Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-07

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 uccessfulIy-partly be
cause her own foundation is too f1imsy
and partly because she began too late
They've got an enormous Moor of
painted plaster or something in the
hall, 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 Landseers. i've always
thought OiI-paintings in a private
house the worst of taste"
"Oh, if one owned a Raphael or
Titan said Mr.. Vertrees, finishing
the implication, not in words, but
with a wave Of his hand. Go on,
Mary. None Of the rest of item came
in? You didn't meet Mr.. Sheridan or
=" He paused and adjusted a lump
of coal in the fire delicately with the
poker. cor one of the sOns?"
Mary's glance crossed his, at that,
with Il fash of utter comprehension.
He turned instantly away, but she had
begun to laugh again.
mo" she said mo one except the
women, but mamma inquired about the
sons thoroughlyw
Marry Mrs Vertrees protested.
"Oh most adrOitly, toor' laughed the
girl. only she couldn't help uncon-
sciously turning to look at me-when
she did it!'
MARY Yertreesr'
Never mind mamma! Mrs. Sheri-
dan ana Miss Sheridan neither Of
them could help uncOnsciousIy turning
to look at -speculatively-a the
same time! They all three kept look
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 is
right cultivated Another of the sons.
youngest one, they didn't seem to con
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.
Papa, Bibbs is the youngest ones
name, and Bibbs-to the best of our in
formations a Iunatic Roscoe is
married Papa, does it have to be
Jim?"
"Mary!' Mrs. Vertrees cried, sharp
~. You're outrageous! That's a per-
fectly horrible way of taIkingr'
well, I'm close to twenty-four."
said Mary, turning to her. Il haven't
been able to like anybody yet that's
asked me to marry him. and maybe
never shall. Until a year or so ago I've
had everything l ever wanted in my
life-you and papa gave it all to 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 it like THAR"
insisted the mother, plaintively. Its
motifs not
"No, it's not, said Mary. 81 know
thatg'
How did they happen to ask you to
dinner?" Mr.. Vertrees inquired, IN
easily. "SteXtrawdn'ry thtng."
climbers hospitality" Mary de-
fined it. I'VE were so very cordial and
easy! It's a sort of bouse-warming
dinner, and they talked about it and
talked about it-and then the girl got
her courage up and blurted out the in
yitatiOn And mamma said that you
and she had promised to go to lecture
at the Emerson club tonight but that
her daughter would be delighted to
come to the big show! SO there | am,
and there's Mr.. Jim Sheridan-and
there's the clock! Dinners at seven
thirtyr'
And she ran out of the room. scoop