Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-09-23
WICKED JACK.

WICKED JACK.
~ don't know-I almost think
should like you better-if possibly
could like you better, Jack, dear-if-n
you were just a little-ever such
tiny bit-wicked.
I lifted my eyebrows III mild aston
ishment. I had an idea that was suff1-
GENTLY wicked, not desperately or VI
ciously wicked, you know, but just
about wicked enough.
"Would you like me to poison pussy,
or steal Aunt James knitting, or put
gunpowder i'll the governors pipe, or
smash the mater 's-no, pom my word,
Cis, won't do anything to the dear lit
tie mater.
"Don't be SO absurd said She Sc
verely C'She'' with a big s, if you
please).
"You don't look pretty when you
make faces, Cis.''
"You said yesterday that couldn't
help looking pretty
We had only been engaged three days
then.
"Oh, Jack!''
There were explanations here which
do not affect the argument.
II didn't mean that sort Of wicked
ness,' said she.
''Isn't kissing wicked?"
"Of course not, when people are en-
gagged. Don't, Jack. -
"Well, what's the particular crime
you admire, Cis?' inquired cheerful
ly. 81 dare say I've committed it in the
course of a long and evil life
"You know don't mean real wicked
ness that is wickedness. I'm quite sure
that you wouldn't ever-quite, quite
sure. DEAR
wasn't so sure, but I was clear
| enough that shouldn't tell her Of it.
81 only mean little wickednesses
weaknesses really, only er- you
know what mean"
"You arc always strikingly lucid, !"
l observed politely.
"You are always teasing me-
Is that wickedness which is or
which isn't?''
Tim not going to discuss frivolities.
sir. You know what mean."
I'm hanged if, i do!''
"Well, I mean--people say-that a
| man ought not to be-that isl know
what I mean, but / can't express it.
And I won't be laughed at, jack
:'You are being laughed at, Cis.'
But don't like it. please. /"
well, you mean that it doesn't seem
manly for q man to be too good and
proper. Is that it, Cis?"
.Of course it isl
/ 'sUpon my word I'm not. -
"Ah," said she triumphantly, set
sing herself magisterially in corner Of
the Largo armchair (she doesn't nearly
ill -, "what have you done? I shall
| expect you to tell me all /"
She almost looked as if she expected
| it, too, which was absurd. So deter
.ui,iod to make a careful selection, but
| here WIS such au embarras de richesse!
| .; course l couldn't tell her Of the wick
| Illnesses which were, and weaknesses
| snic., weren't found somewhat diff
.elt 10 define.
"Neli'-.I began hesitatingly.
$50 ou. sir--the truth. -
Whoa was IA boy
sob, t..as dcosn' t matter. l suppose
you've done something wrong since
then.''
| "Er--I'7o sometimes had bet on a
hose race OR a cricket or football
| match -
| '.How much--e5?''
Well-cr-not more. You see, Pm
not really betting man,
Ii I'd told her of that coup on Yellow
Dragon, it might have got round to the
governor, you see.
"Oh, well. that isn't very much
What else?'
Sometimes when I was at Oxford I
had quite enough to drink"
ooh, Jack! But you didn t ever get
quite-not really-so that you could
mott
Drunk? Oh, dear, mol That would
have shown great weakness of char
acter."
It wasn't worth while to mention
that night when the other men put me
in bed the wrong end, with my boots on
the pillow. I was only overcome with
the smoke and excitement, you know.
There's good boy! I'm glad" she
said, just touching my hand with hers.
Anyhow I'm almost a teetotaler
now. Well, that's nearly all. -
'Now, Jackp
Except that I might have said a
swear word or SO now and then. Foot
ball and billiards are very trying you
know -
If she'd heard me talk to that cabby
on boat race dayl
"Umi"
isn't that wicked enough?'
"Ye-es, but men all do it. Even dad
when he dropped the big hammer on his
foot the other day said"-
"What?'
''Never mind. Perhaps it was Dear
meP''
"Oh. that's how always swea,.''
You tell awfu1-untruths. -
eyes, that's nay form of wiokedness. I"
heaved sigh Of relief that she had
settled the question.
"But haven't you, Jack-haven' Il you
ever f1irted? That's what I mean"
I thought SO.
"Good gracious, yes!''
Since you knew me? Now, tell me.
won't be cross; really / won't. !"
But I've known you ever since you
were baby, more or less. You were a
tiresome youngster, CHS, pom my honor
you WERE -
1 mean since you-you-liked me. !"
II can't remember when I didn Il. -
Dear old Jack Is that really truep"
"True as gospel, little one'
Az maftpr If foot ~ mos