The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-25

turned she did not again raise her eyes
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 it 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-dulI 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 I 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 a 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. 1 had an awful night" he
mourned. Il could have slept this
morning. but the Ladies Aid began to
rehearse their minstrel show across
the street, so 1 got up and ordered
breakfast"
Having gone thus 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 patheticaIIy.
NO." she smiled.
81 dare you to-" he challenged.
It's the best hotel in town All the
theatrical troupes stop there"
He nodded grimly. The troupes
that play in Jonesville probably de-
serve it."
She did not quite approve of this.
She was sure that she had seen some
wondrous acting there in Jonesville
Had she not wept her eyes out over
new play, entitled East Lynne" the
previous winter? Had not another
novelty, which the bills announced
came straight to Jonesvil1e from
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
Economically attractive; had not the
leading women worn enormous jewels
and extraordinary, yellow hair which
she had envied fercely? Her own hair
was rich, dark brown.
She looked at him somewhat coldIy.
It was plainly time to turn from Cos
sip to pure business.
give worked all the morning with
the auditor upon a 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 a long, dable-looking
paper and, rising. approached him with
| it. do you care to go over it now?"
He eyed it askance, as if it might
have been a 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 a tiresome looking thing it
was.
| No: not right now" he told her, al