Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-21
ALL FOR THE
SAKE OF JACK
BY wIcHTMAN F. MELTON

1 'Oh ten years jackson stewart had
been faithful in his devotions To
Amelia Conklin. Their love affair be-
gan when he was clerk in a grocery
store, and she just home from school,
and continued through the coming and
the going of the seasons, and for SO
long that before the courtship ended he
was an official in the bank, and the sly
est little wrinkles on her temples were
gossiping of what might come after
awhile
All this time Miss Conklin was known
to the romantic element of the village
as Jacks girl, and, although she was
decidedly the prettiest and richest young
woman in the place, the other young
men seemed to take 1t for granted that
she was "mortgaged property" like
wise, the girls behaved as il they be-
lieved Jack to be foreordained and elect
ed, from the foundation of the world, for
Amelia
When each matrimonial season rolled
around, the local paper gave out divers
and sundry intimations to the effect that
a popular and successful young business
man of the town would soon become a
benedict. The spinsters Of the COM
munity would put their heads together
and reach the conclusion that Jacks
time is come at last but 1t always
proved to be some other fellow.
At first it was thought that he was
waiting to get start in the world, but
after awhile it was generally known
that he owned one-fourth of the stock
of the bank, half interest in the oil mill,
pretty country place and one of the
handsomest residences in the town. A
question that required every Sunday
afternoon, as they were seen strolling
along some shady avenue. was: What
in the world can be the trouble?"
Gossips tried to think there was some
disagreement between the two but such
an idea was always given up in despair,
for Stewart had stated times to visit
Miss Conklin, and never failed to go;
besides, they were never seen together
that they were not both smiling and
apparently as happy as couple could be.
A sweet old maid, who lived next door,
was looked to for information; she said,
to friend: Jackson always leaves ex-
actly at IL o'clock, rain or shine" She
also told of how he often spent the en-
tire evening chatting with the whole
family.
Everybody knew that the Stewart and
Conklin families were on the most in
Innate terms, and that Jack always
spoke of Amelia just as If she had been
an angel, and that she made no secret
OF her admiration for his handsome face,
manly bearing, good nature and business
ability
The president of the bank, talking
with friend about 1t, said he believed
Mr.. Conklin thought as much of Jack
Stewart as it was possible for one man
to think of another, but that he be-
lieved him to be one Of those individ-s
uals who opposed his daughters mar
rying anyone.
Mr.. Conklin died seven years after
the courtship began, and everybody was
sure, was absolutely certain. that wed
ding would follow his demise, within a
year, at least but there was the usual
disappointment; 81 months had been
piled up on top of that seven years.
Jackson Stewart had married sis
ter, two years younger than himself;
one day an intimate friend approached
her on the subject, and all the satisfac-
tion she gave was Brother keeps all his
affairs to himself; his conduct seems
strange, l know, but time will furnish
the only explanation.
One Sunday afternoon, as the couple
passed the parsonage gate, the minis
ter's wife said to friend, who was Wis.
iting her: There goes the handsomest
couple | ever saw You would pick him
out as a man among a hundred, and
see how proudly she holds her head!
Hasn't she the loveliest big hazel eyes
in the world? Just look how she smiles
love up at him! She must be close to
% now. and ! understand he has been
visiting her nearly ten years; IL they
ever do make It, therell be fat fee for
the paraon.
The Visitor inquired about the mans
character and personal habits and was
informed that he was absolutely all
that q woman could desire; he was one
of, the main supports of the church:
the mayor of the town, and no one could
remember his ever having had any res,
ally bad habits, even when he was q
boy. Its just mystery" she declared,
as the couple passed from view around
a corner and silvery laugh rippled on
the twilight breeze.
At the Ivanhoe club one afternoon a
brand-new idea struck one of the men,
bers do you suppose they are en-
gaged?" The other members hooted at
the question. Said one: Il am sur
prfsed enough at n beautiful accom-