The Hope pioneer., 1922-10-19
Jim's Cousin
Annie
By CLARA DELAFlELD

said Myra Ray to her husband. "Since
your Cousin Annie has insisted on
fastening herself on us for a week,
please don't let her see what a f1end
you are to me-"
"All right, ii you'll try not to
wrangle with me every instant of the
day." answered her husband, Jim.
i From which it may be inferred that
the married life Of the Rays was not
devoid Of prickles.
AS 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 it.
Cousin Annie had lived in the West
for years. Jim remembered her only
as little thing with whom he used to
fiirt 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.
1t 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. Myra let her tears
flow
I'm 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 whole life with
him.
! Not necessarily" said Cousin An
ME, shaking her blonde curls.
what do you mean, Annie?"
Cousin Annie laid a hand on her
shoulder. "You poor thing!' she said.
Don't you see that Jim Ray is impos-
sible, simply impossible to live with?
No woman could stand for such man.
Why don't you get divorce?"
IA divorce?" gasped Myra, and the
tears flowed afresh. 'I-I'm always
hoping that he'll grow kinder to me-"
Cousin Annie said nothing more.
Myra was sorry she had taken such a
violent dislike to Jim. She would
hardly speak to him, and If Jim liked
her, he kept it 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 a 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 JIM" said Cousin Annie, lay
ing her hand upon his sleeve "Oh, l
think you're one Of the noblest men
I've ever met! But there, l shouldn't
have said so much. Forgive mel"
"Go 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 kindred soul Jim,
forgive me for being 50 frank!"
What am l to do?" asked Jim.
Cant you stand it?"
"No!" thundered Jim. "I've reached
the end of my tether. She told me this
morning that l 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 off separate. Oh, Jim, IL only
you had chosen more wisely. Do you
remember-?"
eyes, can't forget It," said Jim.
There was no need to explain. l,
referred to a certain moonlight nigh,
years before, stars, hammocks hands
waists and lips. 1t was not important
They had reached the grounds. Cou
sin Annie deliberately stoud 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 IL
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 kneelet
beside her, his heart burning with re
morse. He had never really cared fol
Cousin Annie. He thought she hat
acted slyly. The touch of her lips hat
been detestable
Darling, what is it?" he cried.
Il saw her kiss you, Jim. It's al
over now. Leave me! Tomorrow II
go back to mothers"
1t took an hour to convince Myrs
. that Cousin Annie was anathema t.
Jim. Then Myras anger burst it!
bounds.
"She wanted me to get divorce
Iim," she cried. "She's the wickedest
most treacherous woman I've eve
known. She pretended it was becaus,
you treated me so badly. and all til
, while she wanted you I'm going dow,
to have it out with her-darling."
"I'll come too, sweetheart" sal,
Jim.
( But Cousin Annie was not to b,
found. She was gone, her bag wa
gone; and on the table lay letter
Myra and Jim read simultaneously:
"Good-by, folks. Sorry to leave g.
unceremoniously, but my times up an,