Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-01-25
Jim cleared his throat anc tried :,

4
answer in spite of his panied bewil-
derment, but Minnie Kelley Intercepted
| him hotly. Didn't mamma make it
| perfectly clear to you that we don't
| intend to sell the place, Miss War
! rlngton? she assed insultingly. THE
place is. as good as a homestead to us.
and we wouldn't think Of parting with
1t under any circumstances l suppose
you understand the case now, don't
you?"
understand your version of it.
| yes, Neva answered sweetly, but as
Jim is the only person concerned in the
| matter, | don't understand why you
should interfere. Come. Jim, name
| your price, please. for l want it very
| badly. You would rather old friends
| should have it than strangers. wouldn't
you?"
YES, said Jim in very clear,
| steady voice, which nevertheless hurt
| NeVa poignantly, for as he SPOKE he
| looked at his graceful, handsome rival.
and there was that in his good, honest
eyes which betrayed his deep secret
unerringly. 81 had much rather YOU
would have the house than anyone else
in the world, because
| because 1 will take the very best
care of it in the world!" Neva finished
kindly.
But, Jim, you don't mean to part
with it," his stepmother cried. care
you crazy, to think of such thing?
| What would your father think if he
| knew"
Shall | tell you he or any hon.
est man would think?' said Neva, sud-
| denly turning to Mrs Trescott with a
| hash OF rosy scOrn. That Jim has been
| shamefully imposed upon by you and
your children since the hour that his
| good father died. Perhaps you don't
| believe that anyone knows the full
extent Of your rapacity-that you
nagged and wheedled Jim into mort
gaSing the pasture field in order to
raise required amount of money to
cover your sons discrepancies, and SO
worked On Jim's sympathies that YOU
| induced him to finally sacrifice his
property. l know all about that cute
deal-not through Jim, but through
| my brother, who filed the mortgage.
| mean to take pains to let other peo-
| pie know as well as myself You can
hereafter support your children on the
money that Jim's father left you, for
jim is going to sell this place to me
and Keep every dollar of the purchase
| money. Come, Jim, show us through
the house, please"
At last Jim had revolted In spite of
the bitter pain of disappointed love. he
felt himself suddenly transformed to a
new, dominant manhood which gave
him fine, simple dignity that I'M
pressed and awed his old oppressors.
NeVa's loyal defense of his motives
and her denunciaticn of the usurpers
tiled him with sonber, quiet citation
which never could quite fade from his
memory of that triumphant hour At
ter all, it would seem good to know of
Neva's Joyous presence in the house
that had sheltered his own happiest
hours.
you can have the place, Neva." he
said with the utmost composure. 81
will show you both through at once"
Neva followed him, chatting sally.
with Elverson beside her. smiling and
radiant. Now and then he whistled q
snatch from Lohengrin, seemingly
quite unconscious CT Jim's suffering
presence, because of the latter's heroic
calmpess, which never wavered
throughout the long, trying ordeal,
While the lovers applauded this and
that quaint turn Or nook of their flu
ture home. By and by that was over.
and Neva asked Jim to accompany her
to her lawyers Office.
Il want the deed signed and every
thing legally transferred at once, to
make sure that it is really NINE" she
explained brisiIly, as she ran down the
veranda steps between her two COM
paniCns.
Jim had nothing at all to say during
the short drive to the village court
room. He signed the deed of transfer
without word and handed it to Neva
who drew up a check to the amount
$4,000. She was long while doing it,
and in the meanwhile Will Elverson
lad occasion to call the lawyer out
on urgent business, which left Neva
and Jim alone. AS Neva handed him
the check, finally, her hand touched
his. He started violently and thrust
back the crisp bit of paper.
"Neva," he began in a husky voice,
if you didn't know just how it is with
me I wouldn't have the courage to ask
what l am going to. 1 want you to
keep the mcney-to take the place as a
wedding gift from me. hope with all
my heart that you will be very happy"
.'.Iim.'
Her voice made him catch his breath
in gasp of surprise 'I'll take your
gift on one condition. she stipulated,
and that is that you will accept Q
wedding present from me-
"a wedding PRESENT. Jim faltered.
You don't understand
She interrupted his embarrassment
with a sweet imperiousness which he