Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-01-07

York-a little spree of her own. you
understand. And, for Billy Fernmore
kept out of mischief for time fairly
well. After waiting days, lamblike, for
her return. restlessness"-and here
Fernmore's shameless affectation of
the neglected husband became SO ire
sistibly funny that 1t provoked pro-
longed laughter from his listeners,
even broom showing his yellow snags
and stretching his mouth to the fullest
extent Of the law as he Joined In the
general horus-"restlessness gave way
to recklessness, and In desperation
invited half dozen of the oldest and
most distinguished widowers In town
to dine with me at the hotel, where
they were informed they were to be
honored by the presence Of bevy Of
the seasons prettiest debutantes. Ny
stars, but they were a fine collection
Of old innocentsT Fernmore threw
himself back In his chair and reared
at the recollection.
"Bily's a wonder when he's wound
upr' Medford's whispered aside to
the lady on his right met with a sim
pie nod Of the head; for. despite Miss
Cleggs well feigned interest In Mr..
Nedford when Rigby was present. on
sther occasions there was no pretense
Of enjoyment Of his society.
among those present-to use the
~o~roo< ~ ro "a ,, satd ntIir oS+ns &C.,
ing refreshed himself with sufficient
champagne to proceed. were two re.
tired merchants, a venerable logician.
doddering banker and a half blind
college professor. OF course | had to
make some excuse for Mrs. Fernmore's
absence. For the life of me | cannot
now remember what yarn | told them.
but they were too anxious to be pre-
sented to the gay young women not
to swallow it-whole. The old boys
fairly swamped the girls with their
senile attentions. 1t was a lively sup.
per party-my word! And they went
home unanimously declaring that the
debutantes of the present day dis
counted, at least in dash and go. the
cbarmers of fifty years ago"
Amidst the confusion of peals OF
merriment which greeted the genial
raconteur, Miss Gable, to whom the
story did not especially appeal, whis-
pered in awed tones:
"Graydon. who on earth is that
queer, spectacular looking man with
your father?'
"Oh, that's Droom-isn't he charac-
ter? He's been with the governor
since ] was a child. In those days his
looks used to brighten me almost to
death. fancy he's had a sad life.
don't you know"
There IN something positively aw-
full in his face" returned the girl, as
her eyes faltered and dropped to her
plate on Unexpectedly meeting those
Of the subject of her remark.
"Sh-hr' came from Medford, and
then, Come. Billy-what's the point
or the moral. as they say In novelsr'
"Fernmsre IL rafting good chap
at heart" Graydon was saying to
Jane. but can't stand that Ned
Yes. yes; 60 on. Mr.. Fernmore."
broke In several voices In eager ex-
pectancy.
1.-THE moralT Billy's eyes were
twinkling The joke. rather, Is on
me. When Mrs. Fernmore reached
home thought II wise to say nothing
about the affair, but l had completely
underestimated the persistency Of
these rejuvenated venerables They
were not satisfed-wanted to know
more about the girls. and the next day
in deep but joyous simplicity half
dozen old men asked their married
daughters and close friends at the
clubs what family Of Brown a certain
debutants belonged to, who was the
father Of Miss Jones and how long
had the family of Miss Robinson lived
In the city. together with lot Of amaE-
ing questions. And falling to derive
even the remotest satisfaction from
the social register. the woman MEM
bers q their families besieged my in
nocent wife with more or less shocked
Inquiries ~ to an cntertainment Of
mine At which thsir aged relations
were prsssat WEI. ths game was up!
l. svAe1 lR-ss4fxeel h tha Gtr.s