davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

that no waist ought to cling? Gee, it's
lonely
1t was on a night like this | discovered
the Liberty Dansante Gardens. l was
walking up Pennsylvania Avenue because |
couldn't stand the sight of my own wall
paper any longer and seen the sign, Glib
erty Dansante Gardens, Refined, Americas
Most Beautiful Dance Gardens, Gents rs
cents; Ladies' 25 cents.
Here goes another quarter" thought l.
and in walks. 1t was a swell place Open
air, the stars all twnkling overhead and
a floor that made your feet itch They
played lights on you while you danced |
gave a look at my old blue serge, neat but
not gaudy, winter before last and there
1T was all lighted up beautiful lavender
then they switched it to pink, and later
green.
My, it was grand. The floor, it was made
of real glass, heavy so it wouldn't break
and as smooth ice. There being no
roof, the chandelier was you might say, up
side down The light came shining up
from under the floor in squares of yellow
color-indirect lighting was the name of
it, believe
Well, | paid the lady at the door my
quarter and in | walks as bold as brass
but feeling a trembIe inside | hadn't
spoke to a soul, except them seen at the
office and my landlady, who didn't have any
soul, from the time | landed in Washing
ton to date.
Let me take your hat, lady; no hats al
lowed inside" said an old man who looked
just like his dog. They was minding the
hat rack. | parted with my hat. l could
hear the jazz music, katie, Katie, You're
the only good looking girl that | adore
When the moon shines over the COW she'd
III be waiting for you at the kitchen door"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
| Thought He Might Be Shy .

twenty five minute with the best of them
You got it? I'm stenog. Not that that's
anything against me-
War work in Washington is what | was
doing, and $4,000 other stenogs-all
female. But what with those yeoman- cites
and marine cites, us poor shorthand artists
didn't have show. I'm frank to say we
didn't have ghost of a chance.
Strange, amt it, how a man loves uni
form. Those little dark blue box-plaited
Jackets with the nautical trimmings and
those tan cockled overseas hats of the girls
in the service just walked away with it,
When | was in the train on my way to
Washington this summer | saw sign in
one of the stations. 1t was a message from
the Women's and Young Women's Christian
Association. And it said
"Do not trust attentions on the trains or
elsewhere from men or women
Report annoying attentions to conductor
or policeman
"Do not accept offers of work either by
a person advertisement without informa-
ton"
"When in doubt seek the matron at the
station
Nobody gave me any attentions on the
train or elsewhere, nobody annoyed me, no.
body offered me anything-not even five
cent bar of milk chocolate | travelled
aone-all alone
often thought of them lines by that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

glass Of sarsaparila, and as | looked
around can say | was not much interested
IN the people. They seemed to feel the
same way about me. The women there all
had 1t on me for LONELINESS, but thew
was ali Cabling away a mile minute
and [ wasn't in it. Nobody once looked
ia me.
Next day at the Office the girl what men
toned the place to me originally said she
heard the neighborhood had voted it a pub
lie nuisance, and did I have a good time?
IF that was life" says 7, give me
death"
After that kept strictly to myself. Say,
did you ever live in hall BEDROOM the
size of double bed. with double bed in
1t? Did you ever come home from work to
fly screen that looks out on brick WALL
when the heat is something fierce and you
haven't got enough pep to clean your own
shoes. and your flesh coored chiffon has
turned to a rag and chngs to you in way
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
ldies Quarter; Gents, IS Cents Dancing Compulsory

poet Whitman. | don't remember them
exactly, but the general idea is, stranger,
If in passing l should wish to speak with
you, why shouldn't | do it? Huh? How
ever, never acted upon it being of re-
tlrlng disposition and we'll brought up.
One outing did treat myself to. A girl
IN the office said that if I wanted to see
lite should go to the Silver Sea Horse the
Washington Square of Washington, D. C.
SO took a street car and had the breath
crushed right out of me- it was that
crowded. After riding around about an
hour IN a meanderng, aimless sort of way
the streetcars in Washington don't go
straight you know got off
The first thing I noticed was log fire
burning, though it was fine summer night
and thin lady with an intellectual nose
VINO Kept murmuring $50 much atmos-
phere" 1t was so much that | nearly
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

