The Red Cloud chief., 1920-08-19

81 hope II is to ask me to take Jed |
In hand" said. |
mo; IL 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 IL desperate |
expedient l am using out of "a diff |
Guilty"
felt as II ! were In a spiritual fog. |
as that the only way I can help you |
out?" I asked.
"The only one" she said. 81 have
thought of everything"
"Iias it to do with Jed again?" I
asked.
"With things I cannot possibly ex.
plain. Is there any one who would be
distressed by such an announcements"
mot SOUL" said, Except Miss
Sidney"
81 would not cause pain" said Mrs.
Sidney. "Are you sure there is no
one?"
"Mrs. Sidney" I said, "you are the
only lady who ever has given me II
thought since knew my mother. I
am merely wondering what Miss Sid
ney will think of me in such role.
VIII she understand why I take it? |
am not hesitating. ] hope / do not
seem to be, but | knOw--I suspect
that your decision is sudden"
"Isobcl's affection for us is greater
than her demand for Independence,
said Mrs. Sidney. IF she knows that
I asked you to consent to this AN
nouncement, she will think of you AS
proved friend"
had suggested all the precautions
that were reasonable. "You certainly
may make any use Of me yon want
to-" said. She thanked me and said
good night.
| Isobel's view of our engagement was
purely comic. She may have had
sec ,nd of spiritual revolt, but comedy
aa,i 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 flustered but she
was determined. Isobel was greatly
amused.
II may be imagined that was not
heroic. I might better have been II
wax figure taken from display win
dow. l felt like one, thing with Il
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, lsobel. DIR. John"
I'm odd halfway house toward init
macy she reached and stopped at
"Dr. John has been kind enough to
do us l asked him. need and want
the support Of my children in what
EN- 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
all right, mother" said IsObel, recov-
! erins from her sense Of humor. "Dr.-
I John-will not be unhappy am sure
will you, doctor? And I-mother-
I I'll get an advantage Of you IL this
see II don't"
!
Mry. Sidney anxiOusly. II am doing
! the best can"
Later In the evening I saw Isobel
finding her alone in the library, where
she was reading. I went In to get Il
book before going to bed. She was
by a lamp near the fireplace, and she
looked very beautiful.
III want to talk to you" she said
| when she saw me. do you know the
explanation Of this?"
mo" said.
3 "You are not quite honest" she said
l "A man engaged to a girl he never
t asked to marry him might suspect tina
something was out of the ordinary"
"Of course, something Is extraordl
y nary" l said. "Do you know wha
It is?"
mo, I don't" she said. "Why don
you sit DOWN.
J. she pervaded and glorified the room
;. but she was peremptOry. / was no
= sullen. but felt defiant.
t because l don't want to sit down,
I said.
Isobel smiled indulgently at me.
ooh, sit down, DR.. John" she sale
81 want to talk to you. We are Ell
gagged, you know, and engaged peopl
ought to have a talk after the even
II not before"
"You understand how this haI
j pened,".I suggested.
|: ~ do" she said. "My mother
Heightened. Jed has been trying
. marry me-"
"What can give him the privilege {
such insolence" i exclaimed.
~ imagine he Is enamored,' she sal
I serenely. 1T may seem impossible
YOU"
hi elias this man approached you d
M rectly?" l asked.
VI ale has been gallant, amorous, su
sestive, tender, soulful, aggressiv
.Jaodinp threatening SubSeryipnt uT