his nose.
Here she is" Mrs. Gelbrafth cried
Unexpectedly. and ark-haired de-
mure person entered the room wearing
an air of gracious social expectancy
In years she was eleven. in manner
lived much at court. She performed a
curtsy in acknowledgment of Mrs.
Schofe1d's greeting, and bestowed her
hand upon Penrod. who had enter
showed his surprise. that 1t should
come to him. and was plainly unable to
decide what to do about 1t.
'Fanchon. dear" said Mrs Gelbraith,
take Penrod out in the yard for a
rod" Mrs. schofield laughed. as the
children turned toward the door.
Penrod hastily dropped the small
esty. why. I don't want it" followed
Fanchon out into the sunshiny yard,
where they came to halt and surveyed
each other.
Penrod stared awkwardly at Fanchon,
while Fanchon. with the utmost COOL
ness. made a thorough visual examine
tton Of Penrod. Finally she spoke
Where do you buy your ties?" she
asked.
"What?'
Where do you buy your neckties?
Papa gets his at Skoone's. You ought
to get yours there I'm sure the one
"'Skoone's! Penrod repeated.
"On 5th avenue" said Fanchon.
IT'S very smart shop. the men say"
Mem" echoed Penrod.
Where do your people go in sum-
mer~ inquired the lady. I'VE go to
Long Shore. but so many middle-class
people have begun coming there, mann
ma thinks of leaving. The middle
classes are simply awful. don't you
think?
"What?"
They're so boorjaw. You speak
French. Of course?'
Me-"
I'VE ran over to Paris last year
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
CHAPTER III.

A dancing floor had been laid upon a
platform in the yard. when Mrs. Scno-
field and her son arrived at their own
abode: and a white-and-scarlet striped
canopy was in process of erection over
head, to shelter the dancers from the
sun workmen were busy everywhere
under the direction of Margaret, and
the smitten heart of Penrod began to
beat rapidly. All this was for him; he
was twelve!
After lunch, he underwent an elabor-
ate toilet and murmured not. For
the first time in his life he knew the
wish to be sandpapered. waxed, and
polished to the highest possible degree.
And when the operation was over. he