The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-10-11
miscellaneous.
BY CHANCE.

don't know exactly why Jack called
me governor, but 1 suppose it was be-
cause was some years older than he
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. 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 littlo frame church had been
was 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.
Governor, said voice behind me,
"isn't that the house where Alice
lved?"
never should have known the speak
er had it not been for the epitket. 1t
was Jack, careworn and gray and look
ing 35 instead of 81.
"Jack, old boy, what brings You here?
l thought You were in America"
81 have been in New Orleans for
good many years. Helen used to like the
climate, but the company's agent here
has gone, and 1 must needs come and
take care of the business until another
man is appointed. Besides the president
knew that once lived here and thought
it would be both change from my sur
rouDdings and pleasure to see the old
place. But ism t that Alice's old homer"
eyes" said 1, 81 am quite sure of it,
but you ought to know best. Wash t she
once sweetheart OF yours?"
"Oh, don't speak of that! You pain
me! 1t briAgs Baek szuelhs food Of sad
recoiiectiiUns bSen TO : : iooA mon the cd
scenes. I dnn,tsknows shstAyoq hays
heard, but r armagMiasH pr sssfsi = Spiii|
asAIy - fsi5esss LII ssxtesaf 4saen my
most heartfelt bies;, m ididHft
know you had ever inazrief. Hokvs7er
we have kept such poor track OF each
other that 1 don't wonder at my igno
rance. But can't you tell me something
of yourself? Come, I'm your govern
or. 5"
"Well, governor, said he, with q
faint shadow Of his old smile, 81 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'G) I 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. 1 called ON Alice very
often and had asked her to be my wife,
though I was but 10. She said Yes,
but Tom wouldn't hear of it. tried
to bring him around by all manner of
means, bat 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 we'll as
behind my back.
Zone night think it was Halloween
"a crowd of young fellows got out ON
q lark, and in their sport took Toms
small donkey out of its shed, and push
ing it upon the roof of a wagon house,
which sloped almost to the ground, tied
it there. Tom thought l was the prime
mover in the trick, though knew moth
ing of it, and accordingly the next
night, when l called, promptly showed
me the door, with the injunction never
to set foot inside it again.
81 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 1 was Of
fered position i'll Canada l was glad to
leave. My marriage was not spite work
l loved Alice and always shall, but l
know could be happy with Helen and
then she said she loved me.
Just then we passed the house. 1t was
the same old place we both remembered.
The same trees and bushes spread their
branches about the lawn. In one corner
of the yard stood 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
at me.
"Do you suppose she lives there
now" he asked.
"I'm sure 1 don't know" replied,
"but let's ask some one. "
Several persons passed, but all seemed
in a hurry, so we went into store
across the street and inquired. Yes, Tom
Neal and his sister lived there Did we
know them? Indeed No, his sister was
not married. Some fellow on IN Amer
lea Tilted her, so they said.
"Well, Jack" said I, after we came
out, "I'm not a matchmaker, but if, as
you say, you always have had warm
affection for Alice, why don't you begin
again? 1t isn't too late.
Jack blushed to the roots Of ais hair
and said he should never go there after
having been shown the door. tried to
coax him, but it would not dc, yet all
the time 1 could see he wished to meet
his old flame" once more.
Jack and lived together at the same
hotel and daily spoke to him of going
to call as a friend At last the day be-
fore he was to return to New Orleans
got him down near Meals home. We
/ passed it six or eight times, and began
to feel foolish at promenading up and
down the street. Once he stopped in
front of the gate and he put forth his
hand to open it, but drew back like
young schoolboy. Then told him that
/ had had enough of such fooling and