Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-12-25

oiic Wouiu SiNe no huureSs, OUT WQ
call again, some day, she said, and se&
we had any more use for her.
Weeks passed, but we never saw or
heard n word from her, and Jack. what
with his troubles with his sweetheart
and lbs troubles about Ada, was wretch
eddy unhappy. Honest Jack could not
deceive, and every thought he gave the
little model widened the breach between
him and his love.
Lent was over. The great city had
again put on its robe of social splendor,
and all the bellies and beaux of the upper
ten were rushing about in the last mad
whirl OF the season. Shortly all the
world would emigrate to Europe, or
Lenox, or Newport, and before they left
they must celebrate their freedom from
lenten restrictions. With the reopen
ing OF the season had come piece of
news that startled New Workers. Miss
Halliday had broken her engagement to
the artist, Jack Masterson, and was en-
gagged to Mr.. Alfred Stirling. Yet in
the Academy hung Jack Mastersou's pic
| ture--his best effort, the critics said
and its fascination for his friends lay in
the sparkling eyes and laughing face of
Clara Halliday; but unpreiudiced OBJ
servers said its beauty lay in the calm.
sweet face of the other figure. And
then it began to be whispered about that
he had fallen in love with the blonde girl
in the picture while he was painting her,
you know, and that was why Miss Halli-
day broke the engagement.
But neither Miss Halliday nor Jack ever
denied Or affirmed these rumors, and they
soon died out; for the world had a more
important subject to discuss, which was
Who is Mr.. Alfred Stirling Nobody
seemed to know. He appeared at a tea
given by Mrs Van Buren, jlst before
Lent, and although Mrs. Van Buren,
could not remember him, he was so very
handsome and charming she was very
glad to think that as he said, he had met
her at Bar Harhor two years ago, before
he went abroad, and coming to call upon
her that afternoon, in accordance to her
kind invitation OF the Bar Harbor sum
mer, he found the reception in progress,
and had presumed to make his call just
the same. All this she learned when he
called some evenings later, and it was
with positive delight she hailed the ad-
vent OF a new young man so desirable
IN every respect as he seemed to be- Soon
his various charms won him place in the
regard of all her circle, and he became
veritable lion. He sang so remarkably
we'll in high, tenor voice; he talked so
| tluently upon all matters of general in
terest; he recited poems of love and valor
cpvQQftu. Ne r,lovpH donon
fascinatingly, or danced so beautifully
himself, that all the girls lost their hearts
to him; while the staid fathers melted
before his choice dinners, given unosten-
tatiously in his sumptuous apartments,
and the mothers succumbed without
murmur before his conservative religious
views and faithful attendance at Lenten
services.
And now, in few short weeks, he had
won the hand, if not the heart, of the
beauty and belle of the season-the
wealthy Miss Halliday. And so, aloud
rose the cry from the mouths of less sue
cessful rivals, "Who is Mr.. Alfred Stir
lingo"
But all this mattered not to Miss Halli-
day, or to Mr.. Strings numerous friends,
and all went gayly as marriage bell
through the summer season, every one
envying both lover and maid in their
apparent happiness.
In the fall the society papers an
nounced that new firm of brokers
would be announced upon the Exchange.
j. e., Bradford & Stirling, and that Mr..
Stirling would probably be married early
in January.
And JACKIE Well, Jack worked away
like Trojan, holding his head high and
going about the same as ever; meeting
his old love and her fance constantly,
and bearing very friendly relations with
both. Whatever he suffered and he
did suffer-he never discussed it, even
with me, his chum and brother artist.
We dined with Mr.. Stirling at his club
and in his rooms, and both voted him
mighty fine fellow, though think both
of us had an inexplicable feeling-ap-
parently unfounded-that he was not
Just frank ] know l did. However,
we never mentioned 1t, because, sup
pose, we were ashamed to put ground
less suspicion into words.
And the little model2 She never APP
peared again at the studio. Jack wanted
her Tor picture, and advertised as
guardedly as he could, but to no end.
Finally we gave it up and decided to
stop worrying about her.
One morning, late in November, Jack
and went down to Strings office to
see him about some club matters. Mr..
Bradford was in the office and Stirling,
he said, was due in few moments. He
had been in Boston day or two, and
was coming over by Fall River last
night, and ought to be here now, but OF
course the boat was liable to be late this
season. So we sat and chatted while we
waited.
Suddenly the door opened, and in
walked a little woman. ada, by
heavehs!" heard Jack whisper; and
surely it was she, but Ada so thin, so
pale, SO sad, it made my heart bleed. |
Without noticing Jack or me, she walked
up to Bradford and said:
"This is Mr.. Bradford?"
"Yes."
"Is Mr.. Stirling in 2"
NO. madam, said Bradford.
"Where is he? Oh, where is he?n said |
Ada with trembling voice; she ought |