The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-12
Chapter 102.
JIM AND JAMES.

jim ANU JRW6S.
If had thought that could appre-
ciate my new life the more after a
taste of the old, did we'll to come
back to Henly Falls. But my motive,
of course, was more than that. 1t was,
really, to give Esther chance to restN
and see the city, to get hold Of herself.
once more, to be away from Jim
long enough so each would feel the
separation, and enjoy the reunion.
So I stayed on at the farm longer
than I originally planned. And fancy
that I did make some little changes
that were for the good.
.'Ill get the water this morning. be-
fore go out to the barn." Jim would
say, when we met in the kitchen be-
fore breakfast. There is nothing more
depressing than a cold room with the
leaden light of an early winter morn
ing breaking through the windows,
with an hour before breakfast. l
dreaded getting out of bed so early,
and starting the new cherries day.
So Jim would go out to the pump
and come back with buckets of water
for me. AS a rule, he went on to the
outside work, and Esther, wrapped in
a shawl, brought in the water.
Don't get up when we do Wait
half an hour and I'll have the fire up
and the kitchen warm for you," James
had volunteered another time. And so
it happened that l was allowed a little
! more sleep, and came down to a warm
room, the table set for me, and various
breakfast arrangements under way.
And I was glad-not so much because
of the shivers it spared me and the
work it saved me, but for the new
| thoughtfullness it showed.
In spite of this, l caught a severe
coal, since I was not used to the un-
evenly heated house. Upon this, Jim
insisted on having a coal fire in my
bedroom, and James offered to bring
up coal for it and keep it going.
But 1 don't like to take all this
from you,' l ventured one day.
Guess I amt offering you very
much luxury" Jim answered. ANY
way, you are my sister"
But you are offering me luxury you
wouldn not offer your wife," l answer
ed. Jim did not answer, but l could
! tell by his expression that what had
said had some effect upon him.
One evening there was an entertain
ment in the Sunday school rooms: to
which Jim and James escorted me.
wore one of my prettiest dresses on
purpose-shabby enough in some ways
since l had scarcely dared buy new
clothes this winter, but new enough
to the people in the village.
Looks like a millionaire" was the
invariable comment of James, when
| wore something nice
"She Does" agreed Jim.
"Oh, by the way" l said, trying to
sound casual, Il see that all the stores
are having sales You had better send
her some money now, if you are going
to at ALL"
"She wouldn't spend it on herself
Jim protested.
Wouldn't she? Try her and sect"
And Jim did, as l learned later.
Every day had a short note from
Francis. He was working hard, but
each evening, from his club, he sent
me some message. And he had the
daily papers mailed up to me, and
some magazines as well. These l put
on the table in our sitting room,
though there was little enough time
to read any of them.
But l found Jim enjoying the city
papers, as we'll as the one paper he
formerly permitted himself. So l
wrote Francis to send him a subscrip-
ton to an agricultural paper, and to
James, a magazine of mechanics and
inventions.
Never saw so much mail" James
remarked each time he brought in the
letters and papers. And indeed, it
was the days bright spot for me--for
Violet wrote, too, though her letters
were not cheerful. and occasionally
there was word from Esther.
you must not think me a miser,
Jim said one evening. Il was going
to send you enough money to keep
you and vi to ahe end of the term,
anyway She's my daughter, and I've
let you do more for her than l have
done myself"
This was confession-from Jim.
I took it up quickly.
1T won't matter now. ! am going
to let Francis send her on through
college, and while We are away on
our~wedding trip, she will live at the
college. But ! wish you would take
that monev and MT in a hot water