Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-04-05
BERTHE AND
JINKS
By JOHN woRNE
,copyrIsA,, 1905, By Joseph D. Bowiss.)

| Aou hio " umonSSheoo, ~ss
Berthe, sadly.
Unreasonable" echoed Eva. dc
you think I didn't see you touch her
hand as you were turning over the
music for her yesterday"
Her" was Lady Daren (nee More
ham). who had Joined the house party
at Sir John Wardlaw's place the day
before.
who was the absurd ass who said
that Love was blind?" muttered BERTHE.
Love has the eyes Of q MICROSCOPIC
"And-and you were whispering to
gether the whole evening"" Eva went
on. holly.
But she's married." said BERTHE,
with q mild protest Of long-suffering
innocence. "And such Q pretty cir"
he added, In further self-defense.
"You think" continued Eva, waxing
furious, that because you are-were
engaged to me you can fiirt out
rageously with everybody In the
housed"
Berthe turned away and gazed over
the peaceful country smiling under the
er-breakfast sun.
well, ! suppose II you look at It In
that way there's nothing for II but to
say goodbye forever"
Il will never see you again!"
II shall 60 away at once" he re-
,nIla1 Ia mani fAua tha hnnaa
but stopped after q few steps. by
the way" ne said, don't mention this
to anybody till l am well out Of the
country, will you? I hate fuss and
congratulations and that sort OF
thing" He paused. "And afterwards
you may lay the whole blame on me.
Say It was I who-er-jilted you. !
can bear It."
Eva went to her room and watched
BERTHE drive away In the dogcart to
the station amidst universal lamenta-
ton. Lady Daren was particularly
sorry. Eva knew she would be and
was glad.
Then she turned her thoughts to
the things to be worn for the picnic.
They we're going about six miles
UP the river and the feet consisted Of
five or six boats. Many Of the party
had O distinct idea which boat they
wanted to 60 In. Eva didn't care In
the least. She even volunteered to
60 In the boat containing hampers and
rowed by the hired boatman. Enid
Stafford thought 1t 30 sweet OF her
till Lord Bobby Dalmainham declared
that he would sacrifice himself, too.
And SO It was arranged. Eva and
Lord Bobby settled themselves COM
In the stern. Where is the
said Lord Bobby. The
man who was helping the party OF
(being himself master boatman from
the neighboring town. looked round
and whistled.
"I'm giving you q most reliable
man, my lord. Jinks!" he shouted.
links came slowly around the corner
Of shed, touching his cap. He was
q boatman to inspire confidence. His
beard. bronze face and rolling
gait spoke the hardened mariner and
his nose was most remarkably berry.
He was supplied at great expense and
The man pushed them of. links
spat on his gloves and begaL rowing
but without great pace.
Lord Bobby after time thought
he might as we'll be friendly. He was
how people Of this class liked
to be spoken to. but began genially:
"And where do you come from, my
MANI"
links paused q moment and seemed
to be engaged In thought. Then he
said slowly: "Soomta-aimes one pla-
ace, soomta-aimes another; It depends
mostly whur Aw wur la-ast."
"Ah," said Lord Bobby, taking that
in carefully, II see. And that fellow"
he muttered under his breath to Eva,
probably has q VOTE"
when Aw wur young" said links.
''folks did sa-ay as 1t wur rude to
whisper"
Lord Bobby turned sharply. Mind
your own business!"
They had proceeded In silence for
some time when he said casually: ANY
idea why BERTHE had to cut in such q
hurry? There's probably heaps Of
things l could tell you about BERTHE
that you've never heard" links leaned
further forward than was necessary
for driving the boat on.
Probably" said Eva, dryly.
Il can assure you he's had q most
career. Did he ever tell
you about that"
Jaw read 4 tn Scripture" said
links, solemnly, that tn backboiter
COON to q bad end"
Lord Bobby looked at the man with
"Confound you internal" he be-
gan, but the eye of links fixed him
and the nose Of links fascinated him.
AWE bin 4 loove mesel'," said links,
'an' Awe soofered from 'em. Aw
knaw, Aw do"
Suffered from what? asked Eva,
alphabetically.
"Backboiters an slanderers an free
thinkers an SIGH lolke."