Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-12-23

G1 the store. b04 didn't mOW
whether ron would want to ap4ak to
me or NOS
SHY laughed Maf1es Want %
speak to my old pal? OF course / do.
And now that have seen You We are
going to have q good, 0ld-fashioned
chat, but we can't stand here In this
wet and talk. I am living with my
married sister now and Just came
downtown tor q feWsthings to hapgsona
the Riddles rec. Come on up and
help n fix the things"
Jake thanked her. but remonstrat
ed that his attire was scarcely suit.
able for an evening call. Marie IN
sisted that his clothes made no differ.
ence TO her and that her sister would
surely think the same. Anyway, No
matter what her sister might think.
Jakde vas her friend. and that set
tied f.
They walked to Fourth ayenua and
took the subway to Harlem. Jake IN,
StsttAg On spending ten cents of his
precious quarter Tor the earfare. oil
though Marie had tried TO shove .
dime into his hand.
On the way up Jake told his story.
laying the blame On hard luck and the
state officials WHO had put raetnG On
the bum.
Marie listened with quiet attentt0A.
noddtug her head here and thera end
in4eR3ecttng q question now and tAen
- the exL6ook0 seemed about To drift
away from his story.
- V-ARA - R-k-~R~AA RA AAA
John. her husband. They were either
too busy decorating . tiny Christmas
tree On q stand In tha corner OF the
room OF else they didn't care. for uet-
Their evinced disapprovAl Of Jake.
He wal made 70 feel at homo In
the little family circle, and entered
with keen enjoyment the work OF TRIM
ming the tree and arranging the pres
ents for the two children fast asleep
In the next room.
The final arrangement completed,
Maude and her husband took a last
! peek at the sleepinG Riddles and called
Jake to Q them.
As the little group stood in the door
way Jake noticed that John put his
arm about Maude's waist and that the
light in Maude's eyes shone with Pc
culiar brilliance as she snuggled
closer. 1t was q picture Of domestic
love and felicity and 1t touched jake
deeply.
John and Maude having retired for
the night, Jake and Marie were left
alone in the parlor,
Seated before the fireplace, where
the gas log was throwing forth a
CHEEKY heat, Jake asked Marie about
herself.
She had left the chorus and all her
former gay companions and was now
employed in a millinery establishment.
What's the matter. with the show
game?" asked jake. TOO fast for
YOUR
Eyes. jake. Somehow Or other
I~eouldn't let myself. drift like the
! others had and whenFI came up here
to live with Maude and John and the
kids, well, they didn't think it was
the best thing for the kids to have
their aunt in the chorus. Not that
they objected to the chorus part OF
1t, but then there are so nan other
things that go with it. The gay COM
pany, the, loose way of living and
things of that Sort"
$50 you cut it out for the sake of
the kids?"
yes, for the kids and for my own
sake. l was becoming tired of the
I life, and the home life here seemed to
touch something in me and make me
i want to live right. There is nothing
in that fast life, jake; the right way
is the only way. You may prosper for
a time on the wrong road, but ooner
or later you come to grief"
Yes, she was right. Jake knew. The
wrong way had dragged him down.
Drink and loose companions had
brought him to his present level.
For a long time he sat and gazed
| at the fire. When next he spoke
/ there was a tenderness in his voice
such as had never been there before.
"Say, Marie" he said, do you think
you could help me get on the right
track, the. honest road? / want to try.
l see how happy you are and what a
change it has made in you. / am go
ing to try"
0nUeFly sne put ner nand on MS
arm. Il am glad that you will try.
You know always liked you, Akie.
Somehow you were different from the
rest of the old crowd, for you were
always a gentleman in your manner
You would never stand for the real
rough stuff"
That's the kindest thing I have
heard for two years" said jake
slowly, as-he patted the small hand
that still lay on his arm.
Suddenly he stiffened in his chair
as a thought seized him.
Marie" he asked tender1y." is there
any fellow. right now, that you think
a lot of? You know the way / mean"
mo, jake, not now she answered