The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-10-18
CHAPTE r xi.
James Theory.


got q beardr' she cried. abiding not
to her brother. but to the tabled Iowan
II heard Willie tell ole Mr.. Genesis
about It."
at seems to lie heavily on your
mind" Mr.. Baxter said TO William
Il suppose ycu feel that in the face
Of such an example your life between
the ages Of thirteen and seventeen has
been virtually thrown away"
william had again relspsed, but he
reused himself feebly. "sirr he said
"What In the matter with him?" Mr.
Baxter demanded. Half the time
:. lately he seems to be alternating and
'ouly responds by Q slight twitching
when poked with q stick. The other
half Of the time he either behaves like
I don't know what or talks about
children growing whiskers In Iowa
Hasn't that girl left town yeti"
William left the table Mrs Baxter
looked distressed As for Mr.. Baxter.
be felt q little remorse undoubtedly.
but he was also puzzled. He referred
10 his mystincstion q little later AZ he
eat with his evening paper In the
library
Il don't know what I said to that
tetchy boy to hurt him. he began In
IN apologize tone II don't see that
that there was anything too rough for
him to stand In Q little sarcasm
IL think he's married. said Jane.
what" And her parents united
their hilarity
II do think he's married." Jane In
sisted. unmoved II think he's mar
ned with that Miss Pratt"
WELL" said her father. he does
seem upset and II may be that her
visit and the idea of whiskers. coming
% close together. 10 more than mere
coincidence. but hardly think Willie
b married. Jane"
swell then" she returned thought.
fully. hes almost married know
that much, anyway"
what makes you think sor'
well, because. I kind Of thought he
must be married or anyways somep'n
when he talked TO Mr.. Genesis this
nornin He said he knew how some
people got married In Pennsylvania
an lndia. an he said they were only
seven or eight years old He said 20
an heard him An be said there
were eleven people married that were
only seventeen. an this boy In Iowa
got . full beard an got married too.
An he said Mr.. Genesis was only SIX
teen when he was married. He talked
all about settin' married when you're
seventeen years old. an he said how
people thought II was the best thing
could happen. 10 just know he's al
most married"
"fou haven't any other reason. have
you, Janef" the mother asked.
"Yes'm." said Jane promptly. AN
IT'S q more reason than anyi Miss
Pratt calls you mamma a. II you
were her mamma She does II when
she talks to Willie"
"Jane!'
"Yes'm: I heard her. An Willie said,
I don't know what you1l think about
mother He said. I don't know what
you'll think about mother to Miss
Pratt"
Mrs. Baxter looked q little startled.
and her husband frowned.
yes" went on Jane. AN when they
were wslkin' they stopped an talked
to me. an Miss Pratt said. It's our
little sister,"
did she really1" Mrs Baxter asked
gravely.
"why. you can ask williel She said
II that funny way. Our little sissy
that's what she said. An Miss Pratt
said, Everybody would love our little
sister II mamma washed her In soap
an water You can ask Willie"
Hush. dear" said Mrs. Baxter. IAN
this doesn't mean anything at all. espe-
cially such nonsense as Willie's think
ing OF being married It's your bed
time"
well. but. mamma
Come along. Janer
"He certainly seems In q queer
state" said Mr. Baxter when his wife
returned
nj luis uib WIZ y tbnt DetuHnt stTl
Gus. do you think he would do as
crazy q thing as thatr
Mr.. Baxter laughed "Well, | don't
know what he'd do II ON. don't sup.
pose he has more than q dollar In his
Yes, he has" she returned quickly
DAY before yesterday there was a
furniture man here. and
was TOO busy 10 see him. but I wanted
the storeroom In the cellar cleared out.
md ! told Willie he could have what
aver the man would pay him for the
Junk In there II he'd watch TO see that
be didn't take anything They found
some old pieces that I'D forgotten IN |
ierneath things. aud altogether the
nan paid Willie 50 So"
But. mercy me. exclaimed Mr. Rax
er. "the girl may lie an idiot. hui she
wouldn't run away and marry u DO,