Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-10-15
If / had the ti1nel
BY CHANCE.

don't know exactly why Jack called
me governor, but l suppose it was be-
cause I was some years older than no
was and because, when he was a wee
toddler, I had made him kites and
showed him how to spin tops, and per-
haps because used to help him out Of
scrapes, either with his teacher or some
playmate too large for him to click. "
At all events, got the name, and it has
stuck to me. What surprised me most,
however, was to hear it few weeks
ago, when I supposed Jack was thou
sands of miles away. I was strolling
leisurely down an old street in Dublin,
looking about for some old landmark OF
the stamping ground" Of my child
hood. How things had changed! Yonder
where the little frame church had been
was a stately stone edifice. Over the old
golf links had been built long rows OF
stores and houses, but there-yes, it
must be-there was house that had not
been changed. z
"Governor, said voice behind me,
''isn't that the house where Alice
lived?"
never should have known the speak
er had it not been for the epithet. 1t
was Jack, careworn and gray and look
ing IS instead Of ~.
"Jack, old boy, what brings you here?
thought you were in America. )"
81 have been in New Orleans for a
good many years. Helen used to like the
climate, but the company's agent here
has gone, and I must needs come and
take care Of the business until another
man is appointed. Besides the president
knew that I once lived here and thought
it would be both a change from my sur
roundings and pleasure to see the old
place. But ism It that Affects old homer"
eyes, said /, II am quite sure Of it,
but you ought to know best Wasn't she
once a sweetheart Of yours!"
ooh, don't speak Of that! You pain
me! 1t brings back such food Of. sad
recollections even to look upon the old
scenes. ! don't know that you have
heard, but am widower.
"My poor fellow! extend you my
most heartfelt sympathies. But I didn't
know you had ever married. However,
we have kept such poor track of each
other that / don't wonder at my igno-
rance. But can t you tell me something
Of yourself? Come, I'm your govern
or"
"Well, governor, said he, with a
faint shadow Of his old smile, II left
America nine years ago. Invent straight
to Quebec and lived there three years.
1t was there I met her who became my
wife. We were married just six years
ago last month. Her health failed and
we went south. She grew worse. gave
birth to our first child and died. That
was little over two years ago, and as
the child is in good hands (my sister,
in-law's) consented to come here"
"But, Jack, what made you go to
America? Why didn't you stay here?"
"Well, it was the same old tale Of
the young workingman not being fit to
marry his idol. AS you said, Alice was
my sweetheart. She said so herself, dear
girl, but her brother Tom-there was
the difficulty. I called on Alice very
often and had asked her to be my wife,
though was but 10. She said Yes,
but Tom wouldn't hear Of it, tried
to bring him around by all manner OF
means, but he was resolute. He had
never liked me, and he never hesitated
to tell me so. In fact, he took great
pleasure in rating me before as well as
behind my back.
Zone night think it was Halloween
"a crowd Of young fellows got out on
lark, and in their sport took Tom e
small donkey out Of its shed, and push
ing it upon the roof Of q wagon house,
which sloped almost to the ground, tied
it there. Tom thought I was the prime
mover in the trick, though I knew moth
ing Of it, and accordingly the next
night, when ! called, promptly showed
me the door, with the injunction never
to set foot inside it again.
~ saw Alice at times, but she seemed
somewhat changed. So after had tried
all in my power. to straighten things
got angry about it, and when was Of.
fered position in Canada was glad ia
leave. My marriage was not spite work.
loved Alice and always shall, but
knew could be happy with Helen and
then she said she loved me-"
Just then we passed the house. It wal
the same old place we both remembered.
The same trees and bushes spread thei,
branches about the lawn. In one corner
} Of the yard stood a large, old fashioned
bucket pump and on one Of the boards
Of the side fence was the rude, weather
stained carving, Jack Higgins and
Alice Neal"
Jack turned red, then white, as he
looked at the names and then glanced
ct me. @
"Do you suppose she lives there
. now?" he asked.
"I'm sure ! don't know" replied,
J "but let's ask some one. ="
Several persons passed, but all seemed
in hurry, 80 we went into a store
across the street and inquired. Yes, Ton
. Neal and his sister lived there Did w
/ know them? Indeed No, his sister wal