The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-01-14
TmR PORoRN CHICK.


last; / hated him with an Intensity
that has only lately died.
Perhaps he was to blGme. though
after all, perhaps not.
am an old man now, and much Of
the past is faded into oblivion; but
that portion OF my life which relates
to him Is as fresh in nay mind tonight
as it was fifty years ago, when We
were clerks togethsr--Ted March and
lin the great shipping house Of Hal
iton and War.
Ted was very handsome, and / hated
him for that, for I was plain and in
significant in appearance, and the
comparison drawn by every stranger
who entered the counting-house made
me ill-natured and cressgrsined.
Before Ted every really did me
wrong l hated him, hated him instinct
iYely, hated him against my better In
clinations, as if already within me-
there was something conscious Of the
part he wae to play in my lite's dream
lean close my eyes now and live
over again those dim old days.
saw Ted perched eA high stool
at the battered and ink-besmeared old
desk, with the sunshine streaming in
through the dingy windows aAd CLINT
ing In his light hair, as he sat with
his blue eyes fastened vacantly on The
masts and rigging Of the vessels an
chored along the wharf, with one girl
ish hand twisted among his glisteninG
curls, and the other toying idly viii,
his pen on the desk,
Yes, / hated him; I hated him foi
his elegant manners and complaisan'
wayA
hated him for his merry laugh
his nielodieus voice. hated hin, for hi
6ne, slender figure, his graceful walk
but | hated him, yes / hated hin
more than all for his great influence
over Mary Haliton.
Mary was the only child Of the head
oi Our firm, and q girl whom ! hsr
learned TO love with oil the strength
Of my mind, my heart, my soul, anr
yet never told her, and she loved mi
too.
know she did, before Ted Marci
showed his handsome face in Marley
Mary was not beautiful.
was conscious Of that.
MaAy scarcely thought her prett.
miss, but to me, from the first to tn
last, she was the iairest, sweetest, sn'
most lovely Of women.
Ted fell in love with Mary, and IA
ny fell In love with Ted, before the!
had been acquainted through sinsb
spring day.
After four every evening he woul
I stroll across the street to Mr.. HaTiton''
and chat with and make love to th
girl my heart was breaking for,
How hated him a. he hung at III
| gate wishing her goodnight.
I thought that could see the littl
white hand tremble as 1t waved 81
! adieu to him as he strode away int
! the thickening twilight.
Should dog his steps, and when h
| got TO lonely place, dart suddsnl!
Iupon him and DO him deadly hsrm'
Heaven knows how often I asks'
myself that question. 3
| For months I watched him, and ot
the bitter, bitter pain, the anguisb'an
despair T suffered hunaaR tsngae. ca
IneVer tell!
| played the spy on Mapch's ever
movement.
| knew The makeup OF his life te
tar thaA he did himself.
At night, when he and Mary Wi
passing the hours with music al
song, lay in the shadow Of thehtedl
visiting his ,ieavo, blNsphen,ins al
Cursing him under my breath. =
After the goodnight had been 4Sl
FOR the hundredth tune repeats q,
would follow him whithersoeSera
went, aud often this would be TO
certain gambling den.
Nightly he played for large sun q
larger than I knew March came !
!. honestly bat never. said . word
cnly watched, and waited, and nrnca
the terrible vengeance il my heGrt-
, Eventually. Ted became more RI
less end hdseiy, and I guessed VII
: Was working on his uAiad.
Then Se beOane ssddenly uauen