The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-06
BLINDMAN'S BUFF.

'Ihope you will like jack" said Gertrude
to her dear friend. Jessie Parks.
"Jack? Who is JackY'
"Why. Jack" replied Gertrude, bending
down over her waste-paDer basket as IL
looking for something she had thrown IN by
mistake. Jack is-Jack," and she laughed
a little. Harriet, haven't l happened to
mention Mr.. Jack BOnner?"
"You know you haven't" pouted Jessie
81 thought you had told me everything
The two girls were sitting In the twilight
talking together as only girls can. They
had met only that very summer at the hotel.
They seemed drawn to each other from the
very first, and in the summer months they
had walked together, rowed together and
talked and talked together-told each other
all their secrets aud sworn eternal friend
ship.
Gertrude was tall, fair and beauty of the
delicate type. Jessie was petite and dark,
and wonderfully pretty too.
That very afternoon Gertrude had received
a note from Jack Bonner, telling her he WAS
coming to see her.
She knew what he meant; he had just re-
turned from year at German university
and she had finished school. They had
been lovers for years and now he was COM
Ing TO make a formal announcement to
her fatIer-then they would really be Ell
gagged.
For some reason she had never tod Jessie
about him as she had about all the other
young men. She hardly knew just what to
say to Jessie. They were not formally be-
trothed, but, of course, Jack loved her and
she loved him. even if she had nearly driven
him to desperation by her coquettish ways.
And now she wanted her new friend TO
admire Jack, too.
After long pause Jessie said:
''Is he handsome? and who is he, any.
WaV p
ION, you wait until you see him."
do you want me to fall in love with
him2"
Gertrude started with a jealous pang.
How could Jessie SO misunderstood! vi
course she did not want Jessie to fall In love
with Jack-at least she did not want JACK
to fall in love with Jessie, but she couldn't
explain 1t very well. Jessie would see after
Jack came - and he would be there TO-
morrow.
The next afternoon the girls were sitting
together under big elm tree behind the
hotel when they saw tall, handsome, sun
burned man stridiug along toward them.
'Oh, JaekP cried Gertrude, springing
toward him. Then she presented him TO
Jessie.
He entertained them all the afternoon
with stories Of his university life, his travels
abroad and his journey home.
Gertrude sat listening, and she remem-
bered afJerward that Jessie asked him
ROOu many QUESTIONS, anu ludl ne sGSLISu
attracted by her instantly.
Gertrude had never seen her look hand
somer. She sat listening TO Jack, looking
at him through her half-Shut eyes, over
which her long, dark lashes curied.
That night when Jack and Gertrude were
together Jack asked:
why haven't you ever told me anything
about Jessie? She is beautiful"
because l wanted you both to be sur
prised-to like each other" she rather in
coherentlY explained.
After that Jessie and Jack were together
great deal, aud Gertrude was pOWerless.
At first it seemed TO her breach of friend
ship that Jessie should try TO steal away
her lover. Yet there was no reason why
Jessie should know that Gertrude loved
him, for that was a secret she had never
told.
As the days went on Jessie seemed as
tOnished at GeTtrude's petulance. She
used to refuse to 60 with them on their
walks, aud began to smile with surh sweet
ness upon young man at the hotel who
had been signing his soul away for her that
his head was quite turned.
Only a week had gone by when Gertrude
had seen enough 10 be convinced that Jack
had fallen in love with Jessie. She had
never realized how much she loved him be-
fore. And she thought With remOrse how
she used to pain him with her coquetries.
One night she was sitting all alone In
the summer house when she saw by the
bright moonlight Jessie and Jack going
toward the lake. How many times they
had been together, she thought. Why had
this punishment come to her? Did she
de erYe itP
There was nothing to do but for her to go
home. She would pack her trunks that
very night.
Blinded by tears, she started to run to the
house, when she stumbled and fell.
Some one picked her up, and in spite of
sudden SharD main her ankle Shp haar6
the Hell-knOwn voice saying: Gertrude,
darling, are you hurt?"
She struggled to free herself from Jacks
embrace, dimly wondering how he could
be on the pond and there, too, at the same
LET me 90! Let me gol" she cried.
why, Gertrude, what does this mean?
Gertrude darling"
Don't make love to me-" she exclaimed,
bitterly, go to jessie" Then she lostco
seriousness.
When she recovered Jack was bending
over her, bathing her temples and chatting
her hands.
Forgive me. dearest; we only began 1t as
a joke, to punish you for not telling Jessie
that you and | were lovers. Jessie is nv
own cousin and has known all about our
love affair. She wrote me you were here,
and We thought, as little joke, that for a
day or two we would play at flirting and
then tell you.
DuJ you dcleQ SO strangely, you J0OK IL so
in earnest, and firted SO desperately with
that cad of "a"
But Gertrude's hand was over his mouth.
"You do forgive me and love me?" he
questioned so eagerly that she could only
hide her head on his shoulder.
But thought l saw you go to the lake
with JESSIE" she said.
"oh. mol That was her fance, who has
Just come tonight
'She has been keeping that as surprise
for you. My darling" he added. Il have
been so wretched, for every day the joke
grew more and more serious, until l won
dered how was ever to see you to ex-
plain"
''And you really love mes" she family
questioned.
He covered her face with kisses, then
added softly: You know 1 owe you a
little punishment In return for all the
wretched days and weeks you have given
me-"
But 1 did not mean anything" she pro-
tested.
Neither did l." he replied. - Boston
Globe.