davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05
Franklin Breakes
His Engagement

Franklin phoned that night and
she allowed him to come to see her.
He told her that he had broken his
engagement with Genevieve Erick-
son and that they could be married
as soon as possible.
If some one had thrust a knife
into her 1t would not have hurt
Sonia any worse. If she had known
about this only the night before.
Now 1t was too late. He begged
her to come with him to his cabin
that night.
II can't Franklin" she said
There's a reason can't. 1 told
you......
mo reason on earth can keep you
from going" he answered. Unless
you are already married"
But I am" she stammered with
white lips.
You're married already?"
She nodded, wondering DULY II he
meant to kill her.
But he dropped her ruthlessly
from his arms and swept out the
door.
A white night for Sonia! She lay
on the davenport before the dying
fire, consumed with loneliness and
eaten by remorse. Franklin had
played fair with her when she had
least expected it. Her plan of
evading him had worked too quick
ly. She was caught in her own
trap.
He had not given her chance to
explain to him that 1t was Don and
not Henderson to whom she was
married. Not that it would matter
which man stood in his way. He
would hate her just the same.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05

the quarrel, they decided to drop hos
tilities.
With the weekend hanging heavy
on her hands Sonia called up DR..
saltwater When she told him that
the weekend party was off he sug-
gested a hike into Marin County.
Sonia accepted. She would spend
Sunday in Marin County after all.
The hike on Sunday was glorious.
Nervous and mentally tired when
they started out, Sonia found that
the hike rested her and made her
feel like a new person.
While they were resting, Don told
Sonia that he loved her, that he had
loved her since the day he had Sc
cured her a position with his uncle,
Jed Thomas. Sonia did not want to
hurt Don by telling him that she did
not love him, so she told him that
their different stations in life made
it impossible for them to marry.
II can't believe you'd refuse me on
that account" he said, puzzled. IF
l thought you really loved me 1
would never let that stand In fthe
way. But I'm not sure. Do you love
me, Sonia?"
do you expect me to tell you
that?"
Then do your"
Perhaps"
You don't?"
She smiled.
Think whatever you like. Mar
riage between us would be impos-
sible."
She flattered herself that she had
managed the scene rather well.
A Long Battle
With Conscience
After Don had taken Sonia home
that evening and gone, Franklin
came to see her. He told Sonia that
the trip to his shack would be sure
to go over the following weekend.
Sonia explained that she was afraid
that Mac and Maxine could not go
with them because 1t would be
hard for Mac to get away from his
wife. Undaunted by this, Franklin
declared that if Maxine and her
lover could not go along, he would
take Sonia and they woufd spend
the weekend in his shack alone.
After a long battle with herself
Sonia refused to go on the trip to
Franklin's shack. No amount of
talking. tears, and pleading could
change her decision. She was posi-
tive that she would not go. She
could not explain why. She thought
of the faith her father had in her
and then something else in her that
did not seem a part of her, would
not let her go.
She went out to dinner that eve
ming alone. While she was sitting
in the restaurant Franklin entered
with Genevieve Erickson. Sonia
could not endure the thought of
Franklin spending the weekend
with his beautiful fiancee. So blind
with mad jealousy she rushed home
to phone Franklin that she would
go on the trip after all.
Just before the four started on
the trip the next day, Franklin and
Mac began to drink. They were 60
ing to the shack in Franklin's moth
er's big automobile. Inflamed by
the drinks he had had Franklin
speeded up the mountain road.
When they came to q curve he lost
control of the car and it leaped over
an embankment
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05
Treading on the
Danger Line

Delicious shivers raced up and
down Sonia's spine. But she
answered slowly, I'VE don't want to
be indiscreet."
IF you loved me you wouldn't
think Of that" Franklin argued
why not? We are going to be
married aren't WEI"
But Sonia refused. She would go,
she said. If Maxine and Mac were
invited to go along as chaperones.
Franklin finally agreed to this plan
1t was arranged that the party
would be held at Franklins shack
the following weekend.
The next night while at a picture
show Sonia saw Franklin with
Genevieve Erickson. the girl he was
engaged to. Unlike Sonia had
imagined her, she was young,
beautiful and had a charming person
atty.
Sonia had hardly reached home
until Franklin came. Sonia, sick
with jealousy, told him that he would
have to choose between his fiancee
and herself at once, because she
could not stand his engagement with
Genevieve any longer.
After a battle of words he told
her that there was no choice as he
loved but her and that he would get
out of his engagement as soon as
possible. Sonia was not satisfied with
this but being afraid of losing him
she let him have his way. Later
that night she told Maxine that she
was worried about the future.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05
The Fight Is
Finished

