Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-10-06

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Bright was arguing. when n came to
slit OF the facts of the case. For that
matter. had not her own judgment OF
Mary's frtvolities been formed while
n was still under the influence Of
those back number morals OF the old
Corinth? She had pronounced herself
broad minded, even in the old days be-
fore the reconstruction; now she re-
allied that III had been narrow-not
SO narrow as the rest Of them, Heaven
forbid!-but disposed to a shortness of
vision that did ont permit her to see
far beyond the confines of a very
small circumference.
In some unaccountable way, h the
orized. everything in Corinth had un-
dergone a subtle change. Church
going. for instance, struck her as a
rather sprigthly proceeding nowadays.
instead OF the laboriously som
Der duty it once had been. Corinth,
throughout all it's concentrated life, had
gone to church with a stately energy:
now 1t seemed to have conceived the
idea 1t was pleasanter to go o it
cheerfully. gladly, even springily. Joan
found herself comparing COrinth with
other satisfying places in the great big
world not h Babylons. but the clean,
wholesome, alive places where n
could take a deep breath of Gods air
and not feel contaminated because the
- ~
Biagden avenue was no wider than it
had ever been; it just seemed to her
that it was. What influence had been
at work to open the front room window
blinds IN all the houses along the ave-
nue., not only on week days but on the
Sabbath? The front room or parlor
gloom OF sanctuary no longer prevailed,
she noticed that. Sunday nowadays
found the light streaming into those
prlm and vtrtuous rooms with all the
glory 1T could produce. She recalled
other days. not so far off, when Cor
NTH closed Its front room shutters for
fear the world might look within and
break the holy Sabbath day. Now Cor
NTH sat on its front porches and gave
welcome to the Sabbath all day long.
NO wonder the town seemed new to
her. and better.
She recalled certain comments her
father had mad in the automobile the
q before while they were being
Whisked homeward after that uplifting
service.
"blagden avenue seems broader than
it was yesterday" he had said.
1T Is quite as wide, literally, as
Broadway. Judge Bright" said young
Mr.. Sallonsby.
"Ah. but the whole world is In Broad
way"
Il think the world is just beginning
TO take notice of Blagden avenue" was
the young mans comment. He meant
TO De sarcastic. but merely spoke the
truth"
''The world isn't 90 had as ;+,e notn+-
ed"
Depends on local COLOR" said the
young man., airing himself epigram-
matically. He felt rather proud of it.
And whether YOU look up or down."
completed the judge.
And so. said Joan to herself that
night. after Sallonsby had taken his
departure. it all depends on the wa1
n looked at Mary Midthorne's SO.
called indiscretions. She was rather
ashamed OF herself for having peeped
at them from behind closed front room
shutters. 80 to speak.
Moreover. she had treated Eric rath-
er cavalierly after church. Perhaps 1t
was h thought of that which kept her
awake nearly all Of the night. trying to
blot out the expression she had u 2
in his eyes.
She wondered If she would see him
that morning. How handsome. how
manly he had looked-But how nov!
n was on her way to see Mary and
no one else. She reminded herself of
this at least a dozen times during her
progress up Blagden avenue.
suddenly her heart began to beat
furtously, the color came and went in
her cheeks. and her eyes experienced u
curious effect of momentary useless
ness.
Eric Midthorne had turned the cor
ner above and vas approaching her
with long. vigorous strides. his head
lowered. his hands in his coat pockets.
The gray Fedora hat was pulled well
down over his eyes. He looked up when
ne was 20 yards away. and saw her.
His face. which had been pale and
worn q moment before. was now a
nod 49, AA~ --A--A -
came flushed and hot.
She extended her gloved little hand.
How do you do. Eric" she said.
They were looking sQuarely into each
Others eyes as If fascinated.
She waited q moment. I'm regard to
h plans?" she asked in the same
manner and quite without purpose. She
could feel the blood roaring in her head.
Yes. IL can't undertake the work."
he replied. the words coming rapidly.
II must give IT. up. He'll have to get
someone else"
Her eye fell; her cheeks lost their
vivid color.
stammered. Il am sure he viii. not.S
His smile wasFnot pleasant to see.
q great deal has happened since the
bargain va made" he said. The word.
bargain" possessed an ominous. oven
accusing soundt,-for her.
bne met mis- case. Il am or my way
g SEQ Mary now" she said, a. II that
His face frightened. you are? I'm
clad. Joan. Nothing should come be-
tween You two. Mary loves you"
Then Il will be all right said she.
eagerly. II was quite wrong-stupidly
wrong: I hope she win understand and
overlook some OF the
WY, couldn't you have written me
that you'd ceased to care, Joanf" he
broke In REGARDLESS. why did you let
me 80 on thinking that you-But, GOOD
heeven. what am / saying3 You arc
right. o have made Il easy Tor me.