davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13
GREGORY FULLER MODEL

There were u high-bacGed rock
ing chairs on che boarding house
veranda. and in each OF those chai-s
sat a woman. varying IN age and
figure all the way from the six
year lassie. who sat bolt upright,
with her chubby bare less crossed
tailor fashion under her. as she
laboriously piled tie stitches Of a
wash cloth with her rosy fingers,
down, or rather up. 10 Mrs. Van der
HAYDEN. who looked as we who
have never seen a duchess at close
range imagine duchess OF three
score and more all do lOCk-pOrtly
and naughty and serene. She was
knitting an aviator's helmet. All
in all. there were "a needles click
ing. and. save when some one stop
ped 20 count stitches, there were
half as many tongues gently waS-
sing.
No wonder. then. that the two un-
attached males whom unkind fate
had condemned 20 abide IN the one
boarding house in town preferred
90 smoke their pipes and read their
papers on the wooden settle down
by the safe OF the old house EN-
cept for the fact that they were
doomed 20 share the same bench
I'm this Ostracism. there was little
in common between Gregory Fuller
and the other young man. who
sought TO entertain and impress
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

Gregory with his social cOnquests in
his home town.
still, when the young man went
for a weekend TO that home town,
presumably to score a few more
triumphs. Gregory felt doubly OPP
pressed in his ostracism: and with
out knowing just how things stood
between Gregory and Margery
Drake-the little 20-year-old school
teacher that sat up there in the
third chair from Mrs. Van der Hay
den and knitted sleeveless sweat
ers-you might have wondered why
he did not seek some other place 10
spend his Saturday afternoon than
down there on the hard wooden
bench by the fence. with only a
magazine and a pipe to console him.
Down there az least he was unob-
served. or thought he was. and he
could be sure that Margery was
safe He had little reason to feel
Jealousy, for, except for his erst-
while companion who had gone
home for the week end, Gregory
was about the only eligible male in
the community
do you know, I think there must
be something wrong with these d.
rections." u was the shriH treble
OF Mrs Jones-the angular blond
lady with the bediamoned hnssrs
who sat next 10 Margery. Il have
followed them faithfully-bound of
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

cleared. yet three hours had pass
ed when Hilda finally reached her
own room. He had carried her in
his arms against all her protests up
the lodge keepers house, and then
gone after the car.
Isn't he a perfect darling" said
Anne Rathburn. her roommate,
when Hilda was snug on the big
couch, drinking tea. Il haven't seen
him at any of the classes. He must
DE a senior"
il surely gave her prestige among
the other freshmen, this being cared
for in cavilier fashion by a senior.
She wrote home and told her father
of it, during the week her sprained
ankle confined her TO her room.
And he laughingly warned her in
his reply Of the real dangers of CO.
ed cOurtship.
Remember, my dear. that love is
after all natures trap for the I'M
wary You are just at the age when
you will fail i'm love with love It.
self, not personality. Keep you head
remember that one love does not
make a life time, nor one swallow
summer"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

to bump into the girl herself in
the hall
Vacation time arrived for susie. A
sadly needed two weeks in the
mountains was planned with joyful
anticipation. She worried about the
care of her little garden and real
lied that she would have 10 be at
the mercy of Gods good rain Just
like all farmers if her garden was
to remain green. Without rain il
would wilt and lie long before she
would return. Even so. she could
not remain at home to care for her
garden. Her mirror told her frank
~ that her cheeks were more than
pale and her eyes listless. She
packed a small wardrobe quickly
and made all arrangements for her
trip.
Capt. McGill, the man in the stu.
do above, happened by lucky
chance TO see Susie descend the
steps with her suit case and in a
flash realized that he wanted very,
very much to know her.
He didn't know for a second
whether or not TO make a most
perfect idiot Of himself and rush
out, follow her, purchase a ticket
to the same place TO which she
went and track her to the very
hotel in which she expected 10
spend her vacation. But McGill de-
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13
By SylUla Turner

