The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-10

on his Shoulder. weeping tiredly-
There, there. kiddie, don't do that,
masn IN nov w. ne %rg ha Wby a'd I'm
tickled to death to have you here,
and mighty proud you chose to come
up to me. Were they kind of cross
to you? Aunt PANS great old gor-
| gon isn't she? Froze me up many a
time. You just be coy, we'll put old
Jim out for a few days and you may
have my room in yonder. A week or
two of vacation and you'll be all right.
Why, you don't look a bit like my
Mamie"
He held her away from him, and
looked long and anxiously at her.
Just lie down there while I make
you some tea in fifty
But Nan curled over on the cush-
ions and sobbed softly, wretchedly-
Il didn't know he was here" she
said brokenly. "Oh, Dick, Dick, you
don't know
know what?" said Dick stcrnly.
''Now look here, Nan. This is all fool
ishness, you know. Jim'S my friend,
and We've both known him years. 1
know Aunt PANS set against him be-
cause his grandfather came South
after the war and made money, buy
ing up our old tobacco plantation for
a song. That's not Jim's fault. It's
grandfather's for being such chump
he couldn't see ahead. Jim's bully
II do like him., came from the pill
lows, and just then Jim came lelsurely
out of the inner room, one hand in
his trousers pockets, the other hold
ing his pipe Dick motioned him to
be silent. Jim stared from him to
the crushed, forlorn little heap of
feminenity on the couch, and squared
his jaws.
him in Bungalow SO, say, Trench
number SIXTY
Il did not. That's what made me
come away. Aunt Pam wouldn't let
to find out where he was. Dick-can
tell you, please? ?"
Dick came over quickly to put his
arms around her, but Jim was before
him. She did not raise her head.
and he sat beside her, patting her
shoulder tenderly, grave old Jim VINO
had not smiled naturally in weeks
You know the Dale house party. 1t was
tains near Staunton. Jim and hadn't seen
each other in months, and 1T just all came
the war as artist for some paper, going
right away, and we were out motoring
together, so we, just kept on goingM1 Sane
Dickie. 1 can't bear to be scolded. He went
away that afternoon, and just as soon d as ;
after he was gone and 1 went home
Couldn't stand It when didn't hear from
him. If-if he'd cared he'd have let me
know something
Jim laid the pipe aside and deliberately
gathered her up in his arms.
Don't struggle, Mamie" he ADVISED IN
his slow Southern way of speech. Maybe
I'm a coward, but the Bible even advises
strongly against a man going to war the
first year he's married. So / came here
to Dick Seems as if Dicks real popular
as family consider. You see. after the
way you talked to me that day, l thought
you were pretty sorry. and | felt sorry,
too, that I'd even coaxed you into slipping
into that little church and saying you'd be
my wife. Don't go, Dick"
But Dick strolled out into the hall, and
closed the door after him, Jim looked
down at the tear-wet face on his breast.
He hadn't dreamed that she cared what
became of him after that one ride through
the mountains in the golden fall. 1t had
seemed the fairest thing he could do to
go away and let her alone. He tried to
see her left hand.
what did you do with the ring?" he
asked. 1t had been part of the romance
of the day, the using his signet ring to
be married with. 1t was little too large
for her, and she had wound it with some
silk unraveled from her VEIL
Nan held up her hand with the ring
where it should be, and he held it against
his lips.
wife, love-" he said slowly.
Mans arm frightened around his neck
and she lifted her face to his just as
Dickie sauntered in, saying cheerily:
THE housekeeping studios to let
across the hall."-(Copyright 1915, by
Mcclure NewsnaDer SVndicate)