davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27
BY VIII Seaton

II realize the rent has been excessive.
SO have cut It In half, dating from the
first of the year. SO all of you have
three months paid In advance"
Then may the Lord forever bless
ye," cried the woman, tears streaming
down her face. Il have me rent all
ready. but now twill let me buy shoes
for Norah, whose feet are on the
ground, an a cloak for Katie. who
shivers in the wind. an maybe some
coal. The Lord forgive me. for tbs
mesilf has called we hard man"
"A body never knows" exclaimed
another woman. pushing her way
among the dozen or more who were
now crowding forward. Il amt got
my rent yet by half, an was countin'
maybe on settin' out or other trou-
bic" Then big. brawny fellow
stepped in front of Barge and held
out his hand. I've tried to keep my
self square with everybody as I went
along" he said humbly. But / fell
with you. sir. I've said things against
you and melted others. But I'll square
II with them. l hope you'll take my
hand"
Barge took 1t with feeling of en-
barrassment and unBorthiness and
then tried to slip away. But the whole
street was aroused now and was an
ovation and shower of blessings to its
end.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

Leslie, with = feeling of being left
out Of something that seemed to prom
Use much entertainment, added anoth-
er spite to her little list against her
neighbors. She thought they had all
gone. when suddenly Miss Jessup
turned straight around and came back
to where she was sitting.
I've never seen you at jules
house" she said
Leslie flushed and flung up her head.
I'm sure l don't know what you
mean" she said coldly
Miss Jessup sat down in the oppo-
site chair and looked at Leslie with
her practical. rather hard eyes. But
you ought TO know by this time" she
said. you've lived here four months.
and 1T doesn't take people long to find
out about Julie North. Somebody
must have told you"
IF so I've forgotten" Leslie said.
AT any rate, I'm sure that no person
Of that name has ever called upon
me-"
IF you wait for Julie North to call
on you" said Miss Jessup dryly,
you'll wait till kingdom come and aft
er. Julie don't make calls. but she re-
ceives them. scores of them. l could
tell you all about her, but I shan't. I'm
going to take you to see her. and you
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27
And Then He Went Back

FASTENED to open It, There stoed that
awful child
He reached out a grimy hand. "A
tookey." he said want tookey."
who are your" asked Betty severe
~.
He hesitated. Then he smiled. 81
one and-two and-free and-four and
five Rnd-my BUYERS"
Five brothers" gasped Betty.
shocked at such a supply of boys at
close range-"f1ve brothers!"
Yves. BUYERS" Again he held out his
dirty hand Zone and-want teokey-
free. four tookies. No tookies home.
i've no cookies, either"
She looked so severe that his cour-
age waned. His childish lips quivered
Zone and" He put his two soiled
hands on his stomach. II hungry
here" he announced snxiously. His
eyes were big and beautiful. with
twinkle in them.
Somehow the eyes had a strangely
familiar look about them to Betty.
Somewhere she had seen eyes like
them. Unconsciously her heart warm
ed ever so slightly toward the towsled
waif Come with me. you ridiculous
person. I'll find some bread and but
ter, maybe. But I've no cake in the
house"
Instantly he accepted her invitation
and grasping a fold of her dress
marched by her side to the pantry.
She found box Of crackers and jar
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27
BY Elsie Endicott

that one could almost see the blood
pulse in its blue vein. Leslie stared
at the hand and then at the girl ii be-
longed to, and felt tears rushing to
her eyes.
She sat against pillows in the mid
die of the bed-the merest scrap OF
girlhood. which disease had done its
worst with. But her face was like a
small, faded rose-that would breathe
out perfume and show forth color, al
though 1T grew on a stunted, crooked
stem. She was smiling SO gayly that
Leslie smiled back. Everybody else in
the room was smiling. too, even Mrs.
Kellam, who wore glasses.
MY name is Julie. What's yours? ?"
the girl asked.
Leslie Vawter"
Il like the Leslie part IT suits you,
too. So II you don't mind I'll call you
by it. Sit down, Leslie. You see. I've
got to go right on with my crochet
ing" She attacked a pink bootee.
They were all laughing when Mrs.
Van Orden came in. She had orchids
for Julie and kiss besides. 81
couldn't stay away any longer You did
me SO much good the other day." she
said.
They were all acquainted in no time
No two people could sit In jules
presence without feeling acquainted
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

