The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-09-01
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of the incest boys have ever known.
/ must beg his pardon, however, for
cias styling him among the boys of my
acquaintance; since he was, in fact, a
mana varsity man-who had achieved
81 years, plus some odd months, with
all and more than all the susceptibility
of that impressionable age.
L had seen a great deal of Jack dur
ing the three years he had been ''up."
Papa was then professor of moral meta
physics. We lived in the Iffley road,
and, as we knew something of Jack S
people, we naturally invited him to our
house, where he soon became quite at
home, running in and out as much as
he pleased. Our acquaintance ripened
into close friendship. 1t was not long
before Jack grew to regard me as sort
of a sister, making me the recipient of
his most secret condolences; now eX-
pecting my sympathy, which he always
got, now requesting my advice, which
he never took; but invariably, and I'M
der all circumstances, being the same
frank, artless, open-hearted, brotherly
Jack.
OF Lucy Cleverly L find it difficult to
speak. When one girl, a homely, unat-
tractive girl like myself, mentions an
other girl, pretty, fascinating girl
like Lucy, in deprecatory terms, folks
are apt to ascribe it to jealousy and
spite. But L assure you, upon my
honor Though probably you will not
believe me) that nothing of the sort
enters my present description. Lucy
was extremely pretty, in the brunette
style, with the most graceful of girlish
figures and the sweetest and most TAX
ing manner imaginable. But that was
the extent of her good points all on
the surface. The real Lucy, that lay
beneath, was a scheming, flirting, vain,
heartless Lucy, who lived for admira-
ton, and loved to have as many adorers
as possible in tow; caring nothing for
the pain she inflicted, nor the delusive
hopes she raised, so long as she could
show off the abject thralldom in which
she held her devotees, and wear them,
so to speak, for her public advertise
ment, as a redskin brave wears the
scalps of his victims.
She meant, indeed, to marry; but she
money, and she wanted title. Jack
had neither; but he was not very far
removed from both. He was cousin
to an earl, and only one life interviewed
To be sure, it was a good life, that of
a healthy young man of IS, his lord
ships nephew, who might marry any
day and raise up other intervening
lives besides his own. Still it was
something to be next but one to an
earidom; if only on account of the fam
Fly connection. And, in addition, Jack
was handsome, attractive, and athlet-
ically distinguished. He had his blue
both for "rugger" and for cricket, with
a half-blue for golf thrown in. So that
taken altogether, he was lad whom
Lucy found it worth while to encourage
AS far as she could do so without com
hitting herself.
Now, L do not think that there are
many sadder sights than that of a
guileless, supplemented, generous fell
low like Jack being entangled and be-
fooled by scheming siren; wasting
the treasures of loyal, manly nature
upon one who was utterly incapable of
approaching them. And when Jack
(who, as 1 have said, made me his con-
fidante in everything) first told me of
his love for Lucy Cleverly could have
cried my eyes out for the pity of the
thing. In fact, afterwards, when
was alone l did nearly cry them out.
Although at the time 1 had sufficient
command of myself to bear the an
nouncement with composure, and suf-
fcient nous not to say single word
in disparagement of Miss Lucy. To
have done so, TO lad in his condition,
would have been worse than useless.
Alas! poor boy! He must find her out
for himself. That was the only way.
There are some lessons that cannot be
taught, only learned. This was one.
The occasion which the foolish boy
took of declaring himself to Lucy was
that of a cricket match, in the Parks.
Jack told me all about it. The varsity
were playing A. j. Webb's eleven. The
Dark Blues were in, and-the wicket
being fast and true-were having a
merry time of it. Jack was sitting, in
the attitude of Turk or a tailor, at
Lucy's feet, paying her considerably
more attention than he was paying to
the cricket.
''She was looking like an angel"
(This was Jacks account.) "Her sweet
face seemed to beam upon me with a
heavenly radiance. She asked me,
softly:
"'When do you go in, Mr.. Fanshawe? p
'''Oh, I'm in eighth wicket, said.
"'But why do you go in so late? she
inquired.
't'Because I'm no bat, you know
Pm only played for my wicket-keeping.'
"'Ah! I wish you were bat she
mUrmured.
"'Why?'
"'Because I should love to see you
make big score, and be applauded by
all the people,
(Ah, Miss Lucy! Couldn't 1 hear
your very tones as you said that?)
"'You mean-do you take enough in
terest in me-to-to-care?
'!'Oh, Mr.. Fanshawe, what a ques-