The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-11
THE EVENING STORY
The Ride of Nelson's Jim.
(By CIarissa Mackie.l

Git a move on you, now; Phoebe |
| and Owen are going to town this af- /,
| ternoon to buy wedding trumpetry! |
owens too busy to come after her |
so do you harness up. and take her
over
The farmland slowly clenched his
big, brown hands while the muscles |
of his strong neck hardened into |
rigid cords.
$50 you're going to let her marry
I that-that--" he painted between his |
teeth. when the older man interrupt
ed him angrily:
"Shut upi It's none of your bust |
ness-you amt no kin to her! This |
sister and brother business ends right
here! When I took you out of the
asylum 1 took you to help with the
work and not as member of the
family! Don't you dare to open your
mouth to Phoebe till you git to Shell
don's; she's tickled to death to git
| him." he added, cruelty, as he walked
| away.
Without another word, Jim-com-
| monty known as Nelson's Jim
walked toward the barn. Presently
he drove around to the side entrance
of the house, where Phoebe Nelson
| awaited him, shy and fiuttering, her
delicate checks alternately flushing
| and paling as he helped her into the
buggy.
Goodbye Ma" she called in a
high treble voice, waving her hand
at the dining-room window.
Mrs. Nelson's motherIy face APP
peared for an instant, clouded with
anxiety.
Take good care of her, Jim she
called after them.
| Jim turned and nodded grimly at
her. And then, with lips set hard,
straight line, as if he would repress
the speech that had been forbidden
him, he flung out his whip with a
singing lash across the mares flank.
| Phoebe uttered frightened cry.
BE careful, Jim! You know Bess
won't stand the whip, and I'm
afraid!'' She turned an appealing
| glance toward him, but his eyes were
fixed straight ahead between the
pointed ears of the little black mare.
Whats the matter, Jim? You act
SO queer! 1 suppose you're mad
about Owen and me, but 1 couldn't
help it-Pa just settled everything
| without asking me, and-and-I hate
Owen Sheldon! 1 don't want to.
marry a widower!" Her voice broke
suddenly, but his stern young face
did not relax. Still he made no re-
| ply.
Jim! What's the matter?" she
cried again.
No reply.
"Oh, dear!" she was crying softly
| now under the wide brim of her
| flower trimmed hat. 81 don't want
to go-you know why, and Ma knows.
Jim-she likes you best-you're aw-.
| full mean to make me tell it!
| Nelson's Jim turned tender brown
| eyes upon the young girl, and the
| hard lines about his mouth softened.
His lips parted for an instant and
| then shut with a little click of his
teeth. They had not yet reached
| Sheldon's farm.
There was a long silence, then.
The little black mare plunged bravely
| through the sand of the shore road,
| and emerged into the highway at a
point opposite the long lane of locust
trees which led to Sheldon's. At this
| point Jim again applied his whip, and
| they flashed past the entrance to the
| lane and whirled away down the hill
| toward town with a shimmering
stream of golden sand pouring from
the tires and settling in their wake.
| frightened gasp. what are you do
| ing? Pa will kill me, so he will!
And Owen-he's got a terrible tenn
peri" She elutched his arm fran
tically. i
81 got a terrible temper myself"
| he said savagely. II been holding it
| in for twelve years because l was
| waiting to grow up SOS could meet
your father on his own ground. He's
| twitted me with being an asylum boy
and having no name-Ive found out
all about it. 1 amt no lost heir, |
| Phoebe but I've got a name-it's
Browning-all my folks are dead, !
! can take care of you. I'm going to
the Baptist preachers now-is it all
right, Phoebe-or shall I take you
| back to Owen?'
his shoulder. "Ill go with you. Jim"
she whispered. land 1 guess / amt
afraid of Pa and owen after all
|
Three hours later Nelson's jim
| drove through the farm gate with his
pale little wife chnging to his arm.
| Seth Nelson raging around the yard
| with shot gun in one hand. while
| his wife thrust frightened face
from the kitchen door.
| with a quick leap Jim reached the
ground. and grasped the barrel of the
| weapon as Nelson raised it to his
| shoulder.
ut amt loaded, you old fool." he
shouted. as he wrested the gun from
the farmer and leaned it against the
woodshed. Now, you listen to me-
! seth NelsonL If you open your
mouth, before 1 tell you to. III knock
you DOWN.
| The old mans face worked savage
| ". He glanced toward the carriage,
and raised his fist against the shrink
| ing girl. He opened his mouth as II
| to speak.
| "Shut upi" commanded his son-in-
| law authoritatively. NOW, see
here my names Browning!
The farmer started incredulously.
INV names Browning" repeated
| lin, eInphatically This here lady is
INV wifei Mrs. Browning is her
name-Mrs. James Browning. It's
nice name-eh?
| Seth Nelson scowled sullenly at his