The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-11-02
At TINE ELEVENTH HOUR Sc rHzoposl s GARRISON

the weather and from thence by some strange course
of reasoning. to the lion above the mantel My
younger sister was over two months doing that, Mr..
Kent. Conscientious wasn't the word for it, She was
a great sufferer poor soul-chrouic asthma-but
nothing but her art seemed 10 give her relief Manys
the time she's said TO me Emma once get my thumo
through the palate breathe easier. That fruit piece
behind you, now. That's a good deal admired
Would you believe me. Mr. Kent she laid bernged
hand coLhdenually on Jims arm as he rose, miser-
ably, face the fruit pece-"Would you believe me.
that she six months painting that? AS each fruit
in she'd paint it-from the original. you
know. There's thirtysix varieties there. actually,
she conscientious about doing them JUS
tice that believe not, Mr.. Kent. two pineappes
spoiled her, before she'd painted them in"
He mumbed what meant TO be apprecative
response and waited for the word with which she
would Introduce the subject OF her daughters in
would be loath lose him from the family. it
were, and he felt the bonds tightening by the min
ute 1t was only however when he at last found
courage mention her daughters that he
found Mrs. Tompkins even more embarrassed than
age by surreptitious glance at the crayon portrait
on the easel before she answered.
Well, Mr.. Kent. she said, Il suppose / might
we'll out with it first last though do think, as
told Ruby, that ii asking a great deal. and
I always did hate to be the bearer OF bad news but
its all in a lifetime. and you're young. and all
have our dsappontments. and the fact is Mr.. Kent,
that Ruby wanted me to tell you that she saw Mr..
Usbeck last night and they made up. and the fact Is
that they're out riding together now. They're"
For moment the boys head seemed to spin. He
wanted realize and couldn't, though he vaguely
understood for feeting moment what it means to
man on the galows to hear galloping horse and
Mr. Usbeck?" he murmured. and there really
seemed something beautiful in the
Poor Mrs. Tompkins turned deeper shade of red,
but withal assumed sterner dignity. Il supposed
she'd told you, Mr. Kent, about Mr.. usbeck-Mr. l.
Main street-wholesale. That's his picture there
on the easel; he it to Ruby last Christmas.
went way last summer they had a quarrel and Ruby
sent him back his ring of course, when she met
you, Mr. Kent-and l don't say she wasn't fond OF
you For all he's smart man. he can't write poetry
like you, and told Ruby when she read it TO
Well it's just this: Mr.. Usbeck here last night
and they made up. and they're going to be married
in the fall; and Ruby didn't have the courage tell
you herself. Mr. Kent though I'm it's her place
to and not mine She had an idea that you'd take
dreadful
She looked at him apprehensvely and inward
monitor informed her that the happest ten minutes
of her guests life to him he there in a
red plush chair with his feet in General Grants face
realized that his youthful spendor elegance
and knowledge had been completely overshadowed
by gentleman with blonde pompadour who
Quoted a wholesale liquor business Add to this the
feeling that his shackes had been struck off at a
blow, with hysterical desire to give way TO mirh,
and you may imagine his state of mind.
He deliciously happy that ii all he could
do to keep from embracing Mrs. Tompkins. Instead
he the decencies of the occasion and attered
crushed and rejected sutton looking for the door.
He N.ung Mrs. Tompkins reluctant hand they
parted and the message he left for Ruby Hazel
breathed pathetic remuneration that almost moved
the good woman to tears.
He could have patted the plaster dog and the iron
jockey on the head. as he left the yard free man.
e back the deserted city house and the
battefelds induced him to pick his diary and turn
to the days when he and Ruby Hazel were all in all
to each other There was the golden record-al
ranbows, thunderbolts and wings emanating from a
blotty fountain pen. Let it be recorded that first
he sighed, then blushed to his and suddenly
aughed-the genuine but amazed chuckle with which
a boy laughs at himself for the first time-and hear
ing this the special providence the protection of
might have nodded and gone its way: for when
boy learns how to laugh at himself he has learned
a great deal beside. and is in immediate need of
divine interpositon between himself and the quality
of