davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1922-01-01
Boards LAST SWEETHEART PUT HIS LOVE TO THE TEST

into this effort Landru had gone
intellectually and staked his
reputation as a man Of taste.
On opening my serviette found
an unusual object in my hand. It
was little jewel case. looked
at my fiance. he let me under
stand that this present was in
tended for me. Very, happy,
opened the little morocco covered
case and found lying glittering in
the satin. like two glow-worms in
the grass, pair Of splendid dia-
mond earrings.
asked permission to put them
on at once. Landru made no re-
mark, but his radiant face showed
his satisfaction.
We did full justice to this excel
lent repast. He had taken q GER
tain sly satisfaction in selecting an
assortment of the most famous
wines, and am sure that the gayety
and animation Of the dinner were
considerably augmented thereby.
We left him about midnight, com
pletely treasured. and my sleep that
night was full of the pleasantest
dreams of recaptured happiness.
A VISIT TO GAMBAIs.
The days that followed were not
without incidents Of all kinds, and
were most stirring. Paris was In a
fever of excitement. Big Bertha"
had begun its murderous work.
Every night, death-bringing Gothas
showered their terrible bombs upon
us.
On the morning Of the following
Sunday then. we left by train from
the Care des Invalides and got
out Mt Houdan. A he had taken
care TO include two bicycles In his
luggage, we cycled 10 the Hermit
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

piled that personally he had no rea-
son for rejoicing. because for him
the war was finishing too soon" As
I was astonished at this apparently
inexplicable heartlessness, he added
that his business affairs not being
completed, the cessation of hostili.
ties was going to create numerous
difficulties for him.
Some days afterward passed
about 6 o'clock beneath the windows
OF his fiat. and through the shutters
I seemed to see . ray Of light a.
terins. went UP, delighted with the
thought Of surprising him. knock.
ed discreetly several times, then.
getting no reply. opened the door
resolutely.
had scarcely crossed the thresh-
old when Landru rushed prectpi-
lately from his bedroom and stood In
front Of me to prevent me from
penetrating further. Just for fun I
tried laughinsly to force my way IN.
He stubbornly resisted these At
tempts. and the greater his resist
ance the greater became my desire
to discover what he was no tena-
ciously trying to hide from me.
Was at last going to know
the real reason Of the constant post
ponement Of our marriageH Was
at last going TO discover the fall
TRUTH
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

must insist On asserting hinssif.
She hadn't thought Of that
All her friends tried to dissuads
her. They told her-soms dali
catsiy. some violently-things about
him that she knew better than
they did
II Like his attitude toward wom-
en-" she sometimes explained
wearfly.
MY deari What . rsasonI You
Of all people"
"Just So" she said
Now there was q conspiracy Of
silence. No one said anything
ever.
MY life has become . sort Of
solitary confinement" sho laughed
drearily.
Their tact and her loyalty barred
the doors.
And he was . success! He was
Q member Of Parliament and
writer Of magazine stories.
COUNTESS CIIERIF,"
HER FRIENDS CALLED HER
One of his most successful stories
had been called Countess Cherie,"
and thus his friends playfully sd-
dressed her. It branded her. and
she WINS glad to be bathed by her
friends with the cool water Of her
own Christian name.
And all the time she was bound to
him by some indefinable physical
ue-not her passion for him, but his
reverence for her-or rather for her
body. She wondered II what she
gave into his tender, delicate keep
ing atoned for tho things he stole
and broke.
Tonight every nerve was or
ing out no." while those external
six words. II have only myself to
blame" hummed IN accompani-
ment-
She was waiting for him In her
charming boudoir. He had como In
late from the house and was dressed
for dinner.
In q detached why she was enjoy
ing the freight and her own apricot
tea gown. but she was too much
annoyed with him for changing to
enjoy either very much. Why
couldn't he have como In as he was7
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

train Of flowers at Nice" re-
marked to Lucien with a smile.
Happy at his triumph. and like
an artist judging the effect of his
work, he replied:
"Only one flower Is wanting,
Of them all; you know very well.
little Fernando. the most exquisite
of them all, you know very well
what I mean"
Blushing at this compliment. I
kissed Lucien to show my appre-
citation Of SO many attentions.
Without embarrassment he asked
us to be seated.
on large snow-white table
cloth, on which were garlands of
carnations. was laid sumptuous
spread. The glasses and crystal
sparkled-a multitude of little
glasses arranged In rows according
to size, which seemed to mount
guard In our honor. One felt that
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

