davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03
By Abner Anthony

He has pretended to care such [ lot It's mothers ring!"
 T wonder if would have a chance to break in on these other fesiowsi Patty has always wanted a sister and to have. you" He broke of abruptly as he slipped the sapphire coat on Betty's slender body, brave in 6ouncss and tulle and silver lace Re tpsceea the wide fox collar gently, What < pretty girl shs was! How adoFGbiel Betty saw all that he was thinking ia his brown eyes, suddenly serious.
 Have any sort of chancsf' hs repeated szs@
 A little ghost Of laughter criukfed up the corners. of Betty's eyes that were as blue as corn flowers fn the sun. T shouldn't wonder
 As they went out of the theater, Dad ambIed on in, front while Betty laid her hand lightly, possessiTely, on ths arm of the young fellow in high boots. much as queen might hare sought to honor q great minister of state.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03
Fate w orks Strangely

Why" she beamed, Patty Williams. of Atlanta? She's my best friend"
 "I'm Bate, her brother. you know" !" grinned the huge person in English tweeds and high boots.
 'The ideal" gssped Betty, extending her hand, This is my father, Colonel Branner, MT. Williams. It's Bate, you know, Dads Bate. who has run away from home every time I went to visit Patty. Isn't it the tiniest bit Of a world after all?" she platudinized.
 "surest thing you know" pleasantly agreed the young fellow. T recognfz- ed that vanity case. Mother bought two of them, one for you and one for Patty the last time she was in Paris, the year the war began You and Pat ty are just alike, always powdering your little noses"
 Stop teasing!" commanded Betty. Patty says you're awful"
 She would have right to say that if she saw me here tonight in this rid ing suit, along besides your frills and
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

who sat on her left. He was staring at her, frankly rude She could tell by just glancing out of the corner of her left eye She discerned with a per ceptfble start that the person wore high boots. They were good looking,
 The gorgeous costumes and the bi- Esrre, unusual combination of colors in the scenery, all done masterfully by Bakst, brought glow of approval from Betty. "t's going to be great, Dad, after all. We'll get ten dollars worth without Nijinsky. Wait, you'll sect" she cenforted.
 Its a lot of foolishness," the per son in boots heard the disgruntled old man declare
 T beg your pardon" said a rich southern voice right above Betty's left ear, but do you know Patty Will hams?'
 The startled girl turned slowly and looked at her next-door neighbor for the first time. A little welcoming smile lighted her deep blue eyes,
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

angfaar niaute ee I Ssid to myself, T bet Laeinda is lonely, tpe. ri jast so and sse if ws won't beth 6s happier tor keeping each other eosnpaayl Let sae get rid Of thts coat. and I'll shsw you what I've sot Ia the basket. when. you go visiting unexpectedly, you know, you must take along something lest you ind your hostess unpfepared. At ieest that's the way ws always did out where 1 lived bstora I Enerxted Fred" Talking thus sAe' auag azsds her coat and cap and proceeded to ur4 pack the basket. LneinAa looked on in amazement, tinctured with sur prise, as she set out upon ths table 8 cold roast chicken; salad, oranges. and a little pot of baked beans. "There!" she said, T guess that's all. How are you, Lucinda I may stay, mRyn't Tg''
 Oh, you blessed creature?" said Isu- einda. If could only make you feel how welcome you are" Then she went on to tel Helen Pel1 about the little spread she had made fer Matil- da and how Matflaa could not come because she had already invited com pany and how disappointed and lonely she had felt at the prospect of sitting down to eat alone
 After supper they washed the dishes together and then they sat down, to
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

been some cannibals down there. Go on now, tell me about that ring! I've simply got to know"
 "0h, pshaw,g sighed Betty, vastly pleased, "you should worry about me !"
 q am afraid that am going to have to-. said the young rnae ein determined fashion. q always knew that would run some day too fast and too far. It isn't as If I were just meeting you! Patty and I have talked about you such lot and I've read some of your clever letters until it seems that we are old friends. Now, tell me about the naan!"
 Betty looked once more out of the corner of her left eye. He had such a nice profile. She leaned confidently near The tui1e scarf about her young, white shoulders blew against him. q wore this ring tonight because I thought the boys were all stingy not to ask me 10 come just because the seats were five dollars. I hope that Albert Rae would see it and worry.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

