davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
By Phil Moore

"Give her to me-" he commanded
hoarsely. Here, keep that crowd
back I'll handle her." And, selling
Dorothy's limp form in his arms, he
made for his dressing room, followed
by her mother. Once inside he closed
the door with his foot, and placing
Dorothy's limp form across two
trunks, he bent fever1shly to the task
Of revivtng her.
"Are you hurt, dear?" he demand
ed, anxiously.
"Just little scared and shaken"
she told him, with a wan smile.
mot nearly as scared as was when
I saw that machine fall" he told her
solemn1y. II tried to save you. but
those jades wouldn't let me-"
You saw me-fall?" she asked him,
wide-eyed.
Il saw you all the time" he assured
her. II never lost sight of you"
Her hand gave his a little squeeze,
home and let Mr.. Bryn go back to his
side.
"Come, Dorothy" said her mother,
frigidly. you're all right. Let's go
hame and let Mr.. Bryn go back to his
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
Too Much Snap judgement

ing to STICK" and she turned to go
back
He caught her arm. Look here,
we've got to settle this thing for good
and all. We can't play golf with you
nursing a crouch. I haven't done a
thing and there you are in a towering
rage. I have no idea what it is about,
unless it's because you always did hate
me like poison. Do you? If that's it
We'll go back and forget about it,
cit isn't that" she stopped con-
fusedly. Really she could hardly have
told what she was angry about unless
it was herself.
Lets sit down on this bench and
have it out. Well tell the others to
go ahead" he said
She complied reluctantly. After all,
he was arranging things to suit him
self, and it was she who obeyed. What
was the matter? Did she have to bow
forever to his will? Was it SO much
stronger than hers?
"You see, Betty, I've been thinking
about you lot lately, and the times
come at last for us to straighten
things out. You are a wonderful girl.
do you know it? I never knew you
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

Betty's face changed. mo Doubt"
she said with sarcasm.
Louise laughed. ooh, he told me how
you'd always fought. / know how he
snowballed you, and you kicked his
snow fort down years ago, and know
you showed his puppy off your porch
and he chased your cat up tree, and
how you've hated each other all these
years."
as that why he's SO anxious to see
me, to continue the battle?"
mo doubt" laughed Louise. mo,
truly, Betty, he seems to be taking a
genuine interest in you since you have
become so famous as writer. He's
proud of his former neighbor and
playmate"
ITO late" declared Betty. Lets
talk of something pleasant"
But that afternoon at the country
club she found herself in two ball
foursome on the golf course, that in
cluded her enemy. And as luck would
have 1t she was paired with him.
She had to confess that In the four
years of college when she had seen
little or nothing of him, and in the
two years since, during which they
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

you don't say" replied Mrs. Burn
ham, Jelly. Then she turned to Doro-
thy. 1.-THE idea! Come! I won't stay
here another minute. The idea! A
Burnham being treated like that
Comet"
Dorothy placed a restraining hand
on her mothers sleeve.
Don't mamma. I know all about It
He told me he couldn't avoid it. He
couldn't be rude to them. They're re-
lated to the man who gave him his
start
Just then a new onslaught to the
rear of Bryn and his surrounding ad-
mirers brought him nearer to Dorothy
and those in front of him backed to-
wards the wings. O'Brien shouted.
Look out!"
Then he ran forward and picked vi
a limp form in his arms. The crowd
in moving back had knocked over {
big iron diffuser. telling Dorothy tt
the stage.
Mrs. Burnham screamed, and a
that moment, O'Brien felt, rather thar
saw, a towering form at his side. I
was Bryn.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

cit may help to ruin him. TIL longer
they hold out tn harder they fall. I've
been with this house eighteen years,
an I've seen tn best O. them take the
count. They're all alike"
"Mr. Bryn's Different" The girl 10y
ally came to his defense, but O'Br1en
merely shifted and moved away.
She kept an eye on Cal for long
time, then little crestfallen, saw him
leave the stage with a party Of ladies'.
The older woman turned, angrily, to
the girl.
Come on, Dorothy" she snapped.
cit looks like that man was right"
ooh, mamma" protested Dorothy
Durham, little weakly. "CaPs all
right. Trust him." Then she followed
her mother out to their machine. Cal
Bryn had vanished.
"Bryn's been hitting it up" volun-
teered O'Brien, as he again accosted
Mrs. Burnham and Dorothy in the
wings the following Friday. See that
big pair of brunettes right in front of
him. They've nabbed him twice in the
alley this week. I knew they'd get
i'm"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