He knew that wine should BE-
drunk with fish: and the Lord
Chamberlain himself had not a
more accurate knowledge Of the
laws Of precedence. He enjoyed
offering his arm to the lady Of
highest rank, even II she were one
Of his wife's supercilious relations.
He liked the sight of diamonds and
the sound of tities-though fortu-
nately he had never connected these
pleasures with their source.
Above all. he loved the moment
when, alone with the men, he could
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

you are at liberty, my dear little
Fernando. to make whatever use
you like of the villa. have told
you a thousand times that what be-
longs to me belongs to you, but am
very much afraid that here you will
have to struggle against the great
est difficulties in the way of obtain
ing provisions, and, on considera-
ton. I would advise you not to give
effect to your idea"
Feeling that was disappointed.
my fiance revealed to me, in q
very voluble manner, that the
country was short Of everything.
Despite the weight Of his argu-
ments. had a keen desire to stay
there for some time. felt de-
cidedly vexed. He did not urge the
point any further.
We returned to Paris. and found
that life there was becoming worse
daily. The German airships and
artillery left US no peace. so much
so that one day reported to
Landru my desire to go and live
at his residence at Gambais.
He quietly expressed his regret
and informed me that, being no
longer able for business reasons
to take advantage of his rustic
retreat, he had taken the chance
Of letting II for the autumn to a
friend who wanted IL for a shoot
ing.box. A few days later he left
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

age c1'Ermitage'J, for that was the
name Landru had bestowed on his
property.
1t was the time of year when the
fields were looking at their best. Side
by side we pedaled along, greedily
inhaling the fresh morning air, and
! felt as II born again. far from the
hubbub of Paris, in the peace and
quiet Of the country.
After having covered a number
of miles. Landru drew my attention
to a small villa in the distance al
most lost in foliage, and whispered
in a happy tone: There's my little
Paradise"
EXPLORING THE VILLA.
We dismounted and entered the
garden. which to me seemed very
large. absolutely neglected. Indeed
It was nothing more than a jumbled
mass Of tall. entangled weeds. How
ever, nearer the house, the flower
beds had been a little better kept.
Rose bushes with buds already turn
ing crimson, some geraniums and
rhododendrons mingled In a con-
fusion Of color.
Cutting a spray of lilac, Lucien
pinned It to my dress. / was en-
raptured, overcome, as Is every Pa
risian lady who has not many OPP
portunities for walks In the country.
You have already seen the pref.
test part" Landru said TO me.
The Washington times., 1922-01-01
Il HAVE ONLY MYSELF TO
BLAME"
By Princess A. BIbosco.
PuhiisAsA In the Hearst papers ~
permission
OsDyright 1891, by George H DsraA
Oompany. All rights reserved
HAVE sniy myself to blame"
She had said II to horseH %


