Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-06-19

pang how hard it had been to persuade
her TO assent TO the secret marriage
now timid she was, and how implicitly
she had trusted him.
\ great wave of tenderness welled
ND in his heart; he forgot all about the
divorce. and thought only of how he
might correct this horrible blunder and
yet shield Maisie from the knowledge
of it.
his conscience smote him sorely as
he remembered his share in their fire.
quent MISUNDERSTANDING his MANY de-
llnuuencies, his half-hearted apologies
AND suddenly catching a passing car.
Jack went home even faster than he
had gone away.
When he softly opened the door of
their little sitting-room the scene of
dire confusion that met his eyes spoke
eloquently of Maisie's energetic prep-
arations to shake off the dust of Wash
lngton and return to her Western
home
open trunks, bags and boxes were
standing all about the room. their con-
tents piled in every conceivable place.
While over by the mantelpiece her back
TO the door, and half concealed by a
huge arm chair, stood little Maisie her
SELF, pressing something to her breast,
and sobbing as if her heart would
break.
Jack approached somewhat awk-
wardly, but she did not hear him. and
he saw that the object she held against
her heart was ridiculous little picture
or himself. taken at the seaside a day
or two after they were married.
suddenly Maisie looked up, saw him,
and with faint exclamation of dis
may tried to hide the picture in the
folds of her gown. The next moment
she was sobbing in his arms, and Jacks
own eyes were wet with tears
A half hour later a brilliant idea oc-
Cured to this astute young man. which
he craftily proceeded to put into instant
execution.
"Maisie, dearest" he began tenderly,
''now that everything is Strengthened
out, and we are happy once more, let's
begin all over again. Let's blot out
this wretched year; have another mar
riage ceremony and start out again on
the journey of life. We won't tell any
body and it will only be just to give us
a good start again." Jack concluded,
rather lamely, suspecting that his
speech was somewhat of failure after
ALL
20, Jack" cried Maisie in distress, 81
couldn't Whatever made you think Of
such a thing? You know I'd do any.
thing for your happiness, but-but-
that would seem as if-as if we hadn't
really been married at all the first time.
Let's make up our minds to be good
without doing anything queer"
In vain Jack argued, setting forth
the advantages of beginning all over
again, until, seeing that Maisie was
about to cry once more, he desisted,
and spent the rest of the day helping
to unpack the trunks and restore the
"household goods" to the rightful
places, rejoicing nightly in his re-
newed happiness, but no nearer the So
luton of his latest difficulty than he
had been at first.
At last Maisie dropped down for a
nap, exhausted by the labors and emo
tions of the day. and Jack had a little
time for serious thought.
How child-like Maisie looked, lying
there asleep on the big leather couch,
her soft hair falling over her flushed
face her pretty round little figure re-
laxed in profound slumber. A long
time he sat there, lost in thought deep
er, sweeter, more serious than he had
ever known before, but troubled, too,
for the burden was upon him t. set
right the unintentional wrong he had
wrought.
At last the thought of Ned Appleby
flashed upon him like an inspiration
why hadn't he thought of Ned sooner ?
People always told their troubles to old
Ned-who was not old at all-and he
always Strengthened matters out some
how.
And, of course, ''old Ned" used a lit
tie common sense, promptly investi-
gated the parsons" record, and found
that he was a clergyman after all,
though long since without a change,
and sore disgrace to his calling. Even
policeman may be mistaken some
times.
Out on The Heights" is charming
new home, where Jack Carlton
chatting dish suppers are the delight
and terror of Ills friends, and Mrs
Jacks chrysanthemums the pride of
her heart; where Maisie is fast learning
; to keep her temper and Jack has for.
gotten all about the club.-Indianapolis
sun.