The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-05-26
REFORMING JIMMY
BY LILY wANDEL


she came in, Jimmy'll see to that"
prophesied her younger brother,
George.
Its an awful disgrace" walled her
sister Marie. "The very idea We, of
the best old family in the county, the
aristocratic Moreheads-and Jimmy
O'Toole, the black sheep of even such
family as the O'Toole's! Besides,
she's younger than she ~
utterly incOmprehensible to me-
declared the mother grayely. "Alyina
has. always been so conventional, al
most too much, and so very particular
with whom she associated"
The door opened and the family
looked somewhat embarrassed as a
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 dis.
GUESSING you" her sister deplored.
81 don't care. Neither does Jimmie ~
with defiant, good humor.
"Oh, Jimmie O'Toole, he's used to
notoriety."
If Alvina WINGED no one noticed eX-
cept her mother. "My DEAR" said the
latter gently, Il am very much con-
cerned about you. Jimmie O'Toole has
not the best of regulations and I can
not see how such marriage will bring
you any happiness"
"May l add a word?" asked the
brother and, without waiting for per-
mission, "you'Il never marry him, be-
cause Jimmie isn't the sticking kind.
He's flattered at present that he has
been able to bowl over the most con-
sentative girl in town."
Alvina's quick eye went from one
to the other. "You all have forgotten
one thing-that we love each other.
There's another thing, too, I'm going
to reform Jimmie"
Things went along beautifully for
a week or two, Alvina glowing with
happiness, the town and her family
still skepticaI. Then one evening Jim,
mie missed an engagement and Alvina
waited in vain.
1t was George who brought the bad
news. swell, Jimmie's fallen Off
knew it, with grim laugh.
"Of course, 1 did, too" came Al
vina's surprising reply; che is no
angel-it's difficult to break bad habits
all at once. I've been quite prepared
for one or two slipbacks!'
The family only sighed The next
day Jimmie appeared repentant, full
of new promises.
There were several more slipbacks
and Alvina's face became slightly
drawn and anxious.
Jimmies 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
VIVA waited with growing nervousL ess
for Jimmie. They were TO hear lee
ture on thoaght-control, and he had
promised faithfully to be there at sew
en-thirty. Alvina waited, her nervous
ness 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 is 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 trace
of nervousness, anxiousness or hurry
in her manner
After an hours shopping she calleo
up Jimmie and asked him to take her
for lunch.
Jimmie" Alvina was say ing at a
tucked-away table in a tea ROOM "Pve
given up eforming youi
"That means good-by, l guess" he
deducted with a sigh, high 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 / want to say this much, dear,
tireIy for nothing. There always was
remnant of self-respect in me, love
and admiration for the fine things OF
life"
Jimmy O'Toole," interrupted AL
VIVA smilingly, I've given up reform
ing you, but not loving you I've been
a prude and poke and 1 expected the
impossible of you. Look here she I'M
wrapped bundle, "all the newest
sporting magazines" and bringing a
shining article from her bag, "a cigar
cite easel And here" she drew from
her purse two tickets, "for musical
comedy tonight! Now what do you
say?"
Jimmie did not touch the things be
fore him, but took Alvina's slim fingers
in his brown hands, and his voice when
he spoke was husky and low. THAT
you are the finest woman l know,
that / love you too much ever to give
you up and that l will make no more
promises in the future. This partner
ship will be fifty-fifty proposition.
because I've grown to like some of
your books and ideas"
She smiled at him through her
tears aud whispered, Nothing really
counts, except that we love each
other I"
Must Have Been Pretty BAD.