Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-12-13

TO womankind. but all the way home l
kept thinking of jack little sweetheart,
$50 many miles away" and wished he
would tell me something more about
her.
1t was the evening of that same day,
/ remembered, that he came to me in
the parlor and drawing me into quiet
corner said he wanted to ask nv adj
vice upon very important subject.
Did think it would be possible for
him to make up the fir pillow all him.
selfp He used to hem the sails of his
toy boats when little shaver, had serv-
ed good apprenticeship in sewing on
buttons when college boy, and thought
he could still manage a needle pretty
well if | would only have the patience
TO show him.
OF course, with woman's inconse-
quence. / Immediately offered to do the
whole thing for him. But no! he thank
ed ME just the same. he said, but would
really prefer to do it himself.
Now, in spite of my mature years,
still have stored away in my nature a
deal of romance, and this fancy of the
young man touched sympathetic
chord. OF course it would give an add
ed value to the pretty gift if it was all
his own work, and who could tell what
psychological power. what wonderful
''mind cure" might not be effected
when the little invalid pressed to her
lips the magic pillow her lovers hands
had madep
AS to the material and color, really
wis hnd hot l~rn kn rfrlDo
preferences, and when Jack suggested
plain gray serge, as ''sure to wear
WE'LL" l wondered not little that
young man with so much delicacy of
feeling should, at the same time, be so
intensely practical. l had already de-
cided in my own mind that the pillow
should be of some delicate shade of blue
pongee, decorated in one corner with
Alsacian bows of pale pink satin. How
ever. yielded the point with as good
grace as could, mildly suggesting that
border of yak lace of the same color
as the serge would give pretty finish.
But wouldn't it tear easily?" asked
Jack.
"Why,yes. if it were handled roughly"
replied; but on pillow like this it
would wear for years.
'On the whole, think I'd like it bet
ter without any such filigree work
simple things are the best" returned
my somewhat discouraged pupil, as for
the fifth time he picked out some unruly
stitches that plainly told him would
spoil the looks of the whole pillow.
WE'LL in due course OF time it was
finished-that is, the plain serge cover
was firmly stitched together, and then
how longed TO embroider upon it some
lovely bit of sentiment about the muir
muring pines and the balmy fr-Tees!
But, OF course. all that was out of the
question. Jack had evidently no idea
of doing anything further himself in the
way of neede-work. yet was as anxious
as ever TO have the whole pillow made
by his own hands. On the whole, he
was a very patient and persevering
pupil for an active young fellow so de-
voted to tennis and baseball, and
often used to wonder what tender, low
ing thoughts he was working into those
great clumsy seams when l saw that pc
culiar far-off look come into his beauti-
full brown eyes.
There was only one thing that troub-
led me. In spite of the persistency with
which Jack had worked day after day
upon the pillow, and in spite of the
numerous letters that came to him adj
dressed in delicate feminine hand,
couldn't help noticing, as did all the
other boarders IN our little hotel, that
the young man was paying marked at
tentions to pretty young girl that had
lately Joined our party. She had fasci-
mated us all, this winsome Muriel Fales.
with her sweet face and her charming
manners, and | couldn't wonder that
Jack had not been able to resist the
spell; but then-did l not know his Sc
cret, and were not all my sympathies
| with the frail little creature for whom
q young man be so ficklep Was the old
proverb, "Out of sight. out of mind. " to
prove true again in his caseP confess
l was beginning to be much disappoint-
ed in Jack
"Ill let you know if the fir-pillow
really does her any good" he said to
me in light, fiippant way that quite
vexed me, as he babe us good-by few
days later. A telegram had come to
him from the distant city, and although
l knew we would all miss the bright
young fellow, was heartily glad of
anything that would take him away
from beautiful Muriel Fales. Not that
L had aught against her; on the con-
trary, | was charmed with her myself,
for she was no coquet, but a sincere,
gentle, noble-hearted young girl. Still,
/ couldn't help seeing that matters were
beginning to take serious turn with
her as well as with Jack, and | thought
it was high time that such scandalous
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