Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 29, Number 25, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 17 December 1898 — Page 4

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[Copytigin, 1898, by the Author.] I gave Jane a locket on Christ matt day, 1896 It was of gold, enriched with a design in diamonds The jeweler gave me bis word tbat tbey were real dia monds, and I gave mine to .fane It was obvious anyhow, for glass diamonds are larger

I pointed oat to .lane the advantage of having diamonds so small that every one won Id know tbey were genuine, and ebe said with delicious) flattery tbat DO one else could bave thought ot tbat

The locket was shaped like a heart, as tbat organ is figured in (be jeweler's physiology It was very beautiful on the outside, and it bad my portrait on the inside, So that, viewed tbrongbout. it averaged well, as lockets go

Opposite my portrait were some words engraved in the customary copy book script, so appropriate to the majority of sentiments that are graven on trinkets.

That which I bad chosen, bojvever, was not open to such criticism I have

no liking for foreign phrases called

from the back of the dictionary and comprising all that either giver or recipient knows of tbat particular language. So 1 contented myself with. "Gerald to Jane. Christmas, 1896.'

For some inscrutable reason the en graver cat the namos very large and the date very small, setting tbe latter to the left and below This style may bave been fanhionable or artistic, but it produced a singular effoct of incomplete ness, and I did not like it. However, it suggested an idea to mo

In explanation of it let me say that Christmas day, 1890, was the first of our engagement We did not know tbat we loved each other till quite late in the afternoon of the day before Everybody else knew it

My oflloe boy could have told you that 1 was in love, and as for Jane's family—tho Wetherells—from the head of tbo house down to Jane's little fox terrier with "Beauty Wetberell'' on bis oollar, they were all fully aware of oar sentiments.

Beauty didn't bark at the, and tbe rest of the family were obviously studying my good points in order to prepare for the inevitable.

But 1 was fairly shivering with fear lest Jane did not love me, and when I had told ber what my heart would bold no longor, she said With tears in ber eyes that it oame as a great surprise to her. 1 had a ring that bad been my inotb er's, but as for tbe locket, I bad just time to buy it before the stores closed on Deo. 24, and 1 bribed an engraver by a great foe to work by night upon tbe lettering

The portrait was stripped from a photograph she liked, and pasted in. So the looket and our lovo were new on Christmas day And now for tbe idea tbat 1 have mentioned. "When you cease to love me. Jane," •aid 1. "fill out that line with another date Thus we shall have the life of a love, as ineu's livea are reoorded on their tombstones—'born, so and so died sucb a year.' "There will be no dates when 1 cease to Jove you," said she, "for dates end with time."

That should havo satisfied any one, yot 1 was not willing to give ap my own idea. Few men are, even when they're iu love, and a groat deal of titrable grows out of it. "Promise mo," said 1, "tbat yon will keep the looket always, and that you will add the other date when love is done."

Under protest and with her hands clasped in mine so tightly that it seemed nothing oouId ever part them, she promised

What would either of us have said to any absurd creature who had dared to prophesy tbat before another Christmas should oome we would be estranged? Nothing that he'd bave liked to hear, yon may be sure.

Vet it happened. The cause? Heaven may know Von cannot learn it of me Perhaps 1 made a nuisanoe of myself by loving ber too much it is a great mistake. 1 remember tbat our first difference resulted from Jane's assertion tbat love did not mak# me happy, and also tbat my attempt to prove that it did was productive of great uubappiness for both of us What is the oft» of trying to prove anything to a woman?

If 1 bad simply been happy, she would have felt it* and that with her sex is much better than knowing.

Still 1 don see how so small a matter as my happiness could bave parted us or why we supposed that snob a parting would help it 1 only know that one evening when I left ber house I wasn't engaged any mora, and New York wasn't New York any more, and tbe moon in heaven was not the moon.

My happiness—or whatever It may have been—had lasted a little leas than year

We did notpublisfe osrwtrwpism

UTAAA3

ov&aro Fielding

her famih knew

Few persons outside anything about it. Christmas was drawing near, and a doleful day it was likely to be for me The last three I bad spent in the Wetb erells' home, and the change from that to a lonely bachelor apartment and a, cheerless dinner at a club was enough to make me wish that I bad been a pa-1 gan with no knowledge of this sacred festival

In any event, however, I should not have been at the Wetberell bouse tbat year, for since the early part of November Jane and I had been bound by a promise to the Grays of Princeton, who were to give an old fashioned Christmas party in their historic mansion.

