The Tupelo journal., 1915-02-12


druggist, with whom he had been on
bad terms for years. He clenched his
fists. He hated the mans hypocrisy
eve more than himself.
Nov there's many talks against
Jim, but he wasn't such a bad fell
was q man named Austin, with whom
Driscoll had had a feud of several
months standing, on account of a
business misunderstanding. When q
mans cranky folks makes allowances
for him. | tell you a man who can
keep the love of a omar like Mary
Driscoll must have some good in him
it stands to reason"
TITS a pity there wasn't no chill
dren," sighed Miss Hemans, the sis
ter of the butcher. That's what ate
into their hearts like acid. But 1
guess that If he lives Mary Driscoll
will be SO overjoyed that life'l take
on a happier look for her."
mo chance OF his recovering, is
there?" asked Austin.
"A small one" said the butcher.
The doc says that if he RECEIVERS
consciousness he'll most likely get
well. 1t seems there's q splinter of
bone pressing on his brain, and they
II he RECEIVERS consciousness, the
brains all right; If he don't-well, he
won't, that's ALL"
'Did Mary Driscoll write that?"
asked another.
Sure. She wrote to Miss Hemans
here"
Jim Driscoll was conscious of min
gled emotions. The first was OF
shame and humiliation. or all the
n%eighbors gathered there, not II had
a bad word for him. But the second
was of disgust. Could it be possible
that his wife had gone to the hospital
and actually mistaken another man
for himself?
Or vas somebody lying? That was
a more probable explanation. OF
course! 1t was a lie. His impulse
was to run into the room. but he re-
strained himself, and he heard an
other speaker say:
Il tell you, Miss Hemans, when l
saw Mary Driscoll start off this morn-
ing, she looked actually pretty in that
black dress of hers, in spite of her
sorrow. She was crying, and she
couldn't hide it, but she looked like a
girl again. Sorrow seems to bring
back the youth in some people,"
"She's had sorrow enough" broke
in the first sneering voice that Dris-
coll had heard. Living with a man
like Jim is enough to make any wom-
an wish she was dead"
Driscoll knew the speaker. He was
the cashier of the local bank, and
about the only friend he had in Box
vile. And the sudden realization Of
the fellows treachery almost I'M
nerved the watcher at the window.
He, Driscoll, had been so wrapped
up in his hatred and moodiness that
he had never been able to tell his true
friends from the false ones. He had
acted like a fool. An overwhelming
ems Of remorse came over him. IL
he could see Mary now, and tell her
what a fool he had been!
And, unable longer to restrain him
self, he sprang for the door, opened
it, and rushed into the parlor.
I'm here, and I've heard every
world" he shouted to the assembly.
"You, Mr.. Nevins-" he turned to the
cashier-"were my best friend. and
you can walk right out OF my house
and never come"
"Well, Jim Driscoll was a good man
in his way said Miss Hemans, wip-
ing her eyes,
They had not heard him! Nobody
had heard or noticed him! And, ever
as he stood there. b~ewildered, Nevins
walked straight into him-and through
himi
In an instant Driscoli understood.
He was dead! He had died in the
collision, and he was in his w home
In the spirit, while the mangied flesh
lay-in the hospital, no doubt, where
his patient wife was watching!
Il agree with you, Miss Hemans,"
the butcher answered.
Jim DriscolI turned slowly away,
and, with the realization that his last
chance to redeem his life was gone,
an agonizing sense of hopelessness
crushed him.
"Jim!"
Jim Driscoll opened his eyes and
stared into his wife's face.
20, thank God, jim! You are con-
scious. You are going to get well.
Jim, God has answered my prayers.
l have prayed for you night and day
these ten days past. and the doctor
said if you knew me again you would
recover. Jim, my dear-Jim, o, my
deari"
And, kneeling at the bedsid" she
flung her arms round the sick mans
neck.
Jim, everyone is talking about It,"