The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-04-12
A Pair Of April Fools.
CONTINUED from last issue. !

some sort. His face wore an express
sion of extreme aslonishment min
glcd with Joy.
"What can it mean - be said,
aloud, the puzzled look deepening in
his handsome eyes. "I have receiv-
ed your letter. she saws, -and hay-
emit written her letter. wonder,
by George. That's it, It il the
first of April, and some unprincipled
scoun9rel has written the poor child
letter purpOrting to come from
me. A nasty trick, but lucky one
for me! | should never have dared
to ask her. And she loves me,-blcss
her sweet eyca"
If Jack Akers was not at that mo
ment the happiest man alive, he at
least looked it. He had loved pretty
Nan Barton for months; but he was
only young journalist, as yet scar
cely more than we'll launched upon
his career. To be sure, he had gain
ed some reputation, more reputation
than money, in fact, as is frequently
the case, and last year he had pub
lished book which had been fairly
successful; but the proceeds from a
Fairly Successful" book don't go
very far towards filling the authors
pocketbook. Jack Akers had been
lionized good deal, but he had the
rueful CONSCIOUSNESS, that comes
sooner or later to most young auth
ors, that ''all is not gold that gilt
ters;" and the gold being conspicu-
Gus for its absence, he would never
have dared to ask Nan Barton, the
daughter of wealthy and success
full physician, to marry him.
His ecstatic meditations were dis
turbed by maid entering to light
the gas.
"Ihere's a bay downstairs, sir, who
insists upon seeing YOU" she
said.
Jack frowned at the interruption
of his pleasant thoughts.
"Send him up" he said, with
slight Impotence. A moment
later Ted Barton stood in the
room.
"Why hello, Ted! This is a.
pleasant surprise. Come up to the
fire." said Jack, cordially. surprised,
nevertheless, at seeing who his visitor
was.
Ted came straight over and stood
beside him.
"Mr. Akers," he said, bravely,
"you received a letter from my sis
ter Nan this afternoon, didn't
you ?'
A sudden intelligence shot into
Jack AkerS' handsome eyes. He
held up the dainty missive, and
smiled.
Ted's face grew very red, but he
did not hesitate.
"Mr. Akers,-sir," he said, earn
estly, You must not blame our Nan
for that. Eve come to tell you all
about it," Then, swallowing very
fast, Ted blurted out the whole
story. The fine eyes of the Young
man before him never left his face
until he had finished, and that Jack
Akers put his arm about the boy and
drew HIM gently to him.
"Well, Ted, my boy" he said,
kindly, do you think it was very
manly thing to do::'
"No sir" answered Ted, in a
strangely checked voice, 81 think it
was beastly mean"
81 am sure you think so, Ted, and
| am glad you came here and make a
clean breast of it. 1t was the right
thing to do; and since you have done
this, | believe you are a boy to be
trusted. Do you think you could
keep a secret, Ted? If l should
trust you with one, you would not
betray my confidence :"
"'ls thy servant dog?' " asked
Ted, Indignantly.
The strong mouth under the taw-
ny mustache twitched slightly, but
Jack continued, gravely:
ats inst this, my boy: you must
keep all this a strict secret. Nan
must nevery know but that
wrote that letter. Do you under
stand ?"
"Why " cried Ted, blanklv, "she
will have to know! Do you think /
expect you to marry Nan whether
you want to or not?"
Jack laughed softly and tighten
ed his arm about the boyish fig.
ure.
"But what if I want to Ted?
Suppose | should tell you that my
desire, above all others. has been to
marry Nan, but that | feared to ask
her because | have not a fine home
to take her to-
Ted gazed at him with startled
eyes.
''Is it the truth,-honor bright"
He gasped.
1" Honor bright Ted" replied
Jack, smiling.
"Glory!" shouted Ted; he couldn't
help it, the relief was so sudden.
He gave Jack hearty slap on the
shoulder, and then went off into a
sudden peal of merriment.
ats as good as circus" he
Ihouthed.
Jack smiled indulgently.
"Yon have done me good turn,
Ted," he said, ''byt you deserve no
hanks for it" Then the smiling
yes grew grave as Jack continued,
"Neyer do such a thing
gain, my boy; practical jokes seldom
urn out well. And remember" he
.dded, as Ted was departing, "Nan
5 not to know"
"Mum's the word" replied Ted,
mphaticlly.