Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-04-29

what troubled his sister Mary. and why
her eyes We're full OF dread.
They passed by old Jabez on their
way up. He was leaning over the gate.
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 ullus
dom things he didn't intend to do 10
minutes afore he does EN-. Dangdest
boy l ever see"
The boy and girl dreaded the ordeal
OF dinne with the family. They would
have to face Aunt Rena and Chetwyi,d,
and 1T was going to be hard for Eric to
be polite and agreeable. But they we're
to be spared the presence of Chetwyud,
it afterward developed.
Just before the dinner gong sounded,
Eric met his aunt in the upper hall. He
swallowed hard and then put as much
h~eartlHess in his voice as he could
muster.
Where's Chetwynd. Aunt Renao"
he has gone to New York. Why ?'
New York? In he middle OF the
week 2"
Certainly. He has been halt sick
for a week. A few days rest from the
tedious work in the bank will dc him
a world OF good. He's to see DR..
IThroglnartin tomorrow about those
dreadful headaches"
The judges We're to award the prize
this afternoon" observed Eric. Didn't
he care to wait and see how the con-
test came out?"
She smiled complacently. comfort
ably. oh. he wasn't worried. He is
so sure to win. And why shouldn't ne?
He mas mazda CJIrh a utIJ1y M ten
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. 1 think. You needn't
question her. Aunt Rena. She told mo
you said to her. I want you to know
that / know it. It"
Eric" 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 unwavering eyes.
Il do not mean to DO insolent, Aunt
Rena. But we've Just got to under
stand a other. 1t needn't go auy
farther, If you like.-I mean Uncle
Horace isn't to know. 1 just have 10
say this: Mary was not to blame. I
know 1t. and down in your heart you
know 1t. Chetwynd acted like a ,lirty
brute, and o took his part. 1 don't
No'ts iAAiAi " dpolo5ioo W y. L NOIA {
want a word more said about it. I'm
not afraid to saw this to you, because
l know and you knoW that If Mary
went to Uncle Horace with that story,
he'd believe her led kick his w
son out Of the house. That's just what
Uncle Horace would do. and you know
1t. He knows Mary isn't that kind of
a girl. just as we'll as you know it.
That's all l have to say. The incident
Is closed, unless you choose to reopen
IT."
She stood there staring after him,
with a lin" lower lip, and the glaze Of
stupefaction over her eyes. He coolly
library. Then she went into her ned
room II wept softly until dinner
time.
Mary found Eric on the porch soon
after the meeting in the hall.
Eric" she whispered. in awed tones,
haunt Rena is crying in her room. 1
heard her as plain as anything"
1T always does a woman good 10
cry" remarked the young philosopher,
with a hardening Of the muscles in his
jaw.
Mary vas looking down the tree lined
walk.
"Oh. goodness she cried, in. dismay.
See who's coming to dinner witty,
Uncle Horace"
Eric urne up his eyes and groaued
with sepulchral devoutness.
Horace was entering the gate with
the estimable ~Presbreys, Doth of whom
were rugged w fit to eat-and that is
really what they had got themselves up
for.
AS they cane up the steps, Mr.. Blag-
den blandly addressed the boy and girl
standing at the rail above.
Il suppose you're waiting to heal
who won the price"
Eric began to tremble with q sudden.
o~verpowering excitement. He was to
hear himself proclaimed the winner!
Did Eric win it?" cried Mary, her
dark eyes glowing.
Mild surprise revealed itself In Mr.
Blagden's e~yes-surprise tinged with
pity. You would have though that the
bare suggestion that Eric might have
won over his son was a distinct shock
to his nerves
Mr.. Presbrey smiled cheerfully 70,
Eric's benefit, as much as to say 4,
wasn't worth worrying over, or being
disappointed about.
"Chetwynd won it, Of course" IN
nounced Horace with some austerity
TT was the unanimous opinion of the
Judges that his designs were the best
OF course he went on magnantmous-
ly, laying his hand on Eric's shoulue,
and turning to the P%resbreys, I'VE viii
have to admit that Chetwynd had
decided advantage over the other con
testants. among them Eric. His worR
at college and his private instruction.
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 fell
that Chetwynd should"
Continued mex week.