~ HE settled herself snugly in the
 orchestra seat of the theater
 where the Russian Ballet was to dance. With her fathers help. she slipped of her sapphire blue evening coat, then arranged and rearranged the folds of white tulle that billowed around her firm white shoulders. She preened herself like young peacock before she looked over her program.
 "Why. Dad, Nijinsky isn't going to dancei I think that's a shame. I wanted to see him more than anybody slse-" She dropped her program and began looking eagerly over the house Friendly faces nodded to her from boxes and neighboring seats. They're mighty late starting," she complained T guess my nose is shiny by this hme".
 She opened the gold vanity case, set with . single sapphire, that dangled from her little finger and took out a hny powder puff. Then she became y8sre for the first time of the person
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03
By Phil Moore

In the twilight of dazzling day shs entered her own house, The dear house. but so empty, So stiff! Her thought had been @I1l telephone to Jasper. I'll tell him I'm at home waiting for him"
 At the living room she stopped. A man stood at the window trying to get the last light oa a picture he held. As she looked he kissed the pfature- her picture! Jasper" she sobbed.
 The picture fell and he held out his arms. q knew you'd come. I've been waiting two days!" he cried. 4 week later Caroline said: "I've thought it all out, Jasper. We needed vacation from each other. If we ever get back into the old ways we'll know what to do. I feel as if I'd stumbled upon great discovery-one that would settle the marriage question for eveTmore. shall keep our traveiing bags ready packed in case of an emergency.
 And she does. But up to the present time they have not been needed.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

tain rose on the scene of fantastic Persian garden. We mustn't talk!" whispered Betty. You think more about it and you'll like it better
 "I'll think more about you and get to liking you too we'll, she heard him say softly, Considering that head light you turn on my dazzled eyes. How about going to supper with me after the shew?"
 Betty would not answer, but from time to time she forgot to follow the graceful leaps and bounds of the lead ing male dancer, while she looked once more out of the corner of her blue eyes at the distracting person in boots on her left.
 If had known you were as nice 2s you are" he began, somewhat un- intelIigently, q wouldn't have ducked when you came visiting, but some of Patty's friends have been the limit. They wanted every fellows scalp fn Atlanta to carry home on their 22- inch belts. Believe me, there have
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

here and get me"
 The paper shook in his hands. "H you go with the CaFtwrights you can stay with the CartwFights. You needn't come back here" said Jasper.
 T must say the same thing about you going to Henry's," she returned,
 And another quarrel began. It last day morning. Caroline left Monday afternoon with the CartwriShts.
 For a week Caroline enjoyed herself greatly. The Cartwfights were good company, and their car behaved su- perbiy. Her grievance against Jasper stimulated her spirits.
 At the end of ten days she began to think that perhaps Jasper was not all to blame. Wherein lay their troubaeg What ailed them that after fifteen years of reasonable happiness they should wreck 1t ali by such outrage ous behavior? Certainly Jasper was not fretted by business for finance; i; They had all the money they needed. Life had always moved smoothly for
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

electricity on a suItry afternoon.
 After dinner he went into the living room to read and she washed the dishes. Then she, too, entered the 1v- ing room and sat down with bit Of embroidery, Nobody came in, the tel ephone bell did not ring, there was no relief from that unbearable silence. Caroline began to make false stitches. She had an idea that Jasper. behind his paper, was not reading.
 Suddenly he spoke over it to her. Well" he said. "I begin my vacation Monday. I'm going to spend it with Henry. So you may as we'll give up all idea of that New England tour"
 Caroline laid down her work "Why should give it up?"
 Because Pm not going"
 That doesn't hinder me, does it?" He studied her. She studied him. Be cause" she went on firmly, I'm go- ing with the Cartwrights on Monday. I telegraphed May today, and she tele- graphed back that they would come
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03
Finding Her Real Friends

