The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-12-27
All For Nothing.
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/ John Thompson was twsnty-one and
old for his age. Ths Only thing youth
ful about him was biz I've fa Aniti
Merriweather, who Wa but ssvsntss1
and young for that tender -. Anita
parents had reluctantly consentsd q
an engagement. fearing that thsiI
! daughter might change hsr mind b.
fore reaching 1 marriageabls aee .
later ON md herself tied to I man
whom she would not choose At matu-
rlty. But Anita regarded herself a.
ready as at a marriageabls age and
saw no possibility Of sverc changing her
mind.
Johnny" ahe said ons day, 4 Wish
you bad more spirit
what do You mean. sweetheart"
asked John, surprised-
II think you submit very tamely to
all these requirements and conditions
laid down for us By papa and mann
ma"
Il don't know Of but one-the wait
ing till you are nineteen"
.Isn't that enough? But | suppose It
doesn't seem very long to you"
II don't permit myself to think Of
1t. / try to keep my mind on my daily
work. This will the better enable me
to take care Of you when ! get you"
What a humdrum sort Of fellow you
are! / like a man who resents hav-
ing others stand in the way Of his de-
sires, especially In love-"
There was a good deal more Of this.
Anita, though not much beyond child
hood, had a woman's natural aptitude
for carrying her point. and she sue
ceeded In doing 50 with John. That
point was to gain his consent to Z
riage with or without her parents per-
mission.
Every well,' he said after discover
ing that a willful woman must have
her own way. What do you proposeY'
Il suppose well have to run away"
II don't think we'll have to run very
fast
Indeed We shall. II papa should
get wind Of our going, be would follow
us furiously."
Il doubt 1t. He has no objection to
me. He only wishes US to- walt till you
are sure of your own mind"
The upshot Of 1t all was that Z few
days later John stopped at the door Of
the Merriweathers' with his automo-
bile, Anita got in, and they rolled
away. They had taken many an after
noon ride together, and there was mel
Their occasion to ask permission nor to
put on any considerable power. Anita's
mood, however. was not In keeping
with their quiescent conditions. She
either clutched Johns arm n though
for protection or drew away from
him as though he was dragging her
into It. John, when he had got b.
yond the town limits, put on q fair
speed. For the first time since the
elopement, II It could be called such,
had been mentioned Anita's thoughts
appeared to be turned from her own
desires to whatever Of pain she might
be INJECTING upon her parents.
Il wonder how mother will take Il"
she said.
Don't know" was Johns laconic
reply.
1--WE always been papa's especial
pet. It's hard to do anything to hurt
him"
II suppose he'll have to stand its
you're very unfeeling."
"Unfeeling, sweetheart! It isn't that.
We must face boldly the conditions we
take upon ourselves" 4
There raj a pause, after which she
began again:
Mothers health hasn't been Of the
best for the past few months. I hope
1t won't break her down"
John made no comment on this.
They were jogging along steadily. She
was so absorbed with her thoughts
that she paid no attention to the routs
they were taking.
II don't know" she went on, what
I'm going to do without papa's kiss
every night and morning"
'Tll give you two" said John, 'fn-
stead Of one"
"H'mr'
They were approaching 4 house.
John guided the automobile In to the
sidewalk and stopped.
whats thisr exclaimed the would
be bride In terror.
Clergyman"
THAT horrid MI. Parker3 don't
want to be married by him. Go on,
quick"
John pushed On. Anita leaned back
on the leather cushion and a. 1 pro
lection against wind and dust drew q
veil over her face. The machine chug-
ged, the sun shone down softly, the
birds were singing in the trees beside
the road. John heard 4 rob. Then
Anita took out her pocket handker-
chief, managed to get It under her ven
and covered her eyes with It. II John
had been driving a horse instead Of IN
automobile he would have put IN nm
about her to comfort her. but hts ma.
chine needed both hands Anita main
tanned her position. She kept her hand
kerchief over her eyes and occasion
ally gave an audible sob. John main
tained silence. Being I'D for bis AZ,
he knew that anything hs could ny
would be Of no avail and would m
crease the trouble. He wal 4 man or
deeds rather than words. But h could
not help thinking that II was NOT !
cheerful wedding party.
Time and the automobile rollsd on.
Presently the latter AM to 1 stop.
We're there. said John.
Anita did not more.
'will you set oitr' he asksd.
Anita shuddersd. took her handhsr.
chief from hsr syss and locked about