The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-06-13
manned faithful 70 himself


excursions, somewhat heavy even
ing party, and then Jack thought it |
time to speak his mind to Harry.
He told Harry that he loved Miss
Chafont, and meant to ask her to be
his wife.
Harry laughed at the idea, and with
unbushing aflrontery, assured Jack
that it was no use, as Miss Jessie UNI
loubtodly preferred him, and the AL
herman thought we'll of the Birming-
ham manufactures, though no doubt
he respected the poor, proud baronet.
| Well, it was really not so wonderful
after all.
Harry was certainly a handsome
young fellow, with plenty to say for
himself, and Il good deal of the quail
| ty called by courtesy sclf-posession-
plenty of money in perspective, too.
Jack was too grave and quiet, with
plain face, and no fortune, save all
he carried in his massive head.
He would not stand between the
lyoung people and their happiness,
, He would not even mar it by his
sad face, or cause suspicion to Jessie
of the true state of his feelings, by alb
senting himself from the lodge.
But Jack knew that he could not
bear TO look into the happiness
through another mans eyes
: For two years the daily dream OF his
life, stimulant to his work, and the
! main secret to his success, was the
: hope OF winning Jessie.
Now, Jack shrugged his rounded
shoulders, packed few things into
his Gladstone bag, locked up his draw
= ers, and resolved to go on holiday.
Any quiet place would do where he
. could become accustomed to two
things, losing what he never possessed
Harry's finding what he never de
" served.
With that very communicative
:, young gentleman rushing in and on
: at all hours of the day and night, HI
=: could never do it.
SO he just walked quietly up to thu
Charing Cross, and calmnly asked 70
a ticket to Paris.
: Train has just gone SIR the MAJ
- replied.
And then Jack put his bag in tn
. cloak room and went out for walk
q, Vaguely he rambled about tn
streets for an hour, then he found him
self at Tottenham Court Road.
~ Acting on a sudden impulse, he re
= solved to walk to Hampstead, and tax
- a farewell glance, not at Jessie, bu
" her house.
Harry would be in the drawing
room no doubt, singing, or listenin
', to Jessie, and the Alderman would b
= doing behind the paper.
He would just have look, and sc
go how it felt-and he smiled at the mo
y bid pleasure OF the idea.
1t was u fine night, and he saul
tered along slowly to the distant co
- ner OF the Health where Holly Lodl
stood.
~ But to his intense surprise, when |
reached there the house was qui
}" dark, save far faint light in Jessie
room.
oh No wonder he said aloud it
IVA twelve o'clock.
~ What Tartar, not asleep! he adde
=, as the huge dog crawled toward hi
'0N and crouched at his feet
And then the night being very lov
NV ly, and Jack Brisbane being sen
" mentalst and q dreamer, he fell
composing poetry as he leaned und
'0N the elm on the lawn.
Then he pulled out his note boo
~ and leaning it against the trunk of Il
:" tree, turned his back to the hout
-, and wrote down his verses, go,
'"U dozen of them, very sad and bittt
very hopeless and cynical.
'"s When he looked around again the
was very great change in the aspe
Wy of Holly Lodge.
Dense clouds of smoke came pot
ing through the windows, and il
wac moment more lurid glare illumir
,.'s ted Jessie's room.
iNe Piercing screams broke shrilly t
' 80, midnight quiet
h., The house was clearly on fire.
A single glance showed Jack whC
mir the danger lay.
ino Climbing up the porch by the aid
~ creepers and rOse-trees he gained
nlv little balcony above, and from tt
scrambled-how he never knew
;.4; the window of Jessie's room.
; 49, With one blow he forced the W
dow in.
al He was not a moment to soon; {
49,, whole room was in blaze,
cod Voices were calling, some one v
trying to force open the door
20 l. Jessie was lying unconcious on