The morning call., 1892-03-17
JACK AND FLOSS.


fellow it was Jack Harvey. VINO was Jack
Harvey? If you had asked that question of
a New York newspaper man he would have
laughed at you. And it was not alone in
New York that Jack was well known. but
throughout the Eastern States. for Jack was
a writer of unusual ability.
Like all writer's of standing he made his
way from the bottom. l first met him ten
years ago, when | struck New York, look
ing for a position as a reporter. l was a
green country lad then, and the fact that l
came from within dozen miles OF his BIRTH
place was sufficient reason with Jack why
he should take me under his wing and steer
me clear Of tie pitfalls awaiting green re-
pOrteTS.
At that time he was 50 years of age. APP
pareutly he was a hard man TO approach,
and. as a matter of fact, his upper crust was
pretty thick. While frigid in the extreme.
he WAS always courteous.
II did not take me long after first meet
ing him TO make 10 my mind that Jack had
story in h 5 life that was the cause OF his
being so stern, but il was two years before
| dare breach the subject. and then the
look be gave me prevented ne from ever
after mentioning the matter
Oae night, few weeks later-'twas
Christmas eye-We were seated in Jack 5
room smoking C8rolinas and talking about
cur native country in Western New Ork.
Suddenly he turned to me with this re-
mark:
You asked me. If YOU remember. why
was so bitter against the world. was rude
to you then, aud | am sorry. l know that
you are my best friend. l am going to tell
you my story. You viii say when you know
all that ] was wrong. | admit it.
I" 1t is perhaps a difficult matter Tor you
TO understand how l could ever love, but a
few years ago | was the happiest fellow in
all old ChautauQUa. ] loved girl who was
the most wins0me, innocent maiden | ever
met. Born Of refinement, By the force OF
circumstances she was brought mp on a
farm on the Great Of the great Chautauqua
hills
There was nothing in common between
her and he rough country boys and girls.
Indeed, She was like q pure lily. growing
among coarse sunt0WerS This led to her
retiring within herself, and 10 me was the
great boon Of unfolding the petals that bid
this oyely character. ! met her and loved
her, ana / had her perfect confidence and
later her love.
For months scarcely day passed that
aid not find me By her side. str0lling through
the woods OF floating upon tie smooth
her cOUSiG, dark-skinned Southern girl,
came 10 visit her II Floss was beautiful in
her wav. tie Southern beauty was lovely in
hers. Why. | 90 not know.
/ became for the moment infatuated, and
Floss, learning OF my seeming falseness, lost
faith n ne; in the meantime had come to
New \ oTk- aud the GenCuement came while
here. The letter, copy Of which ! sent &C
Floss two days before Christmas eigh1
. years age, VIII tell you the rest OF tie story
and here Is her answer, received on Christ
mas eve
jack letter was as follows:
Floss: / write You tonight; You may wOndel
why. The ans~erI might give sand so do l.
But no woHderment bestirs me for Ia reason
know. and M reply, II 1t came, would hen tC
yOu show The Thoughts that though buried and
DTlsoned from sight, are living ana throbblng
with dynamic might.
Imieht tell you The story. but IT'S a story once
told. aud now lies tn ashes in grave deep and
cold; but caskets have been finished, and graves
have been MADE, III which full OF life the living
were laid.
Que summer they tell ne. tits now long ago
the skies were all bright AMI the sunshine below
aw0ke into life a new being.
This from lis fold one day strayed away dane
lHg ana remping IN innocent play. At last witt
the thought, 10 return at all cost. the pathway
Was sought. but twas gone ana all lost
10 talk over tie past ia, OF all things most IN
pleasant 10 me. But Floss. l have fingered tot
long. and howl cannot put il of longer.
