Middletown transcript., 1915-05-29

DV
GERTRUDE MORRISON
7 lad 1t been for the corona.
[RnN ton Of king, not more
M ISM care could the two have
M N bestowed on the selec-
VA M tion of that suit. Ripton,
S% the easy-going, he Of the
shambling gait. untidy
linen, green socks and dingy brown tie.
suddenly critical. corrective. a veri-
table connoisseur.
Something nobby," suggested the
well-meaning Shelby, selecting from
his samples a pronounced plaid and
forgetting that what we'll became his
old good-natured, tubby style might
set differently on his elderly friend.
Something less ostentatious," Rip
ton would insist. Nothing bizarre
nor rococo." Shelby guessed the new
words from the rejection of his sam
pies.
NtdJr exactly To matcn.
"of course, now. it's your funeral"
Shelby would acquiesce in cheerful
regret. Ripton consented to a hand
kerchief bordered with color.
Shelby began t that day he started
leisurely up the hill to find Ripton. 1t
was spring-real spring.
"Whew!" he painted, dropping
heavily into a chair that commented
on his 200 pounds. What you got
there. Bill?"
Warm for April" agreed RiptOn.
hastily showing into his pocket a
sQGA~e white envelope. His dropping.
shy defenselessness suggested failure,
and glasses stood on the table.
Takes the ginger-out OF a man
to climb a Midsummer weather.
winter clothes"
BILLY" he finally continued, teeter-
ing back his chair, how about that
letter you chucked when you saw me
coming? Looks aristocratic, come
how. Society editor short O. ma
terial?"
The older man flushed and smiled
Sheepishly under the raillery.
They're not inviting me now" In
the rebound Of the admission he drew
himself up into a semblance of mill
tary dignity. Young man." he said
sternly. time was when danced with
the belle of them ALL"
Shelby nodded brieflV
"And a more slender waist, or q
trimmer foot" he stopped under the
others curious gaze. Shelby, we're
none of Notwithstanding we set
out to be--or because we want to be- u
The weak, loose mouth, the hand
shaking in its effort to steady a news.
paper turned Shelby away in pity
Striking out at random, in kindly alb
sence of his former chahf, he coaxed:
What is the letter, Billy? Cant
help?"
mo. It's-nothing. Just q little
fun the boys are planning.
well?
Il mean-the boys-my boys. Com
pany b."
"You-in commando"
Yes" Years concentrated theiI
Bitterness in that word. He handed
over the letter.
Nov. do you know, they never told
me that"
"And you never guessed? Oh,
know I've pretty we'll concealed It
Even my walks melfowed now" The
crunch Of tn paper in his hand &C
eented his cracking mirthlessness
1t reused Shelby to sudden deter
mination. "see here, you're going.
"Goingl Going-where?"
Why, to this here Memorial weel
reunion they've asked you for"
"I-Pm-" his eyes wandered ovei
his fiimsy. faded clothes. I'm no
lit"
You bet you're going" slappeC
down Shelby. Don't you want t.
go?"
He had selected and rejected hal
dozen suits before he got Ripton'l
reply. "They would be-my own kinC
--Once more"
His glance wandered to the glassel
and bottles. ''They don't know. Eacl
time I've pleaded illness or business
I shouldn't want them to know. D'yol
s'pose | could?"
, Their eyes met doubtfully. II
would be a week." Shelby was Ies
I tubiant. But see here, BILL" sum
! moning all his own buoyancy and en-
, thusiasm. you can, and you must, an,
you shall"
y Ripton caught up the air OF unsuc
! cess that had partially slipped from
: him. "a weeks long time-for me
;. A thought loosed again the drab dra
| perry. shelby, dispose" lowering hi
, voice. shed be there? She marriet
one of the boys"