~ should think il would bo
splendid 10 go deliberately against
such a viii, she said. II think it's
cruelty selfish of people 10 bind
their relatives down 10 hard and
fast conditions. but I'm glad YOU
like her. I'm COINS to have a new
step-mother and I dread it,
The months passed and June
doomed ahead Hilda viewed its
coming anXiously. Her father
wedding was set for the latter part
OF June.
Somehow she felt that she could
not 80 home and lind a stranger in
her mothers place Ralph told her
OF his plans one night when they
we're walking mp the Embroidered
campus lie had his choice be
tween a post graduate course At the
school OF mines and a position as
superintendent of a western smeIt-
Ing plant
Il think I'll take it," he told her.
The mater hasn't written or been
up here in a long while. I shouldn't
wonder if She had her own plans.
Have You set your heart ON COINS
through here for four years.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

81 stitches for the head. knitted
five ribs, and then set on 80 stitch
es again. and will you look at the
size OF the neck? %
Margery beside her compared her
own nearly completed sweater with
her neighbor's. Mine is just the
same size. l took il for granted
that the rules were right
But 1 can't get il over my head
at all" exclaimed Mrs. smith as
she seized Margery's sweater and
tried 10 pull ii over her blond pom
padour.
"Of course you can't" reproved
the duchess. pausing as she counted
Stitches "a, % - with your
hair done over a rat of course your
head is larger than a mans"
You don't suppose l do such a
thing" gasped MIS-. smith. Though
i will admit that my hair is very
thick and that may take up more
room. But even IL my hair is full
don't you think a mans ears are
big and would take the extra room
in slipping il on? always think
mems ears are very big2"
Il have noticed that Mr. Smith:
are" agreed the duchess. still count.
Ing.
II We could only try the sweat.
er on n real man" sighed Mrs
smith. It's too bad my husband
is a travelling man. He's the only
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

cided to keep his head on his Shout
ders and just trust 20 fate. Conse-
quently he remained at the window
while susie disappeared toward tie
stage that carried her TO the rail-
way station.
when Susie had gone from the stu
do building. even though he hal
never spoken with her. Her pres
ence seemed 10 have entered into
the Scotsman's heart, there TO re-
main. he looked down each day
at her small garden and IL was only
a few days after her departure be-
fore he realized that If the products
were TO be saved for her return he
must find some way Of watering
them. The thought that Susie's
well-cared-for war garden might
fade and die was appalling TO Nc
Gill. Her loss would be his loss.
so after deliberate thought the
hero of the battlefield contrived by
extend watering can by means Of
his bath spray and a long-nozzie5
hero OF the battlefield contrived TO
long all but to reach the garden
roots. Each night after dark Nc
Gill watered that small garden as
If it were the fodder for an entire
army Of cattle or men. He waited
for dark lest any passerby see him
and laugh at his folly.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13
By Osborne Jones

There were more socks and sweat
ers 20 be tried on and more yarn
TO be wound for the other women
in the = chairs. And so passed
Gregory's Saturday afternoon.
Somehow he managed that even
ing 10 ask Margery 70 stroll around
the block with him, and then they
sat together on the little wooden
bench by the gate.
Thank fortune tomorrow's Sun
day" Gregory said. You won't
have TO knit then and perhaps 1
can get you TO 80 up the rivera
little picnic would be good fun this
time OF the year"
But we can knit for soldiers on
Sunday" insisted Margery. Even
Mrs. Van der Hayden says so. Her
minister told her it made a differ
ence."
shes a cool proposition" Greg
DRY murmured
Yes. there are always people
like her in every boarding house. %
replied Margery.
80 much the worse for boarding.
houses" was GregoTy's rejoiner.
Somehow I feel that il IL hadn't
been for those women. especially
that Duchess you and I would have
made up long ago But with their
eyes on Us, how could We. aIarsery,
DO you think my ears are so aw-
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13
SUSIE IN THE CITY

from her flags when she hung them
periodically in the window and
hoist it to the window above. she
realized that her act was a trine
unconventional. but her vines were
perfectly conventional vines and
needed support just as any vines
need it
Susie first picked a few fresh mas
turtiums from her tiny garden, to-
gether with a spray Of rose ger
anium- Then she scrubbed a few
lines on a bit Of paper and tied the
note and flowers to the end of her
flagpole. When she heard the foot
steps near the window above she
put her pole outside and hoisted it,
after having tied a ball of Irvine 10
the note.
There was but a moments inter-
val between the hosting and a tug
at the pole which proclaimed it's
safe ascent and the reading OF the
request.
Susie called up a soft Thank
you, very much" when she knew
the string had been tied and the
ball came tumbling down TO her.
She knew no more about the per-
son above her than she did before.
II was a man, however, and that
man was much amused at the re-
quest to tie the string for the tiny
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

