The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-09-16


am not hesitating. ! hope ] do not
seem to be, but | know suspect
that your decision is sudden"
"Isobel's affection for us is greater
than her demand for independence
said Mrs. Sidney. IF 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.
Isobel's view of our engagement was
purely comic. She may have had a
second of spiritual revolt, but comedy
and consideration for her mother as
serted themselves. Mrs. Sidney, when
she told Isobel of the engagement, had
me present. The mother was really
embarrassed, almost fiustered, but she
was determined. Isobel was greatly
amused.
1t may be imagined that / was not
heroic. / might better have been a
wax figure taken from a display win
dow. / felt like one, thing with
wax smile and no animation.
ut 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
CDR. John has been kind enough to
do as / asked him. | need and want
the support of my children in what l
am doing"
| l felt 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
all right, mother" said Isobel, recov-
ering from her sense of humor. DR.
John-will not be unhappy am sure
will you, doctor? Anil I--mother-
I'll get an advantage of you il this
see If don't"
"You mustn't try to, Isobel," said
Mrs. Sidney anxiously. Il am doing
the best / can."
Later in the evening saw Isobel,
finding her alone in the library, where
she was reading. / went in to get a
book before going to bed. She was
by lamp near the fireplace, AID she
looked very beautiful.
II want to, talk to you," she said
when she saw me. do you know the
explanation of this?'
NO" / said.
"You are not quite honest" she said.
"a man engaged to a 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
ii is?"
mo, 1 don't" she said "Why don't
you sit down."
With soft witchery of femini1ity
she pervaded and glorified the room,
but she was peremptory. was not
sullen, but Il felt defiant.
Because don't want to sit down."
said.
Isobel smiled indulgently at me.
"Oh, sit down, DR.. John" she said,
81 want to talk to you. We are en-
gagged, you know, and engaged people
ought to have q talk after the event,
| If not before"
"You understand how this bap-
pened, / suggested.
81 do" she said my mother is
frightened. Jed has been trying to
marry me-"
",vhat can give him the privilege of
such Insolencei' / exclaimed.
Il imagine he is enamored," she said
serenely. at may seem impossible to
you"
"Has this man approached you di-
rectly?" / 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
lessly.
Neither do IT, she said. "And /
know just enough to know that shall
not understand it. do not like to find
Romeo among the servants, but
have learned to accept some strange
conditions here-among them YOU"
Don't disturb yourself about me"
said
A good deal of my hurt pride must
have found expression in that remark.
81 am unjust" she said. II know
that you are doing what my mother
wants done and that you are not con-
sidering yourself. l shall be reason
able. / want to make my mothers life
as pleasant as it can be made. | can
not understand everything that she
needs of me, but know that you have
done everything that you could do for
her. I do not want to seem inconsid-
crate"
sid like to protect you and your
mother" | said.
"We are indebted said Isobel, with
chill and unkind restraint Then she
smiled and said:
"Good night, doctor. If I am incon-
siderate at any time, put it down to a.
naturally bad temper
's
Jed had taken small shotgun and
said that he was going after rabbits,
which were unusually numerous and
threatened to be damaging to the
x,o,,-,e~ lor,,c, ,bo,,+ tho Y,1ocog IF woo