davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18

are all esottsts. more or less. We all want
the center Of the stage, some Of the time
You and Locksley and the rest Of you con-
stantly see life as q drama with yourselves
AZ the heroes. Nov-thst's all right, Of
course. That's just the way your mother
sees 1t much Of the time, and 1. and every
body. Only your mother, for instance, is a
clever woman. She always contrives that
the person with whom she talks shall know
that he is the center Of the stage-at least
while he 10 with her. Locksley and you -
he paused. "well-in time, you know, the
rest OF US will want our moment in the spot
light. And just then We will become ruth
less. We will relesate you, not because you
aren't perfectly all right in your way. but
because you have become such a bore"
"A bore" Genevievs sat erect on the
edge Of her chair. Plainly. the idea was in
conceivable
. A bore, Uncle Austen" she repeated.
A bore" he reafirmed. smiling.
II was a relief to hear Austen Juniors gay
baritone At the street door Just then an
surveyed and none should say him nay
Particularly" he continued in an impas-
stoned recitatve, at the door of the living
room. shall none stay me from attending
thee. o beauteous maiden, to the confines
Of thine ancestral castle whenever thou get
test ready"
Genevieve rose
am boring Uncle Austen to death" she
said rather coldly. I'll run along, but YOU
don't need to bother. I can manage"
Austen Junior was clear. however, that
she could not manage. The purple coat, the
purple hat, the purple scarf were brought
and arranged with their usual carefully con-
sidered easuainess. and Austen Junior,
varblins protective ar1as. bore her forth.
after somewhat reserved good nights wsrs
exchanged with Uncle Austen.
He was still smiling into the oak embers
over IT when Agnes returned. She stood be-
side him . moment. her wraps about her.
Dsd you straighten everybody out!" she
asked He laughed
mo. MORALLY offended evsryone. told
Helene that she had crowsfeet. Shes hunt
Ing for them at this moment. And told
Genevtsve that she was q bore"
Agnes looked At him.
Well. Of course she is" she said tudiciaIIy
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18
WHO'S wHo IN tn STORY.

WHO'S WHO IN TIL STORY.
DIANA LANGLEY, ,oho possesses to
supsTIotive degree quality Of
"Iurs'
MARJORIE LANGLEY, herself a
noted beauty, to rhon
STEPHEN DALE, oedIthy baoAs-
Tor, has been devoted for years.
ALEX LEIGH, q young nava! Of.
fcer.
TED 3AUNQERs. hopeless sutton
for Didna's hand.
SYLVIA BENNETT, friend OF
Dtdra's. inclined to cdtttshness."
DOCTOR MAXWELL BORDEN.
former noted Neto York physician, aud
CYNTHIA BORDEN, are peopl4
Nth mysterious past IN ,1hich Dale
and his dead uncle are somehoto con-
cerrsd Borden falls IN love pttA
Diana, Dale, pho finally finds her,
shous sions Of cdpituldtton 10 her ".
rssfsttble charm.
suspecting that Il Is Dominouex, ne
Doctor decides to take Diana dtcdy for
safety.
Arriving at the hotel In San Fron-
cisco, Diana finds Marjorie, pho tells
her thdt Sylvia Is starving divorce
oction against Ted as q result Of his
concern about Dtdnc's disappearance.
syIvia insiruates that there tods
romance back Of her disappearance.
she suggests that Dale Is the man.
Marjorie, being urdndre Of this, de-
cides TO accept his proposal Of mar
rage made fifteen years before.
Dale Informs Diana that Dorsinouer,
toho Is stopping at the same hotel, toiH
shortly be arrested.
WhIs Marjorie is entertaining the
Bordens and Aler's uncle at dinner.
Ted Saunders joins them. Syluio
comes upon the party Unexpectedly.
In an effort to get back a "fdke" lore
letter ,rhich she tcrote Johnston chile
at Dominoues's house, Diana enters
the SpGnidrds room during his Go-
sence.
