Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-01-18

, support yourself, much less a wife an
family, and married women can
schoolteach to support their hus
! bands
dunno, mother replied Jim
whiting a stick down to a fine point
well you ought to know" she said
letting her temper show itself Your
the uselessest thing on earth. now
and married you'd be worse"
Il guess there is some use for me
in the world, mother" Jim contended
IF there hadn't " been, what dc
you 'spose the Lord put me here for?'
She looked him over as he stood ir
the doorway the very picture of care
less Indifference and shiftless good ma
ture.
We'll" she replied Hes the only
One that knows, and He amt told
yet"
When Mary Candy discovered that
Jim was beginning to "act foolish" she
promptly but kindly told him of the
uselessness of his suit
why don't you want to marry me.
Mary?' he asked in dull, dazed way.
as if not comprehending the full pur
port Of her decision. We've always
been friends, and you know you like
me-"
I know, jim she said, gently, "but
like is not love and one cannot marry
without love-"
DO you love anybody else?" he ask
ed, quickening little. I've heard that
you thought good deal of Jack Muir
fin and him of you
Mary Candy was not coquetting with
Jim Doty
Yes, Jim, | do" she answered
frankly, and Jack and l are to be
married as soon as school closes for
the summer
Jim choked and the tears came to
his eyes
Mother said wasn't any use in the
world and I guess 1 amt" he said,
bitterly, hopelessly.
"Oh, yes, you are Jim. she encour-
aged him. Your chance hasn't come
yet but it will"
Il dunno" he sighed, desparingly.
and, turning away, he walked slowly
hOmeward alone
The village knew what was the mat
ter with Jim for the next month or
more. but it was considerate of his
suffering and he heard no ieering
word nor the laugh that hurts.
Two weeks before the school closed
Jim VAS down at the railroad shops
where Jack Murfin was foreman. He
was there chiefly because he did not
happen to be elsewhere at the mo-
ment and he was sitting in the shade
Whittling Possibly he was somewhat
more active than usual and was think
ing, for he Lad jHst seen Jack Muir
fin walk across tho yards toward
gap in the fence and he knew the date
Of Jacks wedding day They We're
not friends, but Jack did not care how
much Jim enjoyed himself about the
place SO long as he did not interfere
with business and Jim had never been
given to interfering with business if
it did not interfere With him
Intent upon his thoughts. jim con
tinued whiting, until presently he
was recalled to his surroundings by
shout of alarm. 1t was Jacks voice
and he saw Jack laying across the
rails, With his leg twisted under him
and his foot fast in a frog. He had
passed out to the main tracks, and
Jim heard train coming. Quicker
than he had ever moved before in all
his stagnant life he cleared the space
between them and stood in the track
over his rivals body. The heavy en-
gine coming down had been reversed,
but too late, and no power on earth
Lifting the PROSTATE man to a sitting
position he wrenched his foot from the
fatal clutch and with a giants strength
he flung him outside the rails.
When ,Iim,s body was picked up
few minutes later little life remained
Just a futtering spark, but enough
to give the light that never fades.
Jim, JIM cried Murfin, taking
him in his arms.
Its all right, now Jack" whisper
ed jim, opening his eyes and smil-
ing Mary said | was some use in
| the world and my chance would come
some time. Tell her
His words came painfully and in
! gasps and they stopped with the sen
tence unfinished. But Jack knew
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