Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-01
! ASerious Mistake
By ID. Newton Buneey
observation-disclosures


"Mor> than my life,' she replied,
passioIately.
AS in dream l gazed into the
beautiful eyes of Joan Ainslie, while
held her tightly in my arms.
We stood in the old garden which
surrounded the home of my love in
the little town of Errington. Joan
was an orphan, and, with the excep-
ton of an old servant, she lived alone.
She sometimes spoke Of her brother,
Jack Ainshe, who had long ago gone
to Oregon, and had never since been
heard Of. but otherwise she had no
living relative.
l met Joan at garden partly al
most directly after l went to live at
Errington, and at once I-fell in love
with her. Now, six months afterward,
l had asked her to marry me, and
her reply was still sounding, like the
music Of the fairies. inAmy ear.
ALLAN, have little confession to
make to you," said Joan, during the
evening. She nestled closer to me
ana hid her face against my shoulder
ae she spoke.
How terrible!" l cried. with a
laugh. Say on, and will consider
the case"
"You-you. are not the first man
whom promised to-" She paus.
ed. and her hands clutched nervously
at each other.
"Ha! Then there is another?" l
cried, in affected dramatic style.
Joan seemed glad that l was only
amused, and then told me that two
wears ago, when she was only eigh-
teen years Of age, she had agreed to
marry visitor from Philadelphia.
His name was Jack Carstairs, and he
loft Errington. promising to write to
her. This he did, but eventually went
TO South America since when Joan
had not heard anything from him.
And what was my rival like?" l
questioned.
oh, not your rival. DEAR" MUIR
-,mnred. II did not really love him; it
Wan but girlish infatuation, which
got over almost directly after Mr..
Carstairs left Errington.'
but what was he like?" repeated.
We'll. not quite SO tall as you, nor
10 good-looking. and he had a thick
beard. Ugh! I'm glad you haven't
beard, Allan Joan stopped and
blushed violently, and after little
While she made me understand why
she preferred clean-shaven faces.
Time went on, and Joan and lived
In the little earthly paradise that we
had constructed, until. as in olden
time. the serpent entered.
Although l had laughed away the
story Of Jack Carstairs. yet could
not get rid Of an absurd, jealous feel
Ing that chung to me. BY degrees 7
began to hate this man whom | had
never met, and whom thought 1
never should.
1t was one evening about nine
months after our engagement, that |
climbed into Joan's garden, over the
fence. in rev usual manner. for it
saved going round to the gate. Sud
denly l caught sight Of figure strid-
ing up the path. In establishment |
paused. and there came wild, jeal-
GUS tug at my heartstrings.
1t was Jack Carstairs!
There he was. Just as Joan had de-
scribed him. Slightly shorter than |
was. wearing a beard. and bronzed,
presumably by the warm sun of South
America.
The door was open. and, without
knocking, he deliberately entered.
From where stood could see Joan
through the open window. I saw her
spring to her feet as her visitor en-
tered, for moment they gazed at
each other uncertainty.
"Jack!'
Joan"
heard their voices distinctly, and
then-then they were clasped in each
othre's arms.
For a moment all became dark
around me, while great pain seemed
to tear my heart asunder. Again I
looked, and he was kissing her.
Then, with a smothered groan, I
burst from the garden and rushed
madly away, whittier knew not. nor
cared.
When returned to my senses, dark
ness had settled down over the land.
A little way ahead Of me through the
trees / could see the light in Joan's
house, and toward this point | hur.
ried. dull rage burning in me, and
red glare seeming to burn before
my eyes.
entered the garden, and then l
caught sight Of Joan standing alone
on the lawn. The rage within me
burst forth into relentless fury, and,
hsatening up to her | seized her
harshly by the arm.
$50 your lover has gomez" l almost
shouted.
She gazed at me in terror, and tried
to shrink away from me, but l held
her firmly.
This is how you show your love
for me, is it?" l said, hoarsely. MY
grip was tightening on her arms SC
that she WINGED with pain. but in my
blind rage saw nothing.
Then, as I looked into her beautiful
eyes, and thought of them gazing UP
at another as they gazed up at me
and thought of her red lips pressed
against his, my jealous rage became
80 strong that threw her from me
and turned and rushed into the dark
ness,
went at once to my rooms, pack
ed a small handbag, and. telling my
asndlady should not be back 70,