The Prescott daily news. (Prescott, Ark.) 1907-1941, 1914-01-26
STORY OF MRS. JONES
BY JOSEPHINE BRANDON.

Mrs. Jones was on her way to the
brokers', in the lower part Of the city.
Her bag contained some bonds that
had to be sold-the last bit of stock
she possessed. 1t was lunch time; and
the quietness of the narrow streets.
deserted save for a belated passerby
or SO, proved conducive to introspec-
ton.
Her thoughts harked back to by
gone days to the time when her re-
naming parent had died and left her,
with few thousand dollars, in the
first bright glow of womanhood Soon
after that she met Jones. Everybody
thought he was such a nice young
man.
So, as his calls grew more and more
frequent, she came to rejoice in the
belief that the other girls were secret
ly envying her He bought violets for
her and brought her candy; he was
very nice young man indeed. There
were old maids in those days, and she
had the common fear and horror of
being left single-stranded on the
shores of the ocean of matrimony.
One evening he had TREMENDOUSLY asked
her to marry him; and she had as
TREMENDOUSLY answered him, yes.
But that was good many years
ago. Since then several little Joneses
had come into the world to laugh and
cry, and get married. They must be
clothed and fed when old enough to go
first bright glow of womanhood. Soon
to school they asked often for pocket
money, the girls especially. The little
boys saved theirs.
On making closer acquaintance
with Jones, she had discovered that
the position he hold was rather more
respectable than remunerative. In
fact, she didn't see how he could have
hoped to support wife and family on
his salary. He must have been look
ing forward to an early promotion
or else he wasn't looking at all.
But with the help of her little in
come they managed to get along pref
ty we'll. at least until the panic of '93.
Then many employees were turned out
/ of a lob: and Jones was one or the
4 number. He comforted her with the
assurance that he had never been duly
appreciated, and It wouldn't be long
before his friend, Mr.. White, could get
him a position worth while.
Meantime they lived on her money
/ She shivered at recollection of the
checks she had written to be cashed
by him In the city 1t was less PAIN
| full to lend" that way; because he
was enabled to keep tacitly to himself
the money he needed for personal ex'
penses,
| Bit by bit had her small fortune
dwindled until these few bonds alone
remained. Opportunities for work had
arisen In plenty, but always to De
passed over as too Insignificant. The
places would lower his standing, he
said. hurt his chances for bigger
things. Next week or next month Mr.
Blank or Mr.. Ray had as good as
promised to procure him this or thai
fine position. And the loan, you know
might 20 through. Then he would pay
her back all he had borrowed" and
they'd be on Easy street for the RESI-
of their lives. He then had limited a.
an automobile; for he fully expected
to get several thousand year.
But since time flew by and these ex
pectations were left behind unfulfilled
Il appeared that he set greater store
by himself than did others Sh'
thought of how he would look wher
she returned home. There he'd b
sitting. with the eternal paper In hi
hand. smoking one cigar after another
If only he would learn to like pipe
Soon after she came in he'd begin tt