“Jack, how long have you been here?” Then as he recovered
himself he added, “I did not hear you come in, and you startled
“I just came, and seeing you engaged, was just going to get
out,” I returned.
“That’s just the trouble. I’m not engaged,” said Haswell, with
vigor. “Stay and talk awhile.”
This seemed' to be a favorable start, and as I was as ignorant
and as curious as anyone, I prepared for the disclosure. It was
some time coming. After talking about everything under the
sun but tjhe right thing, the photograph, Has Well himself started
it.
“I suppose you were surprised to see me looking at a girl’s
picture,” he said, with a half laugh.
“Well, rather,” I exclaimed, truthfully.
He seemed suddenly to cast off his reserve and plunged into the
story. I will give it as he gave it.
“Seven years ago today I was a poor clerk in the one general
store of an Adirondack’s village earning my three dollars a week.
My highest ambition was to have a Sunday suit to wear all the
time, a good horse to drive, no work to do, and to be able to buy
a seat at the circus. But there was to be a change.
“Nellie Van Rennsaelar, a New York girl, of one of the best
families in that city, had been ordered by her physician to have a
complete rest. Accordingly the doctor had shipped her to his
cousin, who lived in the village, to stay for a few weeks.
“The day, of which this is an anniversary, had been excessively
hot, the work heavy, and when evening came I had scarcely
strength enough to walk to my boarding place. As you know 1 am
■now, I was then an orphan.
I had not gone half way home when I heard a horse coming
very swiftly behind me. Turning, I saw at a glance that the
animal was beyond the control of the driver, a slim, strange girl.
Instantly, and without knowing what J did, I jumped to the
middle of the road. The horse swerved as he reached me, but I