Of course we could not go under the new order of things I bad written a Dote of regret, with some mild false-1 hood as my excuse, but 1 understood: that Jane had told the truth in her own' letter of declination to Mrs. Gray

At the last moment I was seized with

a

desire to go Perhaps it was impossible for me to face tbe prospect of spending the day alone. Whatever may have been the impulse, 1 wrote again to Mrs. Gray and begged to be allowed to ohange my mind.

My friendship with them all was close enough to permit of such an an,conventional act and to justify me in expecting tin cordial reply which I received by the earliest possible mail.'

Thus it happened that 1 took a train from New York on Christmas forenoon with a heart so heavy tbat I don't see how tbe engine managed to haul it

I would not positively assert tbat this overweight was responsible for the di aster of the uay, but whether from that or some strictly mechanical cause tbe train on tbe little branch from the Junotion to Princeton jumped the track about 300 yards from Princeton station and distributed itself orosswise upon tbe rails.

No one was hurt, but there was considerable excitement A woman who was sitting behind me clasped ber large, warm arms around my neck and yelled into my ear tbat we should all be killed, and if her husband bad not come to m* rescue I should never have breathed again

This incident delayed me so much that I was one of tha last to leave tbe train. Looking ahead from the platform of tbe car, 1 saw tbe passengers walking tbe track in a lonjr procession, and among tbem, to my inexpressible surprise, was Jane!

She was not more than twice a car's

1 1

"PROMIM ME THAT YOU WILi, KEEP THE LOCKET ALWAYS.

length from me and was looking back wben my glance rested oo ber, but she immediately turned away and began to walk with the others toward the station

Tbe sight of ber filled my mind with confusion. Of course die coold net be Journeying to Princeton oo that day with any other goal than tbe Grays* Christmas party It was equally obvious tbat she would not bave cone if she bad bad any idea tbat I was to be nreaenft.

Va'TK&IS'

Undoubtedly sbe hadbeen deoeived by my declination of tbe invitation, as I by bets

Snob being tbe case, ft was my plain *sty to flea. I oonid not subject ber to

isppph-

the annoyance of meeting me. Neither, to be perfectly frank, could I stand eueh a collision myself.

The best course seemed to be to loiter until Jane had ridden away in one of the Grays' carriages tbat woald surely be waiting at the station, and then to look up some conveyance that could take me back to Princtom Junction.

I approached the station warily, for 1 did not wish to be seen by any one who would report my presence to the Grays. I saw one of their equipages moving away filled with people, but could not be sure whether Jane was of the number.

Inquiring of a baggage man, whom I found in an obscure corner of the station platform, I learned tbat two coaches were already waiting for passengers who wished to ride over to the Junction He pointed-out an ancient and ponderous back, and, after a word with tbe driver, 1 climbed in

There was already one passenger, a lady who sat on tbe rear seat. 1 did not notice ber particularly until we were face to face in tbe vehicle, and then I perceived that she was Jane. "You saw me, then!" I cried "Yes," said she, "1 saw you on the train, and, thinking that it would be embarrassing for you to meet me at the party, 1 decided to go back to New York. You must get right out and go to the Grays'. "Certainly not," said 1 warmly "Do you suppose that I will spoil your aay by driving you back to New York in this way? 1 am not each a brute. I will return, but you must go to tbe party. I never would bave come here but that 1 heard you had declined." "So did I," said she, "but'I changed my mind day before, yesterday Mother wanted me to go. She thought it would be well for me to do so." "Jane," said I, with a trembling voioe, "has this folly of oars so hart you that your mother isanxiousand"— "Not in the least," she answered quickly You entirely misunderstand me." "It has frequently been my misfortune to do that, I replied. "But it'" too late to speak of it now Won't yon please forget that yoa saw me todn and go to the party as you had intended?"

But she wouldn't do anything of tbe sort, and we sat there disputing as to whiob of us should be tbe human saori flee and which should go to the part-*-until three more passengers for tL. Junction arrived and cat off our discussion f-

Jane and 1 bad been unable to arrive at a decision before tbey came, and we certainly couldn't do it afterward. Net ther of usoould leave tbe carriage without seeming to sacrifioe the other, and the result was that we remained and were trundled over to the Junction.

