Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-06-21

ltIS, anu TIC iloieS SoiiSo AioA
tons"
oh" feebly.
Its an old business" he went on
with something of proprietary pride
My grandfather founded it in 1775
Made buttons for the Continental ar
my.
"Oh, yes" I said. "They melted the
buttons to make bullets. didn't they
Or they melted bullets to make but
tons? Which was it?"
But again he interrupted.
Its like this" he went on hur-
riedly Aunt Selma believes in me
She likes pictures, and she want
ed me to paint, if l could. I'd have
given up long ago-oh, 1 know wha,
you think Of my workout for Aunt
Selma. She has encouraged me, and
she's done more than that; she's paid
the bills"
Dear Aunt Selma" l breathed.
when l got married." Jim per-
sisted, Aunt Selma doubled my al
Ilowance. l always expected to sell
something, and begin to make money
and in the meantime what she ad-
vanced l considered as a loan. He
was cycling me defantly, but 1 was
growing serious. 1t was evident
from the preamble that something
was coming.
ITO understand, Kit" he went on
dubiously, you would have to know
her. She won't stand for divorce.
She thinks it is a crime"
What" I sat up. 1 have always
regarded divorce as essentially disa-
greeable, like castor oil, but neces-
sary.
| "Oh, you know well enough what
I'm driving at" he burst out savage
| vi. "She doesn't know Bella has gone.
She thinks l am living in a little do
mestic heaven, and-she is coming
tonight to hear me flap my wings
Tonight"
| I don't think Jimmy had known
that Dallas Brown had come in and
|
Hearing his chuckle at the doorway
brought us up with jerk.
where has Aunt Selma been for
the last two or three years?" he ask
ed easily.
Jim turned, and his face brighten
ed.
Europe. Look here, Dal, you're a
smart chap. She'll only be here
about four hours. Can't you think of
some way to get me out Of this? I
want to let her down easy, too. I'm
mighty fond of Aunt Selma. Can't we
can't say Bella has headache?'
"Rotten" laconically.
Gone out of town." Jim was des-
perate.
"And you with a houseful Of din
ner guests! Try again, jim"
II have it," Jim said suddenly.
Dallas, ask Anne If she won't play
hostess for tonight. Be Mrs. Wilson
pro tenn. Anne would love it. Aunt
Selma never saw Bella. Then, az
terward, next year, when I'm hung
in the Academy and can stand on my
lfeet"-C'Not If you're hung" Dallas
linteriected. )-"Ill break the truth to
her."
But Dallas was not enthusiastic.
Anne wouldn't do at ALL" he de-
clared. Shed be talking about the
kids before she knew it, and patting
me on the head" He said 1t COM
placenty; Anne fiirts, but they are
really devoted
"One Of the Mercer girls?" 1 sug-
gested, but Jimmy raised a Mortified
hand.
you don't know Aunt Selma" he
protested. II couldn't offer Leila In
the gown she's got on, unless she wore
shawl, and Betty is too fair"
Anne came in just then, and the
whole story had to be told again to
her She was ecstatic. She said II
was good enough for a play, and that
of course she would be Mrs. Jimmy
for that length of time.
You know" she finished, "if 1t
were not for Dal, l would be Mrs.
Jimmy for any length Of time. 1 have
been devoted to you for years, Bill
ken"
But Dallas refused peremptorily.
I'm not Jealous" he explained,
Strengthening and throwing out his
chest, "but-well, you don't look the
part, Anne. You're-you are grow
ing matronly, not but what you suit
me all right. And then I'd forget
and call you nanny" which would
require explanation. l think it's up
to you, Kit"
"I shall do nothing Of the sort"
snapped. It's ridiculous"
Il dare you!" said Dallas.
l refused. l stood like a rock while
the storm surged around me and beat
over me. l must say for Jim that he
was merely pathetic. He said that
my happiness was first; that he
would not give me an uncomfortable
minute for anything on earth; and
that Bella had been perfectly right
to leave him, because he was a sink
ing ship, and deserved to be turned
out penniless into the world. After
which mixed figure, he poured HIM
self something to drink, and his
Hands were shaking.
Dal and Anne stood on each side
of him and patted him on the shoul-
ders, and glared across at me. l felt
that if l was a rock, Jim's ship had
struck on me and was sinking, as he
said. because of me. 1 begun to
crumble.
| "What-what time does she leave?
asked, wavering.
"Ten: nine; Kit. are you going to
do it?"
| mo-" I gave a last clutch at my
resolution. people who do that kind
Of thing always get into trouble. She
might miss her train. She's almost
certain to miss her train
you're temporizing," Dallas said
L.