The Holly chieftain., 1921-11-24
6be
ORIOLE


with the rest of the paper. because
had to write every single word of 1t, or
else let Henry and Herbert try to,
and course they'd Just of ruined it.
Oh. 1t isn't SO much to talk about l
guess; 1t just sort Of comes to me 10
do things that way"
/ Like so many other young uneartled
rehearsals, this one was never to be
played for an audience Adults are UNI
dependable. Thirteen attempts TO ex-
ercise great philanthropy, and every
grown person in sight, with the pos
sible exception of Great-uncle Joseph,
goes into wholly unanticipated fits OF
horror. Cause and effect have no re-
lation: Fate operates without reason
4 able sequence-like monkey.
And while Florence. thus pensively
disturbed, sat beside fat Uncle Joseph
during their long, long drive, relatives
of hers were indeed going into fits; ut
least. so Florence would have de-
scribed their gestures and incOheren-
cies of comment. And straight into such
fitful scene did the luckless Herbert
walk when driven home, after the
movies, by thoughts Of food, at about
six that evening. Henry RoOter had
| strongly advised him against return
ing.
It may reasonably be felt that it
required no particular gift of prophecy
| to hazard the prediction that in all
probability most unpleasant form Of
| inquisition awaited Herbert on his re-
turn to his home. And Henry Rooter
had the wisdom (and experience) of
thirteen.
You better not he said, wisely.
Honest. you better not. HERBERT
"Well. we got apple dumplings for
dinner" Herbert said, his tone show
ing the strain of mental uncertainty.
ELIZA told me this morning we were
| goin' to have 'em. kind Of hate to
go, but guess l better, Henry"
you won't see any apple dump
lings," Henry predicted.
"Well, believe l better try 1t,
Henry"
you better come home with me.
My father and mother'll be perfectly
willing to have you.''
II know that" said Herbert. But
l guess better go home and try 1t.
anyhow, Henry. 1 didn't have any
thing to do with what's In the Oriole.
It's every last word ole Florence's do
Ing. haven't got any more right to
be picked on for that than a child"
''Yes," Henry admitted. But If you
go and tell 'em so, bet she'd get even
with you some way that would prob
ably get me In trouble, too. before we
got through with the Job. I wouldn't
tell 'em IL was you, Herbert!''
well. wasn't intending to-" Her.
bert responded gloomily; and the
| thought of each, unknown to the other,
was the same, consisting Of Il symbolic
likeness of Wallie Torbin at his
worst. II ought to tell on Florence;
| by rights ought" said Herbert; but
I've decided won't. There's no tellin'
what she wouldn't do. Not that she
could do anything to me, particularly
Nor ME, either,' his friend inter-
posed hurriedly. 81 don't worry about
anything like that! Still, II was you
1 wouldn't tell. She's only a girl. we
got to remember"
Yes" said Herbert. That's the
look at 1t is just simply this: long
as she's girl, why, simply let her CO.
You can't tell what she'd do, and so
what's the use to go and tell on
girl?"
''Thats the way look at it," Henry
agreed. whats the use? II was
In your place. I'd act Just the same
way you do"
"Well," said Herbert, Il guess
better go on home, Henry. It's
good while after dark"
you're maxim big mistaken"
Henry Rooter called after him. You
won't see any apple dumpllngs, ! bet
a hundred dollars! You better come
on home with me-"
I And Herbert no more than half
opened his front door before he per-
ceiced that his friends advice had
been excellent So clearly Herbert
perceived this. that he impulsively de-
cided not to open the door any far
ther, but on the contrary to close it,
and retire; and he would have done
so, had not his mother reached forth
and detained him. She was. In fact,
| Just inside that door, In the hall with
one of his great-aunts, one of his
aunts, two aunts-by-marriage and an
elderly unmarried cousin, who were
all just on the point Of leaving. How
ever. they changed their minds and
decided to remain, now thnt Herbert
was among them.
1t really seemed that to many per-
sons who were gathered there, appar-
emily in important consultation. his
appearance was distinctly welcome.
His own feelings were in nowlse
mixed. They were distinctly appre-
| T. a,,I khA nf =