Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-01-09
Loves VS.. Practical Jokes.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

said Ralph Ayers with a nod and II
twinkle of the eyes, and solemn
shake of the head.
Mary Brooks looked first at Ralph,
and then at the tableau at the other
end of the depot; the crowded depot
full of hurrying men and behind-hand
women, aud children scrabling around
under foot, and old women and baskets
that were chroically in everybody's
way.
"But Ralph" said Miss Brooks, "do
you mean--"
II mean," interrupted Mr.. Ayers,
impressively, "that seeing is believing.
Now are you convinced ?"
Mary Brooks could but be convinc-
ed-for from her safe nook she lad
full and complete view of Charley
Thayer, sitting beside pretty young
matron, and himself dancing a white
headed baby up ard down in his arms.
"Don't he make nice family man?'
said Ayers, gravely. "And to think
he could leave that pretty wife to flirt
with young girls like you, Mary. l
really think you've been very much to
blame"
"But I did not know" cried Mary,
flushing up to The roots of her brown
hair, II never suspected that
Didn't ! tell you he was gay de-
ceiver p
"You are always joking" burst out
Mary, passionately, IL never know
whether you are in jest OF in earnest.
Take me on board the cars, please"
"You would not stop and Speak to
him p
mo, certainly not
Mary Brooks drew down her blue
tissue veil. and nestled resolutely into
a corner of tie seat, while Ayers went
to get her ticket. She was a slender,
pretty girl, with deep brown eyes, a
complexion like a bunch of clover
pinks, and sweet, fresh mouth with
dimples al it's corncrs-and now, with
the angry tears shining in her eyes,
and the crimson spots OH her cheeks,
there was something Of the tragic ele-
ments in her beauty.
Meanwhile Mr.. Thayer pst the ba-
by back into its mothers arms.
SITS time Godfrey was here" he
said, referring to his watch and al
most in the same instant a stalwart,
fine looking young fellow strobe up to
the little group.
"Much obliged to you Charley " he
said. "Come Bessie give me the little
chick ="
you'll 90 with us, Charley" said
the blooming matron.
"No, l believe not" said Charley
with some confusion. "I-I expected
to see young lady here"
"Ah !" said Bessie, knowingly. as
it that pretty Miss Brooks? Come,
Charley, you might take your sister
into confidence "
Unfortunately, I have nothing to
confde," said Mr.. Thayer, with a
grimance. "Good-by, Bessie, good-by,
Godfrey gcod-by chickiel It's a
fine baby, Goeff; but all the same,
I'm glad I am not you, travelling with
an incumbranc, like that"
"I'ts all envy, old fellow" said Mr..
Geofrey Glenn, contentedly balance
ing the growing baby on his shoulder,
as il it had been paper parcel.
After they were gone, Charley
Thayer walked up and down the de-
pot, taking survey of everything in
the ,hape of feminine that entered,
and keeping sharp watch of the va
rious doors; but all in vain.
"Shc must have changed her mind"
he thought to himself. "Well, at all
events, / shall have one more evening
with her if she has not left town, after
all"
The train had swept out of the de-
pot, car after car rounding the curve
with its living freight of hopes and
fears, grief and happiness, when Mr..
Thayer tumbled over Raj h Ayers.
"Hallo |" ho cried, cheerfully.-
"You here ? have you seen Mis-,
Brooks ?'
eyes, she has just gone"
"Gone Why did not see her ?"
"Well, I can't exactely say" said
Ayers cody, "as am not accounta-
bio for the way in which you use your
eyes"
"Very strange, said Thayer, jerking
sbstractedly at his moustachc.
! Very" sohsrly returned Ayers
-.