The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-19
WALKING A
CHALK LINE.

household of a widower with two sons.
Before entering on her duties he said
to her:
1T is to be expected that both my
boys will fall in love with you. Nei-
Their has a cent in the world except
what I give him. 1t behooves you.
therefore, if you are to retain your
position TO walk a chalk line. Do you
understand?
II do"
Six months later the younger boy,
Alex. said to her:
You are trifingr
''Triiing with whomT
"Me."
Jaqueline laughed
Yesterday you were very sweet to
me; this morning I saw you sitting IN
the window seat with Tom. and II
looked to me as il he were holding
your hand"
Il love your brother"
you confess ftY'
yes. and 1 love you, too, Alex. Dc
we not make one family? Since 1 came
in here as housekeeper, after your
mothers death, have striven to make
your home as happy as possible. You
and Tom, instead Of thwarting me by
making love to me, should treat me
with proper reserve. You must re-
member that, living under the same
roof with two such susceptible boys, I
must walk chalk line"
Il am willing you should do so pro-
vided you walk that line with me-"
with you? And what would you
have me do with Tom?''
ooh, Tom is not as much in love as
am. He'll get over it,
Come, come, cease this absurdity. l
am three years your senior and am
just Toms age. BY this silly contest
you'll spoil everything"
"Well. if you insist upon walking a
chalk line, as you call it, you'll find
you'll have to walk it with some one,
and l could never bear to see you walk
1t with any one but me-"
GO away and behave yourself"
Alex went away and instead of "'be-
having himself" went straight to Tom
They had been loving brothers until
the appearance of Jaqueline, since
when they had been growing in en-
nifty. The two were spelling for a
fight Tom opened fire.
You have been spooning with Jaque~
line"
Suppose I have. What's that to
you?"
"Oh, nothing, if Jaqueline cares for
OF nF
out Of his teens"
Huh. you are not SO old as she your
self!
II am but ten days her junior. Her
birthday comes on the 14th. mine on
the oath. Besides, am past twenty
one and a man. You are still boy"
Alex could not brook his brothers
superior manner. Alexis age or, rath-
er, his youth, was a sore point with
him, and Toms holding it up before
| him was Ike shaking a red rag before
| a mad bull.
81 wish you to understand" he said
that l am old enough to know my
own mind, and, take warning. I Will
have no more interference from you"
You should consider the position in
which Jaqueline is placed JaqueliEe
you know, in this household admired
1 admit, by me and beset by you, must
walk a chalk
$50 she has been talking about that
/ chalk line to you, has she? l told her
that if she must walk it I am the only
man she shall walk it with"
You mean the only boy. Women
don't need to walk chalk lines with
boys"
"Tll tell you what I'll do with you"
said Alex. glancing at his brother,
"I1l fight you over a chalk line
do you suppose I would strike my
little brother?'
This was pure bluff. for Tom was
but five feet five and slender while
Alex was five feet ten and muscular
The reason l proposed to fight you
over line" sneered Alex. sis to give
you a chance to get out of the way.
You would have the advantage Of my
not being able to follow you up"
Alex ran off for a piece of chalk,
which he found In the billiard room,
and, coming back with it, removing the
rugs, drew q straight line on the floor;
then, taking position, he dared his
brother to stand up and face him.
Tom was loath to do so, both fearing
to have Jaqueline catch him in so I'M
dignifed a position as fsticuffs with
her youthful lover and knowing that
Alex was the better Ian. However.
after Alex had sneered at him, called
him coward and threatened to trounce
him anyway if he didn't stand up and
fight like q man he concluded to give
the boy a chance to work of his wrath.
So, taking position on one side of the
line, he began TO parry the blows that
rained from the other While the two
young men were in the thickest of the
fray the portiere was suddenly drawn
back, and their father and Jaqueline
/ ST0O1 IL, 41o doorway amused oY-