davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
Wanted Something Romantic

Tom Phipps-Tom Phipps!" Con-.
stance scorned 81 don't like the name
to begin with. and III die in the poor
house before I marry him!"
Then one day she discovered some
thing. One of the flying objects was
not a gull at all It was an airplane-
which thrilled her TO the ends OF her
romantic toes. And it was headed Tor
shore, which excited her still more.
Nearer and nearer came the plane,
straight in from the sea. II was so
close now she could hear the drum Of
its engine. the quick staccato beats
growing louder every instant. Now
1t was overhead only hundred yards
or so up. Constance watched it, fas-
-cinatsS
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
By Abner Anthony

now! l must know. Oh, Edmund you
can't be I'll! can bear anything but
that
Can you?" he muttered.
Anything" Chrystal said. She put
her arms about him and drew him to-
ward her. She had never seen him
like this. and she was moved to ex-
Quisite tenderness.
You'd not. rather I'd lose my mon
ey?"
"A thousand times rather"
He drew long breath. That's it,
Chrystal I've lost about everything.
stocks went down yesterday to the bot
tom. 1 guessed wrong for the first
time in my career"
I'm sorry" he said, wistfully. I'D
rather have died. But, OF course, /
can begin over again. Lots Of men
do. I'm only forty-three n you'll
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
sThe Return of the Lost

every hindrance, like candle fame
burning brighter in every draft. It
was her own hand that had at last
extinguished the candle flame. What
was the use OF having 1t burn longer?
There were her bed-ridden mother and
her dead sisters little daughter to be
cared for. How could she marry a
man poorer than herself and infiict so
great burden upon him? They had
parted quite calmly He went away
and she stayed at her post. She had
her memories and her drawerful of
mententos and she made them do for
seventeen years. In the meantime her
useless, life-weary mother died and the
little Anstiss grew up and married very
well. Anstiss was free But freedom
had come too late.
So now on this, her fortieth birth
day. she was submitting the material
portion OF her dear romance to the
flames. BY SO doing, she hoped to adj
Just herself mentally to the new con-
dftions OF her life, which were yet the
old conditions. only without the saw
Ing grace of hope, He had gone at
her word-gone never to come back.
She had known It would be so when
she sent him away. Yet for seventeen
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
The Awakening OF Mabel

hateful name fitted her, after all. And
she determined to sift the matter to
the bottom.
Mabel was always lover of chill
dren. When her small nephews and
nieces began to arrive, she became
their instant adorer and slave. OF
course they loved her in return. and
gradually in all three homes there was
an increasing. demand for "Auntie Ma
bell No one thought UP such clever
games, no one had such funny stories
10 tell, with dancing and singing all
mixed in, she was dependable when
there was sickness, she invariably
took charge of the families when the
parents wanted to get away on a real
good rest, and she was good CHEEKY
soul to have about at any time. Oh,
Mabel was always a welcome visitor.
Freddy's remark recalled chilly re-
proofs from various friends.
When Mabel failed for the third
time. that very month, to join some of
her college friends for their annual
hike in the Adirondacks, Betty Smythe
had said you know, Mabel, we shall
get tired of asking you by and by. It
seems to me that every time you've
been scheduled for something particu-
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
By Phil Moore

bonfire Of that. Anstiss." the beggar
said.
She gave him a wild look and knew
him. Emmett" she gasped.
He patted her shoulder gently.
There. there, Anstiss." be said, ten
derby. you see It wouldn't have done
for me to come back on you unawares
any other way, and knew It. Besides.
l wanted TO see how you'd receive me
minus one arm. II has taken me years
to get up courage to come back to you.
loving you though / did all the while"
I'D given up hope" Anstiss whisp-
cred. "oh, I'm so glad you've come
back. Beggar or no beggar. you're
Emmett Hall 20 me and always viii
be-"
The twinkle in his blue eyes was OBJ
scured by tears. There now" he
cried. and his voice shook. "If / was
a beggar I'd be rich enough after those
words. But I'm no beggar. girl.
Look" He thrust a bank book into
her hands.
But Anstiss never looked at the re-
Gently drawn balance, the figures OF
which might have made any woman
glad. She was looking at him, and her
face was very joyful.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

