The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-08-25
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
THE RIDE OF NELSON'S JIM,
By ClarisSa Mackie,

Here you, Jim! Harness up and
take Phoebe over to Sheldon's!"
Seth Nelson smiled sardonically at
the whitening face of his farmland.
Git a move on you now; Phoebe and
Owen are going to town this afternoon
10 buy wedding trumpery! Owens
TOO busy to come after her, so you har-
ness up and take her over"
The farmland slowly clenched his
big, brown hands while the muscles of
his strong neck hardened into rigid
cords.
So you're going to let her marry
that-that-" he painted between his
teeth, when the older man interrupted
him angrily.
Shut up! It's none of your BUSH
ness-you amt no kin to her! This
sister and brother business ends right
here! When 1 took you ought of the
'sylum l took you to help with the
work and not as a member of the fam
lily! Don't you dare tc 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 be
drove around to the side entrance CT
the house, where Phoebe Nelson await
ed him, shy and fluttering.
"Goodby, Ma" she called in a high
treble voice, waving her hand at the
dining room window.
Mrs. Nelson's motherly face appeared
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 a 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 a frightened cry.
BE careful, Jim! You know Bess
won't stand the whip, and I'm afraid"
She turned an appealing glance to-
ward 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! l suppose you're mad about
, Owen and me, but l couldn't help it
Pa just settled everything without
asking me, and-and-I hate Owen
Sheldon! l don't want to marry a
widower."
Her voice broke suddenly, but his
stern young face did not relax. Still
he made no reply.
Jim! What's the matter?" she
cried again.
No reply.
20, dear!" she was crying softly
now under the wide brim of her
flower-trimmed hat. Il don't want to
go-you know why, and ma knows.
Jim-she likes you best-youre awful
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 Sheldons.
At this point Jim again piled his
whip and they flashed past the en-
trance to the lane, and whirled away
down the hill toward town with
shimmering stream of golden sand
pouring from the tires and settling in
their wake.
w. jim, crleu FnOeOe, win
frightened gasp. What are you do
ing? Pa will kill me, so he will And
Owen-he's got a terrible temperi''
She clutched his arm franticaIly.
Then Jim spoke.
Il got terrible temper myself"
he said cavageIy. Il been holding it
in for IL years because l was waiting
to grow up SOS ] could meet your
father on his own ground. He's twit-
ted me with being a 'sylum boy and