The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-09-12
A SLIP OF THE PEN.
An Annoying, But Not Altogether
Unfortunate Mistake.
1t was all Dicky Carshalton's faul

III was all Dlcky CarShaltOn's fault
In many respects an amiabe youth
he can not be said to be possessed Of
tho finer feelings, and. perhaps. is no
: aware OF the extent OF the-discom
fort he produces in more sensitive
people. frc4 iIenser--of parties
every description, he is fond of wary
Ing the monotoay eGhe- social routine
by various little practices. OF those
his favorito, not, alas! peculiar tc
himself, is commonly known as spoil
Ing srest.-M henepef=D ieky-s ees@a
pair of people who appear TO take
particular delight in one aAothor's
society. showing tendency to seek
unto themselves retreats, he is mover
satisfied until, by some bold stroke OF
cunning stratagem, he has succeeded
III separating them; or, Mt least, In
destroying enjoyment for the
rest Of one evening. #
Tho happy po5sossor Of an exhaust.
less supply OF sclf-confdcncc and tho
most brazcn impudenco-thc objects
of his attack, moreover, being, from
the nature OF their position, compare
tivoly defenseless-it is needless to
add that, though Dieky has his fail
zures on record. they 40 groatiyout.
stripped in numbers by his SUCCESSES.
30 there is nothing. wonderful in the
fact thai Dicky was at tho bottom OF
that unfortunate affair with Jack
and Ethel.
Matters had long been in delicate
md critical state between those young
peoplc. Jack had told himself over
and over again that Ethel was a flirt,
aud that he, for one, had no intention
OF adding himself to tho list OF her
victims; while Ethel had relieved her
feelings by repeatedly assuring herself
that diiek=Mas=a-er -felleM-whe
cared for nothing but his books, and
was quito imporvious to the charms Of
womanhood. 8a,..,-..a.
But that night at tho Warringtons'
things really did seem to be taking a
turn for tAe better Ethel had boldly
turned her back on half-a-doxan Other
admirers. and Jack, looking down
into her honest eyos, was rapid
~ forgetting tho doubts and fears
which had tormcntod him during the
past months.
There is no knowing what might moi
have happened had it-not- beea-fe4
camo up to them at this
hopeful stage of affairs, his shoul.
dos in his ears, his hair brushed to a
nicely, and with the most unmistaka.
BILE look OF mischief in his prominent
eyes.
Good evening, Miss Mariner" he
said, taking Ethefs hand in his and
squeezing it with emprcssment, and
then the two poor thingM8nddenly
awakening from their dream, stood
there chill and helpless while Dicky
fired off his accustomed vollev of chaff,
and Ethel. with feminine presence OF
mind, ycntured on one or two little pop.
guns on her own account.
Miss Mariner he said at last,
with a satisfied glance at jacks sui.
len face have you been. into the
conservatory? They've put up lot
of pink lamps, and there's tho most
scrumptious tete-a-tete chair you can
Imagine. y ~
Poor Ethel looked up at Jack, who
stood by, furious and sulky.
HE is only too glad to get rid of me.
lie hasn't the ordinary kindness to res.
cue me from this bore. And have
been SO horribly amiable to him, she
thought in despair.
III she likes that popinjay. let her
go with him! I'm sorry for her taste,
that's all, reflected Jack. and in an.
other minute Ethel found herself
actually seated in the tete-a-tete chair
with Dicky. whose large eyes were
rolling triumphantly in the light oil
the rose-colored lamps.
She did not succeed in making her
escape till it was time to go homo.
Jack was nowhere to be seen, and she
drove back in the chill gray iaornine
with the heaviest heart she had known
for many years