AS their lips met she knew the
fight was finished. She had lost,
but defeat was glorious.
He whispered: Sonia, we won't
go back"
Her arms crept higher about his
neck. Her eyes closed. ...
Contrary TO her own expectations
morning brought no regret to So
MIA. Her heart sang. At last she
had been brave enough to taake fate
in her own hands. Should there
come barren days and empty nights
she had once known exquisite joy.
Nothing could snatch the memory
from her.
When Franklin asked anxiously
Sorry Sonia?" she tossed her head
and cried, I'm glad!"
When she reached her hotel that
morning her sister, Vera, called
from Stockton and told her that her
father had shot himself after read
ing the newspaper account of the lie
she had told to save Franklin. Par
alyzed with remorse she scarcely
knew what to do. She called Frank
lin and he came around in his car
to drive her to Stockton.
She shivvered with horror. While
she had lain in the arms of her lover
last night her father had killed him.
self, had died believing her guilty.
And I am guilty now" she
moaned. 1.-THE one thing he was al
ways afraid of 1 am guilty of now"
Arriving at her home in Stockton
she would not let Franklin come in.
She told him that he must never try
to see her again. The reason for her
fathers death stood between them
like an angel with aansng sword.
She dreaded to face her mother.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05
No Explaining to
Don This Time

She had not thought of Don. Now
she could not explain. She cut out
the clippings from ever paper and
put them in a large envelope. In a
large bold hand she wrote: Don,
there's Is no use. Not even you can
keep me out of trouble. Am enclos.
ing clippings that will tell the story
better than I Can. / take it that this
frees both Of us from all promises.
But thanks. Don dear, for trying to
help. :"
Now the only thing that worried
her was explaining that she had lied
to the folks at home.
That night Franklin called for
Sonia and they drove to his shack.
She passed the place where Maxine
had died without fear or a SILVER.
The shock of the accident had been
obliterated and she was herself
again.
When they arrived at the cabin
she was trembling with emotion and
excitement. Franklin did not at
tempt to touch her.
He lighted a fire in the fireplace
and they sal down on the davenport
in front of It. Minutes were fly
ing wasted without kisses. Tomor-
row she would be gone. She knew
that he was waiting for her to touch
him. Unless she came to him he
would taake her back to San Fran
cisco. He was intent on proving
the sincerity of his devotion as q
reward for the sacrifice she had
made.
But his mouth was wistful, plead.
ing without words. She moved closer
and put her hand against his arm.
He swept her to him crying: II
swore would not touch you first"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05
Sonia Clings to
Franklin

After a weeks absence from the
office Sonia found Franklin waiting
for her at the apartment door New
Years eve. He asked her to give
up the thought of marrying Hen
derson and promised that II his
mother got better or died that he
would break his engagement.
Sonia promised to do this but she
would not break the date that she
had with Henderson for that eve
ming. She went to New Years
party with Henderson and came
back at dawn, dead tired.
The next day when Henderson
called for tea Sonia told him that
she could not go on with their bar
gain. Very much hurt he took his
leave but told her that if she ever
changed her mind to come to him
as his offer would be open always
Sidney Maine stopped in San
Francisco the next day on her way
back to school to do some shopping
She told Sonia that DR.. Don Still
water was in San Francisco. She al
so said that LOUIS mother approved
Of the interest that Don had taken
in securing Sonia a job. She said
that Mrs. Saltwater had defended
Sonia actions In Stockton saying
that she had never had a chance
and that she hoped that Sonia would
make good in the city and live up
to Don's expectations.
The winter weeks slipped by in a
dream to Sonia. She lost all sense
Of time during the first month of the
year. She was surprised when the
office calendars said February. Her
days had been spent in working in
dreamy preoccupation. Her nights
before the fire in the apartment or
dancing always in the arms Of
Franklin.
She had purchased silver brocaded
cloth and her mother had made her
an evening dress. All that she
needed now was Henderson's emerald
to make her dream come true.
The evening she wore her new
dress Franklin asked her to spend
the weekend with him alone in his
shack in Marion County.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05

noon Sonia tensely asked, Would
you marry me today? This after
noon? So I wouldn't have time to
change my mind?'
Don explained that it would not
be fair unless she loved him, and
that if she did love him there would
be no danger Of her changing her
mind. Sonia told Don that she loved
Franklin Crane, but that he was,
engaged to marry another girl and
that he was not the kind of a hus-
band that she needed. She stated
that Don was the kind of man she
needed.
Finally Don agreed to marry her,
but stated that he would be her hus-
band in name only and that if she
saw that she was not going to care
for him that he would release her
in a year. But If she came to care
for him after a year they would live
as man and wife.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05
Sonia Seeks Oblivion
In Poison

