Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-04-07

luSy 10 near OF MN. Ae laQ SUNK DuCk
into the void from which he emerged
so unexpectedly on that warm Sep
TENDER day.
with Adam temporarily out of the
way. we a devote our time and at
tention to an infinitely. more attract
i've creature-Joan Bright. Joan was
an only child. AS a rule. an only child
is not popular outside his or her inn
mediate family. Somehow. we nave u
prejudice against an only child l
daresay the grudge is atmospheric, and
comes from the fact that we ourselves
have never enjoyed the exclusive priv
ilege of being an only child. With Joan
not hold good: she was adored by ev-
eryone. No one thought of criticising
her for being a petted. INDUCED only
child. 1t really wasn't because she was
the daughter of a very distinguished
gentleman. the Honorable Oswald
Bright. of Upper Corinth and the COM
monwealth at large. Not at all. A
great many people did not like Judge
Bright, I'VE though they respected
him. He had made a multitude of enc
mics by administering justice as it is
meant to be administered. You should
not be asked to like a judge who has
ruled against o But you would have
her. Everyone else did, and you could
not possibly nave been an exception.
Judge Bright-sometimes called His
Honor Bright"--was no longer involved
In the adjudication Of local disputes.
He had gone beyond h a some years
ago. Today he was n Of the justices
in the supreme court OF the state. and
least-of a seat on the United States
supreme bench when he had become
too old for active service in his pres
emit capacity. But that is neither here
o there. His home was in Corinth.
They called h hill part of the town
as well as geological If you
lived above Twelfth street you were of
Upper Corinth. Your business would
have to be below Twelfth street. No
one but landscape gardeners n archi-
tects did business above. Ut was be-
fore the day of chauffeurs and vacuum
c%leaners.)
girl was s. vas the particular and de-
voted friend of Mary Midthorne. al
though nearly two her senior.
Two more lovely, lovable girls could
not we'll be imagined, much less Gre
ated. Both were fair to look upon. slim,
proud, aristocratic, yet simple hearted
n unspoiled. They We're dark eyed
but why describe them now? They are
half grown children, mere prophecies
of womanhOod. We can only say that
they were adorably pretty, and pray
that they may not outgrow their
charms. as SO many do. If they are
as lovely when they grow up-as they
will long before this tale is ended-it
may be worth while for me to describe
them and for you to contemplate them
without reference to the ole saying
which condemns a fair child to unat-
tractive maturity.
Joan was shy. Few pretty girls are
shy. They may be bashful but not
shy. There is quite a distinction. Joan
was not bashful, which is the same
thing as saying she was not clumsy
or awkward. She vas perfectly sure
of herself, possessed a certain amount
of poise. and had an air. You may
ask. then, why h is depicted as Shy.
Why is the pet deer tina feeds COM
because it is afraid OF you. You would
no speak of a COW as a shy creature.
The deer is shy because 1t is high
strung. delicate, sensitive. Well, loan
was like the deer.
h was the apple of her fathers eye.
She held his heart strings in those
slender fingers of hers, and she drew
them SO gently that he never suspect
ed he was being led whittier she willed.
He quite approved of her friendship for
the Aidthorne children, although he
was in full possession of their lament
able history. AS a matter Of fact, Hor-
ace Blagden's appointment as guar
in Judge Bright's court before his
ascendency to the supreme bench. He
not only knew the history Of the chill
dren but he synpathized with them.
He had been r fond OF Mary Blag-
den. and he had liked Phil Midthorne.
But, what may be more to the point, he
was aware Of the handsome bequest
which Horace. controlled as guardian.
1t has already been limited that Eric
was interested in the judges daughter.
He had known Joan Bright since the
irst days of his residence in Corinth,
and for just that length Of time he had
been her devoted. but diffident adorer.
1t began at the age Of 6, when he
performed for her especial benefit such
deeds of valor as standing on his head
or hands-(chiefly on the back Of his
neck or his earl. turning somersaults.
walking fence rails.-we've all gone to
such lengths to produce an effect on
the first lady Of u heart. AS time
wore On. he became more enamored
but less valiant. When he was Is, he
was positively timorous. He was not
In h least backward 10 far az other
girls were concerned: no n was more
at ease. more cocksure Of himself. more
Is an ancient affliction. No man is
complete in himself unless he has had
this disease and the measles-and re-
covered from both.
It must be admitted that she. with
all h perversity of her sex. denied
him the most because she liked him the
best. wen young girls are capable
Of this. It's what makes women Of
them-the kind Of women we 60 the
farthest to please and to whom we are
always grateful IL the road II tortuous.
Joan treated him O cavalierly at
times. There was q good n sufficient
reason. n affected by all girls of
spirit: the tender suspicion. slyly en-