davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22

"Wc1l wait no longer-the hussy to
treat us like this u
1t grew dark-the hills hunchcd 10.
gether in a vast. gloomy circle. y
wind blew down from their shoulders
FINALLY Jimmy returned. Thu
1 moment she looked at him, Sandy
was alarmed.
The damn garage closed at &
O'Clock. There's not another shack
in God knows how many miles.
tramped all over looking for a place
to phone"
'oh Jimmy. didn't you even
phone"
Lord. Sandy, / haven't got radio
concealed about me. j was afraid t.
leave you here alone any longer"
They stared at each other despair.
ingly. They were ten miles from the
main highway-it was nearing )
o'clock and the wind slapped wetiy
against their faces. A soft rain was
falling.
"As for me. I might as well get
cheerfulIy. I'm Queen Abb Of the
.
Wouldn't you think those dumbbells
would have turned to see if we were
following. We might have crashed
over a bank and been left there Ia
rot"
Jimmy turned the collar Of his
coat: II hope you're not very cold,
Sandy"
"Tm freezing. Can't YOU force that
door open. Let's take ourselves out
OF this deluge.
They went forlornly TO the cottage.
The rusty lock gave under Timmy's
furious push.
~ feel like a dog, Sandy
She was so completely unstrung
that she laughed. They'll have me
broken on the wheel for this. Can't
you just feature my father sitting
at the Mnrillo table with a starchcd
grin on his face saying to sister Be
atricc. L can't imagine what is dc.
laying the child. They must have had
n puncture' and TO himself, Tho
vixen, I'd like to break every bone
in her body"
Jimmy stopped down at the heartl
where embers glowed-he raked then
up, piled on old newspapers
Sandy walked up and down IN
great, bare room. The walls wer
covered with guns and deer horns
There was bear rug on the flool
and a dilapidatd couch in front o
the fireplace. The glass was broker
in one Of the windows. The wine
rushed through this. 1t made tn
guns rattle.
Il suppose to be decent. well hav'
TO sit up all night, Jimmy. Lord
I'm tired Do you hear that tre'
beating against the Window
In sheer nervous exhaustion sb
lay down on the couch. closed he
eyes. It seemed that she had slep
but a moment. She jumped to he
feet. her heart beating wildly.
what was that, Jimmy? Lord
did you hear that?7
lie was sitting on the floor hi
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22

I world are we to do! 1t looks as though
it's going to pour cats and dogs. Wei
nevcrSget home! They'll have fifty
nine eleven fits bv the time / arrive
II can Just see my mother standing
at the window-the injured look shell
have! The way she'll say: You care
great deal for your family, I'm SUR.
The one day we expect dignity from
you, you couldn't be on time. You
couldn't leave half an hour earlier and
save us all this anxiety
you've got to do something, Tim
my, or I'm ruined for life"
The shack where thev had picnicke1
was on side road. No machines
passed. 1t was four miles to q garage.
Its the only thing l can do.
Sandy. I'll have to walk there and
phone them we're stalled. -"
That means You won't get back
here till s o'clock. Jimmy. We can't
we Just can't do that. :"
There was nothing else to do. Sandy
crouched in the car. launching her
knees to her chin. She put her fin
gers childishly in her ears to stop the
imagined voice she could too well
hear.
Now it was Z and now Z 80. Her
father would be taking out his big
gold watch, opening it, champing his
teeth. =
Now it was s. He would say .:
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22

