The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-04-19
Mr.. FORBES
By JACK LAYTON.

ana listened, as her garruiouS neigh
Dor talked. She was well aware of
the jublant spitefulness of Abbie
Mead'S tone, yet almost convinced of
It's truth. Her own patient lips
trembled in an effort 10 keep hack
protesting words of denial-of what
use to deny that of which she knew
nothing? Bob had been strangely ret
icent concerning this well published
love affair Of his. Every one seemed
to have known of BobS marked at
tention TO the pretty stranger. before
his mother had taken note of his alb
sent evenings.
Guess I'll run out for awhile Bob
would gay; while she would nod sInil
ingly, and get out the silk mufiler she
was knitting for him Mary Todd
was very proud of her son's position
in Nfllvlle's only bank All the men
| of Bob's family had been clerical men.
Mary was proud thai her son added
| hOnorably to the line. The ToddS had
| always been looked up to'-aS Abbie
Mead had just repeated 1T WAS
really too bad" she continued that
Bob should go and take UP with
| queer actin stranger instead of nice
| girls he'd been brought up with. Alb
bie's OWN niece had seen Bob night
after night. sittin right out with the
i girl from the city on the porch Of the
Hall house, which she. herself. had
rented and furnished. when the Halls
went off to stay with their sons folks
for the summer.
: My father and I will move in at
+ once" the girl said, and the very next
! day she drove up in q car with big
: man, who hurried into the house be-
fore those watching could catch
glimpse of his face, and nobody"-Ab-
bie's voice dropped impressively-
nobody had seen the man since. Not
: even Jim Burley, when he left the
groceries, or Ann Cloud, when she
c went there to work.
i MY father, Mr. Forbes, doesn't
wish to be disturbed the girl says
calm as you please an Ann SAYS that
the girl even carries his meals up to
. him in his room; an when one passes
+ the door all one can hear is a rattle
of papers, or smell cigar smoke be-
n meath the door. Jim was telling Ann
u yesterday that this mysterious AIr.
Forbes might be bank robber from
: the way he hides his face. No one
: here pays any attention TO the girl
10 but-your Bob. \ quick choice she
made too. No one else was worth
" smiln' up TO. | reckon in her opinion
"a cause BOb's good saaried man. Up
II. an down the street she goes in dresses
like those on a fashion cover, her COM
tt plexion too good, | says, to be true, an
> her hair done up like a dancers" Alb
bic Mead coughed Il always like 10
N know what there is to know before
n condemn folk" she went on, 80
stopped in myself TO call on Mis-
M Forbes, an l asked straight out fol
her Pa.
= HE is not seeing anyone while VI
are here" Miss Forbes says rea
smooth, you must try to let me en-
terrain you"
al well, 1 didn't let her entertain m
long; but II was you, Mary, I'd asl
Se, Bob, seeing how things is going, if h
zen has seen the father of this new cir
the man hiding for? Ann says III
door of his room was open one da
the when she went up the stairs. an III
ne girl. Fran-outlandish name-jus
u. flew ahead to close il before size e
y there Well. good by Mary, hope 70
realize this is told in friendly spirit.
ON Mary Todd arose as her neighho
10 H.
Law. glasses. TWAS all nonsense of courS
roit to be so disturbed over NIillville gn
at sip; yet Mary was disturbed. Bob
unusual reticence in this affair grieye
her. When he came i'm she met hin
- gravely Bob dear" she said. IA
n bic Mead has been telling me OF yot
attachment for-the young strange
in our town. Your mother would
the first to rejoice with you if it is
happy attachment. Bob. OR is the
II no truth in their suppositicns?
want very much TO know" Robe
Todd drew his mother back 10 Il
chair, then looking down upcn h
to slowly replied.
mo. $50 much truth. mother. that ha'
inc Just come from asking Frances Re
Of nedy to marry me-
the A light came TO Bob's dark eye
his voice rang triumphant.
10 Fran has accepted met is inco
eece ceivable with her beauty, her know
than edge of bigger. better men in n wor
all outside our little one. But my z
but loves me mother. she really does
the women are strange. And I'm bringi
ME her TO meet you tonight. She is
anxious TO know you, mother-can Y
III believe TITO make her home huml
a. n with us If you are willing My 20
ritty en- girl with heart as sweet a
pure as a child"
one, Bob" Mary Todd spoke quiet
ding "you referred to this little girl
Frances Kennedy; here she has Civ
the name of Miss Forbes"
49, a0h that ~ her son fntprruuf