Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-11-14

D0N dllQ IL Sou oAouta AACA foAsW
broke.
And if / should hurt myselfv-if l
should be wiped right of this here
earth. where I've acted like a fool
would anybody have carer Jim's
voice was bitter with self contempt.
"Oh, Jim-Jim"- quavered Kitty's
voice weakly. You know I'd care
don't be coward
II wasn't going to do anything des-
perate-except get job and go to
work, like | should have done year
ago. | can get job tomorrow morn
ing driving a truck for sullivan. and
it's 80 a week. OF course that isn't as
much as / was earning when-when
/ put that ring on your finger" His
voice ended in @ge shivering
note. as IL he was g1Ing to break
down and cry.
Her thin hand sought his and found
1t. you've got good stuff in you, Jim,
If you could only let drink alone" she
said wistfully.
I'm going to have big hard try at
it, Kitty" he said solemnly. I'm not
going to get up and swear all sorts OF
promises and break half of em-but
I'm going to try-try-try hard to
break of 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 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 any
hurt! III pray night and day for your
successful trying"
"If don't come out all right--it will
be because / am Dead averr%d Jim
firmly. 81 wonder If l got the right
to ask you question, Kitty?' he ask
ed humbly.
Most anybody can ask question"
she evaded.
"But this one you might think was
none of my business, and yet 1t Is
too
II 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. saw it and recog-
nized you when you took the loaf of
| bread. If you wanted to shake me al
| together and thought | 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 any
reason you thought. Jim; it was only
because my finger got so thin 1t
wouldn't stay on. You know | never
sent you away. but you did frighten
me some when you was-was'- Poor
Kitty sought for milder word to
| frame the unpleasant truth.
when l 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 Ill bring
you the pay at the end of the week.
Maybe some day-oh, there isn't any
use In my looking ahead-I got to
prove Elyself first" he ended.
| "You mean some day. when you've
got back on your feet again and have
got little money laid by and have
| proved that you can stay straight
you mean that maybe our banns will
be published in st. Joseph'sY Kitty's
voice was wonderfully tender as 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 Ill 90 to
| Father Cahill and have him put up
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 oa a
high red truck and slapped the reins
over the backs of pair of heavy
grays He had spent the remainder
of the night ia a doorway. He was
cold and hungry but there was some
thing rev stirred within him-some
thing greater than the love with which
he had won pretty Kitty Lee; it wa
greater love for her and he forgot
everything save her pale and tired
face.
"Ain't ] the mean dog to let her 81
to the bread line?" be asked himself
| accusingly as be started forth after
his first load
1t was long and hard day. Big
hearted Sullivan had respected Jim's
on the young mans eating a hearty
meal at noon. and at night be paid
him for the days work. I'll pay yot
every night till you get started" be
promised. and Jim was grateful.
His greatest Joy came when he car
ried the dollar and fifty cents t
Kitty that evening "Jim," she said
placing her hand on his arm, but no
looking into his face. "Jim. you can
guess what I've done today-I hops
you won't be mad at me-
"You haven't got job-you ain
nt 10 WoTk. hilly, anu IOTDlu IL, ns
said rapidly.
.No-only. l went to Father Cahil
today and told him to put up oul
banns next Sunday" said Kilt
quietly, though he could see that SD,
was crying.
why itty-why- amt goini
to marry me before make good, ar,
your he cried incredulously.
II got that much faith In you, jim
Collins" she said solemnly. Pm geinl
to marry you and stick by you ant
well work up together. | amt got Il
wait till you make good-because
know you're going to-
Jim took her into his strong arms
kitty Lee. there isn't another womal