The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-13

ltf WHAT'S got into you tonight, glrlle!
You haven't been yourself all evening"
He regarded her andously.
ooh, it seems Like I've never thought Of
things before Jerry burst out little
wildly. whats mother going to do?
Live by herself She can only sew little,
not enough to make living. Of course,
if keep on working" she broke of,
hushed by thought she dared not confess.
A fellow has to be millionaire to
get married nowadays" Elmer grumbled.
"What are you afraid OFF Other people
get married on fifteen and sixteen a week.
/ suppose your mother could live with
us, too"
They had stopped on corner to wait
for the car.
Jerry shivered. "I-I don't think I
want to get married, Elmer"
"Say, what's the natter" he demanded.
"You-you said you would. What's got
into you? Ihaven't done anything, have r"
No, you haven't done anything. It's
it's me. IL just don't want to get
married. don't know why. But I
don't"
He stood looking at her in hurt mysH-
fcation, in that helpless puzzlement with
which the average man regards the, to him,
amazing illogicalness of women.
A car stopped for them at this moment,
and as it was crowded, there was no OPP
portunity to continue the discussion. BY
the time they left it to walk the block to
Jerry's home, Elmer had turned sulky.
"Well, what do you want to dor" he
inquired with an ill-treated air. "D'ye
want to call it Off" He thought to
brighten her, being quite sure that she
didn't.
She turned futteringly ooh, Elmer,
I'm-I'm awfully sorry, but yes-let's-
let's call it of"
The boy was thundcr-struck, but his
quick temper fared
All right" he cried harshly. "By
George, you're peach, amt your All
right, you've done tits off it's off"
He turned on his heel and walked rapidly
away, leaving her standing alone on the
sidewalk.
Haf-dazed by the quickness Of the ma
chinery she had set in motion, Jerry re-
manned moment where he had left her.
She caught her breath and closed her eyes
to see again as If by some revealing fash,
the face of the chauffeur. Then she ran
swiftly to her own door, and burst into it
as if pursued.
Her mother, sitting by the table, sewing,
looked up calmly at her entrance, but
Jerry's face brought an exclamation: "Why,
what's the NATTER What's happened"
Jerry's breath came quickly, her usually
clear, pale cheeks were flushed, her eyes
shining, her hair blown out of its ordinary
smoothness. There was sort Of abandon
about her that her mother had never OBJ
served in her before.
Didn't Elmer come home with your"
she asked with interest.
eyes" Jerry threw off her wraps and
drew her chair to the table. Mother, T.
want to talk to you. I'm--not going to
marry Elmer"
Not! Why, what's the matterl Did
you have a quarrel1"
Jerry shook her head. "No. Not ex-
actly. just got to thinking you see,
mother, Elmer's poor"
Mrs. Sears looked surprised and con-
cerned. "But, my dear, that's not new;
he's always been poor, hasn't he?"
"Yes, but-mother, how are we all going
to Gve2 There's his mother and there's
you. If kept on working, we could get
along but suppose-I-had tostop. Seems
to me the girls know Just kind of drift into
marrying some fellow, and then maybe they
have children right away, and they get in
debt and always stay poor" her voice
died away. Her excitement was gone, and
she sat quietly, chin in hand, staring
down at the red tablecloth under her
elbow.
Her mother gave her glance of keen
affection. Don't you worry about me,
honey. And, lawsy, we're all poor, Jerry.
Most folks never would get married if they
waited till they were rich"
Jerry spoke slowly "Oh, suppose if
l was awfully in love with Elmer, wouldn't
mind being poor, but, mother, seems like
I've just found out that don't care enough
for Elmer to want to be his wife
whats changed you, Jerry?"
"I don't know I don't know that I
really am changed. I'm just kind of walked
up, guess" She drunmed on the table
with her fnger-tips.
"I've always gone with Elmer, and we
Just drifted into being engaged. Lots of
the girls do that, and then they wake up
married" She drew long breath. "I'm
glad walked up first"
"But what walked you up9" persisted
Mrs. Sears. "Seems like there ought to
be some reason for it.
"I don't know" whispered Jerry. She
shut her ewes and the blood rose hotly in