Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-04-27
A DIFFERENCE
BY r. 3. Embree.

| NOuhNth WIN thC ClONu thlOuSh
Jacks height and football muscle had
forced a way for her, while he was
weighing her emotional nature.
'But seriously, Miss Bray, don't you
think it's possible for a woman to fall in
love with cripple?"
Seriously, Mr.. Archer, | do not. She
may feel sorry for him, and so marry
him out OF sentiment akin to love, but
women put strength where men do beau
ty. Now, would yo- marry Sallie Den
ton?"
| Sallie Denton was red haired,
squint eyed, lantern jawed apple woman.
THAT is an extreme case. Her men
tai acquaintance and social position
match her looks"
'Fic. my dear sir. You beg the ques-
ton. How many maids of low degree
and small accomplishments have been
lifted to place and fortune by pretty
face?'
But not all popular women have been
Beauties
"In the eyes Of their admirers they
have been"
ooh, what a twisting of logic! Then n
woman might imagine strength, even an
arm or leg
Here is your station. l believe you
would have gone by, you love so to ar
que"
How the whole conversation same back
to Miss Bray on that day when she
started at the page before her bearing
| Jack Archcr's name among the wounded
after the battle of San Juan!
Later she learned that, with his right
arm gone and the sight of one of his eyes
destroyed, he was coming home. How
she longed to see him, to tell him in some
way that she had repented her foolish
| words!
"Oh, why, why" she moaned, "do wo-
men express opinions about things of
which they are wholly ignorant? What
difference does it make to me that Jack
is-a cripple? My fortune is quite suf-
fcicnt for us both, and if it wasn't I'd
think it an honor to work for him. Oh,
if he had only told me of his love be.
fore he went away
Everybody, including Ethel herself,
had long known that Jack Archer was
deeply in love with the slim, athletic
girl who was his constant companion on
the links and in all the walking excur-
! sions of their set She it was who wore
his colors at the football games and
waved them Loyalty through defeat as
well as victory. And yet not q word of
love had passed between the two COM
radcs. The perfect faith had been too
sweet to exchange for proof.
| 1t had not occurred to Ethel that Jack
could be hurt in battle. After he had
gone, she once or twice allowed herself
to grow sentimental over an imaginary
grave in PARKWAY Cuba, but there was no
reality in the picture. To come home
maimed-that had never occurred to her!
The meeting was over. How had Jack
managed it? He had been kind, deferen-
haD, everything good breeding and their
long acquaintance demanded, but he had
set up barrier between them which
even she, not at all given to distrust,
greatly feared could never be broken
down.
Months passed. and never once had
they been alone. 1t had all been man
aged so unobtrusively. Ethel was quite
sure no one, not even her mother, had
noticed the fact. In her sore heart she
had to doubt Jacks love.
At last she determined upon strategy.
She was n most successful mimic and
could assume her brother Herbert's
voice to perfection. At the last moment
one evening she had excused herself
from a family thcater party on the plea
of hcadach She was at the telephone
as soon as the carriage had driven off.
and in her brothers voice asked Jack to
come to the house Immediately. Then to
the butler:
james, if Mr.. Archer calls to see Her
bert, | have a message for him. Ii any
one else calls. am not at home"
She had not long to wait before her
lover came.
Brother told me to say how sorry he
was. He was called out just after he
telephoRfa. and as he knew you would
probably he on the way he left me to
make his apology. And, by the way.
only heard today Of your engagement.
believe it isn't announced yet. but we are
such old friends you won't mind il coR-
graduate you now"
"My engagement! Ethel. you know
that will never be-"
"Why not?' The brown eyes were
wide with innocence. Conld any one
suspect that her heart was beating like a
trip hammer?
Jack drew his breath hard. Then he
said coldly, 81 beg Your pardon, Miss
| DTHN, Dut tulHh YOU SouiStjl "hiHto
me once about the matrimonial prospects
of a cripple
"Oh. said women put strength where
men do beauty, and you are strong and
and-cruclr' Ethel was fast losing her
self control. "If a man was in love with
n girl" she went on hurriedly, land some
one should throw vitriol at her or-or-
something. would he not speak to her any
more and avoid her and-and-every-
thing"
Ethel had grown more and more incO-
hercnt and finished by sobbing outright.
Then she turned and would have run out
OF the room il q strong left arm had not
held her.
ETHEL, do you pity mc?'
81 don't see why should. I'm the
,ne to be piticd."
The arm relaxed, but frightened again
as the voice went on:
"It's-it's disgraceful to make girl
propose"
A good soldier knows when TO capitu-
late, and Jack had won the breyets for
bravery.
.And ! thought you knew more of phil
losophy," Ethel said later, than to be-
licve theory was ever intended to tit
practice 1t may be true enough to say
that crippes are ineligible, but II you are
crippIc-why, that's different" - st.
Louis Star.
stock Quotations.
81 wonder where ! can get the best
stock quotations." inquired the small
Spectator, who was anxious to be con-
/ gidprpl a heavy Dlunger,