windows, on hook at the end of the
sill, hung dustpan and a whiskbroom.
"To brush up broken glass; was my instant
deduction.
Between the two front windows stood a
small tablc-stand, ON top of which lay
field glass, Of the latest and most en-
pensive type. | started to pick it up when
| heard the woman coming down stairs.
AS she entered the room | felt again the
warmth Of her smile and her frendliness
She handed me my ball at once.
"They always lie right in the net" she
said, speaking a child in her lack of ex-
planatory phrases. at saves hunting
around the room"
'You don't mean,' l stammered, that
you have these nets in every room?'
"Oh, yes,' she replied brightly, at saves
time in looking after the balls. and can
go on with my work without being hit It's
quite happy idea
She stood looking at the nets as little
girl might look at a doll she had dressed
I thought her handsome, and almost pathet-
ic to be so large of stature, and vet so
simple and childish about her nets.
"But do many balls come in 90 asked
not knowing what to say.
Again she laughed happily.
"Come and see," she commanded. and
passed through door into a second apart
ment in the old farmhouse
followed in spell, fascinated by her
sweet personality and the curious character
of the adventure.
The inner room proved to be little more
than copy of the "parlor"-nets, dust
pan and field glasses. But in addition the
centre of the held an old billiard
table, its top literally covered with bat
tered golf balls.
"These are the unclaimed balls" the
child-woman explained simply "They are
marked and dated; some of them are
pretty old"
She ran her fingers gently over them as
if she were fond of the dirty, SCARED old
relics.
"You don't mean to say l gasped, chat
all these balls'-thcre must have been
1evcn or eight hundred of them-"were
driven in at your windows by players who
didn't aim straght?'
NO." she replied. again enchanting me
with her odd happy laugh. 81 found
good many in the rough, at night, you
know, in moonlight, or wit: M little eve
ball"
| glanced at her sharply Che did not
see my apprehension, for she was changing
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
up later by skipping hole and cutting
across the rough

across the rough.
There was time to lose.
"That a good ball" | hastily con-
fded to my caddie "I'm going over to the
house to get it," and before his astonish-
ment permitted him to reply, I had gone
| approached the white painted solid
old front door, and knocked loudly
In moment | heard footsteps and re-
allied that some one was pecring at me
through the curtained glass panel beside
the door Straightway the key turned and
tall, slender woman stood before me.
had expected black looks and uncivi
greetings but TO my amazement pleasant
Good morning" met my ears, while a cor
dial, engaging smile shone at me from a
plain but attractive face, partly obscured
by huge pair of bone trimmed spectacles
Good morning" | stammered, in RETURN
81 am so sorry to intrudc, but | sliced my
ball, and it entered your window. l
thought---n
ooh, come right IN the pleasant voice
interrupted. 81 have it for you Just up
stairs"
stood hesitating on the doorstep, my
mind acting rapidly. Was this unforeseen
cordiality guise to lure me into danger?
Could this direct, plain-looking woman be
mentally deranged? | saw no maniac CLEAN
in her dark blue eyes. Should I, a reporter
seasoned to strange adventures, hesitate
at seemingly mild? l went in She
closed and locked the door behind me-
"If you will go into the parlor," she
said 81 will get the ball"
AS | turned the woman ran quickly up
the little, narrow staircase and hurried
through the upper hall. heard a door
slam behind her.
The room my left, designated as "par-
lor," was bright yellow in cleaning sun
shine The shades drawn to the top
of the windows leaving only some rather
fimsy old lace curtains to screen the apart
mcnt. There practically no furniture in
the room save, perhaps couple Of chairs
For a moment ! gazcd bcwldered, for
curious sight met my eyes. There were
three windows in the room, two in front
and one at the SIDE the side window facing
the west. And in front Of each window
suspended from two hooks set into the
ceiling, loosely hung and fastened to rings
in the moor, so that II sort H pocket
formed below, was Il strip OF white cotton
heavy mcshed net about three feet wide.
| stared at the palpoble proof that Edith's
tale was true after all.
Who, indeed, but a crazed being would
80 protect her home from possible en-
cronchmcnt Of an occasional straying ball?
Quickly / took in other details in the
room. Az the side of of the front
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

