Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-03
He had always talked of his English life

He had always talked of his English lif,
as something that was past and gone which
could never return to him. but now sh,
, understood that YVES all different.
! She could remember something in hi:
manner when she last saw him which sht
I did not quite understand then; now she
knew what it meant-he knew he was
making q fool of himself.
i Now, when he had distinguished him
self, he would feel this all the more She
alone was keeping him from the life he
was born for. Now, when he knew What
be was giving up, what would he do ?
Would he come back to her out of pity OF
duty, or a sense of honor, or would he
desert her? No, he never should do that
she would never give him the chance. Ii
he married her how often he would repent
it; how often he would think of what he
had given up for her \ esn she thought
to herself, as she walked back to her house
with all the gayety and happiness taken
out Of her life, she saw her way, though
where it would lead her she did not
know"
Some weeks after Ulundi had been
fought and the war was over, Jack Hope
was sitting in an armchair at the Crown
Hotel at Maritzburg reading letter from
England. 1t was from his uncle, General
Hope, and was to the point, as the old gen
tlemens letters usually were. He had
heard of Jacks gallant conduct and was
very pleased. He was content to let by
cones be bygones and receive him again.
He was to come back and live at the Hall,
and he would have the place eventually,
The General went on to say that he had
met some one who knew of Jack at Kim
berly, and had heard an absurd story of his
intending to make disgraceful mar
riage with barmaid. If he in
tended to do that he need not an.
swer the letter, otherwise he had better
come home as soon as the war was
over. Jack read the letter over and over
again with troubled expression on his
face. He did not like to give Kitty up.
He was bound not to. He remembered,
and it was not very pleasant memory. all
she had done for him and what he prob
ably would have been if she had not again
and again helped him up after he had
slipped down. Then, what jolly little
woman she was and how devoted she was
to him. He had lots of money in his
pocket every one thought him very fine
fellow; he would do what he liked. He
would not give up and he would tell the
at once.
As ne sat down to write he began TO see
the other side OF the question. How much
he was giving up-a fine old place, as good
a position as man could want, and instead
of that be was to end his days in South
Africa or in some other colony. His Y. G..
would not be much good to him unless he
stuck TO colonial soldering, which was a
poor life. No, he would put off writing
the letter. Then he remembered that he
had not heard from Kitty for some time.
She used to send him every week a
funny letter, ill-spelled, in which the
news of the camp was told very humor-
ously. He would walk to the poStotfice
On his way he met several men he
knew who were just going home. How
he would like to go, too; it was useless
trying not to regret. There was letter
from Kitty. 1t was dated from Cape
Town At first he hardly understood Il as
he read it
Dear Jack: 1t is all mistake there being
anything between you and me. We don't suit.
Your people would have nothing to do with me,
and you had better go home to them, now that
every one must be proud OF you. You would
break down as returned prodigal If you had
to answer for me well as yourself. Don't
answer this letter, for l am sick of the country,
and before you get this shall have cleared.
KITTY.
Jack read the letter again and again; it
would be difficult to describe what his
feelings were. He felt half mortified 10
think that she could have persuaded her
self to give him up. Then he saw that
she was acting for his good, and for a mir
ute or two he had determined to find out
where she was and to follow her. But it
would be no good. After all, the strongest
10 h of g
He had got out of it. He had time to
answer his uncle's letter, and he ought to
answer it by the next mail, and he would.
He needn't say anything about Kitty. OF
course he never would forget her, and per-
haps-well, anyhow, he would 60 home.
Jack Hope did not write to his uncle by
that mail-he went home by it instead He
received warm welcome from his uncle,
for he had atoned for his sins and was
nephew of whom any one might be proud.
He sometimes thought about kitty, but it
was no use trying to find her, and about
year after he had come home he was
engaged to marry a lady of very excel
lent county family and considerable
property, who was fascinated by his good
looks and his romantic history. Yet he
might have found Kitty. She never went
very far, for she somehow knew that his
search after her would not be very de-
terinined She staid in the colony until
she saw Jacks name in the list of passen-
gers home, and then returned TO the
" Frozen Bar" She is there still. She has
made fortune and lost it again speculat-
ing in shares. She is a little more bitter
and hard than she was, Seems soured
by dropping so much over shares - is the
opinion of several Diamond Fielders. How
ever. she does good many kind actions.
and will do a good turn to many a man
who is down on his luck, though she is not
likely to have more tender feeling than
pity for any one.-Lo,tlon Society.