davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20
By
RICHARD WASHBURN CHILD,
Diplomat and Author

| why left home. Well, see the re-
| suit
| Result" asked John. what re-
sult?"
Here / am. able TO buy you out
! dozen times over. Able to turn my
| back on worry and 60 out to the
orient and live and Ae there. Well.
I ask you-what you would have done
IL had come to you after all these
| years in trouble and distress. Like
enough you would have said, Mil
burn, after all, you are my brother
and I will see you through Do you
deny it?"
The brother was silent.
| Milburn swallowed two or three
times as II he had a desire to restore
his heart to its usual place.
We'll, there you are" he said to
Celia. you see? The same old fool.
| That's all. / can't stand this any
more. I'm going"
"Milburn!'
YES, 1 am. I've said my say"
They looked at him utterly aston
| ished. Ns&
At the door he turned. He said.
John. you are incorrigible"
He paused, twisting a ring from
one of his fat fingers.
Here" he said, grhffiy. Here
; Celia Here's something don't want.
Maybe your-your .hfst born will be
a boy. This ring belonged to father.
don't want IT, Monogram inside.
Heirloom. / don't want it. Always
reminds me Of John and his false,
mistaken fdet of family loyalty!"
| He felt the warmth of her soft
palm on his fingers even after he had
slammed the door He felt 1t creep
up into him as he stood hesitating
for a moTf1ent at the gate. staring at
the old, street lamps yellow cozy
! light III a misty halo over the black
street.
Perhaps a miracle. Sells was not in
sight Perhaps Sells had gone. Per-
haps Sells was the figure in COM
| pick. awful dream.
| No. Sells came out of the shadows
where the trees arched over the
| street. And that cadaver. Joe, with
his elongated. pasty face.
Well, how did you make it,"
Milburn shook his head.
Nothing doing. Not a cent" he
| said. He'd hardly listen to me"
The dickens!" said Joe in the man
ner of one TO whom no one ever pays
attention, no matter how violent his
phrases.
You amt going to make any trou-
. BILE, Mr.. Frode?" asked Sells. 81 mean
about going back with us?"
ooh, no." Milburn said. He could
still smell the aroma of baking bread,
and again he saw the tin cups ar
ranged along the greasy benches
They walked on.
1--WE can get train late tonight
Eyes"
Milburn looked about through the
mists and the darkness.
Very familiar" he said. even in
! the night--like the old, old days"
I'm very sorry, Mr.. Erode" Sells
told him. e
you needn't be- replied Milburn,
Listening TO the approaching whine
of the street car. .sJustice--lp
Beg pardon"
II was just saying that justice is
really quite a lovely lady when you
] begin to know her" q
! Icopyright, 1929
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

almost smart. He could sense faint
aroma of delicate perfume.
why, Milburn! Take of your coat.
How old you look. I don't mean that
only how much older than when !
saw you. was only . girl. can
hardly remember. Put It there In the
hall. Won't you sit DOWN
Yes"
He looked around the room. The
old tin-panny piano had gone. There
was nothing in that corner now ex-
cept the cabinet. with the ivory fan
and the silk slippers her great
grandmother wore at Monroe's inau-
suration. He ran his fingers around
his collar. seeking for relaxation from
embarrassment. seeking for room to
say words that would not form In
his mouth,
when did you coms7 e
Tonight I wanted - noe John--
ny brother JoAn,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