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18
Continued from Yesterday.

Apparently you weren't the only
one who was similarly stricken"
said Marjorie grimly.
Diana knew she was thinking of
the admiral and his open admira-
ton of Cynthia Borden.
Poor Marjorie, To lose two de-
voted admirers in one day was
playing in hard luck.
As Marjorie and Diana were
ascending the steps Of the hotel
they passed three men coming
down.
One Of them walked with grace
full swing between the other two
who were keeping close beside him.
At sight of the two women, no
stopped. swept off his hat and
bowed low. BY the electric lights
Of the porte cochere, Diana recog-
nized Dominguez. though he was
swathed in a light ulster drawn
high and close about his face. Only
his flashing smile was visible. but
his carriage was as carelessly
Janty as ever.
Diana glanced back over her
shoulder as she followed Marjorie
through the revolving doors
i''lllAllB utE was Cd D,
the two men close at his heels.
who was that man who bowed
to you?" asked Marjorie. Another
OF the yictims?'
Tt was Dominguez. He is being
taken away to answer a charge Of
murder"
Good Heavens! And that terri
Bile creature dared to make love 10
youi How awful"
Diana shrugged.
TT has tinEe Of romance. some
how" she protested. Il suppose a
man can love even II he does kill
somebody. Besides the man he
killed had been insulting to me-"
Marjorie was speechless for
moment.
TT gets worse and worse" she
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18
THE INVOLUNTARY VAMP

declared finally with a despairing
gesture. When will we ever hear
the last of the consequences of your
stay in New Mexicor
Diana was silent for a moment,
then:
I'm sorry they got him." she
said.
Got whom"
'Dominguez. I hate to see a pic
turesque creature like that lose
out"
He is a menace. If 1 were in
your place and he had set his heart
bn me. l shouldn't have a peaceful
moment as long as he was at
large"
Maybe you're right" shrugged
Diana. "But-I-don't-know ,
Memories.
She was seeing again the moon
light across the desert country
from the balcony of a Spanish
house. Behind her, in the patio. she
was hearing fountain splash
unsteady while an unseen bird
wove a magic melody. \ handsome
Spaniard leaned toward her. his
liquid voice pleading, his dark eyes
cleaning with the fires of his emo
ton.
Diana shrugged away the vision.
80 that is the end of that" she
told herself as she prepared to re-
tire. 'Dominguez will go out like
an extinguished candle and FL
shall be the prosaic wife OF a mid
dle-aged doctor travelling about
from one foreign port to another.
intent only in passing my days and
keeping out OF the way of former
acquaintance. What curious
thing life has turned out to be-"
But after she had turned out the
light and was tossing restlessly on
her pillows. she began to wonder
what life would hold for her II
Alex Leigh refused to let her go.
b Somehow that possibility had never
occurred to her before. She had
invariably achieved her own way
and the thought that young Leigh
might have definite views OF his
own on the subject was by way OF
a startling conjecture.
Thinking IL over calmly in the
dark of her room while she idly
traced a pattern in the reflection OF
a street light on the ceiling. she
almost believed that she would pre-
fer Alex to hold her to her bar
gain.
Somehow. Doctor Borden was DIFF
ferent in San Francisco. She
couldn't define it, hut the resolu-
ton to be his wife which had
seemed comparatively easy in New
Mexico was scarcely tolerable in
California He was gradually
ceasing to be a romantic and tragic
figure and was becoming more and
more the middle-aged doctor, whose
past held a specter.
Perpexities.
Then too. Marjorie would raise a
terrible row when she heard OF her
intention to marry Borden. But
there was no way out, unless Alex
Insisted on his claim. She had
given her promise to Cynthia and IT
would be too brutal to cause her.
or the doctor. more suffering than
they had already endured.
Still ponderinE over her dificul-
ties. Diana fell asleep without
having reached a solution.