think you'd make fun Of your mother
! Sandy"
Not making fun. ole dear. In
seeking information. Before you were
married. did you love my father sc
much that you almost tainted when h
looked in your eyes or touched your
( hand?"
in my day girls didn't hare sucl
thoughts"
I'm not asking about thoughts
I've plenty Of them. I'm asking about
the feelings. You can't kid me there
anatomy hasn't changed any in the
last 80 years"
Mrs. Mcneil took refuge in that old
defense: How can you be so irrcv.
erent. Such things arc too sacred to
talk abouti-
"Oh, save your bushes, Isabella.
see you don't know 4 darn bit more
about it than ] DO. That's all &c
years Of marriage did for you"
People thought Sandy sophisticated
she had even been called "hard boiled. >
Her mother was afraid of her, cherish
ing n secret dread that Sandy might
go "too far" Sandy was continually
shocking them with her brazen audaci-
ties.
But for all her daring spOntaneity,
her large chatter. she was extremely
young in her thoughts-young and un.
awakened. Her knowledge was Of the
tongue, not Of the mind or heart. She
had a great deal Of information seat.
tered loosely in her brain. 1t hadn't
been absorbed and made part Of her
consciousness through experience. She
wasn't half as dangerous as her family
judged her.
One evening after her unsuccessful
argument with her mother she passed
the living room door. She heard her
Uncle Bob Mcneil speak angrily: ~
marriage that will make her life mean.
ingless. :" He walked over to the man.
tel, knocked his pipe against the
hearth. What rotten sport you are
Angus, 10 deliberately shut your Own
child out from the love Of life-ii
amounts to death for a girl like
Sandy
A suaye grunt. Sandy's father fid-
died with his Watchfob, his eyes twink
ling. Women don't look at it that
way. They die of heart failure oil
pneumonia or dropsy. I've yet to know
of a woman who died of marriage.
Sandy's ears tingIed. She was con
scious Of a choking heat in her throat
She loved Bob Mcneil. a dsshing fel
low. not yet 30. What did he mear
by that phrase. shutting her jut from
the joys Of lifct"
She stopped 10 unwind the firing
where it had caught on her shoe
buckle. She unknotted it in tens
slowness, whispering in n flush
What an I in for anyway wonder
what I'm doing-death for a girl like
me-Oh Lord
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22

would restore the McNeils to case am.
prominence.
OF course, she wanted to make
things pleasant for her mother
paint the old house, put new carpetg
on the stairs. She wasn't marrying
for any such reason, yet all these
trifling matters had their weight. VI X.
Mcneil was a perfectly healthy won.
an, but she would say with a sad
ness that turned Sandy's heart in
side out-she would say: Il haven
much longer for this earth. I'd like q
little peace and quiet in the few re-
manning years Of my life." Then
Sandy would cease quarreling with a
sister or remain home to do the sup
per dishes or phateyer it might be
that had induced her mothers mel
ancholy.
IN the back Of her mind there was a.
L ways a blithe confidence that all
would be well. She would come odt
on top. Something would happen TO
end her confused uncertainty.
1t did--a small thing. An older
girl wouldn't have been intimidated.
But Sandy was stripped. In a pitiful
way the young, brazen defiance
snatched from her--all the bonny bluff
gone.
1t happened on Sunday when Sandy
made a sneak to 20 on the picnic with
Jimmy. There were just four Of theY.
Deep in the Santa Barbara hills they
knew Of a shack whore they could
cook steaks and coffee. They left quite
early in the morning. because Sandy
must be back in time for an 8 O'Clock
dinner with the MurilIo family.
4 balmy day in the middle OF April.
There were peoples and purple flag
lilies splashed about the fields. They
talked. they read to each other, they
Toasted and laughed. At 6 o'clock the
light softened rapidly into dusk.
"Ah." said Sandy. reaching mp her
hands that Timmv might draw her to
her feet. "That such bliss ends, I've
cheated enough for one day"
The other couple were climbing in.
to their roadster: "We1l race you
back" they called out.
Sandy was Just seated in Jimmy
little car when she remembered leav'
ing neT req purse WIN Rolu Fah1tl
and a wrist watch Murillo had given
her in its pocket. 1t was on the bench
down BY the grill. She sent Jimmy for
it.
He came back. breathless. Gee
they've got start on US. Well have
to put on all kinds Of speed"
He started the car-rather he tried
10 start il. He fooled with it. looking
up puzzled Surely the battery cant
be down :"
But that was II. They honked ma
y. The other machine was out Of sigh
and hearing.
Then Jimmy tried 10 push the car
They were on a deadly level stretch
He wiped the perspiration from his
forehead. mumbling: I'm not fin
ished. Sandy-don't get alarmed"
He kept on for half On hour. Thea
Sandy said woefully: What in the
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22
Sp Mredm NTo1,
Time

