San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-05
sonIed boy it is, to be surer-

souIed boy it is, to be sure-
AS we rode home not much was said,
but when we came in sight of the lights
at the "HX.," Fleming refined up his
horse, cleared his throat and said huski-
": Scribe, my boy. reckon we're in
the same boat and we might as well be
frank about it. Pve"-he cleared his
throat again-"made up my mind to
have Mary-Miss Brooke-for my wife
If she'll have me. think you're in the
same fix"
nodded, not being able to answer,
and Fleming went on in the same queer
voice: "They say all's fair in love and
war. don't believe it. Nothing is fair
out justice. We are even now, ! think
Let us be fair with each other, and may
The better man win"
And thus it came about that, without
any more words, we got to calling at
Hanford's on alternate nights-and-oh,
these women.-eachf ondly believed him
self the favored one, if favor there was.
Mary-so thought of her always now
talked football with Fleming, who was
an ex-member of the Princeton team,
and talked books and so forth to me. and
we were both as happy as unfortunate
men ever can be under like circum-
stances. .
September first came, and with it a
telegram to Fleming from the Kid.
was in town and received it, opening it
as always did the boss kilograms and
business letters, to see if it was anything
requiring immediate attention. The
message was dated from Omaha, and
read:
u. II. Fleming, HX, ranch, -, Neb.:
Twill arrive on third to stay few
days. Take couple cases beer to the
boys. A. H. WHEELER"
leaned against telegraph pole and
pondered. Coming, eh? No more un
untrammeled calls for Fleming and me-
Novel;, it was high time to be up and
doing. But there was the boss, and
this was his night!
felt like a martyr as rode out to
the ranch and silently handed Jack the
telegram. He read it and looked at me.
"Yes, your night it is" said 1; ''but
I've got to see the colonel about that
joint shipment we're going to make-so
I'll go too. I'll let you alone though"
AS we rode over to the Hanfords we
tried to keep up semblance of converse
ton, but it was not much of a success.
We were both thinking very hard.
had finished my business with the
nd eyof ~, -
smoke, the colonel holding up the con-
versation. The lamp burned low, and
the old gentleman took it away to be re-
filled, leaving me in darkness. He had
hardly gone when Mary and Fleming
came up on the porch and seated them
selves just outside the window at which
sat.
Il felt like a traitor, but dared not
move knowing that they would hear
me, and Jack might never be able to get
his little speech said. So had to listen
to Jacks great strong bass tones as he
told Mary the old story, which there are
SO few ways of telling. When he fin.
ished there was brief silence: then
Marys voice said sorrowfully:
"Oh, Mr.. Fleming, am so sorry-so
sorry-but never dreamed of such Il
thing. You and Mr.. Faber have both
been so kind and nice to me, and |
thought You such good friends, but now
this hurts me SO! wish you had left
it all unsaid, and had never known
that you-you cared for me-because--
if there were no other reason-l have
already promised to marry"-here her
voice took on tinge of laughter hs
the 'Undressed Kid '"-R. l.. Ketch.
, UNI in Argonaut.