The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-01-13
.NARYcnANeEs her MIND
By LOUISE OLIVER.

a period covering five years. the exac'
time he had been away from home.
The thoughts had much to do with q
grl, a girl whose picture fitted In thu
back Of his new fve-hundred-dOllal
watch. When he had left Meridian thu
photograph had adorned. the case OF Z
one-dolIar watch. Thus had Jacks
fortunes changed and he was wonder
Ing whether or not the change was Z
good one for him, and he was doubtful
about the wisdom Of telling Of his luck
TO be plain. Mary had said she loved
him but had refused to marry him IN
til he made some money.
"Yes, Jack. i do love you, and Tn
willing to marry you-but not now"
she had said.'
"Why!" he insisted. +.
Because you can't keep me very
WELL"
"1'd like to know II l can't. I've a
bully good place in Reedem's office,
and when he dies all the law business
will ON TO. me-"
That's q long time ahead. And,
anyhow. Old Mr.. Redeem never made
much. Why, his wife has done all her
own work always. And, look at her
what a plain little mouse Of a woman
she is with all the spunk that was in
her knocked out"
"'You don't, love me
Il do. I love you so we'll I don't
want to learn to hate you because I'm
played out, and | don't want you to
begin to despise me because I've lost
my looks and spirit"
: He thought 1t oyer. then took his
savings out Of the bank, said good-by
to Mary and left town.
The train slowed down and stopped.
by Jove. I'll do I'll" Jack had
thought ove a plan Of finding out a
few things for himself
He took a. bus to the Commercial
hotel, the poorest and cheapest Of the
three hostelries In the town, and
breathed with relief when he found the
lobby empty save for old man Steb.
bins himself.
Hello, therel Bless my heart If 1t
amt Jack Painter. And look how he's
all. lit up. Heard you struck it rich,
Jack
"Shw Jack put a hand to his lips.
GIVE me a room, Stebbins, will you,
and. come up; I want to have a talk"
And after a while the old man came
down and telephoned for Steve Lovall.
Steve came around, went up to Jacks
room and before long came down with
a big fat check in his pocket. =.
That day Mary Fielding was read
ing In the lawn swing when Polly
Marshall drove up the walk and ran
in excitedly.
"Oh, Mary, have you heard the
news7 Jack Painters home and he's
working in old Mr.. Redeem's office
again. It's all a mistake about his get
ting along so well and ! guess he's
glad to get back. Mercy! What's
wrong, Maze? You look like a ghost.
There wasn't anything serious, was
there, between you and Jack?"
"No-oh, no! I'm not feeling very
well, that's all, Polly"
"And that's not all the news" de-
the gossip with Importance and
meaningly. maybe you'll be more
interested In this, since you've been
so much OF Steve. Some ledy
died and left him heaps of money"
Polly left, but Mary sat silent and
,.'
She waited two days, but he neither
came nor called up. The third morn
ing she walked past the dlngy old law
and as luck had it, Jack was
just leaving for lunch.
"Hello, Mary! Gee, I'm glad to see
he held out his hand.
"You seem to be. Have you forgot
ten where l liveT'
mo, but-well, you see I didn't think
I'd be welcome"
"You used to be, didn't your"
Eyes, but ! didn't know how things
were. Besides 1--we come back poor,
"Oh, WE'LL" pretending not to get his
meaning, you're just In style In this
town. Come anyway"
He looked down at his shabby
"All right. But maybe I'll
run into Steve"
mo, you'll not run into Steve"
but he Inherited a fortune"
II don't care. / told him not to
come any more"
They had walked unconsclously to
The end Of the street and were on the
road to the river. :
Mary stopped under a scarlet oak
tree. Lets sit here a minute, Jack,
I'm tired. Tell me something. Are
very, very poor, JaCkT'
"Yes. Mary" 3.
sand are you-do you care for any
,ne"
Just the person l told i've years
lgo."
She looked away.
Maybe If you were married, you'd
ret along better, II you had a wife will
to workW
MARY, what do you meant Look
It met" -.
II mean that I'm sorry I've been
and wasted I've years of our
you love me enough to marry me
low-as I ami"
"Yes, Jack dear. rye nearly died
4 loneliness +" !
"Thank heaven !" he cried as he
nthered her into his arms. "Mary.
IN not poor, I've made good and
all the world to enjoy. I'm the