Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-11-29
HER LAST JUMP.

and had brought her home in his arms,
urging his horse 10 its utmost speed lest
death might steal his new found prize be-
fore he had looked ON her face.
She was only II child then, and now she
had grown intoa tall slender maiden witt,
gentle quiet face and great soft black
eyes, which Dick pronounced reg lar
shiners. Jack had taken Dick and his
wife into his cabin, rent free, on condi
tion that Mrs, Dick should bestUw IA moth
erly care upon the LITTLE wait.
She was quite content 10 90 about the
cabin in tho mornings, helping Mrs. Dick
and To spend The afternoons securing over
the country on her pet Bcauty's back, for
Jack had taught her to ride as skillfully
and fearlcssly as a cowboy and had bought
her the pretlicst white Arabian that had
ever been seen in the west.
Nobody ever knew whore Jack came
from, nor why he came nor how he camo,
nor anything about him except thar he
did come. But that made no difference.
Once Jack went north, and when he
came back Little stray had grown from
child to maiden N II. and she responded
to Jack : greeting in SO shy, yet withal SO
graceful manner that he began dimly
To recognize an almost inperceptible bar
rier which something he could not under
stand seemed To have thrown between
them.
The conviction soon prevailed in Thun-
der camp that Jack was about To make
another domestic move, and the camp was
Interested and approving us usual, where
Jack was concerned
80 things were when Vivian came so
Thunder camp. Vivian was an unnis-
taxable "tcndcrfOOt.' Nevertheless he
was not only tolerated, but made welcome
for Jack : sake. 1t WAS the suppOsitiOn
that Y iVian had been in some way con
nocted with that unknown past of Jack :,
and the possible VerdanCy of which had
been so generously forgiven by Thunder
camp in view of subsequent development.
Even the fact that he had been ordered
west for his health was graciuusly over
looked out of regard for Jack feelings.
As outdoor air and exercise were held To
be the proper remedies tor \iYian's all
ment, whatever it was--the physicians
skillfully referred il TO that most conven-
lent of all maladies, "Oyerwork it was
necessary that much time should be spent
in riding and hunting, SO every fine after.
noon saw Jack and Vivian and Little Stray
out with the horses and guns.
by Jove! What rider she is!' said
Vivian, who had not before seemed TO take
much notice of the girl
Yes, said Jack, with pardonable
pride. Il taught her. -
"Then you are swell of teacher.
She's deuccd pretty girl
Yes, said Jack gruflly.
But Vivian did not observe the loud
upon his face and continued:
Not beauty, you know, but some
thing more etfective-a girl with character
and charm OF expression BY the way,
Jack, have you adopted this kind of u
thing for IA permanency, or Is 1t merely
temporary, and are you coming back to he
embraced by the arms of society,"
The arms of society are quite too re-
spectacle To embrace me. Society has not
been found out; | have"
NONSENSE. Society Is always ready to
receive man if ho rcpcLts and gets
money. And you have plenty Of money
now, Jack.
Things that money can buy are too
cheap for me.
You always were hctcrodox follow.
But you should think of tie girl
Il do, said Jack laconicaly.
"Then you must see The Importance Of
bringing her out where she can learn
something of the world and be cultivated
and become like other young ladies'
See her coming across tie plain? She
is fair mark for my pistol. | would
shoot her through the heart rather than
do what you wish"
Vivian talked with the girl more after
that and usually cuntriycd 10 DO next her
when they rode, and lac told her how JacB
saved his life once ut the risk of his own,
and how they loved each other since with
a love that was moro than tho love of
brothers, talked OF her and of himself.
Imperccpllbly a shadow crept between
the two men whose friendship had hereto
fore been 81 pure and strong.
They were out together one afternoon
when, wcaricd with the restraint and
urged on by cstlc,sne,s, she left the others
and rode at IA swift pace toward "A fence
some distance away.
They saw the slender Arabian arch his
delicate neck and 90 like "a flash of light
over the fence. Then they looked 10 see
him dash away across the stretch of bare
ground, but they saw nothing. Both
sprang from their horses.
Jack was tho first to leap the fence.
Beauty was bending over her with a human
expression of concern i'm his beautiful eyes.
She lifted her hand with an effort and laid
III on MS lhCt.
1T wasn't your fault, Beauty. You
slipped and fell, and you couldn't help it. "
Jack stopped 30 lift her
".Iack, dear old Jack, - she whispered.
"Take me home. "
Tcnderly they carried her homo, Beauty
walking after with head bent sorrOwfully.
please go away" she said when they
had laid her down in her own room.
"Please all go away and leave me with
Jack-only Jack. "
They went out and left them alone.
Jack, poor old Jack, she said Its
all over Don't he sorry. l am glad II is
so. l came between you and your friend,
and am glad 10 go away and leave you
together. You will be friends with him
when J am gone, won youy'
Whether YOU 20 or stay my darling,
will De- whatever you want me 60 be.
"You have always been so good To Inc.
II / have done you any wrong, dear Jack,
will Won forgive uc bcforc goy
"Y ou have done me nothing hut good;
only good, dear little one.
lie bent 80 kiss h,r farewell, and her
parting breath died ON his lips New
York World