The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-09-13
All For Nothing.
loriginaI.l

~ VIZ lVt ain a8c. AuC vuy tnhAB yvus
full about him was his love for AMI
Merriweather. who was but seventies
T. and young for that tender age Anita
IN parents had reluctantly consented
an engagement. fearing that the
daughter might change her mind b
= fore reaching manageable age I
n later on find herself tied to ma
a whom she would not choose at mat
rity. But Anita regarded herself a
y ready as at A marriageahle age an
n saw no possibility Of ever changing hi
Z mind
Johnny she said one day. ~ wis
I. you had more spirit"
Q What do you mean. sweetheart
asked John. surprised.
Il think you submit very tameiy I
all these requirements and condition
r laid down for us by papa aud man
, ma"
81 don't know Of but one--the wait
Ing ill you are nineteen"
Isn't that enough. But suppose |
doesn't seem very long to you"
II don't permit myself 10 think o.
II. try 10 keep my mind on my dail,
work. This viii the better enable M,
10 take care Of you when get you"
What humdrim sort OF fellow yo,
are, like man who resents hav
Ing others stand In the way Of his de
/ sires, especially In love"
There was good deal more Of this,
Anita, though not much beyond child.
hood, had woman's natural aptitude
for carrying her point. and she sue.
ceeded in doing so with John. That
| point was to gain his consent to mar
rage with or without her parents per-
mission.
Very WELL" he said after discover
Ing that willful woman must have
her own way, What do you propose r.
Il suppose we'll have to run away"
Il don't think wen have to run very
fast"
Indeed we shall. II papa should
get wind Of our going, he would follow
us furiously."
II doubt 1t. He has no objection to
me. He only wishes us to wait till you
are sure Of your own mind.'
The upshot Of 1t all was that 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 vas ',r
Their occasion to ask permission no,
put on any considerable newer. Ap.A.'s
mood, however, we3 not In kee ing
with their quiescent conditions. She
either clutched Johns arm as though
for protection or drew away from
him as though he was dragging her
into 1t. John, when he had got be-
yond the town limits, put on a fair
speed. For the first time since the
eiopement If 1t 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 inficting upon her parents.
y wonder how mother viii take IT,
she said.
Don't know" was Johns Iaconic
reply.
I've always been papa's especial
pet It's hard to do anything to hurt
him"
Il suppose he'll have to stand IT.
You're very unfeeling."
"Unfeeling, sweetheart! 1t isn't that.
We must face boldly the conditions we |
take upon ourselves"
There was a pause, after which she
began again:
Mothers health hasn't been Of the
best for the past few months. I hone
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 route
they were taking.
Il don't know she went on, what
I'm going to do without papas kiss
every night and morning"
I'll give you two" said John, I'm.
stead OF one."
rn u
They were approaching a house.
'unn suiueu the automobile In to the
''u ..e,,, ana stopped.
WHAT'S tnisr exclaimed the would
:. u,iue M terror'
, n,ersylnan
ina. norrid MI. Parkerf I don't
van. 70 10 married py MIN. Go on,
LUCK
1onn pushed on. Anita leaned back
IN the leather cushion and as pro