her feel irresistible-an enchantin;
woman. She loved opening boxes of
flowers: receiving costly gifts. She
was quite willing for these attentions.
But she wished to wave into the dis
tant future all thought Of a marriage
Then the family took hand. There
were long sessions with her mother
and two married sisters. They told
her not to be n fool. They asked her
il she hadn't enough of economy. The
sisters said they wished they'd had
such Il chance! Indeed, they knew it
was no picnic worrying along on two
bits a year. They could love a man
with money. They reminded her bit
ingly that Alice had been a beauty
and sought after ut 10. Alice was
Sandy's single sister. Look at her
nowl Thirty and little sour old
maid! Who did Sandy think she was.
anyway? A cultured fellow like Ben
good family-beautiful home. She
enjoyed his company. didn't she?
What more was she looking for? Why
did she wish to wait?
When her mother asked this, Sandy
couldn't answer. She didn't under
stand her own uncertainties nor the
vague hostility Murillo aroused.
The engagement was engineered.
Well-what OF it! Sandy remained
silent. gazing at the waters. TIE
moon rose. With great silver broom
1t swept the waves, turning up caJ-
tious flashes OF g.cen. yellow. Grim
son. Far out, like the boundaries O.
another world, were the dark peaks 0:
Santa Barbara's islands.
Sandy watched the play of color
vivid. cnahgeful. She thought of her
self and the many things she wanted
from hfe-would they be hers? She
drew troubled breath: dnshed asidn
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22
CHAPTER 3

CHE swan with long, lazy strokes.
- her vivid hair cleaning like a
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22
uER voice came languarously:
A When I'm married, Jimmy

But mean TO keep my friends"
Friends like me. Sandy
"You most Of ALL
Jimmy glanced down mocking.y.
Mr.. Ben Murillo, ] suppose. Is gcine
10 BE- very accommodating and allow
his Fascinating wife several nights a
week OUT"
Sandy frOwned. She often forgot
she was engaged, when a word like
this Of Timmy's or a thing Judith said
recalled with pinching at the heart
the prospect Of her marriage. She
grew uneasy and breathless, not
knowing why. She would find her
self wondering how the whole thing
had come about. She would say. petu-
lantly. as she had once to Jimmy /:
"Oh, ] did il TO shut them up-to
get a little peace and freedom
Ben Murilio was pleasant-a slight.
soft eyed italian. He had limp hands
and red lips, always a little moist. He
was rich, Travelled, experienced.
Sandy's mother and father beaned
when be began paying court 10 their
youngest child. Sandy herself rather
triumphed in his batteries. They made
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22
CHAPTER 2

CANDY caught the old Spanish shaw,
- about her, went cautiously down
the back steps She knew the squeaky
boards and edged along the red lin
crusta. avoiding them with a laugh
ing exultance. At the landing she
paused, blew an audaciOus kiss toward
the closed door of the living room be-
hind which her mother and father sar
unsuspecting, doing in after-dinner
content.
She was n happy ihing-Sandy Nc
Neil-as she ran through the fragrant.
neglected garden this night Of an exotic
spring. COlorful as the dark-eyed
senorita, a long dead cousin Of hers,
who had gore stealing through these
same grape vines misty hundred
years ago 20 meet her vaquCrO lover.
Dreadful things happened TO Pillar
Dominguez-her eyebrows shaved, the
beautiful long hair clipped and she
herself compelled TO stand in the
church Sunday after Sunday holding
a lighted candle because she had loved
unwisely and too well. Sandy thought
Of the luckless girl and shivered de-
bSuiEuifs
She reached out hand. 1t was
caught eagerly by blond youth who
now came from the shadow with q
soft. relieved LAUGH. Thought you
d rent going to make it, ole dear p
He swept off his hat. gave Sandy Il
swift. ardent kiss. They ran lightly
with suppressed merry chatter to the
gate.
They wllted toward the hills-ihe
brown, lovely hills that bold in their
lap the town Of Santa Barbara. They
talked Of a thousand incOnsequential
things, finding a great deal to laugh
about.
At II O'Clock they circled back TO
the water. stood on the long pier.
looking out dreamily to the lighted
channel.
Sandy's face was a white flower,
its Swallowed eyes wistful. She was
10 and life was very rapturous. She
listened huneTily TO the boys words.
He kissed Manufacturing, sweet.
I'm going 70 miss you. Sandy
miss you Ike the Yer- devil"
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22