So this was John--this TALL grave
person with the lines of laughter
about his mouth. but a trace of hunt
| ed, anxious expression in his gray
eyes. No, one would ever know they
| were brothers.
do you know this man?" asked
| Celia Berton leading John away from
the chair in the hall where he had
| thrown his overcoat.
What man.
There" Her voice trembled. All
He stared. for a moment.
oh, Nil, Mil. MIL You've come
| back"
| He clutched Milburn's elbow, aazed
| into his eyes. searching for assurance
| of reality. uttering little incoherences
| in the back of his throat.
| 'Mil--you old rascal. You've come
back. We though you were"
"Dead?"
Yes. my brother my own brother.
Mni'
The other took Johns hand rather
| timidly.
| II guess you won't be so glad to see
me. John, when I'm through"
! What's the matter? You're back"
Not to stay, John" He looked at
his watch. II leave before midnight.
and I guess you won't like what I
say in any case"
Why not?"
/ With trembling hands Celia dragged
! another chair forward.
"No, I won't sit down." Milburn
said. mo, thanks. 1 suppose it may
seem strange to you, but somehow l
can't feel so stirred about this COM
| ing back-this meeting. l didn't
come to stay. I'm on the eve of
going far away again. If 1 can man
age everything to suit myself, 1 will
go out towel. say. China"
! He paused.
Its funny. 1 didn't know how
family ties could be wiped out. I
! thought I'd get thrill but some
| how all-everything fades away
like those photograph proofs we used
to get. If we kept them they always
| faded out to nothing blank"
But, Milburn, old Mil! I'm so glad
to see you. You don't think I'm not?"
NO. You're just the same old
fool"
"And you-?"
Milburn picked up his own over
coat.
I'm going. / suppose I ought to
/ tell you first why came"
IT.. Of ainc
| shrewd.
'why?" John asked, lingering his
eyebrows in perplexity.
ITO ask you why you had done
some things"
What things?"
| Some things that really have
counted badly. john he said gruff-
| ly. There was that scraps 1 got
into at school. Remember how you
sent me the $40 to square it with the
farmer. Well, that was my undoing.
All that happened later you were
| responsible for. I had a feeling that
could do as I pleased; that would
always be protected. 1 never would
have had the life had IL I had been
taught that would have to pay. You
paid for me, John, out Of your nasty
good And now--well, I
have an account with you. You saved
me. you thought. No. you condemned
me-"
Johns face hardened q little.
Then there Is Henry. You've al
ways carried Henry. Let him drift
around--just because he could always
come to you and set ten or twenty
!, or hundred. You made weak.
good-for- nothing Of him. And Helen,
who ought to be earning . living and
learning about life-little Hefsn. my
little sister. my stars, she 10 In q fixt
Made dependent. Taught that she 10
q charge for some one else to support.
That's the girl who always makes
the wrong kind OF marriage. John.
You ought to know that"
~
ttsT DON'T agrse with you, John
! said. '.ws Al sws & 60 Hslsn
tto see that family standards are- 4
sssuRls sAid llilburn xfe fslt aake
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

A nfcker of anxiety showed on her
face as she sat down in the wicker
chair under the old engraving.
Yes, he's coming He ought to be
here now"
Il hear you're engaged"
Yes. ! suppose that isn't news.
We've been engaged ten years"
He rubbed the chair arms with the
moist palms of his hands. He said:
That's too long
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

sfble In hungry, unrestrained swal-
/ lows could become of pretty ladies
all alike. and dissipations all alike.
and of living days all alike.
He chung to the gatepost. What q
horrors: Locked up like that and life
sneering all the time. The future
sneering. Memories sneering. John
would save him from that. Family
loyalty. Clean name. No stain.
Brothers love. He could bet on John.
john had been the good one of the
family. That idea enraged him. The
idea of all careful, restrained, in
dustrious men enraged him. They
made virtue hideous. sudden
desperation seized him. and sudden
rage and unreasoning anger at the
nJustice of destiny. He wondered
whether there could be a chance that
brother John would refuse. He won
dered whether he would seize that
stranger brother of his by the throat
and choke him until his eyes bulged
out and
What nonsense. What nonsense to
think these wild thoughts. He went
dows, and knocked resolutely upon
Celia Berton's front door.
There was pause. He heard a
coughing from upstairs--an aged
cough. Celia's mother must still be
alive. He remembered Celia's mother
when she had been blooming
widow. How the years had flown.
The door opened. There was
Celia.
You don't remember meT'
NO. Excuse me. Come In. Re-
member YOU
I'm Milburn.'
"Milburn?"
Johns brother-the one who ran
away from home"
For PHYS sake"
She had a pleasant contralto voice,
but ne was astounded that 1t spoke
in such q commonplace tone. He had
looked forward to this dramatic meet
ing. Nothing exploded. however,
either in him or in her. For the mo-
ment neither could realize; neither
could get away from the habitual
commonplaceness of mere living.
Come in
! CHE indicated the small front room.
| - He remembered the last time he
| had been there. She had been thirteen
| and he twenty. Others had been there
children. They had played a new
game with counters on a piece of
green felt.
iddlewinks-that was the name,
Indulgently he. the man. had shown
these children how to play. Now she
was past thirty, tall and straight
standing beside the lamp on the CEN
ter table.
You've taken my breath away,
Milburn," she said in shaking
voice.
Without comment he looked at her
She had the same golden hair. droop-
ing in two festoons over her forehead,
the same troubled and yet mis-
chieyous eyes-at one moment mis-
chievous and at another troubled and
anxious. Otherwise he would not
have known her. She was not a great
beauty, but there was patience about
her mouth and a delicacy about the
lines of her cheeks and the contour
Of her nose which suggested beauty.
He was surprised to see her looking
so modern, and dressed as if she re-
fused to give up girlhood-as IL
clothes could keep the years away.
He had expected occurrences. but in
stead he found seIf-possession. He
had expected her to be old-fashioned;
instead he found her in appearance
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

