The Penn's Grove record., 1884-06-21

with his usual half-careless, half-deyOted
manner, save that tonight there was a
preoccupied air about him, so different
from his natural sunny gayety Of dispo-
sitlon that Kate soon began to rally him
up ON it.
ITO tell the truth, Kate" said he,
II have been thinking all day of what
you said this morning. If you really
mean all you say"
. Mean it," she interrupted, indig-
nantly. "Of course l mean it! Have
l ever given you, or any one else, any
reason to suppose l did not?"
"No, l can't say that you have"
admitted Jack, ruefully. But, as
was saying, if you really never intend
to be married, why, there's no use in a
fellow making a fool of himself for
your sake forever. So Unjust seek else,
where for the love which l foolishly
believed you would grant me some day.
OF course, a girl knows best what will
make her happy, and [ won't annoy
you any more about the subject. But
we must always be good friends, Kate,
ever though you won't marry me-"
"With all my heart, Jack!" said Kate,
a little huskily, giving him her hand.
"You are the most sensible man of my
acquaintance. No doubt there are
plenty of other girls who would be only
too glad to resign their freedom and be-
come Mrs. Jack Brandon"
"Oh, I shouldn't wonder, returned
Jack, complacently the hypocrite!)
''only, you see, my preference to your
self made me blind to their charms.
However, [ must now make up for lost
time, since nature never intended me
for u bachelor.
And with one of his brightest, friend
lest smiles, Jack nodded a pleasant al
reuoir, and sauntered across the room to
the vicinity of Rachel Bowen, a young
lady who had always ranked next to
Kate in Mr.. Brandon's warmest re-
CARDS.
GLOW coolly he takes It'll" thought
Kate, her glance following his owe
ments with a little surprise which she
could not quite conceal. "Of course, l
never meant to marry him, though he's
good enough for any woman living.
Still, 1 must say, l never dreamed of
his ever growing tired Of the situationl'
So the weeks went by. Jack Brandon
called upon Kate frequently, but she
was no longer bored by any lover-like
demonstrations. On the contrary, be
was so entirely and simply the disinter-
ested friend that she often found herself
longing for some of his old fond g~lances,
some of those countless indications, in
tone and manner, that she was more to
him than all others. But non ever
came. Never did one Of Cupid's
slaves shake off his gilded letters so
easily, und with such grateful good ma
ture, as did the once tiresomely devoted
Jack.
Occasionally he brought Rachel Bow
ems name into conversation, q1ite cas-
ually, but with a certain air which show
ed that she was fast gaining a deep hold
upon his interest. And in these days it
was not handsome, saucy Kate Wise
who received Jacks invitations to party
and theater, or who rode behind the
musical jingle of his sleigh bells, tuck
ed up in warm fur robes, in the nattiest
little cutter the town could boast of.
Oh, mol it was pretty, wInsome, dove
like Rachel Bowen who carried off all
these honors, and who evidently enjoyed
it to the utmost. Kate was rallied
numerically about the sudden detection
of her chief admirer; and the worst of
it was that nobody seemed to think of
him as her rejected lover. She could
not even h ave that triumph, for she was
too proud to intimate such a thing, her.
self, and Jacks demeanor was such that
no n could possibly imagine him to be
a disappointed swain. So, though deep.
~ chagrined at heart, she bore the stu.
alton bravely, and pleasantly Joined in
the laugh at her own expense.
But n time came when Kate's laugh.
ter changed to tears; at least, in the
solitude of her own room. Jack Bran
don had broken his arm, and had been
taken at once 10 Mrs. Bowen's motherly
root to be cared for. Day after day
Kate pictured her pretty rival bending
gently over the handsome sufferer,
soothing his pains, and rendering herself
dearer to his heart each passing hour.
1t was now that she most keenly rea-
lized what a sweet privilege she had
thrown away. To see Jacks handsome,
sunny face daily Frightening her home
had been such a common thing that she
had thought nothing of it; but of late
she had come to treasure up every word
or glance of his as something precious.
and now it was Rachel who wa always
to be blessed with whose loving looks,
those radiant smiles! To be sure, Kate