The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1922-03-30
KIN
BY MoLLIE MATTER

Big Jim Bond sank forlornly back
In his chair on the hotel veranda. lie
was very lonesome. Back In the West
ern country from which he had come
people. were more friendly. less eau
tious and critical concerning acquaint-
ance with stranger. Jim had hoped
to find pleasant companionship In the
summer hotel, which was, his new
employer in the city told him, like
one-family hotel.
Every one knows every one else
who goes there" Mr.. Bayard said.
They meet year after year. They'll
take you In"
But they had not taken Jim in.
Perhaps his evident lack of prosper
ity may have been accountable for
this.
Things had gone badly with him
since his return frWn var, his old posi-
ton acceptably filed by another. his
mothers home left desolate. Jim
could no longer bear to remain alone
In the dearly familiar place, so he
Travelled East, and Mr.. Barnes had
given him chance In his business
Office. This was Jim's vacation.
There was one very pretty girl that
he would like to have met, that Is,
she was exactly Jim's idea Of pretty"
Jim watched her 60 every morning
with magazine and writing material
to a green retreat overhanging the
lake. Sometimes he followed for the
mere pleasure Of looking into her face.
But the girl never smiled even though
he had persuaded Mrs. Hardy, his
table companion at the hotel, to intro
duce him.
Jim was really becoming miserable
over II all; for this one girl persist
ed In his thoughts night and day as
no other had done before. Not even
Mollie Balm, sweetheart Of the past.
who had carelessly deserted him for
the affection Of another, while he.
Jim, had been fighting SO desperately
for his country.
The men Of the place seemed self
conferred, completely satisfied In their
own chosen groups. Weary Of his
loneliness, big Jim tried the friendli-
ness of the old ladies'. habitues Of the
hotel, who had gossiped away many
summers on its wide verandas. Their
aloof condescension was more chilling
than the forbidding attitude of the
others.
1t was the girl alone by her strange
magnetic charm that held him there
in discomfort. He tried the extrava-
gance of newly ordered clothing In an
effort to get recognition; 1t was no
help at all. Jim was, 1t seemed.
quite unnecessary factor.
''They are all snobs," he told him.
self holly, land am a fool for my
pains where the girl is concerned"
Loving desperation had driven him
to her side one day, and at the en-
couragement of her smile he had been
emboldened to invite her for a drive.
The girls smile vanished with her
prompt refusal. She was Bently's
daughter he was informed-Bently,
president of the Country club; his
wife. the most dignifiedly aloof rocker
Of the veranda.
He might as well go back to the
crowded Indifferent city, Jim told him
self; there was no hope of compan-
ionship here. When Mr.. Barnes came
down for a weekend and took him
under his wing, the Westerner hoped
for better times, but with Mr.. Barnes
return to the city his own isolation
continued. And then Jim Bond slipped
down a steep brambly path and broke
his leg. 1t was so painful at first he
realized only in his confusion that
he was being cared for in his own
room in the hotel, kindly and con-
fident physician bestowing courage
with his directions.
II was twilight when. as he sat
gazing wistfully down toward the
beach, the door opened to admit an
elderly veranda lady. She bore In
her hands a dish.
eve all like fruit TO nibble on. when
we are sitting quiet" she said.
Jim was amazed at the warmth of
her smile Later, one Of the immac-
ulate men stopped in.
Heard you'd had some hard luck"
the man remarked. Brought you In
a book I've been reading. Guess II
will hold your attention for while"
Jim leaned back on his pillow with
a grateful sigh. He was astonished
to find two tears. not wholly caused
by pain, stealing down his cheeks. II
must have been almighty homesick
for human companionship," he muir
INJURED.
A woman stood In the doorway; II
was Mrs. Bently. "You poor boyi"
she alphabetically exclaimed. She
placed her hand on his forehead in a
motherly caress.
II heard" said Jim haltingly. "that
the people OF this hotel were all like
one common family; I never had a
chance to realize-till now"
Mrs. Bently laughed comfortably
Sometimes" she said. ats touch OF
suffering that makes the whole world
kim"
And then the westerner caught his