your case Ii so-funny," the doc
tor continued. You have given If
teen years of your life. understand.
to money getting. with no thought of
yourself or any one except a. a means
of adding to your hoard. Some peo-
Piles arteries harden through old age
or other causes and they die. Why not
the heart dry up through such life
as yours? Take that $1,000 and soften
the cookies. Don't sign a single check
for charity. Spend it all yourself. a
little at time. every day. half a dozen
times q day II you keep your eyes
open. Take a wayfarer into your ma
chine for a ride. give a nickel, a few
words, ton Of coal ANONYMOUSLY. And
keep It up. If you feel worse. como
to me. II not. keep away six months.
and then come. NO" as Barge's
hand went toward his pocket, mo
fee now. Wait till the end of the six
months. That's all"
He waited until Barge reached the
hall, then said, "Oh. yes. there's one
other little thing. A person in your
alarming condition should take every
precaution, and 1 want you to follow
my direction in this as literally as in
the other. Don't bolt your meals in
chunks in three or four minutes while
looking at your watch; take half an
hour, and try to have some cheerful
person to talk with. IL only a tramp
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

began to quake. OF course, he didn't
know her-he couldn't when she was
so changed. 800 fat. oh dear.
Just then "One snd - whimpered
In his sleep. Betty looked stealthily
at him as he lifted his nephew in his
arms. Yes, she would have known
him anywhere. He was only changed
for the better.
Il have never married" he said.
but this 10 dear child. In the event
of my sisters death shall adopt him
for my very own"
Yes" said Betty. hardly KNOWING
what she was saying; he IS: I, too.
thought-havs thought" She came
to full stop.
The minister had risen and stood
looking whimsicaIly In her face. at
don't know exactly how I'm going TO
say what I have TO tell you, but I'm
coming back directly to talk over old
times Betty"
Betty" She gasped again. Then
you do know me after all. thought
/ thought"
Know you!" he calculated. "of
course. thought you did not know
me. Now, Betty, say TO me, John Brin-
ton, como back and I'll know"
mo matter what you know" dared
Betty. "IIl say John Brinton come
back"
And he went back and they were
married and lived happily TO the end
of life.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

you've asked In. Don't try to do TWEEN
ty hours work In q day; ten are
enough. And lastly, devote two of the
hours stolen from business to walk
ing. preferably with some new object.
as making yourself acquainted with
all the trees you see. or all the birds,
or anything else. That 10 all"
Barge went out feeling he was the
victim OF . hoax.
A sudden faintness made everything
turn dark for a moment. and he sway
ed on the sidewalk. Then his eyes
cleared and he caught his breath.
Heavens" he groaned. What's
money II 1t kills a mani Five thou-
sand II little enough to pay for life
OF course it's my cookies"
But 1t was not easy to change the
order of his life, even on a Doctors
prescription. He walked four blocks
without seeing an opportunity where
another might have found a dozen.
Then he came across a ragged urchin
who stood gazing wistfully into a side
walk showcase.
Mindful of the doctors order for
many and small, he slipped a nick Ell
into the urchin's dirty hand, waited a
moment, and saw 1t promptly expend-
ed for a package of cigarettes.
Failed the very first time" he
thought dismally. Probably that will
harden instead of soften"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27
The Great, Far-Reaching Kindness

so near she had to hear their chatter.
81 was at jules house yesterday"
Mrs. Sweet said. And had such
good time"
II, too was there yesterday" cried
Mrs. Kellam. How did it happen l
missed you?"
"Oh, went early so as to avoid the
crush" Mrs. Sweet replied. II always
do IL 1 can"
The last time 1 was there" said
Mrs. Kinney, Mrs. Van Orden came.
She brought Julie some of the most
beautiful roses l ever saw"
Mrs. Van Orden."
There was a general breathlessness.
Leslie felt a thrill of curiosity. She
had seen Mrs. Van Orden and the
things that pertained unto Mrs. Van
Orden-a Daimler limousine. the great
stone house on the hill. and servants
in buff livery. Who was this Julie that
so great a parsonage as Mrs. Van Or
den should call upon her? Some So
ciety favorite doubtless who held her
self aloof and whom the street felt it
was an honor to know, Julie-Julie?
To Leslie the name had a vague, ia
miliar ring. When at last they rose
to leave Mrs. Kellam suggested that
they all go then in body to jules
house.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

