Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-06-12
q
Miss Jessie Day
from
Neu York.
ID

~ UeSIH Will, jim DuIlOu Was inc
most popular and capable boy in Bor-
den Academy last Fall, and it was this
very fact that made his fall from favo:
seem all the greater He was captain
of the football team, and undoubtedly
their best man, and consequently the
him, for it was decidedly biting of
their own noses; but what could they
do? For weeks Jim had practiced ball
every day, keeping in better training
than any of the others, and then sud
denly, with no warning whatever, he
had apparently lost all interest in his
team, calmly stopped practice, and here
was the biggest game of the season
coming off in three weeks. What
made it still more exasperating was
the fact that his actions were so mys-
FERROUS, and try as they would 1t
seemed impossible to account for them.
One morning, however, Dick Brown
bounced into the study.
"Fellers," he cried triumphantly. 81
have it, Do you want to know what's
the matter with Jim Dutton?'
You bet!" was the instant chorus.
Dick made himself the centre of an
interested group and proceeded to d.
yulge his secret.
"Well," said he, "Jim is calling
three nights a week on my cousin
Estelle, and writing silly poems to
her the other four. | went over to
see Estelle to-day, and she let it all
out"
"Jingo!" cried Harry Todd. ITO
think of Jim Dutton being so silly.
Hope he gets over it, though, because
IL he doesn't we lose our game"
Get over it," said Dick, fairly pur-
pie with excitement, Il guess not.
Why, Estelle said that her friend Miss
Day, was coming from New York next
week, and that she was going to ask
Jim to meet her. OF course, he will
be so excited that we couldn't hire him
TO even think of football"
There was a pause after this piece
of news, and then Dicky continued:
Boys" he said, 81 have a scheme. /
think it's up to US to play some trick
on Jim after the mean way he's treat
ed us and see what you think of this:
To begin with, we'll have to let Es-
telle into the secret; but for a girl
she's pretty good one, and maybe
she'll help u.s. II she won't why, we
are no worse off than before Now,
Miss Day is expected next week, and
we must get Estelle to write and ask
Jim over to see her." And then there
was a long consultation in low tones.
The boys received the idea with
wild enthusiasm, and Dick was ap-
pointed a committee of one to call on
Estelle and see If he could persuade
her to side with them. He was gone
an hour, ami then came back radiant,
success written all over his beaming
face.
"Fellers," he cried, "Estelle's q
peach. She's going to write to Jim
this very night"
The next morning on his way down
the hall Dick passed Jim's half-open
door. Jim looked very important.
"Say," he said, 81 Just got a letter
from your cousin. asking me to come
see her friend, Jessie Day. I'm going
"Wednesday"
1T seems to me you waste lot of
time on the girls" said Dick careless
ly as he sauntered off. whistling.
Wednesday evening came at last and
the moment dinner was over the boys
stole over to Estelles house. Miss
Day" was respondent in a pale blue
dress and high-heeled slippers She
had light curly hair with coquettish
bow on the side, and l regret to say,
her cheeks looked as If they had been
touched up with rouge.
The boys hid in a little room of
the parlor, fully prepared to enjoy the
evenings entertainment.
In the meantime poor unsuspecting
Jim was struggling with his toilet,
wishing TO make as deep an impress
sion as possible upon Miss Day from
New York" He brushed his hair about
fifty times, took three-quarters of an
hour tying his necktie. and spent at
least half an hour polishing his shoes.
81 think I'll do" said Jim to himself,
with a farewell glance at the glass
Five minutes later Estelle greeted
him cordially, and Jessie" followed
her into the parlor. Gee, she's a
pretty girl" said Jim to himself. af-
ter bounding up with his best bow.
$50 glad to meet you." said Miss Day
In such a sweet voice. "Estelle has
told me very often about your school,
and I think it must be simply fine"
Just at that moment Estelle was
seized with a violent fit Of coughing,
and left the room for glass of water.
She failed to return, and after wait
Eng expectantly for a minute or two,
Jessie Day and Jim sat down. Jessie
talked of football, and asked so many
questions that Jim before he knew it
felt al of his old interest return, and