Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-08-10
Jirn's Cousin
Annie
by CLARA DELAFIELD


your Cousin Annie has insisted on
fastening herself on US for q week,
please don't let her see what Q fiend
you are to me-"
"All right, II you'll try not to
wrangle with me every instant of the
day." answered her husband, Jim.
From which 1t may be inferred that
the married life of the Rays was not
devoid of prickles.
AS a matter Of fact, they were fond
of each other. But the second year of
marriage Is the one that requires the
most careful adjustment. And some
times-sometimes both were unequal
to 1t.
Cousin Annie had lived in the West
for years. Jim remembered her only
as little thing with whom he used to
flirt on the way to school. He did not
tell Myra this, but when Cousin Annie
arrived, with her blue eyes and blonde
curls, she feared the worst,
It was not long before Cousin Annie
discovered how the land lay. Jim had
quarreled with his food that morning.
The grapefruit was too thick, and the
coffee was too thin. He flung out Of
the house, storming. 1iyra let her tears
flow.
"rm ashamed for you to see the way
he treats me, Annie" she said, but
now you know the worst. And to
think have to face a whole life with
himi"
"Not necessarily" said Cousin An
ME, shaking her blonde curls.
what do you mean, Annie?"
Cousin Annie laid hand on her
shoulder. "YOu poor thing!" she said.
Don't you see that Jim Ray is impos-
slble, simply impossible to live with?
No woman could stand for such man.
Why don't you get dlvorcef'
"a divorce?" gasped Myra, and the
tears flowed afresh. Tin always
hoping that he'll grow kinder to me-"
Cousin Annie said nothing more.
Myra was sorry she had taken such
violent dislike to Jim. She would
hardly speak to him, and If Jim liked
her, he kept 1t to himself pretty well.
Myra, always on the watch, could dis
cover no signs of secret passion.
Still, Jim and Myra did meet-at
times. When Myra had headache
one afternoon, Cousin Annie went to
the village to DO her shopping. She
met Jim on his way home, and they
walked up the hill together.
"Poor Jimw said Cousin Annie, lay
ing her hand upon his sleeve. "Oh,
think you're one Of the noblest men
I've ever met! But there, shouldn't
have said so much. Forgive me!'
'fGc, on and tell me why" said Jim
in hollow voice.
''Do you think haven't eyes?" de-
manded Cousin Annie. ooh, it's mon
strous, to have to face long life with
one who Is not a kindred soul Jim,
forgive me for being so frankw
"What am to DOR asked Jim.
Cant you stand lit"
''Nor Numbered Jim. tive reached
the end Of my tether She told me this
morning that I was the most useless
man about the house she'd ever known.
Man about the house, indeed"
II think" said Cousin Annie, ''that
when two people can't agree, they are
better of separate. Oh, Jim, II only
| you had chosen more wisely. DO you
remember"
eyes, can't forget It," said Jim.
There was no need to explain. II
referred to q certain moonlight night
years before, stars, hammocks, hands,
waists and lips. 1t was not important.
They had reached the grounds. Cou-
sin Annie deliberately stood on tiptoe
and pressed her lips to Jim's.
"That's what I think of you," she
said.
| The woman at the upstairs window,
who saw the little episode. fell back in
her chair. Her worst suspicious were
verified. At that moment she knew
that Jim was everything in life to her.
Jim, going to his wife's bedroom,
found her half-swooning. He kneeled
beside her, his heart burning with re-
morse. He had never really cared for
Cousin Annie. He thought she had
acted slyly. The touch of her lips had
been detestable.
Darling, what Is itf'' he cried.
4 II saw her kiss you, Jim. It's all
over now. Leave me! Tomorrow I'll
go back to mothers" S
! It took an hour to convince Myra
that Cousin Annie was anathema 20
Jim. Then Myra's anger burst its
bounds.
.s..Elle wanted me 70 Eet . divorce,
Jim." she cried, "She's the Wicksdest
most treacbeFoqs woman I've ever
ksewn. She pretended II was becanse
you treated ne 30 badly. and al the
I while she wanted yon I'm going down
70. have u out with her darling. st
+ EN- come too, sweetheart" said
Jlth. Y Y, ,,...
But Cousin Annie wss not to b.
found. She was gone. her bag wal
gone; and on the table lay q letter
Myra and Jim read simultaneously:
..Good-by, folks Sorry to leave SC
uncerenionIously, but my times up ant