of his way now; he felt the intoxica-
ton of victory.
Look at Uncle Ben-died drunk
ard. Why? Because you were al
ways dragging him home and loan
ing him money"
How did you know THAR"
Didn't guessed it. And fathers
sister You kept her a chronic in
valid because you would advance her
money for new doctors. Oh. know
you, John"
Celia had walked b.tween them as
IL to protect the man she had loved
SO long.
'Ungrateful. she said belliserent-
ly.
'Ungrateful." exclaimed Milburn
What have we to be grateful to John
for? Look at the list! Me. Helen
Henry. Uncle Ben, Aunt Emma. his
old friend George Anderson. and on
and on. Just a history of corrup-
ton
"of goodness" she said. GOOD
heart, kindness"
Milburn wet his lips. He could see
his own reflection in the glass when
he turned to look He was white
suddenly white.
Yes. that's the fool way the world
looks at It, Kindness" He shook a
threatening finger at them. 'Don'i
you know that kindness may corrupi
all the justice out of our lives. Don't
g. -
thousand who tonight can be in
dicted and convicted of weakening
breaking down. corrupting human
souls in the name of kindness and
love? Well. / charge him with 1t
l charge him with teaching the les
son that those who are to blame car
escape and that the innocent pay. He
has ruined u.s. wrecked the family
with his contemplate good heart
Family loyalty? Stuff. It's been fam
lily decay-insidious. horrible, poison
yous corruption
John put his arm half around Celia.
"Milburn, you can't talk like that
to me-" he said gravely.
Cant /? Why not? I'm beyond
any 1aVors from you, DfOtner JOhns
he said. thrusting his arm into his
coat. II came here to give you a
piece of my mind and I'm doing it,
81 never heard of such injustice in
all my life." Celia exclaimed, clench-
ing her Capable hands
mo. That's what I'm talking for
for Justice
Milburn knew exactly how he was
to proceed. He went on. conscious
of his own power.
mo, sir he said. i've got a sur
prise for you, John. That's what you
don't reckon on. l tell you that you
and other folks like you are to blame
for half the wrecks in the world
You steal away the Christening pair
that comes to correct the weak and
silly and wicked ones. Like enough
you'll say when I am gone that / an
hard and cold and unfeeling. Non
sense. I'm the one who is kline
enough to let those who can fint
their own strength and character by
paying their own debts to folly"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

back the picture of one who he had
dislike, but one from whom there
could be no fight nor separation
ever. He turned away irritably and
spoke to her with petulance In his
voice.
"T should think you'd have gotten
married in spite of everything he
said accusingly
sense of honor. He thought he must
be sure that we could see ahead IL
only for a little way. And they kept
him-well-behind. 1t seemed as If
fate
He nodded Family loyalty"
They heard footsteps on the side
walk outside. Both intent, they lis
footsteps were slow. He knew, IL she
did not. He was Sells-sells with his
thick soled shoes. and a gun in his
side pocket.
I'VE are going to be married now
in another month-when the weather
will be smiling" She spoke with
embarrassment as If she were
eighteen.
Milburn laughed.
We'll, that seems like Justice
Il think So" she said. Il am jeal-
Gus of those years-we wasted"
There might have been children
already-usefuI creative life. eh?''
Yes"
He sighed; he said: John has been
a kind of mark"
|. And now-there's my mother,
said Celia. John is a little tired, too
He wears glasses now. You probably
wouldn't know him. He's little
bald
Bald. My stars! think of him as
still having curly hair. / remember
undertook to cut It once
He glanced up at her. Her eyes
had filled with tears; she had not
been listening to him.
Wei. so now he's out of the
woods"
Yes"
Saved money!"
more. And think he wants his own
home even more than I do. 1 think
I cam
We'll, go on. You were going to
say that you think you can make UP
to him something Of life that he has
lost
She nodded silently.
-
burn said. There may always come
some emergency-some need. It's a
good thing to have a nest egg
He could hear the water dripping
into the waterspout outside the win
dow.
why did you come tonight" she
asked. III don't mean that either. I
wondered what you had been doing.
That's what meant"
II think you'll be surprised" he
said with q leer., II have, had re-
markable career. ending now with
some-some finale. 1t viii be a sur
prise to YOU"
CHE waited for him to so on. In
ID stead he abruptly changed the
subject. He said: do you know that
1t has been nne thing for you two.
How unusual for two people to have
so much loyalty and faith. You are
pretty-Td say quite alluring. There
must have been other men who want
ed you. Yet they saw It through.
Wen, it's like passing through IRE
no, even better--a slow, long test OF
each other. It's q lot different from
most men and women. You can be
sure 1t Isn't q mere physical attrAc-
tion--a dreams temporary enchant-
ment."
Her lip ouiyered.
Il think you could stand another
teSt--a final test" he said.
She buried her face in her hands as
| IL to shut out the vision.
Here ne comes" exclaimed Miiburn
suddenly.
A brisk ster on the walk5 the zeund
| of feet on this bsards q the porch,
silence - they re4chsd tAs door matt
! knsoiA ST. ;s.s'SsS +.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