till l die. I'd beg round the world
for the chance of seeing her face
again. And / suppose maybe she made
bonfire of my picture long ago.
Women can't hold to an idea the way
men can, someway."
Anstiss turned on him. Beggar or
no beggar, he must be put right. You
don't know what you are talking
about" she said fercely. Women do
hold to an idea. But what's the use?
When they're bound down by circum-
stances, and have a conscience, they
keep their feelings to themselves. And
then after twenty years or so they
make bonfire and try to face the fu-
ture without a heartache-if they
can"
SOL" said the beggar. He looked at
the package of needles in his hand.
then held it out to her. Take It." he
said. and his eyes twinkled more than
ever. AN sew you a new dress and
apron with them. And before go
want you to take a look at her pic
ture." From an inner pocket he drew
the little clasped case and laid Il in
her hand. Anstiss opened 1t and look
ed upon her own young face. Even
after seventeen years couldn't make
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

marriage. You are old enough now to
think Of husband. but not old enough
to think of a suitable one. You are ro-
manic and sentimental, which. of
course, is as 1t should be-a girl ought
to be that-and If you had parent I
should never worry about it nor take
the step I now consider necessary for
your welfare. Unless ! do you'll like
l. marry some one for his eyes or his
voice or his uniform, and not consider
the rest of him. Then when it's too
late you'll be sorry.
so I've undertaken to pick your
husband. Connie, and Mr.. Travers. my
lawyer. will arrange THAI you meet
him. His name is Tom Phipps, and
he's dandy, nice "A No. L fellow
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

larry interesting, for the past five
years, some of your young relatives
have been teething or measling, or
scarlet fevering, orEthe land knows
what. just at the moment we most
wanted you. And pretty soon you will
be left out of our plans, for what's the
use? You are always needed as a
nurse or housekeeper, or entertainer
at Ned's, or Bertha's or Laura's."
1t hurt, oh, 1t did hurt, when she
realized how completely she'd shut
herself off from her former sports, out
ings and friends, only to be dubbed a
back number.
The next day Mabel announced that
she was called to New York on bust
ness. Bertha appeared rather injured
that her sister should take just this
time to go. You know 1 was plan
ming to run down to Bar Harbor for
the week end-but perhaps you'll be
right back. Is it business that will
take only day or two?'
Mabel shook her head. mo, she
fancied she might be away some
weeks"
Not weeks, Mabel. surely you don't
forget that the 31st is the date on
which we three couples take the mo
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

sterling all through. Now Tom is poor,
and as his grandfather was my friend
I feel as though owe something to
the boy.
"It's this way, Connie. You and Tom
get married and you get all of my
money-the two of you. II you don't
well. the only way can see TO pro-
tect you from fortune hunters is to
leave my money TO the war reliefs."
There was more which does not con-
Germ us and which there is little use OF
relating; but Constance had "bolted"
taken the first train from the city
to the haven she always sought when
in trouble, her old nurse. Becky, who
had married fisherman and lived in
a little town on the Connections coast
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

sound a bit more cruel, when II came.
"a back number, and mother laughed
and said, poor old Mabe, that just de-
scfbes her.
The cold drink vendors now spied
prospective customers, and waving
their hats to arrest the progress of
some automobiles, shouted, Nice
cold lemonade, five cents glass. T"
They did a thriving business for the
next two hours and soon forget their
discussion, but not so the unintention-
al eavesdropper.
Mabel Osgood's cheeks famed, and
tears stood in her eyes.
Was she back number? If this
were true-who had made her so?
When her only brother and her two
sisters had married she was %. just
out Of college: athletic, musical; so
wide awake and laughing that she was
the life of every social gathering. That
was nine years ago.
Am the life of society events to-
day." And she laughed derisively at
her own question.
AS she went on and on summing up
evidence as to whether the verdict
she had heard quoted was Just or not,
she began to see that perhaps the
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

