Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-14

she looked when they asked her" cried
Mary, choking. And then she-she
realized it, and tried to turn 1t into Il
cough, and she didn't know how, and it
sounded like-like squeal!' ..
81 suppose" said Mrs. Vertrees,
much injured, chat Mary will have
an uproarious time at my funeral. She
makes fun Of
| Mary jumped up instantly and kissed
her: then she went to the mantel and,
leaning an elbow upon it, gazed
thoughtful!y at the buckle of her shoe,
twinkling in the freight.
"They didn't notice anything,' she
said. $50 far as they were concerned,
mamma. it was one of.tbe finest coughs
you ever coughed."
"Who were 'they'?" asked her father.
"Whom did you see?'
"Only the mother and daughter
Mary answered. Mrs. Sheridan is
dumpy and RUSTY; and Miss Sheridan
is pretty and pushing-dresses by the
| fashion magazines and talks about
New York people that have their pic
lures in 'em. She tutors the mother,
but not very successfuly-partly be-
cause her own foundation is too tlimsy
and partly because she began too late.
They've got an enormous Moor OF
painted plaster or something in the
hail. and the girl evidently thought it
was to her credit that she selected it,
"They have oil-paintings, too," added
Mrs. Vertrees, with a glance of gentle
pride at the Landsecrs. 1--WE always
thought oilpaintings in a private
house the worst Of taste"
ooh. if cne owned a Raphael or a
Titan" said Mr. Vertrees, finishing
the implication, not in words, but
with wave Of his hand. go on,
| Mary. None Of the rest Of them came
in? You didn't meet Mr.. Sheridan on
-" He paused and adjusted lump
Of coal in the fire deicately with the
J poker. COR one of the sons?"
Mary's glance crossed his, at that,
with a flash of utter comprehension.
He turned instantly away, but she had
begun to laugh again.
NO." she said mo one except the
women, but mamma inquired about the
sons thoroughly
MARY" Mrs. Vertrees protested.
"Oh, most adroitly, tool" laughed the
girl. "Only she couldn't help uncon-
sciously turning to look ut me-when
she did it,. -----~ -
MARY Vertrees!'
J Never mind, mamma! Mrs. Sheri-
I, dan and Miss Sheridan neither Of
them could help unconsciously turning
> to look at Observation-Disclosures the
same time! They all three kept look
ing at me and talking about the Oldest
son, Mr.. James Sheridan, Jr. Mrs.
) Sheridan said bis father is very anx-
! !ous to get Jim to marry and settle
? down. and she assured me that Jim is
right cuItiyatcd.' Another of the sons
, Youngest one, they didn't seem to con-
slider quite one of themselves, some
how. The other brother is the middle
one, Roscoe: he's the one that owns the
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 a
: trouble deep within her own, but she
kept their surface merry with laughter
2 Papa, Bbbs is the youngest ones
: name. and Ribbs-t0 the best of our in
2 formations a lunatic. Roscoe is
) married. Papa, does it have to be-
:, Jim?"
"Mary" Mrs Vertrees cried, sharp
e ly. You're outrageous! That's a per
:. fectly horrible way of talking!"
: "Well, I'm close to twenty-four,'
r said Mary, turning to her. II haven't
2 been able to like anybody yet that's
0 asked me to marry him, and maybe
2 never shall. Until year or so ago I've
n had everything l ever wanted in my
: life--you and papa gave it all to me
e 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 it like that!
: insisted the mother, Ilaintively. Its
= motifs not
a mo, it's not said Mary. II know
that!'
= How did they happen to ask you tt
dinner?" Mr.. Vertrees inquired, un
: easily. "Stextrawdn'ry thing!'
a climbers hospitality" Mary de
q fined it. 1--WE were so very cordial anG
easy! It's sort of house-warmins
dinner, and they talked about it an(
talked about it-and then the girl go
her courage up and blurted out the in
! vitation. And mamma said that yol
and she had promised to go to lecture
at the Emerson club tonight, but tina
= her daughter would be delighted tt
;, come to the big show! SO there am
and there's MIR. Jim Sheridan-ant
: there's the clock! Dinners at seven
thirtyv'
And she ran out Of the room, Scoop