The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-11-12

Il
quite time for YOU TO shake OIL such
WITNESSES now
Tom Grant has been here. Tom Is an
old friend, hare-brained fellow enough
but good and honest and true. We
used 10 be great chums in the old
days, and have never outgrown the lik-
ing. Tom is engaged, and the engage
ment is SO new that the freshness has
not Yet worn of. He seems in con-
slant state Of wonder over his good
luck, and, of course, j. as full OF his
raptures As "A boy Is of fireworks on the
Glorious Fourth lie raves about her
hair Il Just wish he could just see
Etta'sD her ewes, her smile, her com
pleNion, her hand Ono daintier than
Etta's, I'll be swornD until | am sick
of the whole subject. instead of being
fired with the widest curiosity, a. he
fondly imagines. He is going to take
me 10 call on Miss Laura as soon as |
feel strong enough. don't think that
will be very soon. II il were Eta. nowl
May 24.-lt is Eta Here's Jolly
go, as the London gdDiinS say. Tom
came here yesterday, bursting in with
his usual free-and-easy manner OF
course his first words were an inquiry
whether | would 60 with him this even.
ing 10 see Miss Laura. While hesitat-
ed and bungled over my excuse, he was
striding about the room, examining
things, until he reached the window,
when he stopped short with a sudden,
"By Georgei"
Then-well, one does feel rather
dazed when his castle tumbles about his
ears, even il he never realized before
that he had castle ut all. | have a
vague idea that stood with my mouth
wide open, gasping like sick salmon,
while Tom went on 10 explain that the
house exactly in the rear was the one
where Miss Laura Nane lived
You must have seen her at the win
dow, my boy,m Tom went on in his live
hest manner. Ozark eyes and golden
hair, YOU know. OF course you've seen
her; and ISN'T she a stunner?n
Laura Eta, Etta-Laura what did
it all mean? Tom went droning on,
and heard him through a sort Of con
fused mist, only waking at his last
words:
$50 I'll come for YOU tomorrow
night, and take YOU round there. You're
to be my best man when the wedding
comes off, you know but that won't be
just yet"
Now the thing that puzzles me is
which Eta shall see when 90 there
II it's the other Eta, all right. In the
course of time am quite sure that can
develop brotherly indifference towards
her, which will not in the least interfere
with my friendship for Tom. Ii my
Eta meets us, though-what then'
Then time must decide, and " sufficient
unto the day Is the evil thereof" in all
conscience, especially when it comes in
such shape as this.
Nav 26-Eureka, The mystery is
solved, and what a fool have been new
er 10 think of it beforel When Tom
and walked up the Vanes' steps and
rang the bell. confess that quaked at
heart Which would il be, my Eta or
the other Etta2 In other words, whenI
met the actual flesh-and- blood woman,
which set Of feelings would gain the up
per hand'
Miss Laura swept down, gorgeous in
white and rose-coler, and, as bent low
in acknowledgment Of Tom. presenta-
ton, felt, with sensation Of blessed
relief, that found not my Eta, but the
other Eta. | had only moment for
nv REORGANIZATION, though. A
second time the parlor door swung
wide, a second figure in white and rose
color, with the golden hair and soft dark
eyes. glided into the room. While |
stared aghast | felt with sudden thrill
that here at last was nay Eta, her very
self, no phantom, and, best Of all, not
Toms Miss Laura, after all
Tom burst out laughing at myamaze
ment, only half comprehending il. Of
course. Laura laughed too, and Eta
smiled shy. sweet smile.
They are twins my boy roared
Tom. Il wouldn't tell you, before, be-
cause I wanted To- see your first look
when you saw them. Did you ever see
such a likeness? I can tell them apart,
though, bless YOU"
II think | can distinguish them al
So" replied, meekly.
Think In spite Of Toms credulity,
didn't kHe,r, didn't ! feel in every
fiber, tina, Eta was nay Eta, and that
Toms Laura was the other Eta, and to
me nothing, and less than nothing?
fancy there will not be many more
entries in this diary of mine. II has
been good friend to me when | needed
il, but the living Eta is sweeter and
lovlier than the phantom Eta whom |
have rashly dared to call mine.
November 12.-I shall not be Toms
best man after all, for our weddings are
TO take place on the same day. Eta
has laughed, with tears in her eyes,
over this old diary of mine, and insists
upon my adding this last entry as n tes-
timony TO the virtues Of back-windows.
AT Sandusky, Ohio, Michael Con-