Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-26
the flat and unqualified announce !

the flat and unqualified announce
ment Of the engagement Of Edit
Mallon to John Smith. The story
was put up in great detail. 1t re
cited the Widespread interest
that must be felt in such news be
cause of the fact that the agita
tors great demonstration was but
nine days off. Reference wa.
made to the breach between Smith
and Senator Mallon, and, in a
slightly yelled way, the intimatior
was carried that the marriage oil
q woman socially as prominent al
Miss Mallon to al man of whose
standing in Society so little
was known was, to say the least,
sensation. The article dwelt or
the interest she has shown fol-
so long in the Smith propaganda
and referred to the fact that, soon
after she had met him, she had
ceased serving at her entertain.
ments alcoholic drinks of any kind
50 a fact that caused in the world
OF society quite as much comment
as was the case when the secre.
tary of state inaugurated grape
juice as the drink Of diplomats in
Washington"
Edith's first knowledge of the
announcement came from her
father. A little late for breakfast,
she entered the dining room with
hurried step, a faint smile on her
lips, and in her eyes a reflection of
the still look Of wonder she had
had when John Smith had finished
his story for her the night before.
She realized at once that her
father was angry, more Infatuated
than she ever had seen him.
He half rose from his chair and
held out the open newspaper
across the table toward her. She
was astounded to see that there
was vindictiveness in his face. His
thin features each seemed drawn
tighter and finer than was natural.
There was a little white line across
the bridge of his nose. AS he
stared at her his eyelids were half
lowered, as if involuntarily he
sought to hide some of his anger.
why, father!" she exclaimed,
taking the paper from his CULVER
ing hand. "You look as If YOU
hated me!''
Read that!" he exploded,
pointing wildly toward a column
on the page in front of her.
Her eyes fell on the headlines
concerning herself and John
Smith. For a short moment she
looked at them, trying to under
stand them. When their full sig
nificance came to her, she let the
paper slide from her hand to the
table.
OH" she said softly.
She was a little pale.
Now, the senator supple
mented, what have you to saw
about that? What can you say?s
She took her seat at the table
md looked at him over the clus-
tered roses. She was a little afraid.
but not of him. Their rioted
through her brain the thought
that the printed words she had
seen were about a great man and
that, IN some way, they might
hurt him, might weaken him with
all those who follow his leader
ship. She did not know why the
thought came to her, but it did.
like a premonition. She had not
begun to think of herself.
The senator's Impotence grew
under her cropping gaze.
Well!" he said fiercely, "what
can [ say about it?"
II wouldn't say anything if /
were you, father" she suggested.
her voice low, almost supplicating.
he frowned more darkly.
"Whyi' he demanded con-
temptuously.
In the first place, it isn't true,
of course"
She put out her hand to fix his
coffee.
II can't understand you!" he
protested roughly. Here is the
published statement in a news.
paper that you are going to marry
this man! And you sit there, en-
calm, utterly Indifferent.
and say you wouldn't say any.
thing about It'll"
wouldn't, really"
She poured out the coffee. Her
mind was busy with wondering
how the agitator could be hurt by
the story. She even wondered
why she thought he could be hurt.
Why, the things absurd.
-:1sor1c,,cl . bon eL. -