Bets, vita ne thought of heri
 "ghe never asked me-" Lalelnda meugned again. "she dossn't think tas attsa cempany for her friends. And once long years ago when we were both girls ct home her father used to cobble my fathers shoes. But. land, ] don't hold that up against heri Ma tilda's just as God made her. I sup pose. Only I shan't care. for that rnassn cake. I know it'd choke me if l tried to swallow morsel." Lucinda composed herself to bear her disap- peintment as bravely as she could
 When she heard someone come at the front door she said to herself that Matildas company was arriving. But when foot steps sounded on the stairs she got up and went to her own door. There stood Mrs. PeIl with basket in her hand. Mrs. Pell was young and lively and pretty, and. for some reason unaccountable to Lucinda, she liked Lucinda She had on white coat and white knit cap, and Lucinda. sur prised and delighted, cried out: My land, you look just like snow bird!"
 Well, guess I anl," Mrs. Pell said. She entered gayly I've come to take tea with you, Lucinda, that is, If you'll let me. Fred is away and am 50 lonesome I couldn't stay home alone
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

fluff. I'm chief mining engineer at Mascot, twenty miles from here. got so tired of sticking round up there that rode down to the city to be en- tertained. I'm glad that I came to this Russian Ballet, but honest ,~if you were not here, I'd be bored to death. This thing takes brains. and l don't want to think when go to theaters. I have to work my little ivory enough at those blooming mines
 Betty giggled. You're slangy, all right. And Harvard man, too! The ideal" Then they laughed, merely be- cause they were both young, good looking and happy.
 She put her left hand on the third finger of which blazed huge solitaire in very conspicuous place as she fingered her blue feather fan.
 Not sold out already, child?" he questioned, sitting up with jerk. What do you mean? Does Patty know?"
 Then the music began and the cur
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

car! We shall start about the sane time you do, and so probably we shall meet somewhere I wish we were ge- ing to be together all the way"
 Caroline read the letter twice. After ward she sat down and pondered over it careully. Then she went upstairs and considered the new clothes she had had made and later sent telegram to May Cartwright.
 Jasper did not come home to lunch, but he arrived for dinner at the usual hour. His wife had put on g blue dress to aid her air of quiet determ- instion. She heard him hanging up his coat in the hall and waited for him to enter the dining room. Once she would have run to kiss hi1n-ah, how long ago it seemedl
 "He1lo!" he said, merely Company here?"
 "Oh, mol" she replied, coldiy.
 They sat down opposite each other and ate in si1ence-a silence as charged with trouble as the air with
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03
By JoelIa Johnson

"That," he said. disgustedly, "1s sDEns newfangled eontraption called 'snore-no-more.' The feifer that sold II to me swore 1t would cure me of snoring in one night. Bat the dsrn thing is fake.'' :
 Maria collapsed into chair aud began to laugh and cry at the same time. You poor dear foolish old Hen- ry," she said, wfping her eyes. After this you may sRore all you like. Est for mercy sake don't ever put t11s thing on again. It's enough to scars 6 body to death. And bsssaes it rna1ea you sound hke-like saxiag wood. and I'd have to get used to il all ossa again.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

had net been withheld fFgm her MA- tiida peaa. widowed and ehiidless, ike LAeia6s, rented the better rooms downstairs. she had more means than Lucinda, far s relative sent her the wharswithsl for many little luxufies dear to an old person's heart. But l1- stead ot being made kindly and char itahie by her superor fortune. Matil- ds was only naughty and self opin- iouated, When there was no better company to be had she made much of Lucinda. but when either Mrs. Chap
 man of Miss Bates was by she ignored Lucinda completely.
 For some days the weather had been bad and Lucinda had seen no one. Matilda had not been upstairs or ad- nattted her when she went down. Ma tilda had for some time been very dis ta1it to Lucinda, as the result of having had too much of better society. But now Lucinda could endure it no long or; she must see Matilda. So she made the little round raisin cake after her choicest recipe and some thimble bis cults and opened one of her three precious jars of blackberriy jam and went down to ask Matilda to tea. And all the time she had been planning for Matilda, Matilda had been making ready for Mrs. Chapman and Miss
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03
By Elsie Endicott

