The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-18

ling coming up. met Miss Barter go. ing down. Miss Barter explained that sne was expecting 1Ars. Bowling, and she had run up to inquire why Mrs. Bowling had not called to try on. Mrs. bowling, however. required further explanation from her husband. Thus MISS Barter became a source of ever increasing trouble to MT. Bowling.
 She was troublesome also to Mr. Crunden. When he came for a busi- ness talk with his architect and advis- CT, she would intercept him sometimes In the narrow passage.
 On, Mir Crunden, I am so delighted at your success. One likes the per- sons one respects to be great and famous. fou are Creosus now, aren't you, MT. Crunden--owning half the town! But don't forget humble friends. MT. Crunden. now that you are such great man. I can never forget you ana your kindness and chivalry 10 poor little me--and I'm proud and grateful. MT. Crunden. to think of yaur kindness"
 MT. Crunden grunted and his answers to these compliments were both short ana surly: he found Miss Barter's flat tering attentions very troublesome.
 But most of all was Miss Jessie troublesome to Jack Vincent.
 "ack, I came up to the cottage three evenings last week and you were never In. If you went out on purpose to avoid me. think it very mean of you. Yes, do. Jack. Here was sit ting alone. and pining to go to the theatre-and no one to take me. Ard you did as good as promise for Vast week. You did. Jack"
 Well, you know. Jessie, we are so busy just now; and after work really am so tired--that l should go to sleep at the theatre"
 "oh. I don't mind about the theatre Though you used to take me, Jack, whenever I asked you. I don't mind IT We only go for quiet walk"
 Jack In these days walked by himself very quietly and warily when he knew that there was a probability of meet ing Miss Barter. At the sight of her largely picturesque hat and severely trim waist, he had more than once lodged around a corner and run a It, tie way in true greyhound fashion. Miss Barter was the lady who had complimented him on looking like a greyhound.
 And with the thinness, Jack. you've grown so handsome--so thoroughbred too."
 Miss Jessie was always lavish of compartments, put JACK now extracted rom her soft words no more gratiffca- tion than had MT. Crunden. He, with MT. Crunden and Mr. Bowling, found her most troublesome.
 The fact was that. so far as Jack was concerned. Jessie was necessarily troublesome. Jack had pIace-a large place--in her future plans. It seemed to Jessie obvious that although Jack might sttll look an aristocrat. he fo tY1y AA Medford upheaval had swept away all those social barriers which once had separated them; socially they stood now side by side on the same level: :: and no ose could think it strange if they linked hands and walked on side by side forever. So it seemed to Jes- sic. Her only doubt was, would such lifelong union be the best thing for her? She was quite sure 1t would be the best thing for Jack-although he might not at first believe this: she was fond of Jack and wished him we'll; finally, after careful consideration ex- tending over two or three years. she made up her mind as to the future of Jack and herself Henceforth, in all that she said. she was trying to bring Jack kround to her way of thinking; to entangle him in such a thougbtmaze that he should eventually think that what she wished him to think was that he himself had thought originally
 She used to speak with emotion of the dear old past when they were first drawn to one another-omitting, of course, all reference to the drawing power of such ugly magnets as the White Hart bar and it's high stools, etc.
 Those were the happy times. Jack when we had nothing to worry us And why shouldn't such times come againT
 .oh," said Jack cheerfully. ~the times aren't bad now, as times go."
 T know you liked me-" said Jessie, with much feeling. almost directly. More by your eyes than by what you said. l believe girl can tell a good deal better by a mans eyes than his lips. And then I tested you. Jack, didn't I? And you came forward so nobly-proving it by giving me all that capital
 ''oh. don't go back to that. Jessie. You were quite welcome to it. I only wish you had done better with your business"
 If 1t had heen the success I hoped. you should have had your share Jack. Yes. you should. I'd have paid you good percentage out of all3 profits But that odious woman had swindled me-yes, robbed me of all you trusted to me-
 All right, Jessie; if the money is gone. it isn't worth talking about and I'm sorry l can't offer you any more"
 It became apparent to Jessie. after many conversations, that little was to be done with Jack by appeals to senti- ment rather than to reason. His thoughts had become so prosaic that the poetry of life could not entangle them: Instead of turning and twisting bewildered in her maze. they broke fence and got out the nearest way.
 Finally. therefore, she talked to Mir Vincent in thoroughly practical and businesslike manner
 Jack, I'm sick to death of Medford, I'm not doing any good here-and the longer I stay I do believe the worse if will be''