oftsn that. onos abe set the
words going they went on repeatinS
Themselves automatically till she
forced herself to turn than of ~
II they were . gramophons record
In . way they had ceased to mean
anything. but she tried to give
their sense back to them by re-
psating each word slowly and forci-
bly, concentrating her mind
Myself. myself. myself she
said. self-Accusation had become
her ono form Of relaxation
There had been % many reasons
why she shouldn't marry .him and
only one reason why she should
If IL could be called . reason
She was tho FIRST person he had
ever loved. He had trembled when
he touched her. His spasms Of
passion had bean like spasms of
pain. his taco contorted and his
voice rough. and then thers had
followed intervals Of wretohed shy
ness. When he had thought Of
possessing her he had become .
saint waiting for . divine mani
6sstation.
MIRACLE THAT WON HER
PHYSIOLOGICAL FACT.
II was this Transformation Of an
ordinary physiological fact into .
snifacie that won her. She could
see inevitability-in desire. in tri-
umph, In failure. Hers was the
mans attitude. He lifted her into
the region Of the ridiculous and
the sublime.
'Your privacy is sacred" he
said. Everything that you give
me Il divine. But It 10 . gift
have no rights"
She could not resist the thought
Of being married to q monk. He
had made no vows concerning her
spirit. her mind. her habits. These
he was free to violate. Here he
The Washington times., 1922-01-01
Princess Bibesco's Book
Deals Frankly With [ life

TLOSE on the heels of the publication of the anaaz-
~ ingy frank diary Of her mother. Mrs. Margot As
qit ,ofe of the former Prime Minister of Great Britain
the Princess Antoine Bibesco their daughter Elizabeth
AsQuh sfe of Prince Bibesco the Rumanian Minister
to Washngton, has published book equally frank
titled ~ Hovs Only Myself to Blane."
Inhertng all the Rvey Uit and keen analysts Of her
csver mother she has added to this collection of brilliant
abort stories grace and pquaney all her They give
defntsly fresh vieaO of life and Hui9 by observer
ohose perceptions keyed to top NOTCH The book
dedicated to her husband By special arrangement The
Washington Times is enabled to publish se-aly Sun
doy commencing today, of the most Interesting
chopters of Princess Bibesco's book.
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

push round the decanters. offer
cigars Of varying lengths and equal
though different perfection, and
dominate the conversation. He
liked to tell a good story and even
to listen to one. His love Of a
prompt retort was not confined to
those he made himself. He was
genuinely fond Of his fellow
creatures. loyal to his friends and
ready to do a good turn to anyone.
He had a rigid sense OF honor
which consisted Of variations on
the theme OF You should never
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

departure. Horace came back into
the room and shut the door. THIS.
az his wife knew. was the herald
OF q scene. Yawning and stretch
ing herself. she set light to his
anger. God, what an evening! I
was too bored even to listen to what
I was saying myself"
You were lucky. Il fortunately
heard every word you said"
HE APOLOGIES
FOR BEING DULL.
IT must apologize for having been
almost as dull as Mr.. Donald. Such
is infection" ,-. ...-. .,.,. ,&f
Henry is an excellent fellow and
a charming companion. With your
amiable desire to distress and en-
barrass my friends, I realize that
you deliberately chose to discuss
such enthralling topics as the
sexual education OF girls an your
uncIe's nameless children"
What extraordinary language you
use about my poor cousins. but n
I talked too much about my family, /,
i am sorry. II Is a most tiresorns
habit" 80 ~.
Deliberately she was infuriating
him. drawing at him with perfect
control Of her temper.
You will please realize that I
am master in my own house." he as
serted irrelevantly. ...
''Of course. dear. Let us 70 to
bed"
He strobe to the door and locked
II.
Not until you have apologizsd."
Il apologize" She was smiling
at him. a calm, amused smile.
Thank YOU" She bowed her
head as she left the room. The
gesture of queen in a carriage.
He was frustrated, impotent,
furious. She deserves to be
smacked," he said to himself, and
then remembered that no man ever
struck woman.
She undressed and wondered
whether he would come up to bed.
She felt very tired and the evening
had been a complete failure. She
had behaved childishly and in a way
that she was forced TO admit was
rapidly becoming characteristic. In
a way Henry ought to have helped
them. he had absolutely nothing to
say to her husband when they were
alone. She heard Horace's footsteps
on the stairs. He paused and knock.
ed at her door.
You baby" he said. "how young
you look with your hair down. May
I sit in your armchair for a mo.
ment?"
She pushed It nearer the fi-. and
got on his knee. With the cvsiing
capacity Of a cat she fitted herself
into his arms. Suddenly she began
to cry.
Horace" she said, I'm 30 lone.
ly. so terribly lonely.
He kissed her and soothed her and
mesmerized her. Then he lifted her
into bed. She dreamt that she and
Horace and Lord and Miss Gardiner
and Freud were talking about girls
schools and then Henry arrived,
saying Here Is Toodles," and Hor-
ace said, I'VE will not pollute this
port with smoke" and she answered.
Il have only myself to blame"
IOther interesting stories from
Princess Bibesco's hook will appear
I'm succeeding issues Of The Wash
ington Times
The Washington times., 1922-01-01
The Night of the Armistice Landru SteadfaStly
Refused TO Permit His Fiancee to View What
Mysterious Objects HE Had Concealed i'm His
Apartments.
Copyright 1917
BY MILE. FERNANDO SECRET.

