Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-11-30

broke
"And if 1 should hurt myself-if 1
should be wiped right OFF this here
earth, where I've acted like a fool
would anybody lave a care" Jim's
voice was bitter with self contempt.
ooh, Jim-Jim''- q~uavered Kitty's
voice weakly. You know I'd care
don't be a coward"
II wasn't going to do anything des-
p~erate-eXcept get Il job and go to
work, like l should have done a year
ago. l can get a job tomorrow morn
ing driving a truck for Sullivan, and
it's So a week. OF course that isn't as
much as l was earning when-when-
I put that ring on your finger" His
voice ended in a strange shivering
note, as if he was going to break
down and cry.
Her thin hand sought his and found
it. you've got good stuff in you, jim,
if you could only let drink alone" she
said wistfully.
I'm going to have a big hard try at
it, Kitty" he said solemnly. Pm not
going to get up and swear all sorts of
promises and break half OF 'em-but
In going to tr~y-try-try hard to
break off and maybe he hesitated
and turned his head aside.
Maybe what?" she whispered.
Maybe you might sort of pray a
little now and then-you know that
helps along some and I'll try a lot"
Kitty uttered the ghost of her old
merry laugh. "All right, Jimsy boy
you do the trying and slip a prayer in
now and then yourself-'twon't do n
hurt! I'll pray night and day for your
successful trying"
be because l am dead" averred Jim
firmly. II wonder if l got the right
to ask you a question, Kitty?" he ask
ed humbly.
"Most anybody can ask a question:
she evaded.
But this one you might think was
none Of my business, and yet it is
too"
Il guess you won't ask anything l
don't want to answer said Kitty,
with a return Of her old assurance.
II was wondering" said Jim slowly,
"why you was wearing that ring on
your right hand. l saw it and recog-
nized you when you took the loaf Of
bread. If you wanted to shake me al
together and thought 1 was no good
you could have shook the ring alto
gether instead of changing it to the
| other hand
There was a little silence before
Kitty answered: ut wasn't for Il
| reason you thought, Jim; it was only
because my finger got so thin it
wouldn't stay on. You know l never
sent you away, but you did frighten
me some when you was-was''- Poor
Kitty sought for a milder word to
frame the unpleasant truth.
when ] was just plain drunk" fin
ished Jim bitterly. Don't try to
soften it, Kitty, dear. It'll do me good
to hear it. Now. I'm going to leave you
here, and I'll get some money from
Sullivan tomorrow night, and I'll bring
you the pay at the end of the week.
Maybe some day-oh, there isn't any
use in my looking ahead-l got to
prove myself first" he ended.
You mean some day, when you've
got back On your feet again and have
got Il little money laid by and have
proved that you can stay straight
you mean that maybe III banns will
be published in st. Joseph's| Kitty's
voice was wonderfully tender us she
asked the question, and Jim's face was
radiant with happiness as he replied:
God bless you, Kitty! Yes"-he
chOked-"after I've restored your faith
In me you can tell me and I'll 20 to
Father Cahill and have him put mp
the banns. It'll be the happiest day Of
my life"
At Z o'clock the next morning Jim
Collins climbed up to his seat on IL
high red truck and slapped the reins
over the backs of a pair of heavy
grays. He had spent the remainder
of the night in a doorway. He was
thing new stirred within him-sume
thing greater than the love with which
he had won pretty Kitty Lee; it WA
a greater love for her aud he forgot
everything save her pale and tired
face
Amt ] the mean dog to let her so
to tie bread line!" he asked himself
a~ccusinglv as be started forth after
his fist load
II was u long and a hard day. Big
hearted Sullivan had respected Jim's
desire to 10 better and had insisted
on the young mans. eating IL hearty
meal at noon, and at night he paid
him for the days work.. "IIl pay you
every night till you get started" he
promised, and Jim was grateful.
His greatest joy came when he car,
ried the dollar and fifty cents to
Kitty that evening. "Jim," she said,
placing her hand Oh his arm, but not
looking into his face; Jim, you can't
guess what I've done t%oday-I hope
you won't be mad at me-"
you haven't got Il job-you amt
fit to work, Kitty, and I forbid it," he
said rapidly.