had both been seeking careers and his
family had moved to New York, he had
changed considerably. He was COM
pe1lingly good-looking, and although
he still had the same self-assurance
and assertiveness that she had always
detested, it had been buffed into the
obtrusive forcefulness that people adj
mire.
Betty gradually admitted that had
she not known him all his life, and
seen this diamond in the rough, she,
too. would probably be attracted as
the others were. She had latent adj
miration for the cave man.
He drove long, clear, straight shot.
Then came her turn. with a good
brassy lie straight up the fairway with
no hazards. She was a good player
and she was on her mett1e to show him
her best.
But she topped IT.! She Redeemed
with disgust, but made no excuse. She
merely strobe on after the ball a few
yards.
eff he tells me what to do and why
I missed it, I'll hit him, I'm sure 1
SHALL" she thought.
But her partner said nothing. His
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

sponge soaked in the whitening huid.
II want to divide my nice things
with you, Ann. You're just the lowell
est. cleverest girl in this school and I
want you to look your very best to-
night because-Joe is coming. have
written him volumes about you and he
is coming Just to meet you"
HE is coming Just to see his darling
sister, Eugenie," cried Ann, land also
pilot his future brother-in-law down
here"
81 wish that you would fan IN love
with Joe, Ann. We could have a dou-
BILE wedding next fall. Jerry and are
planning for-for October, you know"
"I11 be teaching school then. Eu-
genie. Won't It be wonderful to draw
real money and help mother along a
bit?" Ann pulled herself up on her
knees before a window. Spring was
coming again. Tulips and crocuses
were pushing slender green hands
through the warming soil. A little bed
Of hardy daffodi1s were already hirt-
ing yellow petticoats in the soft wind.
A maple tree Haunted woody red buds
nearby and blue bird was carpenter
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

a persistent matron hustle
Bryn into a large touring car, between
herself and a slim, dainty little miss,
who welcomed him into the machine
with a piquant happy smile and
warm hand-clasp. Then the machine
shot off, leaving the crowd gaping aft
er it, and Forrest turned to O'Brien.
Prosecuted, en-" grunted Forrest.
1.-THE only thing that's gonna be pros
ecuted round here is my policy Of ex-
pecting decent work outa tn orcnes-
ira"
"Yu never get it this way" retorted
O'Brien, the car Of the fiddle pit" in
dignantly. "In the rush some big fat
jane nearly planted her hoof through
Mason's cello. He's hot over 1t. ]
amt strong fer these Friday love rtbts.
-Neither's that little French singer,
Anton What's-His-Name. The girls
didn't give him any more attention
than stage hand"
well, I am strong for them,
snapped Forrest, decisively. "And as
for Anton, he can go to the devil.
Bryn's my drawing card. and don't
care boot for tn rest"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
By Elsie Endicott

terdies of life, tangible and real.
you make me think OF an exquisite
woodland flower. Miss Ann" said
Charlton Brooke softly as they danced
lightly away together, "a naturally
beautiful flower. you know. blooming
among hot house blossoms that Will
soon fade. am going to ask Miss
Harrington's permission to show you
my old home one Of these bright
spring days. There are Just such
flowers as you make me think Of
growing in my yard. Some day he
said, as If he had known her for a
long, long time, 'I would like to see
you mistress there"
There was something fndennably,
poignantly sweet in their companion
ship and Ann felt the faint stirring Of
the miracle that men cali love.
From her place beside Jerry, Eu-
genie regarded her roommate with
something like awe. 1--WE a bunch
that Ann won't be teaching school next
October" she vouchsafed slangily
Poor old Joe! I'm almost sorry that
I asked him to come
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
Like the Woodland Flowers