We had to converse, because tbe others had heard us talking and subsequent

IP#®

silence would bave seemed peculiar As we oould not speak of tbe one topic which interested ua, we spoke of every thing that didn't I wish I oould re member all tbe stupid things we said Tbey would make a first rate modern society drama of the innocuous kind

Tbe ride seemed long tbat I war afraid tbe driver bad lost bis way. but if be had be found it again,

TJSKHJS HAUTE SATURDAY kviOtlSG MALL, DECEMBER 17, 1898.

",S\ i, »vvT

The subject involved too many intimate details for us to talk of it in the presence of strangers, and ibe situation, which bad been bad euough before, wap rendered much worse by tbeir advent, j1

fear

we palled up alongside the station at last We went into tbe writing room, and tbere, in a corner, we renewed oar discussion. I tried to pscsaade Jane to

go

back to Prinoetcn. and she insisted tbat should do sa We became so Inlsiested fihat we let

"Isn't there some plaoe where we can go?" she exclaimed, and her glance swept the desolate landscape. "Here's a coachload of people from Princeton, and they'll know, all about us in two minutes." "Our train isn't due for an hour," said I. "Princeton is tbe only refuge 1 can see. There are some carriages waiting for the train from New York that's due here pretty soon." "Let us take one of tboSe carriages and drive anywhere," said she. "I am too nervous to be stared at They know we have quarreled, and they think we're making up. How dreadful!" "And how unjust!" I retorted. "Nothing could be further from our minds. But I agree with your view I am as uncomfortable, mentally, as you can possibly be. Moreover, we'll freeze

SI

We had tbe room to ourselves daring this latter period, but finally severa' railroad employees came in Tbey had walked down from tbe scene of tbe wreck One of them bad evidently found some article lost by one of the passengers at tbe time of the accident, and all were examining it as they stood by the stove in the middle of tbe room I was watching Jane out of the corner of my eye, and I saw ber start violently and clntch ber gown over the region of the heart Sbe is not gi^en to theatrical gestures for tbeir own sake, and I knew that something must be amiss.

Immediately 1 saw her walk rapidly toward the gronp by tbe stove. Win y0n iet

me

MRS. GRAY WAS HOLDING IT UP TO THE LIGHT.

Of course two people with so much on their minds oan't sit side by side in perfeot silence. It didn't take ns five -minutes to find this out, and everything we sain \nade matters worse. So presently Jane went over to tbe other side of the room and pretended to be interested in a time table, while I sat on a bench and read an old letter—tbe very last resort of the human mind when it must have something to do.

gee the looket that

you found?" said sbe. Tr* I"®Tbat was the first innmation I had had as to the nature of the hrticle, but when one of the men held it out toward Jane I at once reoognized it as my gift to her "This is mine." she said.

The finder was somewhat disinclined to surrender bis prize, but Jane identified it folly, describing its interior and showing tbe carefully concealed spring by which it was opened. 1 overheard her say that they would find tbe words, "Gerald to Jans," and dates below Sbe distinctly said "dates," and sbe glanced maliciously at me.

So she bad filled out tbe line. How long, I wondered, bad sbe waited before recording love's death? Not long sorely for it was a matter of a few weeks altogether

When sbe bad received the looket and suitably rewarded tbe finder, observed tbat he began to regard me with consid-, erable attention

Then he nudged his neighbor and whispered something Soon tbey were all staring at me. Obviously my portrait bad been recognized. "Curious," I beard one of tbe men say, "tbey don't seem to know each other

My nerves were not in condition to! stand tbat aort of thing, and I fled from' tbe room. A raw Wind was sweeping' tbe platform, but I preferred it to tbe conditions within.

In about a minute Jane came Oat rather hurriedly Sbe walked straight ap to me "I simply can't stand this," sbe said

Tbey are making fen of as." "Why shouldn't they?" 1 asked. We're fanny enough, but I agree with you tbat it's unbearable. 8ee tbem looking out ot tbe window."

WBITTEN MY SgAyG ^STAOK^

a New York train go by, and there wasn't another within an hour and a half.

This meant that we should not reach New York before 8 o'clock, and we should havo the pangs of hunger added to our other woes. Perhaps it was this prospect or it may have been the mutual I folly of letting that train get away which told upon onr tempers. Certainly our disoussion became acrimonious. "Jane," said 1 at last, "we mustn't quarrel again. There's no use in it now

People who are no longer anything to each other have nothing to gain by quarreling. It isn't as if we were engaged and had our freedom at stake." "You are quite right," said she, "and sinoe it seems that we can't talk without quarreling I- suggest that we don't talk at all." fjfh

to death on this platform, and we positively can't go back into that waiting room.

