The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-11-05

49,
for me!s
I think, said tho old hdy. .tha:
May Durfree cares for you - much -
she + capable Of carinG tor anybody.
But she doesn't love yon. She couldnst
love-now. What IN the wOeld did you
do to her. Jack. before you went
away? Broke her hearth"
III I had thought that. h answered,
7 would have married her. money or
no money.
ITS the safest way sid the old
lady.
In spite Of the old lady's warning
Jack tried his luck again. He declared
his love. Little Miss Durfree stopped
him promptly.
Now. Mr.. McCallum. II we are to
remain friends. she said. you must
realize that this cannot be. Won't you
try? You know. I am fond OF you, ~
a friend"
Jack told her it was impossible. He
stayed away a whole week. At the end
of that period, meeting her in the
street, he fancied that she looked q
little worried.
I was expecting You to call last
night" she said, and the pout made
little Miss Durfree look uncommonly
pretty. Jack McCallum was more
madly in love with her than ver
Il meant to come" he answered
pe%nitently, but / had an engagement.
I had promised to call on the Du-
points,"
20, those girls!" said little Miss
Durfree acidly. 81 hope you enjoyed
your visit, Mr.. McCallum."
With every nerve urging him to
shout that he hadn't, that he hated
them, Jack managed, by a superhuman
effort, to maintain silence. He had
scored his point, he had piqued little
Miss Durfree.
You're clever" said the old lady.
patting him on the shoulder. but
you won't win out that way, my dear
boy. There's only one chance for you.
and even then it's a hundred to one
against. And if you lose you'll be the
ridicule of the town."
"I1l take it," said Jack decisively.
Il don't know" said the old lady.
II shall have to ask the minister what
he thinks of it. If he agrees that it is
a possible plan I'll tell you"
Before the old lady told him Jack
had resumed his visits to Miss Dur
free. His infatuation was evident. He
had lost all that he had scored that
day in the street. Miss Durfree lived
in terror Of the proposal that came
again at last.
May, II you'll be my wife 0 shall
live on in this house and I'll only come
on Sundays said Jack. you shall
sweep and cook and dust and sew
and"
20 dear!" sighed May Durfree
Wont you ever be sensible and un
derstand. MI. McCallumf"
He took his hat and stamped out o.
the house. But on the next day thu
old lady told him that the minister hat
Endorsed her scheme.
I'VE must get her out Of her hous,
for the day." she said. .1dowscan it b.
arranged?"
Tell her about the new cooking
demonstration downtopan said Jacl
bitterly.
THE very thing" said the old lady
I'll get her to go with me and brin,
her here for lunch, and keep her til
four in the afternoon. II ! have to loci
her in this ROOM"
And she did it. II little Miss Dur
, free became vaguely uneasy about he
home as the old lady -chatted away
she concealed it as long Is possible
) The old lady was SO insistent. Sh'
Ch0uyoA hnr nn0 khfn0 ofknV onnfhor
until at length four o'clock came, a
the suspense was over.
And now, my dear, I've kept you 81
} long that l shall just walk over witt
you in atonement.'' said the old lady.
} It seemed a queer sort OF atone
| ment to little Miss Durfree, but she az
cepted the old lady's company. But a
the door the old lady showed no sign
Of going away, and Miss Durfree ha,
to ask her in. The old lady walked II
! with her-into a transformed Twin!
room.
For. where the piano had been. wa
an improvised altar, at which the min
lister stood. and in front OF him wa
Jack. and on little Miss Durfree's othe
: side was Jacks chum, Kenneth Gray
who had known all about the affair
but Of whom no mention has had t
be made before.
!. wilt thou have this woman for tn,
welded wife" the minister demanded
II will" said Jack.
wilt thou have this man to be til,
welded husband?" the minister d
manded.
fittia Niaa nnrfroo stared nj him /.