Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-05-04


Sim hesitated for moment, then
said:
You done Loueesy a great wrong.
Mrs. Mann
Don't call me that, SIM" she inter-
rupted. Don't you know 1 despise
that name?"
do you? Why?"
'If you was a woman an had to bear
the name Of somebody you didn't love,
you'd know why"
Didn't you love your husbandF
"You know 1 didn't"
"How should know that?"
"You ought to know that woman
never loves but one man."
"An in your case Dick Mann wasn't
that oneT'
"No."
"Who was it?''
Mrs. Mann blnshed and acted con-
fused and finally stole a sly glance at
Sims face that ought to have told him
the whole story. But he was thinking
, of something else and looking in an
other direction, so the effect of that
smile and that glance was to a great
extent lost
"Ycu ought to know that without
askin," she said demurely.
Maybe 1 ought, but l don't, an l
reckon it don't make no difference no.
how"
! No, reckon it don't, not to you any
way" with sad sigh. But you'll call
me Mary, won't you, Simp'
"Why, guess so, if you're very par
ticular about 1t. 1t don't make any diff
ference to me-"
cit does to me. 1t makes all the diff
ference in the world what you call me.
1t don't matter about anybody else,
though"
''Well, I'll call you Mary. then"
"Thank you. An now. Sim. you amt
goin to be mad at me any more, are
you?"
mo, l guess 1 won't be mad at you.
but you done Loueesy wrong. You had
no right to say that about that stran-
ger"
mo, hadn't. Sim. know that now.
But L can't bear to hear you talked
about the way you was, an felt lest
had to take Loueesy down a peg or
two. / oughtn't to have said it, but
since l have said it amt goin to take
no backwater. Loueesy don't love you,
an she never will love you but as GER
tain as my names Mary Mann she'll
fall In love with that Melvin IL she ever
gifts to know him"
II don't believe 1t. While ago she got
as mad as a wet hen cause / said
somethin bout her thinkin him great
shakes"
"Humph! You don't know much
about women folks or you wouldn't
set no store by that. / know what
I'm talkin about, Sim Banks, an, as
said before, IL you live you'n see do.
Loueesy don't love you. I know she
don't. But let her go, Sim. She amt
the only woman, an there's one know
that does love you with her whole
soul"
/ zone! WhoY'
"Great Lordl Are you blind-plumb
blind and dumbT
Sim did not reply at once. but stood
uneasily twlrling his hat about In his
hands, first looking down at his feet,
then casting furtive glance at his
companion. When at last he did speak,
1t was in cold, unimpassioned tones.
81 reckon amt so blind an dumb as
/ might be-" he said, "but you amt
called no names, an amt maxim no
guesses."
eff you wasn't as blind as a bat an
dumb as an OWL" Mrs. Mann said soft
ly, you wouldn't need for me to call
no names, an you wouldn't need to
make no guesses either"
"Mebby that's So" Sim replied slow
ly, IAN IL l am blind don't know that
I'm sorry. There's times In a body's
life, Mrs. Mann, when it's best to be
that Away"
Without a word Mrs Mann turned
away and, entering the house, slam
med the door shut behind her. Sim
walked on down the street chuckling
softly to himself But could he have
seen the expression on Mrs. Mann's
face at that moment and the steely
glitter in her eyes he might have had a
premonition OF some things that were
to follow.
When he had passed out OF sight, a
figure crept out OF the shadow of the
fence and stole quietly away in the OPP
posite direction.