these restless forebodings. Marriage
wouldn't dominate her! Other people
got By with it. And they weren't
swoon;ng with love for each other.
She could handle Ben Murillo. Shed
do as she pleased-now-always.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10

and Misunderstanding rushed away
with tcrror.strIeken faces.
what IS all thisr demanded Al
gard Selling a page by tho shoul.
der. Why do they rum
"'My lord looks so stern faltered
the boy. They are afraid
"Aigard rode TO the moat and
looked in. 10 was true. He had
changed so that he did not even
recognize himself
Selling tho golden horn he
threw It furiously into the water,
Then he rode away. never to re.
turn"
Then what happoncd?' asked
Nancy.
Nothing" answered MI o. Nj.
"Algard died n lonely old man. He
could have conquered tho world,
but no had no wish to. He had
learned too late that strength can
be a. blessing or blight. Tho
strength he had como by unfairly
had ruined him, for II had caused
him TO lose tho Lady Alys. the only
person he loved"
please tell another story" beg.
gcd Nancy. Nj o. Mi laughed.
what greedy little girlr' he
said. you are as bad as Algard."
Go BE Continued)
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10

And now" said Mi o. MI. tho
Story Teller 4 shall ten you what
happened to Algard the Knight NJ
ter he had stolen the golden horn
from the good little fairy who had
befriended him.
Nancy and Nick pulled up their
chairs closer, the better 10 hear
"Algard figured # out this way"
said Mi o. Mi. III tho magic wine
in the golden horn could give him
such strength after n single draft,
the moro he drank OF It the
stronger no would become. Then
none could defeat him at the joust.
ing match and no would win the
Lady Alys, whose colors he wore.
For Algard had noticed that tho
golden horn filled instantly TO the
brim again. tho minute he had emp.
tied It.
80 when the little man on the
green mound in tho forest reached
MP his hand for the golden cup,
Algard only clutched II tighter and
put spurs to his horse and rode
away into the forest.
'Pleaser begged the fairy.
Never cried Algard. The cup
IN mine now. Go and tell your
MASTER
80 off trudged the fairy TO the
Ruler Of the Forest and told him
what had happened.
So be g. said the Ruler OF tho
Forest. His greediness shall be his
own undoing.
Then what happened?" asked
Nick. Did the knight VIM"
yes, he won" said MI o. MI.
'All the way to the iousting match
he kept slipping at the magic wine
in the golden horn, until his veins
were filled with such strength and
his eyes with such cunning that no
man could stand up against him.
Or rather ride against him. For
the knights fought on horses, with
long iron lanccs.
But something else had changed
beside his muscles and his eyes. His
heart had changed until II was al
most as hard As the iron suit OF
armor that he wore. And his face
became cruel and hard Where be.
fore hlgard had been the hand.
soonest Of all tho young knights for
miles around, now he suddenly look
I'd stern and forbIddng.
"One by one he defeated his nd
vorsancs ut the match and Lady
AlyF colors waved VIGOROUSLY on
his arm.
Then In rode quickly 10 hcr
chElle 10 claim her hand.
'BUt when Lady AlW saw him
riding into tho courtyard she
fctcame1 ond ran frightened TO her
tower'room, And all the seryantp
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10
Thief angle
LETTER FROM LESLIE PRES.
COTT TO MRS. WALTER
BURKE CONTINUED