Asai" He's the one that lives down
in Texas
l demonstrated. of course. and in
sisted that l looked like myself was
tired of looking like other folks; but
she said my chin was just like his,
and when 1 walked-why, 1t was Uncle
Asa right over again,
1 was just lighting the lamp in the
sitting room when the folks arrived
home from town. Dad spied the pic
ture first thing when they came in.
Why, Ma" he cried, look at this
will you. Here's our little grand
sons photograph"
Mother got her near-to glasses on.
and looked it over carefully. I knew
what was coming. Finally she looked
up and announced In most decided
tones that the baby was the born i'm
age of Dick when he was that age
the same features exactly! Dad
couldn't see 1t that way. He said the
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

can ind out for yourself" she rose.
Come on. It's not far
Somehow Leslie went. They left
the Main street and walked a little
way up a narrow, dingy side street.
thickly set with badly built little
houses. And toward a side door of the
smallest and most badly built of all
Miss Jessup turned.
They entered unannounced into a
clean, bare little room. It was empty.
but through an open door at the back
came a voice. young. beautifully
sweet voice telling q story-"And
said to Mrs. Van Orden that IL she
sent me any more cake like that shed
have to pay the doctor bill, because I
should certainly eat IL and the doctor
would be inevitable"
Upon the succeeding ripple OF laugh
ter Miss Jessup led Leslie in. See
here, julie" she said, i've brought
you new visitor"
"Oh, good" cried the sweet voice.
TITS pretty crowded In here now, but
we'll make room for her. Mrs. Kin
ney. give her your chair, please
There's just room left on the bed for
you How do you do, Miss New-Vis-
itore You see nobody will tell me your
name"
A hand was outstretched-such a
smlla white. thin hand. so transparent
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

and warm hearted and friendly Onl,
kindness and charity could live where
Julie was. And the longer she stayed
the more Leslie wondered and learned
and believed. She and Miss Jessup
were the last to go.
You'll come again. both of you
Julie pleaded. II want you, Leslie
We can do each other a lot OF good
Bring her. Miss Jessup, please. BRING
her often. That will be an excuse for
you to come more frequently than you
do" She dismissed them with a gay
smile
Walking homo Leslie heard jules
story.
Born wrong" Miss Jessup said
tersely. But you see what she Ia and
does. God knew what He was about
when He put Julie North In the world
Aren't you glad you went"
II will go again. And may I 70
with your" Leslie asked. eagerly.
That night she told Tom all abiut
IT. mo wonder they didn't like me-"
she said. They resented my neglect
ing Julie. There's nothing I believe
so far reaching as kindness. Tom I've
never been a very kind person, but I'm
never been a very kind person. but
I'm going to let Julie teach me. She
can"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

BY that time Barge's face was rec
and his hand tingled with more shak-
ings than he believed II had felt be.
fore In all his life. And inside was g
glow that was as pleasant as Ii wa:
strange. CDR. Bentley was right" b
thought to himself. rubbing his hand
together. Its the cookies of my heart
I'm lot better already. and it's oui.
been few days"
The next morning he took his ma
chine over 10 the street TO give son
of its invalids ride.
At the end of six months he We
to DR.. Bentley. I'm married NJ
sir" he said, after relating his q
few weeks experience. There MAS
girl. and we sort of drifted aperf AZ
/ set myself 10 money making /.
to thinking about her as married
maybe her husband needing help
one day / went out to the little villa
in my machine. and d. you knew 81
wondering awe in his face ssh
been waiting for me ali these srs
loving me all the time My We
married and all my life woea ~ lr'
enough to make up for that Y att
Over among my tenements ia 'y q
ready call her Queen &c the Stree
she's so good"
After he left the doctor chueklet
softly. Not a professional prescrip
tion," he said aloud. but it worked
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

little chap had the Norton eyes all
right, but otherwise he looked more
like his mother-especially around the
mouth.
One of our neighbors came in that
evening. and she thought the baby
looked like Dad! I can tell you that
pleased him nightly.
Ny, but 1t was funny to hear them!
/ just listened and said nothing; but
later in my own room / threw myself
on the bed, and laughed until my sides
ached.
One afternoon. a few days later. dad
came home from the postofdce with
his hands full Of Wallpapers, letters.
and something else. the sight of which
sent queer little thrill UP my spine.
This latter something" he passed
over to mother with the remark:
Another Photograph. ma-from
Dick. too! Do you SUPPOSE thay for
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27
By Walt Gregg

