The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-20


Mr.. Halliday left the battlefield ingIor-
iously. 1t must be confessed his self
appreciation was often hurt, and that
in thinking over their discussions after
ward, Howard frequently assured him
self he barely escaped disliking his
friends sister. That women should
hold opinions" at all seemed unwom-
anly TO him, and to be defeated by one
was almost unDardOnable.
Yet. aside from this unpleasant feat
ur0, little Doris seemed one of the most
unsalfiSh and lOvable girls he had ever
met He felt sure his stately mother
would approve of her and the thought
sent a queer little spasm of pleasure
through his hitherto invulnerable heart.
1t waa just like her to sacrifice her best
dress to give Jack an outing. He had
MT much faith in the result, though,
and he laughed to himself as he
thought of stylish Jack in a badly fit
ting badly made coat. His first i'm
pulse was to tell Jack in time to pre-
vent the worsethan useless sacrifice;
but that would be betraying a secret
not intended for his ears, 50 he could
only be silent and await developments.
For the next three or four days Doris
was scarcely visible, excepting at
mealtime Jack stormed because she
did not give moretime to their guest
/ said, Ito care more for stitching away
on an old machine making finery.
than to care for the comfort and happi-
! ness of two forlOrn men" And How
ard, watching the sensitive face flush
ing under the unjust accusations
I thought her the sweetest and Ioveliest
of women.
At last ,one afternoon as Jack and
/ Howard were lounging on the porch.
/ +,riY Ni1,rr -
| street, carrying q neat package Her
J eyes shonewith a light that fairly daz-
/ zled Mr.. Halliday, and in a moment he
/ CompTehended her plan. He arose as
she came up and offered her a chair,
! but SHE, shook her head playfully and
! passed on into the sitting room. Pres
! entity she called Jack.
lie got up laZily and went in How
ard longed to follow, but dared not.
He expected every moment to hear
| Jacks voice in angry derisiOn. Instead
| that young man soon appeared with
beaming face, his fine figure adorned
with a well fitted and beautifully made
coat
Il tell you, Howard. there's nothing
like having the right kind of women
folks Mine have trigged me out in
these handcOme new buds and I am
happier than the winning captain of
q football team. l can go home with
you now. l only refused before be-
cause 1 hadn't anything fit to wear in
your warm climate, and I was too poor
! to buy anything. Uncle Walter only
allows me income enough to barely
squeeze through college, and Doris
teaching scarcely furnishes mother and
herself with the neceSsit ties"
Jack paused, and Howard, feeling
like a hypocrite, cudgled his brain for
something to say.
Doris and mother are wonderful
women, anyhow. Doris has a knack
of making the conmonest things look
dainty and artistic, and mother-why,
mother can easily evolve something out
of nothing. I'm sure now they must
have pinched themselves awfully to
buy these nice things, unless Doris has
sold one of her pretty water colors, as
she does sometimes 1t must be that
for Doris declares she hasn't taken a
dollar from the family treasury. It's
just like her. bless her generous heart!
Anyhow, I'll not worry her asking
questions for I know she's as happy
over it as l am. Have a cigar?" eX-
tending finely favored one to Mr..
Halliday.
That gentleman declined, almost
rudely.
rye concluded not to smoke any
more. Your sister is right. The use of
tobacco makes a man blind and self
ish." s5i
He was half angry with Jack for ac-
ceptfng so unquestiOningly the sacrifice
Doris had made, and he kept thinking
how soon Jack might have saved mon
ey enough to buy his own clothes. had
he been half as self-denying as his sis
ter. Jack looked at him in astoniah-
ment.
will wonders never cease? To
think of your giving up smoking is d
sumner! Next thing you'll sign the
total abstinence pledge and fit yourself
for church deacon. Doris will be de-
lighted he said, between puffs.
Don't tell her; l want to tell her
myself. And, Jack, if you were half
the man you ought to be, you'd stop
smoking yourself and save the money
to buy the things you need. 1 swear
I'd be ashamed to let a little, delicate
girl help clothe me-" Howard said in
dignantly
Jacks sunburned face took on
bright red.
You're confoundadly polite in your
way of putting things he said. giving
his cigar petulant fling that landed it
in the rosebed, "and you've grown vir-
tuouS very suddenly, it seems to me.
by Jack.
Thank you, Howard. You're right
I've been a selfish beast to let mother
and Doris spoil me so. And if you,
who can so well afford it, can quit
smoking, [ WILL too
If you come down to facts. I guess
it is as Doris says: we can none of US
afford it even if our poketbooks are
overlooking. We cannot afford to risk
the many evil physical results likely to
follow, and to be repeated in future
generations. to say nothing of poison
ing the air for others who detest the
odor,' Howard said gravely
You talk as if Doris were dictat-
ing, Jack said, lightly.
AS she is, in a measure I'm such |
an egotistical prig that 1 have lacked !
the courage and grace to acknowledge |
how much her arguments have affect
ed me. 1 think 1 shall be brave enough |
to tell her before L CO." Mr.. Halliday |
continued, frankly.
Jack was silent. Brotherly intuition |
had suddenly opened his eyes.
And if you think there is the least |
hope for me, I've something else to tell |
her before / meet my mother [ know |
L m not half good enough for Ter. but [ |
intend to grow better, and" Howard |
stopped abruptly, nervousness making
his voice husky
Jack grasped his hand and squeezed
it till it ached.
No, you're not good enough for her,
old fellow, no man is; but if she loves
you as well as 1 do, She'll take you.
That evening Doris and Mr.. Halliday
sat on the porch in the starlight. hav-
ing reached perfect understanding. I
Il think 1 commenced loving you be-
cause you were so frank and outspok-
en- so unlike the conventional society
girls I had grown so tired of: but the
thing that showed me my heart as
nothing else could have done was
Jacks coat.
Jacks coat'l'' Doris exclaimed. in
astnnishrnant .Mhn ever hcard oe