When went back into tho u.
bnry. Ruth. Jack said
who was your csllsr3"
~ man from Roth and Chap.
man" / answered.
Il thought they had finished" "
Jack remarked.
They have. but u seems that
having read in tho paper about tho
burglary, they -sn, man W 20
find n the brocais in here had
been injured in any way lie was
coming in to SEC. but hearing you
two. no said no would call again.
Nica OF them 10 send him up.
wasn't IT,"
Very" said Bill Laldlaw dryiy,
as no went 10 the phone in tho hall.
He called up Roth and Chap
mans studio and asked II they had
sent man to SEQ II our walls had
been dcfaccd in any way. lie
found out, Ruth. that they knew
nothing about II, they had sent no
one, and for that matter they knew
that it'any thing had been hurt.
would call them Immediately.
Just az Bill was going TO hang
up tho receiver. evidently the man
at tho other end said, Wait min.
ute"
Tho Commissioner told Va after.
wards that Mr.. Roth, with whom 10
was talking. had told him that that
morning a man had come In saying
that he was friend OF Jacks and
that no had seen the brocadc panels
In tho library and he was anxious
to SEQ " they had any more OF the
material az no would like II In his
library. He had insisted upon buy.
ing a small sample that his wife,
who was an invalid, might SEQ II.
Something's gone wrong" BIZ
said as he hung up tho receiver.
That caller you Just had was sent
hero on some mission, either to find
out what you think Of tho matter
and what you are planning to do
or else"
Ho stopped and no wouldn't 20
any further. Ruth.
Go on, 20 on" said Jack impa.
tiently.
mo, old chap. I'm not going TO
do anything OF the kind. don't
want you TO know anything about
my theory in this matter. Mrs.
Prescott. you can trust your butler.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10

can't your lie seemed homes, TO
me"
lilo was with my father before 1
Waa born"
Il want 20 instruct him 10 let no
stranger IN tho housr and n pos,
Hlble 20 keep out even your intimate
friends Tor the next twentyfour
hours"
"why, what's the matter. Bn7-
Jack asked
only this, that would have
given $500 10 have caught a view
of that mans faer
Il am leaving now but shall
return about o'clock tonight.
Would you mind rtnglpg FOR Ben.
son"
when tho old butler came IN he
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10

looked an1lously az mr.
Benson. SIR. Iaidlaw hiss F1ms.
thing 20 say TO you" / Eaid,
Yes Benson. / am leaving Mrs
Prescott in your care. You mus,
not let any peuon on any excuse
whatever into this houso until you
let mo IN tonight about 9 o'clock
am taking aIr. Prescott with me
when We return | will give you
further orders but until then you
arc not 10 allow any person In tho
house, nor must you let her or her
children out Of your sight. Serve
her dinner IN tho nursery"
Copyright, 1925. X. p, 4. Service. Incl
=aaszaa
T0M0RROW-This letter oontin.
ned
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10
III
tContiuucd I.om Page u

