Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1887 — With All His Heart. [ARTICLE]

With All His Heart.

BY "LE GEMLYS.”

Among the people around us there are certain characters that stand out like bassreliefs of certain traits. In Jack Spratt’s make-np there was a vein of cool impudence which was a source of continual comment to Iris friends, and often a surprise to—himself. He admired women more than woman, and had browsed carelessly about the confines of the elysian fields of love and passion, without even so much as having a single heart affair daring his twenty-four years. His two sisters, Maud and Ethel, were popular in their set, and Jack Was often lured away from his somewhat bachelor-like pastimes by their importunings, and forced to “do society work,” as he termed playing the agreeable to their friends. Jack was a fine specimen of physical beauty, and his six feet of brawn and muscle, curly aubnrn hair and laughing blue eyes caused more than one fair girl to cast admiring glances in h s direction. He was elegantly indifferent to the wiles of coquetry, and secretly held to the theory that love was a myth, and that courtship was nothing more nor less than a fine preface to a tiresome book. Coolly attired in a blue flannel suit, with his feet against a tree in the back-yard, and “Onida’s” last novel in his hands, Jack Spratt was whiling away a quiet afternoon in solid satisfaction. “I wonder how it would be to love some girl desperately,” he mused. “Love her better than any one else in the world—make her happiness the Bole object of my life —work hard for her —realize that she loved me devotedly, and all that sort of thing? It seems queer that I never found anything of much consequence in dangling after a giddy girl.” These and similar thoughts trooped lazily through his brain, and it occurred to him that he had never even pretended to love any one. The idea of a flirtation had been a stranger to him, and yet he knew that such affairs were every-day events. “I’ll try it at the first opportunity,” was his final conclusion. As he took his hat and was leaving the house for an evening stroll, Maud said to him: “Jack, will you do mo a favor?” “Well, if there’s anything in this world that I would rather do than another, it is to do my sister Maudie a favor,” he replied, putting his thumbs in the arm-holes of his vest and looking down into her upturned face with a comical smile. “No joking, Jack! Will you, really?” “Let me see!” he said, reflectively, looking over her head. “I believe I want to ‘see a man’ this evening—and—and then I’ve an engagement with Hal Craft—and there’s to be a professional game of ” “0, yes!” interrupted Maud,disappointedly. “I suppose you have a wonderful amount of business on band just because I want you to do something for me.” “Now, don’t try to make yourself believe I’m such a bad sort of a brother—but tell me, is it like buying a paper of pins, or anything of that kind?” “No.” “Hair pins?” “No.” “Taffy?” “No.” “Aha, I have it now!” • “Well, whnt is it?” “Caramels!” “No, again. Now, look here, Jack! I really do want you to grant me a little favor, and it is delightfully easy, and then you will enjoy it, too!”; “Well, let the cat jump,” said Jack, resignedly. ’ But will you do it?” “How can I say whether I can or not, when I don’t know what it is.” “But 1 know you can.” “Is it anything bad?” “Of course it isn’t!” cried Maud, stamping her foot impatiently. “ What’s the matter with your foot, sister?”

“Jack, I think you are just as mean as you can be. Never mind, old fellow, you’ll want me to make you some chocolate cake, some of these days, and you’ll not get me to make it!” “Now, 806 here, Maud, if you are going to treat me in any such barbarous fashion, and make me wish I had never been bom, I’ll do anything you wish, even to telling Walter Herrick that you love him to death!” “What a torment you are!” cried Maud, in her vexation, as she turned her head to conceal the rosy flush which flashed over her cheeks. “Jack, for the last time, will you?” “For the first time—yes.” “Well, it’s this: Eva and Mabel*Lynn are to spend the evening with us, and I want you to come in by half-past ten and escort them home. You will, won’t you? You said you would, Jack!” “And so I will, ’pon my sacred word and honor.” And, leaving a kiss with Maud “for Walter’s sake,” he laughed good-naturedly and departed. “So I’m to walk pretty Eva Lynn and her cunning little twin sister Mabel home this evening,” quoth Jack, as he sauntered up-street. “ Sisters are nothing but petticoated nuisances, no matter how you look at them!” * * * * * * * Jack kept his promise. He had successfully tom himself away from a game of billiards, and had equally good fortune in making witty replies to the Misses Eva and Mabel, as they huug on his arms en route to the Lynn residence. He was in fine spirits, and accepted their invitation to sit a few minutes upon the veranda before returning. Comfortably seated, the two talked and laughed and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. “I’ve had a pitcher of lemonade in the refrigerator all the afternoon, Mr. Spratt. Would you like some of it?” said Eva. “I was just thinking I would,” remarked Jack. “Yes, run in and get it,” urged Mabel. And her sister disappeared in the gloom of the hallway. An idea shot athwart the brain of Jack Spratt. He smiled to himself. “It’s an inspiration,” he thought, “and I’ll do it!” “ Why so silent, Mr. Spratt?” asked Mabel, who notieed Jack to be suddenly quiet. , “Miss Mabel, perhaps you will be surprised at my thoughts,” he replied steadily and earnestly; “but as yon have asked the cause of my silence, I will tell you. From the moment we met I have loved you. Do not be startled—listen to my words. I know I have not paid you marked attention. yet I have placed you in my life as my heart’s ideal. I love you passionately; I adore you; I will always love you! My