The proper way to sing this is to stutter
it, and that's the way they played it.
In | went. I stood around awhile looking
graceful, but nobody asked ME to dance.
Then | went and joined a crowd of girls,
chatting politely and making fun was
not noticing the music. Now, they was
playing, 80 boy, 0 joy, where do we go
from here
A crowd Of felers was standing on the
other side of the room, and one of them
had his back turned on the others Not
that l thought l was particularly interest
ing to him. but he seemed to be coming
in my direction.
He looked real young and | thought
that he might be shy, so 1 up to him and
says inquiring like, "Anybody can talk to
anybody in here, can't they"
He turns and gives me one look "The
men," says he, real pointed, can talk to
such girls they please
The music played on, and watched the
others dance, not reishing it particular.
The bouncer kept walking around in
circle in the middle of the floor. He was
not young as he once was, but still
handsome figure of a man, and had on a
white duck suit
Two girls that had been standing aside
of me all evening took me by the arm.
Come on, they said, with frmness, I'VE
are going to speak to HIM" They dragged
me up to the man in the middle of the
floor and says the girl on the left: eve
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

she stood mot.onleas, her hands lightly
clasped behind her back, her face turned a
little away from me- the expression quite
calm. She was looking at orc of the
brackets the wall She seemed detached:
felt that she had forgotten NE entirely.
Turning | stepped forward to lift one of
the cups and read the inscription, but the
woman instantly laid her hand on my arm.
NO she said. do not read These are
my secrets. You are the only person have
brought into this room They are my
treasures. won years ago.
All these? ?" l CALCULATED with SWEEP OF
my arm.
Yes all these" she smiled happily; then.
turning, "let Us go down"
Meekly followed her, at a loss for some-
thing to say. Mere congratulation or other
comment seemed fatuous and utterly out of
place
At the foot Of the stairs the woman
stopped and unlocked the front door.
I'm glad You came IN" she said era
ciously, and then your friend will be
looking for you
managed to murmur my adieus and
added thanks for the recovery of my ball
before felt myself outside the farmhouse
A vision of a tail, smiling woman with
dark hair smoothly brushed above pair
OF enormous spectacles imprinted itself on
my memory
The sound Of happy. childlike laughter
rang in my ears
Edith was waiting on the club niaxz>
Where on earth have you peen?" she
called Il thought the marsh had swallowed
YOU"
No; was looking for lost ball. 7
answered. 1T took some time to find it
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

Clearly the house had been built years ago
and the course had been laid out around
it.
"Who lives in the little old farmhouse ?"
l asked Edith, who was looking over her
clubs
"No one knows exactly They say a
crazy woman lives there She has been
seen at the windows but comes out onlv
at night
Edith glanced down at the house indf-
ferently. at is an eyesore, isn't it? You
the club wanted to buy all the land
below the hill as far as those woods" She
pointed toward some clumps of trees far
west of the links. "But the man who owned
the property wouldn't sell ALL Said he
wanted to reserve it-just why neither he
nor any else knew. And he didn't
choose to sell or move the farmhouse
Downright pgheadedness, it seems to me-"
"Has been heard of, in farmers" 7 OBJ
served, shortly.
I looked again at the farmhouse
"The windows are open, Edith; there
must be some one there. 1t wouldn't be
difficult matter to slice ones ball, and
hit wlndowpane
Edith smiled. 1t was clear that she was
not interested, but to the bit of New
England village conjecture offered far
greater thrills than my approaching game
of golf
We started. Edith made pretty drive,
straight, elliptica, and l managed to de-
liver passable ball for my first venture
Our score for the first hole was six and
nine, Edith leading.
Edith traced her ball with unerring Wis
ion. lost sight of mine after the stroke.
without my caddie | should have been
hopeless.
At the third hole ! sliced and landed my
ball just behind bunker in a soft yellow
trap Of sand. My caddie, already scornful
handed over my mashie with an air that
plainly said, Get it out old girl, if you can"
grasped my club with assurance. I'm
wavering, ! addressed the bali. Ny stroke
was firm, my lie good But somehow
though the ball lifted, it carried precisely
wrong. AS If by dcvilsh intent that lit
tie round white piece OF gutta percha
sailed straight for tho farmhouse, and dis
appeared in n window on the second floor
looked at my cadde He looked Mt me,
and | saw that he was scared I knew he
expected that mysterious crazy female who
lurkcd in the house yondcr to dash out and
pouncc upon US then and there. As for
me, gloated over the accident which be-
came at once an opportunity. just as my
ball smiled into the farmhouse window,
clever idea sailed into my head
Edith Was disappearing over the hill,
well on to the fourth green. l could catch
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

