The Winslow mail., 1900-12-20

"'And now she said, gravely, tell
me about your career that has been SO
sadly spoiled. What was your hearts
desire which has been frustrated by
this cruel loss of property?
eff Miss Sparks had fired cannon
ball at me from her own fair hands she
could not have foored me more effec-
tually than with this question. Any
reference to my career touched me in
a tender spot, indeed. l had been par
ticularly annoyed at the Eagles refer
ence to my blighted life, and, consider
ing that l had 10 definite plans of
particularly elevating nature in mind
at the time destitution overlook me,
had been seriously puzzled to make out
what the thrilling paragraph meant.
But if had been perpleXed before l was
now completely overcome with confu-
sion. For a moment I stared at Miss
Henrietta dumbly. The play of SYM
pathetic light on her pretty face lent
me courage, however, and with a gasp
that 1 really feared would be my last,
| said: Dear madam, it was the de-
sire of my life to study astronomy
whence came the inspiration that
prompted me to invent that whopper
| cannot tell. Even as [ spoke ! realized
the enormity of my offense, and for a
moment l seemed dazed with astonish-
ment at my own temerity. Soon | was
recalled to my senses, however, by Miss
Henrietta, who clapped her soft palms
together with exhilarating joy.
That is splendid,' she said. Il have
known men of almost every other pro-
fession, but you are the only pros
pective astronomer whose acquaint-
ance l have formed. Mr.. Jackson, am
glad to meet you
"Miss Sparks gentle gayety was con-
tagiOus, and Notwithstanding the
qualms of conscience | suffered from
the deception practiced on so charming
a woman, |, too, soon threw off the pail
of depression and allowed my spirits
to effervesce in game of seven-up with
J. Filkins, who finally laid aside his
own funereal mien and emitted long,
boisterous laughs sadly out of proper
ton with his thin sides. Miss Henri
eta had taken degree in the study of
astronomy, and she volunteered to be-
come my teacher. No other arrange
ment could have suited me half so well.
and we began our lessons the very next
day. For six weeks we studied side by
side without exchanging a word per-
tanning to matrimony. By that time
had become exceedingly attached to
the lady, and one evening when we
were studying the heavens through a
brand new telescope I told her all about
my affection for her. 1t turned out
that she was equally well pleased with
me, and with the new telescope as a
promoter of mutual condolences, she
recounted at length her former woes,
of which j. Filkins had given me a
glimpse on the occasion of my first call.
"'Not one of them said Miss Hen
rietta, in reference to her suitors.
cared for me alone. 1t was my money
they were after. This did not please
me, for although I intend to marry a
poor man. he must like me as well as
my money
81 could but marvel at this revelation
of the duplicity of my sex, for Miss
Sparks was so charming a woman that
it was beyond my comprehension how
any man in his senses could help falling
head over ears in love with her even
though she had not a penny"
The young man who smokes listened
to this narrative gravely. ''That
sounds all right" he said. "But if you
were so seriously enamored with Miss
Sparks, why didn't you marry her?"
''It was another trick of fate that
spoiled the match" said the man of
experience. ''In the beginning of the
third month of my astronomical studies
l had word that my aunt Mary Jackson
had died out in Chicago, bequeathing
me a fortune of $4,000. / tried to keep
the news of my unexpected accession to
wealth a secret from Miss Sparks, for
| foresaw the effect on her sensitive
nature, but the Sachem Eagle finally
got hold of it and devoted half page
to the chronic.ing of my wondrous
luck. / challenged the editor to fight
me with pistols, but he refused, and
even had he consented the duel would
have been powerless to influence Miss
Henrietta's decision. / was with her
when she read the account Of my sud
den prosperity. When she spoke there
was a tremor in her voice that showed
clearly her depth of feeling.
"'I am sorry this has haDDened' she
said. L can never be Mrs. Jackson now.
You do not need me. I must marry a
poor man."
And did she?" asked the young man
who smokes.
'.Yes. She waited till j. FIlkins was
u and then she married him. She was
sure his heart and pocketbook were
both in proper condition. IN. Y. Sun.