The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-06-10


building"
ooh nor Mrs. vertrees cried Sure
" notF'
Eyes. and two other things OF that
kind don't know what. But. after
all, wondered if they were so bad
Well. then. mamma. / managed not TO
Jr., because he didn't see anything out
Of place in the Sheridan building in
sugar"
Mrs. vertrees' expression had lost
none OF its anxiety and she shook her
head gravely. My dear. dear child,
she said. 1T seems to me 1t looks
I'm afraid
Say as much OF it as you can.
mamma" said Mary, encouragingly. 81
can get it. if you'll just give me one
keyword.''
Everything you say" Mrs. Yer
trees began, timidIy. seems to have
the air Of 1t is as if you were seek
ing TOTO make yourself"
.'Oh. seeI You mean I sound as II
I were trying to force myself to like
him.
Not exactly. Mary. That wasn't
quite what l 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 unentertaining-'
And as Mr.. James Sheridan was
there. and saw more of him than at
dinner. and had horribly stupid time
in spite OF that. you think L" And
then it was Mary who left the deduc-
| ton unfinished.
| Mrs. VertreeS nodded: and though
both the mother and the daughter IN
derstood. Mary felt it better to make
the understanding definite.
We'll" she asked. graveIy. lis there
anything else can do? You and papa
don't want me to do anything that dis
| tresSes me. and so. as this is the only
thing to be done, it seems it's up to me
1 not TO let it distress me. That's all
there is about if, isn't it?'
But nothing must distress your
the mother cried.
That's what I sayr' said Mary.
cheerfulIy. "And-so it doesn't It's
all right" She rose and took her cloak
| over her arm. as if 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. nor Mrs. Vertrees protested. 81
never said such "a
NO. not in words; mean what you
meant. It's true isn't it. that marriag e
really is not a bed of roses. but field
of battle? To get right down to it, a
girl could fight it out with anybody,
couldn't she? One man as well as an
| other?"
Mary. 1 can't bear for you to talk
like that" And Mrs Vertrees lifted
pleading eyes to her daughter-eyes
that begged to be spared. 1T sounds
almost reckless
! Mary caught the appeal. came to her,
and kissed her gayly. Never fret.
deari I'm not likely TO do anything /
don't want to-I've always been too
thorough-going a little pig
She gave her mother a final kiss and
went gayly all the way to the door this
time. pausing for her postscript with
her hand on the knob. "Oh. the one
that caught me looking in the window.
mamma. the youngest one"
did he speak of it," Mrs Vertrees
asked, appreheRsively-
mo. He didn't speak at all. that I
saw. to anyone. 1 didn't meet him.
But he isn't insane. I'm sure; or If he
is. he has long intervals when he's not.
Mr.. James Sheridan mentioned that he
lived at home when he was well
enough; and it may be he's only an in
valid He looks dreadfully i'll, but
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
stocks and bonds. didn't see him aft
er dinner"
There must be something wrong
with him. said Mrs Vertrees- 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: glanced at him just
then and he was Notwithstanding
enough before that. but the most trag iC
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. Il
don't think he is: but he might be IN
comprehending. and certainly he's the
kind OF man to do anything he once
sets out to do. But wish ! hadn't been
looking at that poor boy just then
I'm afraid I'll keep remembering
II wouldn't Mrs Vertrees smiled
family. and in her smile there was the
remotest ghost of u senteeI roguisb
ness I'D keep my mind on pIeasanteI
things. Mary"
Mary laughed and nodded Yes. in
deed! Plenty pleasant enough. and
probably. If all were known. too good
even for me-
And when she had gone Mrs Yer
trees drew a long breath. as il a bur
; den were OF her mind and. smiling
began to undress in a gentle reverie-s
CHAPTER va.