1t was morning when some sound
awoke her.
She opened a sleepy eye and per-
ceived Marjorie in a dressing gown
at the phlone in the sitting room.
Indistinctly she heard her aunt say:
I'll be down as soon as l can
dress. Order breakfast for us both
please"
The admiral" thought Diana
sleepily. What an unearthly hour.
Marjorie didn't lose him last night
after all"
Then she went back to sleep.
Therese awoke her some time
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18

later. Her breakfast was on a tray
and beside 1t lay a card.
re gentleman he wait in yonder
an hour maybe" Therese motioned
toward the closed door of the sit
ting room. .t.
What gentleman" Diana picked
UP the card. her heart leaping at
the thought that Shephen Dale
might be her early caller.
II was the card Of the newspaper
reporter who had already inter-
viewed her once.
What now?" she thought, as she
slipped her chocolate.
Suddenly she remembered Domin.
guez.
Had the story OF his arrest
reached the papers already? Had
the reporter remembered him as the
man who had met them at
luncheon yesterday? How awful II
her name should be dragged into
the murder story, Marjorie would
rave then,
She sprans. up and rang for
Therese.
Tell the young man that will
be in directly. Then draw my bath
as quickly as you can and lay out
a frock. Hurry"
In an incredibly brief time Diana
was dressed and ready to receive
her morning visitor. Her reflection
in the mirror told her that she
looked unusually pale. Perhaps IL
was the flaming copper OF her hair
against her dark frock. Therese
had given her a simple little gown
of black chiffon. undeniably be-
coming.
She reached for Marjorie's rouge.
but decided on second thought, that
perhaps her pallor would be ap-
pealing. II she looked desperately
weary and distract. perhaps he
would grant her another favor to-
day and keep her name out OF the
Dominguez story.
She greeted him with a languid
smile and sank onto the chaise
tongue. motioning him to chair
opposite.
He seemed very subdued
TT was awfully good OF you to
see me. Mrs. Leigh. I scarcely ex-
pected II under the circumstances,
but you were so kind about talk
ing to me before that I told the
chief I thought ! could get a state
ment from you. guess you'd
rather the papers got the story
straight than to have garbled ac-
count. wouldn't you?"
Diana's heart sank.
Her worst fears were to be real
ICED then. They had connected her
with the Dominguez story.
Please" she fsltered. Must
be in the story? ] had nothing
whatever to do with the tragedy,
l assure you"
"Sure. I know" he said sym
pathetically. But as his widow"
Widow Diana sat up electri-
fed. "Dominguez's widow%
"Dominguez's? He'll. no.-(Beg
pardonD Not Dominsuezs, Young
Leigh's.
For a moment Diana remained
staring at the newspaper reporter
es II she thought he had taken
leave of his senses.
Then she leaned back and said
quietly:
We seem to be talking at cross
purposes. Suppose you tell me all
about it,
He shrugged.
We'll. of course you already
know all the details. But the ques-
ton is: What made him do it,
Do you know the motive. by any
chance? A guy like him with luck
Just bounding him doesn't go bump
ing off in a cheap Chicago hotel
without a mighty big motive. And
so far. they haven't found any.
That's why I came to you. and be-
lieve me, Mrs. Leigh. it isn't job
I relish. I wouldn't wish il on
my best pal coming around asking
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18

she wasn't responsible for all this
ghastty tangle. And yet-would
any OF these unfortunate men be
as they were today IL she had never
entered their lives?
Dimly she heard Marjorie's voice
In the next room and waited for her
to come and tell the whole pitifui
story. but presently the door into
the corridor closed and there was
silence Plainly Marjorie had taken
the young reporter downstairs, pos
sioly to TAX to the admiral.