getting you to do this before" Mrs.
Smith said cheerfully. You have
seemed so lonely down there. OH.
would you awfully mind holding my
next skein OF yarn? I can use the
back of a chair, but I'm sure you
would be lots more intelligent
about keeping out the knots"
Thank you" murmured Greg
DRY, and as he looked up at Mar
gery's face he caught just the sus-
picion OF a twinkle in her soft
brown eyes
Perhaps IL took as much courage
for Gregory TO do what he next did
as anything he had ever done be-
fore in his life-for il does take
more courage than some men pos
sess 20 say the first words TO the
girls they love when some quarrel.
groundless. or otherwise, has broken
the cord OF their friendship. AT
any rate. when he had finished
holding MIS-. Smiths yarn, he de-
liberately took a skein Of the same
sort Of gray yarn from Margery' s
work bag. and there, before all the
bOarders. said 10 Margery, Now.
let me hold this for you. / am bet
ter than a chair: Mrs. Smith win
vouch for that
The rest was easy enough Mar
gerry wound the yarn very prettiIy.
and thanked Gregory with all her
old winsomeness when il was done.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

When Susie returned. Drowned
and feeling greatly benedte1 by her
holidays. her first glance upon
rounding the corner of her street
was for her gardens fate. She
knew from reports that scarcely a
drop of rain had fallen in the
neighborhoOd. When she saw her
precious beans. peas and flowers
green and blooming. she was cur
iously puzzled. but delighted in ~
small degree.
1t 50 happened THAI McGill again
stood at the window when Susie
came homeward and his scotch
heart rejoiced. He knew that by
fair means or foul he was going TO
become more than merely acquaint-
ed with that small neighbor of his.
1t was toward evening when he
heard a soft knock at his door He
opened IL and there stood susie her
self with a dainty and very tiny
basket of fresh pulled peas and
beans and a few cOlorful flowers
on the top.
She blushed beautifully when she
saw that her upstairs Leighbor was
a man and she felt a quick pity
when she saw that he had lost one
leg. The reason for the muffled
footsteps came wildly into her con-
scious ness. He had returned from
the war with crutches and was only
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

one summers afternoon "a woman
sat at q country crossroads. She
had been there about fifteen min
utes Had she been a man there
IS no tcUns what she would have
said. but beinS a woman, and a
widow at that, she had to be con-
tent with saying:
"Drat such a neishbOrhood 20
goshen"
Half a mile away on the lowland
was a farmers wife chasing a goose,
while on the left hand. looking over
the roadside fence with one eye half
closed. was an old lame horse. The
farmers wife and the goose were
TOO far away. But the widow was
shaking her face at the horse and
getting ready 70 tell him what she
thought Of a crossroads without a
guide post when a man driving a
, horse and buggy appeared half a
mile down the Hillsdale road.
IL was HeZeikak. widower, and he
was in no hurry TO get married
again. Neither was his aged
equine in a hurry. To prove that
ne wasn't. he stopped every two OF
three minutes 10 see If he could
reach q horsefiy. These sudden
stoppings threatened 20 send the
driver over the dashboard. but they
did not break the tune he was
whistling.
Nearer and nearer 20 the cross
roads came Hezeikak with his an
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

returned from her Office and each
morning when the early sun awoke
her she pondered on a way to get
her strings further up on the out
side OF the house.
Susie did not know who lived in
the studio above. She often heard
footsteps and fancied some writer
was there. The footsteps had at first
puzzled Susie because Of their queer
munled sound. which. however. had
gradually become more decisive.
Had she known who was up there
she could easily have gone up with
her string and tied ii TO the husty
nails which she had seen from her
own window. But susie neither
knew nor wanted 10 know anyone
in the same building as herself. She
feared for her quiet, restful evening
should she become acquainted with
near neighbors.
However. she did want her string
wound over those rusty nails in the
window ledge above and as her
vines began TO plead desperately
for support Susie determined to find
a way OF giving il TO them.
II was on one Sunday morning
after she had thoroughly read the
papers and had her morning cup
OF tea that she decided to tie a
string TO the pole she had taken
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

