Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-12-21

everything, because they think-they
say they do, anyhow-they say they
think-they think"
He paused, Disgusting a little choke
as a cough of scorn for the family's
thinking.
'Wha, did you say your family
think?" Henry asked absently.
well, they say we ought to let her
have a share in our newspaper"
Again he paused. afraid TO continue
lest his hypocrisy appear so barefaced
as to lead toward suspicion and dis
covery. "Well. maybe we ought" he
said, his eyes guiltily upon his toe,
which slowly scuifed the ground Il
don't say we ought and don't say
We oughtnt."
He expected at least a burst of out
ragged protest from his partner, who
on tie contrary. pleasantly astonished
him. well. that's the way look at
it," Henry said. Il don't say we ought.
and | don't say we oughtn't."
And he, likewise. stared at the toe
of his own right shoe, which was also
scufiing the ground Herbert felt a
little better; this subdivision of his
difficulties seemed to be working out
with surprising ease.
Il don't say we will and l don't
say we won't" Henry added. "That's
the way look at it. My father and
mother are always talkin' to me how
got to he polite and everything and
7 guess maybe it's time / began to
pay some tentiOn to what they say.
You don't have your father and moth
er for always, you know, Herbert"
Herberts mood at once chimed with
this unprecedented filiaI melancholy.
mo. you don't, Henry. That's what
| often think about. myself No, sir,
a fellow doesn't have his father and
mother to advise him oui whole life.
and you ought to do good deal what
they say while they're still alive"
That's what l say" Henry agreed
gloomily; and then, without any al
teration of his tone or Of the detected
thOughtfulness of his attitude, he
changed the subject in a way that
painfully startled his companion.
Have Won seen Wallie Torbin today.
Herbert?"
"Whatr
"Have you seen wallle Torbin to-
day?"
Herbert swallowed. "Why, what
makes-what makes you ask me that.
Henry?" he asked.
"oh, nOthin'." Henry still kept his
eyes upon his gloomily scuffing toe.
81 just wondered, because I didn't
happen to see him In school this after
noon when happened to look In the
door of the Eight-A when II was open.
| didn't want to know on account Of
anything particular. / just happened
to say that because I didn't have any
thing else to think about just then, so
I just happened to think about him.
the way you do when you haven't got
anything much on your mind. and
might get TO thinkln' about you can't
tell what. That's all the way II was !;
Just happened to kind of wonder II
he was around anywhere. maybe"
Henry's tone was obviously, even
deliberately. sincere; and Herbert was
treasured. well. didn't see him"
he responded. Maybe he's sick"
"No. he isn't" his friend said
Florence said she saw him chasin'
his dog down the street about noon"
At this Herbert's uneaslness was
uncomfortably renewed. Florence
did7 Where'd you see FlorenceT
MFR. Rooter swallowed. "A little
while ago" he said. and again swal-
lowed. "on the way home from
school"
"Look-look hereT Herbert was
fiurried to the point OF panic. "Henry
did Florence-did she go and tell
yoI-did she tell YOU
81 didn't hardly notice what she
was talkin' about" Henry said. dog
gedly. "She didn't have anything to
say that I'd ever care two cents about.
She came up behind me and walked
along with me a ways, but / got too
many things on my mind to hardly
pay the least attention to anything
she ever talks about. She's a girl
what / think about her the less people
pay any 'tention to what she says the
better off they are"
'@That's the way with me, Henry"
his partner assured him earnestly. 81
never pay any notice to what she
says. The way figure It out about
her. Henry. everybody'd be a good
deal better of II nobody ever paid
the least notice to anything she says.
never even notice what she says.
myself"
II don't either" said Henry. San
think about is what my father and
mother say, because I'm not goin' to
have their advice all the rest o. my
life. after they're dead II they want
me to be polite, why, I'll do II and
that's all there IL about IT."
ITS the same way with me. Henry.
II she comes happin' around here
bisttin' and blubbin' how she's goin' 10
have somep'm 70 DO with our news
paper, why, the only reason I'd ever
let her would be because my family
say / ought to show more politeness
to her than up to now. ! wouldn't
do II IN any other account Henry"
~Eeither would L That's just the
same way look at T. II ever begin
to treat her any better. she's got my
father and mother TO thank. not me.
That's the only reason I'd be willing