The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-05-28
A TERRIBLE :TEMPER


sesss esssGsses:ee:sessseeessssss@
III see you at Bryant's tomorrow
night and talk this unfortunate blum
der over again. Be in my study at TO-
LII meet you there'''
And that really is all?" queried Jes-
slca, quite her own possessed self
again
MISS Murphy started. To once more
drop into SMILES, her balloon. which
mad sailed up so straightly and secure
ly at first, had suddenly collapsed and
was falling with startling rapidity.
II should mink severely, sit would
be quite enough"
"Enou~N?' airily. '"That's it! it's too
much! know an overdose OF poi-
son occasionally counteracts the effect
OF lesser quantity, and / think" with
Smile charmingly confidential, cit is
something the same way with gossip
don't you?'
1t was Miss Murphy's turn to gasp.
Such a girl! But then one never could
understand Jessica Ray. Miss Murphy
thought it was time to go. With the
cessation of conversation concerning
personal affairs her interest died NAT
uraI death. She was ayerse to wading
in foreign waters. The inodoro1s pool
scummed over with village scandal suf-
feed her. She feared aught else.
"Good-by, my DEAR" with a bewil
dered shake Of the tinseled bonnet, 81
am so sorry had to tell you. Life is
full OF unpleasant duties. l never like
to interfere in other peoples affairs.
Charity 1 always say; charity and
silence If there is anything 1 partic-
ularly detest it is talebearing. Well
as l said, l must be going Good-by,
my dear. I'm so glad you don't mind"
Goodbye" cordially.
eve all thought" pausing at the door
for parting thrust, "that it was to be
but genuine love affair on both sides"
Indeed" said Jessica, brightly arch
ing her pretty brows.
And then at last the door closed on
her visitors broad. black-silk back. The
blitheness born of bravado died out of
little Miss Rays face. She went slow
! ly back to the rose-beribboned rocker
and sat down therein for a good heart
sick. discontented, mortified. misera bic
cry. When she had been very. very
young and charming and Jack Suther-
land an awkward lad of 10 their faith
ers had planned marriage in the fu-
ture. The planning stood, by the way.
upon an agreeably substantial basis,
looking at the affair from financial
point of view.
Soon after Jacks father had died and
Jack had gone to live with his mothers
relatives in England. He carried witt
him the memory of pair of sweet
eyes. for all the world like big, blue,
| dewwet forget-me-nots, for wee Jes-
sica had parted from her playmate with
a particularly tender and protesting
farewell. Twelve years passed. Neith-
er chafed-as in novelistic traditions
bound--against the paternal decision Of
their childhood. No fair English maid
en- displaced his first love in Jacks
loyal heart. AS for Jessica, she had
| grown to think of Jack as a hero who
was coming across the sea to claim her
| When she anticipated that coming be-
fore her minds eye forth pranced a
snowy charger bearing plumed
knight.
One day. Just two weeks ago it was
she went down to the drawing-room in
response to the servants announce
ment \ gentleman standing in the
window turned at her entrance. He
came swiftly forward, both hands cX-
| tended. his face frightening with gay
admiration.
1T is-it is little Jessica!"
She knew him then. Without cur
veted no splendid steed By his side
] swung no ieweled scabbard. Around
his neck swung no mandolin. From
his shoulder fell no cloak Of ruby vel
/ vet. Not stalwart statured was he, nor
raven haired, nor flashing eyed. Not
the grand creation Of her girlhood's
sweet foolish dreams, in truth, his riv-
ais would have said. a very ordinary
Young man. But he had come! JeSsica' s
heart gave a great throb. A true wonl-
an. though. ego, an arch-hypocrite, she
mt her hand in his with an air.of cool
surprise, a touch of wcllbred reproof
In her greeting.
"And YOU are--A1r. Sutherland"
Neither had in any way suggested the
odd relation in which they tacitly stood
to each other Both felt the chain that
bound them. for all it's massive solden
links q very frail and brittle one i'll the
passionate strength of youthful i'm
pulse. Neither would be slow to hing
if off if the bandage proved oppressive,
However. it did not. The childish. lS
norant romantic affection which had
been smoldering in their hearts since
the sorrowful parting OF the playmates
at word. a touch, look, blazed up
into a pure and strong and steady
fame. OF his courtship Jack Suther-