The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-07-31

had not yet freed her from the state Of
mingled perplexity and stubborn de-
cislon into which she had worked her
self. She was not yielding, but she was
wrctchcd and regrctful.
Suddenly Jack appeared before her,
flushed and glaring, his excitablc temper
ament reused to its highest pitch.
care you insanc9" he cried, Selling her
roughly by the arm. "Do you want to
drive nc to pcrdition with your wicked
cruelty? In Heavens name, explain
YOURSELF And he fairly painted for
breath.
"Let me got" she uttered, stcrnly; II
will not have you to touch me. Address
me as if you were at least u gentleman"
Jack was goaded to frenzy, and an
swered Unexpectedly; so the miserable
quarrel ragged high. No explanation was
given; mutual recriminations passed back
and forth. At last Sallie tainted him
with his Irritation with Laura Beamis.
$50 it is for petty jealousy that you
treat me so!' he cried.
mo, she answered. ut is because I
know you to be dishonorable.'
At the word Jacks heated face turned
pale as death. The two foolish people
were now ut white heat.
at IS lie" said he, in Il voice OF omi-
nous calm. And she, as stcrnly and
quietly, sent him from her, with orders
never to return. So he turned upon his
heel and left her there, and their bond
was broken.
After this the days went OH quietly
enough. Night succeeded day with re-
morseless regularity. No one knew what
Sallie Hill suffered: no one knew what
she would have given to recall her bitter
words. She had cast Jack away without
counting the cost; she had learned at
last that she could not afford it; she was
bankrupt in happiness. Gradually the
slim, naughty figure grew slghtcr and
less erect; the proud little mouth soft
cncd, and let fall words of picty with
greater readiness than Of old. she was
growing meek through pain. One month
changed her as year might have done.
Talking one day with Laura Bcamis,
who was growing stronger and more
cheerful, she looked down at her ring
less finger with deep detection, and
Laura, following her eyes said, sudden
ly:
"Sallic, hoped you would have mar
ricd Jack. Arnold. knew him in L.;
he is such a good fellow! He and I
once had little innocent filtration, be-
for-bctorc-wclt, when first left
Rockdale, and have always since
thought of him as friend. You're not
engaged to him.
"No," replied Sallic, i'll !, tone which
forbade inquiry.
$50 that was all!' she thought. 81
believe have lost all for nothing-tol
nothing! But it is too late Still he1
pride never dreamed of bending.
But further re vclations were to come
At last a ''Pinatore" company visited
Rockdalc, and Sallie, seated by rustic
swain, who basked in the cold light OF
her rare smiles, heard with languid pleas.
urc the inimitablc opera. Suddenly, like
the jest Of a hooking ficnd, there broke
| upon her ears the fatal words which had
helped to destroy her peace. the familiar
"What! ncvcr?" "Hartlzy ever" Strange
words to be associated with hcartachc and
misery! Yet, absurd as it may seem, they
were to Sallic's cars freightcd with ;
drcarier spell than the ancient cabalistit
muttcrings of which our wizard, or the
fatcful utterances Of the oraclcs. For this
this mere quotation, this idle joke, she
had wrought herself into state of virtu
GUS Indignation and angry suspicion o
the man she loved. And she lost him
This was the bittcrcst touch; yet moro
was to come.
| When she reached home, Auntic Tril
met her with rucfu, countcnancc. ''N1,
grief! Sallic," she cxclaimcd; II don
b'licvc you treated Jack Arnold right
Here's letter from Free sayin' Jack.
down with typhus fever, or somcthin
like it, and he says you've killed him, ant
that we must come down to L-right off
But, law me- what's he thinkin' of, want
in you to run your head into contigu
Gus disease" Auntic Trib's words wei,
often changed at birth, like the captain
and Ralph, when she spoke in haste.
''Why, you might as we'll face small-po,
us typhus-- not but what I'm sorry t0
Jack; but of course we can't go'
'Go:" cried Sallic, who had snatchc,
the letter. TRY to keep me, that's all
I must 60 tonight to-night! It's ty
phoid, rot typhus, auntic. Oh, if coult
take it and die! Oh, Jack! Jack!' ant
quiet, dignitied Sallic broke down, ant
walled like child.
They could not go that night; their
was no train till daybrcak; but Salll'
made ready for their journey with fever
ish energy. Her poor bewildcrcd aun
demonstrated fccbly, but in vain; sh,
was whirled oft in the early morning
light, and sat in Il dazed c4ndltion OF
the train, with her best bonnet all awry
and with Sallie's white inhcxiblc face
beside her, gazing strai ght forward like
a mournful Fate. How the young proui
heart had been hpmblcd that night ir
prayer and tears! Would the journc,
| never end?
1t ended at last; and Jack, who was
am bound to say, not quite so ill a.
| Free had represented, awQke from slccI
to find bending over him--not the fan
avenging goddess of his late troubled
| dreams, but the sweet woman whom III
loved. Of course he forgavc her; o
course he recovered. What would you
expect? He was tender and vehement
and grief and pcrplexity and remorst
had broken him down; but he was vigor
Gus, and JOY and confession and forgive
ness restored him. Of course you knew
from the first how the story would end
it is but a trifling tale of a tempest in :
teacup. But Sallic had learned lessor
which she never forgot.
How Jack laughed when he heard hel
explanation! GAS 'Pinoforc' was thu
cause ofou despair" he said, slct pima
fore express our newly-recovcrcd happi
ness"
And he began to sing, fccbly and in
correctly, but still heartily.
"'Oh, joy! Oh, rapture unforeseen!
Free and Auntie Trib stood by like
"kindly chorus,' smiling bencvolcntly.
"I'll never he so foolish again." sait
poor Sallie, mcckly.
"What! ncver?" Kissed Free, in a stag
whisper,
mo, of course she never WILL" crict
Auntic Trib, failing to recognize tn
joke, although it had been explained t.
her great many times. With which ex