The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-11-19

things tonight. because tomorrow
no would nee all these other denr
friends. Mother Wilson embrold
cred for n dressmaker and Mary
was n clerk In big department
store. They were poor. but they
certainly did have a cory little nat.
10 laughed aloud an he thought Of
those happy evenings when they
Invited Jano Springer and Pet Cob
over to supper. and they toasted
marrhmnllows and popped corn on
the kitchen stove later. Mother
Wilson said II did seem as IL they
could never get enough to eat. and
tho moro they ate the happier she
was. o, yes, he had almost for.
gotten Mamie Murphy; she scwcd
for the same dressmakcr that
Mother Wilson embroidered for. OF
course, Mamie was an old maid
phc WINS IS. but she was good heart
cd. She made doughnuts for them
NIL. lie rscolcctcd how she made
"A man out Of the dough with one
log shorter than the other, and gave
II TO him. Mother Wilson had cried,
For SHINE. Mamie, TO remind Jim
that he Is lame"
lie Ind not minded "A bit. indeed,
he thought II was funny, but the
tears had como into Eannic's eyes,
and she looked ashamed, 40 he had
pattcd her hand and said: Don't
you mind. Nan; you are Just gettln
back at me for teasing you about
being IN old maid"
His buddy, John Sparks. had II
way with girls, looking at them
from under his long eyelashcs, and
kidding them about everything they
did, making them laugh md blush
In "A way they never did with him;
but he knew they liked him, too.
II they wanted lamp. bracelet,
clock. lock, or anything mended,
they always got him to do It. lie
was skillful with his hands and was
40 glad to do anything TO please
them. How he looked forward TO
those Wednesday evenings. lie re.
membercd how Pet Cob had said
TO him. "You ought TO get married,
you are 40 handy about the house"
The remark had thrilled him. 40
he could hardly answer. do you
think anybody would marry lame
duck like me?"
Sure" Jane Springer had Clipped
In. didn't you get II In doing your
duty; what are we all talking pa.
triotism for II we wouldn't marry
n soldier because he had gotten hurt
In the war;"
II can do things with my hands
and make n living"
And then Mother Wilson had re.
marked, land II your rheumatism
don't get well, they will give you
n pension, and 1t ought not to be
any tie sum when both your legs
are hurt"
But Jim was astute enough to see
that II was all fun when the girls
spoke OF marrying him, but when
John Sparks was the one In CUES.
ton, there was an undercurrent Of
seriousness no matter how the girls
laughed and joked When John had
gone away he could see how Pet
Cob had missed him. She would
ask. with flush, II he had heard
from him. He would have
been mighty glad II any OF the girls
had thought that much Of him.
How he had yearned for a wife
and children and home. no one
knew. OF course. he wasn't going
to give himself away. and he had
hoped 30 he would get well. and
then he could ask-well, most any
of those girls II she would love him
make him glad. OF course,
he knew now that he would always
DO cripple. but he had his pen.
sion. and with his clock mending
business he could take care Of
wife. Everybody had seemed to like
him so much. surely he had enough,
In him for one woman to love He
thought OF the three girls. Mary
Wilson, Jane Springer. and Pet Cob.
all so young and jolly and industri'
Gus. OF course, Mamie Murphy
was an old maid and out OF the
question as far as marrying was
concerned. but she was good to
him and he would be glad to see
her, II he had time. he would cali
on her. The others would want to
see as much Of him as they could;
he was sure Of that. lie had started
his clock mendlnR business In Chit
cago and he would have TO get back
In a few DAYS, He laughed 20 him
self as he thought. especially II
get married"
Iie would love 10 see the ROSES
again. He never could b too CRATE