-.4 *$

"Isbcrald 'hink not, "saidshe "tbere are women there now. "Suppose you go to the Grays'," said I, "and I'll pat up incog, at the inn." "Anything," she cried, ^ly let us get out of here. ofo gg We engaged alight two seated wagon with a fairly good horse between the shafts, and presently we were making good time over tbe road to Princeton. Meanwhile we convereed in whispers behind the driver's baok. ff^That confidential method of conversation is conducive to a good understanding between a man and a woman.

Sitting close together and speaking into each'other's ears, we found it easy to be amioable And we oame to an agreement wbioh neither of us woald have deemed possible at any other stage of tbe day's adventures. It was tbat we should both go to the party, that we should show to all those people the possibility of friendship' following love, and tbat we should pursue the same course thereafter as long as we lived.

Our advent was hailed with loud acclaim Few people present knew that we bad been estranged, and those who did naturally supposed that we had made it up

I tasted once more the joy of being envied by men who coveted Jane and viewed with interest by women who didn't covet me. but were led into thinking so for tbe moment by tbe fact that I belonged to somebody else,

The lover's part was so enable that 1 began to play it with a fine assumption of sincerity, and it seemed to me tbat Jane liked my acting almost as well as sbe had ever liked tbe reality

Mrs. Gray was entirely deceived, and in tbe evening, finding us together in one of those romantic nooks of which there are so many in the great old bouse, sbe congratulated us opon our reconciliation.

Tbe moment was full of embarrassment 1 don't know what we should have said to her, bat sbe relieved the situation by asking bow we happened to miss her carriage at tbe station and to arrive at such an hour Strangely enough, we had escaped that very nat ural inquiry up to tbat time. "Jane lost ber locket in tbe accident, and we went back to bunt for it," said I with ready mendacity "Oh, yes." said she, "I remember that locket I bope yon found it."

For answer Jane displayed tbe keepsake. Mrs. Gray took it out of ber band, and, to "nr surprise, immediately pressed tbe secret spring

I ssw Jane flush and make a qaeer, spasmodic effort to regain tbe locket. But Mrs. Gray was holding it np to tbe light and oat of Jane's reach. "'Gesald to Jane,'" sbe read, 'Christmas, 1896, and always.' Very pretty, I'm sure." be returned tbe locket iHtb a'

Outing Model for 1899 has arrived. You are invited to call and see it at Krieten stei & Sons, Fourth and Cherry

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most beneficent smile and left us to ourselves. "'And always,''I whispered. "Jane, did you mean those words?' "I did when I had tbem engraved there," said eha "And now"— "I mean them more than ever," she answered simply

I have said tbat we were in a retired spot, but I think it would have made no difference if a searchlight had been on us and tbe whole world spectators

It was probably an hour afterward— but I had an impression that it was about three minutes—when Mrs. Gray sent a discreet servant to inform us that we were in danger of missing tbe ceremonies attending the unveiling of the Christmas tree.

Wassmuth cfc Roedel, at First and Ohio Streets, have a big stock of Candies, Oranges, Apples, Nuts and other Christmas Goods at prices the very lowest. Homemade Mince Meat that will make your mouth water, and a full stop.k .of nice, clean Groceries.

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Stylish Smoking Jackets at S THORMAN & SCHLOSS.

.:

^L. D. Smith has an elegant line of Boxing Gloves at .25, $1.50 $1.75 for set of four pieces. See the latest things 'in punching bags". 673 Wabash Avenue. r.

Ladies, see our Gents' Slippers, for Xmas. KIVIT'S, 328 Main Street.

^Parties buying Bicycles next year will be given a new Columbia Desk' Calendar free of charged

A

C. C. SMITH'S SONS CO/, t.«•* Third and Main.

sf We have an immense stock of Boys' Clothes, jand with every Suit, $3 00 and' upwards, we give a pair fine Skates.

T' TUNE BROS?

ANYTHING IN THE MUSICAL LINE At R. Dahlen's. 640 Main Street, I

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l|uy your JIIoliday Furbiture now, jthe newestline of Rockers in tbe city, if you want anything in the furniture line at a big saving, see Silberraan's, 609 Wabash Ave. The cheapest Carpet House in the city.