The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-11-11

@HE three laughed Dlt1ngly ID
H chorus. They jeered. derided.
scoffed and raised an uproar
which would have had its eff
feet upon much stronger nerves than
| Georges. For a time he contained
his rising choler and chanted monot-
onously over and over: Il could!
could too! | could! | could tool" But
their tumult wore upon him, and he de-
cided to avail himself of the recent de-
cision whereby big II was rendered
| innocuous and unprofane. Having
used the expression once. he found it
comforting and substituted it for II
| couldi | could tool"
But 1t relieved him only temporarily.
| His tormentors were unaffected by it
and increased their howlings until at
last George lost his head altogether
Badgered beyond bearing. his eyes
shining with wild light, he broke
through the besieging trio, hurting little
Maurice from his path with q frantic
hand.
III show you!" he cried In this sud
den frenzy. You give me a chance.
! anu 1 ii prove IL TlSuI now!
That's talkin' businessr' shouted
Penrod. Everybody keep still min
ute-everybody!
| He took command Of the situation at
once, displaying fine capacity for or
ganization and system. 1t needed only
few minutes to set order in the place
of confusion and to determine, with the
full concurrence of all parties. the con.
ditions under which George Bassett
was to defend bis claim by undergoing
what may be perhaps intelligibly de-
fined as the Herman test. George de-
clared he could do 1t easily. He was
in state of great excitement and in
no condition to think calmly or proba-
bly, he would not have made the at.
tempt at all. Certainly he was over
confident.
1t was during the discussion of the
details of this enterprise that Georges
mother short distance down the
street received few female callers.
who came by appointment to drink
glass of iced tea with her and TO meet
the Rev. Mr.. kinosing. Mr.. Kinosling
esting to the women and girls of his
own and other flocks. What favor of
his fellow clergymen a slight precious
ness of manner and pronuncia ton cost
him was more than balanced by the
visible ecstasies of ladies. They bios.
somed ut his touch.
He had just entered Mrs. Bassett's
front door when the son of the house.
| followed by an intent and earnest com
pany of four. opened the alley gate
and came into the yard The uncon-
scious Mrs. Bassett was about to have
her first experience of n fatal coinci-
dence. 1t was her first, because she
was the mother of boy so well be-
haved that he had become proverb
Of transcendency. Fatal condolences
were plentiful in the Schofield and
| Williams families and would have been
familiar to Mrs. Bassett had George
been permitted greater intimacy with
| Penrod and Sam.
Mr. Kinosing slipped his iced tea and
looked about him approvingly. Seven
ladies leaned forward, for it was to be
seen that he meant to speak.
This cool room is relief" he said,
waving a graceful hand in "a neatly
limited gesture, which everybody's
eyes followed, his own included. 1T
is relief and a retreat. The windows
open. the blinds closed-that is as it
should be. 1t is a retreat, Il fastness.
a baStion against the heats assault.
For me quiet room-a quiet room and
a book. volume in the hand. held
lightly between the tingers-a volume
of poems. lines metrical and cadenced.
something by sound Victorian. We
have no later poets"
'Swinburne?" suggested Miss Beam,
an eager spinster. "Swinburne, Mr..
Kinosling? All. Swinburnef'
Not Swinburne." said Mr.. Kinosling
chastely. NO"
That concluded all the remarks about
Swinburne.
Miss Beam retired in confusion be-
hind another lady, and somehow there
became diffused an impression that
Miss Beam was erotic.
81 do not observe your manly little
son." Mr.. Kinosling addressed his
hostess.
Hes out playing In the yard Mrs
Bassett returned II heard his voice
Just now. think"
Everywhere | hear wonderful re-
ports of him." said MIR. KinsOling IL
may say that | understand boys. and
feel that he is rare. fine, pure. a
lofty spirit. ! say spirit, for spirit Is
the word hear spoken of him."
\ chorus of enthusiastic appreciation
affirmed the accuracy of this proclama.
ton. and Mrs. Bassett flushed with
pleasure Georges spiritual perfection
was demonstrated by instances Of 1t
related by the visitors. His piety was
y'ited. and wonderful thirgs he had said
we're quoted.
Not all boys are pure, of fine spirit,
of high mind" said Mr.. Kinosling, and
continued with true feeling: You have
a neighbor, dear Mrs. Bassett, whose
household | indeed really feel 1t quite
impossible to visit until such time
when better, firmer, stronger handed.
more determined discipline shall pre-
vail. find Mr.. and Mrs. Schofield and
their daughter charming, but
Ito be continued next week.