The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-06-08

Utopias was not for the iron age. No
one but the mother had the courage to
ask IL he really meant to tear down the
mills. She leaned over the chair.
John. shall you really do 1t? Tear
You would not have me take back
my words?"
Your father loved the place"
And do / not?" a note of strong
passion in his voice. II shall tear it
down, if live. Do not ask me any
thing more about it. Has Dick been
over today?"
He telephoned that he would be over
after dinner. He wants you to go to
the speech making tonight" Patty
rose from her seat at the table.
Patty" said John, rather surprised
at his discovery. you are almost a
Woman!"
You men never see anything quick
ly.' said Mrs. Jack. Patty has been a
beautiful woman for several months"
Patty started, restrained the impulse
to speak, and searched Mrs. Jacks
| face. But Mrs. Jack had eyes for no
| one but John. Her thought was far re-
| moved from her words. That telephone
| message rang i'm her ears every hour
the verge OF telling John, the next she
dared not What had that wretch
found out? What could he have found
| out? A lie: it could be nothing
more nor less than lie: but the sus-
pense and the waiting were killing her.
Think of it," said John. Patty
| will be marrying before long"
when Patty marries, mother" said
John, you shall come and live with
Kate and me-"
You are moving me around like a
piece Of useless furniture" replied
Patty. Il doubt IL shall ever marry"
| 'Bosh!" laughed John. "ThereYl
come some bold Lochinvar for you, one
of these days, and then off you'll go.
There's the bell. That must be Dick"
| Patty and Mrs. Jack crossed glances
| quickly. John went to the door him
self and brought Warrington back with
him.
Wont you have a cup of tea, Mr..
Warrington" asked ire mother.
THANK you. WILL" Warrington stir
red the tea, gazing pleasantly from
| face to face.
The lines in his face seemed deeper
than usual; the under lids of the eyes
We're dark, and the squareness OF the
jaw was more prominent. John saw
no change, but the three women did.
Warrington looked careworn.
We'll, John, ] see that you have done
it,"
| Yes"
I'm terribly sorry, but you couldn't
back down now and live in town."
You see, mother?" John smiled sad
ly.
Presently they moved into. the liv-
ing room. Warrington longed to sit be-
side Patty, but of a sudden he had
grown diffident. Words were no longer
at his command; he was no longer at
his ease. He was afraid Of Patty; and
he was very, very lonely.
Mrs. Jack had taken the seat next
to him, and was asking him about the
progress Of the play. 1t was going on
so indifferently that he was Of half a
mind to destroy 1t, which he did later.
His glance always came back to Patty.
She was bent over her basketwork. She
was calling him Mr.. Warrington again,
Had he offended her in any manner?
The light from the lamp sparkled In
her hair. She was as fresh and beauti-
full as July rose. But Mrs. Jack was
an artist. She knew how to draw him
out: and shortly he was talking ami
matedly. 1t was now that Patty's eyes
began to rove.
John, his fingers meeting in an arch,
one leg thrown restlessly across the
other, thoughtfully eyed his wife am
his friend. 1t was lie; there wal
nothing in all the world so honest as
Warringtons hand, so truthful as his
wifes eyes. Cursed be the doubt that
had wedged between these two he
loved.
Time passes quickly or slowly, ac-
cording to the state Of mind. To John
the time was long; to Patty and War
rington it was too short; to Mrs. Jack
it was neither long nor short, but sus-
pended.
"Time for us to go, John. You are
not particular about a chair, are your
Warrington asked.
mot /. l prefer to stand up in the
rear of the hall. If am bored ! can
easily escape"
"Oh, the night will not be without
some amusement"
Take good care Of John" whispered
Mrs. Jack in Warrington's ear, as the
two men were about to depart.
Trust mel" Warrington smiled.
Patty and John observed this brief
intercourse. The eyes Of love are sharp.
Patty was not jealous, neither was
John; but something had entered into
their lives that gave to all trivial
things a ponderous outline.
Don't let any reporters talk to
John, Mr.. Warrington" requested the
mother.
"Ill surround him."
shall we WALK" asked John.
I'VE can see better on foot"
We'll walk, then"
So the two men went down tom on
foot, and Jove galloped back and forth
joyously. At any and all times he was
happy with his master. The one bane
of his existence was gone, the cat. He
was monarch of the house; he could
sleep on sofa pillows and roll on the
rugs, and nobody stole his bones.
"Good dog" observed John.
Money couldn't buy him. 1 saw that
fellow Bolles today" tentatively.
"Bolles? John did not recollect the
name.
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