The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-09
DAVID and JONATHAN.

1t was remarked by their respective
nurses that nothing was more touching
than the devotion of the baby, David
Smith, to the baby, Jonathan Brown. If
David possessed a cake or a new toy it
was his great delight to lay it at Jona-
than's feet. Jonathan accepted these
attentions, though with some haughti-
ness, and did not return htem. He once
gave David a button, but after think
ing the matter over for about a week,
decided to ask for it back again-and
got it.
AS boys at a private school, David s
devotion to Jonathan continued. David
was the more studious of the two and
was able to assist Jonathan in his
work. David was perfectly honest, but
during examination time he placed
the sheet of correct information on
English history which he had just writ
ten in such a position that Jonathan,
employed on the same paper, found it
useful for purposes of reference. Their
master said candidly that Jonathan
had done far better in English history
than had been expected.
At their public school David contin-
ued his friendly care for Jonathan. He
would take without a murmur punish
ments that should have properly come
to Jonathan. He lent jonathan mon
ey. He exhorted Jonathan not to smoke
cigarettes because, as he very justly
observed. it was not right. l am not
certain that Jonathan was any more
grateful now than he had been in the
days of their babyhood. but he had at
any rate now learned the propriety of
expressing the gratitude which he did
not feel.
You are a good chap, David he
said. you've got me out of no end
of a lot of messes-'
The two young men went up to OK
ford to the same college. David had
scholarship, Jonathan had none. David
habitually spoke of Jonathan as a re-
marka bly, brilliant man until other peO-
pie as nearly as possible believed it.
David lent him a little more money.
David took him back to his rooms,
thereby avoiding catastrophe at a time
when owing to much wine Jonathan S
legs had refused their office and he had
expressed a wish to call on the master
to invite him to take part in the Cali
fornian game of draw poker" There
is not the least doubt that Jonathan
owed much to David, and the natural
result was that David was more attach
ed to Jonathan that Jonathan was to
David.
Then a tragedy happened. Jonathan
Brown announced that in the beautiful
words of the Morning Post" a mar
shortly take place between himself
and Miss Bertha F'rieze. Now Miss
Bertha Frieze was the third daughter
of a local tobacconist. For some time
past undergraduates generally had
considered that not to have kissed
Bertha Frieze was to have deliberately
neglected the goods that the gods had
provided. She was large and plump
and comedy, was excessively common,
and would have sooner fiirted with an
archbishop than not have f1irted at all.
Whenever Jonathan went into the shop
he found some young man OF other
leaning over the counter in earnest con-
versation with Bertha. Bertha always
explained that the young man had call
ed to congratulate her on her engage
ment.
In rage and despair and an express
train Jonathan's papa and mamma bur
rible mesa1liance must be prevented For
three days Jonathan's papa beloved as
if he had been a bull of Bashans He
and at Bertha, who was distinctly i'm
pertinent, and at his son, who was very
superior, and said tfat his father was
and it would make no difference. His
mother wept and pleaded, and it was all
said to her husband Il shall go around
and see that very nice young man, Da-
a friend of Jonathan's"
She saw David. She reminded him of
all that he had done for Jonathan in the
past and assured him that Jonathan was
not ungrat eful. The time had now come
when David had a chance to render a SER
vice far greater. She and her husband
had done what they could, but neither
persuasions nor threats nor the most lib
eraI promises to old F'rieze and his daugh-
ter, Bertha, had been of any effect. Could
Mr.. Smith help them? Could he do any
thing to save his friend from n lifetime
of misery2 Mrs. Brown" said Smith.
you may depend upon me. I will do my
best. If the thing can be done it shall be
DONE He then went out to buy two
ounces of Latakla at F'rieze's little shop.
1t took a good deal of doing and much
hattery and many presents. But David
was a better looking man than Jonathan
and had more money The time arrived
at last when all Oxford knew that Bcr-
tina F-rieze had deliberately thrown over
Jonathan Brown and engaged herself to
David Smith.
Jonathan's father AMI mother were ex-
tremely grateful to David. Jonathan went
to look for David with 4 revolver, and
luckily did not find him. After his first
burst of fury he contented himself with
a sarcastic letter, in which he told David
that their acquaintance was 3r an end.
Years have wonderfully softening effect
and If Jonathan meets David in the street
now he is perfectly civil. But Jonathan
never goes to Dayid's house because. as
he very properly points out, Davids wife
is quite impossible woman.-Barry Pain
in the Sphere.
Everybody reads the State Journal.