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

people went to church on a Sunday
morning. Perhaps It was merely habit,
perhaps 1t was simply formality. per-
haps II was only to parade new clothes;
anyhow. they went to church. Some
rode to church, but the majority
walked.
Upon this particular Sunday Morn
ing there seemed to be something In
the air that was not a component part
Of any Of the elements. 1t was simply
q bit of news which the churchgoers
had read I'm the papers that morning.
TT ey whispered about 1t, lifted their
eyebrows, and shrugged their Shout
ders. An actress! Men might marry
actresses in England. but Hercula-
neum still chung to the belief that ac-
tresses were not eligible.
some of the men had seen Rather
Inc Challoner act, and they sighed, ret
respectively and Unexpectedly.
II feel for Mrs. Bennington and her
daughter. 1t must be a great blow to
their pride" Mrs. FRANKLIN Haldene
sat down In her pew-seat and arranged
her silk petticoats. Mrs. Wilmington
Fairchilds sat down beside her. You
know never NEEDLE with scandal"
Never. I never repeat anything
hear. The Archibald affair was enact
ed right under my very nose; but did
I circulate what / saw? think not!
her every night"
was it really true, them" asked
Mrs. Fairchilds, breathless.
II saw 1t all with these eyes," fatty.
But, as ! said, / keep my hands clean
OF scandal" Her hands were white and
fiabby. II consider it not only wicked
to start scandal, but positively bad
taste.
MRS. Archibald" began Mrs. Fair
childs.
mot another word, my dear. I've
seid nothing at all; haven't even told
you what saw. But an actress is diff
ferent. Think Of it, my dear! She will
live among US and We shall have to
meet her. Think OF the actors who have
kissed her In their make-believe love
affairs. You know as well as I do
what wild fellow Warrington is.
Well. she has been going around with
him.
She was one of those fortunate per-
sons who always have their names in
the society columns OF the Sunday
newspapers. Either she was among
those present or she gave luncheon,
or she assisted at a reception, or was
going out Of town, or coming back.
Those who ran their husbands in debt
to get into society always looked to see
what Mrs. Haldene had been doing
the past week.
Miss Anna Warrington, spinster-
aunt Of Richard, occupied the other half
of the Bennington pew. Until half a
dozen years age, when her boy had
come into his own, she had known
but little save poverty and disillusion;
and the good she always dreamed OF
doing she was ncly doing in fact. Very
Qui city her withered old hand stole over
the low partition and pressed the hand
of Mrs. Bennington. who was accom-
phnied by her sweet young daughter,
Patty
whenever Patty looked around (for
youth sits impatiently in church), al
ways she met eyes, eyes, eyes. But she
was brave lass, and more than once
she beat aside the curious gaze. How
she hated them! She knew they were
whispering, whispering. Her brother
was going to marry an actress. She
was proud OF her brothers choice. He
was going to marry a woman who was
as brilliant as she was handsome, who
counted among her friends the great
In world where mediocrity is un-
known and likewise unwelcome Medic
crity's teeth are sharp only for those
who fear them.
The Warrington home stood back
from the street 200 feet or more, on a
beautiful natural terrace. The lawn
was wide and crisp and green. and the
oak trees were the envy Of many. The
house itself had been built by one of
the early settlers, and Warrington had
admired it since boyhood. 1t was of
wood, white, with green blinds and
wide verandas. pillared after the colo
NAL style.
warrington seldom went to church.
II was not because he was without be-
lief; there was a strong feaven OF faith
underlying his cynicism. Frankly SER
mons bored him.
So he stayed at home and read the
Sunday papers. That part not devoted
to society and foreign news was given
up wholly to local politics. Both the
democratic and republican parties were
In bad odor.
Finally he tossed aside the sheets and
signaled to the dog. It was bull ter
rior old and SCARED, and unchanging
In his affections. He loved this master
of his, even II he saw him but twice q
year.
Warrington stretched himself on the
lounge. Finally his aunt returned from
church.
AHA" he cried. sitting up and rub
bling his eyes.
Richard, wish you had gone to
church this morning.
"And watched the gossips and scan
dali mongers twist their barbs In Mrs
Benninvton's heart? Hardly?"
She gaxed at him. nonplussed. There
was surely something uncnnny In this
boy. who always seemed to know what