when Maggie tho maid. brought n
the dessert. "IU bet Mother made il
JusJN0g me-"
she certainly dld" answered ola
dr Gregop. Mrs GrcEoEy beam1d
AZ Gloria.
"pigk sometimes has nervous iHr
digestion. as you probably know, my
dear," she said In her rich contraIJo
voice "and when ho has an attack,
always cook everything for him
myself very carefully, "You
undoubtedly will too
II can't cook" Gloria said Ina a
very small voice Il can't cook AZ
all"
Mother Gregory frowncd. Then
her wide brow cleared
you win learn" she smiled com,
fortably. you viii learn"
And Gloria smiled back with her
fipe lips, But there was no smile in
her amber eyes They werr like
pools OF water that no sunlight has
warmed,
she would never learn 20
cook, Sho would never be household
drudge, her hands shryeled with
Washing dishes Her nails broken.
Her dresses smudgrd with pastry
flour. 1t Dicks mother
thought this was tho kind az Eid her
son had married. she was jolly well
mistaken
Gloria widenod her eyes. She
turned 20 Mother Gregory
by the way. I'm need cook right
away" she said syeetly, II wonder
Il Maggie would know OF anyone who
wants place. II Dick has a weak
stomach, my efforts az cooking
would kill him. most likely
After dinner she and Dick walked
home 20 the new house. !, was white
with green shutters. and II nestled
amoug the everErcens that surround.
cd Il, Everything in Il was fresh
and new, Dick and she had spent
happy months buying furniture for
II.
Il say. Glory. wonder II we can
afford a cook" Dick began tho first
o, what Gloria later called his econ.
omy sermons"
THEY had Just come into the little
l. house. Glory switched on the
lights and sighed with JOY The
house with us Chinese rugs ana gel.
low silk curtains was dream. a
dream come truci
afford a cook Why. OF course.
We can afford a cook" she said.
II was absurd that a successful
lawyer couldn't afford a cook for his
wife.
'r'm not 80 sure. Dick said He
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10

or laughing IN admit that tho
laughing got my goat"
"wcir don't you ever dare 70
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10

I throw one drop Or water az me ever
again no matter what do" Gloria
said saicmnly, FOR ill walk riEbt OUT
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-06-10
. LE4El{3 !!:!!.! r! WIFE \! Z, n: J.
.bv~B eat,ica R,r+oo 9o25Nn "a
I)l( Raattica R,,rtOy, @ 1925 NEA SERVICE INC.

Istt their bass ON the floor aud
lruplsi into % chair
You SOC. dearest" nc went on
tho furniture isn't quite paid FOR
I And our honeymoon sent thousand
dollars 60 tho four winds Then
there was the fur coat I gave you
Welt Tor goodness sake, what did
Iyou want To set married for, n you
couldn't afford 90 keep up "A homer
Gloria asked with sudden fury she
was tired. and she was sure that
Dicks mother hated her
your mother thinks that ! ought
20 spend my whole life cooking. 80
you think 30, tool Wen, I'm not go-
ing 90 d'you hcar7 I'm not
going to ny an tho color out OF my
cheeks standing over a rcd'hot stove
for hours and days and years b"
Gloria's voice rose in a scream.
Then she burst into Wild aobblng
and nan upstairs,
She threw herself on tho bed In
their room. and waited Tor Dick TO
come to her She wanted him 10
comfort her. to forgive her and 10
tell her she could have a cook.
DUT no didn't come. She listened.
ID No st,p on tho stairs
Then Glory BEGAN 20 laugh Not
as shc had over laughed before In all
her life. but with great gasps that
shook her from head to foot
And as she laughed tears rolled
down her face
All al once she was aware
OF Dick standing az the FOO, Of the
bed Ito had a big pitcher IN his
hands. Then she felt tho sting Of
ieevatcr in her face
II checked and blinded her But
she went on laughing and eryinE,
she tried TO stop. She couldn't stopl
Presently she heard tho low rum
bic Of Dicks roadster under her win.
dows. And the next thing
Tho knew &, was broad daylight, She
had lay in her own bed. very tired
and hungry,
whats happencd2" hhs asked
herself, For she felt blue and un.
happy as II something dreadful we're
hanging over her. Then Sho remem.
bcred last night
Dick Gloria Called. "oh. Dicky'
Immediately no appeared Ia the
doorway. Ills face was covered with
hther. and no held shaving brush
Dick Gregory. Why did you throw
that water into my face last night
Gloria asked Dick Erinned,
Because I thought you had hys.
ttrics. aud I guessed right. he
checrtuIly answered. II went out
and got Doe Seymour. and he gave
you some pills 10 put you TO sleep.
or you'd probably DO crying yet q.