Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-21
WALKING A
CHALK LINE.
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| shc was appointed manager OF the
household or n widower with two sons
Before entering on her duties he said
10 her.
at Is to be expected that both my
boys Will fall In love with4you. Mel.
ther has cent In The world except
What | give him. 1t behoovcs you,
therefore, IL you are to retain your
position 10 walk IL chalk line DO you
understand?
II do"
Six months later the younger boy,
Alex. said to her:
you are trinlng!'
thrilling with whom?"
"AIe."
Jnquellne laughed.
Yesterday you were very sweet to
me; this morning saw you sitting In
the window seat with Tom. and 1t
looked to me us If he were holding
your hand''
Il love your brother"
"lon confess IT."
Yes. and love you. too, Alex. DO
we not mike one family? Since came
In here as housckeeper, after your
mothers death, l have s;riven TO make
your home as happy as possible. You
ana Tom, instead of thwarting me by
making love to me. should treat me
with proper reserve. You must re.
member that, living under the game
roof with two such susceptible boys,
must walk chalk line"
Il nm willing you should 10 so pro-
rided you walk that line with me-"
with you? And what would you
have me do with Tomy"
"Oh, Tom is not rs much in love as
am. He'll get over It,"
Come, come, cease this aiisur,ii,y. /
am three years your senior and am
Just Toms age. Ey this silly contest
you'll spoil everything"
We'll, If you Insist upon walking n
chalk line. rs you cali 1t. you'll find
you'll have 10 walk It with some one.
and 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 Jaquelne, since
when they had been growing In en-
NIFTY. The two were spelling for n
fight. Tom opened fire.
You have been spooulng with Jauuc-
line"
Suppose have. What's that to
you!"
"Oh. nothing. IL JaQueline cares for
the attention Of mere boy scarcely
out OF his teens
Huh. you are not SO old as she your
selfr'
Il am but ten days her junior. Her
birthday comes on the 18th. mine on
the 2ith. Besides, am past twenty
one and man. You are still boy"
Alex conld not brook his brothers
superior manner. Alexis age. or rath-
or, his youth, was sore point with
him. and Toms holding it up before
him was Ike shaking red rag before
n mad bull.
II wish you TO understand." lie said,
that ain old enough TO know my
own mind, and, take warning. ] will
have no more Interference from YOU"
You should consider the position in
which Jaquellne is placed. Jaoucline,
YOU know, in this household admired.
! admit, by me and beset by you. must
wall; n chalk
$50 she has been talking about that
chalk line TO you, has she? l told her
that II she must walk II l am the only
man she shall walk 1t with"
You moan the only boy. Women
don't need TO wall, chalk lines with
boys"
"Ill tell you what I'll do with YOU"
said Alex. glancing at his brother.
"I'll fight you over chalk line"
DO you suppose / would strike my
little brothcr:"
This was pure bluff. for Tom was
but five feet five and slender, while
Alex was five feet ten and muscular.
THE reason proposed to fight you
over II line snecred Alex. is to give
you chance to get out of the way.
You would have the advantage of my
not being able TO follow you up
Alex ran OF for piece of chalk,
which he found in the billiard room.
and. coming bacl; with 1t, removing the
rugs, drew a straight line on the floor;
then, taking position. lie dared his
brother TO stand up and face him.
Tom was loath TO do so, both fearing
to have Jaquellne catch him In so I'M
dignified q position as fisticufrs with
her youthful lover and knowing thnt
Alex was the better man. However,
after Alex had sncered at him, called
him coward and threatened. to trouncc
him anyway II he didn't stand up and
hsht ike a man he concluded to give
the boy q chance to work of his wrath.
So taking position OH one side of the