Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-06-15

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"oh. Mentally sibbs ls All Right"
Said slbyI.
him this afternoon? l didn't ah-hap-
pen to catch it."
"She-she didn't say much. All she
said was this. He's the most wistful
creature I've ever known"
"Well?"
THAT was all. He Is wistful-look-
ing; and so fragile. If hadn't known
about him I'd have thought he had
quite an interesting face"
"If you hadn't known about him?
Known what?"
"Oh, nothing, of course" she said,
hurriedly. Nothing definite, that is.
Mary said decidedly, long ago, that
he's not at all insane, as we thought
at first. It's only-well, of course 1t is
odd, their attitude about him. I sup
pose it's some nervous trouble that
makes him--perhaps little queer at
times, so that he can't apply himself
to anything-or perhaps does odd
things. But, after all, of course, we
only have an impression about it. We
don't know-that is, positively. l."
She paused, then went on: 81 didn't
know just how to ask-that isl
didn't mention it to Mary. / didn't
l." The poor lady noundered pitt
fully, concluding with humble. $50
soon after-after the-the shock"
81 don't think I've caught more than
a glimpse Of him." said Mr.. Vertrees.
81 wouldn't know him II I saw him,
but your impression Of him is" He
broke off suddenly, springing to his
feet in agitation. 81 can't imagine
her-oh nor he gasped. And he began
to pace the floor. "A half-witted cpl
lepticw
"No, nor she cried. HE may be all
right. We"
"Oh, it's horrible! I can't" He
threw himself back into his chair
again, sweeping his hands across his
face, then letting them fall Imply at
his sides.
Mrs, Vertrees was tremulous. "You
mustn't give way So" she said, inspired
for once almost to direct discourse.
Whatever Mary might think of doing,
1t wouldn't be on her own account; 1t
would be on ours. But If we should
should consider 1t, that wouldn't be on
our own account. 1t isn't because we
think of ourselves"
"Oh God, no" he groaned. "Not for
us! We can go to the poorhouse, but
Mary can't be stenographerw
Signing, Mrs. vertrees resumed her
obliqueness. "Of course" she muir
INJURED, at all seems very premature,
specializing about such things. but
had a queer sort of feeling that she
seemed quite Interested in this" She
had almost said ''in this one," but
checked herself. Sin this young man.
It's natural, of course; she is always
so strong and well, and he is--he seems
to be, that is--rather appealing to the
the sympathies."
"Yesw he agreed, bitterly. Precise
ly. The sympathies"
Perhaps" she faltered-''perhap
you might feel easier IL could have a
little talk with someoneY
with whom?"
81 had thought of-not going about
1t too brusquely, of course, but perhaps
just waiting for his name to be men
toned, II happened to be talking with
somebody that knew the family and
then l might find chance to say that
was sorry to hear he'd been i'll so
much, and Something Of that kind
perhaps"
"You don't know anybody that
knows the family"
"Yes. That is--well, in a way, Of
course, one Of the family. That Mrs.
Roscoe Sheridan is not a-that Is, she's
rather a pleasant-faced little woman,
l think, and of course rather ordinary.
l think she is interested about-that is,
of course, she'd be anxious to be more
intimate with Mary, naturally. She's
always looking over here from her
house; she was looking out of the win
dow this afternoon when Mary went
out, l noticed-though / don't think
Mary saw her. I'm sure she wouldn't
think 1t out Of place toto be frank
about matters. She called the other
day, and Mary must rather like her
she said that evening that the call had
done her good. Don't you think 1t
might be wise?"
wise? ! don't know. feel that
the whole matter is impossible"
yes, so do l." she returned. prompt
ly. at isn't really q thing we should