The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-24
HER HOPE CHEST
BY SYLVIA TURNER.

never saw one DeIOre, COUSIN Jess.
1t must be more fun getting it stocked
| up. How do you start one? Do you
have to wait until YOU meet someone
you like best?"
mo. You start in on hopes, dear,
don't you see? You hope the right one
may come, and you try to be ready for
! him.
"But didn't you ever-you don't mind
my asking. do you-have anybody
mean-didn't it ever seem as IL you
might use the things?"
YES, once" Jessica's tone was quite
| impersOnal and CHEEKY. when I was
nineteen. We had new minister. He
was quite young, and very talented. 1t
was shame to waste him here in this
little dead and alive place. We were
engaged to be married for several
months"
"Then what2" Dora rested her
4 rounded chin on her palm eagerly. She
did admire this self-sufficient, charm
ing cousin greatly. After the steady
round of humdrum life in Hollywood
Is was like real glimpse into the out
side world of endeavor and. achieve
ment to have her visit them.
/ 'Then I just broke it. Because he
refused call to city church. I was
ambitious, and he felt that his duty
lay here"
| "But haven't you ever really been
I'm low r
| "Yes, l have loved, richly and fully,
and, my dear, he never knew. Close
up the hope chest. I'll give you every
thing in it when you are ready to have
4 your own bridal veil pinned on"
4 "And not one single word more
would she say, mother. DEAR" Dora ex-
claimed that night when she had told
A Mrs. Dinsmore Of the hope chest story.
"Who do you suppose it wasp
A Mrs. Dinsmore shook .-.-., head with
a little smile. But the following day
While she was driving through the little
town with Jessica she bowed to
someone just emerging from the City
hotel.
tits Greg Ivesson," she said cas-
ually. Hes our city attorney, and rum
ming for the legislature, too. He made
n a splendid record on some factory
cases. He pushed several cases and
won them. Harley Lane stood back of
him and led the better town element
on his side. You remember Harley, of
course. He's still minister here at
E Grace church."
i I'll always thought he was so con-
servative," said Jessica, haltingly. She
1 was frowning.
well, he was, until he married Nell
lie Ste1&ns. She made splendid wife
I + Tor Harley It means everything to
man, what kind of woman he chooses
i for wife. To man like either Har-
!, ley or Greg Iyess0n, marriage would
mean more than just love and compan-
i0nship. A woman would be the In
q spiration of their life. Ii she could
a not be this, am sure"
Jessica gave quick cry as the horse
swerved and backed. In an instant 1t
a had reared and bOlted straight down
n the street, headed for the railroad
tracks. Greg Ivesson had just stepped
into his car when the horse started. AS
4 It swung down the street he followed,
bending low over the wheel, seeing,
not so much the swaylng carriage, as
the figure to the right-Jessica Hayes.
Just as they came to the tracks there
1 = es,kHs ,Si< 90 h., -
1t did not stop at Hollywood, he knew,
and the frenzied horse made straight
for the crossing with ears laid back
land staring eyes. How he did 1t he
never could have told, but he turned
Ithe car directly across its path, and
the two came together heavily, the car
and the carriage, but the express swept
Ton. And the figure on the ground was
IGregs.
i Jessica's stay had heightened from
lone week to six. Every day she went
with Mrs. Dinsmore to call at the ho-
tel and ask after Greg. During the
time when he lay unconscious that first
day she sat alone. thinking Of all heg
aunt had said. A woman should be
the inspiration for q man like him or
Harley. She had not been.
/ When Greg was better Mrs. Dins-
more Insisted on his coming up to the
Pines as her guest for rest.
i You know, In spite of his success.
he leads rather monotonous life. You
won't mind, will you JESSE" innocently.
"0h, not at ALL" answered Jess. I'm
going Monday, anyway"
1 But Sunday as she passed along the
walk to the street to join Dora she
heard her name spoken. Greg came
4 toward her from the stables.
you've changed so wonderfully" he
said to her. II remember you as girl
here / mean when you were about
/ eighteen. Perhaps you never guessed
/ 1t. but / was awfully In love with you
then"
4 IT never guessed It," said Jessica.
with curious little smile. II expect ]
was rather selfish"
But even though never told you,
Jess, you became my inspiration in my
4 work A real love is that 70 man,