Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-09-11

gldQly consented 10 REMAIN.
1 was very much occupied with seria
l was preparing for a weekly journal
and Jack was left to devise ways anC
means of Willing away the long Summer
days. Therefore he would frequently
start off after breakfast and sometimes
would not return until evening. One day
curiosity prompted me to ask him how
he managed to kill time, when he laugh
ingly replied that he had turned school
master.
"You see," he explained, "Alma takes
the little Blessingtons into the woods
every morning and keeps them there
nearly the entire day. While they are
playing near by she, under my super
vision, studies from dog-eared primer
belonging to one of the children. The
poor girl has never been to school, CON
sequently, can neither read nor write
But she has proven wonderfully apt
scholar. She has already mastered the
primers, and tomorrow | ain going to
| the village to purchase slate, pencil
and reader for her"
He appeared to take a genuine interest
in the progress of his pupil and declared
she learned more in week than he
could in a month.
The Summer was passing away pleas
antly enough. Jack seemed perfectly
content with the rustic life we were liv-
ing and / found it very restful-away
from the noise and hustle of the city.
One day / received letter which made
trip to New York necessary. informed
Jack of my intended visit and asked
him to accompany me. This he declined
doing, saying he meant to start to Sara
toga in few days, to join his mother
and sisters who were already there.
Business detained me in New York
much longer than / had expected, and
after an absence of nearly two weeks
returned, believing of course, that Jack
had departed from Saratoga long before.
| was considerably astonished when our
landlady informed me that he had not
gone yet, although he had talked of 60
ing every day, but had finally decided to
await my return.
Istrolled down the road toward Lilly
Lake, a beautiful pond upon whose sur
face We had whiled away an idle hour,
wondering the while what my return
had to do with his contemplated jour
ney. AS | drew near the spot | discoy-
cred Jack and his pupil standing under
tree on the lakes margin. He ap-
peared to be earnestly expostulating
with her as she stood before him with
bowed head and hands clasped over his
arm The sight filled me with pain. |
thought, is it possible that have over
estimated his sense of honor? Can it be
that he has wantonly taught this poor
friendless child to love him? My better
| md ont tnl hnf
were unfounded, and yeti turned away
garding the matter, and if my suspicious
were correct to read him a lecture he
would not soon forget.
| was in my room when he came saun-
tering up the lane leading to the house.
AS went out to meet him | observed
that his handsome young face wore a
troubled look.
81 am so glad you are backw he ex,
claimed cordially, grasping my hand. 81
could not 60 until you returned"
"Why not?" | demanded coldly.
ooh, confound it, on account of little
Alma; she went on in such a dreadful
way when l told her l was going that l
had not the heart to leave her. You see,
the poor child has always been so friend
less. | tried to be kind to her. Don't
look at me in that way, old friend; on
my honor | meant no harm. 1t never
entered my mind to think she would
learn to care for me-" Here his boyish
face flushed slightly. GAS God hears he"
he continued, 81 assure you have never
uttered one word of love to her. | will,
| must, 90 away Tomorrow; then you
can tell her-but you will know what to
say. L will leave some money with you,
and when the countess ceases to require
her services We must put her in the way
to earn a decent livelihood"
He looked so perplexed and spoke so
sincerely that the shadow Of supicion |
had harbored concerning him left my
mind.
"You had better leave Immediately"
| advised.
81 will. l will start by the first train
tomorrow. And you will be kind to
little Alma, for my sake, old friend, will
YOU not?"
l assured him that hers was only a
child's fancy, and that she would proba-
bly, forget all about him in weeks time
and the idea seemed to comfort him
greatly.
The next morning our host carried
Jacks luggage to the depot, and we,
having time to spare, walked there. On
the road just beyond the tavern we en-
countered Alma. She did not come to
greet us, as was her wont, but looked
sadly and silently at us. AS we drew
near l held out my hand and spoke
pleasantly to her. She did not heed my
greeting, but kept her eyes fixed on
Jacks face.
"Our friend is going to leave US to-
day." remarked.
ooh, take we with you, Mr., jack" she
cried, rushing forward and grasping his
hands.
"That is impossible, Alma" 1 said,
somewhat sternly.
But he will come back. Oh, say that
you will come back" she pleaded, still
clinging to his arm.
mo, Alma, he will not come back. Mr..
Bancroft and his sisters will 60 to Europe
in the Fall"
l took her brown hands in mine and
motioned Jack to walk on. He stroked
her cheek tenderly and without uttering
| a word turned away.
She gazed after him with a yearning
look on her young face that made my
heart throb with pity.
"Will you never, never come back
she murmured in tone so low that the
words did not reach his ears"
"Come, Alma, you are too old to be-
have SO childish !" demonstrated. Take
the children to the woods and l will see
you when the train starts"
l turnedand followed Jack, who was
walking very rapidly. l did not over
take him, and when reached the depot
the train was just moving off. On the
way back l looked for Alma, but failed
to find her. Having important work to