come up to complain. All evening here and
not a dance taken"
There. there" said the man sooth.
ingly. "ll fix you in a minute Any psrs
ticular preference, ladies'"
we like Sailors said the girl on my
right.
Over he walks to where the stays are
standing and collaiing a young Teller in q
sailor suit he brings him over to me. 7
was introduced quite regular The Mans
slipped me, but he ranked a first class
yeoman, and he certainly was first class
And dance, 0 boy.
OFF went, forgetting all ABOUT the other
girls-we danced one step, fox ;rot and
a waltz. The other girls was introduced
respectively to a tail Swede and an officer
of some sort. They seemed to be enjoying
life. too
THAT said he in a grim tone. rs the
proprietor. He done this to me once be-
fore
q must be gong" said the first class
yeoman
Not at all" said / swcetly
But he went and so did l. He did not
me home as we lived In opposite di-
rectons, and as went my way could see
the girls in the War Risk Office working
full blast. 1t seemed like tomorrow morn
ing already to me. IS I took out my hair
pins that night in my little two By four
somehow, it seemed less lonely than be
fore, because now | knew | could always
find company for the price Of quarter.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09


At this point in my questionings he
woman herself came back.
I'm sorry to have had to leave YOU" She
apologized "but that man fairly irritates
me. He will not keep his eye on the ball.
Many of the players make the same STUPID
mistakes over and over. It is all can do
not to shout sometimes. On the other
hand she added, her brow pickering. its
hard to keep still when they play we'll and
| want to applaud
You must know something about the
game, | put in, rather lamely
She looked steadily at me for a moment.
as if saying to herself, How much shall
let her know" then she nodded Eyes.
used to play-years ago
For another moment she was silent and
waited, hoping for a revelation of some
sort.
Would you like to see my cups? ," the
question burst from her suddenly as if
inner scrupes were put down for time.
ooh, yes" replied eagerly a should,
indeed"
Come, them she commanded, with a
the stairs
| noticed that even the small window at
the head of the staircase was provided with
a net and the accompanying brush and pan
My companion entered a small room over
the kitchen. followed closely, fearing lest
she might change her mind and shut me
out.
With my first glimpse into the chamber
| stared in astonishment
The room was full of color of warm.
rich brown and yellow tones From the
soft, brown rug on the floor to the top Of
the old worn rafters the little kitchen
chamber glowed mellow in russell and gold
The beams and boards of the slanting cell
ing had been rubbed smooth and vanished
Such polishing must have been the work of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

wears. so carefully and exquisitelv had It
been done
Here and there. IN corners, between
rafters and over tiny windows there hung
maybe dozen quantity carved brackets
and shelves And on those shelves and
brackets. silently beautiful, strangely elo-
quent, there rested groups of graceful,
glisteniag cups; cups of silver and cold,
and bronze all sizes. all shapes, some sim
ply some deliberately engraved
glanced at the woman beside nc; had
she anything to say, wondered
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

No; until the end of the summer did
learn who that strange woman was-Clara
Duffy woman champion in 1902. Engaged
to be married, she appeared early one morn.
ing on the links With her fiance In soma
manner he got in the way of her drive.
The ball struck squarely between his ewes.
He dropped instantly, dead at the hand al
the woman who loved. him.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

fortunates had grown to be familiar with
in the little town where | was born
Each country village has its quota Of
these futile ones suggesting the sins and
deficiencies of its stronger members. So
ciety has not found the cure for such mis-
takes.
But here was strong. fine looking
woman vigorous, alert, and yet undoubt-
eddy unbalanced and obsessed, being
unique separate, in the midst of life en-
gagged IN one OF its most normal pastimes,
the sane and unimaginative game of golf.
How could She be explained | wondered?
hat had she, so lightly amused. so feebv
occupied with her nets, and dustpans-
what had she to do with the healthy de-
voices of golf?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