She wasn't brave enough to md
a complete confession to him TIL
She was just satisfied to have b
there to comfort here. He went d
after while to look for a bet
place and arrange to have her thin
moved from the shabby. dreary roo
She couldn't face him after
way she had treated him. No,
just couldn't. She looked wilt
around for a means OF escape. 4
eye fell upon bottle of poison. III
was it. Here was the way out. g
picked 1t up and drained it,
When she gained consciousnd
she was in hospital with Don al
iously bending over her. Then 4
told him everything.
Sonia, my little Wife," he said,
voice husky with love, you wa
just a poor misguided girl. I VI
spent my life in trying to make v
forget the mistakes you have made
Her love for him seemed to le
out of her sorrow. 1t seemed to n
the only pure thing left in her Ii
If she would just get well aft
taking the poison she would be
model wife. But Franklin's unbo
baby. She had forgotten it.
Don guessing her thoughts, sal
THE effects fthe poison killed 4
baby, Sonia"
She was relieved beyond words.
II love you Don, she whispered.
"Oh, my Sonia, he answered,
love you so.
And we wen't have 60 set NJ
RED" Sonia said bluahiug. A
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05
A Proposal
From Henderson

While Sonia was at home Christ
mas Walter Henderson came to
Stockton to see her. He asked
Sonia to marry him. She refused
Her positive denial did not seem
to discomfort him. He asked her
to give the matter as much con-
sideration as she would q business
proposition. She promised to do So
Henderson accompanied Sonia to
church, where she was very proud
of him. Let them see the sort of
a man that came from San Fran
cisco to find her. He was distin-
guished looking even there, ana
doubly so in Stockton. After the
services he left with the promise
that he was to have his answer soon.
The same day Sonia was talking
to one of her high school friends,
Sidney Maine.
Sonia, do you know a salesman
named Franklin Crane?" Sidney
asked.
At the sound of that name tho
blood rushed to Sonia's face. She
gulped an indistict answer.
1.-THE reason 1 asked" continued
Sidney, serenely, "hels engaged to
a cousin of mine"
mot Franklin Crane?" Sonia cried
sharply.
Eyes. She has a ring. I met him
myself long time ago. Genevieve
wrote that they were invited to a
Christmas party in Los Angeles to-
gether."
So Franklin had lied to her! The
world reeled about Sonia. She heard
Sidneys voice as if 1t were coming
for a great distance.
When Sonia's father asked her to
explain her sudden depression she
burst into tears, but would tell
nothing.
Confession and
Plea
Sonia hurried back to San Fran
cisco. She must see Franklin at
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05

What could she say? What ex,
could she make now?
Slowly she opened the door.
her mother did not reprove ner.
mother, said it was all her fl
How that could be Sonia could
figure out.
Her fathers death was the har
blow Sonia had ever experien
She could hardly realize that
was never to be able to talk to
again.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05
Sonia and Don
Are Married

Four hours later a white faced
Sonia was taking her marriage
vows.
The next day after her marriage
Sonia met Franklin Crane while she
was downtown shopping She hur-
ried on and to the hotel where she
and Don were staying. Throwing
herself on the bed she burst into
tears. Don asked her to explain.
Sonia told him Of meeting Frank
lin and that she could not go on with
their marriage and asked Don to re.
lease her. He refused.
He said that she needed his help
for the next year and that he was
going to see that she got it.
Hating a gutter Sonia agreed to
stick in spite of the longing for
Franklin.
That night Don told Sonia that he
was sailing for Berlin as soon as
possible and that she was to go
home to Stockton and stay there for
the next four months or until he re-
turned from abroad. Finally Sonia
agreed to this plan.
Don was leaving for New York
the next day, so Sonia moved back
to the apartment for a few days so
she could pack Maxine's things and
send them to her parents, resign at
the office and arrange her affairs
so she could return to Stockton. She
thought that If Franklin loved her
he would come to Stockton after her.
Sonia was very happy.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-05

