The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-08-03


"she Needn't to Have Done That
About the Piano."
wrapped up In his sons succeeding.
He isn't vulgar In his boastlng. I un-
derstand; he doesn't talk a great deal
about hls--hls actual money. No, his
Dragging usually seemed to be about
his family and the greatness OF this
city"
"'Grentness OF this clty'w Mr.. ver-
trees echoed. with dull bitterness. ats
nothing but coal hole. or course
Sheridan says it's great"
Mrs. Vertrees seemed unaware OF
this outburst. II believe" she began,
tlmldly, "he doesn't boast of--that is.
l understand he has never seemed so
interested In the-the other one"
Her husbands face was dark, but at
that heavier shadow fell upon Il: he
looked more haggard than before.
1.-The other one" he repeated, avert
Ing his eyes. "You mean--you mean
this eveningT
"Yes, the--the youngest" she re
turned, her voice 30 feeble It was al
most 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 "a
cough. but not convincingly. "What-
ah--what was II Mary said about
him this afternoon? 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"
"wellf"
"That was all. He II wistful-look.
ing; and so fragile. II hadn't known
about him I'd have thought he had
quite an interesting face"
"If you hadn't known about hlm'i
Known what?"
"0h, nothing, of course" she said
hurrledly. 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, ofcourse II Il
odd, their attitude about him. I sup
pose it's some nervous trouble tina
makes him--perhaps little queer n
times, so that he can't apply himself
to anything-or perhaps does ode
things. But, after all, OF course. W,
only have an impression about II. w,
don't know-that Is, positively. H.
She paused then went on: II dldn'
know just how to ask-that is
didn't mention II TO Mary. didn't
l." The poor lady foundered pitt
fully, concluding with n humble. "St
soon after-after the-the shock"
"I don't think I've caught more thar
glimpse OF him." said Mr.. Vertrees
~ wouldn't know him II saw him
but your impression OF him is" II,
broke of suddenly, springlng to hi
feet in agitation. II can't imagine
her-oh nor he gasped. And he begaI
TO pace the floor. "A half.witted cpl
lepticw
"No. nor she cried. "He may be al
right. We"
"oh. it's horrible! can't" II,
threw himself back into his chat
again, sweeping his hands across hi
face, then letting them fall Imply a
his sides.
Mrs. Vertrees was tremulous. "Yol
mustn't give way So" she said, inspires
for once almost to direct discourse
"Whateyer Mary might think Of doing
II wouldn't be on her own account:
would be on ours. But IL we should
should consider Il, that wouldn't be oi
our own account. II isn't because w
think OF ourselves"
"oh God, mol" he groaned. mot 70
usl We can go to the poorhouse, bu
Mary can't be stenographerw
Signing, Mrs. Vertrees resumed he
obliqueness. "Of course" she muT
INJURED, lit all seems very premature
speculating about such things. but.
had queer sort OF feeling that sh
seemed quite interested In this Sh
had almost said I'm this one" nu
checked herself, "ln this young mar
It's natural OF course; she is alway
so strong and well. and he ls--he seem
to he. that Is--rather appealing to til
the sympathles."