wall opposite. This is what you've
missed It's too late now" Then she
wiped her eyes and laughed little at
her folly. Let fate do as II will. Ev-
erything must be for the best, OF Ii
wouldn't be-"
Eve come for my little nephew"
said deep voice near the window.
my heusekeeper teld me should ind
him here"
Betty jumped. she was so startled.
"You are the new pastor, / under
stand. Will you come inf The child
Is here"
He stepped into the little room.
quite filling IT. he seemed so tall and
powerful. my name IL Brinton-
John Brinton." He put his visiting
card upon the table. II have but late
Iy came to Wood End" Betty gasped
and stared. John Brintoni" After ali
these years. Evidently he did not REQ
ognize her. or course II had all hap
pened go long ago. and certainly she
was changed. She was eighteen then
she was thirty eight now and grown
much stouter. Besides. men never do
remember. Oh, no.
He sat down without waiting for an
invitation. 81 was glad when the call
came for me to come TO Wood End"
he said, genially. "I had learned that
/ might fnd here a friend-one I had
known" he paused. "and loved in my
youth"
Betty lost her self-possession- She
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

The funny thing about our family
is the fact that we don't any of us
look like ourselves. We all look like
someone else-someone in the family
connection / mean. You see mother
likes to have it said that we children
resemble her-or rather, her people.
Dad of course wants a share OF the
glory. so he insists that we look more
like his folks. And there you arei
Mother always told me that / re-
minded her OF Uncle Ned, her favorite
brother. Two years ago, however, on
my thirteenth birthday Il well remem-
Der the day, for IL was then l put on
the long trousers for the first time) {.
1 changed suddenly in appearance, just
like a chameleon. Mother looked up
as l walked proudly into the room
that morning and the first thing she
said was:
Why Stephen Norton, you're the
living image OF your Great-Uncle
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

enc and two and three and -"
Betty was staggered: "But his
brothers?"
Never had any" declared Miss Smith
but, il must say II, he's the cFaziest
kid In the world for relations. He's
always wantin' brothers. One day
some one was tellin' how Adam and
Eve was created out'n the dust of the
earth, n what did this hid de. but take
Some basins an fill 'em with dirt N set
'em In the sun to bake. One of the
neighbors came In and asked the min
lister what we'd planted In them pans.
an the minister said 'nothin'.' went
out to see about the pans. an the
hid few around the corner of the
house. screamin', 'Oh. my bruvvers,
hay bruvvers.' An his ma said she
guessed she'd have to 'dopt boy to
be playmate for Bobby-for she
couldn't have him dein' things like
that-ne hew.'
Miss pmitf1 Reluctantly took her
place out of the door, and Betty and
Bobby took up the supper just where
they left OF, and continued merrily to
the end.
Zone and -" fell asleep while he
still sat at the tea table. Betty watch
ed the dropping lids close down over
the roguish eyes. HE is quite like
very like" Then she burst into tears.
Never mind, you foolish person."
she remarked. apostrophising her i'm
age reflected In the little mirror on the
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

have your Then. her eye falling on
One and" ''Oh, here he Is now.
Come with me, you limb of Satan
You're always running away. I'll tell
your uncle: see lie I don't"
Acting on an unaccountable i'm
pulse, Betty flew to the rescue. Real
ly, let the child stay with me until we
finish our supper said she. I'VE
were having such a good time. l am
quite alone and enjoy having him with
me-
but won't he be a regular bore.
ma am? His uncle won't like him to
be In the peoples way, he's that per-
tick1er."
His uncle?" began Betty. where
Is his mother?'
"Oh. she's gone to Hot Springs for
her health. She's an invalid. and left
this boy with her brother while she is
away. We've just moved to Wood End.
The uncle Is the new Methodist min
lister assigned to this place. He's a
bachelor. I'm Miss Smith. the house
keeper" she simpered.
Betty turned thoughtful glance at
the child. Zone and" she said,
gently. II suspect that you and may
as we'll finish our tea
His names Bobby" corrected Miss
Smith. HE just calls himself One
and -. You see his mother always
had a class of music scholars. He
just took up that one and - racket
from hearing 'em count at the piano.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

