Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-01-05
He Changed
His Mind
Every once in a while | change

6Iol Acu the gOuuSlbu UdCuelOT. JUDI
now I'm away out on a limb. scarce
u knowing which way to jump in re-
gard to the matrimonial possibilities
Of this life.
You know, ever since I've been
old enough to think out my wants for
myself I've planned to wait until |
could make satisfactory arrange
ments with some young creature with
Q fair assortment of personal charms
and also few bales of the negotiable
yellowbacks in her own right, besides
a sterling silver key ring containing
keys to safety deposit boxes, summer
homes and all such things.
of course, never went into the
boss and told him was going to quit
my Job pending final arrangements
for winning out a home with eight
baths and hired help. No, I've kept
plugging along all the time, and it
looks as If ought to be fairly well
heeled some day, even should have
to work for it all But up to day be-
fore yesterday | was still counting on
facing world some day that would
say: Yes, he married her just for
her money"
1T wasn't that | was so sordid as
TO leave all such items as mutual,
personal regard out of consideration.
u figured that with all the hard work.
ing fathers there are dying off and
leaving their money to daughters
who don't know how to invest it or
look after 1t, there surely ought to
be one that would appreciate my true
worth and who also would have every
desirable personal quality that
would find in one with no chattels or
prospects beyond a $40 trousseau.
But I've changed my mind since
passed day last week with a fellow
whom I've been envying for several
years because things seemed to break
so well for him. The last time saw
him before this visit he was about
to be married to the daughter of his
employer. Her dad gave 'em a bun
galow In this suburb for a wedding
present, and she bought red touring
car as long as five room fiat, out of
her own funds. Then an uncle of
hers turned summer camp of his in
the St. Lawrence over to them 10 use
when they wanted it. Since then I've
heard from my old friend Jim by SOU
Venir postal, first from different pla-
ces in Europe, then from Palm Beach
or New Brunswick, according to the
season of the year. r>.r,
That was pretty soft for old Jim,
1t seemed to me, especially on hot
days, when ! would be sweltering
away at my Office and the letter car
rier would bring me a card that he'd
sent me from some big resort of in
the mountains or at the seashore.
felt that could enjoy that sybaritic
life just as we'll as he could.
We'll, as started to tell you. WIS.,
tied Jim a day or so ago. He apollo.
gized for meeting me with the limou-
sine on such warm day, but he said
the touring car was in the shop for
repairs after jaunt he'd made up to
some lake in Wisconsin.
81 saw at once that Jim was
changed. Four or five years ago, be-
fore he was married, he was one of
those positive, table pounding fellows
In his talk-had strong opinions
about everything, and didn't mind
telling them. Now he acted so sub.
dued and had such a hangdog look
that l wondered If high living had
Knocked all the old-time ginger out
Of him.
After We got to his home and had
handed our hats to a servant in the
front hall began to discover what
was wrong. Jim's wife was a de
mure little thing to look at, but she
had Jim jumping every minute of the
time, Honestly, he didn't cut any
more of a figure around that place
than four ounce piece of ice in q
six-foot refrigerator.
Mice sort of girl, too, Jim's wife
was, you understand. She fairly out
did herself to show me a good time
First, she had Jim hustle upstairs aft
er some new records for the phono
graph. Then she chided him for be
ing so dilatory about getting me q
fresh cigar. Oh, 1t was Jim this anC
Jim that all the time. She did It II
a pleasant sort Of way, but Jim knew
what he had to do, all right. HI
came about as near being the head
Of that house as a minority stockhold
er does to getting on the executive
committee Of a trust Jim Just help
ed around, that was all.
"The next day he got to talking t
me confidently. He said he was 81
sick and tired Of Europe and summel
resorts and winter resorts and so
ciety and money and the people whit
had 1t that he knew he would havI
been happy II he could Just have mar
ried some miller's daughter in a ia.
town and then could have got a jol
as bookkeeper in a feed store ant
lived quietly in a drab cottage bacl
of a saWmill.