Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-21

Y.
"Rut. my dear
"l)idn't you say you were surprised
that this naval man WAS paying hel
attention: Thnt's the same thing n.
saying she's not attractive, ard | wan
to tell You that Frances Is the prot
tiost girl In pittsburg even # she IS
your daughter"
George Durant smiled placdly.
"Wcll. my dear. you see, she's bound
to be pretty Thn!; Of her mother"
wow don't try TO soft soap me Jus,
because I'm your wife. George. Re-
member I've had twenty years Of you,
barney and | recognize it."
AN right my dear" he agreed
"Wc'll let it go at that. Let the navn
man pay attention to her 1t won't
Go him any good"
81 should hope not" exclaimed his
wife piouNly THE idea Of any girl
marrying Il man who couldn't come
home nights mere than one-tentb of
the time
/ Edward Pinckncy entered from the
! library. where he had been to arrange
some business matters for his chief.
Your stcnographpr is ready, sir.
whenever you want her" he said.
Mrs Durnnl threw W her bands in
borror.
Good gracious. George. you are not
going to work on your first night home? Z"
He looked at her in an apologize,
guilty fashion
~ oil. my dear. you see" he hosi-
t.'tf che work has to be done some
WIZ HH, lust wanted to get II start
/ F"fr "a 80 over some matters with
Ej"1rd about this khinestrom gun
anu also shout this gun invented by
S"nilrrS which we are casting for the
government 1t won't bc much work
and | have my stenographcr and sec
rotary all ready"
Before the wife could protest fur
thcr Frances and Sommers entered the
drn wing room, The old steel man did
not give his wife chance to argue.
All. Sommers." he exclaimed gen
Tally, Il was Just hoping you'd come
/ IN. owe YOU an apology. my wife
says. and wanted to deliver it,
"ApoloEy Fer what?" exclaimed
the lieutenant. mystitied
nurInt wiuked at him.
"Why, Lieutenant Sommers." he
said, with assumed seriousness. Il
thought / owed You an apology for
my conversation at dinner discussing
the truck gun work and steel and gun
making generally those subjects in
WI i0h
not understand"
SommcrS. catcinG the spirit Of the
scene bowed seriously
~ our apolcgy is accepted. Mr. Du-
rant h" said Il thought myself it
was rather strange that you should
choose Il subject on Il thing neither
one Of " kncw anything about; but.
Of course. rs you were host Clipped
in and did the lest could hope
my remarks on tho subject weren't
altogether foolish"
Durant turned to his wife.
There. my dear. You see I've done
everything YOU asked. I've apologized
But really we only talked on that sub
icct because We both thought 1t was
10 wen huN' forgiveness al the way
round Au3 tuu must get to work"
"fioor"" she pirndrd.
He pause. tor unr second. his hand
ON The door
only IL little while You'll all ex-
cuse me:"
Sommers and pinckncy bowed, but
Frances laughed out loud.
Dear old dad, what difference would
1t make whether we excuse you or
notf We know you'll 90 anyway
"Wel. won't he long he protest
ed; really | won't"
When the door had closed behind
him Mrs. Durant drew long breath;
then she brought her foot down with
emphasis that was almost a stamp.
"Im going into that study" she de-
clared, and stay there until get him
out. The idea Of his beginning busl
ness on the first night home! He
won't stay long after come in!"
Indeed he won't" agreed Frances.
You know" she went on, with a
laughing explanation to Sommers,
whenever mother decides that father
simply shall not work she goes into |
the room, takes seat where he Is
bound 10 see her and just sits there
at him reproachfully. She calls
It moral suaslon."
"But does 1t work." asked Sommers.
"Does 1t work?" interpolated Pinck.
ney. "lf you'd ever seen 1t you'd un.
derstand it would work"
Yes. indeed" exclaimed Frances.
Father will struggle along for FIVE or
ten or even fifteen minutes, but at last
that steady stare gets too much for his
nerves. He'll begin to make mistakes
In his debating. and at last he'll Jump
out OF his chair and stare. and then
mother will heave n long sigh and say:
George. dear, I know you are tired.
Don't you think you'd better stop
awhile" And he stops"
What splendid system" laughed
Sommcrs. And what do you do. Miss
Durnnt. when you want to manage
him?"
The girl smiled.
"Oh. that's secret" she said. 81
have my own way Of doing 1t. but 1t
works, doesn't II, Edward?"
You're right there" agreed Pinck-
ney. Il won't forget In hurry how
you handled him on the wireless teleg.
'nphy scheme"
wireless telegraphyw exclaimed the