Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-02

Reforming Jimmie
Dy Lily Wandsi
A LvINA had fallen in love with Jim.
a mie O'Toole and the whole town

~
a mie O'Toole and the whole town
held its breath. |
"She'll fall out Of love as quickly az
she came in, Jimmie'll see to that,
prophesied her younger brother. George.
Its an awful disgrace,' walled her
sister Marie. 1.-THE very idea! We,
Of the best old family in the county,
the aristocrntic Moreheads--and jim.
mie O'Toole, the black sheep Of even
such family as the O'Toole's! Be.
sides, he's younger than she" -
utterly incOmprehensible to me-
declared the mother gravely. "Al-
vina has always been 80 conventional,
almost too much, and so very. par
ticular with whom she associated
The door opened and the family
looked somewhat embarrassed as q
slim young woman, her refined sweet
features fairly shining with happiness,
came into the room.
"Oh, you've been discussing me;
don't deny IT," she laughed.
my dear. the whole town is discuss
ing you y her sister deplored.
II don't care ! Neither does Jimmie"
With defiant good humor.
notoriety."
cept her mother. MY DEAR" said the
Inter gently, II am very much con-
cerned about you. Jimmie OToolc
has not the best Of regulations and !
cannot see how such a marriage will
bring you any happiness. I'm not
saying that he Is a bad sort, just that
you two do not fit; there's too much
difference
MAY add a word?" asked the
brother, and, without waiting for per-
mission, you'll never marry him, be-
cause Jimmie ism u the sticking kind.
He's flattered at present that he has
been able to bowl over the most con-
servative girl in town."
| Alvina's quick eyes went from ono
to the other. .'You all have forgotten
one thing-that we love each other.
to reform Jimmie. We've talked It
over and he's promised faithfully. No
more talking to his old cronies, no
more cigarettes, no pool playing-oh :!
there's whole list Of things she
smiled at them triumphantly.
Things went along beautifully for
a week or two, Alvina glowing with
happiness. the town and her family
still skeptical. Then one evening Jim.
mie missed an engagement and Alvina
waited in vain.
1t was George who brought the bad
news. ''Well. Jimmie's fallen off,
knew it, with a grim laugh.
"Of course I did, too" came AL
angel--its difficult to break bad hab-
its all Mt once. I've been quite pre-
pared for one or two slipbacks!
The family only sighed. The next
day Jimmie appeared repentant, full OF
new promises.
There are several more slipbacks
and Alvina' s face became slightly drawn
and anxious. She was very stanch and
loyal though. would not listen to a
word against him and redoubled her ef.
forts to reform him. She dragged him
to the best concerts. nudged him when
he showed signs Of falling asleep, bought
the best magazines for him. lent
him classic gems, even read aloud to
him by the hour and fed him candy
when he became restless, almost irrita .
bic.
Jimmie's calls became less frequent
and the family felt that the end OF
Alvina's love affair was near, while
Alvina herself grew pale and pinched
looking.
1t happened one evening when AL
vina waited with growing nervousness
for Jimmie. They were to hear n lee
ture on thought control and he had
promised faithfully to be there at seven =
thirty. Alvina waited, her nervousness
famed by the family's remarks. The
clock struck eight. eight thirty and no
Jimmy in sight. At nine o'clock Alvina
burst into tears and went to her room,
locking the door.
81 think she's writing him letter.
breaking the engagement" remarked
her mother to the other two, "poor
child, and she loved him so much ~
The next morning different Alvina
came down to breakfast. Not a trace
of nervousness, anxiousness or hurry
in her manner. She surprised the
family by eating hearty breakfast,
and afterward. instead Of playing her
usual half hour of scales on the piano.
launched into gax song and wound
up with bit Of jazz.
After an hours shopping she called
up Jimmie and asked him to take her
for lunch.
Jimmie. Alvina was saying at q
given up reforming you.'
"That means good by, l guess" he
deducted with sigh half relieved
half unhappy. "Not that l blame you
Alvina, you've been an angel and I'm
not good enough to buckle your shoes
but I want to say this much, dear,
that all you've done has not been en-
tirely for nothing. There always wat
remnant of self-respect in me. love
and admiration for the fine things o,
life"
Jimmy O'ToOle.' interrupted Al.
vina smilingly. 1--WE given up reform
ing you. but not loving you. I've beer
prude and poke and ] expected The
impossible of you. Look here" she un
wrapped bundle, ''all the newest
sporting magazines" and bringing q
shining article from her bag. "a Gig
arctic case And here" drew from hel
purse two tickets. 'for musical com
edy tonight! Now what do you say?'
Jimmie did not touch the things be
fore him, but took Alvina $ slim finger!
in his brown hands, and his voice whcr
he spoke was husky and low. ''Tha,
you are the finest woman l know, tha,
l love you too much ever to give YOU
up and that will make no more prom
Uses in the future. This partnership will
be a fifty fifty proposition. because Nv,
grown to like some of your books an;
ideas"
| She smiled at him through her tea