shoulder. See? But 1 got along pref
ty well. 1t was only my left arm"
And that's why you" Anstiss
paused. She could not go on with
what she had started to say.
But quickly he seemed to read her
thoughts. mo; that isn't why I'm
begging. There's lots of things one
armed man can do, and I've been do
ing them for years, ever since lost
my arm" His blue eyes twinkled.
I'm out on a little vacation now, go
ing round among the places I used TO
know when was a boy. So far not
souls known me. And they mostly
buy my needles, too. There's lots OF
worse things than being beggar,
miss"
yes, there are" Anstiss sighed. She
looked at the dying bonfire unconsci-
GUS of the fact that mans blue eyes,
grown suddenly keen, were scrutiniz-
ing her.
Burning up old keepsakes, lady?"
he queried. well, I don't know but
that's a good way to do with things
when you've done with them. But 1
was never one to do so. / got a pic
ture In my pocket I've carried for
nigh score of years, and shall carry
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

~ HE had been in the city all day
shopping with Mrs. Hazen.
They had talked about the
trip for three weeks. but the weather
had hindered. Then came succession
OF mild, bright days. and they seized
upon one for their purpose. Chrystal
had arisen at o'clock. and at 1880
she sat in her car at Mrs. Hazen's
door.
1t had been the usual day. chrystal
had bought two hats and three gowns
ct MacNamara's, luncheon at the Geor-
giana, gone to the matinee. shopped a
little more. had cup of tea and bowl
ed to the station in taxi. Her head
ached, but she was not worn out like
Mrs. Hazen, who looked pale with ia
sigue as she leaned her head against
the cushions. And yet Mrs. Hazen had
bought almost nothing at ala few
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

Suddenly a man leaned out, called
something she did not hear. and threw
an object 10 the ground. Constance
closed her eyes in terror, expecting
something dreadful to happen, but
nothing more deadly occurred than an
innocent putt" on the ground at her
feet. Slowly opening her eyes, she
discovered small canvas parachute
with a weighted wallet attached. the
kind used in dropping code messages
In France. Inside was folded paper
on which was written, Please find
Miss Constance Harrington and tell
her to signal me at IL tomorrow. Wave
white flag yes-red flag no. Leave
for France on Monday. Thomas Red
field Phipra"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
Showing Her Character :

will be at the station to meet me, of
course"
II don't expect Edmund, even If he
has returned" Chrystal replied. But
thereIl be the car I'll take you home"
A moment later she said. There's our
car! and Ryan! Come. my dear"
And there's Toni" cried Mrs. Ha-
zen. Chrystal went to the car and left
them to follow slowly. mfr. Paige
homer" she asked the chauffeur.
He came this morning. He's not
well, / think. He's been at home all
day"
Its his stomach" ChrystaI thought.
"He ought to doctor for it, but he
won't"
She left the Hazens at their door
and sped to her home. She entered
from the porte cochere, started up
stairs and then turned toward the door
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

have patience, darling. I'll win it all
back for you. guess was too eager
&c make money. II only I'd let well
enough alone. II only"
''Hush!" She put her hand over his
mouth. "of course you'll begin over
again, and I'll help you. There shall
be two OF US to play the game now In
stead Of one. Heretofore, I've been
merely a spectator and a spender Of
the gains. but now wen go into it to-
gether. Aren't we partners in life, tho
bad as well as the good?"
He put his arms about her. His head
lifted; his face shone. Il never dream
ed you were this kind Of a woman, he
said. You're noble. Chrystal. And
I'll be worthy of such q nobleness. I
felt beaten but now-why, look at me-"
he laughed. Il could fight the world
and conquer it, tool"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
By Joella Johnson

old Mr.. Travers was chuckling over
In his office about an hour after Con-
stance had waved a white handler
chief to a man In . circling airplane
on the Connecticut coast The letter
had been taken from the safe. It was
one from his old friend and client,
Constance's grandfather.
"As to the young people," IL ran,
there won't be any trouble about
them, Sam. Only Connie is willful
and may take netisn that Tommy
isn't picturesque enough for her. I'm
sure she likes him, but you'll have to
use your wits about bringing them to-
gether again IN some unusual way.
Cook up something different and it
viii all be over but the ceremony"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

