The Ordway new era., 1916-10-06

SAeJcafs-
"She Needn't to Have Done That
About the Piano."
wrapped up in his sons succeeding.
He isn't vulgar in his boasting, | un-
dcrstand; he doesn't talk 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 city," Mr.. Yer
trees echoed. with dull bitterness. "It's
nothing but a coal hole. OF course
Sheridan says it's great"
Mrs. Nertrees seemed unaware Of
this outburst. II believe" she began,
tImIdly, "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 It: he
looked more haggard than before.
The other one" he 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-
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 contrlved 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: He's the most wistful
creature I've ever known"
"Well?"
THAT was all. He Is 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 him :?
Known what?'
"Oh. nothing, Of course" she said,
hurriedly. 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, of course it is
odd, their attitude about him. | sup
pose it's some nervous trouble that
makes him-perhaps little queer at
times, so that he can't apply himself
to anything-or perhaps does odd
things. But, after all, of course, we
only have an impression about 1t. 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. | didn't
/" The poor lady foundered plti.
fully, concluding with humble $50
soon after-after the-the shock"
II don't think I've caught more than
a glimpse of him." said Mr.. vertrees.
II wouldn't know him IL saw him,
but your impression of him is" He
broke off suddenly. springing to his
feet In agitation. 81 can't imagine
her-oh no" he gasped. And he began
to pace the floor. "a half-witted epi-
lepticw
mo. no." 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
race, then letting them fall Imply at
his sides.
Mrs. Vertrees was tremulous. "You
ON way cOs bue bHlu, lQSDlreu
Tor once almost to direct discourse.
Whatever Mary might think of doing,
/ 1t wouldn't be on her own account: II
would be on ours. But If we should
J should consider 1t, that wouldn't be on
: our own account It isn't because we
think Of ourselves"
"Oh God, mol" he groaned. mot for
: US! We can 60 to the poorhouse. bu.
Mary can't be stenographerr'
Signing, Mrs. vertrees resumed her
!. obliqueness- "Of course" she mnr.
: INJURED, 1T all seems very premature
speculating about such things, but
mad queer sort Of feeling that she
seemed quite interested In this" sbe
had almost said 'in this one.p bu,
checked herself. "In this young man
: Ifs natural. Of courss; abe l. alwsv.
!. % strong and we'll, and hs y Dc sssns
I g V. e tnat is.fethsf appealing y a.
s.. 80 ~ ~ u h Y 4 Il