The Van Buren press., 1895-11-16

until one evening L was positively
startled on seeing Jim walk in. OF
course. l was delighted to see him. AS
we shook hands heartily he told me
that his mother had quite recovered.
Pray introduce me to your friend,
Mr.. Darealli," said Flo. as she flashed
glance at him
He Is my partner, friend and broth
er," | responded. Jim, this young
lady Is Miss Flora Denbigh; l am per
mitted to call her Flo. and 50 may you,
If she does not object"
''oh. don't mind. as he's your broth
err" she said. smiling arehly, land
much younger brother, too"
"Not much younger" observed Jim.
pressing the hand she presented; then,
as my eyes followed Flora's, | noticed
for the first time how much more hand
some and juvenile-looking he was than
myself; then. with a pang, felt sorry
he had returned: the next moment
was soundly rating myself for the evil
thought; but instinct was right and
affection wrong in this case.
We renewed our old performance, and
noticed that Flora was at the circus
my single turn. 1t was then that jeal-
ousy got hold of me, and began to en-
tertain feeling of distrust for my part
ner and friend. OF course, l watched
him closely, and II soon became plain to
me that he was as much in love with
E1ora as | was.
BE 1t here recorded to his credit that
from a shamefaced feeling. bashfulness
or stupidity-call it what you WILL
had not mentioned that was virtually,
II not actually, engaged to the girl Ii
IL certain that she did not say anything
about it. and she. to all appearance, re-
| eiprocated Jim's feelings. At last got
wrought up to pitch of desperation
and resolved to put an end to the mat
| ter.
"Will you be my wife or not, Flo?" l
asked her one night, when we happened
to be alone.
She still temporized, and I fully be-
lieye now that she thoroughly enjoyed
torturing me.
"Well, Jack, I like you well enough, y
she answered, "but | cannot say l love
you yet. Besides, there are"
"Others," l interposed. "Oh, yes,
know you have dozens of admirers as
we'll as me and one of the principal OF
fhem is"
SJim2' she suggested, promptly
! ou may as well say it as think it. OF
course, he likes me. and | like him.
But she added, coaxingly, 81 like you,
too, Jack; still, yon must wait"
And supposing you had never seen
Jim?" l suggested.
"Oh, goodness knowsl" she Uttered
perhaps should have accepted you By
this time. But there goes eight o'clock
you'll be late for your turn, as you call
it, II you don't hurry"
l turned and walked slowly away
having plenty of time before me, and M
inclination for work. The way to the
circus, which was canvas one, in an
open space on the outskirts of the town
was through shady lane. As ram
bled moodily along | noticed, as
neared bend, a man who drew behind
q clump of bushes as | passed. One
glance was sufficient-it was JIM In
fash it came to me that he was there
to meet Flo. Restraining my passion
with grim determination i passed OIL
then erept through gap In the hedge
and stealthily returned to the spot tc
listen, like the coward / was, to the
forthcoming interview. In few min
utes she came tripping along; the next
moment she was In his arms, while he
showered kisses upon her upturned
face. The sight maddened me, ano
only by tremendous efforts did | re-
strain myself from rushing upon them
At last she said, as she released herself:
''There, that'll do, Jim. Iwant to tell
you something" Then in her pretty
artless fashion, she related our last con
versation. Jim listened patiently to
the end, and then said, very gravely:
Poor old Jack; I'm sorry to hear
this. wish I'd known it before"
THAT wouldn't have prevented you
falling in love with me, though, Jim, =
she reasoned
"No," he retorted, still more gravely,
perhaps not; but it would have pre-
vented me confessing it. Good heavensl
What will Jack think of the friend and
partner who steals his sweetheart from
him?"
Don't be a baby" she cried; 'you
haven't stolen his sweetheart. / never
was his sweetheart. like old Jack very
much-no one could help doing that;
but | don't love him, Jim, like / do
we'll, some one who is not a hundred
miles away"
1t was dusk, SO 1t was impossible to
see her face, but / could well imagine
how she looked at him as she said this.
I'm sure no man on earth would have re-
sisted the temptation, and Jim didn't.
He embraced her again. could stand
IL no more and rushed frantically away,
reaching the circus in state of agita.
tion that was noticed by everyone.
For 'eaven's sake, Jack, what's the
matter?" asked old Morritz. "'Ave you
been a-drinkin2"
mol" / almost shouted. I'm "a
sober as judge. Leave me alone"
He shrank away with positive lool
OF fear on his greasy Jewish features
Having dressed myself, / saw 70 tn,
fixing Of onr apparatus. taking NOR,
than usual care To make sure that al
the gear was sound and in good order
why, knew not. but shall be thank
ful for that extra bit Of precaution u
my dying day. At the very last mo
| ment linn arrived and had inst tim,