The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-07-26
A Good Time for Jenkins.


friends
Matrimony having whisked Harrows-
come off to the suburbs, he and Jen-
kins had seen little of each other in
the three years which followed.
Jenkins had paid his wedding call
and had been asked out to dinner, but
suburban time tables finally got in
their deadly work, so kit had been
many moons since he and the Har-
rowscomes had met in a social way.
Rushing into the bank just before
closing time the other day, Jenkins
ran full tilt into Harrowscome.
Why didn't you ever come round
and see us?" demanded the latter.
Can't you come tomorrow night
Well have regular good old time.
Grace has pretty girl visiting, and
we'll play whist. And you have never
seen my boy"
III come" said the innocent Jen-
kins, lured by the whist and the pref
ty girl. If there Is anything he likes
1t is good game of cards with con-
genial friends and decent cigar to
follow
Miss Barrett did not belle the Hepu-
tation given her. She was more than
pretty-she was charming Jenkins
knew it the minute he laid eyes on
her. And he was to face her across
the card table all the evening, beades
talking to her at dinner
1t was after the cigars were fin.
! % he
Now for the boy" Harrowscome
said, beaming 1--WE got a treat for
you, Jen, old man, You're to be al
lowed to come up to the nursery and
see him put to bed He's the greatest
fun"
"oh! certainly" said Jenkins, po-
litely.
Miss Barrett smiled sweetly and
said she would read till their return.
as the nursery was small and woud
not hold a crowd Jenkins reflected
that the ordeal would soon be over.
He surveyed the infant with the nerv-
GUS air of an amateur.
Whats your name?" he asked, his
face contorted by what he left to be
smile
"Oh. pshaw," broke in Harrows-
come, Indignantly Don't you know
anything at all? You'll be Offering
him cigar next"
Harrowscome junior objected to the
sleep producing process and howled
Justify.
Aren't his lungs great?" asked the
proud father
They seem all wool and a yard
wide" said Jenkins, with feeble mirth.
He was thinking about Miss Barrett
in the library below
"And muscle" began Harrowseome.
Sometimes he kicks when he gets
cross-maybe he will tonight. Do
you think he will tonight, Grace?"
"Will there be room?" asked Jen-
kins anxiously, with the hope that he
might escape downstairs, where the
attraction was.
''You needn't get nervous" said
Harrowscome. "I want to tell you
what he did the other day. If he isn't
the smartest kid in the world, tell
mel"
The story lasted is minutes. but
Harrowscome junior was finally tucked
into bed and jenkins arose with alac-
rity.
you go on down, Grace" said Har-
rowscome, senior. "Jenk and I'll stay
here till the boy is asleep. He always
wants his father to sit with him till
bye bye comes" explained Harrows-
come fatuously, to his now hopeless
friend.
1t was half an hour before the small
tyrant sunk into slumber. His father
put in the time rehearsing his feats.
Jenkins one timid inquiry as to Miss
Barrett's home and the length of her
visit at the house was totally unheard.
At last they went downstairs and
the load went off Jenkins mind. Miss
Barrett was still as beautiful as ever
and not whit less charming than
when he had torn away from her.
For 20 minutes there was peace and
happiness. Jenkins decided that her
eyelashes were longer than any he had
previously seen, when there was a
wall from upstairs.
The card game was stopped. Mrs.
1dIIOWScOue went up 10 investigate
the trouble, but Jenkins did not mind
that, because he could look at Hiss
Barrett with undivided attention and
deep admiration.
For about one minute-then the
hostess called Miss Barrett up to the
nursery.
In undisguised gloom Jenkins sulked
and listened to his hosts recital of
more Juvenile brilliancies for an in
terrninable time, till the two womex
returned Then jenkins rose.
You're not goingi" they cried.
''It's time for my last train" said
Jenkins, quite coldly. mo; I'm sorry,
but I can't wait any later. I've had a
delightful evening. assure you OH
yes. thank yor. I'll call again."
The only thing which saved him
from bitterly concluding the Harrows-
comes had wrecked the romance of his
life was the later discovery that Miss