The Ordway new era., 1916-09-01
.. SAID, N ls.sns y ne- n iosss-
I'm AFRAID


can get 1t, II you'n Just give me ono
keyword."
Everything you say" Mrs. Yer.
trees began, tImidly, seems to nave
the mir Of 1t is ms IL you were seek
ing TOTO make yourself"
"Oh, I see! You mean sound as II
I were trying to force myself to ike
him."
mot exactly, Mary. That wasn't
quite whnt I meant" said Mrs. Yer
trees, speaking direct untruth with per.
feet unconsciousness. "But you said
that-that you found the latter part
of the evening at young Mrs. shert-
dams unentertainlng-
"And as Mr.. James Sheridan was
there, and saw more of him than at
dinner, and had a horribly stupid time
in spite Of that you think L" And
then it was Mary who left the deduc-
ton unfinished.
Mrs. Vertrees nodded; and though
both the mother and the daughter un-
derstood, Mary felt it better to make
the understanding definite.
"well," she asked, gravely, "is there
L
don't want me to do anything that dis
tresses me, and so. as this is the only
thing to be done. it seems It's up to me
not to let 1t distress me. That's all
there is about it, isn't it?"
But nothing must distress you"
the mother cried.
That's what I say" said Mary,
cheerfully. ."And 80 1t doesn't. It's
all right" She rose and took her cloak
over her arm. as IL to go to her own
room. But on the way to the door she
stopped, and stood leaning against the
foot OF the bed, contemplating thread
bare rug ut her feet. Mother, you've
told me thousand times that 1t doesn't
really matter whom n girl marrles."
mo, no-' Mrs. vertrees protested. Il
never said such a.
"No. not in words; mean what you
meant. It's true. isn't 1t, that marriage
really is mot bed of roses, but field
Of battle? To get right down to 1t, a
girl could fight 1t out with anybody,
couldn't she? One man Us well as an
other?"
MARY, I can't bear for you to talk
like that" And Mrs. Vertrees lifted
pleading eyes to her daughter-eyes
that begged to be spared. ut sounds
almost recklessw
Mary caught the appeal, came to her.
and kissed her gnyly. "Never fret.
dear! I'm not likely to do anything l
don't want to-I've always been too
thorough-g going little pig"
She gave her mother final kiss and
went gayly all the way to the door this
time, pausing for her postscript with
her hand on the knob. "Oh, the one
that caught me looking in the window,
mamma, the youngest one"
"Dld he speak Of IT." Mrs. vertrees
asked, apprehenslvely.
mo. He didn't speak at all, that
saw, to anyone. I didn't meet him.
But he isn't insane. I'm sure; or II he
Is, he has long intervals when he's not.
Mr.. James Sheridan mentioned that he
lived at home when he was well
enough; and 1t may be he's only an in
valid. He looks dreadfully Ill. but
he has pleasant eyes. and 1t struck mo
that if-if one were in the Sheridan
family"-she laughed little ruefully
the might be interesting to talk to
sometimes, when there was too much
stocks and bonds. / didn't SEQ him aft
er dinner"
'There must be something wrong
with him." said Mrs. vertrees. They'd
have introduced him II there weren't" "
Il don't know. His father spoke Of
sending him back to machine shop
of some sort; glanced at him just
then and he was pathetic-looking
enough before that, but the most tragic
change came over him. He seemed
just to die, right there at the tablew
"Mr. Sheridan must be very unfeel-
ing."'
mo-" said Mary. thoughtfully, II
don't think he is; but he might be un-
comprehending, and certainly he's the
kind Of man to do anything he once
sets out to do. But wish hadn't been
looking at that poor boy Just thenl
I'm afraid I'll keep remembering"
Il wouldn't" Mrs. vertrees smiled
family, and In her smile there was the
remotest ghost Of a genteel roguish-
ness. I'D keep my mind on pleasanter
things, Mary"
Mary laughed and nodded. Eyes, In.
deed! Plenty pleasant enough, and
probably, II all were known, too good
even for me!'
And when she had gone Mrs. Yer.
trees drew long breath, as IL a bur
den were of her mind, and, smiling.
began to undress In gentle reverle.
CHAPTER VII.