Z Therese came in after a while
and reused her from her revery.
re admiral. he wish to see you"
Diana got up and went over to
the dressing table. brushing
powder puff absently across her
face. though there were no marks
Of tears. She rather wished she
had been able to cry. 1t seemed
heartless to face the admiral. dry
eyed. He had so adored his only
nephew,
He was awaiting in the sitting
room. hat in hand. A light coat
was thrown over his arm and he
was drawing on his gloves. Evil
IDENTIFY he was about to leave.
Sensational News.
said no word. only looked at her
with Rrief-stricken eyes.
Diana went over to him and
raised her young mouth for his
kiss.
I'm so sorry" ne whispered.
"Oh. I'm SO Sorry
His hands fell heavily on her
shoulders. but still he said nothing.
Isn't there anything can do?"
she asked.
He shook his head.
Il am going TO Chicago on the
eleven o'clock train. will do
all that is to done. wanted TO
see you to warn you not to make
any statement to the press. We
owe II TO my boys memory to
cover this as much as possible"
why did he do it?" whispered
Diana. why"
The admiral made no reply. but
in his eyes. grown suddenly stern.
she read an accusation from which
she shrank.
When he had gone. she wandered
about restlessIy.
Where was Marjorie. why
didn't she come and tell her what
had really happened? She had not
had the heart to ask the admiral.
She wandered II anyone else
knew outside the family. Surely
the Bordens would have come to
her IL they had heard. And Steve.
But OF course, he had taken
midnight train. He would learn
the news in Chicago. Sylvia and
Ted had probably not heard
She smiled wryly at thought ~
Sylvia. No doubt when she did
-.
first action would be to set sail
for the Orient, dragging Ted re-
lentlessly along. Diana free. would
he too great a peril. according to
Sylvis's distorted reasoning.
The morning papers were lying
still unfloded on the table.
She picked up one. wondering II
there could possibly be a dispatch
from Chicago.
What she saw brought forth an
exclamation.
In big headlines on the front
page she read:
Murder Suspect Escapes"
Thrilling Rescue OF Mexican Bandit
BY Confederstes,
Two Detectives Fatally Hurt,
Diana scanned the story hur-
riedly.
II told briefly how several
masked and ahmed men had coolly
held up a taxi bearing Dominique
and two detectives. and had taken
the Spaniard> away under the very
nose of the detectives and several
police officers in the vicinity. In
to the time OF going TO press no
trace had been found OF the missing
prisoner.
Diana smiled. She heard his soft
insinuative voice saying:
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18

There Is a ship in the hsrbor.
She sail at daybresk for JavsT
Undoubtedly Dominguez was all
ready for away at sea!
I'm glad he got away" Diana
told herself. as she laid down the
paper containing the story OF
DomihgueI's flight That makes
one less degree OF guilt on my
soul"
She looked at the tiny travelling
clock on the desk.
"Eleven-thirty! What can be
keeping Msrjorie?"
The telephone rang. She sprang
to answer IL.
Mr.. Dale calling" announced the
operator downstairs.
II was unthinkable that she a
nav made widow, should feel such
JOY at the very mention OF stephen
Dsle's name.
And yet. why should she be
hypocritical: She had loved Dale
with Alex living; was it any more
wrong to love him with Alex
dead?
Ask Mr.. Dale to come up" she
told the girl.
Strangely enough. the sight OF
Dale, grave-eyed, unsmiling
brought the first tears.
When he entered the room, she
stood quite still for q moment, a
slender lonely little figure in her
black gown. Then she went
slowly over TO him and laying her
head on his shoulder, gave way TO
sobs.
He made no motion to take her
in his arms. He merely stood
quietly. letting her cry, without
expression Of sympathy. though his
hand stroked her bright head
buried in the rough tweed OF his
coat.
Finally she raised her head. dry
ing her eyes with her wisp OF
Handkerchief.
How did you know" she asked.
II got mixed up in this Domin-
guez investigation and ! was down
at newspaper office early this
morning. An old friend Of mine is
city editor and when the story
came in from Chicago. he asktd
me about it. knowing I was a
friend OF the admirsrs"
Diana twisted her hcndk erchief
in nervous fingers.