stirred by common impulse to wor-
ship at the shrine of such verftab1e
story book hero. Success, good looks
and brains made powerful combina-
ton and the school girls responded,
fattering1y.
Charlton Brooke made a few pleas
ant comments about girl who had
made exceptionally fine marks and
announced that if Miss Ann Meredith
would come forward, he would pre-
sent her with the prize.
When the little formalfty was over,
Ann danced around the room, her
heart as light as her canvas clad heels,
and the adorfng Joe looked down at
her, happier than he had ever been
before in all of his carefree young
life.
AS soon as the first dance was over,
Charlton Brooke made his way toward
Ann, his gray eyes smiling into her
startled blue ones.
Hello, joe" he said genia1ly. ri
am going to take this girl away from
you"
you're a celebrated lawyer, Mr.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
By Abner Anthony

until you started to write. Your real
personality shows in your stories. You
have what is generally called unsus-
pected Depths"
You read my stuff"
"Al1 Of it,
"And you really like it?" she was
fast becoming Modified. To praise her
work was like praising children to
their mother.
Eyes"
I'm going to tell you something" she
confided II owe all my success to the
editor of certain magazine. He took
an interest in me from the first, and
contrary to custom helped me. He
seemed to understand me better than
I did myself, knew what I was trying
to say and lifted me over the rough
places until I got a footing. He's car
ried me right along"
what he should have done. Your
stuff is worth it"
But how few would do 1t, Park.
Consider a minute. You wouldn't.
You'd do like you did with my golf
shots. You'd have thought, well,
when she's as bad as that, there is no
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

ing his nest in one OF It's tossing
boughs. Ann whir1ed around, sitting
down on her crossed legs, Turk fash
ion. Eugene, I am going to wear
these canvas pumps because mother
sent them to me. You understand.
don't your"
"Of course do, honey child, and
love you for 1t. But I was thinking
you'd be awfully conspicuous when
you march up to get the prize, that
Mr. Brooke % giving for the best
marks tass term. I think Miss Har-
rington is a pig to take up part of the
time tonight with an old speech, but
of course I will be proud to see you
get that hundred dollar prize"
Don't be too sure of my success. -
laughed Ann, secretly much excited
over the possibility of winning the
much coveted prize.
ct feel like a barn yard fowl among
lovely birds Of paradise" Ann told
Eugenie's' good looking brother Joe
that night when he had promptly
taken charge Of her as soon as the in
PRODUCTION was over.
"Wel1. they all look like half picked
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

third shot put the ball close to the
green.
She approached and overshot the
hole, the ball rolled over the green in
to the long grass. She knew she had
put too much arm motion into the
swing and waited for him to show her
the wrist movement she should have
used, but no such thing. He dug the
ball out of the long grass, put it close
to the hole, and she ho1ded it out.
"Six!" called her partner.
Five" called the others finishing.
~Never mind, the games young and
We'll beat you yet" laughed Park Ire
burn. 1--WE got good partner"
you needn't lie to save my feel
ings," she said quietly.
The others having the honor had
gone ahead to drive first off the second
tee.
"Say, Betty, look here, what's the
matter with you? You've been about
as pleasant as a mustard plaster all
day"
She flushed angri1y. ga mustard
plaster is right" she retorted. "I get
you perfectly. But this one isn't go
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

birds to me-" said Joe g1ancing around
the room at the expose of white necks
and arms. You're the prettiest girl
in the school and far and away the
most sensibly dressed one" he added.
1--WE always said that never would
marry a girl who dressed immodest-
~" Joe had fallen in love at first
sight and was ready to commit himself
precipitate1y.
Eugene and Jerry, who had, been
engaged since they were children, join
ed them until time for the dancing to
begin. Miss Harrington stepped out
on the floor and compelled silence as
she held up warning hand. Charlton
Brooke, the most distinguished lawyer
in the state, would award the usual
quarterly prize of one hundred dollars
to the girl who had made the best
marks for the spring term. A little
admiring nurrnur ran around the room
when a handsome man in the early
thirties stepped forward, instead of the
old man they had expected and took
his place beside the stiff Miss Harring-
ton.
All of the girls leaned forward,
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

