The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-02-27
'JONES'S LITTLE GAME
BY Peirce &. Barnard.
GSSS3STS93Ss3SS3SS


TOR the first time in life he
II found himself in the country.
The express train from which
he had just alighted dwindled
into n mere speck on the horizon, leav-
ing him surrounded by q vast wilder
uess.
Jones was a city man; he worked on
a high stool in a counting house. He
had gathered his ideas of the woods
from the trees in Central Park; but no
one would have ever guessed by his
conversation that Jones was not truly
rural, for he always took care to men.
ton rotation of ecrops and new farm
machinery and other topics pertaining
to the gentle art. From the pages of
On agricultural weekly he stocked his
mind with rich stores of information
out of which his imagination construct
ed alluring pictures Of rural bliss.
Sometimes he strolled through the
commission markets, regaling his eyes
with the sight of prize pumpkins and
opened barrels CT apples. Sometimes
be attended the theatre, where domes-
tic dramas of farm life were presented
In which the old folks gather in the
front yard, and the prodigal son re-
turns from the Klondike and pays off
the mortgage to slow music and i'm
mense applause.
Sometimes he slipped away to an
agricultural fair to catch a sight Of
blue-ribbon cattle and to chat with the
rustics, if occasion offered, about the
newest thing in labor saving machin-
cry, of which they happened to
know nothing. All this time Jones
knew nothing of the country at first
hand and it looked like great waste
of energy to his friends to see him con-
tinually dreaming of what might nev-
er be his; but they did not know what
pleasant fancies of plowed fields and
homegrown vegetables beguiled away
the long hours at the ledger. They did
not know the satisfaction he took in
walking out into the middle Of the
paved street and looking up between
the tall buildings at the blue sky-the
only natural object in sight.
But least of all did they know that
Jones had wife with vast social am
bitions. Mrs. Frances Fleweller-
Jones, as she styled herself. longed to
Out-do people Of ten times their means;
their two daughters were figuring on a
couple of noblemep already. Papa
Jones had only one way of Suppressing
these unnatural and dangerous long
ings, and that was to threaten to pull
up stakes and move the entire estab-
lishment to the woods.
At the nero mention Of farming,
catalogues Of cheap European tours
and invitations to swell social func-
tions disappeared like magic. The
household resumed the even tenor of
it's way, and cndeavored tc look de-
Gently happy over one thousand year.
Not that Jones was brute; for he
was very passive, obedient sort of
twentieth century husband, acQuiesc-
ing in everything reasonable. and per-
fectly willing to walk while his wife
rode in an automobile if it could be
arranged.
But one Saturday afternoon Jones
came home and found the house turned
topsy-turvy. His wife was waiting
for him at the head of the stairs.
"Philander, dec" She used this
name exclusively for raising money
Phil was sufficient for all other occa
sionc. "PhilaIder you'll have to rake
together enough to buy something new
for Evel!na: she's fretted herself sick
over her old bah dress. and the two
young noblemen arrive tomorrow
IF that's the case l guess III have
to look at some farm property, motl,
er," Jones observed very seriously.
Never mind the farm just now
Philander! we need your help; I've
almost completed arrangements for the
automobile. and as for the yachts
Il don't feel equal to it at ALL" said
Jones. examining his empty pockets
You must really excuse me this time;
"Philander!" cried his wife. bringing
down her foot somewhat emphatically
But it was TOO late; Jones was hur
riedly tanning a few things into :
valiSe.
He notified his family Of his future
whereabouts and then struck out To-
the station, expecting to reach IN twi
hours the farm he had seen advertised
in the morning paper.
Heretofore Jones had always soothet
their unquet longings by merely sub
scribing to an additional farm pape
0, writing 10 the secretary of agricul
ture for information relative to earl.
garden truck. He was sorry his littl'
ruse was played out, having doubtless
intended to go on dreaming of the un
tanned joys of country living to the enc
of the chapter,
Now that he found himself in tn
land of his dreams. he hardly knew
whether to be disappointed or not. Th
bracing air was laden with the driet
fruits of autumn. 1t had been smok.
in the city the afternoon he left. Her
all was very quiet and peaceful, witt
nothing to break the stiffness but al
occasional chirp Or the sound Of falling