Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-03-09
lotion
. White Mans Choice.
By MARTHA Mc.-wlLLIAMs.


Ehat he had wit enough to love his ia
aher's ward, Cressy Oliphant
&Upon a summer morning Cressy
called to him over her shoulder: Jim
my, do come on! You are the slowest
bsd thing An you know hate man
bF a horse without lots of go.''
They were riding uphill. Cressy's
EEhiplash whined accompaniment to
Ther words. Jimmy had a talent for
saying nothing. sim, as he came with
bn easy hail he piped amiably, "Cress,
been wonderin' all this morntn' II
Won won't never learn better'n to gal
Top horse uphill"
give been wonderin if you viii
Pver learn anything" Cressy retorted,
FLASHING savagely at near bush.
Jimmy opened his eyes. "Whuts the
matter, cross cat?' he asked. you
come ridin' with me-nobody didn't
make you-an' I've let you pick your
own road an go your own gait"
'1f you've tired Of me III go on by
myself" Cressy said irritably, half
wheeling her horse.
Jimmy kept beside her. you needn't
try to run away from me-" he said. Il
been KNOWN all the way you felt bad,
an l reckon 1 know whut about"
''You don't What is it? Cressy an
Bwered all in a breath.
Jimmy laughed TRANQUILITY. Il fetch
ed you a letter yistiddy evenin'-a let
ter frum Charley"
'What business have you to know
that?" Cressy demanded Hes com
en- today. That's why ! am runnin'
away"
EFF he posters you III make him go
right back" Jimmy said promptly;
then Ills face fell. But it'll be sorter
awkward Old Charles is all the own
cousin I've got Pappy an nanny
think nigh as much of him as they do
of me-"
'You ought to hate him. Why don't
your Cressy demanded.
Jimmy stared.
"Hate him. he repeated slowly. "Why
should l hate him? He can't help bein
whit he is--smart an bright an good
iookin'-no more'n l can help bein'
whit l am"
And whit is that?" Cressy asked
crisply
Jimmy drew deep breath
"a born fool" he said humbly. "But
j got sense enough to know It. All l
can do Is to be a real white man, an
1t amt white to hate Char-anybody
better of"
"You are worse than a born fool-a
made one" Cressy cried passionately.
"An' you won't stand up for yourself.
You won't even say you love me. You
drive me to tell you l know it,
"You can't help but know it," Jimmy
broke in You been KNOWN It ever
sence you were knee high. I been fool
enough to think sometimes maybe you
might fetch yourself to take mean
the place.
II do love-the place." Cressy inter
rupted, smile dawning in her stormy
eyes. AN it has belonged to the Mar
ions ever sence the Indians went
away"
II know" Jimmy said wlstfully, "but
don't let that bother you, Cress. There's
Jest us two of the name-Charles an
AAtNs 4Uu hCNhn AANNNA paw
no matter whut happens" Then per-
suasively, Let us leave all this talk
until next year"
'Charley is not so patient" Cressy
said, swallowing hard. "He insists
on a definite answer today"
81 lay he don't get it--not until you
are good an ready" Jimmy said, with
u quick smile, patting her hand. Then
he ran on haltingly, "Cressy, love you
all I know how, but don't you let that
count if-if you love-anybody else"
They were nearing a roadside gate.
AS Cressy went through it she said,
with her head very high: Go home,
Jimmy, an give Charley his answer.
Tell him ] don't know, an / don't
want TO know"
AS Jimmy went up the walk he saw
his mother at the sitting room win
dow, very white and moaning family.
He rushed inside. His father met him,
all his hale ruddiness changed TO ash
en- gray. Charley had come and sat at
Squire Marion's desk, his pen racing
over a sheet Of legal cap. Without
looking up he called: Saddle me a
fresh horse, Jimmy, the best you've
got. The minute this is signed l must
ride like the devil"
"Whut's upY Jimmy demanded His
father clutched his shoulder, leaned
heavily upOl 1t and gasped; "Son, son,
we're on the edge Of ruinl Charley
found out early this mornin' that GIL
Magee had run away with all the
county money! An me on his bond
for $4,000! / trusted GIN like my
own brotherP'
There, there, Uncle jim" Charley
interposed. walls have ears some
times, and we must not leave one
loophole IN this precious document.
It's a deed Of gift, Jimmy. Uncle Jim
makes over to you everything-land,
money, stock and crops
"Whut forT" Jimmy asked his eyes