The Worthington advance., 1874-11-20

Jack Wilson to 60 over to the nearest
seat, and speak to gentleman friend
and to put it into Rob Brisbow's head
to enter and stand exactly where Jack
had stood. And he had dark mustache,
and wore light hat, and was medium
sized. So the boy delivered Jessica's
message to him. And just then Jack
came back to his station by the door,
and saw him read slip Of paper, and
then walk directly over to Miss Gray's
side and take the vacant seat near her.
''Done for my beneft--to snub me-"
thought Jack bitterly, and walked out.
Jess'ca looked around in surprise when
Bob sat down by her, and saw Jack
Just vanishing through the door, and
the usher had disappeared. Nothing
to DO but make the best of it. So she
asked after her friend Carrie, who had
not yet returned, and did not explain
the mistake to Mr.. Brisbow, who sat
till the play finished, and then walked
home with her, Us he could not well do
otherwise. Three young ladies
passed out near them, and Bob
bowed low to them. Two were
friends Of Jessica's y, the other, a fair,
stylish girl, was stranger. She had
bowed very haughtily, Jessica thought,
to Bob. "Who was she = she queried,
and Bob answered. "a Miss Smith, Of
Chicago. visiting here at Jones. Now
the truth was, Bob was in love with
Miss Dora Smith, and she knew it and
encouraged him. That evening he was
intending to call, but an old friend
dropped in and detained him until it
was too late. What was his surprise
tie next evening, on calling, to find
Miss Dora had returned to Chicago
that afternoon. "Wc'tried to keep her
till Tomorrow. as she first intended,
but she would co." her friends said.
''Desircd to have her farewell and good
wishes given you"
''Cool, by Jove y thought Bob;
''nicc way 70 drop a fellow never
dreaming Miss Dora had taken offense
at his ''playing the devoted to Miss
Jcssica Gray, as she chose to term it,
right before her eyes, and walking home
with her ; and not knowing how her
friends remarked as they went down
the street, that "Mr. Brisbow had been
quite attentive to Miss Gray Of late
wondered if there was any thing in it {?
which observation did not southe her
troubled feelings. Jack left Milwaukee
that night for St. Paul. where brother
resided. Jessica heard Of it,
and felt desperate. Bob Brisbow,
chatting with the treatmeut- he had re.
ccivcd from the fair Dora, threw him
sclfinto excitement. and rushed into all
sorts of gayety for furgctCulness. lie
must devote himself to somebody; why
not to Jcssica! Jessica was quite will
ling to do anything which would keep
her from thinking, SO she firted horr-
lily with Bob. Jack came back in a
week, and the first thing he saw was
Bob and Jessica riding on Spring street.
That day he threw up his situation in
Milwaukee, and the next went to St.
Paul to remain. Miss Smith heard
how Bob was Miss Gray's s most devoted
slave--hcr attendant everywhere, and
she went east with party Of friends to
spend the season, and never sent Bob a
goodbye, even.
A delightful state Of affairs, wasn't
it, take it all around? One would have
said nothing less than miracle could
ever bring matters straight for these
four lunatics. There was Jack off in
St. Paul hating everybody. Miss
Smith in New York, where a match
making friend was trying to marry her
to an old moneyed widowcr, and Bob
and Jessica making love to each other
in Milwaukee in spite. So fit went
along, till May, 1874, when Bob
heard Of Miss Smiths re-
turn to Chicago, and that some one
said she was engaged to somebody, for
she wore new ring, and he went
straight that evening and asked Jessica
to marry him. And Jessica, realizing
that she had given Bob all the encour.
agement in the world for several
months, said yes, and, being exceeding.
ly miserable, did not stop to observe
that Bobs manner was not as lover.
like or tender as it might be when he
made the proposal.
When Carrie Somers saw Jessica' 5
hand at their next meeting she said
"Oh y and then stopped short, and
then went on, $50 you've both been in
earnest, have you? 'Q:eer; I used to
think Bob and Dora Smith would make
| a match; and | always fancied you d
marry Jack Wilson, Jessica? How
came Bob to cut him out p And Jes.
sica looked her straight in the eyes
and said my dear, l want you to tell
me how you put that trimming on your
brown poplin. want my new suit
trimmed the same way, and came over
to confer with you.''
In July, a little party of six left Mil
waukce to visit the Dells and Devils
lake, and scenery thercabouts. Carrie
Somers, Bob Brisbow, and Jessica Gray
comprised the three with which our
story is connected. They had very
nice time of it, for two or three days,
| and the fourth day out, felt like taking
rest. So they stopped over at the
Cliff house, DEVILS lake, to stay a week
or thereabouts. They had been there
just two days, when two gentlemen
came down from the north, and regis.
tered their names as James and Jack
Wilson. at the Cliff house. Bob and
Carrie greeted their old friend cordially,
and there was nothing for Jcssica to do
but treat him we'll, or make their affair
public. They were all out on the We
randa in the evening, Jack and his
brother at some distance from tJessica,
when Carrie spoke up: 'Oh, Jessica,
do you know my sister in Chicago is so
we'll she thinks she will be up here this
summer? [ only wish she could have
come with us-but she hardly dares to
travel yet. I never dreamed she could
recover, last winter. Do you remember
the time sent Bob over to bring you,
when she telegraphed for me !?