The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-03-02

! >44 ! a2aas'as'z-a.a lNd|
"shs Needn't to Have Done That
About the Piano."
wrapped up in his sons succeeding.
He isn't vulgar in his boasting, l un-
derstand; he doesn't talk a 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.. ver-
trees echoed, with dull bitterness. "It's
nothing but q coal hole. OF course
Sheridan says It's great"
Mrs. vertrees 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
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 eveningT
"Yes, the-the youngest" she re-
turned, her voice 10 feeble 1t was al
most 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 afternoon7 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 hadn't known
about him I'd have thought he had
quite an interesting, face"
III you hadn't known about him'7
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 1t Is
odd, their attitude about him. l sup
makes him-perhaps q 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. l didn't
L" The poor lady f1oundered pitt
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.
q" wouldn't know him If 1 saw him.
but your impression Of him is" He
broke OF suddenly, springing to his
feet in agitation. II can't imagine
her-oh nor he gasped. And he began
to pace the floor. "A half-witted cpl
lepticv'
"No, nor 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
face, then letting them fall Imply at
his 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; 1t
would be on ours. But II we should
should consider II, that wouldn't be ON
our own account 1t isn't because we
think Of ourselves"
"Oh God, moi" he groaned. mot for
rs! We can 60 to the poorhouse, but
Mary can't be a stenographerw
Signing, Mrs. vertrees resumed her
obliqueness. "Of course" she mur-
INJURED, ut all seems very premature,
speculating about such things, but I
had q queer sort Of feeling that she
seemed quite interested in this" She
had almost said '1n this one," but
checked herself. "In this young man
It's natural, of course; abe IL always
% strong and well, and he is-he seems
10 be, that is-rather appealing to the
-ehs aym0Afhise."