| She smiled.
We'll. we have had to wait OF
course. we really were engaged more
than ten years. But Your mother was
an invalid for the latter years of her
life"
| He swallowed.
Yes. John had to work real hard
/ TO take care Of her. 1 know how 1t
is. Mother has been failing for
four years and 1t represents lots of
expense and time"
'I SUPPOSE so. 1 suppose 1t does.
I don't know much about that I've
wandered a good deal"
| - r n y
| AN emotion seized her. She ex-
| n claimed: "Oh Milburn, how
could you? They spent SO much
money trying the first years to trace
F, yout"
He waved 1T all away with a ges-
ture OF one hand.
IT don't see why YOU didn't get
married. he announced.
She looked up In establishment.
| we've couldn't"
why not?"
Money"
Money"
| Yes, Milburn. John has worked
J awfuiiy hard. but just think OF what
he has had to carry"
"Of course, don't know"
NO, maybe not. But there was
your mother well, why talk of
that? am bursting to know where
you have been. what brought you
back?"
She stopped and then went on.
Really I always said il you came
back ia never speak to you, but
have. That shows how we deceive
f, ourselves. doesn't 1t? Here I am
really glad to see you"
"Oh, never mind that" he said
awkwardly. Whats become of
| Henry
| "Your brother Henry"
Yes"
"Oh, he always getting a new job"
And coming to John for help?'
/ YES"
And gets it. Well. that's John
oil over. Then suppose my fathers
| slater
Aunt Emma. Oh, yes. She al
ways has to have doctors and opera
| tons"
still alive. Well. where is Helen?'
Your little sister is in college"
: Earning her wayT'
mo. John wanted to have her
| have all the advantages she would
have had IL your father had lived.
What do you do?"
| IT work. took the secretarial
| course at Blowers. But now I'm a
librarian ut the Memorial"
! Miiburn laughed. Il thought all
| librarians were homely," he said.
You look as IL you might dance,
Celia"
| st do. 1t was because of that We
had the worst quarrel we. ever had"
He looked up. "ouarrelf' He was
| jsalous7'
She smiled indulgently. He 10
Yes. he IL Jealous. But my stars. life
can't be all dark gray. Milburn. And
that was the time took him to task
I said he wanted me to grow into m
old woman, while he was helping
Henry ana Helen and his mother and
Aunt Emma and his mothers brother
with every cent. I was sorry aft.
erward. am always sorry after
ward"
1 $500
! f.ft r p =
IN 6ILBURN sat back until his neck
M was resting against the hard
/ unyisiding, but cool. wooden round
OF the Morris chair. He found
himself locking into the hsiriqon
mirrer. seeing his own iifs-weary
face still filisd with tbs remnants Of
4 ovsr-saSsrf youth. His own eyes
ware dull even At this moment Of
great speculation when he had come
to play his last card. They we're dull
In contrast to her eyes. still glintin1
/ the hope and expectancy Of the IN.
Itufs, fEis ness haA coarssned, Fol
fhrae or four yanrS he had rather
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

LIE stopped, little short of breath.
i i A few sparkling beads of per-
spiration were on his forehead. He
wiped them up into his thin gray hair.
That's the secret of my success
he said. Suffering. Perhaps that's
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