secret is yours. My darling, will you be my wife?” Mabel Lynn was surprised, so much so that she could only say, “Oh, Mr. Spratt!” “There! I knew I would say something I ought not; but yon see, Mabel,” he pleaded, “I don’t know what I’ve said that’s wrong. I only know that I have spoken my love and asketl you to make me the happiest man on earth.” Somehow Jack’s hand found hers, and then, after a momentary silence, she said: “This is so sudden, and —and —I don’t know ” “My darling, keep me not in suspense—just one little word u all I crave, all I would have you say; and if the future brings with it a different view of me, you may have your promise back.” “Jack—lam yours!” Before the compact could be sealed by the conventional kiss. Eva came along the hall with several clinking glasses and the lemonade. “Soho!” cried Eva, “you two seem to have been telling secrets in my absence; but my lemonade is much nicer than any nonsense you folks have been whispering, I’ll warrant.” The lemonade was pronounced a fine mixture by Mr. Spratt, much to its maker’s satisfaction. Mabel knew her sister would remain until Jack went away, and was feverishly anxious to be alone. Her little brain was in a whirl, and fearing if she remained she would betray her secret inadvertently, she excused herself and entered the house. “What were jou two whispering about while I was away, I’d just like to know?” queried Eva, with piquant curiosity. "I was asking her what you thought of me,” replied Sir Jack, laughing. “I wished to pave the way into your good graces, and ” He stopped short. He had come face to face with another inspiration. “I rather like this; then why not more of it?” is his thought. “And what, Mr. Spratt?” “It is tliis, Miss Eva,” he said, in a low, earnest tone, “that I have learned to love you with all my heart. ” He took her hand and held it firmly. “Yes, Eva, my heart and soul are filled with your image every hour in the day, and at night my pillow is haunted with your dear face. I have striven against this passion for you in vain, and now I must know my fate. My darling, my darling! tell me to hope—that you will be mine—mine forever?” “Your wife!” ejaculated the astonished girl. “Eva, Eva! can you not realize that my life’s happiness is at stake? Be kind to me—pity me,” Jack went on, with sadness in his tones. ‘-Will you—can you love me?” “Jack, this is very sudden. I—l ” And she made a slight effort to free her hand.

“Ah, my love, my life! I will not let you go until you tell me your heart is mine.” And Jack’s curly head approached dangerously near hers. “Eva, love me!” “Jack, 1 have always felt kindly toward you, ana—and perhaps I may learn ” “Learn to love me then, if you do not now,” eagerly interrupted he; “and you will kiss me, my darling?” For answer she laid her head upon his shoulder, and Jack’s lips met hers softly. They just had time to assume positions ascribed by etiquette to proper decorum when Mabel appeared in the door. “Ah, Lady Mabel rejoins us. and just in time to receive my adieus!” said Jack, rising to take his departure. He extended a hand to each and received two significant pressures, which he returned with strict impartiality. “Need you go so soon?” said the twins, simultaneously. “I think I ought, yet I do not wish to.” And he gave each hand a meaning squeeze as he released them. He Dade each “Good-night” in a different tone, and in a moment had disappeared in the darkness. No sooner had the girls entered their room than Mabel said, “Eva, don’t you think Mr. Spratt is a very nice gentleman?” “Indeed I do, and he’s so handsome, too.” “He is certainly the finest-looking gentleman I ever have had the' good fortune to meet.” A long silence ensued. “Mabel,” said Eva, solemnly, “I’m engaged.” “So am I,” gravely replied her sister. “You are?” returned Eva, in surprise. “Yes. I promised Jack ” “Jack!” “Yes, Jack Spratt.” “To-night?” “Why, yes; while you were getting the lemonade he asked me to marry him.” “And when you were gone he asked me the same thing.” The sisters looked at each other in amazement. The truth slowly dawned upon them, and each realized she had been hoaxed. “The wretch!” moaned Mabel. “The villain!” groaned Eva. As Jack swung along at a five-mile gait he said to himself, “Pshaw! a man who can’t make two proposals in an evening, don’t amount to much. There’s more fun in it than I imagined. I wonder if Maudie will want any more of these little favors. Guess not for one while!”