The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-17

those luminous pale eyes fixed them
selves upon me. had not meant to
give encouragement, but | saw now
that Cous..- Betsey was probably right
and that my liking for Ellen had help
ed Jimmy to the courage shown in this
declaration. He had an immense re-
gard for my opinion.
James, she said, look at me-" jim
my raised a haggard, pain daZed face.
James, I'm going to say before Adeline
what I've told you I'd do if you won't
give up this-girl. Will you give her
up?'
Jimmy half gasped. Mother he
began, then stopped; a dead silence. Its
tensity was painful, like physical sen
sation. Mother, if you'd just know
her. if
II knew her father and mother be-
fore her. before you was born My
father kept her grandfather from
starving to death. Nore's the pity, since
it brings this shame upon nae now.
Her mother was a nameless brat.
know her enough
Nom, nom; you don't. Ellen's not
them. She'd make the best WIFE
Much you know or care about her
making a good wife. You can't take
me in. You're in love with her.
Nom; no, nav. I'm not that be-
witched"-
will you or won't you give her up?"
Jimmy staggered to his feet and to
the door.
Mother, mother" he repeated slowly
under his breath as if il were a sort of
prayer.
Stop" she said. "Adeline"-she
took me by the arm-"I say to you that
if he marries that girl he is no son of
mine, and III never treat him as one
dead or alive"
The door closed behind Jimmy, and
Cousin Retsey sank into chair and
let her hands fall as they would. one in
her lap and one at her side. knelt be-
side her and tried to stanch my tears.
Cousin Retsey had all mans prefer
ence for an Unconditional atmosphere.
and the first thing she said was to tell
me to bring her knitting
"Oh, why. why" said, "did you say
such terrible thing?"
ii said it because thourht it would
stop him if anything would,' she an
swered, with firm mouth, though her
fingers We're Il little shaky as she han
died her needles.
"But if it doesn't?'
Of it doesn't, he knows what to look
for"
Cousin Betsey, I've seen her. She
seems nice. believe she would be 81
good wife,
"Adeline. get up! don't want to
hear any more foolishness. I'm the
one that's likely to know who'd make
a good wife for my son if it's good
wife you are both so bent on. I've
taken care of him good many years"
Don't you love him? Don't you
want him to be happy?'
'Of course I do. That's why I've
done what could to stop this thing"
The needles We're CLICKING well by
this time.
But If he marries. and you do as
you say, you'll make him miserable"
''I'll do what I say. I've had to say
it for his good, and I'd have to do it
not to be liar. Howsomever, there's
no use living through the thing before
1t happens. l don't seem to see Jimmy
getting himself up to go and disobey
me. He'd never have the spunk." And
Cousin Betsey, with that almost appall-
ing good sense so characteristic of her,
insisted on returning to the serene tone
of everyday life. She treated Jimmy
for the "A hours that l was still with
them in exactly her usual manner,
which was placidly kind, so far as it
was anything, though it took less ac-
count of him as an individual entity
than probably even the humblest of us
in his place would have preferred.
Jimmy was much depressed, but he
was in awe of his mother and felt
bound to pull himself together and re-
spond to her attitude as far as possible.
1t was an evident relief to him when
he and We're once more started on
horseback for the station, and he was
at liberty in the woods to be as misera-
bic as he liked. He longed to have me
do something for him. he did not know
w Lhs say SUGGEST SOuG>
thing-and he turned his doglike brown
eyes upon he with a heartbreaking
force of appeal in them. But was too
conscious of the gravity of the situa-
ton to venture word upon it. While
we We're waiting, however, on the lit
tie platform. with the falling leaves
tiuttering around us. he broke forth:
cousin Adeline. you can see what
good wife Ellen would make for me,
can't you? You needn't say anything-I
know you do; any one has got to that
knows her 1t amt that I'm in love
with her. like nav said. But l don't
see how | can let Ellen go. don't see
how can"
longed to probe his consciousness to
see ii any perception of obligation to
Ellen could be aroused to re-enforce his
abiding sense of the necessity of Ellen
to him, so it was just as we'll that the
rickety little engine came meandering
around the corner just then. Leave
takings and responses to the cordial.
hoSpitable greetings of the conductor