Gilpin observer., 1915-12-23
THE Family coNsOLER
BY HOPE AINsLEE.

| Just minute, Jim," said he.
1t was not Jim. She stood with her
back to the door and looked at him
with eyes full of accusation, biting her
lip to keep back the betraying tears.
Great Caesars ghost, Mamie,
where did you drop from?" exclaimed
Durant You poor little kiddie. Come
here"
Nan flung her fur scarf point blank
at him as he started for her.
Il hate you. Dickie Durant,' she
stormed. You left me down home
there at the mercy of Aunt PAMELA
and Bob. And hate Bob, and I'd hate
Aunt PAMELA. too, only she's a rela-
tive"
Why discriminate" Durant re-
sponded. You hate me, your best big
brother. Bob doesn't count. You
can't stay here. kiddie." He looked
around the studio.
why not?" Mamie set her suit
case down and proceeded to take off
her velvet tam and cloak 'Ill keep
house for you, Dicky. You may draw
my beautiful, high-bred profile, and
|
on the awful things you've been doing.
too, can tell you that. I'll be your
chaperon when you have models-you
do have them, suppose. poor old Dick
and I'll do anything in the world
you tell me to except go back home
to Aunt Pam. That l won't do
my dear child" Dick drew her
down beside him on the couch, my
dear misguided, exuberant, willful lit
tie sister. will you listen to old Dick
for half minute. You can't stay here
with me. Jim shares this whole shack
with me-"
Jim? Jimmie Wethersell?
thought he'd gone to the war" Sud-
den dismay overspread Nannie's face.
He said-he promised he'd go-I-I,
oh, Dick!"
There, there, kiddie, don't do that
Hush now," he urged. 81 didn't mean
to be inhospitable. Why, I'm tickled
! to death to have you here"
He held her away from him, and
looked long and anxiously at her.
Just lie down there while make you
some tea in jiffy."
But Nan curled over on the cushions
and sobbed softly, >wretchedly.
Il didn't know he was here" she
said brokenly. "Oh, Dick, Dick, yc'
don't know
Know what?" said Dick, stern
Now look here, Nan. This is all fooi-
ishness, you know. Jim's my friend,
and we've both known him fcG years.
| know Aunt PANS set against him
because his grandfather came South
after the war and made money, buy
ing up our old tobacco plantation for
song. That's not Jim's fault. It's
grandfather's, for being such a chun
he couldn't see ahead Jims bully
chap. Why don't you like him?'
Il do like him." came from the pill
lows, and just then Jim came leisure
ly out of the inner room, one hand in
his trousers pockets, the other holding
his pipe. Dick motioned him to be
silent. Jim stared from him to the
crushed, forlorn little heap of femi-
ninity on the couch, and squared his
| jaws.
You seemed pretty anxious to have
him in bungalow SO, say. trench num-
ber sixty"
81 did not. That's what made me
come away. Aunt Pam wouldn't let
me even speak his name, and had to
find out where he was. Dick-can l
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 who had not
smiled naturally in weeks.
You know the Dale house party?
1t was such a wonderful place up in
the mountains, near Staunton. Jim
and I hadn't seen each other in
months, and it Just all came back to
US, and he said he was going to the
war as artist for some paper, going
right away, and we were out motoring
together, SO we just kept on going
and we were married. Don't speak
yet, please, Dickie. l can't bear to be
scolded. He went away that after
noon, and just as soon as we even
turned back I was sorry. But after
he was gone and l 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 his pipe aside and deliber'
ately gathered her up in his arms.
Don't struggle, Mamie" he advised
in his slow. southern way of speech.
Maybe I'm coward, but the Bible
even advises strongly against man
going to war the first year he's mar
ried. So came here to Dick. Seems
as II Dicks real popular as family
consider. You see, after the way you
talked to me that day, | 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"