Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-01-06

have. The others-ahl they Will
desert then. But you won't2" she end
ed, half positive, half questioning.
"Muriel," l said, just bit brokenly.
try as l would not to, "all my life l
Shall be your friend, ever at your SER
vice to do what you will. Your mar
riage will make no difference Ia sur
friendship finished, quite grayely-
"Will itT' l asked in trembling tones.
No, indeed" she said honestly.
Jacks dear. l have told him about
you; he wants to know you; he's up
stairs; shall l bring him down2"
NO." | said, IF you don't mind
welI postpone that. I'm just In town
for an hour, and l must rush In a
moment to catch my train 1t gees at
| five"
"Ohl I'm sorry; can't you stay with
us for a time at least; you can chum
with Jack"
II fear not"
could not explain. wanted only
to sob. She talked about Jack as a
woman can talk only about the man
she loves. To be that man-but I
scarcely heard.
I'm sure you'll like him." she con.
cluded.
Yes" said 1, bat though he were
the prince of men l could not
When I'm married." she said, tim
idly almost, you must come and spend
a month with u.s."
Yes" said l.
How could 1? How could l not7
Then suddenly the clock began to
chime-one, twe three, four, five.
oh! you've missed your train" she
said.
There was no train" l said-heav-
en- forgive me.
Then you don't want to meet him?"
she asked, all sad
II could not yet. Good-by!" | said
quickly and | took her hand and kiss
ed 1t gently, very, very gently.
She drew back half frightened.
"Oh! Jarvis, how could your
How could l not?" said brokenly;
but, Muriel dear, l shall be your
friend always-always. l pledge you
Godspeed for your future You shall
be my guardian angel, ever guiding me
In spirit, and for you-will ever do
all that one man may do for the wom-
an he loves beyond all the great prizes
of the earth-the woman he loves, but
may not have. Forget me, forget that
l loved you, because it is my sorrow
deep down in my heart that was not
strong enough to be strong"
Forget you!" she said, and there
were tears in her eyes. Forget my
Jarvis, my best friend, the best friend
woman ever had, faithful, honest
strong, true, always unselfsh-forget
my Jarvis" and she leaned forward
and kissed me on the forehead
All! the touch of her lips, that subtle
aroma of good woman, dainty, frag-
lie, innocent, rose, soft perfumed-
All! Tantalus!
AS | walked away l looked back and
saw the tears sparkling in her eyes.
And the memory Of her was so strong
upon me that l bowed my head and
sobbed and sobbed
The great novel Is still unwritten.
though my hair is streaked with gray,
Muriel is still dainty, fragile innocent,
and Jack is a splendid man. | see
them both good deal, and Muriel still
calls me dear Jarvis.
l have given up smoking and | have
not been to the theater for many
day, but at least little MupieI and lit
tie Jarvis have all manner of wonder
full toys and love their Uncle Jarvis.
They climb on my knee and ask mo
to tell them of my wonderful palace
across the sea- And l tell them of the
Riviera with blue skies. blue seas, the
green grass, the gold of the sunshine,
the song of the birds, the soft tremolo
of a mandolin, my villa with lady
dainty, fragile. innocent brilliant,
rose soft perfumed, splendid, leaning
over my shoulder reading Uncle Jarvis
great novel. All! the Tantalus of thu
Fire.-R. G. NJ, in Illustrated Bits.