- N the train to the fishing village,
Oh where she was seeking refuge
~ from the heartlessness of an
inconsiderate world, Constance pulled
out the letter for the hundredth time
that was the immediate cause of her
flight from trouble.
Dear Connie" it said. when you
read this I will no longer be Of this
world. therefore beyond argument So
for once, dear little granddaughter, you
can not wheedle the old man into
changing his mind I'm afraid that I've
done wrong, always allowing you to
DO as you wished, for you are impul-
sive and, some time, I'm afraid. will
run your head into moose that may
tighten. The thing have in mind is
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

years she had dreamed of his return.
His face leaped from the holocaust,
his happy, smooth. young face stirring
with a smile as the flames licked 1t.
She shiyered and turned her eyes;
catching glimpse of words starting
forth upon shriveling page, Always
true"
A breeze came flirting across the
garden and pounded upon the bonfire.
The loose papers scattered into a
swirl. One blow against Anstiss cali
CO skirt In an instant she was on
Are. There was shout and a man
hurled himself across the yard toward
her. He flung her upon the damp
earth. snatched off his coat and COW
cred her with it. The flames died i'm
mediately, and she rose soiled and
blackened, with her skirt and apron
in fringes.
The man was getting into his clean
but shabby coat as best he could with
one arm. The other arm was gone at
his shoulder. Anstiss put out her
hand and helped him. Thank you.
lady" he said.
mo-" Anstiss said. Her breath was
coming back Thank you a thousand
times over. You saved me from being
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

tiful woman. If she ever worried at
ell it was how to spend more money.
That was really her happiness. And
she spent it all for herself She was
selfish, possibly, but why not? Life
conspired to make her so.
I'm thinking" Mrs. Hazen said.
rousing herself, how pleased my lit
tie girls will be with what I've got for
them. / can hardly wait to get home
and tell them. They'll be wild when
that express parcel comes tomorrow,
and such time they'll have opening
IT."
"Ill be wild. too" said Chrystal,
until find out whether they altered
my sand taffeta to suit me-"
Strung along the adjacent darkness
were twinkling home lights. Mrs. Ha-
zen looked out II always wonder
which ones mine" she said. Tom
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
By Elsie Endicott

Rodgers. the wealthy young widowsr,
who was onsidered the greatest catch
IN town. He had paid marked atten-
ton TO Mabel. for some time. but as she
grew buster and buster with the nieces
and nephews. he gradually invited 9TH
er, freer girls to accompany him to
places of amusement Still he did not
marry.
In New York. however. John Rodg-
ers found Mabel very different per
SON While business kept him there
some weeks what more natural thing
could happen than his asking her TO
attend theaters, operas, dinners. etc :?
She was at liberty to go, always lively.
and fauitlessly gowned. She knew
Just what he ought to buy to carry
back to his small daughter, and en-
tered interestediy into his discussions
about the child's education. He found
her so exactly to his liking that when
he returned home Mabel YVES wearing
an engagement ring.
Mabel" asked John Rodgers. few
weeks before their marriage. 'I have
often wondered Just why such change
came over you all of sudden. After
liking you tremendously It all at once
seemed to me that you did not care for
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

my society-you had so many excuses
for turning down all my invitations.
And you sort OF lost your sprightli-
ness" He added perplexedly. Then
how you blossomed OUT"
Mabel told Of the conversation she
had overheard. and how It had hurt
her feelings. Il decided 70 try anoth-
er life for awhile"
But, my dear girl. aren't you. after
all. going TO settle right back in the
same dilemma-becone again a back
number-by marrying me. a widower
eight years your senior with a child
to take care of in the bargain?" And
he looked a bit troubled.
why. you dear old goose. can't you
see that it was simply vanity on my
part? only wanted to show them
that could really be as up to date
as any of them. IL took the time and
opportunity" And, with a peal OF
laughter. she added, TO tell the truth.
I was terribly lonely for the small
folks. am but poor imitation OF a
social butterfly. I'd rather have a
child on my knee than my feet in a
stirrup, or my hand on a tennis
racquet"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

tor trip up through the Berkshires!"
Still Mabel could not set the date of
her return.
Laura telephoned that evening rath-
er petulantly.
Ned. who was always for tempor1z-
ing, said ooh. don't get in such g.
frenzy. She'll be back IN no time.
She can't keep away from the chill
dren."
But Mabers stay heightened into
months.
When Betty Smythe returned from
shopping tour in New York she
brought back the news that Mabel
Aunt Mabel-was really going the
pace" She laughed when Bertha de-
manded what she meant. why, I
mean nothing more than that she is
getting to look and appear like her
cid self. Her gowns make people look
twice, and she is dancing, riding
horseback. golfng and growing hand
some every day of her life. I tell you.
Bertha" and Betty laughed BIT ma
liciously, Mabel Is the most fetching,
up-to-date creature you've seen In
many moons!"
Betty also quoted Mabel to John
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

