The Worthington advance., 1874-11-20

went along, and Jack and his brother
followed after. Jessica being fleet Of
foot and light, outstvipped them all.
But Jack was nos far behind her. She
turned quickly to descend, as soon rs
he reached her side, but slipped and
wrenched her foot. Jacks outstretch.
ed arm saved her from falling. She
turned white. clean on M" he said.
II will help you down. You are hurt,
I know"
'sOnly little,'' she said. II think
can 60 down alone, or Mr.. Brisbow will
assist me-"
,"Mr. Brisbow will not assist you. He
is helping that elderly lady up the cliff.
1t would be unkjnd to call upon him. /
am here at your service, and [ think it
will be cruel and mean if you refuse my
| arm.'
''It will not lie the first time you have
thought me mean," Jessica said quick
ly, and then bit her lip.
81 have been fool, am afraid,''
Jack answered, and then, ''Oh, Jessica :!
I have been so miserable and wretched
all these months! l love you more
madly than ever; for Gods sake let US
go back to the old relation, and forget
this miserable misunderstanding.
1t is too late, Jessica answered. *'Mr.
Wilson, feel faint, and my foot pains
me. must get back to the hotcl.''
Jack helped her back, and little was
said, ON the way. The hotel parlor
was deserted, and he assisted her to the
sofa, and sat down by her. 81 will
stay here" she said, "till Carrie comes
back. My foot is not hurt much, and
only pains me when step on it. You
can 60 now, Mr.. Wilson; thank you
for your assistance
''But III not go!' cried jack, Il
love you, and know you love me. and
| want you to say you will be my
wife,
II can't" she said firmly; 81 am
engaged to Mr.. Brisbow.'
Jack said some hard words, and
started out Of the room. He heard a
little sob, and came back. Jessica was
sitting with her face buried in her
hands. Jack called her name, but she
only said $50 away" He looked at
her moment, started to go, came back
and caught her in his arms, and laid
her tear-wet facs on his shoulder. just
at this juncture Bob Brisbow burst into
the room. He had come back for Car
ries parasol, which she left in the par
lor, to find his promised wife sobbing
in Jack arms. ''ilallo!' he said, and
stared at them. If he had been more
in love, he might have said something
more emphatic. AS it was he only said
''llallo!' TO express his surprise. Then
Jcssica sprang up and Jack rose and
said, IL beg your pardon, but loved
her first. We were separated through
a foolish mistake, but we love each
other yet. She refuses, however, to
make me happy, because she has prom
isel to marry YOU
swell, she's yours, old fellow, with
my blessing cried Bob, and hurried
away with mist in his eyes, which
Jessica fondly imagined was occasioned
by her loss, but which was, on the con.
trary, caused by the thought Of Dora
Smith. Then Jessica told Jack al;
about the matinee occurrence, and they
were both in Fools Paradise the rest OF
the day. Jack went back with the
Milwaukee party, and Carrie Somers
was on the qui vipe to know what had
occurred. Something. she knew, but
she could not tell what. When they
got home, Bob told her of the scene in
the Cliff House. ''And you gave her
up, you dear, good fellow! - cried sym.
pathetic Carrie. GLOW noble of you.
''Not bit Of it, growled Bob. IL
never loved her. only engaged my
self to her out Of spite, and / find she
took me for the same object. Joke on
both Of us, wasn't it -
Then Carrie questioned about, and
wormed the whole story out Of him.
A few days later she said she must
run down to Chicago to see her sister,
before she went away. The very after.
noon of her arrival, though, she called
on Dora Smith. Found her with her
trunks all packed, ready to 60 to Wau'
kesha or Commonwealth not sure
which placc-for few weeks. Carrie
made chatty call, and told her all the
current society news in Milwaukee.
''And I've the very latest tit bit to
give yoa,' she said sweetly! "Jessica
Gray and Jack Wilson are engaged,
and going to be married in the fail
and I'm to be first bridesmaid.
"Why, | supposed she was to marry
that Mr.. Brisbow who was so attentive
last winter" Dora said, looking out Of
the window.
Carrie laughed. ''Oh dear, not" she
said. II know all about that-he
boards with us you know. Poor fellow
he was in love with some girl who did
not live in the city-now where did he
say she livcd-Neshota-
somewhere south, or west of US anyway;
and she snubbed him, he said, and he
only went with Jessica out Of spite
Perhaps he might have married her
though, to make the spite complete, il
she and Jack had not met and made IN
some old quarrel" And then Carrie
in the most innocent manner imagina.
ble, told about the blunder at the mat.
incc, which had so eftcctualy separated
Jack and Jessica, and which Jessica
had told her about only the day before.
''That shows how little it takes to cs.
TRANCE people," Carrie said as she
closed the recital. ''But really, dear, I
must not sit here and gossip all day. l
60 back to Milwaukee Tomorrow; only
ran down to see my sister off, and
thought I'd drop in and see you a mo-
mcnt.' And off she went. chuckling
to herself-thc little diplomatist. Miss
Dora Smith took Milwaukee in on her
way to her summer resort, and Bob
Brisbow was thunderstruck to receive a
little note one day, saying, "Miss Dora
Smith would be ut the Miss jones' that
evening, and pleased to see her old