Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02

to to-Jam. Couldn't do t-not if she
were as beautiful as Venus-with mil
lion tackled on to her petticoat."
Jam has not got million--all the she S
no pauper." Mrs. Mockaby, Cuthbert's aunt,
said with little frown. Moreover she's the
prettiest girl in our end of the country-the best
hammered tool I call her real sweet"
'Naturally-that's the nature of ian,-in fact
It's main reason for being Cuthbert interrupt
ed. Mrs. Mockaby looked at him severely.
Have your laugh--all you want to, Mr..
Smarty she said pursuing her lips "I grant you
Jams name is uncommon-but / call it an iu-
spiration-under the circumstance"
"Do please explain--dark sayings bewder me"
Cuthbert said, putting up his hands and looking
wickedly meek Mrs. Mockaby laughed at him
in spite of herself "Yes-it was an inspiration,
the one thing that saved serious family quarrel.
It's no nickname as you assume rather a compo-
site You see there were three grandmothers-"
Hold on! There are limits to my credulity.
Don't strain them please" Cuthbert interrupt
ed. Mrs. Mockaby shook her head at him.
"Three grandmother" she continued as though
he had not spoken. Joe Norris, Jams father,
had been married twice-the first wife died SIX
months from the wedding day, and as she an
only child, her people, the Tabbs, were heart
broken-and mighty huffy with Joe for marrying
again, though he waited three years. He knew
they would never get over it if he didn't name
his first baby, when it proved to be girl, for
poor dead Amanda. Then there was his mother,
pining for daughter all her life, and his wife 5
mother, as jealous could be. Nobody could
have the heart to christen poor child Jerusha-
Amanda -Maria-but those three names had some
how all to go in. Joe told me he worried him
self almost sick it, until Betty his wife said
"'Why-wel call her Jam. She had put
together the initials-J. A. M.-and there was the
whole trouble ended. Nobody could feel hurt
because all Jared alike. Betty told me privately
she had a heap rather have made the name Maj,
but knew it wouldn't do-Grandmother Norris
would have had fit if her initial hadn't come
first She is going to give Jam the best half of
her money-provided she marries to suit her.
But Jam is right Independent when it comes to
that-Crandma Tabb left her half of what poor
Amanda would have had. Then Grandma Coles
viIed her snug little sum, so all together, she's
the nearest heiress our neighborhood ever
hoasted. But that's not the reason / want you
70 marry her-she's the wife I'd pick for you If
she had nothing but what she stands in"
Cuthbert whistled, then threw back his head and
Iauphed. It was so like Aunt Judith-ths early
unmaSklng OF ner ueslRns- DIG was HueSu' notn-
ing if not downright. ''I see," he said teasing
", patting her hand as he spoke you've kept
me so long in bread and butter it's your natural
impulse to supply me also with--Jam."
'Don't try to be smart, Cuthbert. / prefer
your native stupidity Mrs Mockaby said with
dignity Cuthbert went on musingly: jam! l
can't get over it. Considering the names genesis,
it had better have been Olive"
"Olive would not have meant peace-it was
Jam or nothing" Mrs. Mockaby said, reprov-
ingy.
But quit carping on the name and answer a
few questions The first one is, what do you