Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-21


after the funeral"
Mrs. Yertrees made little sound Of
cdinmiseration. 81 don't believe that
was because he wasn't suffering.
though. Mary told me he seemed
wrapped up in his sons succeeding.
4 He isn't vulgar in his Boosting, l un-
derstand; 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. Its
nothing but q coal hole, OF course
Sheridan says it's great"
Mrs. Vertrees seemed unaware Of
this outburst. II believe" she began,
timitlIy. ':he doesn't boast of-that is,
| I understand, he has never seemed so
interested in the-the other one"
Her husbands face was dark, but at
| that a 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"?
Eyes, the-the youngest" she re-
turned, her voice SO feeble it was al
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 contrived to
cough. but not convincingly. What
ah--what was 1t Mary said about
him this afternoon? I 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 l hadn't known
about him I'd have thought he had
quite an interesting face i.# &
III you hadn't known about him'2
Known what?' .ig.iF Eas ,s
"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. 1 sup
pose it's some nervous. trouble that
makes him-perhaps a 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 It. We
don't know--that is, positively. Il"
She paused, then went on !; Il didn't
know just how to sask-that isl
didn't mention It to Mary. ! didn't
- The poor lady doundered pitt
fully, concluding with humble. 80
soon after-after the-the shock"
II don't think I've caught more than
a glimpse Of him." said Mr.. Vertrees.
Il wouldn't know him. If ]. saw him,
but your impression Of him is" He
broke of suddenly, springing to his
feet in agitation. Il can't imagine
oh nor he gasped. And he began
to pace the door. "A half.witted cpl.
leptic"
mo, nor she cried. HE may be al
right. We"
".Oh, it's horrible!4zsI can't" He
threw himself back into his chair
again, sweeping his hands across his
face, then letting them fall Imply at
bis sides.
Mrs. Vertrees was tremulous. "You
mustn't give way so,' she said, inspired
for once almost to direct discourse.
"Whatever Mary might think Of doing,
1t wouldn't be on her own account; It
would be on ours. But IL we should
should consider it, that wouldn't be on
our own account. 1t isn't because We
think Of ourselves"
"Oh God, mop he groaned. 'Not for
%! We can go to the poorhouse, but
Mary can't be stenographer"
Signing, Mrs. yertrees resumed her
obliqueness. "Of course" she muir
INJURED, 1T all seems very premature.
specializing about such things, but I
had q queer sort Of feeling that she
seemed quite interested in this" She
had almost said lin this one" but
checked herself. I'm this young man.
It's natural, of course; she 10 always
80 strong and well, and he is-he seems
to be, that is-rather appealing to the
the sympathies." ...a
"Yes!' he agreed, bitterly. Precise
IT,. The sympathies!'
Perhaps" she faltered-'perhaps
you might feel easier il l could have .
little talk with someone?"
with wh0m?"
II had thought of-not going about
1t too brusquely, Of course. but perhaps
just waiting for his name to be men.
toned, If l happened to be talking with
somebody that knew the family and
then might find chance to say that
was sorry to hear he'd been Ill 50
much, and Something Of that kind
perhaps?"
"You don't know anybody that
knows the family"
Eyes. That. -h-Hell, n, . Ways 81
course, one Of the family. That Mrs.
Roscoe Sheridan II not anthat Is, she'a
rather 4 pleasant-faced nttle woman,
1 think. and OF course tatleri ordinary.
think she is. interested about that is,
Of COURSE she'd. be. anxions to be mere