GO that there should be misunderstanding
between u.s. and to dspel all shadows of doubt about
him that might still exist in my mothers mind sug-
gested to him day the idea of celebrating the annver
sary Of first meeting by little reunion, at which my
mother, grandmother and myself would be present.
The Washington times., 1922-01-01

1--WE publish today the third installnent
of one of the most human narratives ever
written. 1T is the personal experience of
Mile. Fernando SECRET, who was am intimate
friend of Landru, the French Bluebeard.
The Washington times., 1922-01-01
By PRINCESS BIBESCOy

III hA@h WhOH nc - ooWhs
"You should never question q serv-
anti you should not look 1t
the envelopes Of your wife's let
ters." When he lost q game he
was always the first to congratu-
late the winner with the invariable
formula. 1.-THE best man won"
Victorious. he never omitted to
say You were q bit off color. old
chap,"'to his defeated opponent.
He preferred cricket and rugby
to lawn tennis and golf. "Team
work, there's nothing like IT," was
his watchword. He believed In a
Judicious mixture Of ornaments
and economy. imperialism and free
trale. He believed in the weak
ness Of women, he believed in not
believing In God. He was shocked
by corporal punishment and prosti-
tuition. and he had never quite been
able to make up his mind about
vivisection.
HE THOUGHT FREUD
WAS AN IMPOSTER.
He thought Freud an imposter.
He loved animals. he was on the
wine committee Of his club. He
was good son. q good brother. a
good husband. q good citizen. and
a good friend. 80
OF all these things Catherine
was devastatingiy conscious. She
watched the two men and listened
to them in q desultory, disposition
ate way. Their conversation was
so full Of niclxnames that II re-
minded her Of the social letter in
the Taller. Some Of them she
suspected were inaccurate. Unim-
peachabis Johns and Williams be-
came Jacks and Bills.
A weil-known feminist whose
Margaret" was a trumpet call to
continents emerged from q wrap
ping Of Maggie" The chancellor
of tho exchequer as "Toddles' was
revealed by subsequent sidelights.
why should mind. What does
II matter? Why do listen?"
thought Catherine. my chatter
box IL very silent" Horace laid
his hand on hers. "and she knows
she only enjoys herself when she
Is talking q lot"
Don't mind him; Mrs. Little. He
is Jealous Of your superior CONVEX
sational gifts"
Don't mind him: don't mind
him. she reflected. What excellent
advice. she smiled.
How is your wtfe7" she in
quirsd
Much better, Mrs. Dittle, much
better, thank you. She is look
ing forward to paying her respects
to you when she comes to town"
Why did he keep repeating her
name like a nursery governess7
And the children?" she per.
sisted.
VERY well. thank you, Charley
boy IL going to school next term"
How dreadful for his poor
mother"
well, II win be rather . wrench
for her. Mrs. Little. but the time
has come for him to be made a
man Of"
There was a pause. Catherine
thought. why does one always
want to listen and to interrupt at
the Same time II one il amused,
or to do neither II ono isn't7
Horace thought, 'She always
tries to make my friends seem
dun.
VISITOR FAILS TO SEE
SIGNS OF WIT.
Henry thought. Charming fem
inine woman. Mrs. Little. but
dashed II I've ever seen any of
that wit people talk about
shall you send your daughter
to school. too. or have q govern
ess7" Catherine painfully pursued
the topic Of the young Donalds'
education, which interested no one.
not even their father.
Its a very difficult question.
isn't TT Rather lonely for an only
-
The Washington times., 1922-01-01
81 HAVE ONLY MYSELF TO BLAME" =

