Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-11

speech as usual, he could hardly hav,
been accused of seriousness and he
shook hands with Miss Brooke in the
same hearty way as with the rest of us.
Well, the Kid was Off not for good
for several weeks at least and the boss
and | were alone in tho field and both
resolved to make hay while there were
no clouds obscuring Sol. We spent a
delightful evening, barring each others
presence, and the departed Kid was only
mentioned once and then by Miss Brooke
who laughingly related one of his re-
marks, adding, what jolly, whole
souled 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 relned up his
horse, cleared his throat and said huski-
ly: Scribe, my boy, | reckon we're in
the same boat and we might as well be
frank about it. Ive'-he cleared his
throat again--"lnade up my mind TO
! have Marv-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 alls fair in love and
war. don't believe it. Nothing is fair
but justice. We are even now, think.
Let us DO 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 nlShts-and--oh
these women each fondly 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-menber 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 circunl-
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:
-. II. Fleming, Tx, ranch, -, Neb. !:
Will arrive on third to stay few
days Take couple cases beer to the
boys. \. II. WHEELER"
leaned against telegraph pole and
pondered Coming. eli: 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 tc
Al, Ia a. II,
telegram. He read it and looked at me
Yes, your night it is" said /; 'bu
I've got to see the colonel about thai
joint shipment were going to make-sC
III go too. I'll let YOU alone though"
AS we rode over to the Hanfords We
tried to Eeepupa aemblance Of converse
ton, but it was not much OF success
We were both thinking very hard.
had finished my business with TIT
colonel, and we sat down in his den tt
smoke, the colonel holding up the con
versation. The lamp burned low, ant
the old gentleman took 1t away to be re
filled, leaving me III darkness. He hat
hardly gone when Mary and Flelnin.
came up on the porch and seated them
selves just outside the window at whicl
| sat.
| felt like traitor. but dared no
move, knowing that they would hea
me, and Jack might never be able to &c
his little speech said. So had to liste
to Jacks great strong bass tones as h
told Mary the old story, which there ar
SO few ways Of telling. When he fin
ished there was n brief silence; the
Mary's voice said sorfowiully;
ooh, Mr.. Fleming am so sorry-s
sorry-but | never dreamed of such
thing. You and Mr.. Fabcr have bot
been SO kind and nice to me. and
thought you such good friends, but nov
this hurts me so. / wish you had LEI
it all unsaid. and | had never know
that you-you cared for me-because-
if there We're no other reason hav
already promised to marry'-here he
voice took on tinge Of laughter-"th
the 'Undressed Kid. r. L. Ketcl
!, UNI in Argouaut.