4 ITER d good deal of hesitation
~ wrote to the Thomases at their
"A summer home on the cape, ac-
cepting their oft repeated sug
geston that I go down for some golf
The chief cause of my reluctance
lay in the fact that felt way off my game,
and since everybody played at Harrisport,
dreaded being a duffer. A few try-outs
at Wykagyl convinced me that l should be
disgrace. kditn's boy Arthur, lad about
ten, was said TO he golf fiend, with score
unbelievable. and I'd heard that even the
swo-year-olds at Harrisport excelled at
putting, while adoring nursemaids who had
wheeled the prodlgies up to the club in per-
ambulators surrounded the green as "gal-
iery, and had to be restrained from vio-
ience by the caddie master when arguments
as to the proves Of their respective
charges brought them Lear to blows
Nevertheless, the heat of the city and
several nsstent notes from Edith pre-
vailed over my modesty and the first of
august found me en- route for the cape.
ne day Of my arrival was comfortably
Tree from any reference 20 exercise on the
NIX mat night at dinner, however,
Ldith preached the subject without prelim-
laaries.
We must have some golf tomorrow,
Margaret. The weather is capital now,
e0oi-not too windy. Splendid as the
course Is, we can't play when the wind is
strong
Edith" replied in tone of rcmon-
s.ance and true humility, 81 cannot play
But you brought your clubs, my dear"
responded my hostess
did bring my clubs" asscnted, "but
.'s nearer get 70 the thought of playing,
az more tremblc in despair at my lack
Of form"
Edith laughed.
"eh 20 up carly before any one else
s..'Ses' III wager that a few strokes will
Ssng back your old form, and in an hour
''o7f be an enthusiast"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

s,"p'iy It, eight the next morning we
s the clubhouse steps, stopping for
minutes TO behold the enchanting
Nsns from the piazza.
u. As clubhouse tipped the hill. Toward
- ~ "sss lay the course, eighteen boles
,.,ss ss'"g over low rolling meadows ard
ua''a' marshes. the lowlands thread
f,,,,. - s"''o" Sait water inets running in
..n.. 'ne sound. 1t was 20. y "snortvv
ill., me gfsAaA and bunkers lay bril-.
=. -, ,, and glossy in morning sunshine snd
- - n'tie creeks gllstened llke ooIdsa x~is
~ ''fdsred with stia green ssdye
f,.s ennis courts lay just below the
hi4dis 80 ana beyond them, about in the
"a ga ''s course, should ray, stood
''sn'onsd rambling farmhouse.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

My dazed brain refused to act | had
never encountered being so extraordi-
nary. Vanly | searched the past for recol-
lections of more or less demented humans
who had crossed my path to find one SIM
liar in any respect to this Incompetence
sible maniac
There was "Crazy Jane a phantom of
my childhood. | could see her plainly.
pacing the country lane before her little
old cottage, head shaved close under her
faded sunbonnet, her tall, thin figure
clothed in the straigh full skirt and tight
waist of the time, 1896, it might have been
| was youngster and Crazy Jane was an
old woman then. She was harmless, but
we children made a great boyle of the old
spinster, and used to run and hide when
we saw her come down the lane.
Then there was Eddie Carss. lurching
forward as he trudged to the village,
clumsy lout who grinned always With
him often passed Will Donnett, his suilen.
pouting cousin, who, my sister used to de-
clare, "inherited' his idiocy from Eddie.
Poor, weak Lena Plzer. with fumbing
fingers and meaningless chatter, shambled
before me IN the pitiful procession OF I'M
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

suit at the Liberty Dansante Gardens-ad-
mittance, ladies one quarter, gents rs cents
Washington is a lonely town when you're
not in the diplomatic set and hail from
home town like Hoboken or some small
burg where there is no population to
speak of.
But thanks to the fine business tact of
the bounccr. who was also the introducer
at the Gardens dance hail. danced my
feet off every night until the flu got Wash
ngton. Then the capital became san-