Hilda felt reckless. The witchery
of the June ui-ht was IA her veins.
and youth called 10 bier. Before they
had entered the big central hall 90
sether she had promised Ralph be
should not go west alone.
IT don't know just how dad 0ill
take This She said, a bit Wiatfuly.
Nor tho mater" added Ralph
From habit they went into trs
little room used as college posto
flee There was letter in cacn
OF their boxes Hilda finished hers
FIRST
"Oh Ralph, dads married MIS-.
Everdou," she cried Pm so glad
We decided that we had right ID
our own happiness
Ralph's brown eyes tVinkled with
mischief ass he held .It the letter
in his hand.
THE matters name is Airs. Ever
don She dropped the klneslake
hen she went into business for
herself and took her maiden name.
BY 5ove. isn't il runnyG
Hilda bit her lips 10 hide "a smile.
81 thinA. she said. wed better
telegraph them our blessings.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13
COED COURTSHIP

walks by herself, exploring strange
roads and clambering over the rocks
toward the river. A storm had
been brewing and she had been try
ing to make the college grounds be-
fore il broke. But in her hurry, she
stumbled on the rocks, lost her
footing and fell The pain i'm the
shoulder and foot was excruciating.
She tried to rise but could not, and
Suddenly there came a drenchins
downpour of rain, with a crash of
thunder. a swift equinoctial storm
broke over the land.
She wore a short military cape,
and threw this around her like a
ponchO, trying TO shelter herself
from the dOwnpOur. She had never
been out in a heavy thunderstorm
before and a panic swept over her
as though she had been on her first
battle field. All ut once she felt
herself lifted bodily in strong arms
and carried on a run to the shelter
of an old deserted shack used by
workmen who had been blasting.
1t was dark inside the hut. so
dark that she could hardly discern
the face Of her rescUer. The ter
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13
By c. B. Leu'is

truth. It is dangerous for a widow
to live alone in this town.
should have told you SO the day We
first met, but you had bought the
place and il was no use TO say any
thins 70 skeer YOU. And SO bein
we were goin' 10 live side by side
figured that 1 could take care of
Us both ! have been doing that
right along, but last night they cot
the better OF me"
Mr.. Williams" said the widow i'm
anxious tones, do you mean TO tell
me that l am in danger of robbers
and burglars"
Not with me around" he replied
unless l sleep sounder than YOU
do shall be up and down a dozen
times through the night. and the
next fellow that appears Will find
me and my gun handy. If YOU have
reason to believe that some unhung
villain is prOwling around don't take
the chances Of going 10 a door or
a window You can be sure that
Hezeikak Williams is on deck look
iH,, out for the unprotected"
The widow Blackwell bought fifty
chickens and half of them were
stolen within a month. She bought
a pig and but for its own sharp
squeals it would have been lifted
from the pen and carried off. on
several nights after midnight her
COW was MIXED dry by the marau-
der. Someone stole her washtub
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

garden 10 climb on and surreptiti-
ously watched the white hand be
low tying cross bars Of cord 10 the
two uprights he had made for her.
The hands looked all too white and
frail for a girl who was spending
the hot weather in the city.
Capt. McGill of the Gordon high
landers, returned TO his adopted
home. in America, from the bat
tlefeld, felt that the pOsseSsor of
those hands should be at the sea-
side In a soft satin frock with a
huge sunshade.
Had he seen more than the hands
he would have been even more
firmly convinced. But Susie's frock
was Of more serviceable gingham,
destined 10 defy constant scrub
bings at the steam laundry. Capt.
McGill missed much in seeing only
Susie's hands for she was decided
~ fair TO look upon and more than
a snare for the big Scotchman's
heart. His writings for the mag
azines and newspapers would either
have Jagged hopelessly or spurted
ahead with new inspiration accord
ing 10 the way of a battle-scarred
hero's brain Tiff he had but seen
Susie of the window-boX garden.
He treasured the flowers on his
writing table and hoped one day
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

