Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-04-28
"a New Romance OF fhe Storm Countru

near him." flashed back Katherine.
by Johns orders" supplemented
Mrs. Curtis.
Katherlne's lip curled.
"Then why not appeal to her
mamma? Perhaps she'd reach the
ears of his majesty, the Lord AL
mighty" said she.
"Oh, Kathie. don't be horrid'
sobbed her mother. 'You know very
we'll couldn't ask him through her."
"Then what will you do?" demand
ed the girl. "You say Cousin John
won't help Rege, and you refuse to
ask the girl to ask Cousin Paul. Then
what will you dor
"You ask her. Kathie," said Mrs.
Curtis, in coaxing tones.
Katherine tossed her head.
you've got nerve to send me to
her for anything" she shot back. II
will notw
Mrs. Curtis came forward with
trembling footsteps.
"Not for your brothers sake? Oh,
Kathie, dow
mo, WON'T" said the girl. $50
just don't ask me. Reggie's not my
son, and haven't any sympathy for
him." With that she made for the
door and was gone.
For over an hour the anguished
mother walked up and down. Then
as if she mad at last reached con-
clusiOn, she went to the servants
quarters. There she sent the maid to
ask Tonnibel to come out to Doctor
Pauls conservatory for a minute.
Tony silently stared at the white
woman when they came face to face
Mrs. Curtis swallowed her pride, gulp-
ing at the Jumps that rose in her
throat.
'Tm sorry about this afternoon,
Miss Devon" she said. II really didn't
understand"
Tonnibel thought in a flash that
Mrs. Curtis must have gotten re-
ligion; nothing but softening of
heart could account for the apology.
'Never mind" she choked. "I'm
awfully sorry about my daddy, but If
he will be bad, then l suppose be
must go to jail"
This statement renewed the dread
in Mrs. Curtis heart about her son.
could you take message to my
Cousin Paul for me?" she ventured.
"What is it?" asked Tonnibel.
thickly.
"My son is ILL.," Mrs. Curtis ex-
planned tearfully, "ard he must go
away. l haven't any money, but If
Paul knew about it he'd help me.
VIII you ask him?"
Tony thought a minute.
'Not tonight" she replied. "Mebbe
Doctor John"
mo, he hates my son." the other
cried passionately. "Oh, you mustn't
say anything to him about it,"
Tonnibel Devon was awfully
tempted to refuse the naughty woman
who had pulled her around by the
hair only that afternoon. But she re- |
membered Philip, remembered his
love for her, and relented.
"Come along back tomorrow morn
ing, and mebbe l can get you some"
she answered, walking away. Then
over her shoulder she flung back, "PH
try anyhow"
With this last statement Mrs. Cur
tbs had to be satisfied. Reggie suf-
fered dreadfully the night through,
his mother sitting at his bedside.
Tony Devon also had been awake
most of the night. In the morning
after breakfast, she set about gather
Ing courage to approach Doctor. Paul.
With Gussie Piglet in her arms. she
sat down beside him, and now the
minute was there to speak, Tony
didn't know how to begin. But to be-
gin meant to begin, Tony had learned,
so she coughed and blurted:
"Your cousin, Mrs. Curtis, is kind
If pretty, amt she2"
"She would be If she didn't cry 80
nuch," responded Doctor Paul.
This gave Tony the opening she
wanted.
'Her boys awful sick, SO she saws"
The broke out, "that's why she cries.
+ he don't go away, he'll die, mebbe."
The lovely gray eyes grew darker
is they searched his, and Doctor Paul
eaned over and looked keenly at her.
"Did Cousin Sarah ask you to come
o me, little girl" he questioned in a
indy tone.
Tonnibel nodded.
"She says Doctor John don't like
Ter boy, and mebbe you'd help her."
aid the girl, blushing.
The man considered the red face a
moment.
"Would 1t please you to have me
lelp her and himr he then Queried.
I should think you'd be the last per-
on to ask that. My brother told me
he's always very unkind to you"
"She don't know any better" re.
lied Tony. "She's never learned
What lovin' awful hard means, and
nebbe she's so worried over her boy
he's got to be honhd to some one"
Paul PendlehRveA laughed, then he
rev grave. Perhaps that's 1t. Now