Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-12-13
Marion DelOlnG..
THE WORTH OF WIT.
By j. W. WATSON,
Author Of Hold Fast and Ketcham," Bank.
ers and Brokers'" Etc, Etc.

understand your insane dislike to Stanley.
he pays attention TO your sister, but. so fur
as can see, and / see them in different
places, there's nothing very pointed in it,
and if there was it wouldn't be very bad
thing for her. Stanley'sa rising man. He's
making ten thousand a year, and will do
better in a year or two"
The fact was that Jimmy Marks, having
given up all hopes of Clarry, his last in
vitation, through Fitz, to go to the theater
having been so positively and pointedly re-
Jected, stood in an excellent position to
speak disinterestedly of her 1t was of
very little interest to him who won her, so
long as he could not. He was aspiring in
his several ideas, and had determined, as
Eltz said. to marry rich, but he did not pro-
laim it as positively as did Fitz. He GER
taiuly had more right to expect such con-
summation to his social career than Fitz,
for, though inclioing to the dudish style,
he was not utterly lost in it. He did have
some legs, and some sense. He did not
drawl, or pervert the English language, and
he did earn his own living, being an excel
lent specimen of the drummer, though he
never could be brought to admit that as his
vocation, but rather seemed to desire to
lead the public mind into the belief that he
was silent partner in the house of Dunn,
Vivimus & Co., the establishment he trav-
eled for.
Nor did Jimmy Marks ever intrude upon
the same public that he was of the Hebrew
persuasion, though it must be said that he
never denied the soft impeachment. Strange
to say, he was not a favorite among women,
though why it was hard to tell, for he was
handsome, an immaculate dresser, and an
excellent talker, and yet he never lost faith
III himself when he was among them. The
right one would come along some time, he
seemed to think and that settled it. Fitz
had been in the habit for long time of
going to Jimmy Marks for advice and con-
sultation, and sometimes for something
more substantial, when he was in a pc
culiarly tight spot, and now he was con-
sulting with him what he should do about
Stanley, for Jimmy had come in while the
affair was in progress, and witnessed ii.
"Aw! why-whv-h s an awtist, drawled
and stammered Fitz
And you're fool" blurted out Jimmy.
"What if he is an artist, he is of very fine
family, has property coming to him on the
death of an aunt, and, altogether, is ire
proachable. In every way, he's your supe-
rior, and mine, too.
Fitz might have said that this fact was
exactly what he did not like, but he did
not; he only mumbled something about o
swelled nose, and not liking the man who
did it.
We'll, said Jimmy, in tone Of disgust,
what are you going to do about to- might?
told Mrs. Dufrom to mention to Miss De-
lorme that you would call to- night, and re-
ceived her answer that she would be happy
to see you Now. Fitz. can't be triHed
with, and you must go, swelled nose or
not. All can do for you will be to make
an apology, and say that you have taken a
heavy cold"
Fitz did not like this very much, and
suggested the idea of writing a note and
pleading sudden departure from the city,
but Jimmy would not stand it, and recon-
water and quiet. The latter Fitz took in
quiet game of faro, at his usual place,
where he deposited fifty more in bank, and
then went away to his usual haunts, where,
in answer to inquiries from his fellow
dudes, he pleaded the severe cold dodge
suggested by Jimmy Marks, and was be-
ieyed. for not one of them would have
credited that Fitz could have got it in
fight.
Stanley went to the opening of the Sketch
Club, where he found Clarry. beaming with
beauty and innocence, and very soon he
told her all about her fathers purchase OF
his picture and all the circumstances con-
nected with it.
That's Just like pa" said Clara, laugh
ing; "he dearly loves o mystery, especially
II it is something that sets ma wondering.
Ma does not care for pictures, and, though
she does not absolutely oppose his scheme
about the gallery. yet she has told me that
she thinks the money would be better laid
ont in diamonds. Yesterday he arrived
hnmQ n lafa with 70 flf1 pf
and told us that he had passed such de-
lightful afternoon in the studio of paint
er, where he had found that picture Of
De Soto Discovering the Mississippi
which he has talked about SO much, and
bought it. Then he went off into rhapso-
dies about the honesty of the painter, who
might have charged double for his picture,
but would not take any more than the
original price asked. Then he talked about
the lady he met there, who, according to
his account, was the most lovely creature,
except ma. he had ever seen, and who, in
stead of taking a thousand dollars for her
portrait, which he admired. gave it to him.
All this did not seem to interest ma, and
she declined the invitation to join US when
pa told of the appointment for this after
noon to see the picture at the artist studio.
She's very much absorbed, just now, in
ubSiouuS utS. OhpptIdpp III ucI pIepdrd-
lions for the great ball she is to give on
Tuesday next
And he never told you the name of the
artist he bought the picture Of. or that of
the lady?"
oh, no! that's what pa ikes-a little
mystery. He says that ma likes it in nov
els, and why not in real life. He kept the
names as the mystery part, and. as / did
not know you as the painter Of the De Soto
picture. did not recognize it. Now That
know il was you, OF course know who
the lady is. Pa, in a confidential talk with
me al erward proposed to present Miss
Delorme through me, with pair of dia-
mond earrings. and has commissioned me
to hunt them up. He says that they must
be the handsomest pair that can be found
in New York City.
] hope vc c~. W.. persuade your father out
Of the idea. Miss Clara. / know it will not
please Maria, and though she might not,
under the circumstances, refuse them, il
will be painful for her to accept. She al
ways has been backward 10 accepting gifts,
even from me, and has. as have told you,
asserted an independence that has, often
times, annoyed me; but which, now, SUBJ
nit to as inevitable. You can place it in
my way You please before your father 10
prevent the offering; for am sure that
speak only AIaria's wishes in the matter.
Tell him. if Won think il will help change
his mind TINT Shall bank his CHECK for