The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-01-31


began to reverse the lower courts de
cision. point by point.
He felt a sudden recrudescence OF
jealousy as he heard Ashton's voice
unctuously, tirtatiously Offering MS
wife hospitality. He wanted to trounce
Ashton But what right had he &c
defend from gallantry the woman ne
was about to forswear before the
world? Jimmie'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 mum
bled, trying to !Cok interested ano
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 ali
other. mustn't we?'
"Yes,-yes,-we must" Wellington
nodded. with a sickly cheer.
Mrs Whitcomb leaned a little
closer. do you know that | feel al
most related to you, Mr.. 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 scoundrel."
Mrs. Whitcombs smile turned to
vinegar: "Oh, cant permit you to
SANDER the poor boy behind his back.
1t was all your wife's 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. Whitcomb's next
retort. 1t consisted of simple, Icy
drawl: Il 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 a
careless: 81 think III 60 to break
fast" and followed Mrs. Whitcomb.
The Wellingtons sat dos-a-dos for
some exciting seconds, and then on a
sudden impulse. Mrs. Jimmie rose,
knelt In the seat and spoke across the
back of 1t:
1T was very nice of you to defend
me. Jimmie-er-James."
Wellington almost dislocated sew.
eral joints in rising quickly and wnirl-
ing round at the cordially OF her
tone. But his smile vanished at her
last word He protested, teebly:
james sounds so like "a butler.
Can't you call me Little Jimmie
again?"
Mrs Wellington smiled indulgent.
ly: We'll. 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"
$50 am I-Lucretia."
But we can't afford to be seen to-
gether."
Still holding her hand, he tempo
rized: We've got to stay married for
six months at Nashville we estab-
fish residence. Couldn't we-er-
couldn't we establish a residence-er
-together?"
Mrs. Wellington's eyes grew little
sad, as she answered: 1T would be
too lonesome waiting for you to roll
home"
Jimmie stared at her. He felt the
regret in her voice and took strange
courage from it. He hauled from his
pocket his huge flask. and said quick
ly: We'll, if you're jealous of this,
III promise to cork it up forever"
She shook her head specifically:
You couldn't"
Just to prove it." he said, "rll
chuck 1t out Of the window" He
flung up the sash and made ready to
hurl his enemy into the flying land.
scape.
"Bravo!" cried Mrs. Wellington.
But even as his hand was about to
let go, he frightened his clutch again,
and pondered: 1T seems a shame to
waste it."
II thought So" said Mrs. Jimmie,
dropping perceptibly. Her husband
began to feel that, after all. she cared
what became OF him.
"Ill tell you" he said, IN give 1t
to old Doc Temple. He takes his
straight"
Fine"
He turned towards the seat where
the clergyman and his wife were sit
ting, oblivious OF the drama OF recon
Citation playing SO close at hand.
Little Jimmie paused. caressed the