The Eddy current., 1898-04-02

D
/ bravoly and just ne dinner was all
ready and her father had come IN. Jack.
true 20 bis promise. left the three chill.
/ dren 40 the door and went home with.
out stopping TO speak.
The children gave glowing accounts
/ OF their walk, And Jacks going "a
make us a kite and ny Il the next
windy day they ended.
Nearly every day after that Jack
took the children on into the woods
and fields. giving Mary vacation
from their noise. when he went to
get them. or when he brought them
back. he always found some little
thing TO do 20 help her.
Then ono Sunday he dressed with
unusual care. looking remarkably fresh
and clean. too. and went 70 church and
Sunday school Aftorward he walked
homo With Mary. holding her sunshads
over her carefully all the way.
Mr.. Hallott stald at homo with the
! children Sundays and Il was rather
ilresomo FOR him. So when he saw
Jack coming he frightened up and ask
cd him 10 stay 20 dinner Jack con
sented. much 10 Mr. Hallett's satlsfac
lion, and the chlldrens bolsterous de.
light Mary's father dearly loved 90
talk and Jack appeared TO enjoy lis.
tonlng equally we'll
After dinner Mr.. Hallett went into
the sittlng-room and fell asleep IN his
chair. while Jack insisted on wlplng the
dishes for dary. The children swarm
ed about him and got IN his way. till
he declared that they were ns bad ne
cats, and he'd have 20 sprinkle them
and see n they would clear out then,
When the dishes we're done and Mary
had taken on her apron Jack began
to notice signs OF unoadness In her
manner.
About time for Bert" he said 20
hlmself' then aloud: II should think
you'd 80 crazy with these noisy young
sters around all the time. IN going
TO take them away and you can rest.
instead OF working as you usually
do"
Down the road they went. and they
were hardly out Of sight In one dlrec.
tion before Bert Hlll appeared from
tho other lie. too was dressed with
particular care but though there was
no denying that he was handsomer
than Jack there was a certain set to his
jaw aud a kind OF nerceness In his
dark eyes which were not propossess-
ing. These softonod when he greeted
Mary. and he became agreeable.
But Mary. for some reason. felt un.
easy and hoped he would not ask
whore the children were. She also
dreaded their return. What would
Bert say when he saw Jack?
Ilut when the children came Il was
quite late. and Jack ala not appear.
Mary got them bread and butter, for
which they clamored yoclfCroualy, and
then nj Bert's request walked up and
down the road with him for half an
hour while he smoked strong cigar.
After he had gone she sighed wearlly.
She felt dissatisfied with heraolf: and
the children, as she put them to bed.
irrtatod her by their constant re-
petition OF Jacks name. Later she
sat In her own room and cried. because
sho was tired. she told herself
She had not reached that state Of
mind. which came only few weeks
later, when she cried from porplexlty
and indecision as 10 the course she
should take She had honestly sup
posed herself IN love with Bert. and Il
took her some time 10 nnd out her
mistake
when Bert learned what was going
on between the Hallctts and Jack ne
was IN towering rage Ho met Jack
ono night and stopped short before
him. blocking the way
What do you mean foolIng around
Mary Ilallett. them" Bert raised his
voice.
Have I ever interfercd with you?
Have ever been in your way?" de-
mnndod Jack
mo, and you'd better not" Bert
threatened
you'll be the one 70 suffer" re-
toried Jack unless you are more sober
than you are now
That night Jack held earnest con-
sultation with himself up IN the dark.
ness of the pines. IIo applied many
uncompllmcntary epithets 10 himself
How could ! be 30 base ms 10 start
lu ON this thing2 10 20 10 work Dc.
lIbcrately 10 get a girl away from an
other fellow. with the firm intention
Of giving her up when IA done az II
was vile And how has Il come out9
u has come 10 thls-that II she re-
fuses 90 marry me / shall be the most
miserable man alive. and will richly
deserve A. too. Tor being 80 contempt
lbly mean"
you've got 20 try and be half good
enough for her now" he said. And
youil have 20 work harder 10 do Il
than you ever dreamed OF working be-
fore"
From that night II was noticed that
70 change had come over Jack Ray