“AND THERE WAS LIGHT” “Are you inflexible, Doris? Can nothing alter your decision?” “Spare us both further pain, Warner. I cannot leave my blind mother. It is useless to ask it.” “And do I ask it? You can still care for your mother. I do not ask you to leave her.” The girl shook her […]

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY NOTE–This story is built upon a legend of Mammoth Cave. The open mouth of Kentucky’s far-famed cavern yawned huge and black. On the brow of the hill, ready to descend the winding rock stairway, stood a group of young people picturesquely attired in the bloomer costume of cave-explorers. […]

A FIRESIDE SKETCH “Walk right in, Mr. Lightus, do,” said the cheery voice of the Widow Partridge, as the portly figure of Mr. Hezekiah Lighthouse appeared in her hospitable doorway. “Thankee, thankee, I don’t care if I do, Mis’ Patridge,” responded the visitor, heavily bringing himself within the family circle. “How’s all?” he asked, comfortably […]

A PASTORAL “Heighho!” yawned Carroll Hamilton, picking up his long legs from the grass, “this is not making hay while the sun shines,” and he proceeded leisurely to place a camp stool in position, erect an easel, and spread out sketching materials. A few bold, rapid strokes transferred a pretty bit of rural landscape to […]

A CHARACTER SKETCH They called her Treesa. She was not young. That she had ever been was hard to realize. Whatever her childhood, and however the years had brought her up to woman’s estate, there was no footprint upon the worn face of the gladsome time we call youth. No light in the eye of […]

THE DOG WITNESS The court-house was crowded to its utmost capacity. Women as well as men were there to hear the arguments in the case of the Commonwealth against William Grant for the alleged murder of John Belt. Grant was a young man of handsome exterior and pleasing manners. He sat in the prisoner’s box, […]

The day was warm and sunny. A few industrious and enterprising pioneers were seated on a log near the Wallace Cross Roads, in what is now Garrard county, Ky. They were enjoying their noonday luncheon and discussing the object of their woodland caucus. Suddenly the sound of an advancing horse arrested their attention. Pausing and […]

STORY OF A WIFE “Well, tell me about Henry Woodruff. How did that match turn out?” “Bad enough thus far. He is the same delightful, good-hearted fellow as of old; always ready to do a kind, or courteous act. But this woman will be the ruin of him.” “How? What is the trouble?” “The trouble […]

A MYSTERY Twilight dropped its soft, somber curtain upon a handsome southern home. Sadly out of keeping with the peaceful landscape and cheerful hearthstone, were the feelings of a man who crept close to the window shutter, and peered cautiously within the cosy apartment. And brighter grew the twinkle in his rapacious eyes as the […]

A PRACTICAL STORY “I see no way out of this, girls, but for you to go to work and support yourselves with your accomplishments. At least I suppose you’ve got some. Your schooling cost a fortune, and maybe it was well enough, for now there’s a chance for you to make it count.” And thus […]

“Hold fast! don’t be frightened! I can save you if you will only be strong!” were the exclamations that burst hurriedly from young Dr. Gardner’s lips as, with horror-struck face he sprang from his window-seat and bounded downstairs. And well might he hasten, for she who awaited his succor, hung perilously between heaven and earth, […]

It was rather late when Hervey Leslie threw the remains of a cigar from the car window, and staggered through the jumping, jerking Pullman to his berth. The curtains were all drawn, giving to the car a funereal aspect, and lights were turned down for the night. Jerk, jerk, jolt and jump went the train […]

A PRIZE STORY Everybody was at Crab Orchard springs, that favorite resort in the ante-bellum days. What though the main rooms were cramped and stuffy, or that the straggling cottages across the grassy lawn were mere shells. It was a place thoroughly rural, thoroughly enjoyable. Merely to ramble along the winding saw-dust walks to the […]

VENGEANCE IS MINE “But surely you do not realize, Robert Garrett, that when you foreclose this mortgage you leave us virtually penniless;” and the large dark eyes of the suppliant were blinded by an agony of tears. “Really, madam, I regret to seem hard;” and the polished courtesy of the cold, harsh voice fell with […]

A HOLIDAY STORY The air of the December day was soft and mild. All the world was in the streets, glad of a respite from the late cold “snap,” which had brought out furs and heavy wraps. Signora Cavada was taking her accustomed drive, chaperoned by a comfortable looking American woman; for this was an […]

Read May 11, 1909 More than a hundred years ago the American States rebelled against the tyranny of England, the mother country, and formed a Confederacy of and among themselves to work together for their own welfare and prosperity. It was granted by their Constitution, and by the States, that each or any individual State […]

A PRACTICAL STORY There was great commotion in the kitchen of a large seaside hotel not many miles from Long Branch. A commotion in fact, that struck dismay to the heart of the proprietor, who, upon visiting the store-room near by, was caught and detained, an invisible listener to the uproar. “I ‘clar ter gracious!” […]

MIGHT vs. RIGHT It is some years since I was station-master, telegraph-operator, baggage-agent and ticket seller at a little village near some valuable oil wells. The station-house was a little distance from the unpretentious thoroughfare that had grown up in a day, and my duties were so arduous that I had scarcely leisure for a […]

CHARACTER STUDY They were five sisters, all unmarried; they lived in the old Dutch town that was made memorable by Barbara Frietchie’s exploits. They never hoisted a Union flag, or did any grand thing; but they deserve a place in story just the same. Their name was Peyre, and the young people called them “The […]

AN ADVENTURE “Here we are, safe and sound,” cheerily said the driver of the huge black ambulance, as he pulled up before the piazza of Crestdale, the beautiful villa whose tower had been tantalizing the travelers for several miles. A party of five descended from the wagon as the wide doors were flung open by […]