The Madison journal., 1915-06-19
PETER, THE PESSIMlST
BY MISS iDALINE WILLIAMS.

"Hearts-crush them! Love-tear
it up by the roots! Charity-elimi-
nate it! / hate all the world! l am
going to devote my time, my money,
my life to adding all the evil can
to humanity"
Thus Peter Martin, pacing up and
down his office in wild frenzy.
His closest business friend, John
Jarvis, had induced him some time
previous to invest nearly half his for
tune in an extensive mining PROPOSE
ton. Suddenly the shares had gone
down. 1t was predicted that they
would go lower. Peter, not wishing
to lose all of his investment. sold out
at a tremendous loss. Now he learned
that the very man who had bought
his stock through a broker was John
Jarvis, who had left the city and the
stock had Immediately gone up twenty
points.
This seemed to be a consoling de-
cision for the old man in his present
cynical and pessimistic mood. He
started In on his hideous program,
trying to imagine himself a fierce.
merciless wolf.
Where shall begin?" he gloated.
"Ah. l have il! I have It! have It!
A most glorious revenge! Fitting
the occasion! have never ca
tered to the feminine sex, but now
l will break a woman's heart! All!
the glorious satisfaction Of the act!
And the victim-John Jarvis sister.
She has always seemed to be inter-
ested in me. l will lead her on.
will propose, will awaken all her am
bition and love-if any human being
can really love. Then l will deride
her, crush her, humiliate her, desert
her! A fit act of vengeance against
her renegade brother! And the joy.
the glory Of plunging a woman into
distress and heartbreak!"
That evening the old schemer Sc
cured the expert services of barber,
haberdasher and tailor, and appeared
at the home Of Miss Eva Jarvis in
quite youthful trim.
She was a lovely woman at forty.
What Peter must have been at natural
and benevolent normal, her sweet,
sympathetic face reflected. Her deep
eyes sparkled at his apparent increase
Of interest in her.
With a glum, grim look Peter lis
tened to her rhapsodies over Brother
John" He made no comment as she
told Of his being away. making q
quick fortune"
Which l pay fort" muttered Peter,
but he soon drifted into a pleasanter
frame Of mind. Somehow, never before
had this gentle, earnest woman seemed
SO superior to all her sex. His soul
was drifting, seeking solace, and In
the winning way of Miss Jarvis he
found an indescribable peace from the
wild turmoil of his riotous emotions.
And because this lonely woman had
always respected and admired him
and something more-her ways had a
new auttering beauty about them, cap
tivating her visitor more than ever.
"A charming woman. truly" reflect
ed Peter, as he left her. What q life
of peace / could live with her, but
No! to crush! to destroy! / have set
out on a career of wild wickedness!"
Again that evening what Peter was
sure was In the pursuance of his heart
breaking scheme, Influenced him to
visit Miss Jarvis. He was greeted
with surprise.
Il have had a strange letter from
Brother John," she told Peter. "He
says he is going abroad to enjoy his
new fortune. II wish to 60, am to
start at once for Denver to get q new
wardrobe"
Peters mind was on the boil. To
think Of 1t: The arch-villain, his
treacherous partner, was about to
wrench from him his fond revenge!
Jarvis idolized his sister. With money,
with her, he would escape the deadly
vengeance!
And-aha!-a new thought, fierce,
devastating thought. the thought of all
thoughts! He would propose at once
to Eva He would really marry her.
He would torture the base John jar
Wis by robbing him OF the sisters COM
pany on his tour!
Peter Martin proposed to Miss Jar
Wis. He was accepted. He left the
house jubilant. He would center his
wicked malignity in thus disturbing
the cherished plans Of that scoundrel,
John Jarvis!
He caught himself humming a happy
tune. apd cherishing q fair woman's
face, and planning for the home he
would build. With q great uproar
John Jarvis burst into his private of.
fee.
ITS done, old friend!" he roared.
slapping Peter jovially on the shoul.
der.
you mean you've done mel" OBJ
served Peter.
"Hey!" stared Jarvis. "Ah, I under.
stand. instructed my private secre-
tary to tell you everything, and he
went on a spree and forgot. I've got
your stock put sacredly aside. Peter,
we're rich! I got q hint. hurried to
the mines and found out that the rich.
est lode In Nevada had been discov.
cred. Then bought in all the stock
could-on our joint account"
Hum! hal" foundered Peter, and
wisely said no more.
"Confidentially. Peter. old boy" 1u.
bilated Jarvis. "We'va sof tha ,,;n.