The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-01-31

| few years. had forgotten how natter
| of-surfacs her affectation and snobbery
| were. and how little they interfered
with her being a good mother and n
good wife. up TO the limits OF her brain
| capacity.
.Tm sure. Mr. Blackjack" she said
plaintiveiy. Il only wished TO say what
was pleasant and nice about your IAN
| Gee. I know she's n lovely girl. I've
| often admired her Mt the opera. Shc
goes a great deal In Mrs. I.angdon's
box. and Mrs. Langdon and ! are to-
gcther on the board OF managers OF the
Magdalene home. and also on the board
OF the Hospital for Unfortunate Gen.
| tlefolk." And 30 on. and on.
walked up and down among those
| wrapped-up. ghostly chairs and tables
and cabinets and statues many times
before Joe arrived with the minister
and he was n Methodist. McCabe by
name You should have seen Mrs.
Rails look as he advanced his portiy
form and round face with its shaver
upper lip into the drawing room. She
tried 10 be cordial but she couldn't
her mind was on Anita. and the horror
that would oil her when she discovered
that she was TO be married by a
preacher OF n sect unknown TO fash
"Aii ask of YOU" said TO him. is
that you cut Il as short AZ possible.
Miss Eilersiy IN tired ana nervous.
This while we were shaking hands AZ
ter Joe's introduction.
You can count on me. SIR" said Nc
Cabe. giving my hand an extra shake
before dropping II. I've no doubt.
tells me. that your marriage In already
made In your hearts and with all SOL
cmnIty. The form In an incident-im-
portant. but only an incident"
liked that. and liked his unaffected
way OF saying n. His voice had more
of tho homeiy. homeiikc. rural twang
In Il than I had heard In New York
in many day. l mentally doa-
give him. And now Alva and she
were coming down the stairway.
was amazed at sight OF her. Her even
ing Sress had given place TO a pretty biuo
street suit with n short skirt--white show
ing at her wrists. at her neck and through
slashings In tho coat over her bosom: and
on her head was n hat 10 match. looked
nj her feet-thc slippers had been replaced
by boots. And they're just right for
her" said Aiva. who was following my
glance. though I'm not 20 tall as she"
Hut what amazed mo most. and de-
lighted me. was that she seemed to be al
most In good spirits. II was evident she
had formed with Jo.'s daughter one or
those sudden friendships 20 great and no
vivid that they rarely lived long after the
passing OF the heat OF the emergency that
bred them. Mrs Fall saw II. also. and
was strasghtway giddled into sort OF
esatnsy. You can imagine the visions 81
coaJured. I've no doubt she talked house
on the cast side OF the park TO Joe that
very night. before she let him sleep. How
.u..n.
when We took our places before tho min
istcr. with hts little. BACKGROUND book
open And as he read In n voice that was
genuinely impressive those words that no
voice could make unimprcssive. saw her
pAieness blanch into palior. saw the dusk
creep round her eyes until they were like
stars waning somberly before tho gray
head began 20 sway. l stcadicd her with
my arm. And 80 we stood. with my arm
round her. she leaning lightly against my
shoulder Her answers were mere move
ments OF the lips.
At the end. wnen kissed her check. she
said: els IL oyery'
yes" Mccabe answered-she was look
ing ut him. And wish you all happi-
moss, Mrs. Blackjack"
At that name. her new name. she stared
at him with great wondering eyes: then
Joe came with a glass OF champagne: sho
drank some OF Il. and Il brought iifo back
to her face. and some color. With q nat
uralness that deceived even me for the
moment. she smiled up At Joe as she
handed him the glass. 'Is Il bad luck"
she asked. FOR mo TO be tho FIRST 20 drink
my own health7" And she stood. looking
tranquIlly at everyone-except mo
I took McCabe into the hail and paid him
or.
When We came back. I said: Now ws
must be going
"oh. but surely your stay for SUPERB
cried JooS wife.
mo" replied !. In tone that made Il
impossible To insist. I'VE appreciate your
kindness. but we've imposed on 81
enough" And shook hands with her and
with Allie and the minister. and. linking
Joe's arm In mine. made for tho door. /
gave the necessary directions 10 my
chauffeur while we wero waiting for An
ita To come down the steps Joe's daugh-
ter was close beside her and they kissed
each other goodby. Alva on the verge or
tears. Anita rot suggesting any emotion
OF any sort. ''Tomorrow-sure." Anita
said TO her. And she answered: Yes.
indecd-as son as you telephone me-" And
80 wo were on. n shower OF rico rafting
on the roof or the brougham-tho Stat
tcrnly mRn-servant had thrown IL from
the midst OF the group OF servants.
Neither OF us spoke. 1 watched her
faco without seeming TO do 80. and by
the light OF occasional street lamps raw
her studying me furtively. AZ last she
said: II wish TO go TO my uncla's now"
we arc going home" said /.
But tho house will be shut up" said
she. "and every one will be In bed. It's
nearly midnight. Besides. they might
not" She came 80 a fun stop.
I'VE are goins home" repeated TIE
the willoughby."
M,LMrIInNL Nix M.nkl