The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1901-09-06

tiresome for him. So when he saw
Jack coming he frightened up and
asked him to stay to dinner. Jack con-
scented, much to Mr.. Hallett's satisfac-
ton, and the children's boisterous de-
light. Mary's father dearly loved to
talk, and Jack appeared to enjoy lis
tening equally well.
After dinner Mr.. Hallett went into
the sitting-room and fell asleep in his
chair, while Jack insisted on wiping
the dishes for Mary. The children
swarmed about MIN and got in his way,
till he declared that they were as bad
as cats, and he'd have to sprinkle them
and see If they would clear out then.
When the dishes were done and Mary
had taken off her apron Jack began
to notice signs of uneasiness in her
manner.
About time for Bert" he said to
himself, then aloud: 81 should think
you'd go crazy with these noisy young
sters around all the time. I'm going to
take them away and you can rest, in
stead of working as you usually do"
Down the road they went, and they
were hardly out Of sight in one direc-
tion before Bert Hill appeared from
the other. He, 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 and a kind of fierceness in his
dark eyes which were not progresses
ing. These softened when he greeted
Mary, and he became very agreeable.
But Mary, for some reason felt un-
easy and hoped he would not ask where
the children were. She also dreaded
their return. What would Bert say
when he saw Jack?
But when the children came it was
quite late, and Jack did not appear.
Mary got them bread and butter, for
which they clamored vociferously
and then at Bert's request walked up
and down the road with him for half
an hour while he smoked a strong CT
gar.
After he had gone she sighed weari-
ly. She felt dissatisfied with herself;
and the children, as she put them to
bed, irritated her by their constant
repetition of Jacks name. Later she
sat in her own room and cried, be-
cause she was tired, she told herself.
She had not reached that state of
mind, which came only few weeks
later, when she cried from perplexity
and indecision as to the course she
should take. She had honestly sup
posed herself in love with Bert, and it
took her some time to find out her
mistake
When Bert learned what was going
on between the Halletts and Jack he
was in a towering rage. He met Jack
one night and stopped short before
him, blocking the way.
What do you mean fooling around
Mary Hallett, them" Bert raised his
voice.
Have I interfered with you? Have l
ever been in your way?" demanded
Jack.
mo, and you'd better not" Bert
threatened.
You'll be the one to suffer-" re-
torted Jack, unless you are more So
Der than you are now"
That night Jack held earnest con-
sultation with himself up in the dark
ness OF the pines. He applied many
uncomplimentary epithets to himself.
How could / be so base as to start
in on this thing? To go to work de-
liberately to get a girl away from an
other fellow, with the firm intention
of giving her up when I'd done it! 1t
was vile. And how has it come out? 1t
has come to this-that If she refuses to
marry me l shall be the most miserable
man alive, and will richly deserve 1t,
too. for being so contemptibly mean.
For n long time he sat meditating,
then he stood up, and there was a
look of determination on his face as
he raised it to the troubled sky such
as had never been there before.
You've got to try and be half good
enough for her now" he said. And
you'll have to work harder to do it
than you ever dreamed of working be-
fore"
From that night 1t was noticed that
change had come over Jack Ray
mond. AS time went on he could no
longer be called shiftless. He was
working hard, and people began to
speak Of him as John" He continued
to call at Halletts' but Bert's visits
had suddenly ceased.
1t was in September that Jack asked
Mary an important question as they
were walking home from church.
Mary answered with a "Yes," and
then Jack, with some hesitation and
confusion, confessed his original plot.
do you suppose you can ever for
give me?" he asked at the end.
Mary spoke so low that he had to
bend his head to hear.
II should have been grateful to you
after awhile-for saving me from
him, even If you had not come to care
anything for me yourself."-Ex.
I.y ToN