Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-08-19

behind the blue haze Of his own to-
bacco smoke, he spoke.
II married this woman that you
know as Mrs Alton Ave years ago
Christmas day. You will understand
why Jacks wedding was something Of
an anniversary to me. In course of
time Gerald was born. Up until then.
and for some time afterward. every
thing was all right.
Then - something happened. In
what chose to call righteous indig-
nation ! turned her out. Perhaps 1t
was more mortified pride, or just blind,
beast Jealousy. Never mind. Through
1t all gave myself credit for being
just. even generous ! gave her half
Of my ready money. which wasn't
much; I've never been much of
money rabber, Hail; 1t has always
seemed such an inconsequential bust
ness But ! gave her half of what
had. and settled on Gerald the small
income / could command. and let her
keep the boy. That was the biggest
thing. see a good deal of 1t through
different light today. but for letting
her keep the boy demand some credit
still I've done one or two hard things,
Hall. You know. That was one Of
them"
He finished his cigarette and Lit an
other.
"Then l came out here" he contin-
ued ut seemed the wisest thing to
do. was settling into the hope Of for
getting 1t all and making a new start,
when she followed me-" He held up
his hand as If to silence me, although
had made no move to speak. 81 don't
blame her-now," he said. "But then
last summer, you know-it rather
interfered. may as well be frank
with you. I had an idea that Jean
would just about complete section
Two. She's wonderful girl Jean.
You know-the other day. :.
That was one Of the hard things I
was thinking about when spoke Of
them moment ago.
Frank, she lit a thousand old fires
Of memory that morning. Moving
about in my room; sitting at my table !;
pouring my tea-G+d. man, do you
understand? It was too much for any
body. don't know what
would have happened. At any rate,
ask you to believe that was making
my fight. I. Then you came"
He threw away half Of an unsmoked
nfn 20
Then spent some sleepless nights,
Frank, old boy. I was glad you had
come. and even in my gladness for that
sometimes I wished you We hu-
mans are such queer mixtures; beyond
analysis. But the more / admitted
these things to myself the more I had
also to admit that something might be
said for Alice. Alice had once been
to me all that 1t now seemed that
Jean might be. / wondered If, by
some miracle, that might not come
again. Women are strange creatures
Besides, wanted tremendously to
see the boy.
$50 yesterday hitched the oxen and
broke trail over to Widow Atoms
My Affections had brought me to a
sufficiently humble frame of mind to
let Alice say her say. For awhile she
couldn't say anything; just wept, you
know. and cried my name over and
over, and sometimes Gerald's Mighty
uncomfortable for man standing
around and feeling that In some way
he's to blame for 1t all.
swell, we talked 1t all over, and
and for the first time in his narrative
Spoofs face lighted with a gentle smile
II didn't go back to Two last night
at all. We're planning sort of quin-
quennial honeymoon progress about
the district, and. properly enough, our
first call is at Fourteen. And now that
that's off my chest, behold a man
happy once more. I am amazed at the
folly that denied me all these years
Men, too, are strange creatures.
There's just one thing-a very In
significant thing compared with Alice's
happiness. and mine, and Gerald's, but
it's this: In taking up her homestead
she had to declare herself a widow.
She did 1t for the boys sake, and she
knows she will have to give up the
claim, but will she get into further
trouble7 VIII they let 1t 60 at thata"
That was poser, and I turned 1t
over in my mind for some minutes
"Better see Jake about that" sug
gested. "He1l find a way"
"That's rightp said Spool. "Jake's
the boy. And he owes me something
vet on that cogitation nut transaction
"Just one more thing" Spool re-
sumed, after little. i've told you
great deal more than propose to
tell anyone else. It seemed to me that
you-and Jean-had peculiar right