THE door opened and he ap-
peared-very immaculate She
would have felt more forgiving had
he been more untidy.
1T must apologize for having kept
you waiting. ...... ..
you shouldn't have changed"
~ disapprove of man who
thinks he can be az dirty and untidy
as he likes. simply because he 10 at
home. Besides" he took her hand
and kissed It. "I like to show some
consideration for my wife,"
How well she knew this comedy
Of formality that was his idea Of
fine manners.
Dinner was announced. He gave
her his arm.
"A very good wine. my Cath
rine." He slipped his claret.
"It is always like that. Every
thing that belongs to him he con-
socrates by possessing It," she
thought angrily.
He enjoyed his dinner and his
own conversation. By including
her In his complscency he did his
duty to his wife.
II met Henry Donald today and
asked him to como in after dinner.
He II staying tho night At his club
instead of going back to the
country
mo wonder with . wife IKE
that to 30 back to-
Mrs. Donald 10 . friend Of
mine" He had got his stern. smile
proof look.
TWO THOUSAND POUNDS
MADE A DIFFERENCE.
Possibly. But hardly . fAvortts
Of his. I can't think why he mar
rted her. though I suppose her
$4,000 . year made . great differ
ence to him At that time"
Catherine. I forbid you to say
such coarse. cruel things- Henry
L. devoted to his wife"
well. II he were It would b. to
his discredit"
She realized what . particularly
silly argument II waa-
II could almost hate you when
you talk Like that"
And I have no redseminS two
thousand . year."
His look Of horror disarmed her
a little.
Don't look 20 mortified. Il would
DO very nice II had"
II hope I am able to support my
wife"
IT think you stand her wonder
fully well. on the whole"
That was not what l meant"
She had made him too cross to b
bantered back into sunniness. .
Don't you wish she spent . little
moro on her clothes? Her shoes
always look ~ II they were recon-
mended by q chiropodist."
He did not smile.
Mrs. Donald Is . good. loyal.
simple woman. AZ the wife of a
very dear friend Of mine she Is
sacred to me-"
well. IseouId wish for his sake
that she were . little moro secular
and alluring.
DEMANDED HIS WIFE
TO SHUN CRITICISM.
Catherine" his voice was firm,
"there are certain things that
have the right to exact from my
wife: one 10 that she should keep
her bitter tongue OF my friends."
And their wives and their
cousins and mistresses."
''Catheriner'
Didn't you know that people
had mistresses7"
Mr.. Donaldr Tho announcement
was a relief.
Good evening. Mr.. Donald. I
am SO glad to sec you"
You have como just in time for
some port A most excellent wine.
You will not be allowed to smoke
until you have finished it."
HORACE was in his element. He
reveled in his duties a. Q host.
A CIT 0NNT
The Washington times., 1922-01-01
MARGOT ASQUITH'S
DAUGHTER AMAZES
BY HER NEW BOOK

Revelations i'm This Collection of Brilliant Short
Stories Give a Fresh View of Life and Living
by am Observer Whose Perceptions Are Keyed
to TOP Notch-Dedicated to Her Husband.
The Washington times., 1922-01-01
LONDON SOCIETY TALK
.SKILLFULLY PARODIED
BY AMAZING STORIES
Persiflage and Cynlcism in Witty Dialogues Char
acterize Writer'S Work-Traces of Oscar
Wilde's Singing AphorismS Fashioned to Fiji
Mayfair Gossip of Today Are Noted.

