The Somerset reporter., 1897-08-19
WICKED JACK.

could like you better, Jack. dear-if-it
You were just little-eyer such a
tiny bit-wicked. -
l lifted my eyebrows in mild aston
ishment. | bad an idea that l was sufi.
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 in the governors pipe, OF
smash the mater $40, pom my word,
CHS, won't do anything to the dear lit
tie mater"
Don't be so absurd, said She Sc
verely ("She" with big S, if you
please).
You don't look pretty when you
make faces, CHS
"You said yesterday that couldn' t
help looking pretty"
We had only been engaged three days
then.
"Oh, Jaekr'
There were explanations here which
do not affect the argument.
81 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. p"
well, what's the particular crime
you admire, Cis?" l inquired cheerful
ly. II dare say I've committed it in the
course of 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 | was clear
enough that shouldn't tell her of it.
81 only mean little wickednesses-not
weaknesses really, only - er - you
know what l mean. y
You are always strikingly luc.d, 4"
l observed politely.
You are always teasing me.
us that wickednesS which is or
which isn't?
"Im not going to discuss frivolities,
sir. You know what / mean"
"I'm hanged if dol'
well. l mean-people say-that q
what | mean, but | can't express it.
And l won't be laughed at, Jack. "
"You are being laughed at, CHS.
"But don't like it, please. "
"Well, you mean that it doesn't seem
manly for man to be too good and
proper Is that it, Cis?"
''Of course il is. -
upon my word I'm not. -
"Ah," said she triumphantly, set
ting herself magisterially in a corner Of
the large armchair (she doesn't nearly
fill it), what have you done? 1 shall
expect you to tell me all "
She almost looked as if she expected
1t, too, which was absurd. So l deter.
mined to make careful selection, but
there was such an embarras de richesse |
OF course couldn't tell her of the wick
ednesses which were, and wickednesses
which weren't found somewhat diff1-
cult to define.
"Well''- l began hesitatingly.
$50 on, sir-the truth.
"When was a boy
"Oh, that doesn't matter | suppose
you've done something wrong since
then. -
''Er-I've sometimes had bet on a
horse race or a cricket or football
match"
Flow much-G5?"
Well-er-not more. You see, I'm
not really betting man. 3"
II ia told her of that coup on Yellow
Dragon, it might have got round to the
governor, you see.
ooh, we'll, that isn't very much.
What else?''
Sometimes when I was at Oxford I
had quite enough to drink"
"Oh, Jack But you didn't ever get
quite-not really-so that you could
not
Drunk Oh, dear, mol That would
have shown great weakness of char
acter. -
1t 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. | 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 teetotaler
now Well, that's nearly all ="
Now, JackP'
Except that l might have said a
swear word or so now and then. Foot
ball and billiards are very trying you
know 4"
If shed heard me talk to that oabby
on boat race day
"Ump'
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 Gay said"-
WHAT"
"Never mind. Perhaps it was Dear
mel"
"Oh, that's how l always swear
"You tell awful-nntrutLs,"
Eyes. that's my form of wickedness. u
/ heaved a sigh of relief TINT she had
settled the question.
but haven't you, Jack-haven t you
ever flirhed? That's what mean.
thought so.
Good gracious, yesp'
''Since you knew meY Now, tell me.
won't be cross; really won't "
''But I've known you ever since. you
were a baby, more or less You were a
tiresome youngster, Cis, pom my honor
you were. "
at upau since vou--vou-- III al mo -