The Winslow mail., 1897-06-26

DUSK draperleS OF lace trailing softly
behind her, huge cluster of yiolpts nj
her bosom. 1t was after 10 before she
could escape from her companion and
make her way to the library. Her
hand on the portiere dividing that
apartment from the morning room. she
paused.
Voices. She didn't intend to caves
drop. OF course, it was unintentional-
all was said and over so ouickly.
Equally of course it was dishonorable.
but think as rule we are not apt to
consider questions Of honor with ex-
treme nicely when our hearts are very
sore.
I've decided to take her." Jacks
quiet voice was saying, weariIy. Its
the only thing l can do now"
Ned spoke.
'She's skittish, know, but Cby way
Of consolation) she may outgrow that"
Jessica groaned involuntarily. Jack
glanced toward the curtain.
"Well, drop the subject" In lower
voice: "Keep it dark. like a good boy.
l. uOu Nd PCOpAC " hAOh L ciA11 0b(h
a young fool as to be taken in by a
bag of bones, all paint and drugs"
Jessica was plump as partridge,
and her complexion was bloom" pat
ented by natures self. The morning
room was unlit save from the hall.
Thank goodness for that! She felt her.
self growing faint and dizzy Was that
To +al Ia
Jack?
80, come noww laughed Ned, "you
know you are eXaggerating. She's not
quite as bad as that!'
"Pretty nearly" ruefully. 81 don't
so much mind her skittishness-I could
break her Of that, 1 flatter myself-but
she has a terrible temperv'
She must not faint, Jessica told her.
self frantically. o, she must not! Was
that dark thing beside her in the shad-
ow of the portiere a fauteuil. She sank
down on it heavily, weakly, exhausted
ly. Horror Of horrors! 1t at first sue
cumbed a second to her weight, then
moved, protested with vigorous ener-
gy, shrieked.
All faintness banished, Jessica leaped
to her feet, her soft, quick cry of alarm
mingling with that muffled roar Of
rheumatic agony.
'"That's auntv gasped Ned.
"Jessicaw cried Jack. He strobe
forward and flung aside the portiere.
The light from the library poured into
the shadowy morning room. 1t fell on
Jessica standing just within, very
white and trembling, and it showed on
the floor a large and ungraceful heap
Of crushed drab silk and bugles, dis
ordered "front," and grewsome groans
For a moment they stood and stared
-speechless. But Miss Murphy kept
on groaning.
"What is it all about?" queried Ned
bewilderedly, helping his aunt to rise
'I-I," faltered Jessica, "sat down on
Miss Murphyp'
"WhatT cried Ned.
"We were eavesdropping," confessed
Miss Murphy, with yenomous candor,
land Jessica took nae for a footstool
and"
my darlingv whispered Jack (no,
not to Miss Murphy II thought when
I heard your voice you were hurt
Or"
Jessica famed up.
"How dare you? Stand back, sir!
Here's your ring" She tugged brave
ly, but 1t fitted we'll. II have heard IN
what manner you speak of me. No."
disgustedly, don't appear astonished!
Recall your conversation Of yesterday
morning with Ned Sales"
Ned stared at being thus abruptly
referred to. Jack looked daZed. II did
not intend to hear such another con-
versation as that which had been re-
peated to me, but l did. If I'm-1m,"
the rose crimsoning in her cheeks,
"skittish," bringing out the hateful
word with jerk, "and-and a deuced
-bad-bargain," slowly, land If I've
got ter-ter-here's your ring"
She had wrenched it off at last.
But Jack did not take it. His dumb
dismay had turned to uproarious mirth.
1t was we'll q noisy polonaise was in
progress in the drawing-room. He
laughed He kept on laughing. Sud,
denly the whole ludicrous misunder-
standing bursting on Ned he struck in
with a very howl Of delight, and they
fell into each others arms like a couple
Of crazy boys and supported each other
and laughed.
But, recollecting Jessica standing
there, Sutherland explained, between
shameful relapses into laughter: SIT
was-a horse. l thought 1 knew all
about horsefesh. / knew nothing. I
have to take her-the idiocy is mine. l
fondly fancied had found a Maud S.
Jim Smiley's famous nag could beat
her. gave thousand for her. She's
worth-and, now you understandv'
For Jessica had sprung forward,
mouth and eyes three sweet, remorse
full "O'sv
"Jack-Jack! And how I talked just
nowv all riotous bushes. 81 must
have, after all, a-a-the kind Of tenn
per you said the horse had"
"I'll risk it," laughed Jack.
Needless of Mrs. Bryant's small
nephew who had entered and stood
stock still, an exclamation point Of in
quisitive delight; needless of Ned, who
clung in silent spasmodic commissions
to the portiere; needless even, this rash
young man, Of Miss Murphy. that an
cient virgin, who, rigid and frigid,
glowered at him in an access of scan