W.
send her to a school where she
might er-hear things"
The hesitation ana the blush
were too much for Catherine. -
"You ought to talk to her quite
frankly" she said firmly. Facts
are only disgusting II they are
limited at and sniggered at and
yelled. SO that they become the
center of perverted imaginings and
ignorant curiosity"
HORACE was Mortified by the
turn the conversation had
taken.
by the way" he interviewed
hastily r'what way" she won
dered). II met your uncle Workman
on the street"
who WITH"
Miss Gardiner"
"A sweetly pretty girl" Henry
was glad to be off the rocks. 81
saw Lord Workman escort her onto
the terrace the other day. A
charming picture they made. He
is a most neutrality-suspicious.
man."
They are certainly amazingly
alike"
They are surely not related?"
Henry could easily have graduated
for the College of Heralds.
Catherine raised her eyebrows.
"oh, didn't you know? She is his
daughter"
Really, Catherine, how can you
talk in such a disgusting way
about your uncle"
Horace was furious. But II
isn't disgusting. Uncle George
lived with Mrs. Gardiner for years.
Everyone knows-why shouldn't he.
poor man? His wife has been
shut up as lunatic for ages"
"She Is still his wife in the
eyes of the law"
Really. Horace. considering that
you don't believe in God you really
have taken on all the intolerance
Of all the churches in the world"
Again they had reached an i'm.
passe. One of Horace's rules Of
behavior was Never argue with
your wife I'm the company Of a
third person." He couldn't begin a
''by-the-way" again, and he was
profoundly grateful when Henry
said:
LIFE FULL OF TRAGEDIES:
SHOULD BE CHARITABLE.
Life is full Of tragedies. We
should try to Judge charitably."
This unanswerable truth created
a new silence. broken first by
Horace offering his guest q cigar.
and then Catherine asking IL the
telephone rates were really to be
raised.
II know I shall start talking
about diseases II this atmosphere
lasts much longer" she said to her
self.
At last Henry rose to say good
night. Tho relief at his impending
departure brought such a rush of
conversation. Suddenly they were
all full Of things they were long.
ing to say. Speaking all together
they shouted one another down.
laughing and talking twenty to the
dozen.
Drowned in the noisy cordially
Of their good-bys, Henry took his
Auttaja. [volume] (Ironwood, Mich.) 1906-19??, 1922-05-04

b~uorseieen. Siell6 oil pastori z.
Sum meni noita tuttuio mieraito
tpnStaan, fun be poraatiportista
iiidan asteliwat. SO tuului thus.
tauS: "Snfo pulpelijn fotona?"
Bastori tuli minaa futiumoon. @s.
hiin Ills beio6n eteeniG. Sept ianot.
tim minulle: "Sina l6bbat beti me-.
o1n milfanamme". "Wfibin aiiot.
'te bdnet mieoG?" fpipi postori. Sii.
ben be ropbfeGsti wastaiimat: Isl.
nun ei tarpitie iitG tiat1G."
@oittefo naipistoa, mibin MT lGb
oettiin minla miem1Gn? Tappilan
labeiippbesiG' on fauniS fallio ipn-
fGm metiGn fesfellG. SiellG olin II.
iein feialld fGpnpt ppbiiin joutobet-
fiani miettGmGsiG. So iinne oil MT
fin mentGwG = ppsipmiesten ieli-
rosia. @nnen lGbtoa pppiin fuiten-
fin iaaoa lanoa bpmGstit. Siiben
annettiin llipa. SpmG liifutis NAL.
tail faiffien mielet find bettena.
@iimefii menin manban roipastin
llto, iofa mafaii iairaana. SGn ei
iaanlit ianaa ianotufii waan itfi
Ganeen. Bastori g., jofa riein oil
pl1bunut miniille ruffaaSta Seeiuf-
festa, pppii ieiirata minlia, jonfun
matfoa. Siibenfin "iuostuttiin, ia
min IGbbimme nstelemaan. @arti-
ioiben taluttamana tGptpi minltn
fllfea, mttta jofa asfeleella firulin