The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-05-28

Miss Chanworth," began Jack, in q
rather tragic tone, 'this meeting, pleasant
| as it has been, has had serious consequent
ces for me-
Serious consequences! Everybody knows
that that signifies the gentleman is IN love,
or ut least that was Miss C~hnnworttIs the
ory. and she had much information on such
subjects. She blushed and waited, Int as
Jack did not proceed she said;
II nm sure you are joking
rIndeed | am not" answered Jack; 81
was never more IN earnest.
'Now, Captain Hilton, / nm SIRE /
never can tell whether you are serious or
not .
'But I am most serious" exclaimed
Jack. believe me, Hattie Chanworth,
ms whole happiness is in your hands. All
my hopes ia life are hanging on your Yes
or No
This was plain speaking; and Miss Chan
worth was not inclined 90 say No. But in
such cases she adalways disliked q spoken
eyes" II was too hard, too plump, too
practical, too every day.
She hesitated a moment, and then she
placed her dear little hand in Jacks, and
dropped her head softly % an apple-blos
SOM on his shoulder.
Jack, whose thoughts were far enough
from hers, could do nothing at first but
stare stupidity at her face and hand, with a
Observation-Disclosures expression. But
after q moment Of mortal perploxity, some
thing i'm her look told him the whole story,
and apprehending all in one instant what
an admirable mess he had made Of II, and
how c~ieverly he had helped himself into a
worse dilemma, he jumped on his feet and
cried out, The devill'
,The deyilr" echoed Hattie Chanworth,
frightened, reproachful. II do not see
what he had to do with it,"
81 do" exclaimed Jack. in utter des-
peration, and rushed ont without another
word.
lie was now as close on insanity ~ q
a n man can 90. No use now 10 ask Miss
Chanworth to explain; for Miss Chanworth
herself would he ready to swear that he had
offered himself 10 her, and what n brute he
had been 10 that poor little girl, thinking
| Of nothing but himself, making her rdi-
%culous, and leaving her frightened and mys-
tilted alone In a strange city He writhed
when he thought OF it, but he had not the
pluck to 90 back and face an explanation.
lie was too thoroughly unnerved to be cap
able of anything but a sort OF dumb, dead
Wishing that he could freeze up for a hun
] urea NAhNN vi nht anu ny hAn AtAh ~ -
new generation that had never heard any
thing about him for it made him groan TO
think Of what would be the present reputa-
ton. Mabel regarded him asa shameless
deceiyer Miss Chanworth must consider
him an inefiable and incomprehensible
brute. He would go down 70 the posterity
of Mabel's aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters
and brothers as a social Benedict Arnold.
He would be handed down to the latest
ChanwoTth generation as n New York Drag
on Of Wantley. Rosy country maidens,
yet unborn, would speculate about him,
and frown down his very name, or ut its
mention toss their heads and tap their lit
tie slippers significantly. And let anybody
laugh who will, this speculation about the
Gnborn country cousins was A. painful as
the facts about the living Mabel and Hattie.
In this cheerful frame Of mind Jack
walked on, neither knowing nor caring
where he went, and met Mrs. Jennie,
Mrs. Jennie is one Of those charming lit
tie women who are sent ia this world cX-
pressly to oil the social machinery. She
was so CHEEKY, so plump, so pretty, and 50
neat that 1t was a good thing only 10 see
her. And she had 80 much sympathy, and
always such a remedy on hand, that she
was eyerybody's %conidante.
Jack no sooner saw her than lac began to
think that his case might not be 80 desper-
ate, and before they had walked a block lie
had told her the story.
Dear me! What a shame! said Mrs.
Jennie, and then she giggled.
81 really beg your pardon, Captain Hill
ton, but II is funny"
Laugh away" said Jack, doggcdly. II
know / have acted like a muff all through"
''Would You call yourself n mun, in
quired Mrs. Jennie, artfully, "if you were
caught and drenched in a shower of Tainl
/ believe that showers and storms and hur-
ricancs occur in the moral atmosphere AS
well. Have you never noticed how, when
n unlucky thing happens, everything
goes wrongY"
~ should call this a deuce of a squall,
then, remarked Jack.
sob you are a numbering old craft on a
wrong tack, answered Mrs. Jennie, cheer
lily. ~ do not think your case is desperate.
Suppose ! make your explanations to the
young ladies, beginning with Miss Chan
worth, poor child y
Jack caught her hand eagerly.
''Will you, reallyY Would you, could YOU
i mean will you tell her"
Everything that should be said; and
when ] have seen her safely away | will
call on Miss Mabel, who ! am sure will lis
ten TO me-"
''You are my best friend" cried Jack;
'tand-I say Mrs. Jennie -
"WelI?"
''There is a shawl"
"Wcll2 ?"
"A real camel's hair. Mabel always
coveted one, and ] bought il to surprise
her. Would it be a good idea TO take it to
her."
Mrs. Jennie looked doubtful.
you know " pursued Jack, eagerly, that
all women"
He stopped himself Just as he was about
to be stupid enough 10 tell Mrs. Jennie
that no woman could be indifferent TO the
argument Of m India shawl Mrs. Jennie
caught his meaning and colored, but dis
dained TO argue.
Jack wrung her hand, vowing secretly 10
send her another, the finest That he could
buy tore of 10 hia lodgings, seized the
parcel as it lay on his shelf. wrapped in
brown paper, and dispatched it 10 her.
Mrs. Jennie shook her head, but then she
reflected that Jack knew Miss Mabel better
than she could, and Hhe took the shawl. but
it weighed on her mind throughout the in.
terview.
She told Jacks story clearly, and with
some feeling; for she had just seen Miss
Chanworth, and her heart was sore for
the poor girl Finally she presented the
shawl, the most awkward part Of her mis-
sion in silence for she really did not know
what 10 say about it. I'D
Mabel cut the string mechanically, in 81
lence also. She was too near tears TO
speak, and she was considering rather Sc
how she should excuse herself 10
Jack. q D.
p She cut the strng5 and oh, impish,
snarling, snesring Genius Of cross-purpos-
es there lay no shawl, butts pair Of new
blue trowseTs. .'.r
"Here isa mistake, Igasped Mrs. Jennie.
NO" answered Mabel, stoutly. 'He
said that he thought / should wear the