Editors Note-This synopsis of
Sonia" has been specially written
for those who have not read the
story. 1.-THE Sequel to Sonia" is a
separate story, which does not re-
quire the reading Of this synopsis,
but to better acquaint yourself
with the characters around whom
ii is written we advise its reading.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-15
ELOPERS WE'D 70 YEARS.
Runaway of Farm Hand and Girl

Recalled by Ceremony in England.
EASTRINGTON, Yorkshire, Eng
land, January IS R.-Seventy-
three years ago Thomas Poulter, a
farm hand of this district, ran away
with a. neighbo1ng farmers daugh-
ter and married her in spite Of the
opposition of her parents, who
thought he could never support wife
or his meager pay of about $40 a
year.
But he did. and recently the cou-
pie, hale and hearty despite their 96
years, had a party to celebrate the
anniversary of their wedding. With
them were seven sons and daughters,
khA Aldaah n61Aya %. a nd tia Hnnslneaat16A.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-15
BLAMES WIFE'S MOVIE
AMBITIONS FOR BREAK
Justice Denies Abuse and Charges
He Objected to Wife's
Scanty Attire.

Blaming his marital troubles on the
desire of his wife to become a movie
actress and on her alleged aversion
to living a quiet married life, Frank
N. Justice, automobile dealer, yester
day asked the District Supreme Court
to dismiss a suit for a limited d.
vorce brought by Mrs. Helene E. H..
Justice, whose address is given as 500
G street northeast. Justice resides at
1926 Montague street northwest.
The husband denies that he ever ILL
treated his wife or abused and as
saulted her. He also denies that he
drove past their home with other
women unless when Engaged in dem
onstrating an automobile for sale.
Justice insists the cause of the sepa-
ration is not his misconduct but re-
suits from visit to California, where
the wife secured a role in a moving
picture which required her to appear
scantily clad, to which he objected. A
dispute ensued, says the husband, and
the wife left him. Justice declares he
is willing that Mrs. Justice return to
their home. He is represented by
Attorneys Bell, Marshall G. Rice
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-15
OYSTER ROAST HELD
AT CAPITAL YACHT CLUB
Plans Outlined for Construction
of Modern Hos
pital.

An informal get-together and oyster
roast was staged yesterday at the
Capital Yacht Club, Seventh and
Water streets, by DIR. Joseph Rogers,
superintendent of Casualty Hospital,
to outline plans for funds for the con
struction of a modern hospital to re-
place the inadequate building now in
use.
Roy l.. %NeuhauSer, who will act as
chairman of the campaign committee
when it is organized next week, ad-
dressed the gathering of friends of the
institution, business executives, Dis
trict officials and press representa-
tives on the urgent needs of Casualty
Hospital, it's efficient work despite
cramped facilities, and its wide range
of public service, with a plea that a
personal effort be exerted by every
one present to secure financial sup.
port from their friends for the hos
pital project.
Dr. Rogers supplemented the chair
mans explanations with brief re-
port of the excellent service the hos
pital Is rendering and its pressing ne
cessity for new quarters, while Com
missioner Dougherty voiced his ap-
prevail of the proposed building plan.
Among those present were Isaac
Cans, Maj. William +. r. Covell, Coro-
ner j. Ramsay hewitt, A. Magruder
Macdonald, Frank PIERCE and Robert
Smithers Buck.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-15
PROCLAIM THRIFT WEEK
HERE, BEGINNING MONDAY

A proclamation calling upon the
people of the District to observe
Thrift week, which begins Monday,
was issued today by the Commission.
ers. The proclamation reads:
Whereas January II, 1927, will be
the 219th anniversary of Benjamin
Franklin, the first great American
apostle of thrift;
And whereas it has been the Gus
tom of the leading citizens Of the Ma
ton to commemorate this anniversary
by the observance of National Thrift
week, which this year will be duly OBJ
served from January II to %, 1927,
inclusive:
Therefore, the Board of Commits.
sioners of the District of Columbia
calls upon each citizen and each bust
ness firm. corporation. or other or
ganiZation, TO cooperate with those
citizens of the District of Columbia
who have formed themselves into n
committee to provide for the proper
observance Of Thrift Mealzn 49,,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-15
25POL|CE CHANGES
ORDERED BY HESSE
Thirteen Involve Transfer of
; Foot PatroImen-TWo
Sergeants Shifted.

