Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-09-29
CHAPTER x1x-(con,inued.o

1rlend and playmate. While Eric was
squlrmlng In the seat, eager to be off,
mary was resentfully digging up the
emo of Joan's first sign of coldness
ana dlsfaVor. which was followed later
on by the cut direct. 1t all came about
after an all night automobile trip. she
recalled. when she had taken an up
state trip in company with Jack Pay
son and a couple of friends from New
YORK. 1t was of no to the
gossips, who told the tale, that MIR.
and Mrs. Bates were in the party.
What hurt Mary most, even though
she was 10th to admit it to herself, was
the conviction that. next to Eric and
Payson. she still loved Joan Bright
better than anyone else in the world.
therefore. she was privileged to nate
her with particular unreasonableness.
Where is Eric, my dear?" asked her
uncle. peerlng about in all directions.
n could not conceal her nervous
ness. II think he hurried out to see
Joan Bright; She's back from the
south. uncle"
Indeed. She wasn't expected SO
o Why did she change her plans
SO hasitly?"
I'm sure 1 don't know"
Haven't YOU"
mo. 1 haven't seer her." interrupted
Mary: answering the perfectly obvious
question before it could be uttered.
Mr.: Blagden hemmed rather awk-
wardly. Probably came in last night
he vouchsafed. II daresay Eric Is
walking home with her. We shan't see
him until-Ah. how do you do. Pres
prey. Splendid sermon. wasn't it? Good
morning. Julia"
The Presbreys, transversing the OPP
posite a acknowledged the greet
ing with a most ceremonious bow 1t
did not occur to them to inform nv.
Blagden that they had listened to the
sermon In h Second Congregational
church.
"A most admirable DISCOURSE said
Mr.. Presbrey blandly.
SCHOLARLY" said his wife, as she
bestowed her sweetest smile on Mary.
: you are back. are you, my dear?'
Yes. Mrs. ~Presbrey," said Mary. also
smiling sweetly.
Then their ways diverged.
little later. Mary awoke to the fact
that her uncle was speaking, not 80
much to her as to the world in general.
Yes. ! am sorry for P%resbrey. 1
p he realizes what an old foggy
he was toward the end. Still he was
I should say he is a good Christ-like'
man. He can't have any bitterness of
heart. although 1 daresay he-er, ahem!
deplores the fact that this new broom
Is sweeping SO thoroughly. Dear me,
ne never saw a congregation so vast
as-but what am I saying? Yes, yes,
I am sorry for Presbrey. I don't mind
saying to you. Mary, that he has been
on my conscience not a little during
the past few months. I can't help feel
Ing that I took a rather unfair advan-
tage of him at the time Of
"Nonsense!" broke in Mary. ut was
a fair tight between you, Uncle Hor-
ace"
"A fair fight, my dear? Fight?" said
Mr.. Blagden with a stare.
And he began it." she added sue
cinctly.
Mr.. Blagden cleared his throat. BE
that as it may" he said hastily, II
feel that I owe him some form of repa-
ration. ] have quite fully decided to
put him In charge of the new library
Eric n Adam a turned a distant
"The new library?" she repeated.
Horace affected a dry chuckle. you
will see it all in tomorrow's Courier
he said. "Eric's to build it. The hand
soonest structure outside of Boston, Ii
I do say It,"
II don't know what you are talking
about, Uncle Horace"
"Of course you don't. 1 am to talk
1t over with Eric in the morning. The
Courier is now in full possession of the
Details"
The eager. excited questions that rose
to her lips were left unuttered. John
Payson approached from the opposite
&AoA - AiOoAS 6dSS d k1Sdt,
wild throb. and then seemed to stop
beating entirely. Her face was very
pale.
Payson did not pause. but went by
with a warn smile for her and a DO
lite bow for Horace Blagden. The smile
she rave in return vas a wavering. pa
thetic effort that went straight to his
heart. He glanced over his shoulder.
and was disappointed because she con-
tinued to look rigidly ahead, instead of
turning as he had done.
Wasn't that young Payson?' de-
manded Horace. his jaw setting hard.
Yes. Uncle Horace" she replied in
q low voice.
Silence fell between them, a chill ST.
lence that voiced their thoughts as
plainly as spoken words. She cast a
Gle. A flush was in his cheek. A mo-
ment later he turned his head slightly
for q brief glance at the girls profile.
Her eyes were lowered. She was star
ing miserably at the brick sidewalk
which they traversed SO evenly, so
steadily.
Horace's lips seemed to tighten. The
veins in his thin grey temple stood
out like cords. Suddenly he relaxed;
his stiff shoulders sagged; a queer
smile forced its way out of the hard
set lines about his mouth. and his eyes
grew wistful. His lips parted twice in
the effort to utter worlds that came
up from his heart. words he hated. vet
longed to utter. for he knew they would
ened in his throat. He cast an invol-
untary glance yer his shoulder. A
shadow crossed his face. dispelled an
instant later by a conQuering smile.
MARY, my child" he said gem
tly. II think. II you don't mind,