The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-01-07
The House That
Bobby Built
~ "a,

BY MARY LINSAY

tdfey. lie Ciiy Nds not Lar dNaJ-d
matter vi six nouls Oh lie N%eStiDuIeu
iimitel-ani Miss Grey. ia extending
the invitation, Ul.u tlou5ai OF BOBBY,
aud oil the eApIe,s.
She had gone W.ti. hun dow 10 the
river. They sat Oh the rocAs Iar Out
in the slYealu, ana talked OF the Will
lows, and uf their ~greenness above the
water: of the millS piclul es~4uene>>.
Suddenly Miss Carey leaned back and
studied him at(enuNeiy. The clear cut,
cleaniy sila>eh face, Tie handsome
head with its wavy nag. tie laugh that
rang pleasantly III her ear, ali these
had not changed. but lie Was not gulle
the same.
rs 1T a woman, Bobby" she asked.
Yes, said bobb!.
lis her picture III your watcil!' she
questioned.
No he answered promptly, its in
my heart
l. Bobby" Miss Grey pun out her
white hanu--il was like d sudden. VAST
ful appeal, Il hope You Will be happy"
Expect to be-" said Bobby. In the
silence that followed he looked up-
stream and whistied cheerfuliy.
OF course she had known that it
would colne soine day. Since his eight
eentl birtnday-ne was now twenty-five
when he lad formed The habit oI fling
ing has teulle>iuuus heart at her feet,
iii season and out, she had advised
this step, Dut somehow she had not
expected tiiln To be So cheerful about Ii.
A SHADOW, t~ieeliA.; like the liSin.
Wig ol sonle Dlru lar overhead,
crossed her face. Dear Bobby-siie
wouid be lonely without him.
Perhaps, ii il had mol been for the
stupid accldcnt vi years, she might
have loved Bobby dis he demanded, IA
stead of in u maternal, protective
way hut her mileStones
Bobby's, and no amount Of arithmetic
would SET ii right.
"Jeanie"-there wasn't anybody else
VI her world who called Eugenla Grey
'Jeanie'-don't you want Inc to tell
you about it,
Yes" said Miss Grey, lying bravely.
Its to be in June. SurpriSed?'
For She had moved slightly. "We are
/ going to keep house in II cottage, with
u while-pillared purch-lots Of porch.
The dining-room Is furnished in tle.n-
ish oak-the figures in the chair-bacas
make faces at %you--its very somber
and beautiful there. The cabinet
you'd call a dear-it was. But then.
you see, my wife will need it for the
presents"
His wife. Dear Heaven, Bobby's
wife.
There's a couch and lots Of pill
lows in the den the furniture is ila-
hogany there. You see he ADDED
gravely. Il am trying to please her"
Miss Grey turned on him in white
and speechie>s Indignation.
Jeanne dear"-the color had come
into HIS cleekS-'It'> the twilight that
l think OF, for AS. there. And my
wife stands at the open window-taii
and slender and wlliie-and the breeze,
the strong, joyous, night wind from
the sea. rlutters her gown and streams
the curtain ouu into the room--it floats
like IA bridal veil in the darknesS-anI
l go To her silently. and put my arms
about her. She doesn't say. Don't
or 'lou forged Yourself, SIR Shes 81
lenC. too"
I'll is late" Miss Grey spoke collIy.
You'll miss your train" She rose as
She spoke. The sun was gone. ami lie
| warmth from the sunny river. They
walked back to the house i'm silence. At
the steps Bobby stopped and kissed her
brow.
"You always said you would be glad.
Jeanne; but you have been good to lis
ten 50 patiently. Now l must run for
my train"
He was gone.
She took out her handkerchief and
vigorously rubbed her brow. The
touch Of the cool, b~rotherly kiss stung.
In the library she lay quite still
among the cushions piled on the
couch. She had asked for quiet, and
the library without lights. Dusk crept
stealthily into the room. and suddenly
the curtain at the wide open window,
moved by a passing wind. blew out like
the curtains In the sea cottage. A
fierce. barbaric hatred for the woman
who was to live there with Bobby pos
sesspd her. The arithmetic Of hearts
cannot be counted by years: and for 4
foolish question Of arithmetic she had
lost Bobby.
%"Arithmetic be- She sat up.
dashed the tears from her cheeks. and
searched wildly for what she wanted.
'Be-be hanged. - she sObbed. There
are only two-twO measly little years
between u.s."
After a little while she went to the
window, and stood there looking out.
The curtain Streamed out again like
a white sail then. ~homeward bound,
The was very silent.