The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-29

what troubled his sister Mary. and why
her eyes were full OF dread.
They passed by old Jabez on their
way up. He was leaning over the gate.
blandly surveying them through tho
smoke OF his pipe.
Where's Mr.. Adam, Uncle Jabe?"
sang out Eric from across the road.
He went to New York on the 2
o'clock train" replied the ancient.
quite sudden, too. But he's nllus
dom things he didn't intend to DO 10
minutes afore he doe EN-. Dangdest
boy 1 aver see."
The boy and girl dreaded the ordeal
OF dinner with the family. They would
have to face Aunt Rena and ChetwyiId,
and 1t was going to be hard for Eric to
be polite and agreeable. But they were
to be spared the presence OF Chetwynd,
1t afterward developed.
Just before the dinner gong sounded.
Eric met his aunt In the upper hall. He
swallowed hard and then put as much
heartiRess In his voice as he could
muster.
Where's Chetwynd, Aunt Rena?"
He has gone to New York. Why7"
New York? In the middle Of the
week 2"
Certainly. He has been half sick
for a week. A few days rest from the
tedious work in the bank will do him
a world Of good. He's to see DR..
Throgmartin tomorrow about thoOs
dreadful headaches"
THE Judges were to award the prize
this afternoon" observed Eric. Didn't
he care to wait and see how the con-
test came out?"'
She smiled c~omplacently, comfort
ably. "Oh, he wasn't worried. He Is
so sure to win. And why shouldn't he?
He has made such a study OF It."
Il guess that's why he has the head
aches" said Eric innocently. She
looked at him again. very sharply.
Where is Nary" she demanded.
I'm her ROOM, l think. You needn't
what Chetwynd did to her, and what
you said to her. I want you to know
that I know it, It"
Erie" she said, Il must ask you not
to be so insolent. You must not stand"
He held his ground. confronting her
with set face and u~nwavering eyes
II do not mean to % insolent, Aunt
Rena. But we've Just got to under
stand each other. 1t needn't go any
farther, II you LIKE mean Uncle
Horace isn't to know. I just have to
say this: Mary was not to blame. I
know 1t. and down in YOU heart you
know It. Chetwynd acted like q ,lirty
VI uNCp anu yOu lOOh his part. Il lOu =
want him to apologize to Mary. I cont
want a word more said about 1t. I'm
not afraid to sav this to you, because
l know and you know that II Mary
went to Uncle Horace with that story,
he'd believe her and he'd kick his W
son out Of the house. That's just what
Uncle Horace would do, and you know
It. He knows Mary isn't that kind Of
a girl, just as we'll as you know II.
That's all I have to say. The incident
Is closed. unless you choos to reopen
it."
She stood there staring after him.
with q linn lower lip, and the glaze OF
stupefaction over her eyes. He coolly
descended the stairs and entered the
library. Then she went into her he'd
room and wept softly until dinner
time.
Mary found Eric on the porch soon
after the meeting in the hall.
Eric" she whispered, in awed tones.
Aunt Rena IL crying in her room. l
heard her as plain as anything"
? 1T always does a woman good TO
cry" remarked the young philosopher,
with a hardening Of the muscles in his
Jaw.
Mary was looking down the tree lined
walk.
"Oh. goodness" she cried. in dismay.
See who's coming to dinner with
Uncle Horace"
Eric turned up his eyes and groaned
with sepulchral devoutness.
Horace was entering the cato with
the estimable Presbreys, both OF whom
were rugged up fit to eat-and that 10
really what they had got themselves up
for.
AS they came up the steps, Mr.. Blag-
den blandly addressed the boy and girl
standing at the rail above.
II suppose you're waiting to hear
who won the prize?"
Eric began to tremble with a sudden,
overpowering excitement. He was TO
hear himself proclaimed the winner!
did Eric win it?" cried Mary. her
dark eyes glowing.
Mild surprise revealed itself In MI.
Blagden's e~yes-surprise tinged with
pity. You would have though that the
bare suggestion that Eric might have
won owe his son was a distinct shock
to his nerves..
Mr.. Presbrey smiled cheerfully for
Eric's benefit, as much as to say It
wasn't worth worrying over. or being
disappointed about.
"Chetwynd won 1t, Of course" an
nounced Horace with some austerity.
TT was the unanimous opinion of the
Judges that his designs were the hest
OF course" he went on magnanimous-
ly, laying his hand on Eric's shoulder
and turning to the Presbreys, I'VE will
have to admit that Chetwynd had a
decided advantage over the other con-
testants, among them Eric. His work
gave him-er. ahem!-a rather unfair
start, you might say. I spoke to the
committee about 1t, but they called my
objections absurd-er, ahem-or some-
thing Of that sort. I have never felt
that Chetwynd should"