The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-22
Continued From Yesterday
Brent Tries to Explain.

the lawn. a little palcr than usual
and with eyes that showed solemn
from under the shady brim of her
garden hat
''Try and meet me in the sitting
room in about twenty minutes. Miri-
an." said Brent.
ny the way" he added, laughing
softly, as the girl drew nearer. i
don't mind telling you that my bath
didn't run over by accident yesterday
morning: wanted to get into the
Sandcrson's private sitting room. San :
dcrson's An admiralty man. you know"
Kit, you are a genius" mun1ured
Miriam with an amused smile. We'll.
Miss Pollock, did you see the pretty
soldiers"
YES" said Molly. rather shyly. "Oh,
don't 90 in, Mrs. Lee"
Must. have actually not finished
my unpacking yet. See you at lunch
And Mrs. Lee. who had mastered tho
art Of graceful disappearance, seemed
to cvaporate toward the house.
Brent took a quick look at the girls
troubled face. rn"r" "t1'" t.@s.
"Well--Undinc." he said. taking her
hand.
We'll, WHAT" asked Molly. Then
with quick flash OF suspicion. us
that Mrs. Lees nance"
Little ignoramous!" laughed Brent:
have you never even read about your
prototype? Well. never mind: wan,
you to sit down and talk to me-
II have been wanting to talk tc
you," said Molly. but it seems diff.
cult. somehow. o, Chris. it was sc
hateful this morning! About the
feathers. ] mean"
20. don't know" said Brent care.
lessly. Il don't think it matteree
much.''
That's just It," said Molly despair.
ingly. You don't think it matters
Father and everybody else does. do.
Brent sat silently looking straight II
front of him: his clean shaver face
we'll featured and tanned, but heavil,
lined for his thirty odd years. seemed
to have had the foolish insouciancs
wiped out OF II for moment.
Chris" went on Molly. suddenl,
softening. you know l don't want 70,
to go to the war. I think I'd so mat
to imagine you In danger. but-but-
the feelings been growing up In m,
that perhaps there's something NOR,
important than just loving and beint
happy. Can't you do something
Something here at home. even if 70,
can't 60 to the front? O. Chris. an
such coward that I'll be glad If Their,
really is some reason why you can
fight. But do want to know what i
IL and why YOU don't do nnythin.
over here. You see. 1t makes me 81
miserable not being able to stand u,
for you when father and people Xix,
Percy criticize you. OF course I sa,
l know YOU have very good reason.
and all that, but they don't believ,
me because l can't tell them what the,
are"
so YOU and Mr. Pennicuick have
been talking me over. have you?'
asked Brent.
NO" flashed Molly. we haven't. A
least Percy said nothing but what wa.
nice Of you. but he said he wished TO
your own sake as well as mine tina
YOU would show these people that 70,
arc not such a."
Such a fool as look?" asked Brent
You know you are not a fool
Molly defended him to himself. 1T!
only people who aren't clever enough
TO see how clever you are who thinl
So
Like Mr.. Pollock" suggested Brcn
blandly. He was feeling a little sor'
at the thought of having been dis
cussed by Pennicuik and Molly.
Molly flushed a little rcsentfully
She was only 10 and she had beef
brought up by Mr.. Pollock to con
slider everything that he himself sait
was right and admirable. When sh'
first got to know Christopher Bren
she admired his monocle. his leanness
his slightly graying hair. the shape 0
his head, and his square jaw. She ad
mired. too. his casual. slightly bias
manner. which was yet so much NOR
polished than the laborious Pc
likeness Of Mr.. Pollock's city friends
She knew christopher had been in tn
diplomatic service. that he had trav
eled widely. that he was something o
u mystery; and the glamour of thes
Things was quite enough to make he
fall in love with him as she under
stood the term. Now difficulties, sus
melons and HiSn praaah les Svara