The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-05

letting her temper show itself "You
just can't marry, that's all You're the
uselessest thing on earth now, and
married you'd be worse"
~ guess there's some use for me in
the world, mother" Jim contended
"If there hadn't "a been what do you
s'pose the Lord put me here for?
She looked him over as he stood in
the doorway the very picture of care
less Indifference and shiftless good
nature.
"Well," she replied, "hes the only
one that knows, and he amt told yet"
When Mary Candy discovered that
Jim was beginning to "act foolish"
she promptly but kindly told him Of
the utter uselessness Of his suit.
"why don't you want to marry me,
Mary7" he asked in a dull, dazed way,
as II not comprehending the full pur-
port OF her decision. We've always
been friends, and you know you like
me-"
81 know, jim" she said gently, but
like is not love, and one cannot marry
without love-"
"Do you love anybody else" he
asked, quickening a little. "Pve hear1
that you thought a good deal Of Jack
Murfn and him of you"
Mary Candy was not coquetting with
Jim Doty.
eyes, Jim. ! do" she answered
frankly, "and Jack and / are TO be
married as soon as school closes for
| the summer"
Jim choked, and the tears came to
his eyes.
Mother said wasn't any use IN the
world, and 1 guess l amt" he said
bitterly, hopelessly.
"Oh, yes, you are, jim" she encour.
aged him. "Your chance hasn't come
yet, but Il wlll."
and, turning away. he walked slowly
homeward alone.
The village knew what was the mat
ter with Jim for the next month or
more, but 1t was considerate Of his
suffering, and he heard no jeering
word nor the laugh that hurts.
Two weeks before the school closed
Jim was down at the railroad shops,
where Jack Murfn was foreman. He
was there chiefly because he did not
happen to be elsewhere at the mo.
ment, and he was sitting in the shade
whiting Possibly he was somewhat
more active than usual and was think.
ing. for he had just seen Jack Murfn
walking across the yards toward a
gap in the fence, and he knew the
date OF Jacks wedding day. They
were not friends In the sense of asso
ciates, but Jack did not care how
much Jim enjoyed himself about the
place so long as he did not interfere
with business, and Jim had never
been given to interfering with bust
ness If 1t did not Interfere with him.
Intent upon his thoughts, Jim con
tinued whiting until presently he wal
recalled to his surroundings by a shou
of alarm. 1t was Jacks voice, and
looking through the gap in the fence
he saw Jack lying across the rails will
his leg twisted under him and his foo
| last III Al ~ DBs llN lldu pdooNh OhI "
the main tracks, and Jim heard trail
coming. Quicker than he had eve
moved before in all his stagnant lif
he cleared the space between them ant
stood In the track over his rival
body. The heavy engine coming dow
had been reversed, but too late, ant
no power on earth could stop 1t. Blu
Jim never faltered Lifting the pros
trate man to sitting position, h.
wrenohed his foot from the fata
clutch and with giants strength h
flung him outside the rails.
When Jim's body was picked up
few minutes later n little life remain
ed--just futtering spark, but enoug
to give the light that never fades.
"Jlm! Jim! cried Murhn, takinI
him In his arms.
Its all right now. Jack" whisper
ed Jim, opening his eyes and smiling
MARY said was some use in tn
world and my chance would com
Some time Tell her.
His words had come painfully an
; In gasps. and they stopped with tn
, sentence unfinished. But Jack kneN
what to tell Mary.