The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-01-20
The Revolt =
~ ~ of Jim.
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BY Helen Frances Huntington.
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M EVA Warrington checked her
" pony's gait slightly as she drove
around the curve in the road leading
past the quaint old Trescott place,
which was a delight to the eye, for it
was in the flush of early summer, and
the garden was afame with blossomed
sweetness to the four Winds The long,
cool walks between the great poplars
were rose-bordered and the low white
picket fence was burdened with GRIM
son fragrance old-fashioned cinna-
mon roses whose damask petals
strewed the thick dust of the road.
Voices reached her from the wide
Ieranda, where a merry company sat
chatting behind the thin tendrils of
cypress vine.
"Oh, do write and have them come
right away" said Minnie Kelly, the
second Mrs. Trescott's daughter. "The
more the merrier, you know. We can
have a perfectly lovely time here all
summer, it we have big enough house
party"
Il wonder where Jim comes in on
that proposition" said Neva to her.
self, as she glanced toward the piazza
In search of the young host who was
not in sight. There were several white
goWned girls, and two smartly dressed
young men who sat on the veranda
railing smoking and watching the
progress of the tea table which Mrs.
Prescott was setting
A second turn in the road brought
Neva face to face with Jim Prescott,
who sat reading his evening paper in
the doorway of an old outbuilding,
whose environments showed that it
served for a repair shop. A blanketeG
cot and a chair. and table we're visible
In the dim background of the rock be-
hind jim.
$50 you have moved, have you?"
said Nova, with an inscrutable smile,
drawing rein beside the blossomed
hedge. How do you like your new
Quarters?"
'"The folks had unexpected COM
pany," Jim explained. rising embar-
rassedly, "and as there wasn't room
for us all, thought I'd bunk out here
for night or two"
II see." The corners of her beautiful
mouth curved scornfully. $50 your
stcpmother crowded you out to accom-
modate her guests! Do they permit
you to sit at their table, or do you
take your meals here, too?"
I'D rather not eat with Them" Jim
declared in self-defense, ''for I should
have to dress up for each meal, and
I can't very we'll spare the time now
that work is pushing
so you are contcnted to live like
tramp while your stepmother and
her friends live on the fat of your
lands? Jim Prescott, YOU haven't got
the grit Of a iackrabbit!"
Jim's black eyes burned, and vivid
flush underran the healthy tan Of his
face but being naturally slow of speech
and very much in love with Neva War
rington, he was unable to express his
brimming thoughts. though his face
showed that her taunt stung de y,
Here you are. the rightful mast * of
the situation. great. able bodied, GEN
sible, sane man, without spirit enough
to stand up for your rights against a
greedy, misery woman for whom your
father made ample and just provision.
She not only lives on your bounty I'M
asked. but drives you out Of your own
house to accommodate a pack of silly
guests for whom you will slave all
summer without whimper."
What am I to do?" Jim asked. mis-
erably conscious of Neva's growing
scorr. "She won't leave without being
put out, and I can't do that on fathers
account"
ooh, OF course not. Only a man OF
grit could do that" Neva retorted
scathingly. IF you had one grain OF
ordinary gumption, Jim Prescott. you'd
revolt like man and send the whole
gang about their own business in nc
time. If nothing else would do, you
could sell the house. over their heads
and let strangers force them to leave
''Sell the old home!" Jim repeated
with deeo-drawn breath Ct regret
"Why 1t would seen, like selling my
own flesh and blood!"
'Fcur years of strife and imposition
must have endeared it to you unspeala
rbly," Neva scoffed. 81 should thinl
You would loathe the very sight Of i
after the way you have been treat"t
in it,
"They would have to move out II
should marry" Jim had the temerir!
to say.
ooh. you'd never have the heart t.
send away your stepmother and he