What happened" she asked
quietly. Nobody has troubled to
tell me"
nc looked at ner Sharply
Where is Marjorie"
Diana shook her head
She is very displeased with me.
YOU know. J dare say. she hlames
this-this latest tragedy on me
too"
I'm sorry" he was beg inning.
but Llama made an impatient gest-
Never mind. Marjorie. Tell me
what happened"
He lit a cigarette before reply
ing.
Nenger Details.
We don't know very much yet
lie said carefully. All the de-
spatch stated was that Lieut.. Leigh
had been found in a room at the
hotel. The circumstances proved
suicide beyond a doubt. No motive
had yet been attributed"
How long" Diana finished the
question mutely
He had been dead about twenty
four hours, according to the coro-
ner but he had been registered
there for several weeks"
Then" Diana raised hopeful
eyes, Il couldn't be 10 blame. could
J. Steve? Alex couldn't have been
! was lost in New Mexico. Surely
concern for me didn't take him
TO Chicago"
of course not. dear" he said
soothingly. Don't ever let that
thought enter your mind
But OF course" Diana went on
as II arguing with herself. OF
course he might have become
frightened at the thought OF court
martial because he LEFT his post
OF duty without leave. And il was
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18

brutal questions at a time like this.
I Just want to tell you one thing
I'm ready to fall down and worship
at your feet for the way you're
taking II. I'll say you're some
little brickw
Diana smiled dryly.
Thank you," she said. In re-
turn for that compliment / would
like to help you, but unfortunately
! am less informed even than you.
II you will wait a moment, how
ever, I will summon my aunt. !
believe she will be able to give
You the information you want"
She rose and went to the tele-
phone. outwardly calm. Her brain
was too numb for conjecture. She
had only one thought: Majorie was
undoubtedly breakfasting with the
admiral. who would know the
particulars. 1t was evidently news
OF the tradegy which had brought
about that early call. They were
probably even now discussing the
probabilities OF keeping the whole
affair as quiet as possible. When
they had perfected their plans, they
would probably have the gracious
ness to inform her that she was
widow
Widow,
She raised her head suddenly,
telephone receiver to her ear. II
was as though she had heard an
unwelcome voice.
Mixed Emotions.
Now she was free to marry, And
she was promised to Doctor Borden!
She shut her eyes suddenly, as
II to crush out the thought. 1t
was terrible to contemplate
second marriage within the first
minute after she had learned Of her
hrst husbands tragic death.
And she was not perhaps re-
sponsible for that death.
Suicide! What could have made
Alex take. his own life. Was IL
fear OF court martial at his absence
without leave?
II so. she. and she only was to
blame.
Mechanically. she spoke into the
telephone transmitter asking that
Miss Langley be PACED in the
breakfast room. Still mechanically.
she informed the uneasy reporter
that he aunt would talk to him.
She excused herself. and. like one
walking in a dream. went out to
the other room. smiling polite &C
Acknowledgement Of his preferred sym
pathy
Her reflection in the pier glass
caused her to start.
Had some prescience warned
Therese to garb her in black
She sank into a chair by the
window and sat staring out across
the square where hurrying pedes-
TRANS made their way to the city's
ONCE buildings.
She could hnd no grief in her
heart and yet she was numb before
the catastrophe. She even forgot
to be curious. 1t was enough to
know that her husband. whom only
last night she feared might not
give her a divorce. had probably
even then been lying dead in an
obscure Chicago hotel.
The sacrilege of 1t made her shud-
der. She wished she could cry
Surely in her heart there must be
some sorrow for the clean-cut young
officer whom she had married on
one bright day in June. not so
many months before.
