The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-09-04

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see."
"How on earth do you make that
out, Mrs. Foster?"
"She couldn't love Wilbur, could
she?" Mrs. Foster demanded, with no
challenCers. "Well, IL viii all go to
her children, and she'll ruin 'em !"
The prophecies proved to be mis-
taken in a single detail merely except
for that her foresight was accurate.
The wedding was Of AmbersOnian
magnifcence, even to the floating oy-
sters; and the Majors colossal pres
ent was d set Of architects designs
for a house almost as elaborate and
impressive as the Mansion, the house
to be built In ANDERSON addition by
the Major.
At midnight the bride was still be-
ing toasted in champagne, though she
had departed upon her wedding jour
ney at ten. Four days later the pa
had returned to town, which prompt
ness seemed fairly to demonstrate
that Wilbur had indeed taken Isabel
upon the carefulest little trip he could
manage. According to every report
she was from the start "a good wife
TO him." but here In n final detail the
prophecy proved inaccurate. Wilbur
and Isabel did not have children /; they
had only one.
"Only one" Mrs. Henry Franklin
Foster admitted. "But I'd like to
know If he isn't spoiled enough for
a whole carload!"
Again she found none to challenge
her.
AT the age Of nine George Amber
son Minafer, the Majors m grand
child, was a princely terror, dreaded
many other quarters through which
he galloped on his white pony. "By
goliy, l guess you think you own this
town." an embittered laborer com
planned n day. as George rode the
pony straight through a pile Of sand
the man was sieving. II will when
! grow up" the undisturbed child re-
piled. II guess my grandpa owns 1t
now, you bet !" And the baffied work.
man, having no means to controvert
what seemed a mere exaggeration of
the facts, could only mutter, "Oh, pull
down your vestI"
Don't hat to! Doctor says II amt
healthy" the boy ret,gned promptly.
"But / tell you what I'll do: I'll pull
down my vest If you'll wipe or your
chin !"
This was stock and stencil: the &C
custohned argot of street badinage of
the period; and In such matters Geor-
gle was an expert. He had no vest
to pull down; the incongruous fact
was that a fringed sash girdled the
juncture Of his velvet blouse and
breeches, for the Fauntleroy period
had set In, and Georges mother had
so poor an eye for appropriate things,
where George was concerned, that
she dressed him according to the doc
trine Of that school in boy decoration.
Not only did he wear a silk sash, and
silk stockings and a broad lace collar
with his little black velvet suit: he
AAdkh WIS ohoWh NdAsS, ahu Luz IuIlC
home with burrs In them.
Except upon the surface (which vas
not his own work but his mOther'sl
George bore no vivid resemblance to
the fabulous little Cedric. The sto-
rled boys famous Lean on me, grand.
father" would have been difficult to
imagine upon the lips of George. 4
month after his ninth birthday ami
versary, when the Major gave him his
pony. he had already become acquaint-
ed with the toughest boys in various
distant parts of the town. and had
convinced them that the ~toughness OF
a rich little boy with long curls might
be considered In many respects s0
perior to their own. He fought them,
learning how to go baresark at a eel.
tain point In a fight, bursting into
tears Of anger, reaching for rocks, ut
tering walled threats Of murder, and
attempting to fulfill them. Fights
often led to intimacies, and he ac-
auired the art of saying things more
exciting than "Don't haf toi" and
Doctor says 1t amt healthy" Thus
on a summer afternoon a strange boy,
sitting bored upon the gatepost of the
Rev. Malloch Smith. beheld George
Anderson Minafer rapidly approach.
Ing on his white pony and was I'M
PEELED by bitterness to shout: "Shoot
the ole jackass! Look at the girly
curlsl Say. hub. where'd you steal
your mothers ole sashr"
"Your sister stole 1t for me l" George
instantly replied, checking the pony.
"She stole 1t on our clo'esline an gave
II to me-"
"You 60 get your hair cut" said
the stranger hotly, "Yahl I haven't
got any sister,"
II know You haven't at home"
George responded. II the one
that's In JAIL"
II dare you to get down OF that
ponyr"
George jumped to the ground. and
the other boy descended from the Rev.
Mr.. Smiths gatepost-but he descend
ed inside the gate. II dare you out
aide that gate" said George
"Yahl I dare you half way here.