have made 10 my mind 10 do Tonight what
should Lave done long agO-teil yea Of the mo
tves That led my course OF action away from the
pathway l should have followed. This is moi
WFitien-please do noJ misunderstood me-with
any idea that / can change what has been OF
win YOU back. For know that another Is now
much less !. My reasoning may sound cold Il
you, but Il hut Tefecss the hardness OF character
that las become second nature, character
Which / have cultivated, and which but one
thing could sof en-, aud that is denied me-
First, however. Will recall the days OF
The past | met you, Floss. and loved
you. You combined In your character all the az
tributes Of nobleness and lrue wOmanhood witt
The aitlessness Of child, and were not branded
with that terrible reality-the world No The
deceit Of this lie Of vice aud sin were unknown
10 YOU. loved you. Many days were we 10
griber, either rambling among The groves arOunC
your country home or driving about the country
roads Our love was of the ideal character:
DID not even Hiss you, so great was my Ieverenc,
for you And you old me in words aud lookI
that you returned my regard.
You placed all your tust in me. Then | me
olive. In lew weeks you truStingly revealed I,
me whAi you thought TO be her sentiments 20
Wsd me. L thought from The study OF be-
= nature which, was passionate ana lmpulsIve thar
once gwen possession Of desired object She
would dscaid tie toy. / sought 10 cure her hy
making her believe ! cared for her. h-theI
ny actions were right OF wrong, the motive wa
good.
But played with fire and was nu,ned Iba
came mfa uaied with olive, but the real feelin.
within babe me retain you, and SO / deceiyei
you. The Intimacy with Olive was stimulated b,
lie iact tbat was separated from you by reason
Of our agre ment made that night when / LEI
you tie last time but one. the uuderstandluf
oeing mat was no. TO see you for year. Tha
night. bow wildly II comes to me. You came il
The Carriage and stood on the step. / kissed vou
then, ri, Floss when L left you was all bu
Pshaw-why talk IN this strain. / was weak
desplcable. ! went TO Chicago and from Their,
coiresponded with Olive. The contest mat wal
going on within me was some hing Ierr,hia
Then / knew that | loved only Won and wrofe :,
you Up to this time you did NOT know OF m,
dtcepilon. Your answer came. You wrote y
ing you were too young, and that we should he
but the best OF friends until you more fuIly knev
your own mind. i was not sarisf d with tbis
aho haoe up Ihy MUD that the only course FOL
me 10 pursue was 10 prevent Olive being rem
dered UNHAPPY because contrary TO nv iudg
Mt she had not cooled as yet, so / continued
Tie deception.
visited The town where she lived. Nv wear
was not up and pride kept me from showing 10
you now glad l was TO see you. | said came tC
see owe. L ca, but all the time knowing you
were the.e' Ihen came the lime when you
learned Of my deception. Why did you answer
me SO when l wrote you from Chicago? You
said nothing Of the resolution made by Won n
my deception, but did you tel Olive ina
you kne" then how much you really cared Ion
Knowing you loved me. YOU shut me opt .,
your heart. But L am finding fault with you
Floss. Forgive me. i returned to Chicago TO,
Two months before coming to this city. While
there met Olive. and thinking that she retained
the same regard for me, continued The deception
Thought when she said lie bad changed hri
nsinu .nat Sie was trying me, and so played tht
pSri ouI. know DOW that / judged rightly M
an glad OF IL.
Floss. II you possess The love of a noble ma n
sno are happy In that possession. be true to that
one DID NOT deserve you FLOSS for / wa;
weak. Hal hal You said was strong. They
say tue same here. 1 look into the future an(
see The darkness that hangs about The ma thwav
Ipusn 10y Footsteps forward and grope blindly
seeking That know does not exist Tor me
Inc Gays and years will come. | shall wo,k
Already Is Tile sunshine Of pi aise OF nv yritint
begIuning TO creep in, presaging a bright dan
Tor The writer. but the man sees only The elond
mat hang dull and somber behind the dazzling
rays.
Floss. / wish YOU would write to me OCCASION
any. This Is ChrlStmastde. and a Deggar a. *:
for aims.
While l was reading this letter Jacl
paced the room, his hands behind his head
Seeing that l had finished, hs turned
toward me with an unnatural, freeing
laugh that sounded so forced that shiyeref
in my chair.