Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-07-20
MISSION OF CAPTAIN JlNKS

! CUSHIONS ana gdZeu Win DOfcu eyes Oh
the passersby. What day for rab-
bits" he thought, as he noticed the light
fall OF SNOW that was quickly being de-
filed by the muddy boots of pedestrians.
softly in the wind its purity was un-
marred save by the wild inhabitants of
the wood. a yearning came over him for
that great quiet, and for the first time
! he felt that she had shown him injustice.
| If she had only been content to remain in
/ the country; but-no, she had to return,
and drag him with her. For three long
| years he had sacrificed everything for her.
| His devotion had been that of dog.
| In his way he was immensely proud of
her, and in his heart there was a true af-
| lection which no one else could replace.
| Still was that any reason why he should
! be led around all of his life like an ire
| sponsible animal? This last summer had
taught him the meaning of freedom, had
! given him realization of his own
! strength, and in the awakening the blood
of his fighting ancestors. so long in abey-
ance to her caresses, cried aloud for ac-
! tiyity. Yet here in the city all that he
could do was to spend the time between
growls and yawns in the warm luxury
of the apartment.
Gradually the mind of Captain Jinks
recalled many little Incidents, and in his
morbid mood the more he thought of
them the moie injured he felt, until in
wave of self-pity he formed resolution
/ to leave. He you'd 90 back to The coun-
try, and if she really cared she would
/ follow and be content with his life Ii
not-as Captain Jinks thought of this al
tentative the future was more haZy. He
could not imagine life without Maid
Marion somewhere near Maid Marion
was the name by which she called her
self when they held those long conf
dences in the twilight, in which she had
told him about the other one As there
is always "the other one" in every wom-
ans life Tor if not she pretends there isl,
Captain Jinks was not troubled by ieal-
ousy. 1t was hard for the captain to re-
| linquish the mental companionship he had
| enjoyed with her, but he had made up his
mind with, the bulldog determination of
| which she had accused him to 90 undis
suaded by the thought of her caresses.
As he walked down the hall he paused
moment to listen to the sad little song
she was singing. Pushing open the door
of her room he entered. She was sitting
| before the mirror doing up her red gold
hair Captain links sat down on the floor
beside her, a favorite place of his. She
paused in her occupation, and taking his
| face in her hands she raised it so that
her grave eyes looked into his, and said
do you love me, boy?"
| His only answer was to kiss her finger
| tips. She released her hold and smoothed
his head with tender touch. The captain
knew that it was no use to try to make
her understand his purpose. He knew
that there was only one thing to do-go
and let his loss bring them into closer
| sympathy.
Now you have bothered me enough"
she said, and pushing him gently from
her, began to twist the heavy coils of
/ hair in place He waited moment in
! the doorway, but she was too intent on
her own reflection to notice him. Then,
with one last long look at his dear mis-
! tress, Captain links with dropping head
turned and walked away.
| As he stepped out into the snow he
looked up at the window to see if she
were there. but the curtains remained
discreetly closed, and with sense Of dis
appointment he went quickly down the
street and was soon lost to view in the
hurrying crowd
! Jack Hodgeman swung into a brisk gait
as he started ON his mornings constitu-
tional around the reservoir. At one time
/ lack had acquired a good deal of weight;
not nice, healthy, firm looking flesh. but
the tabhy, pallid kind, which makes fell
/ lows friends offer advice about total alb
stinence. Every one knew that it was a
hard blow for him when Miss Hargraves
broke the engagement. And some mutual
friends of the parties concerned said
rather unkind things about her when they
noticed a nice, healthy, wealthy young
man making a beast of himself. Sudden
/ ly. to the surprise of relatives and COM
rades, Jack took n brace and entered on
a frantic dissipation of work For three
years he kept at it with the help Of con-
stitutional cocktails and horizontal bar
highbals.
| As he stepped quickly along. the wind
] blowing keen on his face. the old sense
/ of loneliness returned TO him Sometimes
( it would hide away for months. and lust
as Jack was beginning to congratulate
/ himself ON its permanent departure it
would pounce back, and as if invigorated
by its long rest, torture him almost-to
drink. \ table set for one usually
played II prominent part in this mood;
maybe because he had always imagined
her pouring coffee for him in the morn.
ing. This morning the solitary service
stood out little more boldly than usual
lie frowned savagely in his effort to
think OF other things, and vaguely be-
came aware of some one following him.
Despite his rapid stride the steps behind
him kept in his wake with gentle in
sistence
finally he turned and saw poor.
Sinking, halt-starved creature keeping at
an apologize distance There was no
asking fer aims. no suggestion of liquor.
Just a pitiful appeal for companionship.
His coat was mud stained and down his
face was a line of duh dry brown which