Constance read 1t twice, petrifed-
BY that time the airman had turned
and was headed out to sea again to
ward a newly established government
aviation base.
Thomas Redheld Phippsi Tommy
Redfeld shed always played With
She was puzzled over the last name
until she remembered that an English
uncle had died and requested him TO
take the family name. as he was the
last of the line. That accounted for
It
To think of it! Tommy Redneld
coming after her In flying machine.
Could anything be more romantic?
After all, that Is all that concerns
Us except \ telegram and a letter that
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

things for the children, perhaps, but
scarcely anything for herself.
For the first time all day she re-
nembered her husband She felt
tiny prickling guilt He had
been looking so tired and serious for
a few days that she had been glad
when he had gone away on bust
ness yesterday. He needed a change.
She wondered eagerly what he would
bring her. Last time 1t had been a
diamond cluster ring. She had rings
enough, but she did want a new muff
sable preferably. Probably he
would bring her the muff; he never
forgot any hint of hers. And she had
not got him thing in Benningsburgh.
She had had six careless, pleasant
years with him. Hers was the finest
house in town. the finest car. the finest
clothing. And she was the most beau
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

on her right. It led into Edmund's
study and he would be there. of
course.
He was there. He lay on the couch
with his face to the wall and his arm
over his head. She felt an instant's
alarm. He must be really I'll!
"Deari" she said. She went to him.
bent over him and tried to move him.
Dear" she said again. And then she
saw his face. 1t had a look that
frightened her. Edmund! Why didn't
you have them call the doctor? she
cried.
He shook his head. Mine isn't
case for the doctor, Chrystal."
What do you mean?"
He sat up YEARLY and rubbed his
head. Never mind now. TIL tell you
later"
She sat down beside him. Tell me
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
rss ANsTIss CARR was hav-


yard. She had brought out
an apronfuI OF rubbish. flung it into
heap and touched match to it Now
she stood over it with a long stick.
prodding the reluctant flames into
greater activity. Old letters and old
photographs burn slowly.
Today she was forty years old, and
she felt that she had come to the part
ing of the ways. Her youth was over
and gone and sober age faced her. She
must put away the things of that
youth and invest herself with new. I'M
romantic interests. She must resign
herself to her spinsterhood.
So as a preliminary to house clean
ing she was burning the mementos OF
her dead youth. She had risen early
and unlocked the drawer that held
them all. She had emptied the con-
tents of the drawer into her apron, not
daring to let her eyes linger upon any
one thing. Those precious, long
boarded letters and photographs, with
valentines and holiday cards scattered
among them! They told the story of
her three years romance-a romance
that had continued to live in spite of
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14

~ a UNIT MABEL had just gone
back to her stitching in the
sewing room after having
been up and down over the stairs for
at least 20 times that afternoon.
Before sitting down at the sewing
machine she stepped to the window. to
make sure that the boys had moved
their lemonade stand into the shady
spot she had recommended, when she
heard neighbor Gray's 6-year-old Bob
By say Freddy. isn't your Aunt Ma
bel good to US? 7 think she is awful
~ pretty, too"
She's good" responded Freddy, ju-
ciciously. but she isn't pretty. You
ought to have seen my mother when
she and father started for the races
this morning. Father whistled when
he looked at her, and said. Well. Cir
lie. my wife is the handsomest woman
i ever sawI'"
but. Freddy" persisted the loyal
Bobby, eft is always your aunt that
stops to help us fix things. She's new
or too busy TO bother"
You bet she's good. but father said
the other day that she was "a" and
the pause Freddy made while he tried
to recall the phrase only caused it to
SveÌŒt = World. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1911-1939, 1920-09-02
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cich ma zapadni strane, aneb
ma Broadway. Nechte adressu
v adm. 'Sveta". GA