But try as she would, she could
summon no real grief
Alexis face was vague and in
distinct to her memory. When she
made an attempt to call 1t up from
the past, she could only remember
his scowl on that last day when
she had chatted and laughed with
Lynn Johnston on the train.
Lynn Johnston, Another one,
How the grim sable shape OF
Tragedy was pursuing her! And
there was Dominguez facing a muir
der charge,
Diana buried her face in her
hands.
1t was terrible, terrible. Surely
The Washington herald., 1921-12-18
By Mildred K. Barbour

to search for me that he did that
wasn't it?" she asked, with child
ish simplicity.
Please. Disnar Dale got I'D ana
came over TO her.
He laid a firm hand on her
shoulder.
Don't distress yourself with
thinking such things needIessly.
The whole mystery undoubtedly
will be solved soon. Try not 70
think of IL until we know some
thing"
But weren't any letter. founof
! thought people who committed
suicide always wrote letters"
There was no mention ~ them
he told her, but the admiral will
find out and let you know At once.
/ met him in the lobby just now
on his way TO the train"
He pstted her shoulder resssur-
ingiy.
Now must 60. little girl"
he said with a brisk change OF
tone Sorry not 20 have sec,
Marjorie. Convey my sympathy 20
her. will you? And try not 10
distress yourself Keep a brsv.
front"
He flushed a little as h. resli.
zed that the hypocrisy OF this ad-
monition. This was hardly a cas.
for coincidence. except insofar a.
any tragic death is lsmentsble
He picked up his gloves and
stick and started for the door. Re.
fore he opened ~, he turned aad
looked back at Diana
shattered Hope.
She sat disconsolstely in a chat
by the window. her slim hands
folded in her black CARRIED Ian
Except for the bright coppery hair
she was a somber little fggre. No
trace there Of the breaker O.
hearts,
Because she did not look W. ns'.
was ahla 10 look at her with a.
his longing heart in his ewes. H
hesitated moment and thea he
said quietly:
Diana. forgive me n this seems
a brutal time to mention such q
thing but-your enCaremen. o..
Doctor Borden-that is suthe-r...
is II not?"
Diana flushed
Why Of course" she SAID r.s,,-
" I promished 70 MARY tie
doctor as soon as Alex would eve
me my freedom. Oh il g. 3. te--
i"ie 70 get II IN thls "SN. she
why do YOU ask" she looked
up suddenly at Dale
The announcement % yogr i--
tontion last niEht took my breath
away hadn't known that y-4
'oHleHlpla'ea Sl"h a thi1C fsr1
this morning. J thought IT must te
S'Ii'' S'i' %. J"fe-Intl No."
,.ana sn.."d saalN
40 u not a Joke. rhs sa'1
or ~ 4 Is. IL 8 grim sort % -es''
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-06-03
DEAN OF UNIVERSITY FLAYs
GEORGE HARVEY.

Charlotte, N. c.. May so.1"Were
Mr.: George Harvey hundred times
ambassador to the court of St
James, / still would say that no
spoke with the tongue Of Ananias
and with the heart Of Judas" declar
ed DR.. Plato T. Durham, dean of
Emory University, Atlanta, facing the
graves of soldiers who died during
the world war. in memorial address
here today.
"He seems to dispute with Bene-
dict Arnold the evil eminence of
treason, DR.. Durham continued, ad-
dressing, in the cemetery, an I'M
usually large assemblage composed
OF veterans of the World War and
OF other wars and of civilians.
Continuing his reference to the
utterances of Ambassador Harvey at
the Pilgrims dinner in London, DR.,
Durham exclaimed:
His sentiments shall not coil like
poisonous serpent over the ashe.
Of our devoted dead; he shall not
lift the white crosses Mt their h,ads
among the ignominious trophies OF
materialistic cynicism. - All hail
TO you the living and to you who
sleepl All hail to your great com
mander-in-chief, who raised the stan.
dard OF American idealism against
the earth's embattled selfishness
Woodrow Wilsonp