Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-11-03
" SANE OLD JACK. "
His Name Was Arthur, but He Did
Not Say So.
Fell Under the Fascination Of a
Very Charming Girl-She Chat
ted Away and He Would Not
Stop Her - Finally the Climax
Came in a Tragic Farewell.
Nothing in the World Worth
Crying For" He Said.

She was plump, but dainty, with a
neat figure and a round, rosy face. She
wore q black cape over a gray skirt,
and carried a queer little dog scared
volume entitled "Hymnody." Her eyes
were big and soft. She had an Irish
mouth and a Welsh chin with q dlmple
in 1t.
We met, for the first and last time,
on the towering path between Windsor
and Staines. l noticed her when she
was quite 100 yards away, and admired
her grace of movement The towing
path was narrow and rugged just at
that point, so that we touched elbows
as we passed, and our eyes met. Imme-
diately she uttered a little cry, and fix
ed pince-neZ across her nose.
why, it's Jack, she cried. How
are you, Jack? Where have you been
all these years? And what have you
been doing?'
My name is Arthur, but her hand
was too soft and small to relinquish
with unnecessary suddenness.
Il knew you at once she affirmed,
though you have altered tremendous
". l can't say l think the moustache
an improvement"
No" l murmured, doubtfully.
mo. 1t has taken all the character
out Of your face"
1 felt quite sorry for her. She would
be so confused. l still held her hand.
"Well?" she said, screwing her eye
brOws. and what have you done since
saw you last-acGuired mOdesty?'
1t would be very awkward.
"N-not exactly" l stammered.
She laughed.
and now tell me all the news" she
said.
Il can give you one piece Of news that
will surprise you very much" / said.
only onew she exclaimed. Why
what has everybody been doing?'
She was altogether too charming. I
felt that the eXigencies Of the situation
were beyond me and yielded myself
gracefully to Fate.
Everybody l said, "has been play
ing the fool as usual
Il should think they must he nearly
perfect in the part, " she flashed. What
else have they been doing?'
"Cultivating the domestic virtues"
They were in rather a wild state.
Yes
altering their minds"
"They needed Altering
"And achieving responsibility gener-
ally"
I'm! It's disappointing And what
do they say CT moo
Nothing"
That's eloquent. Well, I will do as
little for them some day, perhaps. At
present, I must confess. am interested
in them. You see, We were all young
together. And, somehow, youthful as
sociatiOns bind. l can neve~ forget
certain scenes in which they were con-
cerned-fOr me, usually. Why they're
a part Of my landscapes. There's a bit
in Regents park now, that always seems
incomplete without Kate. How is
Rate? She married Harry, of course?'
"Of course. Ana must say he makes
her a very good husband"
you mean she makes him a very
good husband?'
Its the same thing"
with a little to the credit of the wO-
man left out. Heisho! But that's in
evitable, 1 suppose. Does Harry still
make puns?"
Worse than that. He makes the
same puns."
What a funny fellow he always
was"
Not
Exactly"
We walked along in silence. I felt
very sorry for q number OF people but
most of all for the little lady at my side.
She was so blissfully unconscious of her
mistake. l wondered was cOncealment
possible much longer.
ooh, lock at the sky she cried sud
denly; call those SPRAYING gray dra-
CONS in bas-relief against the blue.
Isn't it wonderful. Yet they say my
skies are impossible Nothing is i'm
possible, Jack, is it?'
Nothing, except to contradict you.
Even that was not impossible in the
old days"
There was another silence. 1t lasted
until we had walked to Staines. l was
grateful for the pause. We stopped
outside a white. 1at-fronted house fac
ing the river held forth my hand.
ooh. nonsense. jack she said. You
must come in and see the parlor."
We went into the house. The street
door was not locked. The parlor was a
small. ugly, comfortable room, with a
big bowl of flowers in the window,
which fell band of yellow sun
shine.
What do you think Of it?' she ask
ed
;'The flowers and the sunshine, at
least, are pretty" l replied. 1T is
hard to say more
eyes. indeed. Even I think that is
sufficiently crushing"
She stood looking up into my face,
the light drenching her from above
She had thrown aside her hat in the
Darlor below stairs; her hair was
brown, curling crisply about her ears
and forehead In little twist tendrils.
with a CLINT OF golden rcd i'm it. Her
eyes were brown, too; wistful, laughing,
earnest eyes We're they, full set, in
heavy, white lids.
ut seems so strange that we should
meet again like this, she said, and
vet not strange. For our corner Of the
world is a very little place, after all
You have grown very Old and manly
aud grave. Jack. I am just beginning
to realize that now. l didn't at first
You mustn't think that l meant to be
rude to you, Jack-perhaps l hardly
ought to call you Jack.
Eyes. I said, eagerly, "call me Jack"
, "Thank you, Jack" she murmured,
beaming. "You are a dear old boy.
The same old Jack! I was sure you
wouldn't mind-Jack."
Yes"
"Did-did ibid I hurt you much,
LII. Ihnt -1icht2 Won know ] hadn't