Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-08-16
A SLIP OF THE PEN.

IL was all Dlckey CarSnaltO1b
fault.
There is nothing wonderful in
the fact that Dlcky was at the bot
tom of that unfortunate affair with
Jack and Ethel.
Matters had long been in deli
cate and critical state between
those young people. Jack had
told himself over and oyer again
that Ethel was a fiirt, and that he,
for one, had no inteD ton of adding
himself to the list of her victims; /;
while Ethel had relieved her feel
lngs by repeatedly assuring her.
self that Jack was a cross fellow,
who cared for nothing but his
books, and was quite impervious
TO the charms of womanhoOd.
Bat that night at the Warning.
tons things really did seem to be
taking a turn for the better. Eth.
eli had boldly turned her back on
half a dozen other admirers, and
Jack, looking down into her honest
eyes, was rapidly forgetting the
doubts and fears which had tor
meDted him during the past mouths.
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 a nicely, and with the
most unmistskable look Of mischief
in his prominent eyes.
"Good evening, Miss Mariner"
he said, taking EthePs hand IN his
and squeezing it with empressment;
and then the two poor things, sud.
denly awakened from their dream,
stood there chill and helpless while
Dicky fred of his accustomed vol
ley Of chsff, and Ethel, With feml.
nine presence of mind, ventured on
one or two little pop guns on her
own account.
"Miss Mariner" he said at last,
with satisfied glance at Jacks
sullen face, "hsye you been into
the conservatory They've put a
lot Of pink lamps, aud there's the
most scrumptious tete.a-tete chair
you can imagine
Poor Ethel looked up at Jack,
who stood by, furious aud 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 80 horn.
bly, amisble to him. she thought
in despair.
"If she likes that poplnjay, let
her 20 with him I'm sorry for her
taste, that's ALL reflected Jack,
and in another minute Ethel found
herself actually seated IN tue tete-
a-tete chair with Dlcky, whose
large eyes were rolling triumph
antly in the light OF the rose color.
ed lamps.
She did not succeed in making
her escape till 1t was time to 60
home. Jack was nowhere to be
seen, and she drove back in the
chill gray morning with the heaVi
est heart she had known for many
days.
"Etbel," said her mother a.
. breakfast, the next morning, "diC
. you have pleasant time at thu
/. WarrlngtCHs?"
"Oh, yes, mamma" said Etbel
h drearily. She was pale and heav,
d eyed l think she had not slept al
night.
- "And WHO we're there T. went OIL
, Mrs. Mariner, helping herself 4
u buttered eggs with CHEEKY brisk
ness.
Ethel enumerated various pee
@ pie. "And DickylCsrshalton, sh
70 concluded, "and Jack Dsvenant.
The last named slipped oHt wit
exaggerated carelessness, and ye
It was whirring about IN the poo
girls head, and had been doing g
for the last FIVE or six hours, lik
an imprisoned blue bottle in
glass.
"Jack-Jack-Jaok Davenant,
Was she never to have anothe
definite thought again!
"By the by" said Mrs. Mariner
as she rose from table, twill yo
send q note to Florence Byrnel
want her TO lunch here to-morrO'
at half past the singletons ar
looming
Ethel moved to the writing tabl'
,r blushing family. She remenbeI
a ed that Mrs. Byrne was Jac