Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-12-22
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: CHARLES ~ Love s
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and women who loved you.
The world went on very we'll without
Jack. and only two or three hearts
ached, really ached, at his absence
Len, honest Len, in his den in Spider
Court; Lady Bell in Park Lane; and
that other tender, loving, and tortured
heart in the old new house at Hurst.
Leonard often thought of that tender
heart, and sighed over it as he sighed
for Jack, 1t was still a mystery to
him, their separation; he knew that
Una was still at the Hurst, but that
was all No news of her ever reached
him. At times he ran across stephen
in London, and exchanged word or a
bow with him, and had noticed that
lie was looking better and sleeker, and
less pale-more fourishing in fact.
than he had done for some months
He, TOO had come to Spider Court,
and expressed profound grief at Jacks
disappearance. and had gone away
after wringing Leonard's hand sym
pathetically.
Leonard sat thinking over this far
more than was good to the work he
had in hand, when he heard the door
open, and half starting, said absently:
Nothing more wanted tonight, Mrs.
Brown"
But step, certainly not Mrs
Browns, crossed the room, and a
heavy hand was laid on his shoulder.
and looking up, he saw Jacks face
above him.
Jack" he exclaimed, clutching him
as if he expected to see him disap-
pear again. 1T is you, really you?
Great Heaven!"
There was reason for the exclama-
ton; for though it was Jack he was
so altered as to have rendered the de.
scription of him in the advertisements
quite useless. Thin. pale, careworn.
it was no more the old Jack than the
living skeleton is Daniel Lambert.
Great Heaven! Is it really you,
Jack?
Yes, it is I! what is left of me,
Len. You-you are looking well, old
man. And the old room; how CHEEKY
it seems
And he laughed-the shadow of the
old laugh-even more pitiable than
tears.
For Heavens sake be quiet; don't
speak just yet" said Len, with a
husky voice. "Sit down. You've
frightened me, Jack. Have you been
ill.,"
slightly" said Jack, with a smile.
And where have you been? Tell
me all about it-no, don't tell me any
thing yet
And he went to the cupboard, and
brought out the whisky, and mixed a
stiff glass.
Now, then. old man, where's the
cigars? here-here's light. Now then
no; take off your boots. I'll tell
Mrs. Brown to air the bed and get
your dressing-gown. And what about
supper?"
And with a suspicious moisture in
his eyes, Len turned from the room.
'Staunch as woman, tender as a
man." 1t was a wise saying whoever
wrote 1t.
Jack slipped his whisky and water,
and smoked his cigar, and pulled him
self together, which was just what
Len wanted to get him to do; and then
Len came back.
Now then, old man, out with It..
Where have you been?"
I've been to America" said Jack.
Don't ask me any particulars, Len;
wouldn't tell you much If you did. I've
been nearly out of my mind half the
time, and down with one of their
charming feyers the remainder. You
won't get enough information out of
me to write even a magazine article,
old man."
And he smiled, with faint attempt
at badinage.
Great Heaven" exclaimed Len,
again; "and-and is that all?"
That's all it amounts TO-, said Jack,
YEARLY. You want to know how
came back and why? Well ! can
scarcely tell why. | got so sick OF
trying to get knocked on the head. and
falling miserably, that got Disguised
with the country, weary Of wandering
about and resolved that it would be
better to come and give Levy Moss his
| revenge. He's still alive, | hope?"
And you got back?" said Len
i worked my passage over" said
Jack, CURLY. 4 was bad hand, and
caught cold on the top OF the last af-
] fair, and just managed to pull myself
together to reach London, and here |
am. Not very lucid, Len, is it? But
| there's no more to tell"
Leonard looked at him with infinite
pity, and mixed another glass Of
whisky.
/ whisky.
Poor old Jack, he murmured
And now It's your turn" said Jack
! lighting another cigar. Tell me all
the news. Len, about yourself first
How are Hetley. and Dalrymple, and