Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-11-20
self upon her couch and sobbed her
very soul from her eyes.


You shall havc one Of mine to wear
for the time being"
Thanks. Ca,tIcjon. you're awful
lly good. ] meant TO drive over to
your lodgings. but couldn't find a
conveyance. and so walked. Doyou
know. | hardly felt the RAIN at all, for
l wa, burning to tell you some Won
derful news"
well, slip on this jacket and make
yourself comfortable, first of all
Dick Armstrong obeyed good hui
moredly, and assumed the lounge
coat which his chum extended to him.
Then. seating himself by the fire, he
stretched his legs toward the blaze
and said. slowly:
old chap, am engaged to be mar
ried."
Jack Castl,tou WINGED as the words
fell upon hi, ears, The news of the
engagement had already been con-
veyed TO him by Muricls letter, but
naturally he gave no sign of hnowl-
edge, but merely bowed his head and
said:
Indeed. You have my congratu-
Atious."
Thank YOU very much. old chap.
The lady who is to be my wifei, some
one whom | think YOU kuow-lliss
CarslaAe"
"Yo,. l know her very well, IN
deed"
Then YOU know the sweetest and
best woman on earth. | don't de-
serve her, Jack, | don't, indeed.
Such a gil a, Murie. might marry an
earl, duke. a prince, and yet confer
distinction rather than receive it.
When we are married. Jack. YOU must
come and see u very often. You'll
come, won't YOU. old chap
"I-I-ye,. that l.. Of course
I'll come"
His lips quiyered as he spoke, and,
to tell the truth. Jack Castleton was
undergoing an agonizing ordeal. His
nature was honesty itself, and 1t agi-
tated him beyond measure TO be COM
PEELED TO play a part and to allow his
best friend to 20 in ignorance Of the
genuine condition of affairs.
Dick continued to talk in happy
tones, speaking with all the joyous
ness Of a lover regarding the woman
he loved. When at length the clock
pointed to six he rose to take his
leave.
"Good-by, oldchap, he said, heart
lily. "Isupposc my wearing this jack
ct Of yours won't inconvenience
you?"
Not al all. Its .imly an old
lounge coat that ought to have
thrown away long ago
The Young men parted at the door
of Ca.tleton's lodgings, and Dick
slowly tramped away in the direction
Of the comfortable apartments which
he occupied at the Red Lion. Ar
rived at the inn he went straight to
his room, and, sitting down in a deep
chair, put his hand to his pocket me-
chanically in order to extract his ci-
gar case. In the excitement Of his
present mood he had completely
forgotten that he was wearing an
other mans coat. and, 10! instead of
thecigarcasc his fingers closed upon a
letter, He drewit forth, and before he
could realize that the communication
was not one of his own his amazed
eyes had fallen upon a handwriting
which be knew and loyed-the hand
writing of Muriel Carslake. Merci-
full heavens! 1t began with the
words: "My poor, dear Jack"
Dick Armstrong was an honorable
man, but for the life Of him he could
not refrain from reading every word
which the letter, found by accident in
his friends coat. contained. When
he had finished the perusal he read it
again, and then again, the truth
slowly sinking into his agonized
heart as the words penetrated his
brain.
Presently he rose and paced the
room, trying to think out the situa-
ton. So Muriel did not care for him
after all; her heart belonged to an
other, and she had promised to mar
~ him merely because she dreaded
life of poverty. Her love was cen
tered on his banking Accountant on
himself. 1t was a bitter awakening.