The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-01-06
REVnATlollS'
QRMPE~
What Jim Said when Madge Told Him
Katis,a Old Romance.
BY MSle 6arrasen


Katie, when she AIDED me TO tell Jim
Gregg. whom she was Coon to marry,
the story Of the bogSs marriage into
which she had been trapped when a
girl of 10 in her native Poland.
why, Katie" l stammered, II hard
ly know Jim; cannot 60 to him with
this story. IL is something YOU ought
to tell him yourself"
katies face worked ptiiully.
"Oh. Mi,sis Graham, my goot, dear
Missis Graham" she walled, "plees you
be so goot, tell Jim dot. Me, cannot
spik nice words like vot you can. II !
tell Jim know vot he tink. lie tink,
dot Katie, she been Won bad girl and
she just feex up dis story so | not get
mad But il you tell him, you hat ths
words spik so nice and kind: ne see
you believe me, den he believe me, too.
Everything all feex up, vat you say
here in America. all hunkee doree."
could not repress a smile at katies
artless attempt to air her knowledge OF
American slang but the next moment
more serious thought came to me
Could it be possible that her Fremont
tion OF Jims Interpretation OF her story
was based upon her own secret know
ledge e the facts in the case, and that
the very plausible tale she had told me
was only cloak for more sinister
story.
But one look at the girls tear SUI
fused eyes uplftcd to mine made me
ashamed of my doubt Of her, But,
womanlike, could not resist voicinE
the doubt.
Katie" said gently, look at me"
1t was superfluous command, for
the girls eyes were already fixed upon
/ mine. Their expression changed, how
ever, when spoke. There was in them
look OF calm dignity
Can you give me your word of hon
or. Katie, that this is the whole truth
that YOU have told me. that there is
nothing else in your life that you will
be afraid or ashamed to tell JimI'
"No, Missis Graham" Katie returned,
earnestly, IL tell you true. ! goot girl,
very soot girl. Nothings but dot ever
happened me Vot you want do, swear
il on Book
Her voice. her tone. had a touch OF
outraged dignity for which could not
blame her felt that owed the girl
an atonemcnt for the doubt of her
had put into words. and | resolved TO
grant the request she had made Of me,
no matter how unpleasant the task
might be.
mo. Katie" / said quietly, ~ will
not ask you to take any oath Your
word OF honor is sufficient for me.
will tell lin II you wish me to do so"
Before ! could prevent her the girl
sank 10 her knees, caught the hem Of
my skir, up to her lips and kissed it.
oh. tank you, tank you, my deaf
Missis Graham, she choked. II never
can tank you for this enough"
"Jim, He Waiting"
Get up, Katie" ! said sharply, for
the girls theatricalism sometimes Jars
upon me. Tell me, when is Jim COM
ing asain-tonisht?" | smiled mis-
chevously at the girl, for since the
time Jim had told my mother n-law
and me of his desire to marry Katie
there had scarcely been an evening that
we did not hear his voice in the kitchen,
"Sure,' Katie laughed cofly "Sure,
he COON tonight. You see him den'"
hopefully.
"Yes." I returned, when you are
ready to have me see him come and
tell me, and | will 90 down to the
kitchen.
"Now, never mind thanking me-" !
said, as Katie cvinced an inclination to
get on her knees again. run along
and attend to your work. and let US
have no more crying"
] made my tone as firm as possible
and Katie hurried obediently away.
II was quite late that evening when
Katie summoned me to the kitchen.
think she bad purposely waited until
she heard my mother-in law go up
stairs to bed.
Dicky looked mildly curious when
the girl, with a mysterious air of i'm
portance said: "Plees to COON out here
meenit. Missis Graham"
What's the row" Dicky asked. lazi-
y
Il won't be long" returned.
evasively, and followed Katie down the
hall.
Jim, he waiting" Katie whispered.
Il Joost tell him YOU want to spik to
heem."
We came TO the kitchen door, she
opened il, gave me little push. and
then fled giggling with an emotion
which | knew was S near tears as
laughter.
Jim got up awkardly as | entered.
his face looked grave and troubled. r
wondered II he had any inkling Of my
errand
"Poor Little Kid."
Because Katie loves you very much
Jim | began, "she has asked me TO
tell you something which she wants you
to know before you two are married.
She would have told you herself, but
her English Is 10 poor that she wAs
afraid she could NOT make you under
stand all she wished to say"
Jim's face grew white under his tan.
lie bit his lip, and his hands worked
nervously.
Katie don't never need to think shes
got to tell me nothing" he declared,
with q heroism as perfect as his Eng
lish was faulty.
u know jim" I said, gently: my
heart warming to him, but Katie
wishes YOU to know this. and have
promised her | would tell you, 20 please
sit down and listen 10 me quietly"
He sank obedientiy into . chair and
| began at the beginning Of katies
pitiful little story, and told him the