Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-11
Two Jacks and the King.
tFrom the London Graphic.)

the banker OF Grant house, Richmond
and Traquhair, Perthshire. was an
Elton boy from the curly rim of his hat
to the tip of his glove and the tie OF his
Shoe
Jack the Second was son of John
buchanan, the Ogilvie coachman, and
they were friends.
The acquaintance began up in Perth
shire. where the Ogilvies had their
country place. when the two Jacks
were both sturdy little laddies Of seven
and 1t had continued Off and on for
seven years. 1t had survived long Pc
RODS of separation and all the changes
of thought and feeling inevitable from
the different social positions of the boys.
And Jack from Elton was by no means
ashamed of his liking for his old part
ner in the revels and adventures of the
good old times up north, though he did
not show it as exuberantly as of yore,
| while the other Jacks love and admir-
alton for him increased in proportion
as. in the nature of things, he saw less
of him.
Had they not read. one after the 9TH
err, all the books of adventure they
could lay hands on: Jack Ogilvie read
ing them first and passing them on to
Jack Buchanan. Had they not dis
cussed them and lived them and re-
yelled in them. Had they not once
lived in tent for a whole week on the
half-acre island in the loch, in a state
of absolute freedom, and for the last
two days in a state of absolute starva-
ton, which their proud spirits would
! not permit them to confess, but which
their respective mothers inferred from
the state of their appetites when they
returned to civilization very early in
| the morning of the last day of their
camp life. Had not Jack the Second
saved Jack the First's life, at risk of his
own, when his Bob Roy caught snag
| and turned turtle, with him carefully
strapped inside the apron. When Jack
| the First went to Elton had not Jack the
Second insisted on being sent there too,
and found it exceedingly difficult to I'M
derstand that Elton was not for coach
mems sons.
And now they We're both IA, and Jack
the First was home from Elton for
month before the family went north,
and Jack the Second lay on his bed dy-
ing of consumption. Jack from Elton
sat on the others bedside, with a great
pity in his heart, but with CHEEKY face
| and a tongue that ratified off stories
of his school life by the hour. And the
| other Jacks thin face lighted up and
his bright eyes grew brighter still and
his weak limbs twitched to be up and
doing. And they discussed BOOKS and
compared notes and planned plans that
would never be carried out, for Jack
| the Seconds time was shorter than any
| of them imagined.
Jack the Second had been revealing in
| course of Fenimore Cooper, and his
mind was full of the noble red man,
and Jack the First came back to his
| bedside one day cram-full of visit he
| had just paid, in company with his
brOther-in-law, Lord Swaffield, to
travelling company of redskins and
| cowboys who had suddenly descended
on the metropolis, and pitched their
camp there a yelling, whirling, shout
ing, shooting, screaming anachronism
the free life of the plains pumped
down promiscuously amid the red brick
environment of London suburb.
For an hour he talked without stop
ping of the Indians and their camp and
their weapons and feathers and war
paint. and of the cowboys and their
horses and laSsoes and rifles, till Jack
the Second was in fever, and Mrs.
Buchanan. fearful of the after effects
of SO much excitement. had to beg
Master Jack to keep the rest for the
morrow. And Jack as he withdraw
heard the other Jacks plaintive:
'Ech mither. l would give onything
to see those IndianS-just what I'm
readin' aboot-and I never saw a real
live Indian in a my life!"
And this set Jack the First thinking
He had couple of pounds in his
pocket, for Lord Swaffield was a
| modern and typical brother-in-law. He
had read somewhere of a celebrated
clown who came to sick childs bed
side, and went through his perform
ance for his sole and special benefit.
Why should not he, Jack Ogilvie. with
two pounds in his pocket, procure at
least one Indian, and convey him to
Jack Buchanan's bedside, for the en-
lightenment and consolation and salts
faction of his soul.
He though it all over, and next day
found him strolling down the walk
among the Indian tents full of his
great idea.
He was not quite sure how to pro-
ceed-whether to bride one of the war
riors to elope with him or to apply to
headquarters. Common sense led him
to the latter idea. After several false
starts and much pulling of himself to-
gether, he approached one of the cow
boys tents, and found the occupant
lying on his back on his bed, torturing
1.-The Suwanee River" on a concertina
Ell say-you fellow! Excuse me-
er--could you take me to the manager
of the circ-er-show ?" he asked, very
red and confused.
The cowboy turned his head and
looked at him.
want to john"
mo; 1 want an Indian or two"
THAT all? Want to buy emp
mo; l want to borrow them for an
hour or two"
Want to borrow m? What fOr?"
And Jack, still more red and confused
at having to confess to such weak
ness as kind heart, and with much
pulling at his gloves, which fitted per-
fectly, stammered out his story.
Cowboy sat up.