Twenty-Five changes in the per-
sonnet of the Metropolitan Police
Department were ordered today by
Mai Edwin B. Hesse, superintendent,
to become effective Monday. Thir-
teen of them involve the transfer of
ers as a result of a recent order
establishing an eight hour shift for
the patrol drivers.
The principal changes are the
transfer of Sergts. Coleman r. Brown,
from the eleventh to the ninth pre-
cinct, and f. p. Myers, from the ninth
to the eleventh. The thirteen privates
detailed as patrol wagon drivers are
r. p. Kelly of the first precinct, A. G.
Toulson of the second precinct, Claude
Evans, third precinct; NJ. j.. Thomp-
son. fourth precinct; Harvey Bare
foot, fifth precinct; S. J. Holiday.
sixth precinct; II. H. Carter, seventh
precinct; J. B. Zier, eighth precinct !:
M. f. Prestele. Curtis Carter and j
r. Hickey, all of the ninth precinct:
G. p. Robinson, tenth precinct. and F.
G. Hawkins of the eleventh precinct
Pvt. Van d. Hughes, foot patrolman
Of the first precinct. was assigned to
plain-clOthes duty, and an exchange
of posts was ordered for Pvt. G. r.
Blick of the tenth precinct and Vance
v. Vaughan, third precinct Pvt
r. B. Carroll was removed from plain
clothes duty in the first precinct and
transferred to foot patrol duty in the
second precinct.
Other changes ordered were an eX-
change OF posts between John B.
O'Neal of the second precinct and
Pvt. G. b. Cannon of the thirteenth
precinct and the transfer of Pvt. +. A.
Davis from the eleventh to the sec
ond precinct.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-15
PHILADELPHIA PUTS
ON PARKING BAN
Large Business Area Affect
ed by New LaW-StreetS
Must Be Cleared in Am.

While Washington watches with in
terest, Philadelphia has adopted a
! drastic measure prohibiting parking
on all central business section streets
from $50 am. to pm.
The City Council of Philadelphia
has voted unanimously for the pas
sage of the long talked-of-bill as
solution to the acute traffic conditions
resulting from narrow and over
crowded streets. The new law. which
will be enforced gradually, the ban
embracing one street at q time. pro-
hibits parking within the area bound
ed on the north by Spring Garden
street and on the south by Soutn
street, and the Delaware River on the
east and the Schuylkill River on the
west, and includes the heart OF Phlla-
delphia's shopping, theater, hotel ana
banking and brokerage house district
The no-parking area is comparable
to the territory in Washington from
the Mall north to / street and from
Fourth street west TO Nineteenth
street in addition to the water front
area.
In addition to the parking ban on
all central streets during the specified
hours. parking is forbidden In Pnlla-
delphia at all hours on all streets less
than 20 feet I'm width, of which there
are many, and on certain north-and-
south streets. These latter inciude
Broad street and Eleventh, Twelfth.
Thirteenth, Fifteenth and sixteenth
streets, which parallel Broad. Park
ing is forbidden anywhere in the CITY
from am. to sunrise.
While Washington merchants favor
the shipping entrance parking ban'
Philadelphia's shopkeepers oppose
the sweeping ban that has been
enacted. In the city councils open
discussion attending the vote upon
the bin merchants were permitted TO
voice their objections and they de-
clared they would lose trade If shon-
pers were not permitted to park
nearby.
That objection was reduced to a
whisper, however, when Director or
Safety Elliott reiterated the promise
he had made to merchants following
the proposal of the measure, that II
after it had been given a trial en-
forcement, the wide parking ban Is
found to work an undue handicap
upon business men he would seek an
amendment
Philadelphia traffic problem actu-
ally is greater than Washington's. for
where this city has comparatively
broad streets, those of the quaker
city" are narrow. The situation
there became acute long before 1t had
reached an alarming stage in the Dis
trict. and one of the first attempts at
solution in Philadelphia was the
designation as one-way streets OF GER
tain traverse thoroughfares, including
famed Chestnut street and Walnut
street.
During the Shrine convention In
Washington mo parking" rule APP.
plying TO the downtown section OF the
city was put in effect to last while
the Shriners were in town. III was
lifted, however, before the convention
WA oven