The Van Buren press., 1897-11-27
4 GOOD FOR NOTHING.
'NeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeeeeE

nv arrival you iauSt hdfs pNSh NV
ouehly posted as to the one black sheep
of this pirtuous family. Don't say No
An accurate knowledge of my relatives
assures me that they have been as
frank on this occasion as ON many
similar ones in the past.
Jack Daugerfeld delivers these re-
marks in his LATEST drawl, looking up
from his place on the hassoek at Ethel
Mason's feet. in the half-lighted, de
serted parlor.
They are all alone tonight, for Mrs.
Dangerfeld and her daughters have
gone to some ball or reception, whittier
Cousin Ethers little cough would not
permit her 10 accompany them. As
for Jackie never goes TO balls or
receptions: he eSehews society in gen
eral. and thai of his family in partieu-
lar.
u haven't heard your sisters speak
Of you very often" says Ethel, hesi-
tating as memory leads her back
through the few conversations which
have had Mr.. Jack for a text. They
were explicit enough. II brief and far
between.
NO. | suppose not: but when they
don't speak they imply. by signs and
hints. that we could an if we would
and so on. as Hamlet said. So be it.
l would not deprive them of such a
pregnant theme for all the world, only
he says. quickly. and his gray eyes
darken and flash. 4 could find il in my
heart to wish that they had spared YOU
the recital, that I might have fair field
and no favor with my Cousin Ethel.a
'.Your Cousin Ethel admits no out
side influence to bear on her friend
ships SAYS the girl. smiling; "and
you know that we are fast friends-you
and l.
Are we? Yes. / believe we came
10 mutual compact OF that sort;
friends IS fast as hopelessiy good-for-
nothing. Goe-fo4saken fellow and an
ignorant. innocent. little iender-heart-
ed woman can make. You sit afar eff
with yoar folded hands, and your white
garments he'd up safely ont Of the
mud. ard feel sorry. in an angelic fash
ion. fox my sins. ard look out OF
the pit ard think how I might have
lived fer yea once, ard wish te God |
nigh, de for you now"
Jack Dangerfeid's lazy little drawl
is quite gone; the storm Of a sudden
fashion has swept all the languor and
rxeFid-weAriness from ont his dark, dis
cuntenfed faee.
Jack
He steps her before she can add an
other word
Hush starting to his feet and
sszn65nz tall and straight before her,
ard looking down at the iit.l@ siielOng-
aezrias figure ard the uPsurned face.
Il knew IL would have 10 eOme-I-I-
cazx have ny Cousin Ethel for my
frssna 1 mast lose all. because Il
~Oh- dor's. Jsek-6snt say H. she
cries. his meaning flashing UPan her
with pure pain and pity oh. whst
hare / donefN
Done, What God Himself cant
undo. unless He kills my soul with my
body. shall love You through all
eternisy-loye you and hunger for you
as | do now. Ethel and he bends over
her. his hands upon the chair. Ethel.
let me alone for a minute-just one,
Don't answer me; let me have my
dream for that little while, before the
bitterwreneh comes. as know it must
There is hush in the room rs he
turns away. He walks to the window
and leans his forehead against the
pane, staring out into the blank street
The clock ticks on and the ashes dror
In the CRATE while they wait there
these two. on whose hearts every sound
falls with a shock, every minute drops
leadenly.
Ethel"
He comes at last and kneels down
by her, stretching his arms ont over
her lap and looking up, haggardly. as
II he were praying for pity at shrine.
''oh. jack I'm SO Sorry--so sorrY!''
She hides her face in her hands be
cause she cannot bear that lock in his.
OF that craving quest Of the great gray
eyes
Jack Dangerfeid IS quite sin for a
minute. only he draws his breath with
o1s hard sieh
Are you sorry fer meg~ he says. at
last. in a whisper. God knows reed
it.
~Tm 50 sorry, I'd give up nv life 10
To comfort Yen. Jack. # you'd only
,et IRE be yeur frfea6-yorr sister
Thers Is grim hsartsiek smile or
Jsck's Eoath AZ this rrrsly Nomznly
slEsesstol- Hs teeth shut together
ser zsruss tin they grit. ard he turus
Is face away-
~EsA=l. between yc1 ard ne there
never epl,G be l1y 0tlsr love but-bur
he cre. ard rhz.'s Impossible I've
WIRED 1he last cAarcs CIT years ago.
ara knew IL skier I locked iu vour
fare tae first time I rever was mad
szouEa -o hcps if. chid. ] oaly used
- fki-k o. II soletirss-hov IL might
ls 5f h1l a rev litc 10 i've. ard vcur
haui 10 hc,d al The way
He irCrs t,s head or her knees and
sAs Efs'e- sef-. vczauly lard crssus
Crs- *. t1echirs The dark hair pitffriIy.
LAX. is it vs-g hard e bsarT-
-6od sss7 yeu from evs- kncvire.~
ls SAYS. hC1rss-F-
-He las shovn us.F' uhi>Hers Eshsl
Mass
Ja-t Eftz bis had ar uish START.
Hs ,--is iasu her eres. ard sees i- n, r.
f-- rs Erss tine, tee s-rscEe I-klac-s
- hi- ,au Le>r-ir.
~Wii gCE lsr NE tsl SCR s1rett-r.e 4,
Nrho5y ever Knew e. ard no1-,l, ever