The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-03-10
TRICKlNG JACK
BY MILDRED WHITE.
%. 1871. Western Newspaper Union }

our meeting. l had arisen early, to
escape Ursula's vigilance, and had
gone down to the sea. i loved Ur-
sula, but her too constant interest in
my welfare fretted me, until felt like
an imprisoned bird. Poor soul, she
was ever fearful lest the sun be too
hot or the breeze too cold, or the walk
too tiring down the beach.
So l ran through the early dewy
morning down to the waters edge,
and / wore my bathing suit beneath
a long coat. And when / had fioated
for awhile in the sunlit waters, came
again to the beach and wrapped in the
plaid cloak, sat drying my hair.
The slight adventure Of elud:;-g Ur-
sula had given to me a tinge Of ad-
venturous spirit. SO that / was not sur
prised at that early hour to hear a
mans voice at my elbow. For the
man was but part of my adventure.
you see, It'll I turned to look into his
face. Then. well, have heard Of such
things before, and have scoffed at
them, but here was no more care-free
adventure for me, but woman's love.
come at first sight. He was just my
man; the one had dreamed Of un-
consciously, and had known in my
heart that should one day meet. So
1t had been easy to be Indifferent to
the others who came seeking, in my
waiting for him. Now he was here.
He had come from brisk walk, 1t
seemed. down the shining road, and
had stopped for breath Of ocean air.
At least that is what my man thought
SO straight and tall; but his stopping
was really-to find me. Ursula would
have Knocked at my romancing, but
knew. I fell into conversation with
him easily. and he fingered and dropped
half reluctantly to the sands at my
side, and 1 learned that he was study
ing, through difficulties, to be civil
engineer, and was now taking a short
vacation; that friend had suggest
ed this seaside resort. and happened
to know the friend he named. But
] did not tell him so. Neither did
tell my own name, or aught of my af-
fairs, but arose quickly at sound Of
the seven o'clock whistle and ran on
up the sands just waving my hand in
farewell. l surmised that my man
of the dark, kindly eyes was stopping
at the more modestly appointed. Bon
View" near the wood. with the COM
panion whom he had named. And,
accidentally, came upon the two to-
gether that afternoon as almost
rounded the bench-tree in the park
They were seated beneath the tree,
and when heard what they said
withdrew without being observed.
you must stay" Ned Fame, the
friend was saying. Miss Dewitt Smith
is here. You must meet her, Jack"
And then 1t was that heard myself
refuted, he would have none of me,
this dear, big-Jack. My name was
known to him. through the papers. He
well, in his own half-sneering words.
he would not aspire"
So set out to trick him. Happiness
is such a rare and beautiful thing, that
one must not let 1t escape when it
brushes by, leaving ones life forever
desolate.
bought two little gingham dresses
at the village store. just two. no more, Z
pink and blue. The rustic straw
hat they sold me was most becoming.
loved Its stiff blue bow and its pink,
pink rose. And / was seated In the
only seat on the train that could ac-
commodate Just one more. The dis
dainful Jack person. learned. was
going back to the city that morning
And. more than this, knew the name
of the small town where his own peo-
pie lived. Mr.. Jack Bevors visited
often there.
pillow. I would take good care Of my
self. / promised her. and be back be-
fore the end of the season. And
though that was the extent Of my in.
formation, felt free and conscience
clear as my big man entered the car
and came straight to my side. He re-
membered that early morning meeting,
you see. and accepted the fact Of my
provincial appearance happily. And
as we rode chatting together, he pro
fessed himself pleased at the discov-
cry that my residence was to be in his
own home town.
1t was not difficult for me to obtain
board In that town, when 1 offered to
help with household tasks, and in my
new position was having a very
good time.
sat on the tiny porch at evening,
and saw much. very much. of Jack.
called him Mr.. Bevor. politely. The
disapproval of his family troubled me
not at all. nor the uncharitable specu-
lation concerning myself In the vii
lage. wore my pink bingham and
my blue glngham, and kept them
fresh. and Mr.. lack told me how love-
ly ! would look In silks and lawn
and we were married. Yes, we we're,
Z with the country minister's daughter,
only, for witness. cried. at leaving
the kind people who had befriepded
me. My white muslin frock was their