Evening star., 1932-09-09

FTER Jeans QlVOrce was grant
" ed and she was back in town
IA she wrote Jim a letter and told
4 n him he must marry the woman
he loved and give their child
a name. She had also added. per-
haps foolishly, that if he ever needed
her assistance she would be glad to
help him in any way she could. This
was largely exuberance over the fact
that she was free and the possibility
of great happiness with Martin. But
life often challenges cur good impulses
and makes us prove our sincerity or
lack of it.
Jean was in consultation with DR..
Junet one day when a telephone call
for her was switched to his office.
Yes this IS JEAN" she said. What?
Oh. Jim, I'm so sorry. OF course, I'll
come"
Not bad news. nope?" DR.. Junet
asked, honestly sympathetic, for Jean
was very dear to him.
Eyes, friend OF mine" she replied,
but did not explain and took up the
discussion where they had left off.
An hour later Martin came in search
of Jean, but she was not in her office.
do you know where Jean is, Vic?" he
asked.
mo. I don't. She was in here when
a man she called Jim phoned-a friend
In trouble, she said, and she promised
him she'd come, but don't know
where"
That's funny" Worried and baf-
fed, Martin went away.
In the meantime she was on her way
to Jim, as she had promised. The
store was now closed to the public and
a lavender crepe bow and streamer
hung from the latch. AS Jean entered,
Jim. red-eyed. 'shuffled out to meet her.
vividly, the time of her own grief
came to her and the fact that Jim
had been the only soul to offer her
consolation. Now she could do no less
for him.
the picture of health"
His bleared eyes Streamed. she was
strong, but we went swimming. You
remember it turned suddenly cold
about three weeks ago? She took pneu-
monia We was so happy,
JEANNE"
Il am terribly sorry, Jim. What can
I do? What arrangements have you
made?"
They went to the little living room
back of the store and stood. looking
down upon the dead face. A few women
sat about the room. conyersing in LOUD
whispers and in the kitchen small
group of men smoked, talking OF world
ly subjects that had little klnship with
grief or even sympathy.
1t was a financial as well as a per-
sonal tragedy for Jim to lose his wife.
After the funeral, he again opened the
doors of the shop and tried to conduct
the business which she had managed
So efficiently, but without an anchor he
was adrift and hadn't the slightest no
ton of how to steer the little craft on
which he and little Jimmie floated IN
imminent danger Of being capsized.
There was no one now but hired
woman to cook and, as Jim declared,
she couldn't hold a candle to his wife:
"Just taste that potato salad" he SAID
to Jean, tragically.
Inside of a few weeks he was so deep
" in debt that he was forced to CLOSE
his doors. Helpless, with the baby en-
his hands. he once again appealed to
Jean.
In desperation, Jean sent him to the
Webster Vocational Bureau for analysis
and placement.
Don't say I sent you. or that you
know me, Jim. Now, please remember
this is very important.
mo. I won't do anything to queer
you, Jeannie," he promised.
But the following morning as he sat
in the reception room OF the bureau,
waiting for his turn in DR.. AllisonS
office, Jean came in. She did not no
tice Jim, but forgetful of her injunc-
tions, he said. Hello, JEANNE" and got
up to confront her.
Jean was annoyed, but decided to stop
and speak to him.
Good morning, jim" she replied.
'Have you seen Dr. Allison yet?"
mo. I'm waiting for him. You don't
suppose it's any good, do you Jeannie?"
'Of course, it is good. What do you
think we take the trouble for? Don't
be absurd. And don't forget yourself
again as far as I am concerned-1 told
you not to speak to me-"
She passed on. DR.. Junet and Martin
were Just entering the latterS office,
and Jeans face went suddenly hot, Tor
she realized they must have passed her
while she was talking with Jim. Had
she raised her voice on that last SEN
tence, when her annoyance got the bet
ter of her one-time violent, but now
largely conquered. temper?
Jim'S vocational analysis indicated
that an outdoor life-gardening or truck
farming-would best suit his mental
and physical makeup.
An experimental farm was maintained
In New Jersey. with row OF cottages
for men under agricultural or hortlcul-
tural training, with an expert in charge.
DIR. Allison recommended that Jim be
sent out there for the Winter. The hot
houses would occupy his time. The idea
appealed nightly to Jim.
CTS IF