Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03
CHAPTER XXXVIu,
"They're CALM Strikes on Me.

Joe avoided Jean. His days were spent
underground, and in the summer even
been her only inheritance from her
ings. when he might have seen her with
little trouble. he Stunned walks they had
known Of old together. He heard that
she had sold the little cottage that had
grandfather. and he knew that this
neant the severing of her last tie with
the town. The community. rejoicing in
her success, whispered the fabulous terms
of her professional engagements.
Jean, with her trunk packed, had yet
to see him before leaving the valley, and
he appeared at the cottage by a charac-
teristic inadvertence. leaning upon the
gate as she closed the door for the last
time.
"Everybody's sorry you're goin'. Jean;
but I guess you got to pull out. You've
outgrown the town and it's you for the
large cities now
II have to go where my work is. I'm
going to share another woman's studio in
New York this fall. I'm going first to
visit Mrs. Blair in Maine"
always 20 there" Joe reeied me proud n1 os
and their ways 'Walsh and Whiskers
blew in yesterday and took my boss to
Pittsburg. He said he'd be back in a
day or two. He's the busy little worker
when he gets started"
They stood with new restraint upon
them at the gate that had known their
childhood and youth. Joe saw that his
reference to Wayne had not been fortu-
nate and he twisted his cap nervously.
Hes come round all right, Jean. He's
pretty safe from the drink now He's
worked it off,
He can do anything he tries And
you've done a great deal to help him.
You wouldn't have come back to the
mines if you hadn't thought he needed
you.
ooh, pshaw! Jean. But I guess I was
stuck on him. all right. or I wouldn't
have come back. 1 guess you know why
he came here-it was for you. And the
goin to work. guessed you did hat,
too. 1t listens like you. JEAN. And now
he's made overland you made him. 1
want you to be good to him."
Hes my friend and yours-that's all.
joe" she said. firmly Il may not be in
Denbeigh for good while. but want
to tell you before I go that I'm still
give me another chance I'll do my best.
I mean it, Joe. with all my heart
II wish you'd stop thinking about that
business. 1t amt no use, Jean. And
now you got big chance and I'd only
be in the way. You don't want to come
back-not honest in your heart you don't:
you just think it's right: and Father Jim
told you you oughtn't to have left me
that the divorce was sin. But you re
free-and I'm not holding YOU"
IF you want to come any time you
can always find out where I am" she
said. II shall always be ready"
HE came here because you had lived
here. 1 guess 1 know him. I knew
that when we started from Gettysburg.
And he's workin' now to please you.
You're all he's got. You can bet he
! wouldn't take what he's takin'-the work
and the boardin' -house diet-for nothin'
You got him goin'. Jean; he wants you
, to see that he's got good stun In him.
He's fightin' of his thirst every day;
that's why he walks SO much at night
1 don't have to watch him any more
he's got a grip on himself. He comes
into the boardin' house after everybody 9
gone to bed and tumbles down in his
bunk SO dead tired he don't hear nothin'
You ought to be proud Jean, that q man
like him's dom this for YOU 80
Mr. Craighilfs good man; he doesn' t
need any help from me-"
Hes the real gold" added Joe. and
I want you to be good to him. want
you to marry him. JEAN"
"Oh, Joe. JOEL she cried, Departing
ly. don't speak Of such a thing! You
don't know how foolish you are to talk
so.'
I'm sorry. JEAN" he answered. hum
blv. IT want you to be happy--and him )"
He babe her goodbye and moved away
dejectedly through the night Jean went
70 the house of the friends with whom
she had been staying, and the next MORN
ing left for New York
(To be continued tomorrow