Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-04-17
CHAPTER ~.

AS Edward began to tell Willis the
story of those two weeks and the effect
of his experience on his character Will
us grew more and more embarrassed,
and finally he assumed a posture Of at
tempted Indifference, as he stood by
the table, that did not deceive Edward
in the least; for, even in the suppressed
excitement of his confession, he could
not help noticing that Willis was deep
~ moved. Just how he would take the
matter was entirely unknown to Ed
ward, but he doggedly kept on with his
story, not attempting to conceal or slur
any part of it, making it disclosure
Of real fall in moral conduct, such as
it actually had been. To his great re-
lief as he neared the end of his confess
sion he felt consciously freer and hap
pier. No matter how Willis might take
it, he was not sorry that he had told
him. It was a burden of his soul, and
the future, whatever that might be, lay
clear before him.
When he paused, Willis, who had not
attempted to interrupt or ask any ques-
tons, turned abruptly around and
walked into his bedroom. he was gone
several minutes, and Edward took it as
a bad sign. Finally he came out, went
up to his table and rather clumsfly be.
gan arranging few books that lay in
disordered heap there.
"What did you want to tell me any
thing about it for?' at last he said, in
a tone that Edward interpreted to
mean more or less irritation on Willis
part.
Edward explained his reasons, and
Willis evidently understood them. he
was silent awhile and then said, with
short laugh, wonder what mother
would think of this?"
Edward shrank as If from a blow,
but he did not attempt to say anything.
After another pause Willis went over
to the window and muttered some
thing about it's being too stormy to go
out to the theatricals.
Then he turned around and looked at
Edward strangely.
"Suppose should do little confess
ing on my side," he said in a tone that
sounded to Edward almost hooking II
not sneering. "What you've been
through isn't a circumstance. Oh,
pshaw! What's the use Of being so
awfully solemn about it? OF course l
don't mind saying, Blake, that you've
upset me some. l put you down as a
kind of freshman saint, and was be-
ginning oh, well, what difference
does it make? don't see that you've
done anything so awful. Why, go to
those shows right along, and don't
see that they hurt my moral character
any. Can't spoil rotten apple, eh?
That's what you're thinking"
mo-" replied Edward painfully; .'1'm
not thinking about you. I'm thinking
more about what your mother
"I'u never tell her." interrupted Will
lis hastily. And then as he saw that
Edward did not mean that he added:
Smother always used to take me to the
theater when l was boy. I don't sup
pose we noticed things that seemed a
little out of place to you. Regular the
ater goers take certain kinds Of CONVEX
sation and certain situations for grant
ed. They don't expect anything else."
Edward did not reply to this, and
finally Willis slowly came over to
where Edward was standing and DELHI
erately held out his hand. As he spoke
Edward remembered long afterward
when other. events came on to dull the
memory of this scene that his room
mate had never before exhibited 50
much real feeling.
81 don't believe, Blake, that another
man IN college would have done what
you've done. I'm so much worse In the
way Of actual moral looseness than
you ever Dreamed of being that ] would