Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-09-11
Novelized From
Eugene Walters
Great Play ~
CHAPTER X.

--N-t"att+- "a NAA aNge anu Wv aAAIlE
Of our griefs. This was the sort OF
friendship that animated Jimsy smith.
His regard began IN love for Emma
Harris, but when be found that this
love was not reQuited be did not for
that reason withdraw bis interest in
her Accepting the cold reality with
his usual philosophy. be thrust deep
down in bis heart the passion that
never could be eradicated. and his
sterling. undinchjng honesty trans
formed IL in time into a fraternal az
lection as self sacrificing as Il was
loyal which be extended 70 the man
Emma bad chosen for her lie partner.
With his keen perception be had soon
seen that that man was morally weak,
Tresoiute Of purpose. incompetent IN
business and that bis love for his wife
was not OF that kind which counted
sacrifice for her as a privilege and for
bearance, Indulgence and unfauing
consideration for her gentler and
purer nature as a duty But Il was
not for BIN 20 judge or 20 condemn.
That Emma was satisfied was sufi-
Client No other consideration natter
ed particle. And be esteemed him
self happy in being admitted 20 the
little household on terms Of the IN
tmacy Of an elder brother. In ali the
world there was no one else be cared
for or who cared for him.
when Mrs. Brooks and be re-ertered
the apartment and she turned 20 him
and told him that Il was good 20 see
him back she meant e.
1T is good 10 ne 70 be back again"
he admitted, IL only for few hours"
why a few hours Jimsyr"
Williams expects me 10 take the
midnight train FOR Boston There IS
some legal tangle about our dock lease
there"
~oh. see. Did Joe tell you about
our good fortune7 OF course you can
see the change" and ste made a ces-
ture that Jook so the whole room.
You mean the raise in salary and
back payf"
Yes. Wasn't it splendid OF Captain
Williams
1t certainly has agreed with you
be responded evasivoly. Never saw
you look SO we'll"
Did the captain tell you about itT'
mo, be never mentioned II"
why notT'
Captain Williams has a habit OF
keeping q whole lot 20 himself"
1t came as complete surprlse-ar
least 90 me-"
Seems 20 have done your mother a
whole lot Of good. She never did
shine mp 90 that Harlem Dat"
In ali the years I've known YOU.
Jlmsy you've never spoken OF your
mother OF father. l suppose you don't
care to-"
An expression Of pain ait,ed over his
face
mo; Il amt pleasant" be confessed.
Mrs. Brooks was sincerly sorry for
her rather tnougltess remark.
Forgive ne. Jimsy. / wish I hadn't
said that could I help TO make II
more pleasautl I'd Ike TO" she said
sympatheticaly.
he gazed al her with a queer look
and for few moments did not speak.
BE appeared 10 be debating something
10 his mind.
Ny mother. as near as ! have been
able 70 and out liked out into Colo
RADIO when IL was a territory. There
wasn't much law and. guess. no con-
ventionalities. Everybody kind O.
drifted along the best or the worst
they could. the majority voting the
straight ticket for the worst A shake
Of the hand was as good as a bond. !
and there wasn't any law IN the land
except that between man and woman.
Some OF them out there yearned as |
much for the sanctity OF the Maria ge |
vows as an Arab IN the Sahara does
for a sun bath. II was a loose coun- |
Try. full OF loose people. My mother !
fell IN love with a rowing miner. and |
he promised 10 marry her, but before |
the parson wandered into the camp 20 |
make a little loose change tying mat
rimonia1 knots pa got into an argu-
ment concerning alcoholic capacity |
and got plugged with a 45"
"Kined?"
Yes, He passed on. Later I was I
showed into the midst or an unsuspect- |
ing public. My coming into the world |
without the usual legal credentials hit l
my poor mother awful hard. and be- 4
fore / could open my eyes she died.
Then there was an awful argument
about where belonged"
"HowY'
Two cities claimed me. Denver said
was born In Omaha, and Omaha
blamed IL on Denver. Those that look
ed after me when | was a kid got a
little careless about my education, and /
finally the city OF Denver adopted me
as favorite son Fathers only known
name was Jim ] grabbed IT, I had TO
have a last one on the handle. so j
chose Smith. feeling tolerably certain
Is would pass the scrutiny Of an In /
quisitive world without raising storm ]
OF curiosity"
He paused. then concluded. with a
wan smile:
You see Emma, ! am some shy"
I'm awfully sorry. Jimsy, but Il
doesn't make a lot OF difference. does
itT' she said coDsolingly.
mo. only thars why came east.
The west ainT conducive to pleasant
recollectiOns."
It's nothing you could help"
mo. hgure you can't always
blame people for what they can't heln |