The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-06-03

son. BIr. James Sheridan. Jr Mrs
Sheridan said his father Is very anx-
fOus to get Jim to marry and settle |
down. and she assured me that Jim is
right cultivated Anofherzof 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 70
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 lunatic. Roscoe is
married Papa, does it have to be
JimT'
Mary" Mrs vertrees cried, sharp
". You're outrageous That's a per
fectly horrible way OF taIkingr
We'll, I'm close to twenty-four."
said Mary. turning TO her. II haven't
been able TO like anybody yet that's
asked me to marry him. and maybe
! never SHALL Until year or so ago I've
had everything ever wanted In my
life-you and papa gave it all to me
and it's about time I 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 thatI"
insisted the mother, plaintively. ITS
motifs not
NO, it's not said Mary. 81 know
thatr'
How did they happen to ask you to
dinner" Mr.. yertrees inquired. IN
easily. ''Stextrawdn'ry thingF'
Climbers hospitality" Mary de-
fined it I'VE were so very cordial and
easy! It's a sort Of house-warming
dinner. and they talked about it and
| talked about it-and then the girl got
her courage up and blurted out the in
vitatiOn. 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 showI So there am.
and there's Mr.. Jim Sheridan-and
there's the clock! Dinners at seven
thirty"
And she ran out of the >room. SCOOP
ing. up her fallen furs with a gesture
of flying grace as she sped.
/ When she came down. at twenty
minutes after seven. her father stood
in the hall. at the foot Of the stairs.
waiting TO be her escort through the
dark. He looked up and watched her
as she descended. and his gaze was
fond and proud-and profoundly dis
| turbed- But she smiled and nodded
gayIy, and, when she reached the floor,
put a hand on his shoulder.
"At least no one could suspect me to
night" she said. 81 look rich. don't I,
papa?"
She did She had a look that wor-
shipfuI girl friends called regal" a
head taller than her father. she was as
straight and jauntily poised as a boy
athlete; and her brown hair and her
brown eyes were like her mothers. but
for the rest she went back to some
stronger and Iivelier ancestor than
either of her parents
Don't look too rich to be suspect
edZ" she insisted.
You look everything beautiful.
Mary" he said. huskily-
And my dress?" She threw open
her dark velvet cloak, showing a splen-
dor of white and silver. Anything
better at Nice next winter. do you
think?" She laughed. shrouding her
glittering figure in the cloak again.
Two years old, and no one would
| dream it! I did it over
You can do anything, Mary"
There was a curious humility in his
tone, and something mora signih-
canoe not yelled and yet abysmally
apologize. 1t was as If he suggested
something to her and begged her for
giveness in the same breath.
And upon that, for the moment. she
became as serious as he. She lifted her
hand from his shoulder and then SET
it back more firmly. so that he should
feel the reinsurance OF its pressure.
Don't worry" she said. in a low
voice and gravely. 81 know exactly
what you want me to do"