Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-11-17
Continued from last week.

This evening was glorious; there
were apples and cider and cake and
walnuts, perfectly cracked, and g,
large open-hearted box of candy.
Naturally, these being the circum-
stances, Herbert Was among the
guests; and, though rather at dis
advantage, so far as the conversation
was concerned, not troubled by the
handicap. The reason he was at a
conversational disadvantage was
closely connected with the unusual
supply of refreshments; Uncle Joseph
and Aunt Carrie had foreseen the
coming of several more Atwaters than
usual, to talk over the new affairs of
their beautiful relative, Julia. Sell
dom have any relatives new affairs
been more thoroughly talked over than
were Julia's that evening though all
the time by means of various symbols,
since it was thought wiser that Her
bert and Florence should not yet be
told of Julia's engagement, and Flor
ence's parents were not present to
confess their indiscretion, Julia was
makeshifts were employed with the
most knowing caution; and all the
while Florence merely ate inscrutably.
The more sincere Herbert was as
placid; such foods We're enough for
him.
swell, all I say is, the traveller bet
ter enjoy herself on her travels" said
Aunt Fanny finally, as the subject
appeared to be wearing toward ex-
hausticn. "She certainly is in for it
when the voyagiag is over and she
arrives in the port she sailed from,
and has TO show her papers. ] agree
with the rest of you; she'll have a
great deal to answer for, and most
of all about the shortest one My
own opinion is that the shortest one is
going TO burst like a balloon"
"The shortest one" as the demure
Florence had understood from the
first, was her Ideal-none other than
Noble Dill. Now she looked up from
the stool where she sat with her hack
against a plaster of the mantelpiece.
"Uncle Joseph" she said-'I was just
thinking What is a persons reason"
The fat gentleman, rosy with fire.
light and cider. finished his fifth glass
before responding. swell, there are
persons / never could find any reason
for 'em at ALL "A persons reason"
What do you mean, "a persons rea-
son. Florencer
81 mean like when somebody says,
They'll lose their reason she ex-
planned. HAS everybody got a rea-
son, and if they have, what is it. and
how dc they lose it, and what would
they do then?"
ooh. / seei" he said. "You needn't
worry. suppose since you heard IT.
you've been hunting all over yourself
for your reason and looking to see If
there was one hanging out of anybody
else, somewhere. No; it's something
you can't see ordinarily, Florence.
Losing your reason is just another
way Of saying going crazy"
'oh," she murmured, and appeared
to be somewhat disturbed
Al this, Herbert thought proper 10
o1er WltttciSm LOT tne pleasure OF
the company.
''you know, Florence" he said, "it
only means acting like you most al
ways do" He applauded himself with
burst Of changing laughter which
ranged from bullfrog croak to a
scolIapsing soprano; then he added:
Especially when you come around
my end Henry's newspaper building
You certainly lose your reason every
lime you come around that ole place !"
"Well, course l hat TO act like the
people that's ready there" Florence
fetorted, no. narply, but in a musing
tone that Aould have warned him.
II was not her wont to. use a quiet
enica for renartee. Thinking her hum