The Hope pioneer., 1920-09-02

"No; 1t is to ask you to permit me
to announce the engagement of my
daughter Isobel to you. Don't be
alarmed. 1t shall not make any diff
ference in your life. 1t is desperate
expedient l am using out of diff
Guilty"
l felt as If I were in spiritual fog
as that the only way I can help you
out?" l asked.
'"rhe only one" she said. II have
thought of everything"
elias it to do with Jed agaia?"
asked.
"With things I cannot possibly ex-
plain. Is there any one who would be
distressed by such an announcement? 2"
"Not a SOUL" said, Except Miss
Sidney"
II would not cause pain" said Mrs.
Sidney. "!Are you sure there is no
one?"
"A1rs. Sidney" said, "you are the
only lady who ever has given me Il
thought since l knew my mother.
am merely wondering what Miss Sid
ney will think of me in such a role.
Will she understand why take it?
am not hesitating. hope l do not
seem to be, but I know-I suspect
that your decision is sudden"
'1sobels affection for us is greater
than her demand for independence
said Mrs. Sidney. eff she knows that
asked you to consent to this an
nouncement, she will think of you as
a proved friend"
had suggested all the precautions
that were reasonable. You certainly
may make any use of me you want
to-" said. She thanked me and said
good night.
Isobers view IF our engagement was
purely comic. She may have had Il
second of spiritual revolt, but comedy
a:d consideration for her mother as
serted themselves. Mrs. Sidney, when
she told Isobel o3 the engagement, had
me present. The mother was really
embarrassed. almost fustered, but She
was determined. Isobel was greatly
amused.
1t may be imagined that 1 was not
heroic. l might better have been q
wax figure taken from a display win
dow. felt like one, a thing with a
WAX smile and no animation.
1T is merely precautionary" said
Mrs. Sidney uneasily. ut is quite I'M
possible to explain. You will have to
accept my Judgment, Isobel. DR.. john
an odd halfway house toward init
macy she reached and stopped at
"Dr. John has been kind enough to
do as asked him. I need and want
the support of my children in what l
am doing"
felt a touch Of emotion at that.
Unconsciously, intent upon her main
point, she had included me at the fire.
side and had spoken of her children"
Anything you do or have done is
oil right, MOTHER" said Isobel, recov-
ering from her sense of humor. DR.
John-will not be unhappy am sure
will you, doctor? And I-mother-
I'll get an advantage of you in this
see if don't"
"You mustn't try to, Isobel," said
Mrs. Sidney anxiously. II am doing
the best I can"
Later in the evening saw Isobel,
finding her alone in the library, where
she was reading. went in to get
book before going to bed. She was
by lamp near the fireplace, and she
looked very beautiful.
II want to talk to you," she said
when she saw me. "Do you know the
explanation of this?'
NO." I said.
"You are not quite honest" she said.
"A man engaged to girl he never
asked to marry him might suspect that
something was out of the ordinary"
"Of course, something is extraordi-
nary" said. "Do you know what
It, ISL"
mo, DON'T" she said. "Why don't
you sit DOWN."
With soft witchery Of feminiaity
she pervaded and glorified the room,
but she was peremptory. I was not
sullen, but l felt defiant.
Because don't want to sit down."
I said.
Isobel smiled indulgently at me.
"Oh, sit down, DR.. John," she said,
II want to talk to you. We are en-
gagged, you know, and engaged people
ought to have talk. after the event,
II not before"
"You understand how this hap
pened," suggested.
II do" she said. "My mother is
frightened. Jed has been trying to
marry me-"
"What can give him the privilege Of
such insolence!" I exclaimed.
II imagine he is enamored," she said
serenely. ut may seem impossible to
you"
"Has this man approached you d.
rectly?" I asked.
HE has been gallant, amorous, sug-
gestive. tender. soulful. aggressive,
pleading, threatening, subservient and
Il think that is all-but only in man
ner"
Il don't understand it," said help