of peach jam. He looked 6isappoint-
ed, but ate what she gave him. Betty
made fire In her cook stove Then
she put potatoes on. to boil and put a
lot of cunning little sausages in the
frying pan to cook. Somehow she
warmed more and more toward her
little visitor. 1t was an unaccountable
feeling, but she enjoyed It I'm going
to make seu some biscuits" she re-
marked.
zone and The child nodded
graVely. "Bistits an dravy," he said
sagely. Miss Sniff don't make bis
tits"
miss Smith," echoed Betty, who
is she?'
"One and" waved his hand. his
actions expressing disdain: lover
there"
When the two were In the midst of
the very best time In the world some
body outside shrilled Bob Bobbe-e-e!"
Hearing which Zone and" with one
pitiful look at Betty pushed his plate
aside and squirming off his elevated
perch made for the door.
Miss Sniff" he sobbed; She's aft
err me-
Betty clutched his apron. Don't
CO." said she. Wait. I'll speak to
her"
The door opened a little. Beg par
don. ma'am," the owner of the voice
said fnsinuatingly. you haven't seen
a strange little boy about the place
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

dren, too. Oh. dear mel" she said as
q F-urdy four-year-old boy came gal
Looping madly around the corner of the
house opposite and with joyous
whoops gave chase to Betty's old cat.
which sat summing itself on the walk.
II just simply can't stand that" she
said, az the cat leaped the fence and
sped home. "I will not put up with
lot OF little savs ges. From this day
my place 10 for sale"
She opened her door and the cat
scampered to a place OF safety inside.
Betty was greatly disturbed For
years she had lived next the Dean
house. which was closed, never to be
opened again. so rumor said. Howev-
ef. the neighbors' children were now
under her nose. She did not exactly
hate children, but she did not under
stand them. She would not be tor
mented with q lot of noisy little folks
mo indeed. AS she tossed her hat
and wraps aside there came a thun-
derous clatter at the front door. She
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

got about sending the other one?"
The cord and wrapping came of In
a hurry and then mother exclaimed in
establishment
why, it's a different baby! What
does il mean, pa? This certainly came
from Dick"
Dad had brought the other picture,
and they compared them carefully.
The mystery deepened. Wonderingly.
Dad turned the picture over that he
held In his land, and the writing
across the back caught his eye.
why. ma. know. This is our sum-
mer tourists baby! Don't you re-
member the young couple that board
ed with us two years ago? This must
be their little boy"
You're right pa" mother agreed,
but how did we ever make such a
mistake? Oh, understand now" she
exclaimed q minute later. Stephen
opened that ptetnBe before ve got
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27
sick and wretched

sick and wretched. And she told Tom
the same thing until. as he said, cit
rot on his nerves" Then they began
Go quarrel.
They had been married three or four
years and had always lived in the city.
But Tom got a notion that they could
get along better in the country. He
heard of LAwton. and hunted up job
there. Then he and Leslie moved. The
only house they could get was a large
one on King street The rent was
small. but II would have taken several
loads of furniture more than they had
60 I'LL IL creditably. All the King
street houses were large. Theirs was
the only one that did not give an APP
pearance of comfort and means in re-
serve. Leslie felt that IL was her in
ability to make a good showing that
kept people away from her.
"They look down o. US, because we
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27
By Annette Angert

home from town the other night.
Strange he didn't notice-pa, do you
suppose that boy knew all the time,
and was laughing ?-Stephen! Ste
pheni"
was In the kitchen when she call
ed: but suddenly I realized that 1t
was growing late. and the cows ought
to be MIXED. so I took the pail and
slipped quietly out the back way As
/ closed the door softly behind me I
heard dad laugh. that good natured
and 1 knew that everything would be
all right. Dad is simply great! He
always appreciates a good joke, even
If II Is at his own expense.
When I came In to supper q little
later. the pictures were lying side by
side on the sitting room table: Dad
was trying his best. to look dignined,
and mother was very thoughtful. but
nothing more was said about the mis-
taxa
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-27

Let me see your tongue"
Barge opened his mouth. The doc
tor nodded, held his wrist for some
moments. and then leaned back in his
chair. He looked grave. You're too
young for 1t, Barge" he said slowly,
mot over thirty-five or forty, / think.
and endowed by nature with a superb
physique. Now, IL you were seventy
or seventy-five wouldn't be so much
surprised"
"C-can't you cure 1t, doctor-or at
least help 1t some"
Perhaps. 1t depends on how strict
1y you follow my instructions"
"Ill do just exactly as you say. But
what IL it?"
Queer case" unused the doctor.
frowning. Suppose you wait till your
next visit for details, when you're i'm
proving. But I'll promise cure If
you follow instructions"
"I WILL" fervently.