The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-11-27

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went 20 college, but. every holiday found
him at home again, and often books went
by the board and Jack came home on the
sly to see his little sweetheart. Of course,
on these occasions he was struggled into
! DOra's home, and good stured, easy-go-
ing Mr.. Goldthwait would have thought
it the basest treachery for any member
of his family to inform his next door
neighbor, Jacks father, that his son was
playing truant.
| After three years at college Jack was
hopelessly behind in his studies, and his
| father, still ignorant of the reason, called
him blOckhead. One day Jack received
tender, loving letter from Dora asking
him to come home at once, as her father
had just received word from England
that he had fallen heir to large property,
including theater in one Of the large
cities, and the business Of the latter was
in urgent need of his immediate attention.
The family would sail for England imme-
diately, but Dora wanted Jack to go with
them, if he could. 4 few hours after
receiving the letter Jack stood in front
Of the Goldthwait residence ON Gramercy
| Park. 1t was closed. No servant an
swered the bell, and Jacks heart fell like
lead. Again he looked at the letter. 1t
was dated two days before and had been
delayed in the mails. A. home he found
his father, but in a mood in which he had
never seen him before.
you young rascal!' he shouted, as
Jack entered. $50 you have been wasting
your time next door, instead Of studying"
No pleading on the part of Jack could
induce the turbulent old man to tell
where the Goldthwaits had gone.
"Never mind" thought Jack, 81 will
hear from her soon, and then
I But no letter came. Weeks heightened
into months and Jack grew tall and thin
One day he went up to his college town.
and an inquiry at the postoffice elected
the fact that several letters had come, up
to month ago, but they had been for
warded to Gramercy Park
That night father and son faced each
other for the last time.
where are the letters Dora wrote to
me?" demanded Jack, as he leaned over
toward the old man. who stood smiling
| sarcastically in his face.
81 told you that if you refused to return
to college you would regret it," was the
reply.
Jack turned on his heel and passed out
of the house.
He found it harder struggle than he
expected. His income huctuated from
next to nothing to nothing itself He be-
came first a wanderer among apartments,
then among boarding houses. and at last
an inhabitant of Furnished rooms" who
ate at cheap restaurants-when he could
eat at all.
He had lived a week in rear hall bed
room ON Twenty-second street before he
discovered that it's windows were only
separated from those of his old home and
that of Dora, on GrameTcy Park, by the
brief New York back yards in which they
used to play together. The Goldthwait
house was dark. 1t had been ever since
the day Dora left. Next to it, where his
fathers mansion doomed up against the
trees beyond, lights we're often seen. But
strangers occupied the familiar rooms.
On Thanksgiving Eve just, five years
since lie had left his old life behind him
Jack went to his dingy little window to
gaze at the two mansions. He shivered
with cold; but the blood rushed quickly to
his face when he saw the home of the girl
he still loved, brightly lighted up. For
an instant he stood stills amazed. Then
he sat down on his bed 70 think. Finally,
dOwnhearted and discouraged, he turned
to a great pile of manuscript and rubbish
on the floor, and picking book from the
nondescript mass he turned over the
leaves.
Twelve plays out" he muttered to
himself; five of them probably lost" Only
that day he had sent his best and latest
comedy to the new English actor who
had arrived the day before. As soon as it
was rehearsed las he doutte not it would
bel he would send the others in rotation.
i For months he had expected success to
come with the dawn of every new day,
and tonight as he threw himself ON his
bed, hungry and broken-hearted, he real
lied the mistake he had made in living in
dream. He made firm resolutions to re-
r form, but as his fingers .linched in new
born resolve his eyes strayed across the
way again. For the second time that
evening his heart stood sill. Behind the
soft lace curtains of the Goldthwait man.
sion shadows of people fitted to and. fro.
The house was inhabited again-but by
!. strangers, of course, he thought
Il Thanksgiving Day found Jack poorer
and hungrier than he had ever been be-
fore in his life. For forty-eight hours he
had not tasted food, but he determined to
breakfast in spite of the almost total