El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-16
The Gem Of the Collection
The Herald's Daily
Short Story
Jask went out

she was perfectly we'll Jask went out
in a very bad temper
At lunch Chris appeared in her US
ual health and spirits Or was she
just in her usual spirits2 Jack won
dered, as he noticed that never once
did her eyes wander in his direction,
nor did she make a remark directly to
him. Surely it was his imagination!
All the afternoon she seemed to elude
him. People had driven over to tea as
the day had cleared. Jack fretted and
fumed- He was so desperately anxious
TO find Chris alone.
At last when the troublesome guests
had departed, he tracked Chris to the
library, whittier she had gone for a
book.
DO stop here for a little while" he
asked her drawing two chairs up to
the fire
ChristabeI hesitated. she did not wish
TO be alone with Jack. after the stamp
incident Still less did she wish him to
suspect that she cared anything about
I've got such a funny thing to tell
YOU" began Jack. Do you remember
that stamp We spoke Of two nights
ago
He broke off abruptly. for Chris had
ceased TO advance and was standing
beside a chair, while a burning blush
swept up to her very forehead Never
in her life had she blushed so painful
~, so much and so against her will
The maddest Of mad thoughts flashed
through Jacks brain Did Chris know
about the stamp? But how could she
know, unless He refused to go
farther. 1t was utterly absurd.
1t was such a queer thing. he said
hurriedly. 10 fill up the awkward pause
Il was Just going to get the stamp out
of my book to give it.
81 don't think 1 am really very
much interested in the adventures Of
this stamp" interrupted Chris, with
incredible rudeness. Her chin was tifl-
ed in the air; she looked at him with
chilling disdain- Jack was thoroughly
taken a back. What was the matter
with herr
So the sun went down upon their
wrath and rose upon il once more. But
there is unwritten law that a man may
not quarrel openly with his parents
guests nor a guest with the son OF her
hosts Therefore Jack was studlOusly
polite and attentive 10 Cnr1sIabel and
she was studiOusly amused and in
terested by all that he said and did.
Like many other sufferers those two
were fated TO be cured by a hair Of
the dog that bit them Chris return
ing her book 10 the library, saw the
fatal stamp book lying open on
desk where Jack had been busy with
it. With the true feminine desire to
inflict pain on herself. Chris turned
TO the page which the gem OF the col
lection had been wont TO adOrn. How
delightful to gaze on the empty space
and remember that the stamp was 10 b.
given to the girl he loved, and that il
had been given to Madgel
She turned the leaves and at the
sight of the gem" serenely sparkling
in its accustomed place, Chris was pet
rified as Jack had been Then, like a
flash, an explanation came to her She
sat down on Jacks chair ana laughed
softly to herself What a fool she had
been not TO suspect a trick of some
sort on Madges part.
But what must Jack think Of her own
conduct Alasl Jack was angry, and
she could never explain. Her laughter
died. and Chris become grave. At the
same moment she saw that Jack had
entered the room and was standing
looking at her. She got up in great
confusion.
4 beg your pardon" she said, I'm
afraid I was looking at your book"
drily.
Chris looked at him, and a smile
so She only borrowed it. after all"
Z am afraid don't understand"
said Jack; but he smiled. too.
You didn't give it to her" re-
marked Chris. looking up with such an
expression that Jack could
hold out no longer. He went straight
towards her.
There's some mystery about this
stamp" he said I don't know it is
and I don't want to know. But, Oh,
Chris, love you! Ny darling, come
to mer
He-opened his arms, and Chris slipped
n
"Oh. Jack, I've been so unhappy" she
And now. darling, viii you explain
-his mystery asked Jack, quite long
time afterwards
Il did not know Madge had only Dor
roWed the stamp" explained innocent
Christabel- Il thought You had Civ
en- 1t to her when she showed IT to
me. and, YOU see. you had said it was
Tor the girl YOU loved best, so what
could I think27
What Jack thought about Madge he
did not say There was no need Of
telling Chris that she had actually
stolen the stamp from his book and
mad never mentioned ii to him at all /
But tell me. dearest. that evening
I'D you not know I meant you?' he
asked, fitting her chin. ChristObePs.
blue eyes looked smilingly into his.
oh, a girl is never supposed TO
know anything like that till she is
.old.l she answered with little laugh,
and Jack caught her N his arms again. !
But she may have her suspicions2"
ne cried. You little monkey. believe
you knew perfectly well all the time"
RTTDOSO NOTES.