The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-07-28
- satA. IT sseae - No. II lOoAs-
I'm afraid"

- saiA. ~ see0e - No. II lOoAs-
I'm afraid
Say as much u It as you can,
mamma said Mary, encouragingly. II
car get it, If you'll just give me M
keyword."
Everything you say" Mrs. Yer
trees began, timidly, 'seems to have
the air Of It 10 as II you were seek
ing TOTO make yourself"
"Oh. l see! Y0 mean / sound as II
were trying y foFce myself to HE
him"
Not exactly. Mary. That wasn't
quite what | meant" said Mrs. Yer
trees, speaking direct untruth with per
feet Inconsistencies. But you said
that-that you found the latter part
of the evening at young Mrs. Sheri-
dams unentertainiag--"
"And as Mr.. 3ames Sheridan was
there. and | saw more Of him than at
dinner, and had Q horribly stupid time
in spite OF that, ysu think l." And
then it was Mary who left the deluc-
ton unfinished.
Mrs. Nertrees nodded; and though
both the mother and the daughter I'M
dcrstood. Mary fslt it better to make
the understanding definite.
Well" she asked, gravely, rs there
anything else l can DO? You and papa
don't want me to DO anything that dis
tresses me, and "a as this is the only
thing to be done, it seems It's up to me
not to let it distress me. That's AN
there is about il, isn't it,"
But nothing must distress you"
the mother cried.
THAT'S what l say." said Mary.
cheerfully. And so it doesn't It's
all right" She rose and took her cloak
over her arm. as il to go to her own
ROOM. But on the way to the door she
stopped, and stood leaning against the
foot of the bed. contemplating a thread
bare rug at her feet. Mother, you've
told me a thousand times that it doesn't
really matter whom a girl marries."
NO, no." Mrs. Nertrees protested. II
never said such "a"
mo, not in words: l mean what you
meant. It's true. isn't it, that marriage
really Ia not a bed Of roses, but a field
of battle? TO get right down to it. a
girl could fight it out with anybody.
couldn't she? One man as we'll as an.
otherT"
MARY, l can't bear for you to talk
like that" And Mrs. Nertrees lifted
pleading eyes to her daughter-eyes
that begged to he spared. 1T sounds
almost reckless"
Mary caught the appeal. came IT, her,
and kissed her gayly. "Ne-er fret.
dear. I'm not likely to do anything l
don't want to-Vve always been too
thoroush-going y little pig"
She gave her mother u final kiss and
went gayly all the way to the door TIL.
time. pausing for her postscript with
her hand on the knob. 'Oh, the ont
that caught me looking in the window
mamma, the youngest one"
Did he speak OF it," Mrs. vertrces
asked, apprehensiyely.
NO. He didn't speak at all, that l
saw, to anyone. l didn't meet him
But he isn't insane. I'm sure; or II he
IS, he has long intervals when he's not
w. uiii1 bNlIS itAdIA AtaCHlIOlltu llldl uo
lived at home when he was well
enough; and it may be he's only an In
valid. He looks dreadfully Ill, bun
he has pleasant eyes, and it struck me
that Tiff one were in the Sheridan
family'-she laughed a little ruefully
he might be interesting to talk to
sometimes, when there was too much
Sfnal.c n and lnpI- 7 liJv,,t 49, It,,~ = ~
er dinner"
There must be something wrong
with him. said Mrs. Nertrees. They'd
have introduced him If there weren't"
Il don't know. His father spoke Of
sending him back to a machine shop
of some sort; I glanced at him just
then and he was pathetic looking
enough before that, but the most tragic
change came over him. He seemed
Just to die. right there at the table,
"Mr. Sheridan must be very unfeel-
ing
NO" said Mary. thoughtfully. II
don't think he Is: but he might be un-
comprehending. and certainly he's the
kind Of man to do anything he once
S>Nc - ~ w.. Apul L W - ! Auun L D6Ou
looking at that poor boy just then!
I'm afraid I'll keep remembering"
Il wouldn't" Mrs. Vertrees smiled
family. and in her smile there was the
remotest ghost OF 4 genteel roguish
ness. I'D keep my mind on pleasanter
things, Mary"
Mary laughed and nodded. YES. in
deed! Plenty pleasant enough. and
probably. il all were known, too good
eve for mel"
And when she had gone Mrs. Yer
trees drew a long breath. as 81 a bur-
den were or her mind, and, smiling.
began to undress In n gentle reyerie.
CHAPTER VII.