Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-07-25
A Rude Awakening,
BY FRANK DAVIS.

was a rival in the field" and Jack
GLADDEN. assumed a melodramatic air.
No, SIR" she said, sharply, there's
no rival in the field-only your lack
l OF manners; a gentleman wouldnt
talk the way you do"
He had always liked to see her mare
up like this-it was refreshing
break in the monotony of smooth love
making; but, somehow, she seemed
more in earnest now than usual, ana
1t irritated him.
mo, Grace" he said, Il presume
gentleman wouldn't talk tnat way
but man would, when he wants ire
girl he loves to turn from the err
of her ways"
They were sitting in the shade oil
big elm, back of the house. me
day was warm, and the girl famed
herself vigorously with the magazine
she had been pretending to read. Her
face was flushed with something pc
sides the heat, as she replied TO MS
sarcasm.
Jack, you are always talking about
the girl you love, when, If you only
knew 1t, you don't love anyone Dut
yourself. You really make me weary
with your everlasting nonsense" ana
the fan moved with accelerated vigor.
/ 1--WE have known each other all our
lives, dear" said Jack, in sudden
Humility, land l have loved you ever
[ ince | can remember; do you really
think | am that sort of fellow!
I"What sort of fellow?" asked the
girl, not looking at him, and she very
carefully examined the advertising
pages of her magazine.
Didn't you just say that am self
ish-don't love anyone but myseltY
"Well, you DON'T" she retorted; III
you did, you would talk less and 40
something. You are % years old, ana
you don't seem to have any ambition
to do anything except work your
mothers 4O-acre farm. You have a
good education, why don't you use
I'll"
: He generally enjoyed these scolding
Motherly lectures; now, they stirred
him to bitterness, and he said, with
boyish petulanee: 81 suppose you are
mentally comparing me with Mr..
Henry Souders, the gentleman from
st. Louis"
J. you talk like boy, Jack; and ]
/ am afraid you will always DO one"
She was 10.
Jack subsidized into sulky, troubled
silence. Above them, In the toDmost
branches, thrush began to sing, In
pure, sweet notes, a lOve-song to its
mate.
A step was heard on the walk, fol-
lowed a moment later by Mr., Henry
Souders, "the gentleman from st.
Louis" "Good afternoon" said he.
hat in hand. Il hope don't intrude.
They told me at the house that !
should ind you here. but they did not
inform me that you had company"
and ne glanced in n deprecatory way
at Jack; but that young man did not
appear to notice him.
Miss Grace Hadley rose to her feet.
"Why, how do you do. Mr.. Souders?
Certainly you don't lntrude. My
friend, Mr.. GLADDEN.. Mr.. Souders."
Jack acknowledged the introduction
Goth awkwardly and rudely. "Glad to
make your acquaintance" he said.
without rising. Grace shot him a
.ook of mingled anger and disgust.
What a boor Jack is. She wondered
NOW she had ever fancied herself in
love with him.
Mr.. Souders, with perfect self-pos-
session, sa. down on corner of the
rustic seat, and began making him
self agreeable. For shade" lie said,
there's nothing comparable with the
/ American white elm" and he glanced
up at the heavy masses Of dark green
/. foliage overhead.
"No, I'm sure there isn't" ac-
0uiesced Grace. Papa says that he
wouldn't take $500 for this tree"
Jack mentally concluded that the
old gentleman wouldn't, either, and
he felt like saying so, but he didn't.
This question Of shade seemed an
important one, and Mr.. Souders
turned to Jack: what is your opin-
ion about it. Mr.. Gladden." he asked.
"Owing to the kind Of weather
was the reply, and Jack continued to
watch a measuring" worm, as II
measured it's way up blade Of grass,
Mr.. Souders smiled appreciatingly.
Mr.. Souders was determined to be
pleasant. you're farmer. aren',
your" he asked.
lack locke up from his worm,
eyes. sir, am Why?"
Grace stirred unsasily in her seat.
Mr. Soldiers, however, had mel
country pumpkins before, and smil-
ingly replied: %. nothing, only
thought saw you blowing in the
aeld near the schoolhoIse as passed
yesterday morning"
lack felt, somehow, that this we'll
rroomed, city-brsd chap was politely
making fun Of him, Jealousy, like
love, is blind, and Jack was absurdly
Jealous Just now. Mr., Souders, how.
ever. was simply trying to be agree.
able to an inferior.
The conversation after this wal