Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-09-03

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at her in amazement. Quite bewitch-
ing vision little Miss Ray tonight, rose
Tipped, star-eyed, smiling, her slim dusk
draperies of lace trailing softly behind
her, huge cluster of violets at the half
barred bosom It was after 10 before
she could escape from her companion
and make her way to the library. Her
hand on the portiere dividing that
apartment from the morning room, she
paused.
Voices. She didn't intend to caves
drop. Of course it was unintentional-
all was said and over so quickly. Equal
" of course it was dishonorable, but I
think as a rule we are not apt to con-
slider questions of honor with ex-
treme nicely when our hearts are very
sore. .sse
Give decided to take her." Jacks
quiet voice was saying YEARLY. cts
the only thing can do now" .
Ned spoke.
"She's skittish, / know, but Coy way
of consolation) she may outgrow that"
Jessica groaned involuntarily. Jack
glanced toward the curtain.
swell, we'll drop the subject" in q
lower voice: keep it dark, like good
boy. don't want people to know [ am
such young fool to be taken in by a
bag of bones, all paint and drugs!"
Jessica was plump as a partridge,
and her complexion was bloom" pat
ented by natures self. The morning
room was unlit, save from the hall.
Thank goodness for that She felt her
self growing faint and dizzy. Was that
Jack who talked So could 1t be-her
Jack.
90, come nowl" laughed Ned, "you
know you're exaggerating. She's not
quite as bad as that"
"Pretty nearly" ruefully. ST don't
so much mind her skittishness could
break her of that, / fatter myself-but
she has devil of temper"
She must not faint, Jessica told her
self frantically- she must not! Was
that dark thing beside her in the
shadow of the portiere a fauteuil? She
sank down on it heavily, weakly, ex-
haustedly. Horror of horrors It at first
succumbed second to her weight,
then moved, protested with vigorous
energy, shrieked. oa
All faintness banished, Jessica leaped
to her feet, her soft, quick cry of alarm
| mingling with that muff1ed roar of rheu-
| matte agony.
"That's aunt!" gasped Ned.
"Jessical" cried Jack. He strobe for
ward and flung aside the portiere. The
| light from the library poured into the
shadowy morning-room. It fell on
Jessica standing just within, very white
and trembling, and it showed on the
floor large and ungraceful heap OF
crushed drab silk and bugles, disordered
"front," and gruesome groans
For moment they stood and stared
-speechless. But Miss Murphy kept
on grooming.
"What in thunder is it all about? p
queried Ned, bewilderedly, helping his
aunt to rise.
81" faltered Jessica, "sat down
on Miss Murphy"
"What?" cried Ned.
eve were eavesdropping," confessed
Miss Murphy, with venomous candor
"and Jessica took me for footstool and
"My darling!" whispered Jack mo
not to Miss Murphy 81 thought when
heard your voice you were hurt OF
Jessica famed up.
"How dare you? Stand back, sir
Here's your ring" She tugged bravely,
but it fitted well. ct have heard in
what manner you speak of me. No.
disgustedly, don't appear astonished
Recall your conversation of yesterday
morning with Ned Sales"
Ned started at being thus referred to-
Jack looked dazed. 81 did not intend
that which has been repeated to me-
but I did. If Tm-Tm," the rose
crimsoning in her cheek, "skittish,
bringing out the hateful word with g
jerk, "and--and deuced- bad-bar-
gain," slowly, "and if I've got dew
dev-here's your ring!"
She had wrenched it off at last.
But Jack did not take it, His dumb
dismay had turned to uproarious mirth
It was well noisy polonaise was in
progress in the drawing room. He
laughed. He kept on laughing. Sud
denly the whole ludicrous misunder.
standing bursting on Ned he struck in
with very howl of delight, and they
fell into each others arms like couple
of crazy boys and supported each other
and laughed. a1s~t 5g7a tiswy
But recollecting Jessica standing
there, Sutherland explained, between
the shameful relapses into laughter, at
was-a horse. 7 thought I knew all
about horsefesh. I knew nothing.
bought her for racer. I have to take
her the idiocy is mine. I fondly
fancied I had found Maud s. Jim
Smiley's famous nag could beat her.
gave thousand for her. She's worth
-ah, now you understand
For Jessica had sprung forward,
mouth and eyes three sweet, renorse-
full "O'sp S# HA
Jack-Jack! And how I talked Just
nowp all riotous bushes. think
I'm afraid fared up so-I must have
after all, a-a-the kind of temper you
said the horse had!" .
"A dew" suggested Jack, in limo.
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