It seemed at. that instant as
though the whole world turned
black TO Hilda. she looked at the
oil paintings on the wall. the por-
trait Of her own dear mother who
had died nine years before.
You mean Mrs. Everdon. dad. -
she asked. a little break in her tone
in spite OF herself.
II mean Paula Everdon," he re
sponded, quietly.
You know I wouldn't mind she
flashed back quickly, IF she hadn't
known mother when they were
girls"
you feel differently as time
passes by. Hilda, 1 hope that you
will be very happy i'm your own
new life. We won't be married be-
fore next June in any event"
When she had been at Sycamore
just two weeks, far too busy to
dwell upon her own personal trou-
bles, she was one day on a tall
mountain spur overlooking the Hud-
son for miles. The profile of Storm
King showed far 10 the south and
TO the east rose the undulating
highlands. She liked TO take Ions
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

Cient rig as the widow watched him,
and while he was twenty rods away
she muttered.
He looks like q half fool, but
maybe he knows enough TO an
swer plain question
whoa" exclaimed Hezeikak, as
he came opposite, Are you wait
ing here for anybody"
Il should think I was.'' snapped
the widow. Il have been waitins
about two hours for some one 70
come along and tell me in the name
Of old Aunt Hammer why there isn't
a guide post at these crossroads"
Madam, my name is Hezeikak
Williams" said the man as he APP
preached her horse and brought his
hand down upon his neck with a
vigorous swat and killed a horse fly
And mine is Sarah Blackwell
but what has that got to do wiz
it?"
We'll, madam, am a widower
you see"
And I am a widow, but that
isn't answering my question as tc
why there isn't a guide post here
10 direct strangers. Ii seems TO be
the most shiftless county in the
state"
The county is all right" he
smiled. 7 have been living here
more than twenty years. and l vow
have nailed a new guide post
up here every year"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

husband in the house and he is
away"
But there are other men," sug-
gested Mrs. Van der Hayden.
Not Mr.. Fuller" gasped Marsery.
Please don't let's ask him." She
had seen at least eight pairs OF
eyes cast in the direction of the
little wooden bench and its solitary
occupant. II was too late and use
less 10 protest for the portly Mrs.
Van der Hayden had risen and
reckoning with her large angular
hand. she called: Young man. Mr..
Fuller, will you step this way" and
then. telling that her word was law
she sank down into her chair again
rs, 70, So" she counted on.
Gregory rose and came UP the
steps 10 the porch and as the p
needles ceased 10 click and half as
many pairs OF feminine eyes were
leveled upon him. ne felt the color
rise in his cheeks and under his col
lar.
You are an average sized youne
man. aren't you?" queried the
duchess. as if she were asking a
new gardener whether he could Gu,
the grass
well. then viii YOU let these
ladies' try their sweaters on you?"
Then the hitting process besan and
the only consolation that came O.
Gregory was the knowledge thai
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

The principal reason why the
family decided that Hilda should
20 20 Sycamore college was because
81 was coed Aunt Jean held that
in a strictly female seminary a girls
mind was apt 90 be so filled with
her studies and feminine pursuits.
that she was united for her life
role Of wifchood. The doctor took
an entirely different view Of the
situation. as he told Hilda the night
before she left.
Dear girl, you've lead a lonely,
moiotonous sort or life at this old
place with just Jean and myself.
You need companionship of boys
and girls your own age. Long ago
your mother. bless her, was a stu
dent at Sycamore You are To have
the same room she had, and her
seat i'm the dining hall Have a
good time and don't have too many
love affairs By the way he stop
ped marking stars on the blue desk
blotter and met her glance with a
buoyant CLEAN Of recklossness in
his own ewes. you may find a step
mother here when YOU come back,
one whom I know YOU will love"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13

His name was Ralph, she found
out from some OF the other boys
Ralph Kingslake. After she grew
10 know him better he told her
something of his own life. Hilda
had been fearfully curious over the
visits of a very handsome woman
in black who came and left the col
lege grounds in a large touring car
every Sunday.
"Oh, that's the mater" Ralph
told her. she's fearfuIly good TO
me. She's just my step-mOther but
we've been regular pals ever since
my father died She's put me
through college. and we rather
keep an eye ON each other. You
see. by the terms of my fathers
will. il she marries before I'm %,
she loses all but her dover right in
the estate. That would give me
the house in New York and a fine
old stock farm up in Sullivan coun-
", besides a little place at Newport
But then again, If / marry before
I've established myself under 25,
I'll lose a whole lot and she wins. -
Hilda looked al him appreciative-