Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-08-03
CHAPTER XVII.
OLD JACK CAIRNS.

OLD JACK CAIRNS.
l met Nellie-as I shall for awhil
continue to call that mysterious an
beautiful beiug-the next morning
She was very pale and psns,ve. b,
there was nothing to betray the re;
stormy scene through which he ha
gone the night before.
When l addressed her she answere
in tones of melung tenderness, an
then l thought her eyes were fixed o
me more friendly than usual.
/ l was satisfied that my fervent low
for the beautiful girl was returned, b.
that awful gulf between Us could nc
understand.
4 shall be idle to-day, Nellie"
Isaid, "do you wish me to spend tn
day with you"
| She looked at me with such sweet
sad expression could not but under
stand her. and answered.
Il thank you very much, but l woul'
prefer to-day to be alone. 1 do no
feel at ali well.
I No other young lady on earth coul'
have rejected the society Of a gentle
man as She cid without giving offense
But understood her as perhaps nj
one else did. and yet knew absolute
ly nothing about her.
sometimes doubted in my mint
whether l was willing to marry tn.
choice of my heart with all that mystic
ry hanging over her. She had declar
ed that 1t was impossible for US to be
more than friends. Then there wa.
some barrier between us. What was
ita
Who was LaMorge? What relation
ship did he bear to her? Was he hel
husbands He might be for all 1 knew
He was despised by her and yet she
dare not cast him aside. He was evi.
IDENTITY alike feared and hated.
When charged upon her that she
was engaged to some number of oul
company she truthfully denied it; but
she did not say she did not love me,
she had studiously avoided the subject
of love.
In spite of my reasoning l could not
get it out of my mind that Nellie was
the wife of some one, and more than
likely, of that tall, dark. handsome
stranger, LaMorge.
She had deceived us once-yes. and
we knew not how much oftener. She
had given her name as Nellie Cornell,
while her real name was Alice-some-
thing. l did not know.
1t might be that this bright bird on
whom had been lavishing my afec.
tons was wholly unworthy the love of
an honorable man. But no would
not for moment allow myself to think
i'll of her. She was pure. holy and up
right let what might be her misfortunes
and was brute to think otherwise.
l had gone down to tie street and
stood listlessly on the corner looking
up and down at the busy throng that
surged by. The town seemed alive
with business, and vehicles OF every
description from the heavy freight wag-
on to the delicate phaton were con-
stantly passing.
People of almost every nationality
jostled each other on the street, in their
hurry. The snow which had fallen in.
to the mud, by the many thousands of
hurrying feet.
l did not know what to do with my.
self and stood looking to the right and
left, irresolute which way to 60.
"Helloa Thornburg." said familiar
voice and the next moment 1 felt the
hand of Charley Mitchell placed on
my shoulder, sdon't you know how to
get through the days"
Il must confess that l hardly d."
| replied.
"Well, it's not the best weather IN
he world for promenade, but don't
NOW anything better that We can do"
n am sure do not
IL wish Seymour would select some
lew plays and put us to rehearsal 1
lon't like this inactive business" said
charley.
care you, then, so fond of theatrical
FORK 2"
"Ofcourse. We have to learn them
ONE time. and why not now as well as
ny others"
but, Charley. you know it to be a
Professional fact that no matter how
ell an actor is up in his part, it is for
often in two weeks and has all to be
one over again"
"But we could put in the time that
ay, ANYWAY"
II am not SO welded to the business
; to commit parts just for the fun of .
"You are not 2" asked Charley as we
alked down the street. Do you not {
&c the stage?"
81 must confess that do not"
"Why, l like it better every day.
VI last mouse was a rouser and the I
ay grand. Do you pretend to say Q
~ are not delighted with such per- t
FINANCES 2"
mo, Charley; the novelty of the
ing has worn off, and I find that the Y
age is not my calling" u
::'You do not intend to give it up
oughs"
81 am thinking now seriously OF quit. a
,g it and returning to Hampstead {
.sXvh.e -, he oxc1,;road H.. e,,. &.