tinued Matilda "They might have asr me word, it seems to me" q
 People are so careless son4eNn4es. n,urmured Helen
 q call it a mean trick" Matijd sniffed. After I'd bought oyster especially fer them and made who1, cabbage UP. into salad. If you hadn' had your supper was going te asi you down to eat. with me-
 "Oh, mercy!' cried Lucinda sayly q couldn't eat another naouthfaI \ save my life. Helen brought 'the incest little roast chicken and Ws atk it all up. But there'd have beer enough for you, Matilda, for I'd asked you up if I had known you were alone @@,f .. d a
 Its too bad" .eonseled Helen There's nothing psts one out. sc al expected company that doesn't masers- alize.'
 Matilda cast a glance at Ldcindas but Lucinda only looked grave and gentle and sympathetic. "r suppose. Matilda said after nort=nt, and she said it very slowly. top-'1 supDess 1t served me right for seeking such folks company when I lad better in the house" Andashe turned and went downstairs to eat her coiIing oyster soup alone
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

TMoTe and will shoot The voice cut the darkness like knife. Even in her extreme fright, Maria noted that the voice sounded hollow and unnat- ural Oh. why didn't Henry walker She wanted to scream Her lips form ed Henry's name, but no sound came. was she dreaming some terrible dream? No. he was backing slowly to- ward the window, step by step. Per haps he was trying to escape. She saw his free hand moving slowly up the edge of the window frame. There came sudden sharp snap. and the room was flooded with dazzling light.
 For 3 moment, the sudden glare blinded her. The shs rseugatsed tke
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

play game of checkers on the quaint board which Lucindas husband had i1iads during the last weary year of his zAvalidisafa. Helen had just let Lu- eitda beat her the second time by walking clear into the king row and scooping np everything as she wont. when there came lttle knock at the door, Lucinda had become so hilari- ous over her luck that she did not hear tie knock So that 1t was Helen who called out, Come ini"
 Matilds entered. She saw Helen and started back.
 ''Oh, you've got company" she ex- claimed @
 "Tes, but come right in, Matilda" I" Lucinda said hospftably. You've met Mrs. PelI? She came over to take tea wash me. We've just cleared away and ser down to cur checkers. Your com psny amt gone yet, have they? It's real early"
 @They never came Matilda replica sourly, "and they didn't send word or anything. don't know what to make of it.,
 Maybe it was the weather" sug- gested Helen cheerfu1ly. Mrs. Chap mans so apt to be rheumatic when it's damp"
 T waited supper for them" con
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

familiar pink and white stripes of Henry's pa5an1as.
 "Henryt"
 "Marial"
 The pink clad figure straightened, and the revolver c1attered to the floor.
 ~oh, Henry" gasped Maria, hyster- icaiiy, "And thought you were 8 burglar"
 "Humph! And I came pretty near filling you full of lead"
 "Bat what tn the world Is that queer looking. thing you've got on your head?'
 Henry sfiatched of the huge black mask and threw it to the floor.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

T UCINDA SIMPSON descended
 the steep. uncarpeted stairs
 that led from the upper half , of the house which she occupied to ths lower half. The door opened upon Ehe instant and there stood Matilda, flushed, and aproned from chin to in- step.
 @oh, it's you" she satd ungracieus4 N. T was looking for some one else" "Tes, it's me-" Lucinda replied in her small, gentle voice. five come to ask you to tea with me, Matilda. I've made a fresh raisin cake and I Rsnt you to have some. Course you mustn't expect anything elaborate, but such as I've got you're welcome to." She looked up at Matilda wtstfuliy. Lucinda was a little old woman who wore glasses which were never straight on her nose.
 Matilda was taller by half head and stout, She wore no glasses, for her eyes were excellent. Those eyes now measured Lucinda rather haugh- tiiy. Why, I'd love 10 come, she said. ~but you see I've invited in company to tea. Mrs. Chapman and Miss Betts are coming. I'm just as much obliged Lucinda. for your invitation as though I'd accepted it"
 I'm real sorry you can't" Lucinda
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03
In the Still of Night.

