Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-19

and rocking 4 crude. Fact n. I sara
more for that girl than I ever did for
anybody, and I'd have known her most
anywhere, How II come we never got
married, we were neither Of us of age,
80 we concluded to wait until we were,
which would be about three years.
Well, three years IL good long bit,
when you're young and full of devil.
ment. SO to I'll up that time got to
smiling pretty much ON one or two
other girls, which SET her to flirting
with the boys, till was beat at my
own game. Then we had a high old
racket, for saw she didn't object to
another fellow who wanted her as bad
as I did, and It riled me considerable
Just the same; we all broke up. and
that ended 1t for always, for me. I
was engaged two or three times after
TINT before my money run out, but It
got monotonous, ind I couldn't like
anybody very long after TINT. reckon
that II Ind had good sense on the
start, everything would have been all
right today. and she would have been
boss In my house; and"
Thought you wouldn't like to stay
-" began Johnnie as the story teller
paused q moment, but he was inter.
rupted.
I'D have given quarter to got
away, but she seemed to feel me look.
ing at her, for she turned around, and
seeing me, looked mighty scared.
~ don't mean any harm, ma'nm,'
says I, but won't you please give me
something to eatT which Of course was
all I could say. and under the peculiar
circumstances II wasn't any more than
natural that I'd think Of the dozen
times I'd danced with that very girl.
and took her buggy riding, and kissed
her--yes. and Rugged her, too!
Certainly snys she, Just come
here to the STEP Then she went In
the house and brought out q tray with
napkin on II. which was little po.
likeness I hadn't known for some time,
though for Trump I generally get
treated pretty fair. Maybe she thought
It was me, or some sixty-third cousin
Of mine. for she brought cake and pie,
and bread with butter and Jelly spread
on. some sliced ham and pickles, and
some more stun. Lord! think Of i'll
when I might have been eating with
her three times day for the last six
years.
"well, I sat there eating what she
gave mo, feeling like a regular dumb
fool for the first time In my life, and
looking at her Just as much rs ever
could without her knowing It. She used
to be right plump, and had the cutest
frlxxes and blacklist eyes ever you seen
and beat all to be saiSy and comical In
her sayings. That was eight or ten
years ago. She Is somewhat thinner
now, and her hair isn't frixxed, and she
seemed then to be very quiet and
steady, but she looked good and happy
ana contentcd, for which was very
glad, and I know she wouldn't have
looked SO much 80 II she had married
mel guess I'm naturally wild.
II was as long eating that dinner as
I could manage II, but all things has "a
end, 30 every crumb got away at last,
and I had to 60.
"'Would you object to telling me
your nameT I says, looking straight III
her.
"'Mrs. William Bates she says, very
quiet.
'.That's what supposed It was. Jus,
then little shaver about five years
old, with big black eyes, came walk
ing out on the porch and rubbing hia
eyes like he had been to sleep. Al
sight Of me he tucks his head In hei
arm, and looks Mt me kind Of shy, and
laughs-one Of her old tricks right over
again.
"'It seems TO mo have seen you be-
FORE, she says, still In that quiet way
that made me certain she knowed me
"I'm sorry you said thnt-Kate,'.
was going to say, but before got hcl
name out. I was getting out Of tina,
yard quick, for there was lump In my
throat. and storm In my chest, and
felt worse than I had since she ana
said tra.la.lec. lovev It's the frs,
time ever I didn't step up and shake
hands with an old friend whether they
wanted me to or not.
"Secing there was only that one
street, I kept lookout for Bill Bates.
"Sure enough! There was a store
with the sign, WIN. Bates, boots and
shoes and sitting on box In front OF
the store was Bill Bates himself. HI
was laughing and talking-happy as q
clam. ! didn't care about looking hin
In the face. but he stopped his talking
us went past. ! felt like hitting hin
a lick under the chin, and I amt q
fighting man. either. Still. II was nj
my own fault. Kate had as good {
right to fiirt as I had, hut then hat
never counted on her caring more fOl
anybody than for me-"
"Johnnie. Johnnie, come to dinner
dearv called his mother.
"Here--gO out of this gate" ordered
Johnnie, ss the tramp started to re
climb the fence. At the same time h
tucked the basket and cup amongs
some weeds In the fence corner. an,
then began theoretically jumping VI
and down.
"Ah-I see-a young schcmer. oh
laughed the tramp as he opened tn,
alley gate.
~ wish was a-a-llke YOU" sighe,
Johnnie, rs he booked the gate. "l't
like to do Just rs pleased"
"Better stay at home, sonny. N
danger but you'll make both ends meet
Good bye. and I'm much obliged 70
your dinner. Maybe Wen meet agail
some day" ana the tramp went LII