The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-12-23

/ the world. because saw Isobel's-and
then, holding her mothers hand, she
allowed Mrs. Sidney TO have the mo-
ment Of distress with the Intimate sup
port Of her own presence.
IL may seem a small struggle that
mother and daughter went through.
but It did not seem small to me who
witnessed II, and II had no rhetorical
and little emotional expression.
Isobel knew her mother suffered, but
she was wise. Mrs. Sidney dreaded
her daughters adopted mode Of life,
| but knew her daughter.
Goodbye, mother" said IsObel. I'VE
sha'n't be gone long. Come on. John"
That was the first time she had
called me John honestly and without
comedy. knew her fnesse. She did
II to give her mother the comfortable
sense that she was not going upon a
| wild adventure OF an automobile ride
with an unrelated man but was within
the strict intimacy Of the family.
We went driving. Isobel at the wheel.
She liked TO drive fast and do not
am timld. l do not think that loco
/ 10
Possibly II Is. behind either a fast or
a ploddiag horse. prefer the plodding
horse. Locomotion then merely reveals
gradually changing facets of the scene;
one likes TO see the manifold aspects
Of a landscape unfold. But an auto
mobile driven as lsobel wanted to
drive IL revealed no facets. II merely
blurred the vision and gave the idea
that the satisfaction sought was a GER
tain amount of wind blowa in the face.
For such as love 1t. not for met
THAT was difficult scene, DOCTOR"
she said.
knew that was what she would
call me next-"doctor." came d.
rectly down out Of the clouds.
Il know 1t was" said, "and I ad-
mired the honest way in which you
managed It,"
~ think | shall continue 10 call you
John just that way" she said. "It
seems more honest and decent. After
all, we are engaged"
Sometimes Mr.. Sidney could be
taken out In an automobile. of warm,
fair afternoon. II was not often that
his strength permitted this, but when
ever II did, was glad not only to al
low but to suggest that he make use
of all opportunities.
The most beautiful OF our river
drives brought us, within the limitation
of Mr. Sidneys strength, to the penl-
tentiary at Alwick. II was a hideous
structure OF barracks, work-rooms and
walls, OF cells and armed guards; but
II was In lovely surroundings, and II
we took the best roads, we came natur-
ally to the prison walls.
Mr.. Sidney would look at the en-
closure and the guards In the turrets
as II interpreting his own life In the
terms of prison existence. We may
have taken this drive by the prison
road ten times when, approaching II
on another OF our outings, Mr.. Sidney
had the driver stop at the entrance.
81 feel very strong and well today.
DOCTOR" he said, "and II you do not
object, ! think | should like to go in
side. / have seen the outside so many
times. have curiosity to see the in
side"
consented, thinking that with Jed
and me helping him-we acted as his
legs, guiding and sustaining his feeble
motions-he was strong enough to
make the effort. / did not know
whether II was good or bad psychology
10 give him sight of so many impris-
oned mel. but my instinct suggested
that IL would, in his case, be good. He
was logical, reasoning mana rare
phenomenon in the human race. IL he
had been emotional and sentimental,
should have had more doubt.
Mr.. Sidney was important enough TO
be known in the neighborhood. The
warden Of the prison came TO meet him
in the office as soon as we had entered.
He was very cordial TO Mr.. Sidney,
who himself never showed more his
aristocracy OF democracy. l am a
democrat. am most fond OF an
aristocratic democrat Such was Mr..
Sidney.