The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-10-18
t'TOM."
By PRESTON HALL

that huctuated wildly between hope
and despair.
had received no letters from home
for five weeks, and the last was a hasty
little scrawl from Nell hoping l would
soon return, but making no mention
of Eve. A man Of more sanguine ma
ture would have said that mo news
is good news" but my dark tempera-
ment foreboded the worst.
stopped day in New York, but
Tom, who did not expect me till three
days later, was not at the office. He
had "gone up the country" the head
clerk informed me.
"Gone to see Eve" said, savagely,
to myself.
That evening l took passage on the
little steamer that ran up to our vii
lage. 1t was lovely moonlight night
in early June, and the boat was crowd
ed. Among the passengers l noticed
tw, very pretty girls whom l knew
by sight as residents of our place, but
whose personal acquaintance had not
the pleasure of possessing.
l secured seat in the upper cabin
the decks were jammed-and soon be-
came aware that these two girls were
seated on deck just outside of the win
dow behind me. Now and then various
familiar names saluted me as they
chatted together. At last Eve Mallory
was mentioned, and you may be sure
pricked up my ears.
"He1 devotion TO that Tom Of hers
is just perfectly ridiculous" exclaimed
one sweet voice. "He goes everywhere
with her, and I've heard that she ac-
tually kisses him-before folks, too.
Considering that everybody knows how
she got him, should think that she'd
have little more delicacy."
"Kisses himw repeated the other in
gust. well! that's more than 1 could
stand"
1t was more than l could stand, too.
With muttered exclamation, which
l will not repeat here, rushed from
my seat, fearful Of hearing still more
dreadful developments, and spent the
remaining three hours till our arrival
in state bordering on frenzy. Eve
Mallory, my affianced wife, spoken of
publicly in connection with that Tom
of hersw So she was devoted to him."
was she? Was known--O horrors,-to
have kissed" him! To think of that,
when my utmost coaXing and blandish-
ments could never win the faintest
caress from those false lips.
o tickle, treacherous, perfidious Eve!
Because of you, in that mad hour, l
foreswore all faith in women forever
more.
The house was closed for the night
when l reached home, but mother came
down at my weIl-known knock
"How pale you are, my dear boy"
she said, looking at me sharply after
the first rapture of maternal welcome
was over. ''You look quite worn out,
l declare. l never saw you with such
a haggard face. Now shall make you
| take a good, long rest before I'll let
you 60 back to that horrid business
again."
l would not let her wake Nell, and
the next morning, when unexpectedly
came upon the dear girl in the hail. she
| almost tainted with delight. Well, at
any rate, was sure of their love. Her
first remarks were like mothers
| "How pale! How worm
NAYa GO al obo 81.
her breakfast, Il must run right over
| to Ewes with the news-or do you
wish to go?' and she turned to me.
NO" 1 said, briefly; 81 shall not 60"
Nell looked surprised, but she swung
| on her garden hat, and ran up the vii
lage street.
Have you seen Tom Burroughs
lately?" l asked mother.
Not for over a week." she replied.
mot for over week! If he had
been in the place yesterday, do you
think you would have known it,"
"Oh, yes" she answered, quietly.
"But the clerk told me he had gone
into the country, and where else do
you think he'd be?"
"Oh," said mother, smiling, "he IRE
quently goes up to Kingston; maybe he
is there now. am sure he is not in
our village, for he always comes here
for his first call"
"Ah!" thought I, 81 fancy Eve NAL
Iory could tell different story. So he
comes here, does he! 1 marvel at his
impudencew Then my thoughts turned
to business. OF course 1 could not re-
main in partnership with a man who
had become my deadly enemy, as /
now regarded Tom. / concluded to
write him letter explaining my views
in very plain language.
On my way to the postoffice, wnom
should I see coming toward me but
Tom. himself. A pleased smile lit up
his face as he recognized me.