The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-04-20

"I wouldn't have believed 1t of my
congregation" she said.
"Oh, Mrs. Bennington Is a woman OF
| the world; she understands how to
make barbs harmless. But that's why
never go to church. 1t doesn't soothe
! me as 1t ought to; / fall to easily into
the habit of pulling my neighbours mind
into pieces. But rye been thinking,
aunty"
about what?"
About coming home to stay"
"Oh, Richard. IL you only would"
sitting beside him and folding him In
her arms.
I'm thinking g over"
"Pll be so ,-5ppy:" the old lady cried.
I'm going right out into the kitchen
myself and make one of those cherry
pies you used to rave over
She disappeared, and Warrington
laughed, rose and stretched the sleep
stairs to dress. Yes, he would think
1t over. Besides, IL he lived I'm HeI :
culaneum he could run over to tire
Bennington home at any time of day.
His cheeks flushed of sudden.
Hang 1t. am I lying to myself about
that girlY Is 1t the knowledge that
she'll be my neighbor that inclines me
to live here? / know j shall miss her
II / stay in New York; Pm honest
enough to admit that God knows I'VE
nothing but honor In my heart for
her. Why, j wouldn't even kiss her
hand without old Jacks consent. Well,
well; the scene in the church Wednes-
day VIII solve all doubts--if / have
any"
Later he walked slowly down town.
his cane behind his back, his chin in
his collar. deep in meditation.
The dog Jove ran hither and thither
importantly. All at once he paused.
stiffened each muscle tense. War
rIngton, catching the pose, looked up.
A handsome trotter was coming along
at walk. In the light road wagon
sat man and a white bull dog. II
was easy for Warrington to recognize
McQuade. who in turn knew that this
good looking young man must be the
dramatist. The two glanced at each
quainted. Not SO the dogs. They had
met. The white bull tettered on the
seat. Jove barred his strong teeth.
How he hated that sleek, white brute
up there! He would have given his
life for one good hold on that broad
throat. The white dog was thinking,
too. Some day, when the time came,
he would clean the slate. Once he
had almost had the tan for his own
And he hated the girl who had beaten
him off with her heavy riding crop.
McQuade drove on and Warrington
resumed his interrupted study OF the
sidewalk. McQuade thought nothing
more about the fellow who wrote plays,
and the dramatist had no place in his
mind for the petty affairs of the poll
tician. Fate, however. moves quite as
certainly and mysteriously as the cos
mic law. The bitter fued between these
two men began with their dogs.
At the club Warrington found a few
lonely bachelors, who welcomed him to
tInn lneaex hi -r..llv 49,
he was in no mood for gossip and
whisky. He ordered lithia, drank 1t
quickly and escaped to the reading
room to write some letters
Warrington finished his correspcn-
dence, dined alone, and at 1880 started
up the street to the Benningtons.
Mrs. Bennington was very glad 70
see him. She laid aside her book and
made room for him on the divan. They
talked about the weather. the changes
that had taken place since the fall, a
scrap Of foreign travel of mutual
interest. each hoping that the other
would be first to breach the subject
most vital to both. Finally. Mrs. Ben
nington realized that she could fence
no longer.
'Tt was very good of you to come.
have SO many things to ask you"
yes"
my boys determination to marry
has been very sudden. l knew MOTH
ing till a month ago. love him So.
and my whole heart hungers for one
thing-the assurance that he will be
happy with the woman OF his choice"
my dear Mrs. Bennington, Jack will
marry a woman who is as loyal and
honest as she is brilliant and beauti-
full. Miss Challoner is woman any
family might be proud to claim. She
numbers among. her friends many OF
the brilliant minds Of the age; she
compels their respect and admiration
by her intellect and her. generosity.
Oh, Jack is to be envied. / can read
lily understand the deep rooted antag-
onism the actress still finds among
the laity. 1t is foolish prejudice /
can point out many cases where the
layman has married an actress and
has been happy and contented with
There are persons in town who will
dc their best to make her unhappy"
You will always find those persons,
but am confident Miss Challoner will
prove match for any of them. There
Is no other woman in the world who
knows better than she the value Of
ll-applied fattery."
"You are a very wise young man."
Warrington laughed embarrassedly.
II have had to figure out all these
things"
IL SIle QOcS IlOt lOVc SlIIIl.
How in the world can she help 1t %
She caught up his hand In moth
erly clasp.
1--WE mothers are vain in our love,
We make our sons paragons; we bind
ourselves to their faults; we overlook
their follies, and condone their sins.
And we build so many castles that one
day tumble down about our ears"
II never knew a mothers love-" he
said slowly. mo doubt should have
been a better man. Yet, I've often
observed that boy with a loving
mother takes her love as a matter OF
course, and never realizes his riches
till he has lost them. My aunt is the
only mother / have known"
"And q dear, kind, loving soul she
u.s." said Mrs. Bennington. She loves
you. IL not with mother-love, at least
with mother-instinct. When we two
get together, we have a time Of 1t;
/, lauding my boy; she, praising hers. :
Warrington walked home, lightened
in spirit, after an enjoyable converse
ton with Patty on the veranda. He
swung his cane gave Jove dozen love
taps. and whistled operate airs. What
a charming young creature 1t was. to
be sure! The brain Of woman and
| the heart Of a child.
He knocked on the door Of his aunts
| bedroom.
"Is that you. Richard"
Yes"
He entered quietly.
He sat down on the edge Of the bed
and patted her hands.
"Aunty. old lady. I'm through think