Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-05-16
CHAPTER xxxV.
Mr.. and Mrs. Little Jimmie.

Sneers and back-biting, shrugs and
shudders of contempt were poor COM
pensation for the ever-vivid fact that
to her Sammy while Mrs. Yelling
toms Jimmie never looked at Mrs.
WhitcOmb Or II he did, his eyes had
been SO blurred that he had seen two
Of her-and avoided both.
Yesterday she had overheard jim
mile VOW sobriety. Today his shining
morning face showed that he had
kept his word. She could hardly wait
to begin the Irritation which, she
trusted, would render Mrs. Wellington
helplessly furious for six long Reno
months.
The Divorce Drummer interposed
and held Jimmie prisoner for time,
but as soon as Mr. Baumann released
him, Mrs. Whitcomb apprehended
him. With a smile that beckoned and
with eyes that went out like far-cast
fishhooks, she drew Leviathan into
her Ret
She reeled him in and he plounced
in the seat opposite. What she took
for bashfulness was reluctance. TO
add the last charm to her success,
Mrs Wellington arrived to see 1t.
Mrs. Whitcomb saw the lonely Ashton
rise and offer her the seat facing him.
Mrs. Wellington took it and sat down
with the back of her head SO close TO
the back of Mr.. Wellington's head
that the feather in her hat tickled his
neck.
Jimmie Wellington had seen his
wife pass by. TO his sober eyes she
was q fine sight as she moved up the
aisle In his alcohol-emancipated
mind the keen sense of wrong en-
dured that had driven him forth to
Reno began to lose its edge. His own
soul appealed from Jimmie drunk to
Jimmie sober. The appellate judge
began to reverse the lower courts de-
cision, point by point,
He felt sudden recrudescence OF
jealousy as he heard Ashton's voice
unctuously, tlirtatiously offering his
wife hospitality. He wanted to trounce
Ashton. But what right had he to
defend from gallantry the woman he
was about to forswear before the
world? Jimme's soul was In turmoil.
and Mrs Whitcomb's pretty face and
alluring smile only annoyed him.
She had made several gracious
speeches before he quite comprehend
ed any Of them Then he realized
that she was saying, I'm so glad
you're going to stop at Reno. Mr. Well
ington"
Thank you. So am l." he num-
bled, trying to look interested and
wishing that his wife's plume would
not tickle his neck.
Mrs. Whitcomb went on, leaning
closer: I'VE two poor mistreated
wretches must try to console one All.
other, mustn't we?".
.Yes,-yes,-we must" Wellington
nodded. with sickly cheer
Mrs Whitcomb leaned little
closer. do you know that feel al.
most related to you, MIR. Wellington?"
Related" he echoed, "you?--to
me? How"
MY husband knew your wife so
we'll"
Somehow wave of jealous rage
surged over him, and he growled:
Your husband is a scoundrel."
Mrs. Whitcombs smile turned to
vinegar: "Oh, can't permit you to
SANDER the poor boy behind his back.
1t was all your wifes fault
Wellington amazed himself by his
own bravery when he heard himself
volleying back: And | can't permit
you to SANDER my wife behind her
back. 1t was all your husbands
fault"
Mrs. Jimmie overheard this behind
her back, and 1t strangely thrilled
her She ignored Ashton's existence
and listened for Mrs. Whitcombs next
retort. It consisted Of a simple, icy
drawl: 81 think III go to breakfast"
She seemed to pick up Ashton with
her eyes as she glided by, for, finding
himself unnoticed, he rose with
careless: Il think I'll 80 to break
fast" and followed Mrs. Whitcomb.
The Wellingtons sat dos-a-dos for
some exciting seconds, and then on
sudden impulse, Mrs. Jimmie rose,
knelt in the seat and spoke across the
back Of 1t:
ut was very nice of you to defend
me, Jimme-er-James.
Wellington almost dlslocated sew
eral joints in rising quickly and whirl-
ing round at the cordially of her
tone But his smile vanished at her
last word. He protested, feebly:
james sounds so like "a butler.
Can't you call me Little Jimmie
again."
Mrs. Wellington smiled indulgent-
ly: Well since it's the last time.
Goodbye, Little Jimmie" And she
put out her hand. He seized 1t hun
grily and chung to it: Good bye?-
aren't you getting off at Reno"
Yes, but"
so am I-Lucretia."
But we cant afford to be seen to-
gether."
Still holding her hand, he tempo
rized: We've got to stay married for
six months at least-while we estab-
fish a residence. Couldn't we-er-
couldn't we establish residence-er
together"
Mrs. Wellington's eyes grew little
sad as she answered: at would be
too lonesome waiting for you to roll
home"
Jimmie stared at her. He felt the
regret in her voice and took strange