Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-03
A SLIP OF THE PEN.

Uncky was at the bottom OF tuat uiioftufiaN
affair with Jack and Ethel
Matters had long been in defeats and crit
ical state between those young people Jack
had told himself over and over again that
Ethel was fiIrt, and that be, for one, had no
intention Of adding himself to the list of her
victims; while Ethel had relieved her feel
ings by repeatedly assuring herself that Jack
was a cross fellow, who cared for nothing but
his books, and was quite tmpervious to the
charms Of Wonanhooi.
But that night at the Warringtons things
really did seem TO be taking turn for the
better Ethel had boldly turned her back on
half dozen other admirers, and Jack, look
ing down into her honest eyes, was rapidly
forgetting the doubts and fears which had
torniente4l him during the past months
There is no knowing what might not have
happened, had it not been for Dicky, who
came up to them at this hopeful stage of affairs
his shoulders in his ears his hair brushed TO
q nicely, and with the most unInistakable
look Of mischief in his prominent eyes
Good evening, Miss Mariner" he said,
taking Ethel's hand in his and squeezing 1t
with empressement; and then the two poor
things, suddenly awakened from their dream,
stood there chill and helpless while Dcky
fired off his accustomed volley Of chaff, and
Ethel, with feminine presence Of mind, ven
tured on one or two little pop guns on her
own account.
Miss Mariner he said at last, with salts
fed glance at Jacks sullen face, "have you
been into the Conservatory They've put a
lot OF pink lamps, and there's the most scrump
tious tete-a-tete chair you can imagine
Poor Ethel looked up at Jack, who stood
by, furious and sulky.
He Is only too glad to get rid Of me He
hasn't the ordinary kindness to rescue me
from this bore And have been so horribly
amiable to him." she thought in despair.
IF she likes that poplnjay, let her go with
him I'm sorry for her taste, that's all, !" re-
hected Jack, and In another minute Ethel
found herself actually seated in the tete-a tete
chair with Dcky, whose large eyes were
rolling triumphantly in the light OF the rose
colored lamps.
She did not succeed in making her escape
till it was time To go home Jack was no.
where to be seen, and she drove back in the
chill gray morning with the heaviest heart
she had known for many days.
Ethel" said her mother at breakfast, the
mex. morning, did you have a pleasant time
at the Warrngtons"
'Oh, yes, mamma" said Ethel, drearily
not slept all night
And who were theref" went on Mrs Mar
finer, helping herself to buttered eggs with
CHEEKY briskness.
Ethel enumerated various people. And
Dicky Carshalton," she concluded. land Jack
Davenant."
The last named slipped out with exagger
ated carelessness, and yet it was whirring
about in the poor girls head, and had been
doing so for the last five or six hours. like an
imprisoned blue bottle in glass.
"Jack-Jack-Jack Davenant" Was she
never to have another definite thought againl
by the by" said Mrs Mariner, as she rose
from table, will you send a note to Florence
Byrnei want her to lunch here omorrow
at half past 1.-The Singietons are coming"
Ethel moved to the writing table, blushng
family. She remembered that Mrs. Byrne
was Jack Davenant's cousin
"Iialf past |, recollect," cried her mother,
as she rustled from the room.
Ethel listlessly took up her pen, and pulled
sheet Of paper towards her. 1t was not
stamped with the address, but she failed to
notice this, and began at once:
My dear Mrs. Byrne."
Then she stopped short, and the buzzing In
her brain went on worse than ever.
The note got written at last, all but the
signature, and then she began to wonder
dreamily if she should sign herself "Yours
very sincerely" or Yours atfectionately"
Ethel, Ethclr' cried her mother, putting
her head in at the door, Il am going out
Give me the note for Florence; can take it
to the post"
Guilty and ashamed, Ethel seized her pen
and wrote hastily, but in bold hand;
Yours very sincerely.
JACK DAvENANT"
Mrs. Byrne neither came to lunch nor an
swered the Mariners invitation, Mrs Mari
ner expressed surprise at this want of cour
tesy, and apoIogized to the Singletons for
having no one to meet them
Are you sure, Ethel, you told her the right
day. Florence is in town, l know. and 1t Is
unlike her to he rude"
II think it was all right, mamma Ethel
replied vaguely, and never gave another
thought to the matter
But on the morning of the next day, as she
was practcins her singing i'll the great hol
land shrouded drawing room, the door was
flung open to admit benign and comedy
lady. who advanced smiling toward her
Mrs. Byrnel' cried Ethel in some SURPRISE
getting off the music stool
Mrs. Byrne established herself comfortably
in a deep armchair then beckoned the young
girl mysteriousy with Il well gloved finger:
Come over here Ethel"
Ethel drew stool to the others side and
sat down smiling, but mystified.
Mrs Byrne played little with the clasp
Of the silver mounted hand bag which she
carried from which, having at last succeeded
in opening 1t, She produced a stamped envel
ope addressed to herself
ADO you know that handwritingr' she
said, 6ourishing it before Ethel's astonished
eyes.
at is my own, l wrote to ask you to
lunch" poor Ethel answered simply, while
the thought flashed across her mind that Mrs.
Byrae had probably gone mad
Read it. then" cried that lady. with an
air of suppressed amusement which lent
color to the notion.
Ethel unfobied it quickly, then sat trans
fixed like who receives sudden and fatal
injury. For before her horror stricken eyes
glared these words, in her own handwriting:
Yours very sincerely, Jack Davenant"
What does it meanir she cried at last in
hoarse voice, for it seemed that some fend
ish magic had been at work
That's what | want to know" Mrs
Byrne answered more gently. II received
this note the day before yesterday There
was no address, and the ndwrifing was
certainly not Jacks Nor is my cousin in
the least likely to invite me to lunch at his
chambers. So l wrote of TO him at once.
and told him to drop in to dinner If he had
anything to say to me-
Ethel had risen to her feet and was stand
ing with a little frozen smile on her face
but at this point she broke In hurriedly:
ibid you show him-Mr Davenant-ths
letter.
Mrs Byrne nodded She was not a person
of delicate perceptions, and had come here
bent on little harmless amusement; but
somehow the amusement was not forthcom-
ing
Ethel clasped her cold hands together in a
frenzy Of despair. She knew that Jack was
familiar with her handwriting. had he not
made little criticisms, severe and tender, on
the occasional notes of invitation which she
bad addressed TO hint
Jack said he knew nothing about the
note, and hadn't the ghost of an idea what it
meant
'Oh, Jack, Jack" cried Ethel's heart in
parenthesis, what must you think of meir
Mrs. Byrne went on Grace Allison came
in later. and the mystery was cleared up
She swore to your handwriting. and we CON-
clide.i you had done it in fiji Of absence Of
mind Poor old Jack, how she did chaff him"
Ethel was trying to recover her presence Of
mind
How could have made such . stupid mis-
taker she said. with a short laugh. Il SUP
pose was pursuing some train Of thought
bad met your cousin at q PARTY the night