call out, he might shoot. Yes, he was there. The sound seemed to come from Henry's room. What should she do?
 After an eternity of tense listening, straining her eyes into the darkness, her nerves grew quieter. Very cau- tiousiy, noiselessly, she lifted the GOV erlet and erept out of bed. She moved across the floor. her outstretched hand exploring the darkness. Her fingers touched the door frame. She was out in the hall, creeping across to Henry's door. A board snapped under her weight, and the sound of it. like pis- tol shot, sent her covering against the wall, where she waited, every muscle aquiyer. Then the sound stopped ab-
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

sighed. She tMrna6 aarsy to hiAs her disappointment. "Thers's some enc coming h now. gusas tast must he who you're looking 0f."
 4YAs, 1t is-zAs boy with the eys- tsEs," ssad Mstildk, iOttiiy.
 Lucinda went slowly back upstairs. As she closed the door behind her her face began to aviver with tears. She dropped down upon the edge of chair and for 8 moment wept quietly. She never asked mel" ThB thought came to her with k cruel hurt And she's going to have oystersi"
 Lucinda wiped her eyes and looked foriorniy about the room. It was not very warm. though the tiny coal stove was glowing It's brightest. Its only comforts were a worn rag car pet and rocking chair; it's only orna- ment red geranium winch Mrs. Pell had given her. Lucinda had so little to live upon that 1t was a wonder she could live at all. and yet her rent was always paid in advance and she always had coal in the box and some thing in the way of food in the larder. Her chief trouble was that she was so lonely.
 There was no reason for Lucinda s being 50 lonely There was connpan- ionship for her right in the house if it
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

~ ARoLINE CADY sat at her dis
 ordered breakfast table, her - elbows upon the cloth and her face in her hands. She was noA cry ing. She was too angry to cry. Her heart flew; her temples roared; she was hot wave of indignation from head to foot.
 It was at least the twentieth occur renee of the scene-ioud voices, sar- casm; Jasper finging of to his office with the echoes of a slammed door lingering behind, and she in tears, or that worse state, desperate vexation.
 After fifteen fairly peaceable years they had begun to quarrel. Caroline and Jasper made up quickly after their first quarrel. Latterly they had not made up at all. They simply drifted from state of amnesty to one of open rupture And now all these conditions had eliminated in the present one
 It was all because of Jasper's pend ing vacation. She wanted to tour the New England States in the automo-
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

ruptiy, and there came soft rustling. Where was he now? What was he do ing? Spots of fire began to streak the blackness before her. She knew she was going to faint, but she set all her will against it and crept across the threshold.
 A cloud passing from before the moon threw sudden strip of white moonlight across the carpet. Then She saw him. He was crouching close to the window and she could distinctly see that he was holding in one hand long, black revolver. She could even make out the queer. ugly-looking mask he wore, that seemed to cover his whole head. like a divers helmet.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

~ AND sakes, Henry" exclaimed
 his wife, at the breakfast ta-
 ble- Whatever aiied you last night? I declare, you made such noise . body can't sleep in the same horse with you"
 Noise? What do you naean?"
 Ssnoring. Yes you did. You ought Ac cure yourself of it, Henry"
 "HsI Snoring? Bosh, Maria, it was the echo of your own snore that woke you up. I never snore."
 Nevertheless. Maria's remark re- carred to Henry's mind several times during the day, and when he stepped of the train at the station that night he patted the bundle under his arm
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

and cAuckled.
 Maria started suddenly. wide awake, and sat up in bed, listening intently. Some strange and unusual sound had awakened her What was it? Every nerve in her body tinglsd as she lis- tened. The Eeivet-black darkness of the room seemed to beat back at her. There. It came again, clear and dis tinct, yet vaguely mysterious. It sounded iike-like someone boring his way in! She felt sudden chill of terror. Shs wanted to scream, to call out to Henry in the next room. But the burglar might even now be creep ing up en Henry, and if she should
Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-03

and chuck1ed.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-06-24
MANY AMERICANS VISIT
OLD SCANDINAVIAN HOMES

London, June 24.-Thousands OF
Scandinavians are passing through
England this season on their first
pilgrimage to their former homes
since the war began in 1914.
Every eastward bound transatlan-
tic liner has its share of Norwegians,
Swedes, Danes and Firms. As an in
stance of the volume of traffic to the
Scandinavian countries, the Cunarder
Carmania landed over 400 Scandinav-
ians at Liverpool last week: and the
Caronia, few days later, brought
enough to necessitate a special train
for a Finnish excursion party alone.
In many cases, passengers are booked
through from New York to Scandi-
navian ports, the. steamship COM
panies taking charge even Of hotel ar
rangements in England.