Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1901-10-03
lambs? Am I. Alfred saxton Jerrold
po1ctnn q Uo1f in sheon's c1nf hin a. that

lambs? Am l, Alfred SaxtOn JerrOld
Ralston, wolf in sleeps clothing that
I should bethus traduced?"
He was splendid specimen Of manly
beauty, and his pretense to decrepi-
tude was theveriest bravado. The lion
never feels himself quite SO much the
king Of the forest as when he poses as
the humblest of beasts.
Papa said it couldn't hurt so long
as there were three of u.s." protested
Brown Eyes. "He said you wouldn't
dare to make love to me while Lavice
was around; and you couldn't kiss
Layice while I was looking!"
"Your father is wise and reverend
seignor; and, if he wants my vote for
any Office in the gift of the people, he
has only to ring me up" replied this
arch-conspirator'as, with one hand, he
filched flower from Lavice's bouton-
Mere, while his left was giving Edith's
just the gentlest sort of pressure be-
meath the table.
Don't forget, Dewdrops," he con-
tinued, as they prepared to leave the
cafe, the girls for their dancing club.
and he for some nebulous business"
of which, upon occasion, he made
profert. Don't forget, Dewdrops, it's
to be Joe Jefferson in Rip Van Wrinkle
tonight. The old mans not quite what
he was. a century or'so ago, when first
heard him, but he's Joe Jefferson,
nevertheless, and The Party must be
there. Tell Pater and Mater, both of
you, that we'd be charmed to have
them come along. Shall I send them
tickets?"
Theseaso son wa nearly over. Through
it's entirety 'The Family Party" had
fitted hither and thither; or, as Miss
Harcourt phrased it, ''pranced" in the
most gossip-defying manner. There
was an impartiality and thorough air
Of comradeship about the whole pro.
ceeding that put the sleuth-hounds ut.
terly at bay.
(Which is it?" they asked with bated
breath as ''The Family Party" ap-.
peared at ball, opera, or club dance
always Ralston, debonair, devoted, i'm
partial-always the two girls, fresh,
fair, Misunderstanding upon Ralston
and upon each other.
(which is (which can it be?"
queried Society.
(which is it?" queried Ralston's own
inner consciousness. The feeling that
it only rested with himself to say
which was as much part of his inner
as the question itself.
The child, as it stands poised between
two flowers, Of which it only can pos
sess one, never doubts that both flow
ers are alike, waiting to be plucked;
and that each will yield up its sweet
ness uncomplainingly. If Ralston had
admitted doubt as to the possibilities
of his own prowess, that doubt might
have aided in solving the problem that
was perplexing him.
>"It's time settled down." Ralston
confided to his cigar. "A man can't go
all the PAGES forever. I find that my
mind hovers more and more over the
Domestic Idea. Dressing-gown and
slippers allure me in a way they did
not several years ago. That tiny bald
spot don't yield to treatment as had
hoped it would. Heigh, no, Oldham!
you are getting along in years, and
you may as well face the fact. You'd
better settle down with a pretty young
wife before the lights 60 out"
This brought him back to the orig
inal dilemma: (Which should it beg"
OF course it couldn't be both, and it
was hardly possible to maintain the
present status much longer. He con.