The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-06-01

painted plaster or something IN the
hall, and the girl evidently thought IL
was to her credit that she selected itg"
'tThey have o~ilpaintings, too" added
Mrs. Vertrees, with a glance of gentle
pride at the Landseers. 1--WE always
thought oil-paintings in a private
house the worst Of taste"
"Oh, If one owned a Raphael or d
Titian." said Mr.. Vertrees, finishing
the implication, not in words, but
with a wave Of his hand. go on,
Mary. None Of the rest Of them came
in? You didn't meet Mr.. Sheridan or
-" He paused and adjusted a lump
Of coal in the fire delicately with tho
poker. "Or one of the sons?"
Mary's glance crossed his, at that,
with a fash Of utter comprehension.
He turned instantly away, but she had
begun to laugh again.
mo" she said, mo enc except the
women, but mamma inquired about the
sons thoroughly"
Mary" Mrs. Vertrees protested.
ooh, most adroitly, toor' laughed the
girl. 'Only she couldn't help uncon-
s~ciously turning to look at me-when
she did it!'
"Mary Vertrees"
Never mind, mamma! Mrs. Sherf-
dan and Miss Sheridan neither of
them could help unconsciously turning
to look at me-speculatively-at the
same time! They all three kept 'ook-
ing at me and talking about the oldest
son, Mr.. James Sheridan, Jr. Mrs.
Sheridan said his father is very anx-
ious to get Jim to marry and settle
down. and she assured me that Jim 10
right cultivated. Another Of the sons,
youngest one, they didn't seem tn con-
slider quite n Of themselves, some
how. The other brother is the middle
new house across the street, where that
young black sheep of the Lamhorns,
Robert, goes so often. Papa" She
stepped nearer to him so that he had to
face her, and his eyes were troubled
as he did. There may have been q
trouble deep within her own, but shs
kept their surface merry with laughter.
Papa, Bibbs is the youngest ones
name, and Bibbs-to the best of our in
formations a lunatie. Roscoe Ia
married. Papa, does it have to DO
JimY"
Mary" Mrs. vertrpes cried, sharp
ly. You're outrageous! That's a per-
fectly horrible way Of t~alkingr
well, I'm close to twepty-four,"
said Mary, turning to her. II haven't
been able to like anybody yet that's
asked me to marry him, and maybe I
never shall. Until a year or so ago I've
had everything l ever wanted In my
ife-you and papa gave it all 20 me
and it's about time l began to pay
back. Unfortunately, l don't know
how to do anything-but something's
got to be done"
But you needn't talk Of IL like thatr'
insisted the mother, plaintively. IT'S
motifs not
mo, it's not said Mari. 81 know
that"
How did they happen 70 ask you to
dinner?' Mr.. Vertrees Inquired, un-
easily. "Stextrawdn'ry thingw
Climbers hospitality" Mary de-
fined it. I'VE were so very cordial and
easy! It's. a sort of house-warming
dinner, and they talked about it and
talked about it-and then the girl got
her courage up and blurted out the in
vitation. And mamma said that you
and she had promised to go to q lecture
at the Emerson club tonight, but that
her daughter would be delighted to
come to the big show! So there I am,
and there's Mr.. Jim Sheridan-and
there's the clock! Dinners at seven
thirty"
And she ran out Of the room. SCOOP
Ing up her fallen furs with a gesture
OF flying grace as she sped.
When she came down, at twenty
minute after seven, her father stood
In the nall, at the foot Of the stairs,
waiting to be her escort through the
dark.
AT least no one could suspect me to-
night" she said. II look rich, don't I.
papa?"
She did. She had a look that wor.
Shi iiChuS tdlIAu regal a.
head taller than her father, she was an
straight and jauntily poised as a boy
athlete; and her brown hair n her
Drown eyes were like her mothers. but
for the rest she went back to some
stronger and livelier ancestor than
either of her parents.
Don't / look too rich to be suspect-
ed?' she insisted.
You look everything beautiful.
Mary, he said, huskily.
And my dress" She threw omen
her dark velvet cloak, showing a splen.
dor Of white and silver. "Anythfnp
better at Nice next winter, do YOU
think" She laughed, ~shrouding her
glitterfng figure In the cloak again.
Two years old, and no one would
dream it! l did it over
You can do anything, Mary"
Ihere was a curious humility in his
tone, and something mora signi6-
canoe not yelled and yet abysmaliy
apoiogetic. 1t was as IL he suggested
something to her and begged her for.
giveness In the same breath.