Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-07-25

SSuddard. ! @A OnIy ranNNsOUR ~
good you've been 20 ns all"
But Susan would not be denied Z
thought you were proud and vain AID
and worldly. agatha. And treat
ed you harsh, | know"
no. no. Whatever yor thought It's
all past now, and you are my friend
You'll help me to take care OF this
dear old place-yesG"
The Lord will establish the work
of your hands. my child" She sud
denly turned with one If her prac-
teal ideas. Il wouldn't let that new
city man in to see Mr.. hnbleton juss
yet, II l you"
rs Mr.. straker trying to get In to
see Mr.. Hambleton?"
Knocked at the door twice this
morning, and I told him he couldn't
come in. Why not?' said he. Danger
OF fever said l. Then Mr.. Handle
ton asked me who was there. and
said, I don't exactly know. but It's
either Miss Redmond's maids beau
or q press agent and then Mr.. Ham
bleton called out, as quick and strong
as anybody, Go way! think I've
got smallpox And he went on.
Quicker'n q wink, and hasn't been
back since" Mrs. S~toddard's grim old
face wrinkled In q humorous smile.
Il guess he'll get over his smallpox
scare. but Mr.. Hambleton don't want
to see him. not yet. He wants to see
you"
I'm going in to Q him soon. any.
way" said Agatha.
But still she waited Q little before
going In for her morning visit with
James. 1t meant 80 much to her! II
wasn't to be taken lightly and casu-
ally. but with q little romp and cere'
mony. Each day since the night OF
the crisis she had paid her morning
: call. and each day she had seen new
lights in Jimmy's eyes. In vain had
. she been matter -of-fact and practical
, treating him as an invalid whose
. vagaries should be INDUCED ever
though they were Of no importance
= He would not accept her on thoss
terms. Back of his weakness hat
been a strength. more and more per
. ceptible each day, touching her will
= the sweetest flattery woman ever re
ceives. 1t was the strength of
lovers spirit. looking out at her from
his eyes and speaking to her In ever,
!. infection of his voice. Moreover. Will
he stoutly and continuously denie'
= his fever-sickness he took no troubl
to conceal this other malady. AS 500
:, as he could speak distinctly he PR
claimed his spiritual madness, thong
nobody but Agatha, and possibly Mr'
Stoddard, quite understood.
:. I'm not sick; don't be an Lido
Hand. And give me a shave. fc
Heavens sake. Anybody can 81
knocked on the head-that's all I'll
- matter with me. Give me SON
~ clothes and you'll see." Even Han
=, fhad to give In quickly. Jimmy
vresilience passed all expectations. +
came up like a rubber ball; and no.
on a fine September morning. he WI
getting shaved and clothed In n
Alexis suits. Finally he was propp'
up In an easy chair by Q window owe
looking the towering elm tree and Il
white church.
"Er-Andy-couldnt you get n
some kind OF a tie? This soft shi
business doesn't look very fit. do
Il. without q tie?" coaxed Jim.
"If you ask me. l say you look fine
1 "Where'd you get al your got
w. clothes. I'd like to known" inquire
Jim sternly, looking At Hands II
maculate linen.
:. Miss Sallle washes EN- after l
to bed in the morning." confess
Hand.
"Oh, she does, does she!" ieer
Jimmy. well. you'll have to go
W. bed at night, like other folks. no
And then what1l you do?"
II guess Miss sallie1l have to
up nights" modestly suggested Han
:. when a slipper struck him in the bac
,,s Good shot! What d'you want now
an opera hat?" he inquired d~erlsivelJ
Andy" calculated Jim. dismay 81
thing on his features. I've ju
thought Do you s'pose I'm payiI
hotel bills all this time at T
Larue?"
Hand grinned unsympathetical
IF you engaged a room, sir. and did
give II up, | believe It's the custom
"That1l do for now, Handy Andy,
~ you can't get up any better answ
than that. Lord, what's that!" j
suddenly exclaimed, as IL he had
been waiting, all ears, for that We
=. step In the passage.
:. 81 guess likely thatll be Miss RI
mond," replied the respectful HaI
And so It was.
Agatha, fresh as the morning. sto
49, in the doorway for a contemplate
moment, before coming forward
take Jim's outstretched hand.
ITO pE