Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-22

His name was John.
There's the Dorchesters and the
Bennington-Millers and Basil and
Leonora and the E. Gerard-Keenes-
we're under obligations to all of them"
Juliet was not strong in her English
grammar, but in everything else.
"You follow me, Romeo?"
"Yes, to the death-certainly, my
dear" he answered her. Where would
he not follow her? He shifted his po-
sition now to get her in a stronger light.
Strong lights were becoming to Juliet.
He unused over her pretty charms and
thought idly what a fortunate fellow
he was.
cts awful to feel under so many OBJ
legations, Romeo! You feel like that
man-who was it, in the geography
who carried the world around OF his
back? You remember him, Romeo?"
eyes, he was an old schoolmate of
mine" he said, humorously. Juliet
laughed.
swell, then you know how 1 feel, GO
ing round with the Dorchesters and the
Bennington-Millers and all the rest on
my poor little back. I think I've found
a way 70 get them off, Romeo"
"Yes?"-absently.
Eyes. Now, stop wool-gathering and
listen. I'm going to invite them all to
Thanksgiving dinner"
Observation-Disclosures, you arel"
He was on his feet before her; gaZ-
ing down into her calm little face in
amaze
EET m - T1,Iiof cold ~oronalu
He continued gazing. Was Juliet 60
ing mad? There had been-wait!-yes,
there had been a Wheeler, a generation
or two back, who was mentally aber-
rated Juliet was a Wheeler on her
mothers side; therefore Juliet was GO
ing mad He groaned audibly.
Keep calm, dear; don't allow your
self TOTO be agitated,- he said.
-Romeo-John"-that was another
phase of her name for him-Romeo-
John, sit down here beside me and be
calm yourself. I'm calm enough. I'll
recapitulate. What I said was that I'm
going to invite all those people we're
under obligations to to Thanksgiving
dinner with us. That will settle the OBJ
ligationseI suppose you see that,
hOI1GOs Mel can l see d HOOK
ing-glass! Have you taken that in?
Well, to-day is the 18th. I shall send
the invitations at once. I've only just
found out 1 could-safely,.you know"
He didn't know. He seemed to know
so few things. Among the few, several
facts arrayed themselves flauntingly
in his consciousness. He knew that
their income-Juliet's and his-was pa
thetically meager; that it was against
their maxims to run in debt; that their
dining-room was ten by thirteen. The
latter fact appeared indomitable. He
waved his hand toward the neat little
dining-table before them with an elo-
quent gesture, Juliet understood his
gesture perfectly.
Its a wee bit dining-room, isn't it,
Romeo? The wee-est biti And there
are-let's count-two Dorchesters three
Observation-Disclosures five. Take
your other hand, Romeo-spread out
the f~ngers-Basil and Leonora-"
They're one," he muttered, docking
them off on his thumb. Why not? He
and Juliet were one.
"Two," counted Juliet, impressive
~, and five E. Gerard Keenes, count
ing the children. Now, how many's
that2"
Romeo-John was regarding his wide
spread fingers with disfavor. There
were not enough.
"Twelve!-That's IL, Romeo. Then
there's mother, John-of course we
must have mother, John-and the
girls. That's 15-and you and I"
Sixteen" he groaned. my dear,
the dining-room is ten by thirteen.
There are three extra leaves to the
table, and"
But he got nc further. Juliet trans
ferred herself lightly to his knee and
covered his bearded lips with both
little white hands.
"Poor boy!" she cooed. HE shall
not be tormented any longer, so he
shan'tl All he shall do is collect his
wits and wait. Somebody's going to
enlighten him."
1t was a sunny little room and
JuIiet's fair hair was golden in one
of the beams of light.
srm going to invite them ali, but
they're none of them coming. Don't
YOU see. you boy? It's easy as roll
ing off a logl That's why I'm going
to do it. I've thought it all over, and
it's the best way to pay of our obi
cations. It's the most economical
wav. and we nave to be so economical,
Romeo!"