The Winslow mail., 1897-06-26

Anne Murphy, duty!"
cor gasped Jessica She had sunk
back in the -beribboned rattan
rocker in quite a tremor Of dismay.
very charming room, this suburban
parlor, into which gold bars of sun
shine slanted through the half-closed
Venetians. Worthy even Of pretty
Jessica-it, with it's tiled hardwood
floor, its silverfox and bearskin rugs,
It's Madras-draped windows, it's quaint
ly modern mantel of polished oak, it's
eccentric chairs, its grotesque tables,
It's dainty aQuarelles, its Chinese cabi-
nets, its slender but admirably chosen
collection of biSque and Limoges.
And surely eye, however critical,
could crave no sweeter picture than
little Miss Ray made in her pale blue
surah tea gown, cascaded with Valen-
ciennes, and all her bronze bright rip
ply hair braided in childish fashion
down her back. But just now the love-
ly face was curiously colorless, the pur-
ple-blue eyes wide and startled under
their long lashes.
There was silence after that sharp
exclamation of Jessica's. Miss Murphy
could afford to be silent. She had
dropped her small shell and it had ex-
ploded with most satisfactory report.
She sat rigidly erect in the conscious
ness Of duty done, every fold of her
black silk visiting costume stiff with
propriety, every pompon on the brown
biege bonnet bristling with respecta-
bility.
Il don't believe a word of itw de-
clared Jessica, slowly.
If impolite, the remark was in no de-
gree insOlent. 1t was simply the utter
ance Of a conviction. Miss Murphy
was not offended. She removed her
gaze from a gem of Van Elton's on the
opposite wall to fasten it on the agi-
tated little lady in the rocker 1t took
some endurance on Jessica's part to sit
meekly under the scrutiny of those fad
ed blue eyes-eyes tolerant placid
beaming, as those Of benignant old
cow.
1T is true, my dear. He said it.
heard him with my own earsw
This really was unanswerable
They were in the front parlor," pur
sued Miss Murphy, folding her plump,
tan-gloved hands with aggravating
leisure and serenity 81 sat sewing
just behind the pOrtiere 1 never would
have staid could 1 only have foretold
what was coming. They had been
talking about other things, and were
silent for awhile. Suddenly my Ned
burst out laughing. so you've seen
her. lie said, and you don't fancy her,
eh? Fancy her. echoed Jack. We'll,
I should say notp"
'Well?' urged Jessica, steadily.
She would hear it out, she told her
self-she would-every word of it!
''Well, then," slowly, to heigEtcn by
suspense the effect of her narrative.
Ned said, The boys around here all
like her immensely. Roy Pates says
she's a daisy!"
"O!' moaned Jessica. "You must eX-
cuse that nephew Of mine, my d..ar
you really must. Ned but repeats what
he hears. Besides, you know, he is
only a boy yet-just IS. What Ned
said is of no Importance. Please go
on"
She sat erect again, very pale ard
imperative, indeed.
'If you insist on hearing" hesitat-
ingly, Jack replied, We'll, l don't. 1
did just at first. l confess for awhile
she deceived me. But few days gave
me enough of her. Ned said: why
we all thought you were in great luck
to get her. 'Luckv cried Jack in an
swer, so loud my dear, fairly jump
ed. Luck! Yes, the most confounded
piece of bad luck l ever struck am
ashamed to say, my dear, but to be
veracious | must say that here Ned
quite carried away by his youthful
sympathies. inquired: Can't you get
out of it? And Jack said: 'Confound it,
no! That's the worst of it. l can't
break such a contract with any honor
to myself. But l only wish some other
fellow stood in my shoes just now. I've
promised to take her, and I've got to do
it but it's deuced bad bargain'-oh,
my dear Jessica, you're not going to
faint"
Jessica put out her hand with a
slight, repressing gesture.
mo, Miss Murphy, am not going to
faint. Is that all!"
Miss Murphy was rather disconcert-
ed. Her shell had not exploded noisily
1t is true. But now that the smoke was
clearing away she, at whose feet it
had been flung, was not dead-not even
wounded
Yes, | believe that was ALL for just
then some one summoned Jack. But
as he went out he called back to Ned:
I'll see you at Bryant's tomorrow
night and talk this unfortunate blum
der over again. Be in my study at TO-
I'll meet you there"
"And that really is all?" queried Jes-
sica, quite her own possessed self
again.
Miss Murphy started To once more
drop into SMILES, her balloon. which
had sailed up so straightly and secure
ly at first, had suddenly collapsed and
was falling with startling rapidity.
II should Think" severely, sit would
be quite enough"
"Enough?" airily. That's it! it's too
much! You know an overdose Of poi