Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-03-19
Z95, 81 CIV L2ALkhGSb4/1 GO.


to his
Have you thought OF what we
talked about last night?" she asked.
She made him most uncomfortable.
He had begun to wonder. for the first
time in his life. if. possibly he did not
have a conscience. He had never Ia
ken any obligation very seriously; sud
denly 1t seemed necessary for him to
consider many things with solemn,
bordering mind He did not like it. 1t
distinctly made him nervous. What
was the use of being heir to all his
uncle's property if riches brought the
very thing which he had thought they
might preserve him from-dull care?
Had he thought of what she had
said last night? He had thought of lit
tie else! Had that train of thought
been started by any human being other
than herself, he would have bitterly
resented the intense discomfort it had
caused him. Even now his voice was
peevish when he answered.
Have thought of it, All dreamed
about last night was poverty stricken
families crying for their food. Thou
sands of men, women and children
chased me through the streets, out of
the town and into wild forest-where
there was nothing but chewing-gum
trees"
She let her head fall back, and
laughed. He was so funny! Yet she
plainly felt that there was truth in his
complaint. She believed he really had
passed a most uncomfortable night.
Perhaps she was not very sorry that
he had
'Oh, l had an awful night" he
mourned. II could have slept this
morning, but the Ladies' Aid began to
rehearse their minstrel show across
the street go | got up and ordered
breakfast"
Having gone tlus far he stopped as
if there could be nothing further to be
said, but she did not understand the
reason for his sudden silence.
"Yes?" she inquired,
did you ever breakfast at the
Grand?" he asked pathetically.
NO" she smiled
Il dare you to-" he challenged.
Its the best hotel in town. All the
theatrical troupes stop there"
He nodded grimly. THE troupes
that play in lJonesville probably de-
serve it,
She did not quite approve OF this.
She was sure that she had seen some
wondrous acting there in JOnesviile.
Had she not wept her eyes out over
new play, entitled East Lynne" the
prev Sus winter? Had not another
novelty, which the bills announced
came straight to Jonesville from a
metropolitan run Of many weeks, and
which was known as The Two Or
phans." held her spellbound for an
evening? Had not the leading men in
these productions been invariably very
different in their appearance from any
of the Jonesville youth, and therefore
romantically attractive; had not the
leading women worn enormous jewels
and extraordinary, yellow hair which
she had envied fierce!t? Her own hair
was rich, dark brown.
She looked at him somewhat coldly.
1t was plainly time to turn from Cos
sip to pure business
1--WE worked all the morning with
| the auditor upon statement which
shows the years business up to the
first of this month";" she notified him
gravely. From an upper drawer of the
big desk at which she had been seated
she secured long, formidable-looking
paper and, rising, approached him with
it. do you care to go over 1t now?"
He eyed 1t askance, as Nit might
have been dangerous thing and liable
to sting. Business! Should he ever
really discover how to feel the slight
est interest in it or understanding of
it? What tiresome looking thing 1t
was.
mo; not right now" he told her. al
;. x< :: ~ !.