The Prescott daily news., 1907-12-09

Like the decent old sort you are, make it right for me with the girl, and for ever earn the gratitude of, Your affec- donate nephew. Jack Owen.
 "P S-I don't know that wouldn't do it again if got the chance"
 folded the letter and sat in my armchair. staring savagely at the fire. Here had got myself into no end of a mess. and most probably lost two good friends, at least. not to mention making myself utterly ridiculous, over this confounded business, and all the time might have guessed who was the real offender. I wished now that had waited before casting suspicious upon the hospitable captain and the influential MT. Porter, both of whom would doubtless cut me dead in the future. But, alas! when a man is in my condition. he Suddenly an idea occurred to me.
 Miss Mainwaring was at home. made my way up to the dainty blue and white shrine in which Kitty re- ceived her most devoted worshippers.
 Ah." she exclaimed, running to meet me. "I am glad you have come,"
 Not more so than am." replied pressing her hand warmly.
 Oh. heaps!" she said gaily. "I am just dying to hear the news. Have you discovered anything?"
 "l have" said l, taking a seat by the teatable. ''I have discovered ev. erything."
 She clapped her hands delightedly. You dear old thing!" she cried. T knew you would. Who was it?" Tt was that misguided nephew of mine" l announced gloomily.
 For a moment I thought she was going to get up and dance round the room. Then suddenly she became grave, and the light died out of her eyes.
 "Oh!" she remarked, fit was Jack. was it?"
 "Yes, said 1. fit was Jack"
 She poured out cup of tea and passed 1t to me. keeping her eyes fixed on the tea-cosy the while Sn we toiheu doOut other matters until 1t was time for me to go.
 Good bye" she said: land thank you for taking so much trouble"
 Tt was no trouble" I assured her. one must do the polite thing, you know, at any cost.
 "I can only hope" continued that in time you will be able to forgive my nephew for such an act of gross i'm pertinence"
 An. yes!" she answered warmly. "T thlnk-yes, l am really very glad it was Jack"
 'Oh!" I calculated sharply.
 Rather than one of the others" she concluded hastily.
 ".
 1 wandered disconsolately in a less. frequented part of the avenue tryinx to think things out It was now close upon month since my last tete-a-tete With Kitty. and during that time I had never once been able to catch her alone. Indeed. on most of the occa. sions when l called she was out. a piece Of bad luck had not hitherto been accustomed to; and when I did ind her in. she was either surrounded oy friends, or engaged in elaborate sewing operations which necessitated the constant attendance of her maid. Once or twice. too. caught sight of Master Jack in town, when by the calendar he ought to have been pursu- ing his studies; and the circumstance. coupled with his obvious anxiety to avoid me. filled my mind with vague foreboding
 What the deuce does it mean?" I asked myself, as I strode along with eyes thoughtfully bent upon the ground. regardless alike of passers.by and the people who would have passed by had l not collided with them.
 cannoned off an eminent dignitarv or the church, and ran full tilt against smartly dressed couple who were lodging round the episcopal back q could only see the billowy edging of dainty skirt-and what not-above a stlil daintier ankle, and the bottoms of pair of immediately creased trou. sers) My murmured apology was cut excessively short as I raised my hat and my. .eyes at the same time. It was Jack and Kitty, looking very spic and span. and no little pleased with them selves.
 "Eh? What" gasped, taken some. what aback
 kitty's smile was as the wine of oporto in its intoxicating sweetness.
 Oh, she cried, it is MT. Walker!"