use trying to help"
mo, didn't help because you didn't
need it. You play all right Your
stance was good, and your hold was
good; you lifted your shoulder a bit
that was all. But the stories were diff
ferent, you see. They were good. too,
only you just needed suggestion here
and there to set you right"
Park Treburn! What do you know
about my stories?"
I'm the editor Of the Standard,
Betty!"
"I have the honor"
She colored. "Oh. I've been dreadful
to you. I've acted like silly baby"
mo, dear! But you need me to help
you over the rough places sometimes.
Look here, Betty, give me the right,
won't you? 1 love you, and want to
take care of you. I'm not the cave
man you think me. Try to care won't
you, just a little"
Betty looked away an instant then
suddenly turned and hooded a radiant
assent. Eyes, I do need you, Park.
I've been an awful goose"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

ut was with great reluctance that
Betty relinquished her work for
- two weeks in the spring and
went east for visit with the Col
villes. But they had written inces-
sanity, and her mother had convinced
her that she needed a rest; so she
packed her trunk, shined up her golf
sticks and went.
Rockdale outside of New York was
n beautiful place and the beds of
bright spring flowers, the brilliant
lawns and trees of tender green, were
like a tonic to her worn out nerves.
~There's no doubt about it." she
sighed contentedly, leaning back in her
corner of the motor. "a complete
change of scene is good for anyone. To
get away from the monotony. the cares
and worries, and the things one dis
likes tunes one up like removing
~roken string from a piano"
what do you think, Betty!" Louise
Colville said when she was settled and
they were having tea on the porch
later. Park Treburn lives in Rock
dale now. He's quite friend Of mine.
I told him you were coming and he's
crazy to see you"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

and where was staying. With that, I
dared not prolong the scene further,
for fear he would mistake my intent.
Joining my friends again, returned
to the cottage, my thoughts far from
their ever cheering chatter.
Several times during the following
week we passed on the beach. At first
he merely tipped his hat while ac-
knowledged his greeting with a smile,
and. as thought, very proper How
do you do 2" The situation amused me,
and when he stopped me on one of my
,accomDany ma I nut fnrnality aside
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

friends"
IL guess you WON'T" he retorted, in
dignantly. "She can't walk to the ma
chine, as weak as she is. I'll carry
her."
And, bundling her into his arms. like
precious parcel, he ruthlessly shunt-
ed aside the waiting army outside and
deposited Dorothy in the tonneau Of
her car.
where's Brynr
81 dunno" said Forrest. Haven't
you seen him? Let's see If he's in his
dressing ROOM" Forrest led the way
and opened Bryn's dressing room door,
then pulled O'Brien's sleeve.
O'Brien stared. On Bryn's left shout
der, as he sat on a trunk, was a pref
ty little white hand, and, following the
hand with his eyes, he saw Dorothy
Burnham seated at Dis side. her head
nestled contentedly against Bryn's
right shoulder.
"Come on" whispered O'Brien to
Forrest, pulling him away from the
door. 1.-THE glee trust is busted
Rather, it's changed hands,"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
AS Fate Would Have 1t

ton. He soon spied me in my ridicu-
1ous position, and I smiled toward
him. Again he looked at me, then
turning walked to the end of the pier.
This was too much for my reason
ing ability and utterly unlike Tom.
Therefore, I felt inclined to think he
previous year. Otherwise how could
he have failed to recognize me?
The fault having been mine. I has
tened after him as soon as the merry
go-round slowed down, intent upon
becoming friends again. He was soon
found leaning idly against the pier
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

had chummed around with in Law
renee year or SO before. Through n
slight misunderstanding, before my re-
turn to Maine, had lost track of him,
which fully explained my surprise on
seeing him at this summer resort. In
spite of our disagreement, I still held
a friendly feeling toward him and
thrilled with pleasure at seeing him
once again.
CAS- soon as this merry-go-round
stops I will go and speak to him." I
treasured myself. Thus thinking, I
kept my eyes on him at every turn,
waiting for him to glance in my direc-
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