ERODE recalled the interview with
il the treasurer after the arrest
in Buffalo. The treasurer had said,
Under the circumstances we are
willing to waive any prosecution
IL you can make restitution
Restitution! Erode had heard
destiny laughing in his ear. He had
taken the money to play the bucket
saop Now that he was forty, he had
wanted to quit the drifting. drink
Ms, cheap round of life and settle
down. That or nothing. Win or lose.
He had figured 1t out beforehand; IL
he lost and was caught, he would
take his medicine. He would go
where there were stone corridors,
ecnoing With footsteps. and where one
at night could lie awake and hear the
snores of educated embezzlers and
hrist1y necked yeggmen minglins
Enthusiastically In hours Of horror.
He could remember now how he had
said yesterday WAS II yesterday? It
Man li,<A - xsar sgaa At,zl4dax
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-28
RECIPE T0 CLEAR
 A P|MPLY SKIN {.
Pimples Are Impurities Seek ing an Outlet Through
 Skin Pores

Pimples, sores and boils usually re- suit from toxins. poisons and impuri- ties which are generated in the bow els and then absorbed into the blood through the very ducts which should absorb only nourishment to sustain the body.
 It is the function of the kidneys to filter impurities from the blood and cast them out in the form of urine. but in many instances the bowels cre- ate more toxins and impurities than the kidneys can eliminate; then the blood uses the skin pores as the next best means of getting rid of these impurities which often break out all over the skin Tn the form of pimples.
 The surest way to clear the skin of these eruptions. says a noted author ity, is to get from any pharmacy about four ounces of lad Salts and take a tablespoonful in a glass of water each morning before breakfast for one week. This will help prevent the formation of toxins in the bow els. It also stimulates the kidneys. thus coaxing them to filter the blood of impurities and clearing the skin of pimples
 lad Salts is inexpensive, and Is made from the acid of grapes and lemon juice, combined with lithia. Here you have a pleasant. effer- vescent drink which usually helps make pimples disappear.-Adv,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-28
THEY DEMAND NAMES
Mrs. POindexter Asked To Give Proof
 Of Charges

SPOKANE, Wash, March 27.- Names and other information regard ing liquor and gambling episodes de- scribed in newspaper articles by Mrs. Miles Poindexter. wife of the former senator from this state, who now is ambassador to Peru, is sought by the local Woman's Christian Temperance union. The union has forwarded to it's Washington representatives reso- lutions commenting Mrs. Poindexter for "fearlessly exposing a society that had become corrupt while under the protection of the exemption granted by law to our lawmakers while in their official capacity in the capital" and asked, among other things, that she tell:
 What is the name of the senator whose wife was an expectant mother who was dizzy with strong drink?
 Who was the farm bloc senator who would not give his wife large sums of money to gamble with?
 What modern apartment house in Washington has a liquor tester as part of it's equipment?
 What are the names of representa- tives. senators and cabinet officials in whose houses liquor Is served to guests?
 At what embassy is liquor served?
 What are the names of the high officials of the government in whose homes gambling at bridge is per mitted?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-28
CECIL URGES U. $. ENTRANCE INTO LEAGUE
Cause of International Body Is Cause of World Peace, British Exponent Says on Reaching Country
 for Lecture Tour

NEW YORh-, March 27.-The cause of the League of Nations is the cause of world peace, declared Lord Robert cecif. foremost British exponent of the league, who arrived here today for months visit to the United States and Canada.
 Lord Robert, who will deliver a score of lectures. said he came 10 popularize and profbote the couse or the league and to smooth out mis- understandings of ifs functions and work held by the greatest nation which has not yet joined the inter- national body.
 T should like to see America join the league" he said- but I am just as strong an advocate of Germany s entrance. In my opinion, Germany would be admitted if Sine applied. also would be glad to see Russia come in. It is my impression she would also be admitted if she ap- piled properly and it would be bet fer for her and for the rest of the world if she were a member"
 shows Great Enthusiasm.
 Lord Robert. q tall thin man with massive rounded shoulders, from which hung loosely great coat which Tapped about his long legs, displayed great enthusiasm in dis cussing his views with newspaper men, This was reflected fn the quick movements of his thin ascetic. face and by frequent thrustings forward of his shoulders and the flashing of his deep-set brown eyes.
 As the liner Majestic moved up to the Battery and showed the skyline of New York outlined against mid day sunlight Lord Robert wallle d