Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-31
THEOAK FROM
THE ACORN
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| would suggest the Blue Ridge
mountains. They will stimulate her
egotism without overwhelming 1t.
And you don't know, but you are
breaking down. You need to get
away as much as she does. You
can't stand much more of it. Get
her away and yourself quickly
The doctor would not take fee.
What you needed was a friend to
tell you this" he said.
81 didn't know l had one" Jes-
sop said.
He went home hopelessly.
To take Mollie away! TO go
away, The Blue Ridge, He was
broken in spirit and purse. How
easily doctors give advice. lie had
been warmed by the doctors friend
liness, but doctor knew no limita-
tions. He considered only the ideal
GOOD. If for a pauper it were year
in southern France, and with the
irreconcilability of the two condi-
tions the advice had little to do.
Jessop's despair was dull, not des-
perate. 1t did not animate him. 1t
flattened him out. He did wonder
for minute where he could get
money. Friends? He felt there
was none to whom he could sub
nit his need. A chattel mortgage
on their furniture? That would not
bring enough money, and IL was an
expedient which would make them
really vagabonds, without money to
pay their bills and with paupers'
prospects.
He let himself into the cheerless
fat to the desolation of which he
had become dulled. He went into
the dining room and sat down at the
table. His misery had one compen
sating quality. He was not trying to
escape it. He was submitting. His
hopelessness, his unhappiness, wor
ry, and loneliness. continuing so
long, made him look haggard in his
attitude of detection at the table.
Mrs. Jessop passed through the
room to the kitchen. He did not
look up. He no longer expected his
presence to be recognized and did |
not ask that it should be.
Mrs. Jessop went into the kitchen,
but stood where she could see him. |
She looked at him for several mo- !
ments as if noting all the signif-
canoe of his attitude and expression.
She might have been satisfying her
1s,,l;l 90
steps and stood in the doorway and
gazed at him moment longer.
Then for the first time, without
necessity, she spoke to him.
Mr.. Roscoe called you up she
said.
Jessop looked at her in dull as
but did not reply. She
had at last answered a telephone
call, but that was not suggestion to
him. She continued to look at him.
"You don't look well,' she said.
This aStonished him still more,
but he made nothing Of it.
II have been to the DOCTOR" he
said.
She came in the dining room and
sat down opposite him.
What did the doctor say" she
asked.
He hesitated before replying.
''He said if you would let me 7
ought to take you away. to the Blue
Ridge mountains"
what did he say about you?"
That suggested some of the old
with which she had noted
the slightest ailment
II didn't go for myself" he said
Her lips and chin quivcred and
her eyes grew moist
81 didn't know you had lost
your position" she said. He did not
reply. He did not ask her how she
had found it out
What are you doing?" she asked.
81 haven't been able to find any
thing" he said.
She stared at him intently. and
he tlinched at what he thought was
the challenge in her eyes.
"Tll try" he said IT haven't
been able to get my mind on it. 1
have been too unhappy"
He did not think of their conver-
sation as suggestive of a reconcilia-
ton. "The doctor said you ought
to 80 TO the Blue Ridge, but don't