Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-09-10
Breaking 1t Gently
MISUNDERSTANDING

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GP HE messenger boy waited while
Jack Powers wrote his answer
to Her note She might have
telephoned, but it was Her way to
send messengers with her missives.
Very well, Kathleen" wrote Jack.
"I'll be there. You say for the last
time | wonder why?"
He sent a boy with this note and
an order on florist for a box of vio-
let's, as the messages accompaniment,
and then he turned to his work again.
But his eyes failed TO do more than
stare at the figures before him. His
brain could not grasp their meaning
Kathleen's face persisted in dancing
about the inkwell, in a two-step that
played havoc with Business.
I'm a beastly cad" cogitated Jack
land that's what But it must be
done. For the last time, she said
Perhaps she's heard. 1t would help
things a lot If she had"
He looked meditatively at q photo
graph which he tished from q dark
pigeonhole in his desk.
She's a mighty nice little thing"
he said to himself, but"
And then he took another photo
graph from an inner pocket of his coat
and kissed it tenderly.
"Violetsr' Kathleen buried her nez
retrousse in the purple fragrance and
shifted with satisfaction.
Jack always sends violets," she
said, to no one in particular, though
her maid sat near by sewing some
lace on the dinner frock her mistress
had bade her lay out for her to wear.
Kathleen looked gloomily upon a tall
vase of long stemmed American Beau
ties that stood on the table.
That's the difference in men. Law
renee sends big Beauties. because they
cost money, and Jack sends violets be-
cause they're my favorite flower. Poor
Jack! How can l break his heart
for | suppose 1t will. You say for the
last time. l wonder why? Heigho!
We must take our medicine, Marie.
Because I prefer millions to love In a
cottage-that's why. Hurry with the
waist, Marie; must not be late at my
last dinner with Jack"
mo, l didn't think we needed
chaperon to night, Jack"
why not tonight"
Because, we'll"
"Tife is too short to quarrel,
Life is too short to sigh
"I'n tell you by and by, Jack-after
the fish, perhaps"
II, too. have something to tell you,
Kathleen"
For the space Of ten minutes, while
the garcon placed the soup before
them, Jack felt uncomfortable Every
body hates to attack q disagreeable
duty. When the duty involves a pretty
woman, 1t is doubly distasteful. How
ever, he, took a surreptitious peep at
the photograph in his breast pocket,
and 1t nerved him to his task. Never
theless, there was no hurry about 1t.
Isn't it absurd, Jack, to say that
love makes the world go round?" asked
Kathleen.
In her diplomatic, feminine way she
had wished to lead up to the subject
she had come to discuss.
"Of course 1t Is" he answered,
"when champagne-if one has enough
of twill do the same thing"
"Salmon-Oh, Jack, do you remem-
Der how we trolled for salmon at Del
Monte last summer
Did he remember? He had to pat
the photograph In his pocket to for
get
II read the other day." Kathleen was
saying, that a girl who couldn't make
up her mind between two lovers hasn't
a mind worth making up"
She looked at him from the corners
of her eyes.
Jacks face lighted up. She knew,
then, and that was the meaning of her
desire for a farewell dinner. How
easy II would be now to explain.
But Kathleen was not waiting for
an answer.
They say there's no skill in winning
! . game where one holds all the trumps.