Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1877-01-31
me Peculiar Fate Of three
Rings.

Il
stumbled against one another ina
muddy street OF The metropolis.
aHaIlo. .Jones." said one, q stout
fair.haired, handsome ieiio".
(which waysn $, II
aNowhere particularly, sin'th,
said the other. slim, black-haired'
and good-looking. "What was your
djreetion?p
aHadn't any, said Smith, scrap
ing his heel industriously on the curb
stone ";hough by-the-way ] had 9
little commission for one Of my peo-
ple in the jewelry line"
Sand that reminds me- said
Homes. athat / was TO get an article
for one OF my folk OF that descrip-
tion.u
aHump,'' said Jones, christmas
present, SUPPOSE"
aAhem, -yes," said Smith, "yery
likely" :.
Then they both looked over each
Others shoulders pulled up their sep
arate coat collars, nodded, and
Smith walked on up town, while
Jones pursued his way in an oppo-
cite direction. He hadn't gone Q
block, when he met another OF his
fellow clerks. But this time his
face frightened he held out bis hand
and hailed his comrade locnlariy.
"Hallo, Robinson, old boy! glad
TO see You"
~ was going 10 Smiths" said
Robinson, who was neither ligIltnoI
dark, neither stout nor slim, hand
some or ngly.
HUM said Jones, Sowing; 81
just parted with him. Connected
puppy, that Smith! ! tell you wha
1t is Robinson, If Io don't stop in
terfering with me, he'll cosne t.
grief Hes intruding his attentions
where they're not appreciated, ant
IL won't take much more of this s0r
OF thing 10 make me tell him so
He told me just now he was IL
search Of an article of jewelry for |
Christmas present. Now I've ~
sort Of doubt, Jack it's for Miss So
ply May; and can you think Of any
thing much more impertinent thar
that? With the little encourage
ment he's had, it's simply mon
strous."
III suppose every man is fool a
some time in his life" said Jack.
'But, heavens and earth! Robin
son, there's reason in everything
The fellow hasn't had any show Il
all. Miss May has merely beer
courteous to him you know villa
pleasant way she,has."
"Yes,' z said .Jack, ~ know" m,
wbistled melancholy little bar un
der his breath.
"And I've no doubt he'll go ant
spend every cent he can raise on
some gaudy irinket.n
~ hope not" interrupted Jack
for ] want to get up purse fol
Higgins this Christmas. ought tc
have been about ii long ago, but
didn't really know how bad matters
were In that quarter. Higgins slip
ped on the ice, you know, some
months ago, and broke his arm and
his collar-bone, and his son'sis sick
with rheumatism; little girl there,
too-a hunchback. II seems wrong
somehow 10 have so much misery In
one place; and an accident, you
know, might happen 10 you, or me,
or anybody
"Confound IL, Robinsonw said
Jones, q genuine air OF regret upon
his handsome face; nothing would
give me greater pleasure than to do
good turn for Higgins. | will
next month, upon my honor; but
just now IL Is impossible. The little
money ! have must use in certain
way
We'll, good night, then," said
Jack; II must try elsewhere" ard
ne jumped into car going down
town.
Presently in got Smith and hailed
Jack with enthusiasm.
"Going down town." no said,
taxing a seat by Jack Is side.
II was going to your house, said
Tack "but ! just met Jones ~
"HumphW snorted Smith, "an
'gregions ass-tbat Jones! | don't
tnow vainer idiot, or more of.
ensiye one. There's one thing very
ertain, Robinson he's gone TO the
ength Of his rope, and he'll be
'rought up short pretty soon. It's
imply melancholy tho way that fell
ow fiatters himself. There's a Ger.
Ain young lady mutual friend Of
'urs Jack, the daughter Of one OF our
ulcers -
II suppose you mean Miss Maygp
aid Jack.
Exactly" said Smith. "Well
ow Jones fancies because she's ordi-
arily polite. TO him you know
that a frank, genial manner she
asp,
Yes, ! know" said Jack, and he
egan to whistle another melancholy
efFain.
"He fancies ail sorts Of impertin-
nt things, and makes slclenipg
pectacle ofhimseif.v
"Men will do these things saia |
lack.
But Robinson, think Of his hay.
Dg the audacily to purchase d Christ
r.. a. n a