His voice stirred me and I fastened
to apologize, explaining how I had
mistaken him for Mr.. Campbell. a
friend of mine. Very politely he told
me his name, that his home was far
from Lawrence, in fact he lived in
Canada, and while he was sorry he
wasn't the original Mr.. Campbell, he
had no grievance against being mis-
taken for him.
Perhaps it was his frank. good-na-
tured smile that won me. At any rate,
I soon found myself laughing over my
mistake, and he appeared so little like
q STRANGER that told him my name
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
p Els q combination in restraint
of trade" remarked O'Brien,

or trade, remarked OBr1en,
with throaty chuckle, to
Forrest, the manager, as they stood in
the doorway leading from the Olym-
pia's stage to the back alley. Hes a
regular trust-cornered the glee mar
ket- He ought to be prosecuted"
To object of his harmless spleen was
surrounded by a small army of young
girls. some pretty and hopeful, the
others the reverse on looks, and, there
fore. still more hopeful. Forrest had
attempted an open reception to the
audience at the close Of Fridays mat
inees, and the dear thing" army had
done the rest. Cal Bryn, the reigning
favorite. in the same faultless attire
in which he had rendered his society
songs and Dances" each wisp of his
profuse handsome name just as dapper
as before his turn, was the shining
target for his "ohs" and "ahs." He
only escaped to the alley to be met by
another fanking movement by a half
hundred others, persistent for an auto
graph or "just tiny photo, please"
Before answering O'Brien. Forrest
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
mn. dear. you simply have to
\ wear a pair Of my white sat

~'@'s Nc$sAb JOor oAAAQAy Adto "
~ wear pair Of my white sat-
in slippers" begged Eugene.
as the two girls laid out their evening
clothes In preparation for the big
Easter dance that Miss Martha Har-
rington was giving for the young Ia
dies In her select boarding school.
The people at home forgot that had
DO many and they have sent me anoth-
or pair. Now be a dear. and take these
moe ones with silver bucklesI"s
Ann Meredith poised one canvas
pump. lately whitened. In somewhat
npsy fashien ON the once bronze radi-
sator. SILLY" she laughed, who's go
ing to see me when you are around ?"
Then soberly, as she cleaned the other
sofled pump, Borrowed feathers don't
make fine birds. One can see at a
s1ance that nature did not put them
khere that they are just glued on so
what's the use of trying to fool any
fbodyf But don't think for a minute
That am not appreciative Of all your
generosity" She ran across the room
and Rugged her friend carefully hold
Ing out her hands smeared with a
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

railing, watching the waves on the
beach below.
Wont you speak to an old friend
TOMB" I began.
Eyes, er, indeed; of course am glad
to speak to you, Miss-er."
This last was followed by a signifi-
cant pause. At his first words I had
looked at his face again. Looking at
him at close range showed me, not
Tom Campbell. but a darker looking
young man, greatly resembling Tom.
Really, you must pardon my for
getfulness, but your name has actually
slipped my mind"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22
By Joel1a johnson

and gave him permission. A few such
meetings left me firmly convinced that
If there wasn't such thing as love at
first sight, there surely was at second
or third sight. Is
Fate befriended us, and we were for
where visited now and then. Then
followed series Of walks, excursions.
boating trips and dances. ending In my
return to town at the end of the sea-
son the proud possessor of a bright
new diamond ring and his return to
Canada to prepare for an early we'd
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-22

1T all began by my following an
impulse to ride on the merry-go-
- round at Old Orchard last sum-
mer. / felt extremely foolish after
seating myself on one Of the prancing
ponies and glanced around at the peo-
nile standing near, hoping I should see
~ ono knew. Carefully I inspected
the crowd and recognized none OF
them, SO proceeded to enjoy my ride.
Soon a young man walked around
4ba corner of the ticket stand and
stopped in front Of the now moving
horses. It was Tom Campbell, the
vary same tall, good-looking Tom
Bisbee daily review., 1920-04-04
Tips Of tue TOUn
WoMEN's CLUES TO MEET.

The Twentieth Century Club met yesterday afternoon to make final ar engagements for the big meeting Of the state federation of Women's clubs which will meet in Bis5ee next week. The problem of housing all the women will be large one for the club and all women of the district who can furnish sleeping accommodations for any of the women for Monday, Tuesday, We'd nesday and Thursday of the coming week, are requested to Phone Mrs F. B. Walker at Lowell.