Daily Republican., 1888-02-07
A LOVE DUET.

again that he loved me and lhat II was
only question OF time when we
should be married.
"Jill," he used to say to me, "can
you doubt me7"
Well, Miss Temple came, and Jack
danced with her, and rode with her,
and succeeded In making me miserable
enough, you may well imagine. One
night. when he had been more than
usually attentive to her at party wei
were attending, went home and
packed up all his presents and sent
them back.
Would you believe itl He had the
impudence to write me note and say
in 1t that as l did not like the jewelry
he would buy me some handsomer the
next day he went to town. What
could l say to such mani
But here he is, coming down the
road now, doubtless 10 tell ne OF his
engagement to Esther Temple. /
won't let him see that he has broken
my heart.
"Do you know what | have come TO
tell your" he says, softly.
"That you are engaged TO her." l
say, boldly trying 10 look him in the
eye and failing miserably. IL hope
you will be happy"
"You will come to my wedding.
Jill2" he goes on presently, "won't
y our"
"If you really wish me TO-" muir
mur, heartbroken-
"And should 80 much like the
heart pin-cushion you made me and
asked Tor back again ii you win let me
have 1t for keepsake"
"Very well" and / unite my hat
strings again and retie them just for
the sake OF something to do. And !
should like to work Miss Temple and
give you li;tle wedding present. Dc
lyou think she would accept crewel
lwork anti macasssr ii | did one for
her-and your" | go on little more
icalmly, for now that the wrench has
leone and l know tina worst-the very
worst-I mean to make the best OF il
land quite forgive Jack.
After all, he has a perfect right tC
Ifall in love with whomsoever ht
Ipleases. Iknow l should if were &
Imam. would not be dictated TO by
lany one: and we were always more
Hike brother and sister-always.
| But my heart is broken. am Ger
Itain. 1t does not feel bit like thu
lsame heart used 10 have. Poor for
saken Jill My thoughts have wan
dered on recklessly, and Jack has no
Iyet answered my question or accepted
my amisble Ctfer 10 work them some
thing; SO repeat 1t in another form
II "Perhaps she and you would no
care for crewel-work anti macassar
but would like something better
Please tell me. am not ve'y clever
at fancy work, know; but will d,
, my best"
"It's very good of you JILL" he re
turns earnestly. "And | am positiv
Miss Temple-I mean Esther -woul,
, like an anti macassar immensely
Especially ii you took the trouble \
work II for her. But must make
q bargain with you first. You work tn
anti-macassar for mel mean for us
I; iof course-snd in return you mus
ltake back the brooch and earrings
You mus. indeed JILL" lie adds yer
] hastily. seeing me shake my head
"Don't you think 1t was rather unkin
Iof you to return Them so unceremon
: iously upon my hands2 What possibl
use can | have now for q brooch an
earringst However, we all often d
Things in hurry that we repent {
laflerward, know very often do; an
| feel sure you did not mean 10 be in
ltentionally unkind and wound me-
ibid your
NO" murmur.
$50 you will please me by takin
them back and wearing them. / hay
drought them with me on purpose"
Here he takes little packet out {
his pocket with the seals unbroke;
Just as sent it TO him and holds it OF
TO me almost entreatlngly. am snl
: he feels very sorry that he has not bee
E true to me alter all these years of loy
, friendship, mean to say-since "
lwere children together. He wants
,I"mske IL up with me and he hard
~ knows the best way to do it. I kpo
lexactly how he feels, because | ha'
Experienced precisely the same sens
tions when we quarreled-or rather
quarreled with him-knowing 1 W
in the wrong all the time.
he But shake my head solemnly al
'ei keep my hands tightly clasped.
ia "No, Jack. cannot take them;
4 cannot, indeed. Please dom: ask n
N. any more. They are very pretty, il
on deed, and like them very much; b
Il do not want them any more"
at is not kind of you. Jill. l fl
livery hurt at your refusal. See"-la
ling the packet on the grass at my fl
-"here they are. | decline to ha
anything more TO do with them,
4 you must take them"
'I don't want TO be unkind or h,
J. fyou, indeed, JACK. l know l ha
been very cross many times withc
any cause, and am heartily sorry
:. it now. Do not think l an angry,
cause 1 am not"
~ My lips begin to quiver again drel
fully as speak.
"You will not have them then p
still switching the long grass.
mo, Jack, really not"
"At any rate you'll let me have I
pincushion, please, Jill, deari"
l tumble in my pocket for the Iii
velvet tri fle l spent so many ho
over making, having carried it abb
with me the last two days, think
perhaps vaguely that Jack might |