The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-09-01

= \i-1--4--- -. -saIT y
"she Needn't to Have Done That
About tho Piano."
wrapped up in his sons succeeding.
He isn't vulgar in his boasting, l IN
derstand; he doesn't talk a great deal
about his-his actual money. No. his
Dragging usually seemed to be about
his family and the greatness Of this
city"
"-Greatness Of this city4!" Mr. Yer
trees echoed, with dull bitterness. Its
nothing but q coal hole. OF course
Sheridan says it9 great"
Mrs. Vertrees seemed unaware -
this outburst- II believe" she began,
timidly, ''he doesn't boast of-that ia,
I understand he has never seemed so
interested in the-the other one"
Her husbands face was dark, but at
that . heavier shadow fell upon It; he
looked more haggard than before.
The other one" 10 repeated, avert
Ing his eyes. You mean-you mean
the third son-the one that was here
this EVENING"
Yes. the-the youngest" she re-
turned, her voice % feeble It was al
most a whisper.
And then neither of them spoke for
several minutes. Nor did either look
at the other during that silence.
At last Mr.. Vertrees contrived to
cough, but not convincingly. what
ah-what was 1t Mary said about
him this afternoon? l didn't ah-hap-
pen to catch it."
"She-she didn't say much. All she
said was this: Hes the most wistful
creature I've ever known"
"Well?'
That was all. He is wktful-look-
ing; and SO fragile. II l hadn't known
about him I'd have thought he had
quite an interesting face"
IF you hadn't known about him'9
known what?"
"Oh, nothing, Of course" she said,
hurriedly. Nothing definite, that il.
Mary said decidedly, long ago. that
he's not at all insane, a. We thought
at first. It's only-well, OF course It IL
odd, their attitude about him. I sup
pose it's ONE nervous trouble that
makes him-perhaps . little queer az
times, SO that he can't apply himself
to anything-or perhaps does odd
things. But, after all, Of course, ~
only have an impression absut It We
don't know-that is, positively. l."
She paused, then went on: II didn't
know just how to ask-that isl
didn't mention 1t to Mary. l didn't
l." The poor lady neundered plti-
fully, concluding with a humble. 80
soon ~after-after the-the shock"
II don't think I've caught 0 tAan
a glimpse OF him." said MI. Vertrsee.
Il wouldn't know him II saw him.
but your impression Of him is" He
broke OF suddenly. spr1nging . his
feet in agitation. II can't imaatne
her-oh MOI" be gaspcd. Aud be beran
to pace the door. "A haif-witted api-
leptic!"
mo. 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 tremul0us. "You
musa't give way So" ~ aid, Inspired
Tor once almost to direct discou9se.
whatever Mary misAt think Of doing,
It wouldn't be on her own accoHnt; It
would be on ours. But IL W sheuil--
should consider It that wouldn't be on
u own account It Isn't because we
think Of ourselves"
"Oh God, mo-" he groancd. mot for
US! We q 60 to the poorhouse. but
Mary can't be q stenographer"
Signing, Mrs. vertrees resumed her
obliqueness. "Of course" she MUIR
INJURED. 1T 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 '1n this oca." mt
coscked herself. In this young mar
It's Natural. q course; she u afwuys
. strong and we'll. and he k-he sespas
oe. that is-fathAs appsaiing = -
- 0mpatAlsA."