Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-16

as she stood there, shaded by the tall
lilac bush, looked like summer bios
som, delicate and pink. She was in
sheer white frock and PREDETERMINED
white hat, wreathed with pink rose
buds. And her face looked like rose
bud under the shadowing white hat
AS Jimmy Jackson looked into Jes-
sizes face he thought he had never seen
her look so lovely as on this morning
He had always admired Jessie, as much
for her aniable disposition as for her
beauty. And they had been "chums"
for ever and ever so many years. In
fact. Jimmy had led Jessie to school on
her first day and had introduced her TO
the teacher as my best friend, jessie"
That happened some eight years be-
fore this story opens and when Jimmy
was and Jessie 5. And ever since
that day Jimmy and Jessie had been
the very warmest of school fellows as
well as dear neighbors. Their fathers
homes joined and the children had
grown up like cousins. Whenever
Jessie wanted an escort anywhere all
she had to do was to call over to
Mrs. Jackson: please. Mrs. jackson,
may Jimmy go with me to so-and-so"
And Mrs. Jackson always found it con-
venient to excuse Jimmy from any task
that he might be of service to little
Jessie White.
But on this morning of which I write
Jimmy stood with q serious face, slow
ly shaking his head. mo, JESSIE" he
was saying, "I just can't afford it. I'd
love to buy share in the motor boat
but I just can't"
Jessie's face fell. I'm so sorry.
Jimmy" she said, softly. Il had so
hoped you could buy a third share in
it. You see, Cousin Ned White and his
chum, Billy Burt, have enough to pay
two-thirds of the price of the boat, and
they asked me If 1 thought you would
go into partnership with them, putting
in one-third of the price. 1 felt sure
that you would, Jimmy, and told them
so. You see," and Jessie's face turned
a shade pinkef, Il want to go on their
boat excursions, and of course want
you along, too. 1t would seem sort of
strange not to have you one of the
paity Mamma has promised to
ehaperone US some of the time, and
Aunt Mary-Cousin Ned's mamma, you
know-will go with us at the other
times. And papa has given his full
consent for me to go on these boat ex-
cursions up the lake. for he has the
greatest confidence in you"
Jimmy stood silent for a moment.
''What did your father say about me?"
he asked. trying TO hide the feeling of
pride in his voice.
well, he said that If you were al
ways of the party he had no objec-
ton to my going along, for you were
always a cool, level-headed young
chap who could be trusted out of your
fathers sight and he said that was
more than he could say of Cousin Ned.
Oh, papa thinks an awful lot of you,
Jimmie, and so does mamma" And
Jessie turned her blue eyes away, for
Jimmy was looking deeply in to them.
"Jessie, 1t makes me feel awfully
disappointed not to be able to go in
partnership with Ned and Billy on the
boat" he confessed mot that l par
ticularly care about motor boats, but
because want to -go-for-your sake.
But Just now I really can't afford 1t.
You see had quite a little bank ac-
count when school closed, but gave
1t to mamma. You know she has not
been east for years and she wants
to pay her sister visit. Papa was a
bit hard pressed for money, so-well, l
gave mamma what had for her trav-
cling expenses. She is planning on
starting east this week. And-I just
couldn't buy a third share in the motor
boat, JESSIE"
Jessie's eyes shone with admiration
as she looked straight into Jimmys
face. ''You are a brick. Jimmy jack
son." she said emphatieally, "and I'll
always think you're in the right, no
matter what other folks say. OF
course when I tell Ned and Billy that
you can't see your way to joining
them in the purchase Of the boat they
will say you are just stingy. You
know Cousin Ned always accuses you
of being stingy. But if he were as
careful of his money as you are OF
yours, he would be more praiseworthy.
The truth is, Cousin Ned throws his
money to the winds, never seeming to
care where the next dollar is to come
from"
"That's because he doesn't have to
earn any of it, laughed Jimmy. you
see, Jessie, have to earn most Of my